Wanderlust

Starring:Ciscone, Fraim, Lloyd, Pavia
Studio: Vintage Home Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Released almost exactly 11 years after Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, Kevin Costner's Open Range proved yet again that the Western is the classic American genre. While it lacks the thematic impact of Eastwood's masterpiece, Costner's first film since 1997's ill-fated The Postman returns the actor/director of Dances With Wolves to the open prairies of America--in this case the free-range frontier of 1882--where legal "free-grazing" cattle drives were falling prey to empire-building land-owners. In the wake of territorial murder, free-grazing cowboys Boss (Robert Duvall) and Charley (Costner) seek vengeful justice against the ruthless rancher (Michael Gambon) who threatens their law-abiding survival. A feisty ally (the late Michael Jeter, in his next-to-final film role) and a doctor's sister (Annette Bening) offer support during climactic shootouts, masterfully staged with the shock and suddenness of real-life gunfire. Rich in character development and thick-hided humor, this handsome production redeemed Costner's directorial career with a well-told story (by Craig Storper, based on Lauran Paine's novel The Open Range Men), flawless performances, and stunning Canadian locations. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Packed with epic action, OPEN RANGE is a powerfully gripping story that's never been told until now, and stars Academy Award(R) winners Robert Duvall (1983 Best Actor, TENDER MERCIES) and Kevin Costner (1991 Best Director, DANCES WITH WOLVES), and Academy Award(R) nominee Annette Bening (1999 Best Actress, AMERICAN BEAUTY). A group of free grazers, four men trying to escape their past, are driving cattle and living off the land on the open range -- a place where nature makes the only laws. When a ruthless, evil rancher tries to run them out of town, the men's peaceful existence takes a tumultuous turn and ends in the grittiest, most explosive gunfight on film as two men battle a town for honor, justice, and a way of life that's quickly disappearing.

Customer Reviews:

LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-11

This has become our favorite film...we have watched this every time it came on TV and now at least one or two times every week....It is very well done and there are no lags in it, and was cast very well.

Very Surprising for a Kevin Costner Film.......2007-06-09

I'm really not a big fan of Costner movies, especially when he gets involved with the production/direction of the film. Dances with Wolves - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) is probably an exception but Waterworld and The Postman were just plain bad productions. Over blown and over written. So here comes "Open Range" and even though I'm a huge western fan I'm questioning if I want to chance it.

I was surprised on so many levels. Of course the cast is exceptional with Robert Duval and Annette Benning staring with Costner. But the story was great, the flow of the film kept you interested, and the look of the movie was outstanding. Costner took the time for character development in his main characters, making each into complex people. Add a great musical score and what else could you hope for.

The story is your basic mean cattle baron trying to wipe out a good-hearted but smaller outfit. In this case the smaller herd is a "free-Grazer", an outfit that travels from range to range. Robert Duval is perfect as Boss Spearman, the tough but fair owner of the herd. Costner plays Charley Waite, his top hand. Along with their two other hands, Mise Harrison & Button, they pitch camp on a range claimed by the local rancher who hates free grazers. After the rancher attacks the camp, killing Mose and severely injuring Button, Boss and Charley decide they must defend their outfit and their way of life. Along the way we discover that Charley used to be a gunfighter. The story builds to the normal Expolsive ending but not before we get to look into each of the main characters and discover their inner-most secrets.

Again, this was such a surprise. As soon as this film came out on DVD I ran right out and bought it. If you are a western fan do not pass this up.

Open Range.......2007-06-02

This is the very best Western movie that has come along in recent times.
There are no frills or cliched dialogue to disrupt what is a gutsy plot and the actors are all at their best in the rolls they play. Authentic costumes and period gear add to this well filmed motion picture.
I recommend it highly to all western buffs.

Open Range~`When character meant something.......2007-05-13

Excellent movie- I saw it on AMC and had to have it.
It reflects the simple method of confronting wrong doers directly, no explanations of why they were evil and wrestling with their motivation. Face them and eliminate the threat. The movie and characters demonstrate that fact throughout the movie and some politicians and the media would do well to emulate this proven methodology.

Bringing back the western.......2007-05-07

If you like westerns, this movie is for you. According to the narration in the "extras", a great deal of thought was done on the sound in addition to the visuals. That is extremely apparent during the first few scenes done in a thunder storm. I actually jumped at one thunder crack. The audio during the final "shoot out" was recorded at a higher volume. As explained inthe narration, that guns like these were really loud. All in all, a good story wrapped up in a good western.

Average customer rating:

"For every car, there is dirt."
Two thumbs sideways. (hitchhiking friends)
Finally this great film is out on DVD it's about time.
Another Great Seventies Film
Great underseen film

Scarecrow
Starring: Gene Hackman , Al Pacino , Dorothy Tristan , Ann Wedgeworth , and Richard Lynch
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Author! Author!

ASIN: B0009GX1CO
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Amazon.com

One of the great lost buddy films of the 1970s, this Jerry Schatzberg movie somehow never found its audience, despite the fact that both lead actors were riding high: Hackman from The French Connection, Pacino from The Godfather. They play a pair of drifters, seeing America by thumb, who hook up and discover unexpected soul mates in each other. Hackman is the loner who would rather pile on another layer of clothes than chance letting someone get close to him; Pacino is the likably funny loser who gets under Hackman's skin and teaches him to open up. Together, they hatch a plan to save up and buy their own car wash. But try as they do to keep each other out of trouble, their friendship provides only limited protection, though each take something positive away. Endearing performances that never sink to sentimentality; Pacino, in particular, proves that he could just as easily have been a screen comic as one of the great dramatic actors. --Marshall Fine

Description

A pair of drifters hook up and learn much about each other and themselves when they scheme to save their pennies to buy a car wash.

Customer Reviews:

"For every car, there is dirt.".......2006-03-30

Having read a decent amount of opinions about the film Scarecrow (1973), I've noticed quite a few differing thoughts with regards to how specific visuals and elements were interpreted, but the one aspect that many seem to agree upon is this is a vastly underrated feature, one that might have gotten lost in the shuffle specifically because the two main actors, Gene Hackman and Al Pacino had both just recently (at the time) appeared in landmark films The French Connection (1971) and The Godfather (1972), respectively. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg (The Panic in Needle Park, Honeysuckle Rose), the film includes performances by Dorothy Tristan (Klute, Rollercoaster), Ann Wedgeworth (Bang the Drum Slowly, My Science Project), Richard Lynch (The Seven-Ups, The Sword and the Sorcerer), Penelope Allen (Dog Day Afternoon), and Eileen Brennan (The Sting, Murder by Death), as a nasty, drunken floozy with a big mouth.

