Celebrity

Starring:Greg Mottola, Jeff Mazzola, Dick Mingalone, Vladimir Bibic, Melanie Griffith, Francisco Quidjada, Aleksa Palladino, Dan Moran, Peter Castellotti, A. Lee Morris, Douglas McGrath, Kenneth Branagh, Maurice Sonnenberg, Winona Ryder, Craig Ulmschneider, Mina Bern, Janet Marlow, Tommie Baxter, Kathleen Doyle, Arthur Berwick
Director: Woody Allen
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Woody Allen's portrait of the celebrity life--as seen through the eyes of a newly divorced couple--is a black-and-white, New York-style La Dolce Vita that's a chillier flip side to Allen's earlier New York valentine, Manhattan. Despite a few missteps, though, it's an admirable (if dark) and worthy addition to the Allen pantheon. Kenneth Branagh and Judy Davis (both boasting American accents) star as the once-marrieds, each struggling to build new, separate lives in a media-saturated, celebrity-driven world. He tries his hands at celebrity profiles (while peddling a screenplay to any star that will listen) and falls into the lap of a bosomy starlet (Melanie Griffith), the first in a long line of briefly attainable women. She runs into a producer (Joe Mantegna) who offers her a job as a TV personality as well as a loving relationship. This seemingly simple double plot is punctuated with twists and turns in the form of flashbacks and innumerable side trips, all ravishingly photographed in black and white by the legendary Sven Nykvist, and populated by one of Allen's largest casts ever; if you blink you'll miss countless cameos by Isaac Mizrahi, Donald Trump, Hank Azaria, and a host of others.

While Davis is splendid as usual (aside from the requisite nervous breakdown scene she's done one too many times), somebody should have told Branagh to put a kibosh on his Woody Allen imitation, which is so impeccable as to become irritating. His failure in the role, however, isn't entirely his fault, as it's also another in a long line of unlikable male protagonists that Allen has created, as if daring audiences to hate his main characters after loving them in such movies as Manhattan and Annie Hall. He's never more unlikable than in a painful sequence in which he tags along with a spoiled, temperamental teen idol (a shrewd and clever Leonardo DiCaprio) and proves himself the quintessential noodge. Far more enjoyable misadventures with Branagh include Charlize Theron in the film's best performance as a libidinous supermodel with a penchant for echinacea; a stunning Famke Janssen as a successful book editor Branagh almost moves in with; and Winona Ryder, acting like an adult for the first time, as an aspiring actress who catches Branagh's eye more than once. All manage to slip through Branagh's fingers by the end of the film.

Amazon.com

The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.

Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart

On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim

Beyond Dreamgirls

Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack

Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)

Product Description

Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.

Customer Reviews:

Best Picture.......2007-07-01

I just watched this movie an hour ago. Obviously the folks who vote for the Oscars were incorrect. Well, consider the fact that Jennifer Hudson was voted out pretty early in American Idol. That was a precedent. I knew how good Hudson was back then. Well, at least Hudson deservedly has an Oscar now but the movie should have won Best Picture simply because it WAS.

As a biracial person, I love how this was a Black movie. The producer/director did not find the need to put in a white character that the wider/whiter audience could relate to. If the movie was released even 10 or 15 years ago that may have occurred.

The movie didn't need a white character because anyone can relate to the various themes that the movie covered: ambition, love, entrepreneurship, exploitation, drug use/abuse, family, hurt, pain, pregancy, welfare/unemployment, fame, racism, fatphobia/sizism and of course, music - from the chitlin' circuit through disco.

And Eddie Murphy. Unbelievable. I haven't been a fan of his for YEARS - since SNL circa early '80s - so I was stunned to see his performance. Wow, what a stroke of genius in casting Murphy in that role!

Jennifer Hudson's "And I Am Telling You" was incredible. It may wind up being a landmark in movie history just as we remember how Jennifer Holliday made the song famous in the Broadway version.

And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!.......2007-06-28

Our last Musical movie was the Phantom of the Opera.That one was spectacular, but this one will absolutely take your breath away. It's wide open sets, and absolutely lush voices will have you dancing in your underwear.
Henry Kreiger's amazing musical about three, well four girls, who have a dream is heartbreaking, and moving. The plot is not very rich on the surface, but like an ice cream cake. THe heart of the story is what really matters most.
Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles, and Anikki Nonni Rose Are astouding. They lay thier notes out better than anyone in the odern world of Motown. And as Jennifer said "Simon, YOU WERE WRONG." and actually,(and almost eriely) Her (Jennifer's) storie mirror's her character very well. And so does Beyonce's caracter.
Jamie Fox, and Eddie Murphie are both astounding. And the man who plays James Thunder Early's Producer (and later Effie's Helper) is wonderful and fatherly. The Language is abounding, but it is not overbearing, like in Black Hawk Down.
So I give a 857345793453 stars out of 5.
WONDERFUL BUY IT AND THE DELUXE CD AND DRTEAM ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

A must see and own for any Supremes Fan.......2007-06-28

I have watched this movie 6 times, and never get tired or bored with it. The music/score is great, Jennifer Hudson shines, as does Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.
This is one of my favorite films ever.

