Amazon.com

Danny Glover plays the mysterious Harry Mention, a charming trickster who invades the life of a family and who claims to have (and may very well have) a connection to dark powers. In any case, his presence sows dissent among a patriarch (Paul Butler) and his offspring, the latter more interested in the legacy of mystical wisdom Harry may represent. Based on stories of superstition he heard in youth, writer-director Charles Burnett's film is a fine and funny accomplishment that intersects dream time and linear time, and it has the heart of a folk tale. Glover and Butler are very good, their characters locked in knowing rivalry. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Stellar performance
This was overall great performance by some really fantastic veterans of the stage. A good wholesome down home treat with emphasis on family with a little spice from Danny Glover.

A stellar performance
This was a truly terrific film and one of Danny Glover's greatest performances. Danny Glover character is a very convincing example of a small town "Root Doctor" who slithers his way into an otherwise harmonious household. There are also some great stage actors in this film. Paul Butler (Gideon) and Carl Lumbly (Junior) also starred together as a father and son team in August Wilson's play, Jitney. This fabulous performance took place at the 2nd Stage theater in New York City just a few years ago. These guys are absolutely both captivating on stage and in film. This is a must see!

Well-Crafted, But Distinctly Un-Hollywood Movie
"To Sleep with Anger," Charles Burnett's third feature was the first one to get national distribution. It tells how Harry Mention (Danny Glover), an unexpected visitor seems to turn an otherwise stable African American family in South Central Los Angeles upside down upon his arrival.

The film is very well-made, but a few words of caution. This is not a Hollywood film. It does not follow the conventional three act structure so heavily touted by Syd Field and the like. It takes a totally different narrative approach. For those conditioned to Hollywood films, this takes some getting used to.

"To Sleep with Anger" takes its cues from the Southern folktale tradition with obvious ties to the oral traditions of many cultures. Instead of focusing on plot, the film is more interested in character and behavior.

Instead of mechanical (or artificial) act structure, the film brews slowly to a dramatic climax. Along the way, the audience is treated to little seen tidbits of folk culture and superstition. Some of the elements are subtle and may require repeat viewings.

If you like predictable and formulaic films, you're best to stay away. You're bound to be frustrated by this film. However, for those truly interested in seeing something complex and different, you're in for a special treat.

I'll admit that the first time I saw the film, I was a bit thrown off by its unusual rhytmn and pace. However, when I saw the film a second time and gave into it, the richness came through.

Overall, the cast is very strong. Glover is well-cast as Mention. Sheryl Lee Ralph is another stand out.

On the technical side the naturalistic cinematography by Walt Lloyd (who also shot "sex, lies and videotape") is very good. Also of note is Veda Campbell's sound and Stephen James Taylor's score. This is quite an achievement particularly given the film's low budget.

The film was nominated for an impressive seven IFP Independent Spirit Awards. It won for Best Male Lead (Danny Glover), Best Supporting Female (Sheryl Lee Ralph), and two for Charles Burnett (Best Director and Screenplay). Burnett also won a Best Screenplay Award from the National Society of Film Critics.

Take a chance and check it out. Just be prepared for something different -- and special.

This is a GREAT insight into Black American culture
If I had to introduce someone to Black American culture through film, this film would be at the top of the list. Most films are so trite in depicting Black family life, but this is SO REAL. The ups and downs and highs and lows, all while preserving the balance between the men and women characters in the film. This is a great film. Don't be fooled by its seeming sleepiness or down home (LA Style) charm. This is a great movie, that one will never forget! Watch it!

Very fresh approach
Aside from the interesting family dynamics revealed. The movie is also a study of 'downhome' voodoo techniques, demonstrated by Danny Glover's character. This movie takes you out of the ordinary, showing you something about black family life you've never seen onscreen before! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whoopi Goldberg returns in a gratuitous, poorly written sequel that contrives a reason to get her character back into Maggie Smith's convent. The "socially conscious" plot finds Goldberg being asked to relate to a bunch of street kids and pull them together into a choir. Since a bad guy is needed, the script grabs that old chestnut about a rich guy (James Coburn) preparing to close down the convent's school, and runs with it. The film is slow and unconvincing from start to finish, although costars Mary Wickes and Kathy Najimy get some good laughs, and the music is pretty spirited. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (41)

This is my favorite movie!!!
I've seen it so many times I could almost play each part. In fact, it comes on this afternoon on Showtime. It's a continuing story of Delores Van Cartier aka Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) who uses her gifts of music and determination to keep a school open as well as change the lives of all those her life touches. Great music, great humor and drama. Lauren Hill (pre-Fugees) is in this as well as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Monica Calhoun if you look really, really carefully. Buy it, enjoy it.
Hey, maybe you'll catch it on Showtime during one of it's airings. I'm positive when it's over, when you can finally stop yourself from humming one of the great tunes, and possibly put down your tissue (I cry EVERY TIME I see it)( and baby, I've seen seen it so many times that I've got ot turn it off when my husband comes home because he says "Are you watching that again?) You will say "I wish I had that movie!" So get it so you'll have no regrets!

Fantastic sequel
Though there is room for improvement with regards to the story line, this movie delivers what I most enjoy in a film. The acting is superb, including the minor cast roles. The music is absolutely fantastic!...Lauren Hill and Ryan Toby steal the show with their voices. The plot, though quite simple and predictable, is believable. Many of the scenes are very moving, including the ending sequence involving Lauren Hill's character, Rita, and her mother.

Overall, this is a great family movie that everyone can enjoy. The comedy is simple enough for children to understand, and there isn't one scene in the movie (that I can recall) which is inappropriate for all ages. Like a few other reviewers, I've found that I long to hear a few of the songs from the movie when I need cheering up.

If you enjoy good, clean family movies, you can't go wrong with this one.

Part 1 was Great..Part 2 Wasnt.
SAw it in the movies.... Fell asleep midway... All the magic from part 1 which was AWESOME...was lost. Boring story... They should have left it at part 1.

So much fun!
FANTASTIC sequel! Just as enjoyable, if not more, than the first! All of the musical numbers are glorious!! A successful sequel all the way!

Loved it
I've read all of the reviews on SA2 and it is quite obvious this movie is not for everyone, however, if you enjoy "feel good " movies , this is for you. The storyline iis quite predictable, the acting is good , but the music is a delightful bonus,just wish there was more of it. I know that if I'm feeling a little down, I can pop in this movie and feel better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disney does Dickens in this animated version of Oliver Twist, in which a homeless New York City cat falls in with a bunch of mischievous dogs under the leadership of the appealing scoundrel Fagin. The roots of Disney's success with animation in the '90s begins with this clever, energetic, atmospheric movie, which succeeds in capturing the grim world Dickens conjured. Lyricist Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid) worked on the songs, the best of which is sung by Billy Joel, who provides the voice of (the Artful) Dodger. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Cute and Charming
Oliver & Company is a new twist on an Old story. This one has a little flare and music with a lot of personality. The story is around the street of New York City. And to let you know the emotional impact, it opens with an animated aerial view of the Manhattan Skyline - which includes the World Trade Center buildings. (This movie was made in 1988)

My favorite character - besides Oliver's innocence, is Bette Midler and Cheech Marin. They steel the scenes with their wit and humor. Very sharp and emotional are their deliveries of the lines.

