Brad Renfro

Average customer rating:

Not wonderful
The Client
Good movie, however, we have the positives and the negatives.
mostly good, some flubs
Action thriller with emotion.

The Client
Starring: Susan Sarandon , Tommy Lee Jones , Mary-Louise Parker , Anthony LaPaglia , and J.T. Walsh
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $5.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Pelican Brief
The Firm
A Time to Kill
The Rainmaker
The Fugitive

ASIN: 6304712952
Release Date: 1997-12-17

Amazon.com

The exceptionally fine cast--Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, J.T. Walsh, Mary-Louise Parker, Anthony Edwards, William H. Macy, Anthony LaPaglia, Ossie Davis, and Brad Renfro--goes a long way toward making The Client one of the more solidly enjoyable screen adaptations of a John Grisham southern gothic legal thriller. Teen-hearthrob Renfro is a natural, playing a kid whose life is in jeopardy after he witnesses the death of a Mob lawyer. Susan Sarandon is the attorney who decides to look after the boy; nobody can match her when it comes to playing strong and protective maternal figures (Thelma and Louise, Lorenzo's Oil, Dead Man Walking). Sarandon won her fourth Oscar nomination as best actress for this role, before finally winning the following year for Dead Man Walking. Author Grisham was so impressed with former window dresser/fashion designer/screenwriter-turned-director Joel Schumacher's work on this movie that he later asked him to direct A Time to Kill. --Jim Emerson

Description

Settle in. Take a deep breath. Hold tight. The best screen version yet of a novel by John Grisham (The Firm, The Pelican Brief) delivers all-out, moment-by-moment suspense! Headliners Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones join newcomer Brad Renfro in The Client, a whirlwind thriller that "starts like a house afire and keeps on blazing" (Chicago Tribune). Renfro plays Mark Sway, an 11-year-old torn between what he knows and what he can never tell. A hitman will snuff him in half a heartbeat if Mark reveals what he learned about a Mob murder. An ambitious federal prosecutor (Jones) will keep the pressure on until Mark tells all. Suddenly, Mark isn't a boy playing air guitar anymore. He's a pawn in a deadly game. And his only ally is a courageous but unseasoned attorney (Sarandon) who risks her career for him...but never imagines she'll also risk her life.

Customer Reviews:

Not wonderful.......2007-06-14

The Client was a disappointment.

I thought the book was very good and some of the characters in the book were outstanding. The movie was not coherent and certainly not at the level of the book.

The Client.......2007-01-29

Sarandon is always good but if you like Tommy Lee Jones you will love it.

Good movie, however, we have the positives and the negatives........2006-10-07

Plot: A mafia lawyer commits suicide. But before he does, he forces 11-year old Mark Sway (Who lives with his brother and mother in a trailer park) into the car. And so he tells Mark secrets about where Loisianna Senator Boyd Boyette was buried. Since Mark's little brother has a stress syndrome (he can't see anything scary), Randy Sway had to go to the hospital. Ever since his father was divorced, he tends to believe that lawyers are morons (at times, they can get in the way) and gets his info about courts and judges on T.V. Mark meets Reggie Love, a woman lawyer who used to have a drinking problem; at first, he doesn't trust her. After many pelts by F.B.I, mafia, and annoying reporters (already sick of Elvis sightings), Mark has to trust her.

Positives: Mark is told by Reggie that he can't lie, or he'll be just like them (mafia). As such, the mafia in this movie are seen as a bunch of criminals. Even though Mark was threatened by a very nasty mafia "dude", he tries to tell the truth, he didn't tell about where Boyd was buried. Many scriptures from the bible are written in cells and there is a picture of Jesus in the hospital. Though Mark can be a pest at times, Reggie tries to help him because she cares about him.

Negatives: For those people who don't like cursing, there is a moderate amount of cussing in the film. 1/3 of them comes from Mark Sway's mouth, which disturbed me a bit. Mark also gives a mafia guy the middle finger secretly. Mark disobeys his mother by going in the woods and therefore, getting mixed up with all this. Mark got his info about an affair like this on T.V, and he claims that he saw a guy having his legs blown off because of the witness protection program (on T.V, though this isn't shown). Due to medication, Mark's mother fights the F.B.I at one point, though you have to watch to find out.

Funnies: In the hospital, "Elvis" complains about his guitar. The way Reggie deals with Mark at times can be humorous.

Conclusion: If you can take the negatives, then I highly recommend this movie. Though, I'd like to say that you shouldn't buy "The Client" To anybody younger than thirteen because even though violence is rarely seen.

mostly good, some flubs.......2006-06-02

The movie started out nice and exciting, then, unfortunately, every few scenes would have a slip in reality that makes you say "oops".
Here are just a few:
1. Boy does not actually see a man die, but is traumatized nevertheless (for the balance of the movie).
2. Person shoots a lock open with gun (just like in the movies), though it never happens in real life.
3. In a closed dark boathouse, there are the convenient reflections of light on the water to illuminate everything we need to see.
4. At least one, if not two, people should have fired or not fired their gun (I don't want to spoil it). Instead, we get the usual Hollywood "talk-down"... (oops, I spoiled it).
5. In one scene, the police supposedly have cordoned off a parking lot to try to locate someone, yet there are many pedestrians, and in fact it is the important escape scene in a car that just drives through among the cop cars.

Apart from those and other similar gaffes, it was a well-made movie with a long list of notable actors. I enjoyed some supporting characters (Anthony LaPaglia, JT Walsh) more than the top 3 leads, however.

The DVD has some skimpy text-based extras about cast/crew, a few boring paragraphs of "behind the scenes", a bit of text about casting Brad Refro, and some "reel recommendations" that show the cover of some related DVDs.

If you are not picky about "reality points" you can easily add another star.

Action thriller with emotion........2006-05-23

A mixture of well-developed characters, seemingly inescapable situations, mystery, thrilling action and truly scary moments make this film a solid piece of work. The seasoned and talented cast add the spice that makes this a tasty thriller for any fan of the cinema. Emotion spills effortlessly into every corner of the film, spreading 'human' moments everywhere. There's never a dull moment.

