Shaun of the Dead

Amazon.com

British horror/comedy Shaun of the Dead is a scream in all senses of the word. Brain-hungry zombies shamble through the streets of London, but all unambitious electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg) cares about is his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), who just dumped him. With the help of his slacker roommate Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun fights his way across town to rescue Liz, but the petty concerns of life keep getting in the way: When they're trying to use vinyl records to decapitate a pair of zombies, Shaun and Ed bicker about which bands deserve preservation--New Order they keep, but Sade becomes a lethal frisbee. Many zombie movies are comedies by accident, but Shaun of the Dead is deliberately and brilliantly funny, while still delivering a few delicious jolts of fear. Also featuring the stealthy comic presence of Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and some familar faces from The Office. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

What an incredible let down........2007-09-16

Wow! I was excited to see this movie based on the trailers I had seen, what an incredible let down. Not so much a comedy, I kept waiting to laugh and never did. Live and learn. It's just a movie but I wouldn't waste my money on this stinker.

After you stop laughing--watch it a second time.......2007-09-11

First go around, I had to clean my glasses because they were fogged with tears from laughing so hard. "Shaun" is truly one of the most bizarrely funny cult films I have ever seen.

Since I had some trouble with my Mac scanning the DVD, I watched for a second time. What jumped out at me was Shaun's manager's pep-talk about 'teams' and what a study of human nature Shaun and his group would make. We saw thinking outside of the box, bravery in the least expected places, selflessness, and how utterly stupid the panicked group Critic could be.

Seriously, if the corporate trainers ever get tired of making their teams climb rock walls and build paper gizmos that nobody will ever use, they ought to have employees watch this film--twice--so they can see human nature in action.

Wouldn't dealing with zombies be a great way to explain difficult tech support calls? How many uses can you find for this scenario?

"Shaun" is a great film on both the funny and the serious levels. And it is one to be watched more than once. I seriously regret not seeing it in the theatre.

Awesome, funny film.......2007-09-01

I have watched this film several times and now and just love the humour. It is a horror film though so not for the faint hearted
Lets all go to the 'Winchester'....:-)

surely not hilarious..........2007-08-23

it could have been much more better. the scénario is very poor and acting is pretty bad.About laughing....search where and when..
as poor as Hot fuzz
rent it at the best.

WASTE OF TIME........2007-08-18

I love British humor but this sucked. I cannot understand why people loved it so much...Let's face it, if these actors had American accents it would be a complete flop...Also, I believe a lot of people are saying they like it to fit in.

Average customer rating:

Convoluted, but in a good way.
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED
A Note To Prospective Viewers/Buyers Of This Movie...
Why do they explain everything at the end???
Good cast; Disappointing story

The Prestige
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Piper Perabo , and Rebecca Hall
Director: Christopher Nolan
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LC55F2
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Description

Award-winning actors Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson star in THE PRESTIGE, the twisting, turning story that, like all great magic tricks, stays with you. Two young, passionate magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman), a charismatic showman, and Alfred Borden (Bale), a gifted illusionist, are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing to learn each other's secrets. As their rivalry escalates into a total obsession full of deceit and sabotage, they risk everything to become the greatest magician of all time. But nothing is as it seems, so watch closely. And be prepared to watch it again and again.

Amazon.com

The Prestige attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his Batman Begins star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, The Prestige still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --Ellen A. Kim

Customer Reviews:

Convoluted, but in a good way........2007-09-15

I just saw "The Illusionist" a couple of weeks ago and was afraid that this movie would be too similar, as they came out around the same time and are both about magicians. I could NOT have been more wrong. Two completely different films.

Anyway, this movie was amazing. It took me a while to get excited about it, but then I couldn't look away. The ending especially - wow.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.......2007-09-15

I picked this up because I think Christian Bale is an incredible actor. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie's storyline. I can honestly say that this a movie that is great the first time around and even better when you watch it a second time. SUPERB ACTING ALL THE WAY AROUND!

A Note To Prospective Viewers/Buyers Of This Movie..........2007-09-11

Just so we can stem the tide of surly, dissatisfied reviewers who obviously lack an imagination or sense of wonder:

THERE IS SCIENCE FICTION IN THIS MOVIE. THERE IS FANTASY IN THIS MOVIE.

Ok? It's not a moldy period piece about the 19th century. If that's what you are looking for, look elsewhere.

Now, for those of you who actually have an imagination and enjoy seeing the impossible become possible: The Prestige was probably the best picture of 2006, despite what Oscar thought. A fantastic film. Five stars!

Why do they explain everything at the end???.......2007-09-09

Let me just say that I loved Memento. Part of that movie's appeal is that they don't spoon feed you everything at the end but rather provide hints that leaves the viewer to try to unravel it's mysteries and inspires one to watch the movie multiple times to try to figure it out. The Prestige is frustrating as it had the potential to provide the same experience, but instead everything is explained to you at the end. The movie provided enough subtle hints to allow the viewer the fun of trying to solve the film on their own, while debating the possibilities with friends. I felt robbed. My suggestion to viewers is to turn off the movie with @ 5 minutes left and attempt to figure it out on your own....
Are you watching closely? - No need to do so if you watch the movie to it's disappointing finale...

Good cast; Disappointing story.......2007-09-03

It's interesting that The Prestige and The Illusionist came out so closely together. I saw The Illusionist in the theater and totally loved it. I just saw The Prestige now, having borrowed it from the public library. I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.

The cast is first rate. Any film that features Michael Caine and David Bowie is probably worth seeing. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were both very good. The performances kept me watching.

The inclusion of Nichola Tesla and his battle with Thomas Edison was interesting and one could say that their rivalry mirrored that of the two magicians here. What bothered me most was the ending. It was a cheap trick and it spoiled the whole movie for me. What a contrast with the inspired ending of The Illusionist.

In a nutshell, The Prestige is about hate; The Illusionist is about love!

Average customer rating:

Excellent fare
Emma (A&E, 1997)
A very one dimensional Emma
Kate has displayed Emma's true personality exactly!
Wonderful Version

Emma (A&E, 1997)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale , Bernard Hepton , Mark Strong (II) , Samantha Bond , and James Hazeldine
Director: Diarmuid Lawrence
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0767020308
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Product Description

From the greatest romantic novelist of all time comes a delightfully wicked comedy of love and matchmaking. Jane Austen's sly and vivacious heroines have enchanted readers for more than 200 years. Now, for the first time on DVD, this acclaimed production from the creators of A&E s bestselling PRIDE AND PREJUDICE brings to life one of the most fascinating Austen characters of all -- the charming and mischievous Emma Woodhouse.Starring Kate Beckinsale (The Last Days Of Disco), EMMA is the story of a rich, clever and beautiful young woman who can't resist orchestrating other people's love lives. As her romantic plans go ridiculously wrong, however, it's Emma herself who risks missing out on her perfect match! Join A&E for a wry visit to the drawing rooms and country manors of 19th century England -- a visit to the enchanting world of Jane Austen's EMMA now in the crystal clear digital clarity of DVD.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Similar to the equally excellent Valmont, this version of Jane Austen's classic novel had the misfortune of following a sumptuous big-star version with Gwyneth Paltrow, which was released the summer before. And, just as 1989's Valmont suffered comparisons with Dangerous Liaisons, inevitably these Emmas were held up next to one another.