The kids will relate to the young girl finding her new kitten and the adults can relate to those every threatening debts we all seem to have. The music is fun, but not consistent. (By this I mean all the songs are from different writers - there is no common thread in the music and songs.)

I enjoyed this movie a lot. My favorite Disney of all time is still The Little Mermaid. The DVD Extras are great for the kids and the behinds the scenes the adults will find interesting.

Finally, it's on DVD.
One of my all time favorite Disney Animated flicks is now on DVD to own and i bought it the other day!

This 1988 Animated feature was a hit that lead to the successes of other Disney Hits but this was never released on Video but got a re-issue in theaters and on Video. I still remembered when i was 6 years old back in 1988 when i was living in Omaha Nebraska, i was treated to see this movie and i saw it twice. But then it got re-issued back into theaters in 1996, i loved it again, it's basically about a orphaned Kitten named Oliver who hangs out with a gang that steals but he finds himself in a series of adventures.

A highly entertaining Animated feature on a great DVD, the DVD is fully loaded with a Scrapbook that includes pics of the original Poster artworks and concepts of characters, Theaterical Trailers, Original 1988 TV Spot, Documentaries, Two Sing-along songs, and Two Cartoon Shorts.

The transfer on this DVD is stunning, the picture is perfect without a single speck of grain and dirt and the sound quality is pheomeneonal, this is a must own DVD for Disney and animation lovers.

A Good Disney Musical with a lot of Class. NYC Style.
Before the success of such phenomenal Disney musicals like Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company came along. This film totally embodies the eighties with its music, voice talent, and art direction. The music is very good. The songs are very hip and cool. The animation is exciting, and the plot grabs you and sometimes you feel as if you are watching a regular caper movie than an animated film. An exciting Disney ride that is fun for everybody. I highly reccomend this film.

Doesn't get any better than this! Rita fan.
I saw this movie when I was little and became obsessed with it. I would sing the songs on the schoolbus, dance to them, listen to them constantly, sing along in-character. This movie has everything, and I mean everything! It's severely underrated. Rita has always been a personal friend of mine; she reminds me of, well, myself, and I always loved her best. It was a dream of mine in childhood to have a plush Rita, and the day I acquired one was a very happy day indeed, and I even recall the date! But aside from my love for the characters, what's important to know is that this is a must-see animated masterpiece!

This movie was hip! (From a first grade point of view)
Back in the late eighties I recall seeing the trailer for Oliver and Company and I got caught up in the hype. Unfortunatly, I didn't have the money to see the film and it was never released to video after it's debut. So when the film had it's re-issue you bet I was quick to see it. I expected an exciting story, great eighties music, and stunning animation. Instead I got cartoon music, overly cute acting, and a poor story. Disney had stapled this film as appealing to the teenage crowd. How? This is most defintely a kid movie. The music was not contempory to its time and the human characters lacked a lot to be desired. Here is what I expected (and in detail!). Great eighties music, a strong gangster villian (preferably Italian), and a guy down on his luck who you could relate to instead of a bumbling bum. But sigh...they had to throw in a cute girl and singing birds. Sigh... ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of my favorites...I never get tired of this movie...
Excellent writing, gorgeous setting, wonderful actors make this a lush visual and musical treat that never goes over the top and thoroughly takes me away to the tropics. I don't know how many times I've watched the movie, and still I always go back to it when I'm sick of winter and want to see a good mystery set near the sea-green waters. And Denzel is absolutely the best here.

I'm biased, cause this is my favorite movie.
One hunnered thousan dollas, mahn! This is a thoroughly enjoyable flick. A musical who-done-it with an island flair. All the actors can belt out a tune like pros, even Denzel isn't half bad! Visually stunning with brilliant color, on an exotic set, and shot with great angles too. Solid performances by everyone with a riveting plot that is a pure pleasure to watch unfold. The dialog is excellent too and works well with the gorgeous visuals. This is the only movie I've seen where nothing they could have done differently could have made it any better. It's just THAT good. It has the best soundtrack for any movie I've ever heard as well. Now if they'll just get off their keisters and come out with a DVD with plenty of extras, I can die knowing that I've seen everything the BEST MOVIE MADE has to offer.

Bookends
Grab a copy of this movie and watch it as a double feature with the current "Out of Time." Denzel Washington fans will argue until the cows come home over which is the better performance, but the two films show Washington's mastery of his art. While Quinn is smooth but pure, Denzel's Chief in Out of Time is like a Quinn gone a little soft and ripe in the tropical sun, a man of integrity who has faced one too many temptations in a sordid and complicated world. I loved the noir feel of the first 7/8 of Out of Time and was annoyed at the lapse into Hollywood at the end, but Washington makes the character so attractive, that you wish him the best. Check it out.

Laid-Back Island Fun
There's very little I dislike about this movie. Okay, the swearing's a bit much, but everything else - the characters, the mystery, the music, the scenery - is incredibly enjoyable.

Denzel Washington portrays Police Chief Xavier Quinn, a cop who struggles for respect from a lower-class that sees him as a betrayer and an upper-class that has no use for him beyond that of lap dog. His character's development is an unsuspected surprise in what could have been just another run-of-the-mill tropical thriller.

Supporting characters played by Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers, Esther Rolle, and M. Emmett Walsh are also surprisingly nuanced, as is the murder investigation itself. The only main character I didn't quite get is Sheryl Lee Ralph as Quinn's wife; her expectations for her husband seem ill-defined in the story - in keeping with the island custom, however, I didn't let it get to me; I just went with it.

This is a budget release, so except for the trailer there are no extra features. There isn't even an insert card showing chapter listing. Subtitles come only in French and Spanish, but the film is closed-captioned if you want the equivalent of English subtitling. I would've liked more features, but I'm not going to let that get to me, either.

Get this DVD. Then get some popcorn and pour some rum in your Coke - or at least drop in a tiny paper umbrella - and enjoy the show.

Great Show!!!
I enjoyed this movie many times, although the downside to this movie is robert townsend who did not do a good accent for this flick. come on everybody: come on with out come on with in , you ain't seen nothing like the mighty quinn ! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Cute and Charming
Oliver & Company is a new twist on an Old story. This one has a little flare and music with a lot of personality. The story is around the street of New York City. And to let you know the emotional impact, it opens with an animated aerial view of the Manhattan Skyline - which includes the World Trade Center buildings. (This movie was made in 1988)

My favorite character - besides Oliver's innocence, is Bette Midler and Cheech Marin. They steel the scenes with their wit and humor. Very sharp and emotional are their deliveries of the lines.

