Downfall

Starring:Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane KÃ¶hler, Heino Ferch, Christian Berkel, Matthias Habich, Thomas Kretschmann, Michael Mendl, AndrÃ© Hennicke, Ulrich Noethen, Birgit Minichmayr, Rolf Kanies, Justus von Dohnanyi, Dieter Mann, Christian Redl, GÃ¶tz Otto, Thomas Limpinsel, Thomas Thieme
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The riveting subject of Downfall is nothing less than the disintegration of Adolf Hitler in mind, body, and soul. A 2005 Academy Award nominee for best foreign language film, this German historical drama stars Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire) as Hitler, whose psychic meltdown is depicted in sobering detail, suggesting a fallen, pathetic dictator on the verge on insanity, resorting to suicide (along with Eva Braun and Joseph and Magda Goebbels) as his Nazi empire burns amidst chaos in mid-1945. While staging most of the film in the claustrophobic bunker where Hitler spent his final days, director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Das Experiment) dares to show the gentler human side of der Fuehrer, as opposed to the pure embodiment of evil so familiar from many other Nazi-era dramas. This balanced portrayal does not inspire sympathy, however: We simply see the complexity of Hitler's character in the greater context of his inevitable downfall, and a more realistic (and therefore more horrifying) biographical portrait of madness on both epic and intimate scales. By ending with a chilling clip from the 2002 documentary Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary, this unforgettable film gains another dimension of sobering authenticity. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

More than expected.......2007-06-16

Some good history for those who haven't heard it before. Some great acting for everyone. Well worth your time. Some echoes for our time. "They gave us a mandate... "

Downfall.......2007-05-30

a poor actor showing the world how anybody, driven by hate, will go down in history in the worst way.

absolutely mesmerizing potrayal by Bruno Gantz.......2007-05-28

I had no idea Ganz had it in him to be this great until I saw him here as Hitler. Alexandra Maria Lara as his young and naive secretary is also very good. Cast is excellent. Director Oliver Hirschbieger deftly pulls it all together and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through--even though we all know how the tale ended.

The film gets under your skin and gnaws at your psyche long after you have seen it--and that is some trick. How were the makers of this motion picture able to accomplish this? By avoiding the usual approach of making Hitler and his murderous SS thugs as two-dimensional cartoon characters, instead they show the lot of them to be what they were: human. Mixed-up, misguided, fanatical, barberic, coldblooded mass-murderers--and all in the quest for power (that they never attained), but human none-the-less.

What is sad here, as far as I am concerned, instead of encouraging his nation to focus all that energy on making the world a better place, because Germans, the German people, have given us so much more than fine cars and excellent beer and camera lenses...Hitler and his thugs had their people squandering all that potential on causing destruction and mayhem, misery and pain...for nothing.

I realize quite a few Germans didn't care for Hitler and his loony notions...only there wasn't much they could do about it (once he came into power and they saw where he was actually taking them...straight to Hell). Any German who opposed the dreaded SS and the Gestapo ended up dead or in some camp somewhere to suffer the consequences.

I always wondered what it must have been like for Hitler and his people down in that bunker during the final months/weeks/days... This powerful motion picture shows you what went on--and then some.

For History Buffs and Cinephiles.......2007-05-15

Incredible cinematography. Bruno Ganz is exceptional as the lead character. Very intricate portrayal of the last days of the Third Reich. Enables the viewer to see an interesting side of [...] that hasn't been explored very often.

good history, good movie.......2007-05-12

I am a college history professor. One of my students had this movie and asked me if I would view it and let him know how accurate it was etc. I viewed it and was very impressed. So impressed I bought one for myself. This is very accurate history as well as well done movie making. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the last days of WWII in Europe.

Average customer rating:

Well done all around
Wickedly Entertaining, Shocking
Long, Repetitive and Biased
Works on computer only
Excellent

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Starring: Peter Coyote , Reverend James Nutter , Bill Clinton , Lou L. Pai , and Colin Whitehead
Director: Alex Gibney
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

The Corporation
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)
Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
Why We Fight

ASIN: B000C3L2IO
Release Date: 2006-01-17

Product Description

Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, a multidimensional study of one of the biggest business scandals in American history. The chronicle takes a look at one of the greatest corporate disasters in history, in which top executives from the 7th largest company in this country walked away with over one billion dollars, leaving investors and employees with nothing. The film features insider accounts and rare corporate audio and video tapes that reveal colossal personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy. The human drama that unfolds within Enron's walls resembles a Greek tragedy and produces a domino effect that could shape the face of our economy and ethical code for years to come.

DVD Features:

Available Audio Tracks: English (Unknown Format)
Commentary by: writer-director Alex Gibney (Unknown Format)
Deleted scenes
"The Making of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" featuring research footage and exclusive interviews with writer-director Alex Gibney and investigative journalist Bethany McLean
Enron company skits
Enron commercial
Where are they now?: updates on the executives, traders, and whistleblowers
A gallery of Enron cartoons
The original Fortune magazine articles

System Requirements:

Running Time 110 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

One of the greatest scandals in American corporate history is chronicled in the riveting documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. Based on the bestselling book by Fortune magazine reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkin, and directed by Alex Gibney (who also produced The Trials of Henry Kissinger), the film is an epic morality tale, drawing upon a wealth of insider interviews and archival material to show how Enron, once the nation's seventh largest corporate entity, essentially faked its bookkeeping to report profits that never existed. The corrupt and closely-guarded mismanagement by Enron executives (including Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, later placed on criminal trial) is revealed through such heinous concepts as "Hypothetical Future Value" (a way of reaping fortunes based on false profit projections) and the use of offshore "shell" companies to hide the massive losses that eventually toppled the company (along with the venerable Arthur Anderson accounting firm) and left 20,000 employees jobless. As a maddening portrait of hubris and white-collar crime, Enron transcends political and corporate boundaries by showing how smart and powerful men grew blinded by greed and brought ruin upon themselves, along with thousands of otherwise innocent victims. For better and worse, it's a perfect double-feature with eye-opening 2004 documentary The Corporation. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Well done all around.......2007-06-20

Well made and interesting documentary, that tells the whole story of Enron from start to finish. Amazing how much free reign businesses have these days, and how greed & corruption can flourish.

Wickedly Entertaining, Shocking.......2007-06-20

This documentary on the collapse of "energy giant" Enron plays out like a gripping crime thriller. Fraud abounds and lies pile upon lies until a business that took decades to build comes crumbling down in a matter of weeks.

Writer/Director Alex Gibney provides a model of documentary filmmaking in this taught story of corporate greed. Using news footage and trial coverage, Gibney avoids the "talking heads" trap that hobbles most documentaries. There are talking heads in this film, the most prominent of which is Fortune senior editor Bethany McLean. As co-author of the book on which the movie is based, McClean offers fascinating analysis on the financial industry and the corporate stupidity that led to Enron's downfall.

But it's the film and sound footage that make this movie a must-see. To hear a flustered Jeffrey Skilling stumble through a non-explaination of Enron's finances and finally call his questioner an "a**hole" is hilarious; sound clips of Enron traders laughing gleefully while engineering California's rolling blackouts are nothing short of chilling.

We've been hearing about Enron now for six years, now. I never understood what exactly Enron did before seeing this film. Now I don't feel so ignorant, as this documentary makes clear that at times Enron didn't know what Enron did. One Enron trader puts it best in saying, "I had a lot of questions about what was going on, but I didn't ask them because I didn't want to know the answers."

Watch this movie and stay for the bonus material. As the Enron convictions continue to roll in half a decade after the fact, "The Smartest Guys in the Room" gives profound insight into the corruption and incompetence leading to the scandal.

