DVD

Average customer rating:

"The Goebbels Experiment" is very strongly recommended viewing
incomplete portrait of a novel type of crime and its perpetrator
Highly unique documentary
Dr. Goebbels Spricht
"Now we just stay the course" Joseph Goebbels

The Goebbels Experiment
Starring: Kenneth Branagh , and Udo Samel
Director: Lutz Hachmeister
Manufacturer: First Run Features
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EULK1O
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Amazon.com

The rise and fall of the Third Reich is chronicled on an intimately personal scale in The Goebbels Experiment, an essential addition to the vast legacy of Nazi-related documentaries. Like no other film before it, this remarkable experiment in archival biography combines two fascinating elements: rare and extensive archival footage and dramatic readings (by renowned British actor Kenneth Branagh) from the personal diaries that Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels kept from 1924 until his suicide in 1945. The net effect is unexpectedly striking: As Hitler's Nazi Party gained social and political momentum in the late 1920s and early '30s, Goebbels' daily life was so thoroughly covered by newsreel cameras, home movies, and Third Reich historians that there is enough existing footage of him to match (or at least approximate) nearly every event mentioned in his diaries.

From Goebbels' growing influence as an influential orator to his surprisingly affectionate family life, the meticulously edited footage serves as both point and counterpoint to Goebbels' diaries, revealing a paranoid intellectual capable of breathtaking, if not outright schizoid, shifts from one train of thought to another. A perceptive observer of culture (especially the art of motion pictures), he both loved Hitler and felt repeatedly betrayed by the Fuhrer's perceived offenses against him. Prone to chronic bouts of depression, Goebbels found purpose in his unprecedented orchestration of epic-scale propaganda, but his inner demons haunted him until the very end, when it became obvious that the Nazis had completely lost their power. The final images of Goebbels' partially burned body (along with those of his wife and six children) serve as a chilling reminder that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Having never found a satisfying balance between his personal and professional lives as a top-ranking Nazi, Goebbels' fate seems almost predetermined. As a masterful assembly of archival materials, The Goebbels Experiment is not to be missed. --Jeff Shannon

Description

"Arguably the most gifted of Hitler's henchmen, Joseph Goebbels was an enigmatic genius whose successful manipulation of mass political opinion was unprecedented. His rise to power, and that of the Nazi Party itself, will forever stand as one of history's most terrifying examples of the reach of propaganda, a tool with which Goebbels's name is virtually synonymous. In their fascinating documentary, the filmmakers provide a rare and chilling glimpse into a brilliant but toxic mind. Rejecting commentary, they allow Goebbels to speak for himself (in the voice of Kenneth Branagh), via the extensive diaries that he kept from 1924 to1945. Rare clips from German film and television archives illustrate the readings. At a time when much of our news and entertainment media is controlled by a handful of corporations, The Goebbels Experiment is a cautionary reminder that equal access to the machinery of ideas may be society's most critical goal."

Customer Reviews:

"The Goebbels Experiment" is very strongly recommended viewing .......2007-07-09

"The Goebbels Experiment" is a 107 minute historical documentary focused upon the life and work of Joseph Goebbels, one of the key figures in the Nazi movement that took control of Germany in the late 1930s and was in charge of Hitler's propaganda machine throughout World War II until he took his life rather than fall into the hands of the Russians with the fall of the Third Reich in 1945. Drawing upon rare footage from the archives of German film and television, and interweaving quotations from Goebbels diaries (which he kept from 1924 to 1945) and his recorded speeches, the filmmakers Lutz Hachmeister and Michael Kloft decided not to interject commentary but let Goebbels words and recorded images speak for themselves. The German language is ably narrated in English by Kenneth Branagh. "The Goebbels Experiment" is a superbly produced documentary whose DVD format allows for the addition of Film Notes, Filmmaker Biographies, and a World War II Film Collection Preview. With its underlying message of the danger to a free and democratic society from a monolithic governmental control of the means of communication, "The Goebbels Experiment" is very strongly recommended viewing and a welcome addition to both school and community library video collections.

incomplete portrait of a novel type of crime and its perpetrator.......2007-04-29

This is another chapter of a 20th century totalitarian saga. From it we get some glimpses at the life of Goebbels. A surviver from his birth, a child and later an adolescent who most probably had to surmount an inferiority complex inversely proportional to the dim picture he cut, Goebbels' coming of age happened to coincide with: the rise of the left in Germany/Europe, the rise of unemployment and inflation, the rise of German resentment, the rise of a fellow whom we all know by the name of Adolf Hitler, and the rise of state propaganda as enabled by the first truly mass media.

