Reviews (6)

A great Robert Altman ¿ Sam Shepard collaboration
The first perceptions one has of a work of art likely set one's standard by which that work is subsequently judged in comparison with its presentation in another medium. For example if the work is first encountered as a stage-play, then that form becomes the defacto standard for later comparisons, and a subsequent film of that work will likely never achieve one's preconceived expectations. This reviewer first encountered "Fool for Love" in a local theatre in 1985, never having seen the original play.

Readers who are fans of Tennessee Williams' PBS/Showtime 1984 TV version of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" with Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones (forget the worthless and sickeningly bowdlerized 1958 Taylor-Newman version, a perfect example of how rampant, uncontrolled religious censorship runs amok and destroys a work of art); or fans of Eugene O'Neill's 1960 "The Iceman Cometh (the Broadway Archive version with Jason Robards); will find this film fits neatly within that pantheon. With this work, Sam Shepard's genius rightly assumes co-equal rank with that of both Williams and O'Neill.

But there is a difference between this film and that of the two outstanding films cited above. This work is NOT just the filming of a great stage-play inside some cheesy New Mexico motel room. Director Altman actually had the complete, rundown "El Royale" motel-cabin, restaurant-bar and junkyard complex built to his specifications outside Sante Fe, where a 360 degree camera sweep would reveal nothing else beyond the complex but the isolated, lonely mountainous and grassy scrubland just off the interstate. The set is complete with flickering burned-out neon; abandoned vehicles; curtain-covered "kitchenette", tiny bath lavatory, medicine cabinet and stool in every cabin; and urine-God-only-knows-what-else stained mattresses (with bed vibrators); a way-station for desperate travelers going elsewhere. Director Altman reports in the documentary that the film set construction was so realistic, travelers passing on the interstate would actually stop and try to book accommodations or eat in the "restaurant."

Character interactions are complex and intense, at times funny yet simultaneously deadly serious, loaded with crackling, sizzling dialog and byplay which run tempestuously hot and cold. While these behaviors seem initially inexplicable, they are driven by past events, which growing intimations and clarifications gradually unveil. The present day portrayals are freely intermixed with metaphors and ghostly influences from that past. The shocking realities of that past are shown in flashback with all the contradictions and lies of convenience that creep into such re-telling. The way these elements are brought seamlessly together make this a film of such depth that it screams out for multiple viewings to appreciate its full merits.

Because of the vitality and completeness down to every last detail; a large background cast of other people including bit-parts and stand-ins for principal actors when they were younger; horses and cattle galore; functioning beat-up cars, trucks with dirty windshields and horse-trailers; and characters' past flashbacks filmed in a variety of supporting locales; this production never once assumes the aura of its stage-play origins. No matter how much one touts the supremacy of the original play, one would have to concede that there are elements of this joint Altman-Shepard recreation of Shepard's original that would simply be impossible to realize on the stage.

Sam Shepard's screenplay is perfectly realized. Robert Altman's direction of the story, the actors, and the background settings is nothing short of masterful. The cast is uniformly superb. Pierre Mignot's beautifully clear and largely night-time color cinematography and George Burt's musical assemblage blend it all together into an unforgettable masterpiece of cinematic art.

A fascinating 20 minute making-of documentary by Robert Altman (refreshingly low-key in comparison to the usual rampant narcissism displayed in too many such documentaries) is included, along with the original theatrical trailer. The DVD's 1.85:1 original theatrical aspect ratio picture quality is excellent. Sound is fine, though stereo surround effects are muted or non-existent, not a problem as such effects could make no contribution. Like Williams and O'Neill, Shepard has created a highly cerebral film. Those who are teen-age action-adventure addicts need not waste their time on this pre-eminently adult fare

Same old Shepard galvanized by master artisan
Shepard loves incest, family abuse, cowboys and rambling loose dialogue. And that seems to be all he knows. For all of his artistic integrity his plays have always felt a little on the nose and a little juvenile (his films even worse!). Altman's multiplicity of points of view, suppressed narration and mass-media-esque techniques give wonderful life to a play that is hardly worth the attention.

