236
Paths of Glory
Stanley Kubrick |
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Studio: MGM
Theatrical: 1957
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Writer: Jim Thompson
Duration: 87
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
IMDb: 0050825
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris
Summary: Stanley Kubrick had already made his talent known with the outstanding racetrack heist thriller The Killing, but it was the 1957 antiwar masterpiece Paths of Glory that catapulted Kubrick to international acclaim. Based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb, the film was initiated by Kirk Douglas, who chose the young Kubrick to direct what would become one of the most powerful films about the wasteful insanity of warfare. In one of his finest roles, Douglas plays Colonel Dax, commander of a battle-worn regiment of the French army along the western front during World War I. Held in their trenches under the threat of German artillery, the regiment is ordered on a suicidal mission to capture an enemy stronghold. When the mission inevitably fails, French generals order the selection of three soldiers to be tried and executed on the charge of cowardice. Dax is appointed as defense attorney for the chosen scapegoats, and what follows is a travesty of justice that has remained relevant and powerful for decades. In the wake of some of the most authentic and devastating battle sequences ever filmed, Kubrick brilliantly explores the political machinations and selfish personal ambitions that result in battlefield slaughter and senseless executions. The film is unflinching in its condemnation of war and the self-indulgence of military leaders who orchestrate the deaths of thousands from the comfort of their luxurious headquarters. For many years, Paths of Glory was banned in France as a slanderous attack on French honor, but it's clear that Kubrick's intense drama is aimed at all nations and all men. Though it touches on themes of courage and loyalty in the context of warfare, the film is specifically about the historical realities of World War I, but its impact and artistic achievement remain timeless and universal. --Jeff Shannon
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237
Pearl Jam - Live at the Garden
Pearl Jam |
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Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical: 2003
Genre: Music
Rated: Unrated
Duration: 210
Languages: English
IMDb: 0382221
Starring: Ben Harper, Pearl Jam, Tony Barber, Steve Diggle, Mark Seymour
Summary: Let me preface this by saying that I have been to maybe 150 shows in my life, and the 7/8/03 MSG show is the best show I have seen by any band, ever. Coming from a huge music fan, that's saying a lot.
Ok, here goes. I'll try to write it for the casual fan who may not know every song. First let's start with quality. The video work is fine. Nothing fancy. It's a little jumpy sometimes, but good overall. The 5.1 surround sound is quite nice as well. There are lots of extras on the DVD as well, including an easter egg. It includes lots of tour montages, bonus clips (Ed pre-show solo stuff), etc. But the main part of the dvd, the show itself, is probably what you want to hear about so I'll try to be specific. I'll do a song-sy-song review below: set: Love Boat Captain: Good opener. The sound is a little off, but gets better during the next couple of songs. This is off the latest album. It references the 9 people who were killed during their set at the Roskilde Denmark show in 2000 Last Exit: Good rocking song that gets the crowd going. Save You: Same as above. Good version. Off the last album Green Disease: Also off the last album. You'll notice that the crowd doesn't go insane for some of the newer stuff, but because the MSG shows had such a high fanclub turnout, the reaction is better than expected. This is a fun, hard song. In My Tree: This is a new, slower version of the song off of No Code. This is one of my all-time favorite songs, and they nailed the new version this time. This was the first tour they tried it this way, and it worked. Cropduster: Also a new song. Good, but for the casual fan nothing spectacular. Even Flow: Mike totally owns the middle jam, and the crowd goes nuts for it. Gimme Some Truth: John Lennon cover. It was nice to see. I Am Mine: This is prefaced by a nice speech from Eddie about Sept 11. You have to rewind to the end of the previous song to hear it. Good version as well. Low Light: Had I not seen it a few days earlier I would have gone nuts. They broke it out in Boston on 7/3 for the first time in 5 years and the place went nuts. They also went nuts at MSG. Faithfull: Great hard-rocking song from "Yield" Wishlist/(Why Can't I Touch It?): Great light show for this, and the tag at the end is a Buzzcocks cover. Before the show, 3 members of PJ came out when the Buzzcocks finished their set and played this song with them. Great crowd singalong! Lukin: 1-minute rocker from No Code that goes right into the next song Grievance: Good hard song, was nominated for a grammy 3 years ago. 1/2 Full: Gotta love Ed w/ the mirror during this one. Great guitar from Mike on this song...very bluesy. Black: Decent version. Great solo at the end from Mike. There are better versions, but this is pretty good. Spin The Black Circle: Great hard song circa 95. A crowd pleaser. Rearviewmirror: Awesome first set closer. Insane ending, crowd and band going nuts w/ the strobe lights. enc 1: You Are: Nice light show, great vibe to this song. Thumbing My Way: Good slow song from the last album. Daughter/(With My Own Two Hands): This was around the time I realized it had gone beyond being just a great show to being something special. Ben Harper comes out and sings the Two Hands tag w/ the band. I still get chills watching it. The crowd loves it. Crown Of Thorns: Crowd going nuts by this point. It is a Mother Love Bone cover, which is Stone/Jeff's band before PJ that broke up when the lead singer died of an overdose. They played it twice on the 2000 tour (the first time being at their 10th anniv show), and twice on the 2003 show. I never thought I'd see it. Breath: Yeah, the band is on fire at this point. Breath was the song they broke out at the MSG II show in 98 for the first time in years. It's special to see them play it there again. Better Man: Not a particularly great version, but the crowd singing the first verse alone makes it worth listening to. Do The Evolution: Watch the band during this...they start freaking out. Eddie gives a speech after the intermission explaining why. Considering Roskilde 2000, it's totally understandable. You could literally feel the floor moving if you stood still. MSG is raised off of ground level, and the crowd was going so nuts that they caused the whole place to shake. Watch Ed in particular. enc 2: Crazy Mary: 1 word: RIP. That's all I have to say Indifference: Ed re-introduces Ben Harper. They have played this with Ben a couple of times before. This was my first time seeing this older song and I was loving it. Sonic Reducer: Buzzcocks' member comes out. This is an old Dead Boys cover. I had never seen it live either and it was great. Maybe not as intense as it was on the early tours, but still rocking. Baba O'Riley: Another Buzzcocks' member comes out. I will *never* forget the look on the usher's face next to me when the crowd sang the middle bridge part. He just had this huge grin on his face, like "wow, that was freaking cool as hell!!!" Yellow Ledbetter: Nice closer, with Ed mumbling some new lyrics. Not a great version by any means, but different which is always good. I'm not sure I can say enough about this show. I have never seen so many people leave a show speechless with their jaws on the ground. |
