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Imagine a work by Shakespeare reduced to one of those pretty, glossy coffee-table picture books that have only a dollop of text alongside its sumptuous photographs, and you might have Michael Hoffman's adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This all-star version of Shakespeare's comedy is gorgeously shot in Tuscany, complete with a magical forest, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful villas, picturesque villages, stunning period costumes--oh wait, there's supposed to be a story here, too!Hoffman hijacks Shakespeare's basic premise but doesn't instill it with much more than surface shine and transplants it to turn-of-the-century Italy.Ergo, it's left up to the actors to find the heart and soul of this classic play, in which the fairies of the forest play mix and match with four young lovers, courtesy of a magical love potion. Hoffman couldn't ask for better (or better looking) actors to play Shakespeare's dreamlike love games--Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Christian Bale, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Kline, Anna Friel, Dominic West, the list goes on and on--but he sure as heck doesn't know what to do with them, aside from putting them in various states of undress. Only Flockhart (as the lovestruck Helena), Tucci (a sprightly Puck), Pfeiffer (dazzling and funny as the queen of the fairies), and especially the sublime Kline (as weaver-turned-donkey Bottom) seem to connect with their characters in ways that make this adaptation occasionally soar; the rest are inexplicably left to flounder. Hoffman does seem to set himself right with the film's climax, when Bottom's amateur acting troupe hilariously enacts the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (it helps that the troupe includes Roger Rees, Sam Rockwell, and Bill Irwin). Those searching for a more in-depth exploration of Shakespeare's farce might do better to look elsewhere, but if it's gorgeous actors and scenery you're in the mood for (along with an evocative opera soundtrack), and an all's-well-that-ends-well ending, this Midsummer Night will give you pleasant if weightless dreams. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Cast better than inept direction
While I don't have a problem with new interpretations of Shakespeare, I didn't find this all that new, just confused. Updating Shakespeare is also fine, if it serves a purpose, or at least doesn't interfere with the story, but those bicycles were ridiculous, and simply not funny. There was no point of reference, no reason for them to be there, no punchline. Likewise with Helena and Hermia's little mudbath...generally, the direction was absolutely horrible. The film is quite entertaining though, thanks to some very hard work from some of the cast. And that does not mean Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfieffer (C.F. is grating, and M.P. obviously not comfortable with the text). It means Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Rupert Everett among the stars, but especially to some of the secondary characters: Anna Friel as a grounded Hermia (mud bath excepted) Sophie Marceau as an actually likeable Hyppolyta, and the great Roger Rees, as the most memorable Peter Quince I've ever seen. The music is gorgeous, and the scenery is nice, although having actually taken the trouble to go to Tuscany, Hoffman decides to film the magical forest on a really horrible, cheesy, creaking sound stage. Watch it for the cast.

Ah the Tuscan Hills!
Wow, what a great movie! But of course if you're a traditionalist closed to new interpretations, lock yourself back in your room with your Turner Classic movies. And if you've never had an English class where you liked Shakespeare or if you've never read and enjoyed an Elizabethan comedy and/or tragedy, forget about this movie. The language will just confuse you too much.

But if you can get past your conservative views and are open to the language, then watch A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I think that after five hundred years, it's amazing that these plays are still around and can generate such mainstream attention. I also feel that after that long, a fresh adaptation is more than welcome, especially if you've been subjected to the less than glamorous BBC version.

I felt that the setting (the Italian Athens you've never heard of) and anachronistic props (bikes with lights) actually lend to the farcical quality of this movie. It is a comedy and it is supposed to be funny, so lighten up and enjoy the fantastic performances of Michelle Pfeiffer (my FAVORITE Fairy Queen), Rupert Everett (fairy king--pun intended?), Kevin Kline as Bottom (he makes an Ass of himself--heehaw), and the myriad of other wonderful actors and actresses that breathe life into an old play.

And before you take offense to a director's interpretations, you might inquire as to the reasons for them before you denounce his movie. And if you really want the Bard's opinion, Joseph Fiennes could probably give it to you.

All good things, JOE

Not perfect, but certainly worth watching
To make Shakespeare accessible, you have to make it entertaining. Not just entertaining to those who already know and love his work, but entertaining to those who have never picked up a Folger edition of anything in their lives.

I teach English to teenagers. Teenagers, who gasp in horror at the mention of Shakespeare. Teenagers, with their 30 second attention spans, faulty grasp of the modern English they supposedly speak, and affection for the physical comedy of the likes of "Jackass."

So, how do we make teenagers like Shakespeare? We edit. So, naturally, some of the best speeches are missing or drastically shortened (remember, 30 second attention spans); the physical, often silly humor is accented; and the women mud wrestle. So what?

This movie is entertaining. At times, it is enchanting. It is fast-paced, visually interesting, and funny. The emphasis is shifted away from the complexities of the language because it is the language, the very thing we love about Shakespeare, that makes these plays inaccessible to the majority of the American movie audience.

I use this film because it is easy to understand. The actors have faces my students recognize, and it gets them excited about Shakespeare.

What this film does is to put the content of the play within the grasp of its modern audience. Shakespeare himself would have done no less.

An occasional dream
One of Shakespeare's most beloved works finally gets a modern cinematic makeover, good news for all of those who'd rather not see Mickey Rooney's Puck again. Unfortunately the latest retelling leaves much to be desired. Though mostly enjoyable, this film could use a good shot of fairy dust.

The story concerns three sets of lovers - Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and fairy royalty Titania and Oberon. The first pair loves each other but cannot marry because Hermia is betrothed to Demetrius, the object of Helena's desperate affection. When Hermia and Lysander steal away, the second couple makes chase and all four end up lost in the woods where our third pair, the quarreling fairy king and queen, reside. Oberon, dissatisfied with all about him, enlists his servant, Puck, to make amends. Puck is to place a spell on Demetrius so that he will fall in love with Helena, but a case of mistaken identity causes Lysander to become smitten with her. Meanwhile, a traveling actors troupe, led by Nick Bottom, stumbles into the woods for a late-night rehearsal. They prepare a play for the Duke's wedding and soon become the object of the fairies' mischief.

With the shell of Shakespeare's original, this movie pulls of adequate amounts of wit and humor; clearly the script is better than most. Despite Puck's much abbreviated role, it remains a light comedy and surreal and magical in every sense. The costuming, makeup, and Italian backdrop add to the enchantment and are some of the most enjoyable aspects of an aesthetically pleasing film. I loved the energy of Monte Athena in turn-of-the-century Italy (punctuated by a soundtrack of renowned operatic talent), although it added little to the understanding of the story or the updated time period.