Average customer rating:

WHAT A CRAZY TWIST!
So many missteps
Sleeper
A feel good movie.
Entertaining well made film about a difficult subject

Sleepers
Starring: Kevin Bacon , Billy Crudup , Robert De Niro , Vittorio Gassman , and Minnie Driver
Director: Barry Levinson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Murder & Mayhem | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $5.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Client
Primal Fear
A Time to Kill
Murder in the First
Boiler Room

ASIN: 0790729393
Release Date: 1997-04-01

Amazon.com

The first thing you need to know about Sleepers is that it's based on a novel by Lorenzo Carcaterra that was allegedly based on a true story. The movie repeats this bogus claim, which was attacked and determined by a wide majority to be misleading. Knowing this, Sleepers can be a problematic movie because it's too neat, too clean, too manipulative in terms of legal justice and dramatic impact to be truly convincing. And yet, with its stellar cast directed by Barry Levinson, the movie succeeds as gripping entertainment, and its tale of complex morality--despite a dubious emphasis on homophobic revenge--is sufficiently provocative. It's about four boys in New York's Hell's Kitchen district who are sent to reform school, where they must endure routine sexual assaults by the sadistic guards. Years after their release, the opportunity for revenge proves irresistible for two of the young men, who must then rely on the other pair of friends (Brad Pitt, Jason Patric), a loyal priest (Robert De Niro), and a shabby lawyer (Dustin Hoffman) to defend them in court. Despite the compelling ambiguities of the story, there's never any doubt about how we're supposed to feel, and the screenplay glosses over the story's most difficult moral dilemmas. And yet, Sleepers grabs your attention and pulls you into its intense story of friendship and the price of loyalty under extreme conditions. The movie's New York settings are vividly authentic, and Minnie Driver makes a strong impression as a long-time friend of the loyal group of guys. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

The judicial system is supposed to protect them. But when a youthful prank in New Yorks Hells Kitchen spins out of control, the punishment does not fit the crime. Sentenced to the Wilkinson School for Boys, four pals are mistreated at will by a cadre of sadistic guards. Now, 15 years later, they have an unexpected opportunity to use that system-for revenge. Friendship. Loyalty. Retribution. From its telltale opening lines to its stunning courtroom climax, Sleepers is spellbinding entertainment. With a vengeance.

System Requirements:
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Brad Pitt, and Jason Patric Director: Barry Levinson Interactive Menus Production Notes Scene Access Theatrical Trailer Languages: English and French Subtitles: English, French and Spanish Widescreen version presented in a "letterbox" widescreen format preserving the "scope" aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition, enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TVs English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Surround 5.1 Two Sided Disc Special Features: Cast/Crew Bios, Film Highlights, Interactive Menus, Production Notes, and Theatrical Trailer Video Format: Widescreen (no A.R. specified) Enhanced for 16x9 TVs Subtitles: English, Spanish, and French Track Info: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Closed Captioning: Yes # Discs: 1 # Sides: Single Produced by Barry Levinson, Steve Golin; written by Barry Levinson, Lorenzo Carcat; running time of 148 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1996, Warner Bros.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

WHAT A CRAZY TWIST!.......2007-03-26

I WASNT TOO SURE IF I WAS GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE BUT ITS A WONDERFUL MOVIE. THE STORY HAD A CRAZY TWIST AND I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS MOVIE WOULD BE THIS INTENSE. ITS GREAT I WOULD RECOMEND EVERYONE TO SEE IT, BUT THIS IS NOT A FAMILY MOVIE UNLESS THE CHILDREN ARE OLDER!

So many missteps.......2007-03-14

Man, with this cast you really could have blown the roof off the house. I mean, all the national treasures of acting are here -- except for Kevin Spacey, Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, Tim Allen and Carlos Mencia.

The kids were really annoying, right? How many astonished close-ups of them were we gonna get? Get over it. Big deal, a prison guard did some bad things to you. They acted like it didn't happen to everyone.

Dustin Hoffman is a national gem. He get so into character that sometimes he forgets to get back into Dustin. At least, that's all I can think -- because I saw him in Manhattan and I kept yelling, "Hey Dustin, want to go get a hot cocoa and some Buggles (crunchy corn snacks)?" But he acted as if he didn't hear me -- must of been deep into his character, yes?

Sleeper.......2007-01-12

IT WAS A GOOD STORY, TOLD WITH A LOT OF CLASS, AND THE SAD THING ABOUT IT,...IT REALLY HAPPENS TO CHILDREN..
BRAD PITT ANT THE CAST WERE GREAT....B. KIPKER

A feel good movie........2007-01-12

This movie is depressing, dark and a real eye-opener. Good cast, and good court-room drama. A strong cast and solid performances make this movie a must watch.

Entertaining well made film about a difficult subject.......2006-11-28

This film deals with a topic that continually arises in our culture, the sexual molestation of children by adults in authority positions. In some ways the film compliments the more contemporary film "Mysterious Skin" which deals with a similar theme. I will first discuss an overall assessment of the film and then return to the theme of sexual molestation and the long path to recovery from sexual molestation.

As a dramatic engaging film, this product is very good. The acting of Robert DeNero, Kevin Bacon, Jason Patric, Minnie Driver, Billy Crudup, Brad Pitt, and Dustin Hoffman is super. DeNero is wonderful as the priest put in an ethical dilemna. Jason Patric holds the second half of the film together as the most psychologically sound of the victims. Kevin Bacon is creepy and realistic as the sadistic molester. Dustin Hoffman is a rare talent as he plays an incompetent alcoholic drug addicted second rate lawyer. Also note that the child actors were very good also. The plot is well developed and engaging, especially the division of the film into childhood and adulthood experiences. The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas is also used as a unifying theme of imprisonment, escape, planned revenge, and redemption from pain. The cinematography was very good (notice the camera angels and techniques used on the city streets, the courtroom, and especially in the youth facility) and sound track (with serious almost tragic overtones) are first rate. Overall the film gets 5 out of 5 points.

The theme of sexual molestation of children by adults is a difficult and disturbing topic. In this film, 4 boys are molested, with two emerging as angry killers and two emerging with intact emotional stability. Brad Pitt plays the young lawyer who uses the court room to unearth the sexual crimes committed by several guards in the correctional facility. Jason Patric however plays the victim with the the strongest emotional stability and who is capable of developing loving relationships and moving forward with his life. Revenge was the theme that holds the second half of the film together, carefully plotted and executed by two of the victims, impulsively and self defeating by the other two.

A fine film worthy of your time.

Average customer rating:

~Bully~
When you give up and murder your tormentor, how should you be punished?
Frightening and Real
Educational, but not entertaining.
pretty good film

Bully
Starring: Ed Amatrudo , Judy Clayton , Irene B. Colletti , Elizabeth Dimon , and Leo Fitzpatrick
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kids
Another Day In Paradise
The Dreamers (Original Uncut NC-17 Version)
Spun (Unrated Version) [Region 99]
Gummo

ASIN: B00005U14H
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Description

Acclaimed director Larry Clark delivers his most powerful film since KIDS. Marty (Brad Renfro) is a tormented surfer who relies on his longtime pal Bobby (Nick Stahl) for rides to the beach and South Florida bars despite vicious abuse. But when Bobby turns his unwanted attention to Marty's new girlfriend Lisa (Rachel Miner) and her best friend Ally (Bijou Phillips), Lisa decides Bobby's reign of terror must end. Assembling a crew of alienated suburban teens, she forms a deadly plan to get Bobby out of the way once and for all, turning friends into enemies and casual acquaintances into co-defendants in a murder that rocked America to its core.

Customer Reviews:

~Bully~.......2007-05-10

The first time i saw this was on HBO. I knew i had to show it some friends of mine. Its a true story about what some kids do to a Bully. This Dvd is very good.

