Anna Russell - The (First) Farewell Concert

Starring:Anna Russell
Studio: Video Artists Int'l
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
To end a long, hilarious career, classical music comedienne Anna Russell revived some of her best and funniest routines and took them on the road. This special PBS production, taped in Baltimore at the beginning of that 1984 tour, is a treasure for music lovers who understand that the thing they love can be charmingly goofy.

Amazon.com essential video

When the Devil (Peter Cook) offers suicidal short-order cook Stanley (Dudley Moore) seven wishes, Stanley easily surrenders his soul. All of his wishes are granted, to the letter. Unfortunately, as each wish comes to life, the Devil--cheeky sod!--manages to slip some unexpected problem into the mix, ruining everything in a deliciously funny way. Bedazzled was made long before 10 and Arthur made Dudley Moore an unlikely movie star. It's a much purer expression of the off-kilter British humor that Moore and his writing partner Cook pioneered, humor that would lead to Monty Python's Flying Circus and other absurdist goofballs. Moore is charming enough, but what really makes Bedazzled work is Cook, who combines upper-class arrogance with a cheerful, even casual lunacy. Though he played character roles in movies like The Princess Bride and Black Beauty, he was never able to parlay his sneaky sense of humor into starring roles. Bedazzled is his outstanding triumph. Not only does the movie offer some sly commentary on Christian morality, it has a cameo with Raquel Welch as the embodiment of Lust. A classic. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Stanley (Moore) is a hapless short-order cook who is hopelessly in love with a waitress named Margaret (Eleanor Bron) - although she barely knows he's alive. Enter George Spiggott (Cook), a.k.a. Satan, who grants Stanley seven wishes in order to win Margaret over, but his efforts are hilariously hampered by the Seven Deadly Sins - including the insatiable Lilian Lust (Raquel Welch)!

Customer Reviews:

The best Bedazzled.......2007-06-27

Forget the Elizabeth Hurley/Brendan Frazier version (amusing as Ms. Hurley is as the Devil). This is one of the five greatest comedies of the modern film era. Period.

Bedeviled.......2007-06-13

This is my wife's favorite film and one of my favorites. It is extremely witty and funny in an ironic fashion. It is an example of classical british comedy that is more cerebral than American "slap stick" humor.

Hilarious!.......2007-05-25

There's no doubt that the late Dudley Moore was underrated as a comedic performer. "Bedazzled" shows what he could do, and his incredible range (in the scenes in which he's given his wishes by the Devil, he portrays, among other things, a daft supercilious vaguely Scottish intellect, a rich prig, and an Oxbridge professor). Just the anguished pop star face he makes in the scene parodying the 60s-style "Top of the Pops" show is enough to make me cry with laughter. He even wrote the theme song! The film itself looks quite good as well, and has a swingin' London/psychedelic overtone that holds up better than many of its contemporary films. Well worth seeing.

At last!.......2007-05-25

Finally a DVD of "Bedazzled" has been released in the United States. This is simply one of the funniest movies ever made. It is packed with razor-sharp dialogue and delivery. The cast is perfect. The thick 60's vibe holds up very well in this context.

It is perhaps not surprising that "Bedazzled" made little impact in the U.S. when it came out. It consists almost entirely of people standing around talking, which even in those days was problematic for many Americans.

To his great credit, Peter Cook was able to insert a coherent and meaningful discussion of theological issues into his hilarious script without bogging it down at all. I suppose you'd have to call this irreverent humor, but it is far from disrespectful or offensive.

If you don't mind paying attention to a comedy, then you will be rewarded with a smart, layered, consistently side-splitting movie.

The picture and sound on this disk seem fine and clean, if not fabulous. The extras are unexceptional.

Speak of the Devil.......2007-05-12

Bedazzled doesn't actually dazzle, though it's pretty good for its time. The title comes from a song central to one of the scenes, with DudleyMoore's character attempting the role of rock star. With typically understated British humor, Dudley sells his soul to the Devil (Peter Cook), who makes the most of his purchase by too literal interpretation of the wishes Dudley gets as his payoffs. Raquel Welch has a somewhat memorable but short role as Lust, one of the seven deadly sins. Of course, nothing really untoward is allowed to happen; it's all in fun. There is even a suitable ending, where Dudley gets to keep his soul after all, and the whole experience becomes a morality play in the tradition of English theater.

Average customer rating:

Witty and entertaining
oscar wilde was a genius
If you love good dialogue...
Oscar worthy
Absolutely Brilliant!!

An Ideal Husband
Starring: Cate Blanchett , Nancy Carroll (II) , Minnie Driver , Lindsay Duncan , and Charles Edwards (VI)
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305692696
Release Date: 2000-01-18

Amazon.com

For truly clever dialogue and a smartly structured plot, you can't go wrong with Oscar Wilde. Wilde's play An Ideal Husband is not his best known, but this film adaptation has all the wit you could ask for and a cast with the chops to deliver it: Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, Oscar and Lucinda), Julianne Moore (Short Cuts, Boogie Nights), Minnie Driver (Grosse Pointe Blank, Big Night), Jeremy Northam (The Winslow Boy, Emma), and especially Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding, A Midsummer Night's Dream), who tosses off perfect epigrams with unflappable aplomb. The plot hinges on Northam, a member of Parliament (the British governing body, not the funk band) with a skeleton in his closet who is blackmailed into a shady business deal by a lady of mystery (Moore), who turns out to be a loathed school chum of the parliamentarian's wife (Blanchett). Everything is resolved happily, but not until after some devious twists of fate, several mistaken identities, lots of comic banter, and much social skewering. Wilde, who came to ruin when his homosexuality was brought to light, has a sharp eye for hypocrisy and the artificial poses demanded by society--but political commentary never gets in the way of a smart laugh. Visually sumptuous and briskly paced, An Ideal Husband will satisfy anyone looking for social satire or romantic comedy. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Sexy leading man Rupert Everett heads an acclaimed all-star cast in this wonderfully witty story of decadence, romance, and scandal! Sir Robert is a highly respected politician whose spotless reputation is the pride of his beautiful wife (Cate Blanchett ) and adoring sister (Minnie Driver). But when an old acquaintance (Julianne Moore) threatens to reveal a dark secret from Robert's past, only his womanizing party-loving best friend Goring (Everett) is scheming and dishonest enough to come to his aid.

