Avenue Montaigne

Amazon.com

French for "Orchestra Seats," Avenue Montaigne offers an outsider's perspective on an insular world (the original title is Fauteuils d'Orchestre). After bidding adieu to her grandmother (Suzanne Flon in her final performance), sunny Jessica (Cécile De France, L'Auberge Espagnole) moves from Mâcon to Paris. Upon securing a job as a waitress in a popular café, she meets high-strung soap star Catherine (Valérie Lemercier), burnt-out pianist Jean-François (Albert Dupontel), and secretive art collector Jacques (Claude Brasseur), who comes equipped with a pretty girlfriend and a handsome son (Christopher Thompson). Though the tousled Jessica has little in common with these posh Parisians, she affects each of their lives in ways both big and small. Directed by Danièle Thompson (La Bûche) and co-written with her son, Christopher, Avenue Montaigne serves as the flipside to French phenomenon When the Cat's Away, in which a young woman meets the people in her neighborhood while searching for an errant feline. In this case, the surroundings are more upscale, but the residents are just as susceptible to fear and insecurity. Though the idea of a sympathetic look at the upper class will surely strike some as off-putting, Thompson makes it work. The genuine affection she feels for her characters--privileged and underprivileged alike--and the grace with which she keeps several plot strands going at once proves that the spirit of Robert Altman lives on in the most unlikely of places. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

"When Time Passing Becomes Time Remaining" ~ The Talents And Possessions That Define A Life.......2007-09-04

Note: French with English subtitles.

Synopsis: Jessica (Cecile de France) leaves her home in the provinces and moves to Paris in the hope of finding a better life. Fortune smiles on her when she lands a job as a waitress in a cafe located in a high rent district frequented by the rich and artistic. As she interacts with the café's patrons their hopes and dreams are revealed. Jessica and the audience eventually discover that the rewards that come with talent and possessions doesn't necessarily bring fulfillment in life.

Critique: Released in '06 the film `Avenue Montaigne' is an undiscovered gem that can be watched over and over again, each time revealing some new and beautiful facet of a profoundly simple but elegant tale. Moving subtly from comedy, to romance, to drama the film shines a light into the heart and soul of its characters revealing not only the persona on the outside but the longing within. The acting is superb, the storyline and dialogue illuminating and the Paris backdrop is absolutely beautiful. Add to that a nostalgic soundtrack that captures the Parisian spirit to perfection and you have a film that you'll never tire of viewing. One of my favorite French films!

My Rating: -5 Stars-.

Fun.......2007-07-19

If you're looking for serious drama then you're in the wrong place. I would describe AVENUE MONTAIGNE as a "fun" movie. In many ways it reminded me of THE SPANISH APARTMENT (or L'AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE): both consisted of a bunch of colorful characters, who are trying to find their way in this crazy world of ours. It should be no surprise that Cecile France was in both films. She has a way of connecting with other actors on screen. She was a delight. Other notable actors in AVENUE were the "soap" actress, the pianist and the auctioner's son. If you just want to see a movie for just strictly entertainment value, then I highly recommend AVENUE MONTAIGNE.

A Slice of Paris.......2007-04-30

(3 1/2 *'s) `Avenue Montaigne' operates on the premise that all Parisians seek the good life. Offering a cross-section of the French dream, the film digs deeper with a "can't buy me happiness" theme stretching through intersecting lives.

Jessica (Ce'cile De France) is a high-life wanna-be who takes care of her grandmother in a nursing home. The elder reminisces that she took menial labor to enjoy vicariously the high art, food, and fashion of Paris. Emulating her grandmother, Jessica seeks a job at a café where they deliver, but will only break tradition of hiring waiters when they're in a bind. As a vivacious courier and waitress she meets the people who allegedly have fulfilled their dreams. There's Catherine (Val'erie Lemercier), a prima donna actress who isn't satisfied with the lucrative contracts she's offered. In order to achieve a high level of art, she stumbles over tables and chairs for a chance to court Sydney Pollack (cameo, himself), looking for a lead in his film. (Some of her foot-in-mouth tendencies make for some of the funniest moments.) Jean-Francois Laforte (Albert Dupontel) is a celebrated pianist who has all the amenities and filled concert halls, but his real desire is to enrich the uninitiated. His wife is his manager who can see only the material benefits of her gifted husband. Jacques, an elder art dealer wishes to sell out his collection before interest is lost, but his teacher son, Frederic (Christopher Thompson), is too idealistic. He's divorced and must watch his widower father flaunt his attractive new mistress while discovering the siren is predictably only interested in his father's money. Then, there's an elder woman who, having no musical talent of her own, is a purveyor of others' talents. She relishes the music. The movie displays great irony, for Jessica and the music purveyor, although outside of the circle of the affluent talent, seem oddly more satisfied than the successful people they admire.

`Avenue Montaigne' may not be as substantive or profound as French movies like 'L'Enfant' or 'Ponette,' but it is easily likable with characters who are accessible and make empathetic connections with the audience. Warmly engaging, sometimes funny, but often wise, this movie is a heartwarming alternative to a boulevard of broken dreams. The effect of the movie is like creme brule,' sweet, light, but very satisfying.