Expected More After All of the Hype.......2007-06-28

After all of the hype surrounding this movie before it even came to the theaters, I was expecting to be wowed. Instead I was sorely disappointed. I just wasn't feeling it the way that I felt movies like The Five Heartbeats, The Temptations, and Lady Sings The Blues. I watch these movies over and over. The acting in Dreamgirls was so-so. Jennifer Hudson did just okay, nothing spectacular. Beyonce did all right. Annika Rose is a very good singer and actress, but everybody seemed to be focused on Jennifer Hudson, because of the American Idol thing, and on Beyonce just because she is Beyonce. Out of all of the songs from Dreamgirls, I think that Beyonce's "Listen" is the best. I could listen to it over and over. I own Jennifer Holliday's CD, and I listen to her version of, "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going," but I doubt if I would listen to Jennifer Hudson's version over and over again. Not that I'm dissing Miss Hudson. She is a good singer, but just that...nothing spectacular. I've never seen the Broadway version of Dreamgirls, but I'm hoping that maybe it has more of an edge to it than the movie.

Good Movie.......2007-06-27

I saw the broadway play and compared with it, the movie has done a good job of putting forth the story of Effie White. Eddie Murphy was at his best in this movie.

Average customer rating:

Best Picture
And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!
A must see and own for any Supremes Fan
Expected More After All of the Hype
Good Movie

Dreamgirls (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Eddie Murphy , Jennifer Hudson , and Beyoncé Knowles
Director: Bill Condon
Manufacturer: DreamWorks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

The Queen
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000O1799U
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

Beyond Dreamgirls

Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack

Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

Best Picture.......2007-07-01

And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!.......2007-06-28

A must see and own for any Supremes Fan.......2007-06-28

I have watched this movie 6 times, and never get tired or bored with it. The music/score is great, Jennifer Hudson shines, as does Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.
This is one of my favorite films ever.

Expected More After All of the Hype.......2007-06-28

Good Movie.......2007-06-27

I saw the broadway play and compared with it, the movie has done a good job of putting forth the story of Effie White. Eddie Murphy was at his best in this movie.

Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

like a tour guide
Beautiful
How many people know Dalton Trumbo actually wrote the screenplay?
The classics keep getting better.
Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Gregory Peck , Audrey Hepburn , Eddie Albert , Hartley Power , and Harcourt Williams
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00003CXCD
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Amazon.com essential video

Maybe it doesn't quite live up to its sterling reputation, and maybe the leading man and director were slightly miscast. But who cares? Roman Holiday is the film that brought Audrey Hepburn to prominence, and the world movie audience went weak at the knees. The endlessly charming Hepburn had her first starring role in this sweet romance, playing a European princess on an official tour through Rome. Frustrated by her lack of connection to the real world, she slips away from her protective handlers and goes on a spree, aided by a tough-guy news reporter (Gregory Peck). Director William Wyler, more at home with such heavy-going, Oscar-winning classics as The Best Years of Our Lives and Ben- Hur, doesn't always keep the champagne bubbles afloat, and the Peck role would have fit Cary Grant like a silk glove. But the film is great fun, the location shooting is irresistible, and Hepburn embodies an image of chic style that would rule for the rest of the fifties. No coincidence: she won an Oscar, and so did veteran costume designer Edith Head. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

like a tour guide.......2007-05-30

This is a classic film anD while watching it is like having a tour of Rome, all the sights and famous monuments . If you have ever been to Rome it brings back all the memories of your own Roman Holiday.

Beautiful.......2007-05-25

This film is the sweetest, most lovable romantic film ever. This film encouraged my uncle to become a reporter!

How many people know Dalton Trumbo actually wrote the screenplay? .......2007-04-17

I remember the first time I saw this movie, as a child, with the absolutely radiant Audrey Hepburn in her first major role as the naive, protected Princess determined to have her day of freedom and to escape from her overscheduled, dreary routine.
How lucky Hepburn was to have Gregory Peck as a costar, a man who was gallant (and wise) enough to insist she be listed as a costar, right up there alongside him in the credits. The studio wanted to use the words "and introducing Audrey Hepburn" in the credits but Peck believed -and turned out to be right- that she would win the Academy Award for her excellent portrayal, which may seem a bit over the top to today's audiences but absolutely charmed viewers at the time (I still love the movie).
The story behind this movie is nearly as fascinating as the movie itself and it is worth buying this Collector's Edition to get some of that behind the scenes info in the special sections. Frank Capra was set to direct the movie but when he found out that the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo was the scriptwriter, he bailed. That's when Wyler stepped in, letting Trumbo do the writing but having another writer "front" for him. It took years for Trumbo to be duly recognized.
I do believe this film is best seen in black and white, as it was intentionally filmed this way. Why? Because it was shot on location, in Rome, at a time when movies were often filmed in Hollywood, with backdrops to give the illusion of another country. But not THIS time. However, Wyler feared that if the movie was shot in color, Rome might overshadow the story itself. As it is, some have called Rome the third "character" in this film and it benefits greatly by being shot on location.