Artsy Fartsy
"Fool For Love" is based on a Sam Shepard`s play, and the movie`s leads are Shepard himself and Kim Basinger as a married couple who face an identity crisis and must overcome their differences in order to be unite again or disjointed forever. While the idea is promising and the first minutes intriguing, it soon turns into a pretensious, lifeless, slow and unfinishable picture. What could have been an interesting piece about love, guilt, dysfunction and desire becomes a sucession of empty dialogs, wooden monologues and tepid flashbacks that fail to engage. Director Robert Altman sure wasted a good opportunity with this snoozer. Avoid.

A Poor Rendition of A Very Good Piece
A disappointing treatment of a wonderful play. As is so often the case with Altman, there is just too much Hollywood here. Shepard and Basinger are both very capable actors but neither gets the chance to really put their stamp on this material. Altman's decision to make visual flashbacks out of the terrific monologues in the script compromises the real strength of Shepard's writing, i.e. the ability to let words evoke rather than indicate. This play premiered off-Broadway in the early eighties with Ed Harris and Kathy Baker in the principal roles and Shepard himself directing. It was a taut, rambunctiously physical performance with a great deal of humor mixed in to balance the anger and angst, a powerful and inspiring work. Too bad there wasn't a video made of this production because it realized the essence of Shepard's script in ways that are conspicuously absent from Altman's film, particularly the humor. I was surprised that Sam gave his stamp of approval to this film, given its overblown cinematography and cliched Hollywood-isms. If you are looking for a good video of a Shepard play, try to find the Great Performances video of "True West" starring John Malkovich and Gary Sinise (don't know if it's available in retail but it appears every once in a while on public television). This is how Shepard should be done.

Thought provoking--troubling, humorous, and haunting
No one can write about human relationship dysfunction and obsession like Sam Shepard. In a very artistic way Shepard drives home how gentleness,love,loyalty,rage, dispair and loneliness can conflict in us. This movie is about the psychology of family traditions of pain and how we recreate our "family curses" from one generation to the next. I have to believe that Shepard is showing us these problems so graphically in an attempt to teach us to break with the sickness of our pasts. This is not a nice,light, playful movie--it is disturbing but insightful and touching. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Standing the Test of Time
I was about eight years old when Maverick was popular but I remember my family sitting around the television in the evening and watching the original episodes. When I found the Maverick video website I ordered two immediately. I looked forward to their arrival with great anticipation. At the same time I wondered if the program would live up to my recollections. I was astounded to find that it did, and we all laughed out loud at Shady Deal at Sunny Acres and the other videos I have purchased. The writers and producers of Maverick put a lot of time into these scripts and it shows. Its great to enjoy them again.

Best Maverick episode I have seen
If you are a fan of the 1950's TV series Maverick, starring James Garner and Jack Kelly, and have not seen this episode, then buy this video, and prepare yourself to be blown away. "Shady Deal..." is quite an excellent installment (among very many) of Maverick. What I love most about this particular episode is that it expresses quite well the foolishness of greed and of selfishness when it shows Mr. Bates, a dishonest banker, steal Bret's money and then immediately lunge into another man's monetary affairs, unaware that he is about to be conned out of his shoes. The episode makes me laugh when I see Bret just sitting and whittling, acting as if Mr. Bates' dishonesty does not worry him in the least. And above all, when I realize that brother Bart, Samantha, Gentleman Jack, Cindy, Dandy Jim, and Big Mike--quite a roster--have all assumed false identities, I am reminded that no one messes with the Mavericks and gets away with it. This episode was written unbelievably well, with the sharp, diligently collated plan carried out by Bart and his friends, and with Bret's laid back, subtle sense of humor, which portrays him as just an easy-going person and gives the show an amiably comical atmosphere--a quality that seemed to disappear from Maverick after Garner left the show. "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" is sure to be esteemed among the greatest installments of the Maverick TV series. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

WHAT A GREAT SHOW!
I'm apparently a little young to remember this show when originally broadcast. I bought this one 'coz I love James Garner, and now I'm hooked on it. What a great show! It's got a solid plot, wonderful and well-executed characters, a good balance between humor and compassion, and the good guys win! What more could you ask for? I recommend this video even if you're not a great fan of the western genre.