The kids will relate to the young girl finding her new kitten and the adults can relate to those every threatening debts we all seem to have. The music is fun, but not consistent. (By this I mean all the songs are from different writers - there is no common thread in the music and songs.)

I enjoyed this movie a lot. My favorite Disney of all time is still The Little Mermaid. The DVD Extras are great for the kids and the behinds the scenes the adults will find interesting.

Finally, it's on DVD.
One of my all time favorite Disney Animated flicks is now on DVD to own and i bought it the other day!

This 1988 Animated feature was a hit that lead to the successes of other Disney Hits but this was never released on Video but got a re-issue in theaters and on Video. I still remembered when i was 6 years old back in 1988 when i was living in Omaha Nebraska, i was treated to see this movie and i saw it twice. But then it got re-issued back into theaters in 1996, i loved it again, it's basically about a orphaned Kitten named Oliver who hangs out with a gang that steals but he finds himself in a series of adventures.

A highly entertaining Animated feature on a great DVD, the DVD is fully loaded with a Scrapbook that includes pics of the original Poster artworks and concepts of characters, Theaterical Trailers, Original 1988 TV Spot, Documentaries, Two Sing-along songs, and Two Cartoon Shorts.

The transfer on this DVD is stunning, the picture is perfect without a single speck of grain and dirt and the sound quality is pheomeneonal, this is a must own DVD for Disney and animation lovers.

A Good Disney Musical with a lot of Class. NYC Style.
Before the success of such phenomenal Disney musicals like Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company came along. This film totally embodies the eighties with its music, voice talent, and art direction. The music is very good. The songs are very hip and cool. The animation is exciting, and the plot grabs you and sometimes you feel as if you are watching a regular caper movie than an animated film. An exciting Disney ride that is fun for everybody. I highly reccomend this film.

Doesn't get any better than this! Rita fan.
I saw this movie when I was little and became obsessed with it. I would sing the songs on the schoolbus, dance to them, listen to them constantly, sing along in-character. This movie has everything, and I mean everything! It's severely underrated. Rita has always been a personal friend of mine; she reminds me of, well, myself, and I always loved her best. It was a dream of mine in childhood to have a plush Rita, and the day I acquired one was a very happy day indeed, and I even recall the date! But aside from my love for the characters, what's important to know is that this is a must-see animated masterpiece!

This movie was hip! (From a first grade point of view)
Back in the late eighties I recall seeing the trailer for Oliver and Company and I got caught up in the hype. Unfortunatly, I didn't have the money to see the film and it was never released to video after it's debut. So when the film had it's re-issue you bet I was quick to see it. I expected an exciting story, great eighties music, and stunning animation. Instead I got cartoon music, overly cute acting, and a poor story. Disney had stapled this film as appealing to the teenage crowd. How? This is most defintely a kid movie. The music was not contempory to its time and the human characters lacked a lot to be desired. Here is what I expected (and in detail!). Great eighties music, a strong gangster villian (preferably Italian), and a guy down on his luck who you could relate to instead of a bumbling bum. But sigh...they had to throw in a cute girl and singing birds. Sigh... ... Read more

Amazon.com

This pleasant, lightweight live-action version of the popular cartoon is about as good as you might expect. The kids should love the broad humor and the Henson Studios creatures, but like The Addams Family movies, the look and the cast are the best things going for it. Considering that the nature of the material is so sparse, the thinly plotted story works better than other TV-to-movie fare. Our fabulous Stone Age man is promoted per a calculated move by a scheming exec (Kyle MacLachlan, whose casting ensured at least one cute guy). As a comedy, the humor is one-note and flat for anyone older than 12. The special-effects creatures look wondrous, though not as seamless as in other movies, such as in Roger Rabbit. The most joyous moments come during the full-scale re-creations of the famous credits. The Flinstones provided a major launching pad for Halle Berry as a vamping secretary. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (37)

This is an EXCELLENT MOVIE
THE Flintstones is a good movie. It's about two families who live in Bedrock. Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) and Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) work in a quarry. One of the VPs of Slate and Company Cliff Vandercave (Kyle MacLachlan) and his accomplice Sharon Stone (Halle Berry) plan to steal a fortune from Slate and Company. They plan to frame Bedrock's loudest, most lovable resident, Fred. He bcomes an executive for the company, and he and Wilma taste the lifestyle of the rich and prehistoric. Cliff kidnaps Fred's daughter, Pebbles (Elaine and Melanie Silver) and Bamm-Bamm (Hlynur and Marino Sigurdsson). Fred and Barney save the day and Cliff gets concrete dumped on him. Miss Stone goes to jail. It's a movie the whole family can enjoy.

I thought I was watching a cartoon!
For those of you who grew up watching "The Flinstones" every night, "The Flintstones" is something to cherish. With John Goodman ("The Babe," "Arachnophobia") playing the part of Fred and Elizabeth Perkins ("Big," "If These Walls Could Talk 2") as Wilma, this delightful comedy does everything it can to mimic "The Flintstones," from pigs for garbage disposals to cars run on foot power to elephants for faucets. Everyone is dressed up in ridiculous outfits so exaggerated as to be cartoonish! Greatly helping the movie is a full cast of Hollywood (or should I say Hollyrock) actors, such as the Silver twins, Elaine and Melanie ("General Hospital"), as Pebbles and Hlynur Sigurdsson ("The Flintstones") as Bamm-Bamm. Ironically, the only time Barney Rubble, Rick Moranis ("The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie," "The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie"), hears his child Bamm Bamm (Hlynur Sigurdsson) finally say "Dada" is near the climax of the movie, when Rubble is about to be hit in the head by construction equipment. The Rubbles (Rick Moranis, Rosie O'Donnell) soon find themselves in a lower economic stratum to their neighbors and friends (the Flintstones), and separation is inevitable. Also featured in this movie is the fledgling actress Halle Berry ("Bulworth"), playing secretary and co-conspirator Sharon Stone ("King Solomon's Mines," "Total Recall") - in the end, she falls prey to Fred's simpleminded goodness and betrays Kyle MacLachlan ("Sex and the City"), a money embezzler. Dann Florek plays an accurate Mr. Slate - Fred "John Goodman" Flintstone's boss at the rock quarry - and Fred invents concrete. From the second he sees it, Mr. Slate knows concrete is the thing of the future, and it is indeed in use even today. That is the kind of talent that makes Mr. Slate the boss of the quarry and not dumb oafs like Fred or his neighbor and friend Barney Rubble. Keep an eye out for computer-animated dinosaurs, because the graphics in this film are so realistic that you might misinterpret them as terrifying visual hallucinations.