Jessica does Paris.......2007-03-16

Jessica (gamin-like Cecile de France from "The Spanish Apartment) arrives in Paris without a sou in her pocket but within minutes nabs a prime waitress job in a smart, stylish, up to this point type of café that only hires men as waiters, Restaurant on the Avenue Montaigne, close to the Champs Elysee' with the Eiffel Tower looming nearby.
Though "Avenue Montaigne" ("Fauteuils D'orchestre" in France or "Orchestra Seats") is very fairy tale-like, there is actually a very good reason for Jessica's hiring: the restaurant is short of help and the very next night three major events are taking place nearby: a big auction selling off the contents of an entire apartment filled with names like Braque, Brancusi and Modigliani belonging to an art collector played by the legendary Claude Brasseur, a major piano recital featuring virtuoso pianist Jean-François Lefort (Albert Dupontel) and the opening of a Feydeau farce starring TV Soap star, (actress Catherine Versen played by Valérie Lemercier) looking to land a prime Motion Picture about Simone de Beauvoir. Jessica swirls in and out of every one of these stories having a positive effect on all with her sunny sweetness and disarming honesty. There are definitely shades of "Amelie" and "Emma" at work here. "Avenue Montaigne" is as slight and light as a Crepe and de France, Brasseur and Lemercier hit all the right notes, acting-wise which sounds a lot easier than it is as the genre of light comedy is pretty much dead today and these actors are remarkably spot on here.
No one in the world makes this kind of film as well as the French and director Daniele Thompson is definitely up to the task: her film exudes warmth and a charismatic charm that is damn near impossible to resist.

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Good Poles/Bad Poles; Good Jews/Bad Jews; Good Germans/Bad Germans....
Extraordinary survival story...excellent work from Adrien Brody...
Uplifting
A devastingly moving cinematic masterpiece
awesome

The Pianist
Starring: Adrien Brody , Frank Finlay , Thomas Kretschmann , Maureen Lipman , and Zbigniew Zamachowski
Director: Roman Polanski
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B00005JLT5
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Product Description

Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and winner of 3, The Pianist stars Oscar winner Adrien Brody in the true-life story of brilliant pianist and composer Wladyslaw Szpilman, the most acclaimed young musician of his time until his promising career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. This powerful, ultimately triumphant film follows Szpilman s heroic and inspirational journey of survival with the unlikely help from a sympathetic German officer (Thomas Kretschmann). A truly unforgettable epic, testifying to both the power of hope and the resiliency of the human spirit, The Pianist is a miraculous tale of survival masterfully brought to life by visionary filmmaker Roman Polanski in his most personal movie ever.

System Requirements:
Starring: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox, Maureen Lipman, Jessica Kate Meyer, Julia Rayner, Ed Stoppard
Directed By: Roman Polanski
Running Time: 150 Min., Color
Copyright Universal Studios 2003

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Winner of the prestigious Golden Palm award at the 2002 Cannes film festival, The Pianist is the film that Roman Polanski was born to direct. A childhood survivor of Nazi-occupied Poland, Polanski was uniquely suited to tell the story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew and concert pianist (played by Adrien Brody) who witnessed the Nazi invasion of Warsaw, miraculously eluded the Nazi death camps, and survived throughout World War II by hiding among the ruins of the Warsaw ghetto. Unlike any previous dramatization of the Nazi holocaust, The Pianist steadfastly maintains its protagonist's singular point of view, allowing Polanski to create an intimate odyssey on an epic wartime scale, drawing a direct parallel between Szpilman's tenacious, primitive existence and the wholesale destruction of the city he refuses to abandon. Uncompromising in its physical and emotional authenticity, The Pianist strikes an ultimate note of hope and soulful purity. As with Schindler's List, it's one of the greatest films ever made about humanity's darkest chapter. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Poles/Bad Poles; Good Jews/Bad Jews; Good Germans/Bad Germans...........2007-09-11

This true story is based on a man who was there. In this insane time, no Pole, Jew or even German could be expected to act consistently sane. It's a fantastic movie, not only for message, but for cinematography, acting, wardrobe, directing and, of course, Poland's greatest composer, Chopin. Chopin's music, again, and again, has kept the spirit of the Polish people going and going, through "all" of Poland's war's. It kept Wladislaw going too. Great movie! Breathtaking! Chopin piano pieces; Highly recommended!!!

Extraordinary survival story...excellent work from Adrien Brody..........2007-08-03

Words are inadequate to describe the flawless flow of events in this absorbing account of Polish Jews facing extinction in the Warsaw Ghetto of the '40s during the Nazi reign of terror.

Surely the most deserving Oscar award in years was bestowed on Adrien Brody who captures his character completely and carries the film with his amazingly real performance. His role is the focal point throughout most of the action--so perfect in his characterization that he makes the story an unforgettable and deeply moving experience.

His confrontation with a Nazi officer who discovers his hiding place and then asks him to prove that he is a pianist by playing the piano, is just one of the memorable highlights. Nothing, it seems, is pictured in terms of black and white. All the gray areas are visible. This scene alone was justification for Brody's Oscar.

Roman Polanski's direction is masterful throughout, never allowing the story to bog down in sentimentality but keeping the focus on survival and some of the horrific things that happen along the way.

An inspired, thought-provoking piece of filmmaking that is stunning to watch because it is so real and moving. Not since SCHINDLER'S LIST has the brutality and epic sweep of World War II been captured so accurately.

Highly recommended for mature audiences.

Uplifting.......2007-07-30

I came from Jewish ancestry and I have studied the holocaust since I was 15. I am now 55. I still have many questions but these DVD's and books are a great help.

