Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 14th, 2002
Artisan has come through with a well-executed 10 Year Anniversary Edition of Glengarry GlenRoss. Well-executed, yes. Exceptional, no. The highlights of this set are definitely the DTS audio track and the new Widescreen transfer. Both are so exceptional as to make this set a “must purchase” for any fans of this movie or its cast. Beyond these two features, there is nothing particularly compelling about this set, however. Special features contain no standouts, and the second disc is largely the filler of a widescreen t...ansfer.
I approached this release without having seen the movie previously and was somewhat disappointed, given the media acclamation. Screenplays adapted from plays generally result in movies that hammer the watcher over the head with whatever message the movie is trying to communicate over and over and over again. Such is the case with Glengarry GlenRoss, and it quickly grew boring. David Mamet is undoubtedly a genius writer, but as we all know, that doesn’t necessarily translate into an enjoyable cinematic experience. Here’s my thought: In a play, the director, playwright, and cast have little to work with beyond dialog and some set design. In a movie, the director has full run of setting, special effects, weather, etc. As such, if the director doesn’t tone down the screenplay, allegory and heavy handed morality while perhaps subtly communicated on stage become a chore to watch on screen. In GgGR, the continual darkness, rain, and borderline pedantic dialog were all a bit too much for my taste.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 13th, 2002
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 13th, 2002
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 11th, 2002
Written by Dan Bradley
The right to bear arms has been a heated debated for many years now. Entertainment industries, Hollywood included, have often been singled out as culprits for violence at the hands of these legally-owned weapons. Liberty Stands Still serves as a direct commentary from Hollywood towards the effects of this law, and the influence gun manufacturers and politicians have on the distribution of firearms. Although not released theatrically in the United States, Liberty Stands Still comes home to DVD in a confusing but intri...uing political thriller.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 11th, 2002
Few films have had the impact of the original Exorcist. William Peter Blatty’s original book was a phenomenal hit. The film’s intense imagery and in your face brutality was all the more disturbing coming from a young teenage Linda Blair. What makes this film effective, however, is the subtle touches: The quick flash demonic faces, the eeriest backward language of the demon, and the haunting moans that culminate in one of the truly scariest films ever made. This release restores footage, long legendary, but not seen by a movie audience. I remember seeing pictures of Linda Blair’s “spider crawl” in Famous Monsters of Filmland in the 70’s. To call this film a classic would be stating the obvious.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2002
Outrage is actually the DVD release of a 1980’s made for TV film, Christopher Rage’s Outrage. Changing the title was probably a pretty good idea. West Wing star Rob Lowe is the focus of this B film. It’s actually a very watchable film if you’re willing to ignore plot holes large enough to drive a starship through and some lazy legal writing. (When the kids trash his home they leave more fingerprints than a 3 year old with an overstuffed peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but the cops see no evidence. Also there are no felonies with a 15 day sentence.) The acting is above average for a made for TV film, but the story is riddled with clichés and predictability.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2002
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 11th, 2002
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 10th, 2002
This is without a doubt the ultimate chick flick. Guys who find themselves subjected to the film can take heart in fact that there are a few moments that they will find interesting. Although this film will likely not give you a better understanding of your wife/girlfriend, it will most assuredly provide insight into your mother-in-law. Turns out she really is as crazy as you thought she was. There is also a subdued but pivotal performance by James Garner, who steals practically every scene he’s in with his wonderful “suffering in silence” Shep. There are some genuinely funny moments throughout the film, but it does take some decidedly dark turns in the abundant flashback scenes.
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