When you give up and murder your tormentor, how should you be punished?.......2007-04-24

Bully is based on a true high school crime which took place in Cooper City, Florida. Boyhood friends Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) and Bobby Kent (Nick Stahl) traveled in the same circles of casual drug use and loose women with a group of friends who rarely attended high school classes. Bobby bullied Marty their entire lives, raped both Marty and their girl friends, and pulled aggressive stunts such as capturing a local drifter and forcing him to perform homosexual acts on camera. Director Larry Clark presents a gripping portrait of bullying and submission, and of how hard it is to stand up to the bully when he's been in power for a good sixteen or more years.

With the high school sexual acts and drug use, this film will inevitably be compared to Clark's earlier work, Kids. Bully, however, is based on a true crime with copious court records, confessions, witness statements, and a non-fiction book about the subjects. Any reviewer who attacks the plausibility of the film needs to look no further than Martin Puccio, vs. State of Florida, Appellee. No. 86,242; November 20, 1997. Clark takes the facts of the case and presents a movie which illustrates the fear and loathing of someone who submits to a bully, and makes the viewer understand how hard it is to stand up and change the status quo.

Bully is told from the point of view of the teens involved in the group murder of Marty's tormentor. The question of ultimate responsibility for the crime is answered only in the court sentences, not by the filmmaker. This is a great discussion piece--does bullying invite crimes of self-defense? Was Lisa Connelly the ringleader or did Marty grow a backbone? Was Marty manipulated by yet another bully, Lisa, when he went along with her plan? Did an atmosphere of money, drugs, and plenty of free time create the perfect storm for a mob-mentality murder? How much do absent parents play into a tragedy of this proportion?

Larry Clark has no simple Hollywood answer to any of these questions. Therein lies the beauty of this film.

Frightening and Real.......2007-04-23

"Bully"

Frightening and Real

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

While not a horror film, "Bully" is one of the scariest movies I have seen and the reason that it evokes such fear is that it is a true story. Larry Clark directed this movie that is about teenagers that have absolutely nothing going for them. They have sex all of the time, they drink to excess, they smoke pot and drop acid and their lives are reckless and meaningless.
I am sure that many who see this movie are outraged and that seems to me to be warranted. To see kids behave like this is certainly not the norm. Marty (Brad Renfro) is the central character and he is involved in a sado-masochistic relationship with his "best friend", Bobby (Nick Stahl). Then there is Lisa (Rachel Miner), Marty's pregnant girlfriend. Marty is an average surfer bum and high school drop-out and Bobby constantly picks on him and rides him all the time. Lisa soon tires of Bobby's abuse to Marty and she tells Marty that he should kill Bobby. They go and see a hit man (Leo Fitzpatrick) and ask him to help put an end to Bobby and from that point on the kids start out upon a new path--one of lies, deceit, boasts, and guilt-ridden feelings about the deed they are about to perform. In the end, the teenagers get their just rewards but the cinematic buildup is highly intense.
The movie is accurate and true to life. Based on an incident that took place in Florida in 1993, it is an authentic retelling of what went on. The cast is sheer perfection. When the kids agree that Bobby has to die, the movie reaches its heights. Bobby was a bully and a rapist and an all around loathsome character. He seems to be somewhat of a closet homosexual as reflected by his obsession with gay porn. He drags Marty to a gay bar and forces him to dance onstage. His violent way of dealing with his own gayness is probably how he chose to deal with his repressed desires. He is a psychotic sociopath who has extended the limits of being tough. But his homosexuality is not the reason he is to be killed. There is no clear reason to why he must die. The actions against him are not motivated by revenge but by jealousy. He is due to go to college and to take over his father's business.
The movie utilizes a great deal of potent imagery as the film explores the youth of today during dark and troubling times. It hurts to watch kids behaving the way they do here and we hope they get what they deserve.
The movie will weigh on your mind mainly because it really happened. It is bleak and dark and extremely depressing. It is meant to shock and shock it does.

Educational, but not entertaining........2007-04-17

I have heard about Bully for a long time, and finally decided to watch it. It's a well-acted, well-directed, and powerful movie.

Bobby Kent's behavior goes beyond that of a bully- he's a borderline sadist/sociopath. He constantly verbally and physically (and possibly sexually) abuses his best friend, Marty Puccio. In addition, he is beginning to develop a taste for rape, and calls whatever girls he's with demeaning names. When Bobby rapes Marty's new girlfriend Lisa and her best friend Ali, Marty and Lisa decide to kill him. They take Ali and four other friends and lure Bobby to the swamp, and stab him. They try to keep it a secret, but the psychological consequences of killing someone are more than they bargained for, and most of them tell someone. Eventually, someone makes an anonymous phone call, and all 7 of them are arrested and convicted.

Bully is educational, but hardly entertaining. To elaborate, it shows what happens when kids have no direction in their lives, and no sense of right and wrong. Neither Marty nor any of the other main characters appear to have any kind of goal and direction in life. Marty especially didn't seem to have any kind of standards about how to act towards others (he physically abuses Lisa at one point) or how he expected others to act towards him, which makes dealing with bullying more difficult. All he knew is that Bobby made his life miserable. They didn't even try to bring charges against Bobbby, or deal with him in any kind of legal way. Bobby is a vile individual, but he doesn't die because of his sins, but because his killers live in a moral vacuum. In addition, Bully shows the tragic results of apathetic parenting. For example, towards the beginning of the movie, Bobby punches Marty in the face several times after he runs his car on the curb. Marty then asks his parents if they can move, and his father tells him, "we can't all quit our jobs just because our son is having problems." His parents show no interest in calling Bobby's parents, the police, or helping Marty with the problems at all.

Be warned though, there's not one scene that is not disturbing in one way or another- be the scene about the bullying, nudity, rape, or psychological/emotional distress- this is a movie only for strong-stomached viewers, and hence is not entertaining. Watch at your own risk.

pretty good film.......2007-03-15

i like the actors in this movie..they portrayed the real people very well i thought..the movie could have been better overall..however it was still worth watching

Average customer rating:

Good Teen Tale
a great touching funny movie
No ghosts, but funny in a sweet and melancholy way
One of the Best Films of All Time
depressing

Ghost World
Starring: Thora Birch , Scarlett Johansson , Steve Buscemi , Brad Renfro , and Illeana Douglas
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Ghost World
American Splendor
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Crumb (Special Edition) [Region 99]
The Virgin Suicides

ASIN: B00005T30L
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Amazon.com

If you've ever felt alienated by the world around you, Ghost World will offer laughter, tears, and reassurance that you are definitely not alone. Adapted by Daniel Clowes and Crumb director Terry Zwigoff from Clowes's acclaimed graphic novel, the movie spends summer vacation with high school graduates Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlet Johansson). They inflict little tortures on the denizens of urban sprawl, wielding scathing irony as a defense against a "ghost world" full of pop-cultural lemmings and uncertain futures. But when Enid picks a 40-ish vintage-record collector (Steve Buscemi) as the target of her latest cruel prank, she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to him ("he's the opposite of everything I completely hate") and is forced to confront her own crushing loneliness. This combination of deadpan sarcasm and deeply compassionate humanity makes Ghost World a rare and delicate comedy, with an ambiguous ending that suggests tragedy or hope, depending on your own point of view. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Thora Birch (American Beauty) and Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation) "sneak into your heart and stay there" (Rolling Stone) in this "eerie, masterful movie" (Movieline) from the acclaimed director of Crumb. Co-starring Brad Renfro (Deuces Wild), Illeana Douglas (Stir of Echos) and Steve Buscemi (Fargo) in "the best role of his career" (Movieline), Ghost World is a "smartly strange comedy [that] stands out like the Taj Mahal" (Time)! While their classmates head for college, Enid (Birch) and Rebecca (Johansson) focus their energies on tormenting those around them - from a goofy convenience store clerk (Renfro) to an eccentric art teacher (Douglas). But when they zero in on an oddball loner (Buscemi) looking for Miss Right, their seemingly innocent meddling threatens to shatter one of their hearts not to mention their lifelong friendship.