238
Pearl Jam - Live at the Showbox
Pearl Jam |
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Theatrical: 2003
Genre: Documentary, Music
Duration: 123
IMDb: 0384420
Starring: Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Kenneth 'Boom' Gaspar, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready
Summary: Pearl Jam: Live at the Showbox captures Pearl Jam playing in the intimate environment of the Showbox Theatre in Seattle, WA on December 12 2002. The setlist is: Small Town Off He Goes Thumbing My Way Thin Air Breakerfall Green Disease Corduroy Save You Ghost Cropduster I Am Mine Love Boat Captain God's Dice Half Full Daughter You Are Rearviewmirror Bushleaguer Insignificance Betterman Do The Evolution Yellow Ledbetter Soon Forget Don't Believe In Christmas
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239
Pearl Jam - Single Video Theory
Mark Pellington |
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Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical: 1998
Genre: Music
Rated: NR
Duration: 45
Languages: English
IMDb: 0216214
Starring: Pearl Jam
Summary: Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 09/10/2002
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240
Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000
Pearl Jam |
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Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical: 2001
Genre: Music
Rated: NR
Duration: 177
Languages: English
IMDb: 0277949
Starring: Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam
Summary: Imagine you've been given a carte blanche pass to follow Pearl Jam on their 2000 North American tour. Now take 28 songs performed in 19 different cities (with the band's hometown, Seattle, getting the lion's share of five songs), and capture them for posterity, courtesy of three PJ crewmembers, who formed a kamikaze documentary unit with handheld video cameras. In the words of frontman Eddie Vedder (whose liner notes are dated February 14, 2001), this three-hour DVD is "in some ways the visual equivalent of the bootlegs that have been released in the past year... a basic document of what may occur at any given Pearl Jam concert." Well, it's all that and more. The gritty, homespun approach is totally appropriate for the band's no-frills performance of straightforward, superlative rock & roll, and the sound recording is nothing less than spectacular, especially if you honor Vedder's request to "PLEASE PLAY THIS MOVIE LOUD."
Singling out highlights is like trying to pick a favorite child; every viewer will have favorites, and every choice is justified. The death of grunge is Pearl Jam's blessing. Having proven its endurance, the band flourishes in the absence of overexposure. Everyone's in peak form (we like the beard, Eddie), and the DVD's bonus features are both fun and substantial, including city, band, and fan montages from PJ's earlier European tour, Todd McFarlane's outstanding animated "Do the Evolution" video, and three songs featuring "Matt Cam," fixed on drummer Matt Cameron, with percussion mixed louder on the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. The only possible complaint is the absence of interviews or backstage footage, but that's a trivial quibble. It's the music that matters, and as an audiovisual record of PJ's 2000 tour, this DVD was created with all the right priorities. --Jeff Shannon |
241
A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
Martin Scorsese |
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Studio: Miramax
Theatrical: 1995
Genre: Documentary
Rated: NR
Writer: Martin Scorsese, Michael Henry Wilson
Duration: 230
Languages: English
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
IMDb: 0112120
Starring: Kathryn Bigelow, John Cassavetes, Philippe Collin, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, André De Toth, Clint Eastwood, John Ford, Samuel Fuller, Elia Kazan, Fritz Lang, George Lucas, Arthur Penn, Nicholas Ray, Martin Scorsese, Douglas Sirk, King Vidor, Orson Welles, Billy Wilder
Summary: "I can only talk about what has moved me or intrigued me," says filmmaker Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull) at the beginning of this four-hour documentary about his passion for U.S. cinema. "I can't really be objective here." Hallelujah! A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies is the perfect antidote to the forced and artificial doctrine of the American Film Institute's so-called 100 best films. The AFI's English cousin, the British Film Institute, did a brilliant thing in enlisting Scorsese--probably the most famous student of cinema in the U.S.--to open up and speak at length for this project about the history of artistic survival among Hollywood directors. Working with cowriter and codirector Michael Henry Wilson, Scorsese takes a highly intuitive and heartfelt approach in describing how a number of filmmakers--some famous and some forgotten--carefully layered their visions into their work, often against the great resistance or eccentric whims of powerful producers. Film clips are plentiful, but they are also more than window dressing for nostalgia buffs. For instance, it's not unusual for Scorsese to return repeatedly to the same film (such as Vincente Minnelli's The Bad and the Beautiful) in order to make a series of connecting, deepening points. In the end, this work is truly one of Scorsese's most direct bridges to his imagination and personality, and it has the sort of restorative properties that can make a cinephile wearied by today's junk culture fall in love with movies again. A companion book is also available. --Tom Keogh
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242
Pi
Darren Aronofsky |
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Studio: Lions Gate
Theatrical: 1998
Genre: Suspense
Rated: R
Writer: Eric Watson
Duration: 85
Languages: English
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0138704
Starring: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman (II), Pamela Hart (II), Stephen Pearlman, Samia Shoaib, Ajay Naidu, Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao, Espher Lao Nieves, Joanne Gordon, Lauren Fox, Stanley Herman, Clint Mansell, Tom Tumminello, Ari Handel, Oren Sarch, Lloyd J. Schwartz, Richard Lifschutz, David Strahlberg, Peter Cheyenne