My main qualm for this otherwise fanciful retelling is the distracted acting, which ranges from inspiring to embarrassing. Shakespeare's language, archaic by our standards, depends on talented actors and directors to lift it and his beautiful stories from obscurity. Kevin Kline proves that you don't need an English accent to perform Shakespeare effectively. His Nick Bottom is the most rounded character in the film, wholly human and rich with emotions thick enough to dip your fingers through. Anna Friel's Hermia acutely defines the play's romance and innocence. Along with Kline, she seems the most comfortable in her role and possesses a grace and naturalness absent from the other female characters. Dominic West gives an amusing and (sometimes) smitten Lysander to Friel's Hermia. I also liked Roger Rees' affectionate Peter Quince. The remainder of the cast spirals downward. Calista Flockhart as Hermia and Michelle Pfieffer as Titania appear uncomfortable and rather unsure of their characters, as if they are too afraid of fouling up the Bard's work to dig deeply into it. Rupert Everett's Oberon is tired and melancholy to a point of boredom. I am still trying to figure out why David Strathrain, who lacks the nobleness of his character, was cast as the Duke. Poor Sophie Marceau should have stuck with Mel Gibson. Though I would not have picked Stanley Tucci for Puck, he provides a slightly amusing if ineffectual performance, as does Christian Bale as Demetrius.

Because of the spotty acting, the film never gels completely. An unfamiliarity with the play by certain actors interrupts otherwise fluid scenes. Those who act well in this film make it worth watching; the others leave us wanting more.

Kline and Flockhart shine!!!
3.5 stars. This is a moderately enjoyable Shakespearean comedy with only two stand-out performances. Calista Flockhart, of "Ally McBeal" fame, shows here that her range and understanding of the poetic language of Shakespear is both impressive and fluent. She steals every scene she is in. Speaking of scene-stealing, Kevin Kline, a veteran of the stage and Shakespearean theater, has the best performance here. He hams up the goofyness of his character and makes him ultimately hilarious and endearing. Many of the other actors are merely okay. Michelle Pfeiffer, often a great actress, seems to struggle here. She sounds like she understands iambic pentameter well, but fails to emote any feeling behind the words; except for her scenes with Kevin Kline, she is simply mediocre. Also, the character of Puck, played by Stanley Tucci, is traditionally portrayed as more mischievous and problem-causing than the lap-dog of Oberon as he is portrayed here. All in all, this is certainly above par, with great costumes and fine sets and scenery. It just doesn't come together as a whole. This film is fun in moments, but eventually feels incomplete. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Wonderfully flavored baseball movie
What a fun movie! This film is a depiction of the 1919 Chicago WhiteSox who are alleged to have "fixed" the World Series that year against the Reds.

Here's what I loved about the film. The portrayal of Charlie Comisky, the White Sox owner is outstanding. I found myself quickly siding with the players from the outset and bristling at his obviously unethical and cheap approach. The time period depicted has a great "feel" to it. The baseball scenes are excellent and have a realistic feel as well. John Cusak and DB Sweeney are excellent as Buck Weaver and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

The portrayal of the newly appointed commisioner Kennisaw Mountain Landis is also excellent. After watching this film you will better understand the current situation with Pete Rose, and where his expulsion from baseball originates. If you are at all a baseball fan you will enjoy the film.

My only criticism is that too much film time is spent of the gangsters and the announcers. That was a little tedious, and limited the further character development of the players, the depiction of the game, the owners, and the era.

I recommend this film though easily to any baseball fan.

Great look into the White Sox world series of 1919
This movie examines the role of the Chicago White Sox in the famous White Sox world series scandal of 1919. I thought it was one of the most appreiciated baseball movies of all time. It deals with the corruption of gambling in sports and the temptations that this particular group of athletes had in throwing the world series. Watching this movie helped me understand why sports betting, for the most part, is the major corporation it is today.

John Cusak is wonderful as Shoeless Joe, one of the White Sox who does not want to go along with the scheme. This movie is very detailed: we get an inside point-of-view from the audience, mob, player and player's wife's perspective. It is a look at the conscience of the White Sox players who must either "sell out" and throw the World Series to make the extra buck and keep the sports sharks off their backs, or keep the integrity of the game intact by giving their all on the field and denying the prospects of more money.

I recommend this movie not only for baseball fans, but all movie junkies. It examines many of the sports issues that we deal with today, such as corruption, integrity of the sport, and gambling.

Sayles' masterpiece
It's difficult not to get your personal feelings called into play when watching an obviously slanted film like EIGHT MEN OUT. John Sayles, like Oliver Stone, is an obvious agit-prop master for the left or at least for labor in its battle against owners. But so are several others movie-makers. However, those others do not get the responses that Sayles has evoked because they don't have half the talent that Sayles possesses. There is no fence-sitting when watching his films, and that's because his visions and messages are clear, uncompromising and passionate. EIGHT MEN OUT is one of his highest achievements in those regards.

In his analysis of the rigging of the World Series of 1919, Sayles targets White Sox owner Comiskey as the true villain. And I believe this is accurate, if not justifiable, at the very least. The Black Sox scandal, as it came to be known, was undoubtedly the lowest point in baseball history, but it could have been avoided. Had Comiskey treated his players as they merited, it is doubtful any of it would have come about. This is not to say that these athletes were angelic: Sayles goes to great lengths to show that several of them would be easily corruptible, such as Chick Gandil (played by the underrated Michael Rooker). Other players seem to want to do the right thing, but are pushed too far by Comiskey--specifically, Eddie Cicotte, as portrayed by Sayles' favorite, David Strathairn. The enigmatic Shoeless Joe Jackson (subtly played by D.B. Sweeney) is just plain too dumb to understand the implications of his involvement. As others have noted, Jackson wound up the series' batting leader.

The real moral compass of EIGHT MEN OUT is Buck Weaver, played by John Cusack in what may have been the performance of his career. Sayles' Weaver is portrayed as the victim of the ultimate betrayal for not participating in the scheme. His teammates don't back him up. The courts do not defend him. The press lumps him together with the guilty. His only crime was not being a snitch. And for that, Weaver has basically been relegated to baseball history's limbo, in spite of an above-par career. Sayles does an admirable job in evoking a justified sympathy for Buck Weaver, and Cusack captures it beautifully.

EIGHT MEN OUT is not a mere baseball movie. Like much of Sayles' work, it's a film about greed, and the desire of American owners to extract as much from labor as possible, without giving anything in return.

P.S. -- Sayles does a great job of portraying writer Ring Lardner. I just wish he didn't sing!

How about a movie called...
How about if the film industry makes a movie called 'The Hammer'? Gee, they made 'Cobb, 'The Babe', 'Eight Men Out', 'Field of Dreams', 'The Pride of the Yankees', 'The Natural', and '61*'. Well, how about making a movie about Henry Aaron, Josh Gibson, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, or even Jackie Robinson? Oh, I forgot, baseball will never allow it...

