Happiness

Starring:Jane Adams (II), Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Justin Elvin, Cynthia Stevenson, Lila Glantzman-Leib, Gerry Becker, Rufus Read, Louise Lasser, Ben Gazzara, Camryn Manheim, Arthur J. Nascarella, Molly Shannon, Ann Harada, Douglas McGrath, Dr. Eric Marcus, Eytan Mirsky, Lisa Louise Langford
Director: Todd Solondz
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

A heartwarming film that demonstrates how good, hard-working people can become homeless almost overnight, Pursuit of Happyness is a tour-de-force showcase for Will Smith, who convincingly portrays a down-and-out dad trying to better his family's life. Smith, who usually is cast in effortlessly boyish roles (Men in Black, Independence Day), is wonderful in the film--even in the scenes that shamelessly tug at viewers' heartstrings. Based on the true-life story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman forced at times to shelter his young son (played by Smith's adorable look-alike offspring Jaden Smith) in a men's room, there is little suspense to the film in terms of Chris' outcome. (His story and eventual success a successful and wealthy Chicago businessman was well-publicized on the newsmagazine show 20/20.) And let's face it, Hollywood's not too keen on making feel-good movies with unhappy endings. The beauty (and suspense, to a certain extent) of this film is in the way the story is told. Though he is constantly rushing around to get to appointments and pick up his child, things do not happen quickly for Chris. When he accepts an internship with a prestigious stock brokerage firm, there's a catch: The position is unpaid, suitable more for trust-fund children than single parents with no other source of income. In many scenes, the viewer panics along with Chris, wondering how he's going to feed his child. While Smith and his son, Jaden, share many tender moments together, Thandie Newton has the thankless role of playing Chris' shrill wife, who deserts her family early in the film. It's not a particularly challenging part for the talented actress, and her departure doesn't impact the storyline much at all. As for the movie's misspelled title, it's inspired from a scene in the film. (Seeing a mural drawn by the children at a daycare center, Chris points out to the proprietor that "happiness" is spelled incorrectly. She notes that it doesn't matter how the word is written--just that the kids have it.) With Pursuit of Happyness, Smith has come out of his safety zone and, in turn, ends up playing his most heroic role to date. --Jae-Ha Kim

Extras from The Pursuit of Happyness

Behind the scenes footage of

The Pursuit of Happyness
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Chris Gardner:

"On Being Studied By Will Smith"

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Will Smith And Jaden Smith:
"On Will Always Being In Character"
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Beyond The Pursuit of Happyness on Amazon.com

More Films Starring Will Smith
More Films About Fathers & Sons
The Book

Stills from The Pursuit of Happyness (click for larger image)

Amazon.com

Will Smith stars in the inspirational true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman who's struggling to make ends meet. When his girlfriend Linda (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise their 5-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Smith) on his own. Chris' determination finally pays off when he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the street, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a metro station bathroom. With self- confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS GREAT.......2007-06-29

My husband and I watched this and loved it so we had to buy it. It shows what life is really about

INCREDIBLY WELL DONE!!.......2007-06-27

While this movie was only a slice out of Chris Gardner's book it was still incredibly well done. It placed the focus on what was important about this man's journey and I applaud Will Smith and his team for being able to do that. This movie inspired many and Will deserved those nominations for the role he played.

Pretty good...but less than I expected.......2007-06-25

This is your typical rags to riches story. It lacked the drama I was expecting...considering the hype. Still, it's a good movie and I'd recommend it.

Inspirational True Story About Overcoming Obstacles.......2007-06-23

If you have a vision/goal for yourself & your family and you work hard to realize those dreams, then you will succeed in life.

Mr. Gardner is a wonderful example of the typical person with the vision/goal of living the all American dream. Through much adversity he never gave up and went from being homeless to a successful stock broker.

Smith finally breaks through into the elite of actors and gives us as all something cheer about..........2007-06-22

Will Smith carries this film on his very sturdy shoulders and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has matured since his `Fresh Prince' days into a very fine actor. His performance is layered, structured and intelligent, but amidst all of that he still comes across natural and refreshing, never forced or mechanical. Every emotion runs through his blood effortlessly and full of believable conviction. I've always been a fan of Smith, but here he returns to the brilliance he possessed in `Ali', coupling his on screen fire with heart and soul that transcends the meaningless boundary's of comic relief but that which leaves a deep rooted sense of character and warmth. Smith disappears inside Christopher Gardener but he never loses himself, his charm and his commanding presence.

`The Pursuit of Happyness' tells the true life story of Christopher Gardener, a family man who gets wrapped up in the wrong pyramid scheme and ends up broke and homeless. His wife Linda, played by Thandie Newton, walks out on him he's left desolate and alone. The love for his son Christopher, played brilliantly by Smith's own son Jaden, is what keeps Gardener holding on in pursuit of a better life.

One thing that Christopher has going for him is potential. He's a smart man with ambition and determination and so when he sees an opportunity to rise above himself through an internship with a law-firm he takes it despite the fact of no pay and he uses it to better himself and his surroundings. Smith's wide range of emotions are what keeps this story compelling and entertaining, from his sadness and grief stricken situation to his cheerful demeanor he masquerades in for his sons sake to that emotional clap of relief as he realizes his dreams amidst a crowded sidewalk, Smith breaks down his own barriers and builds for himself a place alongside the acting giants of today.

