Reviews (8)

Souped up santa sley
I agree with the previous reviewers that this movie is quality. However, the video presentation on this latest DVD is poor. The dark shots show a fuzzyness/dullness that caught my attention. It is less noticable as the movie goes on. No complaints with the sound.

"C'mon old timer, sing me a song..."
Directed by Jonathan Demme, Melvin and Howard (1980) tells the supposedly true story of Melvin E. Dummar, a man who may have had a chance encounter with the late multi-billionaire recluse Howard Hughes before his death, and Dummar's inclusion into Hughes' will.

Demme, who also directed Something Wild (1986) and Silence of the Lambs (1991) does a wonderful job of relating the story of Melvin (Paul Le Mat) and how he came across Howard Hughes (Jason Robards) stranded in the desert outside of Las Vegas and gave him a ride. Hughes, looking disheveled and grisly, stated that he was who he was, but Melvin didn't take him seriously, thinking he was just some old wino.

Some time goes by, Howard Hughes passes away, and a mysterious stranger leaves a handwritten letter in Melvin's gas station. The document, which appears to be Hughes will, names Melvin as a beneficiary, entitling him to somewhere in the neighborhood of $156 million dollars. Well, this immediately launches Melvin into the public spotlight and focuses much attention on the validity of the will.

While the movie is titled Melvin and Howard, it's mostly about Melvin, and deals with his many ups and downs (mostly downs) in a particular period of his life. Melvin switches jobs a few times, working as a magnesium bagger, milk truck driver, and gas station owner, and deals with personal problems like his wife leaving, cars repossessed, being in debt up to his ears...Paul Le Mat, who many may recognize as John Milner from American Graffiti (1973) is wonderful as the poor but likeable schlub who, due to his natural good nature, may have found himself in a position to inherit millions. The supporting cast is great including Robards, Dabney Coleman, John Glover, Pamela Reed, and Mary Steenburgen, who won an academy award for best supporting actress as Melvin's wife, Lynda. The real Melvin E. Dummar even makes an appearance as a counter clerk at a bus terminal. And speaking of academy awards, it should also be noted that Bo Goldman won the award for best writing for this film.

There are no special features on this release, only a trailer, but the picture looks wonderful in the wide screen format. There is another release, one from Anchor Bay Entertainment that does include some more extras like commentary and production notes not available here, so if you are interested in those kinds of things, you might want to search it out. Does Melvin get the money in the end? It doesn't really matter, at least not in the scope of this film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good filmmaking and is interesting in discovering an under-appreciated movie with great scripting, casting, dialogue, direction, and music. Everything clicks really well in this little 'slice of life' gem.

Cookieman108

A masterpiece of American cinema
Though "Melvin And Howard" is a gem of a movie it remains relatively unknown today. It has slowly become a cult classic since it's release in 1980, particularly due to director Jonathan Demme's success with the film "Silence Of The Lambs". After he became the proverbial "household word" fans of 'Lambs', movie buffs, film fanatics, cultists, etc. anxiously searched out other works by Demme. I had been an ardent fan of "Melvin And Howard" having seen it way back then so I was pleased when it resurfaced for several showings on cable tv and made the revival theater circuit as well.

Though the phrase has been used too often "Melvin And Howard" is a one-of-a-kind classic. The movie tells the story of Melvin Dummars, one of life's unfortunate losers living a hand-to-mouth existence. A financial ruin trying to live beyond his means, he never sees his life quite the way he should - his truck and motorcycle are repossessed shortly after he arrives home from work. Earlier in the film Melvin has an encounter with Howard Hughes that has to be seen to be believed. This event will change his life inexplicably a few years down the road, resulting in chaos and personal trial. But all that takes up surprisingly little of this film. It centers firmly on Melvin and his efforts to make something of himself - any success will satisfy him immensely. The episodes of Melvin's life that are played out for us range from comedic to tragic to bittersweet to frustrating to exhilarating. Definitely more of a fable than a document of Melvin Dummar's true life experiences, it still doesn't diminish the effectiveness of the movie. As portrayed by Paul Le Mat, Melvin embodies a spirit that assures you he will endure and survive long after many others will have given up.

A forgotten classic
It's too bad Paul Le Mat's career never really took off, as he played the common man, good or bad, as well as anybody. While he achieved immortality in the "American Grafitti" movies, and got the thankless role in "The Burning Bed", "Melvin and Howard" was his star vehicle.

The movie tells the story of the very real Melvin Dummar, who made a big splash over twenty years ago by having his name appear in one version of the will of Howard Hughes. To the unitiated, Howard Hughes was at one time the richest man in the world, and flat-out owned several Las Vegas casinos. Dummar claimed his only prior contact with Hughes was giving him a ride once late at night after the billionaire had crashed his motorcycle while riding in the desert.

The motorcycle riding would not have been out of character with Hughes at the time. However, nobody has ever been able to prove that this will was real. In fact, several investigations have leaned towards Dummar instigating a very clumsy fraud. But on the other hand, nobody has been able to say with 100% authority that the will was NOT real. The movie chooses to take this premise, to the gain of the American cinema.

So the story goes on the premise that Dummar was telling the truth. Hey, if they can make the fictional "Shakesphere in Love", using real characters, why not this story? The genius of the movie is that it portrays mostly Melvin, and mostly the parts of his life that have nothing to do with Howard Hughes. He is portrayed as a complete loser when it comes to finances, barely able to hold even menial jobs, and foolishly spending money he doesn't have. This kind of person would probably try a scheme like the Hughes will, but yet the character is likeable. We feel the pain of not being able to pay everyday bills, and really root for the guy. We don't know whether it's a true reflection of the man, but we like who we see on the screen.

I first saw this film when it came out, and I was living in Illinois. I never dreamed then that I'd someday be living in Las Vegas, where a lot of the story takes place, and next to Utah, where the rest does. While the movie doesn't dwell on the tourist part of Vegas, it does provide some interesting shots that show the incredible growth the Strip has experienced in the last twenty years. The entire location of the film is now my home turf.

This, and seeing that other participants in the film would have future successes (Demme, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman, Pamela Reed) baffles me why I only see four reviews of a movie this good, that's been around so long.

Find it and see it.

Underappreciated classic
First off, Mary Steenburgen won the Best SUPPORTING Actress Oscar for this, not Best Actress. Secondly, it is a shame this movie has been somewhat forgotten after all these years. All the performances are fantastic and the direction by Jonathon Demme (Oscar winner for 'The Silence Of The Lambs) is magnificent. A film to treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THESE ARE "LIVE" PERFORMANCES FOLKS!
Because this was filmed in a studio, some people may have overlooked this video. These are "LIVE" performances folks! If you taped it off VH-1 you're missing some great sound. Buy this video if only for the sound quality. The performances are fabulous. Crazy Horse "ROCKS", and Neil is in great form. The version of "Change Your Mind" is worth the price of admission. Because of it's short running time, it may have been a little cheaper, but it's stll well worth the fifteen bucks. This one is for the true fan. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

The Truth About The Truth About Charlie
Before this film even started, it already had two strikes against it in my book. You see, "Charade" - the film of which "The Truth About Charlie" is a re-make of - is one of my all-time favorite films. Thus, when I first heard it was being re-made, I thought that idea was insane. Why mess with near-perfection? "Charade" still holds up very well after forty years and no present-day actor and actress pairing could ever re-create the magic Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn brought to the original. Director Jonathan Demme sure had guts to take on this project. If he desecrated the memory of "Charade" then its legions of fans would surely let him know about it. Well, after finally viewing the re-make with as much of an open mind as possible, I can say that the film is not the total disaster I feared it might be, but, despite good stabs by Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton, "The Truth About Charlie" is significantly inferior to "Charade."

