Scandal

Starring:Scandal
Studio: Panorama
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!"
pitiful
Typical
Great fun!
Highly Recommend, Good, Solid Movie.

Notes on a Scandal
Starring: Judi Dench , Cate Blanchett , Tom Georgeson , Michael Maloney , and Joanna Scanlan
Director: Richard Eyre
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NIVJFY
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

Gold stars to all for this taut psychological thriller based on Zoe Heller's novel that that gets more insidiously twisted as it unfolds. Oscar-nominated for her chilling performance, Dame Judi Dench gives a master class as schoolteacher Barbara Covett, a frumpy, friendless, and flinty spinster who lives with her cat. A formidable presence, Barbara is standoffish with colleagues and not one for students to trifle with (not that they'd dare). Cate Blanchett, also an Oscar nominee and winner of several critics society awards for her impassioned performance, costars as Sheba Hart, the new, overwhelmed art teacher who first becomes enthrall to Barbara after she steps in to help Sheba discipline unruly students. Barbara cultivates a friendship, and insinuates herself into Sheba's chaotic life, which includes her older husband (Bill Nighy), teenage daughter, and a son with Down's syndrome. Then, Barbara catches the reckless Sheba in a compromising position with a 15-year-old student (Andrew Simpson). Seizing her opportunity, the calculating Barbara does not turn her in. Rather, she wants to "help" her. "She's the one I've been waiting for," she writes in the journals she meticulously keeps, and which provide, in voiceover, her corrosive commentary. This all sounds very Fatal Attraction, but no boiling rabbits, please; we're British. Philip Glass's Oscar-nominated score accentuates the growing menace. Though there is little in these characters to admire, (one would think GLAAD would have something to say about the predatory turn Barbara's character takes), Notes on a Scandal is a compelling tour-de-force for its Grade-A cast. --Donald Liebenson

Notes on a Scandal Extras

Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench on their characters in the film

Beyond Notes on a Scandal

Book to Movie Adaptations
More Cate Blanchett Films
What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal: A Novel

Stills from Notes on a Scandal

Description

Academy Award(r) winners Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give wickedly entertaining, Oscar-nominated performances * ? one as a woman consumed by her colleague's guilty secret, the other, a victim to her own dark obsessions ? in this sexy, stylish thriller. Dench mesmerizes as Barbara Covett, a teacher who rules over her classroom with an iron fist, yet leads a desperate, solitary life outside it. That is, until she meets radiant new art teacher Sheba Hart (Blanchett). Although at first overjoyed with her newfound kindred spirit, when Barbara discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a teenage student, her jealously and rage spiral out of control.

Customer Reviews:

"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!".......2007-07-03

Cate Blanchett delivers another great performance as a lust-crazed, almost-40 teacher looking for illicit, illegal love in the arms of a 15 yo student. I found the film quite fascinating and very disturbing. The director uses Judi Dench's and Cate's acting brilliance to create a raw intensity that comes from watching adults at their most debased. The magnetism that draws the creepy spinster Dench into an obsessive adulation of Cate's character is true even for the viewer. Blanchett is so beautiful and full of live that the audience can't help but like her. This affection makes her fall from grace all the more shocking. The film was clearly inspired by recent events in America, and the director created a really fine film from such sordid material. Any true fan of Cate Blanchett must see this film!

pitiful.......2007-07-01

An extremely disturbing movie with no clear moral or even comic relief. I can't remember a single character who exhibited good judgement or self-control. Of course with moral relativity in vogue, the suggestion that one should exercise self-restraint or that there even is good and bad is old-fashioned and bigoted.

But if you want to see graphic scenes of Cate Blanchett having sex with a smallish 15 year old boy or an elderly lady lusting after Cate, then this is your movie.

Typical.......2007-06-29

Once again, modern cinema cannot resist the urge to set up and then tear down symbols of moral authority, which this film gleefully does by making a pinata out of Judi Dench's character. Behind every judgmental facade, preaches the movie, lies a twisted and lonely soul who lacks the courage to indulge her passions in the way that Cate Blanchett's character does (and whose atrocious behavior is ultimately portrayed as less culpable than Dench's). Sorry, but no matter how well acted this film was, it's the same old slashing and burning of any remaining pockets of piety.

Great fun!.......2007-06-18

After an uncomfortable hour of Middle Class coffee table navel gazing I decided "Scandal" was best treated as a comedy. A southern gothic like "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" transposed to Blighty.

A hoot!

Highly Recommend, Good, Solid Movie........2007-06-17

This is my favorite movie with Cate Blanchett of all time. She plays the character of a wife and mother of 2, and now a school teacher. The turmoil she creates in her life seems like it is done because she is simply bored, and wants some adventure. She is beautiful, captivating, and sexy.

She becomes friendly with the character Barbara, played by Judy Dench, who is a fellow school teacher. She becomes entranced with Cate. As the movie progresses, she wants more and more of her attention, and the intimate secret they share becomes more and more convoluted.

Judy Dench is wonderful, she is eerie yet something about her character feels so familiar and close to home.

Highly recommend as a good, solid movie.

Average customer rating:

Shallow and Frivolous
Chicago IS jazz hot!
Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography
Great Musical!
Bob Fosse lives on!

Chicago (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Christine Baranski , Colm Feore , Richard Gere , Catherine Zeta-Jones , and Queen Latifah
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JLSE
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

Bob Fosse's sexy cynicism still shines in Chicago, a faithful movie adaptation of the choreographer-director's 1975 Broadway musical. Of course the story, all about merry murderesses and tabloid fame, is set in the Roaring '20s, but Chicago reeks of '70s disenchantment--this isn't just Fosse's material, it's his attitude, too. That's probably why the movie's breathless observations on fleeting fame and fickle public taste already seem dated. However, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are beautifully matched as Jazz Age vixens, and Richard Gere gleefully sheds his customary cool to belt out a showstopper. (Yes, they all do their own singing and dancing.) Whatever qualms musical purists may have about director Rob Marshall's cut-cut-cut style, the film's sheer exuberance is intoxicating. Given the scarcity of big-screen musicals in the last 25 years, that's a cause for singing, dancing, cheering. And all that jazz. --Robert Horton

Description

Winner of six Academy Awards(R) (2003) including Best Picture, and starring Academy Award nominee (Best Actress, CHICAGO) and Golden Globe winner (Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Renée Zellweger (BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY), Academy Award winner (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Catherine Zeta-Jones (TRAFFIC), Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Queen Latifah (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE), Golden Globe winner (Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Richard Gere (UNFAITHFUL), and Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actor, CHICAGO) John C. Reilly (GANGS OF NEW YORK) -- CHICAGO is a dazzling spectacle cheered by audiences and critics alike! At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago's famed Murderess Row! They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town's slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there's only room for one legend! Also starring Lucy Liu (CHARLIE'S ANGELS).