This delicious Emma concerns a young woman of financial substance (Kate Beckinsale), who fancies herself a matchmaker, especially with shy Miss Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton, who also appears in A&E's Jane Eyre). In Emma's swirling world of social activity and social consciousness, one's position and stature is a constant preoccupation. But to her credit, Emma, albeit a busybody, has compassion for all classes, and for her kindly but hypochondriacal father (Bernard Hepton).

This miniseries is more subtle than the grand theatrical release, is truer to the novel, and gives a richer explanation of the relationship between Emma associates Jane Fairfax (beautiful Olivia Williams of Rushmore) and the duplicitous Frank Churchill (Raymond Coulthard). Of course, at the center, as in all Austen stories, is the romance between the unsuspecting leading lady and an unlikely, but wholly suitable gentleman. In this case, it's Emma and her brother-in-law, the righteous (as played here) Mr. Knightley (Mark Strong). Strong's Mr. Knightley is more reserved, less coy than Jeremy Northam's; he plays Knightley more like Mr. Darcy (the leading man in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which A&E also offers in a wonderful miniseries). Beckinsale proves to be utterly delightful and in no way should this excellent adaptation be ignored. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews:

Excellent fare.......2007-09-13

This adaptation was excellent, the cast were well chosen and were able to portray their characters with excellence, maintaining the essence of each as Jane Austin wrote them. The storyline kept to the book, revealing the attitudes of the times and portaying Emma's growth from self consumed adolecent to compassionate young adult.

Emma (A&E, 1997).......2007-08-31

I love this movie because it highlights the relationship between "Emma" and "Mr. Knightley." The actor and actress did a good job of portraying their characters.

A very one dimensional Emma.......2007-07-16

Kate Beckinsale's performance, to me, seemed extremely one dimensional. We certainly see the vanity, but none of the compassion which makes Emma a worthy (albeit immature) hero traveling along her arc. By comparison, Gwenyth Paltrow's performance (within a year) shows us a misguided socialite, who repeatedly displays compassion.

The best example might concern Emma's view of Martin. While Paltrow tells us he is beneath her, she also points out that were he less fortunate (than he is), she would feel honor bound to help him. Kate's Emma, on the other hand, simply despise him for no good reason.

Having watched both features back to back, Beckinsale strike's me as a twin sister of Mrs. Elton, rather than Austin's kind-hearted, but misguided Emma.

I would recommend forgoing this version and taking Paltrow's instead.

Kate has displayed Emma's true personality exactly!.......2007-07-13

I am very pleased with this version of Emma. I am thinking Jane Austin herself would be proud that so much of the original dialog was used. The story followed true to the book much more than I have seen in any other Emma reproduction. If you loved reading Emma (which I believe is Jane's masterpiece), then this will make you smile all the way through it.

Wonderful Version.......2007-06-19

This is my favorite of the Emma movies. Emma, though meddlesome, is so endearing and forgiveable in this version. I think A&E in general does a great job of adapting beloved novels to the small screen. They have also done well with the Hercule Poirot mysteries. In the same way they treated Agatha Christie's words with care, they have done the same for Jane Austen. The supporting characters are all well-done in this movie too. The scenery and costuming is colorful and superb. I am pleased I purchased this, and I am not at all disappointed in the way this story has been presented. This is a terrific version of a great novel.

American Psycho (Uncut Killer Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

It's hip to be square and insane
Naked Bloody Psycho
Christian Bale scared me...
BALE IS PSYCHO!!
Great film

American Psycho (Uncut Killer Collector's Edition)
Starring: Christian Bale , Justin Theroux , Josh Lucas , Bill Sage , and Chloë Sevigny
Director: Mary Harron
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009A40ES
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Product Description

Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) a Wall Street yuppie obsessed with success, status and style is also a serial killer who murders, rapes and mutilates both strangers and acquaintances without reason. A Police detective is on his trail as Bateman s mask of studied, distant cool begins to fall apart.

System Requirements:

Running Time 102 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

The Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho, a dark, violent satire of the "me" culture of Ronald Reagan's 1980s, is certainly one of the most controversial books of the '90s, and that notoriety fueled its bestseller status. This smart, savvy adaptation by Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol) may be able to ride the crest of the notoriety; prior to the film's release, Harron fought a ratings battle (ironically, for depictions of sex rather than violence), but at the time the director stated, "We're rescuing [the book] from its own bad reputation." Harron and co-screenwriter Guinevere Turner (Go Fish) overcome many of the objections of Ellis's novel by keeping the most extreme violence offscreen (sometimes just barely), suggesting the reign of terror of yuppie killer Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) with splashes of blood and personal souvenirs. Bale is razor sharp as the blank corporate drone, a preening tiger in designer suits whose speaking voice is part salesman, part self-help guru, and completely artificial. Carrying himself with the poised confidence of a male model, he spends his days in a numbing world of status-symbol one-upmanship and soul-sapping small talk, but breaks out at night with smirking explosions of homicide, accomplished with the fastidious care of a hopeless obsessive. The film's approach to this mayhem is simultaneously shocking and discreet; even Bateman's outrageous naked charge with a chainsaw is most notable for the impossibly polished and gleaming instrument of death. Harron's film is a hilarious, cheerfully insidious hall of mirrors all pointed inward, slowly cracking as the portrait becomes increasingly grotesque and insane. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

It's hip to be square and insane.......2007-09-17

I've watched it a few times here and there on tv and finally decided to get the DVD. Based on the book by the same name,....this is one of those tongue in cheek / dark comedy films that meets a Norman Bates from Psycho. Well....Norman Bates as a well-to-do New York business exectutive with a high-income salary and a three-piece designer suit...but you get the idea. Christian Bale is perfect in this film....taking the audience on a never-ending downward spiral into the darkest recesses of his soul only to murder those he envies and an occasional hooker or two only to realize that in the end where he questions himself if he actually committed these murders or not.

It's a great thril-ride.....filled with the typical 80's excesses and references, the overall dark fantasy that lurks in some of us to do away with those who just push our buttons, the comedic moments of his narrations and actions as he Bale's character plunges further into madness.

Naked Bloody Psycho.......2007-09-03

Christian Bale is a typical American Rich Snob in the 80s whose only focus is himself. He is the predecessor of the metro sexual, with 4 kinds of body cleanser, perfectly pressed business clothing and a male physique to die-for. He has everthing and begins to lose his mind.

The pinnacle of the movie is Christian Bale, absolutley naked as a jay-bird, muscles throbbing, covered in his victim's blood, wielding a chain-saw, screaming in some psycho-sexual rage as his victim gets away down a stair-well. He screams and throws the running chainsaw over the balcony to finish his victim off.

