8 Women

Starring:Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle BÃ©art, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Ludivine Sagnier, Firmine Richard, Dominique Lamure
Director: FranÃ§ois Ozon
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The cream of France's cinema sirens star in the deliciously candy-colored 8 Femmes, a murder mystery speckled with ornate performances that play up the public image of the actresses themselves. Eight women find themselves snowbound in a house with a dead man--a man each of them (his wife, sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, daughters, housekeeper, and chambermaid) had reason to kill. Secrets tumble forth, accusations fly, catfights flare, and confrontations turn steamy, all accompanied by campy performances of 1960s French pop songs. At first, these musical numbers seem like pure kitsch, comic and entertaining, but over the movie's course, they become strangely touching. Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Virginie Ledoyen, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart, Isabelle Huppert, Ludivine Sagnier, and Firmine Richard are all superb, investing their cardboard characters with a strange emotional resonance--and their costumes are exquisite. An entrancing piece of giddy fluff. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant whodunit.......2007-06-14

Those who liked Gosford Park and The Sleuth will certainly like this flick. This movie is an interesting whodunit and styled on a stage play more than a movie and with absolutely no nudity. Must say, this is very rare for a French film.

The entire movie setting is in one house, belonging to Marcel. Marcel lives with his wife, Gaby, his two daughters (Catherine and Suzan), his invalid mother-in-law (Mamy) and his sister-in-law (Augustine). The staff comprises two maids - Chanel (an amazon woman, much like Mammy in Gone With The Wind) and Louise (a good looking young woman). Thus, there are 7 women living in the house. The 8th woman is Marcel's sister, Pierrette, who lives in the neighbourhood and whom no one in the family likes; appears she is promiscuous.

The movie begins with Marcel being found in his bed with a knife stuck in his back. The phone lines are dead, the gates of the mansion are closed and it's snowing terribly. Hence, all the 7 women are trapped in the house and are not able to get out even to call the police. Because the dogs did not bark all night and even in the morning, the 7 women come to the conclusion that one of them is the killer. What ensues are conversations amongst these women that tell their secrets - and each of them have some (not just one!). Of course, someone (a woman) had also telephoned Pierrette to tell her that her brother has been murdered; she drops by (with a lift from a baker) to ask if this was true. Thus, all 8 women gather in the same house, each suspecting each other of murder and all working towards proving it.

The plot thickens when secrets are slowly revealed; there are a lot of secrets that cross the paths of these women as well and have nothing to do with Marcel, per se.

The end is twisted and well made. I was impressed by the fact that it actually had a logical conclusion. Of course, I am going to keep the suspense going and not reveal the end in the hope that you all watch the movie!

Although the story is a bit complicate in terms of its inter-linkages, it is precisely this that makes it very interesting. The characters do break into songs periodically (5% of the show time), but that is only a way of introducing a perspective of that particular character. The musical style has been used tastefully and does not come across has jarring to the viewer. All-in-all, a really good whodunit - you will not be disappointed.

8 Women is Fabulous.......2007-03-29

I've loved this movie from the first time I watched it! catherine deneuve is truly amazing in this movie. Toi Jamais is my favorite scene!

isabelle huppert is a babe!.......2007-01-08

seriously! Anbody else think isabelle was posessing some serious 'je ne sais quoi' in this film? She's a total fox in skirts & glasses! UMF! UMF!

There is no happy love!.......2006-09-01

Ouzon explores the feminine universe through the lives and times of 8 women around the sudden crime of the only man of the house. 8 women, every one of them with their affective lacks, their tribulations. Little miseries, sorrows and disillusions. Each one oft them is potentially suspicious of having murdered Marcel.

The admirable photography and colossal arrangement of a beautiful stage, with a sublime red carpet that remind us Bergman in Cries and whispers plus the visible and well deserved homage top Alfred Hitchcock (Vertigo) expressed warmly in the last quarter of the film, plus the additional musical numbers make of this film an absolute and delicious feast to your senses.

A must-see!

