Reviews (43)

The Entity One of My Favorite Movies
The Entity was one of my favorite scary movies; one of the reasons is that it was based on a factual account of another's life. Imagine being that woman, the horrors she must have faced, and the terror she still must be facing. I think that Barbara Hershey did a wonderful job portraying in this role. The effects for that time were done very well, especially when the hands were touching her and you could actually see the imprints on her skin. It surely left chills up my spine. I can't wait until this movie comes out on DVD. One of your previous reviewers from Greenville, SC USA said," This movie had great acting, intriguing story, and good music, but it is not even the least bit scary or disturbing. I really think it had potential, but it was way too predictable. If you thought it was scary, well whatever. I didn't think it was scary. If you want real scary get The Other (not The Others), The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Salem's Lot, Pet Cemetery, or Evil Dead". That person needs to realize the difference between the Gore factors and the Fear factors. His/her opinion is fine if your looking for blood and gore then this movie isn't for you. I found this movie to be more of a suspense/drama/thriller. So, if you are looking for blood and gore like (i.e.: Troma type movies) than this movie isn't what you'll be getting. So, Mr./Ms. Greenville, SC USA should really reevaluate his or her perspective before giving an opinion on movie genre's and not compare suspense and fear flicks with blood and gore....it just isn't appropriate.

Poor Barbara Hershey
I really like Barbara Hershey, and I wish she had saved her talents for something better than this movie. This is the story of a woman stalked by a ghost who rapes her repeatedly. Puportedly based on a true story, it fizzles after a promising beginning, and believing that some woman actually experienced this (or thinks she did) doesn't help matters.

The special effects are quite convincing for the time, but fail to carry the movie. I watched this at home, alone, late at night, and wasn't scared at all. Perhaps my expectations were too high after several recommendations, but I was frankly bored by this movie.

That said, Barbara Hershey does turn out a solid performance. That held my interest just enough to watch the entire film. Had it starred a lesser actress, I think I would have stopped watching after the first half hour. If you are a dyed-in-the-wool Barbara Hershey fan, you should catch this movie (it'll make you miss her old lips, however). But if you want to be scared out of your wits, choose something else.

Scary as Hell
This is the ultimate haunted house flick that will scare you dead. What makes this film so scary is the fact that you can't see the ghost/entity when it decides to attack Carla Moran, and do other violent things.

The Entity appears to have an insatiable appetite for sex, and Carla just happened to be the ghost's favorite victim (he does have great taste I must say). Poor Carla can't seem to shake this psychotic ghost from following her around. It's really creepy. Perhaps he didn't get enough while he was alive.

On the more serious note, Carla's family gets caught in the middle of all this mess and don't know what to make of it. And if this wasn't creepy enough, "The Entity" is based on a TRUE STORY!

It's basically a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carla and her family decide to move into this house (haunted as hell I might say). She had no idea of the history of the house or perhaps didn't care. Once she moved in that was it, the entity drilled her like there was no tomorrow. And she couldn't escape. EVERYWHERE Carla went, the ghost ran after her [lustily]. Apparently, the ghost had an endless supply of viagra!

If you have trouble sleeping DON'T watch this movie. If you get scared easily, DON'T watch this movie. If you're superstitious DON'T watch this movie! If you don't care and want to have fun while peeing on yourself, GET THIS FILM! It's not available on DVD yet, but you can enjoy it on VHS. You might also want to light a few candles before watching it. If this film doesn't scare you, check your pulse!

new millenium
This is a fantastic horror flic.
I cannot believe that it is not available on DVD with widescreen format. Some body should tell the video industry that the twentieth century is over, VHS is out of date.

Honesty
This is one scary movie. Based on a true ongoing story. Kind of want to know what life like today for our main character. I've watch this 3/4 times and it still gets to me. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Exciting & Sexy
The plot is tense and tight, with an interesting surprise ending and while it earns its 'mature' rating, the sex scenes are engaging without being coarse. This erotic thriller has a subtlety that appeals to the 'bad girl' hiding in every woman.

Not worth $100
This was an average movie, overall, but it had it's moments. What really makes the movie work isn't the action or even the plot, although those pass. It's the human drama, what a dedicated cop winds up doing when she is faced with temptation.

So, you don't want to know what happens in the movie, you just want to watch it. You'll follow a female cop on a murder investigation. You might find that it's a little long, too. It ain't over 'til it's over, but I don't think I could watch the whole thing more than once every few years. Not without getting stoned anyway, as this is a sleeper. But despite all that, the drama left a lasting impression with me.