Customer Reviews:

Witty and entertaining.......2007-06-11

This film has several real strenghts, including the witty dialogue by Oscar Wilde, the fine job of acting by the cast, and the beauty of the setting and gowns worn by the three primary actresses.

You have to remain alert while watching and listening to a play by Oscar Wilde as it is full of snappy, sharp dialogue and Rupert Everett is perfect playing a Wilde character. Jeremy Northam and Cate Blanchett also do a great job playing the straight characters in a Wilde dramatic comedy. Julianne Moore does an excellent job playing the role of a villaness. Minnie Driver is the only one of the actors who seems to be having a bit of a challenge with her role. Northam and Blanchett are meant to be the straight pair of lovers whereas Driver and Everett are the comedy pair of lovers. Driver and Everett have a bit of trouble pulling this off and their attraction to each other seems labored and unreal.

The settings are beautiful but the period gowns are over the top.

Underneath all the witty snide dialogue, and the twists and turns of a comedy, there is a morality play nestled in this film. The film is primarily about morals and payment for the sin's of one's past. Sir Robert Chiltern, a rising star in parliment, was once an assistant to a cabinet member. In this position he was able to provide an investor inside information about the Suez Canal. This resulted in his making a vast fortune as part of his bribe. Now, years later, Mrs. Cheveley, is attempting to blackmail him into supporting another canal in Argentina so that she can make a killing with her investment in the scheme.

We see all three of the main actors, Northam, Blanchett, and Everett grow and change as they undergo this ordeal. The film is entertaining.

oscar wilde was a genius.......2007-04-22

Ok, so it's a little British and you actually have to get off the phone and listen to get all the jokes. But the comedy is brilliant, the relationships really matter to you and although I hate Cate Blanchett, even in this movie, don't we all wish Rupert Everett swung our way?? I adore this movie and tend to make even people who don't like british movies sit still and watch it.

If you love good dialogue..........2007-04-09

...This is the movie for you!!

When people ask me what movies I love for just witty dialogue alone, this movie is always up there with Pulp Fiction, Out of Sight, and When Harry Met Sally. I love the language, the delivery, the exquisiteness of each word, each line in this movie! Every actor/actress delivers such grand performances and revels in the pure fun of the language!

I made my fiancé sit down and watch it the other day and even though she had dubious concerns about why I was making her watch the movie, she absolutely loved it!

A true screen gem!

Oscar worthy.......2007-03-24

(I have not read the play nor seen it performed on stage so I didn't miss the features that other reviewers have mentioned.) I found this thoroughly enjorable. Rupert Everett perfectly embodies the paradoxical virtues of Oscar Wilde...the self admitted scoundral who only speaks seriously on Tuesdays from 1 to 3. His total opposite is Gertrude (Blanchett), married to her ideal husband, a man she has placed on a formidably high pedestal of virtue. Naturally, that had to fall and the scoundral saves the day. (Knowing what we do of Wilde's life we can appreciate this theme even more.) Underneath his protestations of superficiality he emerges as the real hero.

That's the theme -- that no one is perfect and that it takes more courage to love an imperfect person than a perfect one. But Wilde doesn't bludgeon us over the head with the message---he delights us with the brilliant dialogue and clever plot. If there were no moral at all, it would still be a delight to watch.

The acting is all very good. Rupert Everett, as everyone has mentioned, seems born to play Wilde. I disagree with those who said there was no chemistry between him and the Minnie Driver character. I thought their scenes together were the most entertaining in the film. She is genuinely funny as well as very beautiful. Blanchett is perfect in her role of the pale, virtuous-to-boredom wife. I thought the only weak link was Julianne Moore, who seemed miscast as the villianess. Perhaps I've seen her in too many "realistic" American roles which she does with such depth of humanity and vulnerability that I had a hard time adjusting to this Julianne. I thought her accent was lacking and she just didn't have the arch quality that such a part demanded. However she carried it off well enough not to spoil the enjoyment of the film. It's definitely fun and worth seeing.

Absolutely Brilliant!!.......2007-02-28

This is one of Oscar Wilde's most entertaining works. The cast is outstanding in every way possible! Rupert Everett can deliver an Oscar Wilde line better than anyone in the business. Minnie Driver is just wonderful and Cate Blanchett is one of the best actresses in movies right now. Jeremy Northam is always charming. What is wonderful about this is that the actors really act. The entertainment is in the lines and how they are delivered without an explosion or explicit scenes of any kind. I don't think we, here in America, can produce better acting or scripts right now. Don't miss this - you'll be quoting it for years!

Average customer rating:

An HD-DVD REVIEW (the movie is fantastic, of course)...
A mind game for the soul.
horrible HD-DVD transfer
The Movie Is Great, the HD-DVD Transfer is So-So
Michael Douglas is thrilling in The Game!

The Game
Starring: Michael Douglas , Sean Penn , Deborah Kara Unger , James Rebhorn , and Peter Donat
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000069HZP
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Amazon.com

It's not quite as clever as it tries to be, but The Game does a tremendous job of presenting the story of a rigid control freak trapped in circumstances that are increasingly beyond his control. Michael Douglas plays a rich, divorced, and dreadful investment banker whose 48th birthday reminds him of his father's suicide at the same age. He's locked in the cage of his own misery until his rebellious younger brother (Sean Penn) presents him with a birthday invitation to play "The Game" (described as "an experiential Book of the Month Club")--a mysterious offering from a company called Consumer Recreation Services. Before he knows the game has even begun, Douglas is caught up in a series of unexplained events designed to strip him of his tenuous security and cast him into a maelstrom of chaos. How do you play a game that hasn't any rules? That's what Douglas has to figure out, and he can't always rely on his intelligence to form logic out of what's happening to him. Seemingly cast as the fall guy in a conspiracy thriller, he encounters a waitress (Deborah Unger) who may or may not be trustworthy, and nothing can be taken at face value in a world turned upside down. Douglas is great at conveying the sheer panic of his character's dilemma, and despite some lapses in credibility and an anticlimactic ending, The Game remains a thinking person's thriller that grabs and holds your attention. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

An HD-DVD REVIEW (the movie is fantastic, of course)..........2007-06-19

OK- let's just get the fact out of the way that this movie was fantastic. I remember seeing the trailer in theatres, thinking it looked great. So I was one of the few that actually caught it in the theatre and actually loved it. (One of the few films that lives up to a great trailer).

