Amazon.com

A sweet tempered urban love story, Crossing Delancey argues that true love may be in the first place you look. Amy Irving is a single Jewish woman working at an upscale bookstore on the Upper West Side of New York. As much as she longs to be a part of the intellectual literary scene, she is tethered to her roots on the Lower East Side, where her old-fashioned grandmother is forever trying to fix her up. Irving has her eye on a handsome brooding author, but her grandmother enlists the help of a local matchmaker to fix her up with Peter Riegert, a quiet Jewish man who runs a pickle stand in the neighborhood. Soon she must decide what it is she really wants out of life and what love really means to her. Though a very traditional love story, Crossing Delancey has its moments of soul searching drama and an unlikely romance. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Literate, Charming Romance!
This is the movie that "Moonstruck" WISHES it could have been! Amy Irving and Peter Reigert star in this literate, well written, wonderfully acted New York story in which Upper West Side sophistication meets Lower East Side tradition. Irving's "Izzy" lives in a world of books, editors, writers, and intellectuals, while Reigert's "Sam" owns a pickle stand in the heart of Lower Manhattans old world Jewish community, the East Side below Delancey Street. Sam and Izzy are brought together when Izzy's old fashioned Grandmother hires a matchmaker to find Izzy a suitable man to finally settle down with. Tradition clashes with modern life in New York when Sam enters Izzy's world and forces her to look at herself and those around her.

"A joke and a pickle...for only a nickle."
I hate to use the word "adorable", but, I must. This film is just adorable. The story of Izzy, the sophisticated, independent, N.Y. City career girl (wonderfully played by Amy Irving), and "Sam , The Pickle Man", (also wonderfully played by Paul Riegert), is a heartwarming, funny, sweet love story. Izzys "Bubby" hires a marriage broker, hysterically played by Sylvia Miles, to "match-up" her granddaughter, "Miss Fancy", who she perceives as living a lonely life.."A dog should live alone !" Izzy is involved in the literary world, and aspires to an intellectual, sophisticated life, only miles away, but a million miles away from the old -world kosher existance of her beloved Bubby. Reizl Bezyk ,who was a popular star in Yiddish theater, plays Bubby, and she is really the outstanding character in this movie. Her practical, no-nonsense approach to life & love, with a kind of "you're born, you eat, you love, you die" mentality, is in direct opposition to granddaughter Isabelles (Izzy). She speaks in "Bubby-isms", and she is hysterical, implying the world in just a look. Izzy immediatley rejects the arranged match-up with Riegerts "Sam", the pickle man, simply because she can't get past the pickles. She sees the pretentious Russian author, to whom she is associated in her job at an old book store, as being more complementary to her. He is a cad who woos her with quotes from Confucious, and he can offer her the prestige and entree into the world of intelligensia that she aspires to be in. The ensuing conflict, between the world she hopes for, and the opportunity that's right in front of her... that she won't see, is very touching and funny. This is just a great little love story about sometimes finding what you're looking for in the most un-likely package, and not letting your pre-conceived expectations get in the way. It is beautifully filmed around wonderful Manhattan locations, and the soundtrack by "The Roches" perfectly complements the story as it happens. A terrific little "feel-good" movie... and you're gonna love that "Bubby."

Searching & Finding Meaning in the Middle of Romance
"Crossing Delancey" is presumed at first a romance, and it is. Deeper than the romance is a search for meaning. This two-level movie is funny with an undercurrent of a genuine plot stronger than the usual romantic comedy.

Part of the ego-driven, superficial but pretentious New York literary scene, Isabelle Grossman brings together writers and other literati for soirees feting the personalities behind the books.

Isabelle, or Izzy, herself is not a writer, but feels she is important because of the names and numbers in her Rolodex. She works hard and late, only to go home to an empty apartment. Her only love is accommodating the occasional lonely nights of a friend who fights with his wife. She tolerates his affections in what amounts to be no more than a recurring one-night stand.

Although Izzy's emptiness surrounds her, she never notices it, not even when her grandmother has a matchmaker attempt setting her up with Sam, a neighbor bachelor. Unfortunately for Sam, her intentions are set on Anton, a dashing, but caddish author whose books are bestsellers. He only wants her to appease his desires, and has no love for her, but she is blind to his true intentions. She curtly rejects another date with Sam.

With a single romantic signal, Pickleman Sam, the man she pushed away in a matchmaking dinner now effectively woos her heart into confusion. He had noticed her years ago and now happily accepted the chance to be introduced by the matchmaker. When he tells her this, a spark is lit. He isn't the suave author she begs for, and his lifestyle is more simple than those whose books are reviewed in the New York Times. She fumbles opportunity after opportunity to connect with Sam, but he is patient.

Anton makes advances that are alluring to Izzy as her heart tries to reconcile her fondness for Sam. This conflict causes Izzy to ask the important questions about integrity, meaning and happiness.

With the light, but poignant backdrop of her Jewish family and friends, this romance makes statements both serious and comedic. Outside of the periodic stereotyping of Jewish grandmothers, it works.

I fully recommend "Crossing Delancey."

Anthony Trendl

This Movie Needs to be out in DVD!
I saw Crossing Delancey when it first came out, 16 years ago. It is a wonderful story about New York, family, and learning that the person who, at first glance, doesn't fit into your world turns out to be perfect after all. I have recommended this movie over the years to everyone I know. The videotapes are getting scarce and I don't understand why it's never come out on DVD!

The charm of the pickle seller
This urban love story stars Amy Irving as a single Jewish woman who is balanced between two worlds: the literary life of the Upper West Side in Manhattan where she works in an upscale bookstore and the ethnic hotbed of the Lower East Side where her yenta of a grandmother is forever trying to arrange a marriage "with a nice Jewish boy."
Granny wants to fix her up with a quiet guy who runs a neighbornood pickle stand - and Amy's not having any of it. I mean, a PICKLE SELLER?? Come on, Granny!

But watch what happens...
A traditional romance, lovingly told. Enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Barbra Streisand made her directorial debut with this 1983 adaptation of the Isaac Bashevis Singer story about a young Eastern European woman (Streisand) who disguises herself as a male at the turn of the century in order to get an education. Except for an excessive musical score with too many songs and Streisand's tiresome tendency to play characters who suppress their beauty, the film is crisp and engaging, and the gender-bending love story complications are fun, if gimmicky. Streisand gives a smart, vulnerable performance and gets fresh work from costars Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (56)

A Triumph for the Director, Not the Actress
When "Yentl" was first released it proved to be neither the I-told-you-so triumph producer-director-star Barbra Streisand hoped, nor the total failure nay-sayers gleefully predicted. In years since, "Yentl" has become the punchline for many jokes (men who were dragged to see this with their wives or girlfriends can't seem to say enough nasty things about it), but most of those jokes aren't warranted.

As a director, Streisand has much to be proud of. She gets stellar performances from co-stars Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving (Streisand has proven herself to be an actor's director), the photography is lush and she makes the non-commercial story quite compelling. The movie's main weakness, though, is Streisand's work in front of the camera. Being miscast is nothing new for the star of "Hello, Dolly!" and "A Star is Born," but usually she's buoyed by her star power. In "Yentl," that star power is a detriment. This is a movie that needed an actress, not a star.

