Reviews (5)

A wonderfully dark film!
Blade Runner tells of human-like robots which are in danger of gaining emotions and becomming too human to exhist by human laws. I loved this movie when I first saw it and I find it wonderful to notice in the background the company logos (which at the time were powerful up and coming companies) of which most are out of business (though Atari has made a comeback). The soundtrack sets the tone and the weather (which it always is raining in the film except for the very ending) also keep things looking bleak. I do enjoy the directors cut cause I am a big fan of Widescreen... but that is the only reason I like it. I wish they had kept the narration (or at least had a two sided disk so a person could chose to have the original unedited narration or the directors cut version). I know some people think the narration is the studios way of saying that the audiance cannot understand the film without dumbing-it-down with narration. This is definitily not the case. The narration reminds me of those old TV Cop dramas where the cops thoughts are always stated as the action is happening. I do feel that it adds to the film. I highly recommend the movie regardless of which version you see. Rutger Hauer is my favorite.

A Dirty Future run by Businessmen and Politicians
It is never enough for the powerful: in this film they manufacture people and then "recall" them like Chevy did the Vega... but we find that people aren't machines even when they are manufactured. The man who is called to track down the last of the androids falls in tough love with the last best of her breed!

Dark Sci Fi at its best
A truly fabulous cinematic work, I only wish it was still available for purchase. Philip Dick would be proud of the adaption of his novel. Vangelis renders a beautiful score. No one does it better than Rutger Hauer.

A depressingly dark moody film that makes you think.
I have both versions, the original release with Ford's voice over, and the "Director's" cut (which is surprisingly, shorter than the original). Of the two, I tend to prefer the original.

Purists tend to find the voice over of the original distracting and un-necessary, but I find it adds to the mood.

I love the cinematography.

It also sports early or first appearances of many now well known actors.

I would consider this movie to be within my top favorite movies.

The very best science-fiction/action/romance ever made.
Okay, the voice-over detective's dialog is hokey, but I love it; it's Sam Spade with smog. Years after the original release, the movie isn't dated or tired. It may always be my favourite flick. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1994 box-office hit that turned comedy maniac Jim Carrey into Hollywood's first $20-million man, this gag-filled no-brainer stars Carrey as the titular rubber-faced gumshoe who tracks down lost pets for his heartbroken clients. Ace's latest case involves the apparent kidnapping of the Miami Dolphins' team mascot, Snowflake the dolphin (natch). His investigation is a source of constant aggravation for Miami police lieutenant Lois Einhorn (Sean Young), who turns out to be packing more than a pistol under her skirt. Friends fans will appreciate the presence of Courtney Cox, who remains admirably straight-faced as the Dolphins' publicist and Ace's would-be girlfriend, but of course it's Carrey who steals the show with shameless abandon. One viewing may suffice for a lot of people, but Carrey's hyper antics have made Ace Ventura: Pet Detective one of the bestselling videos of the 1990s. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (104)

"Alrighty Then".......
I don't think I've ever laughed sp hard in a movie theater before in my life. That's something that I just don't do much of. This movie changed that. Now, this kind of comedy is an acquired taste. Not everyone is going to get it or appreciate it or the brilliant talent of Jim Carrey. Calling it stupid is not bashing the movie, it's only praising it. Get it?. Carrey stars as a pet detective hired by pre - "Friends" star Courteney Cox to find who stole the local football team's mascot. Sean Young is in on the fun as the police captain. It takes real smarts and talent to do what Jim Carrey does. It's not just acting goofy and silly. Some people don't get things. This is an uproarious film. If your in a bad mood or funk or whatever, and you need your sppirits lifted with ridiculous laughs, then you can't go wrong with this movie.

Not as funny as Austin Powers, but worth watching!
This movie is so funny. Jim Carry's perfomance was totally good. I give him 2 thumbs up for doing this movie. Carry will make you laugh if you watch this. Jim Carry plays Miami's top (and only) pet detective Ace Ventura on his biggest case yet. Although Carry's role in this movie appears to be an idiot, he always gets the job done no matter what it takes. The movie also stars FRIENDS' Courteney Cox who plays the detective who hires Ace. The case is mainly about the kidnapping of Miami Dolphin's dolphin, Snowflake. Ace has a little competition in solving this case with the LT of the police, Lois Einhorn, who finds Ventura worthless. Ace uses every piece of little evidence he finds. Whenevery he tries out his theory, he ends up in some zany mess which will make you laugh. I really liked the part when he was in the tank with a shark. Miami Dolphin's QB Dan Marino plays himself who also gets involved with kidnappings. Get this movie, you'll love it!

A Classic Comedy!
I have watched this movie so many times over and over, yet I am still entertained each time. This movie will keep you watching until the end just to see what hilarious antics Jim Carrey will do next. I have enjoyed most of his other movies but this one is his best. Get for a good laugh and a good time.

Very Great Movie
This movie is so funny I could just watch it again and again. If you don't like Jim Carrey you would still love this movie. I think this movie is sooo good. Every time I watch it (even though I know all of the words) it is still very funny.

Very Funny Movie
I bought this movie the other night after I got off of work. I love this movie just as much as the second one. I'm so glad I finally found it on dvd. ... Read more

Reviews (746)

THE FUTURE IS DISMAL - SO IS THE TRANSFER!
Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" is an apocalyptic postmodernist vision of the future. The story involves a bounty hunter, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who is assigned to kill three replicants - android style robots that look identical to humans, but who have come to earth to seek revenge on their creator - Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel). Sean Young costars as Rachel, the latest model of replicant who is so incredibly life like that not even she knows that she's not human. Also in the cast are Rutgar Hauer as Roy Batty - the ultimate killing machine, Edward Olmos as a drugged out police detective, Gaff, and Darryl Hannah, as the psychotic replicant, Pris. Flawed in its narrative, but visually stunning, "Blade Runner" has developed a cult following - and it is easy to see why. The production is layered with multi-references to the steady moral and social demise of our own society that stir the mind into rethinking this movie as much more than a sci-fi adventure. This version of the film is the re-edited director's cut that audiences were never shown in 1982. The subtle tweaking of story and plot elements really doesn't enhance one's viewing experience so much as it just alters the story in a different direction.
But what a shame about the transfer! Though the general color balancing and attention to fine details, even in the darkest scenes, is adequate, there is simply NO EXCUSE for leaving the chips, scratches and in some cases, tears in this DVD transfer. Pixelization crops up now and them, but the most disturbing part of the transfer is that it fails to pay attention to the dirt and (in some cases) hair, stuck to the film negative. The result is a dirty looking picture that, while perhaps in keeping with Ridley Scott's vision of a dank, hard universe of the future, is most definitely not what the director had in mind. Saving grace: the transfer is anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions. The sonic characteristic of the 5.1 audio is rich, though dated. Strong bass and reasonably well balanced dialogue and effects, though there are a few perceived occasions where dubbing in of dialogue sounds possible. And one final insult from Warner Brothers, this disc has NO extras - not even a theatrical trailer!