The most fondly remembered episode of the best TV series.
This is the quintessential episode of "Maverick," the one that everyone remembers first and the one that sticks in everyone's mind. The entire supporting cast of running con-artist characters is featured, including the perfect Diane Brewster as Samantha Crawford, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Dandy Jim Buckley (his most winning role), Richard Long as Gentleman Jack Darby, and Leo Gordon as Irishman Big Mike McComb, among others, with John Dehner as the sublimely execrable villain of the piece ("If you can't trust your banker, whom can you trust?"). Jack Kelly as Maverick's brother Bart runs a complex con that is the forerunner for the film "The Sting" while James Garner as Bret Maverick spends most of the show sitting in a rocking chair and whittling, telling scoffing townspeople that ask how he intends to recover a stolen $15,000 within a self-imposed two-week deadline that he's "working on it." Somehow the image of Garner rocking and smiling and whittling is one of the three most memorable television images of the 1950s, along with Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan Show and Fess Parker as Davey Crockett on Walt Disney's Disneyland series. If you can't understand how this can possibly be the case, see for yourself.

Quintessential Maverick
I think this gem is my second-favorite Maverick episode (behind "A Fellow's Brother"). Some of the Mavericks were basic westerns, but this great sting episode showed the genius and humor of the show. John Dehner is once again great as a comedic villian. Definitely makes me wish that more Maverick episodes were available. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Oh Noooo - Toonces Can Drive, Just Not Very Well
This is a hilarious 2 VHS set, featuring two of Saturday Night Live's best charachters, MR. BILL and TOONCES. The first tape features 19 great Mr. Bill skits, along with all of Mr. Bill's buddies, including Spot, Sluggo, Miss Sally, and of course, Mr. Hands. The second tape (my favorite) features Toonces (The Cat who Could Drive a Car). There are some great guests on the Toonces tape, including Steve Martin, Randy Quaid, George Wendy, Griffin Dunne, Karen Allen, Linda Hamilton, and SNL regulars like Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Julia Sweeney, and Victoria Jackson.

Toonces and Bill on video
I don't know much about this I haven't watched it all , I wasn't too interested in it, but Mr.Bill is a putty figure that keeps on getting killed in many ways and Toonces is some cat that likes to drive around and stuff. Sorry I couldn't give you enough info , this didn't really catch my attention. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The original cast of Saturday Night Live
This was in my opinion one of the best years ever for Saturday Night Live. The greatest comedy geniuses the world has ever seen all in one cast on one show. You can't beat that. Chevy Chase shows up for his final season as a cast member, John Belushi is excellent in Samuri Delicatessen, and he premiers the Blues Brothers in his killer bee costume while singin "King Bee". Gilda does her Barbra Walters impression, and my favorite is Dan Aikroid's Nixon sketch. If you enjoy classic timeles sketch comedy than you'll love this tape. I would recomend taking halucinagyns at the same time if you get a chance because this thing is a phsycadelic trip. Definetly a must for any fan of the show.

the best videos, the good old days
this was when the show was truly revolutionary. The got a load of influence from monty python and were ready to shock the world. Aykroyd, Murrey, Bulishi, curtin and even chase are amazing here. this is funny stuff that is really on of if not the best time for the show ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jesse Jackson was wonderful
I am looking for the episode of Saturday live when Jesse Jackson read Green Egg & Ham as a tribute to the death of Dr. Seuss. I believe that this episode aired on September 24, 1991 the day Dr. Seuss died. September 28, 1991 Michael Jordan / Public Enemy ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Lonely Bird
The depictions here are the only accurate substantial accounts of Jimmy Dean's life. There are no bios that can even scratch the surface about him. All of them (authors) put their ideologies above the truth of who Jimmy was. It's too bad that the only truth about this man can never be fully told even by "some" who "claim" they knew him. Christy White is the only one and maybe Bill Bast who appear to be faithfull to his past. The other closest is "maybe" the movie made by TNT in 2003.

