DVD

Average customer rating:

Funny, engaging, disturbing movie
"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!"
pitiful
Typical
Great fun!

Notes on a Scandal
Starring: Judi Dench , Cate Blanchett , Tom Georgeson , Michael Maloney , and Joanna Scanlan
Director: Richard Eyre
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NIVJFY
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

Gold stars to all for this taut psychological thriller based on Zoe Heller's novel that that gets more insidiously twisted as it unfolds. Oscar-nominated for her chilling performance, Dame Judi Dench gives a master class as schoolteacher Barbara Covett, a frumpy, friendless, and flinty spinster who lives with her cat. A formidable presence, Barbara is standoffish with colleagues and not one for students to trifle with (not that they'd dare). Cate Blanchett, also an Oscar nominee and winner of several critics society awards for her impassioned performance, costars as Sheba Hart, the new, overwhelmed art teacher who first becomes enthrall to Barbara after she steps in to help Sheba discipline unruly students. Barbara cultivates a friendship, and insinuates herself into Sheba's chaotic life, which includes her older husband (Bill Nighy), teenage daughter, and a son with Down's syndrome. Then, Barbara catches the reckless Sheba in a compromising position with a 15-year-old student (Andrew Simpson). Seizing her opportunity, the calculating Barbara does not turn her in. Rather, she wants to "help" her. "She's the one I've been waiting for," she writes in the journals she meticulously keeps, and which provide, in voiceover, her corrosive commentary. This all sounds very Fatal Attraction, but no boiling rabbits, please; we're British. Philip Glass's Oscar-nominated score accentuates the growing menace. Though there is little in these characters to admire, (one would think GLAAD would have something to say about the predatory turn Barbara's character takes), Notes on a Scandal is a compelling tour-de-force for its Grade-A cast. --Donald Liebenson

Notes on a Scandal Extras

Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench on their characters in the film

Beyond Notes on a Scandal

Book to Movie Adaptations
More Cate Blanchett Films
What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal: A Novel

Stills from Notes on a Scandal

Description

Academy Award(r) winners Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give wickedly entertaining, Oscar-nominated performances * ? one as a woman consumed by her colleague's guilty secret, the other, a victim to her own dark obsessions ? in this sexy, stylish thriller. Dench mesmerizes as Barbara Covett, a teacher who rules over her classroom with an iron fist, yet leads a desperate, solitary life outside it. That is, until she meets radiant new art teacher Sheba Hart (Blanchett). Although at first overjoyed with her newfound kindred spirit, when Barbara discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a teenage student, her jealously and rage spiral out of control.

Customer Reviews:

Funny, engaging, disturbing movie.......2007-07-08

"Notes on a Scandal" is really about two scandals--the affair a young, married teacher is having with a 15 year old student and the obsession an older teacher has with the same young teacher. Judi Dench is absolutely stunning as the older teacher who at first, coldly criticizes the young teacher and gradually falls in love with her. Dench wonderfully captures all sides of the character--humorous in her criticisms, harsh in her scoldings and perplexed in her loneliness. Cate Blanchett, also very deserving of her Oscar nomination, plays the younger woman who unwittingly finds herself in an affair with a younger student and, in an equally ignorant matter, remains close friends with the woman who is obsessed with her. Blanchett masterfully portrays all the confusion her character faces. The movie as a whole is perfectly constructed--interesting, absorbing and, ultimately, disturbing. For no one wins in this movie--no one can get what they truly want. Obsession is not the same as love. The fact that we still pursue what we cannot have and what may not be appropriate for us to have even when we know it is wrong is the scariest thing of all.

"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!".......2007-07-03

Cate Blanchett delivers another great performance as a lust-crazed, almost-40 teacher looking for illicit, illegal love in the arms of a 15 yo student. I found the film quite fascinating and very disturbing. The director uses Judi Dench's and Cate's acting brilliance to create a raw intensity that comes from watching adults at their most debased. The magnetism that draws the creepy spinster Dench into an obsessive adulation of Cate's character is true even for the viewer. Blanchett is so beautiful and full of live that the audience can't help but like her. This affection makes her fall from grace all the more shocking. The film was clearly inspired by recent events in America, and the director created a really fine film from such sordid material. Any true fan of Cate Blanchett must see this film!

pitiful.......2007-07-01

An extremely disturbing movie with no clear moral or even comic relief. I can't remember a single character who exhibited good judgement or self-control. Of course with moral relativity in vogue, the suggestion that one should exercise self-restraint or that there even is good and bad is old-fashioned and bigoted.

But if you want to see graphic scenes of Cate Blanchett having sex with a smallish 15 year old boy or an elderly lady lusting after Cate, then this is your movie.

Typical.......2007-06-29

Once again, modern cinema cannot resist the urge to set up and then tear down symbols of moral authority, which this film gleefully does by making a pinata out of Judi Dench's character. Behind every judgmental facade, preaches the movie, lies a twisted and lonely soul who lacks the courage to indulge her passions in the way that Cate Blanchett's character does (and whose atrocious behavior is ultimately portrayed as less culpable than Dench's). Sorry, but no matter how well acted this film was, it's the same old slashing and burning of any remaining pockets of piety.

Great fun!.......2007-06-18

After an uncomfortable hour of Middle Class coffee table navel gazing I decided "Scandal" was best treated as a comedy. A southern gothic like "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" transposed to Blighty.

A hoot!

Average customer rating:

Great "Who done it..??"
One Misstep Leads to Murder
Dvd...? Hello...?
DVD?
Fritz Lang intrigue with a twist - rightly 4 1/2 stars

The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
Starring: Edward G Robinson , and Joan Bennett
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Stranger (MGM Film Noir)
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 4 (Act of Violence / Mystery Street / Crime Wave / Decoy / Illegal / The Big Steal / They Live By Night / Side Street / Where Danger Lives / Tension)
Ace in the Hole - Criterion Collection
A Bullet For Joey (MGM Film Noir)
Kansas City Confidential (MGM Film Noir)

ASIN: B000PMFRW4
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Customer Reviews:

Great "Who done it..??".......2007-04-29

Stars Edward G. Robinson as a college professor who meets regularly with colleagues at a mens club. Next door to the club is a portrait of a beautiful woman in the window of a studio. The men come look at the portrait and admire her beauty. One evening Robinson meets the woman and goes to her apartment for a drink. Her boyfriend bursts in and in the ensuing scuffle is killed. But things are not really as they seem and Robinson eventually learns the truth behind his chance meeting with the "woman in the window". A Very good mystery with good performances.

