The Woody Allen Collection, Set 1 (Annie Hall/Manhattan/Sleeper/Bananas/Interiors/Stardust Memories/Love and Death/Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask)

Amazon.com

Starting with 1971's Bananas, Woody Allen's second film as director, this set of eight movies includes all of Allen's work as a director up to 1980, when he wrestled with his own popularity in the Fellini-esque Stardust Memories, showcasing the distinctive arc of a filmmaker who moved from lighthearted movies to more serious fare that still remains breathtaking after 20 years. In between those two movies, there are wonderful trips of comedy, tragedy and romance to be had. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask is a hilarious set of vignettes based on the popular instructional manual, the most notable a segment featuring Gene Wilder's infatuation with a female sheep. The futuristic Sleeper and the underrated Love and Death showcase Allen at his funniest, especially the latter, which tackles the weighty subjects of Russian novels and Bergman films with adroit parody.

Allen's Oscar-winning Annie Hall is one of the most joyous (and melancholy) romances ever made, with a star-making turn by Diane Keaton and a witty screenplay (cowritten with Marshall Brickman) that remains one of Allen's best. Allen did a 180 with the Bergman-esque Interiors, a sometimes stilted drama that nonetheless presaged the dysfunctional-family drama of films like Ordinary People and featured outstanding performances by Geraldine Page and Mary Beth Hurt, as well as unparalleled cinematography by Gordon Willis. The last two films in the set--the romantic Manhattan and the acidic Stardust Memories--are both gorgeously shot in black and white and represent Allen at the peak of his creative powers, as he wrestles with the meaning of life in terms of both love and art, albeit from different perspectives. Indispensable to any film fan, this boxed set represents nothing less than a landmark of American cinema. --Mark Englehart

Description

Disc 1: ANNIE HALL Disc 2: EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK Disc 3: INTERIORS Disc 4: LOVE AND DEATH Disc 5: MANHATTAN Disc 6: SLEEPER Disc 7: STARDUST MEMORIES Disc 8: BANANAS

Customer Reviews:

The best Woody Allen collection.......2007-03-19

Enjoyed Annie Hall again last night - Best Picture, 1977? My husband loved Bananas and all of the earlier movies.

The Woody Allen Collection - 8 pack.......2007-02-08

Great collection of early Woody Allen titles. Nicely presented in slip cover box. Great value for money. Can't wait to get started on them!

not able to run them in European dvd-s.......2007-01-23

Totally disappointed!!!
I love Woody Allen, love his films
BUT - dvd-s are coded for US market and are not possible to be viewed on our European dvd -s
total waste of money
you should have warned me on that

Barbara Kalas, architect from Croatia

It doesn't get much better than this..........2005-06-18

No one will doubt that Woody Allen is the only director who has consistently mastered the art of writing and directing intelligent, funny, unforgettable stories. These films are great examples of that. Fromk Annie Hall to Sleeper [I haven't viewed Stardust Memories yet], you will be completely satisfied with your purchase. Here's an overview of the films:

Annie Hall: Allem's best film, hands down. The story of a couple who meets in a New York tennis club. Allen plays Alvy Singer, a carbon copy of Allen's stereotypical self [neurotic, clumsy, "suave"], while Keaton, who gives a stunning performance, plays Annie Hall, a country girl from Wisconsin trying to find a life in New York. A great story about relationships. The last paragraph that Allen narrates is fabulous. Don't watch this film first, or you may not appreciate Allen's other work as much!

Bananas: On the sillier side, this film is about Fielding Mellish, another character based on himself. Mellish works for a large corporation. Testing products. If you are at all familiar with Allen, you already know that there is a witty scene coming up. Mellish travels to the small Latin American country of San Marcos to find something to do. He ends up becoming the communist dictator there, and that is all I will say.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* *But were afraid to ask: A great satire on the popular book. This is a series of seven small sex stories, varying from Gene Wilder's affair with a sheep to a giant, deadly mammary. Watch for Allen's coolest role as Fabrizio, the Italian.

Interiors: A stunning film [very serious] about a wealthy Long Island family that steers away from the mother. This film is beautifully shot, and it really pays a lot of attention to showing every aspect of every character. Tension builds quickly, and it stays until the end.

Love and Death: One of my personal top five Allen films. This one is about Napoleon trying to take over Russia. Allen plays Boris Grushenko, a Russian Catholic, who falls in love with his distant cousin, Sonja [Keaton]. This one is nonstop laughs, but only if you are familiar with the war and the works of Russian writers. It is still very funny otherwise, but not as deeply funny.

Manhattan: Similar to Annie Hall, but a little different. Allen plays Isaac Davis, who falls in love with a seventeen year old [Mariel Hemingway], and also with Mary [Keaton], an overly pretentious New Yorker at the same time. This story is again about relationship, but this one is extreme. Shot in black and white, and accompanied by a George Gershwin soundtrack, many Allen fans consider this film his love letter to New York City. It is also considered his best by many people. I think he has made better, but this is a stunning film.

Sleeper: Sleeper is 'Love and Death' set in the future. A great film about Allen, who is frozen in 1973, and defrosted 200 years later. Great jokes, chase scenes, and more. In one scene, Diane Keaton and a leader of a revolutionist underground organization re-create scenes from his childhood. Another joke about the NRA. Sleeper is probably the best film to see if one wants a good introduction to Allen's style.

All in all, this collection is a must-own. Also, at less than ten dollars per DVD, no fan should pass this up. Separately, they cost more. Buy this today and you will be granted a good taste in motion pictures!