For me, this quick traversal through Goebbels' life offers only partial insight into most subjects people keep talking about in conjunction with this film. I should mention that it's a clever way to do a documentary by mixing real footage with autobiographical notes. Of great value for me were the details concerning Goebbels' being in charge with the Nazi propaganda. He was pushed, against his immediate will/desire, into the position of chief of Nazi propaganda, yet people consider him such a great propagandist. I am not sure why he deserves any praise beyond, let's say, the worshipers of state sponsored lies disseminated through mass media. Not being myself a specialist, I can only ask: Would a junior staff, lacking moral compass, in an ad agency today run circles round Goebbels? Or, was Goebbels that "good" because he was among the first who had at his disposal both the means and motive to spread ideological crime through mass media?

For the student of totalitarianism, this film offers some additional proof to how the German leadership deceptively led the German "volk" and the world to disaster. It's interesting learning Goebbels high opinions about: (a) the effectiveness of British war propaganda, and (b) Churchill, both as a propagandist and leader. I only wish the scenes when it appears that after 1943 Goebbels approached(/confronted?) Hitler about the grim realities of the war were developed more. In other words, no matter what the ordinary Germans were told, at least some people at the top knew the naked truth. The film comes also short on how German politics was run backstage. For example, Goebbels didn't like Leni Riefenstahl, yet he offered her a state prize; Was it maybe because Hitler liked her (work) so much?

All in all, Goebbels comes out as the addition of will, physical adversity, lucidity, thirst for power and total revenge, studied stage charisma. If I miss something, leave a comment please.

I hope I've managed by now to not surprise you if I award this film only 3.5 stars.

Highly unique documentary.......2007-04-06

I had never heard of this movie until I saw it in the documentary section at my local Blockbuster the other day. Having long possessed an interest in the Nazi regime, as well as in the ways in which states use propaganda to boster their legitimacy, I decided to pick it up.

The documentary is structured in a rather unique way. It consists of Kenneth Branagh, the narrator, reading excerpts from Goebbels' diary while showing film footage from Goebbels' personal life as well as of the Nazis' rise to power. There is no outside commentary; the entire film is shown from Dr. Goebbels' own perspective. Because of this, the film doesn't provide a lot of background on the political events leading to the Nazis' usurpation of power and the onset of WWII. I think that a person could take away a lot from this movie even without knowing this historical background, but at least a basic knowledge of the Third Reich would definitely augment the experience.

I haven't actually read Goebbel's diaries, but I found the film entrancing. One of the more remarkable aspects of the film was the way in which it revealed Dr. Goebbels' internal contradictions. On the one hand, he was obviously a vile anti-Semite and a vulgar, unabashed proponent of German nationalism. On the other hand, at various times he reveals himself to be a highly cultured individual. His appreciation of cinema and the fine arts, however, is clearly due to his belief that these cultural media could be exploited to advance a particular political agenda, and this is obviously something that Dr. Goebbels' pursued rather successfully.

Without giving away the ending, I can say that the ending of the documentary contained some very disturbing images. I already knew before watching it what the fate of Dr. Goebbels' and his family was, but I was nonetheless shocked and unprepared for the final images.

I wouldn't recommend this film for anybody who is simply looking for a History Channel-style narrative of the rise and fall of the Nazi regime. I would highly recommend the movie for those interested in the ways that regimes exploit propaganda for their own political ends. Additionally, by telling the story from Goebbels' own perspective, the documentary provides an interesting account of why people are drawn to fascist, nationalist ideologies and the political movements that espouse those ideologies.

Dr. Goebbels Spricht.......2007-03-24

'The Goebbels Experiment' is a magnificent documentary about the infamous Third Reich Propaganda Minister, Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Kenneth Branaugh is the narrator but where this differs from most documentaries is that instead of using a typical commentary approach, Branaugh solely reads excerpts of Dr. Goebbels extensive diary collection while images and film footage of the Minister roll in the background. This is a unique approach in the fact that it lets Dr. Goebbels essentially speak for himself and it succeeds in juxtaposing his private thoughts and feelings with his public persona. The diary entries begin circa 1924 when Goebbels was basically a discontented nobody, working a low-level job at a bank and oft complaining of depression and lack of purpose in life. He visibly comes to life after he becomes involved in the Nazi party and comes across as a rather happy-go-lucky guy. His admiration of Hitler is evident-"I love him" he says at one point-and the footage of these early party days reveal him as a constantly smiling and rather charming fellow. As the film-and the movement-proceeds, we see Goebbels gradually evolve into the bitter, and cynical propaganda master that he is remembered as. With that said, he seems to have maintained an unwavering loyalty to his Fuhrer and the movement up until the moment of his death.

There is some fantastic black and white film footage of Nazi party rallies and "behind the scenes" events that I have never seen before. Also utilized are a number of nice photographs of Goebbels' and company throughout his life. While I don't think this documentary is for everybody-my wife rolled her eyes when I told her what I was watching-anybody interested in the Third Reich or history in general will no doubt enjoy this film immensely. It is definitely one of the best documentaries on a historical figure that I have seen and it certainly gave me much insight into the mind of one of the most notorious men of the twentieth century.