Hackman and Pacino play the characters Max Millan and Francis Lionel 'Lion' Delbuchi, respectively, who are two drifters that hook up with each other in the backwoods of California, both headed east as Max, who was recently released from prison, has plans on opening a carwash in Pittsburgh while Francis, who completed a stint at sea, is returning home to Detroit to meet his child for the first time and make some sort of amends to his wife (apparently after his wife got pregnant, Francis got scared, ran off, and joined up with the merchant marines). Anyway, the two couldn't be more different...Max is a gruff, belligerent, short-tempered, mean-spirited, uptight cuss who likes to crack heads, take naps, and doesn't do anything without a plan while Francis is a likeable go with the flow sort, one who enjoys the spotlight if only to make people laugh (he believes you don't have to hit people if you can make them laugh). As I said, the two hook up on the road through a chance meeting, and Max immediately decides to make Francis a partner in his upcoming business venture, that being opening a carwash in Pittsburgh. Seems Max, who's been in the joint for the last six years, has been saving every penny and depositing it in a bank, fastidiously planning every aspect of the operation, pouring over every detail to the point of committing them to memory. As the pair hitch rides, jump trains, and hoof it by foot eastward, they have their ups and downs, eventually making their way to Denver to stop off and see Max's sister Coley (Tristan). Times are good, but quickly sour as Max gets both himself and Francis chucked in the can for a thirty-day stint after a barroom brawl (Max ends up blaming Francis for convincing him to deviate from his `plans', and subsequently the pair are now on the `outs'). Francis makes friends quickly with a trustee (played by Lynch), earning himself some relatively easy work assignments (along with some unwanted attentions), while Max's standoffishness earns him a trip to Pigville (the county pig farm), shoveling manure. Eventually the men reconnect, are released from prison, and back on the road, headed for Detroit for a reunion of sorts with Francis' estranged wife and child...

If you're looking for a straightforward type of story, one that has a distinctive beginning, middle, and an end, then you'd best pass this film up. This is purely a character driven drama with comedic underpinnings, one that, like life itself, tends to get a little messy. The real treat here is watching these two fine actors play off each other, something director Schatzberg encourages given the length of some of the scenes and the unrestrictive atmosphere in general throughout the feature. I'll admit, initially I was a little wary about the pairing of Hackman and Pacino in this sort of `buddy buddy' road picture, but the two completely immerse themselves in their roles, creating a pair of completely believable and identifiable characters. I thought Hackman did particularly well presenting an overly retentive, rigid, suspicious, angry at the world individual obsessed with sticking to his plan, his confidence stemming from the very fact that it was so well thought out (by himself) it couldn't possible fail. There's an exchange in the film that really helps put his character in perspective, as Francis relates how once in Catholic school he got the palm of his hand smacked by a nun with a ruler for clowning around.

Max: How come you didn't pound that old lady in the mouth?
Francis: What old lady?
Max: The one that hit you in the palm with the stick.
Francis: She was a nun!

I thought Pacino also did very well as in his role as the easy going, trusting, sociable type that's everyone's friend, a bit naive at times, always handy with a joke or a pratfall, whose main goal in life seems to try and resolve a past indiscretion that seems to have haunted him for awhile, that of leaving his wife in the lurch (he did send her whatever money he could over the years, but that was more or less out of an effort of support, and not one of amends). At some point he realized the only way to excise the demon that plagues him is to confront it, which is why he's headed to Detroit. The characters are obviously from different ends of the spectrum, but, in their differences, they create sort of a `ying and yang', as Max is the driven man with the plan, along with being the streetwise protector of the pair, his edge slightly offset by Francis' ability to enjoy each moment in the here and now (Max allows Francis quite a bit of leeway in terms of Francis poking fun at Max only because he sees Francis as sort of a child, one whose only desire is to please). My favorite sequence in the film comes while the pair is in prison, after their falling out. Despite the fact that they're now at odds, the bond is still there as Max dishes out the retribution after Francis discovers his new friends like him more than for his comedic repartee. As I said, there's not much of a story here, but I found the characters, relationships, and performances fascinating enough to keep me entertained throughout the nearly two hour running time. The ending is sort of downbeat, and offers very little in the way of resolution, but if you can get past this, you might want to check this movie out. It was definitely worth my time.

The picture quality on this DVD release is decent, presented in widescreen (2.40:1), enhanced for 16X9 TVs, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes through reasonably well (it did seem a little soft at times). As far as extras, there are English, Spanish, and French subtitles, an original theatrical trailer, and a vintage featurette for the film entitled "On the Road" (3:48).

Cookieman108

By the way, another scene worth seeing this film for is when Max strips off his clothes in order to go to bed...he's wearing like ten shirts, and watching him remove them is like watching the clowns come out of the little car at the circus. For those interested, the cinematographer on the film was Vilmos Zsigmond, who also did such features as Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Deer Hunter.

Two thumbs sideways. (hitchhiking friends).......2005-12-17

I wanted to see this for a long time. I attempt to watch every Al Pacino and Deniro movie ever made. There are only about 5 I haven't seen. I watch every one even if I know they will be bad such as Simone or Analyze That. This one I was excited to watch but it was a let down.

This one didn't make it to dvd until just know and the vhs was very rare.

This movie is one of those without a real story to tell but is instead a character study. The problem is that Al Pacino and Gene Hackman's characters really didn't have much depth and they didn't compliment or clash enough to bring out any qualities that could be examined anyway. Both characters are also presented as dimwits who don't have a whole lot of rhyme or reason to their actions so that just makes it all the less interesting.

I did start to have a little interest in the little story that the movie was using as a background. But the story ends abruptly before any of the main storyline is resolved so I never got to satisfy my curiousity there either.

Don't bother picking this one up.

Finally this great film is out on DVD it's about time........2005-08-04

This is without a doubt a lost gem that never found an audience like the description reads. This little seen movie was one of the best acting vehicles for its stars. Gene Hackman and Al Pacino deliver great and heartfelt performances as two drifters who are seen as losers and they themselves especially Lion, Pacino's character thinks of himself as one of them. This film reminded me of John Steinbeck's classic novel "Of Mice and Men" who was brought to the screen in 1994 with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich in the title roles. Pacino is Lenny in my eyes as he has the same innocent and childlike behavior that Lenny has in the film and story. Hackman is George, the strong of the two who is less of a dreamer and more practical than Pacino's character. The two of them although at odds with each other during most of the course of the movie did not get along when they were filming this classic film. They argued and disagreed a lot on the set from what I have it read... however you never saw a bit of animosity between the two of them as their superb acting and professionalism shone through out the film. If you have never seen this movie... this would be a good opportunity to purchase this film and see not only a great, classic movie of the 1970's but also the highlight for me anyway... is two see two masters of the acting craft battle it out in front of your eyes with their amazing gift and talent. SCARECROW,is a winner and you won't be disappointed to add this classic movie to your collection. Special thanks go to the company that decided to finally release this great film on DVD it was about time.

