Reviews (16)

Animated Christmas classic... but not for the little ones
As others have pointed out, this should not be confused with the live action version of "Carol" filmed in 1951. This is the animated version of "A Christmas Carol" that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film for 1972. It aired on TV a few years later and has not been seen on televsion since.

It was produced by Chuck Jones (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and directed by Richard Williams (Raggedy Ann and Andy). But don't be fooled into thinking that this is a cartoon for the little ones. This is a serious animated 30 minute film that *will* scare small children. Believe me, I know. I first saw this version when I was six or seven years old and the sequence with Jacob Marley in particular scared the you-know-what out of me.

Bottom line: if your kids gets spooked easily, you're better off buying them a Disney video for Christmas instead. But older children and adults should enjoy this intelligent, well- animated film immensely.

A Christmas Miracle
To begin with, a warning: many of the reviews you'll find here are incorrectly filed and unrelated to this remarkable animated gem. Many of the reveiwers here seem to be talking about the Alister Simms original live action feature--a classic in its own right and deserving of all due praise--and not discussing this specific version of the Dickens classic. This can be confusing and frustrating (at least it was for me during my initial attempts to locate this lost classic at AMAZON.com). That said, let's proceed.

You, dear viewer, are truly in luck. You have stumbled upon one of the few genuine miracles of Christmas: Chuck Jones' animated version of the Christmas Carol. I saw this amazing presentation during its original broadcast (I believe it was on ABC, lo these many years ago) and I have NEVER forgotten it. If you are a Dickens fan, a Christmas Carol fan, or simply a fan of remarkable animation, you MUST own this video. That it was not immediately enshrined as a Christmas Classic to be repeatedly viewed after its initial boradcast remains one of the great, tragic mysteries of our times. I dare say this version of the Dickens tale (which I must confess I consider not simply a "beloved Holiday tradition" but a genuinely brilliant piece of modern literature worthy of all the stuffy academic consideration often heaped upon more "serious"-- but far less gifted--written endeavours). I searched in vain for more than twenty years, hoping to stumble upon the minor wonder again. And now, thankfully, I can share my happy fortune with you, Constant Reader.

Rendered to capture the flavour of the original pen and ink sketches and etchings which accompanied Dickens tale in print, this animated version brings home the world of Scrooge's England in a way both startling fresh, yet immediately familiar. The fine line work of the graphic design lends a rather fleeting, spectral quality to the entire affiar--perfectly in keeping with the tone and context of the story itself. I defy a child not to be captivated by this animated version's mesmerizing visual character. Supported as well by wonderful voice characterizations and carefully edited music and sound, this ANIMATED CHRISTMAS CAROL should make everyone's Top 10. To see it, is to be transported. Buy this video and you will own a treasure to be cherished for every Christmas to come. GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!

One of the Best Christmas Carol versions
All the comments made by the other reviewers are true. This twenty-three of so minute classic is, in my humble opinion, in the top four or five versions of Dicken's Christmas Tale. The first being the other Alastair Sim Christmas Version (1954). This ranks up there with either two or three as the "BEST."

It is sad that like so many other fine versions of A Christmas Carol, this hasn't been shown very regularly on any network or cable channel in recent years. This makes it all the more imperative that it come out on DVD.

So Goodtimes Video (or whoever owns the rights). Please put it out on DVD. It's worthy of DVD release.

Sincerely,

JThree

carolyn@dia.net

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS ANIMATED FILM!!
I, like the other reviewers, saw this spooky, animated version of "A Christmas Carol" about 30 years ago. The networks never showed it again. I found it on Amazon.com, recently, & bought it --- It's as incredible as I remembered it!!

The short, 27 minute long, animated film is beautiful to watch. It is so well done. The film is not for the very, very young, who might be frightened by the haunting images. You will definitely enjoy this classic animated film, just as much as the younger people.

You will not forget it. I can't understand why the networks haven't shown this film every Christmas Holiday. Buy it -- you'll enjoy it!!

5 * IF it had been longer but still wonderful!
I ordered this on Christmas Day 2002 after learning that it did indeed exist on video! I got it yesterday (Kudos to Amazon for fast shipping!) and watched it this morning. It lived up to my memories of seeing this 30 yrs ago & did not disappoint me. Moving and creepy like any authentic A CHRISTMAS CAROL should be!
(Marley & the Phantoms, and the Waifs at the Christmas Present Ghost's feet may disturb small children- they sure gave me the chills this morning *L*) ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Quaint, entertaining and enjoyable
This droll English comedy kept me enchanted and amused throughout. Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) is widowed by her husband when he takes a flying leap out of an airplane without a parachute. Upon putting their affairs in order, she discovers that he spent all their money and mortgaged the estate leaving her penniless and steeply in debt. In a last ditch effort to save the estate, she hits upon the idea of using her hothouse and her considerable skills with plants to grow and sell high quality marijuana. Thus, the formerly wealthy widow collaborates with her gardener to grow and process the weed and attempt to bring it to market. The results are often hilarious, especially her negotiations with the drug kingpin and the reactions of the local residents.

The film is well directed and written with numerous funny situations throughout. Director Nigel Cole keeps the pace brisk and works well with the actors to produce a good deal of physical comedy laced with comical reaction scenes by various characters. He also treats us to some terrific locations that show off the wonderful English countryside. The acting is excellent, especially by Brenda Blethyn, who is quite humorous as the fish out of water determined to make her way in the drug culture. She has a quality that makes her equally believable as a proper English aristocrat and a common conniver. Craig Ferguson is also good as her partner in crime, a hapless fellow whose harebrained ideas are always getting him into trouble.

