House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)

Amazon.com

Connoisseurs of political chicanery will relish House of Cards, the mordantly funny story of Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a British politician with his eye on the top job. Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative Party and his job is to maintain party discipline, or, as he likes to say, "put a bit of stick about." This means that he has intimate knowledge of his colleagues' foibles, knowledge that he uses to further his own political ambitions. Aided by his equally ruthless wife and drawing on a network of accomplices, Urquhart forces the prime minister to resign then sets out to discredit each of his rivals for the party leadership. Although it is strongly cast throughout, House of Cards belongs to Ian Richardson. Without his perfectly balanced performance, Urquhart might have become no more than a two-dimensional villain, but Richardson finds exactly the right tone to make his character as attractive as he is wicked. Thanks to Richardson, and a superb script by Andrew Davies, this brilliant political satire is sure to delight anyone who has wondered what might be going on in the darker corners of our democratic institutions.

In To Play the King, Urquhart appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen doing a perfect Prince Charles) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side. Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. With a Davies script that pokes fun at British politics and the antics of the royal family as well as a terrific cast led again by Ian Richardson, To Play the King maintains the high standard set by House of Cards.

The Final Cut, the last installment of the trilogy, strikes a more somber note than its predecessors. Urquhart has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's longest serving postwar leader, but the public is tiring of him and there are rumblings of dissent in the Conservative Party. Urquhart and his wife plot to secure both their place in history and their financial future. Once again, writer Andrew Davies has created a satire to relish, one that confirms all of our doubts about the motives of politicians. Ian Richardson's wonderful performance--filled with sly asides and winks to the camera--makes Francis Urquhart as fascinating as he is wicked, and we find ourselves rooting for this terrible man. The world would certainly be a duller place without him. --Simon Leake

Description

Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) leads an all star cast in this malevolent satire of greed, corruption and ambition in the highest realms of government. As Machiavellian monster Francis Urquhart, he schemes and backstabs his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. Every step of the way, Urquhart lays out his plans with horrifying wit and venomous charm. But the ranks of his enemies are growing, and they intend to bring him down, whatever the price. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary), from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel, this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy, a Peabody, two BAFTAs and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

Customer Reviews:

pack of cards: history repeats itself.......2007-07-22

very good series. both acted and as an analysis of governments,[and not only british],then,when it was made,and more so now. but then again the author was well connected into the "inner workings". Because of the reaction to the popularity of the first series and the changing of the end i feel there was more of a contrivance to please in the second and third series. the second with it's removal of 'charles' as king and the ascension of 'william' to the throne has a familiar ring to it. In the 3rd series the EOKA Cyprus affair,most who watch would hardly remember the actual history but could compare it with events today. The criticism of British troop behavior in public in Cyprus was correct. I have witnessed first hand that same 'behavior'.
The series reminded me of a dramatic rendering to compare with ANTONY JAY's 'YES MINISTER' AND 'YES PRIME MINISTER' comedic attempts at the same sort of stuff, telling tales out of school. After all Jay was another 'in the know' as the British Prime Minister's son-in-law and Ambassador to DC

From the Bottom of the Deck!.......2007-07-17

What if Shakespeare's Lord and Lady Macbeth had been temporally transported into twenty-first century Britain? They would certainly be reincarnated into the insidious Francis Urquhart and his formidable spouse Elizabeth. In their new personae, 'MacUrquhart' would still be haunted by guilty visions but would shed any qualms about committing murder in the interests of power, and 'Lady MacUrquhart' would waste no more time sleepwalking but sustain her role as the actual but invisible control over the man with titular authority.

The "House of Cards Trilogy," which includes "To Play the King" and "Final Cut," not only portrays such a ghastly scenario, but also demonstrates the disastrous consequences for a post-modern Britain when such a pair first insinuates itself into a position of power and then seizes and maintains an unrelenting grip on that power, even if, in the final analysis, it has to provoke a bloody war to do so. Thanks to Andrew Davies' darkly comedic script, Ian Richardson's brilliant portrayal of Francis, and a splendid supporting cast, the viewer is locked in suspense and held in a state somewhere between laughing and cringing at the political shenanigans, too many of which resound with an uncomfortable ring of contemporary probability.

The humor derives from Richardson as Francis, who ruptures the invisible barrier between illusion and reality by taking the audience into his confidence. In "House of Cards" he does this with such wry wit that viewers are drawn easily into his thrall, so much so that despite their better natures and common sense, they find themselves liking and identifying with this charming unapologetic scoundrel. Somewhere in the middle of "To Play the King," however, they realize, to their increasing horror, that by sharing in his most intimate thoughts, they have actually become co-conspirators in the machinations of Urquhart, who in a literal blink of the eye transforms congeniality into the mesmerizing malevolence of a king cobra. By the time they have become absorbed in the plot of "Final Cut," they are inextricably tied to Urquhart's fate, as on a runaway train. Thus the scenario becomes metaphorical for the public's unfortunate propensity to be seduced by plausible but unscrupulous politicians who draw them into situations that they might not realize are unsupportable until it is too late. The repeated use in "To Play the King" of Urquhart's initials, F.U., illustrates this proposition.