Newlywed Regina Lambert (Newton) returns to Paris to find her apartment abandoned and looted. Matters become worse when the police soon inform her that husband has been murdered. After Regina is shown one passport after another of her dead husband, each with a different identity, she immediately realizes Charlie was not exactly what he seemed. One crucial clue to unraveling the truth about her husband comes to her when a government official played by Tim Robbins tells her that mysterious strangers would soon be stalking her . . . . because her husband had stolen six million dollars. Thankfully, a knight in shining armor by the name of Joshua Peters (Wahlberg) shows up to help Reggie. Or is he only after the money too?

"Charade" worked because of three reasons: (1) its clever story was a delight to unravel as one charade after another was exposed to reveal the true intentions of all its characters, (2) Grant and Hepburn were perfectly matched and fed off each other's screen charisma, and (3) director Stanley Donen delivered a crisp and breezy film that managed to never confuse its audience while still keeping all of its complex elements intact. "The Truth About Charlie" fails to deliver in all three respects. Demme tweaked his version of the story to prevent it from being a straight re-make of the original. However, these new twists - while interesting at times - do not improve matters. While "Charade" assembled all of the pieces of the puzzle in a neat manner at its conclusion, "The Truth About Charlie" concludes in a mess (and an unnecessary epilogue only works to complicate matters further). Wahlberg and Newton do the best they can but there's not much spark between them. Separately, Newton is very good in creating a character who is scared, angry, clever, and charming at the same time and Wahlberg makes some amends for his "Planet of the Apes" debacle, but sadly neither of them can elevate the film. Finally, Jonathan Demme is no Stanley Donen, plain and simple.

If you are purchasing the DVD, then the good news is that the original "Charade" is included on the DVD and the print of it is of very good quality compared to the many public domain copies in circulation. If anything, the release of "The Truth About Charlie" can be considered a good thing for bringing "Charade" to the attention of a new generation of film watchers. There are times when new is not better than old and one need only look at both "Charade" and "The Truth About Charlie" to see such an example of this point.

Grant over Wahlberg but Thandie surpasses hepburn
when i first saw this film, a remake of charade, I gave it 2 and a half stars based on thandie newton's performance alone. yet watching it repeatedly I become more fond of it up to 4 stars plus.where cary grant had screen presence and charm superior to wahlberg, thandie newton holds her own and is far more beautiful than audrey hepburn.when you watch this film you must see it as a type of foreign film for it's production techniques, appreciate the scenery and outstanding soundtrack. it is more of a suspense thriller than the original, which was a suspense comedy if that's possible. the french actress who plays the commandant is outstanding as well as the cameos by aznavoir and anna karina.tim robbins is acceptable as the mysterious man who offers assistance to our heroine. director demme cast thandie newton in the hepburn role for he felt her beauty was equal to the task. Well, he's wrong! thandie newton is far more beautiful than miss hepburn and it is her beauty that makes me watch the film over and over! she is the movie see it for her and you'll truly enjoy it!

1 Star for the Remake but I would Give Charade a 5!
Charade is a teriffic movie!

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn shine in their rolls as does the supporting cast of James Coburn, Walter Matthau, Ned Glass, and George Kennedy.

The remake, the Truth about Charlie has a great cast, Thandie Newton, Tim Robbins and Mark Wahlburg but even they can's save this turkey!

Jonathan Demme is usually a great director, his movie Philadelphia was amazing but he tried to hard to make this Charade remake into some sort of arty movie and it just didn't work and I like arty movies. Also the plot was a mess, there was too much going on at once, the criminals weren't as compelling as in the original and were very boring and I definitely have to agree with the previous reviewer that the added character of Charlie's crazy mother was awful, she was an awful addition and just didn't fit in to the story and the twist ending during the end credits involving her and Tim Robbins character was stupid.

This DVD is only worth buying for Charade because it's shown in a beautiful anamorphic format and is cheaper then the Criterion DVD but if the Criterion DVD goes on sale I will buy it and get rid of this DVD!

TERRIBLE
My husband and I just watched this movie yesterday and both agreed that it was terrible. I have seen (and loved) Charade previously, but he had not and we both did not like the movie for the following reasons:

1. The Chemistry between Walberg and Newton was non-existent. You kept asking yourself during the movie, why do they like each other, and why do I care what happens to them.

2. The constant close-ups on people's faces was annoying.

3. Charlie's crazy mother was a bizarre addition that was not entertaining.

4. The plot dragged along and seemed to go nowhere. There was no suspense. Tim Robbins appeared to be suspicious and guilty the entire time. And when they all go out dancing together, you wonder why Newton is scared of any of them.

I could go on, but those were the main reasons we didn't enjoy the movie. Watch Charade instead!

An inexpensive way to buy a masterpiece: "Charade" !
"Charade" is the very best romantic comedy thriller ever made. It is Stanley Donen's masterpiece, and the only film collaboration between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. I've watched it as many times as "Singin In The Rain", because just like that famous musical it makes me smile! My original copy of "Charade" was a cheap VHS knock-off. Universal apparently long ago let the copyright lapse, so they never promoted a video, and for the same reason "Charade" was unjustly ignored by the AFI, since the commercial reason for the AFI lists was to promote the sale of videos.

The less said about "The Truth About Charlie" the better! The charming "Melvin and Howard" is the best Jonathan Demme film I have seen. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential review

Jonathan Demme would later become one of America's premiere directors, with an Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs and numerous nominations to his credit, but it was this sublime 1980 comedy that put him on the Hollywood map. Esteemed critic Pauline Kael called it "an almost flawless act of sympathetic imagination," referring to the movie's semifictional treatment of the true story of Melvin Dummar (played to perfection by Paul LeMat), an average guy whose life was turned upside down when he was made beneficiary of a $156 million will allegedly signed by millionaire Howard Hughes. Demme and Oscar-winning screenwriter Bo Goldman do not concern themselves with the validity of Dummar's claim; they're more interested in showing how Melvin's life is transformed--not necessarily for the better--by the influx of sudden wealth. Melvin doesn't take easily to being rich, and in telling his story Melvin and Howard becomes a true American classic, guaranteed to stand the test of time and improve with age like John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath. It's also a rousing good comedy, largely due to Mary Steenburgen's Oscar-winning performance as Melvin's wife and the everyday integrity of Melvin as an admirably scrappy hero. With Jason Robards as the long-haired Hughes, whom Melvin had given a ride one cold desert night, never knowing that his simple act of kindness toward the hermit-like Hughes would eventually change his life. With its comical blend of fact and speculation, Melvin and Howard is a tribute to the little guy, celebrating the American dream and the average folks who struggle to make it real. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Souped up santa sley
I agree with the previous reviewers that this movie is quality. However, the video presentation on this latest DVD is poor. The dark shots show a fuzzyness/dullness that caught my attention. It is less noticable as the movie goes on. No complaints with the sound.

"C'mon old timer, sing me a song..."
Directed by Jonathan Demme, Melvin and Howard (1980) tells the supposedly true story of Melvin E. Dummar, a man who may have had a chance encounter with the late multi-billionaire recluse Howard Hughes before his death, and Dummar's inclusion into Hughes' will.

