Reviews (34)

Tragedy In the Andes
Based on a real story of a plane crash high in the Andes, this film portrays the story of the survivors who managed to stay alive for months in the grueling winter atop the mountains. I expect that the actual event was more frightening and difficult than what was portrayed in the film, of course, but it is still a compelling story. The acting is a little less than first rate, but the story here is the reason to watch as these people struggle to stay alive despite unbelievable hardship, forced to make decisions that no one should ever have to consider just to make it back to civilization. I could feel the icy coldness and the gnawing hunger and found myself wondering if I could do what these people did to survive. I found some of it hard to believe, but it is all true. A real testament to the will of man to survive despite the odds.

I've seen this movie three times already, but I had to buy this DVD so I could watch it again. A compelling, heartwrenching, courageous and inspirational film, not to be missed.

Inspiring movie!!!
I absolutely love this movie!!! One of my all time favorites because it's based on a true story and because the cast did such a wonderful job with the characters!!! Most of the actors are little known, perhaps out of Canada...Ethan Hawke (Gattaca), Josh Hamilton (The '60s), Vincent Spano(???), Bruce Ramsay(Starstruck), David Kriegel (Speed), Christian Meoli (Bongwater), Jake Carpenter (???), Michael DeLorenzo (Resurrection Blvd)and tons of other good actors star as members of a rugby (a kind of football) team from Uruguay, South America. En route to Chile to play a game, their plane encounters rough weather and the pilots are unable to prevent a horrifying crash. The special effects are super!!! It's awful to admit, but I have fun watching this scene because of the effects. They crash in the Andes, some of the tallest, coldest and most forbidding mountains in the world, and they are immediately plunged into a survival oddesey in which they face the rage of the elements, bitter cold, endless snow and blizzards, starvation, and death. Many of the passengers died in the crash, others perished from cold, hunger, and loss of hope. It's interesting to see them at the beginning, clean shaven, handsome, innocent and watch hardship transform them into scruffy, wind burnt, chapped survivors who are determined to save themselves. I read a review by some woman who called this movie "One big bad idea" and proceeded to poke fun at the cannibalism and use tired punchlines about "fava beans and chianti". She along with many others, missed the whole meaning of the movie. I only hope she doesn't find herself in a situation such as this sometime in her life. This movie doesn't wallow in cannibalism and gore. It treats it with respect and sensitivity. There are those who thought the references to God were annoying and redundant. When you are in a situation where you just might die, you are lonely for God's presence. I say, if you don't want to see a movie where God and life and death are the themes, don't watch this. Otherwise, this movie will always be one of the greatest survival dramas of all time. I only wish they'd make a movie about the Donner Party, and no, Ravenous doesn't count!!!
Mari Weir

Power of the Human Spirit
This is one of those overlooked movies that few people have heard about let alone have seen.
It's a gem among disaster/survival flicks. Well crafted by Frank Marshall and the cast.
An uplifting movie that when watched keeps misfortune in perspective for those who haven't gone through such arduous extremes.
Watch this movie when you feel you've had a bad day and quit whining.

Good stuff, but no where near the power of the book.
Solid movie. For fans of the book however, this picture does not come close to evoking the emotions felt in type. A much better job could have been done, not by the actors, but by the director, in capturing the sheer weight of the undertaking, and especially the expedition. I did not have the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment at the end that I did when reading.
The ending is true to the text, but glossy and rushed.

Uplifting, to be sure, but yet another example of missed opportunity in turning an incredible book into a so-so film.
Three stars.

Intense and uplifting
Frank Marshall's celluloid recreation of Andes tragedy and the stupendous will of the survivors is intensely gripping and moving. As one of the reviewers remarked that if one wants to see a demonstration of human will and spirit, just watch this movie. I watched this movie on HBO and during the entire length was absolutely seized by it. I kind of felt myself going through the horrendous ordeal and was crying uncontrollably in second half. I was so stricken and moved by the tremendous ordeal(there's no stronger word than this)my heart pleaded for their rescue every second of the movie. Kudos to Frank Marshall for managing to create such a masterpiece....few movies manage to seize viewers....this belongs to that elite category.

The cast is uniformly excellent in performances and special praise for the Latino looking guy and Eathen Hawke. Cinematography is absolutely stunning right from the plane crash, avalanches, majestic sunrises to seatsledge rides.Watching the movie was so emotionally stirring and I wonder how the real survivors managed to stay alive under horrific odds. Truly a tale of indestructible human spirit, strength of will to survive, courage to face the meanest of hardships.

The basic plot is explained by other reviewers so I won't go into it. Please, please watch it and marvel at the strength of human Spirit. Hope Frank Marshall makes more such movies. ... Read more

Description

Peter Weller and Judy Davis play a hip couple who open a trendy L.A. Boutique to finance a "civilized" divorce in a biting tale of our times. "The sexiest, smartest comedy this decade has produced" (Harper's Bazaar) Year: 1994 Director: Michael Tolkin Starring:Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Patrick Bauchau ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The best film ever made about LA
Ten years after its release, Steve Martin's LA Story has a cult following for its adept interpretation of vapid and decadent Los Angelinos. Though LA Story came out in 1990 and seems to lampoon the 80s, Michael Tolkin goes way beyond his collaborative work with Robert Altman(The Player) with this pitch black comedy.

The film is way ahead of its time. Hollywood has yet to examine the decadent 90s in any way. Here we have characters who are more Clinton era than American Beauty. Pretty astute, considering that the film was released in 1994!

Look for top performances from Peter Weller, Judy Davis, and great supporting work from Adam West, Sandra Seacat, and a pre-Pulp Fiction Samuel Jackson. Hopefully, some of the great camera work an slick visuals will find its way on to DVD in the near future.

maria ellingsen wasted- i got lost watching it
This film is a mess. It features a load of stars and made no sense at all. The great Icelandic actress Maria Ellingsen appears once or twice and is her exceptonal is wasted in this film. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

A brisk stroll through Yuppie hell
Michael Tolkin's "The New Age" was the most scathing movie indictment of the American dream gone Sonoma catalog since Albert Brooks' brilliant satire "Lost In America". "The New Age" re-teams the "Tracy & Hepburn" of indie film, Peter Weller and Judy Davis, who were also the wacked-out couple in "Naked Lunch". Instead of heading off in an RV to go "find themselves", Judy and Peter decide to "simplify" thier over-extended Yuppie lifestyle by chucking it all and opening up a Beverly Hills boutique. Hilarity ensues....right? Actually, the movie takes a more low-key,sometimes cruel, black comedy approach to its subjects as they proceed to go into a tandem midlife crisis. Along the way, most trendy southern California fads are lampooned, recalling the film "Serial", which savaged the Bay Area Yuppie/New Age scene in the same fashion. Good supporting performances abound; the biggest surprise is Adam "Batman" West, who is priceless as Weller's father. West plays the wryly acerbic, aging Lothario with much aplomb.(Where has he been?!) Highly recommended.