A devastingly moving cinematic masterpiece.......2007-07-20

This vivid re-enactment of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman's miraculous survival of the Holocaust is presented before our eyes, in excruciating detail, by master filmmaker Roman Polanski. The true beauty of the film is the artistic, psychological, and moral apex achieved in the film itself, and in the lives of two great artists, Szpilman and Polanski himself. In the documentary (included in the DVD) of the making of the film, Polanski states one of the main themes of the film, that the love of his art helped to inspire Szpilman to survive the war against insurmountable odds. Polanski's words are so poignant; yet, one has the distinct impression that Polanski does not consciously realize he is talking about himself as well. The lives of Szpilman and Polanski are deeply intertwined. Haunted by tragedy and inner demons his whole life and career, Polanski rarely if ever displayed the moral courage to confront thematically in his films his innermost demons, arising from his own wartime experiences as Holocaust survivor from Krakow, and of course later on, from the murders of his wife and unborn child. Polanski descended into sexual diversions, scandal, and exile. How gratifying to watch his cinematic triumph, at age 70, in this deeply personal tale of courage and, not far beneath the surface, of moral redemption, a moral lesson and an inspiration for all.

awesome.......2007-07-17

this movie was a very touching to watch . it was one of the best i have seen in a while, the 10 year old nephew had many questions about the events, he showed so much interest in this story and he learned things from it.i was pleased to watch it with a kid who showed so much interest. guess what he made his parents rent it so he could see it again. and we also have watched it again loved this movie

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BUENA VISTA SOCIAL REVIEW
Intro to the people behind the music
Buena Vista Social Club video
cuba!
Essential for anyone who loves music

Buena Vista Social Club
Starring: Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal , Amadito Valdés , Julio Alberto Fernández , Juan de Marcos González , and Luis Barzaga
Director: Wim Wenders
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00002SWEM
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Amazon.com essential video

In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena Vista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. Wenders makes his presence practically invisible, as if his directorial flourishes or off-screen narration might deflect attention from the artists, who do a fine job of telling their own stories through interviews and music. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of aging performers whose energy and passion belie their years. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL REVIEW.......2007-09-09

EXCELLENT MOVIE FOR LOVERS OF CUBAN MUSIC.

RY COUTER AT AL DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN SEARCHING FOR SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS AND FINDING SUITABLE NEW ONES TO MAKE A GREAT DVD.

JASCONS

Intro to the people behind the music.......2007-08-01

The music has been beautiful, but this DVD gives you the ability to see the people and faces behind the music. We enjoyed it very much.

Buena Vista Social Club video.......2007-07-04

I'm a fan of old Cuban music, and I found it amazing how this incredible talent was reawakend to full bloom instantaneously when Ry Cooder put it together in this documentary. I had enjoy the CD, but had not had the opportunity to watch and enjoy the old timers in the video. Compay Segundo has been a Cuban legend since he first appeared in the scene in the '30s. I had no idea he was still alive. Thanks to Mr. Cooder for giving him a few days of happiness, and sharing him with us one more time. The greates revelations for me though was Rubén González at the piano who seemed to have not lost one ounce of his brilliance after all these years even with arthritis and little practice, and Ibrahim Ferrer whose voice kept as fresh as when he was a teenager. Simply amazing!

cuba!.......2007-05-30

this is a wonderful documentary bringing even more of a voice to those giving us this wonderful music! some parts use subtitles. presents a nice history of the time.

Essential for anyone who loves music .......2007-05-10

Essential for anyone who loves music. Ry Cooder is to be complemented for his work in bringing the musicians together back then. I saw the BVSC live about 6 years ago, and it was one of the most amazing and inspiring performances I have ever seen. The movie is a bit slow in parts, and the music is somewhat brought down by Ry Cooder unfortunately. I have the greatest respect for him as a master guitarist (his other collaborations are outstanding) but here he looks hopelessly out of place as the BVSC chugs on with their amazing brand of rootsy lightness. Cooder sits around producing a melancholy wail once in a while from his slide guitar, and that's about it. Pity. But still, if you are into music - and particularly Latin music - you HAVE TO SEE this film :)

The Best of Victor Borge Act One and Two

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phonetically the best!
Great Gift Idea
Good clean fun!!! Hard to find these days!!!
Victor Borge At His Best!
Victor Borge--the hilarious Dane

The Best of Victor Borge Act One and Two
Starring: Victor Borge
Director: Victor Borge , and Ronald Borge
Manufacturer: Gmg Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000065CF8
Release Date: 1999-09-20

Amazon.com

Victor Borge was a master at combining two seemingly disparate elements: comedy and classical music. While the Dane's dapper dignity fit the image of "longhair" music, Borge undercut it with broad physical comedy, clever spoofs, and off-the-cuff wit. A pioneer in the field of live comedy recordings, Borge is nevertheless best appreciated on video, and The Best of Victor Borge Acts One and Two captures a 90-minute concert that includes many of his most famous routines. He chides late-arriving members of the Minneapolis audience ("I come from Copenhagen and was here before you!"), falls off the piano bench, and reads his sheet music upside down. There are a few unwitting guests: a stagehand drafted to turn Borge's pages, soprano Marylyn Mulvey who tries to sing a Verdi aria through Borge's teasing and scolding, and Sahan Arzruni as he and Borge play a two-piano Hungarian rhapsody on a single piano by climbing over and around each other. Borge also presents an opera "written by Mozart but credited to Salieri" ("so you can imagine what kind of opera it is") and proves that he's not merely a clown by skillfully performing a set of waltzes and lullabies. In addition, two of his best-loved sketches are nonmusical: Inflationary Language, in which numbers in language, like the economy, are increased ("I'll go back to Elevenessee.... Three-dleoo."), and Phonetic Punctuation, in which a period is read aloud to sound like fft and an exclamation point fsss fft. Like Anna Russell and PDQ Bach, Victor Borge helped make classical music accessible to a wide audience by showing that it could be laugh-out-loud funny. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

phonetically the best!.......2007-07-13

As a child I enjoyed an LP by Victor Borge, and now as an adult have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the DVD of Mr Borge. My children, who love classical music, found him completely entertaining and loved the Soprano. The highlights for all being the Phonetic Punctuation, Inflationary Language and the piano duet. Highly recommended.

