Things Change

Starring:Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky, J.J. Johnston, Ricky Jay, Mike Nussbaum, Jack Wallace, Dan Conway, Willo Hausman, Gail Silver, Len Hodera, Josh Conescu, Adam Bitterman, Jack Merrill, William Novelli, Kenny Lilliebridge, Charles Stransky, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Jordan Lage
Director: David Mamet
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

thought provoking
Labute at his best
She loves me (not)
Time To Shape Up
No, No, No!

The Shape Of Things
Starring: Gretchen Mol , Paul Rudd , Rachel Weisz , and Fred Weller
Director: Neil LaBute
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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Your Friends & Neighbors
In the Company of Men
The Shape of Things
Beautiful Creatures
Confidence

ASIN: B00005JMBQ
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

Controversial director Neil LaBute tweaks our culture's moral compass in his dark comedy The Shape of Things. Dorky museum guard Adam (indie heartthrob Paul Rudd, made to look as dweebish as possible) meets student Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) as she's preparing to deface a classical statue; instead of stopping her, he musters up the courage to ask her out. But soon he finds himself so completely in her thrall that he willingly succumbs to her every want--and she wants him to change his hair, his clothes, his face, even his friends (Frederick Weller and Gretchen Mol). In In the Company of Men, LaBute presented two men cruelly experimenting with a deaf woman's affections; The Shape of Things proposes that women can be just as monstrous. Though LaBute could stand to delve more deeply, this well-acted and cunningly written film will provoke conversation afterwards--and not many movies nowadays can do that. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

thought provoking.......2007-06-24

I knew nothing of this movie and didn't expect to like it, but I found it interesting. Once I became interested in the unusual pairing of Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd, I had to watch the whole thing through.
There's a very sinister suprise ending that made me say...HOW COULD SHE DO THAT? Check it out, it's not too bad!

Labute at his best.......2007-05-28

Deception. Hate. Cheating. Heartbreak. For some, these are aspects of life and relationships best not explored in films. For all others, there is Neil LaBute, a writer/director who's fearless when it comes to exploring the darker side of human nature. LaBute exploded onto the scene in 1997 with the controversial "In The Company Of Men," a film about two young men who play a devastatingly cruel trick on a deaf female coworker. Subsequent efforts such as "Your Friends And Neighbors" and "Nurse Betty" showed LaBute continuing to push the envelope while enlisting A-list actors such as Morgan Freeman, Renee Zellweger and Ben Stiller.

"The Shape Of Things" shows LaBute at the top of his game. Paul Rudd plays Adam, a shy, nerdy college student who works part-time at a local museum. While working one day he meets Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), an attractive graduate art student who surprisingly takes a liking to Adam. The two begin seeing each other, later embarking on an ill-fated double date with Adam's former roommate Philip (Fred Weller), a cocky jock who delights in mocking Adam; and Jenny (Gretchen Mol), a fellow student who the gregarious Philip "stole" from Adam.

Before long, Adam has fallen hard for Evelyn, who fulfills his every sexual desire and slowly begins transforming his physical appearance. She changes his hair, gets him to lose weight via a new running regiment, overhauls his wardrobe and more. As Adam's physical transformation progresses, he changes emotionally as well, gaining a newfound sense of confidence. His new demeanor catches the attention of Jenny, and flirtation ensues. From there the games of deception begin, and it all builds to a brutal climax in which more than one character experiences the ultimate in humiliation.

It sounds like the potential stuff of soap opera. But LaBute is the rare filmmaker who strikes a raw nerve with his words and cinematic style, and he uses the setup to make one stingingly perceptive observation after another about art, humanity, and relationships. The film, adopted from LaBute's play (which starred the same actors) sometimes feels stagy, but with dialogue this sharp, who's complaining?

Each actor is standout. Weisz, the most well known of the crew, is surprisingly good, even delivering lengthy monologues about the nature of art with ease, and looking stunning every minute. Rudd, who had a long-running role on "Friends," makes the transformation from nebbish nerd to sharp-dressed stud with impressive ease. Weller also makes a strong impression as the classic slimy-male LaBute character. The solid Mol, another future star, rounds out the impressive cast. My only complaint: Where's LaBute regular Aaron Eckhart, one of the best actors in the biz?

Stellar acting aside, the movie belongs to LaBute, who with each of his films continues to show that's he one of the most unique voices in American cinema. It may not be perfect, but it's still exciting to watch LaBute climb out on a limb and take chances. This is a film, like LaBute's incendiary debut "In The Company Of Men," that's guaranteed to divide audiences and promote debate. Where else can you see a film where the lead actress flips off the audience during a pivotal scene? Whether you're flipping her the bird right back or cheering her on, "The Shape Of Things" is one film you don't want to miss.

She loves me (not).......2007-01-02

Paul Rudd plays a man who has nothing whatsoever that makes him distinguishable from anyone else. One day he meets a graduate art student at the gallery where he works and asks her out. She accepts which is a surprise to him since he's slightly overweight, wears glasses, has never had much success with ladies, and she is--in a word--stunning.

Soon into their relationship things about Rudd's character start to change. He begins working out, dressing better, and starts to consider cosmetic surgery. In direct proportion to how much time he spends with his artistic, creative, and beautiful girlfriend he starts to see more of these qualities in himself. In fact, so much so that he's willing to sacrifice his friendships to become closer to her. Then comes the day that her final art project is revealed and Rudd begins to question the validity of their entire relationship.

This was one of those films that makes you not want to be around people because you can't help but think that everyone might be as unfeeling and uncaring as some of the characters in this film. To put someone else's feelings and wellbeing in jeopardy for the sake of one's own art is incomprehensible to me... and fascinating to watch. The Shape of Things is one of those films that makes you think about things and is therefore, in my opinion, worthwhile. Like Voltaire once said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." I hate the message that this film presents. I hate the bleak picture it paints for the state of people's emotions and the way that people can overlook the bounds of common courtesy for their own selfish ends. But that being said, I understand that it happens every day, and this film does a great job of portraying the banality of human thoughtlessness.

I think it's also important to watch the introduction to the film by director Neil LaBute that's included as one of the DVD extras. In it, he talks about the difficulties of bringing this story, which was originally written as a stage play, to the theatre and how it affected the casts' performances.

Time To Shape Up.......2006-11-02

There's a point in Neil LaBute's razor sharp satire, The Shape Of Things, where the protagonists, Adam and Evelyn, are discussing a show they've just seen. Their graphic description sounds suspiciously like Karen Finley, whose zany antics helped galvanize the extreme right wing against all things liberal and artistic. I saw Finley perform and will freely concede that watching her pour chocolate sauce on her naked body was amusing, diverting, and tested the perimeter of what may seriously be called art. Finley's position was that she herself was her own artistic statement. Evelyn, played brilliantly by Rachel Weisz, takes this concept one step further.

Although it reads like a play adapted for film, it is, The Shape Of Things is really more like a slow burning horror movie that builds to an unbearable climax. It's urbane and clever, a yuppified Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolf in its sensibility. Plenty of fun references for all the liberal arts major out there. But beneath all this smart banter is a basic assumption laying the groundwork for cruelty to come. That is, when we fall in love, we fall in love with the person who we will have shaped out of the person who is before us now. We don't even see the actual person in front of us; we see what that person might become.

In this regard, The Shape Of Things is a "high concept" film, because it addresses a clearly defined philosophical problem. But the great irony here is that almost all of us are ultimately disappointed because efforts to change the objects of our affection are doomed to failure; people simply don't change unless they must. Thus, the day comes for us when we look across the breakfast table and see the actual person, at last, and most often, that individual is not from royal lineage. We say goodbye to the imaginary person we thought we could shape, and feel a sense of loss.

The dynamic between Adam and Evelyn poses the opposite question - what if you succeeded in shaping a person to your will? What then? What would you have gained? What would be the consequences of such an act, especially the unintended consequences? It's a fascinating question with many layers of complexity, and LaBute is to be congratulated for raising it in his compact, disciplined film. All four players come through admirably, Weisz is amazing, and Paul Rudd delivers the goods in a deceptively understated way. Evelyn's sketchy motives for remaking Adam are clearly the lynch pin of The Shape Of Things, but all the human interactions in this film will get you thinking and keep you thinking. Recommended.

No, No, No!.......2006-07-23

This movie does not adress art in any way, shape, or form. Do not be fooled.

Average customer rating:

A GEM
One of the great movies!
My favorite David Mamet film of the 80's.
Not the Matix and better for it.
Where's the comedy? So slow and boring it puts you to sleep

Things Change
Starring: Don Ameche , Joe Mantegna , Robert Prosky , J.J. Johnston , and Ricky Jay
Director: David Mamet
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000F722
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Customer Reviews:

A GEM.......2007-05-13

6 STARS.
THIS IS A GEM OF A MOVIE. NO CAR EXPLOSIONS, NO, WELL, YOU KNOW. JUST A MARVELOUS GEM OF A MOVIE I NEVER GET TIRED OF. IT'S TOO BAD THESE AREN'T THE KIND OF CLEVER, THOUGHTFUL, WITTY MOVIES THE STUDIOS PROMOTE.
DON AMECHE'S LAST FILM.
FAB

One of the great movies!.......2007-02-11

The subtlety and power of this movie are amazing. I like David Mamet anyway, but this script and the actors are just wonderful.

My favorite David Mamet film of the 80's........2006-08-14

Things Change (1988) Actor Don Ameche continued his remarkable comeback in David Mamet's story of a naive shoeshiner who is roped by the mob into posing as one of their own. Joe Mantegna steals the film for me, as Ameche's reluctant minder. Glengarry Glen Ross gets better reviews, but this remains my favorite of Mamet's works. The chemistry between Ameche and Mantegna is terrific, and you'll be rooting for both as their journey heads towards a final, deadly resolution.

Not the Matix and better for it........2006-05-31

I don't ordinarily write reviews, but some of the reviews I've read for this film leave me dumbfunded. The film is a masterpiece of understated desire in a world where dreaming dreams becomes the source of screwball comedy and real danger.
The ballet of unexpected turns and truly poetic moments of both desire and irony speak deeply to anyone who has ever lived a life of sometimes muted expectations. The ending that provides a solace in humble existence is a miracle of charm and grace.
So it lacks the violence and pace of "Glengarry Glen Ross."
Mamet shows himself capable of greatness in a very different style from his usual. If you don't get it, give it to someone else to appreciate and savor.This is a great film in the small
masterpiece kind of way, not the blockbuster way. I adore it.

Where's the comedy? So slow and boring it puts you to sleep.......2005-12-06

Synopsis (including Ending):
Don Ameche (Gino), a Chicago shoe shine man, is approached by the mafia to go to
jail for "3 to 5 years" to take the place of their Mafia boss accused of murder because
he bears a striking resemblance to him. They'll pay him yearly and satisfy his lifelong
dream of fishing on a boat. Joe Mantegna (Jerry) takes Don Ameche (Gino) on a 3 day
vacation to satisfy his every wish before he's incarcerated. Joe Mantegna is on probation
from the Mob, after disobeying orders from a previous job. Joe Mantegna goes
"outside channels" to take Don Ameche (Gino) to Lake Tahoe to the "Galaxy" Hotel
where they stay, wine and dine, and try to have a good time. Things turn difficult
when a local real Mafia Boss brings Don Ameche (Gino) to his house as a guest and
they form a bond. The real Mafia Boss has a gathering of crime bosses planned and
Don Ameche and Joe Mantegna are caught in the middle. They escape the gathering
and on the day Don Ameche is brought back to Chicago, Joe Mantegna is ordered
to kill Don Ameche and make it look like a suicide. "It's cleaner this way...", he's told.
Joe Mantegna refuses the order, and the film ends with a Mafia employee testifying
in court and getting sentenced to jail for 20 years to life.

The Good:
Joe Mantegna is an underrated actor generally and it was nice to see a familiar face in
the real Mafia Boss in Lake Tahoe. Other than that, there's nothing else going for
this one except a slightly funny scene with the concierge.

The Bad:
The Mob wants tough guys, right? This is a comedy, right?
No ones a tough guy and there's no laughs.

Joe Mantegna plays a sissy instead of a Mafia tough guy.
Don Ameche plays a senile acting senior with no personality.

I wanted to like this film but I coulden't because it was very slow, very boring
and none of the characters were interesting.

We never have a scene with the real Mafia Boss that looks like Don Amecha
and the two never meet. You would expect a friendly "Thanks for going to jail
for 3 to 5 years for me" but it doesn't happen.

At the end someone for the Mob is dressed up like the real Mafia Boss and he's
testifying in court and gets sentenced to jail. He doesn't look anything like Don
Ameche or the real Mafia Boss and yet, he's right there taking the fall.
If the film didn't need to depend on Don Ameche's appearance, why didn't
they send him to jail from the beginning?

The worst David Mamet experience I've had. Very surprising stinker.

The Characters:
If Don Ameche played a less passive character he would have been more interesting.
If Joe Mantegna showed more conflict as a character with reasons behind them,
he would have been more interesting. As the film stands, they're both flat.

Don Ameche had no personality and his only lines are the ones other characters
used. When a character says something, you can be sure Don Ameche repeats it
30 minutes later like a senile robot. Don Ameche's dialogue leaves a lot to be desired.
Add to that his boring and stale acting in this film.

He played very dumb, not interesting, like a real man in crisis about to go to
jail for money.

Overall, Joe Mantegna was not believable as a Mafia hired hand.
Don Ameche was too passive and uninteresting, and Joe Mantegna is too
passive and stale.

Scene Criticism:
A couple scenes stand out as being very weak and unrealistic.

(Gas Station scene where Joe Mantegna is given $3 more in gas than he asked for)
Joe Mantegna is working for the mob, and he asks for $1 of gas,
and gets $4. He doesn't have the cash to pay, and when the gas
attendant takes the car keys his reaction is "Please, please, please"
A real Mob guy would punch the gas attendant, take back the keys,
and leave for the plane they were late for. A mob guy that won't
defend himself for $3?

(Scene with Don Ameche offered money to go to jail for 3 to 5 years)
Don Ameche doesn't put up a fight or try to leave the room, and is
too passive. We don't learn about his past or his life or family.
There's not enough time spent on the offer, and the scene was
over valued for it's lasting value.

(Bedroom scene with Joe Mantegna trying to let Don Ameche escape)
Joe Mantegna had no real connection to Don Ameche's character
to justify the scene. Instead it's 2 strangers.

Personal Commentary:
The test for a comedy for me is - "how many times did I laugh?"
This film never made me laugh. I'm shocked the film costs $24.99
on DVD. Rent it instead. It belongs in the $1 bin at Wal-mart.

Writing Criticism:
Lines like "He's the guy behind the guy behind the guy behind the
guy" and lines like "A big man knows the value of a small coin"
and the story about the grasshopper and the ant make no sense.
The writing is drivel.

Alternative Recommended Film: "Trading Places" with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy and also
Don Ameche, albeit in a smaller role.

Red Shoe Diaries : Some Things Never Change

Average customer rating:

Red Shoe Diaries : Some Things Never Change

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Product Description

This is the R rated version

Average customer rating:

Red Shoe Diaries: Some Things Never Change
Starring: David Duchovny
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008J2VS
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Description

A temperamental director and a powerful producer revisit a familiar scenario of love. Now, after one incredible night, it seems like nothing's changed.

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