How great women are!.......2006-07-07

Seemingly a French take-off on the classic English Mystery Play format this delightful farce is actually a perfect proof of how great and sexy, women of all ages are (especially French women).

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Virginie Ledoyen, Ludivine Sagnier, Isabelle Huppert, Danielle Darrieux, Fanny Ardant, Firmine Richard, Emmanuelle Béart.

Average customer rating:

Heaven
Mixed Effort From A Great Filmmaker
Well, it's a Greenway
uhm o.k.?
FATHERS AND SONS....GREENAWAY STYLE

8 1/2 Women
Starring: Natacha Amal , Elizabeth Berrington , Toni Collette , Matthew Delamere , and Manna Fujiwara
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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A Zed & Two Noughts
The Pillow Book
The Draughtsman's Contract
The Belly of an Architect
9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version

ASIN: B0000A1HQ7
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Product Description

Directed by Peter Greenaway (The Pillow Book; the Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover), the dark side of ecstasy unfolds against the backdrop of Japan's frenzied pachinko parlors and the Swiss countryside. After the death of his wife, a wealthy businessman questions his devotion to his passive spouse and denial of sensual experimentation for their many years of marriage. When his son returns to the family's Swiss chateau from Japan where he manages his father's pachinko parlors, he brings his father to see Federico Fellini's masterpiece, 8 1/2. The sight of so many magnificent women inspires them to turn their Swiss mansion into a chateau of sexual pleasure.
But soon their wild sexual fantasies begin to unravel, and the two men discover that when fantasy becomes reality, the balance of power can shift. When it does, those seemingly in control don't always come out on top.

System Requirements:

Running Time 121 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Heaven .......2006-10-19

Peter Greenaway's films are always interesting. He's got his own provocative style. Whether it was retelling Shakespeare's "The Tempest" with an all-nude cast as in "Prospero's Books" or the nudity in "The Pillow Book" where a woman enjoys having people write on her body, you can rest assured that someone will probably disrobe before the end of the picture. In "8 & 1/2 Women," English actor John Standing whose career has ranged from "The Elephant Man" in 1980 to "V for Vendetta" in 2006 plays the head of a large corporation. As Philip Emmenthal he acquires panchinko parlors in Japan with strong-arm business tactics. Unfortunately, his wife passes away early in the film. This leaves Emmenthal grieving -- not for his wife necessarily but for someone to hold him. His son Storey flies home from Kyoto, Japan to the Emmenthal estate in Geneva, Switzerland. To comfort his grieving father, Storey takes off all his clothes and sleeps with his father. The two then go to see Fellini's film "8 & 1/2" and discuss whether it's normal for a son to sleep with his father. Even for the more liberal viewers, this is pretty strange. Philip & Storey then decide that what they need is a lot of women -- eight and a half, to be precise -- to distract the father. Vivian Wu who was in "The Pillow Book" as well as "The Last Emperor" & "The Joy Luck Club" plays a crazed panchinko addict who agrees to pay off her debts by sleeping with the pair. She flies to Geneva. Simato played by Shizuka Inoh in the only film I could find listed for her plays the Japanese business mind that has some control issues. She flies to Geneva. Toni Collette who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "The Sixth Sense" in 1999 plays a nun who shaves her head (and other parts) and tries to gain salvation for Philip while wearing no clothes. In rides Beryl on a horse. Beryl is played by Emmy-winner Amanda Plummer who won her award for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 2005. Storey honks the horn, which makes the horse rear up & results in a severe back injury to Beryl. After returning the stolen horse, they adopt her and put her in a sheer plastic brace that allows Philip to massage the private parts on her chest while she recovers. Plummer stays on scene until she rides off like Lady Godiva through the fields. Polly Walker who did a great job in "Eye of the Killer" and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005 for the TV mini-series "Rome" plays Palmira, the seductive temptress with a high pain threshold. As odd as it sounds, the major theme I found was about the existence of God. At the end of the film, Philip is getting a nude massage that he equates to heaven and then passes peacefully. Palmira then refers to him as "the Almighty." Thus, for me, the film was about people who worship at the altar of their own bodies rather than seeking eternal truths such as Truth, Beauty & Goodness. That said, the film is beautifully shot. As the son Storey, Matthew Delamere who was in "Under the Skin" with Samantha Morton is a rather flat actor, both in body and emotional capability. If the film is not a success, I think it was because there wasn't more range in this lead actor. However, one must certainly admit that he had no hesitancy in walking around sans wardrobe. This is an interesting film, not entirely likeable, not completely moving, but worth an evening's viewing when the children are NOT around! Enjoy!