The story is not very original, the film having thematic similarities to numerous British comedies of the recent past ("Waking Ned Devine", "The Full Monty"), however one can do worse than imitate the success of these films. I rated it an 8/10. Overall, it is quaint, entertaining and enjoyable. For those looking for a light film that will tickle them, this is an excellent choice.

Charming and Quirky
I first saw Saving Grace on a Virgin Atlantic flight in July, coming home from Scotland. I never heard of the movie, but was quickly drawn in by the characters setting and plot. When it finally opened in the U.S., I became a one-man PR firm, talking the film up and getting people to go see it. Brenda Blethyn is one of my favorite actresses, back from when she played the mother in "A River Runs Through It." She plays Grace with dignity, warmth, and just a touch of desperation. Craig Ferguson is nothing like the character he plays on Drew Carey. His Matthew is sweet, concerned, and a little irresponsible, but trying hard to do the best he can. The supporting cast is wonderful too, adding a richness to the village in Cornwall that makes you care about what is happening, and believe it to be possible. Martin Clunes as Dr. Bamford, and Valerie Edmond as Matthew's girlfriend, Nicky, provide a sense of whimsy and groundedness to the events that unfold. Combine the performances with a good soundtrack and the beautiful setting on the Cornish coast and you have a great "little" film in which you will discover new things with each viewing.

Pass the dutchie, Grace
I loved Brenda Blethyn so much in "Secrets and Lies" that picking up "Saving Grace" was a no-brainer for me. Grace Trevethyn (Blethyn) is devestated by her husband's sudden suicide, but even more astonished at what apparently brought it on- he mortgaged everything they own and the bank is ready to foreclose. As Grace brainstorms how to get the dosh to keep her home, her gardner and loyal friend Matthew ("Drew Carey"s Craig Ferguson), whose girlfriend is unexpectedly pregnant, offers Grace a solution that will solve their prospective money woes: use Grace's horticulture know-how and ample greenhouse to nurse and multiply his marijuana plant to sell to a dealer. The humor sometimes slips into Benny Hill mode as Matthew and his doctor friend Martin (played by "British Men Behaving Badly"'s Martin Clunes, who is also the voice of the children's cartoon "Kipper")help Grace fend off the bank and the cops, not to mention the stodgy residents who all know what Grace is up to, but don't discuss it. One of the films funniest moments comes when two old ladies (one of whom is played by Emma Thompson's Mum Phyllida Law) stumble upon Grace's stash and think it's tea. They brew up a cuppa and get seriously stoned. Then, the film takes a more ridiculous approach as Grace and her husband's mistress enter a seedy London club to find a dealer to sell the stuff to. Still, this little ripple isn't enough to bring "Saving Grace" down to 4 stars for me. All around jolly good fun!

It'll sneak up on you
This charming, amusing film starts out fairly quiet and unassuming. When the recently widowed Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) finds that her husband left her with a pile of debt, she slowly realizes that if she doesn't find a way to increase her income dramatically, she would lose her house. Her gardener Matthew Stewart (Craig Ferguson) encourages her to help him with his struggling pot plants. She takes this to her greenhouse and is hit by an idea on how to make money. All this is encouraged by her doctor Martin Bamford (Martin Clunes). Watching the remaining sequence of events unfold will leave you laughing.

Cornwall is not in Scotland or Northern England..?
Contrary to some really bad reviewers on this site [Shashank Tripathi on "'WEED"ING OUT MONEY TROUBLES IN A CORNWALL SETTING" and Ante Soda on "Grace saved herself"] Cornwall is not in Scotland or Northern England..? Some of this film's harshest reviewers have no idea about the setting of this work. Were they stoned when they watched the show, or wrote their reviews? Either way, don't take their word for it because they are obviously clueless about this motion picture which is outstandingly charming. British comedy fans won't be disappointed with "Saving Grace" either... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Agatha Christie mysteries, like stories about Sherlock Holmes, form their own little universe--and therein lies their appeal. Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence features Donald Sutherland (the great star of MASH and Klute) as Arthur Calgary, a paleontologist who's just come back after two years in the Antarctic to return a man's address book, only to discover that the man was hanged for murder--and that he was this man's only alibi. Disturbed, Calgary starts to investigate, and discovers that no one much cares if the dead man was innocent or not, and that most everyone in his family might well have wanted to kill both him and his victim (his own mother, played in flashbacks by Faye Dunaway). The plot unfolds skillfully, with all the precision of a Swiss clock; the actors (including Christopher Plummer of The Sound of Music and Sarah Miles of Blow-Up) are all excellent; and the movie gives the mystery an added bite by suggesting that the investigation does more harm than the original crime. A particularly well-done Christie adaptation, featuring a jaunty score by jazz great Dave Brubeck, which lends an unusual flavor to the proceedings. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mature Mystery
This is not the usual light mystery associated with Agatha. Here she has called up the more mature dark Victorian style of her English heritage. I like the change and the unbalanced ending (more real-life.)

A fairly good movie with one fatal flaw!
This is actually not a bad film.... but there is one thing that totally destroys the film and makes it nearly unwatchable.... the obnoxious and repetitive tonalities of the old 1960s "Take Five" album by Dave Brubeck played to exhaustion as a substitute for a real soundtrack score. The album played loudly over the dialog in this movie for almost it's entirety. The album was a mildly successful bit of vinyl back when, but what on earth this out-dated American jazz recording has to do with the quiet, moody and haunting vistas in this lovely English film is totally beyond my thinking. John Addison, Mike Batt, Carl Davis or another fine English or American composer would have made this a real gem at the box office and on video.... but all is not lost.... a suggestion......

