The Usual Suspects (Special Edition)

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Ever since this convoluted thriller dazzled audiences and critics in 1995 and won an Oscar for Christopher McQuarrie's twisting screenplay, The Usual Suspects has continued to divide movie lovers into opposite camps. While a lot of people take great pleasure from the movie's now-famous central mystery (namely, "Who is Keyser Söze?"), others aren't so easily impressed by a movie that's too enamored of its own cleverness to make much sense. After all, what are we to make of a final scene that renders the entire movie obsolete? Half the fun of The Usual Suspects is the debate it provokes and the sheer pleasure of watching its dynamic cast in action, led (or should we say, misled) by Oscar winner Kevin Spacey as the club-footed con man who recounts the saga of enigmatic Hungarian mobster Keyser Söze. Spacey's in a band of thieves that includes Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, and Benicio Del Toro, all gathered in a plot to steal a large shipment of cocaine. The story is told in flashback as a twisted plot being described by Spacey's character to an investigating detective (Chazz Palmintieri), and The Usual Suspects is enjoyable for the way it keeps the viewer guessing right up to its surprise ending. Whether that ending will enhance or extinguish the pleasure is up to each viewer to decide. Even if it ultimately makes little or no sense at all, this is a funny and fiendish thriller, guaranteed to entertain even its vocal detractors. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Winner of two 1995 Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Original Screenplay, this masterful, atmospheric film noir enraptured audiences with its complex and riveting storyline, gritty, tour-de-force performances (including an OscarÂ(r)-winning* turn by Kevin Spacey) and a climax that is truly deserving of the word stunning. Also starring Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak and Pete Postlethwaite, this 'thoroughly engrossing film (HBO) is so gripping and diabolically clever (The Wall Street Journal) that it becomes a maze you'll be happy to get lost in (Los Angeles Times)! Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that the mythic crime lord not only exists, but was also responsible for drawinghim and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro Harborleaving few survivors. But as Kint lures his interrogators into the incredible story of this crime lord's almost supernatural prowess, so too will you be mesmerized by a lore that is completely captivating from beginning to end!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-09-14

A great film (we all know that) but the extras on the DVD are fabulous. If you like the film, you'll love this.

"You think you can catch Keyser Soze?".......2007-09-05

So many wonderful quotes in this movie. It's a delight to watch. The movie is cleverly plotted and stars a wonderful cast. the highlight of the movie has to be Oscar winner Kevin Spacey. He plays his part brilliantly well.

The DVD itself is also top botch, with two cmmentaries, a number of deleted scenes and some featurettes. Definitely must have.

Great suspense but felt manipulated ! Twist not convincing.......2007-09-03

Great suspense but unconvincing twist !

****Spoiler alert*****
I was bit surprised reading lot of positive reviews after seeing the movie. Well the plot is described in many reviews already. It is story of 5 gang men criminals who agree to blow up a ship where cocaine transaction worth 91 million takes place. The gang men do this disheartedly due to threat of someone called 'Keyser' who knows all their criminal history essentially blackmailing them. After the operation, there are only one survivor (Kevin spacey) who is given immunity after the incident.
The police interrogates him about the blowup to get possible clue of the actual assassin 'Keyser Soze'. Who is this Keyser soze ? Most of the movie is flashback narration of Kevin spacey to help police find out the killer. I won't spoil the the plot further !
The suspense is no doubt thrilling but somehow the story building is unconvincing. I felt more manipulated at when suspense unfolds. Why ? There are so many scenes earlier in the movie which don't make sense at all. Yet due to buildup in the beginning, we try to focus on each scene like investigators only to find that pieces don't fit. It is as if the director played a trick on us and this makes suspense uncompelling.
(Moreover flashback storytelling, I was confused about the sequence of scenes in the movie). We wear investigator cap to analyze the plot and we realize most of it is useless. Also, the details leading to revelation of plot suspense is not convincing. No clues revealed at the end have relavance to the earlier plot. It is as if the director played trick by pulling the rug without any clue.
My comments are probably influenced due to comparision with Sixth sense movie. The movie is probably inspiration to 'twist ending' thrillers like 'Sixth sense' movie. In Sixth sense, the dead man doesn't know he is dead and yet there is scene when suffering boy says 'I see dead people and they don't know they are dead' to the dead man itself. After the suspense, we are compelled to look back the entire plot and it is still convincing. We see many other dead people talking to the boy in many scenes. This makes sixth sense is so bold in storytelling that at the end we don't feel tricked or manipulated (although trick is played on us by Night).
Entire movie seems convincing and we rewind the movie to see again.
This is where 'Usual suspects' fails ! We rather feel manipulated by director. I would prefer to be watch a drama rather than a manipulative thriller.
The movie however has excellent screenplay. The music score by John Ottman is hypnotic and evokes emotion to the plot. Kevin spacey is powerful actor and he does great job as crippled passive criminal !

Kaiser Soeze.......2007-08-27

Kevin Space steals this movie from his castmates. The ending says it all. Kaiser Soeze!

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

One of the more memorable films of the 1990s.......2007-08-18

"The Usual Suspects" twists, turns, charms, and delivers a wallop of a twist, making this thriller one of the more memorable films of the 1990s. Kevin Spacey plays the club-footed, meek con man Verbal who is under intense interrogation by the police for his role in an armed robbery. As he cracks and begins to reveal the intricacies of what happened, the viewer plunges into the story along with Verbal's interrogators. What seemed simple to the police is at first is anything but, especially when the mysterious and dangerous Keyser Soze becomes involved.