Another Great Seventies Film.......2005-07-16

"Scarecrow" is another example as to why the seventies were a great decade for filmmaking. Studios were willing to take a chance on dicey material and stars would eschew their vanity for the sake of art. For a while I thought this film was adrift like it's two main characters Max(Gene Hackman) and Lion (Al Pacino). It's around the midway point of this film that these characters start shedding layers of their respective psyches like the copious clothes that Max wears. The film turns poignant and ultimately tragic and a little hopeful. For me to reveal the details of the plot would be a disservice to any potential viewers so trust me that you will be rewarded. Needless to say both Hackman and Pacino are superb here. The film is beautifully photographed by master cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. Credit director Jerry Schatzberg for taking us on an odyssey with two fascinating, albeit lost, souls.

Great underseen film.......2005-07-12

This movie is somewhat experimental, yes, but if you like Hackman or Pacino, you will go for this film because it rides on the strength of their collective talents. It's sort of like Of Mice and Men meets Waiting for Godot. Can you imagine two huge movie stars (Hackman and Pacino both in their absolute prime) playing two drifters in a low-budget film like this today? These are great, uncharacteristic performances by both men. In its visual style (lots of long takes and jump cuts) and story arc (or lack thereof) you can see why this film would appeal so much to French audiences (it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes). Therefore, if you detest French cinema, you probably won't like this film much. If you enjoy great acting, though, you will love Scarecrow.

Average customer rating:

The Surf Trip guide
group wanderlust
Unique
you will love this movie
Catch this wave!

Zen & Zero
Starring: Allan C. Weisbecker
Director: Michael Ginthor
Manufacturer: Build World Wide
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Peel: The Peru Project - A Surf Odyssey
Siestas & Olas - A Surfing Journey Through Mexico
Singlefin: Yellow
Cosmic Banditos
In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer's Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road

ASIN: B000HXDWIW
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Description

AWARDS: BEST DIRECTOR, BEST STORY: X-Dance-Action Sports Film Festival, Park City, USA (Nominee: Best Film, Best Original Score) BEST FILM: Surf Film Festival St Jean de Luz, France DIRECTOR'S AWARD: Santa Cruz Int. Film Festival, USA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY: II Festival Internacional de Cinema Surf, Brazil BEST of FEST ADVENTURE FILM: Tahoe-Reno Int. Film Festival, USA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY: Pichilemu Surf Film Festival, Chile

Customer Reviews:

The Surf Trip guide.......2007-05-16

A creative surf movie, unlike any you have seen. No surf stars, no radical moves, only ordinary surfers (like me and many others) enjoying the surf trip of their lives.

group wanderlust.......2007-05-05

I like this kind of film or book anyway, but this was captivating. The movie stands on its own for sure as just a good film, but for me the addition of the surfing theme was the attraction, and then for the ultimate treat we see Weisbecker in his element. If you have read his books and like them, its worth the movie just to see those sections he appears and how surreal it all feels.

Unique.......2007-02-15

The reviews here are incredible ! And this film deserves all of them. It is incredible how they were able to go into the inner feelings of a surf trip. I feel like all and I mean all the other surfing films that tried to put a surf trip on the screen failed after watching Zen and Zero. I leave one question ... Why Austrians managed to do that ? This is a real surf art film.

you will love this movie.......2007-01-13

as a non-surfer, i might not be the most qualified person to review the 'surfer film' side of this documentary. but to me, it was less a surf movie and more a movie about getting there; getting to the ultimate place, enjoying the waves, and capturing it all on film in an original and beautiful way. this movie makes you want to get out and try what these guys did, because what they did was more than document surfing. they documented the spiritual side of surfing and the ocean, friendship, and finding the ultimate wave. i highly recomend buying this movie.

Catch this wave!.......2006-12-19

A riveting account of an extraordinary journey from Los Angeles to the heart of Central America in the search of the essence of surfing. Beautiful images, an amazing soundtrack, great surfing, and above all, a fantastic story.

Average customer rating:

Surprising Find
It is impossible to describe this movie. JUST BUY IT!
More than meets the eye
overshadowed and overlooked
Great story if only the language was cleaner.

Interstate 60
Starring: Matthew Edison , Paul Brogren , Wayne Robson , Gary Oldman , and Michael J. Fox
Director: Bob Gale
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AOX0J
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

Surprising Find.......2007-06-27

This name may not be a big box office hit but wow will it be once you've watched it! Amy Smart is but one of serveral familiar faces to grace this movie. Full of fun, laughs and surprisingly a moral. This is worth buying, it is definetly worth watching at least twice!!

It is impossible to describe this movie. JUST BUY IT!.......2007-06-13

You will not be disappointed with Interstate 60. It is weird, it is thought provoking, it is strange it is my favorite movie EVER (including What the Bleep and The Secret which are close 2nds) It is also one of only 3 movies that I have paid full price for.

I can't describe it. Just buy it and you will like it.

More than meets the eye.......2007-03-15

Superficially this move seems, well, superficial. But it's really not. On my third viewing I found three things I never noticed before. One must pay attention.

overshadowed and overlooked.......2007-02-15

This movie came out during a rush of psyc-thrillers and other movies that post alternative ways of thinking (i.e. Vanilla Sky, Dangerous Minds). Because of those other big name blockbusters this great move has been left to die. It presents a modern adaptation of Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia. It takes the main character through physical places that represent certian ideas of how life should be by diffrent kinds of people.

I love it!

Great story if only the language was cleaner........2007-02-13

YIKES.. Saw this on TV a while back and there was no cussing. Bought the DVD and wow, it was filled with it....way too much. But the story was very creative and would be a great family film if the language was cleaner. Clean language would've earned a 5 star rating.

Average customer rating:

Twenty somethings
A beautiful mess
Beauty Beyond Description

Shem
Starring: Caroline Roboh , Ash Newman , Cyrielle Clair , and Istvan Szabo
Manufacturer: HP Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Another Gay Movie
Broken Sky
Vacationland
A Love to Hide
Poster Boy

ASIN: B000HT3Q28
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Product Description

Disillusioned by his Jewish roots and meaningless life, young Londoner Daniel (Ash Newman) embarks on an unforgettable journey throughout Europe on a quest to find his great grandfather's grave. From city to city, Daniel encounters an exciting myriad of events, finding his true self along the way. Director Caroline Roboh's visually stunning travelogue delves into the core of family traditions and personal discovery.