The film company can remove the ridiculous and clumbsy soundtrack, have a new one composed, and re-release this otherwise fine film with a real orchestral score......or at the very least, have a musician create a lovely and haunting solo piano score for this otherwise fine film and make a new "directors cut"!!!

Incidently, Dunaway, as always is the highlight in this film... she is awesome.... we just need to be able to see and hear her great performance without the afore mentioned loud and inappropriate 60s jazz music in the background.

Ordeal by Innocence Video
Ordeal by Innocence was one of Agatha Christie's three favorites. This video was not true to Dame Christie's style. Her books are gentile with fascinating plot twists and mystery. They don't have gore, suspense, violence, bad language, nor nudity. This movie had all those things and none of the Christie charm.

once the murder was solved, the real mystery began
I can't recall a music score that has so blighted a film since the rock songs that drown out the dialogue in Hal Ashby's Coming Home, and the last thing a whodunnit needs is distraction. Director Desmond Davis uses the score by Dave Brubeck so unnecessarily that it spoils the odd moment when it is actually effective, and also undermines his interesting use of cross-cutting. Agatha Christie's mysteries are like jigsaw puzzles, and the fun is trying to keep ahead of the investigator, when bodies are piling up and the suspects multiplying. And the setup here of an innocent man convicted and hanged hiding the real killer has an innovative twist. Given genre conventions we're prepared to accept the notion of Donald Sutherland as the dead man's alibi, returning to seek out the truth, even though he isn't a policeman (he's a palentologist ie digging up the past) and even if Sutherland wearing a high coloured coat poses like Dracula. And Davis supplies the thriller cliches - a screaming cat, a near miss gunshot, a murderous chasing car, with filming in Dartmouth England providing smoky locations. The use of flashbacks during a confession (in black and white so we get it) is an attempt to make the material less talking heads, but the repetition of dialogue as memory for emphasis seems odd. The adaptation by Alexander Stuart features a funny exchange - "He didn't do it, he loved her. That's usually a pretty good motive for murder", as the murdered, Faye Dunaway looks very beautiful in flashback, and Sara Miles is fun as a drunk, but the climax as revelation is rather low-key, and the final act denied it's heroic due. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Michel de Nostradame, "ladies man"..........
Gee, it seems all reviews up to this date I write have COMPLETELY MISSED the "obvious", and that being~

Tcheky Karyo's "Michel" is not only a "hipster-saint" mystic of those dreadful Dark Ages( but are not we are currently in a NEW DARK AGES ,"imo"...), but the ladies just can not seem to get their hands OFF our bearded stalwart "Nosti", no he is ONE HOT ITEM !
(And WHAT a cast of ladies, Julie Armond, Assumpta Serna, Maja Morgenstern,gee , even Amanda Plummer as "the Queenie" is as interesting as the other 3 mentioned are lovely).They all "dig" our boy , they were the original "groupies".

My mind was continually distracted from a quite enjoyable "historical fiction" account of the life of this legendary and enigmatic "prognosticator"~~he was NOT a "procrastinator" when it came to a bit of "back to the castle bedroom for some bouncy-bouncy". Would this "Movie Nosti" turn down a trip to the sack??(is there an alligator that would refuse the corpse???) Grrrr,"have at it", Michel !!

Our beloved (and overly medicated)"Don Juan" de Nostradame even had second thoughts when he gets a proposal from one of his aging female patients *whilst*(isnt that how they said that word then, hehe!)his hand was checking in vicinity of her mammalian apparatus for swollen lymph nodes from PLAGUE!

Excellent performances by all, great "period-piece " costumes, "medieval" soundtrack and empassioned performances, even if a bit OVER THE TOP.

A thouroughly delightful movie not meant to reveal any "truths", but should spur interest to discover the "historical" Nostradamus and just sit back and enjoy this emminently watchable film....

Shows a very human man with great prophetic powers
This is one of the best movies I have seen on him. It was highly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone wanting to add to their Nostradamus collection. This is one not to pass up.

Worth watching,slightly sensational.
Not a bad movie , especially for those who find the history channel too dry. It weaves the base truth of his life and loves into a palatable mix of history and dramatization.

Nostradamus: Honest Attempt at Interest Falls Flat
The prophecies of the 16th century seer Nostradamus have tantalized his supporters for centuries. Those who believe in him tout his accurate predictions. Those who doubt him point to the vagueness of those predictions that can be interpreted in more than one way. Director Roger Christian is unclear whether he wanted to present a documentary of the life of Nostradamus or a traditional film with plot, theme, and characterization. What the viewer gets in NOSTRADAMUS is some unsatisfactory hybrid that bounces from scene to scene with little to tie them together. Tcheky Karyo plays the lead as one who is only too well aware of the mystical nature of a prophet who sees visions of far flung events. Every five minutes or so, Nostradamus looks into a small pot of water that mysteriously bubbles and forms visions that look suspiciously like film clips of nuclear blasts, the Kennedy assassination, Nazis marching, and a wickedly smiling Saddam Hussein. Now I have no problem with the film's premise that one man could have preternatural powers of divination, but if I see a vision that I know is historical fact, then I expect the director to do more with that vision than merely use it to drum up charges by the Holy Inquisition about heresy. Unfortunately, with each passing vision, there is no accompanying reverberation and the film stops dead in its tracks. After three or four visions, I wanted to grab Nostradamus and shout: 'Do something with this vision!' F. Murray Abraham at least adds some emotional pop with his warnings to Nostradamus not to publicize his visions. The other supporting characters have little to do but react predictably to these visions. By the end, all I could take away was the limited knowledge that some guy in history saw weird things but did not use this weirdness in any meaningful way. A movie is supposed to do more than that.

