Open Range

Product Description

Packed with epic action, OPEN RANGE is a powerfully gripping story that's never been told until now, and stars Academy Award(R) winners Robert Duvall (1983 Best Actor, TENDER MERCIES) and Kevin Costner (1991 Best Director, DANCES WITH WOLVES), and Academy Award(R) nominee Annette Bening (1999 Best Actress, AMERICAN BEAUTY). A group of free grazers, four men trying to escape their past, are driving cattle and living off the land on the open range -- a place where nature makes the only laws. When a ruthless, evil rancher tries to run them out of town, the men's peaceful existence takes a tumultuous turn and ends in the grittiest, most explosive gunfight on film as two men battle a town for honor, justice, and a way of life that's quickly disappearing.

Amazon.com

Released almost exactly 11 years after Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, Kevin Costner's Open Range proved yet again that the Western is the classic American genre. While it lacks the thematic impact of Eastwood's masterpiece, Costner's first film since 1997's ill-fated The Postman returns the actor/director of Dances With Wolves to the open prairies of America--in this case the free-range frontier of 1882--where legal "free-grazing" cattle drives were falling prey to empire-building land-owners. In the wake of territorial murder, free-grazing cowboys Boss (Robert Duvall) and Charley (Costner) seek vengeful justice against the ruthless rancher (Michael Gambon) who threatens their law-abiding survival. A feisty ally (the late Michael Jeter, in his next-to-final film role) and a doctor's sister (Annette Bening) offer support during climactic shootouts, masterfully staged with the shock and suddenness of real-life gunfire. Rich in character development and thick-hided humor, this handsome production redeemed Costner's directorial career with a well-told story (by Craig Storper, based on Lauran Paine's novel The Open Range Men), flawless performances, and stunning Canadian locations. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Classic western wrap around a love story........2007-09-17

Kevin Costner has scored again with classic western full of universal values like trust, respect, truth to power and love. Devall and Costner understand that westerns can encompass all those values and do so making this a wonderful and classic western.

good western.......2007-08-28

good story with a great gun battle at the end.
Duval was up to his usual greatness

Great Western.......2007-08-25

Western movies have not been too popular in recent years, but it's good to see that some westerns are still being made for mature audiences. This is one of them. Some of the individual elements of the movie seem to be taken from other stories, but they are recombined to make an exciting new tale of the old west.

A beautiful and classic Western........2007-08-20

Rules of thumb are dangerous when it comes to movies, but the following one has never, to my knowledge, been disproven: Any movie that features Robert Duvall in a cowboy hat is likely to be a classic. That rule was certainly true of "Tender Mercies" and "Lonesome Dove," and in my opinion it's also true of "Open Range," the 2003 film that proved "Dances With Wolves" wasn't just a fluke for Kevin Costner. Costner directed this moving, atmospheric Western in which he co-stars with Duvall and Annette Bening. (Touchingly and appropriately, Costner gave Duvall top billing in this film.) In "Open Range," Duvall and Costner play Boss Spearman and Charlie Waite, two saddle tramps leading a herd of cattle to market with the help of Mose (Abraham Benrubi), a hulking giant of a man, and Button (Diego Luna), a semi-feral Mexican teenager. Unfortunately, the four inadvertently run afoul of evil rancher Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon) and corrupt Sheriff Poole (James Russo), both of whom consider it their duty on earth to kill all cowboys who follow the open range. But for Charlie this misfortune has a silver lining, because it brings him into contact with the beautiful Sue (Bening). Essentially the film is a three-character chamber drama between Duvall, Costner and Bening, though it contains enough excitement and color for three Westerns. All three give performances equal to the best they've ever given. The relationship between Charlie--a former soldier and gunslinger who strives to bury his more murderous instincts--and Boss, who generally advises caution but can turn dangerous when he has to, is as rich and enjoyable as that between Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call in "Lonesome Dove." Duvall's Boss can't help but put us in mind of Gus, except that Boss is more likely than Gus to think before he acts, to his ultimate benefit. The slow, halting courtship between Charlie and Sue is deeply moving; Charlie loves Sue more than any woman he's ever met, but feels unworthy of her kindness and gentility. These relationships play out against a backdrop of the murderous doings of Baxter and Poole, culminating in a long gunfight that, in its sense of chaotic danger, feels closer to the truth than any gunfight Randolph Scott ever appeared in. Sweet-souled yet breathtakingly exciting, with magnificent photography by James Muro and haunting music by Michael Kamen, "Open Range" is a true classic Western.

Just an excellent film.......2007-08-10

I love westerns, but even if you don't, this storyline translates well on its own. The film is well acted (both Costner and Duvall are excellent) with great cinematography. It is the kind of film that makes you yearn for the old days when people lived by the strength of their word and trust (perhaps just a Hollywood created notion, but I still like to think that we all try to strive for such a thing).

Many people buy this and Broken Trail, but by far this is the better one. Of course Broken Trail was a made for TV movie and as such was shot like it was a made for TV movie. The one saving grace of that movie was Duvall and Church (I have liked him since he first appeared in Wings, I think it is his voice and unusual speech pattern that is interesting to me).

Average customer rating:

The Surf Trip guide
group wanderlust
Unique
you will love this movie
Catch this wave!

