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The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version ofLouisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England duringthe Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family asthey split into the world, ending up with the most independent, theoutspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics andconclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life'slittle accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh,so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into amodern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. KirstenDunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The youngensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a roleakin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of anOscar. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (113)

What You Would Call a "Beautiful" and Brilliant Movie
In my opinion, this is the best version of "Little Women". Although it sways just a bit from the book, it captures the essence of the book perfectly and weaves a story that works splendidly. The acting is phenominal and the casting was done incredibly well. Claire Daines, Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon provide a stability to the movie that grounds it (and they do it so well), and Winona Ryder brings the passion and character of the beloved "Jo" that makes it such a fantastic film.

I also find this movie a thing of beauty. Everything about it, from the cinematography, to the color schemes, to the sets, to the seasons and the natural shots, to the Oscar nominated score, to the costumes, to the acting and the storyline, are beautiful. They work together in an artistic collaboration to create an atmosphere of reality and eye candy that can only be achieved through a period film. Certain period films have elements that will stand out and ruin the feeling of belief, but this movie suceeds in it's efforts to keep you suspended there, and the whole movie flows wonderfully together.

This is a brilliant movie.

This film captures the spirit of the book
While this film version of LITTLE WOMEN does not follow the book exactly, it captures its spirit with expert performances and cinematography. The soundtrack beautifully enhances this classic story of a family of women, struggling largely by themselves, in unforgiving New England.

This may be Winona Ryder's best role - she captures the ambitious spunk of Jo with a winning performance. As Jo's sisters, Trini Alvarado (Meg), Claire Danes (Beth) and Kirsten Dunst (the young Amy) give strong, if sometimes uneven, performances. Susan Sarandon as Marmee has the right measure of no-nonsense Puritanism; her feminist lines often are too heavy-handed for this film that otherwise has a light touch, but the way she sweeps into a room overshadows any flaws in the writing.

All in all, this is an excellent adaptation. Children may be bored by the art film pace, but teens and adults will delight in these characters brought to life by nuanced performances.

Highly recommended.

The best movie adaption of the novel!
Of all the versions of Little Women that I have seen, Gillian Armstrong's is the best! She definitely chose her actors/actresses well - the cast includes: Winona Ryder (Jo), Claire Danes (Beth), Trini Alvrado (Meg), Kristen Dunst (Amy), Christian Bale (Laurie), Susan Sarandon (Marmee), and Gabriel Bryne (Professor Bhaer). What an astounding performance they gave - this movie made me laugh, cry, and feel for the characters each and every time I watched it! . . . And though some of my favorite scenes from the book were missing, it still portrays the characters extremely well. I love this movie and highly recommend this to all Little Women fans, the people who didn't bother to read Little Women, and everyone else!

blah
if one was to compare katharine hepburn to winona ryder, the results would be obvious. the book isn't supposed to be a feminist account, it's supposed to be a civil war tale of a family. since it's so modern, and the acting and even the colors are modern, we never feel the full experience, or that we are in the 1800's. In the 1933 version we feel a part of the family. This is less than inspiring. how clare danes became Beth, i'll never know, what Kirsten dunst is doing here is a mystery. Although SUsan Sarandon is fine, she is the best thing in here, but nowhere near spring bryington. Christian bale is too dreamy, and his and winia'a chemisrty isn't right. it doesn't follow the book, and the cast is miscast. I don't recommend, instead watch the beautifully done 1933 CLASSIC, or even the 1949 one with June Allyson and Margaret O'brien. Skip this.

The best version, and NOT just for kids
This version of Alcott's classic story is luminescent, brilliantly acted, perfectly staged, and far more emotional than the book.

Katharine Hepburn's Jo, six decades earlier, was hard to top, but Winona Ryder does it -- with sensitivity, more believable passion, and a far more expressive face. Ryder's Jo is entirely believable in her plunging into writing with reckless abandon, more so than Hepburn, for whom it took second place to love. Yet, paradoxically, the romance is far more believable for the newer Jo when it does come along.

Everyone else in the story reflects her struggles and triumphs, and it's a stellar ensemble cast. Especially adept are Trini Alvarado, a conflicted and beautiful Meg; Claire Danes, trembling and heartbreaking as Beth; Christian Bale, giving a raucous edge to next-door Laurie; and most of all, Gabriel Byrne, a younger-by-15-years Prof. Bhaer, finally made both believable and romantic.

All actors portray the same character throughout except for Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis, who assay Amy at ages 12 and 17. Others have criticized this casting, but it worked well for me, especially in the older Amy taking her propriety and "finishing" far more seriously than it deserved.

The story does depart slightly from the book, but not from Alcott, and the film is better for it -- certainly less precious and affected. A few plot elements from "Little Men" and later books flesh out this story, and Alcott's own attitudes about empowering women are brought into Susan Sarandon's quietly powerful Marmee. The Alcott family's intellectual interests inform Jo's stay in New York, adding some depth and grounding to her character and romantic feelings.

This new DVD's features are a delight, especially in Gillian Armstrong's intense narration on the commentary track. She had a vision and depth of attention to this film's details that ought to be celebrated, yet rarely is for women directors. Outtakes are also narrated, a rarity. The making-of featurette and other elements are well-shaped, though Danes's behind-the-scenes program from HBO is not present, which is a bit disappointing.

The transfers are crisp and clear, both video and audio. Thomas Newman's brilliant music can be heard on a separate audio track, and anyone who likes this film should watch it once with just his evocative (and often-imitated) score filling the ears. ... Read more

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When viewed from a cranky perspective, this by-the-book David versus Goliath story doesn't offer any surprises, and it's a bit sad to watch director Francis Coppola (who also adapted John Grisham's bestseller) squandering his once-glorious talent on such conventional Hollywood fare. In a more charitable light, however, there's great pleasure to be found in Coppola's intelligent, no-nonsense handling of a plot that's every bit as involving as it is formulaic. Coppola also knows how to bring out the best in a stellar cast, and this is the movie (released in November 1997, just a few weeks before Good Will Hunting) that signaled Matt Damon's arrival as a major-league star. Damon plays Rudy Baylor, a young rookie lawyer in Memphis (location of many Grisham stories) who takes on a powerful insurance company (led by shark-like lawyer Jon Voight) by representing the family of a boy who was denied potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia. Rudy also comes to the rescue of an abused wife (Claire Danes) and learns the tricks of the legal trade from a seasoned paralegal (Danny DeVito) who sees Rudy as his ticket out of the sleaze-ball practice run by a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke). There's no mystery about where this plot is going, but Coppola takes us there in high style with a sharp script, and Damon strikes just the right note of naivete and strategic intelligence. When Goliath inevitably falls, this courtroom David wins fair and square. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Great Movie, Fair Disc
The Rainmaker 2.35:1/Dolby Digital 5.1 Paramount Pictures

The first adaptation of a John Grisham tale that I've really enjoyed, "The Rainmaker", directed by Francis Ford Coppola, looks at the life of a poor young Southern lawer, Rudy Baylor(Matt Damon, in a great performance) as he battles against an insurance company and it's staff of lawers(led by Jon Voight).

Baylor is battling for Donny Ray Black, a young man who's insurance claims have been turned down time and time again; Kelly Riker(Claire Danes), who lives in continuing fear of her abusive husband and Miss Birdie, an older woman who simply wants to keep her money from her greedy offspring.

This is really the best of the Grisham adaptations and I'm fairly positive it's the hand of director Coppola that has it rising above the rest; the film is crowd-pleasing sure, but it's also very smart and very well acted, with a lot of rich dialogue and some very interesting and entertaining characters. Danny Devito, as Damon's aid, has a lot of fun in a great performance; like in "LA Confidential", we're seeing Devito as his absolute peak lately. He's been picking bigger and especially, much better roles lately. Matt Damon's first major performance in this film is also very well done, yet another in his line of subtle, wonderful performances along with "Courage Under Fire" and "Good Will Hunting." Much like Damon's last film "Rounders", I also thought his narration in this film was well done and well written(by Michael Herr)

Overall, it's an excellent film, well directed, acted and written. It's a well-told tale by Ford Coppola and it's highly entertaining. "The Rainmaker" was one of my picks for the top 10 films of 1997.