The late Ian Richardson's ability to keep the audience enthralled in the destiny of this despicable rogue testifies to his incomparable subtlety as an actor, who will be sorely missed. The lynchpin of the tale, Richardson is amply supported by an ensemble cast, including Diane Fletcher as his horrific wife; Colin Jeavens as Tim Stamper, his `whip' who wields 'a bit of stick'; Nicholas Grace as Stamper's toadying successor, Geoffrey Booza-Pitt; and Nick Brimble as the sinister Corder. Among Urquhart's memorable victims are Michael Kitchen as the well-meaning king, Susanna Harker as the unstable Mattie Storrin, Kitty Aldrich as the altruistic Sarah, to name only a few. All characters in this cautionary tale are vulnerable to the enticements of power, even those who begin as honest idealists. When Corder informs the nobly motivated Tom Makepeace, who eventually succeeds Urquhart as leader of the party, that "we"--meaning Corder, Elizabeth, and the rest--are "right behind" him, one understands the story's message that all politicians, even those with the best of motives, are liable to being corrupted absolutely by the acquisition of absolute power.

House of Cards is a Great Deal.......2007-07-12

My wife and I had seen the original House of Cards trilogy when first broadcast on PBS in the 90's, and loved Ian Richardson as the evil but charming Francis Urquhart (I think that's spelled right). We'd been meaning to get our own copy of the series, and the issuing of the DVDs, along with his recent death, triggered our order. We just finished watching the entire series, in the space of less than two weeks. We were as anxious to see the next episode as we'd been the first time around. The dialogue is wondrous to listen to - and Urquhart's internal ponderings on the nature of life, politics and passion, and constant asides to the viewer, are often poetic. Richardson's training as a Shakespearean actor is evident in the delivery of every line, but his facial expressions are a revelation. Michael Dobbs, the author of the original novels, was an Parliament insider during the Thatcher years, I believe, and brings realism and unparalleled cynicism to the story (though he didn't do the screenplays). There are shocks and surprises throughout - just when you think things can't get nastier... A final pleasure was that the quality of the DVD recording is excellent; we'd been disappointed with the DVD of the Wilderness Years (the Churchill series of the late 80's), where the audio was almost unlistenable, and the video quality poor. Here, both sound and picture are crisp. Overall, highly recommended - you'll love it, especially at its current price.

House of Cards trilogy.......2007-06-28

The late Ian Richardson plays a charming,suave,gentlemanly snake-in-the-grass....in fact he elevates it to high art.
It is like a modern "Richard III" with all the murder and intrigue that goes with it.Nice to know the USofA hasn't cornered the market on scoundrels in politics.

A great trilogy! You MUST have it!.......2007-06-13

If you like quality stories (like you would see on the BBC) and you like to think and you enjoy a evil villan, this one is for you! The main character is so refined and innocent looking but also so evil - LOVE IT! GET THIS!

Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again...
Another weird story
The men should have stayed gone
A Good Sequel
Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak.

Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Lara Flynn Boyle , David Cross (II) , Rosario Dawson , Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine , and Jay Johnston
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKZ3
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Amazon.com

More remake than sequel, Men in Black II safely repeats everything that made Men in Black the blockbuster hit of 1997. That's fine if you loved the original's fresh humor, weird aliens, and loopy ingenuity, but as sequels go, it's pure déjà vu. Makeup wizard Rick Baker is the only MIB alumnus who's trying anything new, while director Barry Sonnenfeld and costars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (as alien-fighting agents Jay and Kay, respectively) are on autopilot with an uninspired screenplay. The quest of a multitentacled alien--on Earth in the form of Lara Flynn Boyle--for the light of Zartha requires Jay to deneuralize Kay, whose restored memory contains the key to saving the planet. The tissue-thin premise allows all varieties of special effects--mostly familiar, with some oddly hilarious new stuff tossed in for good measure. Certainly enjoyable as a popcorn distraction, but the MIB magic has worn a bit thin. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again..........2007-08-12

After successfully saving the planet from a deadly alien threat and raking in big money at the box office, the boys at 'MIB' were livin' the good life and enjoying all the perks of being beloved by moviegoers. Which is probably why Columbia Pictures felt the need to bring more intergalactic action and hilarity to the masses with a sequel to the highly popular film with the hopes of starting a franchise. So, 5 years after their first big screen adventure, Agent's K and J (Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith) are back again to save mankind from the worst scum of the universe, in Barry Sonnenfeld's "Men in Black 2".

"Men in Black 2" finds Agent J (Will Smith) having a difficult time keeping partners while protecting the Earth from alien threats. After he de-neuralized his former partner/mentor Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), J feels he's better as loner agent than partnered up. However, when a deadly new threat comes to Earth in the guise of a lingerie model (Lara Flynn Boyle), J and 'MIB' must bring in the one agent who will stand a chance of stopping this threat and saving humanity once again, Agent K. The only problem is, he doesn't remember anything about his life in 'MIB'.

What happens when a movie is so successful that it makes tons of money, turns its young lead actor into a mega-star, and catches audiences completely by surprise with how good and unique of a movie it was? Well, the obvious answer would be to make a sequel and cash in on the original film's success, which is exactly what Columbia Pictures did. However, there is a slight problem with this plan, how do you top what's already been done? The surprise factor is gone, the freshness has worn off, and it's possible that due to the mediocre animated series that was spawned from the original movie has diminished people's interest in the series.

To solve their possible problems Columbia Pictures brought on two writers that can handle the type of material needed for this type of movie, meaning plenty of action, humor, and sci-fi fun. Next, the powers-that-be managed to convince the main cast to reprise their roles from the first film, and lastly bring back the director that made them successful in the first place. So, did Columbia's plan of action work for this film or was it to fall prey to being yet another inferior sequel in an already long list? The answer, mostly yes, but there were some issues with the movie.