Excellent Collection with a reservation. See Below!.......2005-04-30

This collection of Woody Allen written and directed movies is well chosen in that it begins with his second writer / director effort and includes all eight in a row from that point on. The included films are:

Bananas
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask
Sleeper
Love and Death
Annie Hall
Interiors
Manhattan
Stardust Memories

This selection is great for a complete Woody Allen fan, but it has some drawbacks to people who are entertained by his comedies, but find nothing of interest in his other movies. And, there is no more `other movies' film than `Interiors', which has not a single joke, gag, laugh, or snicker. That is not to mean it is not pure Woody, as all of his most popular themes such as sex, death, creative freeze-up, parents, and relationships between partners.

`Stardust Memories' is also an `other movie', however, it is on more familiar ground as a parody with jokes. If fact, one can say that the object of parody in `Stardust Memories' is the earlier seven movies and Allen himself.

The one other movie worth noting in this context is `Love and Death'. Amazon's published review of the collection describes this movie as underrated. I think it is more accurate to say that it is much less well known, almost totally overshadowed by the earlier comedies and the great success of `Annie Hall'. In fact, I am almost inclined to guess that some of the changes toward more serious characters and plot may have come as a result of critical ennui with `Love and Death', even though these are by far two of Allen's most pregnant topics. I believe it is not `Love and Death' but `Stardust Memories' which is underrated.

For Allen fans and wannabe Allen fans, this is a great collection. For people who just happen to like his funny movies, do the math to see if the discounted price for the collection means you are getting `Interiors' and maybe `Love and Death' for free. Personally, I feel there are no losers in this collection, but that's me. I just don't know why they didn't bother to start with the first movie, `Take the Money and Run', since it is distributed by MGM, just like all the others.

Average customer rating:

Ridiculous! Completely Ridiculous!
dirty work blows
dumb humor
Better than I expected, but it still stars Norm Macdonald...
Pure Comedic Genius

Dirty Work
Starring: Norm MacDonald , Artie Lange , Jack Warden , Traylor Howard , and Don Rickles
Director: Bob Saget
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792842162
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Description

Life's not so great for Mitch Weaver (Macdonald). He's just lost his girlfriend, his job and now his best friend's dad (Warden) needs a new heart! But the only way to arrange the transplant is to cut a deal with a surgeon (Chase) with a gambling problem in other words, find $50,000 or the old man dies! Out of work and out of options, all Mitch and his friend have to rely on is their one natural talent, revenge! Whether planting phony hookers in cars or stinking up houses with rotting fish, these "Revenge Specialists for Hire" are sick, dirty and good! But when a rich client refuses to pay up after a job well done, they make him realize exactly who he's messing with after all, getting even is their business!

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculous! Completely Ridiculous!.......2007-04-13

OK, this film bombed at the theaters and I am guessing it was panned by the critics. HOWEVER, it has some of the funniest lines and scenes in movie history. Artie and Norm work beautifully together. MOREOEVR, there is one scene in this movie that makes me literally cry because it is so funny, no change that, because it is so ridiculous.

dirty work blows.......2007-04-10

i love norm macdonald and this is the dumbest movie of all time

dumb humor.......2007-01-25

if your into dumb humor...or watching artie lang trying to act in a PG 13 arena....this is a good buy

Better than I expected, but it still stars Norm Macdonald..........2006-10-19

This movie features an all-star cast of former SNL regulars. The plot is goofy and senseless but interesting and full of clever twists. The jokes are plentiful, though only a few are "laugh out loud" funny. Many of Norm Macdonald's attempts at humor fall flat, and this was the biggest flaw of the film. Norm Macdonald quite simply is not a good actor, at least not in a leading role. To say he doesn't have much charisma is putting it mildly. The wooden SNL alumnus delivers many of his lines like he's reading from a book or in a sarcastic tone that seems to wink at the audience when the role calls for him to play the material straight. I love dry, deadpan humor, but Macdonald doesn't quite pull it off. This movie might have been 5-star hilarious with Leslie Nielson the king of deadpan starring in his prime.

Pure Comedic Genius.......2006-09-25

This movie is obviously meant for the 16 - 30 year old white male demographic, and anyone outside of that group may not care for it (however, I have quite a few hispanic friends who LOVED it, so don't take what I've said to heart).

I can honestly say that this is my favorite comedy of all time. It's best watched after a couple of beers, and there are only a few fleeting moments when the movie is not entirely on fire. Norm MacDonald's comedic genius is fully realized in "Dirty Work," without the corporate filters of Saturday Night Live or "The Norm Show" to mute parts of his act that would otherwise be solid gold.

Not only does Norm deliver a flawless performance, but Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, Artie Lange, Jack Warden and many others (including cameos by Gary Coleman and Adam Sandler) all hold their own and win over each and every scene in which they appear.

If you're in the aforementioned demographic, don't hesitate--do yourself a huge favor and pick up this all-time best comedy.

Average customer rating:

"thats the thing with the game, either you play or you get PLAYED!!!"-kb
low budget, BIG FUN!!!!

Played
Starring: Patrick Bergin , Gabriel Byrne , Roy Dotrice , Val Kilmer , and Bruno Kirby
Director: Sean Stanek
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000Q7ZLQA
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

After taking the fall for a heist gone wrong, thief-for-hire Ray Burns is back on the streets. Looking to settle the score, he must get back in the game one last time to take down his enemies. In this gritty look at London's criminal underground, Ray learns the hard way not to get PLAYED.