The DVD: Picture: Well, where there's good, there's also bad. It's unfortunate that Paramount did an unsatisfactory job with this disc. Colors are not terribly well defined or vibrant; contrast is only fair; the whole disc looks, to my eyes, like an "okay" laserdisc would. There is definitely a noticeable amount of pixelization and some shimmering. It makes a point I was talking about with another person a couple of weeks ago all the more apparent to me. I said, "the best DVD material will absolutely blow your mind; at worst, it'll make you shrug your shoulders and say, 'well, that's sort of okay' ". "The Rainmaker" simply made me shrug my shoulders in dissapointment. It's probably the least impressive picture transfer in my collection of discs, and that's too bad since this is really a great film that deserves a great disc. In a time where Tristar is making discs that look as good as "Godzilla", there's no excuse for a film that's not terribly old like "The Rainmaker" to look like this. It looked this way on my Panasonic A110. Hopefully, although I highly doubt it, people will have better luck on other players.

Audio:Pretty good. It's definitely a dialogue film, backed by a nice, subtle score. Both are well recorded and pleasant to listen to. Nothing terribly mind-blowing. Again, the annoying problem is still there; you can not switch the audio during the film, only from the menu. Try during the film and you're out of luck.

Menus: Very weak. The picture on the front of the box with some simplistic bordering and big, dull buttons.

Extras:Nothing. No 16x9, No Trailer, Not A Thing. Absolutely zero.

Overall: It's a great film and if you liked the film as much as I did, it's worth a purchase at some of the very low prices found on the internet, but after watching this disc, I would *definitely* not pay full price for it. If you're considering it, I'd highly suggest a rental first, unless you like the movie itself as much as I did.

Film:**** Picture:* 1/2 Audio:** 1/2 Extras:Zero Menus:Zero

Overall Disc Quality:**

This is Damon's show.
Matt Damon was a relative unknown when he was tapped to play the hero of "The Rainmaker", based on a novel by John Grisham & directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was a twist of fate that launched Damon's career and definitely lifted this movie. (Ironically, Matthew McConaughey got his start the same way- being an unknown cast in a movie based on a Grisham novel.)

The plot is a classic David-vs-Goliath story- fresh out of law school Matt Damon sues an insurance company for denying treatment to a family with cancer. Ultimately Damon triumphs- the righteous cause succees and the system works. Damon is a major talent, as evidenced by his performance in this film. He's shy, unsure of himself, but basically a good person committed to doing what's right.

I wasn't too impressed by the rest of the cast- Claire Danes is a talented actress but fails to shine here. Danny DeVito is okay as Damon's law partner, and Jon Voight comes across as a none-too-interesting arrogant villain. The rest of the cast? Nobody stands out- this is Damon's show.

What impressed me about "The Rainmaker" was its hard, unflinching portrayal of the legal profession. A lawyer's life is not glamorous and does not necessarily guarantee a huge paycheck. Those quick to criticize lawyers ought to take some law courses before they open their mouths- the road to becoming a lawyer is rough and a considerable commitment of both your time and financial resources. Despite his law degree, Damon's financial picture at the beginning of the film is decidedly precarious.

Watch "The Rainmaker" along with "A Civil Action" and "Erin Brockovich" to get a pretty good idea about the way the law works & how courts give the little people an avenue to even up with big shots like corporations and insurance companies. Watch this movie in particular to see a terrific performance from Matt Damon.

GRISHAM'S LAW
THE RAINMAKER is a by the numbers adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller. Director Francis Ford Coppola explores no new grounds in this film, but elicits competent and professional performances from a stellar cast. Matt Damon who plays Rudy burst onto the scene in this movie, released just before his Oscar winning screenplay and starring role in GOOD WILL HUNTING. Damon captures the youthful impetuosity and naivete of a just bar-approved lawyer who finds himself involved in a case against a big insurance company. His assistant is played by a restrained Danny DeVito. Their boss is played by an unusually understated Mickey Rourke, who shows up on screen looking halfway decent for a change. His clients are wonderfully played by Mary Kay Place and Johnny Whitworth. Jon Voight delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Damon's devilishly cold opponent; Roy Scheider has a brief scene as the CEO of the insurance company; Randy Travis has a thirty second scene as an irate juror; Virginia Madsen is wonderful in a small role as the claims adjustor who was fired; Claire Danes is appropriately cast as the abused wife who turns to Damon for help. Oscar winner Teresa Wright turns up in a lovely role as an elderly lady who wants to leave her money to a tv evangelist.
THE RAINMAKER is perhaps a little too long (it clocks in well over two hours), and offers little in the way of suspense. It is competent, involving and ultimately satisfying, however. Matt Damon proved the hoopla about to come was deserved.

The Rainmaker- Worthwhile for All
Adapted from a novel by John Grisham, The Rainmaker details the life of a young and poor lawyer, Rudy Baylor. Based in the South, Baylor takes on several cases: a young man battling leukemia (and the Great Benefits healthcare provider), an elderly wealthy woman revising her will, and a married woman suffering domestic violence. Donny Ray Black's case serves as the central storyline for The Rainmaker, though the movie follows Baylor and his interactions with all his clients and legal staff. Rudy Baylor serves as an exception to the legal system as a whole, and is portrayed as a man who is genuinely concerned for the well being of his clients.

The Rainmaker is a well directed and acted film. Its characters, plot, and situations make the video both educational and entertaining to watch. Matt Damon, who plays Rudy Baylor, is at his best. The supporting roles played by Danny Devito (Deck Schifflet) and Claire Danes (Kelly Riker) add to the moving storylines. The most fascinating aspect of the movie, however, is its exploration of the legal ethics. The audience is encouraged to form their own opinions of the principles within the legal system from The Rainmaker's plot.

Though Rudy Baylor becomes too involved with his cases, he teaches the viewers an important lesson about legal careers and life in general: that people respond to those who care. Baylor experiences both criticism and praise in his cases, and ultimately, he accomplishes several important tasks- overcoming the fraudulent Great Benefits health insurance company, freeing Riker from abuse within her marriage, and developing a trusting relationship with the older woman. The Rainmaker is both a worthwhile and thought-provoking film that explores the legal system and ethics while absorbing the interest of the film's audience.

Best of old and new
The story line of John Grisham's Rainmaker comes to screen life through the creative genius of Coppola, and unlike some of his films which are far from where I live, such as The Godfather (although very truistic), this film is one I can relate to and which could touch the life of many of us.

Matt Damon's character, Rudy Baylor, is believable and represents the heart of many young men and women who start their law practice with high ideals, moral values and integrity. His quiet wisdom holds up well when pitted with the arrogance of a Leo Drummond-type lawyer, a man whose moral and ethical values were leeched from him long ago.

Although there is light foul language, it is refreshing to see a film where one does not have to wince constantly from the onslaught of gutter language and unclothed people!

Danny Glover walked the high moral ground in this film as well and gave a stunning performance as always.

I was delighted to see the incomparable Teresa Wright as Miss Birdie, (catch her in "Mrs Miniver" starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon from the B&W WWII movie years, what a treasure!) She played the part to perfection, "cut, cut, cut."

Claire Danes, an excellent actress for one so young, played the part of an abused young woman to a "T" with the low-key type personality so prevalent in one who has been cowed into submission way too many times. With an abusive childhood himself, Rudy had to save her. (Loved Danes in Les Miserables and Little Women!)

Mary Kay Place always shines, but her portrayal of a mom whose son is dying needlessly touches my mother's heart.

Funny Danny Devito, funny...

I give the Rainmaker high marks! If you like real life movies, watch this or you could be Great Benefit's next victim.