Customer Reviews:

Good Teen Tale.......2007-06-23

This film is a teen tale with some substance as well as humor. When Enid graduates from high school she's slow to grasp the realities necessary to cope in the adult world. Reluctant to get a job, her best friend starts to distance herself from Enid since she rebels against maturity. Enid reaches the height of her selfishness when she plays with the emotions of an older man who is a social misfit trying to find love and acceptance in the world. Young Enid learns a bold lesson in cruelty when her actions snowball, causing hurt to herself and others. There are funny and memorable characters.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

a great touching funny movie.......2007-05-18

i was hiking at griffith park in los angeles and when i got home this was playing on showtime. i loved it. first of all thora and scarlett are really hot. being as i collect stuff too i related with steve buscemi character who is a very talented funny actor. i think enid is hotter than scarlett but they are both at their peak here. the whole tone of the movie was very funny to me. the ending was cool, some say she killed herself but i just think she went to a strange place to start a new life like she wanted to. a personal fav.

No ghosts, but funny in a sweet and melancholy way.......2007-05-11

The phone rings. Enid says, "Aren't you going to answer that?"

Seymour says, "I have no desire to talk to anyone who wants to talk to me."

He picks it up anyway and listens and then says, "That's my mother."

I just about cracked up.

Well, the whole movie cracked me up. It's a work of art from indie auteur Terry Zwigoff whom I recall as the director of the edgy documentary Crumb (1994). For some reason, as I was watching this, I thought it was directed by Todd Solondz who directed the amazingly real and funny Welcome to the Doll House (1995). I imagined this as a kind of high school/out of high school progression from the junior high school of Welcome to the Doll House. It could be, actually, with Thora Birch playing an older Dawn Weiner and having all those bad things happen to her, but still managing to survive it all. Both Enid Coleslaw and Dawn Weiner are amazingly true to life and also amazingly talented and unappreciated outsiders in this arbitrary and capricious world. Birch (whom I remember vividly from American Beauty 1999) in her glasses and all those campish outfits over her rather ample figure was just outstanding.

Scarlett Johansson who plays her friend Rebecca was as vivid as my high school date on prom night and actually prettier (I have to admit). She was also outstanding. Both Johansson and Birch are charismatic in a way that will glue your eyes to the screen. They play ultra cynical slackers who love to satirize the world and their fellow creatures as they hide their vulnerability from themselves. They are so cute.

Steve Buscemi plays Seymour, a kind of autobiographical alter ego of cartoonist Daniel Clowes (thus Enid's last name, "Coleslaw") who wrote the comic from which he and Zwigoff adapted the movie. Buscemi manages a tricky part calling for old school dorkishness, vulnerability and self-consciousness portrayed in an ultimately winning and sympathetic way.

There are a lot of amusing insider "trivia" comments about this movie at IMDb, including the fact that Sophie Crumb, daughter of Robert Crumb, did the drawings in Enid's notebook. One of the most amusing is this: "The actor who plays the high school principal in the graduation scene also plays one of the customers in the porno shop. This was not intentional--Terry Zwigoff cast him as a porno shop customer forgetting that he also played the principal."

Right.

See this for Zwigoff who has the eye and the ear of a genius, a man who knows the hearts of his characters and the mass culture they live in, and how to satirize them both, but gently with affection.

One of the Best Films of All Time.......2007-05-08

I've loved this movie since it came out in theaters. With an amazing cast of cult and mainstream stars, you cannot go wrong. Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch shine as the main characters, Seymour and Enid, while Scarlett Johannsen is great as Enid's motivated friend and foil, Rebecca.

I love the comic, and this movie is a nice complement to it. Even if you're not familiar with the comic, this movie will make you take a look at life, school and the BS that pervades all aspects of society.

Enjoy!

depressing.......2007-04-01

I generally like movies that portray people on a search for meaning and bleonging, such as About Schmidt and The Royal Tenenbaums. This movie followed a young woman on such a journey, and while there was some good humor along the way, it became very dark and depressing in the second half. Unlike the protagonists in the other movies I mentioned, the main character was very self-centered and thought that a meaningful life would just happen. She hurts people around her repeatedly and causes herself a lot of pain. I can see where someone might like this movie who's into the whole life-is-meaningless thing, but I could have passed it up.

Average customer rating:

GREAT FILM
Keep the tissues nearby
The Cure
This movie is a Classic because of Joe Mazzello
Stunning triumph of film-making and humanity

The Cure
Starring: Brad Renfro , Aeryk Egan , Delphine French , Mona Powell , and Andrew Broder
Director: Peter Horton
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Simon Birch
Edges of the Lord
The Mighty
Radio Flyer [Region 99]
The War

ASIN: B0003JAOPE
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

This heartfelt drama tells us it's an AIDS movie that's not about AIDS. When this film keeps its promise (roughly the first three-quarters), it's a winner, a film about a truly notable friendship between two 11-year-old boys. Diagnosed with AIDS from a blood transfusion, Dexter (Joseph Mazzello) has gratefully bypassed most of Kübler-Ross's stages of death. He is, however, an outcast among his peers until Erik (Brad Renfro) comes along and finds him quite normal. Their bond deepens as they look for a cure for the disease using odd forms of scientific theory. Part educational text, part Mark Twain adventure, part tearjerker, the movie relies on something not found in movies these days: a love affair of male friendship. At its center are two of the best pre-actors around. Mazzello (Jurassic Park) has a professional presence on screen. The wild card is Renfro in only his second role (the other was The Client). As the outgoing, Huck Finn-ish boy, he has impressive physical abilities that communicate a naturalness on screen. The film's sappy hospital scenes bog down the picture tremendously, but they do lead to two special scenes that end the movie. The Cure is an assured directorial debut by TV actor Peter Horton (thirtysomething). An interesting note: single mothers raise both kids, a fact never lingered on--refreshingly so--in the script written by Robert Kuhn. --Doug Thomas

Product Description

One summer, two boys went in search of a dream and found the friendship of a lifetime. Joseph Mazzello (The River Wild; The Lost World: Jurassic Park) and Brad Renfro (Ghost World, Apt Pupil) star in this heartwarming adventure story filled with laughter, compassion and the enduring power of hope.