Long, Repetitive and Biased.......2007-06-10

The content of this documentary (?) could easily fit in a 30-minute piece. There is an attempt to sensationalize things. For instance, they make a big fuss about the trips made by top execs to Baja, making a tenuous connection to the risk-taking culture at Enron. There is practically nothing of substance. For instance, one would like to know more details about the actual shady dealings that Enron went through, rather than a depiction of trading room banter. Very shallow.

Works on computer only.......2007-05-29

Watch out, this one only runs on a computer & that wasn't made obvious in the description. That's what WMVHD means. If you want the DVD which plays on a regular DVD player, buy the 1-disc set which is actually a valuable one to have. It's a very good story, very enlightening & informative.

Excellent.......2007-05-28

Just can't stop watching this movie again and again. I'll recommend it to anyone.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful movie
Gotti
BEST MOVIE EVER!
YES
Big words like 'parameters' and 'subversive' a staple of mob lexicon

Gotti
Starring: Armand Assante , William Forsythe , Richard C. Sarafian , Frank Vincent , and Anthony Quinn
Director: Robert Harmon
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Made-for-TV Movies | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Boss of Bosses
Mario Puzo's The Last Don
The Last Don II
Mobsters
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00004U103
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Amazon.com

A very impressive treatment of the rise and fall of New York crime boss John Gotti, this made-for-TV movie succeeds in large measure because of the outstanding work of Armand Assante (I, The Jury, Mambo Kings) as Gotti. Assante creates a complex portrayal of a man loyal to the mob while struggling with personal demons and his own self-destructive ambitions. The film traces the dapper don's rise through the ranks of the Gambino crime family, first through the patronage of his mentor (Anthony Quinn) and then through a brazen assassination of the Gambino boss. Eventually Gotti's world crashes around him as his arrogance over beating the government at trial and his thirst for the limelight causes a rift with his right-hand man, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano (William Forsythe). Gotti boasts terrific New York City locales and a truly impressive cast, including standout work by Forsythe and Quinn. But it's Assante's movie all the way, and he makes the most out of a larger than life character by making him seem no more, and no less, than human and flawed. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful movie.......2006-12-22

This movie was great. It's up there with "Goodfellas" and "Casino". Armand Assante becomes John Gotti right before your eyes. The acting was great, the story was great, the movie was great. A real 5 star movie. If you love mafia movies, this is one you should have in your collection.

Gotti.......2006-08-23

The movie had its moments some of the dialogue was hard to understand but the acting was fine. Assante and Quinn both were very good in their roles. It's worth buying if your into mafia movies.

BEST MOVIE EVER!.......2006-06-09

I am a huge mob fan (and being from BKLYN, know a bit about the real mob) and an even bigger John Gotti fan. Gotti is one of the best mob movies ever made. Although it is not 100% accurate (to say the least), it is an amazing movie with amazing actors. Many actors from current TV shows like the Sopranos & other movies make an appearance on this movie. IF YOU LIKE MOB MOVIES, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE.

"Five, Ten years from now...they're gonna miss John Gotti."

YES.......2006-05-03

THEY NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER GOTTI MOVIE...A REAL GOTTI MOVIE..I MEAN THIS WAS AIIGHT N ERR THANG BUT ITS NOT A "REAL" GOTTI MOVIE UFEELME?.....I STILL LOVE IT THOUGH CUZ ITS THA BEST LIL MOVIE ABOUT HIM ESP BETTER THAN "GETTING GOTTI" WHICH IZ HELLA HELLA GAY

IT MAKES U THINK

MAKES U THINK ABOUT THA PPL IN UR LIFE

Big words like 'parameters' and 'subversive' a staple of mob lexicon.......2006-04-04

This HBO flick is highly recommended for overall quotable value, good laughs, some good acting, and some good laughs.

Was this film written by a Gotti family member? I don't know where to begin. Suffice to say that the film is not nearly the sum of its parts. There are some good scenes, some good acting by Assante as Gotti (why hasn't Assante been in other mob flicks or even on The Sopranos?). Anthony Quinn, who needs subtitles, is not bad as Neil Dellacroce, who dies of that mysterious movie illness where the character gets old and coughs a lot before checking out. And of course, we have any number of Wiseguy Acting Guild members, such as Sopranos actors Frank Vincent, Vincent Pastore, Tony Sirico, and Dominic Chianese. William Forsythe looks nothing like Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano, and they make him the number one vilain in another of Forsythe's 'evil' roles.

Gotti is portrayed as a gangster, yes, but also as some kind of pre-capitalist who spews wisdom about the 'parameters' of La Cosa Nostra, about 'the rules', and importantly, about members of his administration who are 'talking subversive'. He is not pleased with Gravano due to his underboss' greed and to the unacceptable amount of legit money being made. What kind of gangsters are making this much legit money? Gotti rants about libertarian values, rails against the hypocrisy of the government and about white collar crime, and even goes so far as to correct one of his underlings' racial epithets (always loved that one) before he himself launches a few.

As a realistic portrayal of Gotti, it's horrible, there's too much fiction, too many factual errors, utter nonsense being uttered by the characters, etc, etc. But there's just a tremendous amount of quotable material, some great scenes, the requisite mob hits (apparently Paul Castellano was shot 50 times in slow motion) and a fantastic Assante hamming it up. In 1998 a TV movie called Witness To The Mob appeared---an adaptation of Gravano's book 'Underboss'. It's the perfect companion to this movie. While Gravano is pure evil in this movie, in Witness, Gravano moralizes and Gotti is the man at fault. And of course, some of the very same actors appear in both movies, only to die differently (Frank Vincent is shot in the head in this film before being blown up in a car bomb in Witness, his acting range fully explored).

Just can't recommend this one enough. The writers must have been under contract from the mob or perhaps under threat from the mob, but the absurdity is part of the charm.

Average customer rating:

WILD ABOUT WILDE
Excellent
It's a wild Wilde life -- and a fascinating film
History buff
Young talents in a small masterpiece

Wilde (Special Edition)
Starring: Stephen Fry , Jude Law , Vanessa Redgrave , Jennifer Ehle , and Gemma Jones
Director: Brian Gilbert
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Oscar Wilde Collection (The Importance of Being Earnest / The Picture of Dorian Gray / An Ideal Husband / Lady Windermere's Fan)
Maurice - The Merchant Ivory Collection
Biography - Oscar Wilde (A&E DVD Archives)
Immortality
Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005V5NU
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Customer Reviews:

WILD ABOUT WILDE.......2006-12-26

"WILDE"

Wild about Wilde

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Richard Ellman wrote an unconventional biography of Oscar Wilde which looks at the brilliant, witty and tragic life of the Irishman who died a shameless death and has only recently been reinstated to the world of literary accomplishment. This book was in turn made into a wonderful movie which gives us Wilde's rise to fame as an in-demand author and public speaker to his downfall and imprisonment because of his homosexuality. Stephen Fry is amazing as Wilde. Portraying the author as he takes a wife, despite his own sexual bent, and producing children, Wilde comes across even more enigmatic than before. It was while he was married that Wilde discovers his true sexual identity and this leads to a very public affair with the vain and rebellious Lord Alfred Douglas (Jude Law and yes he gets naked). Wilde's private life leads him to downfall and puts him in prison on the charge of "gross indecency", a term for homosexuality at the time.
"Wilde" is a solid and stolid drama about Oscar Wilde, after realizing his homosexuality, Wilde goes through a series of lovers until he finally settles on the pouty, spoiled and good-looking Lord Alfred. With this union, all hell broke loose and this intelligent movie shows the trials and tribulations of one of the world's wittiest authors. Brian Gilbert's direction makes Wilde come beautifully alive in a movie not easily forgotten.
So what is different about this movie as compared to others about Wilde? It shows his creativity, his genius, his obsessions, and his downfall in a tragically beautiful way. It is literate and superior to anything that has come before it and will likely remain a milestone for those who want to learn more about the man. The ironic twist showing Lord Douglas convincing his lover to bring a libel suit ageist his father knowing it is doomed to fail seems to show the whole conviction of Wilde in a new light and that it was Wilde's pride which lead him to self-destruction.
Wilde's attraction to Lord Douglas was the catalyst for his doom. It was this relationship that would destroy his career, his family, his health yet even after it was all done, Wilde returned to Douglas. What was the reason for such appeal? The movie shows it to be a combination of masochism and romanticism. Jude Law's portrayal of Douglas is painful--not the acting, the character. He is a rebellious adolescent who is extremely handsome and sometimes charming. His temper tantrums and verbal attacks against Wilde simply made the author love him even more.
Little is held back in this wonderful film. We see Wilde and Douglas in male brothels and we se Wilde engaging in voyeuristic habits. Wilde is shown as a father who was too much into his own work to pay attention to his children and he refused to publicly admit that he was homosexual and because of this he was doomed to disgrace.
As Wilde, Fry is marvelous--vulnerable and scathing. He showed that even though he knew that his relationship with Douglas would come to no good, he was powerless to resist the man. He captures Wilde's poise and sheer imposing physical appearance. Law is hypnotizing as Douglas and as much as you want not to like him, you can see what Wilde loved him so. In depicting the shadow side of yearning, "Wilde" becomes a classic study of a great Irish writer.

