The Stunt Man (Limited Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

The "lost" sleeper hit of 1980 has since become one of the most revered cult movies of all time, largely due to its bawdy, irreverent story about the art and artifice of filmmaking and an outrageously clever performance by Peter O'Toole. As megalomaniacal film director Eli Cross, O'Toole plays a larger-than-life figure whose ability to manipulate reality is like a power-trip narcotic. The focus of his latest mind game is a fugitive (Steve Railsback) recruited to replace a stuntman killed during a recent on-set accident. In return for protective sanctuary, the fugitive takes a crash course in stunt work but soon discovers that he's the paranoid player in a game he can't control, with the dictatorial director making up the rules. Or is he? The Stunt Man is a game of its own, played through the fantasy of filmmaking, and half the fun of watching the movie comes from sharing the stuntman's paranoid confusion. Barbara Hershey has a smart, sexy supporting role as a lead actress who won't submit to her director's seemingly devious behavior; but it's clearly O'Toole who steals the show. Director Richard Rush adds to the movie's maverick appeal--in a career plagued by struggles against the mainstream studio system, Rush hasn't made a better movie before or since. The Stunt Man clearly represents the potential of his neglected talent. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Stunt Man.......2007-07-10

Part of the great appeal of this crazed cult classic--which finds a paranoid, confused young man thrust into the maniacal world of filmmaking--is the way screenwriter Lawrence B. Marcus plays with our understanding of "reel" narrative, like a proto Charlie Kaufman. Based on the novel by Paul Brodeur, this kooky, wit-fueled romp pairs Cameron with sexy starlet Nina Franklin (Hershey), who also happens to be Eli's one-time lover. In one of his sharpest and funniest roles, O'Toole is an unstoppable fount of clever deviance and saucy bon mots. If you're in the mood for a frenetic farce about the thin line between fantasy and real life, make way for "The Stunt Man."

Completely different to any other film out there.......2007-03-04

I've been informed many times that I should watch this film. To save an argument, I put it in the DVD player. While watching it, I did feel it was a little too long, and some scenes could have been cut so easily, but it's one of the strangest films I've seen in a long time. I think with a couple more viewings I could understand it more fully, and I don't think anyone will every FULLY understand on the first viewing.

But what you get is one of the most innovative and lesser known movies around. While the 80s were full of the Rat Pack, and high school movies, this one may have slightly slipped under the radar, and has become, judging by some of the reviews, what can only be described as a cult classic.

Peter O'Toole gives a great Oscar worthy performance (he was robbed!) as the egomanical director of a WW1 film, who will do absolutely anything, perhaps even murder someone, in order to protect his film. He'll do whatever is necessary to get a precious shot and the viewer feels like he needs to know where his motives lie. You see him place his lead character, Cameron, in many different stunts, each one more dangerous than the other, including the most memorable one, running across the rooftops, being chased. You do get the feeling the director wants to capture death on film, and since Cameron killed (and replaced) the other stuntman, he kinda owes the director a favour. I didn't like Cameron that much, but it wasn't him, it was after he dyed his hair, he reminded me so much of a guy I knew at school, I found it very difficult to watch him.

I think perhaps why this movie never got the attention it deserved, is because how on earth do you categorise it? It could fit under so many different film genres that it's difficult to describe the film in any sense making way. Especially, in a review, which I've had so much trouble writing.

What I found difficult about this film was the perspective it was told from. It's told from the perspective of Cameron, but it's NOT always his point of view, and my head was spinning after a while trying to keep up with it all. It does take some patience to watch it and understand it. What also put some people off is that it took a mere nine years to get to screen and even then it only got a limited release. This limited edition DVD is packed with extras, although it did remind me more of a video cassette case, rather than the slimline DVD that is out there now.

It's definitely a film worth picking out, if you're tired of the same old rom-coms, horror movies and action movies. This is a movie with a difference.