I like Michael Tolkin, okay?
This movie meant a lot more to me after I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for a year, which is as far west as I want to go for the rest of my life. It's much more interesting to observe empty, soul-less people from a safe distance. It's funny. See "The Rapture," too. Thanks. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent performances all around!
I bought this movie because I am taking an acting class on character study, and I am working on a scene from Stephen Metcalfe's "Strange Snow", the play upon which "Jacknife" is based. Since the play's script is no longer available, I had to go with the movie to get the "big picture" of the characters and their motivations. But damn! What a great movie! The acting is just stupendous and the climactic scene with Ed Harris & De Niro is so powerful. Wish it was on DVD!

Underseen, Unknown...and Deserves To Be On DVD
I agree with all the other reviews...this is a beautifully acted piece by Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. I remember seeing this for the first time in a theater and was completely blown away by the performances and the way the subject matter was handled.

For my money, the scene near the end, when "Jacknife" finally gets Davey to break through his pain about their pal Bobby dying in Vietnam, is one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen in any film.

Ed Harris is simply remarkable and damn near steals the film. This was the first time I'd seen Kathy Baker, and I don't think she's ever been better. And De Niro...wow. This was a peformance from him that I'd never seen before, and he just knocked me off my seat.

Now if someone can get the rights to this film and get it on DVD...that would be great.

Jacknife.......The best movie nobody saw
As a Viet Nam veteran, this movie had a tremendous impact on me when I first saw it. Each time I watch it, I am totally engrossed by not only the subject matter, but in the finest performances I have seen, by not only Robert DiNiro, but also Kathy Baker and Ed Harris. This is a tender, yet gut wrenching story of a Viet Nam vet, DiNiro, who returns home to help another vet, Ed Harris, finally come to terms with their tragically entwined past. In the process he meets and falls in love with his friends sister, played by Kathy Baker, in a masterful and understated performance which lends credibility to the adage that sometimes less is more. I truly feel that this movie, and all it's stars, should have at least been nominated for Academy Awards. A truly gripping and realistic drama.

Why doesn't Ed Harris have an Oscar for this movie?
Wonderful movie about friendship, pain, love, and loyalty. Ed Harris turns in yet another powerful performance. This is one of those small and overlooked films that packs an emotional punch. This could have played like just another movie-of-the-week, but the script is gentle yet taut, and the cast brings so much greatness to it that they elevate it on all fronts. DeNiro is perfect, of course, but Ed Harris' breakdown at the end really tugs at the ol' heartstrings.

Robert De Niro at his most subtle
This is perhaps the most likable role Robert De Niro has ever had, as a Vietnam vet doing his best to come to terms with the death of a friend he served with there. The stellar ensemble work he does with Ed Harris, as another embittered vet who served with De Niro, and with Kathy Baker as the Harris character's sister and De Niro's love interest, make for a movie that's touching without being overly sentimental. It also serves as another reminder of why De Niro is justly called one of the screen's best actors. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on the off-Broadway play Strange Snow, this chamber drama is essentially a three-hander between Robert De Niro, Kathy Baker, and Ed Harris. Harris is a Vietnam vet suffering the recurring effects of posttraumatic stress disorder. De Niro is an old army buddy who looks him up and helps him come to terms with the ugly memories he has of their days together in Vietnam and of a pal who didn't make it out alive. Baker plays Harris's sister, a schoolteacher and wallflower who blossoms under the attention of the rough-hewn De Niro. Harris and De Niro clash in a cathartic confrontation, but not before De Niro and Baker play an incredibly erotic and understated love scene that serves as the film's emotional core. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent performances all around!
I bought this movie because I am taking an acting class on character study, and I am working on a scene from Stephen Metcalfe's "Strange Snow", the play upon which "Jacknife" is based. Since the play's script is no longer available, I had to go with the movie to get the "big picture" of the characters and their motivations. But damn! What a great movie! The acting is just stupendous and the climactic scene with Ed Harris & De Niro is so powerful. Wish it was on DVD!

Underseen, Unknown...and Deserves To Be On DVD
I agree with all the other reviews...this is a beautifully acted piece by Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. I remember seeing this for the first time in a theater and was completely blown away by the performances and the way the subject matter was handled.

For my money, the scene near the end, when "Jacknife" finally gets Davey to break through his pain about their pal Bobby dying in Vietnam, is one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen in any film.

Ed Harris is simply remarkable and damn near steals the film. This was the first time I'd seen Kathy Baker, and I don't think she's ever been better. And De Niro...wow. This was a peformance from him that I'd never seen before, and he just knocked me off my seat.

Now if someone can get the rights to this film and get it on DVD...that would be great.

Jacknife.......The best movie nobody saw
As a Viet Nam veteran, this movie had a tremendous impact on me when I first saw it. Each time I watch it, I am totally engrossed by not only the subject matter, but in the finest performances I have seen, by not only Robert DiNiro, but also Kathy Baker and Ed Harris. This is a tender, yet gut wrenching story of a Viet Nam vet, DiNiro, who returns home to help another vet, Ed Harris, finally come to terms with their tragically entwined past. In the process he meets and falls in love with his friends sister, played by Kathy Baker, in a masterful and understated performance which lends credibility to the adage that sometimes less is more. I truly feel that this movie, and all it's stars, should have at least been nominated for Academy Awards. A truly gripping and realistic drama.

Why doesn't Ed Harris have an Oscar for this movie?
Wonderful movie about friendship, pain, love, and loyalty. Ed Harris turns in yet another powerful performance. This is one of those small and overlooked films that packs an emotional punch. This could have played like just another movie-of-the-week, but the script is gentle yet taut, and the cast brings so much greatness to it that they elevate it on all fronts. DeNiro is perfect, of course, but Ed Harris' breakdown at the end really tugs at the ol' heartstrings.

Robert De Niro at his most subtle
This is perhaps the most likable role Robert De Niro has ever had, as a Vietnam vet doing his best to come to terms with the death of a friend he served with there. The stellar ensemble work he does with Ed Harris, as another embittered vet who served with De Niro, and with Kathy Baker as the Harris character's sister and De Niro's love interest, make for a movie that's touching without being overly sentimental. It also serves as another reminder of why De Niro is justly called one of the screen's best actors. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

So dull it's almost mindnumbing
The original Hellraiser was one of the scariest and finest horror movies ever crafted. Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 and Hellraiser 3 were... well, let's just leave it at that. Anyway, Hellraiser: Bloodline marks the first installemnt of the series under Dimension/Miramax films (a year or two before we'd be introduced to the first Halloween movie under the studio), and by the time you see the words "Directed by Alan Smithee" you know that this horror movie will be anything but horrifying. However, Bloodline does have a few things going for it that saves it from landing in a garbage dump: Doug Bradley returns once again as Pinhead and gives his best performace since the original film, the storyline attempts to trace the secrets of the "box", and most of the special effects are pretty well done. However, Bloodline is not without it's flaws. While the idea of tracing the origins of the box sounds like a good idea, the storyline is convulted and sometimes confusing and there are quite a bit of things never explained, not to mention Bruce Ramsay seems to be a bit over his head in his three different roles. Also, and this is my biggest complaint of the film, is that Pinhead is on screen for far too long. Bradley is entertaining as Pinhead, but he's just not scary anymore. Remember the first time you saw the original Hellraiser? Remember how seeing Pinhead the first time scared the absolute hell out of you? Bloodline just doesn't live up to that because now Pinhead is a comedian (just like Freddy Kruger turned into in the later installments of the Nightmare on Elm Street series) without much menace. All that aside, Hellraiser: Bloodline isn't the worst Hellraiser movie (Hellraiser 3 anyone?), but I strongly suggest watching the original before seeing this or any other Hellraiser film.