Great Gift Idea.......2007-07-10

I bought this dvd for my husband for Father's Day. He loves it!! I highly recommend it for the humorous music lover in your life.

Good clean fun!!! Hard to find these days!!!.......2007-05-15

Love the comedy and the music of Victor Borge. It's fun to watch people that see him for the first time and see the laughter that he creates. It is so refreshing to see comedy that does not enclude a four letter word in every sentence!!

Victor Borge At His Best! .......2007-04-22

If you're looking for piano chuckles a la mode, this is the one! Here is a man who was also a gifted virtuoso in the classic repetoire who brought 75 years of his long life as an entertainer with a sharp wit that was and still is captivating! I now have all the Victor Borge DVD's but this one singles out one performance with doses of his classic [no pun intended] routines yet coming from Borge and his marvelous manner of delivery, they endure their retread status as it were. And the crowd duly verifies both the fun and the laughs! Mightily!

Even his ad hoc interaction with the audience is taken very well and one can see that the audience literally loved the guy! In one case in this DVD, a woman has a rather audible yet distinctive laugh akin to a clucking chicken and after hearing same for more than a few times, Victor comments, "Pardon me, Madam, are you laying eggs?"

All the routines are present in this one live performance including the famous Borge "phonetic punctuation" thing and related Borge signature skits and laughs a la mode. Check out the other available Victor Borge DVD's as well!

Non-stop fun but unique to the Victor Borge personality ... and talent! I'll leave you with one of his end-of-performance quips which generally brought on roars from the crowd, to wit, "I wish to thank my parents for having made this evening possible [pauses ...] and my children for having made it necessary." Neggie-Neggie! [sic]. If you know 'that' one from the "instant Japanese language" routine, you know Victor Borge! A 'performer' for all seasons!

Doc Tony

Victor Borge--the hilarious Dane.......2007-03-09

Both a brilliant pianist and an exceptional comedian, Victor Borge is scintillatingly, if not outrageously, funny in several of his most famous skits. Well worth the cost, and worth the time to watch, if you like clean humor.

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SHINE
Wonderful movie about David Helfgott
Shine
Feel the music...
Shine

Shine
Starring: Geoffrey Rush , Justin Braine , Sonia Todd , Chris Haywood , and Alex Rafalowicz
Director: Scott Hicks
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0780619587
Release Date: 1997-07-16

Amazon.com essential video

This tearjerker by Australian filmmaker Scott Hicks is a surprising story about real-life classical pianist David Helfgott, an Australian who rose to international prominence at a very young age in the 1950s and '60s, and suffered a psychological collapse after enduring years of abuse from his father (Armin Mueller-Stahl). Hicks has three very fine actors portraying Helfgott at different stages of his life, including the adorably wry and goofy Noah Taylor (Flirting), who takes up the character's teen years, and Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, giving a great performance playing the musician as a schizophrenic adult. Despite the Helfgotts' compromised psychological health, Shine is hardly a depressing experience. If anything, the story is really about how long one person's life can take to make glorious sense of itself. Sir John Gielgud, in golden form, plays Helfgott's teacher. The DVD release presents the film in its widescreen format, and also includes a Q&A with director Hicks and Rush's Golden Globes acceptance speech. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

SHINE.......2007-08-23

Did not watch all of it...
Very poor sound-mix quality
Story-line was abusive, which I do not care for
I give all of my DVDs to the local library once I am done with them

Wonderful movie about David Helfgott.......2007-08-18

In the beginning of the movie Shine, when we first meet the middle aged David Helfgott babbling to himself and wandering in the rain, he is in a state of transition. Behind him is the emotionally isolated existence as a child piano prodigy whose emotional turmoil led to a nervous breakdown and years of staying in a mental institution. Ahead of him is his eventual reconnection with the world around him driven by love and his virtuoso talent that had been long abandoned. As the movie progresses, we first see David's childhood living under his domineering father, Peter Helfgott in a suburban Melbourne house surrounded by barb wire. Peter is a Holocaust survivor, having seen his family destroyed at the hands of the Nazis. He rules the family with a stern demeanor, suffocating them with his love. Peter is obsessed with winning, and the need to keep his family together. This philosophy is imparted on young David, and nothing short of winning satisfies his father. David's father tells him "I know life is cruel, but music will always be your friend, everything else will let you down in the end. Everything. Believe me, everything." Under the guidance of piano teacher Ben Rosen, David's skill is refined, winning him several competitions. In a national championship, he is offered a scholarship by violin master Isaac Stern to study in the United States. However, unwilling to loosen the grip on his son, Peter forbids David from going.
After this missed opportunity, the piano teacher is replaced by an old Russian woman, who continues to encourage David and a second opportunity arises. David gets a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London. Once again, his father forbids him to go, but in his first show of independence, David leaves the Helfgott home, and his father severs all relations with him. In London, David is mentored by Cecil Parkes and learns to play Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto, one of the most difficult piano pieces to play. David plays this piece perfectly in concert, but suffers an emotional breakdown as a result. We then see David ten years later and he is a shattered man, spending his days in a mental institution, his talent unused, and his name forgotten. One rainy night, having wandered off, he comes upon a restaurant, and expresses himself on the unused piano against the back wall of the restaurant, playing an amazing rendition of The Flight of the Bumblebee. Impressed by his skill and the reaction of the restaurant patrons, the owner of the restaurant hires him to play there. Word of the master piano player spreads across Australia, and soon David finds himself on the stage of a recital hall once again. And along the way, he also finds true love, Gillian an astrologer who inspires him to greatness once again. When David does play again, many years later, he rejects the hollow philosophy of his father and begins a new path, embracing the support of those around him. He truly does shine.