Summary: Patterns exist everywhere: in nature, in science, in religion, in business. Max Cohen (played hauntingly by Sean Gullette) is a mathematician searching for these patterns in everything. Yet, he's not the only one, and everyone from Wall Street investors, looking to break the market, to Hasidic Jews, searching for the 216-digit number that reveals the true name of God, are trying to get their hands on Max. This dark, low-budget film was shot in black and white by director Darren Aronofsky. With eerie music, voice-overs, and overt symbolism enhancing the somber mood, Aronofsky has created a disturbing look at the world. Max is deeply paranoid, holed up in his apartment with his computer Euclid, obsessively studying chaos theory. Blinding headaches and hallucinogenic visions only feed his paranoia as he attempts to remain aloof from the world, venturing out only to meet his mentor, Sol Robeson (Mark Margolis), who for some mysterious reason feels Max should take a break from his research. This movie is complex--occasionally too complex--but the psychological drama and the loose sci-fi elements make this a worthwhile, albeit consuming, watch. Pi won the Director's Award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. --Jenny Brown
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243
Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii
Adrian Maben |
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Studio: Hip-O Records
Theatrical: 2003
Genre: Music
Rated: G
Duration: 91
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Japanese, Georgian
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
IMDb: 0069090
Starring: David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright (II)
Summary: Conceived by the French director Adrian Maben as "an anti-Woodstock film,"Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii was shot in October 1971 in a vacant, 2,000-year-old amphitheater--a venue chosen to accentuate the grandeur and spaciousness of the band's Meddle-era music. This disc contains a new, 90-minute director's cut as well as the original 60-minute concert film, whose production and effects feel inescapably dated. Maben's cut goes to great lengths to lend the film a more contemporary feel, but it's the earlier version that makes this disc such a gem, being more focused on the music and more wholistic in vision. The anamorphic, 16:9 director's cut interweaves the Pompeii performances with fascinating but distracting interviews and music snippets filmed later (mostly during the recording of Dark Side of the Moon). The movie was originally prepared in a 4:3 aspect ratio, however, and the widescreen version crops perfectly framed images like the nine-square mosaic of drummer Nick Mason in "One of These Days." The original offers plenty of closeups of fingers on frets and keys, with shots that are often luxuriously long in duration. And the picture quality from Pompeii is revelatory: outstandingly sharp and clear, rich in subtle grades of light and color.
Generous extras include everything from original posters, reviews, bootleg album covers, and song lyrics to a 24-minute interview with Maben. But for all the director's talk of the glorious acoustics in Pompeii's amphitheater, there's little natural ambience to be heard. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is clear, dry, and two-dimensional, though notably better than any previous video release. --Michael Mikesell |
244
Pink Floyd - Making of the Dark Side of the Moon
Matthew Longfellow |
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Studio: Eagle Vision USA
Theatrical: 1997
Genre: Music
Rated: NR
Duration: 92
Languages: English
IMDb: 0398868
Starring: Storm Thorgerson, Bhaskar Menon, David Gilmour, Robert Sandall, Nigel Williamson, Nick Mason, David Fricke (II), Chris Thomas (III), Richard Wright (II), Roger Waters, Alan Parsons
Summary: The most phenomenal recording in rock & roll history is thoroughly examined in Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon. The Floyd's 1973 masterpiece remained on bestseller charts for nearly 14 years, and its enduring importance is honored here by all four members of Pink Floyd and key personnel (engineer Alan Parsons, mixing supervisor Chris Thomas, sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, and others) who played essential roles in the landmark album's creation. Produced for the Classic Albums series that originally aired on VH-1, this thorough and thought-provoking study highlights a track-by-track dissection of the LP's master tapes (including the spoken-word passages that bookend the album), superbly interlaced with archival footage, early demo tapes, concert animations, and latter-day acoustic performances by David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright to demonstrate each track's contribution to the final mix--a sonic exploration that extends to the illuminating bonus features. Informative interviews abound (including Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke), and much-deserved credit is given to saxophonist Dick Parry, solo vocalist Clare Torry, and former Capitol Records chairman Bhaskar Menon, who fostered the album's U.S. commercial success. For Floyd fans, musicians, and studio technicians alike, this is a must-have addition to any DVD library. --Jeff Shannon
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245
Pink Floyd - Pulse
David Mallet |
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Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical: 2006
Genre: Music
Rated: NR
Duration: 180
Languages: English
IMDb: 0110758
Starring: David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright (II), Guy Pratt, Dick Parry, Tim Renwick, Jon Carin, Gary Wallis, Sam Brown (II), Claudia Fontaine, Durga McBroom
Summary: At long last Pink Floyd: Pulse has arrived on DVD, and Floyd fans already know it's a major cause to celebrate. The original VHS release was a milestone bestseller, but it seemed to take forever for the DVD to arrive, with numerous delays while Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and long-time Floyd producer James Guthrie labored to restore, re-edit, and remix this legendary concert video in 5.1-channel Dolby Surround Sound. The resulting two-disc set was well worth the wait: While the limitations of the original video source are still evident in the sometimes-hazy image quality (Gilmour would later admit the concert should have been captured on film), Floyd fans will unanimously agree that Pulse has never looked or sounded better, and only the absence of group co-founder Roger Waters prevents this from being the ultimate document of Pink Floyd in performance. (Even without Waters, it's easily one of the group's most impressive stage productions.) Gracefully directed with minimal intrusion by veteran music video and concert director David Mallet, and shot on video during Pink Floyd's two-week stint at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre in October 1994, this 145-minute performance (from Floyd's Division Bell tour) is a sonic marvel to behold. Under a massive arch festooned with then-state-of-the-art laser, lighting, and projection systems, the 1987 incarnation of Pink Floyd (Gilmour, keyboardist Richard Wright, and drummer Nick Mason) and their stellar supporting band kicks off with "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" (a loving tribute to Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett), followed by four tracks from The Division Bell, two from 1987's A Momentary Lapse of Reason, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" from 1979's magnum opus The Wall, and leading into intermission with an absolutely stunning performance of "One of These Days," the timeless opening track from 1971's Meddle.