A Waste of time and Money
This movie had no plot, but Joan Severance has a nice body and is a decent actress. I could not figure anything else out about it. It reminded me of a another Shannon Tweed film, so that's why it sucked. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SEXY TEENAGER RUNS AWAY FROM HOME
Renee Humphrey playing what has become a kind of standard role in semi exploitation teen movies: The sexy teenager runs away from home and is exploited by dubious types and becomes a (kind of) stripper. Ms. Humphrey was later to play the role of Didi in the delightful farce "Sex Monster" as the lesbian lover of Meryl Hemmingway.
Krista Erickson does a very nice job too as the hooker who can sing

FUN AND A TOUCH OF SWEET ROMANCE WITHIN!WORTH TO SEE IT!
I have seen it twice as i remember and it is worth seeing as a cop movie,also it combines a touch of romance and the main characters are a perfect duo and a romance couple on-screen. The story is usual but it is not boring it manages to escape in some moments and that what makes it worth to buy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Actually based on a true story...
---
...being the Battle of Athens, Tennessee (August 1-2, 1946), in which GIs returning from World War II to McMinn County, midway between Knoxville and Chatanooga in eastern Tennessee, found their communities under the vicious control of the Cantrell political machine. The "law enforcement officers" of the county sheriff were, in fact, nothing more than badge-wearing armed goons at Cantrell's command.

This mild movie is the best available dramatization of what happened in that Summer of 1946, when American private citizens, faced with a government that would not obey the law, took up weapons - including semiautomatic military small arms, machine guns, and dynamite - and got themselves an honest election by exercising their civil rights in a manner that would cause today's "Liberals" to soil their silken panties.

Until someone undertakes a proper and accurate dramatic account of what actually happened in McMinn County when the GIs returned to their homes and did to the Cantrell machine what they'd done to the foreign enemies of freedom, this milk-and-water substitute will have to do.
---

Seems to be missing something.
An American Story is about a group of WWII veterns who return home to cope with their changed lives. The current mayor has shaken up their town while they were overseas, so the veterns decide to run for office to try and change things. This movie follows several different characters who are undeveloped and in the end of the movie, some of the conflicts remained unresolved.
A better hallmark movie that has the WWII theme involved in it, is Miss Rose White, check this one out if you are interested. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Better Than Expected
This movie is a virtual scene for scene remake of a 1985 movie called "Streetwalkin'." And it has some of the same actors too. I liked this version better and Leslie Bega,who plays Micki, is really hot! However, I am wondering why they changed the name of this movie. It used to be called "Angel In Red" and I liked that title better. "Uncaged" is too generic and vague.

Spellbinding tale of dangerous jealousy
Heart-raking story of a prostitute working to keep her and her brother off the streets and has all that she's worked for taken away by her lover: a cold, jealous, psychopath who will stop at nothing just to feel she's staying faithful. Don't be fooled for a second by the video box, this is a sad, WELL-ACTED tearfest. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Unbelievable
I love this movie so much! I first saw it on Showtime on TV and I fell in love with it. I would look every single day to see if it was on, and ofcourse, they only put it on once every month! This is an amazing movie that really captures what it's like to graduate from high school and not know what to do. It really shows the power that teenagers can have in this world. It's an incradible movie and everyone should watch it!

there goes my baby
This is the best movie I ever seen. I love Noah Wyle and his work. Noah is very good in this movie. It is humerous and enjoyable. I wish I had the nerve to do half the things they did in this video. It really states how it was back in the vietnam era.

LOVED IT>>>>>

Absolutely Heartwarming and Fun!
I saw There Goes My Baby when it was in the theatres, and while I saw that there were some similarities between it and "Hollywood Knights" I don't think it was a blatant rip off... Floyd Mutrux wrote and directed both movies so there are bound to be some similar aspects. That's like hating Pulp Fiction because it had a similar feel to Reservoir Dogs.

I may be a bit biased because I love the "one day in the life" type of movies (ie Dazed and Confused) I thought it was a heartwarming and fun movie and it has a permanent place on my shelf next to the VCR.