You don't know whether you are turned on or terrifed.

Everything begins to fall apart as his mind betrays him. By the end, he doesnt know if he really did these things or if it was his sick fantasy.

Another highlight is watching the intolerable character played by Jared Leto being butchered with an ax.

Probably a great movie for its time but definitely has some sick themes, but just seeing Bale naked is worth it. Batman buns....Yummy.

Christian Bale scared me..........2007-08-31

But I guess that was the point. Man, he really gives his all to a character! Love him! Always will!

BALE IS PSYCHO!!.......2007-08-31

this movie gave me the creeps. goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover. bale is brilliant in this movie. he knows how to get into character, and he can only stay under control for so long. killing is his high. and it just shows you never really know someone.

Great film.......2007-08-27

Christian Bale is perfect for this role. He is genius in this. It couldn't have been better. I cant quite put a genre to this, its one of those 'multi-genre' type of movies, but it can appeal to so many tastes. Its kinda twisted and naughty but great at the same time. A must-see.

Average customer rating:

A MUST SEE by all freethinkers
The Power of Delusion
Powerful And Disturbing
Demonstrates The Utter Incompetence Of The Bush Administration
The first documentary that actually made me cry!

No End in Sight
Starring: Campbell Scott , Richard Armitage , James Fallows , Samantha Power , and Barbara Bodine
Director: Charles Ferguson
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000U6YJMO
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Customer Reviews:

A MUST SEE by all freethinkers.......2007-09-16

No End In Sight is a powerful and poignant documentary that every freethinker should see. It is not a political bashing movie by the leftist but rather an honest recollection of the events leading up to the occupation by the actual individuals involved with carrying out the administration's misguided and ill-conceived plans. It's a tale of honest people following the orders (albeit reluctantly) of a dishonest demagogue and the pain and regret they now feel for being a part of the most unjust military occupation of this century. When will the citizenry of our country wake up to the atrocities being done in the name of "We the people" of these United States? It's time to recognize that "High crimes and misdemeanors" have been repeatedly committed by the arrogant and ignorant in this administration and that the only prudent recourse is IMPEACHMENT.

The Power of Delusion .......2007-09-07

"No End in Sight" is a history of the US involvement in Iraq beginning with the Gulf War in 1991 and continuing up until the end of 2006. The interviewees and informants are former senior U.S. government officials, including Rich Armitage and Jay Garner, military and intelligence officers, soldiers, marines, and Iraqis from all walks of life. All senior Bush administration officials declined to be interviewed for the movie. The tone of "No End in Sight" is bleak; the music is appropriately funeral.

There's little that we haven't seen before in this movie, but its useful to recall how we got involved in Iraq. Reverse selection of brains for a thousand years could not have resulted in a bigger mess than created by Messrs. Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et al. Perhaps the sub-title of the movie should be, "The Power of Delusionary Thinking" because the whole basis of our involvement in Iraq was due to the deluded minds of a few highly-placed US government officials. This movie brings that out clearly.

The most startling fact to come out of the movie is that the ultimate cost of the war is now projected at nearly 2 trillion dollars. Some elementary arithmetic establishes that our expenditure in Iraq will be about $80,000 for each and every Iraqi man, woman, and child. We would have had a better chance of success had we just dropped dollar bills instead of bombs. A disaster many times over, our most optimistic hope now can only be that the mess we have made in Iraq does not spread beyond its boundaries.

Smallchief

Powerful And Disturbing .......2007-09-07

Both in published reviews and among our citizen reviewers on this site, there has been some criticism levied against this documentary that there is little or nothing NEW presented here. Naysayers also opine that the film offers little analysis of options and that the title is misleading in that the filmmakers seem to be content to "rehash" mistakes of the past rather than focusing on solutions--i.e. discussing likely "ends" and getting them closer to being "in sight."

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I did indeed learn much that was new to me. Like many Americans, I had concerns about this war from the outset and was pained to see so many things going wrong so early--almost no sooner than the President had declared "mission accomplished." There was a basic sense that the administration had not adequately prepared for post-invasion realities, but I don't believe that I am in the minority when I say that I didn't have a full grasp of just how bungled that planning (if it can be called that) was.

This film lays out the history of those tragic mistakes concisely and graphically. There are certain advantages that film offers over even the best, most well-researched prose. Visuals are but one, but they are certainly an important one. It is literally painful to see the charred bodies, to hear the screams of the wounded and the dying. Even the best newspaper accounts or the most exhaustive books can't hit you in quite the same way. If it IS a rehash, it's a needed one, and a powerful one.

Again, I am speaking for myself when I say this, but I have to admit that I may have been in a strange sort of denial about this war. I thought I was following the news accounts fairly closely and that I had a basic understanding of what was happening (and failing to happen) in Iraq. But the film not only made the issues painfully graphic, it also convincingly made the case that even steps taken by the administration that were at least debatable ("de-Ba'athfication," the complete dismantling of the Iraqi military) were actual hopelessly misguided and counter-productive.

The looting and pillaging of Baghdad, to which the US administration effectively gave a green light, was an early sign that things were going wrong, perhaps hopelessly wrong. I recall reading accounts of the destruction of the National Museum--with its 4000 years worth of cultural history lost or destroyed--with some dismay. Seeing film footage of the same was literally sickening to me.

No two-hour documentary can be as extensive as the scholarly literature and expert journalism that emerges during the course of a protracted war, but there is a reason why the authors of so many recent books on Iraq opted to appear in this film--and they go beyond sheer self-promotion. A film can serve as a wake-up call, can get necessary dialogue going. (One can easily make the case that as a nation, we've been in denial about the realities of this conflict for quite some time now.)

"No End in Sight"? The charges that the title is misleading (since it is pointing to the future while the film's actual focus is on the recent PAST) is ultimately without standing. The film lays out the reasons for this quagmire (and yes, Mr. Rumsfeld, that's precisely what it is) clearly and logically. Commentators interviewed DO address the fact that because of those mistakes, there are no good solutions, and that Iraq's future looks bleak no matter whether we stay in force, pull out gradually or pull up stakes immediately. There truly is no clear end in sight. And that's downright scary.

Demonstrates The Utter Incompetence Of The Bush Administration.......2007-09-07

The most striking aspect of this documentary is that the people giving interviews are not your typical anti-war activists. To the contrary, they are people like Colonel Paul Hughes, a strategic planner for the Coalition Provisional Authority, and Barbara Bodine, ambassador in charge of Baghdad. They were the ones "on the ground" attempting to create a successful democracy in Iraq. But their efforts were stymied by arrogant and clueless higher ranking Bush officials such as Donald Rumsfield, Paul Wolfowitz and Paul Bremer.