Prehistoric Halle!
Halle Berry in prehistoric times...if it were true I'd have loved to have been there. The movie is entertaining for the whole family. It's an amusing movie but the highlight for me was the sexy seductress, miss Sharon Stone...played by the most beatiful women in all of hollywood, Miss Halle Berry. The movie gets 3 stars...Halle gets 5:)

A FEEL GOOD MOVIE!
I love The Flintstones, in any shape or form that I can see them. I remember wonderful memories of watching them on TV with my children and now with my grandchildren and I was delighted when the movie came out, I was not disappointed!
John Goodman is great as Fred,rough around the edges but yet
quite loveable! The casting was great, the scenery was great, everything about this movie was just plain fun! That is what it's all about and what it should be about! Fred gets in trouble, Barney bails him out! Simple! Fun! Entertaining!
What more do you want?

I really enjoyed it!
The Flintstones is light-hearted, and very entertaining, and sometimes that is all films are meant to do, entertain! The first thing I noticed about this film was that it had a GREAT CAST: Rosie O'Donnell, John Goodman, Halle Berry, and Kyle MacLachlan. I really also enjoyed this film because it is something that you can watch as a family. I was never a fan of the old TV show, but I LOVED this movie. I saw it on TV, and I am going to buy this DVD very soon! Watch it, you will enjoy it! Also, don't think it is "a kids movie", adults can enjoy it, too! 4 stars (****) for THE FLINTSTONES!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Indie filmmaking gets an intelligent send-up
If you want an insider's perpsective on the movie biz, two films that were released in 1992 give a view of the top and the bottom of the Hollywood food chain. "The Player" is a delightful black comedy about the top rung, the major studio insider who has the power to say "yes" just twelve times a year and green-light a big-budget movie (trouble ensues when he murders a particularly troublesome screenwriter). The opposite end of the food chain is lampooned in "Mistress," where we get an insider's view of trying to get an independent film financed. Filmmaking is the most expensive of hobbies, and compromises must be made. Two writers and a washed-up producer get three businessmen on the hook as possible backers, but each has a mistress, who needs a part... It's a delightful exploration of how far can one compromise artistic integrity just to get a story in front of the cameras. Martin Landau is a delight as the has-been producer, and Robert Wuhl is wonderful as the bemused screenwriter whose vision is rewritten into exploitative shlock. Both funny and sad, these are men who have sacrificed everything that matters in pursuit of the Hollywood dream.

It's about the bimbo... or is it?
Martin Landau ("Ed Wood," "Space 1999") leads a super cast through the ringer as they all try to get a film bankrolled. The connecting thread here is that "the other woman" who most of the potential financiers are boffing - is one and the same bimbo! The most unique angle to "Mistress" is how it refuses to portray the writers, actors, or other normally high-pedestaled creative types, as any more pure, or noble, or reasonable to deal with, than anyone else in this wacky business.

Nothing but Excellent
I loved Mistress because it portrays the "behind the scenes" of what producing a movie is truly about. I loved Sheryl Lee Ralph in this movie because it portrays what just be me going on in our movie industry. Sheryl is an excellent actress and need to be seen in more excellent movies. Excellent producing/directing on DeNiro's part.

A brilliant Hollywood comedy
Do not miss this picture! This is the film that blows away all the other "movie industry" comedies of the last few years. If you liked "Swimming with Sharks" or "The Player," you will love "Mistress." Eli Wallach should be on the cover of this DVD along with Wuhl, Landau, De Niro, and Aiello. You couldn't ask for a more perfect cast, and I don't know how Barry Primus brought them all together. The only down side to this DVD release seems to be the 1.33:1 "full screen" image format. I wish they had released this in the theatrical aspect ratio, since I've been wondering what I've missed by seeing only the VHS release. This is a brilliant and subtle comedy for movie fans everywhere. ... Read more

Description

A young boy's bigger-than-life imaginary friend ends up being as much help to the boy's disbelieving godmother. Whoopi Goldberg and Gerard Depardieu in a spirited all-family charmer directed by Norman Jewison (Moonstruck) Year: 1996 Director: Norman Jewison Starring:Whoopi Goldberg, Gerard Depardieu, Haley Joel Osment ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Great Movie
I think Bogus is a great movie. I never saw it in the theater because I didn't like the title and I think obviously a lot of other people felt the same way I did about the title and didn't go see it for that, too. Albert (Haley Joel Osment) has to go live with his godmother, Harriet (Whoppi), that no one knew existed until Albert's mom was killed in a car accident. At first, Harriet doesn't like the idea of him coming to live with her and what seems to bother her most is that he is white and she's black. His mom's death was very sad for him and then going to live with some stranger in New York probably made everything worse. So Albert ends up metting an imaginary friend, Bogus, that no one can see but him. Even though I dont like the title, the movie makes up for it and everyone should go see it cause it is a great movie!

Bogus
Anyone who loved Haley Joel Osment in all his other roles will definitely love him in this! He's a little boy who loses his mother and ends up going to stay with his Godmother, Whoopie Goldberg, who normally is one of my Favorite Actress's, but in this movie I thought she was pretty cold hearted. Who could not love such a Sweet Little Boy. But thanks to Bogus, Gerard Depardieu, he changes her around to appreciate and love this wonderful and amazing boy. This is a movie that warms your heart, and makes you want to go and give your own children lots of love, or anyone else's. Haley Joel Osment once again gives a 5 Star Performance.

Bogus is, simply
a nice, sentimental family film. Worth watching.

FIRST OFF, THE PERSON WHO
says Whoopi didn't want the kid because he was white is a moron. Race had nothing to do with it, you complete cretin. She didn't want him because she didn't know how to deal with kids.
That being corrected, this film has its heavy-handed, corny and hammy moments, but it's truly touching and charming overall. Worth watching and yes, you probably will shed a tear or two, despite telling yourself you won't.

Childhood memories...
lol it's funny I was trying to figured out what the movie was called when the invisible friend slides under a women and says "eeuu cob webs"....lol wierd thata that movie comes out on DVD just as I try to remember it and finally found it. I loved the movie. not a big fan off Woopi but the boy and the friend are great ... Read more

Description

Follow-up to ' 'Cast A Deadly Spell' ' - the only private detective not to practice black magic in Hollywood is up against the murder of a multi-millionaire, an extreme political agenda, and some of the sleekest, darkest dames that black magic can conjure up. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Witch Hunt - a surreal look at L . A.
I originally saw this film on HBO, and was instantly riveted to it. It kind of reminds me of an offbeat version of L A Confidential, with all the elements of the 40's and such. I love L A Movies and the scenes here in this film depict much of the unusual architecture, and ambience, that encompass and make up this little "boulubaise" of cultures, and personalities. Besides starring Dennis Hopper, it also features Sheryl Lee Ralph, of dream girls fame, and the superb cameo, but nonetheless great acting of Lypsinka, as the the mysterious Madame, of the bordello. (Looking fabulous, I might add, in vintage Charles James Couture.............) I recommend buying it , and viewing it with friends, over some , sour apple martini's and appetizing shrimp hor'dourve. /the movie is a little offbeat, but that in itself is the appeal of this wonderful film.