The cast was excellent, which isn't surprising given the talent assembled here, but as much as I enjoy Will Smith in most movies he makes, at times he actually felt boring to me here. I understand that the goal was having his character in the place of Tommy Lee Jones' at the beginning of the movie, being the serious career agent, no longer the care free rookie, but he came off like he was bored, leaving his performance feeling stiff. Now, I will say that once Tommy Lee Jones' character was back in play, Will Smith lightened up and the movie quickly picked up and felt more like the original, but the early part of his performance does put a bit of a damper on things. Tommy Lee Jones returns to playing the role that he does best, and apparently it's the only role he knows how to do, the no-nonsense serious man with a mission and a really dry, subtle sense of humor. Though the schtick is the same as before, it's still fun to see these two characters interact on screen, easily erasing the crappiness of the children's animated series. The supporting cast was solid throughout, I did grow tired of Johnny Knoxville's character, but he did provide some humorous moments. The rest of the cast was fun, and giving more screen time to Frank the Pug and the 'Worm' guys was a nice touch.

The story was a good follow-up to the original, with plenty of humor, though not as much as I'd hoped for before Agent K returns, but still the jokes were funny. The action was energetic like before, though a little more over-the-top in places than even the previous film had done, and the sci-fi elements were inventive. However, with all that being said, the story did suffer some from the fact that it had lost its freshness and originality since the first one was so much of a surprise and audiences didn't know what to expect, but this time we had a pretty good idea. Honestly it didn't matter what anyone did in this movie, no matter what was tried they just couldn't match the original, which is unfortunate since the characters are so fun and story potential is everywhere, but in the end you still can't do better than what's come before. This is actually one of those rare cases when the potential for a sequel is there, but the studio should avoid going through with it for the simple fact that you most likely won't be able to do better than what you already have done.

"Men in Black 2" is still a fun movie, though not as good as the original, but that doesn't mean the movie's not worth seeing or owning. Yes, there are some problems with this movie in some areas, but most are overcome early on, leaving audiences with a rather enjoyable movie experience.

"Men in Black 2" is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and sensuality.

Another weird story.......2007-07-02

Kay is gone, J is looking a partner like Kay. A snake lady shows up, other things happen too.
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flyne Boyle.

The men should have stayed gone.......2007-06-25

I remember having such high hopes for this movie, but it turned out that the movie trailer had served up all the laughs and the rest of the flick was shockingly dull and un-orginal. But I get it. Sequels are hard and Hollywood are usually a greedy lot. The plot re: returning the Light couldn't have been more campy or paper thin if you tried. But, and it's a big but, it may have worked a little better for children. I'm not sure. I don't have children. Anyhoot, if you have absolutely nothing to do or you're searching for what NOT to do with a sequel, check this film out. Otherwise, watch the first movie and then pretend that this one never happened. Where's a good nuturalizer when you need one?

A Good Sequel.......2007-02-19

A very good comedy, Men in Black II picks up four years after the first movie left off, and continues to shed light on Earth's finest agents. This time the arrival of an unexpected guest from outer space will rock their world...
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle and Rosario Dawson (both of whom are HOT!), and the rest of the cast carry out their performances very well.
The setting, the plot, the music, the humor, and the dialogues are all wonderful!
Overall, it is a movie worth watching, and even though quite silly at times, it will surely put you in a good mood! 4.5 Stars

Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak........2007-02-17

Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith are back and, IMHO, and their chemistry is as good if not better than in the original (this time IMHO Jones deserved top billing). Rip Torn is given some lines that I'm sure made him wonder if the $$$ he received from being in the second movie was worth the public embarrassment. Tony Shalhoub, on the other hand, is hilarious during the deneuralizer scenes (even though the writers saddled him with stolen lines).

On the other hand, with the exception of Johnny Knoxville as Scrad/Charlie, the villians are downright awful, and, as much as I like Patrick Warburton's other work, his short appearance here was pretty bad.

The Superbit technology doesn't get as many opportunities to shine as in MIB, although it is quite noticeable during the first subway scene and at the end. I'm still impressed enough with Superbit to choose it over other formats, even if I sacrifice the DVD "bonus features" to have it.

Average customer rating:

To be or Not to be...a Secret Agent Man.
Excellent!
Superb

Sleepers
Starring: Nigel Havers , Warren Clarke , Michael Gough , David Calder , and Joanna Kanska
Director: Geoffrey Sax
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000L2127W
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

Brewery worker Albert Robinson and financier Jeremy Coward seem like average British guys, until the Russian government claims they're Russian KGB agents defected to England, in Sleepers. This four-episode miniseries stars Vladimir Zelenski as Albert and Sergei Rublev as Jeremy, agents suddenly in danger of losing their anonymity when KGB agent Nina dedicates her work to solving the mystery of their whereabouts. Dry comedy in Sleepers transforms a potentially serious subject into satire about post-Cold War bumbling and bureaucracy, as various secret groups in the UK and the US get a whiff of what the sneaky Russians are up to and begin interfering. Scenes alternating between the KGB, the CIA, and the MI5 make it clear that no one really knows why they're hunting these two retired men, or what threat they pose. Sleepers' humor capitalizes on outmoded Cold War obsessions with keeping tabs regardless of purpose. Many comic moments center on military tracking of an unknown friend of Albert's, named Morris, who turns out to be his daughter's stuffed monkey. --Trinie Dalton

Description

The Cold War is over but all the players are still ready for a rumble
As seen on Masterpiece Theatre

Soviet agents Sergei Rublev and Vladimir Zelenski so successfully infiltrated the culture they were sent to spy on in 1965 that they have become more English than the English. Now living as financier Jeremy Coward and brewery worker Albert Robinson, the "sleeping" spies are horrified to learn that, after 25 years, the KGB is looking for them. The hunt also awakens the bumbling bureaucrats of MI5 and their ultra-paranoid CIA counterparts, who work themselves into a lather trying to figure out what the KGB is up to.