Mixed Effort From A Great Filmmaker.......2005-04-13

Peter Greenaway's films are always a challenge, even for his most devoted admirers. I am a member of that group. I traveled 90 minutes each way to see his new film '8 1/2 Women'. His films are incredibly (really, an understatement) complex, both visually and narratively. Like most filmmakers, he has his ups ('The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover', 'The Pillow Book', 'Drowning By Numbers' and 'The Draughtsman's Contract') and his downs ('A Zed and Two Naughts', 'Belly of An Architect'). Unfortunately, '8 1/2 Women' is not one of his best.

I read a review of the film that stated it was his most accessible in years. Yes, I can see that. This means that Greenaway has stripped away six or seven layers of narrative that usually happen concurrently in his best films. He has dumbed down the visual style while retaining a story that is not very focused.

We seem to be experiencing a bit of a trend. Some of the most intelligent filmmakers are dumbing down their work to reach a new audience while dissatisfying their core audience. Woody Allen's latest film is a farce with none of the depth he is known for. The result? 'Small Time Crooks' will probably be his most successful film in years. Robert Towne created an overly simplistic blueprint for the stunts in 'Mission Impossible 2'. The result? The screenplay works, but the audience is told the core of the mission six times. Now Greenaway directs a film with one layer of narrative, robbing his own film of the richness and depth he has done before. What's next? Martin Scorcese directing Leonardo DiCaprio? Oh, that's actually happening.

If you have never seen a Peter Greenaway film, and most of you probably haven't, a little background is probably in order. Greenaway is a painter and spent some time doing set design for operas. He brings both of these sensibilities to his films. When the film is good, it is a glorious mixture of all of these elements creating truly beautiful films. His longtime cinematographer, Sacha Vierny, is a great asset to the visual style. He also likes to experiment with words and narrative. For instance, the beginning of 'The Pillow Book' combined a layer of film that had Japanese Calligraphy, the writing of the Pillow Book, and two separate scenes going on on top of that. Your eye is always watching something. Your mind is always working. In 'Drowning By Numbers', the numbers 1 through 100 appear in the actual film in some form or another. In 'The Cook, The Thief...', each separate room in an elaborate restaurant has a color scheme of it's own, affecting the color of the character's clothing. '8 1/2 Women' makes a brief attempt at combining various elements, showing pieces of the screenplay with insets of pachinko parlors. The rest of the film is set in a single estate. Frankly, most of the film appeared grainy.

A rich Geneva banker and pachinko parlor owner mourns the loss of his wife. His son tries to comfort his father and suggests, after watching Fellini's '8 1/2', that they fill the house with a harem of women. This will help the father to experience the variety of sexual activity that he has recently discovered and also make the house seem less empty. The pachinko parlors are really a very weak point of the story. It seems to merely serve as a method for Greenaway to introduce Asian females into the story line.

As the father and son populate the harem (with the likes of Amanda Plummer, Toni Collette, Vivian Wu and Polly Walker), they talk incessantly. In most of Greenaway's works, the characters have lengthy conversations, but they were far more interesting. He seems to be trying to shock us with words rather than images in this film. Yes, there is a lot of nudity, both male and female, but it doesn't shock. The discussions they have concerning beastiality, incest, etc., are simply boring.

His films also take a while to make it to the US. Because of this, he frequently can attract up and coming stars to appear in his films, usually nude, before they are really famous. As I mentioned, Toni Collette (Best Supporting Actress nominee for 'The Sixth Sense', 'Muriel's Wedding') appears in the film as a Swedish nun. In 'The Pillow Book', Ewan McGregor played a central part. He has also had Ralph Fiennes and Julia Ormond in his films.