Peace..
rj

Vintage Film
This film is a must-see for anyone wanting to know more about James Dean. It was released in 1957, over a year after Dean died, and we get to see and listen to family members who are no longer living. We hear from other citizens of Fairmount, Indiana, who knew "Jimmy." We also see and hear show business friends and acquaintances. It also includes alot of great still photographs.

Please remember this film was made in the late 50s, and its dated. It sort of depressed me watching it because it really brought home the fact that "Jimmy" has been dead almost 50 years. But I would think this film would be a necessary part of anyone's collection of James Dean films.

invaluable to anyone who wants to know more about James Dean
the information from this documentary is invaluable and the insight from his family and the people who saw him on a regular basis gives a glimpse of Jimmy that not many people saw. it is one more facet of a brilliant diamond that shone for too brief a time.one word of caution to anyone with asthma,high blood pressure,heart disese,or tramatic stress disorder,the reenactment of his fatal car crash combined with pictures from the actual crash site are a little too graphic for some.watch at your own risk.

For all of us who love Jimmy
Everything the other reviewers have written is true: this documentary of Dean's life is slow-paced, dry, old-fashioned and dated. If you're one of those people who prefer the colorized versions of classic Black and White films, then this film will probably not be to your liking. But I look at it another way: where else can you view interviews with people who actually knew Jim and knew him well? Most of these were filmed shortly in the aftermath of Dean's death, and therefore, their recolections were contemporary. Time hadn't faded their recollections of this amazing young man. You also get to see a many scenes of Dean's childhood in Indiana: his home, High School, roads he traveled, places he visited. If you're a fan of James Dean, you eat this sort of stuff up; I know I do!

A weakness is that the entire production is in black and white, so the clips they show of his color movies are not in color. It's a little disconcerting to see various scenes of "East of Eden" shown in black and white, but you'll grow accustomed to it. As for the second half of the movie, the short TV drama Jimmy made in 1954, "The Bells of Cockaigne," it is excellent and showcases yet again his amazing talent and his beautiful ability to rivet an audience. The quality of this movie is poor, and it does detract from the viewing experience. The quality of the documentary portion is excellent.

If you love James Dean, this is a must have DVD for your collection. Despite its flaws, it's still riveting because of the interviews with intimates who really knew him.

A must have for any James Dean fan!
This documentary was made right after the rebels death and success. Which is interesting because you get to hear what people who are not alive now had to say about him and see the way the world was at the time of Jimmys death and stardome. It catures the feel of the legacy he left behind. Not only that, it also includes interviews with his family and friends who are dead now along with a recording of James Dean talking with his family and a deleted scene from "East of Eden." Though the documentary was creepy and haunting, as its first image was, it was also heart felt. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I expected more
After watching it a couple times, some of the skits grew on me, but in the beginning I was disappointed. I guess that I just didn't agree with what they considered to be the "best" of SNL for that year. But Mike Myers' "Phillip" skit with Nicole Kidman was hysterical... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Introduced by Wayne and Garth on the set of Wayne's World, the Saturday Night Live: Halloween special collection is frighteningly funny. Mining SNL's history back to the good old days of the Coneheads and the Land Shark, this tape selects an hour's worth of the best Halloween skits presented over more than 20 years. You'll see guests such as John Travolta and James Woods put through their paces by the SNL cast--Travolta is hysterical as a certain Transylvanian nobleman trying to convince his victims that they are mistaken about his secret (they think he's gay). All the stars you love, from Bill Murray to Adam Sandler, make appearances to poke fun at the weird, spooky pleasure we all share each year. You'll get tips on making scary faces, ideas for cheap costumes like "Johnny the Human Torch," and a new outlook on vampires in the age of AIDS, plus plenty more ghoulish laughs in Saturday Night Live: Halloween. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Thank you, Anthony!
Anthony - thanks so much for answering my question - you're the greatest! I added you to my favorite reviewers list :)

Great, Spooky Fun
"Saturday Night live - Halloween" was the first "SNL" dvd I bought not devoted to a cast member. While not as good as those retrospectives, this dvd captures the best "Halloween" - style moments on the show.