Demme, who also directed Something Wild (1986) and Silence of the Lambs (1991) does a wonderful job of relating the story of Melvin (Paul Le Mat) and how he came across Howard Hughes (Jason Robards) stranded in the desert outside of Las Vegas and gave him a ride. Hughes, looking disheveled and grisly, stated that he was who he was, but Melvin didn't take him seriously, thinking he was just some old wino.

Some time goes by, Howard Hughes passes away, and a mysterious stranger leaves a handwritten letter in Melvin's gas station. The document, which appears to be Hughes will, names Melvin as a beneficiary, entitling him to somewhere in the neighborhood of $156 million dollars. Well, this immediately launches Melvin into the public spotlight and focuses much attention on the validity of the will.

While the movie is titled Melvin and Howard, it's mostly about Melvin, and deals with his many ups and downs (mostly downs) in a particular period of his life. Melvin switches jobs a few times, working as a magnesium bagger, milk truck driver, and gas station owner, and deals with personal problems like his wife leaving, cars repossessed, being in debt up to his ears...Paul Le Mat, who many may recognize as John Milner from American Graffiti (1973) is wonderful as the poor but likeable schlub who, due to his natural good nature, may have found himself in a position to inherit millions. The supporting cast is great including Robards, Dabney Coleman, John Glover, Pamela Reed, and Mary Steenburgen, who won an academy award for best supporting actress as Melvin's wife, Lynda. The real Melvin E. Dummar even makes an appearance as a counter clerk at a bus terminal. And speaking of academy awards, it should also be noted that Bo Goldman won the award for best writing for this film.

There are no special features on this release, only a trailer, but the picture looks wonderful in the wide screen format. There is another release, one from Anchor Bay Entertainment that does include some more extras like commentary and production notes not available here, so if you are interested in those kinds of things, you might want to search it out. Does Melvin get the money in the end? It doesn't really matter, at least not in the scope of this film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good filmmaking and is interesting in discovering an under-appreciated movie with great scripting, casting, dialogue, direction, and music. Everything clicks really well in this little 'slice of life' gem.

Cookieman108

A masterpiece of American cinema
Though "Melvin And Howard" is a gem of a movie it remains relatively unknown today. It has slowly become a cult classic since it's release in 1980, particularly due to director Jonathan Demme's success with the film "Silence Of The Lambs". After he became the proverbial "household word" fans of 'Lambs', movie buffs, film fanatics, cultists, etc. anxiously searched out other works by Demme. I had been an ardent fan of "Melvin And Howard" having seen it way back then so I was pleased when it resurfaced for several showings on cable tv and made the revival theater circuit as well.

Though the phrase has been used too often "Melvin And Howard" is a one-of-a-kind classic. The movie tells the story of Melvin Dummars, one of life's unfortunate losers living a hand-to-mouth existence. A financial ruin trying to live beyond his means, he never sees his life quite the way he should - his truck and motorcycle are repossessed shortly after he arrives home from work. Earlier in the film Melvin has an encounter with Howard Hughes that has to be seen to be believed. This event will change his life inexplicably a few years down the road, resulting in chaos and personal trial. But all that takes up surprisingly little of this film. It centers firmly on Melvin and his efforts to make something of himself - any success will satisfy him immensely. The episodes of Melvin's life that are played out for us range from comedic to tragic to bittersweet to frustrating to exhilarating. Definitely more of a fable than a document of Melvin Dummar's true life experiences, it still doesn't diminish the effectiveness of the movie. As portrayed by Paul Le Mat, Melvin embodies a spirit that assures you he will endure and survive long after many others will have given up.

A forgotten classic
It's too bad Paul Le Mat's career never really took off, as he played the common man, good or bad, as well as anybody. While he achieved immortality in the "American Grafitti" movies, and got the thankless role in "The Burning Bed", "Melvin and Howard" was his star vehicle.

The movie tells the story of the very real Melvin Dummar, who made a big splash over twenty years ago by having his name appear in one version of the will of Howard Hughes. To the unitiated, Howard Hughes was at one time the richest man in the world, and flat-out owned several Las Vegas casinos. Dummar claimed his only prior contact with Hughes was giving him a ride once late at night after the billionaire had crashed his motorcycle while riding in the desert.

The motorcycle riding would not have been out of character with Hughes at the time. However, nobody has ever been able to prove that this will was real. In fact, several investigations have leaned towards Dummar instigating a very clumsy fraud. But on the other hand, nobody has been able to say with 100% authority that the will was NOT real. The movie chooses to take this premise, to the gain of the American cinema.

So the story goes on the premise that Dummar was telling the truth. Hey, if they can make the fictional "Shakesphere in Love", using real characters, why not this story? The genius of the movie is that it portrays mostly Melvin, and mostly the parts of his life that have nothing to do with Howard Hughes. He is portrayed as a complete loser when it comes to finances, barely able to hold even menial jobs, and foolishly spending money he doesn't have. This kind of person would probably try a scheme like the Hughes will, but yet the character is likeable. We feel the pain of not being able to pay everyday bills, and really root for the guy. We don't know whether it's a true reflection of the man, but we like who we see on the screen.

I first saw this film when it came out, and I was living in Illinois. I never dreamed then that I'd someday be living in Las Vegas, where a lot of the story takes place, and next to Utah, where the rest does. While the movie doesn't dwell on the tourist part of Vegas, it does provide some interesting shots that show the incredible growth the Strip has experienced in the last twenty years. The entire location of the film is now my home turf.

This, and seeing that other participants in the film would have future successes (Demme, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman, Pamela Reed) baffles me why I only see four reviews of a movie this good, that's been around so long.

Find it and see it.

Underappreciated classic
First off, Mary Steenburgen won the Best SUPPORTING Actress Oscar for this, not Best Actress. Secondly, it is a shame this movie has been somewhat forgotten after all these years. All the performances are fantastic and the direction by Jonathon Demme (Oscar winner for 'The Silence Of The Lambs) is magnificent. A film to treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

this is not my beautiful DVD player !!
but it is my extremely entertaining, albeit "contrived" concert event. But that is not a bad thing ! as the resulting DVD manages to capture the energy and talent of a truly great American band. If I could go back in time, one of my first destinations would be the CBGB in New York City, 1977, to see the Talking Heads open for the Ramones. Obviously the Talking Heads stole every show, which is probably why the Ramones disliked them so much !

And even though the four members of the "Talking Heads proper" kind of get lost in this nine-member stage ensemble, David Byrne is still the clear leader, and the contributions of the other original band members are essential to the energy of the Talking Heads experience. and what an experience it is ! Every song is an artistic presentation, with the visual effects beautifully complementing the funky, up beat, afro-synchronic musical riffs. With absolutely radical versions of Life During Wartime and Once in a Lifetime, this is my second favorite musical DVD (second only to Led Zeppelin - which is really saying something !)

One of the Great Films of the 1980s
Movie musicals had fallen out of favor by the 1980s, but there were still two that belong on the list of the decade's 10 best: Franco Zefferelli's breathtakingly colorful revision of
Verdi's La Traviata, starring Teresa Status and Placido Domingo. The other is Jonathan Demme's hip, fast-paced and creative documentary, Stop Making Sense.

Shot over several days during live concerts at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, the movie brilliantly captures the creativity of David Byrne and the members of his 1980s band, the Talking Heads.

Stop Making Sense grows from a bare stage, with Byrne alone, except for an acoustic guitar and a boom box, performing "Psycho Killer," to a full-fledged concert, with the entire band, including Tina Weymouth's other band, the Tom Tom Club. Things really get rockin' when Byrne and Tom Tom Club roar into "Burnin' Down the House," during "Take Me to the River, " and especially when Byrne, a consummate showman, dons his "big suit," which he wears for much of the film's second half.