The classics keep getting better........2007-04-04

What more can be said about this film? Filmed on location in Rome, Italy in the fifties. Greg Peck and Audrey Hep. Nuff said!

Roman Holiday.......2007-03-19

One of the greatest movies of all time. Audrey Hepburn is breathtakingly flawless.

Average customer rating:

This is Kathy AT HER UNCENSORED BEST !
D list for "D"own Right Funny
i laughed throughout the entire dvd
Kathy is a STAR
The only celebrity to really tell it like it is !

Kathy Griffin - Allegedly
Starring: Kathy Griffin , and Matt Moline
Director: Keith Truesdell
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
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Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List - The Complete First Season
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Take It Like a Man

ASIN: B0002Y4TB0
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Description

Her All New, Full-Length Totally Uncensored Concert DVD. In this hilarious stand-up performance filmed live in 2004, the D-List Diva unleashes on her stint as a red carpet host at the VH1 Fashion Awards, her USO tour of Afghanistan, being a guest at Brooke Shields' wedding, battling Barbara Walters on live television and much more. From dishing the dirt on Gwyneth to getting groped by an alcoholic celebrity mom, this is Kathy Griffin at her outrageous best: pissing off everybody, naming names and telling tales out of school like never before.

Customer Reviews:

This is Kathy AT HER UNCENSORED BEST ! .......2007-07-03

Kathy Griffin's Life is D-list - only according to her. To her fans, she is A -list all the way, and this DVD proves it! 'Allegedly' is Kathy at her uncensored, straight-up, no-holds-barred, un-bleeped best. This a stand-up routine from 2004 that is just as hysterical today, and it's definately something you'll watch over and over. Whether she's dishing on Brooke Sheild's mom, Gwyneth, Barbara Walters and the ladies of The View or any other random celebrity in Hollywood, Kathy shoots straight from the hip, and takes aim at everyone! No one is safe from her razor sharp wit or her acid tongue...even if it is only 'allegedly' true! This lady is amazing to watch onstage. You can almost see her mind racing from one hot topic to another, and she'll make you laugh so hard, your sides will hurt. When was the last time that happened? Pick this one up NOW, and enjoy it. You won't regret it.

D list for "D"own Right Funny.......2007-06-12

Kathy Griffin just has a way with words and telling stories. I love every mintue of this dvd and have watched it time and time again. If she is "D" list, it's for Down right Funny!

i laughed throughout the entire dvd.......2007-03-08

this is honestly, one of the funniest stand up dvds i've seen in a while...i laughed so much that i cried! if you like kathy griffin and like her sense of humor, then you will def. love this dvd

Kathy is a STAR.......2007-02-19

Funny, whitty, and wonderful. The special clips at the end show what a truly compassionate and kind person she is.

The only celebrity to really tell it like it is ! .......2007-01-21

We've all had our suspicions that Hollywood celebrities really do believe they are better than us "normal" folks, and thanks to Kathy Griffin, she confirms it! Her stories about her fellow celebrity androids are hilarious. And as a result, Hollywood hates her! And they wouldn't hate her if it wasn't true. If you celebrity gossip and heavy sarcasm, Kathy is your woman! Prepare to laugh your 'you know what' off!

Average customer rating:

Isn't she amazing!
Love it!
Grey Gardens- Criterion Collection
I love you Edie...
Like Chewing on A Handful of Sand.

Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection
Starring: Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale , Edith Bouvier Beale , Jack Helmuth , Brooks Hires , and Albert Maysles
Director: Albert Maysles , Ellen Hovde , and Muffie Meyer
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005KHJX
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

Grey Gardens is the name of a neglected, sprawling estate gone to seed. The crumbling mansion was home to Edith Bouvier Beale, often referred to as "Big Edie," and her daughter, "Little Edie." The East Hampton, Long Island, home became the center of quite a scandal when it was revealed in 1973 that the reclusive aunt and cousin to Jackie O. were living in a state of poverty and filth. That's the background to this 1976 film portrait by cinéma vérité pioneers Albert and David Maysles, but it's only incidental to the fascinating story they discover inside the estate walls.

The two Edies have lived in almost complete seclusion since the mid-1950s, ever since Big Edie's husband abandoned her and Little Edie (then a young socialite on the verge of a dancing career, or so she claims) was called home to care for her depressed mother. Twenty years later they continue to live in their memories while camped out in a single bedroom of the 28-room mansion overrun with cats (who use the floor as their litter box). Rehashing mistakes and missed chances with an accusing banter that becomes more stinging and angry as the documentary progresses, they exist in a sad codependency brings new meaning to the term dysfunctional. Disturbing and discomforting, it comes off like a freak show at times, but for all their arguments and recriminations, the Maysles reveal two women abandoned by their families who are left to cling to each other, for better or worse. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Meet Big and Little Edie Beale-high society dropouts, mother and daughter, reclusive cousins of Jackie O.-thriving together amid the decay and disorder of their ramshackle East Hampton mansion. Five years after Gimme Shelter, the Maysles unveiled this impossibly intimate portrait of the unexpected, an eerie echo of the Kennedy Camelot, which has since become a cult classic and established Little Edie as fashion icon and philosopher queen.