One Misstep Leads to Murder.......2007-03-01

The film shows "Gotham College" in New York, founded in 1812. Professor Richard Wanley lectures his class on the psychological aspects of homicide. His wife and children leave for vacation, leaving him a summer bachelor. His friend the DA tells about the troubles for middle-aged men who try to act like a young colt. Professor Wanley stares at a portrait of a woman in a shop window, then at the model herself. Alice Reed talks to him, then invites him over. One thing leads to another. Alice's boyfriend returns to her apartment; there is a fight and the Professor stabs the man. At first the Professor picks up a telephone to call the police, then pauses to review the events. He decides to cover up this crime, and makes a deal with the woman. There is suspense when the Professor removes the body for disposal. Things don't go as planned, but the body is dumped beside a highway. The next day the newspapers report that financier Claude Masard was murdered. The police have the footprints and the tire tread, a blood sample form the man who dropped off the body, and some wool thread from the man's coat.

There is another complication. Masard had a bodyguard who followed him, but he has also disappeared. This bodyguard showed up at Alice Reed's apartment. He knows much, but will take a payoff to keep the secret. The Professor explains there are three ways to deal with a blackmailer. Will one death lead to another? The bodyguard is worldly-wise, and not easily fooled. He wants his payoff, and he gets it in an unexpected way. Alice Reed calls the Professor but does not get an answer. Will this nightmare ever end?

This film serves as a checkpoint to criminology, the art of detection from the clues left behind. Edmond Locard says a criminal always leaves something at the crime scene, and takes away something. The Professor received a cut from barbed wire, and touched poison ivy to get an infection.

Dvd...? Hello...?.......2007-01-18

I first saw this picture when I was 17, perhaps 18 - a long time ago, anyway. I remember my boyfriend at the time called me on the phone during the commercial break and I also remember what I told him: "I'm going to bed NOW. I can't stand this!" I remember having a similar reaction to a totally different movie - "Whatever Happened to Babby Jane?", by Aldrich, a few years later. Which speaks volumes. This is an absolute classic. We need the dvd!

DVD?.......2006-10-30

Why isn't this classic on DVD? Joan Bennett has never been lovelier. Great film - DVD whomever?

Fritz Lang intrigue with a twist - rightly 4 1/2 stars.......2005-07-20

The affable Edward G. Robinson plays criminal psychology professor Richard Wanley in "The Woman in the Window". After spiriting his wife and children away on vacation he goes to his club to spend time with his friends, one of whom being D.A. Lalor played by the angular Raymond Massey.

After they depart, Robinson becomes enraptured with a portrait of a beautiful young woman displayed in the window of an art gallery next to the club. Robinson is startled when he sees a face reflected in the window of the woman in the portrait. After his initial shock, Robinson engages the gal Alice Reed played by Joan Bennett in converstaion. They eventually wind up in her apartment for an innocent nightcap. Quite suddenly and unexpectedly an agitated unknown man bursts into Bennett's apartment and in a jealous rage starts to choke the life out of Robinson. Protecting himself, Robinson grabs a pair of scissors and stabs the man in the back killing him.

Bennett and Robinson are conflicted as to what to do and ultimately decide to cover up the crime and move the body to a distant location. Since they are both amateurs, very soon evidence starts to mount as the body is quickly found. It turns out that the gentleman was a millionaire who had been missing since arriving in New York's Penn Station. Massey, not suspecting Robinson involves him in the investigation. Robinson starts getting panicky when the noose starts tightening around his neck. Things really start going awry when Dan Duryea, a bodyguard of the millionaire arrives at Bennett's pad threatening extortion.

Lang creates an intense sense of fear, dread and intrigue as his plot evolves greatly aided by nice acting performances by a solid ensemble. Lang's finale is a bit of a cop out but didn't spoil the overall fine quality of the flick.

Average customer rating:

Not great, but not bad
Top notch film starring Denzel Washington
kinda wet (as opposed to all wet)
Best Punisher Movie Ever Made
Worse than tripe.

Man on Fire
Starring: Denzel Washington , Dakota Fanning , Marc Anthony , Radha Mitchell , and Christopher Walken
Director: Tony Scott
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JN0W
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Product Description

Hard-drinking, burnt-out ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Washington) has given up on life--until his friend Rayburn (Oscar winner Christopher Walken) gets him a job as a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). Bit by bit, Creasy begins to reclaim his soul, but when Pita is kidnapped, Creasy unleashes a firestorm of apocalyptic vengeance against everyone responsible.

Amazon.com

Style trumps substance in Man on Fire, a slick, brooding reunion of Crimson Tide star Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. The ominous, crime-ridden setting is Mexico City, where a dour, alcoholic warrior with a mysterious Black Ops past (Washington) seeks redemption as the devoted bodyguard of a lovable 9-year-old girl (the precociously gifted Dakota Fanning), then responds with predictable fury when she is kidnapped. Prolific screenwriter Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, L.A. Confidential) sets a solid emotional foundation for Washington's tormented character, and Scott's stylistic excess compensates for a distended plot that's both repellently violent and viscerally absorbing. Among Scott's more distracting techniques is the use of free-roaming, comic-bookish subtitles... even when they're unnecessary! Adapted from a novel by A.J. Quinnell and previously filmed as a 1987 vehicle for Scott Glenn, Man on Fire is roughly on par with Scott's similar 1990 film Revenge, efficiently satisfying Washington's incendiary bloodlust under a heavy blanket of humid, doom-laden atmosphere. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Not great, but not bad.......2007-06-20

To my surprise, Tony Scott's remake of Man On Fire isn't the war crime I was expecting by a long shot. Horribly over-directed in places, true, but nowhere near as irritating as Domino, which is the closest ADDS filmmaking has come to projectile vomiting at the audience to date. It helps that Scott has a decent script and a good cast to keep his worst excesses in check, and it has to be said that some of the stylistic touches (such as the very active subtitling) are really pretty good. He's better at framing the surrounding scenes than some of the big moments, which are fairly tension and adrenaline-free for all their imagination, but he's prepared to get his hands far dirtier than you'd expect from a mainstream studio picture, and he even manages a couple of moments of emotional resonance as well. It's certainly much better than the dire original, which only had a good John Scott score (part of which turned up in Die Hard) going for it (aside from the film's change of location from Italy to Mexico, the song has changed from Someone to Watch Over Me - well, Ridley beat him to that one - to Linda Ronstadt's infinitely less relevant cover of Blue Bayou). Good to see Christopher Walken in a good guy role again, too.