Stunning - The Best Sci-Fi Film Ever Made
Directed by Ridley Scott, possibly the best director in Hollywood, Blade Runner: The Director's cut is an outstanding medley of action, noir, sci-fi, and suspense. Robots have been taken to a new level - Nexus 6 Generation Robots called "replicants", which outmatch humans in strength and ability and equal in intelligence, but lack one human quality - emotions. They were used for "slave labor" to work in places too hazardous for humans. However, replicants after a few years begin to develop their own emotions, which causes them to rebel against their masters. Special cops, called blade runners, were assigned to exterminate criminal replicants. Eventually replicants were declared illegal on earth, and were banished to a shuttle in space. LA, 2017. Rick Deckard, (Harrison Ford) a retired blade runner, is forced to "retire" five replicants that have escaped from the shuttle, but winds up falling for one, Rachael. (Sean Young) Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) leads the other three replicants to find their creator, Eldon Tyrell, to expand their short four-year life span. Incredible action scenes, dark, brooding noir, creeping suspense, and excellent sci-fi, Blade Runner: The Director's Cut will please fans of any of these genres. The Director's Cut offers production notes, subtitles, added character developement, the original ending, a unicorn dream sequence, and the deletion of unnecessary scenes and the annoying voice-overs. Plus, it is digitally restored to excellent picture and sound quality. Some "sensitive" viewers might find the plot and noir atmosphere cold, but action, noir, sci-fi, and suspense fans will enjoy it very much. With stunning special effects, incredible cinematography, compelling plot, and rich, incredible characterizations (esp. Rutger Hauer), I strongly recommend Blade Runner: The Director's Cut to action/sci-fi fans.

Not quite the Blade Runner I remember
After purchasing and viewing the DVD director's cut release, all I can think is "where can I find the original theater release version". I sat my family down to watch it two nights ago and they lost interest very quickly. While it is still visually stunning to watch, it is not enough overcome the seeming lack of narrative/plot. In fact, one of the key things removed from the director's cut version is the voiceover narrative by Harrison Ford's character Deckard. For those that know the original version, it can even be a challenge to remember the significance of each scene. For new viewers of BR, they're left wondering, scene after scene, "OK what just happened and what relevance does it have to anything?". Bring back the voiceover!

The Director's Cut is AWFUL.
Compared to the original version the Director's Cut is awful. Background narration has been removed; the ending has been changed. Don't waste your money.

this is still a good DVD
but not as good as the original release. I preferred the narration and for that reason, I probably don't watch this movie as much as i did when I had it on VHS. I really don't understand why they don't make both versions available. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bill Murray was heading toward a career peak on the back of comedies such as this one from 1981, the second film in his ongoing collaboration with director Ivan Reitman (the two went on to make Ghostbusters). Murray plays a chronic loser who joins the army and fails to find a fan for his ironic sensibilities in his by-the-book sergeant (Warren Oates). When push comes to shove, however, the smirking hero takes charge of his ragtag unit and turns them into fighting machines, albeit to the rhythm of hit songs by Manfred Mann and Sly Stone. The film is occasionally funny, but it mostly plays like any one of a dozen underachieving comedies featuring players from Saturday Night Live and SCTV. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Bill Murray wants you
In one atypical morning, loser Murray loses his job, car, apartment, and girlfriend. This was pretty much his own doing, and since one stupid move deserves another, he and pal Ramis enlist in the army. His whole platoon is comprised of misfits,who give drill sergeant Warren Oates a run for his money. But when he's injured during basic training, Murray leads the platoon in completing basic training by themselves. This captures the attention of the general, who decides that these go-getters must be assigned to a special mission in Italy. The assignment in question is the EM-50, a killing machine disguised as an RV. Murray and Ramis, while on post, decide to take it for a little joyride. This results in the rest of their platoon being captured and held behind the iron curtain. Murray and a reluctant Ramis set off to rescue their counterparts. Very funny start to finish, with a hilarious scene in a mud wrestling club. Great supporting cast includes John Larroquette, John Candy, Judge Reinhold, and P.J. Soles. Screenwriter Ramis shines in his first on camera role. A welcome member of the "Animal House" genre.

A very funny movie!
When John Winger (played by Bill Murray) finds his life sliding away from him, a television commercial shows him an organization that can help him turn his life around, the United States Army! Dragging his friend Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis), he joins up, and runs into a stone wall in the shape of Drill-Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates). Together with the other misfits in his outfit (John Candy, Judge Reinhold, John Diehl, and others), Winger games the system and turns the US Army every which way but loose! [Color, released in 1981, with a running time of 1 hour, 41 minutes.]

This is a very funny movie! Unfortunately, it is rated R, and is NOT for younger viewers. The violence is pretty tame, and there are a few swear words used, but the main problem is that there are several nude scenes. So, if you buy this, you will need to watch it when the kids aren't around, just like me. But, it is a hilarious movie, and one that you will enjoy watching over and over again.

Lighten up, Francis...
I'm a bit perplexed by the reviews criticizing this movie because of its unrealistic depiction of the Army. Do these same people complain that "Animal House" doesn't accurately display college life or that "Vacation" isn't what a family trip across the country is really like? (Hey, I live in St. Louis and could easily take exception to the outright offensive inaccuracies in "Vacation", but I still love the movie!) This is a comedy, folks. It's not "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers", and it never claims or tries to be. It uses exaggeration and absurdities to make us laugh. It isn't striving for realism, although to its credit, I have heard plenty of people say that this is the best movie they've ever seen at giving you the feel for what its like going into the service, and that their own drill instructor was identical to Sgt Hulka.