The centerpiece of Disc 2 is a near-perfect performance of 1974's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety--reason enough to make this a must-have DVD for even the most casual Floyd admirers. And while no one will ever re-create the sheer magnificence of Clare Torry's original tour de force vocals on "The Great Gig in the Sky," it's safe to say that backup singers Sam Brown, Claudia Fontaine, and Durga McBroom deliver the next best thing, in addition to seamless contributions throughout the concert. After the closing heartbeat of "Eclipse," the concert ends with encore performances of "Wish You Were Here,""Comfortably Numb," and a no-holds-barred, pyrotechnically explosive rendition of The Wall's "Run Like Hell," all showcasing Gilmour's guitar mastery with frequent close-ups of his picking and fret-work as seen throughout the concert. (Like Gilmour, Mason and Wright were never dynamic onstage, and that's true here as well, but their technical precision is fully evident, and while guitarist Tim Renwick and saxophonist Dick Parry are each given moments to shine, bassist Guy Pratt is a worthy substitution for Waters, especially when vocally sparring with Gilmour on "Run Like Hell.") With beautiful packaging, an 8-page booklet, and menu designs by long-time Floyd associate Storm Thorgerson, the DVDs offer an abundance of bonus features including "Bootlegging the Bootleggers," featuring surprisingly good-quality "boot" video performances of "What Do You Want From Me?,""On the Turning Away,""Poles Apart," and "Marooned." The surreal round-ratio screen films seen throughout the concert can all be viewed independently (still in round format, and several offered in both original and alternate versions). Music videos for "Learning to Fly" and "Take It Back" are included on Disc 1, along with "Tour Stuff" including maps, itineraries, and stage plans for the 1994 tour. "Say Goodbye to Life as We Know It" is a playful backstage video (mostly involving the production staff's ongoing quest for a good pint of beer), and after delivering a heartfelt introduction to Pink Floyd's 1996 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with Roger Waters and Syd Barrett acknowledged by Gilmour), Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan joins Gilmour and Wright for a moving acoustic performance of "Wish You Were Here" (directed at Waters, perhaps?). Additional features include album cover art, a photo gallery, and the concert-only audio choice between a 448kbps audio bitstream or a higher-quality 640kbps stream for higher-quality DVD players. The system set-up feature ensures that audiophiles will achieve optimum speaker performance in keeping with Pink Floyd's exacting technical standards. In tandem with the superior concert presentation, these features make Pulse one of the best--if not the best--music DVDs of 2006, guaranteed to satisfy Floyd fans for many years to come. --Jeff Shannon More from Pink Floyd and David Gilmour Pulse (CD) Is There Anybody Out There?/The Wall Live Pink Floyd 1980-81 Pink Floyd--The Wall 25th Anniversary (DVD) The Division Bell, Pink Floyd Delicate Sound of Thunder, Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason, Pink Floyd Live 8 on DVD--Featuring Pink Floyd Pink Floyd--Live at Pompeii (Director's Cut) (DVD), Pink Floyd On an Island, David Gilmour |
246
Pink Floyd - The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story
John Edginton |
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Studio: United States of Distribution
Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Music
Rated: NR
Duration: 70
Languages: English
IMDb: 0368147
Starring: Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett
Summary: PINK FLOYD AND SYD BARRETT STORY,THE (PINK FLOYD AND SYD BARRETT)
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247
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Alan Parker |
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Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical: 1982
Genre: Drama, Music
Rated: R
Writer: Roger Waters
Duration: 100
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0084503
Starring: Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves, James Laurenson, Eleanor David, Kevin McKeon, Bob Hoskins, David Bingham (II), Jenny Wright, Alex McAvoy, Ellis Dale, James Hazeldine, Ray Mort, Margery Mason, Robert Bridges, Michael Ensign, Marie Passarelli, Winston Rose, Joanne Whalley, Nell Campbell, Emma Longfellow
Summary: By any rational measure, Alan Parker's cinematic interpretation of Pink Floyd: The Wall is a glorious failure. Glorious because its imagery is hypnotically striking, frequently resonant, and superbly photographed by the gifted cinematographer Peter Biziou. And a failure because the entire exercise is hopelessly dour, loyal to the bleak themes and psychological torment of Roger Waters's great musical opus, and yet utterly devoid of the humor that Waters certainly found in his own material. Any attempt to visualize The Wall would be fraught with artistic danger, and Parker succumbs to his own self-importance, creating a film that's as fascinating as it is flawed.