However, not many film actresses have Streisand's voice, and this is a musical, after all. The songs in "Yentl" (all sung by Streisand; fellow singer Patinkin doesn't even hum along) function as internal monologues, and as such they work fine in the context of the movie. But this is no "Funny Girl"--despite a finale that looks very similar to that movie's "Don't Rain on My Parade" sequence. There are few tunes that'll be stuck in your head by the final credits. Turning "Yentl" into a musical seemed more of a concession to the studio, anyway.

Despite its shortcomings, and despite what all those snarky husbands and boyfriends say about it, "Yentl" proved Streisand's formidable talents aren't just limited to singing and acting.

Why isn't this on DVD!
I just adore this movie. Great acting, sweet story, lots of culture and absolutely fabulous music... I listen to the soundtrack all the time.

Barbara Streisand is perfect at playing an intelligent, yet vulnerable woman in a time and place in which women were supposed to be illiterate and considered to be silly. Her father was a more forward-thinking man in a culture that considered teaching a woman to read something perverse and criminal. When her father dies,she loses everything... women can't read, own property or make decisions concerning the course of her life.

She decides that her persuit of knowledge of the holy scriptures is too important to let the opportunity slip through her fingers, so she cuts her hair and lives life as a male Rabbinical student. Life takes a twist she doesn't expect when she falls for her classmate and subsequently is forced to marry a young girl.

There are a lot of laughing-out-loud moments, but this is mostly just an extremely sweet story of love, sacrifice, tradition and freedom. It's definitely a feel-good movie that will put a lump in your throat. I highly recommend this film.

Poor Quality Copy
The VHS desperately needs remastering. If people want to see Babs dressed up like a man, then we need to get this released on DVD.
I know I can't wait!!!

LESS WOULD OF BEEN MORE
I love Barbra. I saw her final Concert in Los Angeles so I am a fan! I like this movie! HOWEVER I did not Love it! I think this movie is TOO LONG! Since this is Streisand's baby you can see every frame was a labor of love! If you want to see a great Streisand movie get "Funny Girl" However Barbra if your reading I would trust you would do a great job of acting and directing in the muscial adaption of Sunset Boulevard! You are the greatest star of them all!

There are moments you remember all your life...
... and seeing Yentl certainly was such a moment. The movie had a profound impact on my life when I was a girl of 14. More than 10 years later, it has not lost any of its message. "Revisiting" Yentl from time to time has helped me choose the path I really want to go. Some of my dreams have come true, but there is more to come, I am sure. It also gives me courage to do what I need to, like Yentl, and like Mrs. Streisand whose work as female director was groundbreaking at the time. Chapeau! ... Read more

Description

Walt Disney Pictures' TUCK EVERLASTING, a timeless and enchanting adventure about one girl's magical summer, will captivate audiences of any age. Young Winnie Foster, stifled by the formality of her proper life and domineering mother, escapes into the woods only to get lost. Soon she happens upon Jesse Tuck -- a boy full of life and adventure who's unlike anyone she's ever met -- and falls in love.The Tucks, a kind and generous family, have a powerful secret -- a spring that holds the magic of everlasting life. And now Winnie must choose to live life as she knows it or drink from the spring. It's a life-affirming adventure that will cast its irresistible spell over you again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

"Captivating Tale of Love, Immortality, and Choices We Make"
Even though I teach middle school, I had not read this book. My students mentioned it often however, and as an instructor of Greek mythology, I became curious about the story when I learned its basic premise was immortality. (I have been told that there was much less a love interest between the teenagers in the book, however this emendation certainly lends a magical spark to the timeless story.) Upon seeing the movie, I can recommend it not only for its excellent treatment of this subject, but also as a film the whole family can enjoy and discuss afterward.

In brief, this is the story of those (the family Tuck) who would seek to live forever. Unlike the mythological Tithonius however, who was granted everlasting life without eternal youth, the Tuck family becomes immortal from the moment they drink of the mystical pool at the foot of an ancient tree--a tree that will lend a poignant and touching climax to the end of the film.

Suffice it to say, the acting is wonderful. High profile heavyweights such as Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek and William Hurt give predictable sterling performances. Victor Garber (Alias; Annie) is also excellent as the wealthy father. But Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) as Winnie Foster is simply disarming. She is convincing and superb in her effort to balance her desire for love in a life outside of time, with her responsibility to live the life intended for her. The talent of the cast, as well as the curiosity of the storyline makes for few dull moments, and the conclusion left me with one wet Kleenex!

This is a beautiful film--from the scenery, to the music, to the performances, to the plot. Yes, it might be simplistic and predictable, but it would take a crusty old grinch to say that this ninety minutes wasn't thoroughly delightful, and time well spent.

In the end, the age-old questions remain--is immortality all we would dream it to be? Is it quantity, or quality of life that is important? Does living forever make one unique and privileged, or does it (as Tuck would say) make one merely a rock stuck in a mud bank beside a flowing stream? And where does love fit into this equation? Is being given the love of your life, or loving the life you're given the more appropriate choice? The answer is found in Winnie's final decision on whether or not to drink from the eternal pool--a decision I could not have made.

Much better than the Country Bears!
About 2 to 5 weeks ago, I was watched the Country Bears, and found it a bad film by Disney, and now they have made it up, they made and came with this movie called "Tuck Everlasting". Which is about a girl that meets teenageer that is 104, and I must say that for being 104, that Jessie Tuck looks better good for his age. The girl is 15 years old and her name is Winfred. The Tucks are immortal, becuase they have discorved a a pond, that makes them living forever, even if they fall, and don't get hurt, or shot but not get hit. As the movie opens, Winfred "Winnie" Foster (Alexis Bledel) has met a stranger in a yellow suit, who is looking for the Tucks. Her parents decide to send her to a school that would manners. She doesn't want to go and runs away from home, and his lost in the woods and she runs into Jessie Tuck (Jonathan Jackson), who tells her to get out of the woods and to go home. But she runs, and runs into Jessie's grumpy brother Miles (Scott Barrstow), who takes her to his mom (Sissy Spaey). Who tells Miles to get his father (William Hurt) from fishing, because "he'll" not what to do with Winnie. I would reccomend this movie to you on dvd, if you love movies in "letter-box" fromat, and if you don't, then you will have to settle for the video tape edition, but a word of warning, if you get this on dvd, there are trailers for other movies like George of the Jungle 2 and Inceptor Gadge 2.

Love this movie
I love this movie! it is a great film...maybe better then the book. i cried for hours after i watched this movie (which is a good thing) if you like sad movies you'll love this!!!

Tuck Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting sure is everlasting.The movie isn't completely terrible.It really explores life and death but it takes to long.The whole time I kind of felt bored.The plot is good but I don't think it or the book it was adapted from are all that great.Maybe this just isn't my kind of film but it just took forever to get to the climax and it was only 90 minutes.The acting definetly isn't Oscar winning; the only great performance was by Sissy Spacek.The dialogue is of course compatible to this kind of movie but I still didn't really like it.It was a little better than I thought it would be, though.If you are interested in living forever or dealing with death or your just a kid you may like it more than the rest of us out there.To add to everything else I didn't really like the time setting.Check this one out if you want to be bored.Young Winnie Foster, stifled by the formality of her proper life and domineering mother, escapes into the woods only to get lost.Soon she happens upon Jesse Tuck- a boy full of life and adventure who's unlike anyone she's ever met- and falls in love.The Tucks, a kind and genorous family, have a powerful secret- a spring that holds the magic of everlasting life.And now Winnie must choose to live life as she knows it or drink from the spring.