With pros there must also exist cons, and those cons appear in a few different forms. The first form is that of co-star Thandie Newton who develops a bad habit of repelling the viewer. Her character, while unsympathetic in general, is overly unsympathetic not to mention a tad-bit annoying, and that's putting it nicely. Where's that girl I saw in `Crash' who stole the entire show from her co-stars, who electrified the screen and screamed "nominate me"? She's lost albeit in a mess of a character who could have been so much more but turned out so much worse than anticipated. The flow of the film is a bit choppy as well. Some parts flow by effortlessly while others drag on and even get a bit redundant. The director at times tries too hard to emphasize Gardeners destitute condition when that said condition is already made apparent enough for the average viewer.

That said, there is still a lot of good to remember when recalling this film, and Will Smith's brilliant performance is reason enough to watch it at least once. I also must mention Smith's young son Jaden who perfectly compliments his father's passion by effortlessly mastering his performance which is sympathetic, controlled and elegant, never over the top or exaggerated like it could have been. He comes across as poised as his father and as at home in his performance as an actor who's been doing this all his life. One day this young actor will reach the feats his father has, and with a beginning as strong as this one he may end up there sooner than later. This story is one to be heard, and told as beautifully as it is here makes it easy on the ears.

Average customer rating:

Great lesson of life
Tuesdays with Morrie
Really good movie!
Spend a Tuesday with Morey!
We watched this for book club

Tuesdays with Morrie
Starring: Jack Lemmon , Hank Azaria , Wendy Moniz , Caroline Aaron , and Bonnie Bartlett
Director: Mick Jackson
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Morrie: In His Own Words
Wit

ASIN: B00008L3SE
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Amazon.com essential video

This warmhearted TV offering based on Mitch Albom's nonfiction bestseller of the same name dives right into the action, with Morrie (Jack Lemmon) collapsing within the first three minutes. Then it's cut to Mitch's hectic life as a sports columnist cum television host and long-term, often long-distance boyfriend. But this Mick Jackson-directed film slows considerably after the introductions as former student Mitch (Hank Azaria) learns his beloved professor is dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He reconnects with his mentor and begins learning from him all over again, this time about life. Oprah Winfrey produced this 88-minute film, and her renowned touchy-feely quality is prominent as Mitch learns to love both Morrie and his own girlfriend. Azaria, better known for somewhat goofy roles (The Birdcage, the dogwalker on TV's Mad About You) conveys an intelligent, if edgy dignity, and double Oscar winner Lemmon turns in his usual exquisite performance, giving even the most obvious moments touches of subtlety. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Description

Based on a true-life story, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is a loving memoir to a man whose lessons on life have much to teach us about ourselves. Academy Award(R)-winner Jack Lemmon (Best Actor, 1974, SAVE THE TIGER) delivers an outstanding performance as Morrie Schwartz, the Brandeis University professor upon whom the best-selling book is based. Hank Azaria (GODZILLA) plays Mitch, an accomplished journalist so driven by his job, he has little time or energy left for anything else. One night, Mitch happens to catch Morrie's appearance on a national news program and learns his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig's disease. After the telecast, Mitch contacts Morrie, and what starts as a visit turns into a pilgrimage as Mitch opens his heart to the lessons Morrie has to teach him. As the bond grows between these two men, Mitch learns that professional commitments don't mean anything without the love of family and friends. Sure to inspire, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE may just change your views on the meaning of life ... forever.

Customer Reviews:

Great lesson of life.......2007-06-17

Tuesdays with Morrie, it's a MOST SEE movie. Everybody should see this movie. I think it was Jack Lemmon last movie before he died. Great acting. Its amazing how every characters (actors) changed through out the movie. The autor Mitch Albom book/story is real, touching and certainly everybody will recognize themself in this movie.

Ounce you finished the movie, you want to see it again, you will talk about it, you will recommanded to your friend and finally you will change the way you look at life and your values.

Enjoy.

Tuesdays with Morrie.......2007-04-09

The most moving, inspirational movie I have ever seen. Jack Lemmon was quoted as saying that playing the role of Morrie changed his life. If you have a heart, it will change yours.

Really good movie!.......2007-03-22

I had read the book Tuesdays with Morrie prior to watching this DVD. It lived up to my expectations! The movie was really very good. I enjoyed it a lot and you will too, especially if you loved the book. It was very heartfelt and real and Jack Lemmon and all the other actors did a wonderful job. Buy it, you'll enjoy it.

Spend a Tuesday with Morey!.......2007-03-08

I enjoyed this movie immensely. I teach Gerontolgy at a University and I use this video for the death & dying segment.

Simple, yet powerful....words of wisdom! Jack Lemon is awesome!

We watched this for book club.......2007-03-01

For some who weren't going to be able to read the book, or wanted to see the Hollywood differences, we watched this for our corporate book club. I don't usually get teary-eyed at movies, but this one will get ya. Hank is as good as Jack, and they really bring out the theme of the book. The relationship of the wife is portrayed differently than the book, but not a glare. Very good family movie for discussing the theme of death.