The film is, for better and worse, the fruit of three artists in conflict--Parker indulging himself, and Waters in league with designer Gerald Scarfe, whose brilliant animated sequences suggest that he should have directed and animated this film in its entirety. Fortunately, this clash of talent and ego does not prevent The Wall from being a mesmerizing film. Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof (in his screen debut) is a fine choice to play Waters's alter ego--an alienated, "comfortably numb" rock star whose psychosis manifests itself as an emotional (and symbolically physical) wall between himself and the cold, cruel world. Weaving Waters's autobiographical details into his own jumbled vision, Parker ultimately fails to combine a narrative thread with experimental structure. It's a rich, bizarre, and often astonishing film that will continue to draw a following, but the real source of genius remains the music of Roger Waters. --Jeff Shannon |
248
Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1
Bud Luckey, Alvy Ray Smith, Andrew Jimenez, Brad Bird, Dan Scanlon |
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Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Short
Rated: G
Duration: 54
Languages: English
IMDb: 1164983
Starring: Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Michael Wallis, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman
Summary: Pixar's unprecedented string of hit animated features was built on the short films in this collection. John Lasseter and Ed Catmull used these cartoons the way Walt Disney used the "Silly Symphonies" during the 1930s: as a training ground for artists and a way to explore the potential of a new medium. Although it's only 90 seconds long, "Luxo, Jr." (1986) ranks as the "Steamboat Willie" of computer animation: For the first time, audiences believed CG characters could think and feel. (It was also the first CG film to make audiences laugh.) When the artists began work on "Toy Story", they had learned so much from the shorts, they were ready to undertake that landmark creation. In the later shorts, the viewer can see the artists continuing to experiment: with a more realistic human figure in "Geri's Game" and with new ways of suggesting atmospheric effects in "Boundin'." Some of the more recent shorts continue the adventures of the characters from the features. "Jack-Jack Attack" reveals what happened to the hapless baby-sitter while the Incredibles were off fighting Syndrome, while "Mater and the Ghost Light" shows that life goes on for the inhabitants of Radiator Springs. When Sully from "Monsters, Inc." tries to adjust his seat in "Mike's New Car," the animators prolong the moment to wring every drop of humor from the situation--just as an earlier generation of animators milked Wile E. Coyote's antics for all they were worth. The long-unseen films for "Sesame Street" are an unexpected bonus. A delightful collection of entertaining shorts, and a significant chronicle of the growth of computer animation. (Rated G: suitable for all ages: cartoon violence) "--Charles Solomon"
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249
Play it to the Bone
Ron Shelton |
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Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical: 2000
Genre: Comic Action
Rated: R
Writer: Ron Shelton
Duration: 125
Languages: English, French
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0196857
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, Lolita Davidovich, Tom Sizemore, Lucy Liu, Robert Wagner, Richard Masur, Willie Garson, Cylk Cozart, Jack Carter (II), Aida Turturro, Louie Leonardo, Slade Barnett, Cameron Milzer, Julio García (III), Johnny Ortiz, Jordy Oakland, William Utay, Joseph Arsenault, Fred Lewis
Summary: Best friends Vince (Woody Harrelson) and Cesar (Antonio Banderas) are both down-on-their-luck boxers who've suddenly been given a highly visible fight and a promised shot at the middleweight title--only they're fighting each other. With Grace (Lolita Davidovich), Cesar's current girlfriend and Vince's ex, they drive to Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, the trip opens up hidden resentments, regrets, and mistakes from the past. What's more surprising is how meandering and shapeless Play It to the Bone is; writer-director Ron Shelton is responsible for such charming and sprightly sports films as Bull Durham, White Men Can't Jump, and Tin Cup, but boxing doesn't seem to have inspired him. The actual boxing match does achieve a kind of brutal energy, though it's curiously filled with gratuitous hallucinations of female nudity. Still, Harrelson and Banderas have a nice rapport, and in their best moments they just yammer at each other, not exactly listening but still communing in a kind of rhythmic groove. Also featuring Lucy Liu from TV's Ally McBeal and dozens of famous cameos at ringside during the bout. --Bret Fetzer
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250
Poolhall Junkies
Mars Callahan |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 2003
Genre: Crime & Criminals
Rated: R
Writer: Mars Callahan, Chris Corso
Duration: 99
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0273982
Starring: Michelle Ainge, Bojesse Christopher, Alison Eastwood, Shannon Engemann, Mick E. Jones, Billy Lamb, Anson Mount, Jerry North, Chazz Palminteri, Glenn Plummer, Ernie Reyes Jr., Orien Richman, Peter Mark Richman, Michael Rosenbaum, Kristina Santoro, Rick Schroder, Rod Steiger, Nathan Stevens, Christopher Walken
Summary: Johnny was a poolhall hustler, one of the best, until he discovered how his manager Joe had ruined his life. he left Joe int he hands of some heavy-duty drug dealers and split the scene. Now he's trying to go legit, save his relationship with his girlfriend Tara, and maybe even save his life. Johnny's younger brother Danny is eager to follow in his footsteps -- eager enough to find himself deep in debt to Joe, who has returned with a new poolhall protege. When Danny robs a store to pay back Joe, it's time for his big brother to take his cue. The final game has a payoff that's bigger than money, bigger than life, bigger than either player can imagine. Because somewhere on the edge of the 8-ball waits a man's soul.