Customer Reviews:

"thats the thing with the game, either you play or you get PLAYED!!!"-kb.......2007-09-14

Played, I thouroughly ejoyed this one from front to back, the wife and kids liked it as well. Played is like one of those rare diamonds in the rough often spoke of. I was totally floored by the incredible haromny between the films plot elements and the physical cinematopraphy. A rare and candid look into the heart of of exactly just what it is that makes the Indy Brithish Ganster Genre so appealing. Played literally transports the viewer right into the midst of the chaotic, dog eat dog, smile in your face stab you in your back then spit on you, ... jeez how did I get here....I must be dreaming... oh yeah, I'm watching Played, its just a moive (breathe, in and out, deep breaths). At least thats how it was for me, my wife seems to think that I am putting a bit "too much on it" but that withstanding she liked it alot and said and again I quote "It was Hot", nothing like living the simple life. At any rate, Played is a gem of a film and a definite must have, for those who claim to like "real" movies. With guts, glory and gravitas Played is Real!!!

low budget, BIG FUN!!!!.......2007-09-14

From an initial viewing one might walk away from the Direct To Video release PLAYED wondering why a studio would pay for such a film... Well there in lies the answer, a studio didn't pay to make the film. Mick Rossi (from the 70's UK punk band SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS) wrote, directed and starred in this film and spent his own money to get the film made. With this little money Mick was still able to get some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Gabriel Byrne, Val Kilmer and Vinnie Jones to help him create his film.

Not only is that impressive, but as well the fact that 80% of the films dialogue is completely improvised adds a whole new layer of interest to this film.

Of course while the plot is nothing new, it is still great to see their are filmmakers willing to shoot their films without the support of some huge corporation that only cares about making money, not making good films!

BRAVO MR. ROSSI!!!! BRAVO!!!

Average customer rating:

A Thoughtful look at when "we were colored"
The way they were
A People as Most of Them Really Are
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
Great Story

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
Starring: Al Freeman Jr. , Phylicia Rashad , Leon , Paula Kelly , and Salli Richardson
Director: Tim Reid
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0782010539
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Amazon.com

Tim Reid's wonderful film about life in the black neighborhood of Glen Allan, Mississippi, from the mid-'40s to the dawn of the civil rights movement, is thick with terrific, inspired actors and possessed of a mature, limpid visual style. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy raised by his stalwart grandfather and his kind aunt. But the collective tale of a community coming to terms with the risks it must take to fight racism and achieve political rights is equally important and compelling. Beautifully written (based on the autobiographical novel by Clifton Taubert), Reid's vision is rich in scenes of ritual and community that have rarely, if ever, been revealed on film. This is more than just a good movie; it's a watershed event in this nation's cultural history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A Thoughtful look at when "we were colored".......2007-07-25

ONCE UPON A TIME ..WHEN WE WERE COLORED is a grand and relatively sweeping look at black life in Southern rural Mississippi through the eyes of author Clifton Taulbert from the years 1946-1962.In nearly two hours, we are reintroduced to the one of if not the most degrading pieces of our history as Americans, the times when "colored" and "white" existed in a segregated community.Though there is essentially nothing new for we oldsters to learn that we unfortunately lived through, Tim Reid's treatment of Cliff Taulbert's memoirs is a great reminder of where we were as a country, how far we have come, and how far we still need to go! That which impresses the most in this film is the continued stressing of education.Without knowledge ignorance abounds.This film is suggested viewing for anyone who is a member of an oppressed minority whose civil rights are denied.It is also a strong reminder to remember to help all oppressed people who still struggle.Many of us "once upon a time" were ALL "colored" whether we were or not!

A film for great contrast would be THE NEON BIBLE which chronicles a white boy's life in the same time frame in the rural South.

Excellent companion films would be SELMA,LORD,SELMA,BOYCOTT,GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI,and MISSISSIPPI BURNING.

The way they were.......2007-07-04

This is just an excellent look at growing up in rural Misissippi during the Jim Crow era. It follows a boy from the moment of birth until he has to leave the area to further his education. Mostly it centers on the extended family that supports the young man in his upbringing and the strong role models he has. Al Freeman Jr. and Phylicia Rashad are the two main leads with Richard Roundtree in the best performance of his career as Cleve the iceman and down home philosopher. Isaac hayes and Taj Mahal both make cameo appearances. I teach US History and I show this movie every year along with the Ghosts of Mississippi as counterpoints to each other. As I teach in California, most of my African-American students are totally suprised by the content of this movie. As a last note, Polly Bergen is also wonderful in her role.

A People as Most of Them Really Are.......2007-06-22

I think this is a movie that everybody who has not has regular contact with African Americans should see. There isn't really much of a plot, but I wouldn't say that it lags either. Its main benefit for African Americans, especially senior citizens, would be to be reminded of how it was. For the younger ones, it would help 'flesh out' their culture's history. For those whose main 'knowledge' of African Americans is the news and television or movies, this will be a wonderful way to see that no matter what the color, people are, emotionally, basically the same. We all are just trying to make the best of whatever situation in which we find ourselves.

My father had dozens of apartments when integration became the law. When we let in the first black family in a building, virtually all the 'white trash' moved out. Very quickly, we realized that the black tenants were much cleaner and more desirable as tenants. I am also old enough to remember the 'whites' and 'colored' restrooms and drinking fountains. My cousins marched in the South's integration marches. The point is that if everyone saw African Americans as the great majority of them really are, and not as portrayed in the media, there would be much less tension between races. This is a good movie to see them as most of them really are like.

Only three (and a half) stars is due to a lack of a real plot - this shows more like a documentary biography than a drama.

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored.......2007-02-07

I thought the story was real and had very positive
meanings. Some of my favorite actors and actresses
are in this movie; their acting skills added beauty
to the story. I enjoyed the film, the history and
life lessons. *****

Great Story.......2006-12-04

I have to admit that this movie started off a bit slow for me, but am glad to say that it is one of the best movies I have seen about the pre-civil rights South. Phylicia Rashad led an all-star Black cast in a moving story of an impoverished, but proud community overcoming the obstacles placed in their way by the majority White community.

This is just a wonderful film. I was brought to tears at the very end when the Black sharecroppers threw their hoes down and quit their jobs rather than be forced to abandon one of their own.

As Roeper and Ebert say, "TWO THUMBS WAY UP".