The first half of this movie is just about the funniest comedy ever made. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are the perfect slobs with shiftless lives who try to maintain what's left of their dignity by enlisting in the Army. Their chemistry is wonderful and they truly are believable as out-of-shape but likable losers. Virtually every line and every character is memorable (Psycho, Ox, Cruiser, that lady in the cab, John Laroquette, and of course Russell and Winger), and this has to be the most quotable movie in history. No, John Candy would not have spoken to a superior officer that way when he gets off the bus (or at least not have gotten away with it), but that's what's so funny about it! And speaking of Sgt. Hulka, Warren Oates should have been given an Oscar nomination for this role. He's the high point of the movie for me, and his intense, over the top performance reminds me of Robert Shaw in "Jaws"- some actors are so good that they can chew scenery and get away with it. So for the first half of the movie, there's not an unfunny moment. Maybe basic training isn't like this, but the scenes are so well-done that a generation of adolescent guys has grown up thinking that it is and have no doubt gone into the military with this movie in the back of their minds.

The second half of the movie sort of devolves into a bearable but not great action movie, with its contrived plot about the stolen military RV and the rescue mission across the Czech border. Still, the same characters are present and continue to sustain the movie until the end. Great music, too- I don't think this has ever been issued as a soundtrack but it contains one of the most memorable themes ever written for a movie.

The DVD itself is passable- no extras, somewhat grainy video, unspectacular sound. But we surived watching it over and over again on basic cable with plenty of edits and subpar picture quality, so I can't complain too much. I suppose someday it will be given a "Special Edition" with a commentary and a retrospective from the stars, but the movie stands on its own without anything fancy.

Bill's in the army now!
John Winger(Bill Murray) quits driving taxicabs and enlists in the army with his teacher roommate(Harold Ramis). They experience the typical army life,filled with commanders,guns and best of all,pretty girls. The late John Candy gives great moral support as one of the soldiers. The then-little-known Sean Young is one of the girls whom the guys meet while in the army. One of Murray's most memorable post-Saturday Night Live films. Murray and Ramis later filmed the two GHOSTBUSTERS movies and Ramis directed 1993's GROUNDHOG DAY,starring Murray and Andie MacDowell.

This is why I joined the Army...
What? You mean the Army isn't really like this movie? Okay, so it's a comedy and it isn't meant to be like the Army, but it is meant to be funny, which it really is.

Bill Murray and Harold Ramis play the part of unlikely Army recruits bumbling their way through their training to somehow manage to get their entire platoon transferred to Europe for a top secret assignment, which Murray manages to ruin and get his platoon captured behind the iron curtain.

This comical movie is packed with one-liners and gags that typify comedies of the early 80's, and like many other movies of this era, the occasional gratuitious nude scene help keep the movie interesing if you like that kind of thing.

John Laroquette and John Candy round out the cast. Laroquette plays the part of the company commander. ... Read more

Description

Bergin poses as a photographer to seduce and sexually humiliate young women, until an angry Assistant D.A. decides to entrap him by becoming his next victim. But the secrets she discovers about herself could lead her astray in this shocking and sensual thriller. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Disappointing erotic thriller
There are erotic thrillers that succeed in their genre (e.g. Basic Instinct, Jade), but this one felt awkward and contrived. I think its producers were trying to ride on the coat tails of the immensely popular Basic Instinct by attracting some of that audience. I know that's why I and friends went to see it in theatres. But we were disappointed, both in the story and the acting.
I think Sean Young is very attractive, from the first time I saw her in Dune and then in No Way Out, but her nude scenes in this film were embarrassing. I agree with someone else who said her proportions were much better in Ace Ventura and, I might add, Dr. Jeckyll and Ms. Hyde. She may have had some work done.
I admit I haven't yet seen the unrated version so it might change my opinions.

pointless
The villain had no motive to commit his crimes. At least, the director chose not to reveal what it was. This movie was an utter waste of time. Sean Young is pretty, but too thin in this film. She looked far better in "Ace Ventura."

The unrated version
This was the review I wrote on "Full Body Massage": "An unreal plot with senseless flashbacks, but Mimi Rogers' bod rules -- no question about it, so don't bother about her acting (or lack thereof)". Well pretty much the same thing applies here. Only Sean Young is younger and slimmer. So make sure you got the unrated version.

Sean Young at her -- and everyone else's -- worst
Sean Young in this movie gives the worst performance by a big (at the time) star in a Hollywood movie. I can't think of a single exception. She looked positively drugged in this thing, and yet there's no rationale for it, so it has to be the acting. See it if only for this historic low.

Very Unsual and Daring
Make sure you get the unrated version - and not because it's racier (though it is), but because it has major scenes and interactions that finally make the whole film make sense. This version was not released theatrically, and it's a good example of a Director's Cut that really does make a difference. Though Sean Young might not be the best actress for the role, the film itself is a challanging look at the more dark and shaded areas of sex and power games. Steely direction by director Lizzie Bordon. Well worth the watch. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Two people find true love in a trailer park.
The director of this film wanted to create a film to express the lifestyles of those who inhabit trailer parks, and to do it with as little taste as possible. The film follows the life of a sex-crazed stripper, her younger sister, and a stranger that befriends them. While following their stories you also get involved with the other inhabitants of the trailer park including a Hungarian opera singer, her son, and a modern southern belle. The soundtrack is very comical including the Violent Femmes and other musicians of comparable reputation. This movie is wonderfully sick and lacks any sort of good taste. It offends, suprises, and amuses. It's got sex violence, and wit. It's a wonderful commentary on modern American life and how it is based on pop culture and style. If you are easily upset or offended this is not the film for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

When Ridley Scott's cut of Blade Runner was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn't done it right the first time--11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what's been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what's been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream). Star Harrison Ford originally recorded the narration under duress at the insistence of Warner Bros. executives who thought the story needed further "explanation"; he later confessed that he thought if he did it badly they wouldn't use it. (Moral: Never overestimate the taste of movie executives.) The movie's spectacular futuristic vision of Los Angeles--a perpetually dark and rainy metropolis that's the nightmare antithesis of "Sunny Southern California"--is still its most seductive feature, an otherworldly atmosphere in which you can immerse yourself. The movie's shadowy visual style, along with its classic private-detective/murder-mystery plot line (with Ford on the trail of a murderous android, or "replicant"), makes Blade Runner one of the few science fiction pictures to legitimately claim a place in the film noir tradition. And, as in the best noir, the sleuth discovers a whole lot more (about himself and the people he encounters) than he anticipates.... With Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, Rutger Hauer, and M. Emmet Walsh. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (746)