Customer Reviews:

Twenty somethings.......2007-03-01

For many twenty something's entering adulthood nowadays, it's hard to find ones place in society. Daniel, our protagonist in the movie is feeling fed-up and under appreciated with his dead-end job and like many people his age who would love to get away, decides to toss it all to the wind; his job, his income, his partner(s) and take a whirl-wind trip around Eastern Europe to get his mind off his dull dead end, seemingly meaningless life. What he encounters along his journey, contrary to his reasons for leaving however, begin to change his outlook on life and his ancestry. For those who wish to pick up and leave never to look back, Shem may just be what you need to get away, without leaving everything you know.

A beautiful mess.......2007-02-01

Beautiful scenes and cinematography and a handsome leading man do not make up for an awkward, disjointed, poorly-developed ride around Eastern Europe in search of a story. Add to that an unlikeable and unsympathetic leading character and you have picture-postcard quality beautiful emptiness, which is this movie.

I got through it hoping that it would have some point or resolution to tie it all together and make the journey worthwhile. It didn't happen. The story isn't here and the character development doesn't happen. You have to watch the extra on the DVD where the director "explains" the movie. It's helpful, as the movie isn't all that clear.

I'd stay away from this. It's a nicely shot and well put-together film in search of a meaning and lacking a story. It's not even worth a rental except maybe to get to see the scenery and shots around Europe.

Beauty Beyond Description.......2006-11-25

"SHEM"

Beauty Beyond Description

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Every once in a while a movie comes along that leaves you weak. "Shem" (HP Releasing) is that kind of movie. When it was over I just sat, mouth agape and stunned. It was not just a movie, it was an experience. Both tender and shocking, both compassionate and erotic, this is not just a movie to be seen but to be delighted in, not just to enjoy while watching it, but a movie that will stay with you for a very long time. Mark the date of November 7, which is the date it will be released on DVD. Demand that your video store get it or better yet preorder it. This one is a hit and you will want to watch it again and again.
Young Daniel (Ash Newman), our hero, is the star of this film and he carries it throughout but he does have a wonderful supporting cast to back him. Extremely handsome with a childlike angelic beauty, Daniel feels he needs to escape from his ennui of a tedious life. Living in London he finds himself disillusioned by the lack of meaning in his life and his Jewish roots. He begins a journey with the aim of finding his great grandfather's grave. As he pursues his quest throughout Eastern Europe he comes into contact with a stunning and colorful cast of characters. It is trough these encounters that Daniel finds himself and his self identity. The photography is stunning, the panoramas are lush and beautiful and the director (Caroline Roboh) is the personification of perfection. She gives new definition to family values and tradition as well as personal discovery.
As Daniel travels he meets the past and caresses it as his present. He rambles through the capitals of Europe--Paris and Berlin. He tours Eastern Europe--Prague, Budapest and Sofia and eventually finds himself in Rome after running away from the former Communist countries. As he travels, he discovers what family is, what religion is, who he is and that things that he was indifferent to before have become embraceable
You may wonder what the title "Shem" means. It is the Hebrew word for name and it seems to mean that the main purpose of the movie is to remind us to never forget. What is a "shem"? What is the value of having a name if you do not know who you are? Daniel who started on a quest to have a good time found his name along with a spiritual life. He finds his "shem" even though he can find no trace of his great grandfather who died not even leaving a "shem" behind. There seems to be no record that he ever was--no grave, no name. It is as if Roboh tells us that those who died in the Holocaust had no name, many of us have no idea that they ever existed-there is nothing to remember them by, not even a name. The Nazis exchanged names for tattooed numbers on the arms of the captured. It isour name that tells us who we are and gives us a way ti be introduced by and something for others to address by. Imagine life with no name. Finding your identity is, in effect, finding out who you are, what your name stands for. To be nameless is to be nobody. When Daniel finds his past, his spirituality, himself, he finds his name. And upon finding his name he loses his arrogance, his frivolity, his rudeness. He becomes what he is meant to be--a person. When he discovers love, no matter how shallow he begins to be, when he finds his spirit he is almost whole. When he finds his past, he brings it to thje present and as we watch him mature, we see him as a representative of what all youth endures.
This film is so personal and yet so universal at the same time. It is a joyous celebration of life intermingled with tha sorrow of the past. "Shem' is a festival of love and caring and as one watches it, even the stoniest will break. I feel so much better for having seen it and I am ready to sit down and watch it again...and again...and again. If you see nothing else this year, see this movie. You owe it to yourself.

Average customer rating:

This Journey Of Self-Discovery Goes Nowhere--And Not Fast Enough
Good - Not Great - A "Must Have" for Varela fans
genuine ... as close as it gets to experiencing Spain
Disappointing
Run with the bulls!

Americano
Starring: Joshua Jackson , Leonor Varela , Timm Sharp , Ruthanna Hopper , and Dennis Hopper
Director: Kevin Noland
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Americano Soundtrack

ASIN: B000EHQ7HY
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Description

AMERICANO is set against the backdrop of Spain's centuries-old Fiesta de San Fermín, better known as The Running of the Bulls at Pamplona. Chris McKinley (Joshua Jackson), a recent college graduate backpacking through Europe, savors his last three days of freedom before boarding the career fast track back in the States. In Pamplona for The Running of the Bulls with his best friend, Ryan (Timm Sharp), and Ryan's girlfriend Michelle (Ruthanna Hopper), Chris meets a quintessential Spanish beauty Adela (Leonor Varela) and an enigmatic provocateur Riccardo (Dennis Hopper), both of whom encourage him to rethink his life. As the minutes and seconds until his departure tick away, Chris struggles with an age-old question - should he follow the beaten path, or risk it all on the road less traveled?

Customer Reviews:

This Journey Of Self-Discovery Goes Nowhere--And Not Fast Enough.......2007-02-25

I'm not sure what compelled me to seek out "Americano," written and directed by Kevin Noland. It's not as if I was dying to check up on the career of Joshua Jackson, a star of TV's "Dawson's Creek." Perhaps I was intrigued by Dennis Hopper's inclusion in such a small scale production--I mean the man is always interesting even when his material is less than stellar. Here, however, the lure for him seems to have been his daughter Ruthanna, who has a supporting role and serves as a producer on this film. Maybe it was international star Leonor Varela, a beauty who is surely one good role away from making it big in America. Most likely, though, it was the idea of seeing the movie as a travelogue of Spain. With great scenery, bull fights, Hemingway, hard drinking and partying, the Running of the Bulls--the atmosphere alone might have made intriguing viewing.