Greenaway has created some of the best films I have ever seen and experienced. Greenaway is a master filmmaker and definitely deserves a larger audience. Unfortunately, this film isn't that good.

Well, it's a Greenway.......2005-03-15

Peter Greenway's films bore and/or repulse most people. They are probably the not-so-secret favorites of the cultural elitists, the decadently bored bourgeoisie. I'm too plebeian and stupid to be the former and too poor and hungry to be the latter, that's why I don't like his films. Nonetheless, his works are provocative, which either reflects his screwed-up brain cells possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both, or his ingenuity of making a name for himself and maybe even a fortune in the financial and carnal senses, too.

In this dark comedy about sexual excess and experimentation, at one point the question is popped:"Do most film directors make films to realize their sexual fantasies?" The sexist, female-excluding nature of this remark aside, even a fool knows what Greenway's answer is. It's as if he were showing his naked body on the silver screen -- projected through his actors -- and then asking the audience "Do you like it? Do you like *it*?" Snobbish? Perhaps. Deranged. Most likely. Stupidly patronizing? Definitely.

As you probably already know, the story is about a father and son's effort to turn the father's estate in or near Geneva into a harem. The most unsettling scene of the film is not about the women they "seduce" (or buy), but an earlier one in which the son gets intimate with his father. To an uninitated viewer of the utterly-sick-and-gross genre like myself, this was just plain stupid, proof that Greenway is an old pervert who's fascinated with sex with anybody, any animal (even pigs, as he so lovingly describes in the film), or anything.

I don't want to come off (no pun intended!) as desireful of attacking Greenway's superficial, sex-ladden artistry, although as I mentioned in the beginning, his films are repulsive to the general audience. Of course, like Robert Mapplethorpe, he shocks to gain fame, so he can make films to reflect his sick sexual fantasies, and, as the film drily observes in that same scene, to get women (or men? or pigs?) into his bed.

The sexual escapades of the father and son are rather boring, and the sad ending does evoke some sympathy. Somehow the ending reminded me of the Hong Kong erotic flick "Sex & Zen" (the original one with Amy Yip), with the same message that "oops, too much sex is actually bad for your health and relationships." It can't get more pretentious than this.

If you are a Greenway fan, you won't be disappointed. This is a black comedy and there are some very funny spots. But overall, it's a film about self indulgence, of self indulgence, and (despite the quake-destroyed ending), for self indulgence.

uhm o.k.?.......2004-12-16

Lynne:If it's possible to make a film that could be deemed "enjoyably bad"; do you think its possible to do the opposite?
Don:What you mean "unenjoyably good?"
Lynne:Yes.
Don:Uhm,well--(DOORBELL RINGS)
Lynne:Excuse me for a moment.
Don:Well no I don't(brief pause) to be quite honest.
(Lynne without hesitation pulls open the front door revealing the filmmaker Peter Greenaway framed by the late afternoon's fleshy glow.STUDIO APPLAUSE.Greenaway holds for the applause with a knowing smirk before entering the doorway.)
Peter:I respectfully beg to differ motherf***er.
STUDIO APPLAUSE

FATHERS AND SONS....GREENAWAY STYLE.......2002-12-12

Typically bizarre and challenging Greenaway film about a man whose wife suddenly dies and can't get past the grief stage. His son moves in with him and they "reestablish" their relationship in a most unorthodox way. Literally. So the son concocts a way to help his father snap out of it. They turn the father's estate into a brothel of sorts with a strange array of women they "collect". This creates a rather Fellini-esque atmosphere and causes some friction among the ladies as well as a couple of their deaths. One woman challenges the rules and turns the tables on the men leading to the father's ultimate death wish and the son's turn to grieve. Greenaway allows the film to run from outlandish black comedy to sadly depressing---a gamut that kind've negates everything we've seen and experienced thus far. There's ample male nudity, bizarre costumes, a truly odd turn from Amanda Plummer as one of the women, striking color and rampant symbolism throughout which makes it a feast for the eyes. If you're a Greenaway fan it's an unusual ride. But I wouldn't recommend it for first time viewers who may find it heavy going.