Pinhead is so exquisitely empty
When I first watched this movie, I felt the director was quite justified in choosing the Alan Smithee moniker for himself. After a second viewing, I find myself much more favorably inclined toward this fourth film in the Hellraiser series. It's still somewhat disappointing, but it is not unwatchable; if nothing else, Pinhead gets more great lines than ever before. Long before Jason journeyed into space, Pinhead was there. Bloodlines opens in the year 2127; Dr. Merchant, descendant of the man who created the diabolical puzzle box, has hijacked the space station he designed and has just summoned Pinhead and his diabolical minions into his trap when the station is boarded by the military and the doctor taken prisoner. With demons roaming free on the station and time running out for Merchant to complete his plans, he tells the story of his family to a young female soldier named Rimmer in an effort to convince her to let him finish his work.

We are transported back to what I assume to be 18th century France, where a toy maker named L'Merchant has been commissioned to design a puzzle box for famed magician/occultist M. de L'isle. The toy maker watches from outside as de L'isle and an assistant kill and skin a young woman and use her, in conjunction with the powerful box, to summon a demon. Realizing that he is responsible for creating a means of opening the gates of hell, L'Merchant sets about designing a machine to destroy demons such as the beguilingly beautiful enchantress Angelique. He does not live long enough to succeed, but the curse and the memories of what he has done are imbedded in his bloodline. The story then jumps to 1996, where architect John Merchant has designed a huge room intriguingly similar to the puzzle box. Angelique soon arrives and summons Pinhead. The Merchant bloodline is doubly important to the Cenobites-while it holds the danger of building a machine to defeat the demons, it also holds the secret for opening a permanent doorway to hell. Now things start to get interesting, as Pinhead soon tires of Angelique's reliance on temptation; to him human acquiescence is much more easily obtained by terror. The culmination of this part of the history is quite satisfying; declaring that "I am pain," Pinhead goes about proving the deep truth of his assertion. Finally, we return back to the future space station and watch the ultimate culmination of events set in motion hundreds of years earlier, the final showdown between the L'Merchant bloodline and the demons the family unwittingly invoked.

Although the story has multiple weak spots, some delectable gore somewhat offsets it. One of the two decapitations here is particularly impressive, as is the blood that flows freely in the home of the mad M. de L'isle. The demon princess Angelique is a captivating counterpart to the familiar Pinhead, although I agree with Pinhead that terror is much more effective (not to mention entertaining) than temptation. Bruce Ramsey plays three members of the Merchant family, but I think the roles would have been better played by three actors. Doug Bradley is, of course, wonderful as Pinhead, and I was quite glad to see him get so many lines this time around. His musings on suffering and pain are music to my horror-attuned ears, none more so than his impassioned reaction to the pitiful pleas for divine mercy of ridiculously cast and incredibly annoying identical twin security guards: "Do I look like someone who cares what God thinks?" One almost feels compelled to applaud when Pinhead states the obvious fact that "I am so exquisitely empty."

This movie is much less carnally gripping than the first two Hellraiser films, but do not dismiss it out of hand. I actually find it more enjoyable than Hellraiser 3. What initially seemed to me to be quite awful has now become a film I appreciate and take delight in. Just don't take this movie too seriously; after all, it is just a game, and it is most definitely time to play.

"I...AM...PAIN"
The Hellraiser franchise holds a special place in my heart. I will never forget the first time I saw the opening chapter in the series of films inspired by Clive Barker's nightmarish visions. Watching the original "Hellraiser" now is a mixed bag-some of those special effects look a bit hokey, but others still come across as chillingly effective. Who can forget the glistening visage of Uncle Frank? The lascivious Julia? Or the first appearance of the ominous and verbose Pinhead? The second installment improved on the first, as the film whisked the viewer away to the abode of Pinhead and the Cenobites. A gruesome, perverse picture, "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" raised the expectations about future entries to a fever pitch. Up next came "Hellraiser 3," a personal favorite of mine even though legions of fans have subsequently disowned it. The series moved into the latter stages of its career from this point forward, taking bold steps in an attempt to expand far beyond what viewers had come to expect. The series continues today with at least two further sequels in the works. Will they find an audience or will the new arrivals fall flat on their faces? Fans will probably grumble even as they queue up to watch.

"Hellraiser: Bloodline" took the risky step of moving the storyline into space, a cringe inducing idea at first until you actually watch the movie. Who can forget the nightmare that was "Leprechaun 4"? Fortunately, only certain segments take place on a spaceship. The majority of the film heads back to the past to explain the origins of the Lament Configuration, that dreaded box which hundreds of seekers have opened only to find the Cenobites waiting for them. Dr. Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsey) locked himself away on the spaceship because he wants to destroy this infernal device once and for all. A group of marines arrives on the ship to take the "mad" doctor into custody. During his detainment he tells a dark story about his family's history, about how his ancestor Phillipe Merchant designed the box in the eighteenth century for a decadent French nobleman who wished to plumb the dark depths. The box does its job, horribly so, conjuring up a demon named Angelique (Valentina Vargas) who promptly carves up people left and right. Unfortunately for Merchant, the box somehow curses his bloodline. Every one of his descendants will suffer because of the Lament Configuration.

The movie moves to the modern day-our modern day, not the year 2127 on the spaceship-to focus on John Merchant (again, Bruce Ramsey; he plays all three Merchants), an architect fascinated with the drawings passed down through the family from Phillipe Merchant. Again, Angelique turns up. But this time so does good old Pinhead, and he's bringing along some reinforcements. A huge battle ensues over the Lament Configuration, with the underworld's minions seemingly banished for good. We, having seen the events on that spaceship, laugh at such optimistic thinking. The finale to "Hellraiser: Bloodline" moves us back to the ship for a final showdown between Merchant, the marines, and the Cenobites. More gooey gore shows up to turn the stomach before the film slides quietly into the credits. Even if you end up hating this movie, you have to admit that the gore quotient reaches nauseating new heights.

"Hellraiser: Bloodline" is an uneven film anyway you slice it. Director Kevin Yagher withdrew from the production after his studio heavily interfered in the project. Thus, the film carries the dreaded "Alan Smithee" label, a moniker all too familiar to moviegoers in the know. The result of this turmoil behind the scenes set the movie adrift, so someone decided to just slap the whole thing together and dump the final result in the video stores. That's a real shame as "Bloodlines" has at its center an interesting premise for fans of the series: how the box came about and how it was first used to conjure up evil. The movie boasts a few new Cenobites in the form of a clacking toothed dog and a fused pair of security guards (Watch and see how this comes about. Gross.). Pinhead even turns up to toss off a few new witticisms. I especially enjoyed the line that goes something like "Do I look like someone who cares what God thinks?" You can always rely on Pinhead to say something memorable. Unfortunately, he doesn't show up in this movie nearly as much as we would like, a problem that only gets worse in parts five and six. Still, some Pinhead is better than no Pinhead at all, don't you think?

