Chloe Webb

Average customer rating:

My favorite witchey movie
my family' s weider than your's
Practical Magic Review
Magical!
practical magic

Practical Magic
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Nicole Kidman , Stockard Channing , Dianne Wiest , and Goran Visnjic
Director: Griffin Dunne
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hocus Pocus
The Craft (Special Edition)
Practical Magic: Music From The Motion Picture
Hope Floats
While You Were Sleeping

ASIN: 0790740060
Release Date: 1999-02-16

Product Description

Actor Griffin Dunne improves a bit on his first film as a director, Addicted to Love, with this drama-comedy about a family of witches. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play spell-casting sisters of different temperaments: the former is a high-living, free-spirited sort, while Bullocks character is a homebody who can not get around a family curse that kills the men in their lives. A widowed single mom, Bullock gets into a jam with an abusive Bulgarian (Goran Visnjic) and is helped out by her sibling, but the result brings a good-looking, warm, inquisitive cop (Aidan Quinn) into their lives. The film has a variety of tonal changes--cute, scary, glum--that Dunne can not always effectively juggle. But the female-centric, celebratory nature of the film (the fantasies, the sharing, the witchy bonds) is infectious, and supporting roles by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as Kidman and Bullocks magical aunts are a lot of fun.

Amazon.com

Actor Griffin Dunne improves a bit on his first film as a director, Addicted to Love, with this drama-comedy about a family of witches. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play spell-casting sisters of different temperaments: the former is a high-living, free-spirited sort, while Bullock's character is a homebody who can't get around a family curse that kills the men in their lives. A widowed single mom, Bullock gets into a jam with an abusive Bulgarian (Goran Visnjic) and is helped out by her sibling, but the result brings a good-looking, warm, inquisitive cop (Aidan Quinn) into their lives. The film has a variety of tonal changes--cute, scary, glum--that Dunne can't always effectively juggle. But the female-centric, celebratory nature of the film (the fantasies, the sharing, the witchy bonds) is infectious, and supporting roles by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as Kidman and Bullock's magical aunts are a lot of fun. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

My favorite witchey movie.......2007-06-21

This is my very favorite classic movie on witchcraft. I feel that it puts a positive spin on wicca (although it has been glamorized and fictional). I love that the romantic aspect is not overly done and mushy, and that the spiritual side is not over done to the point of scaring the children.

my family' s weider than your's.......2007-05-17

An old favorite, with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as members of a witchy family cursed in affairs of the heart. Bullock, as a non-willing practioner of the arts, gets pulled into a dark act striving to save her sister (Kidman) from her evil boyfriend (ER"s Gorin Vasnjic). Throw in some comic relief from their 2 aunts (Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest)and you have an irresistable chick flick. Something good for a girl's night in. Put the lime in the coconut for a midnight margherita.

Practical Magic Review.......2007-05-14

The ultimate feel-good-about-being-a-woman chick-flick about three generations of women with magical powers. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are two beautiful sisters with flowing hair who are bound by a dark secret. Consumed by the intoxicating power of love, they call upon the power of womanhood to set them free.

Magical!.......2007-05-10

Practical Magic is all about two witches with a curse put on them :whenever they love a man that man will die.

I found it a bit scary at some places but the idea is so clever.the two girls are best friends (or sisters,i cant remember) one of them is very serious and the other isnt,she finds herself a boyfriend that keeps hitting her and so they accidently "kill him" or so they think.i wont ruin the story but it is absoloutly excellent,a genius thought of thr story.
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock have never been better.

practical magic.......2007-05-09

This movie was amazing in the way all the female characters interacted.There was chemistry between them all but especially between Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. I have read the book and have to say the movie is better(an unusual occurence),besides,we can all use a little magic or the possibility of it.

Average customer rating:

A small correction...
Brilliant
Tales of the City captures the flavor of the 70's in a fun, kitch-y, sensational way.
Fantabulous Ditto
My Favorite Mini Series, A Nostalgic Delight.

Tales of the City (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Olympia Dukakis , Donald Moffat , Chloe Webb , Laura Linney , and Marcus D'Amico
Director: Alastair Reid
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

More Tales of the City
Further Tales of the City, 2 Disc set
Latter Days (Unrated Edition)
Tales of the City: A Novel (P.S.)
Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00006BT1A
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Amazon.com

"The City" in question is San Francisco, and the tales are novelist Armistead Maupin's, his romantic, affectionate, and spirited homage to the glory days of his hometown. Maupin's idea of SF's glory days isn't the drug-filled Summer of Love (1967), but rather the drug-filled lust-in of the late '70s. Replacing acid with coke and ludes, psychedelia for disco, this six-hour miniseries (which caused controversy for its open drug use, nudity, and direct depiction of homosexuality upon its initial airing on PBS) follows the romantic struggles and identity crises of a colorful cast of characters. The action--as addictive as the drugs the characters ingest--is seen mostly from the innocent point of view of Mary Ann, the city's newest culture-shocked resident--so its presentation is rather decadent and hedonistic. Because the story originally ran as a daily serial in the San Francisco Chronicle before being compiled into a novel, its serialized structure suffers from typical soap-opera mawkishness and the need to shock with ridiculous revelations. Thankfully, this degeneration mostly occurs during the final two hours, allowing you to just enjoy the personalities and hilarious and often-touching interactions of the richly drawn characters before they're manipulated by plot devices. The performances are all outstanding, especially Chloe Webb's spacey ex-hippie Mona, Marcus D'Amico's romantically doomed Michael, and Olympia Dukakis's Anna Madrigal, the enigmatic mother hen/landlady of many of the film's central characters. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

A small correction..........2007-05-26

I join my voice with the other reviewers who loved the original series of "Tales of the City"....it was flawless! A note to hewasacloud and s. antonio: your complaints here were directed at the cleaned up DVD version (my gosh, what a shame THAT happened!). However, these reviews are for the VHS tapes, and as I understand it, they weren't dubbed over.

Oh, and a caveat: the two following series had mostly different actors and were lifeless. Stick with the original!