This stylish, postmodern film is driven by two conflicts: the complex crime devised by the band of "usual suspects ((Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollack, Gabriel Byne, and Spacey) and the central mystery: Who is Keyser Soze, and why does everyone fear him? The acting is superb, with Spacey and Byrne turning in especially fine performances. Its haunting soundtrack evokes a cinematic atmosphere so particular to the film that even a few bars of it can evoke the entire movie.

The DVD is well worth purchasing, as it is the kind of film that one can watch over and over, even after learning of the twist. The enjoyment of knowing the end does not diminish the whole, as subsequent viewings reveal intriguing subtleties and details that were likely to have been missed the first, or even the second, time around. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

DANGIT!!
THE MAFIAS' GREATEST TRIO!!!
No more shines. Maybe they didn't go up there and tell you..."
DeNiro at his best
Makes You Want to Be a Gangster!

GoodFellas
Starring: Robert De Niro , Ray Liotta , Joe Pesci , Lorraine Bracco , and Paul Sorvino
Director: Martin Scorsese
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790729725
Release Date: 1997-03-26

Amazon.com

Martin Scorsese's 1990 masterpiece GoodFellas immortalizes the hilarious, horrifying life of actual gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), from his teen years on the streets of New York to his anonymous exile under the Witness Protection Program. The director's kinetic style is perfect for recounting Hill's ruthless rise to power in the 1950s as well as his drugged-out fall in the late 1970s; in fact, no one has ever rendered the mental dislocation of cocaine better than Scorsese. Scorsese uses period music perfectly, not just to summon a particular time but to set a precise mood. GoodFellas is at least as good as The Godfather without being in the least derivative of it. Joe Pesci's psycho improvisation of Mobster Tommy DeVito ignited Pesci as a star, Lorraine Bracco scores the performance of her life as the love of Hill's life, and every supporting role, from Paul Sorvino to Robert De Niro, is a miracle.

Description

When Martin Scorsese, one of the world's most skillful and respected directors, reunited with two-time Oscar-winner Robert De Niro in GoodFellas, the result was one of the most powerful films of the year. Based on the true-life best seller Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, critics and filmgoers alike declared GoodFellas great. It was named 1990's best film by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics. And it earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Robert De Niro received wide recognition for his performance as veteran criminal Jimmy "The Gent" Conway. And as the volatile Tommy DeVito, Joe Pesci walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Academy Award nominee Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino also turned in electrifying performances. You have to see it to believe it - then watch it again. GoodFellas explores the criminal life like no other movie.

DVD Features:
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer:Two theatrical trailers

Customer Reviews:

DANGIT!!.......2007-09-13

This movie is Terrific! As far as mob movies go, I like it as well as the Godfather. But I JUST BOUGHT THE THING ON THE CRAPPY ONE DISC EDITION!! I THINK "WHY DID YOU NOT WAIT, YOU WHO HAVE LITTLE FAITH!!" But I'm gonna by this movie again on two disc because it is totally worth it. GOOD FELLAS ROCK!!

THE MAFIAS' GREATEST TRIO!!!.......2007-09-02

man, goodfellas is one of the best, and stays real on the mafias way of life. no beating around the bush, gives it to you strait. the whole story, the drugs, the profanity, the beatings, the betrayel. beautifully done. scorsese out did himself on this one. he's a great director and this was just a masterpiece. brilliant putting robert de niro, ray liotta, and joe pesci together. they were terrific. they just bring that mafia vibe, to the table. robet de niro is the man in just about every movie he does. it shows you the all the good: money, sex, drugs, and the power, along with all the bad: betrayel, crime, addiction, and death. you can't trust nobody, and you can't let this stuff get to your head. if you can't stay true your finished. it feels so good when you're on top, but when you fall there's no turning back, you get what's coming to you. great movie, perfect as it is, and wonderful potrayel of this underworld.

No more shines. Maybe they didn't go up there and tell you...".......2007-09-01

Who doesn't love Goodfellas? This is one of those movies I have seen many times and can never get sick of. De Niro, Pesci, and Liotta show off some of their best work. They make this not only a great crime drama but a comedic film as well. Some of the lines delivered are just hilarious. I really enjoy the fact that it was based on true events, which always makes a movie more enjoyable.

If you are a fan of the mafia genre films then this is a must see for you. I saw one negative review and was a little suprised. I guess you couldn't figure out the title "Goodfellas" would be filled with a lot of mafia activity. Too bad you couldn't see past that and appreciate it for the excellent film it was.

DeNiro at his best.......2007-08-26

Henry Hill did time more time after this movie became a big hit. It chronicles his life as an associate in the mafia. Violent and candid it's a great mafia classic.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

Makes You Want to Be a Gangster!.......2007-08-23

I LOVE mafia movies! But, this movie, is by far my favorite. The acting is just superb. The story line is great. Just the very WAY the movie is made is great! I have watched this movie so many times, I about have it memorized, and every time I see it, I am still entertained!