Average customer rating:

Potential to be great, but they made too many mistakes.

Women's Extreme Wrestling, Volumes 5-8
Starring: Women's Extreme Wrestling
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

W.E.W.: Women's Extreme Wrestling, Vols. 1-4
Babes Going Crazy: Stripfight - Cagefight
Extremely Dangerous Women of Wrestling, Vol. 1
Babes Going Crazy: Stripfight in Baja
Carmen Electra's NWWL, Vol. 2: Tag Team Dream

ASIN: B0007P0YDQ
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Customer Reviews:

Potential to be great, but they made too many mistakes........2005-06-17

This is the second DVD 4-event set from WEW, live from a
sports bar in Dover Delaware.

This league features a few women of great potential to be
stars in the world of women's wrestling, such as Alexis Laree,
Tai "Killer" Weed, and GI Ho. Each of four events features
about 5 or 6 matches, with backstage activity, and a bit of
comedy.

However, they made some frustrating mistakes:
1. Too much talk. Too much of the disk space is wasted on
guys in the ring yammering, and backstage non-sense.
2. Half the matches include MEN wrestling, and guess what,
whenever it's man vs. woman, the woman always wins.
3. Many of the matches are edited. In the middle of some
good wrestling action, the match is jumped forward.
4. Poor camera work. Too much showing drunks guys in the
crowd, and close-ups of men's rear-ends.
5. A lot of junk you want to fast-forward through, such a
match between two handicapped men, a chaotic battle royale
in which half the competitors are men, and 5-minute tirades
with the microphone before matches.

On the positive side: some of the other wrestlers worth seeing
are Sinnamon, Annie Social, Persephone, Candy, Psycho Bitch,
Prime Time Amy Lee, Simply Luscious, Missy the Schoolgirl,
Riptide, and others. Unfortunately, Brittney the Schoolgirl
is not featured.

Also, if you like some comedy, "The Smoke" (a hilarious take-off
on The Rock) appears several times. Also, if you think that
Papa Mae and the Mae family are funny (I don't) they also
appear throughout.

Average customer rating:

Heaven
Mixed Effort From A Great Filmmaker
Well, it's a Greenway
uhm o.k.?
FATHERS AND SONS....GREENAWAY STYLE

8 1/2 Women
Starring: Natacha Amal , Elizabeth Berrington , Toni Collette , Matthew Delamere , and Manna Fujiwara
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

A Zed & Two Noughts
The Pillow Book
The Draughtsman's Contract
The Belly of an Architect
9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version

ASIN: B00004X13S
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Customer Reviews:

Heaven .......2006-10-19

Mixed Effort From A Great Filmmaker.......2005-04-13

Well, it's a Greenway.......2005-03-15

uhm o.k.?.......2004-12-16

FATHERS AND SONS....GREENAWAY STYLE.......2002-12-12

Average customer rating:

A good view on this thema

Pow Wow Trial, Vol. 8: Women
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Arbor Records Ltd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | International | Styles | Music

Native American | North America | International | Styles | Music

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Pow Wow Trail, Vol. 5: Grass Dance and Men's Traditional
Pow Wow Trail, Vol. 6: The Fancy Dance
Pow Wow Trail Episode 1: The Drum

ASIN: B000N6UDLM
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Description

"One of the most comprehensive and engaging resources available on the incredibly vibrant and complex social and musical world of modern day pow wow. Each DVD is a great mix of oral history, documentary archival material, and modern developments." -- Christopher Scales, Professor of Ethnomusicology, College of William and Mary

Customer Reviews:

A good view on this thema.......2007-04-11

We must say-a very good DVD. Simple and understanding for all

Average customer rating:

Swimsuit Spectacular, Vol. 8
Starring: Iron Man Magazine Presents
Manufacturer: Bayview Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Swimsuit Spectacular, Vol. 9
Swimsuit Spectacular, Vol. 7
Swimsuit Spectacular, Vol. 5
Swimsuit Illustrated; Girls of Oahu, Hawaii
Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders 2005-2006 Lingerie Calendar Video

ASIN: B000F4RHPC
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Description

Eight Women Hot & Wild!