Average customer rating:

More fun that it should be
This movie was dragged out
Thoughful action movie with a likeable cast! Great Rental!
Hard Rain!
A lame, predictable movie

Hard Rain
Starring: Morgan Freeman , Christian Slater , Randy Quaid , Minnie Driver , and Edward Asner
Director: Mikael Salomon
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305222894
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Amazon.com

It may not be a disaster movie, per se, but this terminally silly thriller is certainly disastrous, and would be pointless without the novelty of its setting in a flooding Midwestern town during a torrential rainfall. Physically impressive but idiotic in every other respect, the movie pits an armored truck courier (Christian Slater) against a smart leader of thieves (Morgan Freeman) and a corruptible town sheriff (Randy Quaid) who are vying for possession of $3 million in cash. A waterlogged game of cat and mouse, the plot is so contrived that even the most impressive action sequences--such as a jet-ski chase through flooded high-school corridors--are robbed of their already tenuous credibility. Before long you'll be yawning as incompetent accomplices are systematically dispatched by their own stupidity, in the kind of movie where the use of power boats inevitably leads to at least one death by outboard motor. What's impressive here is the physical production itself--the effect of flooding was created by building a huge replica of downtown Huntington, Indiana, in a huge, watertight aircraft hangar in Palmdale, California! --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

More fun that it should be.......2007-03-14

While this isn't a great movie it tries so hard to keep you involved that it becomes much more fun than it should be. Christian Slater has always been someone that is fun to watch and here he proves it. Here he's an armored car guard, who with his uncle Ed Asner is taking money from banks around a town that is flooding very fast. Enter Morgan Freeman(always good no matter what) as a very friendly(?) thief who "just want the money" and throw in Randy Quaid as a not so Andy Taylor small town sheriff and then add more water than "Titanic" and "Poseidon" and you have silly but action packed fun. Sit back , turn off the brain , and enjoy "Hard Rain"

This movie was dragged out.......2007-01-16

The movie was not horrible but I would not watch more than once.

Thoughful action movie with a likeable cast! Great Rental!.......2006-05-01

A great, action movie for a Friday night with a likeable cast! Christian Slater is actually a very good choice for this movies' lead. Mainly because he's kind of like an everyman, regular guy like Bruce Willis' character in "Die Hard" (ironic that Hard is in both titles), who's forced into incredible situations. He does the best he can using his wits and cunning along with above average physical strength,without having or using the advantages of huge, bulging biceps and pecs like Arnold or Sly's characters seem to have in equally similar movies. Minnie Driver is at her most beautiful in this one!! If you fell in love with her intelligence, combined with the refined beauty she displayed in "Good Will Hunting", then this is the movie for you!! You should rent it just to see her at her peak of perfection! Her relationship to Christian Slater is very believable and they play off of one another very well. Randy Quaid is a believable sheriff and Morgan Freeman is a decent bad guy but, it's the constant threat of rain and the Dam breaking that gives the movie its constant tension. The action is extremely good and it's just an all-around good flick to watch on a Friday or Saturday night! Highly recommended!!!

Hard Rain!.......2005-10-09

What a dandy of an action film! Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Minnie Driver and especially Randy Quaid were all very good! Edward Asner, Ray Baker, and Betty White were good! Cool action! Beautiful rain and lighting! Great music by Christopher Young! Hard Rain is a must see.

A lame, predictable movie.......2005-08-12

I saw this at Blockbuster for rent and saw Morgan Freeman's name on it so I decided to rent it. I thought it was going to be a solid thriller but boy was I wrong.
This movie is an action movie, and one really unrealistic movie. Morgan Freeman is great as usual and there is some fun. But, the movie is predictable, unrealistic, dumb and has bad acting. Christian Slater's acting was horrible and Morgan Freeman can't save the movie. The plot is neat, in which an armored truck transports a lot of money in a huge flood. But, some crooks hold it up to steal the money. The problem is that the officer in the truck won't let them off so easy and tries to bring the money to where it's supposed to go.
I had the movie predicted 10 minutes into it and the movie had no suspense or anything. All it was, was Christian Slater beating everyone up. It had some good chases but besides that and some ok action, it was a bad movie.
It's not even worth renting because of its terrible acting, predictability, and basically everything about it.
Morgan Freeman is good but this movie degrades him. This movie is mindless junk but not good mindless junk. Commando is good mindless junk but this isn't. Forget this movie and just act like it doesn't even exist. This movie isn't interesting at all and I recommend never watching it.

Platinum Comedy Series - Earthquake - About Got Damm Time

Average customer rating:

Had Me Crying
Funniest Man on the Planet (EARTHQUAKE!!!)
Funny because of vulgarity, not ingenious
A must have for comedy fans
very pleased

Platinum Comedy Series - Earthquake - About Got Damm Time
Starring: Earthquake
Director: Leslie Small
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007PAM2Y
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Description

Platinum Comedy Series is the #1 stand up comedy DVD series in the country with over 1 million units sold! It is a series of live in concert comedy performances by fresh, talented performers.

Customer Reviews:

Had Me Crying.......2007-06-29

I have only seen excerpts of Earthquake in the past, never a full routine. I have to say I was on the floor crying with laughter. Many times I had to stop the DVD and rewind it, missing parts because of my laughing so hard.

Funniest Man on the Planet (EARTHQUAKE!!!).......2007-06-06

This DVD was unbelievable. Earthquake is the funniest comedian out there. There is not a moment in this DVD when he slacks off. He just continues to get better and better with time, and he deserves more than he's been given. He's been featured on Everybody Hates Chris, and he does a good job on the show too. Pick this DVD up, and see why he is the best black male comedian out there. He's too good for his own good. See why!

Funny because of vulgarity, not ingenious.......2007-01-08

If you have nothing else to do, and have not seen the work of other african american comedians, incl Chris Rock, or even older stalwarts likle Richard Pryor or even Murphys Raw.