Shocked as to how blatantly it ripped off other movies!
Talk about lack of imagination. Sure a script, storyline could be influenced by others, but,"There goes my Baby" was shameless in it's repeated rip-offs of entire chunks of story from the movie "Hollywood Knights".This might even be forgivable, but the use of complete lines of dialogue as well from the same flick really dissapointed me! There were notable acting moments, the fact that several of the actors went on and still are notables, makes it apparent that the weakness here was the lack of a real screenplay or solid storyline! I also expect authenticity, & the lack of any "Musclecars" mixed into the continuous parade of hot rods & custom (lead-sleds) did not convey realism! You'd think that some of the hottest (& best selling) cars ever produced,I.E. GTO's,Chevelles, 442"s,409 Impalas would have been hitting the cruise spots profiled in this film??

More than an ice cream soda at the local burger joint...
What to do and where to go? The questions so many high school graduates face; However, Most are not facing these questions when there is a war going on. Most of us think about a time of bubble gum music and a seperate time when there was the Vietnam war. What we forget is that these two things do overlap and we idealize the time of bubblegum music and leave out the part about the war. I believe that this movie gives a good sense of making sure that we know all the bad that came with that "idyllic" time. Watts, Vietnam, and bubblegum music...not even the local burger hang- out was a place to just forget and be free... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

BAD BOY- RUTGER #1
GREAT MOVIE- RUTGER AS A BAD BOY
IS GREAT

SUSPENSEFUL AND ON THE EDGE OF YOUR
SEAT ENTERTAINMENT

SEX SCENES UNNECESSARY

Entertaining though not outstanding
The story moves forward well enough and has an element of suspense. The caliber of the acting is satisfactory plus, and the improbability and contrived sequence of events exert limits on the overall effect. Does not improve on, nor much vary, previous videos of this genre.

Terrifying Mexican Hit And Run
When California furniture entrepreneurs Doug and Lynn Kaines (Ron Silver and Rebecca De Mornay) drive across the border to scout Mexican factory sites, they accidentally kill a policeman walking on the dark highway.

Fearing the law, they choose to do nothing until Jake Shell (Rutger Hauer) a charming but terrifying stranger, shows up at their home persistently asking for work. After each rejection, he threateningly returns until the intimidated couple tricks him into meeting at their attorney's office. It is there that Shell admits he's "on the run" and insinuates what he might have seen in Mexico, "it's amazing what you can learn just sitting by the side of the road."

The torment continues as Shell beats their receptionist in a bondage scene, Lynn loses her baby, and Doug and Shell face off in a mismatched fist fight. Eventually, Doug must search Shell's trailer to find the one piece of physical evidence that will prove the couple's innocence.

Be forewarned of a perfectly-paced scene in which, driving through a car wash hearing only the rhythmic equipment, the windshield wipers suddenly dislodge a bloody eyebrow.

A Very Good Thriller
I really enjoyed this movie.I'm really kind of new to this whole "Hollywood Spiel".From what I understand there are "list stars",which doesn't make sense to me because most of the so-called A-list stars are bimbo's and panzies!Anyway I thought the main characters were great and perormed great making this one of the best movies I've ever seen!Suspense,heartbreak,anger,mystery!Once again Ms.DeMornay's character is tough and strong when necessary!So before you rush out and rent or buy what the guys on T.V. tell you to do check out this movie and maybe you'll be surprised especially at Ms.DeMornay's skills as a diversified non-Hollywood Bimbo actress!

A great suspense thriller!
This movie was really wonderful. When 2 lovers after a vacation in Mexico get back on the road to return home to the U.S., they hit a police officer who staggered into the road. Fearing the Mexican legal system, they leave the dead policeman in hopes to return to the states without being caught. With terrible feelings of guilt about what they have done, they try to move on with thier lives. Then an unexpected visitor from Mexico enters thier lives and nothing will ever be the same again. This movie is full of suspense and terror and a surprising twist that may help this couple to move on with thier lives, if they can escape thier adversary that has plagued them since thier return and continues to haunt them. A great movie that will leave you shocked and scared! ... Read more

Description

A witness to the accidental killing of a policeman follows the young couple responsible home and begins to make impossible demands. A sexy, action-packed psycho thriller. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

BAD BOY- RUTGER #1
GREAT MOVIE- RUTGER AS A BAD BOY
IS GREAT

SUSPENSEFUL AND ON THE EDGE OF YOUR
SEAT ENTERTAINMENT

SEX SCENES UNNECESSARY

Entertaining though not outstanding
The story moves forward well enough and has an element of suspense. The caliber of the acting is satisfactory plus, and the improbability and contrived sequence of events exert limits on the overall effect. Does not improve on, nor much vary, previous videos of this genre.