The poignancy of the sleepers' predicament plays out amid a hilarious cross-cultural send-up of the secret agent game. Nigel Havers (Manchild, A Perfect Hero) and Warren Clarke (Dalziel and Pascoe, The Onedin Line) star in this touching human comedy, remembered as one of the best British exports of the 1990s.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE cast filmographies and scene selection.

Note: due to music rights, this program has been modified for home video presentation.

Customer Reviews:

To be or Not to be...a Secret Agent Man........2007-05-30

Like the earlier reviewer, I have waited a long time for this terrific BBC miniseries to come to DVD. It's a very interesting story of two men who were placed by the KGB in Britain as (possible) spies. Their instructions: Melt into the English population as if they were natives. And this they do. They are forgotten. And when they have become entirely British...indeed one of the men is now married with children...they get
an urgent call on their antique Russian radio to "reactivate" as spies.
Panic, panic, panic...as the two men who are friends, try to run from the
Soviet spy machine. They are everything but willing to have anything to do with the Soviets. And one of the persons after them is a beautiful Russian agent. A lot of fun and satire. Don't miss it.

Excellent! .......2007-05-29

Warren Clarke and Nigel Havers are living well in England's 1980s-1990s, respectively as a respected trade union man with wife and family, and as a rich, dashing investment banker. Little did we know that they are not what they appear to be. Wonderfully acted. All the actors are perfectly cast. If you're tired of blood and gore and unmentionable bad language, you must view this instead. (Warren Clarke is a talented actor, with ordinary looks, but dependable. He also appeared in Reilley, Ace of Spies.)

Superb.......2007-04-06

I've waited for years to see this thriller again. It's an example of what BBC was once able to do: create the nearly perfect drama. Everything about this classic is right. The casting is perfect; in a just world, Clarke would have been given many awards. There is much humor. And the spy story keeps your interest from beginning to end. How delightful to see this available. Don't miss it.

Average customer rating:

Fortress
Suspenseful Thriller
Remember....
childhood memory
My favorite Aussie movie

Fortress
Starring: Sean Garlick , Rachel Ward , Elaine Cusick , Laurie Moran , and Marc Aden
Director: Arch Nicholson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GAKDP6
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Description

When a teacher and her class are kidnapped by gunmen in the Australian outback, they soon realize that the only way they will ever escape alive is if they save themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Fortress.......2007-08-25

I remember seeing this movie years and years ago on HBO and everytime it was on I was glued to the set. Now 20 years later I HAD to re-hash those memories and buy a DVD copy of FORTRESS. To be quite honest , it wasn't as thrilling to me now as it was when I was 10 years old, but still a very good watch. The basic bare bones plot for all who are interested, is a schoolteacher and her all age classroom are kidnapped by a small gang of creepy looking cartoon masked bad guys, in order to demand a ransom. The group of children and the teacher must now use their smarts to outwit these dangerous kidnappers and many tense moments follow. As i said, not as nail-biting as I remember, but something about the bad guys in those cartoon masks always and still does haunt me, especially the gangs leader, Father Christmas, normally known to these children as the source of all good things Christmas, shown here as being the cruelest, most sinister of all the kidnappers. Pretty good flick and well recommended to all.

Suspenseful Thriller.......2007-04-29

Setting: Australian wilderness- desolate and isolated. An Australian teacher and her students. A schoolhouse in the middle of nowhere. They start the day off like normal and are in the middle of a lesson when a group of whackos in crazy masks show up with guns at the window. Some of the masks they use are Santa Claus, A mouse, a duck, etc. The teachers and students are then forced into a van and driven off into the even more remote wilderness area where they are trapped in a cave... Now they have to devise a plan and fight for their own survival and try to get away from these kidnappers before its too late. They have to use their brains to get out of this situation. It reminded me of a Lord of the flies type of deal. The ending was a little disturbing to me. They're in a cave and the last kidnapper comes in and it involves spears, wont give it away here but this was scary and quite plausible situation. Recommended.

Remember...........2007-02-21

...when this movie came out on cable? It brought back memories for my family as well. A little corny at times(maybe overacting)but overall good to have in your DVD collection.

childhood memory.......2007-01-10

it was something I vaguely remembered watching in childhood and certain parts I remembered but I always remembered being a little scared by what was happening. It was nice to finally get to see it again. Kind of a lord of the flies deal, but it was nice to see them use their heads.

My favorite Aussie movie.......2006-11-04

This movie has just about every thing a good adventure flick requires, good character development, surprise, danger, even some tastefully done wet T-shirt scenes (Rachel Ward is a natural beauty), and a viscerally satisfying ending. And even though it's over two decades old, it does not appear dated, and the production values stand the test of time.

Men in Black II (Full Screen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again...
Another weird story
The men should have stayed gone
A Good Sequel
Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak.

Men in Black II (Full Screen Special Edition)
Starring: Lara Flynn Boyle , David Cross (II) , Rosario Dawson , Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine , and Jay Johnston
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006JK1R
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again..........2007-08-12

Another weird story.......2007-07-02

Kay is gone, J is looking a partner like Kay. A snake lady shows up, other things happen too.
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flyne Boyle.

The men should have stayed gone.......2007-06-25

A Good Sequel.......2007-02-19

Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak........2007-02-17

Average customer rating:

Mad at the opera.
A collector's item for Collette fans.
Cosy Cosi !
Cosi
Louis Nowra does it again!