New to a quaint, riverside community, eleven-year-old Dexter (Mazzello) and his single mom are quickly shunned when it s learned the boy has AIDS. Next door lives Erik (Renfro), a lonely latch-key bully who surprisingly initiates a friendship. But trouble soon finds the twosome after they read a tabloid that suggests a New Orleans doctor has a cure. Determined to find him, the boys build a raft and set sail down the mighty Mississippi, Tom Sawyer style, in a magical, often hilarious journey that gives Dexter a chance to experience life as it should be lived and will change both boys lives forever.

Directed by Peter Horton (TV s Once and Again, MDs ), The Cure is a brilliantly captivating story for the whole family which KNBC-TV hails as a testament to friendship, loyalty and love.

System Requirements:

Running Time 99 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

GREAT FILM.......2006-11-10

This excellent movie explores the human --rather than the scientific-- dimensions of what it means to be healthy. Its success in this really outweighs its minor failings. Tremendous movie!

Keep the tissues nearby.......2006-11-07

This is a lovely film, sensitively directed by Peter Horton. Wonderful performances from all involved. The two young boys in this film develop a strong bond and great friendship during their summer vacation. Erik has decided he's going to find a cure for Dexter's AIDS and when he reads that a doctor has found a cure in New Orleans, they take off on a raft and head down the Mississippi on a quest to find the doctor. Their adventures on the river bring them ecen closer together. The final couple of scenes will cause you to go through a whole boxs of tissues wiping away the tears. The only misstep is some of the film seems rushed and the hospital scenes seem a bit heavy handed in places. All in all it's a lovely film.

The Cure.......2006-11-06

This is a very good movie. I enjoyed it very much. Be prepared for a sad ending. Both boys gave a very believable and sometimes amusing performance.

This movie is a Classic because of Joe Mazzello.......2006-10-19

This Minnesota-filmed movie reportedly has a cult-following,
and the reason is not far to realize. Joe Mazzello. Joe is a
1990s and 21st century motion-picture phenomenon. His presence
in this movie is so REALISTIC and life-life that you forget that
he is acting. He was pivotal in carrying this movie. How so?
May I add that Joe's axiom for acting is simply: "Just make it look Real!" He achieved this to a stellar degree in "The Cure," and also in the later fare: "Simon Birch". Incredible acting, and I know good acting, for I was in a film in the early 1990s and also wrote the musical
score for it. No, I am not going to name-drop.

The Cure juxtaposes 2 boys of different social/geographical/educational genres together and in this movie a friendship is unexpectedly
forged and may I add that it is a friendship of rare mutual-concern, honest caring, and warm affection. No matter how many times I watch it, tears always come to my eyes in the final 20 minutes of this film.
Joe is the best!

Stunning triumph of film-making and humanity.......2006-10-01

For unknown reasons this beautiful masterpiece didn't get well-deserved recognition and has been vastly under-appreciated by many American movie critics. So it's easy to understand that I've met lots of troubles trying to find this movie. Finally I watched it and it was so beautiful, sincere and poignant that for the first time in my life I watched one movie five times in one week after getting the tape. The story is focused on the friendship between two young boys Erik and Dexter, eleven and twelve years old, who are very different from each other but they are becoming the best (and only) friends. The beauty and sincerity of their friendship have been shown in the Cure so sincere and naturally as it has never been before. There are so many beautiful, heartfelt and poignant scenes (particularly on the river), which strike the heart and can't leave any human indifferent to them. The movie also is full of incredibly powerful and emotional symbolism, (particularly strong with Erik's shoe) which also greatly increases visual impression from such beautiful work. The story, written by Robert Kuhn, is well written and on the contrary to overwhelming majority of modern Hollywood's products practically every scene, every phrase and every sentence in the movie is meaningful and bring something important about characters and relations between them. Peter Horton, who as I know had no major experience in movie directing before, showed his great abilities and talents in this sphere. The cinematography is also superb with perfectly selected locations for the movie, but the most important is perfect acting, which with all above mentioned makes The Cure one of the best movies ever. Both Brad Renfro as Erik and Joseph Mazello as Dexter created wonderful atmosphere of sincere friendship and magnificent chemistry between two main characters. Only one this movie (I haven't seen most of their other works) is enough to name them as one of the best actors of their generation. Annabelle Sciorra also give a terrific performance as Dexter's mother. It's terribly sad that such talented actors didn't get wide recognition, while numerous overrated stars enjoy enormous publicity and huge salaries. Finally it would be unfair not to mention amazing soundtrack written by David Grusin, and terrific Mark Cohn's song (one of the best songs that I've ever heard in the movies) My Great Escape. So all that I can say about The Cure is one simple word - great. At any point of view this movie is a beautiful, heartfelt and inspiring work of all people involved in making of this masterpiece. I have to credit all those people who put their hearts and souls into the movie and Universal Pictures, which among numerous formulaic commercial projects has found a way to make such a beautiful movie. But such movie so rarely come to movie theaters that very often studios themselves don't realize what gem they have made that they're unable to provide respective marketing campaign. The only one minor drawback about The Cure too me is its too short length (only 97 minutes).

I don't want to write more about the movie because it's simply impossible to put its beauty and sincerity into words, so if you have any opportunity for watching The Cure, rent it or buy it and you wouldn't be disappointed.

10 out of 10. Sorry for my bad English.

Average customer rating:

GOOD BUY
The Twilight Zone
Dull
Don't read this if you haven't seen the movie!
Brophy elevates this well beyond where it would have been

The Jacket
Starring: Adrien Brody , Keira Knightley , Kris Kristofferson , Jennifer Jason Leigh , and Kelly Lynch
Director: John Maybury
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Machinist
Domino (Widescreen New Line Platinum Series)
Crash (Widescreen Edition)
The Hole
Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B0009G3B0G
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Amazon.com

When you put on The Jacket, prepare for a head-trip into fragmented reality. Coproducer Steven Soderbergh might have fared better with this mind-bender than British director John Maybury (who indulges an excess of heavy-handed "style"), but it's intriguing enough to hold your attention as Gulf War veteran Jack Starks (Adrian Brody) sustains a head-wound that results in amnesia and fragmented timelines. One involves Jack's apparent killing of a policeman, after which he's institutionalized and subjected to straight-jacketed experiments in sensory isolation (with Kris Kristofferson as the doctor in charge); the other is a possible future involving a nihilistic waitress (Keira Knightley) with connections to his past, and the discovery that Jack will die in four days if he can't solve the brain-teasing puzzle he's fallen into. The Jacket aspires to the cleverness of Memento and falls short of that target, but Brody gives this exercise in desperate disorientation a certain gravitas that keeps you watching as his tormenting visions begin to unravel. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brad Renfro and Kelly Lynch make the most of their small supporting roles. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody stars as a Gulf War veteran wrongly accused of murder, and subsequently committed to a mental institution. A controversial treatment regimen sends him on a mind-bending journey into the future, where he can foresee his death - and must try to stop it. Also stars Keira Knightley ("Pirates of the Caribbean 1 & 2," "Bend it Like Beckham"), Daniel Craig ("Road to Perdition"), Golden Globe-nominated Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly Lynch ("Charlie's Angels") and Kris Kristofferson.DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Alternate endings:The Jacket: Project History and Deleted Scenes
Featurette:The Look of The Jacket: A Featurette on Special Effects

Customer Reviews:

GOOD BUY.......2007-06-01

It has enough elements to keep you interested.