Average customer rating:

Gayle R.Donham
Excellent missioary story
Tops My List
Read a good book about Gladys!
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Starring: Ingrid Bergman , Curd Jürgens , Robert Donat , Michael David , and Athene Seyler
Director: Mark Robson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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Anastasia
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ASIN: B00008LDO1
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

An epic and extraordinary true story--or, at least, an extraordinary story based on a novel (Alan Burgess's The Small Woman) based on a true story. Gladys Aylward (an improbably mesmerizing Ingrid Bergman) is a British would-be missionary with an obsession about China. As she has no experience, the Missionary Society won't let her go, but she goes anyway, alone, to a remote northern province. She is hated, then loved; finally she becomes both a significant political figure and the heroine of a miraculous escape in which she shepherds 100 children to safety across the mountains just ahead of a Japanese invasion. Curt Jurgens is suitably stony as Lin Nan, the half-Dutch, half-Chinese military officer who falls in love with her, and a visibly ailing Robert Donat (who died before this, his final film, was released) is the wily local mandarin who sees and makes use of her extraordinary abilities. Directed by Mark Robson, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a sweeping, stirring tearjerker, a big tale told in a big landscape with acres of orchestrated strings by Malcolm Arnold. A beautiful and beautifully made film that's a classic of the "everyone said I couldn't but I did it anyway" genre. --Richard Farr

Description

All her life Englishwoman Gladys Aylward knew that China was the place where she belonged. Not qualified to be sent there as a missionary, Gladys works as a domestic to earn the money to send herself to a poor, remote village. There she eventually lives a full and happy life: running the inn, acting as "foot inspector", advising the local Mandarin and even winning the heart of mixed race Captain Lin Nan. But Gladys discovers her real destiny when the country is invaded by Japan and the Chinese children need her to save their lives. Based on a true story.

Customer Reviews:

Gayle R.Donham.......2007-06-28

This was a movie about the human will to survive through war torn countries with a group of children in a school.After a period of time the war begins to worsen and she leads the children out of the country and into safety through many odds along the way.Outstanding actors in his movie.

Excellent missioary story.......2007-06-13

I have watched this video many times and I really am inspired each time. I bought it for a missionary friend and she was impressed as well. It is well acted and most interesting. It follows the book about Gladys Aylward fairly well but the book is also worth reading for more details on her life adventure.

Tops My List.......2007-06-12

This is one of my all time favorite movies and now on DVD I loved it all over again. Great actors and acting. Wonderful and inspiring story.

Read a good book about Gladys!.......2007-06-02

The movie is a wonderful movie and great characters and inspiring. When you are done watching it, get a good book about the real Gladys and learn why she was so loving. When faced with the hardships she went through it is not enough to feel like it. She believed in Jesus Christ who put the love in her heart to do what she did. She was complete not because of a man's love, which did not really happen, but complete in Christ. She obeyed God no matter who said what or what the circumstances were and God showed His faithfulness to her. Seek out her source of love: Jesus. Great movie--read the book!

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.......2007-06-01

It is an old movie and but very very beautiful and breath taking one. See this movie and you will know what I mean by what I've just said. I orignally taped this movie on Video many years ago and it became worn out and I wanted to be able to see this movie again and again.

Average customer rating:

Excellent - in all areas
Incredible original story.
A Wild Ride
Over-rated
Genius? No, just odd

Being John Malkovich
Starring: Orson Bean , Ned Bellamy , W. Earl Brown , Kevin Carroll , and John Cusack
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Rushmore

ASIN: B00007AJF8
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com essential video

While too many movies suffer the fate of creative bankruptcy, Being John Malkovich is a refreshing study in contrast, so bracingly original that you'll want to send director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman a thank-you note for restoring your faith in the enchantment of film. Even if it ultimately serves little purpose beyond the thrill of comedic invention, this demented romance is gloriously entertaining, spilling over with ideas that tickle the brain and even touch the heart. That's to be expected in a movie that dares to ponder the existential dilemma of a forlorn puppeteer (John Cusack) who discovers a metaphysical portal into the brain of actor John Malkovich.

The puppeteer's working as a file clerk on the seventh-and-a-half floor of a Manhattan office building; this idea alone might serve as the comedic basis for an entire film, but Jonze and Kaufman are just getting started. Add a devious coworker (Catherine Keener), Cusack's dowdy wife (a barely recognizable Cameron Diaz), and a business scheme to capitalize on the thrill of being John Malkovich, and you've got a movie that just gets crazier as it plays by its own outrageous rules. Malkovich himself is the film's pièce de résistance, riffing on his own persona with obvious delight and--when he enters his own brain via the portal--appearing with multiple versions of himself in a tour-de-force use of digital trickery. Does it add up to much? Not really. But for 112 liberating minutes, Being John Malkovich is a wild place to visit. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Excellent - in all areas.......2007-07-01

A great original film which shows the potential once again of an independent production. The photography and the writing were exceptionally well done. I've revisited this film at least 10 times.

Incredible original story........2007-06-16

This film is a modern masterpiece, an original idea that has no rival. Genius in film making. That being said it was damn funny too. Who would have thought that you could base an entire movie around John Malkovich. The ; "in your own head scene" was the funniest thing I've seen in years. Great movie definitely recommend. Call my agent, From now on out its all puppets.

A Wild Ride.......2007-06-03

There aren't many films that will force you to think differently. This is one of those rare exceptions, and a funny one to boot.

It explores the age-old question of what it would be like to be inside someone else's head (and body, with riotous gender switches).