However, I am going to be rather hard in my assessment of this film. I think Noland has talent and I look forward to other works. The film is photographed well and has good performances. My problem stems from the fact that there is absolutely no drama in this familiar coming-of-age story. With an astounding lack of real character insight, this little production about characters at a crossroads falls absolutely flat.

The setup is simple. As recent college graduates, Jackson and two pals (who bicker comically) are spending the last few days of their vacation in Spain before Jackson must return to the "real" world and a new job. Facing the eternal struggles between childhood and adulthood, work and independence, freedom and monotony, dreams and reality--Jackson falls into lust with a local played by Varela. Should he ditch it all for this worldwind romance? Should he abandon responsibility for a life of leisure? Should he stay in Spain? These are legitimate questions and a legitimate, albeit familiar, story path. What makes "Americano" so tedious and uninvolving, however, is that the film doesn't allow you to know its characters. A character study with no genuine character development seems a hard concept to pull off--and "Americano" doesn't succeed in doing anything remotely deeper than the superficial presentation of friends on vacation. We never know anything about Jackson's job or life in America, or his dreams, passions, interests, etc...aside from this fleeting romance. Sure, the film goes through the requisite motions--Jackson writes pretentious poetry and talks to statues of Hemingway, what else would you expect in Spain? If he has artistic aspirations, however, the screenplay surely never develops this. Lacking any real guidance as to what Jackson envisions for his life, I simply fell into the camp of "who cares?"

There are plenty of authentic moments in the depiction of Spanish culture. Dennis Hopper's role, however, as a club host is a complete misfire. Ultimately, though, my genuine disinterest in the film comes from a screenplay that asks me to care but never goes beneath the surface for emotional truth and character depth. Sure, Jackson's at a crossroads--but lacking any understanding of what he wants, it made no difference to me what he chose. Sorry, but that's a big problem when it is your film's central theme. KGHarris, 02/07.

Good - Not Great - A "Must Have" for Varela fans.......2006-09-02

I saw AMERICANO in the theater (it played for exactly one week in a small art-houre here in NY, and there was absolutely no advertizing in the local media) and now have bought the DVD. To be sure it will not be everyone's cup of tea. It does not have much of a plot, true - but then again neither does Proust's IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME. What we have are a series of vignettes hung around the vestigal plot of: confused, naieve American boy (Jackson) meets clever, world-wise, and a slightly wild & eccentric Spanish woman (Varela). The chemistry between Jackson & Varela is real. I think as a romantic comedy it works quite well, and I thnk it's a great film for couples to watch together - preferably by candle-light, with some wine and some tapas snacks on hand. Tim Sharp & Ruthanna Hopper were fine as the "comic" couple played against the serious (Jackson & Varela) couple. I'll admit the Dennis Hopper character was a bit of a problem: his portentious oracular pronouncements ("Be wary!") were a bit hard to swallow. But that's a minor complaint. The cinematagrophy was first rate; the sights & sounds of Spain, of the drunken blow-out that is the running of the bulls are captured quite well indeed. What, for me, made the film completely worthwhile was the presence of beautiful Chilean actress Leonor Varela. She is a fine actress, has proven herself a first rate dramatic actress (the recent INNOCENT VOICES), and now has shown herself to be also a first rate comedic actress. Her fans will want to own this film.

genuine ... as close as it gets to experiencing Spain.......2006-08-17

I agree with another reviewer - if you've been there you will get it. I was in Spain this summer and went to Pamplona and did El Camino de Santiago. I can see why the lack of an exciting storyline or a twist can disappoint many used to Hollywood cinema. In the words of Adela, "Nothing is as predictable as Hollywood". This movie is genuine, except for the gorgeous woman. The footage is excellent, especially the running of the bulls. I wish they would have shown more of El Camino. But this movie is not meant to close the loop, just show us the questions that arise in all of us.

Disappointing.......2006-08-08

Don't waste your time or your money on this film. Trust the detailed negative reviews provided on this site. I can only assume the positive comments were written by someone affiliated with the film to get their "star" rating up. Could have been so good, the result was unfortunate.

Run with the bulls! .......2006-08-03

Americano was a very enjoyable movie. A fun, funny and sensuous trek through some of Hemingway's old haunts. It reminded me of my collage days. I immediately wanted to head to Europe and hike through Spain, Italy, France or Croatia. In life sometimes we have to make a decision we will regret later in life . . . Great move!

Average customer rating:

refreshing new Elvis musical
Ignore the title
PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS THING!
Better than average Elvis vehicle
A Presley Film Worthy of Rediscovery

The Trouble with Girls
Starring: Elvis Presley , Marlyn Mason , Nicole Jaffe , Sheree North , and Edward Andrews
Director: Peter Tewksbury
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00027JYBM
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Customer Reviews:

refreshing new Elvis musical.......2006-05-14

A fun musical comedy, THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS isn't the usual Elvis Presley film but it's completely charming with it's faithful period recreation and fine supporting cast.

Presley plays Walter Hale, manager of the traveling "Chautauqua" tent-show, circa. 1927, who gets mixed up in the lives of the residents of the latest town to host the show. Hale finds himself falling in love with Charlene (Marlyn Mason), organiser of the children's activities; whilst trying to help local single mother Nita Bix (Sheree North) when she murders her nasty married boyfriend (Dabney Coleman). Presley's numbers include "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" and "Clean Up Your Own Backyard".

It's certainly a lot better than some of the other Elvis films from the same period; and seeing Elvis in a more traditional musical is a great treat. Marlyn Mason, probably one of Presley's most formidable leading-ladies, is stunning (and her rendition of "Sign of the Zodiac" is a knockout). Nicole Jaffe (as the amorous hotel clerk), Vincent Price (eccentric speaker "Mr Morality"), John Carradine (as a colourful Shakespearian actor), Joyce van Patten (disgruntled former channel swimmer Maude) and Edward Andrews (as Hale's beleaguered assistant) are also fine. Fans of classic TV shows should keep an eye out for Anissa Jones ("Family Affair") and Susan Olsen ("The Brady Bunch").

Ignore the title.......2006-01-04

To start with, the film's title gives no indication whatsoever of the film's content, and can be seen as a cynical ploy to attract a greater box office audience. This may have been achieved (although whether The Trouble With Girls made money is debatable, as the sheer size of the cast, and the period costumes, vehicles and settings would have made this anything but a low-budget outing), but it was at the expense of the film's reputation. It is unfairly criticised among hardcore Elvis fans as a stinker among his movies, when in reality it is certainly one of the five best that he appears in. The King is cool, assured, and in control. And he looks better than ever.