"Now we just stay the course" Joseph Goebbels.......2007-01-28

If at first glance the idea of Kenneth Branagh reading excerpts from the diary of Joseph Goebbels seems to provide a poor basis for a documentary, think again. "The Goebbels Experiment" is absolutely gripping stuff, and if you're the slightest bit interested in Goebbels, WWII or the nature of propaganda, you won't be disappointed in this superb unusually crafted documentary.

Goebbels, who earned the title "Mastermind of the Third Reich" kept copious notes in over 75,000 pages of diary entries. These diaries were ferreted away in the Red Army archives in Moscow until they were discovered in 1992. Goebbels has always remained a somewhat shadowy figure--eclipsed by Hitler, but these diaries provide a chilling insight into the thoughts of a man who was at once incredibly intelligent--but also horribly warped.

The diary excerpts begin in the 20s before Goebbels met Hitler and became an integral part of the Third Reich. The excerpts expose the thoughts of a man who hates most of the world, loathes his employment in a bank, and expresses a lack of direction and despair. Even at this relatively early stage of things, Goebbels had a definite vision of a different Germany and states "we need a firm hand." When Goebbels finally meets Hitler, he seems to realize that Hitler is the person he's been looking for. He sees Hitler as a "born motivator" and believes "with him we can conquer the world."

The film mostly covers excerpts specific to Goebbels' career in the Third Reich and his role as the Minister of Propaganda. Archival WWII footage is set as the background to the excerpts which trace Goebbels' rise and fall--the halcyon days of travel to Paris and various film festivals--and ultimately to the end in an underground Berlin bunker.

Throughout it all, the film juxtaposes Goebbels' most private thoughts--read brilliantly by Branagh--against his public persona. The diaries reveal thoughts on Leni Riefenstahl, Goring, Hess, and Hitler while Goebbels expresses hatred for various world leaders and a grudging admiration for Churchill. Goebbels' hatred for the Jews is present from the earliest parts of his diaries, and the statements that include his long-held plans for the Jews are chilling and leave no illusions about his murderous intentions. One of the most powerful scenes in the film includes Goebbels' "Total War" speech, and it's incredible to see the rapturous crowd respond to his calls for death and destruction. Over the course of the film, a terrifying portrait of an ambitious, bitter, vindictive and delusional man emerges--a man whose brilliant manipulation of propaganda swayed a nation and staved off the reality of the failure of the Third Reich until that failure could no longer be ignored. It becomes clear that ultimately Goebbels was consumed by his own propaganda--displacedhuman

Average customer rating:

Captivating
great movie!
Manic
Almost too true account. This movie is the real deal, in every way!!!
Moving Film

Manic
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Adrienne Rollo , Maggie Baird , Don Cheadle , and Blayne Weaver
Director: Jordan Melamed
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000VLKVM
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Description

Don Cheadle (Traffic) is 'simply mesmerizing (Entertainment Today) in this piercing intimate and edgy ('sixty Second Preview ) drama about troubled teens hovering on the edge of sanity. Featuring an exceptional young cast, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt ( 3rd Rock From the Sun ) and Zooey Deschanel (All the Real Girls), Manic is a remarkable gem of a film (London Film Festival). At first glance, 17-year-old Lyle Jensen (Gordon-Levitt) seems eerily quiet and withdrawn. But he has a problem with anger, and this time his explosive rage has landed him in the juvenile ward of a mental institution under the watchful eye of therapist David Monroe (Cheadle). Can Dr. Monroe get Lyle and the other kids to open up, confront their demons and reclaim their lives?

Customer Reviews:

Captivating.......2007-03-31

I have owned this movie on VHS for some time now and intend on buying the DVD (I'll have a back up). I have watched it over and over and find it just as gripping and real as I did the first time.
I consider this my favorite movie of all time because (for once) I can actually relate to the characters on a very deep level. Its a very accurate depiction of what its like to fear yourself. To wish that you could rope in that dark side of your mind and control it, but sometimes you can't. That deep need and desire for an outlet for all the strife and pain and anger and hurt and sadness.
This is a very real movie. I love the way it is filmed. I love the way it is written. I love the way it holds me, fixated on the screen, until the very end. See what you think.

great movie!.......2007-03-24

I loved this movie! I've never watched a movie that was filmed entirely with a hand-held camera, so for the first few minutes the scenes made me a little dizzy because they jump around a lot. But, it's the way they filmed this movie that really made it stand out. It gave it a realistic effect, very raw and in-your-face. I thought the acting was really well done, and I could immediately feel a connection with the charactures as the movie progressed. I've been through a very similar experience in my life, and the way the film was depicted was precise and hit home for me. A few of the charactures in this movie had actually been in Psychiatric Hospitals, and had gone through group therapy and experienced mental illness first hand, so that gave the movie an even more accurate feel. The struggles are very real, it really is a true look into the lives of people who are not so perfect, but are more like you and me than you may realize.