(Interesting that in the video tape version, there is no mention of Danny Glover in any of the credits!) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Frenchman Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson), imprisoned for stealing bread, is paroled after nearly two decades of hard labor. A gift of silver candlesticks from a kindly priest helps him begin anew. Forging a decent and profitable existence, he finds success as a businessman and as the mayor of a small town. He even takes in a pregnant young woman (Uma Thurman) and raises her daughter as his own. When a former prison guard (Geoffrey Rush) recognizes Valjean, his past catches up to him. Director Bille August culls mesmerizing performances from his cast, but loses us with an ending that panders to teen audiences. The focus shifts dramatically, and uncomfortably, from the haunted Neeson and his hawk-like pursuer, to his daughter (Claire Danes) and her romance with a handsome revolutionary. After this narrative shift, the script leaves behind the Victor Hugo classic's themes of revenge and redemption to focus improbably on teen angst--hardly what Hugo had on his mind. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (160)

Absolutely beautiful!
I had never read the book, but had heard of the story numerous times. I'm a huge Liam Neeson fan, so I wanted to see it. I've now watched it six times! It is a wonderful story! Plenty of things going on to keep you waiting to see what will happen next. The characters are so real! You can't help but love and respect Valjean and all the changes he goes through. If only we could all learn from our mistakes as he does! To love a woman so much in so short a time to consent to raise and love her daughter as his own! Oh! Claire Danes is adorable as Cosette (of course!) And Marius - well lets just say it would be entirely possible to fall in love with him at first sight! The passion in his eyes when he speaks to her is enough alone! As I said, I hadn't read the book, so I had no idea what would happen to them and their newfound love. How stressful! I won't spoil it by saying what happens in the end, but let's just say it is well worth the watch! I have told all of my friends and family to get this movie! I have since read the book and am now saving my own copy of the letters Marius wrote to Cosette. If only men these days spoke of love in those words! I promise you, you will love this movie!

A Terrible Adaptation
This is a good movie. I mean, not badly cast. Lovingly done. The acting is great. Yeah, you should enjoy it. Assuming you know absolutely nothing about Victor Hugo's original story. The truth is, if I didn't know better, I'd say whoever wrote the script never read Hugo's masterpiece and based it completely on the 1935 version. Come to think of it, I don't know better. That's probably exactly what happened.

I never thought I'd say this, but I am so glad Hugo didn't have to live to see this movie.

If you've read the book, you will hate this film. TRUST me. The plot, especially toward the end, is mercilessly butchered and rewritten. At some points it becomes utterly unrecognizable. Many of the revisions completely miss or even destroy the essence of characters, and some do not even make sense, the movie ending with Jean Valjean jubilant over the death of Javet, whose life he has made an enormous sacrifice to save.

Likewise, Javert would never attack Cosette; he was obsessively professional, not cruel. Nor would end his life (with minimal explanation, no less) in front of Valjean. Marius would NEVER act like Enjolras (oh, I forgot, there IS no Enjolras). Neither Marius NOR Enjolras would smile at remarks about making love to Cosette, so I find it hard to believe that some mutant hybrid Marjolras would. Cosette would never consider leaving Marius, her soulmate, to stay with Valjean, her adoptive father. And above all, Jean Valjean would NEVER, EVER fall in love with Fantine. The mere suggestion of this limits the portrayal of his charity to people he takes a special interest in.

Small variations are to be expected in any film adaptation of a book, but these all completely distort characters. The people who made this movie may have gotten the message (love, charity, etc.), but they missed the point.

If you've never read the book, see this movie. It is touching and carries a good message.

But it is not Les Misérables.

Great movie, but.....
Great movie, but the book was better...The movie is about the ex-convict, Jean Valjean, trying to help Fantine, a poor woman trying to make enough money to pay the Thenardiers to take care of her child Cosette, and later raising Cosette as his own, while also being persued by the persistant Inspector Javert.

What happens in the movie basically happens in the book as well, but the book also has much more going on. The book has an intricate connection between many of the characters that the movie doesn't have, and also focuses on much more than Jean Valjean, whom the movie mostly focuses on.

I would suggest reading the book first, and then watching the movie.

An enjoyable classic!
I can't judge this movie fairly. I have read the book and watched the musical, both live and on DVD. So, naturally, I will be making subconscious comparisons, even though we all know that movies generally undertake their own artistic direction.

For one, although some people have claimed the storyline to be jumpy, I thought it was rather smooth-flowing, possibly because I already know the story beforehand. Although changes were made to the original story, for example, Valjean admitting to Cosette that he is a convict when he only did so before he died in the end, and Cosette remembering that Valjean is not her father when it was originally intended for her to believe that he was her real father, these changes were probably made to accommodate the short play time (2 hours is barely enough to fit in a 1484-pages story).

Liam Neeson portrayed Valjean to be exactly the way Hugo would have intended Valjean to be. In the beginning, he was a hard, animalistic beast of a man. But Neeson is able to morph into the gentle Mayor with ease, and that highlights Valjean's transformation. Geoffrey Rush is brilliant as Javert. Never was there anyone more suited to play the cold, sadistic inspector. Uma Thurman is surprisingly convincing as Fantine. I had begun to stereotype her as the sort of action-thriller-sci-fi flick girl but this proved me wrong. Watch this movie for these three actors alone, for they bring class to your living room.

What I didn't like about the movie was the lack of development on the revolution. Hugo was a revolutionary. He wanted Les Mis to ignite the people's spirits. The revolution was a crucial scene, and the death of the revolutionaries a touching one. Through this movie, I can barely recognize which ones are Enjolras, Courfeyrac, Feuilly etc and yet the character names appear on the credit roll in the end.

The change of the ending (with Valjean walking free) did not leave much of an impact on me compared with the original ending. I loved the last page of Hugo's novel, where Cosette read Valjean's letter. Valjean had a tragic life. He was one of the Les Miserables, the underdogs, the wretched. For me, they had distorted the true message of Les Mis by changing the ending of the wonderful classic.

i didnt like it
I seen this Movie in English. and i didnt like it at all. i found it boring and the guyz hittin faintain and it isnt right. my friends and i didnt like it at all. it had a story... buh it was kind of jumpy. we only watched the first part, i would like to see the second part just to see how it all ends and everything. but to be honest i didnt like the movie at all. i am a grade 9 student and i dont think i know anyone who likes the movie. other then the teacher (maybe) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Oliver Stone used such words as "liberating" and "fun" to talk aboutU Turn's relatively quick production schedule of 42 days. Stone'sideas of film fun, however, are something older generations would call sick. This film isa Southwestern noir tale about Bobby Cooper (Sean Penn), a hotshot who is stuck in the tight confines of Superior, Arizona, when his car breaks down. His subsequent adventure is a meatball comedy--loud, obnoxious, and violent, and stuffed with diffused light, a hot cast, and a no-fat Ennio Morricone score. This film has plenty of odd characters, but you never really find out much about them. Bobby's first encounters include a repulsive mechanic (Billy Bob Thornton under the grease) and a blind Indian (Jon Voight under the makeup). Then there's Grace McKenna (a sizzling Jennifer Lopez), who is as dangerous as the curves of her red sundress. Bobby's got time to kill, and Grace seems more than willing. Unfortunately, it seems that Bobby has never seen a movie such as A Touch of Evil; if he had, he would know it can only get worse. About the time Grace's husband, Jake (Nick Nolte), shows up, Bobby is knee-deep in murder plots and double-crosses.