Truly struck a chord with me
The first time I saw this movie was as a made for HBO movie, which is probably why most of my friends have not seen it as well as why it's so hard to find in video stores. As far as I can tell it borrows heavily from Robert Heinlein's "Magic, Inc.", but doesn't follow the plot just some of the plot elements. Would that someone would recreate "Magic, Inc." or "Waldo", or at least burn all copies of "Starship Troopers" and attempt to do tribute to the original. Why Hollywood believes that they are capable of improving on time worn classics is beyond me.

Set as a 50's type of Raymond Chandler detective story, it's richly told and tremendously riveting.

I recommend it highly to Dennis Hopper or Robert Heinlein fans that are familiar with some of Heinlein's early works (pre "Stranger in a Strange Land").

Why someone panned this film so harshly I can't possibly fathom.

wonderful work, a treasure
regardless of what that other guy says, I loved this movie, it was well made and has a wonderful cast. the character work in "Fin Moxa" is superb, and dennis hopper was fantastic, a must watch clasic...

I'm usually not so terse...
...but this movie was pretty stupid. I believe it was trying to be funny, but it was really hard to tell. I actually sat through the whole thing though. That's time I'll never get back... ... Read more

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"Mr. Murphy Goes to Washington." As a sly con man from Florida, Thomas Jefferson Johnson (a name he enjoys reciting), Murphy seems just about perfectly cast. And the notion that a crook would be drawn to Capitol Hill like a fly to honey is a cheap, cynical idea that could be milked for a few belly laughs. The chief bad guy, a greedy lobbyist aptly named Dick Dodge (Lane Smith), is a perfect, smarmy target, but the movie loses its cool and turns earnest and patriotic, striking a high-minded attitude that it has scarcely earned. It may have seemed a clever idea hiring a Brit, Jonathan Lynn (Clue) to direct, but he doesn't bring a fresh eye to the material. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Joe Don Baker bat cleanup. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Hilarious, Great directing.
Eddie Murphy is a street hustler who hustles a seat in the House of Representatives. the first two thirds of the movie, with an accent on comedy, are the best

A Smash!!!
In his long career, we've seen Eddie Murphy in many roles, from cop to crook to royality. In the Distinguished Gentleman, however, we see him in a different role: politician. In the Distinguished Gentleman, Murphy is Thomas Jefferson Johnson, a small-time con man who wants big money...

This movie is a great example of just how... Washington politics is. Murphy comes out well in his preformance. A much better con man preformance than Trading Places. If you're looking to know just how...our system is, give this movie a rent, then you be the judge.

disappointing but has some moments.
I am a political junky AND an Eddie Murphy fan and I had great expectations for this movie. And for the most part the first half has pretty interesting and entertaining. But the script bogged down and just flattened out towards the end. EM still makes it fun to watch. This is a rental, not a purchase.

Boy, politicians should have been great fodder for a comedy but this movie missed its potential

Subtle Humor with Few Belly Laughs
It is tempting to compare this movie to other political satires of previous years. However, it is at heart an Eddie Murphy movie, and you know that Eddie Murphy is always over the top.

The plot is relatively simple. Eddie Murphy is a small-time con artist. Having recently overheard a conversation between several lobbyists and a congressman, Eddie realizes that (in his opinion) being a congressman is the biggest con of all. One day he happens to be in the right place at the right time when a congressman with virtually the same name as his dies. Eddie runs for election to replace the dead congressman with his only platform being that "you know the name". You must know that Eddie wins in a landslide.

Eddie's initial goal is to figure out how he can get as much money as possible. However, as is the case with all con artists, their undoing is when they begin to care. In Eddie's case, his undoing is a beautiful woman and a little girl diagnosed with cancer. The combination of the two makes Eddie care about someone other than himself, and you see Eddie change from that point.

Lane Smith plays Dick Dodge, a senior congressman on the powerful Power and Industry committee. Dick Dodge is a wheeler and dealer who knows all the ins and outs of Washington, and the best way to wield power and profit from his position. Initially Eddie looks to Dick as a mentor. While Eddie initially identified with Dick Dodge, as Eddie discovers that there is a harmful side-effect on ordinary people by the actions of people such as Dodge, Eddie eventually uses his abilities to remove Dodge from power.

This movie is a bit more cerebral than Eddie's typical movies. "Trading Places" was generally slapstick and situational comedy. "Beverly Hills Cop" was one-liners and irony. The humor in this movie is often more subtle, and in some cases may be lost on some viewers. There are places in the movie where the humor is slapstick and one-liners, however, much of the humor is satirical and often harder to discern.

While this movie is certainly not Eddie's best, neither is it among his worst. There are places in the movie that are inspired. However, for every inspired part of the movie there are tired jokes and typical Washington political satire. Worth watching once, and collecting for the avid Eddie Murphy fan, this movie rates a low 4 stars.

The Distinguished Murphy
To really appreciate this film, you have to consider that it was released in 1992 when the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate and graft and corruption were the rules of Congress. The film centers around Murphy as a con man who gets himself elected to Congress and his attempts to put as much money in his pocket as possible.

In order to maximize his influence with lobbyists, Murphy gets himself appointed to the most powerful committee in Congress, which in real-life is the Ways & Means Committee and when this film was made, was run by Dan Rostenkowski, but in the film is run by the equally corrupt Dick Dodge, played by Lane Smith.

In 1994, Rostenkowski was indicted on corruption charges and stepped down as Ways and Means chairman; he lost his House seat in the Congressional elections later that year. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1996, and was fined and served (1996-97) a 17-month sentence.

One of the great things about this film is how it parallels the real-life Congress and how sleazy things were run under the Democrats when they controlled it. This film is a must for anyone interested in politics and for anyone that would like to see Murphy play a different role than his usual fare. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

P-U
How did Jennifer Grey go from Ferris Bueller and Dirty Dancing to this junk? NOSE JOB. That was the biggest mistake of her life. What a horrible movie.

I love Tim Curry more then life itself, but not in this movie. He dosen't belong here at all.

There are two very short scenes worth watching and Adam Ant is in both of them.

If I could cut those scenes out to watch and throw the rest away I would.

Cute- but predictable
A very cute film (think first or second date). This was after Jennifer Grey's nose job, so if you are looking for "Baby" from Dirty Dancing you will be disappointed. The very beginning of the film (the first 5 minutes or so) are extemely cheesy, but if you can get past that you will be fine. ... Read more

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A highly enjoyable sleeper. The plot of The Mighty Quinn is a variation on one of those '30s studio pictures about two boyhood friends who grow up on different sides of the law--but it's 1989, and things are a bit different. Denzel Washington, smooth as Jamaican rum, plays the police chief of a Caribbean island, a place where crime isn't exactly a pressing concern. Thus the chief is put out when the clues in a murder case point to his old buddy, a dreadlocked ne'er-do-well played by a mischievous Robert Townsend. Director Carl Schenkel is much more interested in friendships and great island atmosphere than in the actual unlocking of the case, and that's just fine. Add in a bouncy soundtrack of reggae music, and The Mighty Quinn becomes one of those hard-to-resist vacation movies. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of my favorites...I never get tired of this movie...
Excellent writing, gorgeous setting, wonderful actors make this a lush visual and musical treat that never goes over the top and thoroughly takes me away to the tropics. I don't know how many times I've watched the movie, and still I always go back to it when I'm sick of winter and want to see a good mystery set near the sea-green waters. And Denzel is absolutely the best here.