Manic.......2007-01-15

The movie came fast and i enjoyed it very much. I always have a really good experience buying from amazon. i am never disappointed.

Almost too true account. This movie is the real deal, in every way!!!.......2006-12-28

Hello World,
Amazing filters and camera angles, who ever directed this film is destined for greatness. Amazing movie, one of the few I could watch, over and over again. I implore you to rent or buy.
FJE

Moving Film.......2006-11-05

I was in a psych ward earlier in my youth for a short time and so i have some experience in a place such as the one that this film takes place although it didn't have a teen ward where people of a similar age group stayed instead all ages were just thrown together unlike in this film.

the film which is about a teen played by joseph gordon-levitt (who has come a long way from his days on 3rd rock from the sun) who finds himself in a downward rage filled spiral that eventually leads him (by way of a vicious beating with a baseball bat) to what i would describe as a new age psych ward... i say "new age" or "experimental" because it seems to be more about therapy and discovery rather than your typical throw someone in a facility and dope him/her up and nothing much else which is the way most normal places are... this place however tries to really help the troubled teens breakthrough their own troubles and look within themselves to try and deal with things and try and look at life in a different way... the head guy in charge is played by don cheadle who is always solid.

the story basically follows gordon-levitt as he goes through life in the psych ward.. and the people he meets and his struggle with everything.

the cast who portrays the group of troubled teens does good job at presenting the viewer with the type of people one would find in such an experience... one not familiar with the subject i think would believe that in such a place it is just a bunch of complete psychos biting their own hands and mumbling about president lincoln which isn't true for the most part... you will find all types of people from the severe to the slightly disturbed to the person who may be dealing with alot at that time but eventually would get through it and i think the way it was done in presenting this type of balance was good to see.

i came away very moved from the story and i think that's the sign of a good film if you are touched in some way after it fade's to black.. if you come way moved like where you feel the need to come on amazon and write your feelings on what you just experienced hehe... so ya i think it did what it set out to do.

i especially thought michael bacall's performance was great (he also cowrote the story) and i very much liked the ending and was really touched by how the girl's painting matched with the bus i felt all tingly when that hit me.

so go out and rent or buy this and give it a chance maybe you will like it.. maybe you won't all i can say is i did.

Average customer rating:

Great movie, but the ending??
no title
Excellent
Funny, Charming and Romantic
Excellent with many funny, touching moments

Mr. Jones
Starring: Richard Gere , Lena Olin , Anne Bancroft , Tom Irwin (II) , and Delroy Lindo
Director: Mike Figgis
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000021Y7L
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Amazon.com

Richard Gere is pretty convincing as a severe manic-depressive whose episodes of euphoria sometimes find him dancing on a two-by-four far above the street or climbing onstage during a symphony performance to "conduct" the orchestra. When the pendulum swings the other way, he is practically catatonic. As a character study, this film by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) has its truly compelling moments, but Mr. Jones isn't just a character study. Inexplicably, Figgis ushers in a preposterous romance between this poor fellow and his psychiatrist (Lena Olin), a relationship that is supposed to raise interesting ethical and dramatic issues. All it does is make one wonder what the devil the doctor is thinking of, and why Figgis felt it necessary to go down this lose-lose path. With Delroy Lindo in a nice part as a sympathetic construction worker who tries to help Gere's character. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Great movie, but the ending??.......2006-04-02

I ordered this movie after having a close friend recently diagnosed Bipolar to see how Richard Gere portrayed a Bipolar patient. As several other reviewers said, his performance is outstanding. The professional consequences of Lena Olin's having become romantically involved with a patient also impressed me as being accurately depicted, no licensed mental health professional in reality, (at least in most states) can become romantic with a patient without serious consequences, and I am glad this movie at least partially dealt with that. Certain parts of Richard Gere's performance when he was in the depressive part of his bipolar, brought tears to my eyes, as well as the performance of the young woman who played Lena Olin's Asian mental patient. It was not only the actress's performance but how her (too) small part in the movie played out that was touching. But the end of the movie? A total cop out on the part of the writers. I won't give it away, but I felt that there was no resolution at all as to whether Richard Gere was ever going to become stable. It was as if the writers said "well, we're running out of time, how can we wrap this up in 8 more minutes?" (the movie runs 114 minutes) All I could think about this ending was "WTF? THIS is how they chose to end it?" I give it 4 stars and not 5, because the whole movie was great up until this ending which I felt left too many loose ends.

no title.......2006-02-24

By the director of "Stormy Monday", which I thought a much better film. I didn't think this was that good; but Richard Gere's performance is a marvel. He has really grown here. Unfortunately, Lena Olin was once again too weepy, as she was in Robert Redford's "Havana".