"Like the Tuck family themselves, this movie just goes on and on and on and on"
-- Larry Carroll, COUNTINGDOWN.COM

the story is a bit thin but some scenes are simply powerful
It was not as great a story or character development as I could have hoped for, but overall I was not dissapointed. The scenery was beautiful, the 2 main characters also were beautiful and they had some powerful scenes between them.

The scene of him helping her in the water because she cannot swim is one of the most romantic and touching few minutes of film I have ever seen. ... Read more

Description

A country and western singer jeopardizes his marriage and his career when he has an affair with the young daughter of his longtime musical sidekick. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

What's Not to Like?
One of the feel-good movies of the 80s, "Honeysuckle Rose" wears well. Willie Nelson plays Buck Bonham, a country superstar (surprise!) who's about to go out on tour when he loses a key member of the band. No problem. Buck's loyal, loving wife (Dyan Cannon), herself a former superstar and now Buck's business manager, books the young, attractive, and professionally untried daughter of a longtime family friend (Slim Pickens) to temporarily join the tour until a seasoned replacement can be found. It turns out the girl (Amy Irving, young, sexy, and beautiful) can really belt out a tune. And that's not all.

Before you can say "broken heart," Buck and the girl are in bed together, and their mutual passion is there for all to see as they sing together on stage (by the way, Irving has one heck of a voice, and her duets with Nelson are sweet and lovely). How long will it take for the Missus to find out?

Despite the open disapproval of his band members and country friends such as Amy Harris (who has a couple of solos as well), Buck continues the dangerous affair--until somebody tips off his wife and she appears unexpectedly at one of the concert venues. There ensues a great deal of melodrama, most of it played out in song, like the classic "You Were Always On My Mind." Unfortunately, Cannon, who is supposed to be a country great in this movie, sings as well, and her flat, untrained and grating voice is just awful.

The plot sidesteps into a silly trip to Mexico with Slim Pickens, the outraged father and friend, during which Bonham comes to his senses. All works out just fine in the end, and the viewer ends up smiling, humming country songs, and rewinding the tape to start it up all over again.

"Honeysuckle Rose" a totally entertaining film.
Honeysuckle Rose once again proves that a great singer, Willie Nelson, can be, and usually is, a more than competent actor. Buoyed up with outstanding performances by Dyan Cannon, Amy Irving and Slim Pickens, Willie more than holds his own in this totally entertaining and music- filled portrayal of life on the road as a country musician. Most of Willie's million-seller hits are included along the way. It is a realistic and satisfying account of journeymen musician's lives, including the creative energy they must generate to be a success and the foibles they often display enroute. Don't miss it.

A true-to-life image of music on the road
While it certainly does not hurt to be a Willie Nelson fan to enjoy this movie, anybody (whether into rock, country, folk, etc...) wanting to see a humerous and serious true-to-life movie about playing music on the road should see this. The acting is great and the plot and content is superb.

Classic, true outlaw-country road movie
Willie nelson plays Buck Bonham, a country singer based on his own person. The movie makes you relive the time Willie Nelson was at one of his peaks. Great music, and although the storieline is a little weak, the settings and music make up for it a 100 percent. It's the only movie I know of that can be watched hundreds of times without getting boring. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Treasure of Childhood
Musicaly fairy tales. What more could a kid ask for. One of the classic and coveted Cannon Movie Tales series, although admitedly not one of their best (The Frog Prince and Sleeping Beauty are arguably better), still a member of something amazing. A bit of a twist on the old tale that succedes in bringing the characters to life, as many revisions of fairy tales often try but fall short of doing. Throw in a dash of sweet, catchy tunes that kids likely will be humming in those small quiet moments, even 10 years from now, when they've techinically "outgrown" childhood loves. As a child this movie was one of my most treasured possesion, and still holds a deep and beautiful place in my heart. For a 5-12 year old kid, especially one that likes fairy tales, this is an unmissable, everlasting treasure. Better even than the fairie tale theatre creations. I mean it.

A great movie - IT OUGHT TO BE RE-RELEASED!!!!!!
I loved this movie since I was a kid. It took me, if you can believe it, 5 years to track down a copy, and even now it's not available from where I found it. Amy Irving is delightful and, surprisingly, can sing very well. Clive Revill is a riot as the king and for once the prince really is charming. The script has taken quite a few liberties with the story, but it's so cute I really didn't care-- Anyway, this was my favorite movie when I was a kid and I still love watching it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

What's Not to Like?
One of the feel-good movies of the 80s, "Honeysuckle Rose" wears well. Willie Nelson plays Buck Bonham, a country superstar (surprise!) who's about to go out on tour when he loses a key member of the band. No problem. Buck's loyal, loving wife (Dyan Cannon), herself a former superstar and now Buck's business manager, books the young, attractive, and professionally untried daughter of a longtime family friend (Slim Pickens) to temporarily join the tour until a seasoned replacement can be found. It turns out the girl (Amy Irving, young, sexy, and beautiful) can really belt out a tune. And that's not all.

Before you can say "broken heart," Buck and the girl are in bed together, and their mutual passion is there for all to see as they sing together on stage (by the way, Irving has one heck of a voice, and her duets with Nelson are sweet and lovely). How long will it take for the Missus to find out?

Despite the open disapproval of his band members and country friends such as Amy Harris (who has a couple of solos as well), Buck continues the dangerous affair--until somebody tips off his wife and she appears unexpectedly at one of the concert venues. There ensues a great deal of melodrama, most of it played out in song, like the classic "You Were Always On My Mind." Unfortunately, Cannon, who is supposed to be a country great in this movie, sings as well, and her flat, untrained and grating voice is just awful.

The plot sidesteps into a silly trip to Mexico with Slim Pickens, the outraged father and friend, during which Bonham comes to his senses. All works out just fine in the end, and the viewer ends up smiling, humming country songs, and rewinding the tape to start it up all over again.

"Honeysuckle Rose" a totally entertaining film.
Honeysuckle Rose once again proves that a great singer, Willie Nelson, can be, and usually is, a more than competent actor. Buoyed up with outstanding performances by Dyan Cannon, Amy Irving and Slim Pickens, Willie more than holds his own in this totally entertaining and music- filled portrayal of life on the road as a country musician. Most of Willie's million-seller hits are included along the way. It is a realistic and satisfying account of journeymen musician's lives, including the creative energy they must generate to be a success and the foibles they often display enroute. Don't miss it.

A true-to-life image of music on the road
While it certainly does not hurt to be a Willie Nelson fan to enjoy this movie, anybody (whether into rock, country, folk, etc...) wanting to see a humerous and serious true-to-life movie about playing music on the road should see this. The acting is great and the plot and content is superb.