Egregious
Who produced this movie, a Wiccan? The ugliest anti-Christian (particularly anti-Catholic) diatribe ever brought to the screen, "Nostradamus" succeeds in being equally offensive in every other aspect, as well. The physician Nostradamus is portrayed as a trendy earth-friendly herbalist; the mystic Nostradamus is depicted as a Timothy Leary of yesterday, whose visions are "enhanced" by the taking of the 16th century's equivalent of LSD. The completely gratuitous sex scenes are to laugh, as they are always accompanied by a golden glow and Gregorian chants, or some unreasonable facsimile thereof. And the pretentious, obscure ending -- one either sits there jaw agape or one bursts into loud guffaws.

Oh, avoid at all costs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the novel by Tom Sharpe, The Misadventures of Mr. Wilt reunites the considerable comic talents of Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones in a farcical tale of a missing wife, an overzealous law enforcement officer, and a blow-up doll. The titular hero Henry Wilt (Jones) is a liberal studies lecturer condemned to teaching students on day-release from the local pie factory. As if this wasn't demoralizing enough, he is regularly emasculated by his bossy wife, Eva (Alison Steadman); after a particularly embarrassing party he finds himself in possession of an inflatable playmate which he unceremoniously dumps at a local building site. Unfortunately, not only is he spotted, but his wife goes missing the same day, leaving a very tenacious Inspector Flint (Smith) determined to catch this suburban criminal. Jones is superb as the hen-pecked husband and Smith pulls of a fantastically clichéd, but hugely entertaining PC plod. It's a minor British comedy gem from a time when Four Weddings and a Funeral was merely a glint in Richard Curtis's eye. --Kristen Bowditch ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Where's my book?
Read WILT or another of Tom Sharpe's books before seeing this movie to enjoy it; if not, it may not seem funny. Though I laughed a few times through the movie, it did not translate too well from the book. The movie rushed through many scenes and missed much of Sharpe's humour. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

First film by director Ridley Scott barely got released in this country in the mid-1970s, but stands up, despite the rather noticeable accents of its stars. That's because Brooklynite Harvey Keitel and Westerner Keith Carradine are playing a pair of officers in Napoleon's army--oops! The plot centers on Carradine insulting Keitel and Keitel demanding vengeance. But every time they get into the middle of one of their duels, war breaks out or something else happens to interrupt. Keitel, however, is too pig-headed to let it drop and dogs Carradine over the course of 20 years. Strong performances otherwise and amazing cinematography, as well as a cast that includes Albert Finney, Edward Fox, and Tom Conti. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Uncompromisingly a five-star flick...
Based on Joseph Conrad's book "The Duel", the true story of a 30-year feud between two Napoleonic cavalry officers, "The Duellists" was Ridley Scott's first major film. Starring Keith Carradine as the pompous D'Hubert and a particularly menacing Harvey Keitel as Feraud, the film climbs inside the minds of two men for whom honor is more important than life itself.

The two antagonists begin their series of bloody encounters when D'Hubert is ordered by his commanding general to arrest Feraud for wounding the local mayor's nephew in a duel. Feraud, in a hopelessly irrational state, challenges D'Hubert to a duel, which is carried out more or less on the spot. D'Hubert comes off slightly better in the initial encounter, which only serves to fuel Feraud's rage, and the course of the film is set.

The cinematography of this film, shot by Frank Tidy, is almost beyond comparison. The previous versions on VHS simply looked muddy and rather washed out. The colors lacked any real saturation, rendering Feraud's bottle-green dolman black and it almost looked like a poor quality black and white in some scenes, especially those set in Napoleon's abortive Russian campaign.

The DVD transfer, by contrast, is staggeringly beautiful and releases colors, which I did not realize existed in the original. I am, by coincidence, a professional cameraman and I rate this as the best shot film I have ever seen. The only criticism I have is a somewhat inconsistent use of graduated filters, which, whilst they were probably quite innovative for their day, don't always work well. Grads are always a problem and any film made since will tend to suffer the same way. A very minor point.

The costumes and settings; mostly in The Dordogne, make the film not only totally authentic but defy the viewer to believe that it was made on a shoestring budget. The visual splendour challenges any modern filmaker to create the same effect without spending a vault full of money to achieve it. That is only part of the appeal of the film.

The acting performances, particularly by Keitel, want for nothing. The scene with Feraud standing on a cliff overlooking the river valley, taken in context, makes you realise that his life and pretensions to honor have been for nothing. His mania for revenge has cost him everything. Melded to the other performances with superlative skill by Ridley Scott, this film is a masterpiece and has now gone from a film I liked a lot to one which is now firmly wedged in my top ten. Like as not, it will stay there for a long time.

An overlooked masterpiece
Ridley Scott's film The Duellists is due out on Region 1 DVD soon. I have been waiting for a DVD release for this film since I first got my player. It's due out on December 3rd from Paramount.
It has a widescreen anamorphic transfer and looks set to have loads of extras.