What happens when you get eight of the finest, fittest females anywhere and put them in bikinis (or even less) in front of a camera? The result is more heat than a nuclear explosion! It's an oh-my extravaganza for your eyeballs - and it's hot! So hot, in fact, that the steam may fog up your glasses, cause lightheadedness and set you La-Z-Boy ablaze. This DVD is a sexy sizzlefest jam-packed with spectacular footage, much of it too erotic to feature in IRON MAN magazine. We're talking uncensored, hot, wild drippin' wet babes posing just for you. Are you ready? Prepare to get drenched!

Product Description

This Dvd will play on all Region 1 DVD players - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Plot Summary for 8 femmes (2002) -In a home in the snowy French countryside, an industrialist has been murdered. There are eight suspects, all women: his wife, Gaby (Catherine Deneuve); their two daughters, Suzon (Virginie Ledoyen) and Catherine (Ludivine Sagnier); Gaby's neurotic sister, Augustine (Isabelle Huppert), and greedy mother (Danielle Darrieux); the industrialist's floozy sister, Pierrette (Fanny Ardant); the cook, Chanel (Firmine Richard), and the new maid, Louise (Emmanuelle Béart). The phone is dead, the car has been damaged, and the house is isolated because of a snowstorm. So it's up to these eight women to discover who among them is the murder, as well as uncover various hidden secrets from each other that include greed, jealousy, pregnancies, adultry, theft, hidden love, and, perhaps even, murder. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ; -Plot Summary for Swimming Pool (2003) - Sarah Morton is a famous British mystery author. Tired of London and seeking inspiration for her new novel, she accepts an offer from her publisher John Bosload to stay at his home in Luberon, in the South of France. It is the off-season, and Sarah finds that the beautiful country locale and unhurried pace is just the tonic for her--until late one night, when John's indolent and insouciant French daughter Julie unexpectedly arrives. Sarah's prim and steely English reserve is jarred by Julie's reckless, sexually charged lifestyle. Their interactions set off an increasingly unsettling series of events, as Sarah's creative process and a possible real-life murder begin to blend dangerously together.

Customer Reviews:

François Ozon and The Women.......2005-11-16

Two fabulous but very different films from François Ozon. "8 Women" is wonderfully fun Christmas murder mystery/comedy and "Swimming Pool" is a quiet thriller, character study, with subtle changes. One thing for sure, both films revolve around some of the most interesting characters, and involve a most distinguished international cast.

"8 Women" ("8 femmes")...5 stars

When I saw the cast of this one, it practically jumped into my cart all by itself. The cast includes some of the most wonderful international actresses around.From the legends to the young stars I figured I couldn't go wrong with these names... Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardent, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux,Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. I figured right.Insert tongue in cheek and get ready for 8 times the fun.

When a wealthy family plans to spend Christmas together in their secluded home, the unexpected happens. Marcel, the only man among all the women, is found murdered in his own bed. The women who all immediately begin to suspect each other, are snowed in and have found the phone wires cut.The eight women, including Marcel's wife, daughters, mother in law, his sister,sister-in-law, the maid and the cook all have motives, they all have secrets, and they are all about half a bubble off the plumb. Whodunit? It's a great treat finding out.

After my first view,I was originally planning to go 4 stars on this film as my standard for mystery/comedy is "The Pink Panther", but this film was so highly entertaining and fun I know I will get years of enjoyment for myself and anyone else who views it.And as I write this I know I can't wait to watch it again. The actresses are brilliant,work exceptionally well together, and the story totally engaging. Each actress even gets her own clever and fun musical numbers to perform as well. It was written and directed by Francois Ozon and adapted from the Play by Robert Thomas.