Classic, true outlaw-country road movie
Willie nelson plays Buck Bonham, a country singer based on his own person. The movie makes you relive the time Willie Nelson was at one of his peaks. Great music, and although the storieline is a little weak, the settings and music make up for it a 100 percent. It's the only movie I know of that can be watched hundreds of times without getting boring. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Literate, Charming Romance!
This is the movie that "Moonstruck" WISHES it could have been! Amy Irving and Peter Reigert star in this literate, well written, wonderfully acted New York story in which Upper West Side sophistication meets Lower East Side tradition. Irving's "Izzy" lives in a world of books, editors, writers, and intellectuals, while Reigert's "Sam" owns a pickle stand in the heart of Lower Manhattans old world Jewish community, the East Side below Delancey Street. Sam and Izzy are brought together when Izzy's old fashioned Grandmother hires a matchmaker to find Izzy a suitable man to finally settle down with. Tradition clashes with modern life in New York when Sam enters Izzy's world and forces her to look at herself and those around her.

"A joke and a pickle...for only a nickle."
I hate to use the word "adorable", but, I must. This film is just adorable. The story of Izzy, the sophisticated, independent, N.Y. City career girl (wonderfully played by Amy Irving), and "Sam , The Pickle Man", (also wonderfully played by Paul Riegert), is a heartwarming, funny, sweet love story. Izzys "Bubby" hires a marriage broker, hysterically played by Sylvia Miles, to "match-up" her granddaughter, "Miss Fancy", who she perceives as living a lonely life.."A dog should live alone !" Izzy is involved in the literary world, and aspires to an intellectual, sophisticated life, only miles away, but a million miles away from the old -world kosher existance of her beloved Bubby. Reizl Bezyk ,who was a popular star in Yiddish theater, plays Bubby, and she is really the outstanding character in this movie. Her practical, no-nonsense approach to life & love, with a kind of "you're born, you eat, you love, you die" mentality, is in direct opposition to granddaughter Isabelles (Izzy). She speaks in "Bubby-isms", and she is hysterical, implying the world in just a look. Izzy immediatley rejects the arranged match-up with Riegerts "Sam", the pickle man, simply because she can't get past the pickles. She sees the pretentious Russian author, to whom she is associated in her job at an old book store, as being more complementary to her. He is a cad who woos her with quotes from Confucious, and he can offer her the prestige and entree into the world of intelligensia that she aspires to be in. The ensuing conflict, between the world she hopes for, and the opportunity that's right in front of her... that she won't see, is very touching and funny. This is just a great little love story about sometimes finding what you're looking for in the most un-likely package, and not letting your pre-conceived expectations get in the way. It is beautifully filmed around wonderful Manhattan locations, and the soundtrack by "The Roches" perfectly complements the story as it happens. A terrific little "feel-good" movie... and you're gonna love that "Bubby."

Searching & Finding Meaning in the Middle of Romance
"Crossing Delancey" is presumed at first a romance, and it is. Deeper than the romance is a search for meaning. This two-level movie is funny with an undercurrent of a genuine plot stronger than the usual romantic comedy.

Part of the ego-driven, superficial but pretentious New York literary scene, Isabelle Grossman brings together writers and other literati for soirees feting the personalities behind the books.

Isabelle, or Izzy, herself is not a writer, but feels she is important because of the names and numbers in her Rolodex. She works hard and late, only to go home to an empty apartment. Her only love is accommodating the occasional lonely nights of a friend who fights with his wife. She tolerates his affections in what amounts to be no more than a recurring one-night stand.

Although Izzy's emptiness surrounds her, she never notices it, not even when her grandmother has a matchmaker attempt setting her up with Sam, a neighbor bachelor. Unfortunately for Sam, her intentions are set on Anton, a dashing, but caddish author whose books are bestsellers. He only wants her to appease his desires, and has no love for her, but she is blind to his true intentions. She curtly rejects another date with Sam.

With a single romantic signal, Pickleman Sam, the man she pushed away in a matchmaking dinner now effectively woos her heart into confusion. He had noticed her years ago and now happily accepted the chance to be introduced by the matchmaker. When he tells her this, a spark is lit. He isn't the suave author she begs for, and his lifestyle is more simple than those whose books are reviewed in the New York Times. She fumbles opportunity after opportunity to connect with Sam, but he is patient.

Anton makes advances that are alluring to Izzy as her heart tries to reconcile her fondness for Sam. This conflict causes Izzy to ask the important questions about integrity, meaning and happiness.

With the light, but poignant backdrop of her Jewish family and friends, this romance makes statements both serious and comedic. Outside of the periodic stereotyping of Jewish grandmothers, it works.

I fully recommend "Crossing Delancey."

Anthony Trendl

This Movie Needs to be out in DVD!
I saw Crossing Delancey when it first came out, 16 years ago. It is a wonderful story about New York, family, and learning that the person who, at first glance, doesn't fit into your world turns out to be perfect after all. I have recommended this movie over the years to everyone I know. The videotapes are getting scarce and I don't understand why it's never come out on DVD!

The charm of the pickle seller
This urban love story stars Amy Irving as a single Jewish woman who is balanced between two worlds: the literary life of the Upper West Side in Manhattan where she works in an upscale bookstore and the ethnic hotbed of the Lower East Side where her yenta of a grandmother is forever trying to arrange a marriage "with a nice Jewish boy."
Granny wants to fix her up with a quiet guy who runs a neighbornood pickle stand - and Amy's not having any of it. I mean, a PICKLE SELLER?? Come on, Granny!

But watch what happens...
A traditional romance, lovingly told. Enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When you are in the mood for a pleasant little romance, this should fit the bill. Amy Irving and Richard Dreyfuss are young pianists vying for the same prize. Surprise, surprise, they fall in love. We then must wait, with (nearly) breathless anticipation, to see if she will throw the contest to ensure his love. It is all a bit starry-eyed, but not overly gooey. The concert footage is handled with class, and there are some fine supporting performances from Sam Wanamaker and Lee Remick. It is also a lot of fun to see Dreyfuss and Irving as such fresh-faced innocents. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Watch this with someone you love !
Gosh, there were so many good movies from the 1970's & 1980's. The Competition is definately one of them. People who enjoy classical music with a good star cast will really enjoy this flic. The story is simple enough. Richard Dreyfus & Amy Irving are young pianists who fall in love while vying for the prize of a major competition.For the finale, Dreyfuss chooses Beethoven's piano concerto no.5, while Amy chooses the more complex Prokofiev's piano concerto no.3. Though Amy Irving is more smitten by Dreyfuss's charm, he's a bit reluctant to get involved due to the competition which both parties want to win desperately. Lee Remick is apt as the watchful teacher over Amy Irving. Sam Wanamaker who's also a popular director himself is excellent as the conductor of the competition. Popular 70's music director Lalo Schifrin is the movie's music composer & Joel Oliansky takes the honors for story, screenplay & direction.

