A Perfect World

Amazon.com essential video

This curiously overlooked drama from Clint Eastwood, released just after his Oscar triumph with Unforgiven, concerns a prisoner (Kevin Costner) on the lam with a kidnapped young boy as protection and the Texas Ranger (Eastwood) and federal agent (Laura Dern) on his tail. Eastwood manages a number of nice touches--the boy's innocence is nicely contrasted with Costner's soft-spoken desperado by the Casper Halloween costume he wears, and the law-enforcement officials look vaguely foolish, tooling around the countryside with a high-tech camper in tow. Eastwood gives a grizzled performance that, despite its seen-it-all surface, still feels fresh after all these years, and he coaxes surprisingly sensitive work out of Costner. But it's the sheer, modest scale of this piece that makes it so disarming--no planet lies in jeopardy, there are no cosmic make-or-break consequences here, just committed people doing their job and a well-meaning bad guy hoping things don't get too out of hand while he prevents them from doing it. --David Kronke

Description

Double Academy Award winners' Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood confront each other from opposite sides of the law in A Perfect World, an acclaimed, multilayered manhunt saga (directed by Eastwood) that rumbles down Texas backroads toward a harrowing collision with fate. Costner plays Butch Haynes, a hardened prison escapee on the lam with a young hostage (T.J. Lowther in a remarkable film debut) who sees in Butch the father figure he never had. Eastwood is wily Texas Ranger Red Garnett, leading deputies and a criminologist (Laura Dern) in a statewide pursuit. Red knows every road and pothole in the Panhandle. What's more, he knows the elusive Haynes-because their paths have crossed before.

Customer Reviews:

Try with a little tenderness! .......2007-08-07

Texas, 1963. An ex con captures a boy as hostage, the police force is aware of that, but meanwhile a warm and tender relationship is built among this smart boy and this outlaw, until the fate makes its definitive judgment.

Clint Eastwood directed this uneven film, spattered of interesting vignettes here and there, but unprovided of dramatic consistency; however I would like to remark this is the best performance of Costner in his lifetime; extremely convincing in this hard role, due the multiple psychological turns inside this tormented and hopeless human being.

Laura Dern gives too a remarkable performance in that secondary role, the film is overlong, specially toward the end and that weakens the climax sequence; on the other hand the boy's character looks pretty stereotyped, but it's Costner's performance that leads this movie to safe waters and avoids it strands in the middle of the road.

Prepare to have your heart touched........2007-03-10

Kevin Costner portrays an escaped convict who, for all of his shortcomings, has not lost his sense of humanity and compassion. Taking a young boy hostage to prevent the boy from harm the two become inseperable. A convict who hated his father and a hostage who never had one, a relationship blossoms between them. A good date movie.

More Kevin Costner than Clint Eastwood.......2006-10-15

Just wanted to clarify that, for any Clint Eastwood fans. That said, Kevin Costner performs admirably in his role, as does the kid. Rather light, simple fare altogether, similar to many other Clint Eastwood movies. Nothing new under the sun here. But is that necessarily bad? I don't think so.

Somehow, this movie makes you cheer for an overgrown adult boy/man who is encouraging a six year-old to be a juvenile delinquent. That sounds bad, but it's actually not so bad. Costner, who plays an escaped convict, is a polite gentleman bandit on the order of Robin Hood and the like, a hero/villain. He abides by certain principles, and is not entirely wicked, unlike his fellow escapee, a cretinous goblin. Discerning the good versus the bad in his character is the whole point of the movie. We also learn what may have contributed to making him the way he is.

As for the boy, he has no father and was being raised by a strict single mom that did not let him do hardly anything that has any fun in it--for religious reasons, apparently. He was in dire need of a father figure, and finds that in Costner. What might have been interesting is seeing whether the mother and the escaped con could actually have worked together as a family unit. I doubt she could have done much better than this guy.

Dismal movie.......2006-08-29

I'm surprised that others have reviewed this movie with high rankings. It's basically a mediocre movie, with not much of a story, nothing much that is enjoyable or uplifting, and some questionable content.