Give up on the idea of the series ever returning to the original themes so eloquently portrayed in the first and second films. Those days are gone forever as sequel mania long ago destroyed any hope of maintaining Barker's original inspiration. I generally watch new Hellraiser films for the glimpses of Pinhead and the jaw dropping gore effects. I found the "Bloodline" DVD a bit disappointing in the extras department. There aren't any, actually, beyond a trailer for "Children of the Corn 666" (yet another horror series deteriorating into utter banality) and a promo for the "Scream" box set. An Alan Smithee commentary track would have been nice-we could have finally heard from this mysterious man after all these years! Seriously, give "Bloodline" a chance. It's not great cinema, but it sure beats a lot of the dreck floating around out there.

better than the third one
it is alot better than the third one and isnt quite as good as the first one.
This one still has some sillyness in it though.

hellraiser origins
I liked this movie alot! Even though clive barker moved from director to producer he still put the effort forth for the 4th installment of hellraiser. This movie goes into how the box came about, and it's origins. If you are a horror fan, you might like this movie. If you're an initial clive barler fan, you might not like it. It's not his imagination you see, it's Kevin Yagher, and Joe Chappelle's. Rent it, before deciding to buy it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

To Catch A KILLER
I discovered this to be an excellent movie on the proceedures and detection of serial killers. It is a US&Cdn production and includes some of the best actors from both countries. This 2part TV series which I first saw many years ago continues to draw me to viewing it often to remind me that there are good and dedicated law enforcement agents that work to keep us safe from monsters such as the killer "John Gacey" in this TV movie. The subject matter was dealt with seriously and was very informative as to how the proceedures used in this movie became the format for detecting and catching serial killers. The performances by every member of the cast is outstanding. Mr. Dennehy out does his self as the Killer and Riley joins him at the top of the list of fine, sensative, and caring portrayals of the characters they played... with Dennehy giving an terrifying and chilling totally believable portrayal of the killer. The supporting cast , such as Scott Hyland etc...Margot Kidder and the rest equally surrounds and fills the movie with the normalcy of everyday life of people that can and are often affected by actions caused by deadly strangers that enter their life uninvited and turn it upside down, never to be the same again. And the victims of this killer and their friends and loved ones[as with others who have suffered from deranged evil killers]was threaded throughout this excellent movie and reminds and educates and alerts us[the public]that we can wake up one day and be anyone of the innocent victims ... by profession or association and[as so many of innocents have already learned and experienced, that anyone can be a victim on so many different levels when dealing with evil people. Never a dull moment, and the suspense is only heightened at the realization that it is a true story and enhances the fast pace and deparation of those trying to catch this killer and bring him to justice. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Has flaws, but I love it anyway
I'm giving this film 5 stars despite some small things some folks would consider flaws in the film. I am still giving it 5 stars because it happens to be a film I keep watching over and over again, and I never get tired of a single scene in the whole flick.
Jean-Hughes Anglade and Eric Stoltz are perfect together as old childhood friends out to rob a Federal bank in France on Bastille Day.
Here are the reasons why I love this movie. It really has a lot packed into it. It has a ton of humor, though much of it is dark humor. The extended drug use scene and tour of Paris must be about as close as you can come to honestly portraying being high on film. The pace of the action never slows down, and each scene consistently draws me in. There are a whole bunch of little original ideas and surprises thrown in that makes the film always interesting.
Memorable moments: the dead cat in the hallway, "riding the dragon", the monkey and Billie Holiday, viking films, Ron Jeremy, the ex-con joke, Eric pondering the next move.....
If you like anything by Tarantino, then you owe it to yourself to check this out. Honestly, I come back to watch this far more often than I do anything by QT.

Better than Reservoir Dogs
Roger Avary is the true talent behind Quentin Tarantino (at least according to NBK producer Jane Hamsher) and his first solo job is impressive, if a bit slow. The main heist doesn't really get going until the halfway point. But it's really a character study, anyway.

Zed (Eric Stoltz) is called by Parisian buddy Eric (Jean-Hugues Anglade) to help him break into a reserve bank vault on Bastille Day, one of the few banks open on that day.

Zed falls for a student/escort supplied to him through a cab driver, takes several recreational drugs with Eric and his friends (including Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp), and wakes up the next morning, not quite ready for the job. The job keeps Zed downstairs surrounded by the noise of the drill, so he never notices that things go very wrong.

And who happens to have a part-time job at the bank?

Avary is quoted as saying that producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction) called him up and said he had a bank set free for a few weeks, did he have a script involving a bank he wanted to film? Avary said yes, he did. Then he wrote one...this.

Comparisons to Reservoir Dogs are inescapable (even on the video box), but the two films are very different, although similarly dark in tone. I think this one is actually better.

I wish I was Zoe!
I wish I was Zoe so that someone would have killed me before I started watching this drivel.
This film was reccomended to me and all I can say is I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.
Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender produced this. I must admit, I find that very hard to believe. Not because of the slow pace, crappy story and characters (Although that is surprisng for those two) but it's the incredible lack of money that surprised me most of all. Don't get me wrong on this, I don't care if a film is made on pennies. BUT IT HAS TO BE GOOD.
Robert Rodrigiez made El Mariachi on seven thousand dollars. This looks like it was made on seven cents.
I personally think that this film was no more than one of Tarantino's old Video archives buddies asking for a bit of money to make a film. Tarantino being the nice guy that he supposedly is, not to mention a film addict, was curious to see what his friend would produce. Now it went one of two ways.
Either Tarantino and Bender gave him the money and left him to do the whole thing on his own without any tip offs, or the guy just kept all the money, went to the local supermarket to pick up a crappy video camera (cos that's what it looks like) and shot the film without a care in the world eagerly awaiting the rap party.
Anyway I f you find all this hard to believe (Just like I did) then get hold of this and find out yourself. But make sure you do yourself a favour and when you start to get incredibly bored, turn the film off. Take my advice, It doesn't get any better.

I would be surprised if Lawrence Bender and Quentin Tarantino didn't agree with me!

craziness
You guys are nuts. Killing Zoe may not be the bank robbery film that Heat is, but it has many more aspects to it, namely gratuitous sex, drugs, and violence. Yes, the bathroom scene is a little much, and the movie is unrealistic. But if you're going to movies to experience realism, what's the point? Just walk outside. Killing Zoe is a perfect distraction for any of you out there who, like me, are to entrenched in reality to fly to Europe and take heroin for the first time the night before a bank robbery you didn't plan for at all. I'm personally insulted by the stupidity that would be necessary to call this movie predictable, simply because I didn't anticipate it was possible for such a level of it to exist and I hate it when I realize that dumb people still have the capability of suprising me. This movie is a classic.

Killing The Audience
Predictable from the first 5 minutes into the movie. Overdone plot about a robbery gone wrong and the safe-cracker hero who has a heart. Nothing original here except for scenes so vulgar and tasteless that it would make Howard Stern turn in disgust.