Customer Reviews:

Isn't she amazing!.......2007-06-28

I mean, Edie. No, I mean, her mother. What about Jerry? Jerry likes mother's corn. Beautiful. Sad. Amazing.

Love it!.......2007-05-12

I love it! I have both the Grey Gardens dvd and The Beales of Grey Gardens and I love them both. I could watch them over and over. I find them very interesting and entertaining. It's such a walk through memory lane listening to these two women.

Grey Gardens- Criterion Collection.......2007-05-11

After seeing Grey Gardens on Broadway I had to find out more about these two very interesting and unique women. I truly enjoyed this DVD collection.

I love you Edie..........2007-04-27

I've watched Grey Gardens so many times Big Edie and Little Edie are friends of mine. If I had of lived in the Hamptoms back in the 70's I would have been a frequent visitor in their home. I would have brought little Edie loaves of Wonder Bread to feed her racoons. I would have helped Edie give the kitties their luncheon. I would have eaten and enjoyed an ear of corn prepared by Big Edie. This documentary is the closest I can now come to being around these two fascinating women.

Imagine Little Edie Beale was around in today's world of instant fame and easy celebrity; she would be my first choice to replace Rosie O'Donnell on "The View". Just imagine Edie's "revolutionary" outfits of the day next to Barbraa Walters reserved fashion sense. Of course Bill O'Reily would want to have her on his show; he would have asked her opinion on topics but she would have probably managed to talk him down. She is such a staunch woman.

S-T-A-U-N-C-H

Watch this movie. Watch it again. It's the most amazing documentary I have ever seen.

And Edie: You look fabulous!

Like Chewing on A Handful of Sand........2007-04-25

Man oh man...I love documentaries and character studies.

Crumb, Capturing the Friedmans, The Thin Blue Line etc...

But THIS...my god, the mind boggles at the level of pretentiousness of the folks who claim to "love" or "get" this horrible mess.
Over an hour and a half of two crazy women who are essentially shut-ins rambling on about nothing at all in what looks like an abandoned shack surrounded by vermin and garbage a foot deep.
The two women in question are "Big Edie" and "Little Edie", the aunt and cousin of Jackie O respectively.

Let me sum up the whole 100 minutes for you;

Little Edie: I hate it here. I had to leave New York to come here and take care of my mother.
Big Edie: I was fine. I used to have a lovely singing voice.
Little Edie: But I missed out on my big chance to make it.
Big Edie: Oh well. You missed out.
Little Edie: I miss New York. I hate it here.
Big Edie: Did you feed the cats?
Little Edie; YES!!! I fed them!!!
Big Edie: I used to have a lovely singing voice.

Now imagine this being repeated over and over again for 100 minutes.

Do yourself a favor; Before you let anyone talk you into seeing this piece of dreck just go sit on skid row for 2 hours and listen to the rambling of the hobos and mental patients.
You'll save the money and get some fresh air at the same time.

Horrible.
Just plain horrible.

Average customer rating:

Best Picture
And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!
A must see and own for any Supremes Fan
Expected More After All of the Hype
Good Movie

Dreamgirls (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Beyoncé Knowles , Eddie Murphy , and Jennifer Hudson
Director: Bill Condon
Manufacturer: DreamWorks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

The Queen
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000O179A4
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

Beyond Dreamgirls

Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack

Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

Best Picture.......2007-07-01

And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!.......2007-06-28

A must see and own for any Supremes Fan.......2007-06-28

I have watched this movie 6 times, and never get tired or bored with it. The music/score is great, Jennifer Hudson shines, as does Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.
This is one of my favorite films ever.

Expected More After All of the Hype.......2007-06-28

Good Movie.......2007-06-27

I saw the broadway play and compared with it, the movie has done a good job of putting forth the story of Effie White. Eddie Murphy was at his best in this movie.

Average customer rating:

classic romantic comedy
Love Conquers All in Notting Hill
"Surreal, But Nice": Pleasant Romantic Comedy from Richard Curtis
Fulfills all your
comfort food for the lazy sunday

Notting Hill (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Hugh Grant , Richard McCabe , Rhys Ifans , and James Dreyfus
Director: Roger Michell
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000023VTP
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Product Description

Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) is the world s most famous movie star. Her picture has been plastered on the cover of every magazine, and every time she makes a move, the entire world knows about it. William Thacker (Hugh Grant) owns a travel bookstore in the quaint neighborhood of Notting Hill. His business is stagnant, he has the roommate from hell and his love life is completely nonexistent. Then one day, their paths cross and the couple comes to face the ultimate question: can two people fall in love with the whole world watching?