The stories they tell of the Bush adminstration's extreme incompetence are mind boggling. For instance, how Bush officials chose to completely disband the Iraqi military. This left huge numbers of Iraqi men, with military experience and access to weapons, out on the street and with a strong desire to seek revenge against those who had taken away their jobs and livelihood. This problem was further compounded by the huge stashes of Iraqi military weapons that Bush officials foolishy left unguarded. Thus the Iraqi insurgents were able to achieve a level of weaponry and man power that to this day fuels the ongoing civil war. Part of the problem is that the military experts, like Colin Powell, were being ignored. While "chickenhawks" with no substantial military experience, such as Rumsfield, Wolfowitz and Cheney, were making all the decisions.

A strong argument can be made that the Iraq War was always doomed to turn into a Sunni versus Sh'ia civil war quagmire. But this movie isn't really aimed at those who opposed the war from the beginning. Instead it seems more directed at moderates and conservatives who initially supported the war but are beginning to question the results, especially those military families who have lost loved ones in what appears to be a hopeless cause.

It's hard for me to imagine that anyone - conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican - could come away from this film and not feel angry and disillusioned at how the Bush administration has conducted the war. Highly recommended!

The first documentary that actually made me cry!.......2007-09-04

Facts and figures can usually be overwhelming and dry as dust;but when they are laid out so explicitly and compelling as first time documentary film maker Charles Ferguson has done,then it is really tough to not want to cry as I did."No End in Sight" means exactly what it says;if the U.S does not leave Iraq a projected $1.860 Trillion will be spent on this "War" and who knows how many more lives taken.What I like most about this film is that Ferguson interviews those who were in key positions in the military during the initial push into Iraq.This is their story from their lips.These were people appointed by the Bush Administration to go in and "get the job done and leave." You will hear just how this did not happen,and it is sad and frustrating. It is significant for me to note that in order for those in The Administration to comment and be interviewed.....ALL DECLINED!

Is this just another documentary to be picked apart by naysayers? I heard Ferguson speak and he said " I made mistakes and I would have made many more were it not for two things. First,filmmaker Alex Gibney (Enron:The Smartest Guys in the Room) agreed to consult.And second, my crew taught me my job." If ever there is a more daring and compelling expose of the manipulation and mishandling of The Iraq War someone would really have to excel mightily in order to surpass "No End in Sight."

Average customer rating:

Guy Pearce Steals the Show as Andy Warhol
Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle
Edie
An enchanting movie, a spirited muse
Now I remember why I don't like Andy Warhol

Factory Girl (Unrated)
Starring: Colleen Camp , Illeana Douglas , Charles Ferrara , Beth Grant , and Edward Herrmann
Director: George Hickenlooper
Manufacturer: The Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000QGDXG6
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Amazon.com

The lovely face of Sienna Miller fills in for luminous but tragic 1960s icon Edie Sedgwick, the child of wealth and privilege who found brief delight but eventual destruction in the fabled Factory of Pop artist Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce). Factory Girl begins with Sedgwick as a naive art student who comes to New York City seeking freedom from her troubled family, just as Warhol was surrounding himself with oddballs, sycophants, and drug addicts. The eager girl briefly becomes Warhol's favorite and the center of the city's attention, but when she falls into an affair with 'The Musician' (the only slightly ambiguous depiction of a certain nasal-voiced rock star, played by Hayden Christensen, Shattered Glass), Warhol is stricken with jealousy. Factory Girl wants to paint Warhol as the villain in this story of innocence corrupted, but the casting undercuts the movie's moral. Miller, though pretty and capable, never takes us under Sedgwick's skin, and Christensen's performance is one-note and clumsy. But Pearce's Warhol fascinates; it's a sneaky, stealthy performance, predatory yet passive, hiding a million neuroses beneath a cunningly vapid facade. Whenever Pearce is on-screen, Factory Girl sparkles; when he's not--despite abundant views of Miller's and Christensen's attractive naked flesh in the "uncut unrated" version--the movie loses its fizz. Also featuring Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Jimmy Fallon (Fever Pitch), and Illeana Douglas (Grace of My Heart). --Bret Fetzer

Description

(Drama) "Factory Girl" tells the story of the rise and fall of the original "IT GIRL" Edie Sedgwick. When Edie meets famed artist Andy Warhol, she is thrust into a life of glamour, parties and ultimately…tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

Guy Pearce Steals the Show as Andy Warhol.......2007-09-15

"Factory Girl" is a biopic about Edie Sedgwick, the muse of Andy Warhol...Beautiful, talented, and vulnerable, it's hard for her name not to come up when talking about Warhol. My familiarity with Edie came from a song by The Cult called "Edie (Ciao Baby)" which is a truly beautiful song about (as Ian Astbury put it) an "angel with a broken wing." This film took forever to be released, mostly because it hasn't really received good reception from anybody. It does tread over some familar ground and (in style) even bears some similarities to the recent biopic "The Notorious Life of Bettie Page" (which I did not like); But "Factory Girl" does feature dynamite performances by Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce, despite the mostly weak script. The beautiful Sienna Miller plays Edie Sedgwick, from the innocent and beautiful aspiring artist we see in the beginning to the drug-addicted, poor girl we see at the end and she never misses a beat. Once Edie finds herself in New York, she captures the attention of pop-artist Andy Warhol (Pearce, nearly unrecognizable). Andy begins putting Edie in his films (movies which, essentially, never went anywhere), as Edie grows to start using drugs with other people in Andy's factory. Soon, Edie meets a musician (Hayden Christensen) who seems to be based on Bob Dylan, and falls in love...Their romance is never really developed. It basically plays out in 4 scenes. They meet, the meet again, they have sex, and he pisses her off so they part ways. The movie does do a good job of illustrating Edie's difficult childhood (which, of course, features the sexually abusive father figure), but the whole time I was watching this film I didn't see anything that seemed new to me. If not for Miller and Pearce, the film would nearly fall flat after a fairly strong first half. I like the cinematography and the direction of the film and the first half of the movie DOES work, but it soon enters familar territory and it's all downhill from there. The performances are truly Oscar-worthy, Pearce completely blends into his role and makes you believe he IS Andy Warhol...It's one of the most impressive supporting performances I've seen this year. Miller, who's beautiful and talented but hasn't really done anything to gain her much notice, deserves an Oscar nod for this film...But she won't get one. This isn't a terrible movie and it's worth seeing for the performances alone.

GRADE: B-

Evocative But Frustratingly Elliptical Look at Andy Warhol's Factory and the Sad Party Girl in the Middle .......2007-09-06

For the concerted effort Sienna Miller puts into her searing portrayal of Warhol protégé and underground celebrity Edie Sedgwick, it would have been rewarding to experience a film that matches her unbridled dramatic impact. Unfortunately, director George Hickenlooper, primarily a documentary filmmaker, seems more focused on eye-catching cinematic techniques - a deliberately artsy mix of overtly dramatic images, grainy film stock and slow-motion photography - than honest character development in this highly fictionalized 2007 account of her brief life. The result feels energetic but ultimately rather cursory in the way he depicts the Manhattan party scene in the mid-1960's, in particular, the Factory, where Warhol let his coterie of drug-addicted fame-seekers gather to make virtually unwatchable films that reflect their constant state of ennui.

