Reviews (6)

Lily Tomlin's brilliant film
I had the great opportunity and fortune to see Lily Tomlin perform live, where she brought some of the wonderfully spicy characters from this film (which was originally a very successful, long-running play) to the stage. This film is really hard to describe. It is truly like no movie I have ever seen, and definitely not at all Hollywood. (i.e. no burning buildings, car crashes, obligatory sex scenes, pimps, or drug dealers....though, there are a couple of hookers as featured characters) This film is all Lily--literally. She is every character from the Midwestern farmwife, to the fifteen year old punk rocker, to the aerobics instructor, to three very diverse feminists taking a look back at the last twenty years as times change, and so do political views. A friend of mine in theatre who had a colleague who worked with Lily when she toured with this show told me she would spend hours literally staring at the black staircase and bare set, planning the choreography of every movement, expression and retort. Also, she required that the staircase be repainted every night....though, this may sound a little obsessive, after you see the film you will see how much she must have worn out the stage! Just the floor alone gets a real workout with all of her dancing, prancing, jumping, and pacing. It also really makes you think. Are there signs of intelligent life in the universe, or are we all just kidding ourselves?

Maybe its just me...
I bought this tape out of respect to Lily Tomlin as a brilliant comic and an accomplished performer. But my frame of reference for her is apparently colored by her Ernestine the Operator act, which cut substantial new ground in its time. This tape's performance may well be a maturing of Lily in content and style, but I had a hard time following it. I found its lines to be unsnappy, disconnected and unmemorable. I believe we are all indebted to Lily Tomlin, not just for entertainment, but for pushing the progressive social agenda. It's just that this tape is relatively expensive, so reflect on your own frame of reference before buying it.

Tomlin: American Treasure....
...Before this Tomlin and Wagner did a series of Off-broadway productions and TV sketch like scenarios that led to this great number. Poigant, intelligent and verrry funny, you wish for Tomlin's "In Search..." showcase to never end and you find yourself quoting lines..about fearing that drugs have made us more creative than we really are, that certain businesses ae so big they really don't care about Joe or Joanne Customer...or recalling some offbeat, but true wisdom spewed by Trudy the Bag Lady. One of the greatest one-woman shows ever done. See it and be amazed and entertained.

She is always fabulous!
Recently I saw her performing the piece in New York again and she is fabulous! The video does capture her energy and incredible talent. This video was long shot, but time is not a matter for Lily, she is always fabulous: the way she looks, the way she acts, dance, speaks,...

Rare and special combination of acting and writing abilities
This is a profound, hilarious, frank, compassionate and loving look at human beings and our strange relationship with normalcy and the absurd. Lily Tomlin's performance has to be seen to be believed--and you will believe! And Jane Wagner's words are a privilege to hear. Wonderful insights, and some witty quips you'll be eager to repeat. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Commit a crime and the world is made of glass
This devasting Emerson's statement works out in this modern film noir with stunning accuracy.
Ed Harris falls in love with a femme fatale (the seductive Madeleine Stowe) . She is a married woman and obviosuly all the consequences derivated from this affair will be a real elevator to the gallow.
The surrounding atmosphere is dark and the dramatic nucleus of the picture with the rain as a background seems anticipate the demons that will get out from the Pandora box.
Ed Harris is superb like the policeman who slow but progressively watchs how his efforts for avoid to be discovered as the cover woman become ashes.
The somber role of this double face cop played by Benicio del Toro was a hit for him.
Madeleine Stowe is perfect. She is still one of the most beatiful actress in the cinema , but her shame gaze shines with amazing realism. She reminds me too much to a spanish actress called Ana Torrent (Thesis) .
It's hard to forget the long tradition of the film noir in the american cinema . The two most remarkable triumphs given in the
eighties were Body Heat and The Black Widow.
However, the director John Bailey assumed the challenge and won the match with this film.
Excelent atmosphere though I feel too much enlightment in certain sequences. If not for that detail, I would give this film five stars.

movie noir at its best
they dont make movies like this anymore.Lamar Dickey is just another wide eyed wet behind the ears rookie cop or so it would seem to his partner.this movie takes a very Hitchcock like turn and suddenly the detective investigating the bank owners murder is now the prime suspect!

ED HARRIS IS SIMPLY MESMERIZING !
This movie's based on a very cute plot.Suspenceful and thrilling crimes.I shan't tell it all.But expect some big-time surprises as the movie develops!

Very solid 4 stars
Very good movie . I have to worn you - if you expecting regular , happy ending Hollywood cheapy , you are in wrong place .
Ed Harris playing a police homoside detective . His character is street smart , talanted , but very lonly . His partner is young and kind of laisy .One evening , Harris meet a beatifull woman ( Madelein Stowe ), and we fell in love with her character right away : smart , very attractive , intellegent and funny . So did the detective . She dissapears that evening , but Harris find her , of cause . The relationship developes and getting more and more interesting every scene . But everything goes not that easy for tham - she is married . Producers made an exellent selection of an actor for the role of her husband ( we dislike him right away ). He ownes a big Florida bank chain , cheating on his beatifull wife and pushing her around constantly . We know right away - something will happen , somebody going to get killed . And most likely , this someone will be her husband .
What I like in this movie , is the love story between Harris and Stowe . Both actors perform on such high level , that keeps your attention from begining all the way to the end . We want them to be together . And when Stowe get in big troubles , we want Harris to help her .
At same time we have to think ,That she is just seting him up , but we want to belive her . We WANT to belive that she loves Harris character . And at the last moments of the movie , insted of being sad about the ending , we feal relief - this was a true love .
Highly recomended.