THE FUTURE IS DISMAL - SO IS THE TRANSFER!
Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" is an apocalyptic postmodernist vision of the future. The story involves a bounty hunter, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who is assigned to kill three replicants - android style robots that look identical to humans, but who have come to earth to seek revenge on their creator - Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel). Sean Young costars as Rachel, the latest model of replicant who is so incredibly life like that not even she knows that she's not human. Also in the cast are Rutgar Hauer as Roy Batty - the ultimate killing machine, Edward Olmos as a drugged out police detective, Gaff, and Darryl Hannah, as the psychotic replicant, Pris. Flawed in its narrative, but visually stunning, "Blade Runner" has developed a cult following - and it is easy to see why. The production is layered with multi-references to the steady moral and social demise of our own society that stir the mind into rethinking this movie as much more than a sci-fi adventure. This version of the film is the re-edited director's cut that audiences were never shown in 1982. The subtle tweaking of story and plot elements really doesn't enhance one's viewing experience so much as it just alters the story in a different direction.
But what a shame about the transfer! Though the general color balancing and attention to fine details, even in the darkest scenes, is adequate, there is simply NO EXCUSE for leaving the chips, scratches and in some cases, tears in this DVD transfer. Pixelization crops up now and them, but the most disturbing part of the transfer is that it fails to pay attention to the dirt and (in some cases) hair, stuck to the film negative. The result is a dirty looking picture that, while perhaps in keeping with Ridley Scott's vision of a dank, hard universe of the future, is most definitely not what the director had in mind. Saving grace: the transfer is anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions. The sonic characteristic of the 5.1 audio is rich, though dated. Strong bass and reasonably well balanced dialogue and effects, though there are a few perceived occasions where dubbing in of dialogue sounds possible. And one final insult from Warner Brothers, this disc has NO extras - not even a theatrical trailer!

Stunning - The Best Sci-Fi Film Ever Made
Directed by Ridley Scott, possibly the best director in Hollywood, Blade Runner: The Director's cut is an outstanding medley of action, noir, sci-fi, and suspense. Robots have been taken to a new level - Nexus 6 Generation Robots called "replicants", which outmatch humans in strength and ability and equal in intelligence, but lack one human quality - emotions. They were used for "slave labor" to work in places too hazardous for humans. However, replicants after a few years begin to develop their own emotions, which causes them to rebel against their masters. Special cops, called blade runners, were assigned to exterminate criminal replicants. Eventually replicants were declared illegal on earth, and were banished to a shuttle in space. LA, 2017. Rick Deckard, (Harrison Ford) a retired blade runner, is forced to "retire" five replicants that have escaped from the shuttle, but winds up falling for one, Rachael. (Sean Young) Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) leads the other three replicants to find their creator, Eldon Tyrell, to expand their short four-year life span. Incredible action scenes, dark, brooding noir, creeping suspense, and excellent sci-fi, Blade Runner: The Director's Cut will please fans of any of these genres. The Director's Cut offers production notes, subtitles, added character developement, the original ending, a unicorn dream sequence, and the deletion of unnecessary scenes and the annoying voice-overs. Plus, it is digitally restored to excellent picture and sound quality. Some "sensitive" viewers might find the plot and noir atmosphere cold, but action, noir, sci-fi, and suspense fans will enjoy it very much. With stunning special effects, incredible cinematography, compelling plot, and rich, incredible characterizations (esp. Rutger Hauer), I strongly recommend Blade Runner: The Director's Cut to action/sci-fi fans.

Not quite the Blade Runner I remember
After purchasing and viewing the DVD director's cut release, all I can think is "where can I find the original theater release version". I sat my family down to watch it two nights ago and they lost interest very quickly. While it is still visually stunning to watch, it is not enough overcome the seeming lack of narrative/plot. In fact, one of the key things removed from the director's cut version is the voiceover narrative by Harrison Ford's character Deckard. For those that know the original version, it can even be a challenge to remember the significance of each scene. For new viewers of BR, they're left wondering, scene after scene, "OK what just happened and what relevance does it have to anything?". Bring back the voiceover!

The Director's Cut is AWFUL.
Compared to the original version the Director's Cut is awful. Background narration has been removed; the ending has been changed. Don't waste your money.

this is still a good DVD
but not as good as the original release. I preferred the narration and for that reason, I probably don't watch this movie as much as i did when I had it on VHS. I really don't understand why they don't make both versions available. ... Read more

Description

He's a doctor in search of the discovery that will change his life forever-and boy, does he find it. An experiment in genetic change transforms this gentle Dr. Jekyll into a murderous Ms. Hyde-and he can't get her under control! A sexy hilarious quick-change comedy. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Why isn't this great movie on DVD?
I won't tell you the story because the other reviews already did. Just know that, though this isn't the best movie ever made, it's not that bad either. The other people who reviewed this movie as poor are way too critical. Relax and have fun. A wacky comedy that's enjoyable and weird. Hopefully, it will be released on DVD.

The Movie
I first saw this movie on cable and liked it. A friend of mine had this movie and we watched it. It was great. A remake of the original and ten times better. It starts off when Dr. J canges into Ms. H. Well lets just say she reveales some great parts of her body to us. This is a deffinate buy.

Delightfully campy spoof on the horror book
This 1995 spoof of the famous "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde," is disappointing in its comedy, mostly focusing on body references and sexual humor to only produce chuckles and groans.

Tim Daly (Dr. Jacks) tries to find a potion to cure the source of human evil by adding estrogen to the potion. By doing this, he transforms into sexy (and annoying) seductress Helen Hyde (Sean Young) on occasions. Helpless to stop this process of man to woman and woman to man, Dr. Jacks tries to convince his fiancee, Sarah (sexy and always watchable Lysette Anthony) to help him find a cure for taking Helen out for good.

The movie is delightfully campy in the beginning, but in the last 15 to 30 minutes, suddenly turns somewhat suspenseful, hilarious, and romantic. A hilariously campy movie with a satisfying ending. Rated PG-13 for crude sex-related scenes and humor, sexual innueudo, nudity and language.

Poor, bad, horrible, painful to watch, take a pick
A young doctor transforms into a psychotic woman on a regular basis. If this plotline excites you, than you might find something you like in this movie. I didn't. I actually found it to be one of the worst movies I have ever watched. Sean Young is a strong contender for being the most annoying actress there ever was, back to back with Melanie Griffith. This film is unfunny to the extreme and I strongly suggest that people beware of it.