With her big raccoon eyes, pre-punk hairdo and flashing smile, Miller bears such a striking resemblance to the real-life Sedgwick that she carries much of the film by the sheer will of her character's Holly Golightly-like sense of exalted self-worth. But like Holly, Sedgwick lacked talent to sustain a film career, and the script leaves Miller to her own devices in connecting us with her character's tormented psyche amid her escalating drug use. On the upside, Guy Pearce accurately captures the discomfiting public image of Warhol down to the familiar narcissistic indifference and manipulative shyness, but his character gradually recedes into the background. At first, Hayden Christensen comes across as amateurish and unintentionally amusing as a Bob Dylan doppelganger, especially since he makes a feeble attempt at capturing the singer's recognizable speech cadences. Just as he manages to transcend the awkwardness of the character's intrusion into the story, he also disappears making his impact in Sedgwick's life feel rather fleeting.

Even though the cryptic screenplay by Captain Mauzner, Aaron Richard Golub and Simon Monjack conveniently paints Warhol and the faux-Dylan as polarizing figures pulling at Sedgwick's soul, the story really comes down to her own inner demons. The problem is that she remains oddly elliptical throughout, and Hickenlooper seems satisfied with leaving us with an impressionistic view of a person who barely warrants our attention forty years later. Among the supporting players, there are quite a familiar faces - Ileana Douglas as Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, Jimmy Fallon as Sedgwick's confidante Chuck Wein, Tara Summers as fellow Warhol protégé Brigid Berlin, Mena Suvari as Brigid's sister Richie, Edward Herrmann as the family attorney, Mary Kate Olsen as a partygoer. However, none of them are given any opportunity to shine.

The 2007 DVD includes several extras of varying interest, the best being an insightful commentary track from Hickenlooper and a thirty-minute documentary on the life of the real Sedgwick that mimics the main film's stylistic touches. There is also a bland ten-minute making-of featurette, a scene that was understandably excised, audition footage of Miller, the original theatrical trailer, and a twenty-minute behind-the-scenes video diary coordinated by Pearce. Despite strong work from Miller and Pearce, the film is only marginally effective as a dramatic vehicle even as Hickenlooper viscerally evokes a fascinating period of history in the arts scene.

Edie.......2007-09-01

This is a vey well made movie about the rise and fall of Edie Sedgwick. While it may not completely explain or try to explain why Edie did what she did it is a very well done movie. The acting, especially by Sienna Miller is very good (even if you wonder why she got the role when you see some of her screen test passages in the extras).At times the physical resemblance with the real Edie is exceptional, or at least with pictures from that era. Basically Edie was a wealthy New England socialite who left art school to go to New York where she met Andy Warhol- Being spectacularly attractive she became famous for the famous Warholian 15 minutes and then became very involved in drugs and eventually died at 28 years of age. However she has with time becom an icon of the 60's. This was confirmed by a book hat came out a while ago by Jean Stein and which is quite an excellent read.
The extras are rather good since there is a short documentary about the real Edie with interviews of survivors who knew her such as Gerard Malanga and her brother. This series of interviews actually complement the movie quite well. Together with the above mentioned book it increases the fascination one can have for her. Also as stated above there is a short screen test Sienna Miller did for the movie.
The guy who plays Warhol is not that great though.

An enchanting movie, a spirited muse.......2007-08-26

A lot of people gripe about this film, but I side with Edie's bro Johnathan: I think it does a wonderful job evoking her spirit. The acting is great, the sets and costumes and music are fabulous, and the story is heartbreaking. Though it may have some inaccuracies, I've never seen a Hollywood biographical film that didn't. I'm so glad I bought this movie so I can watch it again and again!

Now I remember why I don't like Andy Warhol.......2007-08-26

This is a movie that is a bit tricky for me to review. If you ask: "Was it well done?" The answer is yes. If you ask: "Was the cast good?" The answer is yes. However, it's simply not what I expected, and that's my fault. I did not read the plot of the movie. I read about how it was un-rated & heard that Sienna Miller did some nude scenes in it. Both are true, but neither was able to overcome my lack of interest in the story.

The movie is based on a true story of a woman named Edie Sedgwick. She was part of Andy Warhol's entourage in the 1960s. I'd always figured Warhol to be a quack. If this film is remotely accurate, then Warhol was even more of a quack than I thought!

Sienna Miller gives a terrific performance. Guy Pearce is creepy and whacked-out enough to play Warhol. The problem is, I just couldn't get into the story. I've always had a big problem having sympathy for junkies, as it seems to me that they "make their own beds" insofar as their myriad problems are concerned. The movie reminded me a lot of Angelina Jolie's Gia (Unrated Edition), which was about another troubled young woman / junkie from about a decade later.

I will be, in the end, as fair as I can be here. If you are a big fan of Andy Warhol and / or Edie Sedgwick, then this film certainly belongs on your shelf of DVDs. If you are (like me) mainly drawn to this film due to the fact that it's Un-Rated, then I would recommend you find other, more saucy UR films. That's as diplomatic as I can be.

Average customer rating:

you people are crazy! this movie was great!!
Blah
Depressingly funny.......
Enjoyed It!
[3.5]--Insightful honesty to the married man's dilemma

I Think I Love My Wife
Starring: Steve Buscemi , Edward Herrmann , Adam Le Fevre , Hazel Medina , and Wendell Pierce
Director: Chris Rock
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000R5OFNG
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Amazon.com

Chris Rock's loose remake of 1972's Chloe In the Afternoon, the latter an entry in French New Wave genius Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales cycle, is a half-silly, half-starchy adult comedy about a buttoned-up money manager, Richard Cooper (Rock), whose staid life at home has worn down his sexual vitality. With two kids and a somewhat joyless wife (Gina Torres), Richard's mind wanders on the job, on the train, virtually anywhere a restless husband can spot beautiful, unattainable women. Still, no harm done, until old friend Nikki (Kerry Washington) shows up in his office, wanting his support and counsel and friendship every minute over subsequent weeks. The two stay out of the sack, which makes it possible for them to be honest with one another. Nikki criticizes Richard for being in what appears to be a loveless relationship, bled dry of passion. Richard calls out Nikki for being flighty, unwilling to commit to anything.

As the relationship wears on, Richard's world is upended, and the havoc takes a toll on his family life and productivity. It's at this point where the film, co-adapted for the screen and directed by Rock, paints itself into a corner, with few interesting alternatives for a way out of Richard's dilemma that feel authentic or, for that matter, funny. A Viagra-inspired visual joke (gee, hard to imagine what that could be) is a crass gift to audience members growing suspicious that Rock has lured them into a chick flick. A soul duet between Rock and Torres appears out of nowhere and throws the emotional balance off at a crucial moment. This kind of thing makes one wonder how seriously Rock took his own project, yet there are signs that he--a very funny and intelligent talent--has a different kind of movie in him. Jokes about Michael Jackson, race, and even racially-slanted comedy are peppered throughout I Think I Love My Wife, harmless distractions in context, yet suggestive of a different kind of movie satire waiting to come out of Rock. --Tom Keogh

Beyond I Think I Love My Wife

Chris Rock DVDs
Directors Starring in Their Own Movies
African-American Cinema

Stills from I Think I Love My Wife

Description

A married man (Chris Rock) who daydreams about being with other women finds his will and morals tested after he's visited by the ex-mistress of his old friend. A funny and thought provoking look about the joy and pain of marriage and relationships.

