Spreading Ground

Spreading Ground


Starring:Dennis Hopper, Greg Morris (II), Leslie Hope, Frederic Forrest, Tom McCamus, Elizabeth Shepherd, Chuck Shamata, David Dunbar (II), Janet Bailey, Tony Nappo, Leslie Carlson, Eugene Martel, Nick Fox, Paul O'Sullivan, Samantha Espie, Tom Barnett, Kim Huffman, Yvan Labelle, Amanda Soha, Kathie Imrie
Director: Derek Vanlint
Studio: Trinity Home Ent
Product Type: DVD
Spreading Ground
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Spreading Ground, Spreading Manure
  • Great Movie
  • cliche ridden ...
Spreading Ground
Starring: Dennis Hopper , Greg Morris (II) , Leslie Hope , Frederic Forrest , and Tom McCamus
Director: Derek Vanlint
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Bailey, JanetBailey, Janet | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Forrest, FredericForrest, Frederic | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Harvey, TomHarvey, Tom | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Hope, LeslieHope, Leslie | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Hopper, DennisHopper, Dennis | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
McCamus, TomMcCamus, Tom | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:
  1. Death Falls (1996)
  2. Lost Junction
  3. Rpm (1997)
  4. Simpatico
  5. Carnivore

ASIN: B0001IXU44
Release Date: 2004-02-11

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Spreading Ground, Spreading Manure.......2003-06-29

If you ever wondered how certain movies get made, it sometimes helps if the writer, Ken Nakamura, is also the producer and has the resources necessary to finance the project. The British might refer to "The Spreading Ground" as a wank, whereas Americans, being more tactful on occasion, would label it a vanity production.

The plotting is beyond credibility, way, way beyond. A serial child killer is on the loose, and the embarrassed mayor, with some important city contracts on her agenda, makes a deal with the corrupt chief of police to hire a lead enforcer in the Irish mob to find and whack the killer, to hush the affair up quickly and to avoid the publicity of a trial. Thus, the chief of police is actually working against his own detectives and even leaks official leads back to the mob, a factor leading to the murders of potential witnesses. The head of the mob, named Johnny Gault (professionally played by Tom McCamus), has a nasty habit of shooting people on the slightest provacation anyway, and one supposes that the disposing of bodies in this town is an easy task anyway. So it's the mob versus the cops as both groups attempt to discover the murderer's identity first. Oh, did I forget to mention that the child serial killer -- remember him? -- has murdered five children on his first day alone? This fact might make world news let alone give the locals something to ponder. It might even create a bit more publicity than the mayor would like, if she wishes to hush up her little problem, making all her scheming even more unbelievable -- and unnecessary.

I suppose the director/cinematographer, Derek VanLint, does the best he can to make all this watchable, and considering what he's got for a script, he deserves some credit, even if one occasionally watches the flick with ones jaw hanging open. Dennis Hopper plays Det. Ed Delongpre, who leads the investigation, with help from his partner Mike McGivern, played by Frederic Forrest. (I hope both talented actors were paid very, very well. At least, Hopper is given some chance to act, whereas Forrest is completely wasted in a thankless role. Both actors have wisely chosen to underplay their parts in a desperate grasp for credibility, since the story is so over-the-top to begin with.) Det. Delongpre also gets assistance from his alienated daughter, Leslie, who coincidentally happens to be the mayor's -- you remember the major? -- chief aide. Thus, Leslie is able to obtain the goods on the corrupt chief of police -- you remember the chief of police? -- and leak this info back to her dad. It's suggested that the reason Leslie has been alienated from her dad for ten years is that her troubled mother committed suicide and she somehow holds her father responsible. We never learn why she does exactly, but does it matter? It's predetermined that father and daughter will make peace by the movie's bizarre conclusion.

I'm not certain anyone involved with this production should rush to put it on a resume, except, of course, Mr. Nakamura, who, I suspect, regards it as the greatest thing to hit the screen since "Gone With the Wind."

5 out of 5 stars Great Movie.......2003-06-28

Good plot, keeps you entertained the 98 minutes, that's what movies are for.