Terrifying Mexican Hit And Run
When California furniture entrepreneurs Doug and Lynn Kaines (Ron Silver and Rebecca De Mornay) drive across the border to scout Mexican factory sites, they accidentally kill a policeman walking on the dark highway.

Fearing the law, they choose to do nothing until Jake Shell (Rutger Hauer) a charming but terrifying stranger, shows up at their home persistently asking for work. After each rejection, he threateningly returns until the intimidated couple tricks him into meeting at their attorney's office. It is there that Shell admits he's "on the run" and insinuates what he might have seen in Mexico, "it's amazing what you can learn just sitting by the side of the road."

The torment continues as Shell beats their receptionist in a bondage scene, Lynn loses her baby, and Doug and Shell face off in a mismatched fist fight. Eventually, Doug must search Shell's trailer to find the one piece of physical evidence that will prove the couple's innocence.

Be forewarned of a perfectly-paced scene in which, driving through a car wash hearing only the rhythmic equipment, the windshield wipers suddenly dislodge a bloody eyebrow.

A Very Good Thriller
I really enjoyed this movie.I'm really kind of new to this whole "Hollywood Spiel".From what I understand there are "list stars",which doesn't make sense to me because most of the so-called A-list stars are bimbo's and panzies!Anyway I thought the main characters were great and perormed great making this one of the best movies I've ever seen!Suspense,heartbreak,anger,mystery!Once again Ms.DeMornay's character is tough and strong when necessary!So before you rush out and rent or buy what the guys on T.V. tell you to do check out this movie and maybe you'll be surprised especially at Ms.DeMornay's skills as a diversified non-Hollywood Bimbo actress!

A great suspense thriller!
This movie was really wonderful. When 2 lovers after a vacation in Mexico get back on the road to return home to the U.S., they hit a police officer who staggered into the road. Fearing the Mexican legal system, they leave the dead policeman in hopes to return to the states without being caught. With terrible feelings of guilt about what they have done, they try to move on with thier lives. Then an unexpected visitor from Mexico enters thier lives and nothing will ever be the same again. This movie is full of suspense and terror and a surprising twist that may help this couple to move on with thier lives, if they can escape thier adversary that has plagued them since thier return and continues to haunt them. A great movie that will leave you shocked and scared! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A real, reel KNOCKOUT..so buy it!
Little brother boxer idolizes big brother boxer. But sleazy mob guys brutally bash big brother to death prompting little brother to go Rocky on everyone. In the end its those no-good thugs that deservingly get slammed. Whoa! Good stuff. Personally speaking now, from the opening scene at the gym to the walk to ring with that smashing finale, I could virtually see, hear and smell the actual world of a fighter. I may be crazy, but after that fatal beating the mob gave big brother I ached all over as if I were the poor sap. (Except that I am still thankfully alive of course). And the crunch of ME slamming onto the pavement below the window?...oof! As for all the other punching blows..the sight & sound of high energy fisted leather exploding on MY flesh...well, it's almost too much for me to take. But I keep going back..for more. Viewing that is.

"A Heart-Pounding Emotional Knockout"
This movie shows the REAL Sides of Boxing...The Dark side of the sport...How much Boxing is more a business then a sport..It also shows the Love of two brothers and they're relationship with they're father..Terrific performance by Gene Hackman...The walk in to the ring is one of the most exciting scenes in movies....I highly Recommend It... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SEXY TEENAGER RUNS AWAY FROM HOME
Renee Humphrey playing what has become a kind of standard role in semi exploitation teen movies: The sexy teenager runs away from home and is exploited by dubious types and becomes a (kind of) stripper. Ms. Humphrey was later to play the role of Didi in the delightful farce "Sex Monster" as the lesbian lover of Meryl Hemmingway.
Krista Erickson does a very nice job too as the hooker who can sing

FUN AND A TOUCH OF SWEET ROMANCE WITHIN!WORTH TO SEE IT!
I have seen it twice as i remember and it is worth seeing as a cop movie,also it combines a touch of romance and the main characters are a perfect duo and a romance couple on-screen. The story is usual but it is not boring it manages to escape in some moments and that what makes it worth to buy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Exciting & Sexy
The plot is tense and tight, with an interesting surprise ending and while it earns its 'mature' rating, the sex scenes are engaging without being coarse. This erotic thriller has a subtlety that appeals to the 'bad girl' hiding in every woman.