Zen & Zero
Starring: Allan C. Weisbecker
Director: Michael Ginthor
Manufacturer: Build World Wide
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ASIN: B000HXDWIW
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Description

AWARDS: BEST DIRECTOR, BEST STORY: X-Dance-Action Sports Film Festival, Park City, USA (Nominee: Best Film, Best Original Score) BEST FILM: Surf Film Festival St Jean de Luz, France DIRECTOR'S AWARD: Santa Cruz Int. Film Festival, USA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY: II Festival Internacional de Cinema Surf, Brazil BEST of FEST ADVENTURE FILM: Tahoe-Reno Int. Film Festival, USA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY: Pichilemu Surf Film Festival, Chile

Customer Reviews:

The Surf Trip guide.......2007-05-16

A creative surf movie, unlike any you have seen. No surf stars, no radical moves, only ordinary surfers (like me and many others) enjoying the surf trip of their lives.

group wanderlust.......2007-05-05

I like this kind of film or book anyway, but this was captivating. The movie stands on its own for sure as just a good film, but for me the addition of the surfing theme was the attraction, and then for the ultimate treat we see Weisbecker in his element. If you have read his books and like them, its worth the movie just to see those sections he appears and how surreal it all feels.

Unique.......2007-02-15

The reviews here are incredible ! And this film deserves all of them. It is incredible how they were able to go into the inner feelings of a surf trip. I feel like all and I mean all the other surfing films that tried to put a surf trip on the screen failed after watching Zen and Zero. I leave one question ... Why Austrians managed to do that ? This is a real surf art film.

you will love this movie.......2007-01-13

as a non-surfer, i might not be the most qualified person to review the 'surfer film' side of this documentary. but to me, it was less a surf movie and more a movie about getting there; getting to the ultimate place, enjoying the waves, and capturing it all on film in an original and beautiful way. this movie makes you want to get out and try what these guys did, because what they did was more than document surfing. they documented the spiritual side of surfing and the ocean, friendship, and finding the ultimate wave. i highly recomend buying this movie.

Catch this wave!.......2006-12-19

A riveting account of an extraordinary journey from Los Angeles to the heart of Central America in the search of the essence of surfing. Beautiful images, an amazing soundtrack, great surfing, and above all, a fantastic story.

Average customer rating:

Interstate 60
An adventure on life's movie highway
Surprising Find
It is impossible to describe this movie. JUST BUY IT!
More than meets the eye

Interstate 60
Starring: Matthew Edison , Paul Brogren , Wayne Robson , Gary Oldman , and Michael J. Fox
Director: Bob Gale
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000AOX0J
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

Interstate 60.......2007-08-09

Unbelievable movie!! I LOVED It.
Great cast, great story.
Gary Oldman is by far one of the best actors in the world!!!!

An adventure on life's movie highway.......2007-08-05

I originally downloaded this movie without having any knowledge of it's content. After watching it 6 or 7 times I purchased the retail version. I showed it to friends and family and all of them at least liked it. Many loved it. I have since purchased copies for 5 of my 6 children. The 6th will get a copy when she's old enough. It isn't a movie for those under 17. It has some pretty rough language in spots but no nudity. The story is original and there's a nice ending. I was amazed that no one has ever heard of it considering the cast... Michael J Fox, Gary Oldman, Kurt Russell, Christopher Lloyd, Ann Margret.. You can sum my thoughts up with 3 words... I Loved It!

Surprising Find.......2007-06-27

This name may not be a big box office hit but wow will it be once you've watched it! Amy Smart is but one of serveral familiar faces to grace this movie. Full of fun, laughs and surprisingly a moral. This is worth buying, it is definetly worth watching at least twice!!

It is impossible to describe this movie. JUST BUY IT!.......2007-06-13

You will not be disappointed with Interstate 60. It is weird, it is thought provoking, it is strange it is my favorite movie EVER (including What the Bleep and The Secret which are close 2nds) It is also one of only 3 movies that I have paid full price for.

I can't describe it. Just buy it and you will like it.

More than meets the eye.......2007-03-15

Superficially this move seems, well, superficial. But it's really not. On my third viewing I found three things I never noticed before. One must pay attention.

Average customer rating:

The Trouble with Girls
Starring: Elvis Presley , Marlyn Mason , Nicole Jaffe , Sheree North , and Edward Andrews
Director: Peter Tewksbury
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000QXDEFY
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Description

The manager of a traveling tent show in the 1920s gets into difficulties with girls, unions, ambitious local talent and a murder during a one-week stand in a modest sized midwestern town.

Average customer rating:

Twenty somethings
A beautiful mess
Beauty Beyond Description

Shem
Starring: Caroline Roboh , Ash Newman , Cyrielle Clair , and Istvan Szabo
Manufacturer: HP Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000HT3Q28
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Product Description

Disillusioned by his Jewish roots and meaningless life, young Londoner Daniel (Ash Newman) embarks on an unforgettable journey throughout Europe on a quest to find his great grandfather's grave. From city to city, Daniel encounters an exciting myriad of events, finding his true self along the way. Director Caroline Roboh's visually stunning travelogue delves into the core of family traditions and personal discovery.

Customer Reviews:

Twenty somethings.......2007-03-01

For many twenty something's entering adulthood nowadays, it's hard to find ones place in society. Daniel, our protagonist in the movie is feeling fed-up and under appreciated with his dead-end job and like many people his age who would love to get away, decides to toss it all to the wind; his job, his income, his partner(s) and take a whirl-wind trip around Eastern Europe to get his mind off his dull dead end, seemingly meaningless life. What he encounters along his journey, contrary to his reasons for leaving however, begin to change his outlook on life and his ancestry. For those who wish to pick up and leave never to look back, Shem may just be what you need to get away, without leaving everything you know.