Brilliant.......2007-04-15

"Tales of the City"

Brilliant

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Every once in a while I rewatch the screen translation of Armistad Maupin's "Tales of the City". Every time I watch it I am amazed at how good it is. For those of you who thought that "Queer as Folk" was the first TV series dealing with gay life, you have to have a look at the classical rendering of "Tales of the City". It has great writing, great acting, memorable characters and a lot of things you would not expect to see on television.
It is an honest and unflinching look at the lives and romances of a group of characters who live the way they want without subscribing to the rules of society. Dealing with life in San Francisco in the 1970's, we get a view of promiscuity and drug usage and all kinds of relationships and lives---gay, straight, bisexual and transgendered. The dialog is wonderful and when it is delivered by good actors, we get a stellar achievement which could easily have been a pornographic exploitation expose. But it is not, it is an absolutely wonderful mini series.
We have learned to be cautious when we hear that a great piece of fiction is being translated for the silver screen. "Tales of the City" translates beautifully, keeping all the excitement and integrity of the book upon which it is based. Maupin's wonderful characters are transferred to the screen and become even more real to us. The pace and emotion of the written word are evident in the screen adaptation and the performances are absolutely incredible. Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal exudes an air of mystery, Marco D'Amico gives a wonderful breath of life to Mouse and Laura Linney as Mary Ann Singleton is sublime. (I love that word).
The first time I saw "Tales of the City". I found it riveting. I can't remember ever being so engrossed in anything on television before. Watching it again last night, I felt the same way. The characters were written in such a realistic way and were portrayed brilliantly. The series brought life to a time and place that made you feel like you were there. It is if you and Armistad Maupin are in the same room and he is telling you the stories first hand.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the subject matter, let me give you a brief run through. Mary Ann Singleton comes to San Francesco from Cleveland on a vacation and falls in love with what she sees. A high school friend, Connie Bradshaw (Parker Posey) introduces her to the dating scene and Mary Ann decides to move to the city. She takes an apartment at 28 Barbary Lane, a complex owed and run by Anna Madrigal, who treats her tenants as if they are her children (she even tapes a joint onto the doors of the apartments). Among the other tenants are Mona Ramsey (Chloe Webb) who always seems to be in a drugged out state; Mona's roommate, Michael "Mouse" Tolliver (D'Amico), who searches for love in some very interesting and far out places; and Brian Hawkins (Paul Gross), an ex-lawyer who is now a waiter and is always on the make.
Add Edgar Halcyon (Donald Moffat) who is dying but first meets Ms. Madrigal and woos her, his daughter DeDe (Barbara Garrick), whose marriage to Beauchamp Day (Thomas Gibson) is a sham. He has affairs with both men and women behind his wife's back. There is also D'orothea (Cynthia Williams), a fashion model who is in some way connected to Mona and a mysterious new tenant, Norman Neal Williams (Stanley DeSantis), who has a romance with Mary Ann who discovers that he is connected to Ms. Madrigal in a strange way.
From these characters come the twists and turns and by the end of the three DVD series, lives are changed forever. Here is an ironic and very funny mini series that will hook you in the first five minutes as it addresses a pastiche of events and happenings which occur in a diverse neighborhood of California. Many of the main characters are gay but if you have ever found yourself looking for love in the big city, you will have no problem relating to what you see on the screen. There is nudity and sex but not in an offensive way--everything seems quite natural. Here is a beautiful way to spend a few hours and be completely entertained. What a wonderful series...and there is more to come.

Tales of the City captures the flavor of the 70's in a fun, kitch-y, sensational way........2007-03-20

The first time I saw this was the first time I saw Laura Linney in anything. I didn't like her at first, but since then I've seen her in different roles, and this last time I viewed Tales of the City, I could see what a good job she did.

The plot follows a woman who is new to San Francisco, she is very mid-western, tight, but there is something in her that is really drawn to these looser ways of San Francisco. She becomes friends with many outrageous characters, covering gay and straight worlds One of my favorite characters is Mrs. Madrigel, played by Olympia Dukakis, is a great portrayal from the book, that one wishes was their own lady in San Francisco. Another favorite couple of characters is the Halcyon family with Beauchamp Day as the son-in-law. There is a brief appearance by Parker Posey, whose character exemplifies the "gotta get some hot stuff" attitude of the 70's. There's a very typical relationship of a gay man and a straight woman in it that I thought had elements of realism to it, speaking from experience.

Tales of the City captures the flavor of the 70's in a fun, kitch-y, sensational way. It also pokes fun at the fads of the 70's. The plot has intrigue and mysteries, and the characters all have secrets. It is very true to the books, so if you are an Armistead Maupin fan, you will most definitely appreciate it. If you are not yet, try him out for a little brain candy.

Fantabulous Ditto.......2007-01-10

Ilove these! The story line was followed so well and the actors are as I imagined when I first read the series.

My Favorite Mini Series, A Nostalgic Delight........2006-12-14

"Tales Of The City" is an honest and very entertaining story about life in the big city in the late 70's.This review contains a spoiler for those of you that aren't aware of the complete premise of the series.
Leading the cast is Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal the very hip eccentric land lady with a secret. She grows her own marijuana , has a plethora of advice and loves her tenants like they were her own children.
Also starring 2 time Oscar nominee Laura Linney as the naïve Mary Ann Singleton who moves to San Francisco from small town America.
Chloe Webb as the confused self proclaimed fag hag in love with the handsome gay Michael Tolliver a transplant to San Francisco from Orlando Florida (used for plenty of fruit jokes) played by the adorable Marcus D'Amico.
The cast also includes Thomas Gibson, Billy Campbell, Barbara Garrick, Paul Gross and The wonderful Donald Moffat.
The acting is fabulous, Dukakis is the shining star in this series, her portrayal of Anna Madrigal is so honest and heartfelt that you totally believe her in this role ,I personally never like it when a genetic woman plays a transgendered woman but she makes it work by not going over the top or exaggerating the character of Anna.
She gives her class, a sense of belonging and dignity while making her seem somewhat vulnerable yet giving her that slight rough edge that comes along with the journey she has traveled.
This series has a little of everything for everyone all amidst the beauty of San Francisco.
And whether it's edited or not it's one fun ride.

Average customer rating:

LOVE AFFAIR - JUST ANOTHER UPDATED CLASSIC THAT DIDN'T WORK
i love the original but it was still romantic
Get the Original Instead!
Doesn't hold a candle to the original
A pleasant enough trifle

Love Affair
Starring: Warren Beatty , Annette Bening , Katharine Hepburn , Garry Shandling , and Chloe Webb
Director: Glenn Gordon Caron
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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An Affair to Remember
Love Affair: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack
Sabrina
The American President
Regarding Henry

ASIN: B00005RRJZ
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Amazon.com

You can hear the big gears clank in this glossy, oh-so-watchable remake of the classic 1939 film (and the popular An Affair to Remember). Instead of updating the story with contemporary attitudes (as Warren Beatty did so successfully with Heaven Can Wait), this is a virtual carbon copy of the other films. The early scenes succeed as the two love birds (Beatty and real-life wife Annette Bening) banter with smart, fun talk. But the dramatics never really work in the modern era and romance doesn't blossom. Do we have to visit the Empire State Building again? Why couldn't the man be the victim? Everything looks wrapped for Christmas: a lovely score, nice use of old songs, rich designer clothes, familiar faces popping up everywhere, all surrounded by ace Conrad L. Hall's glowing, luscious light. It comes off like a big still-life, no zeal with two big exceptions: Garry Shandling's comic portrayal of lawyerhood as Beatty's agent and the reappearance of Katharine Hepburn. Seen for maybe 10 minutes, she packs more magic in her work than the entire rest of the movie. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

LOVE AFFAIR - JUST ANOTHER UPDATED CLASSIC THAT DIDN'T WORK.......2006-06-08

Many of the reviews I read felt strongly in favor of this remake, but some of the people had not seen "An Affair to Remember". Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr had the spark so lacking in this "Love Affair" remake. The original "Love Affair" with (forgive me, I can only remember Irene Dunne as Terry, and my opinion that film was not as good as this "Love Affair", however. I missed hearing the original scoring of "An Affair to Remember", but Annette Benning's music with the children was lovely.