Not good
This movie is dumb, but it's worth it just to see Tim Daly in his white undies. What a sight. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Money, Murder and a Dachshund! What more could you ask for?!
I really liked this movie! Yes, it is a bit silly, but it is a movie for the whole family to enjoy! Plus, it is set in Monte Carlo with (the late)John Candy and a Dachshund! I also liked the music, and George Hamilton is a spanish gigolo playboy with a great tan. Also, the several sub-plots, especially with Cybil Sheppard, I thought was played very well. Oh, yes, don't forget the murder of the unseen Dachshund owner! Overall I really enjoyed it and have seen it several times.

Great cast--inspired for a magic comic hour
If you have a funnybone at all, you will delight in the first hour of this movie. John Candy is good, but he is surrounded by better in this movie. Sean Young and Richard Lewis start the movie popping with their zany playing off each other, then Jim Belushi gives a histrionic tour de force, made funnier by Cybil Shepherd's absolutely perfect reactions; many beyond droll. She is comedic perfection. These five actors make the dumbest dialogue sound like it was crafted by Preston Sturges. The director keeps the rhythm cracking along and laughs piling up. The movie does fall off at last but you don't mind by then. This movie got one star in my local tv guide; go figure. If the last thirty minutes would have matched the first hour, this would be a comic classic.

For dachshund lovers...
It's right up there with The Ugly Dachshund & Mon Oncle Hulot for excellent doxie scene-stealing. Plus this has the extra premium of the lovely Sean Young. Yum.

What is a comedy movie?
ONCE UPON A CRIME answered the question for me, "What is a comedy movie?" It is a movie that makes you laugh. The film is silly, has a contrived plot, uses stereotypes, is littered with cliches, and that's just for starters. Somehow, however, it makes you laugh a lot. That's comedy for me because I enjoy laughing. Candy and Belushi made me laugh at their gambling addictions. The French police made me laugh as they handled their rich American quarry. The film begins as a mystery of sorts. Forget about that end of the story. It is a comedy, not a mystery despite the hilarious suitcase full of body parts. Perhaps this hopelessly laughable movie is a new genre--mysterious comedy.

Once Upon A Crime
I'll Be the first one to admidt that this film is not for everybody. I Myself Just Can't seem to get enough of it.I saw this film when it was first released and thought ok, but about half a hear or so ago I Was looking threw a Bargin Basket and decided to buy it for it's five dollar price tag. A few weeks later I finnaly Started watching it and it seemed like I had sleep through it when I first veiwed it several years earlier. I could not get enough of this all star cast, John Candy, Cybill Shepperd, John Belushi, And Richard Lewis. Be Sure to look for Eugene Leavy's Great Cameo. Altough I CATION you that if you don't enjoy these stars or SCTV.then you may think this is a crime. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You'll find an example of James Woods's most daring and outrageous (some would say outlandish) acting in this 1988 film by director Harold Becker from a Darryl Ponicsan script. Woods plays a fast-rising, sharp-talking salesman, a yuppie on the make with the good life firmly in his sights. Until he discovers cocaine--and then his entire live-beyond-your-means ethos blends with a ravaging addiction that drives his lifestyle strictly down-market. Woods and costar Sean Young (with whom he subsequently had a rather public breakup) explore the wild-eyed outer limits with this particular monkey on their backs, in a movie whose acting-exercise quality usually takes a back seat to the obvious, melodramatic plotting. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing and realistic look at how powerful drugs are!
There are some among us who would like to legalize drugs. They ought to watch this film. There are some who think that drug addiction is just an excuse. They ought to watch this film. In fact if you ever wanted to know what its like to be addicted to cocaine, just watch this movie.

This movie is simply the most powerful depiction I have seen of the devastating effects drugs can have on people. James Woods is brilliant, and the gradual erosion of his life seems to happen without his knowledge. Like the frog boiling in water, it all slips away subtly and quietly. In the end, he depicts the painful and harsh reality of a person who cannot see that he is in any way at fault, and if he gets just "one more break" it will all work out again.

Tremendous film and a very under-rated performance by Woods.

a great film.
James woods is excellent as a high powered salesman who's life goes of the rails as he becomes involved in drugs and high powered business deals.It shows how drugs can ruin ones life.

Cautionary Tale of Drug Abuse
Released during the "Just Say No" 1980s, this film is a cautionary tale of drug abuse. Lenny is a guy just trying to stake his claim in the world, to make a little money. He soon impresses a big wheel who moves Lenny and his wife to California where they are at first overwhelmed by the opulence but then become willing participants in it. Lenny continues to buy, buy, buy until it all crashes down. When the money stops rolling in, he is introduced to cocaine and the story then takes a dramatic turn as we watch Lenny lose it all. James Woods is fabulous as Lenny. I've seen this movie many times and now that I'm writing about it, I think it's time to pop this one into the VCR for another viewing.

WOODS AT HIS BEST
Although somewhat cliche ridden and certainly overly dramatic, "The Boost"presents a truly frightening depiction of cocaine and kinds of drug abuse. A picture of self destruction that is almost hard to believe.

James Wood outdoes himself in yet another fine performance. A film is worth seeing if only because he is in it. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

INTRICATELY CRAFTED POLITICAL THRILLER
If only the ending could be just a tad different, this would be twice as popular as it ever got. The topnotch, passionately made film largely goes unsung, a bit like "The Siege," only because it threw away all the riveting plot twists when it reached its ho-hum finale (some may call it a great final twist).

Quibbles aside, this fast paced nail-biter may be one of the quickest 2 hours of cinema ever filmed. Costner plays a Navy commander assigned to a high level post in the DOD, where he, and the Secretary of Defense become embroiled in a murder/scandal. The bulk of the film chronicles the Departments Under Secretary's attempts to quash the problem. A high level Russian mole in the U.S. government is being pursued throughout the film. The chase keeps narrowing down more and more drawing the government officials closer and closer to the culprit. The tension became almost unbearable as the mole was about to be trapped.

Costner, for a change, is really convincing in his role, the tight dialog helping him immeasurably. Sean Young actually smiles in this movie and looks twice as good as all her other newer movies put together. Gene Hackman has the usual commanding screen presence.

All in all, a fabulous politically charged thriller you ought not to miss!

Good suspense, excellent on first viewing
An early Kevin Costner film which many argue is one of his best. Filmed in 1987, "No Way Out" focusses on a cover up where Kevin Costner is assigned to frame the wrong person. The problem is, he is the wrong person. He then has to find a way to identify the true killer while saving his own butt in the process.
Sean Young stars as an unconvincing lover of both Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman. As one reviewer said, she does not pull off enough charm to convince the viewer that she is worthy of such attention from these men.

How does "No Way Out" fare 15 years on? I admit, I loved this film when it first came out, but now it just reeks of the 80's. Bad music, bad costumes, and quite poor acting from Sean Young and Kevin Costner. Kevin comes across as if he is in a daze the entire movie. Still, for those who have not seen it before, there are some definite suspenseful moments.

DVD SUMMARY: An early DVD release by MGM, and despite it being labelled as "16:9 enhanced", it is not. Nevertheless, the picture is surprisingly clear for a film of its age. The sound quality is just average.

A well-made political thriller with some pleasant twists...
Having lived around the outskirts of Washington, D.C. myself, it's always a nice treat to watch a film that literally takes place right where I have stood, at one time or another. It's just very fun to know that a famous movie was shot where you once walked. (Although I now regret visiting the set of "101 Dalmations" in London--that's one story I don't often tell people with a smile on my face.)

At the beginning of "No Way Out," we get to see Washington from above as the camera glides through the air, swerving and going around in circles, until we land inside a small interrogation room housing a convicted murderer (Kevin Costner), who is in fact innocent and has been framed. "When's he coming out?" he asks as he walks over to a one-way mirror and looks through the glass. Right as we start to think, "Whom is he talking to?" (Or "Does he mean Hackman?" if you've read anything about the film), we fall backwards in time and land in the same place some number of months earlier.

"No Way Out" is a government thriller about an officer wrongly accused of murder--when the Secretary of State himself is the culprit trying to avoid a scandal by launching a top-secret cover-up. Costner is the officer, and Gene Hackman is the Secretary of State. After meeting a beautiful young woman (Sean Young) at a party, Costner takes her into a limo and they have a quickie--before they even know each other's names.

What's this got to do with anything? Why is my review so choppy and linear-challenged? We'll get there.

The relationship between the two turns into a big romance until Costner is sent out to sea, where he saves a sailor from falling overboard and is praised in all the papers--where his girlfriend back home sees his face and is reminded of him. (Now she's the mistress of Hackman, by the way--that complicates matters quite a bit.)

When he arrives back home, they go on a romantic getaway--but Hackman finds out and accidentally murders the girl while trying to get her to tell him the name of her lover. Ready to turn himself in, Hackman is persuaded by his gay friend to cover everything up and blame someone else. The gay man even goes and gets rid of the evidence himself--with pride, I might add. (It's like Mr. Burns and Smithers from "The Simpsons"--the latter loves the former, but the former is too powerful and naive to ever notice.)

The clever twist in "No Way Out" is that Costner knows Hackman killed Young, but Hackman doesn't know that he knows that. (Get it?) As he runs around the Pentagon and other government establishments, the evidence starts to pile up against him--the negative off the back of a Polaroid camera, a few eyewitnesses who claim they saw a man outside Young's apartment the night of her murder, etc.

The great thing about "No Way Out," and another factor that separates it from the rest of its kind, is something that's hard to explain to someone who hasn't seen the film. Essentially, no one knows who killed the girl--and Costner isn't placed under arrest straight away because no one has uncovered any evidence pointing towards him. As the negative off the back of the Polaroid is scanned through a computer and painstakingly altered to reveal the man's face on the photo, Costner runs around trying to eliminate evidence before anyone finds out. The photo will eventually reveal his own face, yes, but he has a number of hours until then to find the true evidence that convicts Hackman.

This is a smart thriller with a few pleasant twists, particularly the very end. It's not a great movie by any means, but it's well-acted and solidly directed by Roger Donaldson, who also made last year's "The Recruit" with Al Pacino and Colin Farrell. The guy obviously likes government thrillers. This one is a lot more plausible than "The Recruit," too.

A really good politcal thriller. Good suspense film.
Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Sean Young, and supporting cast all turn in excellent performances in this underrated but very effective political thriller. This is a very good and effective movie dealing with inside Washington politics and intrigue, and international espionage. The plot moves at a breakneck pace, there are few draggy lulls of the type that plague so many movies these days, and the film never fails to capture and retain the viewer's interest. This is a great "beer and chips" film for a Friday evening.

No spoilers here, but just let it be said that as one watches the film, it twists and turns and continues to surprise the viewer. Costner is very effective here, Gene Hackman has his usual presence, and overall, this film solidly succeeds in its goal, which is to entertain. Recommended.

Gold-Standard of Political Thrillers now on DVD
Often, a film is compared to "No Way Out"--it's a gold standard of political thrillers. Made in the 80's, it holds up well in its genre. Now it's on DVD (without many "extras"--just the release trailers) and that's worthwhile if you are a political thriller fan.

Gene Hackman does his usual excellent job as a power-monger Secretary of Defense. He plays it subdued with restrained violence; you know this is a man capable of nearly anything. Will Patton is stunning as the bootlicking lackey, and Costner is reasonably good as the hapless pawn (?) of the Secretary's machinations. Sean Young plays a nervy, Washington bimbo. She's annoying, but actually, that seems to be part of the character and I thought she was superbly cast. The horror of the 80's overly-ornate costuming and gaudy makeup are the only hint of the age of this film.

The story is laden with clues dropped in a seemingly meaningless way and the tension builds superbly, racheting suddenly with a surprise in the action. At the end, another surprise is delicious, especially if you picked up all the red herrings (I didn't. Maybe you will.) If you love political or espionage thrillers, this one has a great payoff. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

GREAT MOVIE
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE BEST ADVENTURE MOVIE I HAVE SEEN. MUCH BETTER THEN JURRASIC PARK OR THE LOST WORLD WHICH ARE JUST BORING TO WATCH. IT SHOULD HOWEVER HAVE A PG-13 RATING BECAUSE THERE IS VIOLENCE AND A STABBING. ITS A GOOD MOVIE FOR DINOSAUR BUFFS AND FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES A GOOD ADVENTURE MOVIE.

So 80's it's cool!!!
This movie is great. I haven't seen it in like ten years but I can't wait to watch it again! I used to rent it every time I went to the video store, this and the Last Unicorn, and I just loved it! Sure, the Brontosaurus really never existed and more correctly is called the Apatasoarus b/c there was a dino race in the early 1900's and they found the complete body of an apatasaurus but no head, so they incorrectly put the head of a Brachiousaurus on the apatastaurus and called it a brontosaurus - but that's okay- it's still good!!! And to those who have negative feelings towards this movie that have already reviewed shouldn't place bad memories of their long lost childhood to fault this movie b/c it's really great!!!