The love/ hate movie
I gotta tell you, my sister and I both love Dreyfuss and Irving and Lee Remick. The best part of this movie is the piano competition. The actors were beliveable in their "playing" the piano. Eveything thing else stunk in this movie. It is a guilty pleasure movie. This is possibly the worst acting from an entire cast in a single movie. Lee Remick walks around in robotic motion and needs a beat down for the insults. Dreyfuss' parents should have thrown him out from the basement years ago for over-acting more than usual. Sam Wanamaker and his sweater on the shoulders, joint smoking, getting his mack on to weird music was just what we needed to push us over the edge into uncontrollable laughter. I rent this movie when I need a good laugh and it suits the bill. I am sure that wasn't the intention when it was made. Did I mention about Dreyfuss crying after having sex and that silly cap? Now I need to watch the movie again!

one of my favorite movies for almost 25 years
I just bought this video to share with my daughter who is a high school musician beginning to seriously compete. I saw it in 1980 when it was released, eight years before she was born, and it has remained in my memory as one of my all-time favorites. I just finished watching it for the first time in 20 years or so. The entire movie looks very late-70s, and Richard Dreyfuss really needs to lose that silly-looking cap, but the power of the music and the message is completely intact. The scene in which Amy Irving performs her concerto is absolutely delicious and riveting. Richard Dreyfuss overacts as usual, but his realization as he listens to her performance backstage that she is, as he puts it, "brilliant," is in itself brilliantly communicated without words. Lee Remick's character provides a kind of narrative frame for Dreyfuss' and Irving's romance, and lends the movie some much-needed zing to balance all that sweetness. As does the delightful Sam Wanamaker, who plays a Leonard Bernstein-type (quite accurate except that Sam's character likes girls). And the music is just extraordinary. Although The Competition is entertaining as a love story, this is most especially a movie for musicians to savor. When I was a music major in college it was those few who were "driven" to create music and felt they had no other choice who were the tortured souls. They reached amazing emotional peaks with their music, but often struggled with despair as well. The rest of us just enjoyed ourselves. The variety of personalities portrayed in this movie is very accurate.

Great Movie!! But when a DVD????
A fun, romatic movie with usual settings and unusual confrontations. It NEEDS a DVD release!!!!!

Art
The Competition is true to the pianist world. It captures the self-annihilating desire to play well, the desperation of it. The fierce competition with everyone else and with yourself. It's a movie without jokes, it's not entertainment, but movie making at its best. When you make a movie...or write a book...or draw a picture without thinking of your audience. When you do it because it's inside you and you want to give it expression.

And the people are lovely. Is it just because it was made in 1980 that the absense of media seems so strong? They're just lovely people with personality. Even the Piano Teacher, who's slightly stereotypical, isn't made into a joke. You feel her contained ambition. That is, if you're a pianist. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

So What If It's Not the Real Rio De Janeiro?
Maybe it's not the "real" Rio, but it's certainly the one tourists with American dollars are interested in, and so that works for me! I thought this was a good film. It reminded me of the Stanley Donen film, "Charade" with Antonio Fagundes a Brazilian Cary Grant, and while Amy is no Audrey, their chemistry was superb. The young soccer star's character was hilarious. Cinematography is vibrant, like that in the movie "Frida". The music is out-of-this-world. The whole thing is like a delicious meal with yellow corn tortillas, red tomatoes green chilies on a blue stoneware plate: visually and physically satisfying. Closed captioning doesn't get in the way for a change; in fact, there are passages where CC and subtitling work together well, because the languages interchange frequently. Students of Portuguese like me who are not used to hearing the spoken language will learn a lot from this movie.

A major annoyance: during the audio commentary by husband and wife Amy Irving and Bruno Barreto, the movie's audio track goes out of sync with the video track. This irritated me a lot, and this quality glitch loses it a star. The main movie track was fine.

Look for young Max Spielberg and his brother Gabriel Barreto for a cameo. In the meantime, I'm going to see if Amazon.com has this soundtrack!

The Charm and Beauty of Rio and Bossa
"Bossa Nova" is the perfect marriage between American and Brazilian culture!
As a Brazilian and a Carioca ( a native of Rio ) , I was very pleased to see my hometown in this film portrayed in all its natural beauty and charm - and with the marvellous, sensual and relaxing music of Tom Jobim in the background!
The movie itself is light and funny; the photography is splendid and the characters are so typical of Brazilian culture and reality ! - (the ignorant soccer player celebrity , the elegant, worldly Ipanema woman..., the middle class romantic/naive internet girl...., the charming , successful lawyer... - and the English teacher!
(As an English teacher myself living in this city , I can assure you I run into such people in my classes and social outings quite often ! )

One of the most romantic scenes is the one in the classroom where Fagundes imagines himself dancing a Broadway show with his English teacher , Amy.
And at the very last one, when the romantic couple goes swimming in Ipanema Beach, the background music ( a Bossa Nova "classic" )- "It could only happen to you" sung both in English and Portuguese is the perfect combination of the two cultures and the romance between the main characters. It makes one feel free, happy and romantic - just like Bossa Nova itself!

Rio As It Should Be
I was an English teacher in Brazil so this film resonated with me-how I wish I could have afforded a large apartment in Arpoador!

The film is a classic romantic comedy in the American style, which is the only quibble I had with it. It seemed to me that they were explicitly trying to appeal to the American market and that left me feeling that there was something dishonest at the core of the film.

Nevertheless, taken on its own terms it is very pleasant with characters one can easily identify with. Its view of Rio, as a city reminiscent of Honolulu, is laugh-inducing to anyone who has lived there but still serves the film well. When the soccer player left his brand new expensive sports car in the street, without a brigade of bodyguards to watch over it, I gasped involuntarily but soon got over it.

I sound critical of Rio but really I loved it and this film evokes the best of it without getting bogged down in irrelavant social commentary.

A different kind of Brazilian movie
When I was younger, I used to wonder: how come Brazilian soap operas are so popular and Brazilian movies are considered poor? Even the so-called "good" Brazilian movies weren't appealing enough to Brazilian audiences. The answer may be that "good" Brazilian movies usually favor the background over the plot. They try to find a style of their own by making prominent use of elements of Brazilian culture, but the plot itself becomes secondary and, more often than not, boring.

That's where "Bossa Nova" succeeds: it is a simple, lightweight romantic comedy that would not be out of place in Brazilian television. The success of this movie in Brazil far exceeded everyone's expectations. Instead of blatantly displaying Brazilian landscapes and typical characters, director Bruno Barreto simply used the beauty of Rio de Janeiro as a backdrop for a story that could have happened anywhere. And yet, the magic of Rio permeates this movie in a soothing, insidious way. As Bruno says in the commentary track, he chose to portray Rio as he wished the city still were, with no violence and poverty. Interestingly, not only does Bruno speak English through the whole commentary (since he's talking to his wife Amy Irving), but he even says his own name with an American accent! Talk about fully absorbing a foreign culture!

In a word, this is the kind of Brazilian movie I used to dream of when I was a teenager: just a simple and catchy story with strong enough appeal both for Brazilian and foreign audiences.