The script is nil and the acting less than stellar. The conincidences purposefully placed in the film to support the plot are too great to be credible and the action too dull to keep it interesting. I frankly could have done without the grotesque heroin-induced sodomy scenes. Watch "Heat" instead if you want to see a great bank heist film. Don't waste your time or money on this one, it's a sleeper at best: A negative rating is called for. ... Read more

Description

In the violent secret world of the mafia, no Don ruled longer than Joe Bonanno of the powerful Castellamarese family.This is the true chilling saga, told in his own words- a compelling journey that leads a small boy from Sicily to become the pre-eminent leader of America's vast criminal empire.Featuring a remarkable all-star cast, including Academy-Awards winner Martin Landau, Robert Loggia, Costas Mandylor and Edward James Olmos,Bonanno: A Godfather's Story spans many decades and international locations.The young "Pepino" flees his fascist oppressors in Italy to make a new start in America.His deep family ties and fiery ambition soon take him to the innermost circles of New York organized crime, where he rises to become the youngest Mafia boss ever.From his showdown with the deadly Gambino gang, his clashes with Lucky Luciano, his meetings with President Roosevelt, his backroom deals with Joseph Kennedy to his final betrayal by his own family, this is Bonanno's own true, inside account based on the best-selling autobiography.For over 40 years, Don Joseph Bonanno ruled with both ruthlessness and honor- and survived as the last of the Godfathers.Only now can his full story be told. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Mobs' role in Kennedy's election is fact...the movie
and Joe Kennedy's creation of the family fortune thru bootlegging and stock swindling is no longer even disputed. Even members of the Kennedy family no longer dispute that the family fortune is based on crime--specifically drug smuggling.

And, Joe Kennedy himself later admitted, as frist chairman of the SEC, he outlawed many of the (stock swindling) tactics he'd used to get rich at small investor's expense.

We also know that the only reason Jack Kennedy won the crucial W. VA primary in '60 was because of Sam Giancana's help in rigging the primary.

These facts are not any longer in dispute--nor are the stories about dead people voting in Chicago in their thousands.

This movie exaggerated Bonnano's role at the expense of the true "capo di capi", Sam Giancana. He is the character upon Michael Coreleone's of "The Godfather" series is based upon. He was the one who ordered Kennedy's hit.

He was also found with five .22 caliber bullets in his back--of the same type frequently used by CIA, ah, shall we call them button men?

The movie is long and dull and not very interesting; the Liberals farcical denials of historical fact are more interesting.

The real story of the Mafia and how they bought the Presidency (as his tangenitally detailed in the "Rat Pack" with Ray Liotta and Don Cheadle a few years back) is far more interesting than this run of the mill TV mini-series. Even the talents of Landau, Olmos, et al can't save this from the worst of all fates for art: mediocrity.

Bonanno: A Godfather's Story
this movie is fantastic. it tells the full story of the BONANNO crime family in NY through the eyes of Joe Bonanno, the boss of the family.
it also answers a lot of unanswered questions about the JFK murder. guess who was involved?????

Okay movie, could have been better
In some ways, I am grateful that Bonanno was cut down to just over two hours for the video release. But then again, I do miss the long, five-hour version that originally aired on Showtime.

The movie itself is fine, considering how long it once was and the subject matter, as well as the slow pace. However, there are some things that are left to be desired, like the two and a half hours that were cut out for the video release. I hope that if it's released to DVD, that it will contain the extra footage.

This movie sucks!
This Joe Bannano bio is a waste of a movie. First of all, it is highly unbleivable. Yes, I understand that the Mafia legend is one of sophisticated influence over many historic 20th centurary events, and while there may be some level of truth to these assertions, little has been proven to the level this movie would have you believe. In addition, it is boring as a movie in and of itself. I only found out through other reviews that the original version was 4 hours long. Perhaps, that would have made for a more coherent and enjoyable picture, however as is, I would not recomend a purcahse of this video.

pickledjoe

Awfull - A Cheap Godfather Imitation
Joe Bonanno was a cheap hood, plain and simple, and Cosa Nostra was/is a gang of violent, mainly unsophisticated hoods growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. What we see in this film, showing knightly Dons following noble principals of chivalry in their decision making -- who to bump off and how -- is utter nonesene.

This film is not only filled with fantasies pawned off as historical events and unproven inuendos, such as the tired old one of Joe Kennedy knowing and collaborating with every Mafia hood personally (I have nerver seen any real evidence of this), it is also a bad movie. So bad in fact, that Landau's portrayal of the dying Don running around in a Sicillian grave yard as he recalls his lusterous past reminded me of his role as Bela Lugosi running around the Grave Yard set for the equally bad 'Plan Nine from Outerspace', as seen in the rather enjoyable 'Ed Wood'.

What most galls me is that Bonanno seems to have been involved in every major mob historic event, true or porported, from the Castellmarese wars to the JFK hit. In fact, reputable works on Organized Crime indicate Bonanno had little, if any involvment other than peripherally in many of the scenes depicted in the film.

I think an additional two hours tacked on to this film would just make it a longer bad film. Yet, some people it seems would perfer the myth to reality. If so, please remind yourself that it is just that. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Based on a true story . . .
The other three customer/reviewers here are apparently unaware that this movie is based on the true story (mid-60s) of the Pied Piper of Tucson (Charles Schmid) who is far more weird than the movie's main character and who murdered three women while posing as the Elvis of Arizona. Charlie applied ManTan w/ a trowel, drew a huge "beauty" mark on the right side of his face, dyed his hair black and piled it to the sky and since he was only 5-3 he also wore huge boots stuffed full of newspaper, cans, etc. so he could be as tall as the high-schoolers he was running w/. He was 23. The movie is good in a whacked out kind of way, but the "true" story is far whackier. The Pied Piper got a double death sentence and 50 years for his three murders, got a reprieve when the death penalty was deemed unconstitutional in '71 and was then murdered in prison a few years later b/c other prisoners couldn't stand how pretentious he was! The part in the movie where the main character has a "special" amp built (actually a tape player) so that it appears he is a guitar god is also true.

Debbie Harry is a cool Mom
this is a really John Water-esque type movie about a jealous and crazy cool cat boy and a crazy girl who loves him and is always into trouble and who's Mom in the movie is Blondie's Deborah Harry and Roseanne's tv daughter Sara Gilbert also co star's . This film is set in the late 50's early 60's and is a great movie to own .