Customer Reviews:

you people are crazy! this movie was great!!.......2007-09-13

i think chris rock did a great job in this movie.It was funny the whole chicken scene that was hilarious,just very well acted in my opinion.It has a positive message for every angle of a marriage,if you think about it.Just because Chris Rock is known for his comedic ability,doesn't mean all of his movies have to be full of comedy,he should have the right to broaden his acting career.

Blah.......2007-09-10

I love me some Chris Rock but this one just didn't do it for me. I watched this last night and it had its funny moments (like when he is dancing to Laffy Taffy) but nothing to gut busting. I just knew he was gonna get some after he took her out (the viagra scene) but nope. Everyone has already told you what the basics of the movie. It's worth renting but not worth purchasing. I don't know what her issues were with sex but its definately IMO the ending was just WACK!!

Depressingly funny..............2007-09-08

What's a marriage without communication, intimacy and sex? Nothing more than having a roommate. Since this movie does not delve into the wife's intimacy issues, I will review it from the male perspective. Basically, I would have liked to see Chris' character indulge in a little pleasure and paint the walls in Kerry Washington's draws. For real tho, enough with the guilt. Life is too short to be settling for unhappiness. How many times was the wife gonna say no to sex? Really. That issh was just depressing to watch.

In the end - I would have knocked Kerry Washington's boots from here to Albuquerque!!!

Enjoyed It!.......2007-09-07

I related to this film, because my husband and I have been through something similar, and, believe me, it's sheer hell. And though I know this was a comedy, not a serious film, it was taking on some serious issues, such as staleness in a long-term relationship and infidelity. And I wish it would have revealed more of the wife's side of the story and what led to the problems in the marriage. We mainly saw the relationship through Chris' eyes, who felt it was okay to continually lie to his wife and have a close, secret relationship with a member of the opposite sex.

I would have liked to see more conflict and interaction between husband and wife. I also wish that Chris would have come clean with his wife in the end and confessed his wrongdoing. Not to do so continues the deception in what was obviously an emotional affair--and nearly a sexual affair, an issue that was never addressed in the film.

A more serious in-depth end would have been great as well. Instead, it had a ridiculous singing scene.

It's good though that the film reminded viewers about what's truly important in life and how very easily problems can arise in even a good marriage.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and some of the scenes were funny.

[3.5]--Insightful honesty to the married man's dilemma .......2007-09-04

Well, Chris Rock and Eric Rohmer, together at last. Wait a minute, Rock and Rohmer? If the combination sounds strange to you, "I Think I Love My Wife" doesn't disagree. French New Wave director Rohmer defined his career making movies about conflicted, morally shaky men, and it's interesting to report that Chris Rock has managed to maintain some of the integrity of his film. Co-writing (with Louis C.K.) and directing "Wife," Rock is looking for a break from the broad comedies he's normally associated with, including his last directorial effort, the amusing 2003 political lampoon, Head of State (Widescreen Edition) This, the second film that Rock has directed, registers as a bigger squandering of his talent than all of the prior Bad Company (2002) (Ws), Dogma (Special Edition), and Madagascar (Widescreen Edition) combined.

"I Think I Love My Wife" tells the story of Richard Cooper (Rock), his wife Brenda (Gina Torres) and the other woman, Nikki Tru (Kerri Washington), who starts showing up at Richard's Wall Street office in clothes more suitable for a nightclub. We know right off the bat that Richard and Brenda, who enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with their two children in a New York City suburb, are not having sex anymore because Brenda is tired and disinterested. And we know that because Richard is bored and frustrated in his relationship. So, once hot Nikki enters the picture, we know that the plot will revolve around Richard. Will he or won't he (become another philandering husband)? This main point of the plot is one that may be viewed differently by men and women. The subtexts of the plot include, for me, the higher incidence of divorce in the Black community, the now-famous 42.4 percent of Black women who do not marry, whether single women respect the marriages of other women, many new narratives that make sex the central point and tool in relationships, and factors that make a man (or woman) leave their spouse and children. Others may think that Brenda needs to get with the program or definitely lose her husband, and that Richard is well within his rights to seek intimacy elsewhere since it is not provided at home.

This is obviously a lot of social context for a romantic comedy but Rock carries it off well, with stinging jokes, including ones about male fantasies, the sizes of women's panties and Viagra. The story is primarily told from Richard's male perspective, though, so we empathize most with him and see the women in his life through his eyes. We don't really get to know Brenda or Nikki for that matter, in the way that we get to know, for example, Renée Zellweger's character in Jerry MaguireWe don't hear Brenda's side of the story. She just seems wrong and probably playing herself.

Unlike Rohmer, Rock is more interested in a happier ending of sorts, but leaves the relationships in a semi-unfinished state. Had the film contained more layering up to this point, it wouldn't feel as blindsiding as it actually does. Rock sets up "I Think I Love My Wife" as something much more dangerous and insightful than it ends up being, and he seems unwilling to settle on a tone that would allow the film a chance to relax and gel in its own way. Despite its missing pieces, "I Think I Love My Wife" is an enjoyable, human flick. It reminds us that, as adults, our decisions are ours alone, and that we can't blame anyone--even our spouses or the spouses of other people--for what we decide to do with our lives.

Average customer rating:

A funny piece of pink fluff
Don't Judge a Girl on How She Looks
Unconventional Road to Self Discovery
Excellent light entertainment
Fun--but not strictly a no brainer

Legally Blonde
Starring: Reese Witherspoon , Luke Wilson , Selma Blair , Matthew Davis , and Victor Garber
Director: Robert Luketic
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005O5CM
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com

If you've ever doubted how much a star can carry a movie, look no further than Legally Blonde, Robert Luketic's pop fluff about a sorority girl who becomes the reigning brain at Harvard Law School. The film tries way too hard to be pop fluff, but thankfully it also understands the comic glories of Reese Witherspoon. As Elle Woods, the supposedly dimwitted heroine, Witherspoon gives a high-wattage performance that somehow comes across as both lusciously cartoonish and warmly human. It's a radiant comic turn worthy of Marilyn Monroe, and Luketic throws the whole movie at her, even though its intentional kitsch and sledgehammer contrivances don't trust you enough to figure out on your own what might be guilty fun about it. It's a lame movie, essentially, that redeems itself by knowing just enough to keep things sunny and moving right along. The film is content to follow several steps behind the regal Witherspoon, carrying her train. You probably will be, too. --Steve Wiecking

Description

She's a California sorority girl who'll do anything to keep her man. Even if it means going all theway'to law school! Reese Witherspoon (Election) stars with Luke Wilson (Charlie's Angels), Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions), Matthew Davis (Pearl Harbor) and Victor Garber (Titanic) in a knock-out comedy with a heart of goldand hair to match! Elle Woods (Witherspoon) is a California blonde with couture clothes, fabulous friends and the hottest boyfriend on campus. So when Warner Huntington III (Davis) suddenly dumps her and heads for Harvard Law School, Elletakes matters into her own perfectly manicured hands. She enrolls too! Now getting Warner back should be a snap, right? Wrong! Elle's about to begin the toughest fight of her lifefor love, honor, justice and respect for blondes everywhere!

Customer Reviews:

A funny piece of pink fluff.......2007-09-12

This funny and fastpaced movie is the best remedy for a rainy day or finding out, like Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), that your handsome boyfriend Warner Huntington III(Matthew Davis) has just dumped you. The plot is cute and doesn't claim to be "cerebral." There's nothing really to the story beyond the adventures/misadventures of a California Blonde at Harvard Law School. Her snooty, uppercrusty classmates look down their noses at her because of how she dresses, speaks, and acts...to their way of thinking, Elle is laughably unsophisticated and lacking in taste, with neither a history of social progressivism with which to pad her resume nor a sense of genetic superiority. They are certain she doesn't belong at such a distinguished Ivy covered institution as Harvard. Elle, however, is determined to show them that a girl who doesn't wear argyle and loves to get her nails painted when she's under stress can be anything she wants to be. Every bit a funny piece of pink fluff. Enjoy!

Don't Judge a Girl on How She Looks.......2007-09-11

Elle Woods may look really dumb, but you should never be fooled by the appreance of a person. This LA babe would do anything to get her man back, even that means she needs to get into Harvard .Although the story is fictional, but I find it very inspiring. Elle Woods comes to Harvard Law School for the wrong reasons, however she discovered what her heart truely desires through hard work, trust and supports from other good-hearted people. It is a beautiful and funny tale of courage, confidence and miracle. I believe that Legally Blonde is one of the best in its genre, entertaining yet philosophical.

Warning: the sequel is quite unsuccessful in comparison to this masterpiece.

Unconventional Road to Self Discovery.......2007-07-02

Based on the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown, this 2001 comedy is about the losses and gains experienced by a priviledged young woman from California, and her ultimate self-empowerment.
Elle Woods(as played by a multi-dimensional Reese Witherspoon) is the President of her Sorority, Delta Nu. A neighbor of TV producer Aaron Spelling during her formative years, her world revolves around fashion and frivolity, although we see signs of underlying intelligence when a sales clerk who views her as "a dumb blonde with Daddy's plastic" is taught a lesson.
We meet the beloved Sorority Queen on the day she expects a proposal from her long-time boy friend, Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis). Instead of a marriage proposal, Warner breaks up with Elle during their evening out, explaining that his family back East expect a lot from him, and that marrying a "Jackie" instead of a "Marilyn" will be more conducive to his family's desires, if he wants to be a Senator.
The spurned young woman spends the next few days behind the closed doors of her dorm room, with only her chiahuahua/favorite accessory Bruiser (Moonie) for companionship. Her stereotypically ditzy sorority sisters, Margot and Serena (Jessica Caufiell, Alanna Ubach) finally draw her out of her pink cocoon, and take her for a manicure. There is a comical moment where Serena converses in Chinese with a manicurist, which gives her a little more depth. While reading a "Fox and Hound" magazine in the waiting room, Elle sees a photo of Warner's brother with his fiancee, breifly discusses the fiancee's credentials with the customer sitting next to her(Natalie Barish), and decides to attend Harvard Law School to win Warner back.
Elle's parents (James Read, and Tane McClure) are not very encouraging in this endeavor, nor is her advisor (Allyce Beasley) as Elle does not have the academic background for it. Still, she passes her LSAT test, and sends and admissions video, for which it requires some suspension of disbelief to think that the pop-eyed, bow-tied Admissions Committee would deem acceptable.
Elle creates quite a stir upon her arrival at Harvard, but remains fairly oblivious to comments and stares about her eccentricities in manner and dress.
She finally locates Warner, who is stunned that she got into Harvard, and during a class for which she is ill-prepared, is shown up by a small, pallid, mahogony-tressed Vivian Kensington(Selma Blair), whom, to her great distress, she learns is Warner's fiancee.
Along the way, she receives help and advice from Emmett Richmond (a well-cast, kind, and encouraging Luke Wilson, whose performance hits all the right notes), and a cathartic chat with manicurist Paulette Bonafonte (Jennifer Coolidge), which will be bright spots along her journey.
Gradually, she overcomes rejection and humiliation by her classmates through perseverance, and attention to details others neglect, winning friends and influencing people.
She helps Paulette with a legal matter, and in getting a date with a handsome UPS guy (Bruce Thomas), and the mutual friendship between the law student and manicurist is a delightful cornerstone of this film.
Gradually, Vivian warms to her, and the two share a laugh about Warner's idiosyncracies.
One of Elle's more intriguing classmates--the character as well as the actor himself-- is the sweet, awkward David Kidney, portrayed by Oz Perkins, with the eyes of his father, Anthony, who does great justice to his acting pedigree. Sadly, he would only have a little more than a month to enjoy the success of this film before enduring the shattering loss of his mother, Berry Berenson, in the 9-11 Disaster.
Elle's opinionatedness in Professor Callahan's(Victor Garber's)class appears to earn her an internship with Callahan's law firm, and she, Warner, Vivian, David, and Enid Wexler(Meredith Scott Lynn) work on a murder case under Callahan's supervison. The task also reunites Elle with Emmett.
The case is a high profile one involving the slaying of a wealthy 60-year-old man, allegedly by his young second wife, Brooke Taylor Windham (Ali Larter), a member of Elle's sorority, and a wealthy fitness instructor of whom Elle was once a student.
Raquel Welch appears as the ex-wife of the murdered man, with a perfect upper-crust accent, Linda Cardellini is her daughter, Chutney, and Greg Serano is the pool boy, Enrique Salvatore.
There are comical moments when Elle tries to coax an alibi from Brooke, bringing her a basket of beauty aids and " the Bible" (a copy of "Cosmopolitan" magazine), and later discovers evidence to discredit a witness in a way that only a Cosmo Girl can, with Emmett sneaking up on his blind side in the process.
Elle suffers a major setback when she discovers the real reason Callahan wanted her as an intern, but Professor Stromwell(Holland Taylor) goads Elle into having a bit more backbone and stick-to-itiveness.
Brooke fires Callahan, and hires Elle, who under Emmett's supervision, solves the case, much to her own amazement and everyone else's.
Warner, whose true character has been revealed throughout the film in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, finally views Elle as a worthy marriage partner, but Elle has her own ideas about their future relationship.
A glittering musical score accompanies our heroine as she walks out of the courtroom and into a very bright future, with a meaningful career and a wonderful life partner just on the horizon.