So for the HD version. I have to agree with most of the BAD HD reviews. This is a total "embarrassment" on the part of Universal for releasing such an obviously, un-remastered version of it in HD. You actually can tell there is a slight difference on a 56" HD screen but for smaller TV's, I can imagine there is almost no gain at all in quality over the standard dvd (which was an earlier generation transfer to begin with). This is such a shame because this film along with a lot of Fincher's other "dark" (actual film quality vs. content) films deserve better treatment. Do not waste your money thinking it will look better because it's on HD-DVD. We'll have to wait for it to get remastered which does not look good at this point. I doubt Universal will follow Sony's suit in remastering, like the fifth element after bad bluray reviews. Universal chose HD-DVD because it's cheaper to produce so they probably won't listen to consumer's reviews on horrible transfers. (you know...the savvy consumers that buy up early generation players/software to get things started.)

A mind game for the soul........2007-05-31

David Fincher's follow up to his out of nowhere masterpiece "Seven" is another example of his true genius. The Game is a film that grabs on to you and doesn't let up until the end. Even after it's over you still question everything you've seen and go over the film in your head. This is a film deserving of repeat viewing. The HDDVD quality is superior to any other version of this film available;although it would have been nice to have some extras on it. Who knows maybe a special edition is on the horizon.

horrible HD-DVD transfer.......2007-05-29

I gave this flick a 7 out of 10 over at IMDB, but I would give it a 1 out of 10 for it's HD transfer. The movie in HD looks absolutely dull. Save yourself a few bucks and buy the standard DVD title. You'll end up with the same video quality.

The Movie Is Great, the HD-DVD Transfer is So-So.......2007-05-18

I've always found this to be one of the most underrated films Michael Douglas has ever made. It got swept under the rug pretty quickly, which is a shame because the movie is like putting together a puzzle, a puzzle which could end up several different ways at the end, so you never know whats going to happen. The only drawback to the movie is that in a way, it is like the Sixth Sense, in that once you watch it once, and know whats going to happen, it loses a little umph the next time you view it.

Now as for the quality of this HD-DVD. I would say the PQ is barely better than a really good standard DVD, and that is a shame.

The Regular DVD of The Game is absolutely awful, so I'm glad that it is available on HD-DVD. I just wish they would have done a better job with it. Oh and some special features would have been appreciated as well.

Michael Douglas is thrilling in The Game!.......2007-05-03

Nicholas Van Orton, a rather wealthy and successful man, played by Michael Douglas, is the sort of guy who wants to be... and is in control of all aspects of his life.

He likes order but his brother gives him a gift on his birthday that brings life as he knows it, to an abrupt end. His brother, played by Sean Penn, has enrolled him in "The Game," an experiential set of circumstances that progressively take Mr. Van Orton from rigid control of his surroundings to sheer chaos.

Michael Douglas is great as the rich, divorced, and lonely man, an investment banker, who... on his 48th birthday is haunted by the memories of a father who chose to commit suicide rather than confront life.

As the game starts, the company called CRS, or Consumer Recreation Services, involves Nicholas Van Orton in a series of events that bring him from anxiety to paranoia, to the depth of depression, through fear, anger, violence, seduction, and action... lots of action.

We are soon caught in the game, thrilled by the reality of what is happening to Van Orton, and horrified at the fact that everything around him appears to be so real. Van Orton's intelligence carries him through most of the impediments, but the apparent reality overwhelms him and at some point, he is simply out of control.

Michael Douglas is awesome as he conveys a sense of dread... of sheer panic that kept us riveted on his every move. Would highly recommend seeing this film, especially if you like solving puzzles... getting scared... in a world where everything is simply... out of control.

Average customer rating:

John Wayne and William Holden saddle up for this fact-based All-Action Horse Ride!
The Duke hates Doctors...
the horse soldiers
History of the Civil War
Aging Greats Creak Along

The Horse Soldiers
Starring: John Wayne , William Holden , Constance Towers , Judson Pratt , and Hoot Gibson
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000059TFU
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

This latter-day sort-of Western from John Ford--falling midway between The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance--is a crisp retelling of a true-life episode from the Civil War. In 1863 a Union colonel named Grierson (Marlowe in the film, and John Wayne by any name) led his cavalry several hundred miles behind Confederate lines to cut the railroad between Newton Station and soon-to-be-embattled Vicksburg. Grierson's Raid was as successful as it was daring, and remarkably bloodless. Never fear that the screenplay makes up for that un-Hollywood lapse--as well as supplying amatory distraction for the colonel in the form of a feisty Southern belle (Constance Towers) who has to be dragged along to protect secrecy.

There's a certain amount of bombast in the running arguments about wartime ethics between Marlowe and the new regimental surgeon (William Holden), who don't take to each other at all. But Ford more than makes up for it with such tasty scenes as an encounter with a couple of redneck Rebel deserters (Denver Pyle and Strother Martin), an ethereal swamp crossing led by a cornpone deacon (Hank Worden), and above all the famous skirmish with a hillside full of grade-school cadets from a venerable military academy. The film ends rather abruptly because Ford abandoned a climactic battle scene--the veteran stunt man and bit player Fred Kennedy having been killed in a horse fall. Golden-age cowboy star Hoot Gibson, who acted in Ford's directorial debut, Straight Shooting, appears as Sergeant Brown. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

John Wayne teams with William Holden and eminent western director John Ford for this frontier actioner "packed with laughter, romance and thrills" (The Hollywood Reporter)! Written by John LeeMahin and Martin Rackin, this faithful representation of one of the most daring cavalry exploits inhistory is both a moving tribute to the men who fought and died in that bloody war and a powerful, action-packed drama.Based on an actual Civil War incident, The Horse Soldiers tells the rousing tale of a troop of Union soldiers who force their way deep into Southern territory to destroy a rebel stronghold at Newton Station. In command is hardbitten Colonel Marlowe (Wayne), a man who is strikingly contrasted by the company's gentle surgeon (Holden) and the beautiful but crafty Southern belle (Constance Towers) who's forced to accompany the Union raiders on perhaps the most harrowing mission in the war.

Customer Reviews:

John Wayne and William Holden saddle up for this fact-based All-Action Horse Ride!.......2007-06-30

THE HORSE SOLDIERS (1959) directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne this is their penultimate Western together, sandwiched neatly between the vastly superior THE SEARCHERS (1956) and THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962). Nevertheless this is fine film, which returns once again to Ford's beloved US Cavalry that was depicted so wonderfully in the so-called Cavalry Trilogy some ten or so years earlier.