Stop Making Sense is a masterpiece of film editing, too. There is none of the backstage babble one would expect from a concert film, and it's tightly put together.

Only Woodstock captures the raw essence of the rock concert better than this does. Stop Making Sense is one of the great film of the 1980s.

A lifelong journey
First I saw the video on MTV. I bought the record, then the CD. Finally I found the VHS and I thought I had everything. Then they released the anniversary edition CD and finally I bought the DVD. If only I would have been able to actually attend.

Need I say more. The music is fantastic, and the presentation is entertaining. This is by far, the best concert video I've ever seen, and if your not already a Talking Heads fan, you will be after you watch and listen.

Maybe later...
David Byrne self-interviews himself nice. It's good to feel nice. You laugh. The video will make you good to feel nice...and then cry. Because you feel video to feel nice. Does anybody have any questions? I have a tape to play for you...To feel nice. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Thanks, Toe Knee

A Postmodern Cinematic Catharsis Narrative
According to the commentary track included with this DVD, David Byrne may be considered to be the central character in this Talking Heads concert documentary. In the course of the film's 90 minute duration, he is transformed as "a stiff white guy who sheds his inhibitions, gets loose and lets go. He is both changed by the music and set free."

The concert starts on a bare 60 by 40 foot stage with a solo performance of "Psycho Killer" and then slowly adds both equipment and musicians during the first five songs. By the sixth song, "Burning Down the House", nine musicians are present and will remain fully engaged for the next 10 tracks. Three additional tracks are included on the DVD as a bonus.

Seven cameras are used to record the performance, with much of the footage being shot from the perspective of the audience. Indeed, the viewer of the documentary is made to feel that they are witnessing a live event. The director takes great pains to record the artists not just as musicians, but also as "characters" with their own individual performance personalities.

The stage is lit solely by white lighting, with both the type and positioning of the lights permitting an amazing visual variation. Backlit slide photography of both text and representational images are sometimes used in the stage design as well.

The title, "Stop Making Sense", refers to David Byrne's approach to writing song lyrics during the early 1980's. His lyrics are often irrational and illogical, not making sense from one line to the next, yet they still tend to remain both intuitive and emotionally involving.

"Stop Making Sense" is resplendent in its entertaining divergence from the commonplace. Watch, listen and be moved by its wonderfully liberating creative energy! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Philadelphia wasn't the first movie about AIDS (it followed such worthy independent films as Parting Glances and Longtime Companion), but it was the first Hollywood studio picture to take AIDS as its primary subject. In that sense, Philadelphia is a historically important film.As such, it's worth remembering that director Jonathan Demme (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild, The Silence of the Lambs) wasn't interested in preaching to the converted; he set out to make a film that would connect with a mainstream audience.And he succeeded. Philadelphia was not only a hit, it also won Oscars for Bruce Springsteen's haunting "The Streets of Philadelphia," and for Tom Hanks as the gay lawyer Andrew Beckett who is unjustly fired by his firm because he has AIDS. Denzel Washington is another lawyer (functioning as the mainstream-audience surrogate) who reluctantly takes Beckett's case and learns to overcome his misconceptions about the disease, about those who contract it, and about gay people in general.The combined warmth and humanism of Hanks and Demme were absolutely essential to making this picture a success.The cast also features Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas (as Beckett's lover), Joanne Woodward, and Robert Ridgely, and, of course, those Demme regulars Charles Napier, Tracey Walter, and Roger Corman.--Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Very Dramatic
This movie is indeed very touching. It really brings the AIDS crisis to life and raises many questions. Hopefully one day we will have some more answers. Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are superb in their roles. It is very interesting to watch as Washington becomes more accepting of the lifestyle of homosexuals and the advent of the crisis of AIDS. What is also a nice in this film is the support Andrew Beckett(Tom Hanks) feels from his family regarding his discrimination battle. There needs to be more positive movies showing family support today.

The music of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young fit in perfectly with the scenes of the film. People often overlook Neil Young's song and normally I do not like Mr. Young's music. However, this song is truly on a par with Springsteen Award Winning song as it amplifies the mood of Andrew Becket's fuenral perfectly.

Overall, this is one memorable movie from the 1990's and it can be appreciated by almost anyone.

Human Beings
The movie Philadelphia, by Johnathan Demme, displays the struggle a homosexual man infected with AIDS encounters in obtaining justice because he was unfairly fired from his job. Andy Beckett, played by Tom Hanks, seeks a lawyer to defend his case. Joe Miller, played by Denzel Washington, is the lawyer who defends Andy Beckett. Miller is a character who the viewers can relate to because he is homophobic and has a great fear about AIDS. The disease was not well known in the early nineties when the film was made, and Miller expressed the same fears of the public. Joe Miller learned how to put his personal feelings aside and defend the law. Although he does not agree with homosexuality and has a fear of the AIDS virus, Miller learned to look past those emotions and defend a homosexual man with AIDS to ensure that the law was upheld through justice. Philadelphia is an excellent movie because the viewers can relate to the characters and learn from their experiences with homosexuality and AIDS.

Joe Miller is a public defense lawyer who takes pride in his work. He is up for any challenge and rarely refuses to defend a client. Andy Beckett walks into Miller's office one day, seeking a lawyer. Miller is startled by Beckett's appearance because he looks ill and has a few lesions on his face. They shake hands, but Miller is extremely cautious about everything Andy touches. Andy Beckett introduces himself and explains to Miller that his employer fired him because he lost a serious document. Beckett wants to sue the corporation because he believes that he was fired out of prejudice. Miller asks what the prejudice is, and Andy says that the prejudice was against AIDS. Miller is afraid of the AIDS virus and does not wish to defend Andy. Andy is disturbed by Miller's refusal, but kindly departs the office.

The doctor Miller saw directly after the meeting with Andy Beckett attempted to assure Miller that AIDS cannot be contracted through a hand shake or touch, it is only contracted through sexual encounters. Miller is still disturbed by the thought of AIDS, though, because he has a family to worry about. The fear of this disease, however, did not stop Miller from thinking about Andy. Miller is dedicated to the law and does not like to see unjust acts, but he did not know how to overcome his fear of Andy's virus. He tried to convince himself that he denied Andy because he did not agree with homosexuality, but the truth is that he could not face his fear. Many citizens of the United States had the same fear of AIDS in the late eighties and early nineties due to the rising number of outbreaks. Scientists and doctors could not figure out a cure for this and people panicked. The majority of outbreaks occurred in homosexual couples and people referred to the disease as the "gay plague" or "gay cancer". Thus, hatred formed against homosexual people. Miller displays this hatred in the movie.

One day Miller is in the library reviewing material. He sees Andy a few tables over. A clerk is asking Andy if he would like to go to a private room after he brings him novels about AIDS. Andy does not want to go to a private room and a small argument arises. Miller walks over to Andy and starts talking to him. The clerk leaves and a few people around him move to other tables. Miller could not let his fear hold him back any longer. He helps Andy research and decides to defend him in court. A man's legal rights are more important than his personal situation. Miller puts aside the fact that Andy is homosexual, and learns to focus on his rights rather than his AIDS.

As Miller grows close to Andy, he learns more about himself. Throughout the case Andy becomes more and more ill. Instead of being afraid of Andy as he was in the beginning, Miller is compassionate for him and the illness with which he struggles. Miller is not cautious about touching Andy or being around his homosexual friends. He learns to accept Andy for who he is and respect him as a human being. Miller sets an example for society to follow. The public needs to stop blaming homosexuals for the AIDS virus and learn about the disease. Homosexual people also need to be treated as every other human being and society needs to learn how to accept them. Miller proves that these acts can be accomplished in this movie.

Philadelphia is a strong movie because it demonstrates two serious issues that citizens of the United States face. Homosexuality and AIDS arose abruptly and many people panicked out of fear of the unknown. The easy way out was to hate homosexuals because they were believed to be the cause of this disease as Miller did in the movie. People merely needed to educate themselves on AIDS and get to know homosexuals. They would discover that homosexuals are human beings just like everyone else and that the AIDS virus cannot be contracted through touch. Joe Miller set an example for Americans to follow in the movie Philadelphia.

The Oscar Winning Philadelphia with Hanks
March was Oscar month, and TCM (Turner Classic Movies) who showcase great Oscar movied showed ''Philadelphia'' with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington .

''Philadelphia'' is the powerful movie about a well educated and hardworking lawyer named Andy Beckette who contracts AIDS and is then illegally and prejudicely fired from his law firm when they find out he has AIDS.

The movie is nothing short of Excellent demonstrating not only the cold-blooded and hypocritical members of corporte society, but the indignities and prejudices that people living with AIDS have to go through.

The movie also brilliantly shows the courtroom tactics and lies that defendants and lawyers will use in order to win their case. The Defense (who represents the Law Firm who fired Andy Beckette) tries to make Andy Beckett's lifestyle
and often times varying performances at work
against him to try to bring down his reputation and his case.

From a law point of view, the movie is Excellent.
From a Film making point of view, the movie is Excellent.
From a societal message , point of view, ''Philadelphia'' is Excellent.

Jason Robards, plays Charles Wheeler, a sickening, prejudice man who resembles the most disgusting corporate boss there is: The corporate boss, who pretends to be friends with his coworkers or clients, only to stabbed them in the back later. He will do only anything to benefit himself.

At the beginning, Wheeler pretends to be Andy's friend, heck he even ask him for legal advice on a special antitrust case called ''Highlite vs. Sander Systems''. Andy Beckett's becomes fired, from the job, once they find out he has aids, but try to make it look he was fired for other reasons. The movie also greatly shows the prejudices, and misconception people have about aids.

However, Director Jonathan Demme does bring up some controversial areas for example Andy was a guy with many sexual partners, and so his diagnosis of the Aids Virus while dating Miguel Alvarez (Antonio Banderas) is not surprising
at all. In fact the defense uses Andy's personal history against him very well.

Denzel Washington plays Jospeh Miller, the lawyer Beckette eventually to try to bring his AIDS case to court.
Miller himself, at first, displays his own prejudices against people with AIDS. When Beckette, touches items in his office, his face becomes terrified, showing his fear and ignorance that perhaps he will catch AIDS from Beckette.

Another gritty scene that shows people ignorance and prejudice is the library scene in which Andy Beckette, is conducting researching for his AIDS case against the lawfirm that illegally fired him. The librarian in the library, first asks Andy Beckette, if he would be more comfortable in a study room, but then it becomes evident that the the ignorant librarian is telling not asking Andy Beckette to go to another room.
Andy being, a very proud man, refuses showing his true dignity even while having AIDS.

Joseph Miller (Washington) eventually agrees to become Andy's lawyer and this is where more powerful scenes are shown along with brilliant and well scripted performances.
''Justice is blind regardless of color, sex and religion.'' is the line that the Judge in the case uses to ensure the parties involved that this will be a fair case. ''Philadelphia'' gathered many Oscar Nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor leading to Denzel Washington winning for Best Actor.

''Philadelphia'' is not the only movie that deals with the issue of AIDS, but it is by far one of the best made.

I Highly Recommended this movie for both educational reasons (educate people about AIDS along with the ignorant misconception people have about it), and for Journalistic and Filmmaking reasons.

An Oscar worthy film that has to be seen.

There is a dvd available for ''Philadelphia'' but unfortunately no, special features are given but still a great film.

Hear Springsteen's and Neil Young's songs, then press STOP
"Philadelphia" is Hollywood's pathetic, hygienic attempt to deal with the maelstrom of controversy surrounding AIDS. It just doesn't want to offend anyone. (Even the Talking Heads's song "Heaven," heard in one scene, has its "heaven is a place where nothing ever happens" lyric rendered not so offensive.) The performances of Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are noteworthy, but the film refuses to fully explore how AIDS can lay waste to a person's body, mind, and relationships. Does our main character's family and friends struggle with an admixture of hatred, disgust, pity, and sorrow for their infected son? Of course not! That would be too real for the suburban megaplex crowd and for the gay community. No, in "Philadelphia," the AIDS victim's family and friends are supportive until the end. Who's the bad guy? Well, it's our hero's employer, whose somewhat understandable fears of a ravaging syndrome (which was not fully understood in 1993) being introuduced in the workplace are portrayed as malicious. The subject of AIDS is a powderkeg, but in "Philadelphia," it seems about as controversial as cancer.

Good movie, too preachy in areas
I finally got around to renting a copy of "Philadelphia". Honestly, I was bored and nothing seemed interesting in the video store at the time. I paid my money, took it home, popped it in, and watched for two hours. The plot is inherently well-known so I won't rehash it here. However, I do find the film to take their viewpoint in treating homosexuals as regular people to almost bashing you over the head extreme. I'm no longer a subscriber to any faith. I'm skeptical of all religions, but I still maintain a study to better understand people and show respect where I can. I respect the fact that one's personal preference in bedroom activites should not be included in workplace policy, or any other public discourse, unless mutually agreed upon. I tend to keep it behind the bedroom door. Whatever two consenting adults do is none of my business. However, if a religion states in it's holy book that the deity who inspired said holy book isn't pleased with same-sex relations, that is their belief and I respect it. Does that mean that religious people should be blindly labeled as "Homophobes"? No, only if they engage in the typical intolerance and prejudice shown to various ethnic groups the world over and apply that to actions consenting adults engage in, in the privacy of their bedroom. I've known and have worked with homosexuals in various jobs and also studied with in course during my college days, and I actually found a few to be more enjoyable and a breath of fresh air compared to some heterosexual people. I don't consider myself to be "Enlightened" (I have no time for people who claim to be anyways), but I eventually came to my current outlook in life long before I saw Philadelphia. I enjoyed the film for it's themes in removing intolerance, but the film just was a tad too preachy at times. Do I recommend it, yes, but I do know some won't change in their views no matter how foolish. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cousin Bobby
This is a unique and soul stirring documentary that will grip you and humble you, and perhaps, change the way you think about God, poverty and racism forever. As you are drawn into the world of Father Bob Castle, a Yale-educated white rector of a small Episcopal church in Harlem, you can't help but be in awe of this extraordinary man! Yet this is not the tale of some white liberal do-gooder "gracing" impoverished minority neighborhoods with his help. Rather it is the story of a very human man whose hard-earned presence in the heart and soul of a mostly African-American and Latino community takes him to the drug-infested, pot-holed streets of Harlem, and it is there, among friends, where he lives with a reasonable hope for God's amazing Grace! A very personal story of Jonathan Demme's long-lost cousin Bobby, COUSIN BOBBY is filmed like an amateur home-movie so that it allows you to experience, even if it's in a little itty bitty way, all the love, anger, faith, grief, outrage, fear, joy, remorse, pain, beauty, sadness and hope that must be part of Father Castle's world every grace-filled day. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Directors Cut of "CRAZY MAMA"
A joyous, unrelentless, kitchy celebration of 1950's Americana, Rock n Roll and the road.

This "Directors Cut" of Crazy Mama is a lot of fun because it also includes a feature length audio commentary by its director Jonathan Demme and the produscer Roger Corman.

Follow 3 generations of womwn and the men they pick up. It's general mayhem as their crime spree races from California to Arkansas.

CLASSIC 50's HITS SOUND TRACK - Set in 1950's rural America, with a great Rock n Roll sound track, it's a hillarious romp starring Cloris Leachman and Ann Sothern as the Crazy Mamas of the title.....who form a gang of regular, ordinary people who rob gas stations, super markets and eventually banks....the eldest member being an 82 year old grannie.

This movie is a lot of fun!

Great Movie! Lame DVD
New Concorde, aka the worst company putting out cult DVDs still can't figure out how to not release things in pan and scan. Maybe one day I will actually buy some of their releases when the do it the right way. Why bother having a commentary. Why bother putting it out at all. WHY??!! ... Read more

Reviews (101)

this is not my beautiful DVD player !!
but it is my extremely entertaining, albeit "contrived" concert event. But that is not a bad thing ! as the resulting DVD manages to capture the energy and talent of a truly great American band. If I could go back in time, one of my first destinations would be the CBGB in New York City, 1977, to see the Talking Heads open for the Ramones. Obviously the Talking Heads stole every show, which is probably why the Ramones disliked them so much !

And even though the four members of the "Talking Heads proper" kind of get lost in this nine-member stage ensemble, David Byrne is still the clear leader, and the contributions of the other original band members are essential to the energy of the Talking Heads experience. and what an experience it is ! Every song is an artistic presentation, with the visual effects beautifully complementing the funky, up beat, afro-synchronic musical riffs. With absolutely radical versions of Life During Wartime and Once in a Lifetime, this is my second favorite musical DVD (second only to Led Zeppelin - which is really saying something !)

One of the Great Films of the 1980s
Movie musicals had fallen out of favor by the 1980s, but there were still two that belong on the list of the decade's 10 best: Franco Zefferelli's breathtakingly colorful revision of
Verdi's La Traviata, starring Teresa Status and Placido Domingo. The other is Jonathan Demme's hip, fast-paced and creative documentary, Stop Making Sense.

Shot over several days during live concerts at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, the movie brilliantly captures the creativity of David Byrne and the members of his 1980s band, the Talking Heads.

Stop Making Sense grows from a bare stage, with Byrne alone, except for an acoustic guitar and a boom box, performing "Psycho Killer," to a full-fledged concert, with the entire band, including Tina Weymouth's other band, the Tom Tom Club. Things really get rockin' when Byrne and Tom Tom Club roar into "Burnin' Down the House," during "Take Me to the River, " and especially when Byrne, a consummate showman, dons his "big suit," which he wears for much of the film's second half.

Stop Making Sense is a masterpiece of film editing, too. There is none of the backstage babble one would expect from a concert film, and it's tightly put together.

Only Woodstock captures the raw essence of the rock concert better than this does. Stop Making Sense is one of the great film of the 1980s.

A lifelong journey
First I saw the video on MTV. I bought the record, then the CD. Finally I found the VHS and I thought I had everything. Then they released the anniversary edition CD and finally I bought the DVD. If only I would have been able to actually attend.

Need I say more. The music is fantastic, and the presentation is entertaining. This is by far, the best concert video I've ever seen, and if your not already a Talking Heads fan, you will be after you watch and listen.

Maybe later...
David Byrne self-interviews himself nice. It's good to feel nice. You laugh. The video will make you good to feel nice...and then cry. Because you feel video to feel nice. Does anybody have any questions? I have a tape to play for you...To feel nice. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Thanks, Toe Knee

A Postmodern Cinematic Catharsis Narrative
According to the commentary track included with this DVD, David Byrne may be considered to be the central character in this Talking Heads concert documentary. In the course of the film's 90 minute duration, he is transformed as "a stiff white guy who sheds his inhibitions, gets loose and lets go. He is both changed by the music and set free."

The concert starts on a bare 60 by 40 foot stage with a solo performance of "Psycho Killer" and then slowly adds both equipment and musicians during the first five songs. By the sixth song, "Burning Down the House", nine musicians are present and will remain fully engaged for the next 10 tracks. Three additional tracks are included on the DVD as a bonus.

Seven cameras are used to record the performance, with much of the footage being shot from the perspective of the audience. Indeed, the viewer of the documentary is made to feel that they are witnessing a live event. The director takes great pains to record the artists not just as musicians, but also as "characters" with their own individual performance personalities.

The stage is lit solely by white lighting, with both the type and positioning of the lights permitting an amazing visual variation. Backlit slide photography of both text and representational images are sometimes used in the stage design as well.

The title, "Stop Making Sense", refers to David Byrne's approach to writing song lyrics during the early 1980's. His lyrics are often irrational and illogical, not making sense from one line to the next, yet they still tend to remain both intuitive and emotionally involving.

"Stop Making Sense" is resplendent in its entertaining divergence from the commonplace. Watch, listen and be moved by its wonderfully liberating creative energy! ... Read more

Reviews (362)

One of the best thrillers!
Absolutely as scary a movie as Hollywood could ever produce. The acting, writing, cinematography, and dramatic lighting effects are awesome. The story, based on my favorite book by Thomas Harris of the same title, is incredibly chilling. FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to an interview with "Hannibal The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who is, without a doubt, the completely immoral personification of evil. Hopefully, Lecter will aid in the capture of another grizzly murderer who skins his victims. The plot twists and turns as will your stomach. However the explict and grizzly visuals are sumptous rather than repulsive. However, this film still can not be recommended to the squeamish. Anthony Hopkins makes the most of his part and leaves you with an impression that will haunt you forever. If you like the movie, read the book alone in the dark, which will also send chills up your spine. Nightmares Gaurenteed!

The movie also won five accolodes from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Including Anthony Hopkins only Oscar which he won for Best Actor, and Jodie Foster's for Best Actress. It even won Best Picture of the Year.

A classic, master-mind of a thriller
The Silence of the Lambs

Score: 96/100

When it won the 5 most important Oscar's (Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay) in 1991, The Silence of the Lambs proved not only is it tear-jerking drama's that get so much attention, but the full-of-plot, intriguing thriller's are also an important part of film history.

Young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to help find a missing woman to save her from a psychopathic serial killer who skins his victims. Clarice attempts to gain a better insight into the twisted mind of the killer by talking to another psychopath Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who used to be a respected psychiatrist. FBI agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) believes that Lecter who is also a very powerful and clever mind manipulator have the answers to their questions to help locate the killer. Clarice must first try and gain Lecter's confidence before he is to give away any information.

The Silence of the Lambs is a clever, chilling and brain-numbing movie which just keeps getting better and better. The performances are quite simply superb, the two leads, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins both pull off uniquely amazing performances, and they have a great screen chemistry, while Scott Glenn and Ted Levine back them up nicely. Director Jonathan Demme pieces everything together awesomely with Ted Tally's extraordinary script, adapted from Thomas Harris' novel. On the subject of books and novels, this is one of the few films that has surpassed the high standards of its book, and The Silence of the Lambs deserved to be praised for that alone!