It's easy to imagine many Elvis fans, expecting another Girl Happy type piece of fluff, might have been disillusioned having seen this picture. It is like no other Elvis film. The scenes involving Elvis in the first half of the film are quite sparse, yet virtually throughout the film is extremely "busy". It is one of the very few Elvis films that does not have a title song, and has only very few songs at all, but those that do appear are of excellent quality. There is no romantic interest for Elvis at all, even though there does appear to be some chemistry between the King and the cute and feisty Marlyn Mason (who comes close to stealing the show), to the point where they even have a snog at one stage, this aspect is not developed in the story. Just when you think Elvis has tamed the tigress, she's back screaming at him again.

In the first half of the film (on initial viewing) so many characters are introduced and so much is happening it is quite difficult to follow the main plot of the story.

The film veers into slapstick on several occasions, and some scenes are quite bizarre, such as the scene leading to the discovery of the body where a female long distance swimmer enters into a lengthy discourse on the advantages of axle grease over goose fat as a body coating.

There is so much happening in this film, it must be watched carefully, and I suspect would reward repeated viewings. Amusing elements abound. The awkward and frumpy young lady who literally falls over herself to be noticed by Elvis's character in order to get into the show (and succeeds in doing so) is a hoot. As too is Johnny, Elvis's co-manager, who seems to cause more trouble for the King than anyone else.

The period settings and constumes are immaculately executed.

This is one Elvis film you can get your teeth into.

PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS THING!.......2005-02-14

This is certainly the WORST movie that Elvis had anything to do with, unless you count the final televised which can be just as disturbing and difficult to watch at this "ATOMIC" bomb. I enjoyed SEEING the sweet little Anissa Jones, John Carradine, Dabney Coleman, and Vincent Price, but beyond that this movie is absolutely unbearable. Please avoid even VIEWING it. Bottom of the trash can, literally.

Better than average Elvis vehicle.......2005-01-10

I found this to be quite entertaining. What raises this above the usual dreadful Elvis movies is: the cast is better than average (Marlyn Mason, Dabney coleman, Sheree North, Vincent Price, etc.), the songs fit the context of the movie and there is quality not quantity (of songs). Elvis got mired in light musical comedy - more often than not it didn't work. If he had only made a few movies of this quality (and less like Paradise Hawaiian Style and Girls, Girls) I don't think his career would have suffered so much. I agree with another reviewer about the quality of the picture and disc - a good reissue. Worth checking out.

A Presley Film Worthy of Rediscovery.......2004-10-18

"The Trouble With Girls" (1969) is a hidden treasure in the genre known as Elvis Cinema. This charming, offbeat comedy-drama about a traveling medicine show is among Presley's finest. The 1920s setting is beautifully evoked and the supporting cast (including Sheree North, Edward Andrews, Vincent Price, John Carradine) is excellent. For once, Elvis is part of an acting ensemble and delivers a refreshingly mature performance. He also sings a standout rendition of "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" -- one of the few gospel numbers Elvis performed on film. Because of its misleading title, "The Trouble With Girls" remains one of Presley's most underrated and overlooked efforts.

Average customer rating:

More than I expected
For those who Lived it...
Cool hippie era film
More
Censored DVD

More
Starring: Mimsy Farmer , Klaus Grünberg , Heinz Engelmann , Michel Chanderli , and Henry Wolf (III)
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Manufacturer: Homevision
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ASIN: B0007PAMJM
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Amazon.com

Barbet Schroeder, the Oscar-nominated director of Reversal of Fortune, made his debut with this jaundiced view of the European youth drug culture. Klaus Grünberg is a naive German student who falls for blond American junkie Mimsy Farmer and discovers drugs in Paris. He follows the flighty babe to Ibiza, a sunny Mediterranean island paradise, where he falls into the world of former Nazi-turned-heroin-pusher Heinz Engelmann and succumbs to addiction. Part counterculture portrait, part antidrug drama, it's a shaggy little film that suggests the New Wave influence in a rambling pace, gorgeous asides of fun in the sun (our heroes get high and tilt at windmills--literally--in one free and easy moment), and deadpan bursts of intermittent narration. But Schroeder has little affinity with youth culture, and the film more often fits the conservative tenor of American cautionary drug dramas of the 1960s and '70s. To the film's credit, it never succumbs to the druggie clichés of the time. You'll find none of the kaleidoscope lenses, whip pans, sunlight reflections searing the image, or choppy montages to rock & roll hits that fill the drug-culture classics, just the handsome, earthy, intimate photography of Néstor Almendros. Today, More remains most famous for its subdued, moody Pink Floyd score. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Having graduated college, Stefan hitchhikes from Lubeck, Germany, to Paris, France, where he finds the warm embrace of Estelle-an American expatriate and heroin user. Together, they chase the sun to the island of Ibiza where they develop even more interesting relationships with the island's leading drug dealer and a girlfriend of Estelle's. Made in the late sixties, Barbet Schroeder's (Barfly) directorial debut is a treatment of pleasure, pain and tragedy that stands apart from numerous counterculture exploitation films. With Academy Award® winning cinematographer Nestor Almendros (Days of Heaven), More never resorts to predictable LSD-induced stylistics, but rather atypically adopts a style of objectivity to illuminate the ideas and emotions that contribute to a lifestyle of destructive excess. After years of languish this relevant cult classic, featuring a soundtrack by Pink Floyd, is finally available for a new generation.

Customer Reviews:

More than I expected.......2007-06-12

Being a Pink Floyd fan I first owned the CD of the music from the Pink Floyd score. Some years back it seemed the movie was unavailable so more years went by and I was always curious with a wanting to someday see the film. I finally got the DVD and the film More is much more likeable than I ever imagined. The quality and the story seem very good to me and that the movie was released in 1969 shows me that this movie is way better than most other productions I have ever seen. And I also learn something.....our reveiws are sometimes fickle but I never take the word of a critic that puts a movie down......my most favorite movies of alltime were downed by critics.....I think they try to steal power for their own egos when putting things down. The film More deserves all five stars and is way more than I ever imagined or expected it to be. The DVD copy I bought is now another gem in my vast music and movie collection. Thanks to amazon.com

For those who Lived it..........2007-05-29

In 1969, "More" prompted many young urbanites to move to Ibiza, to live the utopian dream. The Pink Floyd is a favorite among the expatriate veterans who still live on the island. English is the proper language for this movie, for, not only it facilitated its commercialization, but actually is the lingua franca among these expressive expatriates.