Most of the skecthes here are just random "Halloween" sketches. "Gay Dracula" features a hilarious turn by John Travolta as the famed bloodsucking count. Kvein Nealon and Jeneane Garrofolo play road - weary travelers who think the count is gay. "Vampire Dating" is the worst sketch here. James Woods turns in accurate Dracula, but I just didn't get the plot of the sketch. "Consumer Probe" is the oldest sketch here, a satiical take on the many complaints of dangerous costumes.

On this dvd, it's fun to see recurring sketches like "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker", "Wayne's World", "The Richmeister", "Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley" and "Spartan Cheerleaders" put into a Halloween context, as it allows them to expand the realm of the ordinary, non - holiday sketch. Also, Adam Sandler's hilarious costume ideas ("Crazy Pickle Arm") ar here, as is Ana Gasteyrer's hilarious impersonation of Martha Stewart.

This is a hilarious dvd recommended to anybody who enjoys "Saturday Night Live". Also pick up the 8 - pack dvd set.

Can anyone answer a question?
Does this DVD contain the Adam Sandler "Crazy Pickle Arm Man" skit?

Howl - larious
Hosted by Wayne and Garth, "Saturday Night Livve - Halloween" is a great collection of old and new sketches hosted by Wayne and Garth, spanning from to the early days to the mid - 1990s'. Among the best sketches are "The Richmeister", "Sandler's Costume Suggestions", and "Return Of The Coneheads". There are some sketches I suggest you skip, but I won't name the, because you might actually enjoy them.

SNL, so funny it's spooky
It's lacking a few great skits, the Landshark opening was nice but one of the JAWS spoofs could have been added. It's definitley worth it but lets hope we see a season by season deal soon! Stuart Smalley, James Woods Dracula, Scream spoof with the
CheerSquad, Wayne & Garth's Halloween Costumes and Landshark are the highlights. But, come on, lets see NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT (live) Complete 1st Season on DVD soon! With Lorne Micheals & former Cast, Writers and Hosts interviews and behind the scenes stuff, maybe 5 discs? 4 for the show, one for extra's. It sounds good to me. "Oh well, good night and have a pleasant tomorrow"
Check out:
SNL-Christmas
SNL-25 Years Of Laughs
Nothing But Trouble-Chevy Chase
Caddyshack-Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield ... Read more

Description

Classic western TV Series with Ty Hardin as a rugged hero. Show was known for itchr(39)s emphasis on action and adventure over gunplay and violence. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bronco - Death of an Outlaw
I enjoyed the video... I wasn't alive during the time of the westerns, so I rely on videos or reruns to be able to see any... I think I've only seen two episodes of Bronco... Check out tyhardin.com to view Ty Hardin's official website

BRONCO, Death of an Outlaw
Often fond childhood memories of TV series are spoilt by watching the TV re-runs. However this is not the case with this video of Warner Bros BRONCO. In this episode of BRONCO, Ty Hardin is the two-fisted ex-confederate Army Captain, now a ranch hand who befriends Billy the Kid.

This is family entertainment to be enjoyed by all.

Makes me long to see all of the 68 episodes which were made, between September12, 1958 and September 20, 1960.

Where is Ty Hardin (Orton Hungerford) today?

Bronco - Death of an Outlaw (1960)
Another action-packed Bronco episode, in which the Confederate Captain Bronco Layne, tangles with Billy The Kid. Now settled and happily married, Billy has tried to put his past behind him. However, Pat Garrett, played by Rhodes Reason, of "White Hunter" fame is determined to bring him to book for his past crimes. Like many of these classic Warner Bros westerns, the appearance of veteran B-western stars is a feature, and Allan "Rocky" Lane plays a Sherriff in this one. A fair amount of violence and menacing behaviour in this series in general, if you have young children. Print is pristine black and white and sound is crisp Dolby B. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A few HILARIOUS skits
This movie has some very hilarious skits...GOULET! Of course not all the skits are funny, but for the most part, if you like Will Farrell, you'll get your $$$'s worth...GOULET!