I WANTED to love it!
I love baseball and I love baseball movies. So I was ready to love this movie, yet it somehow failed to please. Great actors, great period setting, yet we are not let inside the minds of the characters. Aside from John Cusak's Buck Weaver, none of the characters are even that appealing, so we don't really care what happens to them. We know nothing about their background, why they play baseball, or what drives them. In summary, the movie just wasn't that engaging. Since most of us know the rough outline of the story already, there are no surprises. The characters were so 2-dimensional, that I almost expected them to disappear when they turned sideways! Also, the DVD has no special features at all except for a movie trailer which is just a summary of the movie.

If you want a baseball movie with heart, get Field of Dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

One of the Great Movies About Dancing
At its best, this movie is a wonderfully touching story that perfectly and completely captures how wonderful dancing and putting on a show can be. At its worst, it is a light, enjoyable film with a script that shows several moments of extreme weakness. It changes depending on my mood.

Liza Minelli is a retired Broadway chorus girl (and momentary star) who is teaching a dance class in Buffalo. The class - which has only one male - is filled with various quirky members. The one male overdoes the geeky bit, turning his character into a caricature, and making his inevitable transformation during his performance a little unbelievable.

But all this can be forgiven, because, as anyone - especially a dancer - can see, this movie knows how wonderful dancing is. I do not want to give the opinion that I do not enjoy this movie. It is a wonderful little treasure.

Liza in her prime
STEPPING OUT is Liza Minnelli's last big-screen feature to date, before she concentrated on her concert performances and her health started to decline.

Liza plays Mavis Turner, a has-been Broadway hoofer who now teaches tap lessons and sings in a bar in her spare time. The charming group of misfits who all come together once a week for their tap lesson share with Mavis the joys and sadness of their lives. When the group is asked to perform at a charity gala, they realise what the group really can accomplish.

STEPPING OUT is a blue-haired version of A CHORUS LINE, charming, poignant and occasionally heartbreaking. The immensely-talented ensemble of actors featured represent some of the best talent in movies today.

Among the actors are seasoned veteran Broadway performers Ellen Greene, Jane Krakowski and Bill Irwin, along with Canadian actress Sheila McCarthy and legendary Shelley Winters and Julie Walters.

Liza shows us her stuff in some great dance numbers, while her vocal prowess is also given time to shine.

A memorable film and very inspirational, STEPPING OUT is a great old-fashioned, feel-good movie.

Incredible Dancing (For Older People)!!!
Stepping Out is a really good film involving 7 adult women (and 1 man) tap dancers, their instructor, Mavis Turner, and their pianist who plays their music they tap to. The story is all about Mavis Turner and her tappers who only tap for fun, but then they soon land a spot in one of the biggest charity convensions shows around, while also dealing with problems like pregnancy, finances, employment, and abuse. The plot was pretty good, and there was some humor too which was good. The dancing was preety good, considering they were older. I am a tap dancer myself, and had over 10 years of experience, and overall, the quality and difficulty of the steps just wasn't there. However, the film was entertaining and enjoyalbe. I recommend this one!

Heart-warming Classic!
Liza Minnelli plays Mavis Turner, an ex-Broadway dancer that prepares a mismatched group of seven women and one man to perform at a charity gala.
Guaranteed to keep your feet tapping and hands clapping.
Superb cast and another unique performance by the incomparable Liza Minnelli.

Good job, Minnelli!
It's a shame that many think this could be the last Liza movie ever made. It's a small film, slightly flawed, that serves as a showcase for Liza and her dancing abilities. Her supporting cast is unremarkable, with the exception of Shelley Winters. The plot line strays every time Liza is out of the picture. But, it's a likeable movie that will make you want to take tap dancing lessons. Let's just hope that Liza gets better soon, so she can come back to the big screen ... Read more

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The gang that created Airplane and The Naked Gun sets its sights on Top Gun in this often hilarious spoof starring Charlie Sheen, who previously only inspired laughs with his personal life. He plays Topper Harley, a fighter pilot with an ax to grind: clearing the family name. He gets involved in a relationship with Valerie Golino, a woman with an unusually talented stomach. But his mission is to avenge his father. Lloyd Bridges, late in his career, revealed an aptitude for this kind of silliness, here as a commander who is both incredibly dim and delightfully accident prone. Directed by Jim Abrahams, the film makes fun of a variety of other films as well, from Dances with Wolves to The Fabulous Baker Boys. It was so successful that they all returned in the sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The Mother of all Slapstick
After setting the police profession back 100 years with the "Naked Gun" movie, director Jim Abrahams decided to set his sights on the military with "Hot Shots." And the military will never be the same again.

What makes this movie so much fun are the sight gags that are in almost every scene. As with all good slapstick comedy movies, there are too many sight gags for you to be able to catch them all the first, and even second, time around. Every time you watch this movie, you will find another sight gag that you hadn't noticed before.

The movie also comes with a great comedic cast. It stars Charlie Sheen who for the first time really gets a chance to show how funny he can be (his previous comedy movies are pretty much forgettable). He is supported by Jon Cryer, Lloyd Bridges, and Cary Elwes. Each of these people have a great track record on their own when it comes to comedy. Together, they make the movie work.

Hot Shots
Maybe it's just because I haven't seen Top Gun, but when I first saw this film I was absolutely clueless. Yeah, there were some funny parts and humor from the makers of Airplane, Naked Gun, and Mafia, but the plot fell a little short. Charlie Sheen plays Topper Harley and follows his fathers footsteps when he flies in the Navy. There's also other great appearances by Cary Elwes and Lloyd Bridges (getting a little older), and silly characters like Washout and Dead Meat. I suggest you see Top Gun first, maybe then you will get more of the jokes. I give credit to Jim Abrahams and Pat Proft, though, because Top Gun seems like a tough movie to spoof.

Hilarious!
Hot Shots is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Charlie Sheen is okay, but in my opinion, the real comic here is Lloyd Bridges, playing Admiral Benson. Of course there are many other funny characters including the wall-eyed vision Washout. If you like movies with stupid humor, this is a must see.

Great Goof Comedy!
If your not into those whacky comedy spoofs then you will hate this Parody of Top Gun, amongst other movies! But I love these kind of send up whacky comedys, and this one is high up there with the best of them all!

Charlie Sheen plays Topper Harley and has had a bad past with the US Air Force and has quit the army... but the Army needs him once again and with non stop stupidity and comedy through the movie from door bells on Indian Tee Pees, to Barbequing hot hots with the jets of fighter planes, and a dog that just keeps getting sat on amongst many others, this movie will have you laughing your tushy off!

Its no acadamey award winner, but thats obviously not the idea for this comic life movie! It parodys a lot of movies, mostly Top Gun, but adds its own great jokes to the plot with outrages slapstick humour!

Part 2 - Wasnt as great. It sends up alot of movies and the plot changes completly into a difreent type of movie! But if you can, the edition thats available in regoin 4 at the moment of Part one and Two togther in the same package is worth getting!