Great quote from Cameron Diaz, who plays Lotte Schwartz in this film: "It's been said that in Hollywood there are only 14 different scripts. Well, this is number 15."

A film to be watched in one sitting, it is the perfect entertainment for a Friday evening, after a tough week.

Highly recommened.

Over-rated.......2007-05-12

It's not really THAT original when you look at more independent films, and even originality can't help a boring movie. Not really that funny or entertaining. It feels as if it is trying to hard.

Genius? No, just odd.......2007-05-02

This film received rave reviews for being "original, innovative, unique." As one can see from the reviews on this site, many viewers agreed with that assessment, but I don't. It just seemd bizarre, and not in a good way. Different can be very good, if it's interesting. When it has me looking at the clock wondering to myself, "how much longer will this turkey last?", then I know it simply didn't connect with me.

Maybe I'm just too bleak to "get it" and I should stick with more conventional comedies like "Big Lebowski." Now, there's a great film!

Average customer rating:

A MUST for anyone's collection
A great movie!
A MOVIE I CAN RELATE TOO.
In This Case The Academy Got It Right
A Trip To Bountiful

The Trip to Bountiful
Starring: Geraldine Page , John Heard , Carlin Glynn , Richard Bradford , and Rebecca De Mornay
Director: Peter Masterson
Manufacturer: FilmDallas Pictures; MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00079ZA2W
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Description

A "richly textured" (Leonard Maltin) and triumphant tale of an elderly woman's journey home, The Trip to Bountiful stars Geraldine Page in "the performance of a lifetime" (Variety) - and a role that won* her an Academy Award®. "Funny, adventurous, suspenseful…but ultimately uplifting as a demonstration of the human spirit" (Los Angeles Times), The Trip to Bountiful is "perfect on just about every level" (Boxoffice)! Carrie Watts (Page) is an elderly woman with a weak heart - but of strong determination. Trapped in a tiny apartment under the care of her cowardly son and his shrewish wife, Carrie is determined to escape and return to her girlhood home. Seizing her chance - and her meager Social Security check - Carrie sets out on an unforgettable quest to make peace with her past…and the secrets of her heart that draw her ever homeward.

Customer Reviews:

A MUST for anyone's collection.......2007-06-06

This is such a classical, sweet, stirring movie with incredible acting.
I can't think of a movie fan that wouldn't enjoy it, and it is appropriate for families - the older members (grandmothers) and the younger. As unforgettable as the movie is, the music is also exquisite - it's uncomplicated but so perfect. I own the CD and always have it in the car, ready.

A great movie!.......2007-05-08

You don't see this type of movie often. Great acting my Geraldine Page! Horton Foote's writing is equally as impressive. I highly recommend this movie.

A MOVIE I CAN RELATE TOO........2007-03-14

I LOVED THIS MOVIE. IT IS THE KIND OF MOVIE I WANT TO WATCH OVER AND OVER AND OVER. IT BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES OF TIME PAST AND BEING THE AGE OF THE CARRIE I UNDERSTAND HER.

In This Case The Academy Got It Right.......2007-01-24

Put together a piece that has both a beautiful heartwarming story set in a slower more gracious time than now and the greatest actress to ever act on the American stage or movie screen and you have THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. The 1940's was a time when older people didn't have the option to be sent to nursing homes in America so that family members didn't need to be responsible for their elderly's welfare or for assuring that their last days could end with a certain amount of dignity.

Carrie Watts, played perfectly by Geraldine Page had moved in with her lone surviving son and his wife because she had left her girlhood home when the land there was too worn out to provide her with a living after the death of her husband and two of her children. After twenty years of being away from the tiny Texas town called Bountiful and six years of being cooped up in a two-room apartment in Houston, Texas, Carrie yearned to return to her "home" where she could dig in the dirt and make something grow again. She has made several failed efforts at getting there already before the movie's opening and the strange dance that ensues between her and her son and daughter-in-law is her struggle to make her dream come true while the two of them make every effort to prevent it.

TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL was Page's final performance as she died shortly after receiving the academy award for 1985's best actress. Hers was an epoch of actresses who were trained to "overact" especially in movies. I once heard Bette Davis say near the end of her life that the trouble with actors and actresses today was that they brought too much realism to their roles. She and the actresses of her day were told to make their characters "larger than life", to maintain a certain distance from the audience. Too much realism was frowned upon by directors of the day. Geraldine Page though started out as a stage actress and her performances always rang true at their very core. She never did or said anything on stage or screen that struck a wrong chord. I believed her in every role and she was never better than she was in this her last movie. The Academy got it right that time.

A Trip To Bountiful.......2007-01-09

The product was in good condition. The plot is of interest to older people.

Average customer rating:

A most original film sure to bemuse and offend almost everybody
Digging up the roots of Happiness
Freakin' nonsense
The Most Awfully Funny Film I Have Ever Seen
Messed up in a good way!