Earthquake shook the stage with vulgarity and crude humor. I dont think he really applied much thought into the script sadly, so yes, its good if you are out of the options and you have some time to spare.

A must have for comedy fans.......2006-04-09

Earthquake is not only the best urban comic out there right now, he might be the best comedian out there now. period. If you like stand up comedy, and aren't easily insulted (Earthquake isn't politically correct, but what good comic is?), this is a must have DVD.

The DVD extras include a film of Earthquake before the show as well as trailers for other platinum comedy series DVDs. The extras leave alot to be desired.

All in all, Earthquake's performance is a masterpiece, and this DVD is well worth purchasing.

very pleased.......2006-02-17

I'AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS DVD IT IS SO FUNNY THAT I WATCH ABOUT ONCE A WEEK AND IT STILL MAKES ME LAUGH.

Average customer rating:

Woody Lite
A Woody Allen Love Story
Congenial Throwback to Allen's Earlier Character-Driven Farces with a Sharp Cast
Great Movie
PROMISING SET-UP DEVOLVES INTO THIN MORALITY PLAY

Small Time Crooks
Starring: Diane Bradley , Cindy Carver , Tony Darrow , Crystal Field , and Ray Garvey
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXGS
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Product Description

Woody Allen's star-powered comedy follows the misadventures of an ex-con dishwasher and his manicurist wife. Their get-rich-quick scheme to rob a bank leave the characters rolling in dough--but not the kind they had in mind.

Amazon.com

After a run of serious-tinged comedies like Deconstructing Harry, Celebrity, and Sweet and Lowdown, Woody Allen turns to pure farce with the lightweight, appealing Small Time Crooks, the sunniest film Allen's made in years. Doing a 180 from his nebbishy intellectual persona, Allen plays a less-than-smart ex-con named Ray, who can't even keep a dishwasher job and is perennially supported by his wife Frenchy (Tracey Ullman). When Ray hatches a plot to lease a storefront near a bank and tunnel into the bank's vault, Frenchy is skeptical about putting their life savings behind the scheme, especially after meeting Ray's dim-bulb trio of support (Michael Rapaport, Jon Lovitz, and Tony Darrow, all sublimely ridiculous) and learning she's supposed to provide the front by opening up a cookie store. Soon enough, their get-rich-quick scheme pays off, but not the way they anticipated, and they're suddenly swimming in money and bad taste. All of Allen's farcical shenanigans are basically a setup for a look at Ray's and Frenchy's diverging paths--she wants culture and upper-class acceptance, he wants pizza in front of the TV and poker with his pals. Soon, the lowbrow Frenchy enlists a fortune-digging art broker (Hugh Grant) to make her a lady, and Allen plans a high society robbery with the help of Frenchy's dimwit cousin (Elaine May, who makes an art form of comic stupidity). It's absolutely refreshing to see Allen making a blithely happy film after wrestling with angst over the past few years; watching Allen play a dumb schlemiel is a treat that's been sorely missed. And in Ullman he's found a leading lady who can match him line for line; she wisely resists the urge to overplay Frenchy's crassness and comes up with a finely modulated characterization that makes her relationship with Ray the film's warm, heartfelt core. We'd almost forgotten Woody Allen could be this fun and goofy; it's good to see that part of him back in form. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Woody Lite.......2007-07-19

Small Time Crooks is Woody Lite, well worth a three star rating. It is a fun little movie with some very engaging actors including Tracy Ullman and Hugh Grant. This is good fun, if not memorable. It hearkens back to the older Woody movies that are fun for the sake of being fun.

A Woody Allen Love Story.......2007-05-04

"Small Time Crooks" is a unique type of love story that seems like a cross between "Guys and Dolls", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", and "Take the Money and Run". I was going to add "without the music" but I really enjoyed the music in "Small Time Crooks" as I do with almost all of Woody Allen's post-"Annie Hall" movies.

This movie is more on the humorous side like the earlier Allen movies. Woody's humor usually had a lot of political and mostly social satire as the core of his humor and "Small Time Crooks" is no exception. What makes it a cut above some of his earlier comedies is his focus on the pitfalls of trying to become someone and/or something you're not and probably never will be. Through this window, Allen is able to poke fun at both the wannabes and the established in High Society.

The movie begins with a look at a bumbling small time crook named Ray Winkler, played by Woody Allen. His "gang" is about as inept as he is (maybe even more so since they follow his lead). The brilliant plan of theirs metamorphs itself into something else entirely and they all get a look at what they supposedly want out of life. The problem is that their dreams were really just nightmares in disguise.

Ray's wife Frenchy is the real lead in "Small Time Crooks" and it is she who develops the highest asperations. Her reach for elegance extends well beyond Ray's bewilderment as to his own future. In the end, they discover their own common wants and needs were in the familiar territory that they left behind. I don't think I'm giving anything away with that synopsis because the movie's humor keeps us attentive throughout and can be enjoyed on its' own; with or without a morality play. However, Woody Allen's genius as a director is that he cannot create a story without making a statement. "Small Time Crooks" is good enough as comedy to leave the statement optional.

Congenial Throwback to Allen's Earlier Character-Driven Farces with a Sharp Cast.......2007-01-15

Even though Tracey Ullman is a quarter-century younger than Woody Allen, her spot-on comic turn as his tacky manicurist wife makes her the filmmaker's most compatible co-star since Diane Keaton. Together, they winningly play Ray and Frenchy, a vulgar, working-class married couple who rent a restaurant space in order to rob the bank next door. The twist is that Frenchy's cookie business thrives, and they become wealthy beyond their dreams. Written and directed by Allen, this surprisingly free-wheeling 2000 comedy contains little of the deeper life themes that Allen had been exploring for the previous two decades. For the most part, it represents a complete throwback to his first film as a director, the frenetic, nonsensical 1969's "Take the Money and Run", as both are character-driven slapstick farces with a slew of funny one-liners.