I'm biased, cause this is my favorite movie.
One hunnered thousan dollas, mahn! This is a thoroughly enjoyable flick. A musical who-done-it with an island flair. All the actors can belt out a tune like pros, even Denzel isn't half bad! Visually stunning with brilliant color, on an exotic set, and shot with great angles too. Solid performances by everyone with a riveting plot that is a pure pleasure to watch unfold. The dialog is excellent too and works well with the gorgeous visuals. This is the only movie I've seen where nothing they could have done differently could have made it any better. It's just THAT good. It has the best soundtrack for any movie I've ever heard as well. Now if they'll just get off their keisters and come out with a DVD with plenty of extras, I can die knowing that I've seen everything the BEST MOVIE MADE has to offer.

Bookends
Grab a copy of this movie and watch it as a double feature with the current "Out of Time." Denzel Washington fans will argue until the cows come home over which is the better performance, but the two films show Washington's mastery of his art. While Quinn is smooth but pure, Denzel's Chief in Out of Time is like a Quinn gone a little soft and ripe in the tropical sun, a man of integrity who has faced one too many temptations in a sordid and complicated world. I loved the noir feel of the first 7/8 of Out of Time and was annoyed at the lapse into Hollywood at the end, but Washington makes the character so attractive, that you wish him the best. Check it out.

Laid-Back Island Fun
There's very little I dislike about this movie. Okay, the swearing's a bit much, but everything else - the characters, the mystery, the music, the scenery - is incredibly enjoyable.

Denzel Washington portrays Police Chief Xavier Quinn, a cop who struggles for respect from a lower-class that sees him as a betrayer and an upper-class that has no use for him beyond that of lap dog. His character's development is an unsuspected surprise in what could have been just another run-of-the-mill tropical thriller.

Supporting characters played by Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers, Esther Rolle, and M. Emmett Walsh are also surprisingly nuanced, as is the murder investigation itself. The only main character I didn't quite get is Sheryl Lee Ralph as Quinn's wife; her expectations for her husband seem ill-defined in the story - in keeping with the island custom, however, I didn't let it get to me; I just went with it.

This is a budget release, so except for the trailer there are no extra features. There isn't even an insert card showing chapter listing. Subtitles come only in French and Spanish, but the film is closed-captioned if you want the equivalent of English subtitling. I would've liked more features, but I'm not going to let that get to me, either.

Get this DVD. Then get some popcorn and pour some rum in your Coke - or at least drop in a tiny paper umbrella - and enjoy the show.

Great Show!!!
I enjoyed this movie many times, although the downside to this movie is robert townsend who did not do a good accent for this flick. come on everybody: come on with out come on with in , you ain't seen nothing like the mighty quinn ! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

This movie tries to make whites understand racism
Apart from the fact that there are no Asian or Hispanic characters in it, it tries to make the white audience understand racism by reversing the roles. I say this because alot of white people have trouble understanding racial hegemony because of strong sense of guilt which leads to denial and therefore ignorance. Many whites try to quantify racism as cross burnings and neoNazis, as opposed to the fact that racism is systemic throughout the Western world be it in the police, the education system, the economic structure, the media and popular culture and the bureaucracy. This movie I feel would of had greater impact if it discussed affirmative action by showing a black complaining about reverse discrimination and a white complaining about AA as being nothing but window dressing by having your token white guy here and there.This movie should have shown a white civil rights activist using arguments similar to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King-i.e complaining about how the black Africans colonized Europe and brought white people as slaves to America who as a result were denied there history and forced to accept black culture and be subjected ot an Afrocentric education curriculum. To put it in a nutshell racism is a very subjective experience.

interesting movie
I really didnt watch this until a couple of years ago and it was a very interesting movie I thought...full of thought I'd say...with John Travolta and Harry Belefonte giving it all they got was great...really riveting and dramatic. NOTE: if you watch closely at that hotdog stand part..youd recognize Seth Green(Knockaround Guys, The Italian Job, Stone Brook, Tv's Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Tvs Family Guy)..check it out

Good Idea, poor execution
The basic idea of this film is a good one-"what would happen if the tables were turned." And there are good moments, such as the White kid wanting a Black doll and seeing nothing but Blacks on tv that do a good job of getting the message across, but midway through the picture, this is pushed aside and it becomes just another action thriller. However, the scenes of rich Black neighborhoods and poor White neighborhoods aren't all that potent, as such communities do exist in real life.

Stereotype reversal changes perspective
This movie was very interesting on many levels. It reverses the role of the black man and the white man based on heavy stereotypes. The black man is wealthy and powerful and the white man is poor and lives in slums. I believe the filmmakers made it this way for at least two reasons. One is you get the point of the movie better, as it's backwards to what we see everyday in the news and that. Second it takes away from the typical movie. Most movies involving rich black people normally portray them as hip-hop rappers decked out in gold chains and driving Impala's with hydraulics. This is not the case in White Man's Burden. They are portrayed as business men, with wives dressed in fancy gowns and dresses. The men wear suits and ties, and the kids are similarly dressed to the T. Without giving away the plot of the movie, it is the struggle of a hard worker and his boss. How a typical employee of a large company is just a number to the corporate boss. I feel this movie is different in how the roles are reversed, black man is corporate boss, white man is typical employee.

Great topic!!! done too subtle
Anyone who complains about this movie doesn't understand that this sort of racism does exist. It was humorous to see the role reversal. I especially loved the parts where the white boy only wants the Black superhero doll and the Black cops hassle a white man simply because "he fits the description."

I just wish this movie had gone to the movie theaters for a wider audience. The role reversal was very subtle, and may not be picked up on immediately if the viewer didn't understand the premise of the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Indie filmmaking gets an intelligent send-up
If you want an insider's perpsective on the movie biz, two films that were released in 1992 give a view of the top and the bottom of the Hollywood food chain. "The Player" is a delightful black comedy about the top rung, the major studio insider who has the power to say "yes" just twelve times a year and green-light a big-budget movie (trouble ensues when he murders a particularly troublesome screenwriter). The opposite end of the food chain is lampooned in "Mistress," where we get an insider's view of trying to get an independent film financed. Filmmaking is the most expensive of hobbies, and compromises must be made. Two writers and a washed-up producer get three businessmen on the hook as possible backers, but each has a mistress, who needs a part... It's a delightful exploration of how far can one compromise artistic integrity just to get a story in front of the cameras. Martin Landau is a delight as the has-been producer, and Robert Wuhl is wonderful as the bemused screenwriter whose vision is rewritten into exploitative shlock. Both funny and sad, these are men who have sacrificed everything that matters in pursuit of the Hollywood dream.