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and Frivolous .......2007-06-28

After many years of wanting to see this film, I finally got a chance to view it. I like musicals and loved Moulin Rouge, so I thought I'd give this one a try. However, after viewing, I was a bit puzzled at all the fuss and acclaim this movie received and continues to receive.

Chicago, while visually stunning and artistically impressive (in that the actors did their own singing), is a shallow, cynical, superficial, and unsympathetic story. Most movies rely upon story and plot for their strength; not so Chicago, whose only redeeming quality is the song and dance they put on.

The main problem with the story is that there are virtually no sympathetic main characters. To take that a step further, the main characters are all frauds, and the story's message is shallow. The two somewhat redeeming characters, Roxie's husband and the woman who is hanged, are both pretty much invisible and discarded in the film. Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly are both in jail for murder, and both have hopes and dreams of making it, being a big star, and having people adore them, so they call upon a slimebag attorney, Billy Flynn, to help them out. Roxie and Velma take turns lying and deceiving each other so they can get the fame in Chicago. Roxie openly admits she cheated on her husband, is oblivious to the fact that he's spent his life savings to get her a lawyer, and uses every trick in the book (including pretending that she has an illegitimate child) to ensure that she is the center of the newspaper headlines. Velma is a conceited fame-hungry snob who bribes the prison ward and only sucks up to Roxie when she realizing she is losing the fame war. From here we have a battle over popularity, as the two think of shenanigans to steal the headlines from each other. Who will win out? Who cares.

The message basically projected in this film is that its legitimate to whatever it takes to get ahead in this world--lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery--and, in fact, it might make you a star!

Are we are suppose to root for two back-stabbing, deceitful, murderesses who walk over people just to get their claim to fame all because they can sing and dance? Or how about a double-crossing, pompous, lying, money-hungry lawyer looking for the next damsel charged with murder? No thanks. I say throw them all in jail.

Watching this film, I found it mystifying how so many people and critics could love this movie so much. Granted the story's plot has probably changed from the musical version on stage, but the movie version falls quite short of its glowing reviews. Moreover, how could this film have received six Oscars in 2002? I liken the Oscar committee of 2002 to the gullible Chicago citizens in the film, falling over and swooning at something that puts on a little song and dance. Maybe Chicago was the Academy Award's apology for Moulin Rouge not getting any Oscars the previous year.

If you want to see a musical that is vastly superior, has heart, style and substance, and better acting, see Moulin Rouge.

Chicago IS jazz hot!.......2007-06-08

One of the best musicals of all time. Rapid paced, great story line, great actors, fantastic scenery... I can't say enough about everything this musical has going for it!!! A definite for your collection.

Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography.......2007-05-17

This is one of my very favorite movie musicals. The songs are so great and so much fun!

My favorite part about this movie though, is the way in which it constantly cuts back and forth between simultaneous shots of what the characters are doing in the "movie" version and what they are doing in the "stage" version of the story. It is this symmetrical blending of the two arts that really appeals to me, and the cinematography is very well done.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah all put on award-winning performances. I was especially impressed with Gere's and Reilly's performances. (Lucy Liu's small part was nice simply because she is so gorgeous, LOL, but she really is only a brief side character.)

This is the best and most enjoyable stage-musical-to-movie adaptation that I have yet seen, and I highly recommend it. Is it the best movie-musical ever? Probably not, I'd have to vote for The Sound Of Music, but even so, I find myself watching Chicago more often than TSOM. And Moulin Rouge is even funnier than Chicago, but I still love Chicago's songs the best.

Great Musical!.......2007-04-10

This is the musical for people who hate musicals! My kids and I all belt out the words when the songs come--each song is so unique and original. This really is an incredible film--the acting is perfect--I love the casting. Catherine Zeta Jones is so powerful, as is Renee Z. Ruchard Gere is at his best, as well, which was a cool surprise!

Bob Fosse lives on!.......2007-04-02

The dance and music and lyrics of Bob Fosse is still going strong, and it is evident through the big-screen adaptation of "Chicago". Director Rob Marshall stays faithful to Fosse's Broadway intentions, though he does change many things with the way the songs are performed (all songs are sung in reverie settings). Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere are very good when going along with their solos ("They Both Reached for the Gun" is fun and funny), but John C. Reilly, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah steal the show with their dazzling vocals ("Mister Cellophane", "When You're Good to Mama" and "I Can't Do It Alone" are well worth the oscar wins).

This movie is a splendid achievement, and if you don't even like musicals, then you'll probably be surprised at how much you're going to love this film.

Average customer rating:

Awesome Blu-ray title
IT WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU...
Ersatz

Chicago [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christine Baranski , Colm Feore , Richard Gere , Catherine Zeta-Jones , and Queen Latifah
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000KEG94C

Product description

The winner of 6 Academy Awards® (2002) including Best Picture, Chicago seduces like never before on Blu-ray's high definition disc. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah, this "splashy, sexy, knockout" (Rolling Stone) sizzles in this spectacular new format. After committing crimes of passion, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart both wind up on Chicago's famed Murderess Row. But with the help of slick, defense lawyer Billy Flynn, these notoriously lethal ladies will soon become local legends! Get more than an eyeful of "razzle dazzle" in jaw-dropping 1080p, and experience every sultry, musical nuance with 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Set your senses free with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Blu-ray title.......2007-01-28

This movie has the BEST audio of any Blu-ray movie, and far better than anything HD-DVD can offer. I don't really like musicals, but I wanted to experience the audio for this film and it was simply amazing, the picture was excellent too. Just make sure you have your HDMI cables hooked up correctly!

IT WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU..........2007-01-21

This is a fantastic musical. From the beautifully designed sets, to the period costumes, to the show-stopping song and dance numbers, it will simply razzle-dazzle the viewer. The director and his singing and dancing troupe of stars simply pull out all the stops in this brilliantly executed musical.

The film, which provides a cynical and satirical look at fame and fortune, centers in nineteen twenties Chicago around two murderesses, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger). Velma, who together with her sister, was a dance hall success, killed her husband and her sister when she caught them together en flagrante delicto. True to the maxim, however, that the show must go on, she goes on stage immediately after dispatching the two lovers, where she is promptly arrested.