Excellent.......2006-11-10

The film was great, the price was great, it arrived unbelievably quickly. Thank you!

It's a wild Wilde life -- and a fascinating film.......2006-10-01

I have somewhat conflicting opinions about this film, just as I have conflicting opinions about Oscar Wilde himself. No one can dispute the fact that Wilde was a literary genius; ample proof of this is found in the successful rehabilitation of his work in reputation long before the aspects of his infamous lifestyle became acceptable to even a minor fraction of society. If, as hardly seems possible, you aren't aware of the scandal associated with Wilde's downfall, this film spares the viewer few of the most intimate of details (in other words, there is male nudity - and plenty of it). It's a brave film, featuring a most accomplished class of actors and actresses turning in terrific performances, but it doesn't feel perfectly complete to me. Rather than delivering a flamboyant Oscar Wilde who truly reveled in his own audacity, this Oscar Wilde seemed subdued and sometimes even haunted by the lifestyle he led. While his wit is demonstrated quite often, this didn't quite seem like the young man who became the toast of London before he met with his first literary success and reveled in the danger inherent in his forays into the London underworld of homosexuality. Maybe it's just impossible to capture the true spirit of this most singular of men, but I just felt as if this film tried to cast Wilde as something of a victim led astray by all these pretty young boys and a man doomed by his own nature, and I don't completely buy into that.

I was also somewhat disappointed by the fact that Wilde's writing played only an incidental role in this story. We don't get a very good sense of the shocking nature of The Picture of Dorian Gray to Victorian society, apart from the comments of young Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas (Jude Law) upon his introduction to the author, and Wilde's successful plays provide little more than short moments in the sun for Wilde to receive the cheers of appreciative audiences on opening nights. There's basically no commentary on the relationship between Wilde's writing and his life.

I don't want to sound too negative, however, as I think this is a wonderful film. Stephen Fry makes for a wonderful, albeit subdued, Oscar Wilde, but Jude Law turns in a much more memorable performance as Bosie. With his flamboyant nature, sudden mood swings between devil-may-care flamboyance and taciturn childishness, and natural coquettishness, he dominates one scene after another. Wilde, in fact, becomes something of a pathetic creature at times, a helpless instrument in the hands of a young seducer whom he must suspect will ultimately lead to his downfall and disgrace. Certainly, there was little chance of keeping this extended dalliance a protected secret, but one cannot blame Bosie's father - evil brute that he was - from seeking Wilde's destruction. The irony, of course, is that Wilde engineered his own downfall, as it was his decision to sue the Marquess of Queensberry for libel (and to thereby perjure himself in court) that led to his arrest for gross indecency.

I certainly can't admire anything about Oscar Wilde's personal life beyond his brave determination to be nothing less than who he truly was, even when that meant facing two back-breaking years of manual labor in prison. I do admire his genius, however, and I don't think there's any doubt that his exploits influenced the society of his day and age.
He helped define one era and ushered in the dawn of a new one. Most of all, he was just bloody fascinating. Any movie about his life would be noteworthy, and this one is certainly that.

History buff.......2006-08-11

Great performance and direction. Very fair treatment of Oscar Wilde during a period of social upheavel unrecognizable in informed cultures.

Young talents in a small masterpiece.......2006-06-12

This is the movie where Orlando Bloom got his big break.He has an important,but brief scene,with the brilliant Stephen Fry.It's crucial to the plot,so I won't give it away.Orlando has a bowler hat instead of pointed ears---need I say more?

Ioan Gruffudd,of the Horatio Hornblower series,plays Wilde's first boyfriend.In his first scene,he wears a spectacular fez of questionable taste.Ioan Gruffudd shows his talents.

It's hard to tell who steals the show--the wonderful Stephen Fry,or the handsome Jude Law.This movie should be on any "must see" list.

Average customer rating:

Brudal and a bit shocking
Harsh Reality
Just Ok
Lesson to be learned!
Quote for Never Die Alone

Never Die Alone
Starring: DMX , Michael Ealy , Drew Sidora , Antwon Tanner , and Robby Robinson
Director: Ernest R. Dickerson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Belly, Special Edition, Version 2
Paid in Full
Cradle 2 the Grave (Widescreen Edition)
Exit Wounds
Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00023P4IS
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Amazon.com

There's nothing like a violent, foul-mouthed, drug-laden, misogynistic, post-adolescent gangsta fantasy to teach you (heh heh) that crime doesn't pay. Whassup with Never Die Alone, bro? Here's a pulp-driven movie that wants it both ways, glorifying virtually every negative black-male stereotype in the book (illiterates with absentee parents, gold-toothed pimps, hooded gangstas, bling-bling drug dealers, thugs, and assorted hip-hop wannabes) while presenting a gritty neo-noir crime story of an ill-fated heroin dealer and woman-hater (rapper-turned-bad-actor DMX) who seeks redemption but has too much bad karma to survive. Based on the influential 1974 novel by Donald Goines and directed with plenty of dark-city style by Ernest R. Dickerson, this hard-hitting but woefully trashy crime thriller is rather ambitious in its narrative structure, weaving past and present in telling a doomed man's tale. David Arquette brings urgent desperation to his role as a seedy writer whose inner-city research turns into a violent nightmare, and Michael Ealy is equally good as a vengeful gangsta with blood ties to DMX's character. But what's the real lesson here? In a movie with no moral compass, it's no wonder everyone's spinning off in all the wrong directions. --Jeff Shannon

Description

DMX (Cradle 2 the Grave, Exit Wounds) will blow you away as King David, a cunning and charismatic leader of the streets who returns to his home turf seeking redemption... but finds only brutal retribution. Co-starring David Arquette (Scream 1, 2 & 3) as an aspiring reporter, seduced by a culture of drugs and violence, NEVER DIE ALONE is a ?gritty, intense and unforgettable urban tale? (Wireless Magazine) of ruthless gangsters and cold-blooded revenge.

Customer Reviews:

Brudal and a bit shocking.......2007-01-26

DMX stars as the drug dealer King David, who pops up in the streets again after a long absence. Rolling into the frame in a player's classic - a late 70's Stutz Blackhawk - King David shrugs his way back into the hard-knock life. He quickly reaps what he sows and, mortally wounded, passes all his worldly goods to Paul (David Arquette), a scrambling white would-be writer. King David's estate includes an audio journal of his life, which provides flashbacks and a narrative-within-a-narrative that answers the shaken Paul's curiosity. It's the highlights of King David's high life that propel "Alone."