Top notch film starring Denzel Washington.......2007-06-19

Man on Fire is one of the best crime drama films I have had the pleasure of viewing. Set in the heart of Mexico, the film tells a fantastic story that is backed up by great direction and cinematic appeal. With that said, you throw in top notch actors like Denzel Washington and Christopher Walken and it does more than make the grade.

Man on Fire centers on John Creasy, a burned out loner type whose only resolve in the present day is a bottle of liquor. Creasy meets up with an old friend (played by Walken) who turns him towards work as a bodyguard for a family's daughter in Mexico, a place where multiple ransom based kidnappings occur on a regular basis. Given his extensive background of military accomplishments which includes counter terrorism and Special Forces (to name a few) he is hired almost immediately, although he himself is reluctant about the new role.

The character development of Creasy is excellent, but I would have to attribute that as much to the screen presence of Denzel as I would anything else. Overall the direction of this movie is superb, using captions when necessary and applying some different camera uses in regards to angles and perception to allow different moods to be invoked for a specific scene. Dakota Fanning plays as the daughter that he is supposed to protect, and I feel was a good choice for the role. As the movie moves on, we learn little about Creasy's past but get to explore him tearing down some walls in the present, as both a "vigilante with a vengeance" persona as well as seeing the human compassion side of him in his adoration of the little girl he is paid to protect. The film has it all when it comes to twists and turns as well as themes of corruption, family, and revenge. As Creasy says it best in the movie; "revenge is a dish best served cold". The films emotional conclusion is still a stoic ending when you take into account all the harrowing events and actions that led up to it. I feel what makes this film so much better than many of its kind is the ability to evoke a great seriousness within the main character while putting him in a dire situation throughout much of the film.

Bonus Disc: If you were a fan of this film when it first came out then you may enjoy this particular "Collector's edition Steelbook" package, which features a bonus disk chocked with extra's including multiple trailers, behind the scenes footage and an interesting documentary that talks about the ransom based kidnappings that take place in places like Mexico on a regular basis. Also discussed somewhat is the history of this story which originally came from a novel and had an initial film made about it starring Scott Glenn several years ago.

kinda wet (as opposed to all wet).......2007-06-12

How do you take a decent script, fine cast and turn it into average, run-of-the-mill, uninteresting film fare?
Easy. Get a no-talent hack like Tony Scott to direct--with his whirling dervish, idiotic, mindless, pointless,
car commercial, dizzying camera moves and editing.

It's sad. Because Denzel is working his butt off here, so is the incredible Dakota Fanning, not to mention the fine cameo that Chris Walken turns in--depressingly enough, Tony Scott simply will not leave the camera alone...and keeps spinning it, twisting it, whirling it, gliding with it--not to mention the constant changing from 16 mm to 35mm to Super 8 mm...Man oh man; this is infuriating.

And he does it every damn time. He did it with Top Gun, Days of Thunder... Why destroy otherwise excellent performances with incredibly useless, distracting camera moves? WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPRESS? THE CAMERA SHOULD NOT BE NOTICED AT ALL! don't you understand that? You pull the audiance out of the fantacy by making them aware of your relentless camera SHENANIGANS.

I just don't get it.

Hey, Mr. Scott: it's very simple. Leave the actors be. Let them do what they were hired to do--which is to act! We don't need to know your camera is (always) there. Period. (In fact, we preffer it when we do not know the camera exists at all!)

Take a look at some of the late, great John Ford's films. Want to see the way a film should be directed? Take a look at John Ford. Please.

Best Punisher Movie Ever Made.......2007-05-28

I've seen Man On Fire multiple times since it's original release, and it never ceases to amaze me. Often times critics will reference a mild weakness in the plot, which I for the life of me cannot seem to find. I understand that Tony Scott's directing techniques may not necessarily be for everyone, but this is a film that simply would not be the same without it. From frenetic pans and out-of-focus shots to overlapping of frames and free-roaming subtitles, the direction and editing in Man On Fire takes the viewer into the chaotic plot of a man not only out for revenge, but a sense of self-redemption (assumably).

The only thing I'd really like to point out is in relation to the title of my review. For any comic book reader out there that was seriously disappointed with The Punisher movie, I'd highly recommend this as a substitute. Man On Fire is pretty much the very essence of the Marvel Comics character, with the exception of his name being Creasy and being a black guy. But everything about this flick radiates Frank Castle.

Worse than tripe........2007-05-24

The worst aspects of human nature exploited for entertainment value. I guess it's a sign of the times.

Average customer rating:

unbelievable
5 stars for one line
Lotsa action, but that's about it.
Why The Rock deserves to be Criterion
Stupid but slick

The Rock
Starring: Sean Connery , Nicolas Cage , Ed Harris , John Spencer , and David Morse
Director: Michael Bay
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6304711891
Release Date: 1997-12-03

Amazon.com

Between his high-octane debut, Bad Boys, and 1998's wannabe blockbuster Armageddon, hotshot director Michael Bay forged his dubious reputation with this crowd-pleasing action extravaganza. In it a psychotically disgruntled war hero (Ed Harris) seizes the island prison of Alcatraz and threatens to wage chemical warfare against nearby San Francisco unless the government publicly recognizes the men who were killed under Harris's top-secret command. Nicolas Cage plays the biochemist who teams up with the only man ever to have escaped from Alcatraz (Sean Connery) in an attempt to foil Harris's terrorist scheme. As one might expect, what follows is an action-packed barrage of bullets, bodies, and climactic confrontations, replete with enough plot contrivances to give even the most jaded action fan cause for alarm. It's a load of hooey, but the cast is obviously having a grand old time, and there's enough wit to make the recycled action sequences tolerable. If you're ordering this movie on DVD, be careful with the volume knobs on your home-theater sound systems, because The Rock could cause partial hearing loss and structural damage to your home. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Hollywood superstar Sean Connery (FINDING FORRESTER) joins Academy Award(R)-winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor -- LEAVING LAS VEGAS) in the action-packed thriller of the year, THE ROCK! All of San Francisco is taken hostage when a vengeful general (Ed Harris -- A BEAUTIFUL MIND) seizes control of Alcatraz Island, threatening to launch missiles loaded with deadly poison gas! With time running out, only a young FBI chemical weapons expert (Cage) and a notorious federal prisoner (Connery) have the skills to penetrate the island fortress and defuse the lethal situation! Edge-of-your-seat suspense and unstoppable action explode off the screen in this must-see motion picture event!

