Tenant (1976) (Ws Sub)

Starring:Isabelle Adjani, Patrice Alexsandre, Jean-Pierre Bagot, Josiane Balasko, Michel Blanc, Florence Blot, Romain Bouteille, Jacques Chevalier, Jacky Cohen, Claude Dauphin, Melvyn Douglas, Bernard Fresson, David Gabison, Louba Guertchikoff, Lila Kedrova, Jacques Monod, Claude PiÃ©plu, Rufus, Jo Van Fleet
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

After the triumph of Chinatown, Roman Polanski's The Tenant marked an unsettling return to the horrifying psychodrama of Repulsion and Rosemary's Baby. As in those previous films, Polanski explores a descent into madness with subtle, deliberate pacing and keen attention to accumulating details. Cannily casting himself in the title role, Polanski plays the mild-mannered occupant of a Parisian flat previously rented by a woman who committed suicide by leaping from her upper-floor balcony. The woman's leftover belongings and the harsh attitudes of disapproving neighbors (including Melvin Douglas and Shelley Winters) begin to grate on the new tenant's psyche; his paranoia shifts from simmering anxiety to full-blown psychosis, until fate itself seems to run in a complete, tragically tormenting circle. Polanski masters the material as only he could, and despite some critical drubbing at the time of its release, The Tenant has earned a place among Polanski's finest films. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

All of the ingredients are here, but it never quite sets........2007-03-13

The Tenant (Roman Polanski, 1975)

Sometimes you put a brilliant novel together with a brilliant director and you get a brilliant movie. Sometimes, on the other hand, you get a movie that should be brilliant, but isn't quite, and you can't put your finger on why. That, in a nutshell, is The Tenant.

Set in the same Parisian housing crisis that was the setting for Last Tango in Paris, The Tenant is the story of Trelkovsky (Polanski), who gets an apartment in a decidedly weird building owned by Monsieur Zy (Melvyn Douglas). While renting the place, he is told by the concierge (Shelley Winters) that the previous owner threw herself out the window; he goes to the hospital to see her (to ensure she hasn't long to go; after all, if she survives, he can't rent the apartment) and meets her friend Stella (Isabelle Adjani), with whom he embarks on a hesitant, but tumultuous, relationship. Everything seems to be going relatively well, except that the neighbors in the building are strange-- he often sees someone standing in the bathroom across the way, just staring out the window, and everyone seems to have an absurd preoccupation with noise. Eventually, Trelkovsky becomes convinced that the others in the building murdered the previous tenant, and that he's next.

Roland Topor's novel, upon which this film is based, is a wonderful piece of outsider art. And what's all the more odd here is that The Tenant is, as far as adaptations go, a relatively faithful one; no major scenes or subplots were eliminated, that I could tell. What this shows, ultimately, is the futility of the idea of the faithful book-to-screen translation. Much of the subtext of Trelkovsky's character, especially the haunting feeling in the back of the reader's mind that Trelkovsky is being persecuted for being a foreigner, is absent from the film, and Polanski plays the relationship between Trelkovsky and Stella far less ambiguously than the Trelkovsky in the novel; the character here seems almost absurdly grateful at times just to have a girlfriend, even when he's discussing such topics as his possible dismemberment. His paranoia remains, but it seems an isolated thing, rather than being a symptom of his rapidly-decaying mental state. Now, yes, I do realize that such things would be nearly impossible to bring to the screen in any reasonable manner, and that Polanski had to choose which aspects of Trelkovsky's character to emphasize when filming (at least he didn't have the intermediary of an actor, who might not have read the novel, filtering the character though his own experiences). That's my point, really; in any faithful adaptation, the movie is almost sure to suffer.

None of this is to say that the movie is valueless; far from it. If you like your comedy blacker than two-day-old coffee, your horror ludicrous, and your drama melo, then look no further than The Tenant for a thoroughly amusing time. However, be prepared; it's certainly not Polanski's strongest work. ***

One of Roman Polanski's Finest Moments...'Tenant' Strange and Suspenseful..........2007-02-13

Roman Polanski's REPULSION was a terrifying descent into the world of isolation and complete madness. ROSEMARY'S BABY was a tale of child birth gone satanic with a delusional edge. THE TENANT is one of those psychological thrillers you have to pay close attention to in order to understand and fully grasp the concept of paranoia. It's one of the finest thrillers since Hitchcock's masterful PSYCHO. But THE TENANT is an altogether different experience.

We meet a working class man named Trevoltsky (played by Polanski himself) who is working in Paris and trying to find a new Apartment. We learn in the beginning that the place he's interested in once belonged to a woman by the name of Simone, a woman who was driven to suicide without specific explanation. After Trevoltsky manages to whisk the apartment away and move in, he goes to the hospital to meet Simone, who is in a complete bodycast and has suffered serious injury from her attempt at an end. There, Trevoltsky meets Stella, a young woman who he seems entranced with and is a friend of Simone's. They meet for drinks and go to see a movie, where they end up getting rather hot for each other but must reserve themselves after a few glances from an onlooker. They part ways and Trevoltsky goes off himself.

From there, we watch as the new neighbors of Trevoltsky become irritated with his late night antics and strange manner, and many strange things begin to happen that make Trevoltsky suspect there is something more going on then he's been thinking. For instance, when Trevoltsky discovers a tooth in his wall that was hidden, his reaction is the same as when we see him viewing it, like "where the hell did this come from?" And another instance is when Trevoltsky returns from a late night out with Stella, the landlord demands an explanation for Trevoltsky's actions with a woman that night in his apartment. But Trevoltsky explains he wasn't even there, and the descent into paranoia starts to sink in. Trevoltsky begins to suspect there's a plot against him from the neighbors and tries to let Stella in on this susposed devious madness. But even later in the movie Trevoltsky begins to suspect that even Stella is in on the whole deal with the neighbors and his paranoia starts to stir like crazy. By the time of the movie's climax, we see Trevoltsky has gone completely mad and is dressed like a woman and ends up attempting his suicide twice in the same instance, all the while delusions of the neighbors trying to aide in his demise torment him. He ends up in a body cast much like Simone and his fate is thus sealed.

THE TENANT is one of those thrillers where repeated viewings will get you to appreciate what Polanski has done here. What's he's created turns out to be a fine thriller in the vein of PSYCHO and REPULSION, and his exploration into the world of paranoia and delusions further cements his status as one of the great thriller directors of our generation. THE TENANT remains a fine suspense thriller that will make you think whether the next neighbors you have will leave you guessing at every turn.

For film enthusiasts who love hypnotic, disturbing atmosphere. Among Polanski's tip-top films........2007-01-12

Roman Polanski became one of cinema's most capable film directors, and THE TENANT is among his very finest works in or out of Hollywood.

Polanski has an unparalleled ability to externalize and visualize human insanity, or impending insanity, and to portray that condition of mind on-screen in a way that is clear and understandable and palpable to a broad audience.

Other filmmakers certainly have portrayed hallucination, for instance, but rarely do we see a film that requires no explanation, interpretation or telegraphing, regarding which images are delusional.

Roman Polanski needs no such decoder ring. He has a positive genius for devising images and shots which portray delusions as we would expect them to be; we quickly know what is illusion, what is reality, and what is, at a given point in his story's time line, still ambiguous for the story's purpose.

THE TENANT is a delectable treat for those viewers who can appreciate a journey into darkness, odd personalities, and extremely wry humor generated by nothing more contrived than human characters we've all encountered ourselves at some time or another.

The film segues deftly and seamlessly -- from serious moments, to undeniably hilarious moments, to moments of disturbing, frightening images leading inexorably to sub-climaxes, large or small, of stark horror.

THE TENANT is a fully formed film from start to finish, starting benignly enough (as with REPULSION) and developing into moments of human dysfunction to make one's skin crawl.

The last act and its climax are full of emotional complexity and revelation -- but so, in its way, is Polanski's first act as it establishes the protagonist's off-kilter existence at his new apartment.

The film is perfectly visualized with a sound effects track as inspired as that of ROSEMARY'S BABY. There are clues in it that casual viewers may miss.

Until REPULSION, this film's closest relative, is remastered, sharpened and fully framed, THE TENANT will stand unchallenged in Polanski's stellar career as his most disturbing film.

A slight spoiler: The scene in which a woman's decapitated head is bouncing like a basketball with hair flying at Roman's balcony window would clinch this film's creative reputation single-handedly. But combined with the elderly folk in the downstairs apartment who blast their stereo with old standards and marching music for their own unique reasons, you have something far beyond the realm of mundane horror films. This is thoughtful art exploring aspects of the human condition, inspired by a director with a singular eye for things quintessentially unsettling.

superlative - polanski used to experiment at that time.......2006-12-11

Surrealist visions, hallucination, urge-vision, lost dimension, memory derangement - everything is part of the movie - it is symbolic - it shows you how association and nature of circumstances and surroundings helps to superimpose one character on another or it is like the human evolution (more about mutation) - this is a story about a tenant (soft spoken immigrant) in a poor paris neighbourhood - he sacrifices his comforts to live in a desent place but his neighbours throw the torch at him - they take him to the edge and he starts living in a world of hallucination - he cross dresses and starts to identify with the previous renter of the same apartment who commited suicide by jumping from the window

This is a very different Polanski - of coarse polansky himself plays in this movie as a mild mannered immigrant in Paris - it shows the xenophobia in Paris for other cultures and loved it - look for the fine expressions and the nature of pain as it happens to human life

If you like Kafka..........2006-11-22

Yes, this is a bizarre film. If you don't like your films a little "artsy," you might want to steer clear. If done well, I really like this type of film and found myself enjoying this one. I have not read the novel by Roland Topor, so I cannot draw comparisons between the movie and the book. It seems to me, however, that Mr. Topor was heavily influenced by the works of Franz Kafka. His use of absurdities, such as playing soccer with a human head and Mr. Trelkovsky changing into a woman, reminds me of "The Metamorphosis." The alienation, sense of solitude and conspiracy reminds me of "The Trial." Despite its morbid themes, the film also has a pervasive, dark humor to it that reminds me of both Kafka' writing and Stanley Kubrick's films. The film begins innocuously enough and really takes its time to build suspense. Although known as a director, it turns out Polanski can act and is quite charming and charismatic. It is his ability to carry the film as an actor that draws us into this film and captivates us, even though nothing terribly exciting happens at the onset. The film is filled with interesting characters and terrific dialogue, which alone would be enough to make the film worth recommending. Then there is the luminous Isabelle Adjani, who alone also would make the film worth watching. She is absolutely gorgeous, even behind those massive 70's glasses and funky clothes. Unfortunately, her time on screen is all too brief. One thing that bothers me a little is the fact the film was apparently shot in both English and in French, though one of the languages is dubbed, depending on which language track you choose. (i.e. the English is dubbed if watching in French and the French is dubbed if watching in English) I would rather watch the film in the original language with subtitles, even if it was shot using two or more languages. Just a minor grievance. Although it has nothing to do with the content of the film, I couldn't help but contemplate the relationship between Polanski and Eva Ionesco, who was about ten or eleven when the film was shot. Everyone is aware Mr. Polanski was forced to leave the United States because if his illicit contact with a thirteen year old girl, and most are aware that young Miss Ionesco posed nude for her mother at about the same age and appeared nude in such films as "Spielen Wir Liebe." Given that Mr. Polanski is also a photographer, I just could not resist wondering about that.

Average customer rating:

The original remains the best
Disappointed.
Il Mare and The Lake House
What if the only obstacle was time?
A great Korean movie

il Mare: A Love Story
Starring: Jung-Jae Lee , Ji-hyun Jun , Mu-saeng Kim , Seung-Yeon Jo , and Yun-jae Min
Director: Hyun-seung Lee
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
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Ditto
My Sassy Girl (2001)
Christmas in August
Chunhyang
Oasis

ASIN: B000087F3Z
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Customer Reviews:

The original remains the best.......2007-05-22

This particular version is not in the original Korean, but in Mandarin w/ English subtitles. The film is a haunting romance, deceptively simple, yet rich in subtextual meaning. In short, everything lacking in the abomination known as The Lake House. I saw the film in Korean at Fanime in 2006. On seeing it a second time, I thought it might have been a shorter cut, but cannot tell. Enjoy.

Disappointed........2006-12-15

My disappointment isn't in the movie itself, as I was VERY excited to find this film available in the US! I've been wanting a copy since I had the opportunity to watch it a few years back... however, the fact that it is for some reason DUBBED IN CANTONESE just ruins it for me :( It takes out a lot of emotion from the talented cast of Korean actors and actresses in this film. It doesn't even have an option for the original Korean audio track.

POOP!

... now if you can go find a used rental that has the Korean audio in tact, I TOTALLY recommend this film!

Il Mare and The Lake House.......2006-06-20

I watched The Lake House first and Il Mare two days later. Enjoyed both.

My Il Mare is the 3-disk version. Both titles and transfer (1.85:1 Anamorphic) were great .. aside from some translation issues.

My wife and I both enjoyed Il Mare .. and likely would not have enjoyed The Lake House as much as we did if seen second. Moving the story to Chicago, and giving it "star power" did have an effect.

What if the only obstacle was time? .......2006-04-25

Il Mare is a real gem of a find movie from South Korea, if you can find it in the foreign film video section.

Il Mare is "The Sea" in Italian and the love story takes place in a seaside house. A man and a woman live there but are separated by two years. He is in 1997 and she is in 1999 and they correspond through a magical mailbox that crosses time. As their letters continue both try to solve the mystery and see if they can bridge time to meet. It's a beautiful tale of how love can be so perfect yet timing so imperfect. The right person for you is THAT nearby but a flip in the time continum keeps you star-crossed permanently. If you are able to scout it ... look for the Japanese film "Love Letter" which was released in the late 1990's. A similar theme of love, loss, and redemption through letters.

A great Korean movie.......2006-03-08

This is one of the best Korean movies to come along in a long time. The spoken Korean is absolutely beautiful and the images are as well. After you see this movie, you will want to lean Korean as well as you will realise how much subtlety there can be in just one or two words.

This is a very literary movie about the power of letters and words and conversations and how they can change your life for ever. Truly wonderful.

Average customer rating:

Not for people who liked the two first movies
Bruce Payne is squashed and Warlock 3 is a dud
Not really worth it
Shocking and I mean 'Shocking'
Witch Way?

Warlock III: The End Of Innocence
Starring: Bruce Payne , Ashley Laurence , Paul Francis (II) , Jan Schweiterman , and Rick Hearst
Director: Eric Freiser
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00000JYLZ
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Customer Reviews:

Not for people who liked the two first movies.......2007-03-01

A lot of reviewers have mentioned the good performance of Bruce Payne in this movie. I just feel that I have to comment that unless you are a fan of his to begin with you will probably be bored to death by this movie.

In my humble opinion both the script and the actors are beyond bland and do not compare at all to the two previous movies neither in quality or content. I would never have made it to the end had it not been for a desire to see if it was possible to maintain the awful quality throughout the movie. Amazingly it was. If you liked the two first movies, do yourself a favor and don't watch this. Buy another movie at random, you're pretty much guaranteed to get better value for money.

That said, this is an interesting example of how you can make bland actors look worse by giving them a boring and inconsistent script and then letting a mad, drug abusing parrot do the editing.

Best scene: The warlock struggling(and failing) to pull the main character back while she is *knocking down a brick wall*. A study in how to portray the villain as an elderly lady in a warlock suit. God... I was crying on behalf of everyone involved.

Bruce Payne is squashed and Warlock 3 is a dud.......2005-11-02

Hottie Ashley Laurence (Hellraiser, Lightning Bug) and her friends stay at this old building which is supposed to be of historical significance. While at this shindig, Warlock Bruce Payne (Dungeons and Dragons 1 and 2) arrives convincing everyone that he is an archtect and so on and so forth. Then a storm hits, so Payne stays with the gang threwout the night...some thing he's cool, some think he's just a freak and some think that's he's not who he says he is. Soon, Payne unleashes his wrath, killing the friends off one by one to get to the prize, which is Laurence and he's supposed to sacrifice her for something. I was only interested in this for Bruce Payne, Ashley Laurence and Soap Opera star Rick Hearst (Carpool Guy, Tv's General Hospital). Also starring Angel Boris (Intercepter Force) and Boti Ann Bliss (National Lampoon's Dorm Daze). Another crappy horror sequel to put on the pile.

Not really worth it.......2004-11-02

I liked Warlock, really liked Warlock: The Armageddon and was uninspired by Warlock III.

The first two had really original storylines but this one chose a typical "college kids" in a spooky house route. None of the humor of the first two films can be found here. The creative use of the warlock's powers wasn't even developed much in this one.

The ending bothered me. I don't want to ruin the film for anyone who still wants too see it so I will just say that the epilogue of the film just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the film. The climax was what i had expected ut the epilogue seemed unbelievable.

The film would be enjoyable for anyone who felt that the first two were a little too light. The tone is decidedly darker in this installment to fit in with contemporary horror films (you could go light in the 80's and 90's). This meant it wasn't as epic as the other films. In the first two films the Warlock is trying to unmake creation or free Satan from Hell, in this one it's just about killing a girl and her friends.

Shocking and I mean 'Shocking'.......2004-06-15

For those who have not seen this movie yet, do yourselves a favour and just rent it if you absolutley have to, for the watch once appeal(for lack of a better word).

Warlock 1 and 2 are absolutely fantastic movies, with great story, intrigue and although the Warlock is of course evil, you are captured by the immense power of the character. Warlock 3 has no right whatsoever in being part of the Warlock movie legacy. Bruce Payne does play a good Warlock. In fact if it wasn't for his character portrayl and a chance to compare the two Warlocks I would have stopped after the first 25 minutes of the film.

Basically if you want to watch a porno film, then grab a porno film. When however you want to watch a movie about an occult figure for the story and the idea of the Warlock in an engrossing account, you reach for a film like this. The problem is, it doesn't provide you with that story. The character is not even the focus of the film, instead the focus is on seeing a bunch of 2nd rate actors butt naked 40% of the time and giving an audience the impression that all college students are idiots.

This film should never have been made. Watch it if your a fan of Bruce Payne but be warned you will be using the fast forward function on your remote often during this film.

Witch Way?.......2002-09-22

Warlock III - End of Innocence

I started out on the wrong foot with this film. I made the classic mistake of rushing to get a film for the weekend, not finding what I wanted and grabbing something that I thought was the continuation of another series entirely. Not until the action opened on an entirely different cast of players did I figure out my mistake. Being doubly grumpy does not make me a friendly viewer.

The film starts out with college student Kris (Ashley Lawrence) receiving a call about a house she had inherited. Since Kris had never known her original family, she jumps at the opportunity to learn about her past and dashes off, without her friends, to investigate. She arrives and is promptly badly spooked (people who know this series will recognize the house as belonging to Phillip Coventry [Bruce Payne], the warlock). A grand thumping at the door announces the arrival of... Kris's college friends. Among them her boyfriend Michael (Paul Francis), her best friend and apprentice witchlet Robin (Boti Ann Bliss), and her high school buddy Jerry (Jan Schweiterman). "Great!" thinks me, "Yet another college student hack-and-slash film."

Well, it is and it isn't. Don't mistake me; 'End of Innocence' has a twenty-five word or less plot, an unknown cast, and the requisite gratuitous nudity and violence. Nevertheless, surprisingly, the film isn't cheesy at all. Director Eric Freiser stays with fairly understated and subdued effects, rather than immense splashes of gore and parts. This makes that acting more prominent, and several of the cast really turn in professional jobs. Coupled with a setting that actually is interesting, and good film work, this makes the story far more believable that many similar efforts.

Customer Reviews:

Think the worst and you'll be half right.......2007-02-16

This "movie" is only 48 minutes long. Made in 1986, it was obviously a one-TV-hour show. See it only if you're a fan of one of the performers.

This gets my vote for the worst Christmas movie ever made and one of the worst movies ever made. The acting by Katherine Helmond is the phoniest I remember ever seeing. It's astounding to watch, it's so bad. You just keep gaping: how can anybody be that bad?

The little girl, Melissa Hart, is very cute. I hope she got the parts she deserves.

The story is the length of a short-short, so there's a lot of treading water in this show. The gratuitous nastiness to the woman customer who had traveled all the way across town in the snow was stunning. The fact that the little girl did not tell her adoptive mother about the footprints after they'd all been searching for the man all day is not credible.

Bottom line: if you buy this movie, you get what you deserve.

review.......2007-01-18

i purchased this as a gift so I am not able to offer a review.

Heartwarming.......2007-01-15

Nice heartwarming story to enjoy around Christmas time. This is an old movie that I enjoyed many years ago, and being a Cid Caesar fan, it's nice to have my own copy to share with family.

Christmas Snow.......2006-08-19

If you love old CHristmas movies that really touch your heart and get you in the Christmas mood then this is the movie for you. I love it.
Thank You
Mary D

Average customer rating:

Great comedy movie, classic
Super-Sized Comedy
Boy is this familiar
Great Pesci Movie
The super under house arrest

The Super
Starring: Joe Pesci , Vincent Gardenia , Madolyn Smith Osborne , Rubén Blades , and Stacey Travis
Director: Rod Daniel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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Release Date: 2004-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Great comedy movie, classic.......2006-08-14

This is a great classic from the early 90's as Joe Pesci's popularity was rising (after the leathal weapons 2 and 3). Joe plays Louie Kritski, son of Big Lou Kritski, owner of 27 slum buildings. As a birthday gift, Big Lou gave Louie his own building. With this, came all of the building violations. Mandolyn smith osbourne plays Naomi, a new lawyer for the housing athourity, and someone Louie would "like to get to know". Well, Karma caught Louie quick as his tenents and Naomi sucessfully prosecuted him for the violations and he is sentenced to 120 days in a 5th floor apartment of his building. No repairs to his appartment can occur unless the rest of the building is fixed as well. The movie takes off from here, Pesci, use to money and comforts, has a hard time adapting to the harsh environment. His Tennents, on the other hand, have a little fun with Pesci, taking him as a sucker a few times as well as parting his prized correvette out. In the end, Pesci has a change of heart, and stands up to his dad as his own man with his own plan. He turns out to be a nicer guy. Unfortunately, the movie ends pretty quickly, Almost rushed, but still ok. Gotta laugh as he drives away in his Corvette, or is it? Again, a former staple of cable stations like TBS, USA, And WGN, this movie is worth a viewing, and a good classic for the collection.

Super-Sized Comedy.......2006-02-05

I have always gotten a kick out of Joe Pesci; one of the best actors of comedy in the 1990's. With that quirky, whiny voice and that funny little walk, Pesci is one of those unique comedians who adds just the right touch of humor to his character. Pesci is no different in 1991's "The Super," an absolutely hilarious film from beginning to end, with emotional touches underlying the film. Though a tremendously funny film, it also touches on the reality of the inner city and the conditions that many people have to live in. Most of all, it gets to the heart in that the film shows that you may live in a place you hate and are around people you may despise, but when difficult times come up, you realize how important they are to you. You grow to have respect for people and places you may not have had respect for in the past. You live in certain situations long enough to where you feel a part of it and want to protect it. All these things happen in life frequently and it is wonderfully portrayed in "The Super." After only a few viewings, "The Super" has become an instant comedy classic with my family and me. It has got to be one of the most underrated comedy films around.

It is the apartment complex everyone dreams about. With an awesome view of the scummy streets of New York, filthy toilets and sinks that overflow in disgusting liquid, heating that won't work and electricity that shorts out, what more could one ask for? Why should the residents complain of being cold, the smell of urine in the hallways, rats in the rooms and doors that won't open or close as needed? After all, this place is a charmer!

Meet Louis Kritski (played by Joe Pesci), the pint-sized son of a rich and mean slumlord. Louis is a swift-talking wise guy, who walks like a miniature ape and is under the delusion that he can impress the ladies. Louis was fortunate enough to inherit his father's "wonderful" complex as a birthday present. It is all his to do nothing with, while all the while greedily grabbing up the rent money from all the residents. Ever since he was a boy, Kritski's no-good father (played by Vincent Gardenia) always told him that when you own a piece of property you do nothing with it because if you give an inch, they'll take a mile. Therefore, Kritski's father forbids him to be merciful to the needy residents in the complex.

Unfortunately, Louis's neglect of the building and it's people leads him straight to court where he is ordered to live in one of the apartments until he gets the complex up to code. Now Louis is having hands-on experience of what the residents are going through. His sink "burps," his toilet is flowing over with scum, the only chair in the room is falling apart and he cannot play his radio because the electrical socket doesn't work. He is living in a neighborhood where cars such as his cherry red Corvette are stripped down to nothing, convenience stores sell bread that's 500 years old, the best liquor he can get is a small bottle of cheap wine and he learns quickly how to duck from bullets. Louis deals with the constant noise of the residents from the loud music and partying, to family arguments over a bike, to angry residents pounding on his door. Needless to say, Louis could never have much of a social life under the circumstances, especially with his girlfriend.

The residents and people from the street all try to get the best of this feisty, uncaring slumlord to create some very memorable comedic scenes, from tricking Louis out of cash in a card game, to giving him false hope and taking advantage of him on the basketball court, to enticing him to join in the partying noise in the complex. The neat thing about this film is that we get a variety of people of different backgrounds. We see Louis "drop in" on a very agitated and freaked-out Hispanic family, get firm lessons from a wise talking African-American kid named Tito with a drug-dealing father and we see Louis complain of too much noise to a religious preacher who is trying to block out the rats in his apartment.

The residents of the complex and the comedic adventures and lessons Louis has with them somehow lead him to take a second look at himself and try to become a better person. But is he doing it for himself or for all of them? Actually living in the shoes of the residents in his complex may have triggered something in this heartless slumlord after all. But when Daddy-dearest steps in and threatens to do unthinkable damage to Louis's complex and the residents within it, Louis must stand up to his father in a way he has never done before and perhaps make the biggest choice of his life.

"The Super" is an all-around very entertaining and funny movie that will never leave you bored but only your sides splitting. Pesci was perfectly cast for this role as Louis, and I only wish he had made more films like this. Just looking at his facial and body expressions makes you want to laugh at times; especially when he appears in his ridiculous basketball uniform of knee high socks, sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt and attempts to egotistically take some street basketball players to school on the court. Also worth noting is the humorous scene of him dancing and partying with the residents to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Pesci has definitely done some of his best work in the film and it is sure to be fun-filled entertainment for all. I must also mention that the R-rating is for language; just a word of warning for those with younger kids.

Boy is this familiar.......2005-01-13

Being from the Bronx and working for a landlord who is the
owner of many such buildings, and strangely enough, VERY
similar to Louis Sr, I can appreciate the comedy aspect from
both sides. And it really is closer to the truth than most
people think. Unless of course, you live in one of these
buildings. I don't recall what Borough this is supposed to
take place in, but New York City is full of them.
Very funny movie. Pesci and Co. are all outstanding.

Great Pesci Movie.......2004-11-08

The Super shows what real house arrest is, Joe Pecsi playing basketball is hilarious, to make this review short and sweet, buy it, you'll like it.

The super under house arrest.......2004-08-17

Joe Pesci's role in 1990's GOODFELLAS won him a few Oscars. Before GOODFELLAS,Pesci had roles in LETHAL WEAPON 2 and BETSY'S WEDDING. After GOODFELLAS,he did HOME ALONE where he was a burglar who,with Daniel Stern,terrorized the star,MacCaulay Culkin. In this film,Pesci is Louis "Louie" Kritski Jr. who receives an apartment building for his birthday from his mom and dad Louis "Big Lou" Sr.(the late Vincent Gardenia). But Louie is tried for and convicted of property neglect and was originally sentenced to one year in the county jail. The presiding judge changes the sentence to 120 days of house arrest in Louie's gift building. He reluctantly complies with the court order to make the necessary repairs against Big Lou's wishes. Big Lou willed Louie his other buildings upon his passing(Big Lou owned 26 other buldings). Big Lou threatened to cancel his bequests to Louie if he made the repairs. Obviously,Big Lou lets nature take its course and does not believe in repairs and rejuvenations. Big Lou's heart is broken when he finds new lights and notices Louie giving his tenants portable heaters(the building's boiler is broken). Louie bought the heaters with his dad's company credit card. "They(the company) called for authorization!",quipps Big Lou. When Louie moves into apartment 5A of his building he makes a few friends without plan. They are Tito(Kenny Blank),a young black kid who lives with his grandmother Leotha. Marlon(Ruben Blades) is always helping Louie when he needs it. Naomi Bensinger(Madolyn Smith Osborne),who seems to be a friend,is a prosecutor who checks up on Louie from time to time to make sure he's complying with the court order. Louie asked Naomi in one scene to witness the distribution of the heaters. She said it was "more of a gesture than a solution". The building was about to be destroyed via explosives. Louie threatened to throw the perpetrator off the roof,where they both were. Louie is bailed out by his father but he and Marlon waste no time in repairing and painting,delighting the tenants who were previously upset.

Average customer rating:

murder and greed in Spain...not great, but pretty good
great Spanish thriller-comedy

La Comunidad
Starring: Carmen Maura , Eduardo AntuÃ±a , MarÃa Asquerino , and JesÃºs Bonilla
Director: Ãlex de la Iglesia
Manufacturer: Lolafilms Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002JP3F6
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Description

Una agente inmobiliaria con suerte... Un cadáver descompuesto... Una comunidad de vecinos codiciosos... 300 millones escondidos en el sótano... Algo huele a podrido en esta casa. Julia (Carmen Maura), una mujer de unos cuarenta años que trabaja como vendedora de pisos para una agencia inmobiliaria, encuentra 300 millones de pesetas escondidos en el apartamento de un muerto y no le queda más remedio que enfrentare a la ira de los miembros de una comunidad de vecinos muy particular, encabezada por un administrador sin escrúpulos. El humor negro deja paso al suspense, luego al terror y, finalmente, a la locura desencadenada.

Customer Reviews:

murder and greed in Spain...not great, but pretty good.......2005-07-23

Alex de la Iglesia has forged a career out of making films that depict extremes (in many cases), and for my money his best is Perdita Durango (aka Dance with the Devil) with Rosie Perez and, in a somewhat early role, Javier Bardem speaking pretty broken English but insanely great.

This film, La Comunidad, is kind of fun to watch and does, to some extent, capture some of the director's spirit of the extremes, but is not as intense or riveting or downright fun to watch as Perdita Durango. It does feature Carmen Maura and she is, hands down, the star of the show--in fact, she's really good. It's not that the other actors aren't as good as she is--all of them do a fine job. It's really that the script is just not as powerful as it might have been. It does hold your interest but doesn't really grab it.

The story finds our heroine, Julia (Maura), a real estate agent, "usurping" one of her primo apartments for her own use with Ricardo, her husband/boyfriend (which is it? I dunno), and subsequently stumbling across the dead body of a really old guy. Later, having found a "clue", she puts two and two together, returns to the apartment of the old dead guy (who's now been carted off for burial), and finds a huge amount of cash.

The title refers to all the people who live in the building who know about the cash but could never find it and who realize that this new "neighbor" has found it. The black comedy hijinks that ensue form the substance of the film.

One of the problems here is that there could have been a lot more sexual tension which would have done much to sharpen the edge of the film. But this component of the film just kind of fizzles. We also don't really see why Julia (Maura) is so attracted to her husband (or boyfriend; we're never really sure which one), Ricardo. Sexual tension is kind of toyed with in the film--Julia is definitely attracted to one of the neighbors--but never really taken advantage of, so to speak; the director teases us with it, then doesn't really follow up with it. This could have really made the film a whole lot punchier than it is.

The resolution is OK, but not great. There are a few pretty funny lines here and there and that helps. This is not really a bad film. It's just not as good as it definitely could have been.

great Spanish thriller-comedy.......2004-10-08

This is one of the best Spanish films over the last 5 years. It is funny and tense at the same time. All the characters are fun and Carmen Maura turns in another great performance. Based on the notion of a building's "community," (or bldg association) this film picks fun at the Spanish culture of nosy neighbors and apartment living. Director de la Iglesias also pays his respects to Hitchcock in a couple of scenes.

Average customer rating:

Your lease is about to expire
He's the perfect tenant!

The Perfect Tenant
Starring: Linda Purl , Maxwell Caulfield , Stacy Hogue , Melissa Behr , and Earl Holliman
Director: Doug Campbell (II)
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004TJRS
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Customer Reviews:

Your lease is about to expire.......2001-07-06

Actress Linda Purl was associate producer of this film directed by Doug Campbell, which may explain her walking in slow motion for the first time she is seen by Maxwell Caulfield, who rents her guest house because of a hidden agenda. Campbell also provides a long take of Purl in closeup for a memory she has while in a car (thankfully not driving), where she looks very lovely but also a little like Caulfield's wife Juliet Mills. The teleplay by M. Todd Bonin, Jim Vines and the director is a serial killer thriller, with touches of incest, pedophilia, mental illness, and an odd romance, where one victim awkwardly embraces another, and an obscure line in "It's not easy to turn pages in a straitjacket". However within the potboiler limitations of this kind of material, Campbell paces events nicely, and though the musical score by Richard Bowers is generic and the freezeframes unnecessary, he sets up a number of expectations then gives them unexpected payoffs. The biggest flaw in the narrative is the presence of Caulfied's sister, since it telegraphs the result of the climactic confrontation, and also undermines Caulfield's motivation. I could have done without a hand falling out of a makeshift coffin, specifically occuring to be witnessed, a back and forth chase in a forest clumsily handled, and the silly conclusion, but Campbell does better with the actors. I liked Tracy Nelson the best as a neurotic girlfriend of Caulfield, and it's nice to have Earl Holliman as Purl's father, underplaying his big scene. Purl has a strong believable persona and also technique to put a spin on her lines, and Caulfield isn't the embarassment expected. Approaching 40 at the time of this film and still a handsome man, no longer being a heartthrob means Caulfiend needs to be lit carefully (his profile shots are particularly exposing), though it appears any loss of beauty is certainly made up for in increased acting ability.

He's the perfect tenant!.......2000-08-16

Really good performances by actors Maxwell Caulfield, Linda Purl, and Early Holliman in this taut, above par thriller. Technical aspects are also better than most films of this particular ilk. Turn off the lights, grab a bag of popcorn (and a loved one) and enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Only Enjoyable for Talia Shire fans, but for the rest...
Stop Push Eject Now, 5 Stars my foot !!!
Rocky Balboa's Wife Goes Bonkers!
PERMANENT EVICTION
Off The Wall

The Landlady
Starring: Talia Shire , Jack Coleman (II) , Bruce Weitz , Melissa Behr , and Bette Ford
Director: Robert Malenfant
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000G3DZ
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Customer Reviews:

Only Enjoyable for Talia Shire fans, but for the rest..........2006-10-10

The reason I bought this film, is because I like Talia Shire. The only reason to buy this film is because of Shire, cause if you don't like Shire then I wouldn't recommend you buying this film.

The Landlady follows the frustrated Melanie, a woman who's husband cheats on her, a situation that lets something snip in her mind. She becomes obsessed with having the perfect family and husband. After she kills her husband, she moves into an appartmentbuilding which she inherrited. There she meets Patrick who becomes her new object of desire to start a new family with. And she lets nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody come in her way...

In technical aspects, the Landlady is ok, not fantastic, but ok. It has good camera movements (some could have been way better to make it more tense) and the lighting is well done which gives some scenes a nice horror feel. The music also is nice in some scenes.

Now the acting could have been way better, not counting Talia Shire. Shire is the one who keeps the film away from the pit of the terribly bad films. But although she acts good, in some scenes you really feel that she doesn't give her 100% which is a pitty: she could have done way better than this. But one thing she does perfectly: even though she is the bad one in the film and kills a lot of people, she actually makes you feel for the pshyco landlady. That is what makes her performance ok.
Now the rest of the cast acts so emotionalless that you absolutely don't care that they are getting killed. The only one I did care for was a character played by Dee Freeman, she does an ok actingjob also. But as for the rest: they don't feel like people but just minor props that have to be taken care of. You will find yourself looking at the screen saying: "Oh, there goes another one."
Conclusion: The murders look more funny than they look scary or emotional.
Also the tempo of the film is sometimes awfully slow. It takes a long time from one murder to another which will dissapoint slasher and horror fans.

So when you sit down and watch the Landlady, watch it with your sense of humor switched on, then it will be more watchable then when you watch it counting on a scary horrorfilm.
So if you are a Talia Shire fan, I would recommend you this film cause it is fun to see Shire do something totally different than playing a lovely sweet innocent woman. If you are not a Shire fan, then this film will look like just another low budget, wanna-be horror film to you.

Stop Push Eject Now, 5 Stars my foot !!!.......2006-06-27

I hated this movie within the first five minutes. The leading lady (Talia Shire) is what drove me mad, I hated her screen munching mug the second they showed her face. Now I realize this actress represents some evil baby setter who used to make me pop the boils on her festered up back, but that is not the movies fault.
So you may enjoy this film much more then I, it does start off with the old hags hubby slamming the girl down the street, (I bet that means he will die). My god could any one who is over the age of 10 really have the nerve to give this trash 5 Stars, no freaking way people.
Even with another actress in the lead this would be a pretty poor film. Don't forget gang I am here for you and I just want to ease your suffering as some of you may learn from my pain.

Rocky Balboa's Wife Goes Bonkers!.......2004-11-18

Standard thriller in which Don Corleone's only daughter goes cuckoo and engages in some serious stalking. Talia Shire's fan can add a star.....

PERMANENT EVICTION.......2004-04-27

There are times in this average thriller that I really felt sorry for Talia Shire's Melanie Dade. While we do not really know why or when she became psychotic, she is so desperately in need of a man and family that her plight can't help but be sympathized with. Granted, the seven people she bumps off is not the way to get a man, but she certainly does try. Shire is very good in the role, even though we all know where it will end up for her. Jack Coleman as the man of her dreams is dashing, sincere, and well cast in the otherwise thankless role. Bruce Weitz seems held back in his role as Pepper, the maintenance manager, and Melissa Behr as Liz doesn't have much to do and when her death scene comes up, she doesn't seem all that terrified.
But, suffice to say, Talia dominates the movie, and although it lacks originality, it is a compelling look at loneliness.

Off The Wall.......2004-01-15

You better pay your rent on time with this woman, or you may end up as a target for her internal rage. Which will most likely be murder. An above-average thriller. This woman is beyond "off-the-wall", she's a true psychopath!

Average customer rating:

Good - movie but... - Fake Widescreen DVD
New Years Eve VHS
This movie is like a good friend!
A different side of Duchovny (!)
One of my all time favorites.

New Year's Day
Starring: James de Preist , David Duchovny , Michael Emil , Donna Germain , and Maggie Jakobson
Director: Henry Jaglom
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000IHYXI0
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

New Year's Day is verbose, discursive, and even a little insightful. It can only be the handiwork of idiosyncratic independent filmmaker Henry Jaglom. Tired of his miserable life in Los Angeles, newly single writer Drew (Jaglom) moves back to New York--on New Year's Day. Due to a misunderstanding, his apartment is still occupied three tenants: Annie (Gwen Welles), Winona (Melanie Winter), and Lucy (Maggie Wheeler, Chandler's whiny girlfriend Janice on Friends). With nowhere to go until they move out the next day, Drew gets to know the women. And vice versa. He's bewildered by the overly-emotional Annie and forthright Winona and attracted to the compassionate Lucy, who plans to relocate to LA. Over the next 24 hours, a variety of people drop by, including Lucy's mother and father, building supervisor Lazlo (Oscar-winning director Milos Forman), and unfaithful ex-boyfriend Billy (David Duchovny, Wheeler's actual ex, who rejoins Jaglom for Venice/Venice). Shot like a documentary, New Year's Day feels improvised, which is its biggest strength--and biggest weakness. Duchovny, who has a brief nude scene, looks perpetually bemused, while Jaglom comes off like a patronizing parental figure. Which may be the point. At times, it resembles real life; at others, a party to which you weren't invited. So, Jaglom's third in a semi-autobiographical trilogy, after Always (1985) and Someone to Love (1987), may not be a complete success, but it's an entertaining diversion, and Wheeler shines in a rare lead role. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

At a critical mid-life moment. Drew (Henry Jaglom) leaves L.A. and flies to Manhattan in hopes of starting his life anew. He has sublet an apartment beginning January 1, but finds that it is still occupied by three young women who insist that their lease runs through the first. The next 24 hours will have a lifetime's impact on Drew and the women: Annie (Gwen Welles), Winona (Melanie Winters) and most especially Lucy (Maggie Jakobson), as the film explores modern life, love... and New Year's resolutions!

Customer Reviews:

Good - movie but... - Fake Widescreen DVD.......2006-12-07

The aspect ratio is fake.
The top and bottom of the regular full screen version has been cropped out of the picture to give the illusion your getting a widescreen - what your getting is less picture!
The studios should label the DVD's as they did when they cropped VHS video picture " this film has been modified to fit you tv screen" as in modified to fit a 16x9 tv in this case.
You have already lost one third of the picture when it was modified to full screen, now you loose an additional one third to one fourth of the movies image!
In this film the DVD version will show much less of Duchovny below the waist as the uncropped version reveals - sorry ladies!
The reason leterbox and widescreen has a demand, is that the audience or consumer wants to view the Movie as it was filmed and framed by the filmaker, and not loose out on portions of the movie that the director intended.
In other words the idea to release in widescreen was for the intention of showing MORE not LESS of the movies image.
The studios believe they can get away with this, since the average buyer does not have a full screen video version to compare with, or the consumer is just unaware.
I compared this DVD to a full screen VHS version, and in many cases where some DVD's come with both Full & Wide Screen on a flip disc, compare them before watching, many of the widesreen sides are just chopped versions of the full screen.
The picture quality is great on this and most DVD's, it is unfortunate though that it has to be a conciliation for cropped picture.
The movie I find very engaging, great acting by Maggie Jakobson(Wheeler), and very Woody Allen'ish type scripting and characterization by Jaglom.
The movie deals with relationships, personal interactions and emotions.
It's clever and has depth - with a vintage NYC social flavor.
This film is somewhat of a sleeper, also has many subtleties that grows after watching it more than once.
This movie has certain characteristics that arent for everyones liking, its a matter of personal taste.

New Years Eve VHS.......2005-09-05

ufoexpert was excelent at packing and getting my movie to me fast. I would by from ufo again. I just didn't like the movie at all, buts thats just my taste. Great wishes for you for continued success
John

This movie is like a good friend!.......2003-12-24

I first saw this move eight or ten years ago, and it has since become a favorite that I "visit" with every year on New Year's Day. The themes of life transitions, new beginnings, and finding one's place in the world are especially resonant on New Year's Day when so many people take stock of the past year and make resolutions for the future. The characters are no more or less perfect than anyone's circle of friends, which makes them all the more loveable. Watching this movie has become a beloved annual ritual.

A different side of Duchovny (!).......2002-10-19

If you buy this tape for any other reason than David Duchovny's presence in the film, you're in for a disappointment. Take my word for it--the story and acting are truly forgettable. Duchovny's 'appearance', however, is definitely worth the price....

All I can say is "WOW"

One of my all time favorites........2002-06-09

Yes, I really liked this one. Released in '90 in Vancouver, Canada, I was intrigued by the review in the Vancouver Sun and went to see it one night in a rather packed and small cinema that no longer exists...and it remains not only the best film of 1990, but one of my all time faves. Is this Henry's shining moment? I don't know, I've seen Eating and one other whose title I don't recall but the writing here is superb, and that goes for the acting too. Milos Forman and Maggie Jakobson - among others - shine here. One of the more memorable scenes is when the character Winona is asking advice from her older brother. Truly warming. And there's the moment when Maggie first shows up in sunglasses as she approaches the breakfast table. Another is Maggie, with a smile, imitating a dolphin's screeching. Then the party grows and grows...Winona finally finding Mr Right. Maggie conversation with her shrink. 'You're listening to the wrong voices.' I still remember Henry's parting speech near the end of film. And that song by Cris Williamson, A circle of friends. And that last scene or Henry watching a video playback of Maggie with a dolphin capped the film excellent. Along with Goodfellas, this shared the #1 spot for my fave film of 1990. And I have the poster somewhere!

Product Description

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o Dutch (subtitles) o English (Dolby Digital 5.1) Synopsis: Based on a little known 1848 novel by Anne Bronte, Tara Fitzgerald stars as an enigmatic young woman who moves to 19th Century Yorkshire with a young son. Distancing herself from everyone in the village and their prying questions, she remains totally aloof until a charming neighbor farmer gets her to reveal her past through his persistence. Only then does she reveal she is hiding away from a womanizing, belittling husband. - This three-part BBC adaptation of author Anne Brontë's novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall features Tara Fitzgerald as Helen Graham, a pensive woman seeking a way out of her miserable marriage to Arthur Huntingdon (Rupert Graves), a rakish alcoholic who tricked Helen into marrying him before his bad behavior became outwardly evident. Meanwhile, farmer Gilbert Markham (Toby Stephens) becomes increasingly attracted to Helen, whom he is led to believe is a widow. Special Features: o Interactive Menu o Scene Access

Customer Reviews:

Excellent adaptation.......2006-07-16

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is one of my favorite Bronte books, so I was very happy I have a region-free DVD player and can watch this. The only complaint I have about this adaptation is that it is sexed-up. Things that were only hinted at in the novel are shown on-screen for some weird reason. Did they think the audience would be too stupid to understand if they were not shown everything out-right? Other than that, this is very good-quality. All the actors do marvelous jobs bringing their characters to life. For the shallow women out there, it's worth watching at least because Toby Stephens as Gilbert is the sexiest thing ever. If I were Helen I would have conveniently forgotten I was still married the minute I laid eyes on him...

ANOTHER POLISHED BBC PERIOD PIECE..........2006-05-20

While not wholly faithful to Anne Bronte's novel of the same name, this BBC adaptation has much to commend it. Excellent cinematography, as well as strong performances by the entire cast, makes this a must see production for all lovers of period pieces.

An intriguing widow woman of mystery, Helen Graham (Tara Fitzgerald), moves into a crumbling residence known as Wildfell Hall. There, she sets up house with her very young son. Plain spoken, independent, and seeming to lack charm, she rebuffs the initial, friendly overtures of the local townsfolk and manages to alienate most of them. Gilbert Markham (Toby Stephens), a young and handsome yeoman farmer, is not put off by her manner, however, and being smitten by her, pursues her, hoping to gain her affections. Soon, however, the townsfolk begin gossiping about her supposed assignations with a wealthy, local gentleman, Mr. Lawrence (James Purefoy), the owner of Wildfell Hall. There comes a point where even the steadfast Mr. Markham wavers in his belief in her. It is then that Mrs. Graham tells him the true nature of her relationship with Mr. Lawrence and reveals her dark past.

Rupert Graves steals the show as Arthur Huntingdon, the charming rake who captures and seduces Helen's young, romantic heart. Once married to her, however, he reveals himself to be a brutish, dissolute, and depraved philanderer, who causes her to flee their home with their young son. The role of Huntingdon is, undoubtedly, the juiciest. The film uses the narrative contrivance of flashbacks in order to explain the events that led Helen to take the extraordinary measures that she did. It tells the viewer of the sad story that brought Helen and her son to this sorry pass. Ultimately, Helen takes the high road, when an event occurs that causes her past to collide with her present. In that decision, however, lies the key to her future.

Toby Stephens is wonderful as the yeoman farmer, whose tender heart is captured by the beautiful Helen. Tara Fitsgerald, while indeed beautiful, plays the role of Helen a tad too harshly, which, while serving to alenate the townsfolk, serves also to alienate the viewer somewhat. Even though the flashbacks serve to explain her present manner, and the viewer sees her in happier days, Helen is still not as simpatico a character as she could or should be. Still, this is a handsome, though somewhat dark and somber production that those who love period pieces will appreciate and enjoy.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Samurai Assassin

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Jin-Roh