1. Good pace
2. Good acting
3. A bit of a puzzle
4. Just a dash of romance
5. A healthy dose of sci fi
6. Cool soundtrack (really... i love that andy tubman song "quiet inside")

Before I first watched it, I thought it was going to be a horror movie... it took a very pleasant turn. The story was well scripted. I don't want to give the story away. This is a good cross genre.

Don't buy this if you're looking for an action movie or a horror movie or a movie for intense romance/sci fi.

Its a good indie pop film.

The Twilight Zone.......2007-04-20

Intelligent Psychological Thriller.Adrien Brodys Acting "Superb"As Usual."See The Piano" He Got An Oscar For That.Anyways, Back In "The Jacket"Supporting Actors Ok,Well Executed.Think Of The Butterfly Effects Trippy Surrealism Atmospheric Vibe But Better And Smarter U Get The Picture.Its Wat U Do Now Wat Makes The Difference.Confused!

Dull.......2007-03-27

While Adrien Brody plays a fine lead role in "The Jacket", the movie itself can't match his pace. The story plods along, skipping through time in a Tarantino-esque fashion in an attempt at "style", but there are a few plot holes that keep it from succeeding.

Overall, this is a dull film, and the conclusion is immensely unsatisfying. It is also extraordinarily formulaic, despite its attempts to cover itself with flashy visual sequences and interrupted chronology. It's an exercise in copy-and-paste, from the characters on down to the obligatory sex scene. About as Hollywood as it gets, despite the claim of another reviewer.

3 stars for the idea and for Brody's performance.

Don't read this if you haven't seen the movie!.......2007-01-29

Question: If you go forward in time to get the solution to a problem from someone, and then go back in time to give the solution to the very same person, where did the solution come from? Possible answers:1/ Ideas are in the ether to be culled with whatever mysterious means present thmselves. 2/ Uh-oh, script mistake. 3/ A dying man is imagining all of this, so contradictions are ok. I suspect '3' is the answer, in which case, is he a ghost who is helping real people, or is it all a dream?..Well, the girl he seems to be helping is with him for the interview with the 'someone' in question. She's a witness to the contradiction, so she can't be real: This is all a dying man's working out of his karma before going into the light. I resent that: The girl , her problems, and the hero's fixing of those problems being a dream. (I resent Jacob's ladder quite a bit, too.) By what right does a writer make us care about someone non-existant? It's hard enough to make characters exist in the first place. So, why four stars , then? Somewhere in the confusion, the cast gave consistantly excellent performances, especially Adrian Brody, enough to make me hope for it all to fall together, even if it didn't. (PS: The crazy guy Jack,(Brody), talks with in the hospital is played by Daniel Craig, (James Bond), with a different sound and look , enough so to shock anyone.)

Brophy elevates this well beyond where it would have been.......2007-01-21

Adrian Brophy plays a hard luck veteran and he is excellent in the lead role here. The rest of the performances are also good and you wish Kristofferson and Leigh had a little more time to flesh out their characters. They're just not working with Acadeny Award type material here.
The script goes back and forth from 1992 to 2007 and making sense of it is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The film has a knack of switching to something else just when you get interested in a character or scene.
Having seen Brophy act in a number of different parts now, it is very apparent that he is one of our better young actors today and without him, this film would be a turkey.

Average customer rating:

Tom and Huck
I liked some of it.
Any Version of "Tom Sawyer" Would Be Good
Awesome
FANTASTIC MOVIE!

Tom and Huck
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas , Brad Renfro , Eric Schweig , Charles Rocket , and Amy Wright
Director: Peter Hewitt
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Adventures of Huck Finn
Wild America
Man of the House
Tom Sawyer
Jungle 2 Jungle

ASIN: B000089799
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

Being a good friend can be difficult, but the rewards are great. Two unruly boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, pledge their friendship to one another in anticipation of days filled with fun and laughter. Instead, the two witness a graveyard murder and swear an oath of silence to protect their own lives. Treasure hunting and Tom's budding friendship with his classmate Becky pale when the boys' silence threatens to allow an innocent man to hang for the crime, and Tom must choose between keeping his pact with Huck and justice for his friend Muff Potter. This 1995 Disney presentation of Mark Twain's classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, featuring Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Tom and Brad Renfro as Huck, reaffirms the notion that "When a friend's in trouble, you can't just run away." (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Description

Jonathan Taylor Thomas (HOME IMPROVEMENT) stars as America's greatest teenage hero -- Tom Sawyer! No boy ever had so much fun, got into so much trouble, or had so many outrageous adventures! Disney's magic touch now turns Mark Twain's masterpiece into "An outstanding classic adventure film" (Kids News Network). Tom and his rebellious friend Huck (Brad Renfro) witness a midnight killing. They swear not to reveal what they saw -- but that causes a real problem. If Tom doesn't speak up, an innocent friend may be hanged. But if he does tell the truth, the real killer, knife-throwing Injun Joe, will come after him! TOM AND HUCK has it all -- a treasure hunt, a haunted house, a courtroom showdown, a scary chase in a cave, and a valuable lesson for young Tom: when a friend's in trouble, you don't run away! Now one of the world's great stories becomes a great addition to your family's Disney library!

Customer Reviews:

Tom and Huck.......2007-06-16

A great movie to watch with your kids, especially if you have read the books- Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. My boys enjoyed the movie too.

I liked some of it........2007-01-27

I liked Jonathan Taylor Thomas. He did a good job playing Tom, even though he didn't match up with the "real Tom." Brad Refro was good even though I didn't picture Huck Finn like that. Becky was terrible! I have love the book and this actor and script doesn't even come close! They did a good job with Injun Joe. I don't think you can make a video as good as the book but, one day I hope they will.

Any Version of "Tom Sawyer" Would Be Good.......2005-11-14

I am unsure of how many versions of "Tom Sawyer" that I have seen, regardless, nearly every one had its charms as does this version. While this version plays more as a vehicle for Jonathon Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro, the story still plays out much like Mark Twain's original.

This movie launches very quickly into the murder of Doc Robinson (William Newman) by Injun Joe (Eric Schweig). Injun Joe has pinned the blame on poor Muff Potter (Michael McShane) by using his knife. We know, however, that Tom Sawyer (Thomas) and Huckleberry Finn (Brad Renfro) were watching. We also know that Huck has made a pact with Tom to never tell anyone about what they saw. However, Tom is conflicted because he genuinely likes Muff Potter, and somehow he feels that he can not leave him to take the blame for Injun Joe's crime.