Roxie Hart, an admirer of Velma Kelly, is married to Amos Hart (John C. Reilly), a good-hearted, regular Joe, but she longs for tabloid fame and fortune. She begins to have an affair with a man who promises that he could get her a stage gig only to find that he lied just to get her in bed. So, she ends up killing him. Her long suffering husband stands by his little woman as she is trundled off to jail to await trial. There, she meets her idol, Velma Kelly, who finds her hero-worship annoying.

In the jail, Matron "Mama" Morton (Queen Latifah) reigns supreme over the inmates, accepting bribes for favors. Velma Kelly, represented by star defense attorney Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), is in tabloid heaven. Roxie Hart, longing to be in tabloid heaven as well, gets her husband to retain Billy Flynn on her behalf. Before she knows it, she, too, is in tabloid heaven, playing the media like a violin.

The legal profession also gets a cynical slap in the guise of the slimy, fast talking Billy Flynn, who looks for the best selling point rather than for the truth. He understands the thirst of the media for the perfect sound-bite and he gives it to them. Guilty or not guilty, it doesn't matter. What matters to him, as a hired mouthpiece, is the media mileage he can get for his client, as well as for himself. To that end, he is the ventriloquist, and his client is no more than his dummy.

The razzle-dazzle musical numbers move the story along. Catherine Zeta-Jones is terrific, looking impossibly beautiful and showing off her musical theatre background to great advantage with "All That Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango". Queen Latifah is outstanding as the sly and voracious Mama Morton, who goes whichever way the wind is blowing. She also has a show-stopping musical number, "When You're Good To Mama" that is simply memorable. Renee Zellweger, though not a professional singer or dancer, shows that she can sing and dance with the best of them.

The men also shine in this musical. John C. Reilly, as Roxie's long-suffering husband, also has a terrific number, "Mister Cellophane", that is truly heart rending and poignant, as well as metaphoric. Richard Gere gamely rises to the occasion in his first musical, making the slick Billy Flynn character an integral part of the film with his "Razzle Dazzle" number and his tap dancing.

I love this top notch, clever film, finding it hugely entertaining. It deserves every one of its six Academy Awards, including that for "Best Picture". Director Rob Marshall deserves kudos for this brilliantly directed, seamlessly edited, musical masterpiece. While it is a fairly faithful screen adaptation of Bob Fosse's Broadway musical, it has Rob Marshall's contemporary imprimatur on it. It is a film of which he can be justly proud. Bravo!

Ersatz.......2007-01-08

"Captain Kirk, the approaching probe will destroy Earth if we do not respond with whale sound!" "O.K., send them some." "The sounds will be real but it will just be gibberish." "Well people watched `Chicago'; what make you think the probe is any more discerning?"

The plot line by (Maurine Dallas Watkins) is a killer; it is all about the whimsical world of killing. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) killed her husband and sister. Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) shoots her boyfriend Fred Cassely (Dominic West) dead. And a whole bevy of sleazy babes that killed their significant others. They kill a few songs. And the plot was never alive.

It is possible that the play may have had some redeeming social value. However by the time it was hacked up for this movie the only thing of value is the fast forward button. And again just because the movie has the appearance of a play does not give it any virtue.

If you do like murder and music then you may prefer "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (1982)

Average customer rating:

Well intentioned remake that falls a bit short
Warmed Over Willie Stark
Sean Penn was riveting in All the King's Men
Bayou blues
WHO IS THE REAL WILLIE STARK?

All the King's Men (Special Edition)
Starring: Sean Penn , Jude Law , Anthony Hopkins , Kate Winslet , and Mark Ruffalo
Director: Steven Zaillian
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000K2UGXO
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Amazon.com

Sean Penn gives another powerhouse performance in All the King's Men, leading a topnotch cast in writer-director Steven Zaillian's underrated adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. When you consider that the previous 1949 film version earned well-deserved Academy Awards for director Robert Rossen and actors Broderick Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge, it's no surprise that Zaillian's film was expected to earn similar acclaim, but lukewarm critical reception and disappointing box-office gave it the stigma of a noble failure. And while the film (which moves Warren's story from the Depression-era '30s to the early 1950s) suffers from uneven pacing, partial miscasting, and an occasional lack of dramatic tension, it still qualifies as a first-class production that resonates with the timeless relevance of Warren's piercing political classic. Like Broderick before him, Penn is riveting as Louisiana governor Willie Stark, an upstart political dynamo (freely inspired by controversial real-life Louisiana governor Huey P. Long) whose rise to power is ultimately doomed by corruption and betrayal.

Jude Law costars as political reporter Jack Burden, our firsthand witness to Stark's rise and inevitable fall; his orbit of political insiders includes a corrupt judge (Anthony Hopkins) with a dark secret to hide; a longtime friend (Mark Ruffalo) and former lover (Kate Winslet) who fall victim to Stark's influence; and political staffers (James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson) who remain powerless against Stark's ill-fated populist juggernaut. At Sean Penn's request, former child star Jackie Earle Haley (from the original Bad News Bears) makes a welcome return to movies as Willie Stark's quietly intense bodyguard, "Sugar-Boy." Coproduced by Louisiana-born political consultant James Carville, filmed on authentic Louisiana locations and boasting all the stately, luxurious production values of a would-be Oscar contender, All the King's Men clearly benefits from Penn's fiery performance and Zaillian's earnest embrace of Warren's still-potent subject matter. And while the film's shortcomings may have prevented it from achieving unanimous acclaim, this is still a serious, well-crafted drama with much to say about the insidious potential for fascism in America, especially when well-meaning politicians lose their souls to power. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVD
The special features that accompany All the King's Men further demonstrate the film's in-production status as a potential classic. While the "making of" featurette is perfunctory at best, the other featurettes are definitely worthwhile despite Sean Penn's conspicuous absence. In "Shake Hands with the Devil," the film's cast, producer, and writer-director Steven Zaillian discuss the timeless theme of political corruption; "An American Classic" is a concise profile of Robert Penn Warren, paying tribute to the poet and author's literary achievements; and "The Legend and Lore of Huey Long" examines the life and legacy of the still-beloved governor who won the hearts of working-class Louisianans while falling prey to his own ambition. "LA Confidential" is a brief featurette about the film's use of authentic Louisiana locations and the positive effect they had on cast and crew; three deleted scenes were obviously cut from the film for purposes of time, yet offer ample proof of Zaillian's established skill as one of Hollywood's top screenwriters; and the alternate ending extends beyond the film's final shot, with a funeral scene that serves as a melancholy (and ultimately unnecessary) coda to the film's Greek-tragic drama. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Anthony Hopkins star in this riveting story of a humble man's rise to political power and the destructive force of corruption and betrayal that would ultimately unravel his soul, based on Robert Penn Warren's 1946 classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Also starring James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo and Patricia Clarkson.