System Requirements:
Starring: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, James Dreyfus, Rhys Ifans, Tim McInnerny, and Gina McKee. Directed By: Roger Michell Running Time: 124 Mins., Color This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 1999 Universal Studios

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

They don't really make many romantic comedies like Notting Hill anymore--blissfully romantic, sincerely sweet, and not grounded in any reality whatsoever. Pure fairy tale, and with a huge debt to Roman Holiday, Notting Hill ponders what would happen if a beautiful, world-famous person were to suddenly drop into your life unannounced and promptly fall in love with you. That's the crux of the situation for William Thacker (Hugh Grant), who owns a travel bookshop in London's fashionable Notting Hill district. Hopelessly ordinary (well, as ordinary as you can be when you're Hugh Grant), William is going about his life when renowned movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) walks into his bookstore and into his heart. After another contrived meet-cute involving spilled orange juice, William and Anna share a spontaneous kiss (big suspension of disbelief required here), and soon both are smitten. The question is, of course, can William and Anna reconcile his decidedly commonplace bookseller existence and her lifestyle as a jet-setting, paparazzi-stalked celebrity? (Take a wild guess at the answer.) Smartly scripted by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and directed by Roger Michell (Persuasion), Notting Hill is hardly realistic, but as wish fulfillment and a romantic comedy, it's irresistible. True, Roberts doesn't really have to stretch very far to play a big-time actress who makes $15 million per movie, but she's more winning and relaxed than she's been in years, and Grant is sweetly understated as a man blindsided by love. Together, in moments of quiet, they're a charming couple, and you can feel her craving for real love and his awe and amazement at the wonderful person for whom he has fallen. The only blight on the film is its overbearing pop soundtrack, though Elvis Costello's heart-wrenching version of "She" gets poignant exposure. With Rhys Ifans as Grant's scene-stealing, slovenly housemate and Alec Baldwin in a sly, perfectly cast cameo. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

classic romantic comedy.......2007-05-13

Notting Hill is a modern single man's fairy tale and I don't mean that in a bad way. Julie Roberts never looked better, Hugh Grant is his charming best, the supporting cast are all likeable. The story is believeable and beautifully directed. If your like romantic comedies or are just looking to watch a good movie that you will walk away from feeling good then "Notting Hill" is the movie for you.

Love Conquers All in Notting Hill.......2007-05-10

This is a charming movie that I've seen several times and will probably see again. It's an upbeat, miracles happen, "celebrities are people too" kind of movie.

Boy meets girl, girl says "NO", then changes her mind. And keeps changing it. Anyone who has said "No", when his/her heart was yelling, "Yes Yes Yes ", can relate to this movie a lot.

One of the aspects that I found so interesting was the rigidly controlled structure under which Anna was required to live her life. And how relentlessly she had to smile, regardless of how she was feeling. It must be tough to have to be "on" so much of the time. NOTTING HILL gave us a window into the world in which celebrities live and some of the challenges they face.

This is a heartwarming, funny movie starring 2 talented actors playing 2 really likable characters. I have a weakness for movies with American/British romantic pairings, since Americans and Brits are culturally so different; in this movie, the plot is sweetened with the added romantic complication of wealthy/famous and not so wealthy or famous. It's a heartwarming rollicking ride !

I highly recommend Notting Hill.

"Surreal, But Nice": Pleasant Romantic Comedy from Richard Curtis.......2007-04-18

Of course in real life this would not happen, at least not to me. William, owner of a small bookshop in Notting Hill, not only falls in love with a Hollywood star Anna Scott (played by Julia Roberts who is virtually playing herself), but also he really begins to go out with her. Can an ordinary guy be the true love of the star whose face covers magazines every week? Here is a one story, delightfully romantic and told with humor, about the possibility of such a romance. The story sounds implausible, but still a very good one.

Despite some incredible situations, the chemistry between the two leads makes us forget them temporarily, and their romance is enchanting (and a bit predictable) to the end. In addition to Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant (and their undeniable star power), the film is supported by gifted actors playing colorful characters; they are Gina McKee, James Dreyfus, Emma Chambers and inimitable Rhys Ifans as Spike, the most unusual lodger in London. Amusing cameos of Alec Baldwin, Matthew Modine and young Mischa Barton as child actor (like she was then) shoud not be missed.

Pleasant romantic comedy "Notting Hill" is written by Richard Curtis, whose works before this one include equally romantic "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and less successful "The Tall Guy," both of which are based on the American-in-London situations. His script of "Notting Hill" is always witty, giving us some sly comments on human relations and film industry. (In fact, I am using it as the text for my English class in Japan.)

Some people may say this is not real Notting Hill (you don't see Notting Hill Carnival, for example) and probably they are right because, as I said, in real London this would not happen. It belongs to the ever-overcrowding genre of romantic comedy where romance means a lot, and in this respect "Notting Hill" is a success.