A beautiful mess.......2007-02-01

Beautiful scenes and cinematography and a handsome leading man do not make up for an awkward, disjointed, poorly-developed ride around Eastern Europe in search of a story. Add to that an unlikeable and unsympathetic leading character and you have picture-postcard quality beautiful emptiness, which is this movie.

I got through it hoping that it would have some point or resolution to tie it all together and make the journey worthwhile. It didn't happen. The story isn't here and the character development doesn't happen. You have to watch the extra on the DVD where the director "explains" the movie. It's helpful, as the movie isn't all that clear.

I'd stay away from this. It's a nicely shot and well put-together film in search of a meaning and lacking a story. It's not even worth a rental except maybe to get to see the scenery and shots around Europe.

Beauty Beyond Description.......2006-11-25

"SHEM"

Beauty Beyond Description

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Every once in a while a movie comes along that leaves you weak. "Shem" (HP Releasing) is that kind of movie. When it was over I just sat, mouth agape and stunned. It was not just a movie, it was an experience. Both tender and shocking, both compassionate and erotic, this is not just a movie to be seen but to be delighted in, not just to enjoy while watching it, but a movie that will stay with you for a very long time. Mark the date of November 7, which is the date it will be released on DVD. Demand that your video store get it or better yet preorder it. This one is a hit and you will want to watch it again and again.
Young Daniel (Ash Newman), our hero, is the star of this film and he carries it throughout but he does have a wonderful supporting cast to back him. Extremely handsome with a childlike angelic beauty, Daniel feels he needs to escape from his ennui of a tedious life. Living in London he finds himself disillusioned by the lack of meaning in his life and his Jewish roots. He begins a journey with the aim of finding his great grandfather's grave. As he pursues his quest throughout Eastern Europe he comes into contact with a stunning and colorful cast of characters. It is trough these encounters that Daniel finds himself and his self identity. The photography is stunning, the panoramas are lush and beautiful and the director (Caroline Roboh) is the personification of perfection. She gives new definition to family values and tradition as well as personal discovery.
As Daniel travels he meets the past and caresses it as his present. He rambles through the capitals of Europe--Paris and Berlin. He tours Eastern Europe--Prague, Budapest and Sofia and eventually finds himself in Rome after running away from the former Communist countries. As he travels, he discovers what family is, what religion is, who he is and that things that he was indifferent to before have become embraceable
You may wonder what the title "Shem" means. It is the Hebrew word for name and it seems to mean that the main purpose of the movie is to remind us to never forget. What is a "shem"? What is the value of having a name if you do not know who you are? Daniel who started on a quest to have a good time found his name along with a spiritual life. He finds his "shem" even though he can find no trace of his great grandfather who died not even leaving a "shem" behind. There seems to be no record that he ever was--no grave, no name. It is as if Roboh tells us that those who died in the Holocaust had no name, many of us have no idea that they ever existed-there is nothing to remember them by, not even a name. The Nazis exchanged names for tattooed numbers on the arms of the captured. It isour name that tells us who we are and gives us a way ti be introduced by and something for others to address by. Imagine life with no name. Finding your identity is, in effect, finding out who you are, what your name stands for. To be nameless is to be nobody. When Daniel finds his past, his spirituality, himself, he finds his name. And upon finding his name he loses his arrogance, his frivolity, his rudeness. He becomes what he is meant to be--a person. When he discovers love, no matter how shallow he begins to be, when he finds his spirit he is almost whole. When he finds his past, he brings it to thje present and as we watch him mature, we see him as a representative of what all youth endures.
This film is so personal and yet so universal at the same time. It is a joyous celebration of life intermingled with tha sorrow of the past. "Shem' is a festival of love and caring and as one watches it, even the stoniest will break. I feel so much better for having seen it and I am ready to sit down and watch it again...and again...and again. If you see nothing else this year, see this movie. You owe it to yourself.

Average customer rating:

This movie was very well done a little to long perhaps, but,
Wacky, crazy film!
"For every car, there is dirt."
Two thumbs sideways. (hitchhiking friends)
Finally this great film is out on DVD it's about time.

Scarecrow
Starring: Gene Hackman , Al Pacino , Dorothy Tristan , Ann Wedgeworth , and Richard Lynch
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009GX1CO
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Amazon.com

One of the great lost buddy films of the 1970s, this Jerry Schatzberg movie somehow never found its audience, despite the fact that both lead actors were riding high: Hackman from The French Connection, Pacino from The Godfather. They play a pair of drifters, seeing America by thumb, who hook up and discover unexpected soul mates in each other. Hackman is the loner who would rather pile on another layer of clothes than chance letting someone get close to him; Pacino is the likably funny loser who gets under Hackman's skin and teaches him to open up. Together, they hatch a plan to save up and buy their own car wash. But try as they do to keep each other out of trouble, their friendship provides only limited protection, though each take something positive away. Endearing performances that never sink to sentimentality; Pacino, in particular, proves that he could just as easily have been a screen comic as one of the great dramatic actors. --Marshall Fine

Description

A pair of drifters hook up and learn much about each other and themselves when they scheme to save their pennies to buy a car wash.

Customer Reviews:

This movie was very well done a little to long perhaps, but,.......2007-08-20

very touching and down to earth. With the talent and charm of Al Pacino and the crusty gruffness of Gene Hackman their opposite personalities really mesh. Hackman the cold loner, Al the goofy, but loveable loser. This movie was not liked by critics, and I don't really understand why. Its really an overlooked, well done buddy flick about two very lonely people who find a connection. Enjoy.