Beyond All The King's Men

The Original
The Book
The Soundtrack

More Political Dramas
The Films of Sean Penn
The Films of Anthony Hopkins

Stills from All the King's Men (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Well intentioned remake that falls a bit short.......2007-06-14

I'm a big fan of the original version starring Broderick Crawford. Like any remake, if you could combine the best of both versions together you would have the perfect movie. That said, I thought Sean Penn did a good job portraying Willie Stark. But I think he suffers from a script that is mess. I think it was a mistake first of all to move it to the 1950s. Huey Long, who Stark is based on, came to power in the grips of the Great Depression which explains why he built all those roads and bridges and the University and new capital. I think Steven Zaillian tried to be faithful to the book. He included scenes explaining the relationship between Jack Burden and the others at Burden's Landing, but they were choppy. He also doesn't do as good a job explaining Willie Stark before be became the power thirsty man that he turned in to. Patricia Clakrson's character is also wasted in this version. I'm glad the producers included the deleted scenes on the dvd release. They fill in a lot of the gaps and I just can't understand why they were ever left out in the first place. For example, the scenes explain what drove the doctor to shoot Stark. You find out that Tiny planted the seeds. Why was this scene deleted from the theatrial version? One other criticism is that it is difficult at times to understand Penn and some of the dialogue. I almost needed subtitles. Overall, it was a well intentioned effort that just falls a bit short.

Warmed Over Willie Stark.......2007-06-05

The movie didn't have budget enough to do justice to Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.

The writer-director is new at the game and it shows.

Sean Penn either weighs 240 pounds in the movie or is padded to appear as though he weighs that much. Penn gives a scenery-chewing performance that is so overwrought it unbalances the film. His hairdo puts me in mind of the one Eric Blair AKA George Orwell wore in his heyday.

Trouble is, the hairdo features white sidewalls around the edge. So when Penn as Willie Stark puts on a fedora, as he often does in the film, he is not recognizable as the same Willie Stark sans hat. Its a major gaffe. A more seasoned Director would have found a way around this.

Penn indulges himself in wild gestures even when talking to the person right next to him.

Stark blows his stack throughout the film. The other performances are more low key, so the Willie speeches jar the audience and undo the quieter moments in the film.

The accents. Sean Penn's Willie is impossible to understand for the first third of the film. Jude Law's Jack Burden the reporter, is only a shade off his usual British accent. Not really American. Willie is romancing his woman aide Virginia Clarkson, in addition to his wife, a skater-stripper, and the Judge's daughter. The judge's daughter is played by Kate Winslet. She's an Aussie. The Judge is played by Anthony Hopkins. Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) has a thankless role as a political handler. Both Winslet and Hopkins are totally understandable but not particularly Louisiana accented. Patricia Clarkson is FROM New Orleans, but doesn't particularly have an accent.

The screenplay is a mess. There is no time for Willie to actually have the romances with the women. They are only alluded to. What is really missing though is a sense of the crowd, the base of any political film. Willie is never down among them, always above them talking over their heads. You have to hear something representative from the crowd to know what they're thinking. Apart from some sour looks, the film never gives a sense of who the voters are. The film needs to be opened up in the way stage-locked plays often are when converted to movies.

Instead of being a movie about a gargoyle in Louisiana politics, this film instead becomes a story about an insular group of political people infighting and romancing one another. The film lacks the necessary sense of the crowd that brings politics alive.

Sean Penn was riveting in All the King's Men.......2007-05-15

I did not feel inclined to watch this movie because I always look at the starring roles to help me determine if I should bother. The movies of Sean Penn that I had seen on TV never really impressed me. I generally take a helping of salt with the accolades given by Grammy awards or critics, as I have watched so many movies with great ravings only to find them to be plain junk - but not this one! This is one that got few ravings but deserved much more due to the performance of Sean Penn. I rented this film on a whim, took it home on a week-end and I still did not watch it. Returned it and again on a whim I paid the fee again to see it. I have no regrets.

This is a masterpiece, shouldered and driven almost exclusively on the shoulders of Sean Penn. That guy made me rewind and rewind just to hear him deliver a line. His mannerisms, his charisma, the way he ingrained himself into that Stark character had me hypnotized. The supporting roles were important to me, especially the role of Jack Burden played by Jude Law. However, these roles were only serving to interest me into what impact these other players had on the Stark character. I could not look away or think of anything else but what was going on in that movie. I know nothing of the history of the characters this movie may be based upon, I watched it to relax and be entertained. Sean Penn pulled me right into the movie. Now that is what I call entertainment. Thank you!

Bayou blues.......2007-04-23

I thought this movie much too dark
too shallow and too slow
Most characters don't come to life
they just go with the flow

It starts off well with Willie Stark
the hick who would be king
He turned the tables on the folk
who'd yanked him on a string

He gave 'em heck, this simple man
but power soon corrupts
He gets his fingers dirty
and a scandal then erupts

He's no more crooked than the rest
as we will soon discover
And asks his spin practitioner
some secrets to uncover

Jack Burden is his right hand man
Polite and politic
Backgrounds more like chalk and cheese
Yet something makes it stick

A tangled web they weave and spin
But much is left unsaid
Desires, dreams and ambitions
left hanging by a thread

Sean Penn fits neatly in the role
Law mostly looks pretty
Winslet never gets a chance
to show her nitty gritty

The others just weave in and out
without a strong foundation
If this one's showing on TV
I think I'd change the station

Amanda Richards, April 23, 2007

WHO IS THE REAL WILLIE STARK?.......2007-04-19

THIS REVIEW IS BEING USED FOR BOTH THE SEAN PENN AND BRODERICK CRAWFORD VERSIONS OF ALL THE KING'S MEN

I have seen both film versions of Robert Penn Warren's classic tale of the rise and fall of a `populist' corrupted politician, Willie Stark, based at least loosely on the political career of 1930's Louisiana Governor Huey Long. America has had no shortage of such politicians who have allegedly championed the cause of the `little people' in their rise to power while on the side lining their pockets and the pockets of their friends. The late Governor of Alabama George Wallace comes to mind as a more modern example but there have been others, some who did not bother to champion the cause of `little people' or anyone else, for that matter.