Happiness
Starring: Jane Adams (II) , Jon Lovitz , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Dylan Baker , and Lara Flynn Boyle
Director: Todd Solondz
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00000IC7G
Release Date: 1999-04-27

Amazon.com

At times brilliant and insightful, at times repellent and false, Happiness is director Todd Solondz's multistory tale of sex, perversion, and loneliness. Plumbing depths of Crumb-like angst and rejection, Solondz won the Cannes International Critics Prize in 1998 and the film was a staple of nearly every critic's Top Ten list. Admirable, shocking, and hilarious for its sarcastic yet strangely empathetic look at consenting adults' confusion between lust and love, the film stares unflinchingly until the audience blinks. But it doesn't stop there. A word of strong caution to parents: One of the main characters, a suburban super dad (played by Dylan Baker), is really a predatory pedophile and there is more than an attempt to paint him as a sympathetic character. Children are used in this film as running gags or, worse, the means to an end. Whether that end is a humorous scene for Solondz or sexual gratification for the rapist becomes largely irrelevant. Happiness is an intelligent, sad film, revelatory and exact at moments. It's also abuse in the guise of art. That's nothing to celebrate. --Keith Simanton

Customer Reviews:

A most original film sure to bemuse and offend almost everybody.......2007-05-27

This one will knock your socks off even if you aren't wearing any socks. I dare you to watch it. I double-dare you.

But first a few words. This is about sex. Not your Cinderella meets Prince Charming sex. Not your boy meets girls sex at all, or not exactly. This is more like REAL sex, the kind you don't talk about. This is about several varieties of sex, most of them perverted or deviant and/or illegal in most states. And this is about "happiness" in only the most ironic sense of the word.

Yet, somehow this movie seems...well, not uplifting, heaven forbid, but somehow reassuring in a strange way. I guess what happens is that after all the perversions, the hang-ups, the unrequited desires, the bizarro fantasies, the unnatural desires, the depraved acts, the exploitation, the sheer desperation of the biological imperative, somehow with the family sitting around the dinner table at the end, somehow we are reassured that life not only goes on, but things could be worse.

It is interesting that director Todd Solondz--who previously gave us the captivating and totally original Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), a strikingly truthful look at the middle child in junior high school--spun this out the way he did. The story is really about three sisters and their parents and the dysfunctional sex that they encounter and the pitiable/ normal lives they live. Solondz could have begun with having us meet the sisters one by one like some kind of chick flick with the expectation that we will find out about their lives and their loves. Instead he starts from another angle, and only gradually does it develop that this really IS about their lives and loves.

Well, their lives and loves are a bit beyond kinky or pathetic, and yet they are so very like the lives and loves so many people lead--if only we knew. By the way, at times the film is belly laugh funny.

Starring are Jane Adams (Joy), Lara Flynn Boyle (Helen), and Cynthia Stevenson (Trish) as the three sisters. Joy is the wallflower at the dance of life, Helen is the hard as a stiletto woman of fashion, accomplishment and beauty who can't find the right man, and Trish is the desperate housewife "happily" married to a man who is a homosexual pedophile and a psychiatrist. Dylan Baker plays the shrink who can't help himself in a way that makes it tough for the audience not to identify with his problem. He is so honest with his son and so clearly loves his son and his wife that we are almost won over. Almost. We do NOT see him with the boys he exploits, and in this way perhaps Solondz has stacked the deck. Still a movie that paints a pedophile in anything close to a positive light deserves credit for courage if nothing else.

The other characters who are anything but sympathetic in an objective assessment--one is a murderer--somehow come across as being vulnerable instead of monstrous. Perhaps Joy, who is so hopeful and so very, very vulnerable, is the one who most inspires our sympathy. The Russian who frankly admits he's a thief and exploits Joy seems more despicable than anyone in the film. Perhaps. I think it really depends on your point of view, your sexuality and perhaps your individual experience.

Ben Gazzara is the father who is just sick of his wife, and Louise Lasser (whom I haven't seen since she starred in the offbeat TV sit com "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" from the seventies) plays the wife. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a guy who is terrified of performing with women, but gets his jollies dialing strangers on the phone and talking dirty. Camryn Manheim plays the large woman who wants intimacy but finds sex disgusting.

I think you've got the picture. This is sexual dysfunction as TV's Lifetime would never have it. Solondz's intent seems to be to demonstrate the truth of the adage "To know all is to forgive all." He also does a good job of showing that although we think we are the self that makes the decisions, maybe it is true that our biology overrides our intentions.

This is decidedly not for the straightlaced or the intolerant. This the sort of movie that is so terrifying to social conservatives that they won't even attack it for fear that such an attack would only give it greater currency.

See this for Todd Solondz who is a film maker of verve and insight, a humanist who is not afraid to shock the bourgeoisie.

Digging up the roots of Happiness.......2007-02-02

This movie is not for the prude, squeamish, or easily offended. It lacks any social grace, dignity, or charm. Or actually, it has all those qualities hidden somewhere below the surface. Some people just aren't willing or capable of finding it.
It's basically a montage of distinguishable(and despicable?) characters and their inscrutable pursuit of happiness. All of their efforts most definitely invoke chaos. There are a few gross out moments.
Director Todd Solondz really pushes the envelope with this disturbingly funny film. Nothing is taboo with him.

Freakin' nonsense.......2007-01-24

What a complete and utter waste of time.

What is wrong with the guy that wrote this?

Lock him up before he hurts someone.

You freak!

The Most Awfully Funny Film I Have Ever Seen.......2006-12-31

Some people see the world as an awful place. Some people see the world as a funny place. Todd Solondz, director of Happiness, sees the validity in both points of view. For him, the world is an awfully funny place. And in this bleak comic masterpiece, Solondz shows us how to find hope in the most despairing of circumstances, dignity in the face of shame, and compassion in the face of one's most monstrous acts. In other words, Solondz shows us what humanity really is, and isn't that - at its basest level - what filmmaking is supposed to be?