Not worth $100
This was an average movie, overall, but it had it's moments. What really makes the movie work isn't the action or even the plot, although those pass. It's the human drama, what a dedicated cop winds up doing when she is faced with temptation.

So, you don't want to know what happens in the movie, you just want to watch it. You'll follow a female cop on a murder investigation. You might find that it's a little long, too. It ain't over 'til it's over, but I don't think I could watch the whole thing more than once every few years. Not without getting stoned anyway, as this is a sleeper. But despite all that, the drama left a lasting impression with me.

A Waste of time and Money
This movie had no plot, but Joan Severance has a nice body and is a decent actress. I could not figure anything else out about it. It reminded me of a another Shannon Tweed film, so that's why it sucked. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Unbelievable
I love this movie so much! I first saw it on Showtime on TV and I fell in love with it. I would look every single day to see if it was on, and ofcourse, they only put it on once every month! This is an amazing movie that really captures what it's like to graduate from high school and not know what to do. It really shows the power that teenagers can have in this world. It's an incradible movie and everyone should watch it!

there goes my baby
This is the best movie I ever seen. I love Noah Wyle and his work. Noah is very good in this movie. It is humerous and enjoyable. I wish I had the nerve to do half the things they did in this video. It really states how it was back in the vietnam era.

LOVED IT>>>>>

Absolutely Heartwarming and Fun!
I saw There Goes My Baby when it was in the theatres, and while I saw that there were some similarities between it and "Hollywood Knights" I don't think it was a blatant rip off... Floyd Mutrux wrote and directed both movies so there are bound to be some similar aspects. That's like hating Pulp Fiction because it had a similar feel to Reservoir Dogs.

I may be a bit biased because I love the "one day in the life" type of movies (ie Dazed and Confused) I thought it was a heartwarming and fun movie and it has a permanent place on my shelf next to the VCR.

Shocked as to how blatantly it ripped off other movies!
Talk about lack of imagination. Sure a script, storyline could be influenced by others, but,"There goes my Baby" was shameless in it's repeated rip-offs of entire chunks of story from the movie "Hollywood Knights".This might even be forgivable, but the use of complete lines of dialogue as well from the same flick really dissapointed me! There were notable acting moments, the fact that several of the actors went on and still are notables, makes it apparent that the weakness here was the lack of a real screenplay or solid storyline! I also expect authenticity, & the lack of any "Musclecars" mixed into the continuous parade of hot rods & custom (lead-sleds) did not convey realism! You'd think that some of the hottest (& best selling) cars ever produced,I.E. GTO's,Chevelles, 442"s,409 Impalas would have been hitting the cruise spots profiled in this film??

More than an ice cream soda at the local burger joint...
What to do and where to go? The questions so many high school graduates face; However, Most are not facing these questions when there is a war going on. Most of us think about a time of bubble gum music and a seperate time when there was the Vietnam war. What we forget is that these two things do overlap and we idealize the time of bubblegum music and leave out the part about the war. I believe that this movie gives a good sense of making sure that we know all the bad that came with that "idyllic" time. Watts, Vietnam, and bubblegum music...not even the local burger hang- out was a place to just forget and be free... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Pretty amateurish...
Beats me how people can describe this adolescent exercise as film noir. True there's a gun & a bottle & a dame & the lead is a private eye, but that ain't what makes the genre, folks. This thing plays like reheated TV cop show stuff - lots of bloody beating & lousy continuity - with a dash of Chinatown memories thrown in. Pretty hard to watch beyond the first 10 minutes. You want contemporary feelm nwah, watch anything by John Dahl.