The question before us, however, is who is the real Willie Stark. Since the story line is fairly simple and familiar from a glance at today's newspapers or a look at the political landscape it is the believability of the performances in the films that counts here. Broderick Crawford played in the original black and white film version and won an Academy Award for his performance by acting as a initially naïve country bumpkin with a thirst for power to do `good' who is corrupted by power as he goes about the business of governance. Seemingly, all his baser instincts come into play and there is an almost fatalistic sense that he is in for a big fall. Sean Penn in the more recent version seems to be more world weary about the political process and cynical about what he can do for the `people' and himself when in power. Of the two, Crawford just seems to be more comfortable in his interpretation of the role. Moreover, in the recent version the narrator's story, that of a troubled alcoholic former news reporter hired by Stark as his smooth-tongued flak, takes top-billing and that diminishes Stark's role in all the shenanigans. For my money, although Penn's performance may appeal to today's more politician-averse audience Crawford wins this duel. View both films and you decide.

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The Perils of Obedience Revisited
"There's no such thing as a little bit of torture"
Scarier than ghosts...
Abu Ghraib: A Very Public Scandal Revisited In A New Documentary

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Director: Rory Kennedy
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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My Country, My Country
Jesus Camp
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000NY0YK4
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

What was perhaps the most disgraceful episode in U.S. military history is examined in director Rory Kennedy's Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. By now there can't be many folks who aren't at least somewhat familiar with what went on at that notorious Baghdad prison in 2003, when U.S soldiers abused and mistreated--some would say tortured--Iraqi detainees (every one of whom was eventually released without charges). Yet while those acts were atrocious and unforgivable, perhaps even more troubling is the philosophy behind them. As Kennedy lays it out, the United States began committing violations of the Geneva Conventions, particularly the ones that prohibit torture, well before the invasion of Iraq and the incarceration of literally thousands of people at the dilapidated Abu Ghraib facility. Employing the kind of linguistic tap-dancing often used by the Bush administration to justify its actions, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and others defined their captives not as prisoners of war but as "unlawful combatants," opening the door for the use of such "extreme techniques" as nudity and sexual humiliation, "stress positions" (such as standing on a rickety box wearing a sensory-deprivation hood), and intimidation by vicious dogs; while some photos of these activities have been widely circulated before, many of the shots we see here are much more explicit and, since they're in color, considerably more lurid. As for how and why these afffonts to basic human dignity were allowed, it's tough to find anyone actually willing to take responsibility. The guards who did the deeds, several of whom were interviewed for the documentary, say they were under-trained and far too few in number; their superiors say their pleas for additional support were ignored; and while the military brass and government bureaucrats were content to blame "a few bad soldiers" (like Pvt. Lynndie England and Sgt. Charles Graner, both of whom are now serving jail sentences), the suggestion here is that what went on at Abu Ghraib was less an aberration than a manifestation of defined government policy (the fact that no one appears on camera to refute these charges casts some doubt on Kennedy's objectivity). The director's audio commentary and extended interviews are the principal bonus features. --Sam Graham

Description

In this emotionally jarring piece from HBO Documentary Films, award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy explores the dark events that occurred in 2003 at Abu Ghraib, the infamous Iraqi prison. Interweaving news and archival footage, unsettling still photos of the crimes, and eyewitness accounts from military personnel and victims, The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib offers new insights into these events. The result is a startling look at how extreme situations can give rise to abusive behavior among soldiers, as well as how the chain of command and even US policy set the stage for these abuses to occur.

Customer Reviews:

The Perils of Obedience Revisited.......2007-06-13

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

This is a horrifying portrait of the ways in which power corrupts people. The documentary uses Stanley Milgram's psychological study, about which he wrote in his article, "The Perils of Obedience," as the point of departure. Milgram hired people to come in and supposedly deliver electric shocks to participants in another room to see the impact of the shocks. What the lever-pushers didn't know was that the people they were purportedly shocking were actually actors being told to scream each time they pressed the lever. The real goal of the experiment was to see how far the lever-pushers would go despite the screaming and loud complaining of the people they believed to be receiving the shocks. The results showed that nearly 100% of the shockers delivered the maximum shock simply because they were instructed to do so by the guys running the experiment.

Milgram's experiment seems to have been brought vividly to life in Abu Ghraib. What this documentary shows is the ways that officers when instructed by the president, Donald Rumsfield, and the chain of command, to use whatever means necessary to extract confessions (no matter how wrong or immoral) did exactly that and then some. And, not only did they do it, they took pictures of it, and apparently enjoyed it.

What this kind of chilling portrait says about democracy, the Bush administration, the reality of Fascism, and the "truth" behind this "war on terror," I will leave to you to decide. But, be forewarned, you might hold a different view than you thought you would by the end of the documentary.

"There's no such thing as a little bit of torture".......2007-06-13

Just looking at video footage of Abu Ghraib prison is enough to set you on edge due to its eerie environment and knowing the sinister past it played under Saddam Hussein's regime. This is how `Ghosts of Abu Ghraib' begins and it sets a tone for the revealing and disturbing information to follow

Using a collection of interviews from military personnel, former prisoners, and selected other authorities, the scandal at this infamous Iraqi prison comes full circle and attempts to explain what actually occurred there, who the players were, and consequences of these events.

First and foremost, the operative word for what happened to prisoners would be `torture'. It's no stretch to realize that methods used in Abu Ghraib were a clear violation of Geneva Convention Accords. To circumvent `official policy', it is interesting how the U.S. Justice Department and other government entities interpreted the status of the prisoners and reworked policy definitions on how to conduct interrogation and torture. One certain area looked at is Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Somewhere down the line, the questionable methods used here were eventually adapted for use in Abu Ghraib. After looking at all the sordid photographs of the prisoners in this program, what is seen looks less like torture methods and more like concentrated acts of humiliation and degradation brought about by the military police guards.

Knowing that U.S. military guards were not properly trained in corrections duties and that somewhere in the scheme of things the Military Intelligence section ending up calling the shots, it makes you wonder if there was anything organized occurring at all at Abu Ghraib. Discretion never seemed to be a foremost concern either due to so many damaging and disgusting photographs being taken and eventually given to the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Once the secret was out, damage control went into full swing. The U.S. government began a campaign of disinformation and deception to protect those at the top and to make scapegoats of many at the bottom. The official explanations of ignorance of these events and then blaming a `few bad soldiers' who did this all on their own are just ridiculous.