DVD Features: Audio Commentary:Audio commentary with Mars Callahan and Chris Corso Biographies:Cast and crew bios Interactive Menus Scene Access Theatrical Trailer:Original theatrical trailer |
251
The Postman Always Rings Twice
Tay Garnett
David Heeley |
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Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical: 1946
Genre: Film Noir
Rated: NR
Writer: Niven Busch
Duration: 113
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
IMDb: 0082934
Starring: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, Audrey Totter, Alan Reed, Jeff York, Walter Ridge, John Alban, Howard M. Mitchell, Jeffrey Sayre, Bud Harrison, Wally Cassell, Helen McLeod, King Baggot, William Halligan, Virginia L. Randolph (II), Tom Dillon, Jack Chefe
Summary: Even under the heavy censorship of 1946 Hollywood, Lana Turner and John Garfield's libidinous desires burn up the screen in Tay Garnett's adaptation of James M. Cain's torrid crime melodrama. Platinum blond Turner is Cora, a restless sexpot stuck in a roadside diner married to mundane middle-aged fry cook Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway) when handsome drifter Frank (Garfield) blows her way. It's lust at first sight, a rapacious desire that neither can break off, and before long they're plotting his demise--but in the wicked world of Cain nothing is that easy. Garnett's visual approach is subdued compared to the more expressionistic film noir of the period, but he's at no loss when he films the luminous Turner in her milky-white wardrobe. She radiates repressed sexuality and uncontrollable passion while Garfield's smart-talking loner Frank mixes street-smart swagger and scrappy toughness with vulnerability and sincere intensity. Costar Hume Cronyn cuts a cold, calculating figure as their conniving lawyer, a chilly character that only increases our feelings for the murderous couple, victims of an all consuming amour fou that drives their passions to extremes. --Sean Axmaker
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252
Predator
John McTiernan |
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Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical: 1987
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rated: R
Writer: Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Duration: 107
Languages: English, Spanish
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0093773
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke
Summary: "Rambo" meets "Alien" in this terrific science-fiction thriller from 1987, directed by John McTiernan just a year before "Die Hard" made him Hollywood's most sought-after director of action-packed blockbusters. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite squad of U.S. Army commandos to a remote region of South American jungle, where they've been assigned to search for South American officials who've been kidnapped by terrorists. Instead they find a bunch of skinned corpses hanging from the trees and realize that they're now facing a mysterious and much deadlier threat. As the squad is picked off one by one, Arnold finds himself pitted against a hideous alien creature that's heavily armed and wearing a spacesuit enabling the creature to render itself invisible. The title says it all in describing the relentless, escalating action that follows, maintained by McTiernan with an abundance of visual flair. The film's special effects are still impressive, and stunning locations in the Mexican jungles create a combined atmosphere of verdant beauty and imminent danger. The plot doesn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie's so exciting and tightly paced that its weaknesses seem irrelevant. "--Jeff Shannon"
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253
Primal Fear
Gregory Hoblit |
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Studio: Paramount
Theatrical: 1996
Genre: Drama, Crime
Rated: R
Writer: William Diehl
Duration: 130
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: Spanish
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0117381
Starring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney, Frances McDormand, Alfre Woodard, Terry O'Quinn, Andre Braugher, Steven Bauer, Joe Spano, Tony Plana, Stanley Anderson, Maura Tierney, Jon Seda, Reg Rogers, Kenneth Tigar, Brian Reddy, Christopher Carroll, Wendy Cutler, Ron O.J. Parson
Summary: Clever twists and a bona fide surprise ending make this an above-average courtroom thriller, tapping into the post-O.J. scrutiny of our legal system in the case of a hotshot Chicago defense attorney (Richard Gere) whose latest client is an altar boy (Edward Norton) accused of murdering a Catholic archbishop. The film uses its own manipulation to tell a story about manipulation, and when we finally discover who's been pulling the strings, the payoff is both convincing and pertinent to the ongoing debate over what constitutes truth in the American system of justice. Making an impressive screen debut that has since led to a stellar career, Norton gives a performance that rides on a razor's edge of schizophrenic pathology--his role is an actor's showcase, and without crossing over the line of credibility, Norton milks it for all it's worth. Gere is equally effective in a role that capitalizes on his shifty screen persona, and Laura Linney and Frances McDormand give memorable performances in their intelligently written supporting roles. --Jeff Shannon
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254
Prime Suspect 1
Edward Mansell
Christopher Menaul |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 1992
Genre: Television
Rated: NR
Writer: Lynda La Plante
Duration: 208
Languages: English (Original Language)
IMDb: 0098898
Starring: Helen Mirren, John Benfield, Tom Bell, John Bowe, Zoë Wanamaker
Summary: Helen Mirren (Teaching Mrs. Tingle/Gosford Park) introduces the character of Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the first of the series PRIME SUSPECT, which aired on PBS in January 1992. There will be five series in all, with a sixth currently set to air in the summer of 2004. When a young woman is found brutally murdered and the DCI in charge is unable to take up the case, it is passed to Jane Tennison, the first female DCI to handle such responsibility. Between a slippery suspect and resistance from her team of detectives, Tennison has her hands full. But she's got the strength to take them all on.