I smell Dax Wax Pomade . . . where are you John Waters
Extremely wacky, screams 'B' movie, way cheesy, definitely not your typical lady killer (I had no idea Richard Grieco was a twin). Now personally, I don't sleep with men that wear more makeup than me, but I have to say, he did have some terrific lines for bedding the babes. Don't expect something you would see at Sundance or Cannes and you should get a great big kick out of this movie.

take it with a grain of salt
If you like B-movies and artsy fartsy movies, this one is for you. Lets just say that it was funny without trying to be. one of those movies you need to not think too hard about and just accept it for how it is.Starring Balthazar Getty. First movie i ever saw with natasha gregorson wagner (she was in lost highway with Balthasar getty as well). Meredith Salanger (the actress form the 80's in Dream a little Dream with...). Sara Gilbert (Darlene from Roseanne) and the other lead guy whose name always escapes me, LOL. He is supposed to be the cool guy that everyone wants to befriend, but B.Getty was much cooler. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Definitely not for everyone, this film by Reb Braddock (executive produced by Quentin Tarantino) has become a cult favorite--but only for the cult that enjoys its humor dark, twisted, and deeply bloodstained. Angela Jones is a young woman in Miami who is so obsessed with the crimes of a local serial killer (William Baldwin) that she takes a job working for a company that cleans up murder scenes, just to get closer to him. She digs the work, learning the tricks of a trade that is focused on removing unsightly bloodstains that come in multi-pint-size pools. Braddock and cowriter John Maass craft a nerve-racking finale in which the killer romances the cleaner, with surprising results. Not for the squeamish. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (13)

curdled
Watchable, but not very entertaining. If you want a good dark comedy watch The Doom generation or Blood Simple. This movie falls short in too many ways to describe. The acting is mediocre at best, and the storyline drags. The concept is interesting, but they just don't do enough with it. Would do fine as a short film, but at feature lentgh it becomes, stretched too thin

The Funniest Film Noir Ever
Do you ever pick up one of those movies at the video store and say, "Wow, this is going to be so terrible that I just have to see it!" Well, I do, and that's exactly what I said about "Curdled". I was so wrong - this film is fantastic! Originally a short film, Curdled struck Tarentino like lightning and he promptly urged (forced) Braddock to make it into a feature length movie. I would not ordinarily apply such a cliché phrase as "wickedly funny" to anything, but that is exactly what this film noir is. Gabrielle (magnificently performed by Angela Jones) is teetering on the brink of an obsession with serial killers. Her consuming desire to understand the mind of a murderer motivates her to land a job with a post-murder cleaning service. Her new occupation allows her the opportunity to get closer to the crimes than she had anticipated. This film is out of this world, if you don't mind the sight of blood and laughing at crazy people, that is. I giggle sadistically to myself even now at the thought of it. Oh yeah, William Baldwin is in it.

finally!
Ive been waiting for this to hit dvd for awhile,Ever since I watched the vhs I was hooked.This thing aint for everyone thats for sure.You gotta have a dark sense of humor or just hang it up and watch something else.The dvd is fully loaded.It has:the short film it was based on,deleted scenes,commentary,plus a gallery,tv ads,a kelly preston tv show,plus alot more.its a shame there arent more people who know about this great flick.

Best special features ever!
This is the same fun, quirky black comedy that all the other reviews mention. Thankfully, the DVD is letterboxed, and has truly extensive special features; among them:

* Commentary by the director and producer (co-writers Reb Braddock and John Maass),
* a making-of featurette complete with brief interviews with cast and crew,
* the 30 minute short film that caught Quentin Tarantino's attention at a film festival in Italy,
* the even shorter 'Baby Curdled' - a film school directing project by John Maass,
* an extensive photo gallery mostly consisisting of candid shots of the cast and crew,
* deleted scenes and an alternate ending,
* the original theatrical trailer,
* by far the coolest interactive menu - watch for the fly!
* the commercials and made-for-tv movie that are seen in the film,
* the 'dance of death' rehearsal - you have got to see this!
* probably more than I'm not recalling

Most features have an introduction/explanation by director Reb Braddock.

SMILY-FACE BLACK COMEDY CAN'T DISGUISE THAT IT'S A DUD.
This is a Tarantino movie. He didn't write or direct it, but executive-produced it. Surely must have been a blooper, because although it wallows in blood (don't all of his endeavours, predictably?) and scrambles to put a "just kidding" face on its darker impluses (don't all of his endeavours, again?), it never quite manages to emerge as a coherent or compelling film.

Angela Jones (the taxi driver in Pulp Fiction if you recall) is a Columbian in California smitten with murders. She takes up a job as a cleaning maid, not your ordinary maid but with a niche-business company that cleans up messes on crime scenes. On one of those scenes, she meets up with a real psychopath killer -- played with as straight a face as possible by Billy Baldwin -- who likes to hack women for dessert.

Intriguing pretext. Unfortunately, the actual movie while neat in bits and parts, is overall quite a boring fare. Jones, the ever so murky maid, has a grating type of naivette about her which is funny probably to people who like to see their women cutesy and hyper-melodramatic, but is annoying to me.

Not sure why this dud was produced. But sounds like with the likes of Kill Bill Quentin may well be developing a real taste for such gore which, if unsuccessful, can be shrugged off under the garb of "oh, it was a black comedy" or a spoof or some such weak-kneed toss-off.

(P.S. The movie goes by the name of "Fetish" in Japan) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The best film ever made about LA
Ten years after its release, Steve Martin's LA Story has a cult following for its adept interpretation of vapid and decadent Los Angelinos. Though LA Story came out in 1990 and seems to lampoon the 80s, Michael Tolkin goes way beyond his collaborative work with Robert Altman(The Player) with this pitch black comedy.

The film is way ahead of its time. Hollywood has yet to examine the decadent 90s in any way. Here we have characters who are more Clinton era than American Beauty. Pretty astute, considering that the film was released in 1994!

Look for top performances from Peter Weller, Judy Davis, and great supporting work from Adam West, Sandra Seacat, and a pre-Pulp Fiction Samuel Jackson. Hopefully, some of the great camera work an slick visuals will find its way on to DVD in the near future.

maria ellingsen wasted- i got lost watching it
This film is a mess. It features a load of stars and made no sense at all. The great Icelandic actress Maria Ellingsen appears once or twice and is her exceptonal is wasted in this film. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

A brisk stroll through Yuppie hell
Michael Tolkin's "The New Age" was the most scathing movie indictment of the American dream gone Sonoma catalog since Albert Brooks' brilliant satire "Lost In America". "The New Age" re-teams the "Tracy & Hepburn" of indie film, Peter Weller and Judy Davis, who were also the wacked-out couple in "Naked Lunch". Instead of heading off in an RV to go "find themselves", Judy and Peter decide to "simplify" thier over-extended Yuppie lifestyle by chucking it all and opening up a Beverly Hills boutique. Hilarity ensues....right? Actually, the movie takes a more low-key,sometimes cruel, black comedy approach to its subjects as they proceed to go into a tandem midlife crisis. Along the way, most trendy southern California fads are lampooned, recalling the film "Serial", which savaged the Bay Area Yuppie/New Age scene in the same fashion. Good supporting performances abound; the biggest surprise is Adam "Batman" West, who is priceless as Weller's father. West plays the wryly acerbic, aging Lothario with much aplomb.(Where has he been?!) Highly recommended.

I like Michael Tolkin, okay?
This movie meant a lot more to me after I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for a year, which is as far west as I want to go for the rest of my life. It's much more interesting to observe empty, soul-less people from a safe distance. It's funny. See "The Rapture," too. Thanks. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent performances all around!
I bought this movie because I am taking an acting class on character study, and I am working on a scene from Stephen Metcalfe's "Strange Snow", the play upon which "Jacknife" is based. Since the play's script is no longer available, I had to go with the movie to get the "big picture" of the characters and their motivations. But damn! What a great movie! The acting is just stupendous and the climactic scene with Ed Harris & De Niro is so powerful. Wish it was on DVD!