"Happiness" is also the best movie that Robert Altman never made, in that it is a mosaic of the masses, interspersing a loose narrative thread through the disparate lives of many without seeming disjointed. It essentially follows the lives and disfunctional loves of five characters through a myriad of morbid situations, some stemming from deterministic outside pressures, most a result of the characters' inner turbulence churning to the surface through misguided thought and deed.

At the supposed center of the conflicts is a pedophilic psychiatrist (Dylan Baker) who preys on the peers of his adolescent son. A monstrous act, indeed, but the camera's unflinching objectivity serves to neither condone or condemn the man, so we are left to see the struggle amidst the strife, the human within the monster.

Other characters include an unlucky-in-everything hapless spinstress named Joy (ha ha) who allows the world to treat her like a welcome mat placed in front of a door to better things. Her sanctimonious sister, Trish (Cynthia Stevenson), while seeming to have it all, secretly wallows in the emptiness of her hollow life. Lara Flynn Boyle plays still another sadistic sibling, a famous writer who wishes that she were raped, so as to provide a more authentic muse.

And though simple verbal descriptions of these characters make them sound ghastly, in thought and indeed, the magic of the film is the even-handed well-weighted treatment that they receive through Solondz' direction and the actors' depictions, letting the audience decide whether empathy is in order. Too many people in our society have a need to characterize aberrant and abhorrent behavior as coming from an "other" - someone less than human and thus tangibly different from them. The truth, of course, is that we are all people who - good or bad - are capable of some pretty disturbing things. In Solondz' cinematic society, the sinners are just like you and me, whether that scares us or not.

It should also be noted that amidst all this weighty discussion, philosophy and sociological insight are some of the funniest and most demented sight gags, stuff that gives the Farrelly brothers a literal run for their runny money in the Gross Out Olympics (acronym: G.O.O) - body fluid jokes that put the "stick" back into "slapstick". Gags that make you wanna.

And when the characters themselves instill the audience with laughter, Solondz' artistry and control leave us wondering whether we are laughting at them, with them, or in spite of them, when the truth is somewhere in between. All of which makes this the most awfully funny movie I have ever seen.

Messed up in a good way!.......2006-12-19

This movie is mesed up!! An eye opener to our society today!

Average customer rating:

Entertaining and funny
great movie
Maybe We're All Depressed Because This Film is Right...
Possibly the most depressing comedy ever made
Great Flick!

Kids in the Hall - Brain Candy
Starring: Paul Bellini , Dave Foley , Brendan Fraser , Bruce McCulloch , and Kevin McDonald
Director: Kelly Makin
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Kids in the Hall - Complete Season 3 (1991-1992)
The Kids in the Hall - Complete Season 4 (1992-3)
The Kids in the Hall - Complete Season 2 (1990-1991)
The Kids in the Hall - Complete Season 1 (1989-1990)
Kids in the Hall - Complete Season 5

ASIN: B00003CXAV
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Amazon.com

Moviegoers never caught on to its brilliance, but Brain Candy is a smart, outrageously inventive vehicle for Canada's most irreverent comedy troupe. The subtly subversive plot is about society's ongoing search for the perfect "happy drug," and the Kids inhabit a multitude of costumes and characters as they celebrate--and lament--the invention of "Gleemonex," the ultimate antidepressant, which locks users into their happiest memories... and subsequently renders them comatose. No worries for the Roritor Chemical Company; they don't care much about side effects! With rampant riffs on heavy-metal doomsayers, closeted gay husbands (resulting in Scott Thompson's hilarious coming-out musical), blissed-out grandmothers, and all varieties of corporate greed-mongers, Brain Candy is almost too hip for its own good, combining Pythonesque ingenuity with cutting social satire. As a comedic experiment it's hit-and-miss, but with the cross-dressing Kids running the show, it's likely to leave you laughing out loud. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining and funny.......2007-04-11

This is a well-done movie, funny with overall dark tones. Although the Kids in the hall did tens of sketches, it wasn't guaranteed that their art would do well in a film. It does however, and the mixture of individual scenes blends well with the main story, with many funny passages and dialogues. So have a look at it, those of you who like the KITH type of humour.

great movie.......2007-03-09

If you like kids in the hall this is their best work! The more you watch it the more funny it gets

Maybe We're All Depressed Because This Film is Right..........2007-02-24

The Kids in the Hall have always been reliable in having incredibly sharp aim when throwing stones at the establishment and here they surprise even me with their pinpoint accuracy. In "Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy" they throw the gloves off to expose pharmaceutical industry as the cutthroat zoo that it is. Just being brave enough to call attention to the fact that there is a difference between clinical depression and "I Just Got Kicked to the Curb" depression is impressive. But they go further than that, showing depression to be something that isn't all bad because nobody would really want to live in a world where neighbors prance up and down the street singing about how gay they are, or in one where rock stars don't have a problem in the world so they are stuck singing Sesame Street-esque lullabies. I've battled depression a few times myself, and never once did I swallow one of those thought quenching pills.