Good Despite Sheen
I guess you can see from the title of this review I am not a big Charlie Sheen fan. There were tons of men that would have shined in this film. Sheen does an okay job ( seeing how he isn't a comedian ) but he is overshadowed by a funny script and funnier co-stars. This film makes fun of famous dramas like " 9 1/2 Weeks " but is mainly a parody of " Top Gun ". Hot Shots is an enjoyable movie that sticks to a strong plot. It doesn't end up falling into that trap of " trying " to be funny like some spoofs. It's not as good as " Naked Gun " by all means but it is a heck of a lot better than " Hot Shots: Part Duex " which was far too silly for my taste. ... Read more

Reviews (275)

JIM CARREY was Born to Play THE GRINCH!
I just want to say THE GRINCH with JIM CARREY is one awesome Holiday movie! I am 24 years old and I really dig this movie. I saw this movie at the show last Christmas, and I had a blast watching it. It is very close to the DR. SEUSS book and animated movie but being a motion picture the movie has a lot more detail on the story which gives the story of The Grinch a whole new life. The DVD will be released this NOVEMBER and you can pre-order it here on AMAZON.com. The DVD has so many special features like - Sing-Along songs, Read-Along songs, DVD ROM content such as - Add a Grinch to your own photograph, screen savers, games, recipes, the Music Video of Faith Hill's "WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS", a Whoville section which includes Who School, Jim Carrey make up application, set decorations, visual effects, and a few more surprises such as a Spotlight on location, Deleted scenes, and Outtakes. Buy this DVD it is a great flick to add to your Holiday Movie Collection! You can also check out the WIDESCREEN version DVD, this one is for the FULL SCREEN version of The Grinch.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE THE BOX OFFICE
BASED on the classic Dr. Seuss tale of "HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS", THE GRINCH not only proved the durability of the multi-talented JIM CARREY (comedies, dramas, now family films), but also proved that classic stories can be modernized and still be just as enjoyable.

Not only is the unique element of the story still there, but the silver screened edition adds more plot on many subjects. Most importantly - the Grinch's origin that explains his hatred and disgust for the Whos and their beloved holiday. Some will argue that this either perverts a classic or dulls it's shine. Not at all, and after seeing the movie you'll realize that it is in no way possible.

The movie can't tarnish that eternal shine, and really can only make the old classic even more popular than it already is. Here are some facts and comparisons:

Some say: "If you can't stick to the classic's criteria, there shouldn't be an updated version."

I say: "The classic is a 2 minute read and a 30 minute cartoon. There's no such thing as adjusting a 30 minute cartoon's subject matter into that of a required (atleast) 90 minute film. The updated version actually contains all that is in the cartoon and book, adding the rest was simply needed. Could you imagine stretching out 30 minutes of material into 90 minutes?! Anyways, THE GRINCH is BASED on the classic childrens book. B A S E D."

Some say: "I went to THE GRINCH in hopes of seeing something alot more. That movie is basically the Grinch stealing Christmas, where's the rest? Surely the story needed something different!"

I say: "Saying you knew the Grinch would steal Christmas and that you expected more is like saying you went to TITANIC in hopes of the true story having a manipulative-movie-happy-ending where the boat doesn't sink. Too bad because besides the added origin/reasoning, great make-up (Oscar winning), excellent design and portrayal of the Whos and their town (Oscar nominated Art Direction)...you also get JIM CARREY who gives another Oscar-snubbed performance as the Grinch. Not only does CARREY go through with hours and hours of make-up each day to get the job done, he also makes the Grinch his own. He keeps the tone and attitude of the classic character solid while adding humor, plenty of facial expressions he could do without make-up, and most of all... ironically likeable."

Some say: "Where's the rhyming and Seuss-like feel? The movie had dialouge and singing...but that dialouge should be in rhyme!"

I say: "Pleeeeaaassseee!! That's the one thing this movie definetely did not need and wisely kept out! Constant Seuss rhymes would only bore the adults of the FAMILY MOVIE AUDIENCE much like Disney movie songs and Barney sing-a-longs. A little rhyming is allright, a whole 90 minutes..."

Some say: "Many parts of THE GRINCH are not for children audiences! Kissing a dog's rearend! Belching in someone's face? That is so immature and vulgar for a PG rated movie!"

I say: "Firstly, it's a PG (Parental Guidence suggested, let's all say it together...again...one more time). Lastly, it doesn't show a close-up (or at all) of the dog's butt meeting the lips of it's victim. It's not as graphic as you make it sound. Belching...yeah, gross. Nobody does that until they see a movie to influence them to do so. Yeah, whatever...next?"

Some say: "There's quite the run of dry spots that can drag on."

I say: "I must not have noticed, nor left the house with such a Grinch-like attitude. I went to the movie to have fun. The parts I thought were dry was the little girl singing "Where Are You Christmas", but atleast, thank god, they didn't go overkill with it. JIM CARREY also gets in on the singing with his version of YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH."

I haven't seen THE GRINCH since opening day (11/17/00) and would gladly deem it in the Top 5 Movies of 2000. AND, it certainly isn't as bad as THEY make it seem. Either they are JIM CARREY bashers or not a fan of modernizing classics, but I can't think of one real reason not to see it. Though I won't and can't ever forget this NOW-CLASSIC, I do highly recommend this one for everybody. At the moment I am wishing I had seen it more than once, 'cause now I'm suffering from withdrawls to know when it will be released to own on DVD! Remember, not all classics set the standards. Sometimes it can be the upstaged by it's successor.

Loved it!
I really liked it a lot! I watch the original cartoon every Chrsitmas and I've read the book to my little brother. This is a really cute movie I would definitly reccomend. I think the Grinch's cold hearted spirit is captured really well (until he turns good that is). Some people don't like this and feel it ruined the Grinch because it's not strictly to the book, but what do you expect? The book wasn't very long. It can be read in about five minutes more or less...

Anyway I do suggest you watch this provided you aren't one of those affor mentioned people that freak out over every little thing. I do NOT reccomend the Cat in the Hat movie. I thought that movie seemed too much like Austin Powers in a cat suit to tell the truth,

Did these people even read the BOOK????
What a terrible movie! How could you possibly ruin such a classic Dr. Seuss book?
Dr. Seuss is one of my favorite authors (no kidding, the books are for much younger readers than me...but I own every Dr. Seuss book, anyway.) It drives me crazy that Dr. Seuss' wife let them PRODUCE this rot! If I were her I reject them and I might even (as Dr. Seuss said on DR. SEUSS GOES TO WAR) smack them in the snoot!
I even didn't watch the whole thing, I left as soon as I could. Unless the ending was about sixty times better than everything prior to that, it was one of the worst movies I've ever watched!
Jim Carrey DID do a good job, but he can't save a movie like THAT! And did we really have to go into his long, boring and disturbing childhood? It tells us WHY he hates Christmas, whereas in the book no one quite no the reason why he hated it. (And don't even get me started on how much I hate THE CAT IN THE HAT with Mike Myers (who, by the way, can't act)!
Not to say I don't like the animated TV Special THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. That was maybe better than the book was. Although, what could you expect from a master like Chuck Jones who actually KNEW what he was doing! That movie at least 1000 times better than this!
And one of the best parts of the book was "Maybe Christmas DOESN'T come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more." But how can you believe THAT on THE GRINCH, the vulgar movie that was merchandised to the BONE!!!!!
After watching this film, you realize: The Grinch didn't steal Christmas...but the directors RUINED Christmas!

