F/X

Amazon.com

"F/X" is Hollywood-speak for "special effects," those often-bloody tricks that fool us into believing a gun has been fired or a head has been blown off. Bryan Brown plays a freelance effects wizard who arrives for each job fully equipped in a customized truck, making it easy for him to roll from one gig into the next. Accepting a hefty chunk of change for one such job, Brown stages the death of a gangster for the Witness Protection Program. At least, that is what he is led to believe. Illusion, it turns out, is everything. Not knowing whom to trust or what to think, Brown soon finds himself playing a vicious game of cat and mouse with the bad guys. What gives this an added thrill is that Brown is not sure exactly who is the villain in his own personal mystery movie. It could be the gangster (Jerry Orbach), the government agents, or the police officer (Brian Dennehy) with whom he joins forces. Evenly paced and surprisingly cunning, this is will leave you guessing until the last squib has been fired. Brown and Dennehy were reunited less successfully in the 1991 sequel, F/X2. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Description

In this riveting, high-energy suspense thriller, special effects wizard Rollie Tyler (Brian Brown) is enlisted by the Justice Department to stage what will be the most elaborate assignment of his lifetime--if it doesn't kill him first!

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorites.......2007-08-26

This movie has the look and feel of a Hitchcock film. It is well directed and well acted.

An ingenious suspense film!.......2007-07-28

F/X this DVD is great! Specially if you saw the film back in 1986 (I was 8 years old and have to say this film brings back memories, good ones), and I bring this up, because if you did you can see the movie restored and in 2 screen formats (widescreen and standard version), that ads a whole new experience, and as The New Yorker said "an ingenious suspense film" and it rely is! I recommend this DVD specially if you are an old movie timer, and to all of you that haven't seen it, because if you are reading this I have a hunch that you don't know this great movie. PS: The DVD doesn't say that the movie has been restored, but it has, if you see first the original theatrical trailer (that comes like a bonus), you could see the original looks of the film, because when you play the movie...man, you are going to see something different!

The deadly art of illusion.......2006-03-17

This is a movie we watch over and over.
The scenario is about a special effects expert in the movie field who is asked to "fake" a murder to protect a witness until time for the trial.
Then, he is asked to do the shooting.
Here you have suspense, action, and adventure.
A good 'un

Suspending disbelief.......2006-02-18

F/X is exciting, entertaining, but only semi-credible. We are expected to believe a man can penetrate a guarded, walled estate, lug a huge amount of equipment into a mansion and, without knowing the layout, lug all of this equipment to an upstairs room without ever being detected. Houdini couldn't have managed that.
There are other things that one must not look at too closely (like wearing a rubber mask of someone's face, speaking in it without a guard noticing that this is a mask).
If we look beyond these flaws, the film is enjoyable. Just don't take it too seriously.

Is it illusion or is it reality?.......2005-12-21

F/X is a dual story. The first is a behind the scenes look at movie magic (or special effects). The second is a political thriller.

Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) is a special effects wizard. He is the greatest in the business, not only with special effects but with make-up effects. The Justice Department needs to fake the death of an informant (Jerry Orbach). They approach Rollie to stage the fake death. Rollie cannot resist.

Everything goes off without a hitch except the police are treating it as a real murder and Rollie as the killer. The manhunt begins and Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy) is in charge of it. Rollie avoids Leo through guile and special effects. But things change when someone tries to kill Rollie.

Eventually, Leo realizes that Rollie is being set up and he teams up with Rollie to solve what really happened. This is when the film shifts into high gear.

This was one of the best films of the year with two outstanding performances by Brown and Dennehy. This film will keep you on the edge of the seat.

DVD EXTRAS: None

Average customer rating:

Kolya
Warm and fuzzy
very good....
Lovely Film!
Language is not Russian (as stated by amazon) but Chezh. Be aware!