The Kids in the Hall have many targets here, and they are all deserving. Corporate life in general is first on the list. The CEO is an infantile idiot who surrounds himself with Yes Men who spend their days trying to match the carpet to the color of the boss' socks. Anybody who were to wander into their boardroom would find quite the sight indeed. The problems being discussed is not whether the drug is safe but rather what color it should be. The head of marketing is under the impression that he is some sort of idol ("So I'm driving around in my $62,000 car"). And said wanderer would be ridiculed for being too intelligent. I took extra enjoyment out of watching the cop scene, as they proclaim victory ("We always win") even though they only caught one of the dozens of perps that they were after. People in general are also called out, rightfully so, for being too fixated on happiness and for what makes them happy.

I will admit that in my case they were probably preaching to the choir. I already know these things. But in a country who still believes in "Support our Troops" and "Greed is Good" it can only help to point out that, in fact, the military is kinda gay and corpos are a stand in for Satan. The comedy here is hit and miss, but considering that sketch comedy is mostly miss and miss I would say that they are ahead of the curve. The ending gets a little too silly, especially with when people become paralyzed within their own happiness. But that allows them to go through and show us their happiest moments which was quite hysterical. If you have seen the TV show before you know what to expect in the acting department. Honorable mention goes to Bruce McCulloch and his portrayal of Cisco the twitchy, heartless marketing guy. I recommend this film for everybody, but mostly for those of you who have wondered about the difference between illegal and prescription medication. The difference of course being that illegal drugs can't go on trash TV to promote itself. The film has a worldview that is right on. Too much leftist cinema today is somber and depressing, this one at least makes you laugh while making you depressed, and then reminds you that depression is a good thing anyways. ***1/2

Possibly the most depressing comedy ever made.......2007-01-30

The Kids in the Hall were ahead of their time in their first feature (1996) with their pointed satirizing of the (still) current psychiatric drug craze. "Brain Candy" sews together various vignettes of dysfunctional people (all portrayed by KITH in different costumes) and centers them around a group of scientists at Roritor Pharmaceuticals who are developing Gleemonex, the ultimate anti-depressant. Gleemonex chemically guides patients to their happiest moment, and allows them to re-experience that moment's feeling forever. Chemically. As one of the scientists puts it: "Gleemonex makes you feel like it's 72 degrees in your head. All the time."

The drug is a huge success, but tensions rise between the scientists and marketing department when some of the initial test patients become so caught up replaying their happiest memory they become comatose.

The premise of "Brain Candy" is very similar to Hirokazu ("Nobody Knows") Kore-eda's 1988 film "After Life." In that film, social workers at a purgatory-ish way station assist the recently deceased with creating short films of their happiest memories, which will be replayed for eternity. "After Life" is an emotionally enriching, empowering film -- mainly because the characters are already dead; their lives and freedom on earth haven't been stolen and replaced. Chemically. I recommend watching the two films together sometime.

I'm not sure what my final position on psychiatric drugs will be. I'm pretty certain no amount of talking will calm down someone who's just had a psychotic break, but I do think our society tends to rely too much on pills for long-term solutions, which makes "Brain Candy" fairly important viewing for those considering dealing with medicine, even if the film is generally silly and obnoxious. Personally, I see psychiatric drugs as a cast with talk therapy as an aid to properly set the bone. Though sometimes I feel like William Hurt in "Accidental Tourist" when my girlfriend insists I take my medicine when I lose my temper.

Anyway, there were two endings shot for "Brain Candy." The filmmakers opted for the more upbeat one (though the film is still a downer overall.) I wish Paramount would release a special edition with the alternate ending, as well as some other cut scenes, including one featuring Janeane Garofalo. Until they do, you'll have to track down a bootleg from a fan.

Great Flick!.......2007-01-09

If you liked the Kids In The Hall, then you will love this movie! A lot of the characters that were on the series were in this movie and it was one hell of a funny storyline.

Average customer rating:

The animation is so life like similar to 3D
Care Bears - Journey to Joke-a-Lot
Don't reject the new in favor of the old!
My daughter loves it!
I am a carebear fanatic BUT...

Care Bears - Journey to Joke-a-Lot
Starring: Catherine Disher , Susan Roman , Robert Tinkler , Sunday Muse , and Stephanie Beard
Director: Mike Fallows
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Care Bears - Big Wish Movie
The Care Bears Movie
Care Bears - Adventures in Care-a-Lot
Care Bears Movie II: New Generation
Care Bears: Festival of Fun

ASIN: B0002HODVS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Product Description

Starring In Their First CGI Movie!

Join Funshine Bear and your favorite Care Bears on a hilarious journey to Joke-a-lot where they discover that some times true friendship is no joke.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 84 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Standard" format.
Copyright 2004 Lions Gate Entertainment.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

The animation is so life like similar to 3D.......2007-05-16

The animation is spectacular, I wish these type of cartoons were made when I was a kid. My 19 month grand-daughter loves this video, and the music too. I'm not too sure what those "other" reviewers are talking about when they state that the graphics are scary, and wishing they made them the old-style way, to them I say "grow up with the times and enjoy, it's only a movie, and if that's your opinion be real, it's only a cartoon, you're judging waaaayyy to harshly.. I wish they made more movies like this, it looks spectacular on my 50" Toshiba that I had also bought through Amazon, saving me a great big bundle.

Care Bears - Journey to Joke-a-Lot .......2006-11-05

My granddaughter loves it.She watches it 2 to 3 times a day,Need i say more.

Don't reject the new in favor of the old!.......2006-07-18

My three year old absolutely loves both of the CGI animated Care Bear movies and we sing along to the songs together. The new soundtracks are catchy and have great messages/themes. The story line for this particular movie is appropriate, well paced (not too fast) and provides a valuable lesson--be careful how you treat others, and sensitive to other's feelings. I would strongly recommend this movie, without hesitation, even if Funshine Bear did "become" a boy...I view all of the Care Bears as sex neutral and my 3 year old is oblivious, regardless. Enjoy!

My daughter loves it!.......2006-03-22

My two year old loves those carebears, especially Journey to Joke-alot. It is funny and she loves to dance along to the songs!

I am a carebear fanatic BUT..........2006-03-15

...I will have to shoot myself if I am forced to watch this again. The animations are very annoying, the court jesterish feel is very annoying and the portrayal of Funshine Bear (my favorite) as a pre-teenaged boy jokester is NOT my idea of what carebears is about. I was NOT impressed with this movie!

Average customer rating:

Good, but not something to watch mutliple times
Great movie!
A disappointment
Vintage and Well done!
Pure Stoke.

Singlefin: Yellow
Director: Jason Baffa
Manufacturer: Build World Wide
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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Thicker Than Water
Siestas & Olas - A Surfing Journey Through Mexico
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Billabong Odyssey

ASIN: B0002VEVUW
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not something to watch mutliple times.......2007-03-19

The movie is cool because it offers different surfing than normally seen in surf movies, but I buy surf films to watch over and over. Which I would not do with this movie. Just not enough action.

Great movie!.......2007-01-24

Any true surfer will really appreciate this movie. Great longboarding footage, they make nose-riding look so easy. The locations are amazing, and the cinemetography is unique....unlike anything I've ever seen before in a surf movie.

A disappointment.......2006-11-29

I guess for me this is another example of caveat emptor. I bought this largely based on the reviews here, and I was pretty disappointed. The surfing just wasn't that interesting - way way too much nose riding, and not much else. OK nose riding is fine, but there is a lot more about longboarding than hanging 5. The best parts of the movie are the beginning and end - where the shaper describes his work and goes out for an early morning session. Now THAT was great - he ripped, and it was great to see him really using the whole board and the whole wave. I wish the movie had just been about him.

Vintage and Well done!.......2006-11-08

I have had the luxury of having surfed in Hawaii in the late 60s and migrated through the 70s, 80s, 90s and into the 21st century of surfing. Singlefin is a vintage piece of surfing lore. This is the sort of film you collect and keep because once the waves are done, they're done. Singlefin is truly a surfing tale that can be watched again and again. If you're both a longboarder and shortboarder as I am you can appreciate Surftech technology and bumpy wax beads on a longboard. Loved the film. You will too.

Pure Stoke........2006-10-13

I own a lot of surf DVD's, long board,short board,mix of both.What makes Singlefin special from the others is that it really is a surf "movie" with a story. Shot on film with great care. ANY surfer will love the pure stoke which moves through out this film. A must for surf DVD collectors who love the life of surfing.

The Documentaries of Louis Malle - Eclipse Series 2 (Vive le tour / Humain, Trop Humain / Place de la République / Phantom India / Calcutta / God's Country ... of Happiness) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Essential.
Much Anticipated...

The Documentaries of Louis Malle - Eclipse Series 2 (Vive le tour / Humain, Trop Humain / Place de la République / Phantom India / Calcutta / God's Country ... of Happiness) - Criterion Collection
Director: Louis Malle
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

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Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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Early Bergman (Torment / Crisis / Port of Call / Thirst / To Joy) (Criterion Collection / Eclipse)
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Vengeance Is Mine - Criterion Collection
Late Ozu - Eclipse Series 3 - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000MTEFPK
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Over the course of a nearly forty-year career, Louis Malle forged a reputation as one of the world's most versatile cinematic storytellers, with such widely acclaimed, and wide-ranging, masterpieces as Elevator to the Gallows, My Dinner with Andre, and Au revoir les enfants. At the same time, however, with less fanfare, Malle was creating a parallel, even more personal body of work as a documentary filmmaker. With the discerning eye of a true artist and the investigatory skills of a great journalist, Malle takes us from his French homeland to India to the United States, in some of the most engaging and fascinating nonfiction films ever made. Six Disc Set Includes:

Vive Le Tour Humain, Trop Humain Place de la Republique

An energetic evocation of the Tour de France, a meditative investigation of the inner workings of a French automotive plant, and an entertaining snapshot of the comings and goings on one street corner in Paris - Louis Malle's three French-set documentaries reveal, in an eclectic array of ways, the director's eternal facination with and respect for, the everyday lives of everyday people.

Phantom India Malle called his gorgeous and groundbreaking Phantom India the most personal film of his career. And this extraordinary journey to India, originally shown as a miniseries on European television, is infused with his sense of discovery, as well as occasional outrage, intrigue, and joy.

Calcutta When he was cutting Phantom India, Malle found that the footage shot in Calcutta was so diverse, intense, and unforgettable that it deserved its own film. The result, released theatrically, is at times shocking - a chaotic portrait of a city engulfed in social and political turmoil, edging ever closer to oblivion.

God's Country In 1979, Louis Malle traveled into the heart of Minnesota to capture the everyday lives of the men and women in a prosperous farming community. Six years later, during Ronal