As most of the reviews that stated they were in favor of "An Affair...", I missed the climactic ending with Cary Grant's reactions, and also the shipboard scene where he want's to be "worthy of her love".

I don't wish to underrate or "dump" on this film, but I wish all reviewers would watch the Grant/Kerr version just once. I believe they will become "old movie buffs" too. Thanks for reading my review.

i love the original but it was still romantic.......2006-02-18

This was so romantic, i love the original so much bascially i love them both. I think some old school might only stick to the original but for my generation i think being 24 they were both acceptible..

get your girlfriends and let lose and enjoy...

Get the Original Instead!.......2006-01-03

This is a remake of the classic "An Affair to Remember" starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. A good try, but it just doesn't compare to the original. Warren Beatty is no Cary Grant--in looks, general appeal, or acting ability. Annette Bening is wonderful, but loses some credibility--it's just hard to believe that this beautiful, competent, all together woman would dump urbane and caring Pierce Brosnan to fall for notoriously unfaithful jock Warren Beatty, whose favorite line seems to be "I love to watch you move."

A lot of the dialogue and plot follow the original closely, but several changes were made to modernize the story. I kept wondering how they would pull off the last scene, since Beatty's character was now a retired football player and coach, not a painter. The concept that within those 3 months apart (in the original, it was a more believable 6 months to adjust their lives), Beatty had coincendentally been asked to paint a picture for a New York restaurant and was able to execute a portrait of Bening in his aunt's shawl well enough the she recognized it was far-fetched at best.

The most moving part in the original came when Cary Grant found the portrait in Kerr's bedroom and realized that she was paralyzed. Watch the emotions that play over his face, and then view Beatty's rendition. There is simply no comparison.

IMO, there's also an inside story kind of approach here--we all know that in "real life" Beatty and Bening are married, and I guess the director assumed that this casting would make us believe more in the attraction and deep love developing between these two. I found the attraction between Bening and Michael Douglas in The American President far more believable, and for all I know they may not even like each other in "real life!" Go for the original--sure it's dated, but the acting is superb, and I guarantee it will give a greater pull to your heartstrings.

Doesn't hold a candle to the original.......2005-02-28

This is a remake of An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah and it does not work. Some movies just should not be remade. The ONLY thing good about this movie is Katharine Hepburn's appearance. Get the original!

A pleasant enough trifle.......2005-02-18

I remember the legend of Warren Beatty trying to sweet talk Katharine Hepburn into appearing in this remake of AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, which is in every way a better picture. Hepburn made some outrageous demands and Beatty (as producer) just smiled and gave in everywhere, for he knew that he would need one last gasp of the old Hollywood to give this remake what luster it had, the way that RAGTIME floated by on the coattails of Jimmy Cagney's great return to the screen.

Earlier in his career Beatty had successfully transplanted HERE COMES Mr. JORDAN and made it into HEAVEN CAN WAIT, displaying a casualness about the title that made some of us wince (for HEAVEN CAN WAIT was a different old movie, all its own, and totally different than the reincarnation plot line Beatty and Buck Henry "borrowed" from the old Robert Montgomery classic. But turning AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER back to LOVE AFFAIR (its original title) Beatty came a cropper. Parts of the movie are cute, and Bening is a wonderful actress, and almost a star, but it needed someone (I think) who is 100 per cent a star and she's only about 95 per cent.

This was the first time that his fans noticed the heavy gauze veils through which our aging Adonis Warren was now forced to photograph himself, otherwise he'd look rotten as old scungilli. In some shots the gauze droops a little and it looks like another actor entirely, it's disconcerting. Director Glenn Gordon Caron had previously worked some chemistry magic between feuding co-stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, actually making them look as though they could tolerate each other, on their TV series MOONLIGHTING, but the magic isn't there for LOVE AFFAIR. Is it true what they say, that box office dwindles when you put a married couple in as the leads of your film? Seems like it here. What a disappointment.

Average customer rating:

Pure Fantasy
Absolute Disaster
A Profile of a Train Wreck.
More Sid And Nancy Than The Real Nancy and Sid Were
Can't stop watching it

Sid & Nancy
Starring: Sandy Baron , Perry Benson , Xander Berkeley , Debby Bishop , and Rusty Blitz
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Filth and the Fury - A Sex Pistols Film
Suburbia
SLC Punk
Repo Man (Collector's Edition)
Sid & Nancy

ASIN: B00004ZBVO
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com

After the cultish success of Repo Man, maverick director Alex Cox made the film that remains his masterpiece--a loud, brash, abrasive, painful, funny, and utterly brilliant screen biography of British punk rocker Sid Vicious and his American girlfriend Nancy Spungen. As played to perfection by Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb, Sid and Nancy are made for each other, serving their mutual strengths and weaknesses and rising with the punk-rock fame of Sid's group, the Sex Pistols, while falling into the ultimately lethal pit of drug abuse. Cox doesn't pull any punches or compromise the unsavory aspects of this passionate love story, so the film presents a harsh mix of emotional and physical anguish tempered by the very poignant and genuine love shared by its tormented central characters. Through it all, the film emerges as an intimate and yet oddly epic chronicle of punk's glory days of anarchic sex, drugs and rock & roll. It's as dynamic and confidently directed as any screen biography before or since, no less fascinating for its unpleasant aspects as for the touching emotions at its very human core. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Gary Oldman (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Lost In Space) and Chloe Webb (The Newton Boys) execute performances that are nothing short of phenomenal (Los AngelesTimes) as Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his unforgettable junkie girlfriendtwo socialmisfits who literally love each other to death. In this riveting biography of burnt-out icons (The Washington Post), award-winning* writer/director Alex Cox (Repo Man) creates a great film ('siskel & Ebert ) about the destructive lives of two 1970's punk legends. Their love affair is one of pure devotion. Sid falls hard for groupie Nancy Spungen, who seduces him with her affectionand addiction to heroin. Their inseparable bondto each other and their drugseventually corrodes the band, sending Sid and Nancy down a dark road of despair. Out of money, hope and options,the despondent two hit rock bottom while living in squalor at New York's infamous Chelsea Hotel. But their journey takes yet another tragic turn as they face their final curtainand attempt to fulfill their destiny of going out in a blaze of glory! *1986: Critics Award, Sao Paulo International Film Festival

Customer Reviews:

Pure Fantasy.......2007-05-06

Hey kids, let's glorify the use of heroin!

This film was a big mistake and terribly misleading to the younger generations who were not around for the origination of the Punk scene and the real news that surrounded the deaths of the Sid and Nancy.