The film starts out strong with Ray and his bumbling partners preparing the heist with every conceivable complication standing in their way, in particular, their own stupidity. The storyline makes a unique turn once Ray and Frenchy become successful. They open up a nationwide chain of cookie stores, move to the posh Upper East Side like the Jeffersons, and start hobnobbing with Manhattan's social elite. Their marriage begins to unravel when Frenchy becomes obsessed with being cultured, while Ray is happy to live his life the same way as before. I don't think the movie is consistently flat-out funny like Allen's earlier works, but it does boast a sterling comedy cast. Freed from his intellectual pretensions, Allen looks like he's having a good time playing the unapologetically guttural Ray. Sporting a convincing New Yawk accent, Ullman, the most chameleonic of comic mimics, dexterously captures the ongoing battle between Frenchy's aspirations for social acceptance and her innately tawdry sensibilities.

Michael Rapaport, Tony Darrow and Jon Lovitz play Ray's trio of thick-skulled cohorts with élan, though they unfortunately disappear for the film's second half. It's good to see Elaine May back onscreen playing Ray's ditzy cousin May, and her crack timing with Allen makes me wish she would resuscitate her clever comedy routines with her ex-husband, film director Mike Nichols. As Frenchy's Pygmalion teacher of art and manners, Hugh Grant plays to his suave persona with subtle venality. The film ends almost like a parable albeit with a hilarious development inspired by the cocktail party scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious". Allen must be quite a fan since he would later use the same plot device in "Scoop". This is lightweight fare though certainly among Allen's most entertaining movies of late. The 2000 DVD provides the theatrical trailer as its only significant extra.

Great Movie.......2006-11-30

I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan, that being said, this movie is hilarious. From the one liners by Tracey Ulmann to the slapstick to the sheer stupidity, this is a great movie.

All of the performances are wonderful. Especially notable is Tracey Ulmann and Hugh Grant's coupling, he is teaching her how to be "cultured" and she is trying really hard. She is also memorizing the dictionary.

I also loved the party scene at Elaine Stritch's. IT is too funny.

Great to watch more than once.

PROMISING SET-UP DEVOLVES INTO THIN MORALITY PLAY.......2006-08-18

WEll, excuse me for wanting entertainment, but I thought it was a pretty good comedy set-up when the small time crooks gathered, including Lovitz to tunnel from a rented store front under and into a bnak. Things were happening. But then instead of succeeding at that (with a lot of promising bits of business along the way), they all hit it big with the wife Tracey Ullman's cookies, more popular than the soup nazi's soup. THe all become instant millionaires through the cookies, and seek culture. A creepy British guy scams Tracey of her money, or plans to until she loses it all to her accountants. Allen does some Bob Hope bits sneaking up and down stairs to swap some fake diamonds, etc. But I felt a promising start got dissipated when on a fluke out of the blue they struck it rich by the wife's cookies.

The lesson is the wealthy are not honest and upright people with excellent culture and education, but a hypocritical dishonest sham not worth meeting, despite all we may do to be just like them. Heck, Oscar WIlde showed us that way better and more funnily too.

Woody Allen Four Movie Comedy Collection (Anything Else / The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion / Hollywood Ending / Small Time Crooks)

Average customer rating:

Woody Lite
Not Apocalyptic but Adequate!
Not all great films, but collectable
Madagascar: the twist and turn word!
Everything new is old again...

Woody Allen Four Movie Comedy Collection (Anything Else / The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion / Hollywood Ending / Small Time Crooks)
Starring: Woody Allen
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00023P4JW
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Customer Reviews:

Woody Lite.......2007-07-04

I'm a big Woody Allen fan. Other than "What's New Pussycat" I had enjoyed everyone of his movies that I've seen. I'll now add one more to the mediocre list; "Anything Else". Unfortunately, "Anything Else" was the last of the four movies that I watched and it was spoiling my impression of the set. I took time out to reflect on the unique Woody Allen style that is strongly present in the other three movies and reassessed my rating of this set.

All four movies are what I would call light entertainment. These are movies that you can relax and enjoy. The humor is good but not overwhelming like is is in "Bananas" or "Love and Death". What appealled to me in the three good movies in this set was the way Woody Allen constructed such oddball plots and twists within those plots. These wacky roads end up leading us to a lot of amusing relationships. These are all romantic comedies the most of which have the leading man (Woody Allen) fall for the leading lady. In some, the relationship is a reunion, in another, it is making opposites attrack. In "Anything Else" it's, well, a sort of agonizing patience.

I missed these movies when the originally came out. Part of that is due to the fact that Woody Allen movies usually don't make it to our local theaters. That's too bad because Allen can do more with less than any director I know.

Not Apocalyptic but Adequate!.......2007-03-11

Let me preface this by saying my "collecting" habits revolve around movies, etc. filmed in NYC. I wasn't always a huge Woody Allen fan, but have grown to appreciate his humor over the years.
These are all decent Woody Allen movies.
Some of the acting in the lesser of this group, seems forced. Usually Woody's humor slips under the radar, and forces one to think for a second or two. In some of these, the jokes seem telegraphed between the parties. Especially in the first few minutes of each film. My personal test is if I ever use a Woody Allen one liner from one of his films, that film gets a passing grade in my book. The title of my review might be found in one these four.

I'm ranking these within the set from Best to Worst. (within this set)

Small Time Crooks
The best of the lot, with the best simpleton plot. Strong supporting cast in Tracey Ulman, and Hugh Grant.
If you are simply looking for quality over quantity, simply buy this title on its own, and call it a day. It's a rags to riches and back to rags again story. Some very funny moments packed into this one.