The actresses won 2 prestigious awards for their wonderful achievement as an ensemble. A Silver Berlin Bear from the Berlin Film Festival and Best Ensemble form the European Film Awards as well. Director François Ozon was also recognized with a Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost" at the Berlin Film Festival. It was also nominated for several other awards.

The film is very French! It is rated R for some adult thematic situations(lesbianism, adultery) but I found nothing offensive or graphic about it.

"Swimming Pool"(4 stars) is a subtle thriller, not one that hits you over the head with slashers or will have you jumping out of your skin with fright. Here, Ozon examines the characters of a middle aged, frigid and frumpy, murder/mystery writer, and the young, sensuous woman who reawakens her vitality and senses. Both are in need of love.

Sarah is a popular British author. She has written a series of mystery books revolving around a much loved detective character. She feels though, it's not enough anymore, she needs a change. Change of pace, a change of direction, a change of style, and change of scenery. She's about to get more then she bargained for as she retreats to her publisher's house in the beautiful countryside of France.

Almost immediately she feels refreshed. Ideas are flowing through her already to the pages. That is, until, her peace and quiet is interrupted by the appearance of Julie, the secret and seemingly unwanted daughter of John, the publisher. Julie brings a halt to the quiet atmosphere Sarah has embraced. She's a young, provocative,whirlwind of life, as she enters the scene, and is the opposite of Sarah in every way, including her never ending need to feel loved. Julie's wants and needs have her bringing home a different man to her bed every night. Sarah seems disgusted by Julie's lifestyle, even to the point of using ear plugs, to block out the sounds of the love making going on so close to her. Julie on the other hand, sees Sarah, as an "old bag".

As the story and the characters develop though, we see big changes in both of these very different woman. For Sarah, the ear plugs come out, and soon we begin to see a reblossoming as Julie intrigues and beguiles her. Julie warms to Sarah, and seems to feel something with her that is missing from her life as well. Sarah finds Julie's life erotic and a much more interesting topic then her detective character. Many of the subtle changes are taking place right around the swimming pool on the grounds. Sarah's demeanor changes even more drastically, she seems almost thrilled, as the two must work together to cover up a murder, one that could have jumped off the pages of one of her books.

The two women in this story, kept me intrigued even after the second view. It also left me with some questions. It is implied in the story that Julie's past had some big sordid mystery. This part is never fully explored, and left me wanting to know more about it. It may have been more of an eye-opener as to Julie's behavior.

Charlotte Rampling's portrayal of the stuffy English woman, who undergoes big changes is wonderful. If you have seen her in earlier roles, you will know what a versatile actress she is.
Ludivine Sagnier is more then just eye-candy. She brings a nice depth to the character of Julie.

If you are looking for a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, you should probably pass this one by. This is a quiet thriller, that may make you work a bit, and if you like that, you will like this film. It also may not be suited to everyone as it is quite a provocative film. Renting it first may best.

5 stars for a great package deal on two fine films that will stand up to many repeated viewings.

enjoy...Laurie

8 1/2 Women [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]

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8 1/2 Women [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]
Director: Peter Greenaway
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FMY5OU

Product Description

Great Britain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: From Peter Greenaway, one of Britain's most controversial directors, 8 1/2 Women is a laconic black comedy that examines the age-old phenomenon of male sexual fantasy, its roots and consequences. A rich businessman from Geneva acquires eight and a half pachinko parlors in Kyoto, Japan. They are run by his son who is fascinated by earthquakes. When the father's beloved wife dies, the son takes him to see Federico Fellini's film 8 1/2 to distract him from his grief and rekindle some interest in the opposite sex. Inspired by Fellini's vision, they bring eight and a half women from Japan and Europe and turn the father's Geneva mansion into a private harem. Amanda Plummer, Toni Collette, Polly Walker and Vivian Wu (the protagonist of Greenaway's previous film The Pillow Book), head the cast of this multi-layered film that failed to reach the degree of critical acclaim of Greenaway's previous works.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Scene Access, Interactive Menu,