This American Civil War story is based on a true successful incident in 1863 known as Grierson's Raid. General Ulysses S. Grant sent a brigade of Union Cavalry under Colonel Benjamin Grierson though enemy-held territory from southern Tennessee through Mississippi to Louisiana to the union-held city of Baton Rouge. The purpose was to destroy enemy rail infrastructure so creating a diversion from the Union's main attack on Vicksburg. Ford has taken some poetic licence with the story but is pretty even-handed in his story telling of a period in American history that set North against South and brother against brother, that resulted in the loss of over 620,000 men.

Ford's version is taken from a novel "The Horse Soldiers" by Harold Sinclair and has a former railroad builder Colonel John Marlowe (John Wayne) leading his mini-brigade through enemy territory to attack the Confederate held Newton Station, along the way at Greenbriar he picks up "southern belle" Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers) who has overheard details of the forthcoming raid also frustrating his efforts is his new Regimental Surgeon Major Henry Kendall (William Holden). Other contentions are his second in command Colonel Philip Secord (Willis Bouchey) is more interested in securing an election victory than a military one. The rest of the cast is made up of many of Ford's regulars including Ken Curtis, Hank Worden and former cowboy star Hoot Gibson.

This may not be John Ford at his very best, but the film does contain some excellent sequences in the directors' best manner including: The horse soldiers on the skyline, The aftermath at Newton Station, The young cadets advancing on the Union troops, The charge over the bridge at the end and last but not least the scene where Towers is serving supper to Wayne and his men at Greenbriers, she asked an embarrassed Wayne "What is your preference leg or breast?" during which time Ford gives us a daring (for the 1950's) view of Miss Towers cleavage!

The filming on location in Louisiana came to an unsatisfactory conclusion when one of Ford's regular stuntman Fred Kennedy was killed whilst falling from his horse during the final battle scenes at the bridge. Ford was very upset and lost interest in the film, so they packed up and went home. Later additional footage was shot back in The San Fernando Valley, California to complete the film!

Transfer to DVD is just about okay; included are the original theatrical release trailer with interactive menu screens and chapter selections. All Ford / Wayne Westerns are worthy of treatment to the highest standard available in Restoration and Presentation. Still pretty good value for money though!

The Duke hates Doctors..........2007-06-16

I saw this John Ford film in a theatre in 59 when it was released. I don't think I liked it that much because I never bothered to get it on VHS years ago...well the DVD was on sale here at Amazon and I picked it up, very glad I did. It is so well made and great characters populate this tale. Bill Holden is alongside John Wayne as their Union Calvary penetrate their way into the deep South. Constance Towers is dragonned into their mission for they fear she will alert Johnny Reb of their whereabouts. The Duke hates Holden because Bill is a doctor and The Duke has his reasons why he cares little for "you sawbones". Loads of action and scenery a trademark of Mr Ford and this is now is one of my favorite of his many fine films.

the horse soldiers.......2007-05-13

i donot enjoy this movie as much as the other john wayne western

History of the Civil War.......2007-01-12

I purchased this DVD because of my interest in the history of the Civil War in the U.S.A., especially the facts concerning General Grant's capture of the fort at Vicksburg, Mississippi. General Grant was the person responsible for intiating the attact on Newton Station to destroy supplies the South had, the railroad tracks that would be used to reinforce the fort at Vicksburg and as a distraction to the Southern armies during Grants attack on the fort at Vicksburg. I believe this movie portrayed these facts quite well, while adding a description of the terrible experiences caused by this war.

Aging Greats Creak Along.......2006-12-05

Ford, Wayne and Holden were all getting a bit old for this saturday matinee kiddie action stuff and it shows. Holden plays a doctor and seems a perfectly reasonable chap but Wayne picks a bone with him because Ford needed some dramatic intensity. Indeed, it would seem Holden was included for his star power not because they needed an experienced actor for his poorly drawn role. Constance Towers seems to be in the same boat as she perfornms the obligatory spirited but feminine 50's era postergirl. Ford and Wayne's second to last collaboration. By this time Wayne was doing Pappy a favor as Wayne had shot past his one time mentor in the fame department. Cliches and stereotypes abound. Both Wayne and Holden, particularly Holden, look thoroughly bored. If you really want to see Holden in a great western, watch The Wild Bunch. If you want to see a great Ford/Wayne western, you're in luck. They made five Westerns that qualify as genuine classics: The Searchers, Stagecoach and the calvary trilogy. Horse Soldiers is for Wayne, Ford and Holden completists.

Average customer rating:

Classic story told for the masses.
Pretty darned good, but....
I,Claudius
Great Neptune, what a mess!
Choice Soap History

Augustus
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Charlotte Rampling , Vittoria Belvedere , Benjamin Sadler , and Ken Duken
Director: Roger Young
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B0006D3HDI
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Amazon.com

Augustus is equal parts history lesson and soap opera, and thoroughly engaging at all levels. Peter O'Toole plays Octavius/Augustus, heir to his doomed uncle Julius Caesar's command of the far-flung Roman empire. Surviving an assassination attempt and struck by news of the death of his old friend and ally, Agrippa (Ken Duken), in the same day, Octavius waxes nostalgic about his youthful exploits in Caesar's army (Benjamin Sadler plays the young Augustus in flashbacks) and his unprepared immersion in the deadly politics of the Mark Antony (Massimo Ghini) era. More immediate are Octavius' problems trying to stave off conspiracies by his wife Livia (Charlotte Rampling) to set up the emperor's stepson, Tiberius (Michele Bevilacqua), as heir, and talk his dutiful daughter Julia (Vittoria Belvedere) into a marriage she doesn't want. Roger Young (Jesus) directs this highly watchable costume drama, and O'Toole's golden presence makes the ancient intrigues tragically human. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Classic story told for the masses........2007-06-13

As a student of Classics I was eager to see this film. Peter O'toole has always been a favorite of mine.. This film however, is watered down and shot for the masses.. Not a lot of attention to detail is played out in this release. Besides O'toole the acting is rather mediocre. It seems they grabbed a few extras from a Renaissance festival to fill the rolls.. If you want to see a hisorical portrayal of Octavian/Augustus, rent or buy ROME - 1st and 2nd season. HBO did a fabulous job!

Pretty darned good, but...........2007-05-12

All in all a GREAT flick to get a good idea of who Augustus was. As movies seem to do, sadly, this one plays a little free where the time of events are concerned.