Excellent.......2005-08-09

I loved the movie. As an OCD myself, it helped my family & friends understand the disorder. Thank you Amazon.

Funny, Charming and Romantic.......2004-06-26

This is a pretty good movie I thought. Richard Gere plays Mr.Jones a man who suffers from manic depression who has suicidal tendencies. When I saw it I thought this is one of Richard Gere's best performances in a long time. He really did a great job and it is probably the best acting that I've seen him do in quite awhile. Lena Olin is also very good as the psychiatrist who takes an interest in him both as a patient and in the personal sense. I really liked this movie and have added to my movie collection. It is one of those rare movies that you can see just about anytime. Overall is a good movie but if you need more convincing than that then see it beause of Richard Gere he is excellent in this film and that should be reason enough I think.

Excellent with many funny, touching moments.......2002-06-12

I'm M-D so take that into consideration. Gere doesn't get enough credit for his acting because he has his own persona like John Wayne and critics can't get over this. His is an outstanding performance, trust me. Lena is my favorite actress to watch and listen to so factor that in also. There are just so many funny scenes in this movie! (And a few oddities; Gere is no carpenter--you hammer nails with your wrist, not your arm.) Fun moments: Gere quoting from Alice In Wonderland while playfully teasing Olin's stock psychologist demeanor, the dialogue in and around the car ride, the table tennis sequence is priceless, in fact all of the dialogue between these two excellent actors is worth watching. Two outstanding dramatic moments are 1)the point of Gere's discovery of Olin's prying into his past(and catching him in a chilling lie)and 2)the subsequent confrontation in the rain; this is Olin at her--or anyone's--best...economical and searing. The only major misfire in this movie is the sexual involvement...should have been platonic but this is easily one of Hollywood's best efforts from the 1990s. I bought it. Aaaahhh, Leeena!! Yum

Average customer rating:

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

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

Amazon.com

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

Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

A brilliant movie
Charming
LOVED IT!
two and a half stars - this is a Lifetime Channel level movie
"Sarcasm is the number one export from Queens"

Love, Ludlow
Starring: Jessica Durdock , David Eigenberg , Alicia Goranson , Alessandro Magania , and Andrea Maulella
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BT96E6
Release Date: 2006-01-31

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Based on the play Finger Painting in a Murphy Bed, Love, Ludlow is as gently humorous as it is sweetly romantic. Myra (Alicia Goranson, Roseanne) has built her life around her emotionally disturbed brother, Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III, who starred with Goranson in Boys Don't Cry). Other than model airplanes, Reggie (David Eigenberg, Sex and the City) doesn't really have a life. An only child, he grew up in a small town and never had any close relationships. As a result, he's always felt different from everyone else, especially since he moved to New York. Myra works as a temp at his place of employment and Reggie's been trying to get to know her, but she always responds with sarcasm. Granted, his jokes are pretty corny, but he senses a spark, and the guy's no quitter. One day he asks her out to dinner. To his surprise, she says yes. "I'm a little nonplussed," he admits. "If that means I gotta pay, then no," Myra responds. (He assures her it doesn't.) Little does he know her brother's got Myra beat in the sarcasm department. Ever since their mother died, Ludlow has become accustomed to having his sister all to himself and isn't about to give her up without a fight. Thing is, Reggie's a lover, not a fighter. Or is he? Ludlow will force him to prove otherwise, just as Reggie will force the feisty Myra to prove whether she has what it takes to be a lover. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

In the outside world Myra (Goranson) is a sharp-tongued, hard-working temp. At home in Queens, however, she lovingly devotes herself to the needs of her eccentric younger brother Ludlow (Sexton), an aspiring finger painter confined to the apartment because of manic episodes. When Myra begins to explore an office romance with the endearingly bashful Reggie (Eigenberg) a comedic tug of war for Myra's affection rages as Ludlow sets out to destroy the budding relationship.

DVD Features:
Biographies
Deleted Scenes
Photo gallery
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant movie.......2006-12-13

Love, Ludlow is a great movie that is, at first glance, little more than a quirky, funny romantic comedy. There's nothing mindshakingly original about the premise of boy meets girl, but Reggie's awkward courtship of Myra is so over-the-top that it's quite fresh. Cinematic romance usually has a fairly predictable arc, but I never felt like I knew what was coming next with this movie.

Myra's character, I think, really anchored the film, and it was because of the strong performance by Alicia Goranson. Myra is an almost impossibly caustic office temp, and I think that a lesser actress might have me wondering how someone with such a firey disposition could work in a field that requires a modicum of working well with others. But Goranson plays Myra with such authority that it just seems natural,

Similarly, the shy, awkward Reggie (David Eigenberg) might have been played as a shallow caricature of a socially-inept dweeb, but Eigenberg creditably shows him to be an earnest, caring, somewhat confused guy trying his best to win what might be the girl of his dreams.