While I do not wish to make light of this movie, we know the general story. Injun Joe threatens Tom and tells Tom that he will kill him if he tells what he knows. Of course, Tom ultimately does tell, but Injun Joe escapes the courthouse, and Tom will be in fear of Injun Joe until he is caught or killed. Eventually the movie ends up in Mark Twain Cave (at least, that was the original setting), where Becky Thatcher (the gloriously beautiful Rachael Lee Cook), Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn have it out with Injun Joe.

This movie retains a reasonable amount of Twain's original story. However, because the movie barely clocks in with 97 minutes, the story is substantially shortened with little of the significant detail that Twain put into his book. There is a reasonable amount of humor in the movie to take the edge off the drama, with the famous church scene being one of the best scenes until after Tom was discovered, when the scene began to go downhill. The famous fence whitewashing scene is relatively weak in this movie.

This movie seems to be a showcase for then popular Disney star Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Unfortunately for Thomas, Muff Potter, Injun Joe, Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher all steal the show. Tom, who was the leader and the schemer in the original Twain story, seems to be half a step behind throughout much of the movie. Apparently someone in Disney thought that Thomas would be more appealing as a more naïve child; whoever came up with that idea was wrong.

This movie is a bit too violent for younger children. I would recommend age 6 or 7 as the lower limit, and even some older children may find some of the violence distressing.

My biggest disappointment with this movie was the portrayal of the cave. Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, Missouri was formed by water, and is substantially shale and clay. In some areas of the cave, water still flows at lower level Some versions of this movie do a great job of portraying the cave; this movie does not. I recommend visiting the original in Hannibal, Missouri.

A purist will undoubtedly find this movie to be disappointing. However, perhaps a child watching this movie will be sufficiently intrigued that they will pick up Mark Twain's book and discover the wonderful world that Mark Twain created.

Awesome.......2005-10-07

I got my product alot faster than I expected and in excellent condition. I have no complaints.

FANTASTIC MOVIE!.......2004-07-23

Four letters: W-O-W. The movie is incredibly good. Who knew that this kid would have a career after "Home Improvment." Only the magical world of Disney could improve Mark Twain's literary classic. There's a new star in town and his name is Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I just sent away for my Jonathan Taylor Thomas signed headshot. Thank-you God.

Average customer rating:

Love, hate relationship
Chilling and very believable. A King's Classic...
APT Pupil
AMAZING!!!!!
One of my all-time favorites

Apt Pupil
Starring: Brad Renfro , Ian McKellen , Joshua Jackson , Mickey Cottrell , and Michael Reid MacKay
Director: Bryan Singer
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Murder & Mayhem | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holocaust | Jewish Heritage | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video

The Night Flier
Dolores Claiborne
Stephen King's: Sometimes They Come Back
Hearts in Atlantis
The Tommyknockers

ASIN: 0767821599
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Amazon.com

At the top of his game, Stephen King has a real gift for mining monsters--zero-at-the-bone horror--out of everyday faces and places. Adapted from a novella in the 1982 collection that also spawned Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil looks at first as if it might draw authentically enlightening terror from the soul-cancer that makes blood relations of a Southern California golden boy (Brad Renfro) and an aging Nazi war criminal (Sir Ian McKellen). Turned on by a high-school course about the Holocaust, Todd Bowden (such a bland handle for this top-of-his-class sociopath!) tracks down Kurt Dussander, a former Gestapo killer hiding in the shadows of sunny SoCal. Blackmailing the old man into sharing his firsthand stories of genocide, the teenager trips out on the virtual reality of the monster's memories. There's perverse play here on the way a kid hungry for knowledge can bring a long-retired teacher or grandparent back to life. Truly superb as James Whale in Gods and Monsters, McKellen brings subtlety to this Stephen King creepshow: his dessicated Dussander is like a mummy or vampire revivified by Todd's appetite for atrocity.

Considerable talent intersects in Apt Pupil: It's director Bryan Singer's first film since The Usual Suspects, that enormously popular, rather heartless thriller-machine. The outstanding cast also includes David Schwimmer as a Jewish guidance counselor pathetically impotent in the face of Todd's talent for evil, and Bruce Davison as Todd's All-American Dad, lacking the capacity to even imagine evil. And the story itself has the potential for gazing into the heart of darkness right here in Hometown, U.S.A. But Apt Pupil just turns ugly and unclean when it trivializes its subject, equating Holocaust horrors with slamming a cat into an oven or offing a nosy vagrant (Elias Koteas). Reducing the great spiritual abyss that lies at the center of the 20th century to cheap slasher-movie thrills and chills is reprehensible. Both Todd and the writers of Apt Pupil should have heeded the old saw: When supping with the devil, best use a long spoon. --Kathleen Murphy

Customer Reviews:

Love, hate relationship.......2007-04-23

I liked this movie for all of the chills and twists in it. The problem that I did have with it was not really feeling for any of the characters, but that was probably the way that King wrote the story. The younger man, Todd Bowden coming into an older gentleman's home and threatening him with "exposure". Then plot twists and the older gentleman, Kurt Dussander turning and threatening Todd with exposure of knowing he was a war criminal. What I did like is that they did come to the realization that they were both benefiting from each other's company in some way. This movie is a Stephan King classic and I did like it very much. I do recommend it to anyone that likes psychological thrillers.

Chilling and very believable. A King's Classic..........2007-04-20

Stephen King's modern Horror story comes to life and it chills your bones.

A student wanting to know more about the Nazi past of a retired old man, who hides under a false name and identity makes for an already very good story, but when it goes farther than this, and it stretches into blackmail and absolute psychological evil, that's when it becomes explosive.

Ian McKellen as the former Nazi Officer, is absolutely brilliant and adds a chilling reality to the role he plays.
His entire development and subsequent transformation from a weak old man into his former self throughout the movie, is to say the least a masterwork of acting.

He plays his role to the fullest and one could almost feel some kind of eery enjoyment in doing so. It is a devilish appearance and this confirms the multi-faceted talents of a Great Actor as McKellen rightfully is.

Brad Renfro, although playing his role with honesty, is far less threatening as one may wish, although he adds a component of freshness to his role, in which we can honestly believe.
Younger generations can, at times, be very cruel, but don't many times, fully understand or appreciate the risks and dangers connected with reopening old wounds in elder people.

It is a very interesting social case study, very well developed by director Bryan Singer, who is a very good storyteller and paces all his movies in such a way, as never becoming stale.

It is shocking to see that at times, fiction foretells reality.
But this is not just a thriller or a psychological horror movie, it is far more. It is a warning.

Let the past rest, learn from it, but do not conjure it up again, or you will pay the consequences...

A great lesson and truly well developed.

I can only recommend it, but be adviced, this is a most disturbing movie. It has no gore, no true blood in it, but it could grasp you by the throat if you are not more than watchful.

Careful for what you wish for, you may even get it...

APT Pupil.......2007-03-11

A good dark drama, 16 year-old student recogines an old man living in his home town to be a hunted Nazi. If you like Stephen King you'll like this chilling story of psychological terror.

AMAZING!!!!!.......2007-03-09

This was one of the best movies i have bought from being on amazon, i got it in record time. The condition was great and i love watching it.i idk what else to say but the movie is a great movie,and i recomend it to everyone who ask about it.