Customer Reviews:

unbelievable.......2007-07-08

I read all these reviews about how good this move is, and I am told that this was so good and I finally watched it. I must say that it is horrible. Whether it be the horrid plot, the over acting, or the ungodly car chase with the camera that couldnt stay focused on one thing for more than half a second, there wasn't one thing good about this movie. I think it's about time for Sean Connery to find something else to do. Because he sure didn't add anything to this movie. The only movie I've seen hokier than this was the new Die Hard, but at least that had some good acting.

5 stars for one line.......2007-07-02

I don't like Nicholas cage at all. He is one of the most annoying obnoxious people of all time. I cannot stand his voice or anything else. so I am not talking about the follow up line to the coolest line in this movie or in many other movies.

Do you remember when the man Sean Connery said the following line : "Losers complain Winners Go %&$# the prom queen." That was the best line I have heard in a while. That was great. As far as cage's follow up line who cares. Sean Connery is the man.

I know that wasn't much of a reveiw but that was great.

Lotsa action, but that's about it........2007-05-08

Soldiers dropping like flys, an improbable ending, and restrained acting are the unfortunate highlights of this film. To me at least, the storyline was too weak, or at least the location. Just didn't work for me.

Why The Rock deserves to be Criterion.......2007-04-24

It is the age old question. The first time I ever saw this on a friend's DVD shelf, I though that it must be some old 1930s noir movie titled "The Rock", but no, it was Michael Bay's action movie.

And I love me some Criterion collection, though I have to wonder why they put out The Rock and yet have long neglected Orson Welles' films.

In any case, the reason this movie deserves Criterion status is that it's probably one of the best action movies ever made. If you are looking for slam-bang, hammy acting, bullets everywhere, bad puns, buddy-cop drama, pseudo-governmental double-crossing, well, this is about as good as it gets. Whether or not it's you cup of tea is a different issue. But you just have to read Ebert's review to see why this movie is so damn good.

So buy it, put on your best surround, get an HDTV and watch the flashy explosions.

Stupid but slick.......2007-01-15

This is probably Michael Bay's second best film, behind the original 'Bad Boys' (the sequel to which is surely one of the very worst pieces of "cinema" I've ever had the displeasure of seeing). The reason 'The Rock' falls behind his debut is obvious: Bay can't, to my mind, produce any sort of convincing dramatic effect; what little emotion the movie does evoke comes courtesy of the outstanding cast -- primarily Cage, Connery, and (by far the most of the bunch) Ed Harris. 'Bad Boys', on the other hand, was much more suited to Bay's ludicrous, a.d.h.d mentality; it was bogus, but never strove to be anything more -- and it was fun, and funny.

The concept of 'The Rock' is intriguing and unique, but the problem that reveals itself fairly quickly is that Bay uses it as a catalyst to throw in action scenes around every corner. I personally don't have a problem so much with the sequences themselves being ridiculous. The car chase scene, for example, in which Cage just happens to handle a ferarri (or lamborghini -- not really sure) like a professional driver of whatever sort, making his way through a circus-esque obstacle course of insane proportions, is beyond unrealistic. But hey, Bay's sense of speed and excitement, alongside Hans Zimmers' adrenalized score, provide for good, stupid fun. It's that, following this scene, the action just does not stop, and it's usually far less creative and ambitious. It's just quarrel after quarrel, gun fight after gun fight, and though Bay employs neat tricks here and there that make him a unique director, most of it ends up becoming monotonous and stale.

I don't even know if the film deserves three stars, because it's so hokey and implausible, but, it must be said, 'The Rock' was one of my very favorite movies back in high-school. Bay was also one of my favorite directors at that point, in contrast to my general spite towards the man at the current place in time -- times have changed; it doesn't help that every film proceeding 'The Rock' has been fairly atrocious, either. But the fact remains the man has incredible talent at establishing a particular visual mood and is able to conduct a sequence of shots that provide a rousing, flashy response. The final standoff in the film, as well as the climactic scene of Cage injecting the holy needle into his heart as jets prepare to blow-up the island, is, in its own way, exhillirating and awesomely impressive. But you know what? 'Armageddon' has sequences as such laced with brilliance too, but in the end it doesn't matter much when the overall film is such a turd. 'The Rock' isn't a turd, but it's not one of the greater action flicks out there -- not by a long shot. To my 14 year old self it might be, but to my more evolved, rational brain, it ain't I'm afraid.

Average customer rating:

Clue
hilarious movie
80's Classic
The greatest of all comedys that is totally under appecttied
Clue

Clue
Starring: Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd , and Michael McKean
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305882649
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Amazon.com

Undoubtedly the first movie in history to have played in theaters with three different endings (depending on which theater you attended), Clue is a silly whodunit based on the familiar board game featuring Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and all the other usual suspects. A broadly comic cast play the sundry suspects gathered in a mansion to solve a murder, knowing that one of their numbers is the culprit. Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and Tim Curry are the best of the bunch, and the film is as lightweight an experience as a round of the game itself. Directed by Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny). The video release contains all three endings. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Clue.......2007-07-03

Another great classic! You can't go wrong buying this movie. It's still good and funny no matter how many times you've seen it.

hilarious movie.......2007-06-02

This is one of my favorite movies and has been since I was a little kid. I'm not sure it would hold up to most people's tastes, but it makes me laugh every time. Some of the best movie quotes made into inside jokes. Playing the game when I was little only made some of the references more amusing.

One of the best parts is the end - there are three! You can watch one randomly or all three. Something I wish would happen more often with silly movies made nowadays.