Cosi
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn , Barry Otto , Toni Collette , Rachel Griffiths , and Aden Young
Director: Mark Joffe
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000089794
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

This is another one of those Cuckoo's Nest mental patient liberation stories, but with a clever "let's put on a show" twist. A group of melancholy Australian patients dares to pull off a theatrical version of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte. This film adaptation of Louis Nowra's play is quite absurd and quite erratic, yet quite affecting in the second half when the patients finally commit to the quixotic project. But how to relate to Mozart's 1790 opera about true love? By identifying with the theme of infidelity as a therapeutic exercise. And how do they pull of this madcap farce? By relying on their ability to pretend, of course. This is most difficult for the unimaginative and uncaring director (Mendelsohn), who finds himself in a life-imitates-art conflict with his curt girlfriend and a damaged yet flirtatious patient. However, it is the passionate patient (Otto) who won't let Cosi die who is the film's emotional center. He's a neurotic perfectionist and a delusional addict--a sad, desperate man with a dream to show the world how to love and be loved. --Bill Desowitz

Description

Fun, fresh, and thoroughly entertaining, COSI is the acclaimed comedy about a colorful circle of friends just crazy enough to follow an impossible dream! A first-time director is thrilled to land a job with a small show ... until he meets the outrageous "performers" he'll be working with! An offbeat group with big-time ambitions that far outweigh their talents, these nutty friends are nonetheless determined to overcome the odds! Featuring stars from the comedy hits MURIEL'S WEDDING (Toni Collette, ABOUT A BOY, Rachel Griffiths -- HBO'S SIX FEET UNDER) and STRICTLY BALLROOM (Barry Otto), COSI proves taking the wildest risk can lead to the greatest reward!

Customer Reviews:

Mad at the opera........2007-01-20

Australia has produced a lot of great movies, large and small, and this ain't one of them. If you're really wanting a good comedy set in a mental institution, check out "The Dream Team" instead. If you want a good film from Down Under, there are plenty others to choose from; just pass this one by.

A collector's item for Collette fans........2006-12-18

I'm a fan of Toni Collette's acting talents ever since watching her play Muriel in 'Muriel's Wedding' (A film I've watched so many times that I'm ashamed to admit the number). I was just as enamored with her brilliant performance in this wonderful film. In fact, the entire cast in 'Cosi' are absolutely brilliant and I laughed so hard I know I sounded like a hen about to lay an egg. Once you've encountered the unique characters in this movie they will become unforgettable. The task of a director attempting to put together a difficult play casting mentally ill patients is a witty concept in itself, but the movie's director, Mark Joffe, molds the story into a revolutionary comedy while also bringing to the surface the underlying struggles of mental illness, relationships, and the all-consuming magic of the theatre. Bravo!!!

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

Cosy Cosi !.......2006-08-30

Still a great movie, raw, funny and worth having in your Aussy collection !

Cosi.......2006-08-24

By the director of Strictly Ballroom, with the same quirky point of view and more than a whiff of satire - this is genuinely funny, human, and ultimately kind. Unlike the ballroom "types," the folks in this movie are recognizable as real people.

Louis Nowra does it again!.......2006-03-05

The screenplay for this movie was written by one of Australia's greatest contemporary playwrights, namely, Louis Nowra. When it comes to putting Australia on the map, Louis Nowra does it every time! This film has it all, love, misery, and madness...an exceptional film!

Average customer rating:

To bad for Coca-Cola!
Response to Mr Tamm
"Is this the Austrailian Sound?! I want the Austrailian sound!"
You must understand about the ice
The US and Australia Rules!!!

The Coca-Cola Kid
Starring: Eric Roberts , Greta Scacchi , Bill Kerr , Chris Haywood , and Kris McQuade
Director: Dusan Makavejev
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B00005V9HU
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Amazon.com

Eric Roberts, young, charming, and handsome, does a rare comic turn as an American Coca-Cola executive with a honeyed Georgia drawl sent Down Under in this congenial little Australian comedy. As the zealous, unfailingly polite eccentric declares economic war on a veritable back-country feudal lord who runs his own steam-powered soda plant (Bill Kerr), Roberts's enchantingly goofy secretary (Greta Scacchi) plots a campaign of seduction that includes a Santa suit that explodes in an orgiastic blizzard of feathers. Yugoslavian director Dusan Makavejev (Montenegro), hardly known for romantic comedy, brings a surprisingly light touch to the comedy and a sweet sexiness to the offbeat love story. The script veers into scenes that make no sense and gets bogged down in the cola wars, but Makavejev buoys the film with unexpected turns, delightful moments of beauty and joy, and a genial, generous sense of humor. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Starring Academy AwardÂ(r) nominee* Eric Roberts (Runaway Train) and Emmy winner** Greta Scacchi (The Red Violin), this "wacky comedy" (Leonard Maltin) is full of clever fun, lighthearted romance, and an enchanting Aussie-American charm! "Abundantly rewarding" (Los Angeles Times) and "filled with moments of inspiration" (Roger Ebert), The Coca-Cola Kid celebrates both the Outback way of life and American pride! Ex-marine turned Coca-Cola marketing guru Becker (Roberts) is on a mission to boost sales in Australia when he discovers a dry spot in the Outback, where everyone is guzzling a homegrown brewand not a drop of his company's cola! Determined to pop the top off his competitor, Becker tries to reason with the crafty soda maker but ends upfalling for his free-spirited daughter (Scacchi) who really shakes things up. Will everything fizzle or end up in perfect harmony? The answer is a delightful blend of romance and comedy that's sure to refresh you! *Supporting Actor, Runaway Train (1985) **Supporting Actressin a Miniseries, "Rasputin" (1996)

Customer Reviews:

To bad for Coca-Cola!.......2007-01-16

I loved this very different film and have seen it several times. It is not for everyone but if you love a different story with some great music, this is for you. To bad Coca-Cola never made use of the jingle in the movie. If you don't fall in love with Greta Scacchi your heart is made of stone!