Wacky, crazy film!.......2007-07-22

I remember seeing this in the movies as a little girl and saying, "What the heck did I just see?" It leaves you dumbstruck a little and you can just see that Al Pacino was a force to be reckoned with. Gene Hackman's best movie, if you ask me and just something to behold.

"For every car, there is dirt.".......2006-03-30

Having read a decent amount of opinions about the film Scarecrow (1973), I've noticed quite a few differing thoughts with regards to how specific visuals and elements were interpreted, but the one aspect that many seem to agree upon is this is a vastly underrated feature, one that might have gotten lost in the shuffle specifically because the two main actors, Gene Hackman and Al Pacino had both just recently (at the time) appeared in landmark films The French Connection (1971) and The Godfather (1972), respectively. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg (The Panic in Needle Park, Honeysuckle Rose), the film includes performances by Dorothy Tristan (Klute, Rollercoaster), Ann Wedgeworth (Bang the Drum Slowly, My Science Project), Richard Lynch (The Seven-Ups, The Sword and the Sorcerer), Penelope Allen (Dog Day Afternoon), and Eileen Brennan (The Sting, Murder by Death), as a nasty, drunken floozy with a big mouth.

Hackman and Pacino play the characters Max Millan and Francis Lionel 'Lion' Delbuchi, respectively, who are two drifters that hook up with each other in the backwoods of California, both headed east as Max, who was recently released from prison, has plans on opening a carwash in Pittsburgh while Francis, who completed a stint at sea, is returning home to Detroit to meet his child for the first time and make some sort of amends to his wife (apparently after his wife got pregnant, Francis got scared, ran off, and joined up with the merchant marines). Anyway, the two couldn't be more different...Max is a gruff, belligerent, short-tempered, mean-spirited, uptight cuss who likes to crack heads, take naps, and doesn't do anything without a plan while Francis is a likeable go with the flow sort, one who enjoys the spotlight if only to make people laugh (he believes you don't have to hit people if you can make them laugh). As I said, the two hook up on the road through a chance meeting, and Max immediately decides to make Francis a partner in his upcoming business venture, that being opening a carwash in Pittsburgh. Seems Max, who's been in the joint for the last six years, has been saving every penny and depositing it in a bank, fastidiously planning every aspect of the operation, pouring over every detail to the point of committing them to memory. As the pair hitch rides, jump trains, and hoof it by foot eastward, they have their ups and downs, eventually making their way to Denver to stop off and see Max's sister Coley (Tristan). Times are good, but quickly sour as Max gets both himself and Francis chucked in the can for a thirty-day stint after a barroom brawl (Max ends up blaming Francis for convincing him to deviate from his `plans', and subsequently the pair are now on the `outs'). Francis makes friends quickly with a trustee (played by Lynch), earning himself some relatively easy work assignments (along with some unwanted attentions), while Max's standoffishness earns him a trip to Pigville (the county pig farm), shoveling manure. Eventually the men reconnect, are released from prison, and back on the road, headed for Detroit for a reunion of sorts with Francis' estranged wife and child...

If you're looking for a straightforward type of story, one that has a distinctive beginning, middle, and an end, then you'd best pass this film up. This is purely a character driven drama with comedic underpinnings, one that, like life itself, tends to get a little messy. The real treat here is watching these two fine actors play off each other, something director Schatzberg encourages given the length of some of the scenes and the unrestrictive atmosphere in general throughout the feature. I'll admit, initially I was a little wary about the pairing of Hackman and Pacino in this sort of `buddy buddy' road picture, but the two completely immerse themselves in their roles, creating a pair of completely believable and identifiable characters. I thought Hackman did particularly well presenting an overly retentive, rigid, suspicious, angry at the world individual obsessed with sticking to his plan, his confidence stemming from the very fact that it was so well thought out (by himself) it couldn't possible fail. There's an exchange in the film that really helps put his character in perspective, as Francis relates how once in Catholic school he got the palm of his hand smacked by a nun with a ruler for clowning around.

Max: How come you didn't pound that old lady in the mouth?
Francis: What old lady?
Max: The one that hit you in the palm with the stick.
Francis: She was a nun!

I thought Pacino also did very well as in his role as the easy going, trusting, sociable type that's everyone's friend, a bit naive at times, always handy with a joke or a pratfall, whose main goal in life seems to try and resolve a past indiscretion that seems to have haunted him for awhile, that of leaving his wife in the lurch (he did send her whatever money he could over the years, but that was more or less out of an effort of support, and not one of amends). At some point he realized the only way to excise the demon that plagues him is to confront it, which is why he's headed to Detroit. The characters are obviously from different ends of the spectrum, but, in their differences, they create sort of a `ying and yang', as Max is the driven man with the plan, along with being the streetwise protector of the pair, his edge slightly offset by Francis' ability to enjoy each moment in the here and now (Max allows Francis quite a bit of leeway in terms of Francis poking fun at Max only because he sees Francis as sort of a child, one whose only desire is to please). My favorite sequence in the film comes while the pair is in prison, after their falling out. Despite the fact that they're now at odds, the bond is still there as Max dishes out the retribution after Francis discovers his new friends like him more than for his comedic repartee. As I said, there's not much of a story here, but I found the characters, relationships, and performances fascinating enough to keep me entertained throughout the nearly two hour running time. The ending is sort of downbeat, and offers very little in the way of resolution, but if you can get past this, you might want to check this movie out. It was definitely worth my time.