Fulfills all your .......2007-03-13

romantic needs. It is a cute movie about a girl and a guy who eventually get together. The process in between is hilarious!

comfort food for the lazy sunday.......2007-01-12

How can you not love this film? buy a copy and save it for the days when all hope has gone. this film really stands out as a repeat viewer.

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Get Celebrity Fit - Cardio

Average customer rating:

Awesome!
Great new cardio dvd
Love IT!!!
THIS IS AWSOME!!

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Get Celebrity Fit - Cardio
Starring: Billy Blanks
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Get Celebrity Fit - Sculpt
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo - Billy's Favorite Moves
The Firm Bootcamp - Maximum Calorie Burn
Tae Bo II Get Ripped Complete 6 workouts 2 DVDs Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks - Lower Body Bootcamp

ASIN: B000LSBXEI
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-06-02

This DVD is probably the best workout I have ever experienced. The fast pace may not exactly be for beginners, but is a refreshing challenge and something to work up to. I consider myself "in shape" and my heart rate was up for the whole workout. I read somewhere that you can burn between 500 and 800 calories with these workouts and I plan on buying a lot more. I just bought AMPED today and I can't wait for it to come in the mail!

Great new cardio dvd.......2007-05-23

I love the faster pace in this workout! I have become a huge fan of the tae bo crew and this dvd is a great way to accelerate your weight loss program.

Love IT!!!.......2007-05-22

This is one of Billy's newest workouts and let me tell you, it is GREAT!!!! This is an awesome addition to your workouts! It'll have you sweating and flying through your workout in minutes! I love it!! If you are a beginner, it is something to work up towards because it is fast paced, but if you want a challenge, this is a great cardio workout!! You WILL see results with it! LOVE, love, love this workout!!!!

THIS IS AWSOME!!.......2007-04-29

I just received this DVD yesterday and tried it out today. It was a little hard, but a lot of fun. There are some familiar moves, but Billy also adds a few challenging combinations that he has never done in other videos. There is also a few different moves. The really motivating part of these videos, the people seem to genuinely enjoy Tae Bo and are in good shape, but look realistic. I giggled a few times at Billy's humor. I own pretty much every Tae Bo DVD, so, this one was actually a refreshing change!

Average customer rating:

Great movie
A Dance Historian's Point of View
On the Riviera
On the Riviera

On the Riviera
Starring: Danny Kaye , Gene Tierney , Corinne Calvet , Marcel Dalio , and Jean Murat
Director: Walter Lang
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Can-Can
Tyrone Power: The Swashbuckler Box Set (Blood and Sand / Son of Fury / The Black Rose / Prince of Foxes / The Captain from Castile)
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Ball of Fire

ASIN: B000ND91Z4
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Just as Love Affair inspired An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, Folies Bergère inspired That Night in Rio and On the Riviera. In Walter Lang's Technicolor version, Danny Kaye takes on a dual role previously assumed by Maurice Chevalier and Don Ameche. A master of mistaken identity, Kaye makes it his own. His Jack Martin is an American song and dance man based in Monte Carlo. When playboy aviator Henri Duran (Kaye with French accent) returns from his latest adventure, Martin notices a resemblance. He also notices Duran's neglected wife, Lili (Gene Tierney). After Duran is called away on business, Martin is enlisted to impersonate him for an important function. That gives him the chance to cozy up to Lili--and infuriate dance partner Colette (Corinne Calvet). Duran pays him back with an impersonation of his own. It isn't Twelfth Night, but On the Riviera is an enjoyable diversion. It also represents a family affair, since designer Oleg Cassini outfitted wife Tierney and Sylvia Fine penned tunes for husband Kaye (except for the standard "Ballin' the Jack"). Though considered a minor effort in the canons of Lang and Kaye--the musical was more of an audience favorite than a critical darling--Fox has done right by this long-unavailable title with an interactive press book, featurettes, lobby cards, and a pristine print (heavy on the brilliant blues). Look sharp for future Fosse hoofer (and wife) Gwen Verdon as a dancer and Tierney's famous Laura portrait above Duran's fireplace. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Great movie.......2007-06-27

This is a great movie. A fun remake of "That Night in Rio with Don Ameche. Danny Kaye is a very verstile entertainer who can sing, dance and act. He really pulls off the double role he plays as an entertainer and a wealthy man who has a reputation as a ladies man. A couple of the songs in this movie harken back to my childhood and enhances the enjoyment of this movie. A must see!

A Dance Historian's Point of View.......2007-06-13

Warner set the standard with well-produced DVDs of classic MGM musicals - 20th Century Fox is up for the challenge.
A lot of love and care went into the making of this DVD. It comes in a slipcase and contains four b/w lobby cards. The picture and sound were superbly restored. By the way, the format is of course 4:3 fullscreen, not widescreen. The extras section includes the trailer, a still gallery and three comprehensive featurettes:

"The Riviera Story" (10 minutes): "On the Riviera" is a remake of "Folies Bergère" (1936) and "That Night in Rio" (1941), respectively. The featurette compares the three films and its stars.