A Mini Classic Detective/Woman Thriller
Ed Harris is always better than his material. Madeleine Stowe's sexy performance would get a rise out of a stone idol. This movie reminds me of "Casablanca" inasmuch as it was done as a low budget not-well-advertised film. But with this cast and excellent direction it crackles and cooks on-screen. Once in a while you find a movie that kind of "got lost" in distribution but turns out to be a surprisingly good experience. Harris goes for Stowe in a big way and I believe, so would any other man. Watching Stowe is easily the equal of a double-Viagra dose; trust me. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Commit a crime and the world is made of glass
This devasting Emerson's statement works out in this modern film noir with stunning accuracy.
Ed Harris falls in love with a femme fatale (the seductive Madeleine Stowe) . She is a married woman and obviosuly all the consequences derivated from this affair will be a real elevator to the gallow.
The surrounding atmosphere is dark and the dramatic nucleus of the picture with the rain as a background seems anticipate the demons that will get out from the Pandora box.
Ed Harris is superb like the policeman who slow but progressively watchs how his efforts for avoid to be discovered as the cover woman become ashes.
The somber role of this double face cop played by Benicio del Toro was a hit for him.
Madeleine Stowe is perfect. She is still one of the most beatiful actress in the cinema , but her shame gaze shines with amazing realism. She reminds me too much to a spanish actress called Ana Torrent (Thesis) .
It's hard to forget the long tradition of the film noir in the american cinema . The two most remarkable triumphs given in the
eighties were Body Heat and The Black Widow.
However, the director John Bailey assumed the challenge and won the match with this film.
Excelent atmosphere though I feel too much enlightment in certain sequences. If not for that detail, I would give this film five stars.

movie noir at its best
they dont make movies like this anymore.Lamar Dickey is just another wide eyed wet behind the ears rookie cop or so it would seem to his partner.this movie takes a very Hitchcock like turn and suddenly the detective investigating the bank owners murder is now the prime suspect!

ED HARRIS IS SIMPLY MESMERIZING !
This movie's based on a very cute plot.Suspenceful and thrilling crimes.I shan't tell it all.But expect some big-time surprises as the movie develops!

Very solid 4 stars
Very good movie . I have to worn you - if you expecting regular , happy ending Hollywood cheapy , you are in wrong place .
Ed Harris playing a police homoside detective . His character is street smart , talanted , but very lonly . His partner is young and kind of laisy .One evening , Harris meet a beatifull woman ( Madelein Stowe ), and we fell in love with her character right away : smart , very attractive , intellegent and funny . So did the detective . She dissapears that evening , but Harris find her , of cause . The relationship developes and getting more and more interesting every scene . But everything goes not that easy for tham - she is married . Producers made an exellent selection of an actor for the role of her husband ( we dislike him right away ). He ownes a big Florida bank chain , cheating on his beatifull wife and pushing her around constantly . We know right away - something will happen , somebody going to get killed . And most likely , this someone will be her husband .
What I like in this movie , is the love story between Harris and Stowe . Both actors perform on such high level , that keeps your attention from begining all the way to the end . We want them to be together . And when Stowe get in big troubles , we want Harris to help her .
At same time we have to think ,That she is just seting him up , but we want to belive her . We WANT to belive that she loves Harris character . And at the last moments of the movie , insted of being sad about the ending , we feal relief - this was a true love .
Highly recomended.

A Mini Classic Detective/Woman Thriller
Ed Harris is always better than his material. Madeleine Stowe's sexy performance would get a rise out of a stone idol. This movie reminds me of "Casablanca" inasmuch as it was done as a low budget not-well-advertised film. But with this cast and excellent direction it crackles and cooks on-screen. Once in a while you find a movie that kind of "got lost" in distribution but turns out to be a surprisingly good experience. Harris goes for Stowe in a big way and I believe, so would any other man. Watching Stowe is easily the equal of a double-Viagra dose; trust me. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Viva Dolorosa!
In an age when there is a dearth of "plays" on Broadway, and country-wide, it was w/great expectations that I watched VIA DOLOROSA this evening.
To be privy to a brilliant mind, David Hare's, for 90 minutes is a glorious and intelligent pleasure. How remarkable to actually THINK.
He takes us from his home in Hampstead, London, to the killing fields of Israel and the Gaza Strip. In between we meet an unusual "cast" of characters (it's technically a one-man show), one more interesting than the next.
In light of what is happening in Israel and Palestine as I write this, September 9th, I wonder if Mr. Hare is planning a sequel. Unfortunately, there is far too much information to warrant a follow up.
This was an actual performance that took place at the Booth. How lucky I was to have my front row seat.
Sit back, listen and THINK! ... Read more