This was the first film from director Ridley Scott.
The story is about two Napoleonic officers played by Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. One offends the other and so they duel. But there is never a conclusion to the duellists bouts and one of the soldiers demands satisfaction and will not let the matter drop. He dogs the other over the course of twenty years. The final sequence in the woods is played out to perfection and I think Harvey Keitel captures the soldiers feelings brilliantly.
The cinematography and score are amazing, performances are strong despite the two leads strained accents. This film is one of the most breathtaking to look at, it's shot on a beautiful landscape and I really liked the story. To offend someone then and for them not to take up the duel was the markings of a coward and not one of honour. I think The Duellists is an overlooked masterpiece.

VISUAL FEAST -
I enjoyed this film because the producers have captured the era magnificentley with respect to period detail as well as the language and of course the mood of the time.

I was captured by the opening scene and wasn't released till the end,as the story appealed to my interest in history in general and the film certainly fulfilled this aspect as well.

The question I asked myself after seeing this film was "...why can't they make films like this anymore?..." as I learnt of the paltry budget this film was produced from. Instead of overdone special effects and mindless violence which assaults us today more often than not, this genre/style of film is appealing and should be copied with more frequency.

Superb Keitel and good solid performance by Carradine.

Obsession
Driven by a compulsion to fight a duel at the slightest insult, Harvey Keitel plays Lt. Feurandin the French army during the time of Napleon who lives by the sword. When Keith Carradine's D'Hubert is sent out to convey a message from their French commander to cease fighting duels after badly injuring the mayor of a town, Keitel's character finds the message and delivery insulting enough to--yes--challenge Carradine to a duel then and there. Carradine ends the duel by knocking Keitel's character out with a block from the butt of his sword.

From there they both spiral into the madness and obsession of Feruand and D'Hubert's need to win at all costs. Fighting over the years, they lose loved ones and, in a sense, lose themselves as the passion for the fight becomes everything. By the end neither man understands why they are truly fighting or what they are fighting for.

Ridley Scott's first feature film was his fourth attempt at making a full length film. Based on a short story by Conrad that eventually became part of a much larger narrative canvas, "The Duelists" catches Scott in perfect form the first time out. While Scott expanded his scope in higher profile films ("Alien", "Blade Runner", "Thelma and Louise" and "Gladiator"), his visual and narrative style blossomed in his very first "epic" (made for a paltry $1 million)film.

The powerful performances by the international cast manages to overcome the minor differences in accents (Keitel's Brooklyn accent vs. Carradine's California twang vs. Tom Conti's British accent, etc.). Visually and thematically powerful, "The Duelists" remains one of Scott's best films.

The anamorphic widescreen transfer looks marvelous despite some minor blemishes. Paramount has Packed this film with extras including a commentary from Scott: "Dueling Directors" featuring director Kevin Reynolds interviewing Scott; Scott's first short film "Boy on a Bike" (featuring his brother and future director Tony Scott); isolated score and commentary by Howard Shore as well as the theatrical trailer. The sound although not quite up to the standard of current films (it was made, afterall, in 1977), has a splendid range and there's minimal distoriton.

This sharply directed and written film deserves as much attention as Scott's other more mainstream features. Although no Scott film is without merit (even "Someone to Watch Over Me" and the Hammer-like "Hannibal"), "The Duelists" deserves its spot as one of Scott's five or six best films.

Point / Counterpoint
The Duellists finally arrives on DVD. At long last Ridley Scott's first film is available to the public and it was well worth the wait. The skimpy $900k budget looks more like $60 million in the hands of Scott. Using only real locations and splurging on costumes, this Napoleonic epic looks as good as any other, if not better. This is an intimate story and not one of those sweeping, libertine war melodramas. The story and acting are good, but what really stands out about this picture is the jaw droping cinematography. Scott employed a special photochemical process to enhance the contrast of the film. This is most noticed in the velvety depths of the shadows, and darker tones. The end result is a film that, often, looks like a moving Rembrandt. The above average DVD transfer serves to preserve this. I may be crazy, but it seems to me that Scott may be trying to provide us with contrapuntal films to those of Kubrick. I think that, thematically and stylistically, the Duellists is simply a boiled down version of Barry Lyndon. I think that it could also be said that Alien was probably the reactionary product of 2001. Anyway, the DVD extras provide some interesting vantage into the making and history of this great film. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Romantic thriller with good acting and unexpected twists.
Even if you are not a fan of Jon Bon Jovi this film is very good. It centers around an American movie star, played by Bon Jovi who wants to get artistic recognition by starring in a London play. Thandie Newton plays the playwrights mistress and Anna Galiena his unhappy wife. The playwright is played by Lambert Wilson as Felix Web. The desperate playwrite asks the American star, Robin Grange to seduce his wife so she can leave the marriage with her self-esteem intact. The plot thickens from there with a surprise ending. Well worth taking a look at the slick European film.

Pleasantly Surprised
I have seen Jon Bon Jovi in a few movies before and he has always impressed. However this movie is at the start of his acting career and he is "The leading man".

So it was lucky that he had a smart script, excellent support actors and talent to burn.

The story revolves around an american actor who is to star in a play in London and his relationship with the writer, his mistress and his wife.