For most of the movie, Kevin Costner's character is chain-smoking cigarettes, cussing, and generally being a bad influence in front of the young boy he takes hostage, as they travel across Texas evading the law and breaking the law together. There's nothing of value that comes out of this movie. I'm glad I only paid a small amount to rent it, and not blow more money and time in the theatre.

Good acting, interesting plot, real sense of 1960's Texas.......2006-08-11

I could never understand all the excitement regarding Kevin Costner in his heyday but he is absolutely great in this movie. He manages to make an escaped convict both realistic and sympathetic. The child actor playing Phillip/Buzz is also wonderful. Clint Eastwood is Clint Eastwood and though I have never been a Laura Dern fan she does well in her role as a criminologist. The script is not perfect and the movie is over long but still compelling and very watchable. The movie is set on Halloween and the couple of days following in 1963 Texas. JFK's upcoming Dallas trip plays a small part in the film and helps anchor the setting firmly in the viewer's mind.

Clint Eastwood - Hero (Absolute Power / Heartbreak Ridge / A Perfect World)

Average customer rating:

Triple Threat

Clint Eastwood - Hero (Absolute Power / Heartbreak Ridge / A Perfect World)
Starring: Clint Eastwood 3pak
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0000CABAS
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Description

Whether your hero comes as a ex-con, ex-Marine or Texas Ranger, Clint Eastwood's got you covered with this trio of some of his best work. Absolute Power: Heartbreak Ridge; A Perfect World

Customer Reviews:

Triple Threat.......2003-10-26

This review refers to the "Clint Eastwood - Hero" DVD 3-pack by Warner Bros(10/03 release)....

So... what does an aging master thief, a rough, gruff Gunnery Sgt, and a seasoned Texas Ranger have in common? Well..Clint of course! All three of these films found in this 'hero' collection,which include "Absolute Power","Heartbreak Ridge" and "A Perfect World", are must haves for Eastwood fans.These are three of his works that really show off his expertise in front of and behind the camera as these were all directed by him as well.They also include some of the best talent in Hollywood as Clint has a knack for surrounding himself with the finest actors.

"Absolute Power" from 1997 is the newest of the trio. It's a terrific thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as Clint goes up against some mighty powerful enemies. He is an aging master thief, and while in the process off pulling of the ultimate job, witnesses a murder.And this murder involves the most powerful man in the world. When Clint is the chief suspect, he must prove that the blood trail leads all the way to the Whitehouse. Not an easy task for our guy, as he is being persued by all sides.The film is multi-faceted as it also let's us in on this thief's softer side as he tries to build a relationship with his estranged daughter. A huge cast includes, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, Laura Linney, Scott Glenn,Judy Davis, Dennis Haysbert and the great E.G. Marshall.

"Heartbreak Ridge" from 1986 is Eastwood's tough guy image personified. He is Gunnery Sgt. Tom "Gunny" Highway. Gunny has seen it all, and done it all. He's a decorated war hero who has survived battle in both Korea and Vietnam.He's tough and gruff and will soon face mandatory retirement.With no war to fight his last assignment is to whip the members of a raw but feisty recon platoon into shape. He's up against an unwilling group,a "follow orders or else"(not exactly his style)type commanding officer, and an ex-wife who's as feisty as the recruits.Both he and his men(and his ex-wife) are put to the test when war breaks out on the Island of Grenada. Marsha Mason co-stars and the cast is nicely rounded out by Mario VanPeebles, Moses Gunn, Bo Svenson and the wonderful Eileen Heckart.

Completeing this trio in the 'Hero' series is a film from 1993,"A Perfect World". Fans will more appreciate the director side of Eastwood in this one. He's a seasoned Texas Ranger who is in pursuit of an dangerous escaped convict who has kidnapped a small boy for a hostage.Kevin Costner is Haynes, the elusive fugitive and it his work in the film that is really showcased here.It's superbly acted by Costner, and beautifully directed by Eastwood. It's more than just a statewide cops and robbers chase, as the character development, and the past play a big part as the film progresses.Laura Dern also stars and the performance by T.J. Lowther the young actor who plays Phillip, the kidnap victim, is absolutely incredible.