A Film Nobody Wanted Endures As A Brilliant Cult Classic And, Perhaps, The Best Movie Ever About Movie Making .......2007-02-21

There are just some movies in your life that really speak to you--that connect to you on some emotional or intellectual level in a very special way. "The Stunt Man" from director Richard Rush is such a film for me. Released in 1980, this ode to movie making is a challenging, intelligent, incisive and fun film that very few people saw upon its initial release. After a 10 year preproduction struggle by Rush, a tumultuous shoot, and no support from a studio that didn't care about the film--it was essentially dumped with no fanfare. Even star Peter O'Toole has commented, "The Stunt Man wasn't released, it escaped." But with amazing clarity and foresight, the film was surprisingly awarded with three major Academy Award nomination--Best Actor for Peter O'Toole, Best Director for Rush, and Best Screenplay for Rush and Lawrence Marcus. In the years that have followed, the film has attained a cult status and a legion of faithful fans (myself among them). In fact, I have seen this film probably 15 times and it was the first (really!) VHS tape I ever bought--now that's dating me!

To relate the plot of "The Stunt Man" in a concise way is to deny the subtleties and intricacies that really distinguish this as a bold and unusual work of art. But here's a brief synopsis. The film begins as a convict, played by Steve Railsback (Charles Manson in "Helter Skelter"), makes a break from the cops who are transporting him. Fleeing into the neighboring seaside village, he stumbles onto a film set where a tragedy that will likely be investigated has just struck. To avoid police intervention, the film's director (Peter O'Toole) embraces Railsback and identifies him as the company's stunt man who was just involved in an accident. It seems an ideal setup, as Railsback needs a new identity and the film production needs to account for the missing stunt man. As the film progresses, Railsback learns about movie making, becomes infatuated with the leading lady (Barbara Hershey), and starts to suspect that O'Toole has sinister ulterior motives.

The beauty of "The Stunt Man," which may be one of the most delightfully "inside" films about the industry ever made, is that it works on so many different levels. You could aptly describe the film as a drama, a comedy, a thriller, and action picture, a romance, a satire of filmmaking, and a study of truth versus illusion--what is reality? Seriously, it is successful in every one of these fields. Add breathtaking action sequences, a wickedly funny and literate script, and bravura performances--and this mini-masterpiece truly stands the test of time. Hershey and Railsback are terrific, but O'Toole steals the show as the megalomaniacal director! Anyone who loves movies, and the art of filmmaking, should find much merit in "The Stunt Man." But make no mistake, as much as I will defend this as a great film--you, in no way, have to be a film snob to enjoy it. This film is deliriously entertaining and a wild ride!

The Limited Edition of the DVD also contains the feature length documentary--"The Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man." This is a fascinating look at the trials and tribulations of getting "The Stunt Man" to the screen by a writer/director with no intention of compromising his vision. I recommend this edition while it's still available, the journey of this film is a tremendous and impressive story! And Rush is easy to admire and like.

This film carries my highest recommendation to movie lovers of all ages. While maybe not one of the 5 "best" pictures ever made, it is easily one of my 5 most enduring "favorites." Check it out. KGHarris, 02/07.

Cult Classic.......2007-01-14

The Stunt Man features Peter O'toole as a megalomaniac director exploiting an unsavory character portrayed by Steve Railsback. You get a glimpse of the art of stunts and the director's callous attitude towards stuntmen. The director is the star of a war epic that has little to do with reality. His skewered vision of war and his approach towards directing his epic go leaps and bounds beyond reality. This film has a fine cast of characters that give some gravitas towards the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp as criminal turns into a vehicle for cinema. The director and stuntman can't agree on who is the star of this picture. The tension is palpable as the stuntman faces increasing danger. In the end they live to see another day.

The Reel Deal.......2006-11-13

It's easy to see why The Stunt Man has stayed around so long and developed a devoted cult following - it's great fun. Richard Rush has created an amusing hall of mirrors that relies on the very essence of film - illusion. Of course, here there are layers of illusion and we're not exactly sure of who is in on the joke and when they've figured it out, which makes it that much more entertaining.

While it's inadvisable for writers to write about writers, and for filmmakers to make movies about making movies, it can be done. Serious students of film looking for deep meaning and symbolism should bypass The Stunt Man altogether and go straight to Truffaut's Day For Night, an extraordinary bit of cinema that blurs the line between celluloid artifice and reality brilliantly, using one to inform the other. I like to think Mr. Rush did not have such lofty goals in mind for The Stunt Man. For him, the - What is real? - question is merely a device to advance plot and maintain interest, which it most certainly does.