Anything Else
This is another good NYC movie. Some awesome scenes filmed in wide sweeping shots, and some great streets scenes. Christina Ricci is really something to look at it this film, too. She is believable in the "struggling / tortured actress" role. Woody plays a mentor role to the love sick male co-star (Jason Biggs), however, Mr. Biggs is not a good fit for this movie. The film gives a nice "sunny Sunday afternoon, in NYC feeling", along with a few laughs.

Curse of the Jade Scorpion
This is one of Woody's "flash back" to the 30's pictures. Good upbeat jazz soundtrack. Fun story line, but a little corny and forced. This movie almost lost me in the first 10 minutes of joke dialog, but stick with it. (If you're looking for something from the 30's era, skip this, and go to "Sweet & Lowdown")

Hollywood Ending
Good NYC scenery and some good cinematography, but WAY TOO LONG. My wife and I gave up on this before we could see the "Hollywood Ending", so that's all I'll say about it.

Overall, I give the set a B- rating, as a set. However, the price per film is excellent, if you are collector, or like to have an occasional Woody film to queue up, on a Sunday afternoon. You might have a hard time finding one or two of these movies at a standard circuit city or Best Buy store, so it's worth it to grab them at an average of $6 per movie. If you don't like Woody's style, you probably won't like most of these, and you might be better off reviewing them on a title by title basis.

Not all great films, but collectable.......2007-01-15

I admit I'll buy anything with Woody's name on it. Some of these are not great movies, as it seems he'd been trying to set a Guiness record for volume of work, but as a collector I had to have them, and this is a great deal.

Madagascar: the twist and turn word!.......2006-04-23

This is very funny film immersed in the great tradition of Woody Allen. A hypnotist (Voltan Polgar)will make a true mess of entangles I this fantastic comedy of mistakes that included the prestigious presence of this talented and beautiful actress. Helen Hunt. A delightful movie that finds an inspired script, a towering cast and obviously, the acid occurrences of this remarkable and irreverent filmmaker.

Everything new is old again..........2004-08-04

Woody Allen is one of the greatest comedic voices of our time. Be it as a stand-up, a writer or a director of countless films, Allen is not only unquestionably funny, but clever as well. The four films in this box - Anything Else; The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion; Hollywood Ending; and Small Time Crooks represent the most recent period of his film history, under the Dreamworks banner.

Many say Woody has lost his magic, and to some extent they may be right. I'm not sure whether audiences have seen this "talky" humour to death now (the modern sitcom was born out of pictures like 'Annie Hall', in my opinion), or there is a distaste towards Allen because of his private life or much-imitated performances, but these four movies are largely overlooked gems.

First up, two of these pictures are not Woody standards. 'Small Time Crooks' and 'Curse of the Jade Scorpion' are caper and detective stories respectively, and as full of Woody-isms as they are, it works beautifully. The last two movies are more Woody standards - lots of talking, lots of film references and a lot of humour. 'Anything Else' has been the subject of most of the criticism of Woody's recent work, but it is hard to see why. 'Anything Else' is like a cross between 'Annie Hall' and 'Stardust Memories', although not quite as good as either. For detractors of Woody, he is not in it nearly as much as his on-screen protégée (Jason Biggs). I really couldn't see that much wrong with it (although as one critic said, you know Allen has lost touch with the youth of New York when his characters go to a Diana Krall concert and enjoy it). The script is still sharp too. Christina Ricci's character at one point warns Biggs not to kill himself because it is "so middle class".

So don't let the critics fool you - these films are the work of a man who has certainly earned, and continues to earn, his place in the pantheon of great directors. And you can't pass up four Woody Allen films for under $25.

Average customer rating:

A great look back at old times
Definately not MTV...right?
PUNKS IN NEED
Underground Punk Scene
I don't have a title.

Another State of Mind
Starring: Ian MacKaye , Adam Stern (VI) , Keith Morris , Mike Ness , and Brent Liles
Director: Adam Small , and Peter Stuart (II)
Manufacturer: Time Bomb
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002NRS0U
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Customer Reviews:

A great look back at old times.......2007-05-16

Have to admit of all the punk DVDs out these days this has got to be my favorite, not least because of the content of the DVD but the commentary at the end from both the directors and members of Youth Brigade and Social Distortion.

I can only assume that some who have reviewed this DVD didnt watch the extra footage because for example the scene where the song 'another state of mind' was written was staged, other scenes such as the video of the Youth Brigade violenc has crowd shots from Circle Jerks amongst others mostly because the directors couldnt find good enough footage from Youth Brigade shows.

Its great to hear the 2 different perspectives from the directors who while wanting to make a loyal film on punk culture had to keep in mind that they had to sell the thing and they had contracts to stick to while band members complained about how many scene were unrealistic. Scenes such as endless shots of toothless punks to make the film look more 'real' the shot of the band sneaking in the back door of a show because the 'jocks' were waiting for them (in actual fact the 2 shots were from 2 different shows and while the band snuck in the back door the camera crew went in the front braving the crowd! Other great things to look for are the punk chick/model from DC. Realy interesting to hear the contrasting comments. The band who deeply disliked that she was even in the film as she was unknown in the DC punk scene while the directors disliking the snobbish attitude of punks towards her pointing out that this was everything punk was not supposed to be!

Great to see Social Distortion live though, one of the great bands of punk. Hear they always tried to sound like Americas answer to the Clash, not so sure about that but they were a great band.

Great DVD, one you will watch and watch again. One point though, dont know why this is featured as having Ian McKaye in it as though he had some leading role. He is in it for about 5 minutes. If you are buying it to see some early Minor Threat there is about 2 minutes from a live show when the sound went and the crowd sings along. Other than that you will be very disappointed.