Super for the "emo's" who love a tragic tale, but absolute drivel when it comes to reality. One gets the sense that these two ended up in a happy rock and roll heaven and all is well. What glory? Nonsense! Take it as fiction because the facts were much more harsh, pathetic, and disappointing.

I have been a fan of the Sex Pistols since the 70's and can only shake my head when I think of Sid- a very naive young man who couldn't handle stardom and fell into the hell and sorrow of drug addiction. Nancy did not help as she was a dealer and major manipulator.

The only thing that saves the film and makes it worth two stars is the integrity in which John Lydon is portrayed. There is some truth in that and they did do justice to his character.

If I had time to sit and watch any film even related to the Pistols, it would be the documentary "The Filth and The Fury." There you will find the truth. You will hear from Nancy herself about being a prostitute and from Sid about his feelings regarding his drug addiction.

Absolute Disaster.......2007-05-02

As a fan of Punk, this is one of the most disappointing films I've seen.The "Actor" who plays Sid Vicious is pathetic- nothing like him at all. Worst Punk film ever.

A Profile of a Train Wreck. .......2007-03-11

What I enjoyed most about Sid and Nancy was the profile of the Sex Pistols who (unfortunately) are only a vicarious part of the plot. I know that Johnny Lydon did not approve of this film, but I absolutely loved Schofield's portrayal of him here. In fact, he almost steals the spotlight from the train wreck that is the relationship between the main protagonists. I also thought that technically this film was outstanding. My favorite scene involved the press/party boat. After it was forcibly docked, the shot of Sid and Nancy gliding through the melee was exceptional. This movie has something in common with all period pieces we remember--it is incredibly well-done. My own appreciation for the film, however, was sabotaged by the fact that I was not even remotely interested in the love affair between Sid and Nancy. I found the gradual disintegration of their lives to rather depressing.

More Sid And Nancy Than The Real Nancy and Sid Were.......2007-02-17

I think Sid & Nancy might just be the best rock-based biographical film yet done. Better than Oliver Stone's The Doors, better than last year's dismal Brian Jones flick whose name isn't worthy of being repeated here. The reason Sid & Nancy rises above the rest can be summed up in one word: talent. Sid & Nancy is the result of a passionate filmmaker getting near-perfect performances from his well-chosen cast, of welding great music and attention-grabbing scenery to a modern tragedy that touches many emotions. The result is a five-star film.

People are surprised when I tell them the Sex Pistols rank among my all-time favorite groups. No, I was never a punk, and besides, when I was growing up `70's punk bands were mostly curiosities from modern pop culture history, but I do like the music the Sex Pistols produced on their one and only legitimate album, and the film Sid & Nancy, much criticized by pompous purists and much praised by most everyone else, is a chronicle of that era and two of its most infamously doomed participants. The chameleonic Gary Oldman brings Sid Vicious not only to life, he somehow surpasses the original to vicariously embody a character more memorable than the flesh and blood young man on whom the role is based. Likewise Chloe Webb (who really deserved better career choices than she got after this movie) brings the manic-depressive Nancy Spungen back from the grave in all her alienating, irritatingly pathetic hideousness.

Some say this movie takes liberties with the timeline of Sid and Nancy's short lives, and others say it manages to glamorize them for the wrong things. Probably legitimate gripes, I'll grant, but there are also those who refuse to see the greatness in, say, Shakespeare's Richard III, because the fictionalized villain bears scant resemblance to the real man. That's much the same case here. For all one might say in criticism of this movie, Alex Cox did the impossible and revived the decaying, culture-shocked world of 1970's London, and against that stage he crafted a story that works well. Sid & Nancy is about drugs, music, twisted love between two misfit human beings, needless death, and a revolutionary movement that imploded on its nihilism even as its message was lost on the masses. Sid & Nancy is not only about Sid and Nancy, so emblematic of their time and place, it is the tragic chronicle of the spirit of misguided post-adolescent reaction against a dismal age.

Can't stop watching it.......2007-02-07

I love the Sex Pistols and the whole british punk movement of the 1970's. I think Johnny Rotten wrote the greatest lyrics for the band and Cook & Jones are the true backbone musicly of the Sex Pistols. Glen Matlock certainly got cheated and so did the band when Sid Vicious joined as their, ahem, "Bass Player." (Was glad to see Glen was back for the reunion tour and you can hear his great bass work on Filthy Lucre Live=plus hear the band as a four piece rather than the Sid version with a singer, drummer, guitarist and a fashion plate standing stage left.)

I love Alex Cox's RepoMan film and when I read he did the "Sid & Nancy" film, I bought it. The two that play Sid & Nancy did a fine job. I liked that Courtney Love had a bit part in it too. The story is crazy yet amusing. It is a demented love story that was based around nothing but Sex, Drugs and (Punk) Rock N' Roll. But the Rock N' Roll (as in music) was pretty much left out, since Sid really wasn't a musician. Sid befriended Johnny Rotten and got him to join the band after they parted with Glen Matlock. Here in the film, you see that Johnny, Paul & Steve were probably thinking it was a HUGE mistake having Sid in the band, plus they had to deal with his girl, Nancy.

Just goes to show you the devestating effect drugs can have on the poeple that use them and the heartache it can bring to others. Sid had a role in the disbanding of one of the most important bands in rock history and possibly had a hand in the death of his girlfriend. Did someone else visit Sid and Nancy and got high together and killed Nancy? Did Sid just hold a knife and Nancy went to jump on him during a fight and was accidently stabbed by Sid? Only Sid & Nancy know. One thing is for sure, they were certainly made for each other and both had a death wish.

As far as the acting, I wished they picked better poeple to play the other Sex pistols. The guy who played Johnny was okay but he should have played it more obnoxious. The Sex Pistol songs done for the movie by other musicians are very sterile sounding without any punk bite. Same goes for X Ray Spex "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!". I didn't like that Johnny Rotten was kinda portrayed a bit wimpy, too. But the feel and crazyness of the film is cool and it's pretty much a derranged story that has some memorable scenes and is great to watch alot just for those.

This movie is certainly a cult classic. If you like movies such as Repo Man, Heathers and Pump Up the Volume, you will enjoy Sid & Nancy.

Average customer rating:

70th Birthday gift for a set of twins.
A Timeless Classic
SuperB
PLEASE RELEASE THIS DVD IN WIDESCREEN!!!
Could have been great

Twins
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Danny DeVito , Kelly Preston , Chloe Webb , and Bonnie Bartlett
Director: Ivan Reitman
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Kindergarten Cop
Junior
The 6th Day [Region 99]
The Last Action Hero
Jingle All the Way

ASIN: 0783226926
Release Date: 1998-05-27

Amazon.com essential video

DeVito and Schwarzenegger as fraternal twin brothers? Hey, why not? This delightful 1988 comedy by Ivan Reitman--about genetically designed twin siblings who discover each other at the age of 35--works out just fine, thanks largely to great chemistry between the two stars. Despite a certain amount of rough action and tension, the film really gets a lift from the palpable innocence Reitman develops, and the female costars (Chloe Webb and Kelly Preston) bring some interesting texture of their own. This is a film that walked the tightrope of a high concept and completely succeeded. To see how easy it is to stumble in a similar situation, check out DeVito and Schwarzenegger in Reitman's Junior. The DVD release has a full-screen presentation, optional French and Spanish soundtracks, optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

70th Birthday gift for a set of twins........2007-05-25

I pasted the faces of the birthday boy and girl over Arnold and Danny.
It was a great fun surprise.