Jurasick park this movie made it possible
I grew up watching this movie and just recently found it on dvd I was so excited. For the time this was incredible and any one who says jurassic park is the best dino movie ever is obesly to young to fully get this movie. at the time it was cutting edge I feel sorry for you. I have all the jurrasic park movies and I would watch this one 40 times more then those. This movie paved the way for those movies. I wish they would do a remake

THE GAME IS OVER
I don't know how anyone could not laugh at this movie. Right off the bat, the cover says it's "a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T."...right, only in the dreams of the producers. Truth be told, the dinosaurs don't look THAT bad for the time, but Baby running near the end of the movie always puts me into fits of laughter. Same goes for any time a dinosaur gets shot. I can't believe this is on DVD, I was thrilled to learn that it has been digitally preserved forever. As far as I'm concerned even the DVD menu is hilarious, just look at the dinosaur's face - it has eyebrows.

No zeros allowed? Aw, shucks.
They showed "Baby" to us every year when I was in summer day camp (Packer Collegiate in Brooklyn for those in the know) and to this day I recall it as the worst movie I've ever seen. I think you would have to do a "Clockwork Orange" and mechanically maintain my alertness in order to make me watch this again: you would not, however, have to inject me with evil drugs in order to get me to collapse writhing upon mention of it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sean Young *is* the Fitzgerald Girl
Sean Young is perfectly cast as an F. Scott Fitgerald heroine in this good PBS adaptation of one of his short stories. She captures the brittle charm, beauty, and underlying vulnerability of the Jazz Age girls he wrote about. She would have made a great Daisy Buchanan. This isn't one of Fitzgerald's best stories, but it very much captures his distinctive style, mood, and favorite subjects--money, fashion, and their ephemeral power. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Joel Schumacher (Falling Down, Batman and Robin) helms this 1989 remake of the popular French romantic comedy Cousin, Cousine. Ted Danson (Three Men and a Baby) and Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet) play two people married to distant cousins (Sean Young, William Petersen) who are having an affair. After meeting at a family wedding and being left alone while their mates steal away, the two spouses commiserate about their cheating partners, and they eventually find themselves falling in love and hiding their burgeoning relationship from the people they care about the most. A story as much about family ties as it is about finding romance in the most unlikely of places, this picturesque tale is a funny and heartwarming find. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (23)

"Gone Sailing"
4.5 stars. I was walking up and down the aisles of my local video store the other day and I was getting frustrated. The new release I wanted to rent wasn't there, none of the films on my short rental list were even available. So I wandered the aisles, sulking, when I noticed a movie I hadn't seen in years. It was "Cousins," with Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini. Why not? I really didn't remember much about it other than rave critical reviews from the time. I was a teenager at the time so it is not really surprising that I don't remember a romance film. That was the last thing on my mind. Anyway, I got it home, dished up some spaghetti, and sat down to watch an "okay" movie. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself interested in the goings on of each and every character in this large ensemble cast. But the throughline story involves the two main actors, Ted and Isabella. Their romance is both realistic and fantastical, where they are able to see all the wonders of the world merely by staring into each other's eyes. Now, at first that may sound sappy. Believe me, I'm the last man on Earth to be attracted to a romance film, but somehow this one got to me. It could have been Isabella Rossellini, who for a large part of the film resembled her gorgeous mother, Ingrid Bergman. It was like watching a "classic romance" filmed for a different era, Mrs. Bergman's daughter absolutely glowing like her mother used to. There are also obvious nods to the film "Moonstruck" with its sometimes quirky characters caught in realistic situations. This movie could have been called "3 Weddings and a Funeral." It has a Hollywood ending, complete with sailing off toward the horizon, all the couple's dreams coming true, but somehow I loved it. I must be getting old. :) What's impossible to believe is that this was directed by Joel Schumacher, who directed the abysmal "Batman and Robin." It's really too bad he didn't stay with films about real people, because this film shines. This is a nearly lost, mostly forgotten gem of a film, and it is easy to recommend.

Laughed, cried, and have seen it again and again and AGAIN!!
This movie is exactly what I need when I'm ho-humming about what video to watch. It's worked every time. If you like 'Sliding Doors' and 'Sense&Sensibility' (two of my other favorites) try this, you'll probably enjoy it. There are lots of layers to this one too. Ted Danson does an incredible acting job, though it may take a repeat viewing to kick the habit of seeing him as "Sam." Isabella Rosellini personifies beauty (as always)and effectively portrays an unhappy but loyal-'til-the-end wife. And Lloyd Bridges is fantastic, cast as Danson's father. This film is all about extended families, and marriages, and the intertwined inner-workings of the two. Sean Young's outfits are a little cheesy, but fit her character. And at times the film is loudly representative of the 1980's. But it's largely a feel-good movie where what you want to have happen happens and what you don't want to have happen only happens a little.

Superb and sweet romance
This is one of those incredibly charming,disarmingly sweet, and totally touching comedic romances that you can watch over and over and over again- and still get that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.The plot is pretty typical, but the entire cast(Isabella and Ted have GREAT chemistry, the dialogue, and just the entire atmosphere of the thing make it work-big time.They just don't make too many romantic comedies like this anymore.Even if you hate the genre, but are just in the mood for something light, I definately recommend this sweet little gem!

Great Movie.
This is a great movie. Definitely one to own.

An absolutely lovely movie
I have watched this movie a dozen times, and I never tire of it. It is just a beautiful love story and Isabella R. and Ted Danson have wonderful chemistry. It is one of those movies where you laugh and cry and it leaves you feeling better for having seen it. The soundtrack alone is worth watching the movie. One of my all time favorites. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"I think your whiskey sucks"
Jeff Fahey is the sketch artist. A rich, important man has been murdered and Drew Barrymore is a witness who saw a woman that the police would like to talk to. She describes the woman to Fahey. As the sketch continues he finds he is drawing a picture of his wife (Sean Young). Daisy leaves, he folds up the picture and draws another which unfortunately looks like another woman who has done work for the deceased. As the story unfolds, Fahey is starting to look like the number one suspect. I wouldn't rate this show a "4" if it wasn't for the excellent musical score by Mark Isham. The soundtrack to this movie is one of the best. This story couldn't happen in real life. For one thing, Fahey withheld evidence in a felony investigation that got Daisy killed and should be charged with a felony himself. Fahey also gets way too lucky in this movie, everything seems to work out so coincidentally for him in the last half hour. Still, I think it's a good show, the music does a lot for many of the scenes.