Average customer rating:

Blu Ray version delivers
Good Blu-Ray Transfer
AMAZING!
The Best Mob Movie Ever
All time Great Movie

GoodFellas [Blu-ray]
Starring: Frank Adonis , Frank Albanese , Anthony Alessandro , Erasmus C. Alfano , and Manny Alfaro
Director: Martin Scorsese
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000LPS4BG
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Description

Customer Reviews:

Blu Ray version delivers.......2007-06-27

I bought the movie because of 2 things:

1. It is already one of the best gangster movies ever
2. It came out on blu ray

Blu ray quality looks great, and you can see all these tiny details that come out when you see things clearer in the backgrounds

Good Blu-Ray Transfer.......2007-04-12

You all know the plot of Goodfellas; so what makes this worth getting on Blu-Ray? This is a great transfer to Blu-Ray - with the Aspect Ratio at 1.85:1 this movie fills the entire screen of a typical LCD/plasma. Watching it again was like watching it for the first time. The colors were brighter and the picture sharper. A must have to start your Blu-Ray collection.

AMAZING! .......2007-03-15

Great Movie , Great Masterpiece , Best of all its on this BLU-RAY version has an amazing picture ! A MUST BUY !

The Best Mob Movie Ever.......2007-02-20

This is by far the best Mob movie of all time its timeless . Growing up in New Jersey we saw this stuff on the news all the time. a very accurate account of thins with some drama mixed in for good measure.

All time Great Movie.......2007-02-19

What can I say..... This Movie is great and even better on Blu-Ray

Average customer rating:

For an older movie, this is a very well done HD DVD transfer.
The Cornerstone of Your HD DVD collection!
Goodfellas. HD. What more do you want?!
Captivating from Start to Finish
very nice

Goodfellas [HD DVD]
Starring: Robert De Niro , Ray Liotta , Joe Pesci , Lorraine Bracco , and Paul Sorvino
Director: Martin Scorsese
Manufacturer: Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000E5KJES
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:2 Commentaries
Documentaries:Contemporary filmmakers comment on Goodfellas Comparison to real-life gangsters
Interviews:Making-of Interviews
Production Sketches:"Sketch to Screen" comparison

Customer Reviews:

For an older movie, this is a very well done HD DVD transfer........2007-08-14

Considering the fact that this film is over fifteen years old, I was amazed by how well Warner Bros. tranferred this classic film over to HD DVD. However, this movie is relatively dark so there's not a lot of scenes that really blow the mind. That doesn't matter though because this is one of the best films of all time.

The Cornerstone of Your HD DVD collection!.......2007-06-15

Ray Liotta and Lorraine Brocco are simply amazing and they couldn't look any better than they do on HD DVD! This title is a classic and the HD transfer, though a little dark is incredible! I can watch this film over and over and I'm sure you can too. Joe Pesci is merciless in Goodfellas! As in any mob, there is always at least one guy with a short fuse; The mob culture couldn't be portrayed any better. HD DVD only enhances the enjoyment of this film, its like the icing on the cake! Be sure to accompany this HD DVD with Casino. As one previous reviewer wrote, its a Mob HIT! Bring on Scarface!

Goodfellas. HD. What more do you want?!.......2007-05-31

After picking up The Departed in HD DVD, I got a hankerin for more Scorsese. I wasn't aware that Goodfellas had been released in HD DVD until I caught it out of the corner of my eye at my local Target. I was thrilled and the movie didn't dissapoint. It's as captivating as it was when I first saw it, and now it's been polished for the new era in home theater. Beautiful visuals and crisp sound. A must-have for HD DVD

If you loved Goodfellas when it first came out, get this, you owe it to yourself.

Captivating from Start to Finish.......2007-05-28

I can't say enough about how well this film turned out. This movie always has something going on in so many different circumstances, and draws you into such a sense of normalcy within a completely extraordinarily abnormal lifestyle.

The story's narration plays uniquely well throughout the film. And the film seems to morph throughout its "life" in a very intelligent manner.

Just about every frame of this film can induce positive in-depth discussion...too much to say in a single review - you really should just see this movie for yourself!

The HD DVD transfer quality is outstanding! Visually compelling artistic sweeps coupled with production sets and performances that make you feel "right at home" give "GoodFellas" an unmatched sense of epic realism!

There is a vertical mid-screen stripe of missing picture which runs from 1:16:37 to 1:16:42, but upon searching the internet before contacting Warner to ask if it's a disc issue, I find that it has existed since the original theatrical version and has also been present on every other format which the film has been released on so far as well. This does not break the movie by any means - some claim to have never noticed (I don't see how) - I'm just surprised that nobody has taken the time to sit down and interpolate what appears to be a simple fix for a five-second segment of the movie.

The DD+ 5.1 audio track is very rich, clear and enveloping...it sounds remarkable, every bit!

Extras include two commentaries, three cast and crew documentaries, a storyboard-to-screen comparison and a theatrical trailer.

This is a top quality, amazing two hour and twenty-five minute film. I so highly recommend "GoodFellas".

very nice.......2007-04-17

having not seen this movie i decided to purchase it after i had been told what a good movie it is. on that note, being an hd dvd, and not seeing the dvd version, i can tell you that as old as this movie is, being on hd dvd, looks like a movie that just came out, you cant even tell its an older movie. all in all this is a very good movie, and i love my hd dvd player more and more with every hd dvd purchased. HD DVD is definetly better than blu-ray...if you remember antthing from this review, remember that...