The picture quality on this DVD release is decent, presented in widescreen (2.40:1), enhanced for 16X9 TVs, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes through reasonably well (it did seem a little soft at times). As far as extras, there are English, Spanish, and French subtitles, an original theatrical trailer, and a vintage featurette for the film entitled "On the Road" (3:48).

Cookieman108

By the way, another scene worth seeing this film for is when Max strips off his clothes in order to go to bed...he's wearing like ten shirts, and watching him remove them is like watching the clowns come out of the little car at the circus. For those interested, the cinematographer on the film was Vilmos Zsigmond, who also did such features as Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Deer Hunter.

Two thumbs sideways. (hitchhiking friends).......2005-12-17

I wanted to see this for a long time. I attempt to watch every Al Pacino and Deniro movie ever made. There are only about 5 I haven't seen. I watch every one even if I know they will be bad such as Simone or Analyze That. This one I was excited to watch but it was a let down.

This one didn't make it to dvd until just know and the vhs was very rare.

This movie is one of those without a real story to tell but is instead a character study. The problem is that Al Pacino and Gene Hackman's characters really didn't have much depth and they didn't compliment or clash enough to bring out any qualities that could be examined anyway. Both characters are also presented as dimwits who don't have a whole lot of rhyme or reason to their actions so that just makes it all the less interesting.

I did start to have a little interest in the little story that the movie was using as a background. But the story ends abruptly before any of the main storyline is resolved so I never got to satisfy my curiousity there either.

Don't bother picking this one up.

Finally this great film is out on DVD it's about time........2005-08-04

This is without a doubt a lost gem that never found an audience like the description reads. This little seen movie was one of the best acting vehicles for its stars. Gene Hackman and Al Pacino deliver great and heartfelt performances as two drifters who are seen as losers and they themselves especially Lion, Pacino's character thinks of himself as one of them. This film reminded me of John Steinbeck's classic novel "Of Mice and Men" who was brought to the screen in 1994 with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich in the title roles. Pacino is Lenny in my eyes as he has the same innocent and childlike behavior that Lenny has in the film and story. Hackman is George, the strong of the two who is less of a dreamer and more practical than Pacino's character. The two of them although at odds with each other during most of the course of the movie did not get along when they were filming this classic film. They argued and disagreed a lot on the set from what I have it read... however you never saw a bit of animosity between the two of them as their superb acting and professionalism shone through out the film. If you have never seen this movie... this would be a good opportunity to purchase this film and see not only a great, classic movie of the 1970's but also the highlight for me anyway... is two see two masters of the acting craft battle it out in front of your eyes with their amazing gift and talent. SCARECROW,is a winner and you won't be disappointed to add this classic movie to your collection. Special thanks go to the company that decided to finally release this great film on DVD it was about time.

Average customer rating:

This Journey Of Self-Discovery Goes Nowhere--And Not Fast Enough
Good - Not Great - A "Must Have" for Varela fans
genuine ... as close as it gets to experiencing Spain
Disappointing
Run with the bulls!

Americano
Starring: Joshua Jackson , Leonor Varela , Timm Sharp , Ruthanna Hopper , and Dennis Hopper
Director: Kevin Noland
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000EHQ7HY
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Description

AMERICANO is set against the backdrop of Spain's centuries-old Fiesta de San Fermín, better known as The Running of the Bulls at Pamplona. Chris McKinley (Joshua Jackson), a recent college graduate backpacking through Europe, savors his last three days of freedom before boarding the career fast track back in the States. In Pamplona for The Running of the Bulls with his best friend, Ryan (Timm Sharp), and Ryan's girlfriend Michelle (Ruthanna Hopper), Chris meets a quintessential Spanish beauty Adela (Leonor Varela) and an enigmatic provocateur Riccardo (Dennis Hopper), both of whom encourage him to rethink his life. As the minutes and seconds until his departure tick away, Chris struggles with an age-old question - should he follow the beaten path, or risk it all on the road less traveled?

Customer Reviews:

This Journey Of Self-Discovery Goes Nowhere--And Not Fast Enough.......2007-02-25

I'm not sure what compelled me to seek out "Americano," written and directed by Kevin Noland. It's not as if I was dying to check up on the career of Joshua Jackson, a star of TV's "Dawson's Creek." Perhaps I was intrigued by Dennis Hopper's inclusion in such a small scale production--I mean the man is always interesting even when his material is less than stellar. Here, however, the lure for him seems to have been his daughter Ruthanna, who has a supporting role and serves as a producer on this film. Maybe it was international star Leonor Varela, a beauty who is surely one good role away from making it big in America. Most likely, though, it was the idea of seeing the movie as a travelogue of Spain. With great scenery, bull fights, Hemingway, hard drinking and partying, the Running of the Bulls--the atmosphere alone might have made intriguing viewing.

However, I am going to be rather hard in my assessment of this film. I think Noland has talent and I look forward to other works. The film is photographed well and has good performances. My problem stems from the fact that there is absolutely no drama in this familiar coming-of-age story. With an astounding lack of real character insight, this little production about characters at a crossroads falls absolutely flat.