Underseen, Unknown...and Deserves To Be On DVD
I agree with all the other reviews...this is a beautifully acted piece by Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. I remember seeing this for the first time in a theater and was completely blown away by the performances and the way the subject matter was handled.

For my money, the scene near the end, when "Jacknife" finally gets Davey to break through his pain about their pal Bobby dying in Vietnam, is one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen in any film.

Ed Harris is simply remarkable and damn near steals the film. This was the first time I'd seen Kathy Baker, and I don't think she's ever been better. And De Niro...wow. This was a peformance from him that I'd never seen before, and he just knocked me off my seat.

Now if someone can get the rights to this film and get it on DVD...that would be great.

Jacknife.......The best movie nobody saw
As a Viet Nam veteran, this movie had a tremendous impact on me when I first saw it. Each time I watch it, I am totally engrossed by not only the subject matter, but in the finest performances I have seen, by not only Robert DiNiro, but also Kathy Baker and Ed Harris. This is a tender, yet gut wrenching story of a Viet Nam vet, DiNiro, who returns home to help another vet, Ed Harris, finally come to terms with their tragically entwined past. In the process he meets and falls in love with his friends sister, played by Kathy Baker, in a masterful and understated performance which lends credibility to the adage that sometimes less is more. I truly feel that this movie, and all it's stars, should have at least been nominated for Academy Awards. A truly gripping and realistic drama.

Why doesn't Ed Harris have an Oscar for this movie?
Wonderful movie about friendship, pain, love, and loyalty. Ed Harris turns in yet another powerful performance. This is one of those small and overlooked films that packs an emotional punch. This could have played like just another movie-of-the-week, but the script is gentle yet taut, and the cast brings so much greatness to it that they elevate it on all fronts. DeNiro is perfect, of course, but Ed Harris' breakdown at the end really tugs at the ol' heartstrings.

Robert De Niro at his most subtle
This is perhaps the most likable role Robert De Niro has ever had, as a Vietnam vet doing his best to come to terms with the death of a friend he served with there. The stellar ensemble work he does with Ed Harris, as another embittered vet who served with De Niro, and with Kathy Baker as the Harris character's sister and De Niro's love interest, make for a movie that's touching without being overly sentimental. It also serves as another reminder of why De Niro is justly called one of the screen's best actors. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

HIT ME is a miss
I love Jim Thompson novels, and I love a good film noir, so I was doubly disappointed when I saw this movie. The direction, while technically proficient, sets the wrong tone, wavering uneasily between brutal violence and goofy antics. The annoying soundtrack was no help, as it seemed at times like it was intended for a light comedy. Elias Koteas' one-note performance portrays his character as if he was totally clueless, making him look as if he had just graduated from the Blue Lagoon School of Acting (Some day I'm going to count how many close-up shots there are of his dumbstruck face. There seemed to be quite a few.). When you find some of the supporting characters are more interesting, you know the movie is in trouble.

Coen-Lite
A reasonable attempt at noir, HIT ME -- photographed far too lustrously to be true noir -- packs a few punches after the first twenty minutes (questionable editing) but is hanging off the ropes by the last, dizzying round (even more questionable editing). Like any good fight, the film works best in the middle -- dodging and jabbing and poking with a learned freshness -- and what an exciting tale it weaves.

In the end, HIT ME plays out much like a Coen Brothers production (BLOOD SIMPLE, FARGO, etc.) only heavily watered down.

Elias Koteas plays Sonny, a bellhop at the long-dying Stillwell Hotel. He's too old to start thinking about his future, and he's not quite young enough to remember the lessons of his youth. He lives in the moment, which the director (SECRETARY's Steven Shainberg) displays at great length with Sonny's closeups of rehearsing his room service delivery skills while riding the elevator. Still, one scheming friend and a tryst with a beautiful Canadian hustler later, Sonny finds himself wrapped up in the middle of a heist, stealing money from patrons holed up at the Stillwell for an annual poker game.

Adapted from Jim Thompson's novel, "A Swell Looking Babe," Denis Johnson makes some curious choices with the screenplay that probably wouldn't have found wider success in Hollywood unless he had incorporated a happier ending. That's one of the plagues of Thompson's books: don't expect a rosy ending, and HIT ME follows suit with more than its fair share of twists and turns. After all, the beauty of noir is that nothing -- even the most perfectly hatched sting -- goes off without a hitch. The film manages to keep the viewer guessing -- up to a point -- but the formulaic pacing could've packed a stronger jolt in the climax.

Still, what director Shainberg learned from HIT ME he puts to far greater use in SECRETARY: in that film, the underdog is allowed moments of glory, and characters are allowed to blossom into their own personal level of happiness, albeit slightly perverted. Here, within the oft-traveled hotel corridors and Sonny's filthy living room set of HIT ME, the greatest obstacle the story presents is the duldrums of Sonny's life: come the film's conclusion, he's in a far worse place than when the whole affair began.

Fun film, but a little too long.
I rented this movie cause it it had an interesting story. A bellhop in total mess. Its fun and chilling at times, but this movie is little longer then it should be. Elias Kortas is simply a great actor. He makes this movie. He is such a young Robert Dinero.

This film was done in 1998, but just released on video/DVD cause it was done by the director who did "Secretary." This film I wouldn't put in "Film Noir" class like the back of box says, but I guess in the new genre of sorts: Post-Tarantino.

This movie is perfect for a rental. Instead of picking the usual Hollywood BS, you should give this one a shot. William H. Macy has a very small role so be warned when you see him on the cover.

Disappointing entry in the Film Noir genre
"Hit Me" is a 1998 film recently released for the rental market. Director Steven Shainberg's more recent, and much better film, "Secretary," also just appeared as a rental.

"Hit Me" is the story of a none-too-swift loser bellhop, Sonny (Elias Koteas) who works for a hotel that has seen better days. Sonny is responsible for his mentally handicapped brother, larger-than-life Leroy, and the two live in a filthy, messy house. Sonny is trapped in a dead-end job, in a dead-end life, and the only occasional excitement is in the form of harassing phone calls Sonny gets from social workers. It's clear from the beginning that Sonny has a certain amount of suppressed rage, and when an ex-employee re-appears with a scheme to rob an illegal card game about to take place at the hotel, Sonny is easily persuaded to join the gang for his promised 10% ($70,000).

I rented this film for three reasons. 1) It was directed by Shainberg, and I recently watched and enjoyed "Secretary." 2) The film was based on a Jim Thompson novel. 3) The film claimed to be 'film noir.' Now I enjoy film noir when it is done properly--but this film was rather disappointing. Yes, the plot did include a few twists and turns, and there was a tricky female, but the director's style was heavy-handed and intrusive. The elements of comedy fell flat--especially in light of the gruesome scenes towards the end of the film, and the plot was predictable. Elias Koteas delivered a great performance, but even he couldn't salvage this film--displacedhuman--Amazon Reviewer. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent performances all around!
I bought this movie because I am taking an acting class on character study, and I am working on a scene from Stephen Metcalfe's "Strange Snow", the play upon which "Jacknife" is based. Since the play's script is no longer available, I had to go with the movie to get the "big picture" of the characters and their motivations. But damn! What a great movie! The acting is just stupendous and the climactic scene with Ed Harris & De Niro is so powerful. Wish it was on DVD!