`Ghosts of Abu Ghraib', while a really good documentary in my opinion, is also one that is bound to spark disgust, anger, disbelief, and a host of other emotions in viewers. Despite this program showing a very dark and graphic chapter in our military's history and one that is bound to haunt us for a long time to come, I would recommend this program to everyone as a more thorough dissection of the Abu Ghraib scandal rather than what the media revealed.

Scarier than ghosts..........2007-04-30

In a political science class of mine the other day, my professor popped in this film and gave no intro, except to say the title. After the film was over I realized why, because this documentary goes into greater detail then my professor ever could, in way far more telling.

First off, as you can see by the title, the documentary is about the prison camp Abu Ghraib. At first you get an introduction, through soldiers stationed there about the prison, and it's dreary past. This was a former prison used by Saddam after all; however, the focus wasn't on phantasms. In fact, the ghosts are perhaps a forewarning of the abuses we now know of; abuses that, as you find out throughout the film, are even more disturbing then you might have imagined, and once again show how humans can lose themselves in the situation, as these soldiers, who are actually narrating this themselves, did during their time in Abu Ghraib.

What most impressed me was the fact that this documentary was able to gather as many soldiers that worked there, along with a couple of the former prisoners. See at first, I didn't realize the people I was watching talk about the prison, the soldiers, were indeed the one's that were a part of the egregious acts, and you'd never imagine that till the end. Even more disturbing, is how these soldiers, clearly not jailers, were hung up to dry as "a few bad soldiers" when, as the movie shows, torture was a policy from above, not a spontaneous action from below.

Clearly, this film may shake peoples ideas differently based on their political viewpoints; however, I believe that no matter the party, or persuasion, you should watch this film. My only warning is that this film is graphic, so be forewarned. Otherwise, hopefully this excellent documentary will open your eyes, as it did mine, to the situation in Abu Ghraib that we only thought we knew...

Abu Ghraib: A Very Public Scandal Revisited In A New Documentary.......2007-03-15

I'm fearful of treading into politics, but I will attempt to be as nonpartisan as possible. Having just viewed the new documentary "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" by Rory Kennedy, I do feel that it is one of the better films I have seen lately. And while many will infer whatever political agenda that they happen to subscribe to--either that this film is ridiculous propaganda or that it speaks undeniable and unpleasant truths, I will limit my brief review to the content of the film. What I admired about "Ghosts" is that it is a relatively straightforward presentation by those involved in the incident itself. Filmed with no narration, the actual participants in the event are interviewed extensively. With dignity and candor, they take responsibility for that moment in time--a moment that will follow them for the rest of their lives. There are no histrionics, no excessive drama--the film just examines an event that became a public spectacle. And as a public spectacle, it opened a floodgate of controversy and criticism about human rights, international law, and America's role in being a world leader.

As the American presence in Iraq grew more prominent, Abu Ghraib prison became a holding cell for anyone suspected of having knowledge of terrorist activities. With too few guards and too many inmates, the situation was not ideal. When photos surfaced in the press showing American troops (acting as guards) engaged in humiliation techniques, it ignited much unwanted attention. The Americans directly involved were cast as rogue agents who had gotten out of control. But all maintain they were under specific orders to disorient and humiliate the prisoners to make them more receptive to interrogation. The documentary links their actions as specific sanctioned techniques--and points to a chain of command that was fully complicit in the actions, all the way up to Donald Rumsfeld.

Again, you can draw your own conclusions (in fact, you probably already have) about the political nature of Abu Ghraib. What we are left with, then, are those who were immediately involved, who posed cheerfully in the pictures, and who suffered the consequences. Some seem mystified by the part they played, some less than remorseful, some feel scapegoated--but all are undeniably affected. For those who really dwell on their actions (even if they were under orders), they are haunted by an unanswered question. By helping to strip away someone else's humanity--did they lose some of their own? All politics aside, it's a question that requires some contemplation. "Ghosts" is a worthwhile film, one that brings to light an incident that "shamed" and shocked America. But was that shame based on what was done in Abu Ghraib, or was it a reflection of being embarrassed that it was caught on film? I'll leave that question for you to answer for yourself. KGHarris, 03/07.

Average customer rating:

material girls
A cool movie!
Not as Pleasant as Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Pulled.
Not the best :-l
Same cookie cutter, but still cute

Material Girls
Starring: Hilary Duff , Haylie Duff , Maria Conchita Alonso , Anjelica Huston , and Brent Spiner
Director: Martha Coolidge
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)
John Tucker Must Die
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Just My Luck
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ASIN: B000JFY05W
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

Glamour girls Hilary and Haylie Duff (featured in Lizzie McGuire and 7th Heaven, respectively) star as cosmetic heiresses Ava and Tanzie Marchetta, whose lives get turned upside down when their deceased father's company is accused of selling toxic products. Wouldn't you know it, Ava and Tanzie decide to go all Erin Brockovich and investigate. Material Girls should be awful--but it isn't. It's not a great film, it may not even be a good film, but it's more watchable than it has any right to be, thanks to the confident and thoughtful guiding hand of director Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose, Valley Girl). It's hard to say exactly how a director can keep something like Material Girls from being as insipid as, say, New York Minute. Coolidge injects some hint of awareness of what it actually means to be poor, casts some surprising actors (like Anjelica Huston, Prizzi's Honor; Brent Spiner, Star Trek: The Next Generation; and Lukas Haas, Brick), and somehow makes the Marchetta sisters both vapid and sympathetic--all of which is some impressive cinematic alchemy. The result is the most enjoyable film of Hilary Duff's career. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Sisters Tanzie and Ava (Hilary and Haylie Duff) have it all ? designer clothes to wear, hunky guys to date and millions of dollars to spend. Their life has been one big party since inheriting their dad's cosmetics company... but the party ends when a product scandal leaves the celebutantes without a penny to their name. It's a hilarious riches-to-rags tale as the girls go from maximum fun to minimum wage. Co-starring Anjelica Huston and Lukas Haas, MATERIAL GIRLS proves that laughter is always in fashion.

Customer Reviews:

material girls.......2007-05-26

this film was brilliant i really enjoyed it. hilary was fantastic and so was her sister haylie really good film recomend it :D

A cool movie!.......2007-05-12

A really cool, funny video! I'll give it 4 stars, since its not Hilary's best movie, but it's worth too see!