Take it seriously, its a good movie.

interesting...not much more to say
okay, i've read most of the other reviews for this movie and had high expectations for it. i mainly wanted to see it for jon bon jovi, maybe because he is really HOT. anyway, i was a little disappointed, but it was an overall job well done. i'm just going to state the fact that i'm only a teenager, which explains why i found a couple of scenes awkward. to make it short and simple, i would recommend that you only watch this movie before you turn out the lights to make it more interesting. in my opinion of course, you may have your own

BEST JOVI MOVIE EVER!!!!
if you are looking at this movie for the same reason i did (bon jovi) then you are looking at the right movie!
i've seen pretty much EVERY movie he's ever been in and this by far is the best. some of the other reviews said the same thing,that if you think bon jovi is the greatest you won't be disappointed!
here are a couple of reasons why this movie should be at the top of your bon jovi list:
*scenes with his shirt off
*he is the leading man
*seduces the leading ladies
*twisted ending
if you need more reasons than those you'll just have to check it out for yourself.

regrettable
the mystery of why anyone would cast jovi
in the lead cannot be answered by watching
this movie. just being a celeb doesn't give
you the acting chops necessary to hold up your
end in the company of established performers.
the faltering screenplay didn't help matters
either. altogether regrettable ... Read more

Description

A brash young American comes to London to star in a major new production-and becomes the central character in a mystery fueled by intrigue and passion. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Romantic thriller with good acting and unexpected twists.
Even if you are not a fan of Jon Bon Jovi this film is very good. It centers around an American movie star, played by Bon Jovi who wants to get artistic recognition by starring in a London play. Thandie Newton plays the playwrights mistress and Anna Galiena his unhappy wife. The playwright is played by Lambert Wilson as Felix Web. The desperate playwrite asks the American star, Robin Grange to seduce his wife so she can leave the marriage with her self-esteem intact. The plot thickens from there with a surprise ending. Well worth taking a look at the slick European film.

Pleasantly Surprised
I have seen Jon Bon Jovi in a few movies before and he has always impressed. However this movie is at the start of his acting career and he is "The leading man".

So it was lucky that he had a smart script, excellent support actors and talent to burn.

The story revolves around an american actor who is to star in a play in London and his relationship with the writer, his mistress and his wife.

Take it seriously, its a good movie.

interesting...not much more to say
okay, i've read most of the other reviews for this movie and had high expectations for it. i mainly wanted to see it for jon bon jovi, maybe because he is really HOT. anyway, i was a little disappointed, but it was an overall job well done. i'm just going to state the fact that i'm only a teenager, which explains why i found a couple of scenes awkward. to make it short and simple, i would recommend that you only watch this movie before you turn out the lights to make it more interesting. in my opinion of course, you may have your own

BEST JOVI MOVIE EVER!!!!
if you are looking at this movie for the same reason i did (bon jovi) then you are looking at the right movie!
i've seen pretty much EVERY movie he's ever been in and this by far is the best. some of the other reviews said the same thing,that if you think bon jovi is the greatest you won't be disappointed!
here are a couple of reasons why this movie should be at the top of your bon jovi list:
*scenes with his shirt off
*he is the leading man
*seduces the leading ladies
*twisted ending
if you need more reasons than those you'll just have to check it out for yourself.

regrettable
the mystery of why anyone would cast jovi
in the lead cannot be answered by watching
this movie. just being a celeb doesn't give
you the acting chops necessary to hold up your
end in the company of established performers.
the faltering screenplay didn't help matters
either. altogether regrettable ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Quaint, entertaining and enjoyable
This droll English comedy kept me enchanted and amused throughout. Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) is widowed by her husband when he takes a flying leap out of an airplane without a parachute. Upon putting their affairs in order, she discovers that he spent all their money and mortgaged the estate leaving her penniless and steeply in debt. In a last ditch effort to save the estate, she hits upon the idea of using her hothouse and her considerable skills with plants to grow and sell high quality marijuana. Thus, the formerly wealthy widow collaborates with her gardener to grow and process the weed and attempt to bring it to market. The results are often hilarious, especially her negotiations with the drug kingpin and the reactions of the local residents.

The film is well directed and written with numerous funny situations throughout. Director Nigel Cole keeps the pace brisk and works well with the actors to produce a good deal of physical comedy laced with comical reaction scenes by various characters. He also treats us to some terrific locations that show off the wonderful English countryside. The acting is excellent, especially by Brenda Blethyn, who is quite humorous as the fish out of water determined to make her way in the drug culture. She has a quality that makes her equally believable as a proper English aristocrat and a common conniver. Craig Ferguson is also good as her partner in crime, a hapless fellow whose harebrained ideas are always getting him into trouble.

The story is not very original, the film having thematic similarities to numerous British comedies of the recent past ("Waking Ned Devine", "The Full Monty"), however one can do worse than imitate the success of these films. I rated it an 8/10. Overall, it is quaint, entertaining and enjoyable. For those looking for a light film that will tickle them, this is an excellent choice.

Charming and Quirky
I first saw Saving Grace on a Virgin Atlantic flight in July, coming home from Scotland. I never heard of the movie, but was quickly drawn in by the characters setting and plot. When it finally opened in the U.S., I became a one-man PR firm, talking the film up and getting people to go see it. Brenda Blethyn is one of my favorite actresses, back from when she played the mother in "A River Runs Through It." She plays Grace with dignity, warmth, and just a touch of desperation. Craig Ferguson is nothing like the character he plays on Drew Carey. His Matthew is sweet, concerned, and a little irresponsible, but trying hard to do the best he can. The supporting cast is wonderful too, adding a richness to the village in Cornwall that makes you care about what is happening, and believe it to be possible. Martin Clunes as Dr. Bamford, and Valerie Edmond as Matthew's girlfriend, Nicky, provide a sense of whimsy and groundedness to the events that unfold. Combine the performances with a good soundtrack and the beautiful setting on the Cornish coast and you have a great "little" film in which you will discover new things with each viewing.