Shine.......2007-07-17

Involving, stunningly executed feature benefits from a smart, knowing script and an astonishing, Oscar winning performance by Rush as the adult David. (Noah Taylor also excels playing Helfgott as an adolescent). Mueller-Stahl makes your skin crawl as the haunted father. An often harrowing tale that ends on an uplifting, inspirational note.

Feel the music..........2007-06-07

Outstanding movie, performances and music! Compelling, inspirational and so moving. 5 stars!

Shine.......2007-05-28

I bought "Shine" and found that the sound was inaudibly small with maximum volume control. So I complained and got a new copy which turned out to be the same.

For this dvd of a story of a mentally unstable genius pianist the sound is the most crucial but it failed.

I advise you that you should have checked the quality of sound before you put on this item for sale.

Average customer rating:

One of the Best in a Long Time
Awesome long-rumored excellent performance
The best
Jerry Lee in the 80s
Very Good

Jerry Lee Lewis: Live From Austin Texas
Starring: Jerry Lee Lewis
Manufacturer: New West Records
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ASIN: B000QQ9TT6
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Product Description

From the vaults of the award-winning PBS Austin City Limits TV show, this is the latest release in the acclaimed Live From Austin, TX series.

Rock and Roll s the thing, and Jerry Lee s the King... or so said an English fan once upon a time somewhere. Elvis fans might dispute that title, but nobody else in the history of popular music would dare call himself The Killer. Of all the legends who came out of Sun Records in the 1950s Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison no one would have bet the last one standing would be the pill-popping, whiskey-guzzling, gun-waving hellion from Ferriday, La. Except The Killer, of course.

Jerry Lee Lewis took black rhythm & blues, white gospel and other funky Mississippi sounds and turned them into rock and roll. But Jerry Lee s life also is, and has always been, his piano; he has kicked and banged and set on fire (literally) many of them over the course of six-plus decades.

He almost never made it to Austin City Limits. He cancelled one appearance, and only weeks before this recording on October 17, 1983, his wife died in a freak swimming pool accident at their home. But he did make it, and what we have here is one of the most amazing performances ever to go down on the ACL stage. Throughout the day he was a perfect gentleman, showing up on time and acting very graciously to one and all, but once he hit the stage, all hell broke loose. The songs speak for themselves; they re ALL here.

For many years later, Jerry Lee would carry a tape of this show to play for friends (and himself, many times). When producers tried to book him again for a return performance, the response was, Jerry Lee doesn t think he could possibly do a better show.

This DVD captures all the hits and more, and includes songs that were never aired on the original TV broadcast.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best in a Long Time.......2007-08-07

If you get nothing else, get this. I have seen many Jerry Lee Lewis performances and this one stands out - even from some of the 50's performances. In fact, I haven't found a 50's/60's performance that truly reflects the legend - this one comes close.

It is a must buy for those into rock n roll and, especially, any Jerry Lewis fan. Good on you Jerry.

Awesome long-rumored excellent performance.......2007-08-02

It does not get any better than this. If you buy few DVDs buy this one and Last Man Standing.

The best.......2007-07-24

As always you get a performance that is first class from Mr.Lewis.What marks this apart from other shows is that Jerry had just lost his wife to a drug overdose.You can see and feel the pain in the performances from that night in the slow numbers.Where else can someone like Jerry Lee turn to other than the music to console themselves.
This is a must buy for anyone who likes to see the very essence of music.

Jerry Lee in the 80s.......2007-07-14

The performance is a treat; thanks to New West for releasing this. There is no question in my mind who "the last man standing" from the 50s-rockers is. I agree with the previous reviewer who ranks this artist with the best of the all-time rock and rollers, not to mention his excellent country and western music. We had one chance to see him on this wonderful tv show and now we can see it whenever we want!

Very Good.......2007-07-07

I am not sure what the previous reviewer meant when he said Lewis just did this for the money. Isn't that what all performers do? This is not "dreck". Jerry Lee Lewis is an incredible musician who can pretty much do anything with his voice and his piano.And if he is trying to pay the IRS, then that is a good thing, right? He had a lot of energy in this performance, and he did what he does best, sing and play. For those of us who were too young, or not allowed to even hardly know he existed, it has been a revelation to hear all the music he has done in the past 50 years. He is one of the few musicians I want to see and not just listen to. I am very grateful that the old videos are being released, and hope for more in the future. If you like Jerry Lee Lewis I believe you will appreciate this video.