Carioca Life
Overall, I thought this was a great movie. There were a few moments that were trying too hard for laughs, however the story plot, the acting, and the scenery were all wonderful. I especially thought the scenery was exceptional! If not for the story, I think it is still worthwhile to check out this movie to see Rio at its best! However I do agree with one other reviewer that this movie does give the deceiving impression that everybody in Rio, particularly middle to upper-middle class people, live in apartments in prime locations with spectacular views of the ocean. There was not a trace of poverty or crime in this movie, but I think is appropriate being that this movie is supposed to be a light hearted romanic comedy instead of a "favela" movie. That's why the director's commentary is kind of a nice optional feature on the DVD version. The director, having himself grown up in Rio, clearly explains that he wanted to bring the best out in Rio. Happy movie going. Tchau everybody! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Woody Allen roared back at his detractors with Deconstructing Harry, a bitterly funny treatise about the creative process. Known to mine his often tumultuous personal life for his movies, the embattled writer-director-star didn't bother to make his alter ego likable in this movie: Harry Block (Allen) pops pills, frequents prostitutes, and cheats on the women in his life, then writes about their foibles in thinly disguised fiction. No wonder they're all furious with him. As Harry journeys to his alma mater with a hooker, ill pal, and kidnapped son, a series of flashbacks unravel, juxtaposing Harry's relationships with their "slightly exaggerated" fictional counterparts. There are amusing cameos throughout, including a humorous turn by Demi Moore as a fictitious ex-wife who "became Jewish with a vengeance," and Billy Crystal as the devil who found Hollywood too nasty for his liking. The humor is dark and caustic, but well worth it; Deconstructing Harry is a near-brilliant mediation on the sometimes queasy relationship between art, creator, and critic. On DVD, the film is presented in both widescreen and pan and scan; the disc includes cast bios. --Diane Garrett ... Read more

Reviews (81)

REPROBATE ALLEN WINS ME BACK, THIS TIME
When it was first released, I avoided seeing DECONSTRUCTING HARRY (a.k.a., Woody) because I couldn't bring myself to face yet another self-deprecating, neurotic, self-indulgent, self-centered Woody Allen on screen (who the newspapers had just confirmed is that way off screen too!). Having first laughed at and then endured Allen since the 1960s, I'd had enough. Nevertheless, to this day Allen's THE FRONT remains one of my all time favorite movies ... mainly because of its truthfulness, honesty and courage. Unintentionally, one night I saw part of DECONSTRUCTING HARRY on cable TV (and then HAD to buy it here in DVD) ... because I couldn't stop howling. I'd only seen perhaps the middle half hour of it, but that was enough. Mercifully, THIS movie was not ALL about Allen. Rather Harry Block-Woody Allen was "exploited" as a vehicle for a higher form of humor. Then there were a parade of actors who I never imagined had it in them: Richard Benjamin, Kirstie Alley, Amy Irving ... of all people ..., Mariel Hemingway ... yet! ALL were great in this comedy ... they were terrific. Equally terrific were Hazelle Goodman as Harry's motherly hooker Cookie (wonderful), Billy Crystal and Robin Williams ... who you'd expect to be funny, were indeed that.

I must admit, Allen pulled one out as writer, director and star. But not merely because of the brilliant writing and directing (oh, O.K., and the acting) but because for ONCE Harry-Woody was not the center of the neurotic universe. He was in the middle of the action .... but he tied it all together in DECONSTRUCTING HARRY. Many modern interpersonal issues, stereotypes and clichés are brought into scrutiny under this microscope. It is the very absurdity of it all, making the movie hysterically funny.

Clearly, this is a movie for mature audiences. It is definitely not a movie for children and adolescents. Probably they would find it boring and confusing. The language and situations are graphic, raw and irreligious. But in this movie these are necessary "paints" for painting this picture. Grownups will enjoy this movies thoroughly.

Allen's self-exploration vignettes
Weaving between fiction and reality, Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry tells the tale of a writer's sexual exploits, romantic failings, and dealings with depression. Allen's character Harry transfers his life's problems into his books, which causes much strife between the real-life counterparts in his world.

Once again Allen has leveraged his considerable fame to draw in Hollywood's elite. Throughout the film, every face is a familiar one. Billy Crystal is portrayed as the devil who steals Woody's romantic lead, Robin Williams as a blurry actor who can't get his focus, Kirstie Alley as a ex-wife who discovers Harry has cheated with a patient, and countless more celebrity cameos.

The joy in partaking in this film is evident in the celebrity actors who appear. There's a certain prestige in such an endeavor, and we, the film audience, can identify just about everyone in the film. At the same time, each character that appears has so much baggage in our minds. For instance, Demi Moore appears as an ex-wife. How many of us can honestly think of her in any way other that her celebrity profile. While this isn't a major problem, identifying with some of the celebrities proves difficult at times.

Deconstructing Harry catalogs Woody's struggle with sexual desire and his inability to love. Early on we discover that he has finally found true love in a pupil, Elizabeth Shue, but she has fallen in love with his friend.

The plot is shaped around Harry's self-identity questions, and the character's goal is to go to an honorary ceremony at his alum. He has nobody to take. His ex-wife won't let him take his son, his girlfriend has left him, and a hooker is the only one around that will take him up on his need for companionship.

The play between Allen's semi-autobiographical stories, which flash to and from reality, illuminate the film and shows how Allen's writing channels his depression and gives him a release from an otherwise ugly life.

After viewing Deconstructing Harry, I wonder how autobiographical it really is.

Witty, perhaps, but heartless
There is no doubting the genius of Woody Allen. The clever ideas and witty dialogue flow thick and fast here, but there is just one problem: The film is totally and utterly heartless.

Woody Allen's humour here is just downright cynical. Cruel, even. The film has a narcissistic feel to it, where everyone is mocked and ripped apart mercilessly apart from Woody's alter-ego, Harry. Though I saw this a few years ago and loved it, on rewatching it recently, I just couldn't enjoy it. His cynicism here is left untempered by optimism and faith, something that marked out his earlier work. Sorry, but this just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

One of Woody's best!
This belongs on the shelf along with the other Woody greats such as Hannah, Manhattan, Stardust Memories & Crimes and Misdemeanors. I can't imagine any objection to this movie unless you're the type that gets excited whenever you see a Tom Cruise type up on the screen. About as close to art as a movie can get and in the same league as Bergman, Wenders, Godard or any of the other greats.
Enough said.

incredible
This is by far my favorite woody allen film . most people who discredit the movie do so because of course language and/or typical woody allen roles and situations. well, if you can't take a little vulgarity, f__k off this movie's not for you. It's not potty humor, it's unfiltered dialogue fitted to the characters and the situations they find themselves in. As for the typical allen scenerios of love triangles and even squares, that's what has made him. Would you expect a woody allen film where he is not nuerotic, or tense, or in constant insecurity? Then don't expect one in which all the angles of relationships are dissected and exploited. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The best stuff in this ridiculously conceived sequel to Brian De Palma's groundbreaking '70s classic are the occasional, too-brief flashbacks to De Palma's groundbreaking '70s classic. They occur in the mind of Sue Snell (Amy Irving, shamelessly reprising her role), the only main character left alive during Carrie's prom revenge freakout. After a brief stint in an insane asylum, Snell is now a therapist at a suburban high school and is currently counseling Rachel Lang (Emily Bergl). Rachel isn't like other girls. When Rachel gets really mad, she moves things with her mind. Rachel's been really mad lately, because her best friend jumped from a rooftop in the first 10 minutes of this movie. Even though there's absolutely no development of this relationship, don't doubt it: we know they're best friends because they have matching tattoos. Rachel's friend lost it because she was the latest victim in a fun game that members of the football team play off the field in which they keep a running count of how many girls they can seduce, using a rating scale based on appearance. Of course, there's a nice one, Jesse (Jason London), who feels guilty about playing the game and falls for Carrie, er, Rachel. Everything appears to be changing for Rachel, but Jesse's friends have other plans. Snell knows what's up, however, and it's pretty funny watching her explain it to Rachel: "I've been through this movie before" is essentially what she says, but Rachel doesn't want to hear that she's not an original character, that she's a cheap, slightly hardened and revised '90s rip-off with no autonomy. It makes Rachel want to move things with her mind. --Dave McCoy ... Read more

Reviews (112)

THE RAGE: CARRIE 2--Good but not great
What we've got with THE RAGE: CARRIE 2 is what I like to call a "curiously frustrating" movie.

Why anyone thought it was necessary to sequelize Brian De Palma's great 1976 film CARRIE is a mystery...unless one takes the money angle into account. There are good things about it, but there are bad things about it that make it rather uneven.

The good: Emily Bergl's performance as Rachel, the "half-sister" of Carrie White, is really something else. Nothing about her performance is taken away when it's noted that she's not Sissy Spacek. The idea of "high school as Hell" is updated to the present, but is as effective for 1999 as the original was to 1976. Jason London also scores as the only sympathetic member of the jock clique that really wants to do Rachel in. And finally, for the most part, director Katt Shea manages to build a certain amount of suspense in the Hitchcock/DePalma/Spielberg tradition.

The bad: The jocks, led by Dylan Bruno, are so unremmitingly repulsive. The explanation for Rachel's telekinesis is extremely far-fetched. Amy Irving's return as Sue Snell (who is now a guidance counselor) is marked by her having little to do and by having her unceremoniously killed off. The film really goes off the rails, however, in the climax, set in a rich jock's mansion; it is a partial remake of the original's prom scene in which the blood and gore are upped to extreme levels, but there's none of the same drama and tragedy that marked the firestorm in the 1976 classic.

CARRIE 2, thus, seems like an afterthought, an attempt to wean the SCREAM/URBAN LEGEND crowd while unwisely using clips from the original to connect the two films. Were it not for Bergl's and London's performances, this would barely rank two stars, possibly even one. I give CARRIE 2 a marginal recommendation; but for a real combination of psychological horror and drama, the original still beats all the new kids on the block hands down.

NOTHING BUT A ROUTINE UPDATE OF THE ORIGINAL
YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS IN ''CARRIE'', ANOTHER BULLIED GIRL [EMILY BERGL] UNLEASHES HER TELEKINETHIC POWERS AGAINST HER FELLOW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO PICK ON HER ALL THE TIME. HAS SOME GOOD ACTING, BUT NOW THEY'VE TAKEN THE CARRIE STORY AND TURNED IT INTO YOUR AVERAGE MODERN-DAY TEENAGE HORROR FLICK. THEY COULD'VE DONE BETTER THAN THIS. FANS OF THE ORIGINAL FILM WILL MOST LIKELY BE DISSAPOINTED WITH THIS SEQUEL.

Carrie's Revenge
Carrie 2:The Rage is awesome.
Good special efects and great stars.

Where has all the talent gone?
I am absolutely amazed at the number of people who think this garbage is on a par (and some say, even better!) with the original Brian DePalma/Sissy Spacek version. All I can say is this: If the reviewers who say they like this rank piece of !@#$% are truly the leaders of tomorrow, then we are in deep, deep trouble. To compare this "director" and "actress" (I cringe even as I use the words) to the brilliant DePalma and Spacek is sacrilegious. Don't hold your breath waiting for Emily Bergl to ever be nominated for an Oscar, much less win it! Any money that this movie makes, and if it made more than $100 there is no justice in the world, is directly attributable to the brilliant original. I can't say that I'm surprised at the total lack of acting, directing, suspense, and intrigue that this movie has in spades, but I am very disappointed in Amy Irving attaching herself to this drivel just for the paycheck. This is a very disturbing trend in movies...this mentality that apparently exists with producers to slap together directors who can't direct, actors who can't act, screenwriters unapologetically virtually plagiarizing the original and calling it a new and better effort. God help us all!!!

ALL THE RAGE
This is an awesome movie it is alot better than the original. Plus it was filmed at North Gaston High School (Where I'm going) in Dallas, North Carolina. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

An Interesting Movie!
I remember watching this movie when it was first shown on television in 1986 and it was an interesting movie with an intriguing mystery of if this woman named Anna was really Anastasia Romanof daughter of the last czar of Russia and did she really survive the execution of her family or is she just looking for fame and fortune? Amy Irving stars in this movie and she was very good!

One of the Twentieth Century's Great Puzzles
Amy Irving stars as Anna, a woman claiming to be the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, a claim which would mean that she had survived the execution of the Royal Family. She seems to know things about the Royal Family that only Anastasia could know, yet she has huge gaps in her memory and is unable/unwilling to speak Russian. Things are complicated by the fact that other women have claimed to be Anastasia in the past, and the Royal Family has grown tired of the pretenders to the throne. However, Anna has her supporters, although she knows the must win the support of her grandmother, the empress, if she is to have any hope of being officially recognized. Irving has a few good moments as Anna/Anastasia, but she doesn't project the strength that so many of the characters tell her character that she has. The supporting cast is competent, although few are given much in the way of characters to flesh out. The real bright spot in the film is Olivia de Havilland as the Empress. She infuses her character with humour and wisdom, and steals her far too few scenes. There is a narrator that appears irregularly throughout the film, and that device should have been eliminated. The direction lacks pacing, the script could be stronger, and the ending is rather flat. Despite the fictious romance and other weaknesses, I did find the film interesting, since the mystery surrounding Anna Anderson was one of the great puzzles of the Twentieth Century. People argued for and against her with equal passion. Since the film was completed, scientists appear to have proven that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia, but it would be interesting to think that maybe someone could have survived that brutal moment in history. I do wish they had made a more fact based, tighter film about it.

Anastasia, the Mystery of Anna....Superb!
From the beginning, this story compells the viewer in the tale of Anna Anderson, a woman who believes and claims that she is the last remaining member of the last Tzar of Russias immediate Royal Family. She believes she is the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaevna. The story beginns with the introduction to the Royal Family. Omar Sheriff is very good as Tsar Nicholas II and Clare Bloom shines as Tsarina Alexandra. Christian Blae makes his screen dabute as Alexis. The story then unfolds into the Russian Revolution, and eventualy to the Royal Familys Execution.

We are then taken to Berlin, where a lady is attempting suicide. She has bad amnisia, but slowly begins to believe she is Anastasia. In meeting Prince Eric, they battle to gain her Title as the Hier to the Russian throne.

The story is filled with trouble and Turmoil, as well as heeps of Romance. Amy Irving is Outstanding as Anastasia, her red eyed-teary performance is outstanding. Other good parts are taken By Olivia De Havvilland as The Grand Duchess Maria, and Rex Harrison puts in a regal performance as Grand Duke Cyril.