A Timeless Classic.......2007-05-02

This is such a great movie, but the dvd is really not too good. Like many other great older movies, the studio has not given this movie the proper dvd transfer that it diserves.

SuperB.......2007-01-12

Arnold has always been funny (in this movie:). One of his first comedies. I like. He's just :)

PLEASE RELEASE THIS DVD IN WIDESCREEN!!!.......2006-12-21

Those of you at Universal Home Video, please please please release this great film in its original WIDESCREEN format, along with Kindergarten Cop! Both films deserve better than 10-year-old pan & scan transfers!

Could have been great.......2006-05-28

You have to wonder what is going on in the minds of some of these Hollywood directors these days. The script is hilarious and the film company could have had a classic on their hands save for one fairly major quibble - the casting! Who in their right minds would believe that Arnold Schwartzenegger and Danny De Vito were twins. Apart from the lack of any physical resemblance they don't even have the same accent or dress the same most of the time. I have to admit it did rather detract from the film as far as I was concerned. I think they should have gone for the obvious choice and cast The Proclaimers instead.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Moving Film
A Masterpiece Of A Film: Dennehy Is Outstanding!
Obsessions, art, death and confessions in the city of meat
A visual feast
Somebody has to die, it's a Greenaway film *YAWN*

The Belly of an Architect
Starring: Brian Dennehy , Chloe Webb , Lambert Wilson , Sergio Fantoni , and Stefania Casini
Director: Peter Greenaway
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Draughtsman's Contract
A Zed & Two Noughts
The Pillow Book
Greenaway - Early Films
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover

ASIN: B0001V6ZIY
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Description

Writer-director Peter Greenaway (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover) puts "the 'art' back into the art film" (The Hollywood Reporter) with this work of "pure visual poetry" (Boston Herald) that "celebrates Rome and its architecture with elegance and discernment" (The New York Times) and boasts Brian Dennehy's "best performance of his screen career" (LA Weekly)! American architect Stourley Kracklite (Dennehy) can't see the beauty in Rome throughhis pain. Intense stomachaches are crippling him and, worse, he believes his pregnant young wife ishaving an affair with his archrival! As his suspicions turn to paranoia and obsession, and his marriage, health and reputation begin to unravel, this once-respected man becomes consumed by his own self-torture from the inside out!

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Moving Film.......2007-01-22

Dreamlike, beautifully shot by great Sasha Vernie and equally disturbing (as all Greenaway's movies are), "The Belly of an Architect" (1987) tells the story of an American architect, Stourley Kracklite (Brian Dennehy) who came to Rome to work on the exhibition dedicated to the French architect of the 18th century, Etienne-Louis Boullee (1728 - 1799). Stourley brings with him his much younger wife Louisa with whom is passionately in love. Everything looks good for him - he's got a project of his dreams to work on, his wife is with him, and his Italian colleagues seem to be supportive and exited about the exhibit as much as he is. Soon, though, the things begin to change and look rather grim - Stourley's pregnant wife enters the affair with a younger man, the work does not move as quickly as it was planned and on the top of all, Stourley gets sick and perhaps more seriously than he thinks.

When I watch Peter Greenaway's films, I know they will be a feast for brain, eyes, and ears - his films consist of frames so perfectly composed that you want to capture every moment of them and exclaim like Goethe's Faust did, "Stay a while! You are so lovely!". The music in his films matches the visual beauty perfectly, and his outlook at the familiar world is always original and arresting even if it lacks warmth and sentimentality. "The Belly of an Architect" is all that: it is filled with symbolism and references to history, Art, and anatomy. It is also a social satire on difference between cultures but it is a compelling and moving story of one man's descending to chaos, hopelessness, despair, and eventually death. This is the first Greenaway's movie since "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" that made me feel compassion for its protagonist. I believe it is due to the incredible performance by Brian Dennehy - quite unusual name for a Greenaway's film but was he great as the architect of the title. Dennehy creates a character that is not likable as the film begins but heartbreaking and tragic by the end.

8/10

A Masterpiece Of A Film: Dennehy Is Outstanding!.......2006-10-24

Many do not see this film by Greenaway as a masterpiece, pointing to his other works, however, this is my favorite film of his. And I think this IS his masterpiece. I found myself riveted to the character portrayed by Brian Dennehy, and was amazed at the performance he gave. In this film, Brian Dennehy gives the performance of his life. "The Belly Of An Architect" was shot on location in Rome, and stars (Brian Dennehy) as Stourley Kracklight, an American architect, and his wife Louisa (Chloe Webb). The scenery of Rome is a delight, and the musical score is truly outstanding.

Kracklight is an architect whose main interest is in the life of 18-Century architect Etienne Louis Boulee. Kracklight is in Rome to give an exhibition on the works and influence of Boulee, of which Kracklight has devoted more than ten years of his life to studying, when he begins to have stomach pains. But it is not just the stomach that is bothering him, he is also having a mental breakdown of sorts. Which will only worsen as his own terminal illness and obsession with death begin to consume him. There are many other plots going on as Kracklight deals with his illness.

Moreover, Kracklight's wife Louisa has left him, and he detests the young Italians [to some degree] whom he feels are enroaching on his wife. But the film is more than that. Dennehy's performance as a man obsessed with life, as much as death, permeates every scene he is in. He even goes so far as to write postcards to Boulee. This film explores deep into the soul of Kracklight, and his mental break with all those arround him, and how his creative process copes with this terminal illness. This film has always fascinated me, however, it may not appeal to all audiences. The film is slow and methodical. There is no violence, explosions, blood, or car chase scenes. If these are your type of films, look elsewhere. I highly recommend the film. At least rent it if your not sure.

Obsessions, art, death and confessions in the city of meat.......2006-06-24

"The belly of an architect" is as much about archticture and the art of filmmaking as it is about the story of Stourley Kracklite, an American architect who visits Rome with his wife to create an exhibition of his little known hero Etiènne Louis Boullée.
Rome, with its famous buildings and statues are as much a character as a background, its the city of meat and its breathing and throbbing. Director Peter Greenaway's approach (in collaboration with the French cinematographer Sacha Vierny) is that of an architect: flat and straight forward shots with a longing for tight composition and symmetry, big multi-structured panorama's and a keen eye for detail. Furthermore are all natural colors like blue and green filtered and only when the theme of death and decay come into the story, green is visible. All the rest are meat colors, brownish, redish, and the likes.