Response to Mr Tamm.......2006-07-10

I'm not making any comments about this film, as it's a long time since I last saw it, but I do want to register my objection to Mr Tamm's calling "Smash Palace" an Australian film. It was a New Zealand film, made in New Zealand, by a New Zealand director (Roger Donaldson), about New Zealand characters and starring mainly New Zealand actors (Bruno Lawrence, Greer Robson, Keith Aberdeen). It has no connection whatsoever with Australia. This is almost as bad as when Peter Jackson's third "Lord of the Rings" movie won all 11 academy Awards for which it was nominated, and after Billy Crystal had been making jokes all night about everyone in New Zealand having been thanked in the various acceptance speeches, the following morning a prominent US newspaper referred to Peter Jackson as "an Australian director"! We are NOT Australians!!!!

"Is this the Austrailian Sound?! I want the Austrailian sound!".......2005-11-02

First of all,

I highly recommend the review below, by the guy named "Sideburns." I think he captures the factual basis and spirit for this film. I can understand how some who are "Australia-philes" might want to see a purely Aussie product, and this is not that. It's not "Smash Palace" or many other fine Aussie films of that genre. What this film is, can be described in one word: WEIRD.

That's a good thing.

The genius of Eric Roberts used to be (and may still be again), his ability to seemingly lose himself in his roles, and do so while lacking any self-consciousness about how he comes across. To see this film and then see other excellent (and weird) films, including "The Pope of Greenwich Village" and "Runaway Train," is to see a career arc that was pretty amazing. He seemed to get into serious films with major talent around him, and then be able to carry-off demanding roles (albeit, some similar, sure), with energy and command.

Okay, onto this film. First of all, let's be honest, this is not a deep film. It's not meant to be. It is almost like an indie verson of a Farrely brothers film, at least their early ones, where they don't mind taking risks and also having fun. There's also a nice romantic subtext they had ("Kingpin" - believe it or not, "Me, Myself & Irene") where, in a ridiculous way, they reflect what's in a good majority of people who are either searching for love, or just searching for something in themselves, and they find it reflected or - in the case of the main characters in the Farrely films, and definitely in "Coca Cola Kid," abbetted by others. I'm not saying Woody Harrelson or Jim Carrey could've been the Coca Cola Kid, but what they all have in common, in the specific roles they played in these films, is to make one wonder if anyone would or could find anything remotely interesting about them in a romantic way. They are so completely un-indearing, it seems almost cartoonish - and then one just thinks of many people we all know, and it's not that unbelieavable.

The music in the film alone is just fantastic. The Coca Cola jingle Robert's character commissions is incredible, and it's punctuated by this aboriginal guy who is playing his device - a guy Roberts finds outside the Coca Cola local offices, and promptly drafts into service. It's just really funny to see The Kid's mind work - marketing wheels a'spinnin' as he devises and employs his strategies. Everyone on both sides is equally mocked, and that makes for a really fine, mostly non-judgemental film (rare these days, eh?).

There are other nice touches in the soundtrack and
also, I'd be remiss, not to mention NUTS, if I avoided the very nice scene of Greta Scaatchi where she's freshening up...well, go see the film!

It's quirky, it's revealing, and a lot of fun. It also does a great job of discussing culture clashes, where, when everyone is harmless, you can see how progress comes out of a some dissension, yet still wonder if we're losing a little something in the translation. If that's vague, so's the film in some ways, and I think that is precisely what the director was going for. It doesn't all have to fit perfectly. A lot doesn't, and that makes it kind of seem real.

You must understand about the ice.......2005-10-19

This movie did not replay quite as well as I'd hoped after viewing when it first came out on tape to now. But it still holds some very entertaining moments and Eric Roberts proves that he really is a terrific actor. The director, who also made Sweet Movie, has a bizarre sense of humor, in this case you must make to the very end to find the twist.

The US and Australia Rules!!!.......2004-06-17

This is a great movie about an american coca-cola executive trying to invade a difficult sales district down under.Australia and the US rules!!!

Average customer rating:

Similar to the Fugitive
sucks you in
Extremely Dangerous Extremely Entertaining
Call it a thinking man's Fugitive...
Sean Bean Rocks the Screen as Usual

Extremely Dangerous
Starring: Sean Bean , Juliet Aubrey , Ralph Brown , Alex Norton , and Sean Gallagher
Director: Sallie Aprahamian
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000068QL8
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Customer Reviews:

Similar to the Fugitive.......2007-04-18

This was a British TV mini-series, and feels like it!
None the less, it isn't bad, with the characteristic English understatement.
It is good value, as it is long, and not available on R2 DVD. Turn off the brain, and enjoy it for the action.

sucks you in.......2007-01-11

got this because it has Sean Bean in it. and a lot of his better work in on region 2 dvd, my dvd player is only region 1. It is an excellent movie over all. The acting is excellent all the way around. We totally enjoyed it.

Extremely Dangerous Extremely Entertaining.......2006-11-06

Well-written, fast-paced thriller, and very well-acted -- all the characters, not just the "stars", have depth and dimension. One of the best-made tv-movies I have ever seen.