2 out of 5 stars cliche ridden ..........2002-03-05

I like Dennis Hopper and love Frederick Forrest. Neither of them are bad considering the atrocious dialogue and tired premise that they have to work with. They seem to be rolling their eyes at each other as they speak their lines. Sad to see such great talents wasted in a film filled with gratuitous violence and terrible "pop psychology" dialogue. Was there a point to this film?
Spreading Ground
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Spreading Ground
    Starring: Spreading Ground
    Manufacturer: Uni Dist Corp (Music)
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
    ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
    4-for-3 Action & Adventure4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
    4-for-3 Drama4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
    4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
    ASIN: B000A2WDH6
    Release Date: 2005-01-04
    Spreading Ground
    Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
    • Spreading Ground, Spreading Manure
    • Great Movie
    • cliche ridden ...
    Spreading Ground
    Starring: Dennis Hopper , Greg Morris (II) , Leslie Hope , Frederic Forrest , and Tom McCamus
    Director: Derek Vanlint
    Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    ThrillersThrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
    MysteryMystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
    DetectivesDetectives | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
    Serial KillersSerial Killers | By Theme | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
    CanadaCanada | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
    Bailey, JanetBailey, Janet | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Forrest, FredericForrest, Frederic | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Harvey, TomHarvey, Tom | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Hope, LeslieHope, Leslie | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Hopper, DennisHopper, Dennis | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    McCamus, TomMcCamus, Tom | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
    CanadaCanada | By Country | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
    Mystery & SuspenseMystery & Suspense | By Genre | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
    ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Death Falls (1996)
    2. Lost Junction
    3. Rpm (1997)
    4. Simpatico
    5. Carnivore

    ASIN: B00005UF7V
    Release Date: 2002-02-05

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Spreading Ground, Spreading Manure.......2003-06-29

    If you ever wondered how certain movies get made, it sometimes helps if the writer, Ken Nakamura, is also the producer and has the resources necessary to finance the project. The British might refer to "The Spreading Ground" as a wank, whereas Americans, being more tactful on occasion, would label it a vanity production.

    The plotting is beyond credibility, way, way beyond. A serial child killer is on the loose, and the embarrassed mayor, with some important city contracts on her agenda, makes a deal with the corrupt chief of police to hire a lead enforcer in the Irish mob to find and whack the killer, to hush the affair up quickly and to avoid the publicity of a trial. Thus, the chief of police is actually working against his own detectives and even leaks official leads back to the mob, a factor leading to the murders of potential witnesses. The head of the mob, named Johnny Gault (professionally played by Tom McCamus), has a nasty habit of shooting people on the slightest provacation anyway, and one supposes that the disposing of bodies in this town is an easy task anyway. So it's the mob versus the cops as both groups attempt to discover the murderer's identity first. Oh, did I forget to mention that the child serial killer -- remember him? -- has murdered five children on his first day alone? This fact might make world news let alone give the locals something to ponder. It might even create a bit more publicity than the mayor would like, if she wishes to hush up her little problem, making all her scheming even more unbelievable -- and unnecessary.

    I suppose the director/cinematographer, Derek VanLint, does the best he can to make all this watchable, and considering what he's got for a script, he deserves some credit, even if one occasionally watches the flick with ones jaw hanging open. Dennis Hopper plays Det. Ed Delongpre, who leads the investigation, with help from his partner Mike McGivern, played by Frederic Forrest. (I hope both talented actors were paid very, very well. At least, Hopper is given some chance to act, whereas Forrest is completely wasted in a thankless role. Both actors have wisely chosen to underplay their parts in a desperate grasp for credibility, since the story is so over-the-top to begin with.) Det. Delongpre also gets assistance from his alienated daughter, Leslie, who coincidentally happens to be the mayor's -- you remember the major? -- chief aide. Thus, Leslie is able to obtain the goods on the corrupt chief of police -- you remember the chief of police? -- and leak this info back to her dad. It's suggested that the reason Leslie has been alienated from her dad for ten years is that her troubled mother committed suicide and she somehow holds her father responsible. We never learn why she does exactly, but does it matter? It's predetermined that father and daughter will make peace by the movie's bizarre conclusion.

    I'm not certain anyone involved with this production should rush to put it on a resume, except, of course, Mr. Nakamura, who, I suspect, regards it as the greatest thing to hit the screen since "Gone With the Wind."

    5 out of 5 stars Great Movie.......2003-06-28

    Good plot, keeps you entertained the 98 minutes, that's what movies are for.

    2 out of 5 stars cliche ridden ..........2002-03-05

    I like Dennis Hopper and love Frederick Forrest. Neither of them are bad considering the atrocious dialogue and tired premise that they have to work with. They seem to be rolling their eyes at each other as they speak their lines. Sad to see such great talents wasted in a film filled with gratuitous violence and terrible "pop psychology" dialogue. Was there a point to this film?

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