Diana Krall - Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival

Average customer rating:

Try Peggy Lee instead
frantic camerawork throughout the concert
Flights of Improvisation Suits Montreal Festival Expectations
Diana Krall DVD
Diana Krall Live at the MOntreal Jazz Festival

Diana Krall - Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival
Starring: Diana Krall
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00067OLN4
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

Diana Krall: Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival is a portrait of an already-accomplished musician in the process of evolving into a great artist. Always a fine jazz pianist, an expressive singer, and a capable interpreter (mostly of the Great American Songbook), Krall spent little time developing an original voice prior to her marriage to Elvis Costello and her CD The Girl in the Other Room, which features multiple songwriting collaborations with Costello as well as more adventurous choices in cover material (Joni Mitchell's "Black Crow," Tom Waits's "Temptation"). That 2004 recording is the centerpiece of this concert; fully nine of the 13 selections here, including the Waits and Mitchell songs as well as five Costello-Krall compositions, were drawn from it. Purists may lament the lessening of the straight-ahead jazz element in Krall's music (indeed, with its simple major chords and countryish lilt, the original "Narrow Daylight" will inevitably invite comparisons to Norah Jones). But Krall and her excellent band still swing mightily (cf. an extended version of the standard "All or Nothing at All") and improvise like the seasoned jazz pros they are. It's a heady combination: Krall is at least as good an instrumentalist as her contemporaries; add to that her singing and now an interest in songwriting that reflects the influence of pop music as well as jazz, and you have a genuinely unique talent. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Try Peggy Lee instead.......2007-03-11

I agree: the rapid cutting is annoying. This is supposed to be a jazz concert, not a rock concert.
Also, I don't get these songs, either. Pretentious stuff, it seems to me. The woman can play the piano, but her singing is lacking.

I say give Peggy Lee a listen, try Shirley Horn, Billie Holiday, Dione Warwick, Etta James, Dalida, Jeane Manson, Kelly Flint (of Dave's True Story), Nana Mouskouri, Dusty Springfield, Carmen McRae...I could go on.

frantic camerawork throughout the concert.......2007-02-16

frantic camerawork throughout the concert. There are so many camera angles fading in and out that it gets tiring to watch. I just wished that the camera would sit still for at least 10 seconds. I get the feeling that it was directed by someone who has only directed 30 second commercials.

Reason alone and rightly so for yet another junk dvd. someone start a school for these idiots

Flights of Improvisation Suits Montreal Festival Expectations.......2007-01-29

I anticipated this live recording and was duly rewarded by Diana's longer improvisational breaks and generally sharp differences from the polished product on the Live in Paris album.

If you prefer club jazz, wherein the lead artists in a combo create longer solo excursions between more-or-less tidy returns to melody and chorus, then, like me, you will appreciate the elbow room afforded Diana at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Now I know for sure something that I had been curious about all along. Diana has said in the past that she will hold back a new tune from her set until she perfects her performance of it. There is a style of jazz performance that plays each tune note-perfect on tour (Glenn Miller is the simplest example), but as the Ken Burns JAZZ series stated with refreshing directness, if you're a jazz player who never makes a mistake, you're playing it way too safe. That was always my impression of groups like the Glenn Miller "orchestra."

It is understatement to say that jazz festivals like the venerable one in Montreal are the perfect places to let one's hair down. Duke Ellington found that out decades ago. You better have chops at Montreal Jazz, and Diana's combo understands the expectation. These are not the tidy album-track arrangements played on tour for the jazz hits crowd. Here, those of us who would really like to hear Diana and her bandmates "go long in the breaks" get our wish.

If you think the Live in Paris CD, great as it is, is just a tad too well calculated, too clean, a bit too rehearsed for your appetite, then here you'll find one version of an antidote.

Here's a DVD live show wherein Diana gets to "go off" according to the parameters I've sketched above. The songs are from her set lists as you can see, but her lead improvs, and those by the rest of the band, are something you can't hear on the other more formal media. I recommend this confidently to those who are curious to hear Diana and the guys jam in the blues and jazz improvisation stratosphere without the net.

Note: You may actually be chagrined by Diana's blues leads, since blues leads have become a staple of rock'n'roll over the years, but blues are part of the jazz heritage, and Diana is still in charge of her instrument. See what you think. I enjoyed it, yet I hope next time she allows more jazz moves in her blues riffs.

Diana Krall DVD.......2007-01-26

The DVD was just as advertised and very enjoyable. The quality of the DVD and the music were excellent. It was a very good price and worth every penny.

Diana Krall Live at the MOntreal Jazz Festival.......2007-01-10

Wonderful concert. Wish I was there, but this is the next best thing.

Average customer rating:

My Most Frequently-Played Disc Over The Years
Yanni's the Greatest
A Must See - Very Powerful
YANNI - UNIQUE, TALENTED & INSPIRING
Yanni: Tribute

Yanni - Tribute
Starring: Yanni
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005B1W5
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Amazon.com

Exotic locales and famous monuments! Adagios and waltzes! Spectacle and bombast! A didgeridoo and an orchestra too! Yanni's amazing hair!! All this and much more make Tribute a feast sure to be eagerly devoured by the Greek composer-keyboardist's legions of fans--and it's not hard to understand why, as it is an impressive achievement. The DVD chronicles Yanni's 1997 concerts at India's Taj Mahal (the first concert staged there) and Beijing's Forbidden City (the first-ever performance there by a Western artist), and these splendid settings are certainly shown to good effect throughout this well-directed, great-sounding program. As for the music, well, that's all a matter of taste; what might be schlocky to one person will be beautiful and majestic to another. But regardless of one's musical leanings, no one can dispute that the 90-minute concert, combining numbers from both locations, provides a healthy and representative dose of Yanni's New Age-cum-classical-cum-world music sounds, and they are well played by the international cast of nearly 50 musicians and singers (violinist Karen Briggs and guitarist Pedro Eustache acquit themselves especially well among the soloists).