This DVD boxed set is a great deal.Each in their own snap-case, they all present a very good picture, clear with nice color(Absolute Power is outstanding), in widescreen formats with 'AP' also giving the choice of a standard format, and all are in Dolby Dig 5.1 Surround sound.All the action and the wonderful musical scores, all composed by Lennie Niehaus sound fabulous.There's not much in the way of special features. Theatrical trailers and some cast bios.All have subtitles in English, French and Spanish.'AP' has some production notes. If you compare the price of this set to buying these films separately, you'll see what a good deal this is for the Eastwood fan(we're going to buy them all anyway!).Also makes a great gift, those who love Clint, will love this package, so go ahead and make their day!

Description

A romantic story of an African American actor who returns home from Hollywood to reestablish the ghetto roots he worked so hard at ignoring the past few years. No sooner is the actor home than he meets his enterprising boyhood buddy, now a sleazy beauty pageant promoter who uses the lovely contestants to satisfy his unending lust. He asks the actor to host his latest pageant and the actor agrees to the proposition. The actor's life changes when he sees a young boy attempting to hijack his car. Collaring the lad, the actor learns that he has been orphaned and is being raised by his beautiful big sister. The actor falls for this girl, but fears she will not fit well with the Hollywood crowd. Fortunately, the actor's big brother is around to offer him excellent advice.

Average customer rating:

A Music Of Struggle, A Study Of Perfect Timing

Abdullah Ibrahim - Brother With Perfect
Starring: Abdullah Dollar Brand Ibrahim
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

International | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0007WQHJO
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Product Description

BROTHER WITH PERFECT TIMING,A (IBRAHIM,ABDULLAH)

Customer Reviews:

A Music Of Struggle, A Study Of Perfect Timing.......2005-12-14

One of the finest documentaries on African Music
makes its way onto DVD, and it's a sure bet that
this feature hits the ground swinging. A BROTHER
WITH PERFECT TIMING is an exceptional look at
Abdullah Ibrahim, the remarkable South African
pianist-composer who's made his mark on Jazz and
other musical fields for a good half-century now,
and is still playing strong.
Wisely, the 1980s documentary -co-produced by Chris
Austin, Gill Bond, and Ibrahim himself- centers upon
the artist's own nitty-gritty eloquence in speaking
on the basics of this music, and the culture it emanates
from. Those used to the overly-academic, over-the-top
fundamentalist mouthings of the Marsalis era will find
this presentation from Music Video Distributors to be
quite the eye-opener.
Both earthy and polished, the anecdotes which spin from
Ibrahim's seasoned rap tingle with great wisdom, a touch
of naughtiness to spice up the virtuous flavor, and an
abundance of winning charm.

Ibrahim's academy is the education of struggle,
honed in surmounting the gauntlets of sanctioned
prejudice and societal apathy to shape his art.
Delivering traditions that refuse to die, he is
strengthened by the innovations of two continents
which will not be silenced.
To hear Ibrahim talk on the healing power of Music
is to hear a master scientist of sound sharing
precious herbs with those who have been ill for
too long. No New Age rejoinder, Ibrahim's is the
authentic caliber of indigenous song which New Agers
have been superficially trying to cop for decades
now. Listen to his talk on the roots of the classic
"Mannenburg", or his thoughts on Thelonious Monk,
and hear the bounty of his reflections upon the
nature of his struggles to be heard, as he shares
all he continues to learn.

Best of all, Ibrahim consistently puts his money
where his mouth is. His spontaneous deliberations
as a speaker are more than matched by his steady
breaks upon himself to play exactly what he is
talking about.
Equally delightful are the documentary's frequent
segments of his activities as a leader. Between
his employment of African choral tradition, and
his equally superb instrumental arrangements, you
never lose sight of the aural richness at hand.
Longtime lovers of Great Black Music will recognize
baritone saxophonist Charles Davis, multi-reed
threat Rick Ford, and tenor saxophonist Basil
Coetzee (the last featured briefly as he plays
part of his now-acclaimed solo from "Mannenburg").