The improbability factor in The Stunt Man is very high; the picture is made plausible and held together through the offices of Peter O'Toole, whose performance is absolutely perfect. O'Toole is an amazing actor; as director Eli Cross he is megalomaniacal, nearly mad, vain, narcissistic, staggeringly manipulative, and at least a little bit brilliant, in short, close to the popular image of a real director. While it is easy to focus on his puppet-master control of all events, there are many scenes revealing how he fears the various disasters that may befall his project, not the least of which being his ability to lead.

The Stunt Man for whom the picture is named, Cameron, is played amateurishly by Steve Railsback. (This may explain the long list of movies no one has seen on Mr. Railback's bio.) It doesn't matter, everyone else in the cast is so good, especially Barbara Hershey, that the film easily survives the damage Mr. Railsback inflicts. Indeed, it would be worth seeing the picture just to witness the innumerable nameless stuntmen at work, absolutely great. Not a picture for the art house, this one's for the fun house. Recommended.

Average customer rating:

THE FOREVER CINEMATIC BEACH BOY
suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?
suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?
Sci Fi Chiller without the Sci Fi
Average Thriller

Fugitive Mind
Starring: Michael Dudikoff , Heather Langenkamp , Michele Greene , David Hedison , and Ian Ogilvy
Director: Fred Olen Ray
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JT9A
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Customer Reviews:

THE FOREVER CINEMATIC BEACH BOY.......2004-05-07

Michael Dudikoff is one of those guys who will always look like a beachboy, even when he's in his seventies. Handsome in that Californian way, Dudikoff has managed to stay fit and trim and a likeable hero. FUGITIVE MIND breaks no new territory in plot line or suspense, but it's a passable mind control pic.
Dudikoff plays Robert Dean, a happily married man with a lovely adoring wife (played stonefaced by Michele Greene). However, he has horrifying nightmares in which he is obviously going to kill someone. This someone turns out to be David Hedison who plays a senator about to expose the government-sponsored agency that is dealing with cloning experiments. A myriad type plot begins and while it sometimes becomes confusing, we are exposed to the real idea of the plot. Seems Dudikoff is not who he thinks he is and once he runs into former lovelady Heather Langenkamp (Nightmare on Elm Street), he finds out the truth. Along for the ride are a surprisingly plump Gil Gerard as a private investigator; Barry Newman as the doctor behind the mess; Gabriel Dell as a young doctor who exposes the plot; and Ian Ogilvy as the heinous perpetrator of the experiment. Add Chick Vennara as the senator's duplicitous aide and you have the ingredients for this direct to video scifi thriller.
Not a great film but an adequate time passer.

suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?.......2002-01-01

First of, I don't believe this movie is getting such a hard time in reviews. I thought it was great!
Although Michael Dudikoff is the dominent lead I think Heather Langenkamp stole the movie. And this is the only reason I bought this, because of her. Because of her roles as Nancy in the Nightmare on elm street movies. For a Heather fan this is a true gem! But I discovered even more reasons to like this.
The scientifical intellagence, the suspensfull unpreciatble storyline, the action and everything in between.
This movie has made me a Michael Dudikoff fan also.
This could had been a masterpiece but instead is in comferbale position of the best tv movie ever made!
But it does have some bad qualities. Heather and Michael were great leading roles, but some of the other actors. The acting was weak from some. And I would have liked to have seen a bit more development. It seemed a bit rushed in places. I would have liked to have seen a bit of gun action to (but this is a totally different point). In my oppinion this movie is like a lessor effort of "aliens" and "terminator".
That may sound like a bad thing, but I only say lessor as the movie is "TV". But I must say, it doesn't resemble just another lame TV movie at all. Given a higher budget and more development this could had been a world wide smash!
It does lack in places. But if your a fan of the lead actors and like a bit of science mixed with action, do buy this film!
Its awesome. One thing though, this movie is rated only a PG.
hell no! I think it deserves a higher rating than that! For sure. the science, action and the psyclogial horror makes it so much sronger than a PG.