Call it a thinking man's Fugitive..........2004-10-01

This movie was a very enjoyable surprise. I bought it mainly because I adore Sean Bean and I had heard that this role was actually written for him. I was expecting to see another formulaic thriller (albeit with great scenery), but instead I was treated to an entertaining and intelligent four-hour film. As I said in the title, I consider it the thinking man's Fugitive - same general idea but with so much more depth. I'm ashamed to admit that while I'm on my third or fourth viewing I still don't completely understand all the British accents and some of the finer plot points, but that's okay. This is one movie I plan to watch many, many times. Extremely Dangerous is one of a severe minority of movies that treats the viewer like they have a brain in their heads (gasp!). It doesn't describe everything in minute detail. What a refreshing change from all the summer blockbusters that repeatedly beat you over the head with plot. This movie also is heavy on the characterization. No one-dimensional characters need apply! Neil Byrne, the protagonist, is especially appealing for his multiple layers. This is a man who can do some pretty ruthless things but he still manages to walk that fine line between good guy and villain. I liked the way the characters related to each other in realistic, and often funny and touching ways, without ever striking a false note. Overall, I gave Extremely Dangerous five stars because the writing and story were just superb. Sean Bean does his usual excellent job, not that I would expect anything less. He is entertaining and believable as a man so conflicted and tormented by forces he has no control over. This movie should be required viewing for everyone who calls themselves fans of Sean Bean in particular, or just fans of well-made thrillers in general. Five stars!!

Sean Bean Rocks the Screen as Usual.......2004-06-15

As a man falsely accused of something he did not do, Sean Bean, plays the divided man, the angst-ridden man to the fullest. This film was made in part for British TV, it far surpasses ALL American television show of any similar genre. If you have a problem understanding any Englishman or British series it is because you are not use to hearing their voices, and accents and basically do not know the cultural differences between our sister nation. This is what true suspense should be, and unlike American dramas of this nature someone does not die every two seconds with bad dialogue following. It has a darkness and stealth that only a British production can have, as in America dramas of the same kind it is always overkill. There is a unique plot development which is made over the 4 parts of this drama which are pieced together, which is why some other viewer thought this was slow. It was watched in the UK over 4 nights, and had character development, and a real storyline.

Description

DIRTY DEEDS opens with business as normal for prominent Australian gangster Barry Ryan (Brown) who runs the girls, clubs, and illegal casinos. Ryan's wife, Sharon (Collette), sees little of her husband as he spends most of his time with fellow mobsters or his mistress. But things start to get out of hand when Ryan's business is threatened by a Chicago Mafia boss who sends two of his thugs to check out the casino scene for a potential takeover. When Tony (Goodman) and Sal, the two goons sent to check things out, try to fit in to Australian culture, they end up sticking out like two giant sore thumbs. Barry will have a difficult enough time negotiating with the Americans, but the biggest drama occurs when it is discovered that one of his own gang members has been less than truthful.

Customer Reviews:

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.......2006-10-03

I am a huge fan of Bryan Brown. He is hillarious without even trying to be and a real larrikin. He is one of Australia's greatest exports. Even with the strong cast in the film, it is definitely his movie. Any fan of his will love this movie.

Brown plays "Barry". A sydney underworld crime figure who has the monopoly on the Pokie business in Sydney. He is powerful, greedy and street-wise. He has a deal with the local police boss to do whatever necessary to keep his business moving, as long as he keeps the violence of the streets and keeps paying his cut.

Enter two American gangsters who want a big slice of the action, bigger than what Barry believes they are entitled too. What follows is a tug-of-war between the two for control of the pokie trade. Throw in a few twists, a bit of deceipt and manipulation and you basically have your plot.

Its the cast and the soundtrack I believe are the movies biggest assets. Most people will recognise John Goodman, Sam Neil and Toni Collette, who's abilities speak for themselves but special mention must go to Sam Worthington, Kestie Morassi and Felix Williamson.

Williamson who is actually Aussie plays Sal, Goodman's gangster buddy from Chicago. Worthington is a young up and comer who has gone on to star in other great Aussie flicks such as 'Somersault', 'Gettin Square' and 'Thunderstruck'. And this movie provided a launching pad for the very talented Kestie Morassi, who international audiences will remember as one of the British backpackers from 'Wolf Creek'.

I can understand how overseas audiences may not get some of the dialogue. There is lots of slang and dry humour, but provides great entertainment nonetheless.

1969 gang action in Sydney Australia .......2005-06-15

2002 Australian R-rated (Strong violence and language)/ Crime Thriller. Also known as "Knocking Mr. Big" (in Australia), and "Sacré Boulot" (French Canadian title).

DVD Features: The DVD contains two methods to play the film, either in Full Screen (film fits the TV screen, but cuts off some of the top and bottom action) or Widescreen (otherwise known as "Letterbox," the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, cutting off the activity on the sides) mode. The movie can be heard in English (5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 Dolby Stereo) or Spanish (2.0 Dolby Stereo). The DVD also contains a trailer for the film.

Credits: The movie stars: Bryan Brown (Barry Ryan; "F/X"; from Sydney Australia), Toni Collette (Sharon Ryan; "The Sixth Sense"; from Sydney, Australia), John Goodman (Tony; "Barton Fink"; from St. Luis, Missouri, USA), and Sam (O')Neill (Det. Sgt. Ray of the Police; "The Big Dish"; from Northern Ireland, UK - family moved to New Zealand when he was 7). The movie co-stars Sam Worthington (Darcy "Ryan" -the nephew; "Hart's War"; Australian), Kestie Morassi (Margaret; "The Merchant of Fairness"; from Adelaide, Australia), William McInnes (Hollywood; "Look Both Ways"; from Queensland Australia), Andrew S. Gilbert (Norm; "Ned Kelly"), Gary Waddell (Freddie; "Heatwave"; from Victoria Australia), and Felix Williamson (Sal; "Babe: Pig in the City"). The movie is written and directed by David Caesar (writer: "Mullet"; director: "Greenkeeping").