"A Portrait of Danny Kaye" (26 minutes): A biographical look at Kaye's impressive life, featuring, amongst others, his daughter Dena Kaye.

"The Jack of Clubs - Choreographer Jack Cole" (10 minutes): An appreciation of Cole's work (that's been long overdue).

I don't consider the film a great comedy. (If you want to see Danny Kaye at his comical best, get "The Court Jester".) Nevertheless he does a good job in a dull plot that's constructed solely around his persona. The two girls, Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet, contribute nothing except their lovely looks.
The big plus however, besides Kaye's performance, is the lively and hummable score by Kaye's wife Sylvia Fine and Cole's galvanic choreography featuring the stunning Gwen Verdon. (Verdon was a dancer in a class of her own. Jack Cole, Michael Kidd and her later husband Bob Fosse knew it and made great use of it. She danced for Cole in many shows and films, always receiving solo or centre stage spots. Her work as a dancer can be studied in the films "Meet Me after the Show", "The I-Don't-Care-Girl", "The Farmer Takes a Wife", "David and Bathsheba" (available on DVD), "The Mississippi Gambler", "The Merry Widow" (available on DVD in South America), "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" and "Damn Yankees" (available on DVD). All of them a testament to her unequalled talent.)

Let's take a look at the five musical numbers:

"On the Riviera": Kaye performs the title song impersonating Maurice Chevalier. A little tip of the hat to the man who originally played Kaye's character.

"Rhythm of a New Romance": A big production number that introduced Gwen Verdon to movie audiences. It starts with a dynamic Can-Can. (Two years later Verdon would do the Can-Can again in the MGM version of "The Merry Widow". This would land her a job in a new Cole Porter musical - called "Can-Can". The rest is Broadway history.)
The number continues with an amazing East Indian dance sequence featuring Verdon and Jack Cole (wearing a Kathakali mask). (Cole studied authentic Bharata Natyam and other ethnic dances and integrated them brilliantly into his style.)

"Ballin' the Jack": This is one of Kaye's trademark songs. It was part of his stage act for many years. Here's a very laid back and sophisticated version.

"Popo the Puppet": A highly imaginative number featuring Danny Kaye and the dancers Gwen Verdon and Ethel Martin in Commedia Del Arte costumes. The droll song received an Oscar nomination. (By the way, look for the similarities between the tambourine players and the tambourine playing doctors in the "Some of These Days" sequence the next time you watch Bob Fosse's "All That Jazz". Fosse admired Jack Cole's work.)

"A Happy Ending": The finale is pure heaven for anyone who's interested in dance history and a rare chance to see almost the entire core of the Jack Cole Dancers together:
There's Cole himself, Gwen Verdon, Buzz Miller (An excellent jazz dancer. He would also work extensively with Fosse (in both the stage and movie version of the "Pajama Game" and in "Redhead"). He was Jerome Robbins' boyfriend.), George and Ethel Martin (They were the most loyal of Cole's dancers and had been working with him since the early Forties. George Martin appeared in all of Cole's Columbia musicals usually partnered with Rod Alexander and Alex Romero. George and his wife Ethel would re-create parts of Cole's original stage choreography for Richard Lester's movie adaptation of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".)

If you'd like to know more about Jack Cole I recommend to get Glenn Loney's book "The Unsung Genius - The Passion of Dancer-Choreographer Jack Cole". Look for a list of his films under imdb.com.

Thanks 20th Century Fox for helping to keep the legends alive. I hope that you will continue to release rare and forgotten musicals on DVD.

On the Riviera.......2007-06-13

This is probably one of the most underrated movies of all time.
Alright, some of the musical sequences are dated - especially the "Rhythm of a new romance"-number - but the dialogue and the story are still extremely witty and funny. And it's Danny Kaye at his best. Not as brilliant as in "The Court Jester" three years later, but more mature and refined than in "The secret Life of Walther Mitty" (which is a great movie, too!), Kaye gives a wonderful performance as nightclub entertainer Jack Martin ("Ballin' the Jack" and "Happy Ending" are just wonderful). And he plays rich aviator Henri Duran who neglects his wife and only comes to his senses when he thinks that she's betraying him with Martin. Kaye is believeable in both parts.
"On the Riviera" is a very entertaining musical comedy and it makes fun of every glamour cliché ever used in Hollywood.
Highly recommended!

On the Riviera.......2007-06-11

An adorable Danny Kaye movie. He plays two parts a rich playboy and a night club singer/dancer. Danny can not be beat - I especially love his song, "Popo the puppet" - that alone is worth buying the movie!

Average customer rating:

Savior in the Eyes of Argentina
Terrific musical
Original and flawed
Great
Banderas and Madonna are in top form in this great film.