Kolya
Starring: Zdenek Sverák , Andrei Chalimon , Libuse Safránková , Ondrej Vetchý , and Stella Zázvorková
Director: Jan Sverák
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000065V3D
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Amazon.com

Winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this charming Czech drama uses the backdrop of the Russian military occupation in Prague for its funny, sad, and ultimately delightful story of a 55-year-old man's friendship with a 5-year-old boy. It doesn't exactly start out as friendship: Louka is a cellist who lost his symphony job after writing a sarcastic remark on an official form, and although he's struggling financially he still enjoys the company of several young women who find him irresistibly sexy. The last thing he needs is a surrogate child, but that's what he gets when young Kolya is abandoned by his mother, a Russian woman Louka had agreed to marry so she could avoid being sent back to Russia. The mother runs off to her boyfriend in Germany, leaving Louka with a 5-year-old kid who only speaks Russian! As directed by Jan Sverák (whose father, Zdenek Sverák, plays Louka), this predicament offers a lovingly detailed account of how Louka and Kolya discover each other, and how their mutual awkwardness evolves into a heartwarming father-son relationship. While the Russian presence creates an atmosphere of suspicion and restriction, the deepening connection between Louka and Kolya turns this into an unforgettable film, beautifully photographed, sensitively performed, and directed with just the right combination of subtle sentiment and harsh reality. Its Oscar was definitely well deserved. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Winner of the Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe as Best Foreign Language Film, this irresistible comedy treat was embraced by critics and audiences everywhere! A confirmed bachelor is in for the surprise of his life when a get-rich-quick scheme backfires ... setting off a wild set of circumstances -- and leaving him with a pint-sized new roommate! Now, with a mischievous five-year-old named Kolya suddenly in his care ... life in this once carefree playboy's tiny apartment changes faster than he could ever imagine! Uplifting and endlessly funny, KOLYA is delightful motion picture entertainment you'll want to take home!

Customer Reviews:

Kolya.......2007-07-31

Kolya is a beautiful story about how a little boy and an older man have their lives crossed and how they are forever changed. The performances and cinematography are perfect. Seeing this movie on DVD gives the viewer the opportunity to also view the production notes...an interesting story about how they found this beautiful little boy, who is not a professional actor, but just a precious little boy. One of the best foreign films ever in my opinion.

Warm and fuzzy.......2007-05-19

A beautiful story of a middle-aged musician in Prague just prior to the overthrow of communism. When communism arrived in Czechoslovakia the hero was, due to his brother's escape, removed from the orchestra and had to earn his living playing for funerals at a crematorium. Through a series of bad choices he ends up responsible for a small Russian boy. How they win each other over is a joy to watch and more than one tear is shed. Truly a delight! Superb acting.

very good...........2007-05-16

KOLYA is a great film that quietly examines the transformation that takes place in a confirmed bachelor's life, when the unexpected presents itself at his doorstep. Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is a cellist who once played concert halls, and must now work at making a sparse living, playing at the Prague crematorium, during the fall of the Soviet Union, since he has been blacklisted by the Communist government authority. What's more, a friend of his makes him an offer to acquire a great deal of money in a short amount of time. He must agree to a sham marriage with a Russian woman (Stella Zázvorková). If this doesn't sound questionable enough, there is another detail to add into the mix. This woman has a young son, Kolya (Zdenek Sverak) , who speaks no Czech. Of course, Louka speaks no Russian. The little boy is dropped off at Louka's modest studio apartment, and the confirmed bachelor who has grown quite set in his ways, must learn to adjust to life with a small child. Little does he know how much this life change will affect him for the better.

KOLYA works very well on several levels. It succeeds as a compelling character study, sometimes humorous, and insightful look at post-U.S.S.R Czech Republic, politics and its supressive effects on Czech citizens. Really interesting.

Lovely Film!.......2007-03-13

Ah! What a lovely film! The sticky-sweet sentimentality of so many U.S. films drives me crazy and takes me right out of the experience. Kolya has none of that. Yet every time I see it, I get a lump the size of a moose in my throat. It's a must-see.

Language is not Russian (as stated by amazon) but Chezh. Be aware!.......2007-03-01

If you don't understand Russian and going to follow subtitles - this one is for you. The DVD quality is perfect (I'm not gonna say anything about the movie - lots of reviews here). But the fact that amazon said it is Russian but it turned out to be Chezh made me sad..