Bottom line is. Buy this movie, plane and simple. You won't be disapointed.

suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?.......2002-01-01

First of, I don't believe this movie is getting such a hard time in reviews. I thought it was very good.
Although Michael Dudikoff is the dominent lead I think Heather Langenkamp stole the movie. And this is the only reason I bought this, because of her. Because of her roles as Nancy in the Nightmare on elm street movies. For a Heather fan this is a true gem! But I discovered even more reasons to like this.
The scientifical intellagence, the suspensfull unpreciatble storyline, the action and everything in between. I was on edge throught it trying to understand as it had a complex and clever story line! It kept you watching!
This movie has made me a Michael Dudikoff fan also.
This could had been a masterpiece but instead is in comferbale position of the best straight to video movie ever. ALTHOUGH, it did actually get a limited theatrical release in the USA and Canada. Remember that!
But it does have some bad qualities. Heather and Michael were great leading roles, but some of the other actors. The acting was weak from some.
In my oppinion this movie does not deliver the sci-fi good of "aliens" or "terminator" but is a damm good sci-fi flick that is worth the buy!
Given a international release this could had been a international hit but unfortunatly is relitivly unkown accross Europe.
It does lack in places. But if your a fan of the lead actors and like a bit of science mixed with action, do buy this film!

I give this movie a solid 8 out of 10

Sci Fi Chiller without the Sci Fi.......2000-08-12

"Fugitive Mind" was produced for Canadian TV and recently released in the US as a feature-length movie. A company named GENCOM has reprogrammed the mind of one of its employees (Michael Dudikoff) to kill a political figure. With the help of his girlfriend (Heather Langenkamp), Robert must fight to regain his lost personality and stop GENCOM before it is too late.This movie is bad... poor scripting, bad acting and virutally no science fiction aspects, despite this being a sci-fi movie. I only bought it because I am a Heather Langenkamp fan (she was in the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street"), but all others should stay away.Also stars Michele Green ("The Unborn II") and Gil Gerard.

Average Thriller.......2000-05-22

Fugitive Mind is about a man, who was part of mind controlling experiments. One day he awakes to find the life as he knows it were nothing more than memories inplanted to him. Nice plot for a TV movie. Dudikoff shows again he can act.

Average customer rating:

Underrated and overlooked
A Real Sleeper

Nature of the Beast
Starring: John Toles-Bey , Lance Henriksen , Brion James , Sasha Jenson , and Frank Novak
Director: Victor Salva
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009S4IFQ
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

A man picks up a hitchhiker who may or may not be a serial-killing thief.

Customer Reviews:

Underrated and overlooked.......2005-08-21

Virtually unnoticed when released in the 90's, Nature of the Beast is surprisingly taut and suspenseful. Directed by pre-Jeepers Creepers director Victor Salva, Lance Henriksen and Eric Roberts provide solid performances in this tale of a salesman (Henriksen) who picks up a mysterious hitcher (Roberts) during a time when a serial killer is racking up a body count. From this point on, Nature of the Beast becomes a taut character study, and you'll never see the film's twist ending coming. Overlooked to this day as a suspense gem, Nature of the Beast finally makes it's way to DVD thanks to New Line, and it includes an insightful commentary by Salva. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a better than average shocker.

A Real Sleeper.......2005-06-29

I recall renting this a few years back just because of the two leads (Eric Roberts and Lance Henriksen) being teamed, as each are fine character actors, and the premise of a good, old-fashioned mystery/thriller.
As it turned out, this is a taunt little chiller with a great premise and even better ending. I won't give anything away, but the ending is truly worth the price of admission. Roberts and Henriksen are at the top of their game, and Director Victor Silva (pre JEEPERS CREEPERS) sets just the right tone.
I'm only hoping they come up with a few worthwhile extras to boot. A commentary by Silva would be a great bonus.
Top notch suspense.

Average customer rating:

THE FOREVER CINEMATIC BEACH BOY
suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?
suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?
Sci Fi Chiller without the Sci Fi
Average Thriller

Fugitive Mind [Region 2]
Starring: Michael Dudikoff , Heather Langenkamp , Michele Greene , David Hedison , and Ian Ogilvy
Director: Fred Olen Ray
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004S5R4

Customer Reviews:

THE FOREVER CINEMATIC BEACH BOY.......2004-05-07

suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?.......2002-01-01

Bottom line is. Buy this movie, plane and simple. You won't be disapointed.

suspensfull, unpredicatble, intellagent,...anything else?.......2002-01-01

I give this movie a solid 8 out of 10

Sci Fi Chiller without the Sci Fi.......2000-08-12

Average Thriller.......2000-05-22

DVD:

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