I,Claudius.......2007-05-07

This is the best history of the decline of the Roman Empire that I have ever seen.It is history but told as a fascinating story that shows family relationships as well as political intrigues.I had read the book before and this remains absolutely true to the text. The acting is suberb. I saw this as a series on TV years ago and it was such a pleasure to see it again - and to enjoy it just as much.

Great Neptune, what a mess!.......2007-05-04

A gratuitous and unclarifying flashback-within-a-flashback chronological scheme. Highly uneven acting, to the point where you wonder whether the director wasn't drunk during most of the shooting. Post-prod dubbing which renders the voices excruciatingly phony. Some pretty faces and some good actors with little to do (extra points to Charlotte Rampling, who comes out unscathed). Compares unfavorably to Rome - The Complete First Season and of course, sorry to bring it up, but the unsurpassed I, Claudius.

Choice Soap History.......2006-03-02

This is one of 3 TV Roman docudramas floating around these days -- the other 2 being Pompeii and Julius Caesar -- and all told they reprepresent an improvement over the Charleston Heston/Yul Brenner sort of soap epic we were raised on. Technology and care improve the sets; audience demands raise the script. And here, the casting is a special plus.

Anyone who knows a little Shakespeare, Robert Graves (I, Claudius) or basic Roman history knows the plot: dictator Julius Caesar adopts nephew as heir, who then must fight it out with JC's right hand man Antony for power; the nephew triumphs and becomes Augustus, the wise and sane but plagued by a family of bozos. Straight Roman history will give you a little more edginess: the great Augustus' hobby was collecting dinosaur bones, and his favorite indoor sport deflowering virgins while dressed up as Jove. So he was more than a little unhinged himself, every bit as looney as the Neros and Caligulas to come, just more on the benign side. But the Romans were so weirdly unlike us it is near impossible to imagine them, much less portray them straight as Kentucky whiskey. The film therefore does not go there. Better to hire Peter O'Tolle and Charlotte Rampling and put them through their paces -- and they do quite well, too. Augustus and Livia are basically presented as aging modern grandparents with unresolved personal issues. Whether real historical Romans even thought or acted in such terms is highly debateable, but for practical purposes there is no other way, as Shakespeare knew, to deal with them except to make them like us.

With a project like this, you have to look at the plusses, and they are several -- most especially excellent and believable embodiments of Julius Caesar and Antony in the early parts. After halftime you get the beautiful Italian actress who inhabits Augustus' daughter Julia to look at, plus splendid downtown Rome at night. O'Toole and Rampling expertly play a mediocore soapy script to their advantage, like pro golfers playing against handicaps.

If the chillun don't know a lot about Roman history, they aren't going to learn anything really wrong here, and will pick up a lot of verified information. And while the devil is in the details, we will simply never have them any better than Shakespeare or Robert Graves did, anyway. So yeah, this one is for entertainment -- and it delivers pretty well (3.7 stars).

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"Never grow old. Never die."
Kya
What IS this film about? A typical adaptation...
Beautiful to Look at but Confusing to the Mind
Great Movie - Read the Book!

Orlando
Starring: Tilda Swinton , Quentin Crisp , Jimmy Somerville , John Bott , and Elaine Banham
Director: Sally Potter
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767827694
Release Date: 1999-08-03

Amazon.com

Breathtaking and practically nondiscursive, Sally Potter's audacious Orlando overcomes some dodgy performances and a narrative structure that could most generously be described as "loose" to emerge as a haunting, discussion-provoking trans-historical and transsexual drama. Commanded never to age by Queen Elizabeth (played with surprisingly little camp by legendary cross-dresser Quentin Crisp), the title character becomes immortal; we then follow Orlando through 400 years of dreamlike British history. Midway through the film, Orlando changes genders--to Potter's immense credit, the transformation is handled with little fanfare and no explanation. Tilda Swinton, in the lead role, is far more convincing as a woman than as a man, and even during the film's latter half, her impassivity and lack of expression can be annoying. Potter encourages Swinton to play to the camera, and the resulting asides and glances askance can be amusing, but often seem purposeless, or even arch. Nevertheless, the willful idiosyncrasy and understatement of the film never quite capsize the project, and once you give yourself over to the filmmaker's logic, the panoramic sweep of the cinematography (remarkable sets include an aristocratic skating party on the frozen Thames during the Great London Frost of 1603, a stunning tent-caravan in Central Asia, and countless fastidious boudoirs and interiors) will surely keep you enraptured. Orlando is no Merchant-Ivory production, no prissy, forgettable period piece; this film has teeth, and it may bite ferociously when you least expect it to. Based on, but scarcely resembling, the Virginia Woolf modernist classic of the same name. --Miles Bethany

Customer Reviews:

"Never grow old. Never die.".......2006-07-09

Original, gorgeous, eternal. A sumptuous feast! Orlando proves that cinema can rise above mediocrity and become art. Tilda Swinton is amazing. Probably the most versatile actress on the planet.

Kya.......2006-04-19

A very moving and tastefully filmed production. Glorious,rich color film. For some reason I only watch this movie when I am alone. To glean some understanding about what this film unfolds, the novel "Orlando", by Viginia Woolf, will not sufice. Read "Vita" by Victoria Glendinning (1983)to understand the film better. Of course, Vita Sakcville-West was enormously pleased with the novel "Orlando", but really didn"t understand it!! As a writer she was very popular, as compared to Viginia and her Bloomsbury set (at that time). "Orlando" is Virginia Woolf's ode to Vita (the child of aristocrats, who could not inherit her family's estate, since she was female, but who so adored the family homestead). Vita and Virginia were intimate friends, but Virgina's acute whimsy, or malice does poke fun at Orlando (the aristocracy). A light frolic from Virginia Woolf in love.

What IS this film about? A typical adaptation..........2006-04-07

This film was kind of disappointing, especially since my expectations were high: an adaptation of a Woolf novel, a costume movie, gender issues...
Not everything about this film was bad. Tilda Swinton was quite good, the images were often beautiful, and the narrative was (on the surface) not too difficult to follow.
But my problem is that the film leaves so much unsaid you very quickly have no idea any more what it is about, and worse: it loses its dramatic tension. This probably has everything to do with it being an adaptation of a novel. I have not read Orlando but I know Virginia Woolf's style of writing with the long introspective passages. Maybe if you have read the novel the film makes much more sense, but now I felt like the 'knowing' glances Swinton every so often throws at the camera served to replace pages of inner monologue.
I can give much more examples of scenes so minimalistic that it becomes ridiculous (the moment Orlando finds out he has become a woman; the moment when Orlando is pregnant and walking on the battle fields of WW1), but I think my main point is clear: please directors, when you really want to adapt a difficult and literary novel to the screen, remember the people in the audience that don't know the book. There are already too many films that are barely more than a meagre summary of an incredibly good novel.

Beautiful to Look at but Confusing to the Mind.......2006-01-01

The mind wants what the mind wants and when you're watching a movie it is usually to know what is going on. Orlando defies all logic spanning a couple centuries without really explaining why or how but it is beautiful to watch; the costumes, the scenery and of course Tilda Swinton. At points it does seem a bit long with no end in site but if you can lift yourself above storyline, lack of plot and the usual things that carry a movie you may find enjoyment in getting to know the struggle of one man who becomes a woman and the times they live in as they learn about love, deception, jealousy, devotion, admiration, honor and the rights of the sexes. This movie is not completely true to the book as the director added on a world war in an attempt to update the movie had Woolf written the story later. I have seen this movie a few times and still enjoy it. It is worth watching at least twice to wrap your mind around it. Orlando made me fall in love with Tilda. If you're a fan of Billy Zane you get to see him ride in on a horse, sweep Orlando off her feet and depart as quickly as he came. The movie isn't about him or their relationship, as the title stipulates, it's about Orlando.

Great Movie - Read the Book!.......2005-11-03

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, particularly the acting, scenery, and sublime imagery. For example the desert location for the "ambassador period" was bleak and barren, matching Orlando's mood and temperament at the time. As has been mentioned by others, Tilda Swinton played the role magnificently; much better than my expectations, and I admire Sally Potter's vision and respectful interpretation of Woolf's story, extending the original 1928 ending into a current, modern setting.

This film is a great companion to the book, or vice-versa. If you haven't read the book, do so first. If it's been a few years, re-read Woolf after viewing the movie.

Average customer rating:

The Omega Man
Starring: Anna Aries , Rosalind Cash , John Dierkes , Jill Giraldi , and Monika Henreid
Director: Boris Sagal
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantastic Voyage (Special Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
The Fountain (Widescreen Edition)
Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear
Mission: Impossible - The Second TV Season

ASIN: B000P0J0BU
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Description

Welcome to the future. Biological war has decimated life on Earth. Los Angeles is a windswept ghost town where Robert Neville tools his convertible through sunlit streets foraging for supplies. And makes damn sure he gets undercover before sundown, when other "inhabitants" emerge. The Omega Man adapts Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend into a high-impact, high-tension saga of a fate not far removed from reality. Charlton Heston is Neville, fending off attacks by The Family, sinister neopeople spawned by the plague. He also becomes a man with a mission after meeting Lisa (Rosalind Cash), another unifected survivor - and guardian of some healthy children representing our species' hope. Year: 1971 Sound: ENG, FR; Subtitles: ENG, FR Screen Format: Side A: Standard; Side B: Wiedescreen

Anna Russell - The (First) Farewell Concert

Average customer rating:

Anna Russell The (First)Farewell Concert
Priceless no matter what...
Anna Russell's Farewell is bittersweet
ANNA RUSSELL... A FUNNY LADY
The Best of her Classic Routines

Anna Russell - The (First) Farewell Concert
Starring: Anna Russell , and Rober Rosenberger
Director: Phillip Byrd
Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005R5G5
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

To end a long, hilarious career, classical music comedienne Anna Russell revived some of her best and funniest routines and took them on the road. This special PBS production, taped in Baltimore at the beginning of that 1984 tour, is a treasure for music lovers who understand that the thing they love can be charmingly goofy.

The highlight of the disc, and the routine that most fans remember most fondly, is her discussion of the Ring cycle. She tells the convoluted story of Wagner's four-installment epic, with careful attention to its absurdities, and she sings all the roles in a voice ranging shakily but with determination through soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. She does the same in her parody of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, and the advantage of a video recording becomes obvious when she changes funny hats while singing to show whether she is acting the heroine, villain, or chorus. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

Anna Russell The (First)Farewell Concert.......2007-04-12

We found it very amusing and easy to watch .

Priceless no matter what..........2006-08-22

While I grew up listening to the old double album, I was also lucky enough to see Anna Russell during her "first farewell" tour. It didn't matter a bit that she'd lost some of her vocal range, and during the performance we saw, at least, she accompanied herself (!). This DVD is just a wonderful reminder of one of my favorite people. And yes, the 'newscaster' appearance is fun...

Anna Russell's Farewell is bittersweet.......2006-08-09

I know Anna Russell exclusively from earlier audio-only recordings which I have listened to many times and practically memorized. While it was terrific for me to see the ole gal in action, she is clearly not "up to speed" and the result is more sentimental than otherwise. Still I recommend her as one of the "greats" who has not had nearly enough American exposure. God Bless Her Majesty of Mirth.

ANNA RUSSELL... A FUNNY LADY.......2006-02-22

I have listened for years to Anna Russell's great monologues of Wagner's operas or Gilbert & Sullivan's operettas,etc... and I thought that seeing her on DVD would be a bonus... But although she was entertaining, I think that I prefer the audio cassettes and let my imagination draw the pictures...

The Best of her Classic Routines.......1999-02-14

This video, billed as Ms. Russell's "First Farewell Concert," features almost all of her best routines including: a lecture in her series "Wind Instruments I Have Known," "How to Write Your Own Gilbert & Sullivan," and "The history of the Folksong." Of course, no Anna Russell collection would be complete without her analysis of Wagner's "Ring der Nibelungen." Creating great parody requires even greater knowledge of the subject being parodied, and Anna Russell, having studied at the Royal College of Music, is well qualified. The only other routine I would have liked to see on this tape would be "Introduction to the Concert (By the Women's Club President)." Truly classic Anna Russell! I'm glad this only the "First" farewell condert. I'm looking forward to many more. P.S.-- During the last folksong, look for a famous newscaster in the audience.

Average customer rating:

Best Film of 2006
To Never Be Alone
Good But Could Be Better with More Straightforward Approach
enjoyable but needlessly confusing
"We are Siamese if You Please

Brothers of the Head
Starring: Harry Treadaway , Luke Treadaway , Bryan Dick , Sean Harris , and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Louis Pepe , and Keith Fulton
Manufacturer: Ifc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HLDFGI
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Description

A feverish, mind-bending pseudo documentary of conjoined twins Tom and Barry Howe who were plucked from obscurity to be groomed into a boy band. -Official Selection 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, 2006 South by Southwest Film Festival, 2005 Toronto Film Festival From acclaimed directors of Lost in La Mancha, Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe

Customer Reviews:

Best Film of 2006.......2007-05-12

A clever work of rock and roll art that really defies description. Takes the movie-within-a-movie motif to places its never gone before.

To Never Be Alone.......2007-03-20

In this realistic pseudo-documentary, two conjoined twins (Luke and Harry) are discovered by a talent artist and become a hugely popular British punk-rock act. It's a dark tale from the start, but the simple story of sharing every moment of your life with another person joined at the waist is mesmerizing. The joy and angst of the pill-popping, heavy drinking twins is shown clearly and plainly. Their moods change and they are conflicted about eachother, but they always remain faithful (with no other choice) to eachother's feelings. The music is hard and tough and the emotional material matches. This is a cult classic about punk-rock and the feelings that one is never alone - and that isn't always a good thing.

Good But Could Be Better with More Straightforward Approach.......2007-02-17

Conjoined twins Tom and Barry Howe were raised in an isolated island by their widowed father. Suddenly they are "found" by an enterprising producer and form a rock band. The time was in 1975 and their exciting punk rock music was sensation to the crazed audiences, but then a tragic incident happens to them.

This strange British pseudo-documentary film "Brothers of the Head" is based on the novel by Brian Wilson Aldiss, which follows the fictional rock band the Bang Bang. The film includes not only the dramatic story about the conjoined twins (played by newcomer Harry Treadaway and Luke Treadaway) and the rousing live performances of the band capturing the atmosphere of a punk rock gig; it also has the "interviews" of the people who talk about the days when they lived with the stars.

The script of Tony Grisoni (who co-wrote the screenplay for Terry Gilliam-directed "Tideland") is more ambitious than the original novel's concept in that the film attempts to include also a film-within-film directed by Ken Russell (who appears as himself). Ken Russell briefly talks before the camera about his "unfinished" work, which stars Jonathan Pryce and Jane Horrocks, both appearing as cameo.

Good things about the film are its music and convincing acting from the leads as the conjoined twins. Harry Treadaway and Luke Treadaway (both twins, not conjoined in real life) are fantastic, so are the supporting actors. The music by Clive Langer is also great, reminding me of the Clash songs, and the photography by Anthony Dod Mantle (known for "Dogville" and "28 Days Later") sets the film's brooding tone rightly.

Still for all its electrifying pub gigs and the believable acting from the leads, "Brothers of the Head" lacks emotions. The human drama part about the conjoined twins is underwritten and directors Keith Fulton and Luis Pepe ("Lost in La Mancha") are too intent on making the whole film look like documentary. The film's narrative is often interrupted by subtitles and fake interviews by the cast, leaving us detached from the main characters.

The film has several wonderful moments emotionally involving, but with the fantastic music and acting from the leads, the film could have been better with a simpler narrative though some of you may prefer its eccentric approach.

enjoyable but needlessly confusing.......2007-02-13

For the most part I enjoyed this movie, and will probably watch it again. The basic "plot" and the film's strong points are mentioned in the five star reviews found above/below. There were, however, some shortcomings I feel should be noted. By "layering in" dreams, drug trips and flashlight visitations (If that's what they were), I felt the filmmakers needlessly confused the story. This was apparently an attempt to subvert the otherwise straightforward reality of the proffered documentary (and maybe a way of trying to distinguish this movie from TWIN FALLS IDAHO), but it didn't work for me. I found these devices and the fetal head subplot distracting, not interesting. Instead of these diversions, I would have liked to have seen the twins' private interactions and conversations "cut" into the documentary, which, because of its format, kept the subjects at an objective distance. I wanted to be more emotionally involved than the film allowed, and, consequently, felt frustrated by the limited access to the main characters.

"We are Siamese if You Please.......2006-12-14

"BROTHERS OF THE HEAD'

We are Siamese if You Please

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

"Brothers of the Head", a small indie film (IFC Films) is a feverish ad "mind-bending" tale of twins who are conjoined at birth (Tom and Barry Howe) who became a novelty rock and roll act. We are given a tour of the underground of the world of rock of the 1970s and a look into a destructive and beautiful relationship. The movie is a "mockumentary".
Conjoined or Siamese twins are a rarity in the world occurring once every 75,000 to 100,000 births. In "Brothers of the Head" a new look at a situation not often talked about is presented. Tom and Barry Howe become punk music stars and their story is a unique one. They become a sensation in the music world and their "twinness" titillates as they play with the layer of skin that conjoins them. As they become famous, they also become hooked on booze and drugs and intruder comes into their lives as does love.
Watching this movie is akin to watching a freak show and part of the fun of the movie is trying to decide if it is for real. This is a disturbing look at a disturbing fact of the world. The twins, who are born joined at the stomach, share a liver as well as some severe psychological problems. When a producer sees them, he also sees money in the bank as he attempts to propel the two from nowhere to stardom. "The Bang Bang", the bad formed starring the twins, develops a talent for short, scary punk melodies The uniqueness of the band is the twins and we see them doing the things everyone does--eating, sleeping, bathing together and we also see signs of incest and bisexuality.
The story of the Howe twins began in 1975 and through interviews with people who knew the twins then we learn about how they lived. The high emotions of the film are presented through songs. We are given a look at jealousy and anger as well as resentment as one twin; Barry is more hotheaded than the other, Tom, who is much more gentle and subdued. Barry especially resents Tom when he falls in love with a journalist. Sibling rivalry is what causes the end of "The Bang Bang".
This movie could have been a joyous exploration into a world that most of us know nothing about. Instead the dourness of the film makes some of it quite tedious. On the other hand, the performances are wonderful and the music is great. The twins really had no musical skills so the back-up band was recruited to give them a sense of knowing what they were doing.
The most redeeming aspect of the film is the look into glam rock that it provides. The language is quite strong as is the drug use. Simulated sex is extensive and there is some violence and a bit of nudity.
I enjoyed learning about an aspect of life I know nothing about and I do admire the creativity shown in the film. It is an experience and has a lot to offer.

Average customer rating:

BFF
It follows you home
Friends Can Be Too Close.
Friendships are necessary, but sometimes they are not a good thing
I love this movie!

Me Without You
Starring: Ella Jones , Anna Popplewell , Cameron Powrie , Trudie Styler , and Allan Corduner
Director: Sandra Goldbacher
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000093W4U
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Amazon.com

Friendship can prove more complicated than romance. Me Without You follows two British girls from their 1970s preadolescence to contemporary adulthood. Holly (Michelle Williams, Dick), a shy Jewish girl with loving but bookish parents, grew up next to Marina (Anna Friel, The Land Girls), whose glamorous but unstable parents render her flamboyant but a mess inside. The girls form an alliance, each envying the other and finding solace in the relationship, but over time, they sabotage as much as support each other, sometimes at the same time. Both have an affair with a randy college professor (Kyle MacLachlan), but it's Holly's attraction to Marina's older brother Nat (Oliver Milburn) that, in the end, forces the women to redefine their lives. Me Without You is excellently performed and full of telling details. Though the heroines are often confused, the movie has a lucid clarity that is compassionate but open-eyed. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

BFF.......2007-02-18

This movie captures the essence of Best Friends Forever. Your best friend is the one person you connect with and share secrets with but as you grow older the relationship must change or it becomes confining. The actors do an excellent job of showing how the relationship can be loving or painful but that imperfection is what sets this movie apart from the hollywood fluff stories. I love the 80's setting.

It follows you home.......2006-02-03

At the end of the first time seeing this I didn't like it. Then as the days passed, I kept thinking about it and it snuck into my heart. I watched it two more times before returning it to Blockbuster.
This is a story of a not so perfect friendship. Michelle Williams plays the part of Holly, "the sweetest girl in all the world." She is convincing and charming as an intelligent, shy, overlooked beauty. Her best friend's brother, played by Oliver Milburn, is absolutely captivating and charming. If you don't fall in love with this movie, you'll fall in love with him. The music used fits perfectly into every mood and emotion that is explored in the lives of these two girls.
Anna Friel does a capital job as the loud-mouthed, self-obsessed friend. The contrasts between their personalities and the events that unfold are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Friends Can Be Too Close........2005-09-19

Marina and Holly were best friends as children and vowed to always be together. But as they grow older, the nature of their relationship changes for the worse. Although Marina (Anna Friel) is an outgoing party girl, she seems unable to find an identity of her own and instead relies on the smarter and more introverted Holly (Michele Williams) to provide her with one. Holly is in love with Marina's brother Nat (Oliver Milburn), but Marina's jealousy has always come between them. Holly can hardly have a relationship with any man before Marina claims him for herself, leaving Holly heartbroken. After college, Holly pursues a writing career and Marina seems to make a career of forcing herself into Holly's relationships. For some reason, although she blames Marina for her misery, Holly allows Marina to turn her life upside down.

"Me Without You" is an especially true-to-life character drama. Marina and Holly are both interesting people, and each is sympathetic in her own way. The film's characters, their actions, and their feelings are all believable. Anna Friel and Michele Williams are exceptionally effective in their roles. It turns out that Michele Williams, probably best known for her teen roles in "Dick" and in television's "Dawson's Creek", is a very fine actress. Kyle MacLachlan has a small role as Daniel, one of Holly's and Marina's love interests. A story about a childhood bond that gets out of hand and becomes a co-dependent relationship of disastrous proportions sounds like it might be either a colossal bore or a horror flick. "Me Without You" is neither. Sandra Goldbacher's adept direction moves the story along at a fair clip, and it is easy to share these characters' frustrations.

Friendships are necessary, but sometimes they are not a good thing.......2005-09-02

Friendship is an important thing in living and there are plenty of films that tell the stories of great friendships. "Me Without You" would not be one of those films, because you repeatedly have to wonder when you are watching this 2001 film whether Holly (Michelle Williams) and Marina (Anna Friel) really like each other. The two girls grew up living next door to each other in London in the early 1970s, and when they were young, dressing up and bouncing on their beds, they make a pact of eternal friendship. It seems clear this is a mistake, because Holly is the smart one but follows the lead of the dominating Marina, but there is nothing the two can do about it because their lives are so completely intertwined that a trauma for one invariable involves the other as they grow up and move on into the 1980s.

"Me Without You" is directed by Sandra Goldbacher from a script by Goldbacher and Laurence Coriat, and I wonder what personal demons they are exorcising here because the pain and regret rings so true. I also find myself considering this film to be the anti-"Beaches." There you had two young girls who form a friendship because of a chance meeting and who keep in touch over the years, especially during the key moments in their life. Her you have two young girls who form a friendship because they live next door and they have nobody else in their lives. They live together as often as not and are in each other's lives almost constantly, so that every time they fall in love the other seems to be some sort of impediment to living happily ever after. We jump from year to year, with attention paid to what Holly and Marina wear along with the music they listen to, and the question is whether the two will be able to survive their friendship.

You can pick your moment where this friendship clearly becomes dysfunctional and a bad thing rather than a good thing, but I think the die is cast when Holly finally sleeps with Marina's brother Nat (Oliver Miburn). She has had a crush on him since the beginning, but Marina sees this as some sort of betrayal, and from then on Holly is the sympathetic figure in this story, although to some extent she wins that position by default. The division between the two friends becomes starker when they both end up in the bed of Daniel (Kyle MacLachlan), an American lecturing at their college. The both want to sleep with Daniel and he obliges them both, and then is thoroughly befuddled when it turns out the two young women are closer than the thought. For Marina the relationship seems to be nothing more than another competition with Holly, while for Holly the truth takes away all of the joy of an important personal epiphany.

I was not sure why Michelle Williams was adopting a Brit accent to do this film, but she was the reason I checked out this film, not just because I saw a shot of the seaweed scene. To date in terms of "Dawson's Creek" alumni, Williams might be the forgotten one because she does not get big films but she is putting together a solid resume with films like "Prozac Nation" and "If These Walls Can Talk 2." The important thing here is that if Williams's name is enough to get people to see this movie with its almost brutally realistic depiction of friendship between two young women, then so much the better. "Me Without You" is not an uplifting film, but given its honesty it certainly is a refreshing one.

I love this movie!.......2005-06-28

I first caught this movie while flipping channels. I was immediately drawn to the love/hate relationship between the two main characters. The performances of Anna Freil and Michelle Williams (very under-rated actress.. she is always excellent) were real evoked memories of days gone by. The love triangle (and I use that word liberally) was also one that well written. On top of everything else, the movie soundtrack is filled with past gems that bring the story and timeline to life. I highly recommend this movie for fans of the Bridget Jones movies.

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