Average customer rating:

DANGIT!!
THE MAFIAS' GREATEST TRIO!!!
No more shines. Maybe they didn't go up there and tell you..."
DeNiro at his best
Makes You Want to Be a Gangster!

GoodFellas (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , Ray Liotta , Joe Pesci , Lorraine Bracco , and Paul Sorvino
Director: Martin Scorsese
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000286RKW
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Amazon.com essential video

Martin Scorsese's 1990 masterpiece GoodFellas immortalizes the hilarious, horrifying life of actual gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), from his teen years on the streets of New York to his anonymous exile under the Witness Protection Program. The director's kinetic style is perfect for recounting Hill's ruthless rise to power in the 1950s as well as his drugged-out fall in the late 1970s; in fact, no one has ever rendered the mental dislocation of cocaine better than Scorsese. Scorsese uses period music perfectly, not just to summon a particular time but to set a precise mood. GoodFellas is at least as good as The Godfather without being in the least derivative of it. Joe Pesci's psycho improvisation of Mobster Tommy DeVito ignited Pesci as a star, Lorraine Bracco scores the performance of her life as Hill's love interest, and every supporting role, from Paul Sorvino to Robert De Niro, is a miracle.

Customer Reviews:

DANGIT!!.......2007-09-13

THE MAFIAS' GREATEST TRIO!!!.......2007-09-02

No more shines. Maybe they didn't go up there and tell you...".......2007-09-01

DeNiro at his best.......2007-08-26

Makes You Want to Be a Gangster!.......2007-08-23

Average customer rating:

One of the best films of the 80's
"YOU NEVER HAD YOUR HANDS ON A TEET BEFORE"...."NOT ONE THIS BIG!" GREAT EDITION!
where he belongs
Timeless
Witness Protection Becomes Witness Perfection

Witness (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Harrison Ford , Kelly McGillis , Josef Sommer , Lukas Haas , and Jan Rubes
Director: Peter Weir
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UC7R0
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com essential video

When Samuel (Lukas Haas), a young Amish boy traveling with his mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis), witnesses the murder of a police officer in a public restroom, he and his mother become the temporary wards of John Book (Harrison Ford), a detective who's been assigned to solve the crime. After suspect lineups and mug-shot books yield nothing, Samuel, in the most memorable scene of the film, recognizes the murderer as a narcotics agent whose picture he sees in the precinct. Once Book realizes that the police chief is in on it, too, he whisks Samuel and Rachel back home to Amish country, where he himself goes into hiding as a plain Amish man. The juxtaposition between the life of the Amish and the violence of inner-city police corruption work surprisingly well for the story, and Kelly McGillis as the falling in love widow gives an almost perfect performance. Directed by Peter Weir, the film is extremely successful in drawing the viewer into its world and, accordingly, is immensely entertaining. The only thing that mars its polish is the one-dimensional, almost cartoonish handling of the upper-echelon police corruption--a subtler, more realistic treatment of this aspect of the story would have rendered the film near perfect. --James McGrath

Customer Reviews:

One of the best films of the 80's.......2007-07-29

A young Amish boy (Samuel Lapp played beautifully in his film debut by Lukas Haas) while traveling with his mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis) witnesses a murder. The Philly detective assigned to the case is John Bock (Harrison Ford), a cynical, hardened, yet very ethical man who is married to his job. The murder turns out to be an inside job performed by Bock's associates on the police force. The three of them soon escape to the Amish community to avoid being the next victims and soon... well, that's what you need to find out when you watch this fine film.

This is an excellent film any way you slice it. Great acting, writing, directing, musical score, etc... It is my favorite film by director Peter Weir and in my opinion the best performance of Ford's career. It's a nice change of pace to see Ford actually come down to Earth and play a common man instead of the super-hero he so often portrays. He had quite an amazing run of very successful films in the 80's and 90's but it's very difficult at times to take him too seriously as a dramatic actor despite the money making machines a great many of his films turned out becoming. Yet he's fantastic as John Book! He is so much more accessible and unguarded, and it's beautiful to watch. The man truly can act! Anyway, it's a shame he hasn't played more parts like this one (see "The Mosquito Coast" and "Frantic" for two other excellent examples).

I have to be quite honest and finally get this off of my chest - I have never thought Kelly McGillis could act! This is her best performance, and yet, I don't think she is all that convincing as an Amish woman. Her performance, for me, is the only real flaw in this film (not enough to dock a star though!) She is so stiff and unimpassioned, and I'm not sure if she was trying to speak with an Amish accent or not, but if she was, heaven help her. The three or four other films I have seen her in, before she descended into being a B-movie star or Lifetime Television regular, she pretty much played the same wooden, passionless character. Somebody tell me I am wrong or being too harsh. I apologize to all of you Kelly McG fans out there!

The film also had some very fine performances in supporting roles. Lukas Haas as the young Amish boy is excellent and very believable. You kind of knew that the kid would go on to bigger and better things if he stayed clean. Danny Glover is solid as always as one of the rogue cops out to get Book and the boy. Viggo Mortensen also gets his career up and running with his role as Moses, an Amish man who has the hots for Rachel (of course, no Amish person would refer to it quite as crudely and inelegantly as that) and does an excellent job. As do Patti Lupone, Josef Summer, Brent Jennings, and Jan Rubes. Rubes in particular is amazing as Eli Lapp, (Samuel's grandfather and Rachel's father-in-law). I think this man deserved a best-supporting nod, he was that great.

Finally, the story itself is truly terrific. It's a film that both men and women of any age will enjoy. It's part love story, part crime drama, part character study, and also part cultural study as well. Yes, I know, I know, the Amish were pissed off about how they were portrayed in this film. Yet, I can't figure out why. To me, they were portrayed to be much more benevolent, kind-hearted, level-headed, and practical than we 'English'. There were several buddies of mine that wanted to become Amish after seeing this film. However, me thinks these converts-to-be were enticed more by the beauty of McGillis (especially one scene in particular) than they were by the hard-working, extremely moral, plain folk. Go figure.

In a relatively weak decade when it came to classic films, I would without a doubt put this one on my top-ten best film list for the 1980's. You can't go wrong with this one!

"YOU NEVER HAD YOUR HANDS ON A TEET BEFORE"...."NOT ONE THIS BIG!" GREAT EDITION!.......2007-07-04

Ford,McGillis,Haas and the entire cast shine in this classic romantic/thriller/fish out of water film! Now, we have a DVD treatment worthy of the movie. Interesting extras and a great transfer make this a must have in your collection.

where he belongs.......2007-05-27

Harrison Ford shines in this lingering over the close-quarter differences between Pennsylvania's Amish people and the 'English' life that by contrast seems so rude in this 1985 screen gem. Yet twenty-two years later, it is the young Kelly McGillis who nearly melts the screen with this early performance as Rachel, the Amish widow who takes in Harrison's 'John Book' and grows into love with a fugitive from 'the city' whose own heart grows entwined with the Amish way.

Although the Amish did not like this film (it *is* a film), it remains as a deeply moving tribute to their chosen, peaceful way. Perhaps it is the finest thing we 'English'--this reviewer grew up in Pennsylvania with the Amish as his neighbors--can offer them.

Not that they were asking for recognition.

Director Peter Weir caught them doing what they do best, going about the business of keeping peace and making the earth grow its greenest things. The occasional caricature that creeps in clumsily elevates the men and women it seeks to honor rather than reducing them to its dimensional poverty.

The Amish are not heroes and do not play that role particularly well on the wide screen (the actors of are course not Amish men and women). They are rather people who have from within community made a stark choice and chosen to celebrate both its limitations and the world it opens up to them.

Weir, Ford, McGinnis et al. did well to freeze-frame that choice as one that saved the life of a self-sufficient Baltimore policemen who stumbled upon corruption that made him a marked man in the city. It is a most moving still.

The film was uncanny in its capacity, in the end, to mark the Amish off in the most authentic way: not by sneering at their simplicity of style and rejection of 'fashion'. Rather, as recent history has provided grim occasion for us to observe, the Amish are distinguished by the grace that they do not kill. And, when bloodied, they say the damndest thing: 'We forgive'.

Witness indeed. And a superb movie.

Timeless.......2007-04-02

Witness is both a detective thriller, a love story, and a timeless view of our society. The acting is impeccable, the story both gripping and a deeply insightful take on our society. Set among the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennslvania we see the truly startling contrast between 21st Century America and the Eighteenth Century society preserved there. Detective John Book discovers corruption in the police department for which he works in Philadelphia and becomes a hunted man. He flees and is hidden by the Amish. The action and the human relationships that follow are completely absorbing.

Witness Protection Becomes Witness Perfection.......2007-03-02

This film defies being placed in any genre and is as near to perfection on screen as you will likely find. Harrison Ford gives his absolutely best performance in this film and he should have won the Oscar that year along with this film's great director, Peter Wier, who seems to be always a bride's maid and never the bride with his numerous nominations. Wier gets perfect performances from everyone involved in this landmark film on inner city crime and the ways of the simple Amish in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (where I live). Many actors in this film got their break here such as Jan Rubes, Lukas Hass, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Gundenoff, and Viggio Mortensen (in a quick scene).

The life of Det. John Book, Ford, is brilliantly juxtaposed to the simple life the Amish live only a mere 50 miles or so out of Philadelphia. It is carefully presented as not being a utopian society with its restrictions. Book risks his life to protect the witness and his mother and is nearly killed himself in the process. They nursed him to good health while he was also protecting them. He ends up falling in love with his caretaker and the simple life and ponders giving up everything for this simple life. Book must decide when the dust settles on the case that brought him out to Amish Country which life he wants: the simple, quiet life of the Amish or his busy, violent life where he also saves lives. Its not as an easy decision and we sympathize with his difficult choice.

If for some reason you missed this movie when it was out or have never heard of it, reward yourself by purchasing or at least renting this outstanding film. You will find it facinating and riveting.

Average customer rating:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!
Excellent car chase scene.
Cool Hand Frank
Classic action with a bit of substance
"I Want to Nail Him"

Bullitt
Starring: Steve McQueen , Robert Vaughn , Jacqueline Bisset , Don Gordon , and Robert Duvall
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6304698526
Release Date: 1997-11-19

Amazon.com

San Francisco has been the setting of a lot of exciting movie car chases over the years, but this 1968 police thriller is still the one to beat when it comes to high-octane action on the steep hills of the city by the Bay. The outstanding car chase earned an Oscar for best editing, but the rest of the movie is pretty good, too. Bullitt is a perfect star vehicle for cool guy Steve McQueen, who stars as a tenacious detective (is there any other kind?) determined to track down the killers of the star witness in an important trial. Director Peter Yates (Breaking Away) approached the story with an emphasis on absolute authenticity, using a variety of San Francisco locations. Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Duvall appear in early roles, and Robert Vaughn plays the criminal kingpin who pulls the deadly strings of the tightly wound plot. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have For Your Movie Library!.......2007-08-31

Bullitt is Steve McQueen at his finest! It's an excellent movie with an excellent cast, a great plot, top notch acting, and the "Greatest" chase scene ever filmed. Two of the most powerful street cars of the 1960's (1968 GT 390 Mustang Fastback, and a 1968 Dodge Charger) battled it out on the streets of San Francisco! If you have a big screen TV you'll enjoy feeling yourself move in your seat with the cars as they race down the hills of frisco. Cameras are mounted in the windshields for the best special effect ever. I remember when I was a kid watching Bullitt in the theater, everyone was rocking in their seats as the cars went down the hills. This movie was made when all of the actors were stars and headliners, not like today with one or two leading actors and a bus load of newbies. Also, Bullitt was real stuff - not special effects! Bullitt was made before green screens, gimicks, and computer techology had come along. The racing was real, the crashing was real, the explosions were real, and yes - Steve really drove the Gt 390 Mustang.

Thomas

Excellent car chase scene........2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite movies. The car chase scene in San Francisco was one the best early chase scenes,and still is. Great cop movie.

Cool Hand Frank.......2007-07-21

I saw this film when it was released nearly forty years go. It holds up well after all that time. The cinematography is not to be believed, the plot has enough twists to keep you both guessing and intertained, Steve McQueen as the taciturn detective Frank Bullitt (he does a lot of acting with his baby blues) reminds us of what a fine actor we lost when he left this world far too soon, and the stunts are as good as they get.

Everybody talks about the famous car chase on the streets of San Francisco. On the other hand, there is another great chase that takes place on foot at the San Francisco airport. Don't forget how Detective Bullitt gets a free newspaper as well. According to the commentary included with the DVD, the medical personnel used in the hospital scenes were actual doctors and nurses so these scenes are completely realistic.

McQueen is joined by a very young Robert Duvall who plays a cabbie, Robert Vaughn as an ambitious politician and Jacqueline Bissett, Bullitt's lover, who has difficulty with his chosen profession, worrying that he is becoming too involved in the awfulness of the cesspool of crime that he deals with daily. (But, Sweetie, that's what police officer do.)

I certainly haven't seen all the cop movies ever made, but I cannot think of one that is any better than this one. Certainly a lot of television movies since "Bullitt" must owe a great deal to it. McQueen's Mustang chase scene is one for the ages.

Classic action with a bit of substance.......2007-07-02

Bullitt is an intense and suspenseful crime drama that features the famous car chase through San Francisco.

Steve McQueen is memorable in the lead role, with excellent support from Don Gordon as his partner, Delgetti, and Robert Vaughn as the powerful 'good guy / bad guy'. Look also for Norman Fell in a smaller role as a hardened police captain and a younger Robert Duvall as a cab driver.

Most people remember Bullitt for its car chase sequence, for better or for worse. It's good fun with a number of known continuity errors (passing the green VW Beetle at least three times, as well as the white car (Pontiac?)) and that black Dodge Charger must have about eight hubcaps on it, I swear, since about four fall off and later they seem to be back on. (Or did cars have two sets of hubcaps as standard equipment back then?) ;-) In any case, it's a must-see for classic muscle car fans, and the best moments are the "you are there" moments filmed over the drivers' shoulders.

Beyond that, Bullitt's enduring charm is its heavy atmosphere, rather than its dialogue or character development. At times, it seems so real that it almost feels like a documentary. You are taken behind the scenes into the medical and police worlds of the late 1960's.

The plot has enough twists to keep you going. However, by today's standards, some of the scenes could've been left out. I realize that the film tries to show the main character as both a distant maverick as well as a human being, but a number of scenes and subplots could've been edited out in favor of a tighter plot. I mean, do we need to watch Bullitt in a restaurant or grocery shopping or in forced, flat dialogue with his lover? I felt that these moments detracted from the film, rather than adding to it.

The soundtrack works well for the era, as composed by Lalo Schifrin. The opening titles is one of my favorite movie themes. It's jazzy and it fits the film well.

My favorite part of the film is its opening sequence. The titles are blended in creatively with the plot, which begins immediately. That, with the already mentioned music, creates the most enduring impression with me.

Bullitt is not a perfect movie, and not quite the classic that some would make it to be, but it's definitely worth seeing and owning.