Just like Greenaway's obsessions for fimmaking and art in general, Stourley Kracklite's life is driven by obsession. And having an obsession means to hurt and to get hurt. Hurt because all other things in life come second, even family and personal health.
Dedicated to create a exhibition which will do justice to the works of the unknown Boullée, Kracklite neglects his wife and his health and slowly descends into paranoia. Is his wife cheating on him or not? Is his stomach really ill, is he being poisoned? Is everybody involved with his quest for recognition Boullée (and in a way: for himself) really just after his money and does no one in fact really care?

Kracklite then turns to the only person he can trust: his long deceased hero Boullée to whom he starts to write postcards. Kracklites introduces himself, talks, asks questions, wonders, ponders and confesses, and finally, in a moment of truth, asks Boullée: "Supose you came here to open the exhibition? That would show them all!"
It's almost impossible to believe but this realtionship between a lonely fan and his long time dead hero, all through one-way-postcard-messages becomes more and more moving.

The film self is, like all Greenaway films ("A zed and two noughts", "The cook, the thief, his wife & her lover"), drenched in juicy black humor and fortunately so, because Greenaway is a kind of snob, boasting at times too much with his intelligence and powerhouse knowledge of art, and without mockery, self mockery or humor to `keep things bearable', the movie would surely drown in a big swamp of selfindulgence.

But the real heart of this movie ticks within the American actor who plays Stourley Kracklite: the heavy set, bearded Brian Dennehy. His performance shines and sparkles, his body, his stomach, and his sneering, sardonic voice, everything fits the bill perfectly. He is funny and tragic at the same time, you feel sorry for him but at the same time you keep up with him, respect him. Like him.
If this would be Dennehy's sole leading role (in Hollywood cinema he is the typical `always suporting actor') then he could still be proud.

A visual feast.......2006-03-15

I saw this movie at the theatre many years ago and it left an imprint on me for it's visual style and Dennehy's great understated performance as the architect Kracklight(sp?). It is not a perfect movie - I thought the sound quality on the DVD was a little muted, the dialogue sometimes juvenile & the actress who plays Kracklight's wife annoying at the very least. With that said, I recommend the movie as of feast for the eyes & ears (Mertens score is perfect!).

Somebody has to die, it's a Greenaway film *YAWN*.......2005-07-13

Pretentiously morbid and opulently crafted. Not for me.

Average customer rating:

What's not to like?
The Boring 20s
Great unwatched movie
supurb
EXCELLENT!!!

The Newton Boys
Starring: Matthew McConaughey , Skeet Ulrich , Ethan Hawke , Vincent D'Onofrio , and Gail Cronauer
Director: Richard Linklater
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Whole Wide World [Region 99]
EdTV (Collector's Edition)
Steal This Movie!
The Velocity of Gary [Region 99]
Claire Dolan

ASIN: 6305364559
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Amazon.com

The Newton Boys were the most successful bank robbers in the history of the United States. They never killed anyone, never snitched, and only robbed banks (just bigger thieves, in their opinion), until their final deal, which was a botched train robbery for $3 million. Engagingly played by Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, and Vincent D'Onofrio, the Boys don't have the kind of flaws of more brutal criminals that make for more volatile dramas. The film ambles along in a leisurely way to tell its story of the Newtons' bank-robbing career, with an ever-present air of reverent Americana. This may make some viewers impatient, and cause a glow in others. It seems like a departure for director Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused)--a costumer to be sure, but Linklater's deliberately amiable pace perfectly balances the Boys' personalities. You may wander into this movie and feel right at home. The golden-hued cinematography of Peter James (Driving Miss Daisy) adds a level of comfort that makes everything warm-like. The end credits intercut archival footage of two of the real-life Newton boys toward the end of their lives, one from a 1980 appearance with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. --Jim Gay

Description

It seems the only way "The Newton Boys" can make good is by goin' bad! Faster than you can say "nitroglycerin," they've knocked over more than 80 banks from Texas to Canada. Now their sights are set on a multimillion-dollar Federal Reserve train robbery, but the Feds are about to turn up the heat!

Customer Reviews:

What's not to like?.......2006-12-06

I saw this on HBO recently when I was home sick. What a fun farce! The four Newton boys and a safecracker manage to bumble through 80 bank robberies. But things get serious when they try to pull of a "big" job.

The acting is outstanding, but Dwight Yoakum and Skeet Ulrich turn in phenomenal supporting performances. Yoakum plays the hypochondriac safecracker and Ulrich is youngest brother Joe. Ulrich has the most to do as he matures from baby brother to convict, while serving as the conscience, worrier, romantic, and accountant of the group.

The Texas accents were great. Never once were the accents or speech distracting from the movie itself. The music is also perfect for this movie. It intensifies for a moment as something blows up, or you think something bad is about to happen, then it goes back to bum-bump.. dee bum bum bum-bump.

Whoever thought the line "You're mean, you know that?" was dumb, is missing the point. These boys had guns full of bird shot. They had no intention of hurting anyone, and when they were caught in the act and this lady wouldn't shut up, they worst thing they could think to do was call her mean. Hilarious!

I think the film missed some opportunities for character development. Doc was underdeveloped and Vincent D'Onofrio underutilized. There was a subtle resentment from Jess towards Willis that could have been brought out. I didn't like the stylized introduction. But overall this movie was a blast.

The Boring 20s.......2006-11-06

Who can forget The Roaring Twenties, aka, The Jazz Age; that storied slice of American pie characterized by flappers, bathtub gin, exuberance, prosperity, good-natured entrepreneurial adventurism, debauchery, and crime? Apparently Richard Linklater could. As co-writer and director of The Newton Boys, he has given us a soporific portrayal of the nation's most successful bank robbers so drenched in warm sunlight and loving backwards glances it would be comfortable on the Hallmark channel. That was no roar you heard from these 20s, that was a yawn.

The Newton Boys is a departure for Linklater who usually makes precious films that struggle to be avant garde and succeed in consuming a great deal of dialogue without generating substance, (Tape, Waking Life, Before Sunrise). This film is different in that it has something resembling a plot, although these affable Newton boys seem to meander through events with no particular motivation.

The gang's leader, Willis, is played by Matthew McConaughey, arguably the luckiest man in Hollywood. McConaughey smiles a great deal and lets the camera admire him, which is the closest he will ever come to acting. Never once do we get the sense that Willis has the requisite grit for brazen crime, indeed, it is hard to imagine him ripping the tag off a mattress.

Ethan Hawke is also in The Newton Boys, frankly, I wouldn't be shocked to see Ethan Hawke in Linklater's baby pictures. Hawke is workmanlike, and was very good in Training Day, but why must Linklater use him in every film?

One of the most interesting actors working today, Vincent D'Onofrio, is completely wasted. D'Onofrio brings menace and unpredictably to every part, here his talent is squandered to the point where his time might have been better spent painting props.