Evita
Starring: Antonio Banderas , Gary Brooker , Adrià Collado , Andrea Corr , and Martin Drogo
Director: Alan Parker
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack
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ASIN: 6304806418
Release Date: 1998-03-25

Amazon.com

After more than a decade of false starts and several potential directors, the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical finally made it to the big screen with Alan Parker (The Commitments) at the helm and Madonna in the coveted title role of Argentina's first lady, Eva Perón. A triumph of production design, costuming, cinematography, and epic-scale pageantry, the film follows the rise of Eva Perón to the level of supreme social and political celebrity in the 1940s. Like Madonna, Perón was a material girl (she was only 33 when she died); she was instrumental in the political success of her husband, Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce). But Eva was also a supremely tragic figure whose life was essentially hollow at its core despite the lavish benefits of her nearly goddess-like status. The film has a similar quality--it's visually astonishing but emotionally distant, and benefits greatly from the singing commentary of Ché (Antonia Banderas), who serves as a passionate chorus to guide the viewer through the elaborate parade of history. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Few times in the history of Hollywood has a film been released with the scope and daring of EVITA! Now, experience this landmark achievement as entertainment megastar Madonna -- in the role of a lifetime -- joins Antonio Banderas (ASSASSINS, DESPERADO) for the year's most talked about motion picture event! Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alan Parker (MISSISSIPPI BURNING), EVITA is the riveting true-life story of Eva Peron (MADONNA), who rose above childhood poverty and a scandalous past to achieve unimaginable fortune and fame. Despite widespread controversy, her passion changed a nation forever! Winner of the coveted Academy Award(R) for Best Song (1996) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Song) -- critics nationwide hailed EVITA as a triumphant must-see masterpiece -- and so will you!

Customer Reviews:

Savior in the Eyes of Argentina.......2007-05-01

Evita is a historically relevant musical about a woman named Evita Peron who, in the early twentieth century, rose to the top and became a significant influence to the people of Argentina. She started her life out on the lowest ranks of society, an outcast in her own right, she slowly rose her way up to become a national figure in the political spectrum. I thought it was a very well made movie with a great deal of historical accuracies incorporated into it. Madonna was an excellent choice for casting. This movie has an excellent entertainment value while also incorporating historical value into it!

Terrific musical.......2007-04-26

Evita is the best contemporary historical musical out there. Madonna shines in this film, as does Antonio Bandaraz. Anyone who doesn't appreciate Evita, obviously doesn't know their history.

My one complaint is that the DVD has NO extra features! There really is no point in purchasing the DVD over the VHS unless you want to be able to flip through the chapters or care about wide screen. I would have liked to see some director's commentary as well as an interview with Madonna. Some historical notes would have been nice too.

Original and flawed.......2007-04-18

Evita is not really a musical. It is an uneasy combination of tableau and opera. There is no spoken dialogue. It is worth seeing just for the great costumes and production values and the exquisite cinematography. Crowd scenes are well staged and exciting. There are also some great dance scenes. With powerful voices and a convincing star this could have been an extraordinary film. However, with the exception of Antonio Banderas, the singing is surprisingly thin and weak. Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron gives a fine understated performance, but Madonna is miscast: past her prime and out of her depth. The first rule of acting is "look good on screen" and unfortunately she doesn't. Gaunt and sallow, with garish makeup and inexplicably bloodshot eyes, she cuts an unconvincing and depressing figure. As he did in Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote one great song and a whole lot of junk. Sequences of rock music here and there are jarring and anachronistic.

Great.......2007-04-16

I haven't heard the original cast recording so I can't compare this to it but, I think this is a very good movie/musical. Madonna and Antonio Banderas did a great job! The music is really good.This musical is not as good as The Phantom of the Opera but it is hard to be better than Phantom. You MUST see EVITA!

Banderas and Madonna are in top form in this great film........2007-04-15

This masterpiece of film-making needs re-evaluation since in hindsight it can be seen for the superb and masterful work of art and entertainment that it is. I have now seen the film three times and each time I am amazed that this film has not been recognized widely for its considerable attributes.

How does a director convey the oppressive nature of Fascism in a musical? Alan Parker succeeds wonderfully through his use of a muted brown, beige, black, and vanilla color range. He does it through the wonderful photography of riots, poverty, wealth, militarism, and the signs and symbols of power. The cinematography in this film is great. The art direction is super. The editing is perfect. It is a mystery to me why this film wasn't more appreciated by the public.

I think one reason is that folks don't know history and understand the rise of fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Argentina in the 1930s and 1940s. Peron's brand of fascism was threatening to the oligarchy in Argentina that had ruled a nation of farmers and cowboys and peasants. Thus there is no clear picture of good guys and bad guys in the film. At times Eva's appeals to the poor and underserved, the establishment of her foundation, and her ability to communicate with the masses puts her in the role of saint. However, the extortion of the rich to pay for her charities and thus maintain the popularity of Peron is a shrewed political power play.

Madonna is super in this film. Her acting is not naturalistic because she is playing an over-the-top diva and saint. It is Antonio Banderas who gives us a running commentary thorughout the film that continually grounds the viewer in the facts and the actions in this opera.

One last comment: there are very few songs that have the power of Webber and Rice's Don't Cry for Me Argentina. Madonna's performance is spotless when she sings this from her balcony to the crowd below.

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