One of my all-time favorites.......2007-02-24

This movie does not deserve to be overlooked. The casting is excellent and the story chilling. A young boy who is experimenting with the evil within himself -- as many adolescents do, dabbling in cruelty and self-destruction with no intention of taking any final steps -- chooses as his victim a former Nazi officer who is an expert at cat-and-mouse games, and at cultivating evil... The boy's life is forever changed as a result. Not to be missed. Read the novella, too, from Different Seasons. Different endings, both very good.

Average customer rating:

Deuces Wild doesnt have that much fight in it
no more west side story comparisons,please!!
A more intense version of West Side Story
save your money
just ok .... far from great , but not awful

Deuces Wild
Starring: Fairuza Balk , Nancy Ellen Cassaro , Matt Dillon , Stephen Dorff , and Balthazar Getty
Director: Scott Kalvert
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Sonny
James Dean
City by the Sea (Widescreen Edition)
Whatever It Takes
Six Ways to Sunday

ASIN: B00003CY1G
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Amazon.com

Take West Side Story, remove the music, add excessive profanity and violence, and you'll get Deuces Wild. It's an overripe melodrama in which rival street gangs--in this case Deuces vs. Vipers in 1958 Brooklyn--inevitably clash in a deadly rumble, preceded by shameless scenery-chewing from nearly everyone involved. Stephen Dorff plays the head Deuce, agonizing over his older brother's drug overdose and leading a cast of rising stars and familiar faces including Brad Renfro as Dorff's hot-tempered kid brother, Norman Reedus as the vicious lead Viper, Fairuza Balk as Renfro's no-nonsense girlfriend, and Matt Dillon (uncredited) as the kingpin who introduces heroin to Dorff's drug-free turf. Balthazar Getty, Frankie Muniz, and James Franco are also in the cast, suggesting that director Scott Kalvert was hoping for an unforgettable ensemble. What he got instead was a stale story crowded with percolating posers, recommended only for those who've never seen the 1979 street-gang classic The Warriors. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Deuces Wild doesnt have that much fight in it.......2005-09-26

Stephen Dorff (Blade, Entropy) stars as the leader of the gang called the Deuces and he was stricken years ago when one of his brothers died from an overdose that his enemy on the otherside of the street, the leader of the Vipers, played by Norman Reedus (Blade 2, Gossip) gave him. Now, Reedus springs out of prison and wants to take revenge on the Deuces starting a club on their side. Brad Renfro (The Jacket, Tart) plays the second older brother of Dorff who falls madly in love with a member of the Vipers sisters, played by Fairuza Balk (Almost Famous, The Craft) but his brother Dorff has his suspicions about her and doesnt want Renfro to be going out with her. Then things heat up as both gangs go head on in fights and brawls to see who comes out on top. Sometimes boring, nothing that can bring it up to be a good movie. Some of the acting is laughable and the editing, especially the fast motion/slow motion sprinkled into the fight scenes are really lame. Also starring Matt Dillon (Crash '05, The Outsiders) who is wasted here, Balthazar Getty (Lost Highway, Lord Of The Flies), Max Perlich(Blow, Drugstore Cowboy), James Franco (James Dean, Spider-Man 2) , Johnny Knoxille (Big Trouble, Dukes Of Hazzard), Frankie Muniz (Agent Cody Banks, Big Fat Liar), Deborah Harry (lead singer of Blondie) and Dre de Matteo (Assault On Precinct 13 '05).

no more west side story comparisons,please!!.......2005-02-21

when i heard about DEUCES WILD back in late 1999 early 2000,i was elated at the prospect of there finally being another 50's/early 60's type of street gang melodrama on the horizon.
yet,of course,because of the 9/11 incident in new york,the a-holes in hollywood decided to push back its release for quite a while,so i had to be content with the occasional promo photo in random movie magazines.
finally the movie came out without much fanfare,alas it was also the 'spiderman' weekend,and also the innocuos 'lord of the rings' was in theatres as well that weekend,but luckilly that meant i was in the movie theatre with just myself,my girl and about ten other people.
i thought the movie was excellent,great costumes,great cars,great period music,great locations,good yet hammy acting,gorgeous leading ladies,stylized violent rumble scenes,cheezy yet touching overacted scenes between familys,decent period detail.
yet then the reviews started coming in,and everybody who had ever had freshmen english or drama class compared it annoyingly to west side story,a 1961 singing and dancing musical,when they should have made comparisons to another tho far superior 1961 gang film,john frankenhiemer's black and white opus,'the young savages',or even to photographer bruce davidson's late 50's photo essay,'brooklyn gang' or even the short comic story in the late 70's underground comic,'50's funnies',called,'turf',about a gang in the 50's fighting with another gang who wanted drugs in the neiborhood and who had mob backing and a character was even named marco.....awfully convenient dont you think?
anyways,while this movie was'nt as good as 'the young savages','lords of flatbush' or 'the wanderers',to name but a few,but it was a hundred times better than the wimpy 'west side story' could ever be.
i dont know if this review helps,but the leads in this film were really good,stephen dorf,brad renfro,drea dematteo,faruiza balk,matt dillon,normon reedus and james franco putting in good performances......also i liked the fact that they did,nt over saturate the film with to much music from the past,it was just the right amount,very good choices of songs by 'dion and the belmonts','jerry butler and the impressions','the valentines','dee clark' and a few others.
and of course,faruiza balk and drea dematteo,tho a little long in the tooth to be playing teenagers,looked absolutely scrumptiuos.

A more intense version of West Side Story.......2004-11-27

Scott Kalvert did an outstanding job directing this movie and making the time period as realistic as possible. The similarity between this and Westside Story is the gang rivalry. In Westside Story, you have The Jets vs. The Sharks and in this movie you have The Deuces vs. The Vipers. I didn't see all of Westside Story though but it seems like its less intense than this movie. This movie has some Rebel Without A Cause as well but I didn't see that movie either. I compare this movie to Rebel Without A Cause because of the gang element and Stephen Dorff is The Jimmy Dean of this movie. Stephen Dorff does a great job as 'Leon', the noble yet violent leader of The Deuces. Brad Renfro also does a great job as Leon's younger brother Bobby. He is easily influenced by his brother's hatred towards The Vipers and his life-style is even more chaotic when he meets 'Annie', who is played by Fairuza Balk. Drea DeMateo was so so as 'Betsy', Norman Reedus does a great job as 'Marco', and Matt Dillion does a great job as 'Fritzy'. Overall, its a powerful and intense movie and a must see for movie fans. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

save your money.......2004-04-13

Unless you like cheesey, poorly written, poorly acted, and poorly executed movies save yourself the money. If you just have to have a nostaglia trip, get The Outsiders instead

just ok .... far from great , but not awful.......2004-01-10

Well like most others have commented yes the basic plot of the movie has been too many times to count . And yes there have been dozens of movies about the big-greasy hair and white t-shirt gangs of the late 50's and early 60's . But how many of those involved heroin dealers? or how many were as violent but as well writte