The Silence of the Lambs is a brilliant, immediate classic that everyone should've seen after 10 years of stunning the world.

Hannibal Lecter the best bad guy in a movie
The first one of the trilogy of Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins at his very best. A fantastic movie, don't miss any of the three.

The very best
Roger Ebert said, "I t has been a good long while since I have felt the presence of Evil so manifestly demonstrated as in the first appearance of Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs", and it is exactly that manifestation of evil caused The Silence of Lambs to leave such an indelible mark on moviegoers. Hopkins performance surely rates as one of the best performances, male or female, in Hollywood history.

Credit also goes, in enormous quantities, to Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster. To Demme because he realized that the horror of this film was psychological, and to Foster because her perfectly played naiveté to Lecter's arrogant worldliness created the canvas on which the film resonates.

Too many thrillers and wanna-be thrillers fall into the least common denominator - trite scare tactics. Here, there was nothing trite. The images were clear, original, and gripping.

I've seen this film half a dozen times (there are very few films that I've watched more than twice), and every time my mind brings up the scene that Ebert is referring to - in Chilton's psychiatric ward - my mind's eye sees Lecter wearing orange. This is Demme's brilliance. He has done such a terrific job of creating Lecter as a devil, that when I think of him, I clothe him in colors of fire. In reality, he wears blue in that scene.

In a later scene, the scene that names the book and film, Lecter is imprisoned in a tall cage in the center of a wide open room, and Foster sneaks in to visit him, hoping to garner more clues to the murder she's investigating (it's easy to forget while watching this film that there is something going on other than the relationship between Lecter and Starling, like the other serial murderer in the film, the one that is actively killing people). This is where Demme (and Hopkins and Foster, for that matter) shines. Lecter, seated, asks Starling, "What does he do, this man you seek?" Starling answers, "He kills women." "No, that is incidental," Lecter replies. When Lecter speaks - and his diction is flawless, perfect, and amazing, capturing his contemptful personality - the camera is completely focused on his face, and the lighting and shadows that Demme employs evokes images of every devil or demon our imagination, or literature, has ever conjured.

This scene, and everything that follows (the second meal of raw meat, the killing of the guards), is a breathtaking piece of artistry.

This is, quite simply, the very best thriller Hollywood has ever produced.

Pretty good - I liked it
With excellent directing, writing, and acting...Jodie Foster plays a great role and should have won the academy award. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

The Truth About The Truth About Charlie
Before this film even started, it already had two strikes against it in my book. You see, "Charade" - the film of which "The Truth About Charlie" is a re-make of - is one of my all-time favorite films. Thus, when I first heard it was being re-made, I thought that idea was insane. Why mess with near-perfection? "Charade" still holds up very well after forty years and no present-day actor and actress pairing could ever re-create the magic Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn brought to the original. Director Jonathan Demme sure had guts to take on this project. If he desecrated the memory of "Charade" then its legions of fans would surely let him know about it. Well, after finally viewing the re-make with as much of an open mind as possible, I can say that the film is not the total disaster I feared it might be, but, despite good stabs by Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton, "The Truth About Charlie" is significantly inferior to "Charade."

Newlywed Regina Lambert (Newton) returns to Paris to find her apartment abandoned and looted. Matters become worse when the police soon inform her that husband has been murdered. After Regina is shown one passport after another of her dead husband, each with a different identity, she immediately realizes Charlie was not exactly what he seemed. One crucial clue to unraveling the truth about her husband comes to her when a government official played by Tim Robbins tells her that mysterious strangers would soon be stalking her . . . . because her husband had stolen six million dollars. Thankfully, a knight in shining armor by the name of Joshua Peters (Wahlberg) shows up to help Reggie. Or is he only after the money too?

"Charade" worked because of three reasons: (1) its clever story was a delight to unravel as one charade after another was exposed to reveal the true intentions of all its characters, (2) Grant and Hepburn were perfectly matched and fed off each other's screen charisma, and (3) director Stanley Donen delivered a crisp and breezy film that managed to never confuse its audience while still keeping all of its complex elements intact. "The Truth About Charlie" fails to deliver in all three respects. Demme tweaked his version of the story to prevent it from being a straight re-make of the original. However, these new twists - while interesting at times - do not improve matters. While "Charade" assembled all of the pieces of the puzzle in a neat manner at its conclusion, "The Truth About Charlie" concludes in a mess (and an unnecessary epilogue only works to complicate matters further). Wahlberg and Newton do the best they can but there's not much spark between them. Separately, Newton is very good in creating a character who is scared, angry, clever, and charming at the same time and Wahlberg makes some amends for his "Planet of the Apes" debacle, but sadly neither of them can elevate the film. Finally, Jonathan Demme is no Stanley Donen, plain and simple.

If you are purchasing the DVD, then the good news is that the original "Charade" is included on the DVD and the print of it is of very good quality compared to the many public domain copies in circulation. If anything, the release of "The Truth About Charlie" can be considered a good thing for bringing "Charade" to the attention of a new generation of film watchers. There are times when new is not better than old and one need only look at both "Charade" and "The Truth About Charlie" to see such an example of this point.

Grant over Wahlberg but Thandie surpasses hepburn
when i first saw this film, a remake of charade, I gave it 2 and a half stars based on thandie newton's performance alone. yet watching it repeatedly I become more fond of it up to 4 stars plus.where cary grant had screen presence and charm superior to wahlberg, thandie newton holds her own and is far more beautiful than audrey hepburn.when you watch this film you must see it as a type of foreign film for it's production techniques, appreciate the scenery and outstanding soundtrack. it is more of a suspense thriller than the original, which was a suspense comedy if that's possible. the french actress who plays the commandant is outstanding as well as the cameos by aznavoir and anna karina.tim robbins is acceptable as the mysterious man who offers assistance to our heroine. director demme cast thandie newton in the hepburn role for he felt her beauty was equal to the task. Well, he's wrong! thandie newton is far more beautiful than miss hepburn and it is her beauty that makes me watch the film over and over! she is the movie see it for her and you'll truly enjoy it!

1 Star for the Remake but I would Give Charade a 5!
Charade is a teriffic movie!

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn shine in their rolls as does the supporting cast of James Coburn, Walter Matthau, Ned Glass, and George Kennedy.

The remake, the Truth about Charlie has a great cast, Thandie Newton, Tim Robbins and Mark Wahlburg but even they can's save this turkey!

Jonathan Demme is usually a great director, his movie Philadelphia was amazing but he tried to hard to make this Charade remake into some sort of arty movie and it just didn't work and I like arty movies. Also the plot was a mess, there was too much going on at once, the criminals weren't as compelling as in the original and were very boring and I definitely have to agree with the previous reviewer that the added character of Charlie's crazy mother was awful, she was an awful addition and just didn't fit in to the story and the twist ending during the end credits involving her and Tim Robbins character was stupid.

This DVD is only worth buying for Charade because it's shown in a beautiful anamorphic format and is cheaper then the Criterion DVD but if the Criterion DVD goes on sale I will buy it and get rid of this DVD!

TERRIBLE
My husband and I just watched this movie yesterday and both agreed that it was terrible. I have seen (and loved) Charade previously, but he had not and we both did not like the movie for the following reasons:

1. The Chemistry between Walberg and Newton was non-existent. You kept asking yourself during the movie, why do they like each other, and why do I care what happens to them.