And that's not all, as the DVD is loaded with bonus features. Principal among them is "No Borders, No Boundaries," a beautifully photographed, hourlong film narrated by actor Christopher Plummer; part documentary and part travelogue, it contains musician profiles, Yanni biographical material, some Indian and Chinese history, and information about how the concerts came about. Other features include a lengthy Yanni interview and discography, as well as audio options. In the end, Yanni detractors are unlikely to be converted, but then, they can always put on their Limp Bizkit CDs instead. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

My Most Frequently-Played Disc Over The Years.......2007-09-09

There is no concert I have watched more than this one since I first bought the VHS tape and then acquired the DVD when that came out. After many, many viewings of it, its still great stuff - especially that first 50 minutes.

The music is a little bit more diverse than on Yanni's first concert DVD: "At The Acropolis." This concert features India's Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City, In addition to the music, we have stunning color added;a great mix of purples, yellows, blues, pinks, etc. The concert stages - particularly in China - are bathed in these colors.

For most of my many, many viewings of this I would have the opening song, "Deliverance," and the title tune, "Tribute," are my two favorites.

Although many of Yanni's band members from the first concert were not with his group any longer by the time they did this one, they have been replaced by people are even more talented in many cases. It's hard to find a more talented musician that Pedro Eusteache, who plays a number of wind instruments and excels, of course, in all of them. I'm also in awe of new keyboard player Ming Freeman. These two are still in the orchestra today.

Violinist Karen Briggs is as animated and talented as ever and, along with Eustache, is the feature musician in the band. When the two of them alternate solos, playing off each other in "Renegade," it's about as entertaining a few minutes as you'll ever find on an orchestral stage. I'm sorry Briggs is no longer with Yanni's band.

Ten years after first seeing and hearing this for the first time, I can still safely say music doesn't get much better than this, unless, perhaps, Yanni''s latest: Yanni Live!

Yanni's the Greatest.......2007-06-08

Tribute is one of the Best Concerts Ever. Yanni is the best musician ever and his Tribute album is GOLD. Some of the best pieces of music that Yanni has created are in this album. Performing this great music in front of the Magical Taj Mahal and Forbidden City makes it an unforgetable EVENT

A Must See - Very Powerful.......2007-05-12

When I first saw this video years ago on PBS, the concert was broken into segments of music clips and PBS soliciting for funds, which did it absolutely no justice. Truly the magical power that is embedded into this concert increases as you move through it in a continuous fashion. One can feel the powerful energies of the Taj Mahal as you are embroiled into the music of this concert. It is a masterpiece of talent from around the globe and imparts to the viewer a peaceful energy of love, appreciation and oneness for all the people of the world. It brings one into a space of happiness, joy and spiritual reverance. I can not say enough good things about this concert. It is a must to own for anyone who is awakening to the powers of the Universe.

YANNI - UNIQUE, TALENTED & INSPIRING.......2007-03-17

GIFTED AND TALENTED COMPOSERS LIKE YANNI ARE LIKE RAINBOWS, 'RARE & BEAUTIFUL'. THE FACT THAT HE CHOSE TO SHARE HIS INNER BEAUTY AND INSPIRATION IN THE FORM OF MUSIC WITH THE WORLD ONLY SHOWS YET ANOTHER OF HIS GIFTED QUALITIES, HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR LIFE AND HUMANITY. IF ONLY WE HAD MORE PEOPLE LIKE YANNI, THIS WOULD BE A MORE PEACEFUL AND SERENE WORLD. THANK YOU YANNI.

Yanni: Tribute.......2007-03-15

Of course, it all started with Yanni: Live At The Acropolis. The intoxicating mixture of upbeat and romantic/nostalgic moods with that catchy Greek rhythm. A soundtrack for any life with all its highs and lows, happiness and sadness, triumph and tragedy. And then Yanni realizes that all cultures have music to offer and that music transcends languages and barriers of all types, as well as ages! And so along comes Tribute, enhanced by the souls and instruments of different cultures inhabiting the world of today as well as ages long past and almost forgotten. And as exciting as the concert is to watch; both the performers and the audience, it only whets the appetite to have an opportunity to see a live performance. To be part of that whirl of humanity and to drop all mental and physical barriers so that you can be part of that collective world dance that celebrates life and its gifts.

Average customer rating:

"BILL EVENS AT HIS BEST"
Early and late Evans
Bill Evans
Exceptional DVD
A treasure

Bill Evans Trio: The Oslo Concerts
Starring: Bill Evans Trio
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000JLQQ76
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Description

Bill Evans was one of the most popular piano players in modern jazz, having recorded over 50 albums and received 31 Grammy nominations before his untimely death in 1980. He influenced virturally every jazz pianist who came after him including Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Very little is available on DVD of Evans in performance. The 2 concerts on this DVD have never been on the market before, and this DVD will be a must have with his legion of fans.

Customer Reviews:

"BILL EVENS AT HIS BEST".......2007-07-12

2 DIFFERENT RYTHMN SECTION'S. THEIR GOOD,BUT BILL IS EXELLENT! GREAT TUNES,"NARDIS",
"AUTUMN LEAVES","VERY EARLY","STELLA BY STARLIGHT" 7 MORE +INTERVIEW.