The first 40 minutes or so are "fun" to a point. Penn is the perfect near-creep to root for, and as he wanders back into town after meeting Grace, the eclectic characters pile up. But soon it gets monotonous, tiring, and just plain ugly. And when incest and bloody fights begin, the fun is gone. If Penn weren't so solid an actor and able to be empathetic in the most morose situations, the movie would be unwatchable at stretches. Lopez makes another good impression, but this is not a performance that stands out. Nolte, raspy and ill-looking, is the Lee Marvin of the '90s. Before U Turn is over, you are already wondering if Oliver Stone will do something else, something more important, soon. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Twisted
Sean Penn plays a small time crook, trying to make it to heaven with somebody else's cash in his backpack. Heaven I guess would be someplace where you can live in saftey and spend that money you stole. But he is on the road to hell and there's no u turn. He's had to fingers plugged off by hedge clippers and the rest of the hand waiting for its turn if he gets caught by some Vegas thugs. His car breaks down somewhere in Hell and things go from bad to worse. The film is somewhat plot driven. The characters have to go with the plot which is sad, because these are marvolous characters and actors. Stone's film tech is great and he makes a graphic visual display, but the plot is somewhat small and weak. Lopez plays the vixen who is beyond twisted after surviving what seems to be a horrific life. Borderline behavior to the max, no trust is branded on her forehead. Penn just keeps bouncing up after being delivered through worse and worse scenarios of bad luck, as I said plot driven characters. Oh well, the acting and the direction push this up to a 4 star, overall its worth viewing because it is so wigged out.

Lisa Nary

A feast for vultures
Small time hood, played with fidelity by Sean Penn, blows a hole in the water hose of his 1964 and a half red Mustang out in the desert and has to limp into Superior, Arizona, pop. about 100, temp 100-plus. He shoulda made a u-turn. He's already lost two fingers because he wasn't able to pay some dudes the $13,000 he owned them, but now he has the cash in his backpack. Next problem (number two) getting his car fixed by Darrell's other brother Darrell, an inbred hick mechanic from hell, played chillingly by Billy Bob Thornton. This guy you won't forget. Problem number three, a muy caliente Apache babe (Jennifer Lopez) who starts to play with more than his mind. Problem number four, her husband, (a lecherous and morally corrupt Nick Nolte) who wants him to kill her. Problem number four and a half is a blind Indian shaman (Jon Voight, believe it or not) who plays with his soul.

All this is tolerable, but as he's getting a soda in the local groceria, it's robbed and they take his backpack with all the money in it. The senora who is robbed recovers in time to shot the robber with the backpack in the back with a shotgun. Only problem is number five, the buckshot blows Penn's money to smithereens (nice touch), and he is now flat broke and can't pay the $150 to get his Mustang back on the road. Problem number six, a small town tart (Claire Danes) cozies up to him to get her macho boy friend jealous enough to want to beat our boy to a pulp. Problem number seven, in his desperation to get enough money to blow town, our hero calls his main creditor and tells him where he is (seems dumb). His creditor wants more than the other three fingers. Problem number eight...

Well, I didn't take notes, so I'm losing track. But trust me, he's got more troubles to come.

This is in some ways an amazing film. It's part Clint Eastwood western, where there are no good guys, and part urban thriller, where you never know who is double crossing whom (but take a hint, they all are) or what is going to happen next. The atmosphere is compelling, all hangs together well, and we have something close to a film noire masterpiece until the scene on the cliff where our hero is supposed to push her off. Juggling the psychology in the film with the psychology he's working on the audience, Oliver Stone loses his grip and everything goes to ill-logic and blood and bodies. Hey, it's tough to concentrate through a whole stinkin' movie, even if you are Oliver Stone! Nonetheless there are so many striking images and clever scenes and so much original movie shtick here that I give you a Kmart guarantee you'll be entertained.

Guilty, gritty pleasure
Sunday, April 18, 2004 / 4 of 5 / Guilty, gritty pleasure. Admittedly, U-Turn is a guilty, gritty pleasure. It's one of those movies that has a compelling but amoral anti-hero protagonist, much like another in this genre, 'Romeo is Bleeding'. Like that film, we witness the disintegration, physical and mental of the main character whose vices have finally caught up with him with a vengeance. Oliver Stone's splice and hack techniques work wonderfully and the amazingly strong cast seems to be having a ball with the seedy story. Sean Penn is Bobby on his way to pay off gambling debts after having his two fingers cut off by Russian gangsters. His 64 Mustang blows a radiator hose in the podunk town of Superior, AZ. While there he gets rolled, loses his cash, endures further physical abuse and is tempted to kill numerous people, from J-Lo, to Billy Bob Thornton, to Nick Nolte, to Joaquin Phoenix. The interactions are comical in their depravity, this film really straddles genres, flowing from noir to black comedy and back. No one trusts anyone and incredibly you feel sorry for Bobby as the film reaches its crescendo. The more I think of it, the more it conceptually mirrors Romeo is Bleeding with Penn and Oldman's weak, amoral central characters at the mercy of the strong females in J-Lo and Lena Olin. I think it's good for a viewing ever so often, more would be too exhausting and make one feel a bit too dirty. Recommended.

"Your lies are old, but you tell them well."
Oliver Stone crawls through Quentin Tarentino's home turf here in this adaptation of John Ridley's Stray Dogs--it's as black and violent as a film can be, sort of Pulp Fiction meets Reservoir Dogs in the heat. Brilliant casting makes U Turn sizzle like roadkill on an Arizona blacktop. Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez. Billy Bob Thornton, and Nick Nolte dig right to the heart of human darkness, and an absolutely unrecognizable Jon Voight appears as the blind Indian wise man who is likely none of those things. Surely many viewers will find the level of violence and the completely depraved characters unappealing at best--my wife walked away less than halfway through. But I was riveted by the story, the characters, the action, and the stylistic approach Stone takes, with heavy use of filters and quick cuts to ravens, bleached skulls, setting suns, old photographs, and the like. That approach and the eerie score by Ennio Morricone also reminded me of David Lynch's Twin Peaks. It's surely not a movie for the mainstream, but I'm glad I saw it.

This film dominates
U-turn is classic. Toward the end of his career Stone is only getting better. It easyly holds its own with Pulp Fiction and alike. Use of the old western composer Moriconne was genuis. Why more people dont like this film is a mystery, i guess some people can't handle it.
True pimps know that it dominates ... Read more

Amazon.com

A show so popular with its core audience that it runs in syndication even though only 19 episodes were made, My So-Called Life was the world's first introduction to actress Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet, Home for the Holidays, The Mod Squad), who played the lead character Angela. In "Dancing in the Dark," Angela daydreams during science class, recalling the few times she's been kissed. She's been thinking about Jordan Catalano, a handsome boy who seems out of her reach. Her spunky and out-of-control friend Rayanne decides to throw the two together by getting Jordan to drop by Brian Krakow's house, where Angela and Brian (who has a crush on Angela) are doing a science project for extra credit. Meanwhile, Angela's parents try to rekindle their marriage-worn affections by taking up ballroom dancing. While both Angela and her parents muddle through their experiments with romance, viewers are treated to a well-written, shot and edited show, which set the pace for all hour-long teen oriented programs to come.

"Guns and Gossip" continues with the parallel story structure of "Dancing in the Dark." Brian Krakow witnesses a gunshot in the hallway at school. As word passes, Brian becomes more and more of a legendary figure. While he is pressured by school officials and uptight parents to identify the person involved, Angela has to contend with rumors that she slept with Jordan Catalano. Boys start looking at her differently, and she finds herself at delicate odds with Jordan. Less about romance and more about teenage issues, "Guns and Gossip" is a sophisticated intertwining between the power of rumors and the truth of actual events. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (114)

Compelling coming-of-age tale
When Igby Goes Down hit theatres last year it disappeared despite its stellar cast and positive reviews. It's not really a movie to everyone's taste that's true, but this slice of Catcher In The Rye-type teenage angst is never short of compelling. The story has Igby (Culkin) being kicked out of every school his mother Mimi (Sarandon) places him in, eventually dropping out to experience the boredom, despair and decadence of those around him.