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255
Prime Suspect 2
Edward Mansell
John Strickland |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 1992
Genre: Television
Rated: NR
Writer: Lynda La Plante
Duration: 208
Languages: English (Original Language)
IMDb: 0103516
Starring: Helen Mirren, Colin Salmon, John Benfield, Jack Ellis, Craig Fairbrass
Summary: Helen Mirren is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the second season of Prime Suspect. This case involves a death in the Afro-Caribbean community that puts D.C.I. Tennison and the rest of the police force in the middle of a racial controvery.
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256
Prime Suspect 3
David Drury |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 1994
Genre: Television
Rated: NR
Writer: Lynda La Plante
Duration: 207
Languages: English
IMDb: 0106104
Starring: Helen Mirren, Peter Capaldi, Michael Shannon, Greg Saunders, David Thewlis
Summary: Helen Mirren is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison and has been transferred to a new station and now has the job of cleaning up the streets of Soho. D.C.I. Tennison takes the team into the underworld of teenage prostitution, pornography and runaways in the third season of Prime Suspect.
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257
Prime Suspect 4
John Madden, Paul Marcus, Sarah Pia Anderson |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 1995
Genre: Television
Rated: R
Writer: Paul Billing
Duration: 312
Languages: English
IMDb: 0114181
Starring: Helen Mirren, Thomas Russell, James Laurenson, Helene Kvale, Jill Baker
Summary: Helen Mirren is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison who is promoted to Detective Superintendent. In this Fourth series three two-hour episodes are included: The Lost Child, Inner Circles, The Scent of Darkness.
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258
Prime Suspect 5
Philip Davis |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 1997
Genre: Television
Rated: Unrated
Writer: Guy Andrews
Duration: 208
Languages: English
IMDb: 0115321
Starring: Helen Mirren, John McArdle, Julia Lane, David O'Hara, John Brobbey
Summary: Helen Mirren is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the fifth of the series Prime Suspect that aired on PBS in January 1992. Having been demoted and transferred to the north D.C.I. Tennison finds herself under-used until she gets a case where a 2-year-old boy confesses to murder.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE UPC: 026359227424
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259
Prime Suspect 6 - The Last Witness
Tom Hooper |
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Studio: HBO
Theatrical: 2004
Genre: Television
Rated: NR
Writer: Peter Berry
Duration: 195
Languages: English
IMDb: 0365651
Starring: Helen Mirren, Oleg Menshikov, Ben Miles, Robert Pugh, Clare Holman
Summary: Helen Mirren returns in triumph to the role that brought her international stardom, British police inspector Jane Tennison, in the sixth series of "Prime Suspect". Tennison finds herself being pressured to retire and responds by seizing a difficult homicide investigation: A young female Bosnian refugee has been tortured and murdered. As the trail begins to suggest connections to war atrocities in the Balkans, Tennison finds herself struggling with resistance from higher up, uncooperative and ambitious underlings, and deeply buried secrets. The strength of "Prime Suspect" has always been how it merges suspenseful detective work with an intricate grasp of police politics, and "The Last Witness" is no exception. The plot unfolds masterfully, the program is directed with striking visual style, and Mirren ("The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover", "Gosford Park") commands the screen. Her authority in this role, honed through five previous series, is unmatchable; the richness of the character--steely, sexy, obsessive, rash, cunning--makes "Prime Suspect" essential viewing. "--Bret Fetzer"
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260
Prime Suspect 7 - The Final Act
Philip Martin (IV) |
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Studio: Acorn Media
Theatrical: 2006
Genre: Television
Rated: NR
Writer: Frank Deasy
Duration: 184
Languages: English
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0811026
Starring: Helen Mirren, Stephen Tompkinson, Laura Greenwood, Eve Best, Gary Lewis (III)
Summary: "Perhaps the greatest role and performance of a female police detective, ever"--San Francisco Chronicle
In yet another subtle, powerful performance, Oscar® winner Helen Mirren truly inhabits the role of Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison. The Final Act finds her searching for Sallie Sturdy, a 14-year-old girl presumed murdered. Facing the hospitalization of her father, descending deeper into alcoholism, and resisting pressure to retire quietly, Tennison vows to bring Sallie's killer to justice before ending her career. Along the way she forges a surprising friendship with Penny Philips (Laura Greenwood), the missing girl's best friend. In the teenager's longing and fierce independence, the aging cop sees something of her younger self. Jane Tennison emerges as a deeply flawed but ultimately sympathetic human being--one who accepts responsibility for her choices, knowing full well the price she and others have paid for each. The Final Act serves as the perfectly fitting conclusion to what some critics have called the best crime series ever televised. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE 50-minute behind-the-scenes feature, photo gallery, and cast filmographies. Some coarse language and graphic content |
261
The Princess Bride
Rob Reiner |
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Studio: MGM
Theatrical: 1987
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rated: PG
Writer: William Goldman
Duration: 98
Languages: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0093779
Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, Robin Wright Penn, Peter Falk, Peter Cook, Mel Smith, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Anne Dyson, Margery Mason, Malcolm Storry, Willoughby Gray, Betsy Brantley, Paul Badger, Sallie McLaughlin
Summary: From celebrated director Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally) and Oscar *-winning screenwriter William Goldman (Chaplin) comes an enchanting fantasy (Time) filled with adventure, romance and plenty of good-hearted fun (Roger Ebert)! Featuring a spectacular cast that includes Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Cary Elwes (Liar, Liar), Mandy Patinkin (Dick Tracy) and Billy Crystal (City Slickers), this wonderful fairy tale about a princess named Buttercup and her beloved is a real dream of a movie (People)!