Good period recreation, trains, cars, clothes, and hats - but ultimately, empty suits. Imagine a Coen brothers picture without the wit, intelligence, sly humor, unexpected twists, interesting characters, quirky sensibility, and strong motivations that drive people to extremes - and you're still imagining a better movie than this.

Perhaps Linklater wanted to make an authentic picture about an actual family of guys who really were as dull as library paste with the emotional range of fish who just happened into the bank robbing business the way other people happen into accounting or auto sales. Assuming for the moment this is the case - he didn't even do that.

Great unwatched movie.......2006-02-20

This is one of those movies that it seems nobody ever heard of but if you haven't seen it yet, you've missed out.

supurb.......2006-02-05

I saw that someone said that they are not heros. And they were disapointed about it. They were bank robbers. Thier not suppose to be heros.If you want heros watch mighy mouse. I read all the reviews and no one else said anything about that. I've never wrote one of these things before but I had to set the record straight for that guy.

EXCELLENT!!!.......2005-07-20

im not long winded so i will keep this short. this is one of the best westerns i have seen. Excellent acting, good plot, and overall excellent performances. If you like westerns you will love this movie. Vincent D'onofrio was Phenomenal!!

Average customer rating:

Decent Homage to John Cassavetes
"Love is so difficult": a crazy couple's romance
Not Real but Really Good
well acted, enormous let down of an ending
She's So Lovely

She's So Lovely
Starring: Robin Wright Penn , James Gandolfini , Susan Traylor , Harry Dean Stanton , and Debi Mazar
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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State of Grace
The Crossing Guard
Lucky Numbers
Mad City
At Close Range

ASIN: B00004Z4SH
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Amazon.com essential video

This film springs from a long-neglected script by the late John Cassavetes. The script was directed by his son Nick and stars Sean Penn, who was set to star before the elder Cassavetes died. Penn plays Eddie, an alcoholic ne'er-do-well who loves his young wife Maureen (Robin Wright Penn) too much. When she is brutalized by a neighbor, Eddie goes nuts--and lands in a mental hospital for 10 years. When he is freed, he finds Maureen remarried, to contractor Joey (John Travolta), with whom she has two children. But Eddie's love is too strong not to draw him back to her and make one final plea for her affection. A great showcase for all of the actors involved (the cast includes James Gandolfini, Harry Dean Stanton, and Gena Rowlands), with a particularly fine performance by Sean Penn. The film has the make-it-up-as-you-go feeling of John Cassavetes's work, as well as the kind of naked emotions that were his hallmark. --Marshall Fine

Description

John Travolta (THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER, FACE/OFF) joins Sean Penn (UP THE VILLA, SWEET AND LOWDOWN), and Robin Wright Penn (MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, HURLYBURLY) in this funny, hip, and emotionally supercharged movie about a woman whose passion for two totally opposite men sets up an outrageously explosive love triangle! Maureen (Robin Wright Penn) and first husband Eddie (Sean Penn) lived through some very wild times ... until an unforeseen crisis finally drove them apart. So when he walks back into her life after 10 years ... Maureen must choose between her love for husband number two (Travolta) ... and the electricity she shares with Eddie! With a superb cast delivering top performances -- SHE'S SO LOVELY is a motion picture knockout filled with vivid humor and riveting intensity!

Customer Reviews:

Decent Homage to John Cassavetes.......2007-05-31

"She's So Lovely" is based on a script by the legendary writer/director John Cassavetes and is directed by his son Nick Cassavetes, who has recently directed "The Notebook" and "Alpha Dog." I've never seen a film by John Cassavetes and I've read reviews that complain about the missing depth of characterization that is normally associated with his films. I can see that being a valid argument, but "She's So Lovely" is an interesting, powerful, and funny film with dynamite performances by all. Robin Wright Penn plays Maureen, a young woman pregnant with her husband Eddie's (Sean Penn) baby. Eddie is a little crazy and tends to disappear for long periods of time; He's also known for his short temper. After Maureen is beaten and almost raped by her neighbor (Tony Soprano himself, James Gandolfini), it sends Eddie off the deep end prompting Maureen to call the local mental institution to pick him up. When they come to get him, Eddie shoots one of the men and winds up getting ten years. When he gets out (under the impression he's only been in for 3 months), he finds Maureen has had his baby and is now married to Joey (John Travolta) with whom she has two other daughters. It's the second half of this film that really gets convoluted. While John Travolta is absolutely dynamite in the second half, it didn't strike me as believable. During Eddie's stay in the institution, Maureen didn't write him a letter, call him, or send him a picture. Now, ten years later, with him out Maureen suddenly wants to leave her husband and children behind to get back with Eddie. It's entertaining throughout, but the end of the film is something you're going to find yourself shaking your head about. As for the performances, they are fantastic! Robin Wright Penn (who has spent the last few years in quirky independent films) really pulls off this role, even when her character is making unbelievable decisions. Sean Penn (whom John Cassavetes had in mind for the role when he planned to direct it) is terrific, but delivers a performance that's much quieter than his usual flamboyant, but great, performances (see "Mystic River" and "All the King's Men"). Travolta really stole the show for me, because he delivers some of the best lines in the film. Nick Cassavetes is a talented filmmaker and this is a nice homage to his father's legacy, but it wouldn't have hurt to tweak the script slightly.

GRADE: B+

"Love is so difficult": a crazy couple's romance .......2005-12-17

This movie is hopelessly out of step with the times - evoking one of the 60's European cinema's themes of questioning the bourgeoisie lifestyle. It's a fascinating, irrational celebration of passion, even if these feelings have destructive consequences and involve unquestionably insane, violent, socially dysfuntional behavior. Taking an unflinching look at urban bar-flies who live in a hotel worthy for crack addicts, the subversive film is emotionally messy, ambalivalent in its social values, theatrical but gritty, deeply romantic but totally debauched.
The three main characters are repellent, but not nauseating, because they have such flair, are darkly funny and display touching humanity. The actors playing them (Robin Wright Penn, Sean Penn and John Travolta) go not for realism or the usual Hollywood character arc, but for what they see as artistic "truth" in any given scene. Whatever. Oops, I mean, all three are outstanding.
Robin Wright Penn is, at the beginning, pregnant and smokes and drinks, looks like she shoots up heroin, and constantly trips over her high heels all over the sidewalk. It seems to be raining all the time, too. She walks and talks like a street hooker in the old Times Square. Even with all this, she, to me, truly is so lovely and heartbreakingly tragic, beautiful and not quite right in the head and bad news.
This film has that oh-so hip mid-90's indy Miramax flavor. (Put it along something experimental like Leaving Las Vegas from a couple of years before and it's not really that weird.) As you can read anywhere else, this script is by the late, some say great, American film rebel John Cassavetes (hence the theme mentioned above and the ever-present raw feelings) and was directed by his son, Nick. There's a strong sense of mise-en-scene, and for such a wacky story, it's well-paced, lean and taut, and Cheese Doodles leave an orange stain on your fingers. But I digress. I must have been channelling Eddie Quinn, Mr. Penn's character.
Check out Penn's acting genius in this cheerfully deranged flick. Like several of his verbal riffs: he speculates on his wife's clairvoyant abilities and goes off on, "Can you type 170 words a minute? Can you sew? Can you dance? What can you do?" and his rather elaborate drink order a little while later before he goes on about seven women controlling the world at their computers. This stuff has to be seen and heard to be believed.
In fact, by watching the DVD's extra feature, An Actor's Look at Cassavetes, a sit-down with the Penns and Mr. Travolta, this movie could be seen, to a certain extent, as the Penns' acting workshop - like, say Hurly Burly. An opportunity within the confines of the Hollywood structure to exercise acting chops for all involved, including the guy from the Sopranos, James Gandolfini, as the alcoholic rapist neighbor, as well as Harry Dean Stanton and Gena Rowlands. In the discussion, Robin finishes Sean's spoken ideas and I instantly comprehend their palpable chemistry on screen.
John Travolta, back in the day, is at the top of his game in the movie's second half as the maybe-gangster guy who snatched the lady out of the gutter. He has that Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty-era cool, magic charm going on here, both witty and goofy. Watch for these fun, showy hand gestures he does.
The music on the sound track is suitably bizarre enough. There's a big band standard-sounding opening by the most idiosyncratic Bjork and slightly mesmerizing, creepy songs by Grace Jones.
I could extend this essay, but I've covered my main points. If you want to know the plot, watch the movie or read some other review.