The acting is pitch perfect. Kieran Culkin makes you honestly believe that he was born to play a role like this, a young man desperate to never conform, terrified that any passion in him will be crushed in the same way his father's (Pullman) spirit was obliterated, eventually landing him in an institution. Sarandon, as ever, lends the proceedings some class as the rich snobby mother who cares not one jot for her family. Goldblum plays the confident man surprisingly well considering his past affinity at playing the nervous type in movies such as The Fly. Ryan Phillipe impresses again in a role in which he's dangerously close to being typecast in - the upper-class snob. His roles in Gosford Park and Cruel Intentions were great, and it's clear here that he should stick to fare such as this rather than trash like Antitrust. I'd never seen Amanda Peet in anything before this but she plays her drug-addled character (really a symbol of the very depths of despair, something Igby wishes to experience but doesn't want to overrule him) so well that it can't belong before she becomes a bigger star. Clare Danes seems to gradually be clawing a comeback with small roles like this and in The Hours. She's perfect for the role and, importantly, we can see why Igby would be attracted to her charatcer. A wannabe Bohemian rebel with a quirky personality, she's great value. It's a cult cast really, filled with actors from cult movies such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Fly and up-and-comers like Culkin and Danes. Unfortunartely, despite its many qualities, it's doubtful that Igby will ever make it to cult status. Released too soon over the admitedly far superious Donnie Darko, it's a little bit swamped by its presence as a movie that gained cult status in under a year and it's unlikely that Culkin will have the success that the Gyllenhaal siblings experienced in The Good Girl and Secretary respectively. However, this is a real gem of a movie that deserves to be viewed and appreciated on its own merits and as such, it's really quite impressive.

Devilish little black comedy with great performances
"Igby Goes Down" is a dark comedy which echoes the best of the anti-establishment movies which thrived in America from the late 1960s through the 1970s. Some critics have compared it to "The Graduate", although the similarities escape me. Kieran Culkin may well be the next Dustin Hoffman, but the character he plays is someone I doubt that Benjamin Braddock, protagonist of "The Graduate", would have either understood or associated with. In tone and spirit, the movie reminds me personally of 1971's brilliant "Harold and Maude" [available on VHS and DVD]. Both films are acerbic and nihilistic on the surface, yet ultimately allow the main character to escape the harsh, utterly materialistic world into which he is born.

Igby [Culkin] lives in a world where social position and material possessions act as poor substitutes for love and affection. His father [Bill Pullman] is in a mental institution, perhaps driven there by his cold, shrewish mother [Susan Sarandon]. His brother [Ryan Phillippe] has adapted quite nicely to his environment and is headed for the top. Igby, though, is a tortured soul. At seventeen, he sees through the lies and deception which surround him and makes no effort to fit in. As in most dysfunction families, denial rules, and Igby is made out to be the problem. We watch, sometimes amused and sometimes horrified, as Igby plots to escape. Being a product of his environment, he is anything but a nice guy most of the time, yet we sense that there is much in him that is salvageable.

Culkin appeared in two of 2002's best independent films, "The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys" and this one. He is a wonderful young actor, sort of a cross between Robert Downey Jr., and Tobey Macguire. Besides Sarandon, Pullman and Phillippe, the first-rate supporting cast includes Jeff Goldblum, Amanda Peet and Clare Danes.

While "Igby Goes Down" does not always succeed, due to some rough-around-the-edges script elements, it is a fascinating portrait of a young man caught in a web of diabolical materialism. Highly recommended for those who appreciate some of the ironies of American life.

Quirky characters, fine dialogue, and sparkling performances
This unconventional film about a teenage boy struggling to escape the crushing pressures in his life defies categorization. While one could describe it as a dark comedy, it is funny only in places, and then in a desperate, cynical way. But it doesn't take itself as seriously as a true drama. "Igby Goes Down" works best as a film that is what it is: the story of Igby (Kieran Culkin), who has been kicked out of every private school his mother Mimi (Susan Sarandon) has enrolled him in and who goes on the lam to avoid the next one. Igby's father (Bill Pullman) has been in a mental hospital for the past six years, and his mother is a snooty matron dying of breast cancer who spends her time fiercely trying to get Igby into yet another school. His brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe) is a snobbish self-important Columbia undergrad. Igby's life is truly messed up, and no one can stand to be in his company for long before they feel like hitting him. The one thing Igby has going for him is an often charming wit, and that, combined with so many things beyond his control, endears him to the viewer.

Culkin shows surprising range as Igby, moving convincingly from sarcastic to resourceful to desperate - and back again to sarcastic. Claires Danes is spunky and perfectly edgy as the Bennington drop-out Sookie, and Amanda Peet is even better as the sensual non-dancer dancer and junkie Rachel. Jeff Goldblum turns in a fine performance as DH, Igby's godfather, who, as Oliver says, is finely-tuned for only one thing: making money. Susan Sarandon seems to float through this movie until the end, when she, too, reveals astonishing aspects of her character. Every last character is this film is quirky.

This is an offbeat, unpredictable film that mainstream film goers probably won't like as much as those who gravitate toward the unconventional. Rather than being driven by plot, this is a character movie, with its strength resting in idiosyncrasies, smart dialogue, and acting.

The Absurdity of Life
Things definitely aren't going Igby Slocumb's (Kieran Culkin) way, especially where his family is concerned. His father, Jason (Bill Pullman) is in a mental hospital, his self-absorbed, pill-popping mother, Mimi (Susan Sarandon), should be, and his always politically-correct older brother, Oliver (Ryan Phillippe) seems more ashamed of Igby than anything else.

To make matters worse, Igby flunks out of one private school after another, not because he isn't intelligent; he definitely is, but he just doesn't care. Military school doesn't sit well with Igby, either, and he's packed off to rehab.

Igby, however, has no intention of wasting his time, as he sees it, in a rehab clinic and he escapes to Manhattan and the loft his wealthy, bohemian godfather, D.H. Baines (Jeff Goldblum), keeps for his non-painting mistress, Rachel (Amanda Peet).

If it's girls Igby's looking for (and it really isn't), he's certainly in luck, especially if it's older girls. He not only becomes romantically involved with Rachel, but with Sookie Sapperstein (Calire Danes) as well. But, justice is nothing if not poetic. Just as Igby moved in on D.H.s territory with Rachel, Oliver moves in on Igby's with Sookie.

I usually dislike coming-of-age films intensely, but I really loved IGBY GOES DOWN, primarily because of its edgy, witty dialogue, quirky characters and black comedy irreverence.

Kieran Caulkin as Igby is wonderful. He epitomizes Igby's already world-weary, self-despising character perfectly. He lets us see enough of the "real" Igby to form an emotional bond with him, while still managing to remain off-center.

Claire Danes is beautiful and perfectly cast as Sookie. She's more arrogant and less blatantly sexual than is Amanda Peet as Rachel, but that's as it should be. Jeff Goldblum and Ryan Phillippe are both charming and charmingly sleazy in their respective roles. The only character I didn't like was Susan Sarandon's Mimi. Sarandon is too ditzy, too over-the-top. She never seems to find the right balance and her characters always seem so despicable.

IGBY GOES DOWN isn't the masterpiece that HAROLD AND MAUDE is, but it is smart, edgy and highly entertaining and it never slips into the sentimental or the overly melodramatic. IGBY GOES DOWN doesn't offer us reality, but it does reflect the absurdities that we all face in everyday life. I would recommend this film highly to those who love black comedy, anything offbeat or art house films.

CRACKLING DIALOG IN A GRITTY BOHEMIAN DARK COMEDY
If you enjoy narratives like American Beauty or Catcher in the Rye, you must watch this under-rated dramedy. Sufficiently quaint characters, a murky and disturbing story that manages to hold up because of its laconic wit, and a brilliant cast all round.

Culkin does fairly well in his role as a precocious kid who school-hops more often than he change his clothes, hates his quirky family (mother, father, brother all roles played by A-list stars), and eventually goes on the lam.

On the run in the big city, he meets up with various eccentrics: he finds refuge with his godfather's trophy girlfriend, a heroin addict played by Amanda Peet and her arty, bizarre friends. When this relationship sours he finds better solace with Sookie Saperstein (Claire Danes), a bored, ironic college student temporarily on the run from college.

It may be flawed and occasionally embittering. It may be (intentionally) artsy and ultimately obscure. But this stunning debut is an absolutely watchable treat that I'd recommend in a blink if you care about cinema that evokes thought. ... Read more

Description

Warner Home Video(r) used under license.TM & (c) 2003 IMF 3.(c) 2003 IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co.3 Produktions KG.Artwork and Design (c) 2003 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (694)

ARNOLD + PRETTY WOMEN + INCREDIBLE EFFECTS = WORTH SEEING.
After a 12 year absence, a Terminator movie is around. One more time Arnold Schwarzenegger repeats his signature role, and despite this time the director of the first two movies James Cameron, the actress Linda Hamilton and the actor Edward Furlong didn't came back for T3, there's new blood on the series.

In "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines", there is a new Terminator model, the T-X (Terminatrix), played by the gorgeous Kristanna Loken, who does a good job as a cold and precise cybernetic killer. Also there is a new John Connor, actor Nick Stahl. On this movie John Connor loses a lot of the personality that Edward Furlong printed to the character in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day". However, the pretty Claire Danes fills the hole left by the "new" John Connor, Claire plays Kate, a brave woman that refuses to let the humanity to be destroyed.

The visual effects and the audio effects are incredible. The highlight is a vehicle chase scene, which is jaw-dropping. Despite T3 doesn't have the same depth of the first two movies, is a very enjoyable film and a worthy sequel.

A Pleasant Little Surprise...
When I first heard that T3 was coming out I was terrified. I mean, no James Cameron? No Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton)?? A new guy (Nick Stahl) playing John Conner??? A female terminatrix???? An ancient Arnold creeking along as the terminator????? Boy, was I scared of the potential catastrophe this flick could've been! Well, my fears were unnecessary. T3: RISE OF THE MACHINES was a pleasant surprise. First, though Cameron would have done a completely different film with Linda Hamilton, they both opted out (of T3 and their relationship w/ each other) and there was no hope of their being involved. Jonothan Mostow does a great job, keeping the action at an insane pace, making T3 an excellent 2hr rollercoaster ride. Claire Danes is wonderful as the unfortunate Kate, sucked into the vortex of John Conner's destiny. Kristanna Loken is the perfect ice-cold assassin as the TX Terminatrix. She's beautiful, lethal, and indestructible. The perfect date for yours truly! Nick Stahl is John Conner. I liked him and found him quite believable. That leaves Arny as everyone's favorite cyborg. I was frankly amazed at how good he looks! This future governor of la-la-land looks physically like he did in the first two terminators! Either he's wearing a rubber body, or Arnold is in peak condition. Either way, he IS the terminator and always will be. He delivers his trademark T-101-liners with typical Arny style. As for the storyline, I was so caught up in the explosions and chase elements, I almost forgot what it was all about! It seems that judgement day has only been postponed and the TX has arrived to seek out and destroy John Conner. The T-101 intervenes again, this time protecting both John and Kate in an attempt to save the remnant of humanity from skynet's planetary conquest. Can they escape the TX? What secret does Kate's dad hold? Will Arnold take time off from his office job to do T4? Only time will tell. The only complaint I have is that it could have been longer. Another 20 minutes or so to flesh out the story would've been nice. However, I digress...

Funner than the first two, but less story-driven
While the first two movies were more story-driven, apocalyptic affairs, this Terminator is pretty much all explosions and has a slightly disappointing ending, but is still an awesome movie. The special effects are mindblowing and Arnold looks like he hasn't aged a bit (botox? plastic surgery? natural youthful looks? a mix of all three? :-) Anyhow this movie is sweet and actually really isn't that violent except for a murder at the vet clinic and a nasty impaleing scene in a cop car (if you've seen it, you know what I mean). It's awesome though, rent it first and if you like it as much as I do (a lot) then pick it up.

talk to the hand!
in part 3 here,sara conner is dead.john conner is in his early 20s and keeping his self impossible to trace.they send this extremely sexy terminater chick to kill his officers since he cant be located.arnold must protect john and this other chick who is an officer later on.they call her a captain.a cap is by no means 2nd in charge like they say in the movie.that would be a general.arnold shows again in another excellent performance in the terminater movies.i dont know who that sexy chick terminater is but damn is she fine!john,however,is really ugly and nasty.his officer,the chick is pretty but an uptight bitch.its kind of violent for children.this is as youve read already the third part to this fantastic series.the bad terminter chick has many neat powers like dna testing,talking to other machines,mimicking dial up tones,controllling other machines etc.there are a few more.its the second best of the 3 .any terminater fan will love it.only like squeamish and non-intellectual sell out julia roberts types will not like this.but screw them anyway.no fate but what we make does not carry over to this one.this is arnolds second best.the special effects are cool.the action is great.im still waiting on a 4th part with the man vs machine war.

John Conner a drugie loser?! Otherwise good fun.
I thought this movie on par with Alien 3 of the Alien movies. Not bad but not near as good as the first two.

The chase scene is probably the best in all the Terminator movies. It was jaw dropping! The effects are superior to the first two. Arnold was great as always but looked a little older which makes no sense. The terminatrix was very cool and interesting. I liked the "down" ending too.
The problems were the bad acting (nowhere near as good as the first 2), no Linda Hamilton and terrible characterization of the John Conner character.
I couldn't believe what a disapointing John Conner this was. He looks nothing like the kid from T2 and Nick Stahl can't emote half the feeling or charm that the little boy did. This John Conner was also written terribly; he is homeless, a drug user and has absolutely no ambition or leadership qualities. So this movie basicaly claims that NONE of his mother's toughness and kick-ass asertivness rubbed off on him and basically he's just a big whiney loser at this point??? He's so pathetic that it is impossible to believe that he'll EVER lead any ressistence movement of any kind.

Its a good action flick but nothing more. I hope there won't be anymore of these but it looks like this ending is setting up more movies. Arnold is now Govenor of Cali. so I don't see him coming back again, at least. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Worthwhile
This unusal drama takes the viewer to a place where the dead visit their past life. In this movie Michelle Pfeiffer convincingly plays a ghost that visits her husband on moonlit nights at their beach house where she accidentally was killed. Her husband, played by Peter Gallager, is clearly still hung up over his wife as displayed when he celebrates their anniversary even though Michelle is dead. Claire Danes plays her emotionally confused daughter that also has issues with her parent's apparent continual relationship beyond the grave. Overall it was a visually stimualting and heart warming movie, that's worthwhile to watch even if the pace is a bit slow at times.

Great Subject - Medeocre Exicution
If you don't analyze this movie, it's great. But if you do, you realize that it's not more than a series of emotional triggers. It is one of my favorite movies because I can relate to some of the subject matter, but if you do analyze it, you can quickly see that the reason the story doesn't flow very well is because they were trying to hard to strike such a wide variety of emotional chords, the story-telling suffered and became shallow.

If you want to see a good emotional drama that will have some appeal to just about everyone, this is the movie for you. If you are going to analize it, you'll be dissapointed.

It's a great story and has a great cast, but something is missing. That said, if you just want some emotional heroin, watch this movie.

Great acting and deep emotions make this a must see!
This film is very moving. It will remind any viewer not to take their loved ones for granted. The film gets you thinking about how to prepare and makes you ask yourself, how will I react when I lose the love of my life. Enjoy!

Disappointing
First of all, for the caliber of actors in this movie, they deserved a better script. Michelle Pfeifer and Peter Gallagher are class acts, but really this movie just did not dig deep enough. I have read all the rave reviews of Claire Danes, as I have read all the raves in the past and I am beside myself. I mean she has mastered the part of the proverbial angst-ridden pouting teenager to a tee. If this is her niche, so be it. The premise of the story is pretty decent -- a man loses his wife in a tragic freak accident and has a hard time moving on. Completely understandable. Then his annoying sister in law and her equally annoying husband arrive and proceed to berate the poor guy for mooning over a wife that is dead. Oh my god, stop the presses. These people had the sensitivity of androids. It would have been nice to see him kick these people out of the house, but then the film would'nt drone on and on, This is a good film for a rainy day. But I expected more.

I Relate Deeply To This Movie
Having lost my wife under similiar circumstances, I experienced exactly What Peter Gallagher's acting expressed in this Film. His moving potrail of deep grief was so much like what I was experiencing it was chilling. The film did make me realize, that its time to move on. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

I didn't see the beginning....
... and, in fact, I didn't even know the name until I came here and looked this movie up for reference to see its name. But, I watched it just last week on HBO, and I was absolutely riveted. I was flipping channels, and I ended up watching the entire thing standing up in my living room!
I have read the other reviews here, but I will say this movie captured my imagination and I found the portrayals by Lena Olin and Gabriel Byrne to be particularly stirring. Claire Danes was fine in a supporting role, but it was the tension and love between her parents which really moved me.
Perhaps my imagination was captured so readily because my family immigrated from Poland some 70 years ago, and I wanted to see this portrayal of Polish life and community. But what stayed with me was the breathless tension between Jadzia and her husband, the power this beautiful woman had over him, the confusion and strength in his silence, the seeming clumsiness of her values, their stumbling around their own lives and loves. There is something quite endearing about the wanton way in which they live and love.
It may not change the world, but this movie certainly transported me for an afternoon.
Highly recommended.

PATHETHIC!!!!... not even worth this one star
Being of Polish background I though that buying this movie was a good idea. I WAS WRONG!!! After watching this movie, my entire family and I were speechless, offended and degraded. I am positive that the director of this move KNEW NOTHING, NOTHIG AT ALL about the Polish culture and the Polish people. After watching the movie, I threw it in the garbage... where it belonged right from the beginning!!!

Hello Hamtramck!
I love this movie, mainly because the city that it is set in, Hamtramck, is where my mother and grandparents were born. Being 3rd generation Polish-American in Detroit, I can really relate to this movie, Polish mothers tend to be the final word in the family, much like Lena Olin's character in the movie. Over all it's a very good movie, touching and funny, especially when Lena Olin and her four sons go after the boy who impregnated Hala (Claire Danes) with hockey sticks. It was very touching to see the church featured in the movie, St. Florian's, because it has long been an integral part of my family. A fantastic movie, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good movie that is NOT a "chick-flick" but one of those movies that makes you feel better about life in the long run.

Great Movie ...A few dumb reviews
I tend to miss the very beginning and the end of this movie, nevertheless it's a good movie. I decided to browse the reviews on it to see if I'm truely missing out on a great ending. I was surprised to see a few reviews that were pointless. Critizing the setting and the background of the story as being unbelievable, threw me way off. Apparently, there's a few things that those reviewers should know in order to better appreciate this movie.

1. In the Midwest (Detroit is considered a part of the midwest)there are cities that are still segragated (for lack of a better word) to an extend based on ethnic background. People are born, live and die without ever living outside the 2 mile radius of their neighborehoods.
2. 5th-7th generation Polish-Americans tend not to have a distinct stereotypical cartoony accent.
3. People still hang their laundry out to dry. Where do you think "Downy" got 'Summer Breeze" from?
4. Ethnic movies like this one and " My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" are usually made by people of that ethnic background. There is a difference regarding poking fun at your own background, your ethnic background, racial stereotypes, and racial truths. Both of these movies seem to be poking fun at life in general from their observation. You have to be very small minded to think that any ethnic movie represents an entire race. If you felt that these movies are stereotypes, I suppose you might say the same thing about "The Joy Luck Club" or "Soul Food".

5. And lastly, why do I feel the need to make these points? I'm from the Midwest and I noticed the reviewers who made those un-supported critisms are from the Soutn and West coast and I'm guessing have never lived in the Midwest. Polish Wedding holds true to a realistic setting that I can compare to the Polish-American neighborhoods of Milwaukee, WI, from which I was born and raised.

good acting fails to overcome flawed concept
Lena Olin does an especially good job as the mother, as does Claire Danes as the daughter, in this heavily flawed movie with "art film" ambitions. Set in Hamtramck, the one-time Polish enclave in Detroit, the movie harkens back to decades ago although it is mistakenly set in the present.

Although the plot is subtle enough, with not-everything-spelled out, the many factual errors detract considerably from the viewer's experience. (Who leaves laundry outside on the line all night in humid southeastern Michigan? And how many parishes, no matter how ethnically traditional, still hold processions of the Virgin Mary? For that matter, what priest would choose as Mary's representative, an aimless high school dropout whose mother is the local sleep-around? And the Polish-Americans of Hamtramck, while proudly descended from old-country emigrant ancestors of decades ago, speak unaccented English, with the rare exception of a few octogenarian-plus grandmas.) Sorry, my own "suspension-of-disbelief" just doesn't stretch that far!

The competent acting performances, turned in by the entire cast, are wasted in this film which has many unintentional bits of humor (see above). The intentional bits of humor---the mother and brothers and father chasing with hockey sticks after the young policeman who impregnated the family's daughter--are just not funny enough to redeem this film. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

a modern holiday CLASSIC!
This movie has become one of my all-time favorites. While there are many classic films celebrating Christmas, this is the film I look forward to watching at Thanksgiving each year. I discovered this film one year when I couldn't make it home for the holidays- and watched it again and again. I felt like I had indeed gone home and seen old friends. I cannot understand why some reviewers didn't love it (like Leonard Maltin, but then, when was the last time you concurred with one of his reviews? I think he's paid to praise Hollywood high budget action films).

"Home for the Holidays" is a familiar and touching picture of a typical American family gathering at Thanksgiving time. The casting is wonderful and includes Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr , the always amazing Anne Bancroft and Dylan McDermott. The lead character, a single mother who has long-ago fled her hometown, as played by Holly Hunter is very endearing and readily identifiable, and the situations while depicted humorously, ring true. Jodie Foster did a wonderful job directing- any sentiment from this film, and it has a lot of sentimental value- comes from her wry depiction of family renunions, the inevitable bickering, and resolution at the holidays; emotion is never forced by the actors or upon the viewer. This is a great feel-good, true to life film; I think everyone who is single and under 40 should own it and enjoy it each Thanksgiving, whether you make it home for the holidays or not.

Delightful Dysfunction
Home for the Holidays has made my list of favorite movies. Why? It is full of warmth, biting wit, and brimming with...well...dysfunction.

Holly Hunter is great as Claudia Larsen, a single mom approaching forty. Claudia (nicknamed Clyde), is petrified of going to her parents' for Thanksgiving. Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning as Adele and Henry are typical well-meaning parents - Adele's interference balances out Henry's bumbling sentiment. Adele's eccentric sister Gladys brings a little out-and-out humor to the movie.

The scourge of the movie is Claudia's sister's family, the wonderful Witmans. Younger sis Joanne is a sickening perfectionist, and her daughter is even worse. The meek men of the house, Walter and Walter, Jr. are avoiding direct contact with Joanne, if not alleviating her tantrums. Claire Danes is also good as Clyde's daughter Kit, even though her appearance in the movie is brief. Also, Dylan McDermott is a charming bystander as Clyde's love interest.

Finally, the best part of the movie. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of gay middle child Tommy is brilliant. It's funny, touching, and (I think) Oscar worthy. Well, definitely Globe worthy, then.

Home for the Holidays is about Thanksgiving, basically, but is great for any occassion - watch it to gain some appreciation of your family. You're not as abnormal as you think.

One to Own
This movie is hysterical, painful, sad and joyous. The characters are real, the situations are all too familiar, and the humor is spot-on. We watch this movie at least twice a year and laugh just as hard each time.

Robert Downey Jr. steals the show and portrays his character with such honesty that it is (in my opinion) his best performance to date. Holly Hunter captures the helplessness of the annual Thanksgiving from Hell that is often the reality of all of our lives. However, it is not preachy, it doesn't wrap things up in a pretty bow, but it leaves you with the feeling that life is good just the way it is.

A must see.

Family Matters
I have to say that I was a bit surprised at how much I liked Home For The Holidays. After all, a large family gathering for a major event, is certainly nothing new in film. There are plenty of dramadies like this--it's all in the execution--and that makes it work. I have to also disclose that I'm not the biggest fan of Holly Hunter's and perhaps that caused me to go into this, not expecting a whole lot.

In the span of a 36 hour period, Claudia Larson (Hunter) has managed to lose her job, make out with her boss and learn that her daughter (Claire Danes) is planning to "go all the way". But Claudia's fortunes actually take a turn for the worse when she flies home to endure an even more difficult hardship known as the family Thanksgiving. Beleagured, not ony by her neurotic mother (Anne Bancroft), a kooky father (Charles Durning), eccentric brother (Robert Downey Jr.) and compulsively "normal" sister (Cynthia Stevenson), Claudia struggles to maintain her sanity. But as the festivities roll along those prospects prove difficult. As sparks fly, tempers flare and issues are exposed, surprisingly, Claudia manages to discover things about herself and her family she never know.

The script from W.D. Richter is better than I expected. Coming from a large family of my own, there's plenty that I can identify with. Really anyone who has a family will find that to be the case for them as well. The script very well done. The drama is "real"-and not over the top or too melodramatic. The lighter moments are not too broad or cheap. Directed by Jodie Foster, the cast hits all the right marks--even Hunter. I had very few complaints. Foster, as well known actress herself, dives right in and isn't affraid of the limited setting.

The DVD boasts a solid audio commentary from Foster. Who, as she has on her other commentaries, provides for an engaging and insightful track. The only other extra on the DVD is your typical theatrical trailer. Participation from the cast would have made things a bit more comlete.

Home...works. Its problems are few...Recommended

like fruitcake
Robert Downey Jr is a hoot. But no one else in this movie measures up. Direction is ploddding; chracterization, mawkish. ... Read more

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Alice (Claire Danes) and Darlene (Kate Beckinsale) are best friends on their post-high-school whirlwind vacation. Telling their parents they're off for Hawaii, they head instead to Thailand, where they stay at a $6-a-night dive and sneak drinks at a posh hotel. They both fall sway to the charms of a handsome Australian (Daniel Lapaine), who invites them to Hong Kong. Off they go, although unbeknownst to them (or is it? this question is never fully answered), one of them has heroin in her backpack. Sentenced to 33 years in a Thai jail, they find their friendship begins to deteriorate as their trust in each other fades. They enlist the help of Yankee Hank (BillPullman), a greedy but knowledgeable American lawyer living in Asia.

The main flaws of this film are the capital-L lessons: friendship is powerful, don't trust strangers, nice girls shouldn't drink and sleep around.The film's bleakest moments, in the jail, aren't all that bad, and in thisrespect Brokedown Palace has nothing on the intensity of films such asMidnight Express or even Return to Paradise. Yet Danes andBeckinsale prove they are strong actresses, and their characters' friendship issuitably complex and believable. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Brokedown Movie
Claire Danes is the only thing that kept this movie going. She is so eye-fetching and compelling as an actress, that you just want to reach out and touch her. But, what a lousy ending. It had potential. The scenario is an all too familiar one, two good-looking American girls find themselves trapped in an Asian prison with seemingly no way out. But, this isn't a jailbait movie, it attempts to address the issue in a serious way, a la Midnight Express, but unfortunately falls flat on its face.

The characters are so unbelievable (except Danes of course). Fathers who allow their daughters to rot in jail. A private American lawyer hanging out in Bangkok who wiffs of second-hand Graham Greene novels ready to bail out the girls for a price. A friendship between the two girls that you really have to question in the face of what happens to them, and an ending that will leave you totally exasperated.

I don't suppose this was based on a true story. Rather, the director seemed in search of some gravitas and needed to concoct an ending that would carry with it the emotional weight he imagined would be the case in such a situation. But, it is simply too incredible to believe that Danes' character would sell herself in this way.

amazing talent
this movie tells it like it is, its dramatic, and very well acted. It shows strangth, power, friendship and betral.
its amazing

Wonderful Movie
Many negative reviews seem to be under the misapprehension that this movie is about something which it is not. Something that, if it were to incorporate those elements, would completely change the character of the film--turning it from a story about friendship, character, and life's little events to one about the horrors of the foreign prison.

This film is not about prison or about life in prison. It is not about drug smuggling. Criticizing it on this is like saying that Pirates of the Caribbean is a horrible movie because it doesn't represent an accurate portrayal of shipboard life.

It is a stunningly beautiful and well done (at points artistic) portrayal of the depths of friendship and the strength of human character ("if you are lying..."). The sets and acting are wonderful, the examination of the Thai legal system seemed fair (regardless of whether those are the actual conditions in prison, I am not qualified to judge nor do I care for the purposes of this film), and there were several underlying moral questions without clear answers.

Which is another thing: this movie doesn't leave you with all of the answers. Nothing is left accidentally dangling, but there are several things left for you to chew on.

Exotic lands are only fun until...
Sure, the movie was not (from what I know) completely accurate in terms of the conditions of Thai prisons. And I do agree at times the prison seemed so sunny, too friendly, too cheerful, etc to be realistic. But I think that the plot is that of a tale of friendship as much as it is of serving time in a Thai prison.

Most importantly, I think that anyone who is a first time traveler or planning on backpacking throughout Southeast Asia really should see this film. Darlene and Alice were typical girls from USA Suburbia. They had just finished school (like many who are about to do a gap year or some backpacking) and went to Thailand because it was exotic, different, faraway... They really didn't know much about Thai culture before they set out.

Sadly, they stayed in Thailand for much longer than they had planned to -- locked up in a women's prision (probably Lard Yao), for carrying drugs. Without devulging the plot, it is fair to say that they were innocent.

Again, another harsh reminder that if you are heading to Southeast Asia (or really any developing area), you need to be really careful. Watch this, read Sandra Gregory's "Forget you Had a Daughter," and don't try anything stupid (or don't be coerced, tricked, etc). Southeast Asia is a wonderful place, and you will have a blast. Just know that there are consequences if you are caught with anything.

Reason I didn't give it a one star
Warning -semi-spoilers

Okay, there is one reason I did not give this film a one star. If a young teeny bopper adolescent girl crazed over Claire Danes can learn a lesson about flying off to an unknown place without understanding that country's laws, and stop thinking it's so cool to go away with her best gilfriend and live it up in another exotic locale...then all is not wasted.

Otherwise...this movie was really sad. Not as entertaining as the commericals lead me to believe. The girls were too incredibly naive and arrogant while in another country. Depressing stuff. ... Read more

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Although the television show My So-Called Life ran for a mere 19 episodes, its popularity has lived on in syndication, various Web sites (that include fan fiction and episode analysis), and home video. Volume 3 of the video series includes the episodes "Father Figure" and "The Zit." In "Father Figure," Angela's father Graham, who was considering having an extramarital affair, senses that Angela is beginning to pull away from him. He tries to remedy this by giving her and her friend Rayanne Grateful Dead tickets. While Rayanne (who doesn't know her father) is joyous, Angela, who is suspicious, wants nothing to do with the tickets and decides to scalp them. Angela's mother Patty is also struggling with her own father who doubts her ability to run the family business. When the business is audited by the IRS the same night as the concert, fathers and daughters clash as they try to equalize their relationships.

In "The Zit," the sophomore girls top-40 list is released at school. While Rayanne is deemed "most slut potential" and Angela's estranged friend Sharon is voted "best hooters," Angela's only award is a big pimple on her chin. As her self-esteem shrinks, Patty insists she participate in the yearly mother-daughter fashion show, coaching her on "how to look your best." Although Patty has always been told how pretty she is, her own insecurities on aging have projected onto fixing up Angela, who feels she will never live up to her mother's expectations. Bess Armstrong, who plays Patty, gives a complex performance here and Angela and Sharon exchange harsh words in a scene that rings true to life. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

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Michelle Pfeiffer's husband, television producer David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal), is partially responsible for this entertaining tearjerker about a widower (Peter Gallagher) who can't let go of his late wife and whose relationship with his adolescent daughter (Claire Danes) is stalled as a result. Invited for a weekend at the beach by his worried sister-in-law (Kathy Baker), Gallagher's character faces various humiliations (he's bee