80's Classic.......2007-05-13

This movie has an all-star cast, including Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, and Madeline Khan. But the movie is just not funny at all. The only good thing about this movie besides the cast is the 3 different surprise endings.

The greatest of all comedys that is totally under appecttied.......2007-04-20

Who wouldn't love it when Wadesworth tells everyone how and where the murder's are committed in his super fast and comical way. You actually get to run with the six suspects as Wadesworth re tells what everyone was doing during each murder.

How about when Scarlett and Mustard were locked in the parlor with the dead driver and they were shouting to let them out. "Let us out! Let us Out!" oh and don't forget Plum and Greene trying to open the door "Let us in! Let us in!" How about when Yvette shoots at the door and misses and hit's the candler and freaks out everyone. Plum and Greene drop to the floor over each other as Yvette finally shoots the lock off; while inside the parlor Scarlett and Mustard are screaming at being shot at. How about Mustard's line "I have been shot" before the lock is blown away. Also when he marches out of the room and shouts that he couldn't take another shock to the nerves that night and the chandler comes crashing down.

CLUE is the one of the greatest comedy's that has been saddly and totally under appecitted. If you enjoy playing the game than you will enjoy this great movie with all these great and wonderful actors.

Clue.......2007-03-30

Goes great with the board game. My son loves the movie.
recieved in New condition.

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie
Soooo Freakin Good
A nice DVD package.
Frank Miller Fan
a 12 year olds review

Sin City
Starring: Robert Rodriguez , Frank Miller (II) , Jessica Alba , Devon Aoki , and Alexis Bledel
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
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King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)

ASIN: B00005JNTX
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Amazon.com

Brutal and breathtaking, Sin City is Robert Rodriguez's stunningly realized vision of Frank Miller's pulpy comic books. In the first of three separate but loosely related stories, Marv (Mickey Rourke in heavy makeup) tries to track down the killers of a woman who ended up dead in his bed. In the second story, Dwight's (Clive Owen) attempt to defend a woman from a brutal abuser goes horribly wrong, and threatens to destroy the uneasy truce among the police, the mob, and the women of Old Town. Finally, an aging cop on his last day on the job (Bruce Willis) rescues a young girl from a kidnapper, but is himself thrown in jail. Years later, he has a chance to save her again.

Read our interview with Frank Miller.

Based on three of Miller's immensely popular and immensely gritty books (The Hard Goodbye, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard), Sin City is unquestionably the most faithful comic-book-based movie ever made. Each shot looks like a panel from its source material, and director Rodriguez (who refers to it as a "translation" rather than an adaptation) resigned from the Directors Guild so that Miller could share a directing credit. Like the books, it's almost entirely in stark black and white with some occasional bursts of color (a woman's red lips, a villain's yellow face). The backgrounds are entirely digitally generated, yet not self-consciously so, and perfectly capture Miller's gritty cityscape. And though most of Miller's copious nudity is absent, the violence is unrelentingly present. That may be the biggest obstacle to viewers who aren't already fans of the books and who may have been turned off by Kill Bill (whose director, Quentin Tarantino, helmed one scene of Sin City). In addition, it's a bleak, desperate world in which the heroes are killers, corruption rules, and the women are almost all prostitutes or strippers. But Miller's stories are riveting, and the huge cast--which also includes Jessica Alba, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Clarke Duncan, Devin Aoki, Carla Gugino, and Josh Hartnett--is just about perfect. (Only Bruce Willis and Michael Madsen, while very well-suited to their roles, seem hard to separate from their established screen personas.) In what Rodriguez hopes is the first of a series, Sin City is a spectacular achievement. --David Horiuchi

More Sin City at Amazon.com

The Graphic Novels and Books
Films by Robert Rodriguez
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen

The Soundtrack
Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino
Crime on DVD

Description

An amazing cast of big-screen favorites is directed by Robert Rodriguez (DESPERADO, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN), Frank Miller -- and special guest director Quentin Tarantino (KILL BILL 1 and 2, PULP FICTION) -- in an acclaimed and visually stunning hit that's the coolest movie of the year! Straight from the pages of Miller's hip series of "Sin City" graphic novels, Bruce Willis stars as a cop with a bum ticker and a vow to protect a sexy stripper (Jessica Alba -- FANTASTIC FOUR); Mickey Rourke (MAN ON FIRE) as an outcast misanthrope on a mission to avenge the death of his one true love (Jaime King -- PEARL HARBOR); and Clive Owen (KING ARTHUR) as Dwight, the clandestine love of Shellie (Brittany Murphy -- LITTLE BLACK BOOK), who spends his night defending Gail (Rosario Dawson -- THE DEVIL'S REJECTS) and her Old Town girls (Devon Aoki and Alexis Bledel) from a tough guy (Benicio Del Toro -- 21 GRAMS) with a penchant for violence. Also starring Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, and Michael Clarke Duncan.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

This is one of my all time favorite movies. There is a short list of DVDs that I own which infinitely keep my attention, and Sin City is one of those I can watch three or four times in a row and not get bored. I am only giving this DVD set 4 stars however, only because there is no option to watch all the uncut parts together in full length. I kind of understand why the DVD was put together like this but it would have been nice to see the whole thing cut together so we can watch it beginning to end with all the added scenes integrated. Obviously it's good to have the full disc with the original cut, and this is the one I generally watch but it was great to see the uncut scenes as well. The added graphic novel to the box set was a nice touch as well. 5 stars for the film, but 4 for this edition. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Soooo Freakin Good.......2007-06-19

So, you watch movies to be entertained and that's what you get with this movie. You never want to stop watching AND then you want to watch it again. There is a lot of gore but, it's kind of abstracted by the comic book setting but overall it's a pretty rough movie. Still, it was good enough we are planning to watch it again.

A nice DVD package........2007-05-30

This is a nice package for a film such as this. My only wish, is that it would contain more interviews with Frank Miller and how he brought Sin City to life as a comic book. But other than that, there's a nice selection of interesting features on how they made this fantastic film. Plus, this DVD contains a complete copy of The Hard Goodbye, which is one of the original graphic novels. It's fun DVD to have. I hope you like it!