It's about the bimbo... or is it?
Martin Landau ("Ed Wood," "Space 1999") leads a super cast through the ringer as they all try to get a film bankrolled. The connecting thread here is that "the other woman" who most of the potential financiers are boffing - is one and the same bimbo! The most unique angle to "Mistress" is how it refuses to portray the writers, actors, or other normally high-pedestaled creative types, as any more pure, or noble, or reasonable to deal with, than anyone else in this wacky business.

Nothing but Excellent
I loved Mistress because it portrays the "behind the scenes" of what producing a movie is truly about. I loved Sheryl Lee Ralph in this movie because it portrays what just be me going on in our movie industry. Sheryl is an excellent actress and need to be seen in more excellent movies. Excellent producing/directing on DeNiro's part.

A brilliant Hollywood comedy
Do not miss this picture! This is the film that blows away all the other "movie industry" comedies of the last few years. If you liked "Swimming with Sharks" or "The Player," you will love "Mistress." Eli Wallach should be on the cover of this DVD along with Wuhl, Landau, De Niro, and Aiello. You couldn't ask for a more perfect cast, and I don't know how Barry Primus brought them all together. The only down side to this DVD release seems to be the 1.33:1 "full screen" image format. I wish they had released this in the theatrical aspect ratio, since I've been wondering what I've missed by seeing only the VHS release. This is a brilliant and subtle comedy for movie fans everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

I thought I was watching a cartoon!
For those of you who grew up watching "The Flinstones" every night, "The Flintstones" is something to cherish. With John Goodman ("The Babe," "Arachnophobia") playing the part of Fred and Elizabeth Perkins ("Big," "If These Walls Could Talk 2") as Wilma, this delightful comedy does everything it can to mimic "The Flintstones," from pigs for garbage disposals to cars run on foot power to elephants for faucets. Everyone is dressed up in ridiculous outfits so exaggerated as to be cartoonish! Greatly helping the movie is a full cast of Hollywood (or should I say Hollyrock) actors, such as the Silver twins, Elaine and Melanie ("General Hospital"), as Pebbles and Hlynur Sigurdsson ("The Flintstones") as Bamm-Bamm. Ironically, the only time Barney Rubble, Rick Moranis ("The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie," "The Animated Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie"), hears his child Bamm Bamm (Hlynur Sigurdsson) finally say "Dada" is near the climax of the movie, when Rubble is about to be hit in the head by construction equipment. The Rubbles (Rick Moranis, Rosie O'Donnell) soon find themselves in a lower economic stratum to their neighbors and friends (the Flintstones), and separation is inevitable. Also featured in this movie is the fledgling actress Halle Berry ("Bulworth"), playing secretary and co-conspirator Sharon Stone ("King Solomon's Mines," "Total Recall") - in the end, she falls prey to Fred's simpleminded goodness and betrays Kyle MacLachlan ("Sex and the City"), a money embezzler. Dann Florek plays an accurate Mr. Slate - Fred "John Goodman" Flintstone's boss at the rock quarry - and Fred invents concrete. From the second he sees it, Mr. Slate knows concrete is the thing of the future, and it is indeed in use even today. That is the kind of talent that makes Mr. Slate the boss of the quarry and not dumb oafs like Fred or his neighbor and friend Barney Rubble. Keep an eye out for computer-animated dinosaurs, because the graphics in this film are so realistic that you might misinterpret them as terrifying visual hallucinations.

A lot better than E.T
I can't not believe that was Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble. And I'll give you a good reason. Where's his glasses? I saw me wearing glasses in Honey We Shrunk Ourselves. And I'm sure that he wear glasses in the other Honey movies. I aslo have glasses on my face. As the movie opens, Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) has secrtly lent Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) money so he and his wife Betty Rubble (Rosie O'Donnell) can adpot a kid. But when Fred's wife Wilma (Elizabeth Perkins) wants to buy a new garbage pig, and finds thier savings account empty. She questions Fred about it. And Fred says "I gave it to Barney."

This is an EXCELLENT MOVIE
THE Flintstones is a good movie. It's about two families who live in Bedrock. Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) and Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) work in a quarry. One of the VPs of Slate and Company Cliff Vandercave (Kyle MacLachlan) and his accomplice Sharon Stone (Halle Berry) plan to steal a fortune from Slate and Company. They plan to frame Bedrock's loudest, most lovable resident, Fred. He bcomes an executive for the company, and he and Wilma taste the lifestyle of the rich and prehistoric. Cliff kidnaps Fred's daughter, Pebbles (Elaine and Melanie Silver) and Bamm-Bamm (Hlynur and Marino Sigurdsson). Fred and Barney save the day and Cliff gets concrete dumped on him. Miss Stone goes to jail. It's a movie the whole family can enjoy.

Prehistoric Halle!
Halle Berry in prehistoric times...if it were true I'd have loved to have been there. The movie is entertaining for the whole family. It's an amusing movie but the highlight for me was the sexy seductress, miss Sharon Stone...played by the most beatiful women in all of hollywood, Miss Halle Berry. The movie gets 3 stars...Halle gets 5:)

A FEEL GOOD MOVIE!
I love The Flintstones, in any shape or form that I can see them. I remember wonderful memories of watching them on TV with my children and now with my grandchildren and I was delighted when the movie came out, I was not disappointed!
John Goodman is great as Fred,rough around the edges but yet
quite loveable! The casting was great, the scenery was great, everything about this movie was just plain fun! That is what it's all about and what it should be about! Fred gets in trouble, Barney bails him out! Simple! Fun! Entertaining!
What more do you want? ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Low Budget, Great Plot
This was the best low budget film that I have seen in years! The story was incredible and it kept your attention from beginning to end. While the setting is sometimes unrealistic the plot is very believable and sobering to say the least.

The movie goes to show that the threat of nuclear war is a very real modern possibility that has not died with the Cold War. It takes the United States' most recent all out military engagement, The Persian Gulf War, and takes the scenario one step further with Sudam Hussein's son, now the dictator of Iraq, invading Kuwait once again. The President of the United States, who has just come into power due to the death of the previous president, is faced with his first major international crisis during his election campaign. He is determined to react to the emergency quickly and with a show of ultimate force.

I will not reveal the ending; however, I will say that it is both unique and thought provoking. This is a must see film that will really make you think.