Much action, but...
This film is a plain suspense story, though we know the bad ones from the very start. The suspense of the film comes from the slow discovery of the details of the crimes. An ex-cop, turned private investigator, gets into a case that leads him to a lot of money but also to a vengeance. The details are absolutely sordid, bleak, disgusting. Some kind of group of criminals work with an important LAPD cop, the one who fired Fritz Brown, the hero, to embezzle a lot of welfare money into their pockets with fake welfare cases. One of their low rank associates, Fat Dog, burns one of their cover-up bars, steals their ledgers and a big chunk of that embezzled money. He is on the run and he hires the PI to look after his sister. He will eventually get killed. But The ugliest part of it is that the 17 year old sister is the lover of the real boss of the little maffia ring. But it will be discovered that she is in fact his daughter. This last detail is what makes this story unbearable. The fact that the man is a Jew determines the break away attitude of Fat Dog. But the sister, when she finally knows the truth, decides to stick with her father-lover. The PI will eventually get his vengeance against the LAPD cop-VIP, and his hands on Fat Dog's stolen money. But the vision of the world given here is absolutely sickening. I will yet regret the antisemitism that lurks behind the film that in part takes place in Venice, a place that is also known as the locale of American History X, another story about antisemitism and neo-nazi leagues. Fat Dog is on that line with Hitler's picture well positioned in his shack. We thus have the impression we are entering a world that is purely created by Hollywood and we do not know whether we are in the real world or not. This gives the strange impression that we are living in a virtual world wirth Hollywood's productions and that this virtual world has a loose connection with the real world. But is it really the case ? We cannot know nor decide. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris University II

Nice try, but...
Uneven attempt to adapt James Ellroy's first novel. Features an excellent cast --- William Sasso's portrayal of Fat Dog Baker is worth the price of admission --- but Michael Rooker in the starring role seems badly miscast for an Ellroy-style "hero." Brown's relationships with Jane Baker and Walter are never developed; these characters appear only briefly so it's difficult to feel much emotional resonance (in the novel these relationships are crucial to Brown's motivations and why he acts as he does). A worthwhile entertainment for hard-core mystery fans, but it does make one yearn for the depth and complexity of the novel.

Nothing special about the DVD. The audio is two-channel Dolby and the transfer is letterboxed but not enhanced for 16x9 TVs. Extra features are limited to a trailer and cast and crew bios, although there is an audio commentary by the director.

Even better than the book
I loved the book and couldn't believe that the movie was even better. I tend to be critical of first time directors, but I found very little to criticize. Kudos to Freeland for a great performance. If you haven't seen it yet, don't waste any more time.

More Selma, Please
If you're interest in this movie is based on Selma Blair, you'll probably be disappointed. Not that Selma isn't great in her part as the seventeen year old "play-thing" of an extremely rich and perverse old man, but her part is small despite top billing. If you're looking for skin, the best you're going to do is Selma in her pink undies. Which may be worth it for some die-hard Selma fans. As for the movie itself, if you're looking for a modern day "L.A. Confidential", this isn't it. Though it is a "whodunit", I'm still not quite sure who did what and I'm not sure I really care. Then again, my main interest was Selma, so I could be bias. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Pretty amateurish...
Beats me how people can describe this adolescent exercise as film noir. True there's a gun & a bottle & a dame & the lead is a private eye, but that ain't what makes the genre, folks. This thing plays like reheated TV cop show stuff - lots of bloody beating & lousy continuity - with a dash of Chinatown memories thrown in. Pretty hard to watch beyond the first 10 minutes. You want contemporary feelm nwah, watch anything by John Dahl.

Much action, but...
This film is a plain suspense story, though we know the bad ones from the very start. The suspense of the film comes from the slow discovery of the details of the crimes. An ex-cop, turned private investigator, gets into a case that leads him to a lot of money but also to a vengeance. The details are absolutely sordid, bleak, disgusting. Some kind of group of criminals work with an important LAPD cop, the one who fired Fritz Brown, the hero, to embezzle a lot of welfare money into their pockets with fake welfare cases. One of their low rank associates, Fat Dog, burns one of their cover-up bars, steals their ledgers and a big chunk of that embezzled money. He is on the run and he hires the PI to look after his sister. He will eventually get killed. But The ugliest part of it is that the 17 year old sister is the lover of the real boss of the little maffia ring. But it will be discovered that she is in fact his daughter. This last detail is what makes this story unbearable. The fact that the man is a Jew determines the break away attitude of Fat Dog. But the sister, when she finally knows the truth, decides to stick with her father-lover. The PI will eventually get his vengeance against the LAPD cop-VIP, and his hands on Fat Dog's stolen money. But the vision of the world given here is absolutely sickening. I will yet regret the antisemitism that lurks behind the film that in part takes place in Venice, a place that is also known as the locale of American History X, another story about antisemitism and neo-nazi leagues. Fat Dog is on that line with Hitler's picture well positioned in his shack. We thus have the impression we are entering a world that is purely created by Hollywood and we do not know whether we are in the real world or not. This gives the strange impression that we are living in a virtual world wirth Hollywood's productions and that this virtual world has a loose connection with the real world. But is it really the case ? We cannot know nor decide. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris University II