So THAT'S how he stole it...
That was Jim Carrey in that costume? I don't think anyone could have pulled it off better, but for me, Taylor Momsen, who played Cindy Loo Who, was the most enjoyable to watch. What a gifted little actress. Christine Baranski and Molly Shannon, both musically-inclined favorites of mine, also danced across the screen.

So this isn't exactly the same storyline as the one penned by the good doctor himself. But it is very close, with some details added in to give adults a few more chuckles.

And if you like it for nothing else, you will love the fantasy world created by some outstanding set and costume design; terrific old and new music; and vivid special effects.

Worth a viewing or two for all of you Who's. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Months of checking have finally paid off!
... This is one of those movies that you have to appreciate for it's simplicity and sometimes almost cheesy scenarios. I can't imagine anyone playing these characters other than the people cast. Robin Williams performance as Popeye is reminiscent of the really old B&W Popeye cartoons where half of the time he's mumbling which adds to the comedy. Even the costumes in this movie are semi-cartoonish which cleverly adds to the cartoon-to-live-action transition while reminding us that the silliness is part of the reason we loved the cartoons and characters as much as we did, and still do.
Bravo to Paramount for finally releasing this on DVD for the people like me who have been searching for this classic since I bought my DVD player. I've been checking on a weekly to monthly basis for a long time now, and am estatic to see my searching has paid off.
If you haven't seen this fantastic movie before, or haven't seen it in years, take the time to rent it one more time so you can see what you'd be gaining by ordering or pre-ordering this today!!

Soundtrack by Harry Nilsson
Wonderful movie. It's got a fantastical depiction of Sweethaven with its eccentric characters, and a wonderful ensemble cast. Robin Williams gives a very credible portrayal of Fleischman era style Popeye. He's also incredibly sweet, but not the kind of cloyingly ingratiating sweet Williams is known for in later films.

The best part of this movie are the marvelous songs written by Harry Nilsson. I loved the music from Popeye when I was a kid, and as an adult who has recently re-discovered Harry's music, I'm pleased to see this out on VHS again so I could get a hold of the music in *some* form. If you liked Nilsson's "The Point", then treat yourself to this movie, and if you liked Popeye's music, check out "The Point", they're both absolutely smashing.

"Somebody owes me an apology!"
The "Somebody owes me an apology!!" line by Olive's Dad was the funniest running gag in the movie but then they dropped it about halfway through. Big mistake. Great sets and characterizations hampered by misguided plot and inappropriate musical numbers. Great until about halfway through then it falls apart. Definately woth a watch for the Robin Williams Popeye characterization and the great sets. If you like the look and style of flicks like Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, give it a rent!!

Great movie
I think Popeye was a great movie, personally. I really enjoyed the songs, sets, costumes, and Robin Williams is perfect as Popeye. I can't wait to own this on DVD, where it can be seen in its original widescreen format with beautifully restored picture and sound.

And a note to vhspreowner - Disney and Paramount have actually had a pretty good relationship, even after Popeye went bust, (Which actually wasn't as bad as many think - it grossed $50 million domestically, making a $30 million profit.) including Paramount's recent collaboration with Disney (through Miramax) to produce The Hours.

The Legend of Popeye: Milestones and More...
In 2004, Popeye will be celebrating his 75th birthday! The anvil armed spinach eater is an icon to Americans (as well as Europeans) everywhere. And if you are like me, an American of European ancestry...

"Popeye the Sailor" was created by E.C. Segar as a character in the black & white (later color), Fleischer Brothers newspaper strip "Thimble Theatre" (which was a comic about The Oyl Family). He later made his debut with his own cartoon short, seen on movie screens everywhere in 1933.

Walt Disney Pictures teamed with Paramount Pictures to create the 1980 live action movie directed by Robert Altman, bringing the comic character turned cartoon star into a living breathing human. The parts of Popeye and Olive Oyl were originally going to be played by Dustin Hoffman and Lilly Tomlin but ultimately went to Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall in perfect casting roles. The entire gang was aboard for the ride (Bluto, Wimpy, Swee' Pea, and all the rest along with plenty of new friends and foes).

Despite Popeye being a Segar/Fleischer creation as well as having later associations with A.A.P. (Associated Artists Productions), Hanna Barbera, Disney & Paramount, Popeye is best known as being a "King Features Syndicate" and will forever be linked to all animators and produces as being King's trademark. In fact, because the exact rights for Popeye were so confusing, he was mysteriously missing from the 1989 cartoon/live action movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" as the most notably absent cartoon. Due to fear of being sued, Touchstone Pictures sadly left Popeye out of the film, while every other one of his contemporaries from Mickey Mouse to Bugs Bunny appeared in the famous "Toon Town" scenes. Today, Popeye is alive and well with the King Features clan. Sammy Lerner wrote the famous theme song that has been a staple wherever Popeye has appeared.

Although maybe not quite on the scale of "Pinocchio," Popeye is very popular in Italy where he is nicknamed "Iron Arm." Bill Costello provided the original voice in the cartoon and later in the 1970s, Hanna Barbera is best credited with bringing Popeye back to life in several new shows including an updated version called "Popeye & Son," where Popeye & Olive are married with their own kid (not Swee' Pea).

Perhaps his popularity in Italy and throughout Europe can be linked not so much for Costello's and Barbera's contributions, but to the filming of the movie in Anchor Bay (near the capital Valletta) in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean, just 60 miles south of Sicily. After filming, it became a hugely popular tourist attraction, and even today movies are filmed there through MFF-Malta Films Facilities ("Troy" starring Brad Pitt just wrapped filming in Malta, Greece, Spain and Italy, and Pitt no doubt will be an even huger figure in Europe now).