Frank Miller Fan.......2007-05-26

This is an amazing two-disc release. Director Robert Rodriguez brilliantly brings to life Frank Miller's graphic novels, and does not hold back with the development of these gritty characters. Mickey Rourke alone deserves 5 stars for his portrayal of Marv. This set is worth having strictly on the merits of the development of that character. For anyone who has a love for the making of films and the time consuming processes involved in the "behind the scenes", the bonus disc will satisfy your appreciation for the multifaceted areas of story telling. Let's hope that when Frank Miller's "300" is released to DVD, that the extras will be just as enjoyable.

a 12 year olds review.......2007-05-26

i have never read the comics but i got to say that this is one of the best movies ever!!!! lots of great action vilonce and some humor i loved this movie so much i have seen it about 6 or 5 times sooooo good i love this movie. i give it a 5 outta 5 i have to say that this movie is a cult classic!!!!!!(but my friend said he didn,t like it)!!!!!!
i love it and i hope every one else loved it.(by the way i am not michelle hall thhis is my moms account lol)!

Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie
Soooo Freakin Good
A nice DVD package.
Frank Miller Fan
a 12 year olds review

Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jessica Alba , Devon Aoki , Alexis Bledel , Powers Boothe , and Jude Ciccolella
Director: Frank Miller (II) , and Rodriguez, Robert
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BCKFWK
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Amazon.com

The two-disc edition of Sin City easily makes the earlier single-disc theatrical-cut release obsolete by including the regular theatrical cut on the first disc, recutting the movie into four extended segments on the second disc (separated by story line), then piling on an impressive load of bonus features. But there's a catch. Billed as "Recut, Extended, Unrated," with "over 20 minutes" of new footage, the new set's four separate stories are extended by only about 6.5 total minutes of movie action (see details below in "What's New"); the rest of the added running time is the splashy new title shots (named by the title of the story or book) and the four minutes of credits that run at the end of each segment. Each addition makes the movie even closer to the comic books, and these extended segments are generally preferable to the theatrical equivalents (unfortunately, there's no Play All option), but don't expect the same impact as Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings extended editions. And although this version is unrated, the only risqué addition is a bit of violence from Miho that's no worse than the rest of the crazy violence in the film.

How Are the Bonus Features?
Robert Rodriguez has always loved DVDs, so the bonus features are extensive. On the first disc, there is somehow room for the theatrical cut of the film with its DTS track (the extended versions have only Dolby 5.1), two commentary tracks, an alternate audio track with a live audience in Austin, Texas, an interactive map of characters and locations, and 47 minutes of featurettes covering Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino, cars, costumes, props, and special effects. The first commentary is Rodriguez and Miller discussing the concepts and the cast. The second commentary is mostly by Rodriguez, but Tarantino drops in briefly for the scene he directed (with Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro in the car), as does an enthusiastic Bruce Willis for his segment.

The Tarantino scene gets a lot of attention on the second disc as well, in a 14-minute take in which he can be heard coaching the actors. Also on the disc are Rodriguez's usual "flic school" (among the topics is how scenes were created by merging footage of actors who never actually met), footage of Bruce Willis's band performing in Austin at the time of the shooting, and another Rodriguez cooking school (this time it's breakfast tacos). But the most interesting feature is the "green screen version" of the film: the entire film as it was shot in front of the green screen, sped up to play in only 12 minutes. You can see the actors (in color!) interacting only with the props and each other. Last, there's a DVD-sized complete comic book of The Hard Goodbye.

What's New in the Extended Version?
"The Customer Is Always Right" (the opening sequence with Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton) has no new footage, but now goes straight into the one-minute epilogue with Hartnett and Alexis Bledel that closed the theatrical cut. "The Hard Goodbye" (with Mickey Rourke as "Marv" ) has two new sequences totaling about two minutes: Marv encounters his mother and finds his gun, and talks to Weevil in the club. In "The Big Fat Kill" (with Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro), some short dialogue is restored, along with another wicked slice by Miho (Devon Aoki)--about a minute total. "That Yellow Bastard" (with Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba) has about 3.5 new minutes: there are more visitors to Hartigan's hospital bed, including his wife and a nurse; Carla Gugino's Lucille character comes to assist Hartigan when he wants to get out of jail (probably the best addition); and Mr. Shlubb and Mr. Klump have some more lines. --David Horiuchi

More Sin City at Amazon.com

The Graphic Novels and Books
Films by Robert Rodriguez
Our interview with Frank Miller

The Soundtrack
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino

Description

This Recut & Extended Edition is the ultimate SIN CITY DVD Collection and features a new, never-before-seen extended version of the original motion picture, the original theatrical release with three new commentaries, and extensive brand-new bonus material! Also included, a complete SIN CITY graphic novel: "The Hard Goodbye." The acclaimed hit from director Robert Rodriguez delivers explosive stories straight from the pages of Frank Miller's hip series of "Sin City" graphic novels ... and stars Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Jaime King, Clive Owen, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, and Michael Clarke Duncan.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

Soooo Freakin Good.......2007-06-19

A nice DVD package........2007-05-30

Frank Miller Fan.......2007-05-26

a 12 year olds review.......2007-05-26

Average customer rating:

excellent, but maybe one twist too many
Not enough artifice to be 'artfilm'; too much artifice to be 'mainstream.'
Too Many Other Good Things To Do
Spark of Romance
Better than expected

Breaking and Entering
Starring: Jude Law , Vera Farmiga , Juliette Binoche , Robin Wright Penn , and Martin Freeman (II)
Director: Anthony Minghella
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000N4SHOO
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

The atmospheric and erotically charged Breaking and Entering reunites director Anthony Minghella with Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain) and the haunting Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, for which she and Minghella won Academy Awards). Law fully invests himself as pre-occupied landscape architect Will Francis, who with his partner (Martin Freeman from the original British version of The Office), is heading a gentrification project in London's seedy, crime-plagued King's Cross neighborhood. At home, he and Liv (Robin Penn Wright), his morose Swedish-American girlfriend of 10 years, are increasingly estranged over the demands of his job and of caring for Liv's autistic daughter, a 13-year-old aspiring gymnast. Will, hiding his identity, begins an affair with Amira (Binoche), the mother of a youth who has twice ransacked Will's office. Amira is a Bosnian refugee with a fierce survival streak that is not above blackmail when she learns who Will is. This is Minghella's first original screenplay since his little-known romantic gem Truly Madly Deeply. The dialogue has Woody Allen pretensions: A cleaning woman who comes under suspicion for the break-ins invokes Kafka. A prostitute (Vera Farmiga giving the film's liveliest performance) has a philosophical bent. Will himself ham-handedly explains how he much prefers metaphors to straightforward communication (he'd love this film's title). An art-house film with an A-list cast and wrenching performances, Breaking and Entering couldn't get arrested in theatres, but it is a fine addition to Crash and other liberal-minded "them and us" dramas. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Sexy and seductive, Breaking & Entering stars Academy Award nominee Jude Law (Cold Mountain), Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche (The English Patient), and Robin Wright Penn (Message in a Bottle) in "one of the most personal, provocative, and satisfying dramas in recent memory" (Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight). A string of robberies brings two very different Londoners together, drawing them into an unexpected, passionate, and forbidden affair that threatens to destroy the lives of everybody around them. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Anthony Minghella (The English Patient), Ebert and Roeper's Richard Roeper calls it "a beautiful piece of work."