Though a tad disappointing as a movie production, "More" historically embodies the Spirit of a time. The acting is quite ludicrous at the beginning, but it gradually improves, as the narrative unfolds and the actors get into their roles. In any case, More is definitely a cult of the counterculture, thematizing the challenges and shortcomings of transpersonal utopia. Reflecting the anti-heroine stance (drug which ultimately throws hippies down from bliss to destruction), the movie resonates with autobiographies, such as Cleo Odzer's "Goa Freaks", and it can be better understood by the anthropological book by Anthony D'Andrea, "Global Nomads" about Ibiza and Goa/India.

If you experienced the counterculture, and/or were in Ibiza (its alternative world, not tourism...), or like chaotic romances in exotic yet real situations, then you will love the movie. But if you don't empathize with any of the related issues, then it is better not to expect too much...

Cool hippie era film.......2006-12-02

I enjoyed this movie on many levels such as musically with the Pink
Floyd early era music, the nice scenery, historically such as the drug use
and the attitudes at the time ; the sensuality of some scenes- the nudity added to the feeling of personal freedom that is very attractive in the film and at the same time lead to tragedy which makes it a good story and film.

More.......2006-05-11

One of the most representative films of the hippy times, together with Denis Hopper's Easy Rider. This is a love story, though the woman is drug addict and the man somewhat jealous and moody. The woman depends in some way on a rich German who lives in Ibiza. The film was photographed by Nestor Almendros.

Censored DVD.......2005-08-10

I bought this video thinking it would be a complete unedited version. i was wrong its the same as the vhs version i also purchased from amazon.com. drug references are edited out and so are partial scenes. do not buy this video from amazon in vhs or dvd.i was fortunate to have rented an uncensored vhs copy from tower records a few years ago. now im stuck with two crap copies. i wish amazon had forewarned me before purchase.i will no longer buy from amazon.

Average customer rating:

Refreshing
A Completely Delightful and Tender Little Film About Disenfranchised Kids
A Must See!
Donne-moi des vacances!

We Need a Vacation
Starring: Thylda Barès , Siraboula Sissoko , Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux , Thomas Pitiot , and Ibrahim Koma
Director: Didier Bivel
Manufacturer: Picture This!
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ASIN: B0002B55G6
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Refreshing.......2007-01-23

Simple story of suburb children dreaming to get a vacation during summer holidays and actually getting it.

A Completely Delightful and Tender Little Film About Disenfranchised Kids.......2007-01-08

'Fais-moi des vacances' (WE NEED A VACATION) is a finely wrought little film that studies the disparities between the classes in France while introducing us to a warmly tender and humorous friendship between two young lads. Directed and written by Didier Bivel (with writing assistance from Djamila Djabri) it offers a slice of life we rarely see - that underbelly of France's projects where mixed races strive to exist without the amenities of those with means who surround their neighborhoods.

Lucien (Aymen Saïdi) lives with his father (Bernard Blancan), mother (Hiam Abbass), young sister Pamela (Laura Mas Navarro), and his tough streetwise older brother José (Nabil El Bouhairi) in a small flat. Close by is his African friend Adama (Ibrahim Koma) and his equally poor family of father (Makan Fofana), mother (Marie-Philomène Nga) and sister Fanta (Hawa Yakaré Sissoko). As school ends the kids whose families have money take them on a vacation, a state neither Lucien nor Adama can afford despite their obsession with that luxury. The two boys manipulate funds and ideas and ultimately come up with the idea of secretly jumping aboard a RUV of a family headed for the beach. BUT despite the success of their plan and the encouragement of the daughter of the van's owners, the boys end up not at the beach but at a nudist camp, a fact that makes them flee! Upon returning home both boys' families punish their activities and when Lucien seeks comfort from his older brother, José beats him and tells him to grow up. In the end the boys finagle their way to the beach, but of course by this time vacation time is over and they are on an empty beach re-evaluating their lives.

The cast is uniformly strong, the writing is excellent, and the camera work not only captures the claustrophobia of the projects but also opens up the vistas of the boys' imaginations. It is a fine little film, one deserving of a wide audience. Grady Harp, January 07

A Must See!.......2005-07-18

A profoundly poignant and thought provoking French coming of age drama about two young youths desperately in need of time away from their poverty stricken homes. The performances by the two males leads are unforgettable and the writing and direction is top notch. The score for the film (particularly its theme song) is quite a effective as is also the cinematography.

Donne-moi des vacances!.......2004-11-27

Two friends from a French inner-city dream of getting away to the sunshine. They try various means of raising money and stowing away in caravans and coaches to half live out their dream. This is set against their relationships with their families (petty criminal brother, loving mothers etc.).
Contains some genuinely amusing moments as well as the tristesse of their lives.

Average customer rating:

Wow, See this with your father
Well done!
Great Viewing!
mixed message
"Pop" Is Tops In My Book!

Pop & Me
Director: Chris Roe
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B000050B7T
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com

This video documentation of a father-son journey around the world got media play for its unusual premise. Dad Richard Roe decided to dispose of his life savings to re-create a trip he took with his family back when he was happily married with three young sons. His middle son sees the chance for a film and talks Pop into a free ride. The pair trek from the Bronx to Italy, Soweto, New Delhi, New Zealand, and back in 190 days of tearful revelations and almost constant carping. In between their battles, the duo interview international father-son teams. Most describe mutually supportive relationships, but Julian Lennon makes a brief appearance criticizing his father's abandonment style of parenting and a South African father speaks frankly of his inadequacies in raising his brain-damaged son. Meanwhile Pop and son bicker about purse strings, until the elder Roe finally hands them over. Curiously, most of the father's alleged controlling behavior happens off-camera, so the director son allows himself to come off as whiny for much of the 90 minutes. He compensates, however, with the father-son bungee jump at the end. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Description

It took a trip around the world for Richard and Chris, a father-and-son filmmaking team, to discover something great each other. This award-winning*, poignant and often funny film documents their globe-trotting adventure, showcased by interviews of fathers and sons from all walks of life. A 'satisfying, sentimental trip ( Mr. Showbiz ), Pop & Me is a sly examination of tension and bonding that crosses generations (Variety) and gets right to the heart of family love and devotion. For six months, a retired Wall Street banker (Richard) and his filmmaker son (Chris) travel the world collecting candid and touching stories from fathers and sons. Their journey pieces together a rich tapestry of tales as varied as the men they interview, and one, from Julian Lennon, includes a shocking revelation about his famous pop music father. But these fathers and sons serve as a heartwarming backdrop to the personal drama that unfolds between Richard and Chris, whose own relationship is put to the test * 1999: Audience Award for Best Feature, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival

Customer Reviews:

Wow, See this with your father.......2006-11-23

I just finished watching the amazing film with my father. I admit, I bought this at Tower Records for the price of a Blockbuster rental, and judging from the cover this film could have gone either way. (The picture on the back of a topless Julian Lennon did nothing to impress me.) As it turns out this was the best six bucks I've spent all year.