Many of the "citizens" of the created town of Sweethaven, especially those who had to do some physical gags, were recruited from European traveling circuses. Most of the cast and crew (about 60% if you read the credits carefully) had Italian surnames! The following is a list of those credits: Richard Libertini (played "Geezil"), Larry Pisoni (played "Chico"), Peggy Pisoni (played "Pickelina"), Carlo Pellegrini (played "Swifty"), Noel Parenti (played "Slick"), Pietro Torrisi (played "Bolo"), Roberto Dell 'Aqua (played "Chimneysweep"), Valerie Velardi (played "Cindy"), Roberto Messina (played "Gozo" and was head stunt coordinator), Sammy Gemette (sound editor), Giovanni Fiore (camera operator), GianFranco Transunto (camera operator), Luigi Bernardini (camera operator), Mauro Merchetti (camera operator), Gian Maria Magorana (camera operator), Lorenzo Battaglia (underwater camera operator), Rudolfo Bramucci (gaffer), Vladimiro Salvatore (key grip), Alberto Emidi (key grip), Tony Maccario (property manager), Alvaro Belsole (construction manager), GianCarlo Del Brocco (makeup), Alfredo Tiberi (makeup), Gilberto Provenghi (makeup), Alvaro Rossi (makeup), Maria Teresa Corridoni (hairdresser), Aldo Signoretti (hairdresser), Gabriella Borzelli (hairdresser), Rita Innocenzi (hairdresser), Rita Galea (publicity), Paulo Lucidi (unit manager), Luciano Tartaglia (accountant), Gaetano Mirante (carpenter), Gugliemo Modestini (painter), Angelo Marta (sculpter), Angelo Zaccaria (sculpter), and last but not least, Mickey Chono (head caterer). Alitalia Airlines was the air transportation company of choice for all involved in the film.

So as you can see, Popeye can quite possibly be considered a foreign film (although it is in English) and the fact that it's popular from the US to Europe-to everywhere in between-is no surprise. It's amazing how many Italians were involved in the creation of the characters as well as the sets. Like Italy, Malta's official religion is Catholic and it's official languages are Maltese (which is a West Arabic dialect with some Italian words) and English. The country has Maltese and English newspapers and is a huge tourist spot for those visiting nearby Sicily and even stands wonderful on it's own. In fact, tourism is the main business in the country's economy and the mild yearlong weather and beautiful seaside villages (as seen in Popeye) are no doubt it's selling points. Just watching the movie makes me want to travel there someday and the beautiful cinematography bring the sailor to life as well as any of the animators who have tried their hand at drawing the famous sailorman.

Popeye has his own video game, his own stamp, a clothing line (and Halloween costume), not to mention his own real brand of canned spinach, the #2 seller in supermarkets everywhere just behind Del Monte. In fact, he is so famous that he has his own statue in Chester, Illinois-which is the birthplace of E.C. Segar. Today, Popeye can be seen on Cartoon Network and read in papers nationwide as well as on the internet. This year marks the 110th birthday of E.C. Segar as well as the 75th birthday of Popeye, and next year, Popeye the Movie will celebrate it's 25th anniversary with a new DVD.

Please send me all of your Popeye questions or comments and to join the Johnny DeCarlo Popeye Fan Club, e-mail me: JohnnyItalian@aol.com ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eliot Asinof's detailed book Eight Men Out illustrates how the system of American sports collapsed in 1919, the year the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series. Filmmaker John Sayles worked on his script years before the 1988 film (or before he had the rights to make the film) as a labor of love. Sayles's adaptation proves one can make a historically accurate film in the day and age of artistic license. And what a story. Although many know about the "Black Sox," made famous--again--in the 1989 hit film Field of Dreams, the details of the saga are far less known. The center of Dreams, Shoeless Joe Jackson (portrayed correctly by D.B. Sweeney as illiterate and left-handed in Eight), is not the core of this film; it's ace pitcher Eddie Cicotte (Sayles favorite David Strathairn), who took the money, and third baseman Buck Weaver (John Cusack), who did not. The film fits nicely into Sayles's (Lone Star) strong suit: the ensemble drama. We are introduced to bickering owners, famous crooks, high-minded judges, lowlife gangsters, investigative reporters (played by Studs Terkel and Sayles himself), and, most of all, players who are at the breaking point when it comes to low salaries and degrading rewards. While some may feel the film is not as visceral as it should be, there is a great amount of verisimilitude when watching finely tuned athletes telling their bodies to play poorly--heartbreak on the nation's diamond. Beautifully detailed (like Sayles's previous labor-drama, Matewan), Eight Men Out gives us powerful lessons in which everyone lost: players, gamblers, and especially the fans who love the game. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Wonderfully flavored baseball movie
What a fun movie! This film is a depiction of the 1919 Chicago WhiteSox who are alleged to have "fixed" the World Series that year against the Reds.

Here's what I loved about the film. The portrayal of Charlie Comisky, the White Sox owner is outstanding. I found myself quickly siding with the players from the outset and bristling at his obviously unethical and cheap approach. The time period depicted has a great "feel" to it. The baseball scenes are excellent and have a realistic feel as well. John Cusak and DB Sweeney are excellent as Buck Weaver and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

The portrayal of the newly appointed commisioner Kennisaw Mountain Landis is also excellent. After watching this film you will better understand the current situation with Pete Rose, and where his expulsion from baseball originates. If you are at all a baseball fan you will enjoy the film.

My only criticism is that too much film time is spent of the gangsters and the announcers. That was a little tedious, and limited the further character development of the players, the depiction of the game, the owners, and the era.

I recommend this film though easily to any baseball fan.

Great look into the White Sox world series of 1919
This movie examines the role of the Chicago White Sox in the famous White Sox world series scandal of 1919. I thought it was one of the most appreiciated baseball movies of all time. It deals with the corruption of gambling in sports and the temptations that this particular group of athletes had in throwing the world series. Watching this movie helped me understand why sports betting, for the most part, is the major corporation it is today.

John Cusak is wonderful as Shoeless Joe, one of the White Sox who does not want to go along with the scheme. This movie is very detailed: we get an inside point-of-view from the audience, mob, player and player's wife's perspective. It is a look at the conscience of the White Sox players who must either "sell out" and throw the World Series to make the extra buck and keep the sports sharks off their backs, or keep the integrity of the game intact by giving their all on the field and denying the prospects of more money.

I recommend this movie not only for baseball fans, but all movie junkies. It examines many of the sports issues that we deal with today, such as corruption, integrity of the sport, and gambling.

Sayles' masterpiece
It's difficult not to get your personal feelings called into play when watching an obviously slanted film like EIGHT MEN OUT. John Sayles, like Oliver Stone, is an obvious agit-prop master for the left or at least for labor in its battle against owners. But so are several others movie-makers. However, those others do not get the responses that Sayles has evoked because they don't have half the talent that Sayles possesses. There is no fence-sitting when watching his films, and that's because his visions and messages are clear, uncompromising and passionate. EIGHT MEN OUT is one of his highest achievements in those regards.