While the DVD could probably use some digital
remastering here and there, the play is clean
enough, and its contents are crystal clear.
Whatever your musical interests, A BROTHER WITH
PERFECT TIMING is an impeccable testimony to
the power of positive, uplifting song, delivered
by one of the world's most unique messengers.
Heed his call.

Unhittable - No Hitters, Perfect Games and Near Misses

Average customer rating:

I LOVE IT!
Nolan Ryan Rules!
A great addition to any baseball fan's DVD collection.
Must view for Pitchers.

Unhittable - No Hitters, Perfect Games and Near Misses
Starring: Mlb
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Pure Heat - Ultimate MLB Flamethrowers

ASIN: B00005QBYQ
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE IT!.......2003-01-22

This is a must get DVD for any Baseball fan and a Great gift for any Baseball fan. It has the complete 55 minute show about No Hitters, Perfect Games and Near Misses. It has a nice historical look at it and centers on the Multiple No Hit Pitchers Like Johnny Vandermier, Sandy Kofax and Nolan Ryan. The DVD has a special significance to me because I became a California Angels Fan (now Aniheim Angles) when I was 13 and that year (75) the first game I ever listened to on the radio (Dick Enburg and Don Drysdale Anouncing) Nolan tossed his 4th No Hitter Tying Sandy Kofax record at the time; on his way to 7 total, an unbeleavle feat. TheDVD also Hghlights the great pictures who did not get no no and the ones who had to wait a long time like Tom Terrific Sever. It also has bonus footage of the final three outs for no hitters by Sever, Saberhagen, Gooden, Leiter, Milton and Nomo; And a Nolan Ryan Workout. So I will reiterate This is a must get DVD for any Baseball fan and a Great gift for any Baseball fan.

Nolan Ryan Rules!.......2001-12-28

This recap of stellar performances by baseball's greatest (and sometimes lucky) pitchers is highlighted by Nolan Ryan's collection of no-hitters. In addition to a fun 50 minutes of highlights, the dvd offers a couple of great special features, including a menu offering the last inning of 6 different no-hitter games.

A great addition to any baseball fan's DVD collection........2001-12-28

This is a great video recapping outstanding pitching performances, no-hitters, and perfect games. It takes you back to the 1938 games of Johnny Vander Meer on up to the seven no-hitter's thrown by Nolan Ryan. A great addition to any baseball fan's collection.

Must view for Pitchers........2001-12-09

Nice view of some great pitching games from present back to the 30's.

Charlie Rose with Michael Ondaatje; Ted Conover; John Micklethwait (May 31, 2000)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Michael Ondaatje; Ted Conover; John Micklethwait (May 31, 2000)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, the man who brought us The English Patient, novelist Michael Ondaatje, on his new novel Anil's Ghost. Then, an interview with Ted Conover, a writer who spent a year as a guard at Sing Sing prison and wrote a book about it called Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing. Later, author John Micklethwait shares his ideas on globalization, as detailed in his new book, A Future Perfect.

Charlie Rose with Brian Jenkins; Sebastian Junger; Vint Cerf (August 5, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Brian Jenkins; Sebastian Junger; Vint Cerf (August 5, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Terrorism expert Brian Jenkins talks to Charlie about the recent string of terrorist attacks on U. S. soil. Next, author of A Perfect Storm Sebastian Junger talks about his career as a journalist and the terrible storm that inspired his latest novel. Finally, Vint Serf of MCI Communications talks about the new ability for the internet to support real-time audio and video.

Average customer rating:

Try with a little tenderness!
Prepare to have your heart touched.
More Kevin Costner than Clint Eastwood
Dismal movie
Good acting, interesting plot, real sense of 1960's Texas

A Perfect World [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00007L3SH

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Try with a little tenderness! .......2007-08-07

Prepare to have your heart touched........2007-03-10

More Kevin Costner than Clint Eastwood.......2006-10-15

Dismal movie.......2006-08-29

Good acting, interesting plot, real sense of 1960's Texas.......2006-08-11

DVD:

DVD

DVD