"I Want to Nail Him".......2007-06-11

I saw this again last night for the first time in years and it reensured what I believe all this time: "Bullitt" is the greatest movie I have ever seen in my life. It will take a long time for me to find a movie that can top this. Not only that, but "Bullitt" is the only movie I know that grabbed my heart and moved me deeply. As evident in the scene, my favorite in which Bullitt's girlfriend Cathy (Jacqueline Bisset-what a class act angel! She's a split image of what fellow Brit Keira Knightley is; as you know they both co-stared in "Domino" in which Bisset played Knightley's mother) discovers a dead woman strangled and half-naked and later on, Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) pulls the car over the side of the highway because he knows she is pissed. As she gets out of the car and goes into the grass field, Bullitt follows her. Then she speaks by saying "Do you let anything reach you? I mean, REALLY reach you? You think violence is a way of life. Living with violence and death". Speaking of that there is a revealing scene in which the witness is shot and eventually killed in the face. Revealing because that's how Martin Luther King died from in the same year of "Bullitt"'s release. The supporting cast is great which includes Robert Duvall as the cab driver, Simon Oakland, Norman Fell as the police caption, and last but not least Robert Vaughn as Walter Chalmers-the most evil villian I have ever seen in any movie. This is a man that hates blacks and the police (including Bullitt). The movie along with the car and airport chase is a true masterpiece.

Average customer rating:

David Mamets' best by far, amazing performances by Kevin Spacey and Benicio Del Torro
Good Blu-ray trans for a great movie
An old favorite that I have loved for years
Great
I love it..............

The Usual Suspects [Blu-ray]
Starring: Suzy Amis , Stephen Baldwin , Paul Bartel , Bill Bates , and Billy Bates
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B00000F214
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Description

Winner of two 1995 Academy Awards(r), including Best Original Screenplay, this masterful, atmospheric film noir enraptured audiences with its complex and riveting storyline, gritty, tour-de-force performances (including an Oscar(r)-winning* turn by Kevin Spacey) and a climax that is truly deserving of the word stunning. Also starring Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak and Pete Postlethwaite, this 'thoroughly engrossing film (HBO) is so gripping and diabolically clever (The Wall Street Journal) that it becomes a maze you'll be happy to get lost in (Los Angeles Times)! Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that the mythic crime lord not only exists, but was also responsible for drawinghim and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro Harborleaving few survivors. But as Kint lures his interrogators into the incredible story of this crime lord's almost supernatural prowess, so too will you be mesmerized by a lore that is completely captivating from beginning to end! *1995: Supporting Actor

Customer Reviews:

David Mamets' best by far, amazing performances by Kevin Spacey and Benicio Del Torro.......2007-08-14

This movie is a work of art. Astounding acting. Unexpectedly humorous. Twists more times than kite string. Not for the preoccupied or people with short attention spans. The kind of movie you can watch 3 times and still notice things that eluded you before. Richard Roeper, from the Ebert & Roeper tv show, said that David Mamet might be the best screen writer presently working.

Good Blu-ray trans for a great movie.......2007-04-30

This movie's resolution on Blu-ray is fantastic in most sceens. There will be a few that look a bit grainy, but over all it's very nice for being a older movie produced before HD became common.

It's just a bit weak in extra features on Blu-ray and a bit pricy.

An old favorite that I have loved for years.......2007-03-20

I owned this movie before but when it came to Blu-ray I just had to see it in 1080p and it was worth it. AWESOME.

Great.......2003-01-03

This is by far the best suspense thriller I have ever seen in my lifetime. I can't remember any other movie that left my mouth agape at the end totally surprised. What a great plot this movie had. To top it off the characters in the movie, especially Kevin Spacey, do an excellent job of delivering the script which is also well-written. I can't usually watch suspense thrillers more than once or twice. However, I can watch this movie as many times as I am allowed because the script is so well written. They got me hook, line, and sinker. If you want the standard for suspense thrillers, you need to add this to your collection.

I love it.....................2002-09-18

I like movies- period. Having said that, I love this movie. I really like a movie that I cannot figure the ending. Man oh man, is The Usual Suspects one of those! Kevin Spacey may be the best actor going today. It's either him, or Morgan Freeman OR probably Dustin Hoffman. When you get as good as these guys are, it's really hard to tell who is the absolute #1. Anyway- The Usual Suspects is one of the best and the music is really good too. I know that this is a review of this movie but one way I can describe how good it is is to put it along side of another that is way up there in the catagory of WHERE IN THE HECK IS THIS MOVIE GOING and that other movie that is comparable to The Usual Suspects is The Game. What a ride! I just wish I could watch each for the first time. I love Hollywood's movies ( though I detest Hollywood ) figure that one out.

Average customer rating:

Hi-Larious.
Absolutely brilliant comedy
Don't Bother
Dumb Humor
Amazing funny film

The Whole Nine Yards
Starring: Bruce Willis , Matthew Perry , Rosanna Arquette , Michael Clarke Duncan , and Natasha Henstridge
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790750422
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Description

Well, there goes the neighborhood -- in a pine box. When hit man Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski moves into a comfy suburb, everyone's suddenly in danger of pushing up daisies. And it's not all Jimmy's doing either. Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny) directs and a talented ensemble cast packs heat in this manic comedy about life, love and plenty of ammo. Bruce Willis plays Jimmy, whose arrival sparks a chain reaction in which just about everybody wants to clip somebody else. Matthew Perry plays a hapless dentist who finds a way to get on the Tulip's good and bad sides. And Rosanna Arquette, Michael Clarke Duncan, Natasha Henstridge, Amanda Peet and Kevin Pollak add to the yards of wacky and whacked fun.

Customer Reviews:

Hi-Larious........2007-03-23

If you're in the mood for a comedy with some great twists, a little action, and maybe a contract asassination thrown in, I highly recommend this. The interaction had me laughing through the whole show and was very well done. Bruce Willis' dry nonchalance meets a stressed and panic-prone Matthew Perry who finds himself entangled with a host of over the top villains, starting with his Québécois wife.