The setup is simple. As recent college graduates, Jackson and two pals (who bicker comically) are spending the last few days of their vacation in Spain before Jackson must return to the "real" world and a new job. Facing the eternal struggles between childhood and adulthood, work and independence, freedom and monotony, dreams and reality--Jackson falls into lust with a local played by Varela. Should he ditch it all for this worldwind romance? Should he abandon responsibility for a life of leisure? Should he stay in Spain? These are legitimate questions and a legitimate, albeit familiar, story path. What makes "Americano" so tedious and uninvolving, however, is that the film doesn't allow you to know its characters. A character study with no genuine character development seems a hard concept to pull off--and "Americano" doesn't succeed in doing anything remotely deeper than the superficial presentation of friends on vacation. We never know anything about Jackson's job or life in America, or his dreams, passions, interests, etc...aside from this fleeting romance. Sure, the film goes through the requisite motions--Jackson writes pretentious poetry and talks to statues of Hemingway, what else would you expect in Spain? If he has artistic aspirations, however, the screenplay surely never develops this. Lacking any real guidance as to what Jackson envisions for his life, I simply fell into the camp of "who cares?"

There are plenty of authentic moments in the depiction of Spanish culture. Dennis Hopper's role, however, as a club host is a complete misfire. Ultimately, though, my genuine disinterest in the film comes from a screenplay that asks me to care but never goes beneath the surface for emotional truth and character depth. Sure, Jackson's at a crossroads--but lacking any understanding of what he wants, it made no difference to me what he chose. Sorry, but that's a big problem when it is your film's central theme. KGHarris, 02/07.

Good - Not Great - A "Must Have" for Varela fans.......2006-09-02

I saw AMERICANO in the theater (it played for exactly one week in a small art-houre here in NY, and there was absolutely no advertizing in the local media) and now have bought the DVD. To be sure it will not be everyone's cup of tea. It does not have much of a plot, true - but then again neither does Proust's IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME. What we have are a series of vignettes hung around the vestigal plot of: confused, naieve American boy (Jackson) meets clever, world-wise, and a slightly wild & eccentric Spanish woman (Varela). The chemistry between Jackson & Varela is real. I think as a romantic comedy it works quite well, and I thnk it's a great film for couples to watch together - preferably by candle-light, with some wine and some tapas snacks on hand. Tim Sharp & Ruthanna Hopper were fine as the "comic" couple played against the serious (Jackson & Varela) couple. I'll admit the Dennis Hopper character was a bit of a problem: his portentious oracular pronouncements ("Be wary!") were a bit hard to swallow. But that's a minor complaint. The cinematagrophy was first rate; the sights & sounds of Spain, of the drunken blow-out that is the running of the bulls are captured quite well indeed. What, for me, made the film completely worthwhile was the presence of beautiful Chilean actress Leonor Varela. She is a fine actress, has proven herself a first rate dramatic actress (the recent INNOCENT VOICES), and now has shown herself to be also a first rate comedic actress. Her fans will want to own this film.

genuine ... as close as it gets to experiencing Spain.......2006-08-17

I agree with another reviewer - if you've been there you will get it. I was in Spain this summer and went to Pamplona and did El Camino de Santiago. I can see why the lack of an exciting storyline or a twist can disappoint many used to Hollywood cinema. In the words of Adela, "Nothing is as predictable as Hollywood". This movie is genuine, except for the gorgeous woman. The footage is excellent, especially the running of the bulls. I wish they would have shown more of El Camino. But this movie is not meant to close the loop, just show us the questions that arise in all of us.

Disappointing.......2006-08-08

Don't waste your time or your money on this film. Trust the detailed negative reviews provided on this site. I can only assume the positive comments were written by someone affiliated with the film to get their "star" rating up. Could have been so good, the result was unfortunate.

Run with the bulls! .......2006-08-03

Americano was a very enjoyable movie. A fun, funny and sensuous trek through some of Hemingway's old haunts. It reminded me of my collage days. I immediately wanted to head to Europe and hike through Spain, Italy, France or Croatia. In life sometimes we have to make a decision we will regret later in life . . . Great move!

Average customer rating:

More than I expected
For those who Lived it...
Cool hippie era film
More
Censored DVD

More
Starring: Mimsy Farmer , Klaus Grünberg , Heinz Engelmann , Michel Chanderli , and Henry Wolf (III)
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Manufacturer: Homevision
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ASIN: B0007PAMJM
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Amazon.com

Barbet Schroeder, the Oscar-nominated director of Reversal of Fortune, made his debut with this jaundiced view of the European youth drug culture. Klaus Grünberg is a naive German student who falls for blond American junkie Mimsy Farmer and discovers drugs in Paris. He follows the flighty babe to Ibiza, a sunny Mediterranean island paradise, where he falls into the world of former Nazi-turned-heroin-pusher Heinz Engelmann and succumbs to addiction. Part counterculture portrait, part antidrug drama, it's a shaggy little film that suggests the New Wave influence in a rambling pace, gorgeous asides of fun in the sun (our heroes get high and tilt at windmills--literally--in one free and easy moment), and deadpan bursts of intermittent narration. But Schroeder has little affinity with youth culture, and the film more often fits the conservative tenor of American cautionary drug dramas of the 1960s and '70s. To the film's credit, it never succumbs to the druggie clichés of the time. You'll find none of the kaleidoscope lenses, whip pans, sunlight reflections searing the image, or choppy montages to rock & roll hits that fill the drug-culture classics, just the handsome, earthy, intimate photography of Néstor Almendros. Today, More remains most famous for its subdued, moody Pink Floyd score. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Having graduated college, Stefan hitchhikes from Lubeck, Germany, to Paris, France, where he finds the warm embrace of Estelle-an American expatriate and heroin user. Together, they chase the sun to the island of Ibiza where they develop even more interesting relationships with the island's leading drug dealer and a girlfriend of Estelle's. Made in the late sixties, Barbet Schroeder's (Barfly) directorial debut is a treatment of pleasure, pain and tragedy that stands apart from numerous counterculture exploitation films. With Academy Award® winning cinematographer Nestor Almendros (Days of Heaven), More never resorts to predictable LSD-induced stylistics, but rather atypically adopts a style of objectivity to illuminate the ideas and emotions that contribute to a lifestyle of destructive excess. After years of languish this relevant cult classic, featuring a soundtrack by Pink Floyd, is finally available for a new generation.