Not as Pleasant as Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Pulled. .......2007-04-14

I really wanted to like this movie because I think the Duff sisters are cute and actually have some potential. This movie has nothing about it to offer additional points to that train of thought. Hilary and Hayley are two spoiled brats who lose all their money, then get it back--an obvious parody of the ditzola factor the Hilton sisters live for real. About as painful, stupid and empty as My Date with the President's Daughter (UGH!), the only redeeming thing about this vapid little teen chick flick is Anjelica Houston. For good teen flicks that are thoroughly enjoyable, I highly recommend 10 Things I Hate About You and the old 80s classic hit, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles. Where this movie is concerned, I wouldn't recommend it to your dog's fleas.

Not the best :-l.......2007-04-13

While I'm not a teen anymore, I still like to watch the occasional movie in this 'genre' (ones that appeal to the tween market) and I do normally like Hilary Duff but this was NOT GOOD.
Hilary was OK in this, but her sister was annoying. There were the odd funny moments here and there. The plot was OK (two rich kids lose their money and become broke, yet bounce back into riches again). It was mostly unbelievable, yet kind of cute if you are of the age that this was intended for. I think kids would like this, but I found it to be only average.

Same cookie cutter, but still cute.......2007-04-10

Okay, same story line, rich person gets too comfortable, someone else is running the show, makes mistakes, rich person has to have a reality check and fix the world and everyone is better off because of it. It was still a cute movie. Suggest you watch, but don't buy.

Average customer rating:

Shallow and Frivolous
Chicago IS jazz hot!
Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography
Great Musical!
Bob Fosse lives on!

Chicago (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Taye Diggs , Cliff Saunders (II) , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Renée Zellweger , and Dominic West
Director: Rob Marshall
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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Moulin Rouge! (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
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ASIN: B00009RGBS
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Shallow and Frivolous .......2007-06-28

Chicago IS jazz hot!.......2007-06-08

Loved it -- Fantastic Music and Great Cinematography.......2007-05-17

Great Musical!.......2007-04-10

Bob Fosse lives on!.......2007-04-02

Average customer rating:

A STORY THAT ROCKED THE NATION
Just Unbelievably Awesome!!!!!!!!
Sally Hemings: Excellent Story Told of Love, Betrayal and Oppression
Godawful
GREAT LOVE STORY!!!

Sally Hemings: An American Scandal
Starring: Sam Neill , Carmen Ejogo , Diahann Carroll , Mare Winningham , and Mario Van Peebles
Director: Charles Haid
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Mr. & Mrs. Loving
Jefferson in Paris
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Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
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ASIN: B0007LPS7W
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

A STORY THAT ROCKED THE NATION.......2007-07-01

As a genealogist, I collect period movies. This is one of the first movies I ordered. This story is only one of many stories that occurred during the slavery peiod in this country. Because it was Thomas Jefferson - that made it big history. There were several slave owners who not only bed their slaves, some fell in love with them. The acting is excellent and the movie is very relevant. I highly recommend it.

Just Unbelievably Awesome!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-20

I ordered this movie and it came within a just a week. I love it. I culd watch it over and over again becuz i've been searching everywhere 4 this movie dying 2 c it again; I remember the movie from when it came on CBS back in '99 or 'oo. Tina Andrews did her research well and I love the way Sally Hemings was protrayed in the film. She's beautiful (thanks to Carmen Ejogo) and intelligent as well as feirce and kind at the same time. She's quite confident of herself. I also liked the way Jefferson was portrayed. It's almost completely believable to me-it's nice 2 hav an imagination. The other acters like, Diahann C., Mario V.P., Mare W., Amelia H., and Klea S. are great as well. I wish it culd hav gone into detail about her mother's, Betty, life and her Sally's two youngest sons, Eston and Madison. If you're interested in good entertainment of or the scandal of the U.s. 3rd president, you shuld seriously consider viewing this movie. I really like it and I am sooo glad I own it.

Sally Hemings: Excellent Story Told of Love, Betrayal and Oppression.......2007-03-08

This movie was excellent. It was much better than the version that came out in the early '90's. If you love period films than you will definitely love this historical piece. This is the perfect example of people caught between privilege and oppression. Excellent!!!

Godawful.......2007-02-27

Just terrible. Makes claims that not even the most ardent Sally Hemings promoter believes. Turns Sally's brother James into some sort of martyr to the cause of political correctness. Has Jefferson (atrociously played by the completely out-of-place Sam Neill) traipsing around with Sally Hemings in public in a completely unrealistic way. Given the almost certain fact that Jefferson really did have children with Sally Hemings, this premise might have made an interesting and insightful movie. Instead, the producers used it as an excuse for creating a complete historical romance fantasy that tries at the same time to be titillating and preachy, and maybe it succeeds--but at the cost of any degree of historical accuracy. If you want a movie about Jefferson, get the much less awful Jefferson in Paris, which at least has beautiful production values and nice music.

GREAT LOVE STORY!!!.......2007-01-09

I bought this dvd as a gift for my mother and she loves this movie. If you love romantic love stories, this is a good buy to witness a great love affair that happened between President Jefferson and Sally Hemings. I have seen this movie more than once; and everytime it is a joy to watch.

Average customer rating:

GOOD SERIES
Mystery Fun With Old Friends
Another Charming Whodunit

Mystery Woman - Sing Me a Murder
Starring: Kellie Martin , Clarence Williams III , Nina Siemaszko , Casey Sander , and Brad Rowe
Director: Stephen Bridgewater
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000ION276
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Customer Reviews:

GOOD SERIES.......2007-05-29

I LOVE MYSTERIES, COMPARED TO MOST THIS IS PRETTY TAME. BUY IT I KIND OF NICE TO HAVE A WHOLESOME CRIME SOLVER FOR A CHANGE.

Mystery Fun With Old Friends.......2007-05-14

Samantha and the gang are back for more mystery fun in another good entry from this movie series created by Michael Sloan and starring pretty Kellie Martin. Samantha Kinsey (Martin) runs the Mystery Woman Book Store with help from her pal Philby (Clarence Williams III). Philby's mysterious past with the government always comes in handy when she goes snooping into murder, as does her friend Cassie (Nina Siemaszko) in the D.A.'s office.

Philby is broken up about the passing of his old friend and Samantha decides to let a folk group from the 1960's her mom loved kick off their comeback outside the Mystery Woman. Before long both will be knee deep in mysteries which eventually intersect. The mystery, as usual, is a bit tame, but the fun is the continuing characters, who've become like old friends to fans. Philby might even have an admirer in the very pretty owner of the local Bed and Breakfast, Bonnie (Tina Lifford).