Like all of Goines's heroes, King David is a scourge on the periphery, and the movie dramatizes his corrosive effect on the margins with savvy muscularity. Every life he touches he leaves in ruins - a need to deface beauty as a result of self-loathing is implicit, and DMX signals that motivation with sly hostility.

To say that King David is the best part he's ever had is an understatement; he has never felt the need to inhabit a movie in this way before.

I would recomed this to anyone who likes the hip hop lifestyle or music and for anyone who like films with a twist.

Harsh Reality.......2006-08-19

Movie started out cheesy with jewish writer trying to get "real" by living in slums and getting close to black culture. Other than the poorly acted writer role, the rest of the movie is similar to what happens in ghettos all over America. Very good, if you are interested in social work, psychology. Dont bother to scare your kids with this one; in fact, it would probably encourage them.

Just Ok.......2006-07-25

the movie really did not have a complete story line....the acting was ok, I was expecting more.

Lesson to be learned!.......2006-02-18

DMX was excellent in this movie and I think all young ladies between the age of 13 to 25 yrs. of age should see this movie. Even though it is just a movie - it can and does happen to our young women everyday - they are exploited and introduced to drugs and worse by someone whom they love and trust...

Quote for Never Die Alone.......2005-10-22

Theres ups and downs in this movie. To me mostly downs.
When I first seen it in theaters i loved it. So when I
got the DVD ,iloved it.3 months pass i get sick of it.
For 3 reasons First The picture looked blury even on DVD.
Second iz the actin iz the same. Third just lookin at
DMX abusing 3 women by getting them addicted to coke and heroin.
And him abusing his own son, what is wrong with that man.
I think this movie make X alot Crazyer.I wouldn't reccommend
this movie for relegous people, HELL NO!!!! If you worship
the devil andU want to die,And like looking at people being killed ,then it's strongly reccommended 4 U.

Unforgivable Blackness - The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson

Average customer rating:

Awesome.
The penultimate unboxed-in boxer
HAD NO IDEA THIS BOLNESS EXISTED in 1910
A Fitting Tribute To A Real Champion
Ken Burns' Documentary of the Life of Jack Johnson

Unforgivable Blackness - The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Starring: Adam Arkin , Philip Bosco , Keith David , Ed Harris , and Samuel L. Jackson
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Ring of Fire - The Emile Griffith Story
The Great White Hope
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45 Fantastic Fights of the Century

ASIN: B000BITURA
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Amazon.com

Ken Burns's documentary style is so unencumbered; the subject matter is effortlessly presented. His regular mix of photos, subtle sound effects, excellent musical score, and actor readings of historical text hasn't changed since his breakthrough of The Civil War. And it doesn't need to. Even though this 220-minute production is a biography--on heavyweight champion Jack Johnson--the film resonates about the how race was dealt with in the early part of the 20th century. Four decades after the Emancipation, the American black was still struggling to find elementary terms of equality. Along came a strong and headstrong man who took on sport decades before Jackie Robinson and became the key figure in heavyweight fighting, a champion against the longest odds.

Samuel L. Jackson voices Johnson's words with great verve and helps create an absorbing picture of Johnson along with various historians and boxing experts laying down the tale of the tape. Here's a man so smart and patient in the ring who took great liberties in his day-to-day life, unafraid to showcase his success, and ruffle the morals of the time (including, most scandalously, marrying a white woman). Viewing film of his prizefights, the amateur eye can understand Johnson's style and bravura. Burns's certainly takes his time and, as usual, has a vast awry of facts of how the world reacted to news of Johnson's success and the conspiracy which led to his downfall. The highlight, natch, are two of Johnson's epic fights near the end of his reign as champ (and the search for a "Great White Hope"). The appearance of James Earl Jones (who won a Tony for his portrayal of Johnson in 1959) and Wynton Marsalis's musical score are grand touches. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Awesome........2007-05-13

I have seen it twice now and I just love it. Such a great part of history that I did not know anything about before watching this film. I wish Ken Burns would do more of these smaller (comparatively speaking) niche features. If you like history and Ken Burns' documentaries, there is no way you won't like this.

The penultimate unboxed-in boxer.......2007-02-06

After I'd seen "The Great White Hope," in 1969 or so, the name burned and simmered util the 2005 showing of this Ken Burns documentary. Even though the turbulent sixties shaked loose forgotten times and names, the bold frankness of this towering figure of an athlete,in public or private, did not achieve the treatment required to do justice until Burns applied his painstaking examination of period stills and movies. What he reveals is pure gold, a self-made man who grew beyond the racial and social bonds to achieve his dream. No handlers. No PR men. No hype. Whether rising in the first part or falling in the second half of this documentary, Jack Johnson burns with integrity, confidence and manliness, in a manner that no man or situation could shame. The heroism of his slow decline and public withdrawal was an equally inspiring lesson to anyone seeking the spotlight and letting go of it. His desire, courage and self-development(mental and physical) are worthy of emulation. This documentary, wonderfully narrated and written, leaves Jack Johnson standing alone at the top of the boxing greats. Not only do you feel the changing times at the turn of the century, you get to see the changing landscapes of the countryside and the booming cities as you travel with Johnson on his road to greatness.The bickering pettiness of today's athletes bathed in luxury and leisure today, pale against the backdrop of this great man.

HAD NO IDEA THIS BOLNESS EXISTED in 1910.......2006-12-10

Excellent biography.
After looking at the first DVD only, I must say i am totally shocked at some of the brazen behavior of a black man in the early 1900's. This man was with white women openly, used to threaten white men when they didn't pay up, even drove an expensive car in the roads of Chicago then he was doing well. I kept looking at him saying had it been me, would I have been they gutsy and brave! Not only that. At his peak, he was making 3000.00 per week In the 1900's this is unbelievable for black man. I came back with such a sense of pride. He was more than a fighter. He showed us he was a man unafraid of confronting what society said he could not do. Plus he was alone. Remember, civil rights marches in droves really took off in the 60's. So, to see Jack Johnson at this early time being so confronting was a real educator for me.

A Fitting Tribute To A Real Champion.......2006-11-15

Jack Johnson was larger than the boxing ring that made him the greatest heavyweight champion ever and should have had a lasting positive impact on race relations in the United States, but he was continually thwarted by a government and a majority of society who feared his words sometimes more than his fists.

Ken Burns does a masterful job in presenting Johnson as a major figure both inside and out of the squared-circle. Through photos and film, Burns brings to life a man who firmly believed in a color-blind society, which ultimately led to him becoming perhaps the most misunderstood athlete of the last century.

The haters had repeated the lies for so long that the truth became muddled for too many years. The documentary is arguably the finest work of Burns and is a fitting tribute to a great champion.

Ken Burns' Documentary of the Life of Jack Johnson.......2006-11-13

Ken Burns' documentary of the life of Jack Johnson is somewhat long but very informative about the meaning of Jack Johnson's life, and even purports, at certain level, that he is one of the most important figures of the first two decades of the 20th Century.

The documentary relies mostly on still photographs a few, rare videos of Jack Johnson both in and out of the ring - along with interviews of boxing experts, biographers, and others who have studied the life and significance of Jack Johnson as the first black heavyweight champion. Burns did an excellent job of taking the material he had and weaving into a tapestry.

Following is my summary of Johnson's life from my review of the companion biography of the same name by Geoffrey C. Ward -

Jack Johnson was the boxing world heavyweight champion from 1908-1915. And he was the first black heavyweight champion, which dominates the story of his life inside the ring and out. Johnson became heavyweight champion at a time when boxing was just barely out of the bare knuckle era, and while more organized as a sport, was still a rough and tumble and often illegal activity. Boxing, even as it is today, was often surround by unsavory characters. During that era throwing fights for money or to set up matches wasn't uncommon. Johnson learned his craft literally starting from the bottom up in local tough man or boxing contests and his skills eventually lead him to the top of his sport.