The movie starts with Reggie being smitten with Myra, and Myra's gradual opening to the possibility of dating him. Myra's brother Ludlow is the big complication. He seems to spend most of his time in he and Myra's tiny apartment writing elaborate fairwell notes and fingerpainting.

According to the movie's description, Ludlow is bipolar. I'm no diagonstician, but he seemed a bit more autistic to me-his moods seemed fairly even, but he had definite problems interfacing with the rest of the world and accepting a break in his routine. I thought that the uncertainty about Ludlow's precise problem strengthened the movie-it makes sense that, given the family's situation, they aren't going to be taking him for a battery of psychiatric exams, and they probably wouldn't have a real diagnosis. Myra would just know, as she knows in the movie, that there is something wrong with her brother, and that it is her job to take care of him.

And this is the heart of the movie. We see that Myra, with her abraisive exterior, is hiding a terrible secret-that she really is a loving, caring, and dedicated person. She hasn't dated much not because she can't stand other people, but because she knows that no one will accept both her and Ludlow.

I've done a lot of thinking about this movie since I've seen it, and I think it really is very profound. To me, Ludlow represents the baggage that people bring to any relationship. It could be, as it is in this movie, a sibling or parent that one has to care for. It could be a sheltered past, an abusive childhood, a bad set of friends, or just the legacy of unfortunate choices made years ago. It could be memories-it could be anxieties about the future. Whatever it is, it prevents us from letting other people into our lives. It's probably true that everyone has their Ludlow, and there's a moment in every relationship when we introduce the other person to our Ludlow and hope for the best.

So Love, Ludlow is really more than just a romantic comedy about an unlikely couple. On a deeper level, it's really about something that anyone can identify with-revealing part of yourself, and your life, to someone you want to care deeply about. Like the best art, it takes something small and local-in this case, a budding relationship between a New York temp and account executive-and makes it resonate in a way that is truly universal.

I recommend it highly for anyone-I can see that it would be a fun date movie (and a real ice-breaker for a first or second date) but also something that longtime couples can get something out of.

Charming.......2006-07-18

If ever there was an overlooked film, Love, Ludlow would be that film. Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival is a fantastic way to shed some light on some fantastic overlooked films, but I was semi-disappointed that this film did not attract his attention. Not that the films that he screened weren't fantastic, but I think this one could have attracted a larger audience with the right marketing. After appearing at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and becoming an Official Selaction, Love, Ludlow disappeared, away from the public and critic alike. Sitting lonely on the shelf of the video store I work at, the only copy of Love, Ludlow seemed overshadowed by the big market (and often nauseating) blockbusters that litter the shelves. The film's director is Adrienne Weiss, who takes her second, and supremely successful, shot at directing. As the director is virtually unknown, she uses actors that aren't really prime time. Many may recognize David Eigenberg from HBO's Sex and the City, and many others may recognize Alicia Goranson from the hit 90's series Roseanne. Goranson is Myra, a twentysomething temp, working for a small corporation in New York, and washing some of local tenants' laundry so she can support herself and her brother Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III), who is mentally challenged and was left to her keeping after the death of their mother. Eigenberg is Reggie, a co-worker of Myra's, who becomes attracted to her angry, Bronx-girl personality. They begin to date, and we begin to see Ludlow feeling like a third wheel in the relationship. Although we feel bad for Ludlow, we certainly cannot expect Myra staying single just to spend every waking moment with Ludlow. Ludlow begins to act out, taking Reggie's keys and making him pay forty dollars, and spend the night to get them back. Reggie tries his best to form a positive relationship with Ludlow, but as Reggie gets closer, Ludlow pushes him away. Eigenberg does his best work in this film, and we see early in the film his frustration with Ludlow, only to lead to a scene where he blows up and yells at Ludlow for "running away". Sexton does a nice job of playing Ludlow without venturing into the more severely disabled roles of Hoffman's Rain Man or Sean Penn's I Am Sam, and I enjoyed watching his performances and seeing where he would take the character next. Goranson, on the other hand, was more difficult to disect. At first I thought her performance was a bit stiff and unchallenging, but as I look further at it, she does a decent job at conveying a character who hides her emotions behind a wall, that is her Bronx-girl attitude. We do see her break down once or twice in the film, but it is always restrained as she tries to put out a strong personality. She is, in fact, semi-new to the idea of dating, and she has never really expressed other emotions, besides anger. She needs to be tough. She is living in a world where a large amount of responsibility has been dumped on her, and no one, even the tenants in her building, shows much sympathy. The film is a quick, 86-minute view, and I highly reccomend seeing this film. It has good leading and supporting performances, although, I could have done without some of the eccentricities that come with some of these characters. The character of Carol, a co-worker of Myra's who lives with her mother, is a bit unneccesary in the beginning, and I wasn't really compelled by her. She does provide a moment of relief during a very funny scene involving yet another co-worker named Storkelson, a sexist pig who insists on sharing his sexual stories. Overall, Love, Ludlow is not the best film of 2005, but it is funny, charming, and highly entertaining.