This is a very touching film that examines the relationship between a father and son on a 6 month around-the-world trip. This film exemplifies why I prefer documentaries to the best Hollywood can produce. The moments of emotion in this film are underscored by the fact that they are honest and real. And the inspired way the filmmaker captures fathers and sons from around the world expressing their love for each other are juxtiposed by the sometimes rocky reltionship of the filmmaker and his own father, making this a very human and amazing film.

Well done!.......2005-09-27

This video displayed humor, fun, suspense, drama, laughter, tears. It was insightful into relationships between fathers & sons. It also showed the struggle of power & friendship that resulted in spending a long trip together. This promotes world travel and shows that various cultures can come together. Nice photography.

Great Viewing!.......2005-08-02

A really well done documentary. Can't believe I never heard of Pop&Me, until now. It is an amazing accomplishment for this father/son team - who had never produced before. And their interaction ... and the wonderful interviews that they did made this film very moving and touching. The interview with Julian Lennon (including the deleted scenes) was very sad - but well worth watching. Lots of poignant moments! Well worth viewing.

mixed message.......2002-07-21

The premise of this movie was great: travel around the world with your father and interview other father/sons about their relationship. Unfortunately, the father and son who did this appeared to have a crummy relationship, mainly due to the immaturity and selfishness of the father, Richard Roe.

A second premise of the movie addresses the emptiness sons feel when their fathers have deserted them. However it assumes that having a father present, even when he is not supportive or loving, is better than no father figure at all. This is not convincing. For all the "I love you's" from Mr. Roe to his son, his actions in the movie, and the DVD outtakes, show he was foul mouthed tyrant that had to control everything, leaving little regard for his son's input, and at one point in India, his son's health. The main point of contention centered around money (apparently Richard Roe had never heard of the word "allowance", but had to tightly control all expenditures).

The highlights of the movie are the interviews from around the world of fathers and their sons. The movie is worth seeing if just for these interviews. However, it is disappointing to discover in the credits at the end of the movie that many other father/son pairs were interviewed from other parts of the world, but they did not appear in the movie. Perhaps these other interviews were not as gripping as those presented, but I think they would have been more interesting then the petty interplay between the Roe's. The movie is worth seeing if just for these interviews.

"Pop" Is Tops In My Book!.......2002-03-23

Having just had the privilege to a special screening (Kansas City's one and only showing) of "Pop and Me" at the theatre where I work, I immediately wanted to write my comments on the film while it was still fresh in my mind.

I was pleased to discover the other (at this time)nine reviews posted here express the same sentiments I was eager to express about the film (and as an aside, Chris Roe and his father Richard were in attendance at the film's screening, and were very generous with their time, and as seemingly honest, and funny, as they are presented in the film.)

If you were to read a capsule summary of the film as I did, you might be misled down avenues of thinking that, fortunately, this film does not take. I thought it would be overly sentimental (considering the father-son subject matter), which it is not. I thought it would be too "heavy" (again, the father-son stuff). It is not. And I thought it would be too cool, too self-aware, precious or "Iron John-ish." Anyway, let's forget what kind of film I thought I was going to see, because I never saw that film.

Chris and his father are gifted with the ability to be honest, intelligent and humorous all at once. After a few scenes with these two, I felt like I had met them before. Obviously I can't speak for everyone who's seen it, but I felt comfortable and familiar with Chris and Richard as people on the screen, and I feel that added to the success of the film for me.

"Pop" Richard is going through what "Me" Chris calls, a "mid-life crisis," where the elder Roe wishes to retrace the steps of his life, back to his "Golden Years," before the disillusionment of middle age set in, before his divorce and the great personal pain associated with it. Chris wants to travel and to make a movie about their trip. Richard suggests they make a film about fathers and sons throughout the world, and, there you go: instant (it took three years to make)documentary.

But as one viewer that was in attendance last night suggested, the "world" of monuments and cultures (all beautifully photographed, ranging from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Eiffel Tower to Tineman Square and everything else in between and beyond), of recognizable and famous places, soon becomes a pretty background to the more important stories within the film: those of fathers and sons attempting to bridge a gap created by time, age or culture.

And the gap between Chris and his father is noticed, then voiced, by Chris as the film progresses. He asks himself (and us), "Should I mention how I feel to Pop? Or, for fear of upsetting the applecart, keep it to myself?" With six days left of the six-month trip, he does at last tell his dad what he thinks about him.

There is a lot to enjoy in this film, and to be enjoyed on several levels. Like I said earlier, one could enjoy the film on a mere aesthetic level with the sound turned down, for in one way, it's a beautiful travelogue (and, if I understand correctly what Chris said last night, this was kind of what he had originally intended the film to be, a (as he said) "Gee, aren't we cool?" movie); on another level it's about Richard trying to accept what growing old means, what not being a father in the "traditional" sense means to him. And the film, in turn, is about Chris getting to know his dad, about Chris getting CLOSER to him, which, in some way, is realized at the end of the film, with father and son plunging together (with attached bunjee) off a bridge.

And finally, of course, the film is about fathers and sons talking and crying together. There are many wonderful scenes where the fathers shown speak from their hearts to their sons and vice versa. Perhaps BECAUSE of the camera, these men felt allowed to say what they felt about each other. There are many, many emotional scenes that seem very real to me, and this, ultimately, is what "made" the film for me: the honesty captured and portrayed in the film is rarely scene in regular feature films, or in most documentaries. Sure, both Chris and his dad are self-conscious (how could you not be, when making a film about yourself?), but this self-awareness is tempered by their humor (the Karate scene in the hotel room had me and a bunch of others laughing long and hard), their frustrations and very real (to me, anyway) observations. I think both Chris and Richard are great at speaking about themselves and others in a way that is candid without being exploitative.

In short (or long), the Roes have made a film about themselves without it seeming that way. There is an immediacy to the filmmaking that I look for in most documentaries and seldom find it. On a technical level, the editing is very sharp and superb (where no scene goes on too long, where EVERY scene seems imperative), and I feel is a major part of the film's success.

I seem unable to stop my praise for this movie! If any of what I've written strikes a chord with you, please seek this movie out. It will well be worth the effort, and it's only a minor misfortune that it was considered, but didn't qualify, for an Oscar nomination.

I didn't personally get to thank the two Roe's for their film, so...guys, if you're reading this, thank you! You've done a great service to any father and son who happen to come upon this in a video store, and who may be looking for a reason to talk and spend time together.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Humanized Makiwara Conditioning

The Hurricane

Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder [1997]

DVD: The Wild Party

Gulliver's Reisen