This film may alter History slightly, but it is something you will fall in love with again and again. Well worth the price for such a gem. Fantastic.

Also available on DVD in the uk, but u have to hunt high and low! Good luck!

Interesting Portrayal
While the love story is completely fictional, and personally, I think we could have done without it, it is a very moving film. Amy Irving plays Anna extremely well. I have read a great deal about the Romanovs, particularly Anastasia, and I find that this particular version of the tragic story is one of the best that I have seen.

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna
This movie is excellent! But I would still give it a 4 star rating. The music is distracting at times, and you have to mess with the volume quite a bit, the voices often get softer. It is a very emotional film, and I wouldn't reccomend it for children younger than 10. It portrays the view of Anna (Anderson) who believes she is Anastasia. Although in the beginning, it starts out with the Romanov family, leading to their execution. I think this is a great movie, and I hope this review was at least a tiny bit helpful to you. (sorry, I know I was a bit vague) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Drama cop
Drama: An undercover New York City cop must deal with his troubled partner and an investigation into his ties with the mob while investigating the rape and beating of a nun good plot good cast

Movie based 5% on true events.
This movie was 95% fiction. All the shootings never happened,including the Mafia guys and girl friend. About the only thing that was close to real was the nun incident and yet that too,was a bit embellished. Movie makers should do their homework and find other cop stories that need no make-believe script.

HAIKU MOVIE REVIEW:
Better read the book. Real Bo better than Baldwin. But Balwin not bad

Baldwin not bad
HAIKU MOVIE REVIEW: Better read the book. Real Bo better than Baldwin. But Balwin not bad. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

"I'm Talkin' To You, Furhead!"
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is truly one of the greatest non-Disney animated films I've ever seen! Directed by Steven Spielberg, the story is simple: Fievel, the curious, adorable little mouse from An American Tail, now heads out west with his family to escape the constant violence of New York City. Everything about this film shines from start to finish, including James Horner's soundtrack, which is every bit as good as in the original film. The songs are nothing less than outstanding, especially Dreams to Dream, sung by Fievel's golden-voiced sister, Tanya, who is voiced by Cathy Cavadini.

Fans of the original An American Tail are bound to enjoy Fievel Goes West as well. It's a great movie for kids, or for anyone who enjoys a great animated flick! Highly recommended! (Oh, and be sure to check out the original An American Tail movie as well, if you haven't already. It's just as good!)

"I'm Talkin' to You, Furhead!"
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is truly one of the greatest non-Disney animated films I have ever seen! Directed by Steven Spielberg, the story is simple: Fievel the curious, adorable little mouse from An American Tail, now heads out west with his family, to escape the constant violence of New York City. Everything about this film shines from start to finish, including James Horner's soundtrack, which is every bit as good as in the original film. The songs are nothing less than outstanding, especially Dreams to Dream, sung by Fievel's golden-voiced sister, Tanya, who is voiced by Cathy Cavadini.

Fans of the original American Tail are bound to enjoy Fievel Goes West as well. It's a great movie for kids, or for anyone who enjoys a great animated flick! Highly recommended! (Oh, and check out the first American Tail movie as well, if you haven't already. It's just as good!

this movie is awsome!
this movie is one of the best american tail movies in the seiries. as of the second, it was made five years after the first. (and the year beofore i was born!) well, when fivel and his family have settled into newyork, the found the streets are not paved with cheese. then cat r waul, and his army of cowboy cat commandos herd all the mice into the sewer were he tricks them into going out west. meanwhile, after suffering the loss of his girlfriend, tiger fallows fievel out west and falls off the train, gets hit by another, and goes off the bridge and finds a dog fish! in the end the team up with wylie burp, and save the mice from being turned into mouse-burgers! as for cat r waul, he and his cats get shot into a mail bag, and taked away by a train! recomended!

Shame On Universal
Shame on Universal for releasing this wonderful film in Pan & Scan only! It was released in Widescreen for laserdisc, so why not DVD?

Yet another botched DVD release from Universal (E.T., Back To The Future, Monty Python's Meaning Of Life, etc.).

Let's hope the executives at NBC can turn this out of control home video division around when they take the reigns after the acquisition has been completed.

Why this movie is great
This movie was the first Fievel movie I ever saw. I have to say, I like it much more than the original. The songs are awsome and the story was great. Come on. Who doesn't find a cat acting like a dog funny? ... Read more

Reviews (14)

"I'm Talkin' To You, Furhead!"
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is truly one of the greatest non-Disney animated films I've ever seen! Directed by Steven Spielberg, the story is simple: Fievel, the curious, adorable little mouse from An American Tail, now heads out west with his family to escape the constant violence of New York City. Everything about this film shines from start to finish, including James Horner's soundtrack, which is every bit as good as in the original film. The songs are nothing less than outstanding, especially Dreams to Dream, sung by Fievel's golden-voiced sister, Tanya, who is voiced by Cathy Cavadini.

Fans of the original An American Tail are bound to enjoy Fievel Goes West as well. It's a great movie for kids, or for anyone who enjoys a great animated flick! Highly recommended! (Oh, and be sure to check out the original An American Tail movie as well, if you haven't already. It's just as good!)

"I'm Talkin' to You, Furhead!"
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is truly one of the greatest non-Disney animated films I have ever seen! Directed by Steven Spielberg, the story is simple: Fievel the curious, adorable little mouse from An American Tail, now heads out west with his family, to escape the constant violence of New York City. Everything about this film shines from start to finish, including James Horner's soundtrack, which is every bit as good as in the original film. The songs are nothing less than outstanding, especially Dreams to Dream, sung by Fievel's golden-voiced sister, Tanya, who is voiced by Cathy Cavadini.

Fans of the original American Tail are bound to enjoy Fievel Goes West as well. It's a great movie for kids, or for anyone who enjoys a great animated flick! Highly recommended! (Oh, and check out the first American Tail movie as well, if you haven't already. It's just as good!

this movie is awsome!
this movie is one of the best american tail movies in the seiries. as of the second, it was made five years after the first. (and the year beofore i was born!) well, when fivel and his family have settled into newyork, the found the streets are not paved with cheese. then cat r waul, and his army of cowboy cat commandos herd all the mice into the sewer were he tricks them into going out west. meanwhile, after suffering the loss of his girlfriend, tiger fallows fievel out west and falls off the train, gets hit by another, and goes off the bridge and finds a dog fish! in the end the team up with wylie burp, and save the mice from being turned into mouse-burgers! as for cat r waul, he and his cats get shot into a mail bag, and taked away by a train! recomended!

Shame On Universal
Shame on Universal for releasing this wonderful film in Pan & Scan only! It was released in Widescreen for laserdisc, so why not DVD?

Yet another botched DVD release from Universal (E.T., Back To The Future, Monty Python's Meaning Of Life, etc.).

Let's hope the executives at NBC can turn this out of control home video division around when they take the reigns after the acquisition has been completed.

Why this movie is great
This movie was the first Fievel movie I ever saw. I have to say, I like it much more than the original. The songs are awsome and the story was great. Come on. Who doesn't find a cat acting like a dog funny? ... Read more

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Blake Edwards, who managed to capture middle-aged angst so well in 10, managed to offend a variety of constituencies with this sporad