A Fine Jeff Fahey Film.
Young Jeff Fahey delivers an eloquent portrayal of a police sketch artist who realizes that the witness has just described his wife as the murderess. This is a fine example of how Fahey uses his whole body to portray the emotions of a man who cannot believe, investigates, and finally must believe that his beloved is a cold-blooded murderer. Daren't give away the ending, but it is most satisfying, and on the way, we are treated to a refreshingly subtle repetoire of skills: small facial changes, gestures, postures, and all out panic-runs describe the changes we all would go through before acting on the realization that the unthinkable is true.
Anyone would find this a fine movie. A must for Faheylovers.

More Drew
Hello, Well I saw the movie and I thought Drew looked great but it needed more Drew in it like to last in the movie, now scream is a differant story she didn't last but the cast was a great selection and worth watching to see what happens next, I would reccomend Scetch Artist to those who don't like Drew Barrymore hehe, I adore her so that is why I didn't like it. @->---------- :)

Not the greatest movie
This movie was okay but it was missing something. This is a movie I woldn't see again but it was not terrible. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If someone ever put together a what-were-they-thinking top 10, Even Cowgirls Get the Blueswould surely make the list. Based on Tom Robbins's '70s ode to freedom, whooping cranes, and ambisexuality, this Gus Van Sant film sat on the shelf for almost a year before its brief release. More of a curiosity than anything else, it tells the convoluted story of Sissy Hankshaw (Uma Thurman), the world's greatest hitchhiker by virtue of her mammoth, um, thumbs. She falls in with a lesbian collective at a dude ranch and, well, the rest is kind of a mess. Kind of? Let's say it's a monumental mess, one of those films that's like a 25-car pileup on the interstate that you have to stop and look at, just to figure out what people like Keanu Reeves, Roseanne, John Hurt, and Angie Dickinson are doing there. A great score by k.d. lang, by the way. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Stop Making Sense
After reading the Robbins novel my sophomore year in high school, I was fortunate enough to see this movie three times in the theatre shortly after it got released. Watching it again tonight reminded me of how much it blew my mind back then. Granted, the whole thing is gratuitously symbolic, and most of the actors speak as if they'd just skimmed their lines for the first time seconds before going on camera. Still, Even Cowgirls has a fun, campy quality to it that shouldn't be overlooked. If you like Tom Robbins then you'll appreciate the narration and the way Van Sant has the characters talk to one another. Plus the story is lovable ("greater freedom of movement"), the cast is all-star, the costumes are a riot, and William Burroughs is in it! Just relax and enjoy.

Some kinda awful
I can't believe the actors who lent their talent to this no-talent film.

An abomination, disappointment, and travesty
I was terribly excited when I learned of the film version of the first Tom Robbins novel I read. Learning of Gus Van Sant, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves, John Hurt, and even Rain Pheonix excited me even more. However, I was severly let down. This is, without question, the worst movie I have yet to see. As tavision so eloquently put it, "It is so bad, it isn't even good for being bad."

The plot is an abbreviation of the novel, to say the least. Granted, some cuts are to be expected, but some characters were reduced to such a shred of their literary counterparts it raises the question why Van Sant included them at all. The character of Dr. Robbins is completely absent, and the brevity with which the Chink is represented reduces him to a fortune-spewing, mountainman horndog. Pheonix is unbearable as Bonanza Jellybean. Her monotonous tones, lack of presence, and persistent lack of any cuteness destroy what could have been an excellent role. The character of Dolores Del Ruby is also disappointing; she lacks the wildness and distinction from the other cowgirls that the novel provides. This is despite an annoying soliloquoy directly to the camera and all too abundant whip-cracking. Uma Thurman would be the film's saving grace, but salvaging anything from this bastardization is akin to making sno-cones in hell. Hurt's Countess is fair, but again, the rest of the film drags it down. The voice-over by Robbins isn't spectacular, but his prose does carry some charm over.

At the end of the film, if K.D. Lang's original soundtrack hasn't been associated with the most painful cinematic experience of your couch's life, you are "treated" to a music video of the most played song in the movie, K.D. Lang's "Movement."

Do yourself a favor and spend the time reading some Robbins or praying if he attempts a film again he finds a director who can do his work justice.

Re-Defines how bad a movie can be.
There are movies like "Plan 9" that are so bad they have a charm about them, there are some like "Waterworld" that have the same inexplicable draw as a car accident, and there are some like "Desperate living" that you hate to admit you love. Cowgirls have none of these redemptions. The cast assembled has enough talent to make almost any plot watchable, and from what I've been told, the book is enjoyable.

How then could this movie be so intolerably bad? To begin with, it seems the director brought together a cast of names with no other tie than what will bring in the 20 somethings. Then tell them to do their best Kevin Costner imitations. Open the book at random and start shooting whatever is on the page making sure to keep the wide expanses of America from being interesting in any way. Finally give the editing job to your brother-in-law, because the meat packing plant just laid him off. He does have twenty years of cutting experience.

This movie now defines the basement for me. It is so bad, it isn't even good for being bad.

A brave project from the director of Good Will Hunting
Gus Van Sant is a bold film maker. He experiments with unusual ideas and occasionally hits the jackpot. Most would agree that Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester were successful in every way, but this picture generates violent disagreement. Sadly the majority would dismiss this film as a failed experiment to bring an odd 1970s lesbian cowboy novel to the big screen. There is however a vocal minority who absolutely love the quirkiness of this film. Its difference is at the heart of its charm, and together with Uma Thurman's star quality and k.d. lang's score this movie rises above the everyday action comedy dramas or romances most film-makers are producing.

I have read the book and Van Sant's adaptation is very faithful. The sexuality is only hinted at and this is carried forward in the film in the brief scenes of touching between Rain Phoenix and Uma Thurman. Despite being twenty years old, Rain still manages to look like a young teenager, and this perhaps undermines the intention of the scenes with her. If there is such a thing as perfect casting it is that of k.d. lang as the soundtrack composer and performer, which fits as perfectly as you would expect. John Hurt almost reprises his Quentin Crisp in his role as The Duchess, a much louder performance than I imagined from the book, but nevertheless funny and well-observed. All in all, there are some enjoyable and interesting bits and pieces in this film, even if it doesn't quite hit the high tide mark of Van Sant's other achievements. ... Read more

Reviews (67)