2. The constant close-ups on people's faces was annoying.

3. Charlie's crazy mother was a bizarre addition that was not entertaining.

4. The plot dragged along and seemed to go nowhere. There was no suspense. Tim Robbins appeared to be suspicious and guilty the entire time. And when they all go out dancing together, you wonder why Newton is scared of any of them.

I could go on, but those were the main reasons we didn't enjoy the movie. Watch Charade instead!

An inexpensive way to buy a masterpiece: "Charade" !
"Charade" is the very best romantic comedy thriller ever made. It is Stanley Donen's masterpiece, and the only film collaboration between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. I've watched it as many times as "Singin In The Rain", because just like that famous musical it makes me smile! My original copy of "Charade" was a cheap VHS knock-off. Universal apparently long ago let the copyright lapse, so they never promoted a video, and for the same reason "Charade" was unjustly ignored by the AFI, since the commercial reason for the AFI lists was to promote the sale of videos.

The less said about "The Truth About Charlie" the better! The charming "Melvin and Howard" is the best Jonathan Demme film I have seen. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very , Very Pleased
I saw this movie on HBO a couple of years ago, and I have been trying to find it on DVD for a couple of months now, I finally found it on VHS and bought it anyway, cause I just had to have it. The story with Taral Hicks is my favorite, she is trying to reach her mother who is dying in the hospital. She gets stuck and eventually she ends up having to call her from the subway station. When she gets a hold of her mother she sings here favorite song to her over the phone, the song is Troubles of the World. That girl sings the mess out of that song, it will bring tears to your eyes. If you have not seen this movie, you really should.

A Wonderful Collection of Stories!
The first time I saw "Subway Stories" on HBO, it totally blew me away. The whole concept behind the film was to compile the winning short stories from a contest (all of the stories had to be connected to the subways of New York). While the stories are diverse in their plots and themes, I couldn't help but be glued to the TV anticipating the next story. There is something there for everyone. I was particularly fond of John Guare's segment about the war vet pan-handling on the train, although all of the stories were much better than average.

My only problem with this movie is that it is not yet available on DVD. IF you haven't seen this and are a fan of short stories, you will love this movie.

Waiting for the DVD
Please please please release "Subway Stories" on DVD! Its a great movie, but I'm waiting for the DVD (perhaps with some extras)!

John Rocker can't ride the subway, but i will
when i lived in maine, i was only 6 hours from NYC, and i made a habit to go to the big city whenever i could. I always rode the subway. some people may think it's crazy, but i have always been fascinated by them.the last time i was there, i rode one from greenwich village to queens at 130 in the morning and became dazzled by the wonder of gotham. This movie will leave you dazzled by the the variety of the themes presented her., from a snooty rich woman who gets locked in the subway and has to stay there over night, ending up acting like a homeless person. to the old man on the train who gives stock tips to a young trade, these stories tell people more about new york city than any travel giude could. my favorite is the one featuring rosie perez who flirts with a married man on the train

5 Star Presentation
I watched most of this while in a motel. This movie is incredible. It's very interesting and entertaining. It's one of those movies that makes you think and makes you laugh and the music by Mecca Bodega is spectacular. If you don't already own this I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it. ... Read more

Reviews (362)

One of the best thrillers!
Absolutely as scary a movie as Hollywood could ever produce. The acting, writing, cinematography, and dramatic lighting effects are awesome. The story, based on my favorite book by Thomas Harris of the same title, is incredibly chilling. FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to an interview with "Hannibal The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who is, without a doubt, the completely immoral personification of evil. Hopefully, Lecter will aid in the capture of another grizzly murderer who skins his victims. The plot twists and turns as will your stomach. However the explict and grizzly visuals are sumptous rather than repulsive. However, this film still can not be recommended to the squeamish. Anthony Hopkins makes the most of his part and leaves you with an impression that will haunt you forever. If you like the movie, read the book alone in the dark, which will also send chills up your spine. Nightmares Gaurenteed!

The movie also won five accolodes from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Including Anthony Hopkins only Oscar which he won for Best Actor, and Jodie Foster's for Best Actress. It even won Best Picture of the Year.

A classic, master-mind of a thriller
The Silence of the Lambs

Score: 96/100

When it won the 5 most important Oscar's (Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay) in 1991, The Silence of the Lambs proved not only is it tear-jerking drama's that get so much attention, but the full-of-plot, intriguing thriller's are also an important part of film history.

Young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to help find a missing woman to save her from a psychopathic serial killer who skins his victims. Clarice attempts to gain a better insight into the twisted mind of the killer by talking to another psychopath Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who used to be a respected psychiatrist. FBI agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) believes that Lecter who is also a very powerful and clever mind manipulator have the answers to their questions to help locate the killer. Clarice must first try and gain Lecter's confidence before he is to give away any information.

The Silence of the Lambs is a clever, chilling and brain-numbing movie which just keeps getting better and better. The performances are quite simply superb, the two leads, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins both pull off uniquely amazing performances, and they have a great screen chemistry, while Scott Glenn and Ted Levine back them up nicely. Director Jonathan Demme pieces everything together awesomely with Ted Tally's extraordinary script, adapted from Thomas Harris' novel. On the subject of books and novels, this is one of the few films that has surpassed the high standards of its book, and The Silence of the Lambs deserved to be praised for that alone!

The Silence of the Lambs is a brilliant, immediate classic that everyone should've seen after 10 years of stunning the world.

Hannibal Lecter the best bad guy in a movie
The first one of the trilogy of Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins at his very best. A fantastic movie, don't miss any of the three.

The very best
Roger Ebert said, "I t has been a good long while since I have felt the presence of Evil so manifestly demonstrated as in the first appearance of Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs", and it is exactly that manifestation of evil caused The Silence of Lambs to leave such an indelible mark on moviegoers. Hopkins performance surely rates as one of the best performances, male or female, in Hollywood history.

Credit also goes, in enormous quantities, to Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster. To Demme because he realized that the horror of this film was psychological, and to Foster because her perfectly played naiveté to Lecter's arrogant worldliness created the canvas on which the film resonates.

Too many thrillers and wanna-be thrillers fall into the least common denominator - trite scare tactics. Here, there was nothing trite. The images were clear, original, and gripping.

I've seen this film half a dozen times (there are very few films that I've watched more than twice), and every time my mind brings up the scene that Ebert is referring to - in Chilton's psychiatric ward - my mind's eye sees Lecter wearing orange. This is Demme's brilliance. He has done such a terrific job of creating Lecter as a devil, that when I think of him, I clothe him in colors of fire. In reality, he wears blue in that scene.

In a later scene, the scene that names the book and film, Lecter is imprisoned in a tall cage in the center of a wide open room, and Foster sneaks in to visit him, hoping to garner more clues to the murder she's investigating (it's easy to forget while watching this film that there is something going on other than the relationship between Lecter and Starling, like the other serial murderer in the film, the one that is actively killing people). This is where Demme (and Hopkins and Foster, for that matter) shines. Lecter, seated, asks Starling, "What does he do, this man you seek?" Starling answers, "He kills women." "No, that is incidental," Lecter replies. When Lecter speaks - and his diction is flawless, perfect, and amazing, capturing his contemptful personality - the camera is completely focused on his face, and the lighting and shadows that Demme employs evokes images of every devil or demon our imagination, or literature, has ever conjured.

This scene, and everything that follows (the second meal of raw meat, the killing of the guards), is a breathtaking piece of artistry.

This is, quite simply, the very best thriller Hollywood has ever produced.

Pretty good - I liked it
With excellent directing, writing, and acting...Jodie Foster plays a great role and should have won the academy award. ... Read more