In his analysis of the rigging of the World Series of 1919, Sayles targets White Sox owner Comiskey as the true villain. And I believe this is accurate, if not justifiable, at the very least. The Black Sox scandal, as it came to be known, was undoubtedly the lowest point in baseball history, but it could have been avoided. Had Comiskey treated his players as they merited, it is doubtful any of it would have come about. This is not to say that these athletes were angelic: Sayles goes to great lengths to show that several of them would be easily corruptible, such as Chick Gandil (played by the underrated Michael Rooker). Other players seem to want to do the right thing, but are pushed too far by Comiskey--specifically, Eddie Cicotte, as portrayed by Sayles' favorite, David Strathairn. The enigmatic Shoeless Joe Jackson (subtly played by D.B. Sweeney) is just plain too dumb to understand the implications of his involvement. As others have noted, Jackson wound up the series' batting leader.

The real moral compass of EIGHT MEN OUT is Buck Weaver, played by John Cusack in what may have been the performance of his career. Sayles' Weaver is portrayed as the victim of the ultimate betrayal for not participating in the scheme. His teammates don't back him up. The courts do not defend him. The press lumps him together with the guilty. His only crime was not being a snitch. And for that, Weaver has basically been relegated to baseball history's limbo, in spite of an above-par career. Sayles does an admirable job in evoking a justified sympathy for Buck Weaver, and Cusack captures it beautifully.

EIGHT MEN OUT is not a mere baseball movie. Like much of Sayles' work, it's a film about greed, and the desire of American owners to extract as much from labor as possible, without giving anything in return.

P.S. -- Sayles does a great job of portraying writer Ring Lardner. I just wish he didn't sing!

How about a movie called...
How about if the film industry makes a movie called 'The Hammer'? Gee, they made 'Cobb, 'The Babe', 'Eight Men Out', 'Field of Dreams', 'The Pride of the Yankees', 'The Natural', and '61*'. Well, how about making a movie about Henry Aaron, Josh Gibson, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, or even Jackie Robinson? Oh, I forgot, baseball will never allow it...

I WANTED to love it!
I love baseball and I love baseball movies. So I was ready to love this movie, yet it somehow failed to please. Great actors, great period setting, yet we are not let inside the minds of the characters. Aside from John Cusak's Buck Weaver, none of the characters are even that appealing, so we don't really care what happens to them. We know nothing about their background, why they play baseball, or what drives them. In summary, the movie just wasn't that engaging. Since most of us know the rough outline of the story already, there are no surprises. The characters were so 2-dimensional, that I almost expected them to disappear when they turned sideways! Also, the DVD has no special features at all except for a movie trailer which is just a summary of the movie.

If you want a baseball movie with heart, get Field of Dreams. ... Read more

Description

'Subway Stories' ' captures the laughter, the fear, the sexiness and the strangeness of riding the New York subways. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very , Very Pleased
I saw this movie on HBO a couple of years ago, and I have been trying to find it on DVD for a couple of months now, I finally found it on VHS and bought it anyway, cause I just had to have it. The story with Taral Hicks is my favorite, she is trying to reach her mother who is dying in the hospital. She gets stuck and eventually she ends up having to call her from the subway station. When she gets a hold of her mother she sings here favorite song to her over the phone, the song is Troubles of the World. That girl sings the mess out of that song, it will bring tears to your eyes. If you have not seen this movie, you really should.

A Wonderful Collection of Stories!
The first time I saw "Subway Stories" on HBO, it totally blew me away. The whole concept behind the film was to compile the winning short stories from a contest (all of the stories had to be connected to the subways of New York). While the stories are diverse in their plots and themes, I couldn't help but be glued to the TV anticipating the next story. There is something there for everyone. I was particularly fond of John Guare's segment about the war vet pan-handling on the train, although all of the stories were much better than average.

My only problem with this movie is that it is not yet available on DVD. IF you haven't seen this and are a fan of short stories, you will love this movie.

Waiting for the DVD
Please please please release "Subway Stories" on DVD! Its a great movie, but I'm waiting for the DVD (perhaps with some extras)!

John Rocker can't ride the subway, but i will
when i lived in maine, i was only 6 hours from NYC, and i made a habit to go to the big city whenever i could. I always rode the subway. some people may think it's crazy, but i have always been fascinated by them.the last time i was there, i rode one from greenwich village to queens at 130 in the morning and became dazzled by the wonder of gotham. This movie will leave you dazzled by the the variety of the themes presented her., from a snooty rich woman who gets locked in the subway and has to stay there over night, ending up acting like a homeless person. to the old man on the train who gives stock tips to a young trade, these stories tell people more about new york city than any travel giude could. my favorite is the one featuring rosie perez who flirts with a married man on the train

5 Star Presentation
I watched most of this while in a motel. This movie is incredible. It's very interesting and entertaining. It's one of those movies that makes you think and makes you laugh and the music by Mecca Bodega is spectacular. If you don't already own this I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When director Paul Mazursky is good, he's a keen social observer capable of stinging satire. And when he's bad, he makes movies like this bizarre curiosity. A Los Angeles couple (the improbably paired Woody Allen and Bette Midler) head for the mall on their anniversary to do some shopping and, among other things, wind up revealing marital infidelities and having sex with each other in a movie theater. Aside from the idea of the neurotic Allen visiting a mall, there is surprisingly little entertainment value here. Both actors exert serious effort to impart a humorous spin to some of the most pretentious and tedious dialogue in recent memory. The whole thing is like a lengthy marriage counseling session, minus the counselor. Can this marriage be saved? By the end, you'll be wondering, who cares? --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The best comedy EVER! Scenes from a Mall
This is the best comedy in the world! Bette Midler and Woody Allen are great. Scenes from a Mall has everything. Heart warming, sad, funny, hilarious!, even happy scenes. It has a weird and odd original idea to it, and that is what I love best about it! BUY IT BUY IT! Scenes from a Mall will not let you down.

pretty good considering the cast
this film is about a husband(Woody Allen) and a Wife(Bette Midler) that go to a trendy mall and reveal some deep and dark secrets to each other

I liked this film because it was differnt from alot of comedys it is set in a mall for god's sake, where they shop and tell secrets to each other.

The title says it all!
This film is about a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary at a Los Angeles shopping mall. The celebration is bittersweet because the husband(Woody Allen) admits his affair to his wife(Bette Midler). The wife remains angry for a while but eventually forgives her husband. Allen and Midler have done better films than this. Midler's much better films include DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS,RUTHLESS PEOPLE and BIG BUSINESS(all made by Buena Vista like this one). Allen's subsequent film MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY from 1993 was much better than this.

Makes The Viewer Feel Like A Mensch Schlep!
I am not a Woody Allen fan. His neurotic persona never appealed to me. I watched this movie because I like Bette Midler. This film makes the viewer feel like a mensch schlep (third wheel, tag-a-long) who went to the mall with them, & has to suffer through their angst, make-ups, yelling matches, etc. because you need a ride home. In between the couple's dysfunction a lame mime is tossed in to try & add some comic relief. This movie could have been so much more.