Early and late Evans.......2007-06-13

This may be the best concert DVD of Bill Evans out there. As such, Evans lovers will be relieved to know that it is quite a good snapshot of two distinct phases of his career. The '66 concert has a young Evans playing a restrained but beautiful set with a young Eddie Gomez on bass and an unknown but relaxed drummer Alex Riel. The sound, although mono is well balanced and clean. The piano sound in particular is crystalline and bell like, ie an accurate rendering of the Evans golden touch. The camera work is spare and for the most part, unobtrusive.

In contrast, the 1980 show has surprisingly poor sound. The bass is the dominant instrument, the piano being too far back and the drums muddy and indistinct. The camera work is sloppy and brash, deliberately going for a distracting "artsy" shot of red light reflected off the cymbals, not once but several times. Ahh, but the performance-that is another story.

This concert was shot about a month before Bill's death, and as anyone who has heard his last concerts at the Keystone knows, Bill was playing...well, as if his life depended on it. This is in stark contrast to his conservative performance of 1966.

Evans' evolution as an artist can be traced in a steady arc. Rather than reinvent himself like a Picasso (or closer to home,), a Miles Davis, Evans chose to build upon his earlier concepts, stretching and developing his areas of interests over the course of his brief life. We are given perfect example of this evolution in the two contrasting version of Nardis, a vehicle Evans played throughout his career. On the one hand, the '66 version is brief, spare and controlled, swinging to be sure, but contained. However, the 1980 version begins with a long rhapsodic solo exposition that would have Franz Liszt gaping in amazement at its sheer virtuosity. But behind the masterful pianism lies Evans the modernist- his harmonic and rhythmic structures have deepened. In this intro one can hear the evolution of 20th century music. Evans absorbed everything he heard and incorporated what he liked into his playing. One can hear echoes of Debussy, Bartok and Stravinsky, while at the same time the influences of McCoy Tyner and and Chick Corea are evident. To say that Bill had big ears is an understatement. Yet amidst this sea of influences, the Evans voice is clearly heard.

This was Evan's last trio, and by his own admission probably the best trio he had put together since he had worked with the late Scott LaFaro. Certainly Marc Johnson was the right bass player for the job. An agile and intuitive player with a skill for deep listening and a fat, warm sound, Johnson could often anticipate Bill's lines and get right in there with him, playing counterpoint or underlining a melody without stepping on the music. And Joe LaBarbara was a solid powerhouse, playing with sticks and hitting hard, generating the energy needed to support this later high octane Evans. Pity we can barely hear his ride cymbals here.

This is a must have for Evans' fans and so far the best video document of this important figure in the evolution of jazz. There is simply no jazz pianist after Bill who has not in some way been influenced by this humble giant. This DVD captures him doing what he did best and should not be missed. The bonus interview at the end of the 1980 concert makes for interesting viewing as well.

Highly recommended

Bill Evans.......2007-06-11

Kare ga Nihonjin desu. Amelikajin mitai shikashi honto ni wa Nihonjin. Okashi na!!!

Exceptional DVD.......2007-05-24

Fourteen years separate the two concerts that comprise pianist Bill Evans' extraordinary DVD "The Oslo Concerts."

The 1966 performance is more representative of the Bill Evans etched in the public mind. Demure and timid in his demeanor, Evans delivers his pieces in the same elegant and intellectual style that distinguished his "Kind of Blue" sessions with Miles Davis seven years earlier. He hovers over the keys like an impassive medium, channeling equal parts of Bud Powell and Claude Debussy into exceptionally beautiful renditions of "Very Early," "If You Could See Me Now," and "Nardis." It's the quintessential statement of "cool jazz." Unfortunately, the trio doesn't deliver in equal measure. Bassist Eddie Gomez proves to be an able accompanist, but his frenetic solos, for all their dexterity and flair, tend to be disruptive and extraneous.

The 1980 performance shows a much-transformed Bill Evans, both physically and aesthetically. He's freer and more experimental in his interpretations, and his trio is better integrated and more supportive of his vision. Evans stated that the 1980 trio--consisting of Marc Johnson on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums--was the best since his landmark trio of the early sixties featuring Scott LeFaro and Paul Motian. Johnson seems a fitting successor to LeFaro, delivering sustained, legato lines that underpin Evans' artistry and help better articulate his statements. LaBarbera's drumming rousts Evans out of the self-absorption that distinguishes the 1966 sessions. Evans listens to and interacts with his fellow musicians to the end that the score is less scripted and more fluid. "Nardis" is once again the centerpiece, and contrasting the two versions on the DVD are a testament to Evans' maturation as an artist.

This DVD belongs in the library of any jazz lover. Seeing Evans practice his craft greatly expands our appreciation of his sublime artistry.

A treasure.......2007-05-19

If you already love modern jazz, you'll smile. And, if you already love Bill Evans, you've got a piece of audio and visual history to enjoy from both 1966 and his last year. He gave the jazz trio a new character and he gave jazz itself, a new vocabulary. He played classical piano music between performances and devoted himself to the lyric beauty of jazz. Excellent price and better than expected audio reproduction.

Average customer rating:

missing the best of all....
Not the best...
Fantastic, clean humor!
Must Have!
Humor at its best

Victor Borge's Funniest Moments
Starring: Victor Borge
Manufacturer: Gmg Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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