Special Features:Bran-New As You Wish Documentary Featuring All-New Interviews With Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin And More!New Audio Commentary By Director Rob ReinerNew Audio Commentary By Author William GoldmanExclusive Footage Shot By Cary Elwes During The Making Of The Movie2 Original Featurettes And More! System Requirements:Running Time 98 Min Format: DVD MOVIE |
262
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Billy Wilder |
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Studio: MGM
Theatrical: 1970
Genre: Romance
Rated: PG-13
Writer: Arthur Conan Doyle, Billy Wilder
Duration: 125
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0066249
Starring: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely
Summary: This 1970 Billy Wilder comedy-drama about a major defeat in the career of Sherlock Holmes may have little to do with the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but in its uncut form it happens to be one of the finest films of the decade. Robert Stephens makes a perfectly splendid Holmes, brilliant, sophisticated, and deeply flawed, while Colin Blakely plays Dr. Watson as a drinker and ladies' man with more personality and intelligence than is often granted him by filmmakers. The case (which has some echoes of Doyle's story "The Bruce-Partington Plans") begins with Holmes aiding the distressed Madame Valladon (Geneviève Page), who is searching for her missing husband. The inquiry shifts to Scotland, and despite a stern warning from the hero's brother, Mycroft Holmes (Christopher Lee), Sherlock pursues events that reveal a top-secret government plan. Lush, energetic, funny, gorgeous to look at, and ultimately tragic, the film is layered with Wilder's familiar collision of cynicism and yearning, hope and betrayal, grace and isolation. --Tom Keogh
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263
Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock |
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Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical: 1960
Genre: Suspense, Horror
Rated: R
Writer: Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch
Duration: 109
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0054215
Starring: Frank Albertson, John Anderson, Martin Balsam, George Eldredge, Sam Flint, John Gavin, Virginia Gregg, Patricia Hitchcock, Frank Killmond, Ted Knight, Janet Leigh, John McIntire, Vera Miles, Mort Mills, Simon Oakland, Anthony Perkins, Vaughn Taylor, Lurene Tuttle, Helen Wallace
Summary: At last--a great American movie available on video for the first time in its original aspect ratio. For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for one fateful night. Psycho gets the masterpiece treatment it deserves on DVD, with extras including newsreel footage surrounding the making and release of the movie; an archive of production stills; the special trailer in which Hitchcock (acting as one of the original Universal Studio tour guides) himself leads viewers around the Bates place; credit designer Saul Bass's original "shower scene" story boards; posters and advertising materials for the movie's William Castle-like publicity campaign (No One Will Be Seated After the Feature Begins!);and a 90-minute documentary on the making of the film! What more could any movie fan possibly want? --Jim Emerson
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264
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino |
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Studio: Miramax
Theatrical: 1994
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Duration: 164
Languages: English
Picture Format: Widescreen
IMDb: 0110912
Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Steve Buscemi, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Peter Greene, Susan Griffiths, Samuel L. Jackson, Phil LaMarr, Amanda Plummer, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth, Burr Steers, Eric Stoltz, Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Frank Whaley, Duane Whitaker, Bruce Willis, Maria de Medeiros
Summary: With the knockout one-two punch of 1992's Reservoir Dogs and 1994's Pulp Fiction writer-director Quentin Tarantino stunned the filmmaking world, exploding into prominence as a cinematic heavyweight contender. But Pulp Fiction was more than just the follow-up to an impressive first feature, or the winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, or a script stuffed with the sort of juicy bubblegum dialogue actors just love to chew, or the vehicle that reestablished John Travolta on the A-list, or the relatively low-budget ($8 million) independent showcase for an ultrahip mixture of established marquee names and rising stars from the indie scene (among them Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Julia Sweeney, Kathy Griffin, and Phil Lamar). It was more, even, than an unprecedented $100-million-plus hit for indie distributor Miramax. Pulp Fiction was a sensation. No, it was not the Second Coming (I actually think Reservoir Dogs is a more substantial film; and P.T. Anderson outdid Tarantino in 1997 by making his directorial debut with two even more mature and accomplished pictures, Hard Eight and Boogie Nights). But Pulp Fiction packs so much energy and invention into telling its nonchronologically interwoven short stories (all about temptation, corruption, and redemption amongst modern criminals, large and small) it leaves viewers both exhilarated and exhausted--hearts racing and knuckles white from the ride. (Oh, and the infectious, surf-guitar-based soundtrack is tastier than a Royale with Cheese.) --Jim Emerson
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265
Pumping Iron
George Butler (II), Robert Fiore |
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Studio: Hbo Home Video
Theatrical: 1977
Genre: Documentary
Rated: PG
Duration: 85
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
IMDb: 0076578
Starring: Ken Waller, Joe Weider, Jimmy Williams, Patrick Reynolds, Serge Nubret
Summary: Arnold Schwarzenegger works the crowds, plots strategies for defeating multiple opponents, shares his parents' values with the press, and inspires legions of admirers with his resolute optimism about the future. And all of this long "before" he decided to run for governor of California, in 1977's hit documentary, "Pumping Iron". Larger than life, though not necessarily larger than his rivals for the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia bodybuilding titles (especially a young Lou Ferrigno, hot on Arnold's competitive trail but much less interesting), Schwarzenegger still comes across, at age 28, as a consummate politician, smart, likable, and crafty about exploiting others' psychological weaknesses. The film still feels redundant (there's only so much beefcake the human eye will tolerate), but the emotional dramas--the unrewarded hard work, the unanswered hopes--are compelling. Complete with a revealing 2003 interview with Schwarzenegger and a reunion of the film's bodybuilders and director. "--Tom Keogh"
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