What a joke...
This may be the worst collection of Farrell clips they could've put together. I loved The best of Chris Farley, but this was a mess. The skits we're weak and nothing we haven't seen before in their many compilation shows.. How many times has he played Trebek? Do we really need to see the same one with Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds, and French Stewart again? And not even the whole skit on top of it all.. What a waste of money this was! What a shame......

Just Fabulous
I must say that this video is worth every cent. Talk about a knee-slapper! For all of you with a great sense of humor I really just can't say enough! Will Farrell may be one of the funniest actors ever. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Classic Steve Martin!
What can I say, this is one great video. It includes several classic routines including my personal favorite:"What the Hell is That"? It also has a Mr. Bill clip and two performances by the Blues Brothers. If you like the comedy of Steve Martin, I strongly recommend this tape. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

And now Church Chat with the Church Lady
I almost gave this one 3 stars instead of 4, but I love Church Chat too much to not give it 4. This tape doesn't really hold that many sketches on it. The sketches that are on here, though, are the first of there kind. Dana Carvey's Church Lady takes no prisoners. Kevin Nealon makes the people around him obey his every comand as Mr. Subliminle, and who could forget Phil Hartman's genius parody of Donahue. This one also has Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short all doing the monolouge together which is spectacular. The thing is though that neither Martin, Chase, or Short apear in any sketches. But you could find Steve Martin in Toonces the Driving Cat on the best of Mr.Bill & Toonces. I would definetly recomend this video but I would also recomend getting best of Mr. Bill & Toonces to acompany it.

Worth the purchase
This is a really good video. If you like the Church Lady or Phil Hartman as Phil Donahue, you'll love this video. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not as fun as when I was ten
I think if they had included the studio audience laugh track, it would be more fun to watch (kind of creepy without it). The later shorts do include the laugh track, which must have come from the SNL broadcasts.

so what
can't rewind a one minute film? Who cares? You DVD nerds are the worst.
The menu is cute.

Classic hilarity, abominable DVD
The "Mr. Bill" short films are as bizarrely endearing as ever, but the DVD is a disaster. (Note that all the earlier reviews are for the VHS tape.)

Here's the rub: ***ALL*** scanning and skipping functions are disabled throughout the entire disc! Want to go to the next film? Don't press the skip button; it won't work. You have to go back to the tedious menu and arrow your way slowly to the episode you want. Want to back up or fast forward a little in the film you're watching? Sorry, but there's no way AT ALL to do that.

This disc is a cruel joke and should be withdrawn. It cannot be recommended at all as issued, though I found it impossible to give poor Mr. Bill only one star....

Classic and hilarious
You may feel bad laughing at the sufferings of the benevolent, upbeat Mr. Bill, but you can't help it. This is as funny as anything ever seen on SNL. Although the video is less than an hour long, it packs more laughs than some of the best comedy movies. I highly, highly recommend this.

If you like Mr. Bill (or the Pizza Head commercials) get it!
This Mr. Bill video is very funny I believe. And what makes it so great, of course, is how "cheap" it's done. No one but Mr. Hands ever moves, and Mr. Bill just has to "stand" for anything Mr. Hands does to him, or anything Sluggo, a guy who hates Mr. Bill, tells Mr. Hands to do to him. Hilarious I believe! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

For Any Saturday Night Live Fan....
Attention all SNL fans, this is the video you have been looking for! Whether you like the old, classic skits or the newer ones, you will LOVE this video becuase it has the best of EVERYTHING! Plus, it is not that well known about, so you can be the first to own it and you can introduce it to all of your friends. If you can't decide which SNL video to get, and who can, there are so many, this is the one you need to own! ... Read more