Pass the dutchie, Grace
I loved Brenda Blethyn so much in "Secrets and Lies" that picking up "Saving Grace" was a no-brainer for me. Grace Trevethyn (Blethyn) is devestated by her husband's sudden suicide, but even more astonished at what apparently brought it on- he mortgaged everything they own and the bank is ready to foreclose. As Grace brainstorms how to get the dosh to keep her home, her gardner and loyal friend Matthew ("Drew Carey"s Craig Ferguson), whose girlfriend is unexpectedly pregnant, offers Grace a solution that will solve their prospective money woes: use Grace's horticulture know-how and ample greenhouse to nurse and multiply his marijuana plant to sell to a dealer. The humor sometimes slips into Benny Hill mode as Matthew and his doctor friend Martin (played by "British Men Behaving Badly"'s Martin Clunes, who is also the voice of the children's cartoon "Kipper")help Grace fend off the bank and the cops, not to mention the stodgy residents who all know what Grace is up to, but don't discuss it. One of the films funniest moments comes when two old ladies (one of whom is played by Emma Thompson's Mum Phyllida Law) stumble upon Grace's stash and think it's tea. They brew up a cuppa and get seriously stoned. Then, the film takes a more ridiculous approach as Grace and her husband's mistress enter a seedy London club to find a dealer to sell the stuff to. Still, this little ripple isn't enough to bring "Saving Grace" down to 4 stars for me. All around jolly good fun!

It'll sneak up on you
This charming, amusing film starts out fairly quiet and unassuming. When the recently widowed Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) finds that her husband left her with a pile of debt, she slowly realizes that if she doesn't find a way to increase her income dramatically, she would lose her house. Her gardener Matthew Stewart (Craig Ferguson) encourages her to help him with his struggling pot plants. She takes this to her greenhouse and is hit by an idea on how to make money. All this is encouraged by her doctor Martin Bamford (Martin Clunes). Watching the remaining sequence of events unfold will leave you laughing.

Cornwall is not in Scotland or Northern England..?
Contrary to some really bad reviewers on this site [Shashank Tripathi on "'WEED"ING OUT MONEY TROUBLES IN A CORNWALL SETTING" and Ante Soda on "Grace saved herself"] Cornwall is not in Scotland or Northern England..? Some of this film's harshest reviewers have no idea about the setting of this work. Were they stoned when they watched the show, or wrote their reviews? Either way, don't take their word for it because they are obviously clueless about this motion picture which is outstandingly charming. British comedy fans won't be disappointed with "Saving Grace" either... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

MITCHUM VERSUS BOONE MAKES "BIG SLEEP" WORTH WATCHING.
Okay, Mitchum isn't Humphrey Bogart but the 1979 "Big Sleep" is a great way to kill 90-minutes. This version of "Sleep" begins with Marlowe (Mitchum) visiting Gen. Sternwood (a pallid Jimmy Stewart) at his palatial estate in England. Sternwood wants Marlowe to help him resolve a blackmail sceme involving one of his daughters. This is easily the most sleazy film Stewart ever appeared in; however Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Joan Collins and Oliver Reed seem right at home here. Richard Boone clearly has a hell of a time playing Mitchum's toughest adversary since Robert Ryan in "The Racket." For Michael Winner's best directorial effort take a look at "Lawman," with Burt Lancaster, Ryan and Lee J. Cobb.

Robert Mitchum - a first class Marlowe
Though I agree that this DVD is not as good as "Farewell, My Lovely", it still is superior to the Humphrey Bogart version. Bogart was very good at playing many roles, but 'The Big Sleep' comletely missed the mark. The ending of the Bogart version is almost criminal and completely corrupts the rest of the movie. Compare the 'Hollywood' ending of the Bogart version with the novel's famous last paragraph being read by Mitchum in this one. It's unfortunate that the rest of the movie was not up to Mitchum's level but it is worth owning another Marlowe movie with Robert Mitchum. Watch the original because you like Bogart/Bacall, but if you want to experience The Big Sleep, watch this one and buy the book (you'll hear Mitchum's voice as you read).

Try It, You Might Like It
Not being particularly fond either of Raymond Chandler or of the "classic" 1946 adaption of THE BIG SLEEP, I am perhaps more disposed than most to like Michael Winner's 1978 re-make. Shorn of Bogart and Bacall, the earlier film isn't much more than a routine detective saga. (The screenplay was co-written by William Faulkner, but if I absolutely have to deal with Faulkner, I'd prefer to do it with one of his lugubrious novels.) Still, if you choose to re-make an icon, even one made of brass, you're practically begging for trouble.

If you can get past the gall of trying to re-make a "classic," you can see that Winner's film, while no masterpiece, is decently entertaining. It ably uses the English locations, takes advantage of the greater freedoms of the 1970s and boasts a first-rate cast. Mitchum, in his way, is every bit as good as Bogart. Sarah Miles isn't in Bacall's class as a larger than life image, but she's a superior actress and does a creditable job. Many of the supporting performances are at least as good as their counterparts in the 1946 film, including Jimmy Stewart, Harry Andrews, Edward Fox, Colin Blakely, Oliver Reed, and Joan Collins. Even Richard Boone, usually a bit of chore, uses his over-sized presence to good effect.