Excellent light entertainment.......2007-06-22

So much is great about this film. Ok, it's not flawless - there are a couple of really silly bits - like the courtroom scene with the pool cleaner's guilty admission and his boyfriend's response. But it's great, feel-good fun. Very well directed, tight script for the most-part and the performances are all great.

Fun--but not strictly a no brainer.......2007-05-30

Cases can hinge on haircare--and not everyone is as they seem. The film was mindless fun on one level, but teaches you really do need to look a little bit deeper sometimes.

Clearly it's fantasy, but a lot of fun.

Average customer rating:

Classic.
Watching This Yields 'Rich' Results - A Wonderful Re-Make
a wonderful version of an American classic.....
A Spoilery Rant!
good stuff

Little Women (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Winona Ryder , Gabriel Byrne , Trini Alvarado , Samantha Mathis , and Kirsten Dunst
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767851013
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com essential video

The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics and conclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life's little accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh, so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into a modern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. Kirsten Dunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The young ensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a role akin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of an Oscar. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Classic. .......2007-09-12

This movie is one classic movie. It is good to watch it with family, friends.. ;)

Watching This Yields 'Rich' Results - A Wonderful Re-Make.......2007-09-09

"Rich" is the word I would best use to describe this movie. It's rich in cinematography with gorgeous scenery and interiors; rich in characters with all good-hearted men and women of character; rich in love for each whether its for family or for suitors and rich in storytelling.

Yes, it's definitely more of a woman's movie than a man's, and not the sort of thing I would normally enjoy, but this movie was so well-done that I cannot say anything negative about it. In the modern-era of film-making (late '60s to today), it is always a pleasure to see a totally clean and nice movie.

The cast is excellent. It's nice to see Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon play "wholesome" roles, something they don't always do, but they do it well here. Ryder is the star of this story although everyone gets decent screen time.

If this film appears slow in the first 20-30 minutes, hang in there because it gets better and better as it goes along. This is just a beautiful film with fantastic visuals and memorable story that should bring a tear or two to your eyes by the end. Great storytelling usually wins out, and that's the case with this movie.

a wonderful version of an American classic............2007-08-30

I remember first hearing Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN read by Jacqueline Bissett on record, and immediately fell in love with it. Afterwards, I immediately polished off the novel, and saw the subsequent film adaptations. This 1994 production, directed by Gillian Armstrong (MY BRILLIANT CAREER), is a beautifully acted, lusciously filmed and engaging film triumph. We watch the trials and triumphs of the March family, through the eyes of the four March sisters. Meg (Trini Alvarado), Jo (Winonah Ryder), Beth (Claire Danes) and Amy (Kirsten Dunst) live with their mother in a little town in Pennsylvania and are awaiting the return of their father's return from war, where is he is serving as a chaplain in the Union Army. All four girls have very distinctive personalities that vary greatly from one another, and their mother (Susan Sarandon) is nothing short of their rock, in the face of many, many hardships the family must face together.

For all of you Louisa May Alcott fans, I would say that this film stayed very true to the novel and the actresses truly embody the beautiful characters from the story. Winonah Ryder earned a well-deserved Academy Award for her portrayal of Jo March, the headstrong tomboy with a hot temper and a passion for writing. This character was actually based on Louisa May Alcott, during her formative years. What's more, the plot is based largely on vignettes from Alcott's life as a young girl, growing up in Germantown, Pennsylvania. I reccomend that you watch this film and read the book, not necessarily in that order. This beautiful piece will make you laugh, cry and is perfect for the whole family.

A Spoilery Rant! .......2007-08-30

Gillian Anderson's LITTLE WOMEN attempts not so much to capture the essense of Louisa May Alcott's original story as to use it as a springboard. It might have been better if she had transferred the story to a different time, or otherwise re-framed it so as to give herself more liberty to change things around. I myself would not have minded a version of LITTLE WOMEN where Laurie and Jo DO run away, Beth sneakily brings in much needed cash as dance hall pianist, and Professor Bhaer finally learns to mind his own business. But instead, screenwriter Robin Swicord drains the drama and momentum from the original by pointless alteration, but is still required to hit major plot points, and so cannot create anything new and satisfactory.

What made Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN, despite the moralizing, something children have wanted to read for one and a half centures now was its vivid portrait of passionate adolescence: Jo's famous temper, Laurie's rebelliousness, Amy's spite, Meg's longings - even what lurked beneath Beth's shyness. Anderson jettisons this anger and passion for a genteel and straight-laced Art-House flick about ladylike little feminists. Alcott famously disparaged her books for children as "moral pap for the young", but LITTLE WOMEN had honesty and substance. Anderson ignores the substance in favor of "moral pap" - albeit politically correct and feminist pap - washed down with tony sentimentality. The only notes of truth are struck by the performances.

The girls are just not the same girls, with mixed results. Kirsten Dunst - fresh from INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE - is a superb child-Amy, but is written as a sly vixen with designs on Laurie, which ruins the honest connection between them that was so important later. Adult Samantha Mathis plays Amy as a dense zombie. Trini Alvarado brings tremendous grace and womanliness to Meg, which is really nice actually, except that Meg is supposed to be an unsure adolescent. Winona Ryder's Jo is interestingly different, which is to say she isn't a rebellious tomboy with a wild temper and a burning literary passion, but a thoughtful-if-pouty wannabe Liberal Arts Major. Beth is supposed to be a frail girl struggling mightily with her timidity: Claire Daines gives us a sturdy lass placidly devoid of inner conflict. Thus we must lurch through the plot of LITTLE WOMEN, without getting the Little Women themselves as compensation.

Christian Bale, as boy-next-door Laurie, does a good job of suggesting caged wildness, and makes the most of the few poignant lines which are all that is left of Laurie's tempestuous relationship with his grandfather. But he is just a little too old, too smug, and too smarmy. Alcott's lonely, emotionally-deprived teenager is barely hinted at. Rather, he has become a representative of "Men", which you know is just not good. In the book, Laurie's reaction to seeing Meg dolled up like a sexpot was sudden bashfulness and defensive rudeness. Here he is a suave sexist oaf who sees Meg's new finery as the opportunity for a spot of sexual harassment. Ew! Why? The point of Laurie and Jo's dance, in the book, was to convey the pleasure of meeting a soulmate one could show one's real self to without worrying about being "presentable" or "proper". Here, their dance is rendered somewhat awkward by the fact that Jo only knows how to lead. This alters the whole meaning of the scene, implying Anderson sees it as a power struggle rather than a moment of connection. And it's so dismally cliché. "Oh, they are both too strong-willed so . . .." You know something? Being weak-willed and knowing how to dance backwards have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with one another.

In the directors's commentary, Anderson describes Alcott's Marmee as the "perfect" mother. She was not! Anderson obviously doesn't think the March parents were perfect either, as her version replaced Marmee with Susan B. Anthony, and shuts Father up completely. But instead of admitting it and portraying Marmee as a flawed human being, she simply replaces her own PC notion of perfection for that supposedly offered by Alcott. Susan Sarandon does as amazing a job as one could possibly wish, considering that she's being asked to play a marble statue instead of a