Customer Reviews:

excellent, but maybe one twist too many.......2007-06-30

Renault below wrote a good review. But I differ somewhat. I'm not bothered by the film not fitting into a genre. I just think it might have packed one too many reversals into too short a space. For my taste, this is completely superior to a film like Crash. It's just that the introspection indulged in by the Jude Law character and Robin Wright Penn feels a little phony, and I grew tired of her character. The final scene between the Jude Law character and Penn was a bit annoying, but overall, the film was excellent. All the minor supporting characters were an absolute pleasure.

This was a find. I don't like movies where characters act "logically", i.e. predictably.

First rate score. Added a lot. (my line of work, so I know.)

Not enough artifice to be 'artfilm'; too much artifice to be 'mainstream.'.......2007-06-27

In fact I think the script would be really wonderful as a play - where elegant constructedness is often an asset. Kudos to Minghella as a writer, as there are many (rather obvious but nevertheless enjoyable) points of interest - the complex, metaphor-filled point/counterpoint dynamic for every character (e.g. Liv/Amira on several levels, Will/Miro, Miro/Bea, Oana/fox, Bruno/Dragan, old/new King's Cross... it goes on...) and the ironic plot reversals. But in my opinion, all of this thoughtful artifice Minghella sets up doesn't quite work in a semi-mainstream film that I think means to stay within some bounds of naturalism - or more "natural" than, say, "Crash," which though mainstream clearly means to be at least in part about structure and form.

But it's more intimate (and less preachy) than "Crash." And the characters' inner struggles are really well-conveyed by the actors. Especially Law, doing his usual intense-sincerity-and-charisma thing but doing it well, and the newcomer Rafi Gavron as the emotionally-closed but physically expressive Miro. Binoche is also wonderfully alive, vulnerable, captivating. Wright Penn unfortunately I found a little weak, though maybe only because her intermittent accent (unlike Binoche's) distracted me; but she did look the part in all of its icy 'Scandinavian' depressive interiority. So, the movie is definitely worth watching for its mostly successful performances.

It might even be worth watching for its almost-successes - which I'm guessing as largely directorial (or producer) failures, having to do with the heavy-handed and misplaced artifice mentioned above. And also having to do with its not having a clear idea of what it means to be. Kinda modern Ibsen, but kinda parable. Kinda mainstream-slick (especially the cinematography/production), but kinda too raw for that. Kinda arthouse, but then again, though I don't know anything about its distribution, when Blockbuster has an exclusive on it, it's not exactly squarely in the arthouse, either.

I'm absolutely okay with genre-bending and complexity and even some unsubtle symbolism, if it's intentional and it all works, but I don't think it's either here. Maybe a result of trying to do/say too much and never quite managing to satisfy any one thing. But maybe I'm unfairly exacting too much from Minghella given his masterful "English Patient."

Too Many Other Good Things To Do.......2007-06-22

Gave this movie forty-five minutes, but it was so slow moving and seemingly pointless -- okay boring -- I gave up. Don't waste your time.

Spark of Romance .......2007-06-19

Director Anthony Minghella won his Best Director Oscar 10 years ago for "The English Patient." Both of Jude Law's Oscar nominations came in Minghella collaborations, "Cold Mountain" (2004) & "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999). Juliette Binoche's Oscar came in 1996 for "The English Patient." So "Breaking & Entering" is a reunion of sorts.

"Breaking & Entering" is mostly successful. It does seem a bit long with the pacing tending to drag. However, that's the way I experienced "The English Patient"; so perhaps others perceive this as depth. Jude Law's character covers similar territory as "Closer," exploring the tedium of routine vs. the spark of romance. Law has this now familiar wide-eyed startled look like he has no clue what's happening around him. Perhaps he plays similar characters or perhaps it's schtick that is now over-used. But he does carry the film, riveting our interest and fueling audience speculation, even saddled with the character of Will Francis who seems to suffer from chronic indecisiveness.

Juliette Binoche as the relocated widow from Sarajevo does an excellent job as Amira. The scene on the hill where she begs Will to help her son is a powerful screen gem. We understand this woman, who is not too complex, and admire her dedication to her family. The racial/religious prejudice that she confronts with anger makes Amira all the more sympathetic.

Amira's son Miro is played by Rafi Gavron in his first screen role. It's an impressive debut as he hops from rooftop to rooftop and plays at being a gangster that nearly brings his family to ruin. While not overly deep, he does a good with what he's given.

Robin Wright Penn from Unbreakable & "Hurly Burly" seems too fragile as Liv. She is supposed to hold her family together & suffers from coldness & depression. It seems impossible that her character would be able to be so strong. One of the DVD deleted scenes shows her moody by the window that takes her in even more of a fragile direction. There doesn't seem to be a connection between Penn & Law that would make the film conclude as it does. It reads like actors going through the paces.

Other parts are well done. Vera Farmiga from "The Manchurian Candidate" & "The Departed" is excellent as Oana who walks the street. Her gyrating car dance is endearing & provocative. Ed Westwick who was in "Children of Men" plays Zoran, Miro's rooftop hopping buddy. He doesn't have a lot to do, but does it well. Poppy Rogers has been acting since she was six. As the autistic daughter Bea, she does a good job of portraying social maladjustment. Erika, the maid at the office, is given a nice cameo. Played by Caroline Chikezie from "Eragon" & "Aeon Flux," she makes the small part memorable with a total commitment to the character's world. Martin Freeman from "Shaun of the Dead" plays Will's partner Sandy in a routine performance.