Absolutely brilliant comedy.......2007-03-09

This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. The first time I saw it, I knew I had to own it because this is a movie that will make me laugh out loud every time I see it. Oz's awkward discomfort in so many extreme (and frankly, unlikely) situations stands as a hyperbole of the many times we feel completely inadequate despite our best intentions. The casting is near perfect. Matthew Perry totally nails his role; Bruce Willis is always good as a tough guy, and is pretty good at being funny about it; Michael Clark Duncan is both likeable and scary; and Amanda Peet is hilarious as the sweet young girl with the twisted dream of being a hired killer. The acting is passable and the dialogue is fantastic. I recommend this movie to anyone without reservation.

Don't Bother.......2007-02-25

This movie is just awful. Matthew Perry is not an actor; he plays the role of Matthew Perry. Rosanna Arquette has never shown herself to be more than a pretty face and her acting here was atrocious.... the fake French accent was, to put it mildly, distracting.
Several reviewers here have bored us recounting the movie "storyline" which I found weak and predictable. The characters are not credible and the movies' dialogue should embarrass the film writers.
The movie is billed as a comedy but I didn't get so much as a single chuckle.
I find no redeeming value in this movie.

Dumb Humor.......2007-02-10

This moive is ok... however, it is dumb humor! If you love dumb humor this movie is for you.

Amazing funny film.......2007-01-27

Matthew Perry is wonderful as the hapless everyman, a dentist who finds himself living in Canada with his witchy and shrewish French-Canadian wife, played by Rosanna Arquette with a French accent that is over the top and ao bad as to be laughable. Decidedly no longer in love with her husband, she wants to have her husband bumped off for insurance money.

As luck would have it, a notorious Chicago based hit man, with a mob contract out on his own life, just happens to move in next door to the unhappily married duo. This hit man, cooly played to perfection by Bruce Willis, meets his neighbor, Matthew, who also happens to originate from Chicago. Bruce looks familiar to Matthew, who ultimately recognizes him for who he is. While initially unnerved by Bruce, they somehow hit it off.

Matthew, however, foolishly tells his wife that he believes the neighbor to be a hit man with a price on his head, and the games begin. She sends Matthew to Chicago to have him give up their neighbor, the hit man, for the contract money. Matthew goes, mainly to appease her, as he really has no intention of giving up his new found friend.

Meanwhile, no sooner does he leave, than she herself goes to the neighbor to give her husband up in hopes that he will get rid of her husband for her. In the interim, Matthew is met in Chicago by Michael Clarke Duncan who takes him to the mob boss who wants to bump off Bruce. There, Matthew meets Bruce's wife, with whom he becomes smitten. What transpires next compels Matthew to return to Canada, where he gets the surprise of his life. This all sets in motion a series of events which will have the viewer howling with laughter.

Needless to say, there are numerous unexpected twists and turns in this movie, all of which contribute to its success as a black comedy. This film is, undoubtedly, one of the best in this genre. Michael Clarke Duncan, who also happens to play a hit man, gives an ingratiating performance as Bruce Willis' buddy. Amanda Peet is absolutely hilarious as a hit man wanna be. I do not want, however, to give away any more of the plot. Suffice to say, watch this film. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will be too busy, laughing up a storm. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Great film, poor BD Quality!
Looks much better... still

Bullitt [Blu-ray]
Starring: John Aprea , Jacqueline Bisset , Joanna Cassidy , Al Checco , and Norman Fell
Director: Peter Yates
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000MV90IU
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Description

His new assignment seems routine: protecting a star witness for an important trial. But before the night is out, the witness lies dying and cool, no-nonsense Detective Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) won't rest until the shooters and the kingpin pulling their strings are nailed. From opening shot to closing shootout, Bullitt crackles with authenticity: San Francisco locations, crisp dialogue and to-the-letter police, hospital and morgue procedures. An Oscar winner for Best Film Editing (1968), this razor-edged thriller features one of cinema history's most memorable car chases. Buckle up and brace for unbeatable action.

Customer Reviews:

Great film, poor BD Quality!.......2007-06-26

Well, I read reviews online before I got this and they said that it was not much of an improvement, but I wanted to replace my DVD's with BD's, so I got it anyway.

There is an imrpovement, but it is from the HD technology and not because there are improvements. Obviously, the colors are more accurate, the sound better and there are some HD elements, but overall - it looks not much better than the DVD SE on an UP-CONVERT DVD player!

There is a lot of grain and some out of focus moments, but I guess that is how it is in movie making. THe sad part is, this is the restored version that was on the SE DVD which was prepared for HD as is the case with nearly all DVD's today, which is why DVD's look better now.

My gripe is that there is no surround sound. I expect surround sound and everything video to be in HD on every disc. In the furtue I am sure that wil be the case, but you can skip this one if you have the SE DVD as this offers nothing new except being on one disc. It IS an improvement, but not by much. If you have BD, I know you will get it anyway...

Looks much better... still.......2007-06-21

This version looks much better than the original DVD. However, it shows it is an old movie and this has much more to do with the original equipment and filming techniques than with digital format. If you are a Steve McQueen fan as I am, do not hesitate. Buy it. If you're not, stick with the old standard or special edition versions.

DVD:

DVD

DVD