Underseen, Unknown...and Deserves To Be On DVD
I agree with all the other reviews...this is a beautifully acted piece by Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. I remember seeing this for the first time in a theater and was completely blown away by the performances and the way the subject matter was handled.

For my money, the scene near the end, when "Jacknife" finally gets Davey to break through his pain about their pal Bobby dying in Vietnam, is one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen in any film.

Ed Harris is simply remarkable and damn near steals the film. This was the first time I'd seen Kathy Baker, and I don't think she's ever been better. And De Niro...wow. This was a peformance from him that I'd never seen before, and he just knocked me off my seat.

Now if someone can get the rights to this film and get it on DVD...that would be great.

Jacknife.......The best movie nobody saw
As a Viet Nam veteran, this movie had a tremendous impact on me when I first saw it. Each time I watch it, I am totally engrossed by not only the subject matter, but in the finest performances I have seen, by not only Robert DiNiro, but also Kathy Baker and Ed Harris. This is a tender, yet gut wrenching story of a Viet Nam vet, DiNiro, who returns home to help another vet, Ed Harris, finally come to terms with their tragically entwined past. In the process he meets and falls in love with his friends sister, played by Kathy Baker, in a masterful and understated performance which lends credibility to the adage that sometimes less is more. I truly feel that this movie, and all it's stars, should have at least been nominated for Academy Awards. A truly gripping and realistic drama.

Why doesn't Ed Harris have an Oscar for this movie?
Wonderful movie about friendship, pain, love, and loyalty. Ed Harris turns in yet another powerful performance. This is one of those small and overlooked films that packs an emotional punch. This could have played like just another movie-of-the-week, but the script is gentle yet taut, and the cast brings so much greatness to it that they elevate it on all fronts. DeNiro is perfect, of course, but Ed Harris' breakdown at the end really tugs at the ol' heartstrings.

Robert De Niro at his most subtle
This is perhaps the most likable role Robert De Niro has ever had, as a Vietnam vet doing his best to come to terms with the death of a friend he served with there. The stellar ensemble work he does with Ed Harris, as another embittered vet who served with De Niro, and with Kathy Baker as the Harris character's sister and De Niro's love interest, make for a movie that's touching without being overly sentimental. It also serves as another reminder of why De Niro is justly called one of the screen's best actors. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

HIT ME is a miss
I love Jim Thompson novels, and I love a good film noir, so I was doubly disappointed when I saw this movie. The direction, while technically proficient, sets the wrong tone, wavering uneasily between brutal violence and goofy antics. The annoying soundtrack was no help, as it seemed at times like it was intended for a light comedy. Elias Koteas' one-note performance portrays his character as if he was totally clueless, making him look as if he had just graduated from the Blue Lagoon School of Acting (Some day I'm going to count how many close-up shots there are of his dumbstruck face. There seemed to be quite a few.). When you find some of the supporting characters are more interesting, you know the movie is in trouble.

Coen-Lite
A reasonable attempt at noir, HIT ME -- photographed far too lustrously to be true noir -- packs a few punches after the first twenty minutes (questionable editing) but is hanging off the ropes by the last, dizzying round (even more questionable editing). Like any good fight, the film works best in the middle -- dodging and jabbing and poking with a learned freshness -- and what an exciting tale it weaves.

In the end, HIT ME plays out much like a Coen Brothers production (BLOOD SIMPLE, FARGO, etc.) only heavily watered down.

Elias Koteas plays Sonny, a bellhop at the long-dying Stillwell Hotel. He's too old to start thinking about his future, and he's not quite young enough to remember the lessons of his youth. He lives in the moment, which the director (SECRETARY's Steven Shainberg) displays at great length with Sonny's closeups of rehearsing his room service delivery skills while riding the elevator. Still, one scheming friend and a tryst with a beautiful Canadian hustler later, Sonny finds himself wrapped up in the middle of a heist, stealing money from patrons holed up at the Stillwell for an annual poker game.

Adapted from Jim Thompson's novel, "A Swell Looking Babe," Denis Johnson makes some curious choices with the screenplay that probably wouldn't have found wider success in Hollywood unless he had incorporated a happier ending. That's one of the plagues of Thompson's books: don't expect a rosy ending, and HIT ME follows suit with more than its fair share of twists and turns. After all, the beauty of noir is that nothing -- even the most perfectly hatched sting -- goes off without a hitch. The film manages to keep the viewer guessing -- up to a point -- but the formulaic pacing could've packed a stronger jolt in the climax.

Still, what director Shainberg learned from HIT ME he puts to far greater use in SECRETARY: in that film, the underdog is allowed moments of glory, and characters are allowed to blossom into their own personal level of happiness, albeit slightly perverted. Here, within the oft-traveled hotel corridors and Sonny's filthy living room set of HIT ME, the greatest obstacle the story presents is the duldrums of Sonny's life: come the film's conclusion, he's in a far worse place than when the whole affair began.

Fun film, but a little too long.
I rented this movie cause it it had an interesting story. A bellhop in total mess. Its fun and chilling at times, but this movie is little longer then it should be. Elias Kortas is simply a great actor. He makes this movie. He is such a young Robert Dinero.

This film was done in 1998, but just released on video/DVD cause it was done by the director who did "Secretary." This film I wouldn't put in "Film Noir" class like the back of box says, but I guess in the new genre of sorts: Post-Tarantino.

This movie is perfect for a rental. Instead of picking the usual Hollywood BS, you should give this one a shot. William H. Macy has a very small role so be warned when you see him on the cover.

Disappointing entry in the Film Noir genre
"Hit Me" is a 1998 film recently released for the rental market. Director Steven Shainberg's more recent, and much better film, "Secretary," also just appeared as a rental.

"Hit Me" is the story of a none-too-swift loser bellhop, Sonny (Elias Koteas) who works for a hotel that has seen better days. Sonny is responsible for his mentally handicapped brother, larger-than-life Leroy, and the two live in a filthy, messy house. Sonny is trapped in a dead-end job, in a dead-end life, and the only occasional excitement is in the form of harassing phone calls Sonny gets from social workers. It's clear from the beginning that Sonny has a certain amount of suppressed rage, and when an ex-employee re-appears with a scheme to rob an illegal card game about to take place at the hotel, Sonny is easily persuaded to join the gang for his promised 10% ($70,000).

I rented this film for three reasons. 1) It was directed by Shainberg, and I recently watched and enjoyed "Secretary." 2) The film was based on a Jim Thompson novel. 3) The film claimed to be 'film noir.' Now I enjoy film noir when it is done properly--but this film was rather disappointing. Yes, the plot did include a few twists and turns, and there was a tricky female, but the director's style was heavy-handed and intrusive. The elements of comedy fell flat--especially in light of the gruesome scenes towards the end of the film, and the plot was predictable. Elias Koteas delivered a great performance, but even he couldn't salvage this film--displacedhuman--Amazon Reviewer. ... Read more