LOVED IT!.......2006-05-30

I really liked this small romantic comedy. The dialogue & acting are superb. It feels real - not like some slick, forced Hollywood production. I rented this movie because Alicia Goranson stars in it and I think she is a good actress (excuse me, actOR) and I just like her. I didn't realize that Steve from Sex and the City (real name David Eigenberg) also stars in the movie and he was great, too.

two and a half stars - this is a Lifetime Channel level movie.......2006-04-25

There are some incredibly sweet moments in this movie. I loved Alicia Goranson on Roseanne and she is truly darling. But her acting range at this juncture is dominated by three or four wide-eyed expressions that, over time, become cloying. This movie is predictable and the Ludlow character does not have enough charm to carry his share of the movie. Over all, a mild disappointment. The movie you should see instead is Me and You and Everyone We Know.

"Sarcasm is the number one export from Queens".......2006-02-11

The characters in Love Ludlow seem to be living in some kind of netherworld of paranoid angst, they're lovable, endearing, and good-natured, but they also border on the irritating and are often annoying. But this shouldn't let viewers from enjoying this sweet-natured little film that stands as a kind of gentle ode to finding one's true love. With all its faults there's no doubt that Love Ludlow's heart is in the right place and are some likable - if a bit overly eager - performances from its trio of lead characters.

Love Ludlow's missteps early on try one's patience, but there are rewards in sticking with this film, because it does say some interesting things about love and the need to actually depend on someone for emotional survival. Myra (Alicia Goranson) is a brash, alternative looking, and totally tough talking Queens girl who has had to care for her dysfunctional brother Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III) ever since their mother died five years ago.

Ludlow is one of those child-adults. He's about twenty, but has the behavioral habits and the emotional capacity of a six year old. Terrified of going out into the world, Ludlow bolts himself in their apartment all day and paints quotes from Shakespeare onto pieces of paper, whilst Myra works as an office temp. She doesn't have to worry while she's gone, because Ludlow would never leave the apartment alone.

The poor Myra seems to be living in an emotional vacuum, perhaps hardened by years of having to shoulder Ludlow's dependence on her. Shut off from her fellow workers, she spends her days grumpy and serious and absolutely refuses to be flattered by any man. Until the shy and kindly Reggie (David Eigenberg) come along and persistently entices her, eventually winning a date. Myra's feistiness and her independent spirit immediately capture Reggie. They hit it off, his meekness balancing out her crustiness, which gradually disappears. Of course, Ludlow, feels threatened by all this attention Myra is getting; he wants her all to himself.

Whilst Love, Ludlow is well written and has some moments of serious drama, the film is ultimately hampered by David Paterson's script that tends to rush through some of the character development: Myra transforms far too quickly from a gruff unhappy soul into a shining beacon of happiness when she starts dating Reggie, and Reggie ends up bonding with Ludlow a little too rapidly. Even Ludlow himself has moments of inconstancy, gravitating between an amicable acceptance of Reggie and a sort of truculent resignation at the whole situation.

The performances are all pretty good, especially Alicia Goranson as Myra; she is just so conflicted, wanting to care for her brother as much as she wants to live her own life and be free of him. Likewise, Eigenberg presents Reggie as a sympathetic loner whom the viewer wants to succeed. Love Ludlow is the sort of film you wouldn't want to pay to see in the theatre, rent it instead on the "two for one" days. Yet those viewers who like "quirky," "goofy" and "cute" characters, will probably find a lot to like in Love Ludlow, just don't look at the film too critically. Mike Leonard February 06.

Average customer rating:

Living with Bipolar Disorder

Manufacturer: American Life TV Networks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Understanding Bi-Polar Disorder
Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness

ASIN: B000NQDF94
Release Date: 2007-02-26

Description

When they are manic their thoughts race, they don't sleep and they do very risky things. Some times they hear voices. On this episode of American Family you'll learn how people live with Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression because of the mood swings from incredible highs to suicidal lows.

Average customer rating:

I haven't got a knob on my side!