Nice try, but...
Uneven attempt to adapt James Ellroy's first novel. Features an excellent cast --- William Sasso's portrayal of Fat Dog Baker is worth the price of admission --- but Michael Rooker in the starring role seems badly miscast for an Ellroy-style "hero." Brown's relationships with Jane Baker and Walter are never developed; these characters appear only briefly so it's difficult to feel much emotional resonance (in the novel these relationships are crucial to Brown's motivations and why he acts as he does). A worthwhile entertainment for hard-core mystery fans, but it does make one yearn for the depth and complexity of the novel.

Nothing special about the DVD. The audio is two-channel Dolby and the transfer is letterboxed but not enhanced for 16x9 TVs. Extra features are limited to a trailer and cast and crew bios, although there is an audio commentary by the director.

Even better than the book
I loved the book and couldn't believe that the movie was even better. I tend to be critical of first time directors, but I found very little to criticize. Kudos to Freeland for a great performance. If you haven't seen it yet, don't waste any more time.

More Selma, Please
If you're interest in this movie is based on Selma Blair, you'll probably be disappointed. Not that Selma isn't great in her part as the seventeen year old "play-thing" of an extremely rich and perverse old man, but her part is small despite top billing. If you're looking for skin, the best you're going to do is Selma in her pink undies. Which may be worth it for some die-hard Selma fans. As for the movie itself, if you're looking for a modern day "L.A. Confidential", this isn't it. Though it is a "whodunit", I'm still not quite sure who did what and I'm not sure I really care. Then again, my main interest was Selma, so I could be bias. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Actually based on a true story...
---
...being the Battle of Athens, Tennessee (August 1-2, 1946), in which GIs returning from World War II to McMinn County, midway between Knoxville and Chatanooga in eastern Tennessee, found their communities under the vicious control of the Cantrell political machine. The "law enforcement officers" of the county sheriff were, in fact, nothing more than badge-wearing armed goons at Cantrell's command.

This mild movie is the best available dramatization of what happened in that Summer of 1946, when American private citizens, faced with a government that would not obey the law, took up weapons - including semiautomatic military small arms, machine guns, and dynamite - and got themselves an honest election by exercising their civil rights in a manner that would cause today's "Liberals" to soil their silken panties.

Until someone undertakes a proper and accurate dramatic account of what actually happened in McMinn County when the GIs returned to their homes and did to the Cantrell machine what they'd done to the foreign enemies of freedom, this milk-and-water substitute will have to do.
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Seems to be missing something.
An American Story is about a group of WWII veterns who return home to cope with their changed lives. The current mayor has shaken up their town while they were overseas, so the veterns decide to run for office to try and change things. This movie follows several different characters who are undeveloped and in the end of the movie, some of the conflicts remained unresolved.
A better hallmark movie that has the WWII theme involved in it, is Miss Rose White, check this one out if you are interested. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

BAD BOY- RUTGER #1
GREAT MOVIE- RUTGER AS A BAD BOY
IS GREAT

SUSPENSEFUL AND ON THE EDGE OF YOUR
SEAT ENTERTAINMENT

SEX SCENES UNNECESSARY

Entertaining though not outstanding
The story moves forward well enough and has an element of suspense. The caliber of the acting is satisfactory plus, and the improbability and contrived sequence of events exert limits on the overall effect. Does not improve on, nor much vary, previous videos of this genre.

Terrifying Mexican Hit And Run
When California furniture entrepreneurs Doug and Lynn Kaines (Ron Silver and Rebecca De Mornay) drive across the border to scout Mexican factory sites, they accidentally kill a policeman walking on the dark highway.

Fearing the law, they choose to do nothing until Jake Shell (Rutger Hauer) a charming but terrifying stranger, shows up at their home persistently asking for work. After each rejection, he threateningly returns until the intimidated couple tricks him into meeting at their attorney's office. It is there that Shell admits he's "on the run" and insinuates what he might have seen in Mexico, "it's amazing what you can learn just sitting by the side of the road."

The torment continues as Shell beats their receptionist in a bondage scene, Lynn loses her baby, and Doug and Shell face off in a mismatched fist fight. Eventually, Doug must search Shell's trailer to find the one piece of physical evidence that will prove the couple's innocence.