Tedium! Aisle 6!
Three cheers and an unlimited mall shopping gift certificate to whomever can sit though this stale, bland, virtually humorless, endless piece of crap. Could the dialogue be any duller? Could the 2 stars be more mismatched? I live near one of the 2 malls used for filming and even that tiny tidbit couldn't get me through this tedious mess. Could either of them have had any idea as to what they were in for? I hope this is a product of bad editing and writing since I want to give Woody and Bette a fair shake for trying hard.

Go to the mall on the busiest day of the year for more laughs and insight. ... 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

Reviews (2)

Bette only introduces the acts, they are the stars.
Despite what other reviews say, this is a great collection of diverse performance art. Bill Irwin has lasted, La La La Human Steps was an interesting dance duo, and the Yes/No People went on to become Stomp. Not everything in this set works, but it is quite interesting, even if you don't like Bette Midler.

Hmmm.....
Creative numbers, funny situations and wild 80's fashion can't help this little (1 hour long) 'show' from being a total flop.
Bette Midler plays a Euro-styled Ed Sullivan, presenter of the crazy and Bizarre. Her Variety show includes comic Davie Cale, Shuffling Bill Irwin, the 'explosive' Kipper Kids, dancers La La La Human Steps, the weird Pat Oleszko, the Yes/No People and Comedian Paul Zaloom.
This is ridiculous~! What was Bette thinking? All that hair/awful clothes and that Italian accent.
Get this only if you are a Midler completist. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Unbelievable, NO, BELIEVEABLE
One of the best. I've read the critics' reviews of Sam Shepard's directorial effort, hogwash. If you don't like what Shepard did in this one, you've missed the point of the movie. You can't roller-skate in a buffalo herd! There are two tragedies to this film: one, it has gone so unnoticed as a whole; two, Sheila Tousey has gone so unnoticed. I believe this is the greatest Native American actress. Couple this with Mr. Bates, Harris, Mulroney, Pheonix, Shepard and Ms. Arredondo, and it was a loser in any way??????

Highly recommended
Resonant. This is what good film-making is all about.

If only...
As a true fan of River Phoenix I approach any film he's done with an incredibly open mind - maybe moreso than I should. Silent Tongue is a beautifully scripted and written Western revolving around a young man's loss of a loved one. Phoenix actually has only a dozen or so lines - with his silence though, he speaks volumes. His absorbtion of this character is flawless and eerily truthful. Richard Harris is wonderful here as in everything he does. His part is also not very wordy. In fact much of the film is wihtout dialogue. This creates a wonderful sense of the isolation of that era. It also allows the characters to be explored introspectively and with great depth. The true test of an actor is if he can embody the character with no lines; existing solely with his very being. Here River shows sheer perfection; conveying painfully his character's torment with only his body and his eyes!
However, this is where my praise for the film stops. Though it must have been an amazingly beautiful story to read, much was lost in translating it to film. Dermot Mulrooney has a large role. He botches it masterfully by grunting/shouting all his lines as though trying to reach predominately deaf people in the back row of a Theater he's not in. The effect is that none of what he says sounds honest, but more like a experimental, high school drama class failure. This is sad because in every other film I've seen him, he does a solid acting job worthy of much notice. There are also several scenes which are unnecessarily drawn out and campy. And as someone who loves the 1956 classic "Giant" which runs 3 1/2 hours, it takes a lot for me to call any scene in a Western drawn out.
Sam Shephard, Writer and Director of Silent Tongue, has produced dozens of brilliant plays etc. But to bring this story to life on film would have required much more attention to Cinematic effect than was given. Some things can captivate one reading a script, but simply don't hold up on the 'silver screen'. Even as an "artsy" film [A genre` which I LOVE], this doesn't quite achieve the goal. Nonetheless, one walks away from this film moved and touched - not only by River's brilliance, but also in realizing the magnitude of the story and message that must have inspired this film. And so even with its absurd moments and unfortunately wretched performance by Mulrooney, this is still a film I recommend for some. For Richard Harris and River Phoenix's performances more than make it worth a look.

Phenomenal ghost story. Very theatrical in tone.
Sam Shepard, the writer/director of "Silent Tongue," is one of the big names in contemporary American theatre. So it comes as no surprise that his two feature films--also, "Far North"--have a distinctly theatrical tone. General audiences may not have a taste for this, but Shepard's films do reward additional viewings, and both have grown on me in a big way.

"Silent Tongue" is a ghost story which uncovers a disturbing sickness at the heart of the Old West. River Phoenix becomes mentally unhinged when his Native American bride dies in childbirth. This sends his father, Richard Harris, on a journey to try and find another woman for his son. Exhibiting tragically limited imagination, the father returns to the traveling circus where he traded horses for the first woman, and he attempt a second bargain for the woman's sister. In the end, the sister must confront the dead woman's ghost, and we learn the dark secret of their past.

Phoenix is eerily convincing as the mad Talbot Roe, and Richard Harris is uncharacteristic low-key as the world-weary Prescott Roe. My only complaint is Dermot Mulroney who is miscast and unable to make his character's diction convincing.

RIVER IN ANOTHER EXCELLENT ROLE
Well this was the last film I saw with River. It didn`t come 2 Norway until the summer of 1997. Luckily for me - I wasn`t dissapointed; It was a non streamlined Western signed by the gifted Sam Shepard and Star Performances from cast 2 crew. River Phoenix in a supporting role - really - but his talent and presence intact. Thank U God that we had a young actor who chose his roles with care and integrity. U always seem 2 learn by watching River`s movies. He is deeply missed. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

CLASSIC FUNNY MOVIE, DVD VERSION NOT WORTH THE EXTRA DOLLARS
Okay, so I sinned and purchased a film that isn't anamorphic, heck this DVD isn't even widescreen! But it didn't cost much more than the VHS tape. Unfortunately there aren't any extras on the disc, behold why so inexpensive, and the picture and sound quality make me wonder if I would have been just as well off purchasing the VHS version. The only problem would be that I don't pop in my VHS movies any more. This movie is very funny. Steve Martin plays a great italian mobster and Rick Morranis plays the perfect boring federal agent. If you don't find yourself quoting this movie then either you're too serious, or I'm too easily amused. The movie is a 4 star movie, if only this movie could get a quality DVD transfer some day.

A NY gangster in the witness protection program
Steve Martin is one of the worlds best known comics, and this is perhaps his best roll so far. The story is about Vinni, aka Todd Wilkensen, (Martin), a New York City gangster enrolled in the witness protection program. He is sent to a yuppy town near San Diego called Fryberg. The FBI agent (Rick Moranis) assigned to look after him is a systemat