The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan
Starring: Life & Legacy of Spike Milligan
Manufacturer: Standing Room Only
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Spike
The Best of Not the 9 O'Clock News
At Last the 1948 Show
Beyond the Fringe
The Essential Spike Milligan

ASIN: B000E3LCTQ
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Up close and personal with Spike - voted "the funniest person of the millennium" in a BBC poll. The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan is an intimate and deeply personal portrait of comic genius Spike Milligan, told for the first time through the eyes of his family. It features never before seen footage of Spike's past, revealing him as a brilliant, tortured and visionary man, who walked thin line between genius and debilitating depression. The DVD features interviews with Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley, Eric Sykes and Michael Palin; rare footage of Spike's family in Woy Woy, near Sydney, where his parents lived for 40 years; intimate memories, photos and memorabilia including Spike's old home movies shot in the 1950's and 1960's. The many bonus features include alternative commentaries by the director and Spike's daughters, six mini-movies, extra footage from Spike's home movies, menus infiltrated by Spike…and a few other surprises.

Customer Reviews:

I haven't got a knob on my side!.......2007-02-11

A poignant look at Spikes life through the eyes of those closest to him. Most Milligan fans are aware of his bouts of depression, but here we can see it's effect on his family and friends.
There are home movies which show a side of the man few of us have seen before, playing with his kids whom he adored.
The film makers almost break your heart by fading from a home movie of Spike in his living room at Christmas, to a shot of the same room, now empty since Spikes death.
I would have liked to see more clips from his TV shows, but you can't have everything can you?
The world is a sadder place without Spike in it, but Heaven must be a riot!

Average customer rating:

Manic Depresion
Worst documentary ever
For Die Hard Fans Only
Muse, the dvd
Waste of money

Manic Depression
Starring: Muse
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Showbiz
Black Holes & Revelations (Limited Edition CD+DVD)
Hullabaloo Soundtrack
Hullabaloo Soundtrack
Hullabaloo Soundtrack

ASIN: B0007WQHJE
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Description

Muse - Manic Depression goes behind the scenes and follows their road to success, to festivals and arenas around the globe and revealing what has influenced them and suggests what lies ahead. A must for any Muse fans collection.This is the complete and unauthorized DVD biography of Muse and includes previously unseen film footage of the band. Also featured are exclusive in-depth interviews with those that worked closely with the band, including Walter Aleyn (Muse producer), Scot McKenzie (Drum & Bass Tech/Production Assistant on Muse Tour), Jackie Parks ('Battle of The Bands' organizer), Catherine Yates (Kerrang Journalist) and many others.

Customer Reviews:

Manic Depresion.......2007-01-11

very good DVD with lots of valuable info on MUSE.if you want to know more about them,buy this DVD.
Definitely worth it buying

Worst documentary ever.......2006-10-27

I just became aware of Muse and I gobbled everything up including this dog. this quite possibly the worst documentary I have ever seen. This thing is not fit to become a coaster at my house. I purchased this at Fry's who I thought would only carry legitimate product.

For Die Hard Fans Only.......2006-07-02

This DVD is totally unauthorized, Muse did not participate and none of their music is used or played, which is a huge dissappointment. It is a series of interviews of past friends, hanger-ons and wannabe's, but it is interesting if you are as huge a fan of the band as I am and want to hear stories of what things were like for them in the beginning. The interviewees seemed honest, likeable and fans themselves so it was fun hearing from them, but you have to wonder how much truth there is to it all with no band support. I'd give it a 2 1/2 stars, only for rabid Muse fans.

Muse, the dvd.......2005-08-11

being a huge fan of muse, i was amazed to see how good this video was. The music and interviews astonished me and i think i have become more attached to muse.

well worth ordering and buying, a very very good dvd... just like the band itself.
Matthew Bellamy is pretty good looking!!!

Waste of money.......2005-08-04

This DVD was a waste of money and a waste of time. It's "unauthorized" by MUSE, so therefore there were no interviews, no live footage, and none of their music was included. They interviewed people who had never even met the band. I learned nothing new from watching it. Don't waste your money!

60 Minutes - The Death of Timothy Souders (February 11, 2007)

Average customer rating:

60 Minutes - The Death of Timothy Souders (February 11, 2007)

Manufacturer: CBS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness

ASIN: B000NDI4XO
Release Date: 2007-02-15

Amazon.com

Air Date: 02/11/07 It's hard to imagine that at this time in America, a mental patient could be chained to a concrete slab by prison guards and left there until he died of thirst. But that's how Timothy Souders, age 21, died in a Michigan prison, and he's not the only one. With 300,000 mentally ill inmates, U.S. prisons have become the new asylums -- a job for which they are ill-prepared. Scott Pelley's investigation opens a grim window on the plight of America's mentally ill inmates.

Average customer rating:

Bipolar in Teens

Manufacturer: American Life TV Networks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Description

These are the kids who live in the shadows, unable to control their angry, destructive behavior. Parents know something is terribly wrong, but don't know what. On this episode of American Family you'll learn how Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression, wreaks havoc on the children who have it, and their families who may not know that they do.

DVD:

DVD

Sin Dejar Huella (Without a Trace) (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Carolina Skeletons

Harlem Nights