Be forewarned of a perfectly-paced scene in which, driving through a car wash hearing only the rhythmic equipment, the windshield wipers suddenly dislodge a bloody eyebrow.

A Very Good Thriller
I really enjoyed this movie.I'm really kind of new to this whole "Hollywood Spiel".From what I understand there are "list stars",which doesn't make sense to me because most of the so-called A-list stars are bimbo's and panzies!Anyway I thought the main characters were great and perormed great making this one of the best movies I've ever seen!Suspense,heartbreak,anger,mystery!Once again Ms.DeMornay's character is tough and strong when necessary!So before you rush out and rent or buy what the guys on T.V. tell you to do check out this movie and maybe you'll be surprised especially at Ms.DeMornay's skills as a diversified non-Hollywood Bimbo actress!

A great suspense thriller!
This movie was really wonderful. When 2 lovers after a vacation in Mexico get back on the road to return home to the U.S., they hit a police officer who staggered into the road. Fearing the Mexican legal system, they leave the dead policeman in hopes to return to the states without being caught. With terrible feelings of guilt about what they have done, they try to move on with thier lives. Then an unexpected visitor from Mexico enters thier lives and nothing will ever be the same again. This movie is full of suspense and terror and a surprising twist that may help this couple to move on with thier lives, if they can escape thier adversary that has plagued them since thier return and continues to haunt them. A great movie that will leave you shocked and scared! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

JUST A GANGSTA FLICK THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE A SHAKESPEARE PLOT
A YOUNG LATINO THUG [JON SEDA] BETRAYS HIS OWN BROTHERS ONE BY ONE SO THAT HE CAN CONTROL THE STREETS OF LA. THE ACTING IS OK, BUT, THE PLOT IS MEDIOCRE AND THE MOVIE'S JUST NOT ALWAYS ON TARGET. I THINK THIS MOVIE IS BETTER THAN MOST OF THE GANGSTA MOVIES THAT'RE CURRENTLY AT THE VIDEO STORES RIGHT NOW, BUT, THIS MOVIE NEEDS SOME SERIOUS WORK. THAT'S RIGHT, THIS MOVIE ACTUALLY IS AN URBAN REWORKING OF ''RICHARD III'', THE CLAASIC SHAKESPEARE STORY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, RENT IT. BUT DON'T BUY IT.

A lot of fun to watch
This is one for the English teachers out there. The film takes a Shakespeare play [Richard III] and adapts it to a contemporary setting. Anyone who loves Shakespeare will enjoy watching how the plot line is used here. The actors all seem to be relishing their over the top perfomances...but isn't that one of the charms of the original character? I think yes. Buy this one, show it to your students, and discuss how Shakespeare borrowed from other sources.

also listed in the Internet Movie Database as "King Rikki"
Shakespeare's "Richard III" updated so the masses (like me) can enjoy the story for what it is..A Timeless Masterpiece.. without having to translate it into modern American English..rife with deceit and betrayal..Ruthless fun

Worth it for the hotties!
I thank the last reviewer for mentioning the Shakespearean influence. I kept wondering why the protagonist kept making such unrealistic soliloquies. Anyway, this movie had a terrible plot. The way in which a brother was killing his own brothers was very disheartening. It shifted the border from US-Mexico to Northern Cal-Southern Cal for some unexplained reason. Still, this movie was worth it for one reason: THE GUYS IN IT ARE KILLER HOT!!!! Que guapos! Almost every male character wears sleeveless undershirts to displaying their perfect torsos and sculptured arms. Simply beautiful!

A good looking film.
Good prformances. It's an art gang picture that uses Shakespeare's Richard III. Low budget. Thoughtfuly photographed. Splendid art direction. Story is hard to fallow at times. But it's hubris in performances and directing make up for it. Cult Film. Fun! ... Read more

Description

Over three hundred convicts have been executed since the SupremeCourt re-instituted the death penalty in 1976, and its use is on the rise nationwide.Explore the arguments for and against capital punishment in this riveting program.Examine the difficult legal, political and religious issues involved through extensiveinterviews with experts on both sides of the debate.Get a unique insight into thepersonal side of capital punishment with an in-depth look at the case of Caryl Chessman,a rapist, kidnapper and jailhouse lawyer who appealed his sentence for twelve years.Hewas the last person put to death before capital punishment was declared unconstitutionalin the 1960s. DEATH PENALTY presents a reasoned examination of the ultimatecriminal sentence. ... Read more