What make Johnson's story so interesting are two things - race and his profligate lifestyle. Race played a key role in his life even though he himself ignored race and didn't let it interfere with how he behaved or what he did. He often sported white women on his arm and eventually married a white woman, and did not defer to anyone, black or white. This made him an even more incendiary figure for the race conscious press and America at the time. Many white heavyweights wouldn't fight Johnson - most notably Jim Jefferies who held the title at a time when Johnson was the obvious deserving opponent for a shot at the champion. Eventually Jefferies retired and "conferred" his title on Tommy Burns, a bulked up white middleweight. Johnson chased after Burns and through the pressure of the press he eventually landed his title shot and dominated his lesser opponent, winning the heavyweight championship of the world.

This eventually lead to one of the most pivotal heavyweight boxing matches in history - and certainly the most pivotal fight of Johnson's career - a match with former heavyweight champion Jim Jefferies. Jefferies was obviously reluctant to come out of retirement to fight the new champion but pressure from friends and many in the press and boxing world, who didn't want to see a black man hold the championship, more or less forced his hand. The fight eventually took place on July 4, 1910 in Reno, New Mexico. Thousands were in attendance but millions throughout the country waited for the result. Johnson dominated Jefferies through much of the fight, eventually knocking him out in the 15th round. Johnson's win legitimized his title as heavyweight champion. Unfortunately, it also touched off violence against blacks throughout the country.

Jefferies utter defeat also lead to a search for a "great white hope" to defeat Johnson. Eventually, Johnson was beaten by a huge but less skilled Jess Willard in Havana, Cuba on April 5, 1915. Johnson probably lost as much because of age, he was around 37 at the time, and the rather unfortunate events in is life from the time of the Jefferies victory to his match against Willard in Cuba. During that time he appears to have spent most of his money, married a white woman who eventually committed suicide, and married another white woman against the violent protests of her family. This led, in a rather convoluted way, to his fleeing the country with his new wife in tow after being brought up on charges of violating the Mann Act. During all this time, and the only reason to mention the ethnicity of his wives, was the vilification Johnson received in the press across America and the hatred he engendered among some, including those in law enforcement, who wanted to bring him down. Thus, Johnson had to go through convoluted negotiations and travel arrangements to even defend his title again Willard in Cuba. Eventually, Johnson decided to come back to America but had to face a jail sentence, which he served. After getting out of jail, broke because he spent most of his money, he mostly earned a living through boxing exhibitions and similar activities.

Johnson's lifestyle some would call raucous. He made a lot of money for his era and he spent it freely on clothes, cars, and the women he kept as companions some of which were prostitutes or former prostitutes. One can look up to Johnson for not letting racism stand in the way of living his life the way he wanted to live it and kowtowing to no one. One could also look askance as his philandering, spendthrift way of life, but who are we to really judge? Undoubtedly Johnson brought some of his problems on himself. Also undoubtedly he was treated unfairly because of the era in which he lived in. Had Johnson lived today he might get some negative press, but more likely he would have a legion of fans who willing to overlook some of the things he did in his private life.

Cars were relatively new invention in early 1900's and Johnson loved cars and bought several of them. He often liked to drive fast. This too eventually caught up with him as, while speeding, he swerved to miss a truck and rammed his car into a tree. He died in 1946 after an adventurous 68 years.

Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

its a documentary
One of the best documentary I've seen!

Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room [Blu-ray]
Starring: Peter Coyote
Director: Alex Gibney
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000GFRII6
Release Date: 2006-09-25

Customer Reviews:

its a documentary.......2007-06-27

good documentary, bad picture quality not the kind of Blu Ray you should buy if you interested in High Definition and action :)

One of the best documentary I've seen!.......2007-02-16

Wow, I never thought I would see a documentary that would make me learn so much about something that affect us all now and yet the movie itself try to stay in the middle and not fall for the obvious subjective argument for his own agenda. Seem to be a pretty fair assesment of what happened and now we know why energy cost so much, thanks Enron and the infinite America capitalism. Now let's see if Walmart end up like Enron...

I mind only my own pocket! Until nobody around me has job, nor me in the end.

Average customer rating:

A Hearst is a Hearst
An amazing documentary
"Death to the fascist insect that preys on the life of the people!"
SLA revisited
"The Taking Of Patty Hearst" -- A Documentary Film Not To Be Missed!

Guerrilla - The Taking of Patty Hearst
Starring: Russ Little (III) , Michael Bortin , Timothy Findley (II) , Dan Grove , and Ludlow Kramer
Director: Robert Stone (IV)
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ADWDG6
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Amazon.com

"Death to the fascist insect that preys on the life of the people!" declared the Symbionese Liberation Army, the domestic terrorist group that kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst and demanded a massive food program for the poor in exchange for her release. Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst examines this sensational case with a measured, sardonic view of every side; the SLA was born in the crucible of the Vietnam War and Kent State, but the documentary neither forgives nor condemns their actions (which include bank robbery, bombings, and murder). Instead, the SLA and the media bonanza that surrounded them become an astonishing petri dish of social and political trends that resonate with even more force today. Using interviews with reporters and surviving members of the SLA, footage from news reports and Hollywood movies, director Robert Stone (Radio Bikini) has crafted a smart, suspenseful thriller that mesmerizes even if you know the whole history. A superb documentary; the dvd is even better as it includes uncut footage from the security cameras of one of the bank robberies; the sentencing of the 2003 trial of four SLA members; complete audio recordings of Patty Hearst's media statements; and a balanced, thoughtful commentary from Stone. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The award-winning and internationally acclaimed film, GUERRILLA: THE TAKING OF PATTY HEARST is a gripping, unparalleled account of the most sensational kidnapping in American history.

Customer Reviews:

A Hearst is a Hearst.......2007-03-30

Sung to the tune of the theme from "Mr. Ed":

A Hearst is a Hearst, she was immersed
In the SLA, but though the rest were cursed
To die amid machine gun bursts,
Where was Patty Hearst?

Go right to the source, her Dad, of course
He paid off the prison and police force
Who freed her, she showed no remorse
The famous Patty Hearst

People yakkety-yakked and leaked
Her whereabouts and then
The FBI came and picked her up
And then all the bull-s**t began

A Hearst is a Hearst and money talks
The cell door swings open and Patty walks
She writes a book and then she hawks it
"Now listen to this:
I AM PATTY HEARST!"

An amazing documentary.......2006-02-23

One of the best documentaries to have been released in the past few years, Guerilla retells the story of Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army (the SLA) and in doing so, paints a disturbing and sad picture of recent American history.

The SLA were a group of self-styled "revolutionaries" who exploded into the American conciousness by gunning down Oakland's first black superintendent of schools (in the name of the people, of course). When two SLA members were arrested for the crime, the organization reacted by kidnapping Patricia Hearst, the 19 year-old heiress of the Hearst newspaper empire and, therefore, a member of what they referred to as "the ruling class." For months, the country watched transfixed as the SLA demanded that the Hearst family feed every poor person in California and listened to a series of audio tapes released by the captive Patty. On her fourth tape, Patty renounced her family and announced that she was now a member of the SLA. Within days, the missing Patty Hearst was spotted apparently holding up a bank with her new comrades. As the FBI searched for both her and the SLA, it was debated whether Patty had been brainwashed or if her conversion was sincere. It was a question that remains unanswered today and it is that question (amongst others) that makes Guerilla so fascinating.

Though Hearst is not interviewed in the film, a rather clear portrait of her does come through. Through interviews with two surviving SLA members and through her own audio tapes (the DVD includes each of those tapes), Hearst comes across as a rather niave and spoiled child who lacked the imagination to really form any opinions (or identity) of her own. One of the more memorable scenes in the documentary is when one of the former SLAers relates how disappointed he was when he first met the newly radicalized of Patty Hearst and didn't discover the radical firebrand he had expected but instead met somebody who he describes as being "middle class."

Indeed, if one walks away with any definite impression of the SLA and Hearst at the end of Guerilla, it is one of a bunch of kids who, convinced of their own wisdom and moral superiority, live out a fantasy gets a bit out of hand and results in the deaths of at least four innocent people. Once Hearst was finally arrested and put on trial, she immediately abandoned her radical persona and retreated back into the safety of her family that she had previously rejected. It is the genius of Guerilla that it manages to take the rather sordid story of Patty Hearst and use it as a metaphor for the transformation of '60s idealism to '80s materialism.

Guerilla is a truly powerful and very entertaining film. Director Robert Stone masterfully arranges his material in such a way that the film's theme is clearly presented without ever getting heavy handed or ham fisted. This is the rare documentary that gives the audience all of the material it needs to truly make up its own mind about the events being presented on the screen.

"Death to the fascist insect that preys on the life of the people!".......2006-01-11

The documentary, "Guerrilla--The Taking of Patty Hearst" is a good, solid look at the bizarre story behind the Symbionese Liberation Army (the SLA)--how the SLA formed, what actions/crimes they committed, and how the group was finally apprehended. The film examines the political climate in 1970s America, and how disillusionment with government led to the formation of the revolutionary SLA. Political rhetoric aside, the SLA careened through California on a crime spree that involved the murder of two people and even descended into the pettiness of shoplifting a pair of socks. But more than just an investigation into the events surrounding the SLA, filmmaker Michael Stone raises some interesting philosophical questions about crime and punishment.

Using interviews with surviving SLA members Russ Little and Michael Bortin--as well as archival news footage of the times, the documentary examines how the SLA--led by escaped criminal DeFreeze Cinque--zoomed into the headlines after the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst, daughter of William Randolph Hearst. Several members of the SLA were Berkeley students--including Emily Harris--who worked in the UC Berkeley's registrar's office. With Patty Hearst as a hostage, the SLA began making demands for food distribution for poor communities, but lest one imagines that the SLA members were driven by egalitarian motives, it must be remembered that the SLA financed their lifestyle by robbing banks. During the robbing of a bank in Carmichael, customer Myna Opsahl was shot in the stomach by a shotgun blast and left there to die.

No doubt the most shocking aspect in the history of the SLA was Patty Hearst's transformation from kidnap victim to the gun-toting 'Tania' (renamed for an old girlfriend of Che Guevara) who participated in several bank robberies. The documentary includes televised pleas from Hearst's parents for Patty's safety, audiotapes from Patty announcing that she's joined the group, as well as clips of Patty's former fiance, Stephen Weed. Tim Findley--a SF Chronicle reporter who covered this bizarre case--also appears adding his insightful comments. The kidnapping of Patty Hearst and her subsequent brainwashing/conversion to the SLA remains disturbing, and certainly raises many philosophical questions. Was she just an innocent kidnapping victim, or was she young and impressionable enough to be influenced by the SLA's theories on class war? Did the fact that the Hearst family is rich and powerful have any bearing on their daughter's Presidential pardon? Well watch the documentary and decide for yourself.

There's so much to be learned from watching a documentary that explores in depth an old news item that still remains locked in the archives of one's memory. DVD extras include comments by the director Michael Stone, the audiotapes by Patty Hearst, footage of the Hibernia bank robbery, and segments of court hearings between SLA members and the son of murder victim Myna Opsahl. These speeches from the former SLA members--as they try to explain and justify the murder of Opsahl--serve as a reminder of the irrevocable damage caused by taking a life--displacedhuman

SLA revisited.......2005-11-05

As a teenager, I was rarely interested in the news or social events but I was riveted by the Patty Hearst kidnapping and faithfully tuned in to the evening news to see what had happened next. It seems odd that no one has made a serious documentary about the sensational events of that time until now. This is a riveting film that traces the development of the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army), the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, and the group's ultimate demise. The filmmakers make no attempt to analyze whether Hearst was a willing accomplise or victim of brainwashing but instead simply present the facts in chronological order. Interviews with former SLA members Russ Little (an original founder of the group), Mike Bortin and San Francisco Chronicle reporter Tim Findley highlight the film which also features footage from newscasts and the infamous Patty Hearst audio tapes. Extras on the dvd contain the full audio recordings of Patty Hearst as well as the Hibernia Bank robbery tapes and Sacremento Courtroom footage of the recent SLA members who were charged with the death of Myrna Opsahl, who was murdered during a bank robbery. Highly recommended!

"The Taking Of Patty Hearst" -- A Documentary Film Not To Be Missed!.......2005-10-01

On Monday, February 4, 1974, soon-to-be-20-year-old Patricia Campbell Hearst (heiress and daughter of San Francisco newspaper executive Randolph Hearst) was kidnapped at gunpoint from her California apartment and stuffed into the trunk of a car being driven by one of several members of a revolutionary terrorist group calling itself "The Symbionese Liberation Army" (SLA). Thus began one of the most sensational and bizarre news stories of the late 20th century. A story which had America transfixed for more than a year-and-a-half.

"Guerrilla: The Taking Of Patty Hearst" takes the viewer on a spellbinding 89-minute journey deep inside the fabric of this strange odyssey filled with terrorism, kidnapping, murder, bank robbery, shootouts with police, and the unusual "feed the hungry" demands made by the SLA.

This DVD program dissects the Hearst Kidnapping story from Day 1 in February 1974 until Day 592, which was the day Patty Hearst was finally taken into custody in San Francisco on September 18, 1975.

Two months after her abduction, to the amazement of her family (and the rest of America), a startling audio taped message had Patty announcing that she had joined forces with her kidnappers and was now being identified by a new name, "Tania".

Many segments of the original audio tapes sent to authorities by the SLA (with the voices of Patty and other SLA "comrades") are sprinkled throughout this program. The clarity of these audio tapes is quite good, too.

Patty ended up serving 22 months in prison for her part in an April 15, 1974, bank robbery, in which she was seen via the bank's security cameras brandishing an assault rifle while several SLA members robbed the bank of $10,960 in cash (although, according to an April 24th taped message by Patty Hearst herself, the precise amount of loot that was garnered in the heist by the robbers was $10,660.02, which I thought was kind of an odd figure; I guess one of the bandits grabbed a couple of pennies from a cash drawer before departing the bank).

The video of that Hibernia Bank robbery is also featured here, and is presented in a way which makes the skin crawl a little bit more -- complete with "ticking clock" and two "gunshot" sound effects. And it amazes me how clear that security-camera video footage is of that robbery. It looks in excellent condition, quality-wise. Patty's movements (and identity) are clearly defined on the video. It's so good, in fact, that Patty's lips were even able to be read by people who later examined the footage.

Each segment of this peculiar true-life drama unfolds in compelling detail during this polished documentary, which had me glued to the TV screen for its entire hour-and-a-half length. This is one of the finest true-crime documentary programs I've ever seen. It's nicely edited and contains a very good background musical score (which effectively accompanies the video we're watching on screen and is often quite eerie when combined with the on-screen images). A large amount of "as-it-was-happening" television news footage is what comprises the bulk of this documentary; along with interviews (circa 2001) of some former SLA members.

Of particular interest to this writer while viewing this film were the "Live" scenes of the police shootout in Los Angeles on May 17, 1974, which was a confrontation with SLA members in a residential area of L.A., resulting in the deaths of six SLA terrorists. For a brief time, it was thought that Miss Hearst was one of those victims.

This chilling shootout footage is somewhat nerve-racking to watch, for it seems surreal -- like a scene straight out of a Hollywood action movie. It was one of the first events of its kind to be shown around the country on Live television -- a real-life police vs. outlaw shoot-'em-up on Live TV, with hundreds of rounds of gunfire from automatic weapons being heard throughout the standoff. The scene then turned even more dramatic, as the house which was being used as a hideout by the SLA suddenly turned into a huge inferno of flames, killing all who were inside. Remarkable news footage indeed.

The Patty Hearst kidnapping story still continues to fascinate and intrigue even today. Was Patty "brainwashed" by her kidnappers and forced to participate in the Hibernia Bank heist? Or was she a willing participant? These questions still loom in some people's minds even now, decades after the strange events that consumed Miss Hearst, and the nation, in 1974 and '75. In January of 2001, Patricia Hearst was issued a full "pardon" by President Bill Clinton (just prior to Clinton's leaving office in favor of George W. Bush).

This DVD, distributed by "New Video Group, Inc." under its first-rate "Docurama" label, comes complete with some noteworthy Special Bonus Features too. Let's have a look at them......

>> Feature-Length Audio Commentary Track provided by the film's director, Robert Stone.

>> Audio Exclusive: The Patty Hearst Tapes. .... This is an extremely interesting bonus, lasting a total of 53-plus minutes. Included are six audio clips, each of them "digitally re-mastered for increased clarity", per the DVD's written info.

All of the clips feature the voice of Patty Hearst throughout the early portions of 1974. These are extended, more-complete versions of the audio tapes that are heard throughout the 89-minute "Guerrilla" documentary. These clips provide a fascinating (audio) glimpse into history and into the mind of the kidnap victim herself. (Although, I suppose it's up to each individual listening to the clips to decide whether or not these are the words of Patty's OWN mind or, instead, the words of a woman whose mind has been somehow manipulated and brainwashed to speak the words her captors wanted expressed to the world. When listening to her comments on these tapes, it is, indeed, a tough call to make.)

Here's a rundown of the exact audio footage that can be found here:

Clip 1.) From "Day 9" -- February 12, 1974 (Length: 11:20).
Clip 2.) From "Day 13" -- February 16, 1974 (8:09).
Clip 3.) From "Day 34" -- March 9, 1974 (10:44).
Clip 4.) From "Day 59" -- April 3, 1974 (8:43).
Clip 5.) From "Day 80" -- April 24, 1974 (3:51).
Clip 6.) From "Day 124" -- June 7, 1974 (10:19).

Warning: Some vulgar language is contained within these audio clips.

>> Deleted Scenes: Sacramento Courthouse. .... This 25-minute bonus was filmed on February 14, 2003, during the sentencing of SLA members for the murder of Myrna Opsahl during the 1975 Crocker Bank robbery in Carmichael, California.

>> Exclusive Footage: Hibernia Bank Robbery. .... This silent black-and-white video shows the complete "Security Camera" bank footage that was recorded during the Hibernia Bank robbery in San Francisco on April 15, 1974, at 9:40 A.M. (including slow-motion close-ups of Patty Hearst). .... Length of this bonus is 6:41.

>> Theatrical Trailer for "Guerrilla: The Taking Of Patty Hearst". .... This trailer is shown in its proper Widescreen (1.78:1) ratio. Trailer length is 2:05.

>> Photo Gallery. .... A view-at-your-own-pace Gallery of 11 still photos, including a pic of Patty Hearst's "Wanted" poster.

>> Filmmaker Biography of Robert Stone (text only).

>> A look at the "Docurama" catalog of titles, including some Trailers for several of the films. Some good stuff to browse through here too.

-------------------

Other Info About This "Docurama" DVD............

DVD Release: September 27, 2005. (The film was released in 2004.)

COLOR / B&W -- Color.

VIDEO -- Widescreen (1.78:1). .... This is a Non-Anamorphic "Letterboxed" DVD. Don't be fooled by the term "16:9 Widescreen" on the box. That's referring to only the physical aspect ratio itself, not "16:9 DVD enhancement". Video quality is very good, though. And the multi-channel audio is excellent, IMO.

AUDIO -- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, plus a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track as well. A third audio track, the Director's Commentary, is provided in DD 2.0 Stereo. "On-The-Fly" switching of audio tracks is permitted.

SUBTITLES -- None.

CHAPTER SEARCH? -- Yes. .... There are 12 Chapter Stops included.

MENUS -- No Music; No Animations; Sub-Menus included for "Scene Index" and "Extras".

INSERTS? -- Yes. .... Not a Chapter Index. But there's a nicely-done multi-page (foldout) booklet advertising other "Docurama" DVD titles.

CASE TYPE -- Keep Case Packaging (1 Disc; Single-Sided).

-------------------

A Parting Thought........

Want to bone up on the almost-unbelievable story of Patricia Hearst (via heaps of 1970s-era news footage and all-new interviews)? If so, "Guerrilla: The Taking Of Patty Hearst" is the DVD to pick up.

Hooked - The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell

Average customer rating:

NOT just a REVIEW but a WITNESS!!!
I Was There
Great DVD
Someone needs to get this guy an NBA contract
Inspiration

Hooked - The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell
Starring: Scoop Jackson , Bill Duffy , Demetrius Hook Mitchell , Jason Kidd , and Gary Payton
Director: Michael Skolnik , and William O'Neill (II)
Manufacturer: Razor & Tie
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002F6BDI
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Description

"Hooked" is a compelling and artful documentary by filmmakers Michael Skolnik and William O'Neill, which traces the life of Demetrius Mitchell, who, at 5-feet-9, built his legendary playground status by several public exhibits of his extraordinary talent, such as jumping over the top of a Volkswagen car and slam dunking a basketball. He is considered by several NBA All-Stars to be the greatest player to never reach the NBA, due to extraordinary circumstances, drug addiction and unfortunate life choices. "Hook" Mitchell grew up playing ball with childhood friends Gary Payton of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets Unlike his peers, Hook lived in an unstable environment, lacked guidance and made an endless number of wrong choices. He was heavily influenced by the drug and crime-ravaged streets of West Oakland which led him to the California Men's Penal Colony instead of the NBA. While under the influence of drugs, he was arrested and imprisoned for holding up a Blockbuster Video with a water gun. His story has had a profound impact on the lives of countless people who have been stirred by this poignant documentary.

Customer Reviews:

NOT just a REVIEW but a WITNESS!!!.......2005-03-03

From the first time I heard of this DVD being on the market, I knew I had to have it. Not only becuase of the LOVE I have for street basketball (growing up in San Fran & Oakland), but because of witnessing HOOK'S ability to turn a game around with ONE THUNDEROUS SLAM. I remember playing for Merrit College and Hook was playing at Contra Costa Community College, we were away up in Modesto in a tourny. Contra Costa played was the game before, and while we were in the locker room awaiting our game; coach told us to peak out to see how much time was left. As I cracked opened the door, the opposing team was on a fastbreak going in for what everyone thought was a sure layup; from the free throw line HOOK takes a leap (vertically) and GLASSES the shot at the top of the square of the backboard. This video surely displays talent and the evidence of how the involvement of streetlife and drug related issues can take a talent such as HOOK'S and bury a childhood dream. I mean you would hear stories of how Coach Don Nelson (for the Golden State Warriors at the time) wanted to sign HOOK to a 10 day contract for the AllStar weekend just so he could pair up against his "Airness" himself to see who would actually win. This is a "GREAT VIDEO", I recomend this video to every child looking for direction.

I Was There.......2004-10-30

Demetrius Hook Mitchell was better than Gary Payton or J Kidd!!!

I saw him play for our rival high school (McClymonds High School), when he was 18 and at the height or his powers. This is a guy who could shake a Gary Payton at the top of the key, and then dunk over a 7 footer in the key (Jazz/Lakers/Bulls center Greg Foster, who played on Paytons high school team). His game was athletic, but it wasn't as street as you would think.

The tragedy of the story was that even then with all of Hook's skill, he wasn't really pressed about going on to college. He had a reprutation on the street, and that was all that mattered to him at the time.

I reccomend this DVD to any coach who needs to get the point across to his kids that talent isn't everything.

Great DVD.......2004-10-25

This was a great DVD. From all the highlights of him jumping over cars and his great athletic skills its so sad they he fell to his path of drugs. The odds were against him with no parents no positive role models. This DVD is more about basketball its about what happens to people in life who have no guidance. After all the years of abuse and loosing his teeth the talent is still there. I was amazed at how a guy can do drugs for so long and still do dunks off the backboard and 360's at the age of like 34. If he made it to the league i don't know how good he could have been because there have not been to many point guards his size that have lasted long but by watching some of his highlights he could have had a solid run. Some guys were quoted as saying he was better than Kidd and Payton two hall of famers. I might disagree with that cause you just never know how much of a structured game he had. Being a playground guy and playing in a NBA environment is two different things so you just never know. Hopefully now that he is out he can be a great role model to the kids in the community and stay out of those Oakland spots that he hung out in.

Someone needs to get this guy an NBA contract.......2004-10-22

Payton and Kidd talk this guy up like he's the greatest. The documentary is great. Had this guy made it in the NBA, this is the kind of story that you'd see prior to a nationally televised game. A true basketball talent that just made some wrong choices in life. Check this DVD out so you can tell people you heard of this guy way before everyone starts talking about him.

Inspiration.......2004-10-17

This is an amazing story. As a basketball fan I love this film but there is a message that goes way beyond sport. This movie clearly makes you realize that it takes the right surroundings and support not just talent to find the right path to success. Demetrius Mitchell may not have the fame and riches that the path would have shown him but he finally finds that road. Great, inspiring, well told story.

Berg - Lulu / Davis, Schafer, Bailey, Kuebler, Harries, Schone, Bardon, Glyndebourne

Average customer rating:

Lulu Review
Schäfer - the Lulu of our generation
LULU - Christina Schaeffer
Hair Raising - a Perfect Performance
A stunner.

Berg - Lulu / Davis, Schafer, Bailey, Kuebler, Harries, Schone, Bardon, Glyndebourne
Starring: Christine Schäfer , Kathryn Harries , Patricia Bardon (II) , Jonathan Veira , and David Kuebler
Director: Humphrey Burton , and Graham Vick (II)
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Berg - Wozzeck / Duesing · K. Ciesinski · Banks · R. Hamilton · R. Davies · Ormiston, Peter Mussbach · Sylvain Cambreling · Frankfurt Opera
Shostakovich - Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk / Secunde, Ventris, Kotcherga, Vas, Clark, Nesterenko, Capelle, Anissimov, Barcelona Opera
R. Strauss - Elektra
Britten - Peter Grimes / Davis, Vickers, Harper, Bailey, Royal Opera Covent Garden
Monteverdi - Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria / Christie, Spicer, Mijanovic, Abdeslam, Les Arts Florissants, Aix-en-Provence Opera

ASIN: B00014NE76
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

Alban Berg's second and last opera Lulu is one of the monuments of modernism, constructed around serial technique and containing scenes conceived of as Sonata-form, Suite, and so on. The bliss of Andrew Davis's conducting in this classic Glyndebourne production is that we forget all of this--Davis doesn't gloss over the music's intellectual content, but that's not what we think about as we watch and listen. Part of the production's strength is the prodigious performance by Christine Schafer as Lulu--for once we believe in the character's sexual energy and power; and Schafer makes her real enough as a person that we largely forget the work's intrinsic misogyny. The rest of the cast is admirable too: Norman Bailey brings something perversely sweet to the disreputable painter Schigolch; Kathryn Harries makes the dying words of Lulu's lesbian lover Geschwitz one of the work's lyric high points; David Kuebler is equally powerful as Alwa. The final duet between Lulu and her destroyer Jack the Ripper is one of Wolfgang Schone's great moments, but he is equally good as Dr Schon, the man Lulu marries and kills. This is a performance of energy and beauty, matched by a simple but effective production. --Roz Kaveney

Description

Winner of the 1997 Gramaphone Award for Best Video! This production by the Glyndebourne Festival Opera stars Christine Schafer, Kathryn Harries, and Wolfgang Schone. With its intensely beautiful score, this is one of the greatest operatic masterpieces of the 20th century. Andrew Davis conducts the London Philharmonic. Subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese. Color, 183 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Lulu Review.......2007-04-05

This is an amazing performance of Berg's Lulu. The impressive acting and singing may help distract you from music that is quite difficult to comprehend.

Schäfer - the Lulu of our generation.......2006-01-02

This is a great production.
The sets are minimal and the costumes are essentially modern. However, the acting, singing and pacing of this opera is as close to perfect as one could ever hope for. I have the Teresa Stratas / Pierre Boulez recording on CD on DG. Boulez' Lulu is very "in your face" and he revels in the atonality of the work. However, this Glyndebourne production actually makes the work sound more lyrical and natural.

I highly recommend this recording - along with Christine Schäfer's 'One Nigh. One Life' DVD.
Lulu isn't an easy work and it isn't meant to be easy listening. However, as a human drama, it is in a league of its own. Some have said that Christine Schäfer was too young for this part - she sings in a clear, vibrato-free voice (she has a voice perfect for 18th century music) - how her youth and "earthy sexiness" are great assets here, we can easily believe that men will do foolish and criminal things to possess her.

LULU - Christina Schaeffer.......2005-04-26

The best LULU, the real one! The YOU MUST HAVE IT!

Martin

Hair Raising - a Perfect Performance.......2005-01-28

I cannot say enough good about Glyndebourne's 1996 production of Berg's
opera recently (and finally) released on video here in the States.
Initially I believed I'd be disappointed in this unit set. Wrong. A tall,
brick semi-circular wall of red brick with offset white bricks that extend
as necessary into beams, creating an angular stage wide staircase joining
otherwise impossible to use doorways, etc. A bare floor with 3 or 4
concentric circles revolves (sometimes in opposite directions) as necessary
denoting scene changes etc. At its direct center is a vast round hole.
This circular concept is fascinatingly explored bookending Lulu's going
full circle - beginning and ending in the gutter. Interesting too watching
her rise from this hole (a really great visual) in her first scene to
sinking permanently into it in the final. Once again the team of Graham
Vick and Paul Brown shed new light on one of opera's best bad girl
stories. That said light is brilliant is a cause for celebration!

Andrew Davis leads the London Philharmonic in a reading of the score that
may well be the most heavily romantic I've encountered. Berg's exquisite
melodies have never sounded more obvious (and sometimes drawn out -
wondrously so) as here. The jazz elements never sound foreign or archly
intrusive as they sometimes can, but rather all of a piece. The audience -
already berserk at final curtain goes berserker still at Maestro Davis's
bow.

If ever a singer was made for a role it is Christine Schaefer. Ms.
Schaefer's incarnation of this notoriously and fiendishly difficult role
comes off, both in voice and body, as an almost "victoire trop facile" for
she is, quite simply, Lulu. Schaefer exudes a raw, otherwordly femininity
and sensuality - the first notable gal to play by her own rules, facing
odds and consequences with an aplomb most men either find shocking or
forget completely the scruples they once possessed. Brilliantly
costumed Schaefer looks amazing whether she's in leather, lace or latex.
Heck, this Lulu even makes a bath towel look like evening wear. (And
the "painting" with her in almost painted on pants is hot stuff.)

Wolfgang Schoene paints Schoen in broad strokes on a huge emotional canvas
and the payoff is huge! Wonderful throughout, he is particularly
mesmerizing watching this "giant" of a human reduced to putty in the letter
writing scene. He is a helpless bear and he gets his just desserts, alright!

While not vocally - physically, in Kathryn Harries's portrayal of Geschwitz
looks like Frederica von Stade. Her countess is particularly pitiable, a
frightened bird - her act of heroism in the escape comes off with
incredible passion. Also a little creepy since I found it impossible to
decide whether the act was purely selfless or selfish. Her grizzly, filthy
demise following Lulu's horrifying screams were particularly chilling and