Plot: It's 1969 and Barry Ryan controls things in Sydney Australia (including the casino slot machine trade). Two Yanks from Chicago, Tony (more level-headed fellow, just wants to do business) & Sal (hot-tempered, trigger-happy guy), members of the mafia, head over to Sydney with new high-tech slot machines to show around casinos and also offer to buy out Ryan. Meanwhile Ryan's nephew comes back from Vietnam and attempts to adjust to civilian life (obsessed with trying to figure out what pizza is, and gets a little too close to his boss's mistress, Margaret). While this is occurring, an internal Sydney gang warfare breaks out (though there is some confusion over where the gunfire is coming from, might have some US mob help, might not). Also, there is some possible conflict between the two US mob personnel.

Review: Considering the little I knew about the film, I was very surprised when the movie opened in a 1969 Vietnam wheat field. Great opening music, though (the music throughout is great, for the most part). Strange, a helicopter arrives in the middle of a wheat field and delivers pizza to some soldiers (and picks up some soldiers, one of whom ends up in Sydney being picked up by Barry, his uncle). Then the movie starts to make sense, with Tony & Sal flying from Chicago to Sydney Australia with a high-tech slot machine. All this occurs before the opening credits. Great lead out from the opening credits scene of mean looking men in suits entering a casino in Sydney and busting up the slot machines (lead by Barry). Oh, and it might help if the movie had been made with subtitles considering the thick accents.

Great car chase in the movie. The providers (Freddie's gang) of the slot machines that Barry destroyed right after the opening credits pulls up beside Barry and the nephew and shoot at Barry, just one shot though (forgot to load more). Barry drives the car and chases after the rival gang while his nephew attempts to get out their only gun stuck under the car seat.

Interesting take on Vietnam offered in the film. One of the mafia men from Chicago, Sal, notes that the mafia is behind the Vietnam war. Apparently, the mob wants to make some money from the drug trade. As Sal notes: black people and poor white trash get sent to Vietnam, get hooked on drugs, go back to the states and get their friends hooked as well.

Quite an interesting little film with everyone seeming to have their own agendas (some secret, some not). Most of the acting is good, and most of the characters have depth, though some, like the internal rival Sydney gang, have rather thin to non-existing personalities. The Australian accent is a little hard to understand sometimes (doesn't help that the music sound-level and dialogue sound-level seem to be set at two different levels). The plot is solid, but the tension is mostly missing. Considering the Australian film financing in this film, I would assume that the action occurs in Australia, though it is hard to tell (other than the giant desert). Overall, I would give the film 4.10 stars.

Down Under Down and Dirty.......2004-01-08

Here's the mix: throw in a coupla Yank Mafia guys--Sal and Tony. Blend with an Aussie mob operation based in Sydney, circa early 70s. What's the op? Slot machines. This is what's driving Sal and Tony's boss after the money to be made. Made men means make money. How Jimmy, the Mafia boss, found out about all the cash in Sydney is beyond the scope of this flick.

But that's OK. This works great. John Goodman is Tony, a kinda soft hearted Mafia soldier who's the perfect counterpart to Sal, his violent partner--shorter on brains and faster on the trigger finger (except when boar hunting). Bryan Brown is Barry, the main Aussie gangster who runs things in Sydney. Barry is married with a young son, but this doesn't stop him from cussing right to his kid's face or getting nasty when he has to.

Barry's not big on any takeover from the Yanks. Who would be, with a nice steady income stream every week? Not even for a coupla mil. This leads to some punchy (literally) things taking place, not least of which is Barry's nephew taking up with Barry's mistress, a young know-it-all waitress. Barry's wife, played by Toni Colette in a great performance, takes none too kindly to the extracurricular shenanigans.

And Barry's local rivals, one of whom was killed by Barry's men, are not exactly thrilled with Barry either. All this adds up to an edgy neo-noir with a unique Australian flavor. Very nifty. Writer-director David Caesar uses a hip, slice and dice jump-cutty style that is a teensy bit garish, but mostly works really well for the material. Skewed camera angles fit in with the period piece trappings--including spot on rock music and loud-color dress.

A different kind of neo-noir, entertaining and fun. Recommended.

Dirty Deeds Done Right.......2003-12-24

What happens when the Chicago mob moves in on the Aussie nickel slot-machine business? John Goodman's world weary wise-guy takes on Bryan Brown's edgy mob boss in this action-packed black comedy that does for the gentlemen what "Down With Love" did for the ladies--brings back the 60s through an affectionate and humorous lens. Sam Neil and Toni Collette put in strong supporting performances as Bryan Brown's corrupt cop "pal" and his feisty wife, and Sam Worthington demonstrates excellent comic timing as the lad just back from Nam who can't decide whether he wants to be a gangster or open the first pizza parlor in Australia.
Worth renting, just to hear Bryan Brown's advice to his young son on how to get vampires out from under the bed, and if you happen to be (as I am) a fan of any one of these fine actors, you won't be satisfied until you add this film to your collection.

Good Fella's in thongs.......2003-11-09

Good movie- But if you are interested in another great Aussie Gangster film starring Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown- Hunt down "Two Hands", you won't regret it- unfortunatly,as yet it is not available on Amazon.

Average customer rating:

Awesome !
still missing
Cliche short.
Does it worth ?
The ChubbChubbs are here!

The Chubb Chubbs
Starring: Dustin Adair , Eric Armstrong , Yakov Baytler