Some hi-tech bank robberies and some secrets from the past hold the clues to why someone was killed and, of course, Chief Connors (Casey Sander) is his usual lovable self, annoyed at Samantha's interference. Though Samantha initially butts heads with Connors, in the end he may not be far off the mark as to who commited the murder.

There is a really nice moment between Samantha and Philby at the end of this one, showing the special charm which always makes a visit with the gang as welcome and arresting as the wisteria covered trellace outside the Mystery Woman. Quaint fun for mystery lovers and Kellie Martin fans.

Another Charming Whodunit.......2007-01-24

Kellie Martin returns as Samantha Kinsey, the owner of the Mystery Woman Bookshop and part-time snoop. The MYSTERY WOMAN series has a charming quality about it because the murders aren't heinous or particularly violent. My wife appreciates that fact about them, and I get to play detective with her as we watch.

The pacing is both familiar and relaxed enough that we get to take turns pointing out clues (some we get, and some aren't clues at all but are our overactive imaginations) and put in our votes for who we think the killer is prior to the solution. The cast of characters are likewise familiar, but they're well rounded and just deep enough that watching them work together is fun.

As owner of the bookstore, Sam seems to know everyone in town. Philby (Clarence Williams III) has a mysterious background of his own. Sam thinks he was once a spy, and everything in the series seems to indicate that as well. He maintains a small office space inside the bookstore and keeps a clandestine group of friends.

In this mystery, a folk rock group from the 1970s called the Ramblers have reunited for a series of fund-raising concerts that will help fight world hunger. They're managed by a young PR guy who ends up getting killed, setting the murder investigation into play.

Before the dust has settled on the murder, the band members are fighting among themselves, and Carly -- one of the members -- confesses to the murder. However Carly has a long history of mental breakdowns and is soon ruled out -- at least for the moment -- as the murderer.

In the meantime, Philby is pursuing a case of his own. Bank robbers have started hitting banks using cutting edge technology. Even though he's retired from whatever it was that he used to do, he's brought in to consult. Before long, Sam and Philby discover that all the cities that had bank robberies were also on the tour list of the Ramblers. What's the connection? And who committed the murder?

Granted, some of the writing and characterization is simple, but simple is what you need so you can work on figuring out whodunit. I love watching the characters go through their familiar routines as they work out the puzzle. The town, though I've never heard it named, seems like a great place to live (except for the periodic murders!) and I'd love to wander through the aisles of the Mystery Woman Bookshop.

If you want a quiet mystery filled with dialogue and a little action, a fiesty grown-up version of Nancy Drew, and without the romance element that can get in the way of the puzzle, the MYSTERY WOMAN DVD movies are great. I've bought and watched all three that have been released so far and have enjoyed all of them.

Average customer rating:

"Brilliant"
I think its been misrepresented somewhat
no title
The start and the end of political documentary...
Sometimes you need to fill in the gaps

The War Room
Starring: James Carville , George Stephanopoulos , Heather Beckel , Paul Begala , and Bob Boorstin
Director: D.A. Pennebaker , and Chris Hegedus
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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Binding: DVD

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Journeys With George
Staffers '04
A Perfect Candidate
Road to the Presidency
The Candidate

ASIN: B0002JUXDS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com essential video

Documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back) and Chris Hegedus shot behind-the-scenes at command central for Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign and came up with this film. You won't find the kind of daily damage-control and skirt-chasing indirectly alleged in Primary Colors, but the filmmakers do give us a strong sense of the uphill battle of a presidential campaign. The center of the film is really James Carville, who steered the machine for Clinton's '92 run and who comes across in this film as a deeply passionate, complex, and somehow timeless man who could have fit into any chapter of American history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

"Brilliant".......2007-01-15

This is a great film to see what is conducted behind the scenes to win a presidential campaign. Great film for students to see two political campaign managers at work. This film also showed these two guy's human side and at the same time funny.

I think its been misrepresented somewhat.......2006-12-02

This is not a film of the inner sanctum of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign as claimed but a film of his head campaign managers office. You will see some discussions on issues. Nothing very controversial. You never see any real important decisions made and you see almost nothing of Bill Clinton.

If you are interested in elections you probably will get some feel of how a modern campaign feels but little about much else.

no title.......2006-03-13

Well, I sure could have skipped this one. I well remember the critics raving over this on television, but why is beyond me. Mostly, I was just plain bored. There simply was no depth at all, just bunches of short takes and wise cracks. Bush was just downright dirty, making insults and slurs all over the place, something I do not consider an appropriate attitude in a man who would be President. And it is interesting that in one of the reviews it was noted that Mary Matalen, the deputy manager of Bush's campaign and very acid-tongued (maybe she wrote some of the slurs Bush used), is now the wife of James Carville, top strategist for Clinton's campaign, and basically the star of the movie. But all the scenes were focused on the funny quip, the bon mot, no long scenes of the nitty-gritty work, or any answers to any questions about Clinton either, for that matter.

The start and the end of political documentary..........2006-01-21

Though 'Primary' introduced the political campaigning doco, 'The War Room' surely is the apex of the genre.

Part of the highlight of the doco is Stephanopoulos, who is captured as he is - preening himself and agreeing with others ideas/suggestions.

As with the Clinton campaign, Carville steals the show. Whatever your convictions (and mine are on the other side of politics) it is impossible not to respect Carville for his character and beliefs.

I dont want to spoil it for you, but Billary wins...

Sometimes you need to fill in the gaps.......2005-12-30

While I found the glimpses into the inner workings of the 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton to be interesting and well worth watching, it was a bit disappointing. Campaign manager James Carville and Communications Director George Stephanopoulos demonstrate their skills at political maneuvering. Even though Bill Clinton was a masterful politician, these two men got him elected. While both of them show their hard-boiled political fronts, they also show their human sides. Stephanopoulos openly talks about how nervous he is and Carville cries when he thanks the staff for their hard work.
There are two main weaknesses to the presentation. The first is that many parts will be incomprehensible to anyone who does not already know a great deal about the events. For example, there is mention of the relationship between Carville and Mary Matalin, but it is never truly explained. The incongruity of the political strategists of Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George Bush having a romantic relationship in the middle of a presidential campaign is not emphasized as much as it should. If you were not aware of the depth of that relationship and who they are, then that segment will be little more than a flyby.
The second main weakness is that your perspective never reaches the level of the "fly on the wall." At all times, it is clear that you are seeing into the campaign only to the extent that they want you

The Original	The Book	The Soundtrack
More Political Dramas	The Films of Sean Penn	The Films of Anthony Hopkins