Definately not MTV...right?.......2007-04-12

In Another State of Mind, we follow two fledgling LA punk bands, Youth Brigade and Social Distortion, on a tour accross the United States, as they leave a wave of destruction and cacophony in their wake.

This nostalgic throwback to youthful rebellion and hapless advocacy of the DIY ethic is quite contrary to what one might expect from current punk rock phenoms like Good Charlotte and Canadian pop-punkers Sum-41. Although, despite their best efforts(shooting in both 16mm and video), the deft editing and high production values are quite obvious.

Adam Small and Peter Stuart, whose mission was to prove to the masses that punk rockers were more than "mindless morons," produce a high quality film, with most of the focus on the relationships of the band members and the ensuing drama within the tour. Mike Ness and Shawn Stern, from Distortion and Brigade respectively, are often taken aside for "Real World"-esque interviews, exposing the seedy underbelly of the seedy underbelly that is punk rock.

As much as I enjoyed this film, one can't help but walk away wondering if a documentary of this quality and focus holds true to the cornerstones of punk rock: angst, violence, and the DIY ethic. It's ironic that Mike, Shawn, and the members of DC band Minor Threat devote their lives advocating these laurels, yet they participate in this new age project aiming to cut them off at the knees, exposing the drama of the softer, sweeter side of punk rock. If that's not MTV, I don't know what is.

Road Rules has never sounded better.

PUNKS IN NEED.......2007-01-05

This one-hour documental portraits the life on tour across America of a Social Distorion in its very beginings, and the radical boys of Social Youth. The main event of the DVD is to see a very young Mike Ness without a single tatto!!! and the writing, along the tour, of one of his emblematic songs: Another State of Mind. Necessary to those interested in subterreanean american punk history.

Underground Punk Scene.......2006-11-03

Being a big fan of Social D, I enjoyed seeing the making of "Mommy's Little Monster" album. Enjoyed the scene of the time.

I don't have a title........2006-01-25

I bought the dvd yesterday when I went on a splurge at Best Buy cause I had so many gift cards... I don't own any albums by Social D, Youth Brigade or Minor threat but this movie is alright. It reminda me a lot of the book Philosopy of Punk which I also recently read. The DVD offeres a lot of insight to the whole "scene" but personally it wasn't informative at all seeing as I already knew about it. At any rate, if you're into the three bands I'd pick up this movie just cause it has great tour footage and such also, it shows how the members of the bands really are behind the microphone and personally I always wondered who the asses of the underground are.

Average customer rating:

Underated, Must-See Film
The Stickup
SURPISE HIT
A Throw-back to the Black and White Mystery Classics
When James Spader is the star, the movie is always a success

The Stickup
Starring: James Spader , Leslie Stefanson , David Keith , John Livingston , and Robert Miano
Director: Rowdy Herrington
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000DD76V
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Customer Reviews:

Underated, Must-See Film.......2007-05-26

Loyal fans of James Spader will be pleased to enjoy generous screen time with this amazing actor, known for his meticulously crafted characters. Despite some odd directorial choices and the occasionally awkward script, The Stickup (2001) is a clever tale of one man's redemption after a case of mistaken identity, and police corruption. The plot has the viewer heading down one direction only to find that things were going backwards. Suspenseful moments, twists and a love story make for a nice movie which will hold your interest and draw you in.
Always best as the sexy Bad Guy, or the libidinous and dangerous Good Guy, Spader gets the chance to explore both archetypes in this compelling dark comedy. With his patrician good looks, predictably unpredictable choices, and usual intense commitment, James Spader is spot-on throughout, displaying his usual versatility, and playing naturally off his fetching co-star, Leslie Stefanson, with whom he appears to have real heat. This smart little film deserves a second chance. It seems to have slipped under the radar during a year in which movieland provided us with a bounty of riches. A must have for the loyal and rabid Spaderfan.

Special kudos to the fine comic work of John Livingston as the rookie FBI agent who helps us unravel the plot.

The Stickup.......2006-08-06

their are only spanish subtitles; As I am 77 years old I need
the normal subtitles to be able to follow a movie on DVD

SURPISE HIT.......2006-03-22

THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE WITH A TWIST. WATCHED IT ON TV AND PURCHASED IT THE NEXT DAY!!!
WELL WORTH THE MONEY

A Throw-back to the Black and White Mystery Classics.......2006-01-26

This is a great, sexy, mystery thriller that really keeps you on your toes. There's no pointless panning and dialogue leading up to the excitement as the film opens with an intense car chase. James Spader keeps your attention to the fullest as the introverted former cop John Parker with his cool demeanor and rye wit, keeping you guessing what the hell is going through his mind. Spader has you engrossed in the role so much that you find yourself in the shoes of John Parker- getting away to a small mountain town, clearing your head of a painful divorce and tragic loss of a partner, getting wrapped up in a steamy romantic affair, and suddenly running from the aftermath of a bank robbery that has the whole town shaken up. If approached the wrong way, some of the dialogue and scenarios may come accross as somewhat corny, but it's really a modern action-mystery movie done in the style of a 1940's black and white mystery movie. Even the soundtrack gives it the vibe of a black and white picture. Good to own because you'll probably want to view it multiple times.

When James Spader is the star, the movie is always a success.......2005-09-14

This was a good movie, but then I like all Mr. Spaders movies. Makes no difference to me if he plays the good guy or the villan. He is that kind of actor that always leaves me wanting more, (of his movies, of course)

Come to find out the leading lady of that movie Leslie Stefanson, is now Mr. Spaders signifigant other. Well that was interesting to know that there actually was real chemistry on the screen between the 2 actors.

But then again from what I have read when an actress plays opposite Mr. Spader there is always a chemistry there. As Mr. Spader has stated that everything in life is all about sex. (so he might mean 'you don't have to actually have sex for there to be a sexual chemistry)

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