B&E works when it does because of the star power of Law & Binoche. Minghella's screenplay is a character study of romance in the modern world. Scenic designs like the Kings Cross office and the rooftop chases perk up an otherwise plodding picture. The film is worth seeing for Law & Binoche. Enjoy!

Better than expected.......2007-06-08

This movie is better than I expected based on the Trailer and other reviews. It is a good film about relationships and how we tend to lose sight of who we are in relationship to others, especially close relationships. It reflects we need to keep present in relationships; or face the prospect of losing them. However, on the rare occasion when honesty prevails, there is a chance to re-discover ourselves and our partners in life.

Average customer rating:

Leonard and Frankenheimer get down and dirty
interested in a jag
"Gotta lot a mileage on her"
A nasty little gem..."Hey SPORT"
Awesome Movie

52 Pick-Up
Starring: Roy Scheider , Ann-Margret , Vanity , John Glover , and Robert Trebor
Director: John Frankenheimer
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000OPOAPC
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Customer Reviews:

Leonard and Frankenheimer get down and dirty.......2007-06-20

52 Pick-Up was one of the few rays of light in the dark days when every screen adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel would go horribly wrong and when John Frankenheimer's name on the credits wasn't exactly a guarantee of quality any more, although it sank quickly due to a botched marketing campaign (the producers decided to play up the good reviews by touting it as `The best film this season from Cannon,' which is a bit like boasting about having the least contagious form of VD). A riff on his earlier Western The Tall T, this sees businessman Roy Scheider set up by a trio of blackmailers who, not taking kindly to him confessing his affair to his wife rather than pay up, murder his girlfriend with his gun so as not to miss out on their payday, only for Scheider to turn them against each other. While it's no Out of Sight, it's an effectively seedy L.A. thriller with a couple of outstanding supporting turns by John Glover and a seriously mucked-up and dangerous Clarence Williams III.

No extras at all, but it does have a decent 1.85:1 widescreen transfer.

interested in a jag.......2006-10-02

52 pick up is a tightly woven film noir that builds the suspense right from the outset. Harry and Barbara
Mitchell (Roy Scheider and Ann Margret) play an upscale professional couple in their mid fifties. Harry owns a steel manufacturing business while Barbara is an evironmental oversight board chairman with political connections. As the film begins Harry is sandbagged by three individuals who entrap him with a video showing
him in an extramarital affair with a young woman named Cinny. (Kelly Preston) As the blackmail scenario
unfolds. Harry is ordered to pay a large sum of money by the ringleader of the trio. Alan Raimey (John Glover)
with sidekicks Leo Franks (Robert Trebor) and Bobby Shy. (Clarence Williams III) After informing his lawyer
Jim O'Boyle, (Lonny Chapman) Harry decides not to be intimidated and dismiss the trio as folly. As the story moves along Harry and Barbara develop a determination to deal with the trio. As in the tradition of original film noir Harry and Barbara are trapped in a Catch 22 scenario with the lowly trio. Frankenheimer builds up the intensity and gets excellent performances from the entire cast.
John Glover is superb as the homoerotic protagonist Alan Raimey as well as Robert Trebor and Clarence
Williams III as the other two components of the trio. Alan's psychosis becomes a fulcrum for destruction.
Meanwhile Bobby Shy's girlfriend Doreen (Vanity) cuts both sides of the fence with equal disdain for Harry and Bobby while concealing the triangle that has developed between Harry, Cinny, and herself. The scenes are fastmoving with crisp and candid dialogue. Frankenheimer holds nothing back with realism and taut direction. This film takes one on an emotional rollercoaster with no gimmicks from start to finish. 52 Pick Up
is a great example of modernist flim noir and I believe that is an excellent film. Transfer to dvd in widescreen format is excellent.
Audio in 5.1 surround sound is really incredible and adds a new dimension
to the viewers experience. All of these factors engage the viewer
at an incredibly intense level.

"Gotta lot a mileage on her".......2005-10-08

I've been waiting for this movie to be released on dvd in widescreen with extras for years. I hope Roy Scheider knows about this non release. The movie has been forgotten or hung up for whatever reason and it's a damn shame. The acting is superior all around. John Glover plays one of the best weird, cleverly evil criminals of filmdom. Yes I'd go that far. The movie has a mixture of many elements. One element captures perfectly the decadent street sex of the eighties. Also mixed in between Roy Scheiders affluent fish out of water charactor are drugs, kidnapping, revenge, love, lust, redemption and betrayal. Also added to the boiling pot are an unusual assembly of actors. Some are the epitome of the eighties. Others are old screen stars, decent tv actors, then unknown names, great charactor actors and even a "cameo" by a renowned porn "star". This caldron, well paced and plotted really nails it. Some may say I'm overratting it, and maybe I am a bit, but hey, I'm the reviewer. 52 Pickup is well done, particually now in a nostalgic way. Forget the VHS tape(even laserdisc). DVD only. Hang in there sport. [UPDATE 6/9/07: Im sure Roy Schieder does know what happening with this film. I have a multi region dvd player and have finally seen this classic on dvd. It can be purchased through Amazon as a region 2 disc. Several web sites have also pointed out that it will be released in the good old USA this summer. The region 2 disc picture and audio are just ok. Im hoping the region 1 release will be much improved with seriously needed extras. "She still cooks." ]

A nasty little gem..."Hey SPORT".......2005-08-10

I saw this in the theaters when it first came out in the 80s, not expecting much, but then - BAM! - this nasty little gem of a thriller delivers thrills in spades. JOHN GLOVER creates one of the most chilling, yet hilarious, villains in film history - and the film's most infamous sequence - the videotape replay of Cindy's snuff-movie murder that Glover forces Scheider to watch in horror SITTING THE SAME CHAIR WHERE SHE WAS KILLED! - still never fails to disturb the viewer. Frankenheimer directs how the best do: so seamless and suble and unobt

The Graphic Novels and Books	Films by Robert Rodriguez	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
The Soundtrack	Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino	Crime on DVD

The Graphic Novels and Books	Films by Robert Rodriguez	Our interview with Frank Miller
The Soundtrack	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen	Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino