If These Walls Could Talk

Starring:Vaughn Armstrong, Dena Burton, Kevin Cooney, Marie DeCicco, Tim DeKay, Robin Gammell, Catherine Keener, Jack Kehler, Shirley Knight, Jason London, Aaron Lustig, Phyllis Lyons, Demi Moore, Mary Portser, CCH Pounder, Lorna Scott, Bob Shuttlesworth, Annie Weldon
Director: Nancy Savoca
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Virtually no one is ambivalent about abortion; the issue polarizes people like no other. HBO tackles the subject head-on with a trilogy of shorts, and, regardless of your opinion on the topic, If These Walls Could Talk is a bold and provocative examination of how the laws and attitudes about abortion in the United States have both changed drastically and remained so much the same.

Three women, three time periods, one house: each finds herself in trouble and must face the overwhelming decision about what to do with the unwanted pregnancy. The first segment is the most powerful, featuring Demi Moore as a young, recently widowed nurse in 1952. With no one to turn to and limited financial means, her options are few. Catherine Keener costars as her harshly judgmental sister-in-law. The next piece occurs in 1974, as Sissy Spacek, a mother of four who is trying to earn a college degree, discovers she's pregnant with her fifth child. Her utterly modern feminist daughter encourages Spacek to get a newly legal abortion, but it's a complex decision. In the final segment, college student Anne Heche becomes pregnant by her married professor. Her best friend, played by Jada Pinkett, is resolutely against abortion and the two wrangle over right and wrong. As the young woman tries to learn about her options, she finds herself enmeshed in the pro-life demonstrations outside the abortion clinic. Cher, who directs this segment (the other two are directed by Nancy Savoca), costars as a doctor at the clinic.

Amazon.com

HBO caused a stir when it aired If These Walls Could Talk, a portrait of three women from three generations (all who occupied the same house at various times) who had unwanted pregnancies. HBO utilizes the same gimmick in the sequel, this time telling the story of women who love women.

The three stories of If These Walls Could Talk 2 are uneven. Far and away the most powerful and moving story is the first, taking place in 1961, starring Vanessa Redgrave as a woman "widowed" when her partner of 50 years suddenly dies. Redgrave is phenomenal, and her piece alone makes this sequel worth watching. The 1972 portion stars Michelle Williams, who finds dealing with the sexual politics of the gay community increasingly more complex when she falls in love with a boyish woman (played by Chloë Sevigny). The most modern piece, taking place in 2000, portrays a contemporary lesbian couple (Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres) determined to have a baby. The light nature of the story detracts from the more serious issues of the earlier segments. Despite the mixed fare, HBO once again proves itself on the cutting edge of moviemaking, with this rather daring film that will both provoke and entertain. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-03-16

I love this film- it hits on numerous isssues without being too preachy. At different points, the film is funny, cute, serious, hot, and numerous other things. It's a classic.

HBO Rocks Part 2.......2007-01-14

This was an HBO original movie broadcast in 2000. This movie follows three lesbian stories in three different time periods. Vanessa Redgrave stars as a lesbian widow in 1961. Chloe Sevigny and Michelle Williams star as feminists in 1971. Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres star as a modern day lesbian couple trying to have a baby. I found the story of Vanessa Redgrave to be the most touching. It speaks to the need for legal rights for same sex couples and a need for understanding.

Excellent.......2006-11-23

A beautiful, touching movie. Well directed and acted. The first story with Vanessa Redgrave is very touching. All three stories have a completely different view of lesbians and are very good. The third story with Ellen & Sharon is very humorous. With stars like Vanessa, Ellen & Sharon, how can this be anything but a very worthwhile film and well acted.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2.......2006-11-06

I LOVE THIS MOVIE A BIT MORE THAN #1 MOVIE "IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK", MAYBE CAUSE MORE UP TO DATE, AND MORE I COULD RELATE TO BEING IN MY LATE 40'S. BUT I COULD DEFINATELY RELATE WITH EACH OF THE PERIODS IN THIS MOVIE. THEY ALL SEEMED SO REAL TO ME. I COULD WATCH THIS MOVIE OVER AND OVER, WHICH I DO. ALL THE TIME.

Two out of three ain't bad........2006-09-07

If These Walls Could Talk 2 explores female same sex relationships in different eras, but in the same house.

The first story deals with an old woman who loses her longtime lover due to a fall from a ladder and the eventual death. The dead woman's son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter show up and basically take what is lawfully theirs, the house and its possessions. The old woman is left with nothing and is forced to start over somewhere else despite being in her 60s. I kept thinking to myself, all of this could have been avoided had the dead woman made a will. This story basically deals with how same sex couples don't have the same legal rights. Vanessa Redgrave, who plays the left-behind lover, can't even visit her companion in the hospital room because she's not a relative or spouse. This was definitely the heartwrenching one of the three vignettes.

The second story takes place during the women's feminist movement. Some college lesbian girls go to a gay bar where one of them, Michelle Williams, meets Chloe Sevigny and a romance develops. The only thing, Sevigny's character is butch. And Williams' friends have a problem with a woman acting like a man in order to live the lesbian lifestyle. They see it as defeating the purpose of being a lesbian in the first place. Pretty good performances all around. Nia Long and Natasha Leonne are in the story: both who have played lesbians in other movies.

The third segment deals with a lesbian couple trying to have a baby. It stars Ellen Degeneres and Sharon Stone. This one is boring. All you see is frantic anticipation and turkey basters. There is a surprising steamy sex scene. It's surprising because I never thought a sex scene with Ellen Degeneres could be steamy. I applaud Anne Heche as a director for being able to pull that off. But, it's still a less compelling story than the other two.

All in all, If These Walls...2 is a good movie. It's certainly more tolerable than its predecessor.

Average customer rating:

Movie
Compelling portrayal surrounding the decison of abortion
3 women,3 eras,1 choice,and a house that knows it all!
HBO Rocks
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

If These Walls Could Talk
Starring: Vaughn Armstrong , Dena Burton , Kevin Cooney , Marie DeCicco , and Tim DeKay
Director: Savoca, Nancy
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

If These Walls Could Talk 2
Better Than Chocolate
Girl Play
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Gia (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: 0783116896
Release Date: 2000-03-21

Amazon.com

Virtually no one is ambivalent about abortion; the issue polarizes people like no other. HBO tackles the subject head-on with a trilogy of shorts, and, regardless of your opinion on the topic, If These Walls Could Talk is a bold and provocative examination of how the laws and attitudes about abortion in the United States have both changed drastically and remained so much the same.

Customer Reviews:

Movie.......2007-03-22

I have not watched this movie as of yet. But, I can't wait to watch it.

Compelling portrayal surrounding the decison of abortion.......2007-03-09

There is not enough to say about this film, the timeline sequence was great. The challenges that these women and men face was a honest portrayal. I wish that it had touched on the expereinces that women of color endured too. Their stories often are overlooked. Walls is a brilliant piece for activists for this issue.

3 women,3 eras,1 choice,and a house that knows it all!.......2007-02-04

HBO was daring enough in 1996 to brutally and frankly set forth the plight of three different women who in different times in this country inhabited the same house and confronted the same issue-what to do about an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy.Each episode is 30 minutes in length,and is very briskly paced.In 2007 this film will gender just as much if not more controversy than it did back then.Passionate issues make for passionate films and WALLS will challenge your views on the abortion issue no matter where you might stand.
Hollywood greats Demi Moore,Sissy Spacek and Anne Heche play the three women in turmoil.Each of their situations are unique,but each is faced with the gut-wrenching decision of to abort or to continue with the pregnancy.Moore 's character is a recent War widow who ,in a moment of "weakness",has a moment with her her brother-in-law,thus leaving her with her decision in an era when abortions were sought undercover and at great peril and risk to all parties.Forward 22 years.Abortion is now newly legal,but still in it's early stages. Spacek is a married mother of four children.She is finally pursuing a school degree and must wrestle with her choices that also involve household finances, her children and her husband.Fast forward another 20 years and Anne Heche is an unwed college student who has become pregnant from an affair with a professor. Her decision must be made in the midst of much anti-abortion protest at a nearby Family Health Center and at the protestation of her best friend.
HBO clearly and poignently explores the complex nature of the plight of these women in and extremely challenging and brutally frank yet still tastefully considerate way.Each episode explores,also, the prevailing mood of the time which very cleverly puts each ladies' turmoil into a proper perspective.Each portrait is quite intimate and unique,and each will shock and inform .
Men will benefit greatly by watching this film.It is essential viewing in helping to understand much more clearly the plight of women throughout the years.Suggested companion movies would be IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2, ROE VS.WADE,THE MAGDALENE SISTERS, VERA DRAKE , DECEMBER BRIDE and more loosely THE HOURS and FAR FROM HEAVEN.

HBO Rocks.......2007-01-14

This HBO original movie premiered in 1996. It follows three women, Demi Moore in 1952, Sissy Spacek in 1974, and Anne Heche in 1996, who must decide whether to have an abortion. This movie was very touching and shows the strugles women go through, even when abortion is legal.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.......2006-11-06

I LOVE THIS MOVIE, ALONG WITH #2. THE WAY THE AUTHOR TELLS LIFE SO SIMILAR IS DIFFERENT CENTURYS. IT'S AMAZING HOW THINGS CHANGE, AND PEOPLE LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY. I WATCH OVER AND OVER, EVERY TIME IT GIVES ME THE SAME ENJOYMENT AS THE FIRST TIME. THANKS.....

Average customer rating:

Movie
Compelling portrayal surrounding the decison of abortion
3 women,3 eras,1 choice,and a house that knows it all!
HBO Rocks
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

If These Walls Could Talk [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

If These Walls Could Talk 2
Better Than Chocolate
Girl Play
Lost and Delirious
Gia (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B0000A1M2H

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Movie.......2007-03-22

I have not watched this movie as of yet. But, I can't wait to watch it.

Compelling portrayal surrounding the decison of abortion.......2007-03-09

3 women,3 eras,1 choice,and a house that knows it all!.......2007-02-04

HBO Rocks.......2007-01-14

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.......2006-11-06

Average customer rating:

Excellent
HBO Rocks Part 2
Excellent
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2
Two out of three ain't bad.

If These Walls Could Talk 2 [Region 2]
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave , Marian Seldes , Paul Giamatti , Elizabeth Perkins , and Jenny O'Hara
Director: Anne Heche , Martha Coolidge , and Jane Anderson (II)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Better Than Chocolate
If These Walls Could Talk
Lost and Delirious
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
Gia (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B00004ZBX8

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-03-16

I love this film- it hits on numerous isssues without being too preachy. At different points, the film is funny, cute, serious, hot, and numerous other things. It's a classic.

HBO Rocks Part 2.......2007-01-14

Excellent.......2006-11-23

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2.......2006-11-06

Two out of three ain't bad........2006-09-07

Average customer rating:

Excellent
HBO Rocks Part 2
Excellent
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2
Two out of three ain't bad.

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Better Than Chocolate
If These Walls Could Talk
Lost and Delirious
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
Gia (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B00005EAXH

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-03-16

I love this film- it hits on numerous isssues without being too preachy. At different points, the film is funny, cute, serious, hot, and numerous other things. It's a classic.

HBO Rocks Part 2.......2007-01-14

Excellent.......2006-11-23

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2.......2006-11-06

Two out of three ain't bad........2006-09-07

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