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie
F/X 2 is a great ingenious movie with plot and action!
todavía resulta original
A memorable sequel
Better Than I Remembered

F/X 2 - The Deadly Art of Illusion
Starring: Bryan Brown , Brian Dennehy , Rachel Ticotin , Joanna Gleason , and Philip Bosco
Director: Richard Franklin
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: 079284579X
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Amazon.com

A rare example of a sequel topping the original, F/X 2 gives us more of the adventures of special-effects whiz Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown). Rollie is recruited by his wife's ex-husband into developing one of his devices for a police sting, but when it goes terribly wrong, Rollie's on the run and in need of help from ex-cop friend Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy). Most of the fun, of course, comes from seeing Rollie in action, whether he's using toys developed in his lab (such as a remote-controlled clown suit) or improvising gimmicks on the run, such as in an exciting supermarket showdown. Rachel Ticotin appears as Rollie's wife, and two actresses who have appeared on Broadway, Josie de Guzman (Guys and Dolls, 1992) and Joanna Gleason (Tony winner for Into the Woods, 1987), play Leo's old flames, police computer whiz Velez and assistant D.A. Liz, respectively. --David Horiuchi

Description

Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy are back for an all-new action-thriller that continues the F/Xsaga with stylish wit, unrelenting suspense and amazing high-tech action. Five years afterhis first deadly adventure, Rollie Tyler (Brown) has left the special effects business and now designs sophisticated electronic toys for a living. But when his girlfriend's ex-husband (Tom Mason), a police detective, persuades him to devise an illusion to capture a serial killer, Rollie is once again lured into the lethal world of make-believe. And soon, he finds himself trapped in a murderous maze of deceit and treachery in which he must depend on his ingenious tricksand his friendship withDetective Leo McCarthy (Dennehy)to expose a terrifying underworld conspiracy...but only if he can stay alive!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2006-03-17

Ah, the return of the characters from the first movie. KEWL.
This sequel is well done, and more enjoyable to me than the first one.
'Course, I like Brian Dennehy . . . and the mix of the two men works very well, once again.
Plenty of action, suspense, and, once again, triumph!

F/X 2 is a great ingenious movie with plot and action!.......2002-12-22

F/X 2 is a great ingenious film with plot and action! F/X 2 stars Brian Brown and Brian Dennehy as Rollie Tyler and Leo McCarthy and they are together for one last adventure to stop Mob from stealing gold Medilians from Vadican embassy in intaly!Great film! Very inventive and well thought out! I Like this movie despite what the movie critics thought about this fim in 1991! I wish there was an F/X 3 but unfortunatly that didn't happen. Despite what others say the movie great and is better then the original movie from 1986. Go find it! It's great movie!

todavía resulta original.......2000-10-29

Todo y que pueda resultar un remake de su predecesora,FX2 logra aprovechar de una forma notable el hecho de que el protagonista utilice su experiencia cinematográfica, y concretamente en el asunto de efectos especiales, para conseguir desarticular a un gang terrorista.De las multiples secuencias de acción, cabe a destacar el payaso robot,que comparte protagonismo con la pareja principal, y las persecuciones en el supermercado y a posteriori, en la residencia de los "malos".Buenas actuaciones y bastante imaginación para un film que vale la pena.

A memorable sequel.......2000-09-08

It's not often we see a sequel that excels the original, but F/X 2 is impressive in accomplishing just that. In this version, Brown has left the film world to work on special effects for himself. He's into toys this time, and Bluey, his remote robot is a prize! Again, the Mafia is involved in the story development, this time over a set of gold coins stolen from a Vatican art exhibit years ago. Brown's again co-opted by corrupt cops [what an enduring theme!] and again he's on the run. This time, Dennehy extends his 'good cop' role from the first F/X in coming to Rollie's aid.

Unlike the first film, F/X 2 raises Brian Dennehy's participation significantly, giving him many opportunities to engage in droll wit. He manages the role with style and honesty. The exchanges with Joanna Gleason as the Ass't DA are quality Dennehy. Gleason herself adds a lustre to the film, providing an engaging contrast to Rachel Ticotin's role as Tyler's girl friend.

F/X 2, likes it predecessor, is a timeless film. The repeated themes of corrupt cops and Mafia intrigues doesn't make this film boring. Quite the opposite, showing how prevalent and wide ranging their activities can be, both for good as well as sinister reasons. This film is worth a place in your inventory, if for no other reason than Brown's performance. He's a quality actor when given the opportunity - and this film was an even better expression of his worth than the original.

Better Than I Remembered.......2000-06-30

I watched both "F/X" films at the same time and was surprised that the second one holds up better than the first. This movie has a raffish charm, like Hitchcock in his playful "To Catch a Thief" mode. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

A Must See !!!!
Phenomenal performance of a powerful man
This is an amazing movie.....
GREAT FILM- AWFUL DVD

A Huey P. Newton Story
Starring: Roger Guenveur Smith , Malcolm X , William F. Buckley , Huey P. Newton , and Fred Williamson
Director: Spike Lee
Manufacturer: Urban Works
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ASIN: B0000EMYBQ
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Description

A Huey P. Newton Story is an intimate portrait of Huey P. Newton, the late co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Director Spike Lee and Roger Guenveur Smith collaborate for the 7th time to bring Newton's thoughts, philosophies, history and flavour to life. Adapted from Robert Guenveur Smith's Obie Award winning off- Broadway solo performance of the same name, Spike Lee brings the play from the stage to the screen as only he could. Shot before a live audience, Spike Lee uses his signature mixture of film and archival footage, to capture Newton's "inner mind." The film is complemented by period material and original compositions from sound designer Marc Anthony Thompson, who received an Obie and Audelco Award for his work. Accompanied by an outstanding performance, starring and written by Roger Guenveur Smith, Nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and for winning the Peabody Award. This film is a piece of history that will bring the meaning to "Without Struggle There is No Life".

Customer Reviews:

A Must See !!!!.......2006-04-30

Even if you don't know anything about the Black Panthers or could care less about the Black Panthers, you should still see this movie. I must admit that before this film I was mostly uninterested in the Black Panthers. After seeing this movie I could not wait to read Revolutionary Suicide. The portrayal of Dr. Huey P. Newton in the film by Roger Guenveur Smith is like no other. It is captivating and spellbinding and most importantly it is inspiring to see an actor be so committed to a character. For the most part, I am usually unaffected by movies and I rarely would rate a movie this high, but this is an exception. If you have not seen this film you must see it. To date, this is the most incredible thing I have seen. See it immediately.

Phenomenal performance of a powerful man.......2006-04-09

If you do not know who Roger Guenveur Smith is, and somehow don't recognize him from other Spike Lee joints, then this piece will introduce you to an amazing actor. An amazing actor. An amazing performance. Granted, this is translated from the stage to the cinema, but it is quite affecting in expressing the character that was Huey P. Newton, and his explosive personality and his intellect. As great a character as Newton is, Guenveur Smith's intense and deeply expressed performance outdoes the imagery, the music, even the text. As an actor, this is a master class in deep and committed artistry.

This is an amazing movie............2005-07-18

I don't know much about Huey P. Newton at all. Up to the point when i seen this movie, if you told me the mans name I would have had no idea who he was, but now I do. I saw this movie the first time on tv. I was channel surfing and I came across this movie. After watching it for a sec. I could not turn the channel. Roger Guenveur Smith is absolutly wonderful in this movie. I was blown away. Such passion in his acting. I still don't know much about Huey P. Newton, but watching this movie has changed my perspective on what the Black Panthers were all about. Check this movie out. Its amazing......

GREAT FILM- AWFUL DVD.......2004-02-05

I reviewed this befroe and they would not put it up, why? I did not cuss, I merely suggested that something was quite foul smelling with the way this man is STILL being treated. I suggested that Spike Lee, could of sold his basketball tickets for the dough it would cost to at least put some chapter stops on this DVD. American wedding,the movie with all the white folks in it gets audio commentary, six documentaries,16 page booklet. But make a film about Huey Newton, and you get no booklet, no chapter stops, no biography, or documentaries. You could of jammed this DVD with hours of documentaries, and t.v. appearances that HUEY did but NO! Not even CHAPTER STOPS, poor huey.

Average customer rating:

ANOTHER GOOD MOVIE FROM J. DUVAL
Gregg Araki Rules!!!!!
The Seeds of Gregg Araki's Genius
Love Duval
Not the Best Araki Film

Totally F***ed Up
Starring: James Duval , Roko Belic , Susan Behshid , Jenee Gill , and Gilbert Luna
Director: Gregg Araki
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005KCBC
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Customer Reviews:

ANOTHER GOOD MOVIE FROM J. DUVAL.......2007-05-07

I HAVENT WATCHED A MOVIE FROM J. DUVAL THAT WASNT A 5 STAR "B" FLICK, I RECOMMEND ALL HIS MOVIES

Gregg Araki Rules!!!!!.......2006-08-31

As usual Gregg Araki did an excellent job with this movie!!! Buy it and you will not be disappointed.

The Seeds of Gregg Araki's Genius.......2005-11-19

Tracing the progress of innovative filmmakers is a pleasure for movie buffs. Gregg Araki developed a unique voice in film in the early 1990s (this film dates back to 1993), a voice that maintained a sense of immediacy with his actors who he directed with his hand held camera in a manner that gave the illusion that the 'script' was extemporaneous. Careful not to assign controversial roles to inadequate talent, Araki gathered a group of young actors and pulled the very best from them. Many of these early actors still maintain presence in Araki's prolific flow of films.

As is so often the case with Araki's stories, TOTALLY F***ED UP deals with gay sensibilities in a way that displays the entire spectrum of positive and negative response to his characters. He does not preach: he simply voyeuristically reveals lifestyles as though he were a hidden personage who just happened to fall into private moments and turbulent emotions. In this film Araki divides the examination of six teenage gay kids (four boys and two girls) into 15 dialogues, each representing an aspect of what faces his characters and how they cope with being on the fringe. The 15 episodes are related because the characters remain the same and it is this unique manner of making his story that has continued to be a trait of Araki's later, more linear films.

We meet each of the six characters in an interview situation, with only the minimal amount dialogue conveying the maximum amount of information. The primary character is Andy (a superlative James Duval) whose view of life is bleak to say the least: Andy doesn't believe in love, in commitment, believes he is bisexual even though he has never stepped out of his same-sex playing out, grows to depend on his friends, falls in love with a sweet talking fellow Ian (Alan Boyce) only to discover Ian is not at all monogamous, and finally feels the pain of heartbreak and makes a decision about life that ends the film. The other characters include Michele (Susan Behshid) and Patricia (Jenee Gill) who are lesbian lovers and stable figures for the boys, desiring to have children and a wholesome life without the need for male penetration!; Steven (Gilbert Luna) and Deric (Lance May) who are coupled but come apart when Steven has an affair and Deric is gay-bashed; and Tommy (Roko Belic), the one who falls in love too easily with every one night stand he has.

The episodes deal with the characters' sexual attitudes, AIDS, life on the streets, drugs, parental alienation, loneliness, abuse, suicide, and the desperate need for extended family. With Araki's technique we come to care strongly for each of these disparate kids: by the end of the film they feel like close personal friends of ours.

The filming technique is choppy and slips out of focus and seems to idle like a malfunctioning engine at times, but in Araki's sensitive hands these aspects add to the tension of the story. Clearly Gregg Araki is a gifted artist, and his films subsequent to this successful one serve to prove his growth and increased power of heart to heart communication. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 05

Love Duval.......2005-09-29

Another crazy, sexy and funny movie from the terrible Araki. The only thing that was not really good about the DVD is that it doesn't have any subtitles. You can enter the mind of these youths and take a look at the homosexual feelings they share..the first love, sex and commitmment. And James Duval is adorable!!

Not the Best Araki Film.......2005-09-25

This film is unique, unusual, quirky but does not come close to either Mysterious Skin or Nowhere in quality, writing, directing or overall production.

Average customer rating:

The under side

Tough Luck
Starring: Armand Assante , Norman Reedus , Dagmara Dominczyk , Rick Negron , and Marco St. John
Director: Gary Ellis (IV)
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
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ASIN: B000A2X4CY
Release Date: 2005-08-24

Customer Reviews:

The under side .......2004-12-08

This is a good suspense film with many twists. The carnival life depicted is close to reality. The film starts slowly but at the halfway point it picks up quickly. Not as easy to guess the outcome as most of this genre.

R

Average customer rating:

William Hurt is excellent
Mediocre or a flawed masterpiece?
Good plot poorly presented
remarkable !
remarkable !

The Big Brass Ring
Starring: William Hurt , Nigel Hawthorne , Miranda Richardson , Irène Jacob , and Ewan Stewart
Director: George Hickenlooper
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00002SSKS
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Amazon.com

Orson Welles wrote The Big Brass Ring in the early 1980s--his last attempt to create a commercial Hollywood film--but the dynamic, rich screenplay was never produced. Nearly two decades later, independent filmmaker and documentarian George Hickenlooper (Hearts of Darkness) purchased and rewrote Welles' script, updating the tale of an independent presidential candidate in the cynical post-Watergate years to a more modest gubernatorial race in the media-saturated 1990s. The generally reserved William Hurt is excellent as the firebrand candidate whose secret, repressed past is dredged up when estranged father figure and political rebel Nigel Hawthorne (in a wry, flamboyant performance) reappears on the eve of the election. While the world's attention is focused on a political contest between two independents, Hurt searches his soul to come to peace with the compromises and sacrifices of his youth.

Where Welles' script is suffused with the melancholy sense of loss of an old man looking back on past mistakes, the film is brightened with the hope and possibilities of a younger man looking ahead to unlimited possibility. Hurt gives his best performance in decades as a man whose confidence is cracked by guilt. Less convincing is French beauty Irène Jacob as an international reporter while Miranda Richardson, though excellent, gets lost as the story sidesteps her sad alcoholic character. We'll never know what Welles could have done with his story, but Hickenlooper delivers a handsome, compelling drama. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

William Hurt is excellent.......2007-06-22

William Hurt is just excellent as a Missouri governatorial candidate who has a few skeletons in his closet, walking the tightrope between keeping true to his ethics and wanting to win the election.

A believable, low-key suspense movie. Believe it or not, it was written by Orson Welles, I think it was one of his last works before he died.

Great performances by Miranda Richardson and Nigel Hawthorne.

Very recommended!

Mediocre or a flawed masterpiece?.......2001-07-27

This may be a flawed masterpiece or perhaps a mediocre movie with a lot to recommend it. I enjoyed it and would like to see it again, partly to make sure the plot worked and partly to catch some nuances that I missed. And also because, as my esteemed colleague, flickjunkie, notes below, the audio is atrocious and my ears are not as sharp as they once were. But life is short and the entire opus of film is long...but maybe I can edit with the fast forward!

Okay, let's look at the evidence. Script by Orson Welles: somewhat amazing since he died in 1985. His last work. That alone may make this worth watching. William Hurt plays a southern pol, Blake Pellarin, running for governor of Missouri. Miranda Richardson plays his rich, alcoholic wife, and she is very good. Nigel Hawthorne is Kim Mennaker, Blake's one time mentor, a shadowy, behind the scenes political figure, a cynical character who is writing a 27,000-page memoir, which no doubt includes much about his love for the Pellarin boys. Irene Jacob plays Cela Brandini, a TV reporter fascinated with Blake. The one-time protege of French-Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski is not shown to advantage here. I'm not sure why, but there is little subtlety in the way she plays the part. To really appreciate what she can do, see her in La Double vie de Veronique (1991) or Trois Couleurs: Rouge (1994), both directed by Kieslowski. She is beautiful and very winning.

William Hurt, contrary to some opinion, was excellent. His characteristic laid-back, almost languid style works strangely well for a southern pol. He is certainly different, but believable, although I don't think his style would have worked had his character been running for president, as in Welles's original script. (Incidentally, they really wanted Louisiana, not Missouri, for the locale.) Hurt's performance reminds me in some ways of his work in the outstanding but now somewhat neglected, Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), for which he won an academy award.

The Big Brass Ring never had a theatrical release, and it is not hard to see why. The print is too dark and the story too murky and hard to follow. It appears that the brothers changed identities when young and never bothered to change back. Apparently Blake's brother and not Blake was the subject of the homosexual photo, but I'm not sure. To make this movie work for a mass audience, the true status of the boys then, and during the time of the action, must be made clear.

Good plot poorly presented.......2000-04-18

This is a murky story of politics, scandal, sex and deception. Sounds like it should have been a great film, but it wasn't. The basic plot was sound as we might expect from Orson Welles. But the way it was presented was too disjointed and abstruse. Without reading the original script, it is hard to tell if the responsibility for this lies with Welles, Oja Kodar (who did the adaptation) or George Hickenlooper, the director. I suspect it is the latter two.

The biggest problem I had was character development. By the end of the film one should reasonably expect the pieces to fit together. Good character development should give us insight into the characters' motivation. I found this lacking. The flashbacks didn't really help us to understand the motivations of the characters as much as they should have. It seems that the brothers voluntarily switched identities, since Billy was wearing a name tag that said "Romero" on his uniform when he left to go to war. So, Blake really didn't steal his brother's identity as it appeared. This wasn't made very clear.

There were lots of loose ends here. What motivated the limo driver to do what he did? Was it a need to be close to power, or some personal vendetta? Who knows?

From a directorial and cinematography point of view, the film was far too dark, that is, underexposed. I'm certain they were trying for that look, but it made the photography look as if it were shot on 30 year old film of poor quality. Also, the audio was very bad. It was very difficult understanding a lot of the dialogue.

William Hurt was miscast in this role. For certain films, his puling, self tortured style of delivery are appropriate to the character (Big Chill, Broadcast News, Children of a Lesser God). However, in this film his character required a more dynamic and confident portrayal, which he was unable to deliver.

Nigel Hawthorne gave the best performance as Kim Mennaker, the Senator who brought the boys up. His ability to portray the old political warhorse, seduced by the trappings of power was excellent.

Irene Jacob gave a good performance as Cela, the reporter with an obsession for the candidate and the truth behind him.

Overall, the whole was less than the sum of the parts. The presentation was ponderous and uneven and the direction mediocre at best. Worth a 5/10. If you are looking for political campaign stories, there are better choices (Primary Colors, The Candidate, with Robert Redford).

remarkable !.......2000-01-25

It's an up-to-date topic, more then ever - political scandals, lies and deceit. but this plays the essential part: in the end Pellarin ( W. Hurt ) decided for his brother and the truth! There were good actors, first of all William Hurt, he plays every part expressive, believable and convincing. Who 's interested in high-quality movies should go and see this film.

remarkable !.......2000-01-25

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Airbrush Action

Illustration Cheap Tricks & Special F/X
Starring: Michael Cacy
Director: Cliff Stieglitz
Manufacturer: Airbrush Action
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00063QD9I
Release Date: 2004-01-02

Customer Reviews:

Airbrush Action.......2005-03-06

Vargas Award winner Michael Cacy reveals timesaving and innovative 'cheap tricks' and special effects from his 30 years of experience. In this video, you'll learn to render wisps of smoke, fur, metal, wrapping paper texture, hair, wood grain, background textures, water, clouds, snow, feathers, stone textures with the stipple technique, orange peel texture, a sky, and a space scene with starts, nebula, starbursts, and constellations. You'll also learn to use a new stencil burner pro, rubber cement for special and unusual textures, markers, circle templates, proper use and types of razor knife cutting, sponges, erasers for highlighting, mylar and drafting film, sandpaper for a variety of applications, spray adhesive, frisket film and masks, airbrush cleaner for creative effects, razor knives for highlighting, color, and steel wool for brushed metal. Finally, you'll learn unusual materials to spray through like woven basket-weave rattan fabric, batting material for special effects, polyester fiber fill for couds, drywall tape fabric, knit mesh, crocodile embossed paper, lace papers, and tulle. All of this including working with opaques and transparent acrylics, transferring images to art surfaces, cheap tricks with paintbrushes and a variety of fan brushes, style testing for previewing, airbrush pressure regulation, discussion of illustration boards, loose masking techniques, freehand airbrushing techniques, how to preview end-results with acetate, working with masking tape, technique for drying paint faster, and working on black illustration board.

Z Channel - A Magnificent Obsession (2 Disc Collector's Set)

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Z Channel - A Magnificent Obsession (2 Disc Collector's Set)
Director: Alexandra Cassavetes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000UJMZZ4

Product Description

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

More Automotive Cheap Tricks & Special F/X

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More Automotive Cheap Tricks & Special F/X
Starring: Craig Fraser
Director: Cliff Stieglitz
Manufacturer: Airbrush Action
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
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Automotive Cheap Tricks & Special F/X IV

ASIN: B00063QD84
Release Date: 2000-01-02

DVD:

DVD

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