Not Real but Really Good.......2005-07-15

First let me just say that all of you who only gave this movie 2 or 3 stars just because of the ending are a little silly. If you thought the movie was good but chose to dislike it because the character didn't do what you would have done in this situation are SILLY...its a MOVIE. This movie is rich in it's uniqness and characters. It's story of love gone completely blind..so blind that any thing goes. Even though none of us would take our emotions as far as the characters in this movie did,,its fun to imagine,, "what if". Sean Penn plays very well in this roll. 3 Words I would use to describe this movie; Gritty, Heartbreaking, & Raw. A Must See !! : )

well acted, enormous let down of an ending.......2005-01-10

I wathed this movie i TV just recently, who cares about the swearing being taken out and what not. The movie had very good acting one of the main reasons why i kept watching it although i can't stand seeing Sean Pen drama movies. I found his rehabilitation beliveable although he acted like same-old in a couple parts.

My major gripe with the movie as with many of the movies i've watched late night, is that the ending left me thinking, "WTF? why did i watch this?" because the movie made utterly no sense, i mean no completely stable woman in their right mind would do this because its probably the most selfish thing they could have done. She must've been a little off as well, maybe thats why they made a great couple. Plus the fact that the husband (john travolta) seems to be the only normal person in that whole part of the movie, and the sense i got from the other people involved, sean pen and the wife (i forget her name) seem to think that the husbands reactions are strange. MAKES NO FREAKING SENSE!

i swear if i see another well acted movie that ends like crap, I will lose faith in the movie making industry. Maybe this is why i never really heard of any good movies in the 90's (besides popular ones), cause all their endings sucked.

She's So Lovely.......2004-01-30

I didn't like this movie. I watch it and the very next day I found myself thinking about how that movie ended and how it bothered me. I will never watch this movie again and I will let my friends and family know. For someone to actually leave their life behind, a wonderful family, and children for a crazy person who can't even stable himself out is pathetic. I just don't like the fact that she pick a messed up person to replace probably the best 4 people in her life. They should have ended it differently and maybe then I would like it, but for a moive to bother me after a night of viewing, I wished that I would have never stayed up to watch it.

Average customer rating:

DVD's wanted!!
These women were important and deserve to have their voices heard.
China Beach is now available on DVD
This series still haunts me
CHINA BEACH

China Beach / Premiere Episode
Starring: Dana Delany , Nan Woods , Michael Boatman , Marg Helgenberger , and Robert Picardo
Director: Rod Holcomb
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Allport, Christopher | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Boatman, Michael | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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Kober, Jeff | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

O'Grady, Gail | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Picardo, Robert | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Tomei, Concetta | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Webb, Chloe | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Wimmer, Brian | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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Holcomb, Rod | ( H ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | VHS | Video

Vietnam War | Military & War | Genres | VHS | Video

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Tour of Duty - The Complete First Season [Region 99]
China Beach TV Soundtrack: Music & Memories
Tour of Duty - The Complete Second Season [Region 99]
Purple Hearts
Exit to Eden

ASIN: 630176627X
Release Date: 1998-07-31

Description

This is the pilot episode for the popular TV series that made Dana Delany a star. Set at the 510th EVAC Hospital at China Beach, Vietnam, the movie presents the stories of the doctors, nurses, soldiers and USO entertainers who populated the base. Each character struggles to find their own way to deal with their personal problems and the war surrounding them.

Customer Reviews:

DVD's wanted!!.......2007-06-13

This is my all time favorite show and I want to buy all of the episodes! I wish it would be released. I have been waiting for years. I can't wait! What is the hold up?!!

These women were important and deserve to have their voices heard........2006-06-09

I have never seen a show like this, and know that I never will. In times of war, women are often forgotten; the invisible support pushed out of the limelight by the action-packed experience of combat soldiers. China Beach tried to change that. It portrayed women in various different capacities during the Vietnam war. Nurses, prostitutes, Red Cross workers, enlisted women, officers, reporters, performers... China Beach gave them faces, histories, futures, pain, and joy. The show had an arc; it showed what happened to non-combatants both in country and back in the world after their tours. Women are often forgotten, but China BEach made that impossible. Go to the Women's monument at the Wall in DC and try not to superimpose the face of Dana Delaney onto any of those nurses.

I'm not going to preach, but this show needs to be on DVD. Right now. Honor the vets with their story told from every point of view. I can buy every episode of "Masters of the Universe" but not China Beach? This show won four Emmys and was nominated for many more. The show is marketable: Tour of Duty sells like hotcakes, as does Platoon and other Vietnam movies, Marg Helgenberger is hotter than hot with CSI, and the production team is well-known for making quality programming. Please please please release this on DVD. It is a travesty that it is unavailable.

China Beach is now available on DVD.......2006-04-01

China Beach's television series, apparently in complete form, is now available on DVD via: https://www.dvdavenue.tv/

Please let amazon.com know that you are interested in seeing this product made available to us amazon.com shoppers. Thank you.

This series still haunts me.......2006-03-29

This series pulled at my heart in a way that no series has since. It was profoundly moving.
Please, please, release this to DVD in its entirety. It's just too important a production to let gather dust. Still pertinent. Still very topical in a time when war once again places our young people in peril.

CHINA BEACH.......2006-02-07

Thanks for VHS of China Beach, but now we would greatly appreciate the DVD of ALL seasons like MASH, ETC. CHINA BEACH was one of the greatest shows on TV....PLEASE LET US HAVE THE DVD OF SAME VERY SOON, THANKS

Average customer rating: