If You Only Knew

Starring:Johnathon Schaech, Alison Eastwood
Studio: Allumination
Product Type: DVD

Description

Beautiful artist Sam (Alison Eastwood) lives in a terrific loft in the Village. Parker (Johnathon Schaech) would like nothing more than to share the space with Sam. However, Sam only rents her spare room to gay men. What begins as a lie of omission turns into and incredible friendship in this utterly romantic comedy. A wildly funny and original look at the things we do for love.. and a really great apartment.

Customer Reviews:

Need a Marilyn Monroe.......2006-03-23

Admittedly the lead character has a run of bad luck: he's working for a "fake" psychic 900 line (and a friend of mine is working for one of these, so I know they're not routinely fake) after getting fired from his journalist job, and then his apartment goes up in smoke after he falls asleep with a candle burning. He sees a woman in a shop he is immediately attracted to, but she turns out to be his prospective roommate, and the reason why he's a prospect is because he's been mistaken for being gay. (All that sensitivity and a certain naivete on his part has led to the necessary misconception to get the plot going.) So "meet cute" doesn't automatically correspond to cute couple, as he wants to live in the apartment and be close to her, so that necessitates his pretending to be gay, rather than risk getting tossed out. Alison Eastwood and Jonathon Schaech are the leads, and there are problems right there, with the casting. Alison Eastwood has one quality right that serves the production; there is a common earthiness to her, she could easily be mistaken for "white trash," and this coarseness works for the part. You can imagine how a straight guy would automatically make her his object of desire, unlike a cold and blandly wholesome type blonde like Kate Hudson, who could have been considered for this same role. Hudson is better at keeping a man at bay rather than drawing him in thru a combination vulnerability and earthiness as Eastwood embodies. What is wrong, however, with Eastwood's casting is she is an extremely limited one-note actress, with a nasal voice. Without finesse in comedy her dialogue scenes fall flat, especially since her voice itself is flat and nonexpressive; she is far better as a physically expressive actress, especially in scenes in which she is attired the way Marilyn Monroe would have been. In fact, in another time, this would have been a perfect Monroe feature, and she would have been able to handle the comedy. Much more experienced co-star Schaech is quite good here, but there is a loophole in the screenplay that has the physically gorgeous actor strangely lame when it comes to women (the guy can't seem to get a date), though gay men find him attractive (maybe because the occupancy of the pool is slimmer pickings?). But even Schaech has no real funny moments, which means the direction is at fault, as a comedy requires a certain lightness which is missing here. He's also as an actor very talented, and certainly leading man attractive, but lacks the star quality of a big name movie star (Cruise, Roberts), which is why as a film actor he still falls below the radar (a fate shared until recently with actors'-actor Christian Bale "Batman"). Sometimes only a star's charisma can save a production. The only true hilarity in the film comes from the invented character of "Boris" (and it's over-the-top, neatly out of place in this film), a friend of the lead pretending to be a gay boyfriend so girl roommate will stop setting up pretend gay guy on gay dates. But not everything else is bad: there is some sweet bonding going on between the leads, their friendship, based upon a misconception (his being gay) which allows them to have a freedom to explore each other as people rather than potential romantic contrast. As well, he is able to feel relaxed around women in a way he's never been before: the conflict isn't there, as there is in normal straight woman-straight man sexual awareness. And the straight man pretending to be gay is interacting with more gay men, which also allows his own self-awareness and self-confidence to strengthen. The soundtrack is forgettable, except for a bar scene where the lead singer is impressive. But the screenplay doesn't know whether it wants to be a gentle comedic exploration of male-female bonding or should be more traditional comedy of errors, which involves more loud, outrageous happenings. So I'd recommend a rental on the film, rather than an outright purchase, unless you're a fan of either Eastwood or Schaech and require the personal copy to sit on your shelf. It will get watched, it's not a bad film, but it's not as good as it could have been: the screenplay was trying to do too many things and the direction was heavy-handed, and the film required a Monroe, and there doesn't seem to be one out there. (And I'm not a Monroe fan, so that says a lot from me.)

Average customer rating:

A must-have for any jazz aficionado!
Incroyable!
Jimmy Scott - If You Only Knew
The Only One
A must for any jazz collector

Jimmy Scott - If You Only Knew
Starring: Justin Robinson , Dwayne Cook Broadnax , David Ritz , Jimmy Scott , and Grady Tate
Director: Matthew Buzzell
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Someone to Watch Over Me: The Definitive
Faith in Time: The Life of Jimmy Scott
All the Way
Falling in Love Is Wonderful
The Fabulous Songs of Jimmy Scott

ASIN: B0006JMLL6
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Description

A moving and highly personal documentary about one of the great unsung heroes of jazz, Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew. This meditative portrait of Scott's odyssey of loss and redemption weaves together extensive interviews, archival photos and international concert footage to create an intimate and personal document of Scott's lifelong struggle to confront exploitation, to reunite with family, and to find closure through his art.

Track Listing:
1. Time After Time
2. Memories
3. Pennies From Heaven 4. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
5. Elie
6. Everybody's Somebody's Fool
7. Embraceable You
8. Everybody Needs Somebody
9. Falling in Love Is Wonderful
10. The Source
11. Why Was I Born? & My Mother's Eyes
12. All The Way
13. Home
14. If You Only Knew

Customer Reviews:

A must-have for any jazz aficionado!.......2007-02-26
"Time after Time"....Jimmy Scott sings in the beginning of the video, stretching out the lyrics, weaving in and out of the tempo really slowly, emphasizing words with his trademark hand gesture. WOW!! I thought. From the moment I heard his voice, I was absolutely captivated, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. When he sings he really tells a story, the way he puts feeling and expression into a song, the way in which he uses the lyrics is spectacular!! I have never heard anyone do that, the only living person I can think of who does that is Nancy Wilson, and she'll be the first to tell you that Jimmy Scott was her biggest influence.

The video is spectacular. Not only do you get a chance to watch and listen to Jimmy Scott perform, but you get to know about the very tough life he led. What is really wonderful is that Jimmy, while acknowledging that he had some very horrible experiences, remains positive and states that he isn't the only one who has had problems in his life. He is grateful to be where he is today....one cannot detect any bitterness in him, just sheer joy and a deep love for music.

I guarantee that you will be very moved by this extraordinary documentary, one minute I would be laughing, the next minute really angry, then I would be crying or getting up and cheering!! After watching this video, I took out a song that I have been practising for an upcoming concert, thought deeply about the lyrics and what they mean to me....I asked myself whether I could project my feelings into the lyrics and in turn to the audience and move them the way Jimmy does? That is my goal. I may have a lot of work to do, but I thank Jimmy Scott for inspiring me.

I really regret that I never had a chance to see Jimmy Scott perform at the Blue Note when he came to Japan a couple of years ago. After watching the video, I see what I missed and I could kick myself!! For those of you who, like me, haven't seen him perform in person, watching this video is the next best thing. For those of you who just love good music, do yourselves a great favour and add this gem of a video to your collection. You won't regret it!

Incroyable!.......2005-12-26
These are not biography facts or "I'll show my knowledge- reviews", this is just what I think, I wrote it at the moment, and I pushed ENTER right away:
I was touched once before because of my love for Billie Holiday, a friend had invited me to his house and made me listen to this tune and I was taken away by this man who was the closest living voice that resembled her. Later, upon buying that CD, which I don't remember the name, I realized it was wishful thinking, but still this guy really intrigued me. That was in the late 80's, and it wasn't until recently that I saw this DVD in a store, and memories came back and I just had to buy it. This is a compelling view of a guy's humanity poured into the vitality that he gives to his singing, a very good explanation of how he sings like only he can. Early on in my life, I learned that every artist has a pathos, greek for passion, for something, here we learn about that passion in a very touching way. Corollary: if you don't get touched by this DVD, then you really don't have the right to proclaim that you are "into" jazz. To be into jazz, you have to feel, there might be a lot of good jazz artists out there, but only so few teach us how to feel the way they do. You can see clearly that this guy has conveyed his message to the world, he is not only an accomplished artist, but an accomplished human being, hence his happiness.
Jimmy Scott - If You Only Knew.......2005-06-23
Every now and then a true artist comes along that tugs so strongly at your heart strings that tears began to flow, such is the case with Little Jimmy Scott.

God bless the two young men who had the foresight and common sense to do this documentary. I hope to hear and see more from them in the very near future!!!!

It's been a long time since I've cried so hard.
The Only One.......2005-01-16
There'll never be another Jimmy Scott, no one can sing like he does. Little Jimmy is pure magic. Get it, get it, get it.
A must for any jazz collector.......2005-01-15
This beautiful DVD is simply a work of art.

Average customer rating:

Cute and Romantic - Definite Chick Flick

I JUST LIKE THE MUSIC

Great Story

bad script, bad acting, a waste of time

bad script, bad acting, not funny

If You Only Knew
Starring: Annie Corley , Dayna Danika , Alison Eastwood , Robbi Firestone , and Tina Horii
Manufacturer: York Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004XMS6
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Amazon.com
After accidentally setting fire to his apartment--and revealing that he'd kept a cat in a no-pets building--Parker (Johnathon Schaech from That Thing You Do! and The Doom Generation) needs to find a new place to live. Temporarily he camps out at the apartment of his best friend, Jack (James LeGros, Living in Oblivion, Drugstore Cowboy), but Jack's incessant one-night stands start to drive him nuts. Finally he gets introduced to Sam (Alison Eastwood, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), who invites him to move into her place--but only because she thinks he's gay. Pretending to be gay not only leads Parker to discover things about his coworkers and friends, but also about himself. He finds himself more comfortable with women as a gay man than he'd ever been before. But as he grows more and more smitten with Sam, his masquerade becomes more and more troublesome. If You Only Knew wants to address honesty and self-identity in a light, farcical way; unfortunately, the writing is stale and unoriginal. But though the movie's humor falls pretty flat, there are some surprisingly sweet moments that make it almost worthwhile. Also featuring the lovely Gabrielle Anwar as a friend of Sam's who is drawn to Parker even though she thinks he's gay. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews:

Cute and Romantic - Definite Chick Flick.......2004-08-04
This was a cute movie. If you're looking for something deep and meaningful, this is not it. If you're looking for something lighthearted and entertaining, then it's definitely worth watching. I have several gay friends, so certainly enjoyed the humor in the movie. I've even had a crush on a gay friend and would have loved to have him tell me he wasn't really gay! In a way, this was kinda like watching my own fantasy play out! This was such an enjoyable movie that I'm definitely adding it to my collection.
I JUST LIKE THE MUSIC.......2004-04-03
if SOMEBODY KNOWS the SOUNDTRACK LIST could send it on o_bad.red@virgilio.it ????????
Great Story.......2002-12-28
this happens to be one of my favorite movies! ive seen it many times, and everytime i love it even more. Great story, and for most parts i think that this has in one way happned to all of us. you try to be someone your not to get something that you could have easily had if you were yourself! but each person has their own opinions and i LOVE this movie, and recomend any and everyone to watch it.
bad script, bad acting, a waste of time.......2002-08-19
I've tried to watch this so-called comedy - but it's very hard to bear. This is a bad, narrow-minded, cliché-ridden movie. Not funny, but rather boring and annoying indeed. Bad script, bad acting, this movie looks like an accident. It's a complete waste of time - and there remains nothing more to say, I'm afraid.
bad script, bad acting, not funny.......2002-08-19
I've tried to watch this so-called comedy - but it's very hard to bear. This is a bad, narrow-minded, cliché-ridden movie. Not funny, but rather boring and annoying indeed. Bad script, bad acting, this movie looks like an accident. It's a complete waste of time - and there remains nothing more to say, I'm afraid.
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