Customer Reviews:

More than I expected.......2007-06-12

Being a Pink Floyd fan I first owned the CD of the music from the Pink Floyd score. Some years back it seemed the movie was unavailable so more years went by and I was always curious with a wanting to someday see the film. I finally got the DVD and the film More is much more likeable than I ever imagined. The quality and the story seem very good to me and that the movie was released in 1969 shows me that this movie is way better than most other productions I have ever seen. And I also learn something.....our reveiws are sometimes fickle but I never take the word of a critic that puts a movie down......my most favorite movies of alltime were downed by critics.....I think they try to steal power for their own egos when putting things down. The film More deserves all five stars and is way more than I ever imagined or expected it to be. The DVD copy I bought is now another gem in my vast music and movie collection. Thanks to amazon.com

For those who Lived it..........2007-05-29

In 1969, "More" prompted many young urbanites to move to Ibiza, to live the utopian dream. The Pink Floyd is a favorite among the expatriate veterans who still live on the island. English is the proper language for this movie, for, not only it facilitated its commercialization, but actually is the lingua franca among these expressive expatriates.

Though a tad disappointing as a movie production, "More" historically embodies the Spirit of a time. The acting is quite ludicrous at the beginning, but it gradually improves, as the narrative unfolds and the actors get into their roles. In any case, More is definitely a cult of the counterculture, thematizing the challenges and shortcomings of transpersonal utopia. Reflecting the anti-heroine stance (drug which ultimately throws hippies down from bliss to destruction), the movie resonates with autobiographies, such as Cleo Odzer's "Goa Freaks", and it can be better understood by the anthropological book by Anthony D'Andrea, "Global Nomads" about Ibiza and Goa/India.

If you experienced the counterculture, and/or were in Ibiza (its alternative world, not tourism...), or like chaotic romances in exotic yet real situations, then you will love the movie. But if you don't empathize with any of the related issues, then it is better not to expect too much...

Cool hippie era film.......2006-12-02

I enjoyed this movie on many levels such as musically with the Pink
Floyd early era music, the nice scenery, historically such as the drug use
and the attitudes at the time ; the sensuality of some scenes- the nudity added to the feeling of personal freedom that is very attractive in the film and at the same time lead to tragedy which makes it a good story and film.

More.......2006-05-11

One of the most representative films of the hippy times, together with Denis Hopper's Easy Rider. This is a love story, though the woman is drug addict and the man somewhat jealous and moody. The woman depends in some way on a rich German who lives in Ibiza. The film was photographed by Nestor Almendros.

Censored DVD.......2005-08-10

I bought this video thinking it would be a complete unedited version. i was wrong its the same as the vhs version i also purchased from amazon.com. drug references are edited out and so are partial scenes. do not buy this video from amazon in vhs or dvd.i was fortunate to have rented an uncensored vhs copy from tower records a few years ago. now im stuck with two crap copies. i wish amazon had forewarned me before purchase.i will no longer buy from amazon.

Average customer rating:

Refreshing
A Completely Delightful and Tender Little Film About Disenfranchised Kids
A Must See!
Donne-moi des vacances!

We Need a Vacation
Starring: Thylda Barès , Siraboula Sissoko , Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux , Thomas Pitiot , and Ibrahim Koma
Director: Didier Bivel
Manufacturer: Picture This!
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ASIN: B0002B55G6
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Refreshing.......2007-01-23

Simple story of suburb children dreaming to get a vacation during summer holidays and actually getting it.

A Completely Delightful and Tender Little Film About Disenfranchised Kids.......2007-01-08

'Fais-moi des vacances' (WE NEED A VACATION) is a finely wrought little film that studies the disparities between the classes in France while introducing us to a warmly tender and humorous friendship between two young lads. Directed and written by Didier Bivel (with writing assistance from Djamila Djabri) it offers a slice of life we rarely see - that underbelly of France's projects where mixed races strive to exist without the amenities of those with means who surround their neighborhoods.

Lucien (Aymen Saïdi) lives with his father (Bernard Blancan), mother (Hiam Abbass), young sister Pamela (Laura Mas Navarro), and his tough streetwise older brother José (Nabil El Bouhairi) in a small flat. Close by is his African friend Adama (Ibrahim Koma) and his equally poor family of father (Makan Fofana), mother (Marie-Philomène Nga) and sister Fanta (Hawa Yakaré Sissoko). As school ends the kids whose families have money take them on a vacation, a state neither Lucien nor Adama can afford despite their obsession with that luxury. The two boys manipulate funds and ideas and ultimately come up with the idea of secretly jumping aboard a RUV of a family headed for the beach. BUT despite the success of their plan and the encouragement of the daughter of the van's owners, the boys end up not at the beach but at a nudist camp, a fact that makes them flee! Upon returning home both boys' families punish their activities and when Lucien seeks comfort from his older brother, José beats him and tells him to grow up. In the end the boys finagle their way to the beach, but of course by this time vacation time is over and they are on an empty beach re-evaluating their lives.

The cast is uniformly strong, the writing is excellent, and the camera work not only captures the claustrophobia of the projects but also opens up the vistas of the boys' imaginations. It is a fine little film, one deserving of a wide audience. Grady Harp, January 07

A Must See!.......2005-07-18

A profoundly poignant and thought provoking French coming of age drama about two young youths desperately in need of time away from their poverty stricken homes. The performances by the two males leads are unforgettable and the writing and direction is top notch. The score for the film (particularly its theme song) is quite a effective as is also the cinematography.

Donne-moi des vacances!.......2004-11-27

Two friends from a French inner-city dream of getting away to the sunshine. They try various means of raising money and stowing away in caravans and coaches to half live out their dream. This is set against their relationships with their families (petty criminal brother, loving mothers etc.).
Contains some genuinely amusing moments as well as the tristesse of their lives.

Average customer rating:

Neo-realism meets ennui
Stark and Beautiful
No L'Avventura, But Very Good
Il Grido (The Outcry)

Il Grido
Starring: Steve Cochran , Alida Valli , Betsy Blair , Gabriella Pallotta , and Dorian Gray
Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Manufacturer: Kino Video
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ASIN: B00004WM2H
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Customer Reviews:

Neo-realism meets ennui.......2007-02-14

"Il Grido" is a work of neo-realism by Michelangelo Antonioni made prior to his several masterpieces. Elements of his later visual style and themes are apparent (drifting, boredom, similar shots, etc.) and this film may even be considered a precursor to his famous trilogy of L'Avventura, La Notte, and L'Eclisse. In contrast to the trilogy but typical of neo-realism, Antonioni focuses on the lower classes, specifically a recently unemployed mechanic. As a piece of neo-realism, the work falls short as it lacks the emotional weight of films such as "The Bicycle Thieves" and the actresses simply are too beautiful to truly feel pity for the protaganist. However, as an example of early Antonioni, this film is invaluable. Antonioni aficianados will certainly appreciate this film, but others less familiar with his directing style may be bored. Even for Antonioni fans, it may be better to rent instead of buy. This film is not one to rewatch as time is probably better spent rewatching his later and far superior films.

Stark and Beautiful.......2003-01-28

I've given this a rating of 4 rather than 5 based on the DVD production, rather than on the film--which I'd rate a full 5. The image on disc needs cleaning up--spots and little jerks are sometimes distracting; and there are no helpful extras--a commentary at least would have been very helpful. But the subtitles are good and readable, and the movie itself is wonderful.

The story is grim enough in outline--a rebuffed lover spirals down into despair, and he spirals down into a society with no safety net. But the black and white countryside, the roadside gas station, the villages, the shack where the prostitute lives, all these are hauntingly photographed. And each character is a surprise, so that the film feels populated by a whole world of very real people, not 'written' characters. There are a couple of moments in the story that can break your heart--such as when the main character sends his little daughter away--but the film is not at all depressing; you feel moved, but also elated at the brilliance of the filmmaking--and maybe a little awestruck if, like me, you grew up in the US midwest and never suspected that out in the big world, people were making truly adult films back in the 1950s, films that are as rich and satisfying as a good novel. The concluding sequence opens the story up and gives it almost epic scope, as the character returns to the village he left, to find himself in the midst of an anti-government riot--though by now, the rioters' issues are meaningless to him.

I'm not enough of a film expert to compare this intelligently with Antonioni's later masterpiece, "L'Avventura" (which I've probably misspelled), except to say that if you love that film, you really must see this one; and, if you found that later film obscure and too slow-paced, give this one a try before deciding Antonioni isn't accessible. This one will really pull you in.

No L'Avventura, But Very Good.......2002-01-30

I've only seen one other of Antonioni's films--L'Avventura--so I'm no authority. (I'm very much looking forward to seeing more though.)
This is a very fine film. While the inability of Aldo to communicate with women, and find succor in committed or romantic love, is very interesting, this film seems to me to be more about some of the changes happening in rural Italian society, progress that Antonioni expresses as having a very negative impact on working people.
The scenery is bleak and barren. Antonioni often has the camera pulled back, so that you see the whole of the human figures futilely moving among featureless buildings or arid ground. The cinematography, the camera shots themselves of the landscape as well as of the human figures, is excellent. There are a number of interesting angles used through windows of couples separating. The acting is of a uniformly high standard.
I was reminded of Modern Times. In that film, Chaplin was always on the move, and largely oblivious to the social forces working around him--much of the time he is forcused on simply getting a job, as is Aldo. Aldo can't find permanent work, despite being a gifted mechanic. The police are often lurking in the background, enforcing petty and occassionally cruel laws.
While its not as good as L'Avventura--which is more mysterious and ambiguous and less polemical--its a terrific film, well worth watching.

Il Grido (The Outcry).......2000-02-16

Il Grido is an unusual vehicle for Steve Cochran who appeared in gangster flics in the 50's - and was famous for affairs with Jayne Mansfield, Mae West, Mamie Van Doren and Joan Crawford. His private life seemed to mirror his screen personna but his acting prowess becomes evident near the end of his life in Il Grido. A strange account of a man's decline from the Italian working class to aimless drifting in an ever engulfing bleak landscape. His encounters with women depict the volatility of his well-meaning but purposeless character, Aldo, but his anguish only becomes evident when leaving his young daughter- sensing they will never meet again. As her train departs, Aldo's anguish becomes wrenching and is the beginning of his eventual dissolution.

A thoughtful challenging movie for its poetic imagery and cinematic imagery.

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