If you've seen any of Winner's other films, like DEATH WISH or SCORPIO, you know pretty much what to expect. His direction is, as usual, obnoxiously showy and rushed. There are sudden, incomprehensible close-ups on unimportant actions, unmovitated, low-camera angles, flashy zooms, and awkward compositions designed presumably to remind us that someone is behind the camera. His is almost the epitome of "70s filmmaking," for better or worse. Still, at least he has a style, which, despite the laborious efforts of auteurist critics to reveal it, I have never been able to see in Hawks's dry as dust filmmaking.

I don't exactly recommend THE BIG SLEEP. I know that a lot of people, particularly anyone worshipping at the altar of "classic" Hollywood, will find it offensive. If I say I prefer it to the earlier film, it is not in an attempt to turn it into a transcendant work of art. BOTH versions are hack work. They are perhaps best understood as what mainstream filmmakers of middling talent were able to accomplish in 1946 and 1978, and dealt with accordingly.

Out of the Shadows
Everyone knows that Bogart was a genius and will forever remain a star. His roles will endure all the tests of time. Put him together with Bacall and you have screen magic that can never be equaled, let alone surpassed... The 1946 version is regarded as a classic, and deservedly so. Now imagine what a insurmountable task it would be to emmerge from the shadow of such a film... This movie valiently attempts to do just that, but sadly for the most part it fails. Anticipating the inevitable comparison between this version and it's predesessor, the director chose to move the setting from Los Angeles California to London, England. The directors intention for the move is not to distance himself from the previous production so that this film may find it's own voice and be remembered in it's own right. No,I think the director had some vain hope that if he got far enough away from the original and successfully avoided camparison, that the viewer would not notice how little justice it does to Chandler's novel. This hopeless and nakedly self serving production choice insults the audience's intelligence... To the film's credit it does stay true to Chandler's characters. And it's "updating" does not interfere with the overall plot of the story. (Aside from the grating British accents) This was not the case with 1969's "Marlowe" (the film version of Chandler's 'The Little Sister') In "Marlowe" the "updating" consisted of taking each one of the settings that Chandler had so vividly described in his novel and making them hippie like. All of this set to a jazz score that would make Shaft cringe. As if that wasn't enough the mobster that trashed Marlowe's office was transformed into a kickboxer To top that off the title role was given to James Garner who's performance one could not avoid comparing to his most famous character Rockford. The title role this time was well cast. Robert Mitchum plays an above adverage Marlowe, I am eager to see his first portrayl in "Farewell My Lovely" Mitchum earned this movie it's first star solely on his merits. I gave the second because despite the misconcieved move accross the Atlantic, this movie was bold. One has to consider that not only did this movie have to tell a complicated story but it also had to overcome the barriers of it's two classics that came before it, and emmerge from their shadows.....

Cinema Noir, but without soul and malice...
A comparison with the original Bogart is inevitable, and, excuse me but, for me, the Bogart film is much much better. In first place, the Mitchun version seems to me a censored version in original idea, like the producer or director prefered a version without malice ( not for case, if my memory don't fail, the father role was given to James Stewart) and soul, diferent than the Bogart version. For example, a original Bogart dialogue with the sale book lady, with rain, with drink, is classic, is marvelous. Don't understand me wrong, i like this Mitchun version, like the Mitchun's voice and the beauty of Charllote Rampling, but for me, Robert Mitchun is much better playered, in a similar role, in The Yakuza, for example. So, i expect this dvd quality be good, and probably will buy myself, but this Bogart version, that i already have, is much better... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

With a twitch upon the thread....
Brideshead Revisited is the heartbreaking story of Charles Ryder and his various relationships with the Flyte family - beginning with Sebastian Flyte, a fellow Oxford student struggling with alcoholism and homosexuality. As Charles loves and loses Sebastian to drink, the Flyte family struggles to hold on to their values and to each other in the changing political, social and religious climate of 1920s England.

The story spans many years; from Charles' halcyon college days with Sebastian to the glory of fox hunts and summer vacations at Brideshead - the Flyte family castle, to his life as an artist in Paris and South America, through a failing marriage and his last attempt at love with Sebastian's sister, Julia.

Jeremy Irons, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Sir John Gilgud, Diana Quick, Anthony Andrews, Nikolas Grace, Phoebe Nicolls, Clare Bloom and Simon Jones star in this adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel. I am in awe of the performances given by all.

I've lost count of how many times I have watched Brideshead Revisited. Full of humor, great heartbreaking drama and infectious British charm, Brideshead is to be revisited again and again - wrapped up in a blanket, a good glass of red wine nearby. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Where's my book?
Read WILT or another of Tom Sharpe's books before seeing this movie to enjoy it; if not, it may not seem funny. Though I laughed a few times through the movie, it did not translate too well from the book. The movie rushed through many scenes and missed much of Sharpe's humour. ... Read more

Description

Dean (Leitch) is trapped in a working class suburb with an abusive father and a doormat mother whose job at a tony London restaurant allows her to regale her son with stories of her famous customers.Dean runs away from home and gets a job at a posh gallery run by Lady Gryffoyn (Quick), who his mother had often waited on. Soon, Dean insinuates himself into the world of the sex, cocaine, and disco upper class set by presenting himself as lady Gryffoyn's son, funding his deceit with credit card fraud.But Dean eventually learns that reinventing oneself comes at a price. ... Read more