Fiction turning into reality?
When it was realesed Deterrence was just a return to a genre of film that was apearently over along with the Cold War, the "what if" scenario of a possible nuclear war. ... this movie is in my view frightening relevant and up to date. ... Walter Emerson, the U.S president is stuck in a diner due to a snowstorm during his campaign trip. There he receives word that Udei Hussein, Saddam's son and now leader of Iraq has invaded Kwait and is on his way to take the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. Emerson takes a desperate gamble with an ultimatum to Husseim: Stop the invasion and surrender or Baghdad will be destructed by a 100 megaton H-bomb. From there on is a game of cat and mouse as the world, now on the brink of total annihilation begins to go insane. Under the bestified looks of common people caught into something way above them and at the same time closer than ever to them, Emerson takes decisions that might turn him into a genocidal ... . ... Welcome to the XXI century.

Deterrence- best kept secret in Hollywood`
this is a fantastick movie! I have referred a dozen or so family members, and each has confirmed the superiority of this film. Well-thought out and imaginative, one could only hope our intelligence services are half as creative and smart as the creator of this masterpiece.

More people have walked on the moon...
... than have done what we're about to do... I may be slightly paraphrasing, but those were the words of a B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber pilot as he spoke to the President from the skies above Iraq.

This is a very well-conceived movie and the superb Kevin Pollak was a great choice as the Pres. If I have a criticism at all, it is that the movie suggests that the reason the US could not engage the invading Iraqi army is that most of their troops were positioned to deal with North Korea at that time.

This is unlikely, as the Korean situation is very simple, in that there is an infinitely greater chance that the US would use Tac Nukes against any invading force as a first resort. If North Korea ever began a barrage of the South Korean capital (a city of 10 million people), they would be able to effectively destroy it with conventional rockets and shells during the first 24-48 hours, causing millions of casualties.

There is no doubt in the minds of any military analysts that the US would have to go nuclear and on a massive scale well within the first two hours. While the North Korean capital would almost certainly receive a 'deterrence'-style surrender or die message from the US, the main thrust would be the large scale use of heavy tactical and even strategic nuclear weapons against the launch areas for the rocket tubes etc., many of which have been embedded to make them difficult to bomb. Neutron weapons would be one of the most effective responses for this type of target.

Not a pleasant topic and one that we all hope will remain in the realms of the theoretical, but then again, that's up to the North Korean leader.

Deterrence captures the life or death nature of this kind of diplomacy and is an important reminder of the stakes involved.

The only other criticism is that (Don't read on if you don't want to know anything about the film, I'm about to mention a plot event...) when the diner owner shoots and wounds the military aide carrying the briefcase containing the launch codes, there is NO WAY the Security people would stand there, pointing their guns at him trying to talk him down and risk that he will fire a fatal shot, thus making it impossible to open the briefcase. The guy would have been tomato paste after getting off the first round.

All in all a great movie. Essential viewing for dictators everywhere.

Chilly movie!
About the only thing more enjoyable than a post-apocalyptic film is a movie about the lead up to the end of the world. "Deterrence" recalls "Fail Safe," "Dr. Strangelove," "By Dawn's Early Light," or a host of other "when nukes go wild" type films. Well, almost. Only one bomb goes off here, after which Armageddon is put off for a sunnier day. But the tension so intrinsic to this amazing genre is here in spades, that special, palpable tension so thick you could spackle the cracks in your ceiling with it. "Deterrence" is a nice nail biter with a solid cast, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and an effective cast to carry the whole thing off. It's too bad this movie is such an obscurity; I would like to state that "Deterrence" deserves more attention than it has currently received. Moreover, with the end of the Cold War we just do not see films like this anymore. Anyone who grew up during the days of mutually assured destruction policies and doomsday planes swooping over the roofs of their houses at fifteen-minute intervals will probably appreciate the implications of this movie more than those youngsters born after Ronald Reagan was president.

It is the future (2008, to be exact) when President Walter Emerson (Kevin Pollack) stops over at a little diner in Colorado during a snowstorm. Conditions are so bad outside that the man cannot even get a helicopter in to transport him out of the area. Emerson is pounding the pavement around the country in order to secure his party's nomination for a run at the White House. He is president, but only because he assumed the office after his predecessor suddenly died. The political battle is close, and it will soon get much closer when an international tragedy of epic dimensions erupts in the Middle East. While Emerson schmoozes with a few of the people trapped in the diner, his aides make the shocking announcement that Saddam Hussein's son, now the leader of Iraq, has launched a surprise attack on Kuwait and wiped out a contingent of U.S. Marines stationed there. Even worse, Iraq claims to possess nuclear weapons and threatens to unleash a holocaust of unprecedented proportions if Emerson attempts to dislodge the Iraqi army now ravaging Kuwait. The president is in a quandary; he must consider his response in terms of the upcoming election, but he must also deal decisively with the Iraqi situation with only a few laptop computers and a satellite phone at his disposal. Serving as the leader of the free world can really drag.

Incredibly, President Emerson uses a news crew following his campaign to make a live newscast to the nation where he threatens to drop an atomic device on Baghdad within a few hours if the Iraqi leadership fails to withdraw its troops. The prez doesn't stonewall, doesn't beg for more time to consider his options, doesn't check polls before making a decision; he steps right up to the camera, delivers his ultimatum, and begins to monitor the situation. What leadership! What chutzpah! Well, that is the problem. Emerson's Chief of Staff Marshall Thompson (Timothy Hutton) occasionally drifts into the foreground to question the motivations of such a brazen decree. He points out that nuking Baghdad is equivalent to dropping a bomb on the birthplace of the human race. Thompson also wonders about the potential fallout sure to batter the gates when Emerson, a Jew, attacks an Arab nation with such a devastating device. Further complicating matters are a series of increasingly irate phone calls between the president and the Iraqi ambassador, communications that take on downright sinister implications when the Iraqi's claim to possess a bundle of nuclear weapons located on ships around the world. They will launch these bombs at American targets, says the ambassador, unless Emerson accepts the invasion. Predictably, one of these targets is Washington, D.C. where the president's family waits for his return.

If you cannot tell, I liked "Deterrence." I started out with doubts as I loaded the DVD in the machine, however. I worried about Kevin Pollack turning in a competent performance as the president, a worry completely unfounded as the first few minutes of the movie unfolded. What really gave me a positive feel for the guy was how he worked the locals at the diner. Anyone who has seen a politician in action will instantly recognize Emerson's breezy familiarity with people he met mere seconds ago. I thought these initial scenes really helped set up the idea of Pollack playing the president. Who knew a comedian who does such a killer impression of William Shatner's Captain Kirk could pull off a role requiring him to resolve more moral dilemmas than Plato? For the most part, the supporting cast does an adequate job backing up Pollack's essentially one-man show. What didn't work as well was the cast of locals in the diner. For a large part of the movie they simply fade into the woodwork until one of the shocking twists at the conclusion requires their presence.

Anyone who says they saw the twist conclusion coming from miles away is not telling the truth. Although this denouement is arguably too pat, it did instantly change the entire scope of the film. There is that great moment when you learn why the president does what he does and you quickly scan your memory of the preceding scenes in order to see what clues the director gave you in advance. They are th