Amazon.co.uk Review
The Yards fulfils the promise of writer-director James Gray's debut film, Little Odessa, proving that Gray is a mature storyteller who attracts good actors and elicits their best work. Inspired by the experiences of his own father, he sets The Yards inside the corrupt workings of the New York City railway system, in which men such as Frank Olchin (James Caan) maintain their dominance by sabotaging the work of their competitors. Mark Wahlberg is well cast as Leo Handler, who serves jail time for a crime he didn't commit and returns home to a warm welcome from his ailing mother (Ellen Burstyn), his aunt Kitty (and Frank's wife, played by Faye Dunaway), and cousin Erica (Charlize Theron).
He's also welcomed by his friend Willie (Joaquin Phoenix), who does most of Uncle Frank's dirty work and brings the needy Leo into his lucrative fold. Things go from bad to worse, and Leo's suspected in the killing of a railway official and the beating of a city patrolman. On the run, he uncovers the political machinations that keep Uncle Frank in power, and The Yards unfolds as a compelling tale of family, twisted loyalties, and the quest for truth. There's stellar work from everyone involved, but if The Yards has one major flaw, it's that Gray directs with a solemnity that's almost off-putting, as if a moment of levity would violate his story's integrity. Visually the movie invites comparison to The Godfather, and it boasts much of that film's moral complexity and depth of character, but it's too self-consciously heavy, and that compromises its overall impact. Still, this is good work from a talented director whose future films will be watched with interest. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
HELLO IS ANYBODY STILL AWAKE ?.......2007-07-29
The ultimate in boring, inane and totally crap films. If James Caan could take the cotton wool out of his mouth so we could understand what he is saying it would improve the ratings by 2%. Don`t waste your hard earned cash on this, rather bet on the rank outsider at the donkey derby.
FORGET "GLADIATOR" , TRY "THE YARDS".......2003-05-03
After LITTLE ODESSA in 1994, THE YARDS is quite an impressive second movie of american writer/director James Gray who plays in the same league than Martin Scorsese, Francis Coppola or Sidney Lumet. Furthermore, James Gray has given two important roles to James Caan and Ellen Burstyn and a choice like this can only be made by a clever and talented person. If you are not so fond of Ridley Scott's bodybuilt gladiators, try for a change a movie with more brains than muscles. In the long run, it gives more satisfaction.
THE YARDS is a movie about ambiguity, a mood created firstly by the images of the movie, cold and almost metallic for the exterior scenes but warm and always red, brown or yellow for the interior scenes. This antagonism is also underlined by the recurrent theme of the electric lights which suddenly plunge the characters in a black no-man's land several times during the course of the movie.
James - Frank Olchin - Caan is the most ambiguous character of the movie. He may appear as a rotten businessman ready to corrupt anything that has power at times but can also develop a "Don Corleone" à la Brando attitude when trying to protect his family. Superb job from James Caan. Mark - Leo Handler - Wahlberg is also not a straight character and one important scene of the movie confirms this point. After having been abandoned by his pairs, he's ready to join the enemy and crucify his former friends.
A DVD zone your library.
Interesting..............2001-12-05
So, the plot may get a little confusing at times (i spent ages explaing it to a friend who watched it with me) and at times it can get a little too heavy, but overall, this is an excellent example of independent film. Superb directing from Gray, whos dark and gritty atmosphere really cranks the tension up a notch. There is a good and imaginative plot accomanied by a good script and belivable characters who you actually care about. A good example of Mark Wahlberg's acting capablities, far better than his attempt in this summers 'Planet of the Apes'. The actor that really stood out for me was Joaquin Pheonix, who's turn as the scheaming Willie is a fine addition to his already impresive resume. A must buy for all lovers of independent film. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
A great spin on the the old corruption theme.......2001-08-10
This film is a great spin on the old corruption and manipulation theme. With a good cast and some decent screenplay, you soon become enthralled in the dark vision of the film. Although the film will never stand up to films like the godfather, goodfellas its still highly enjoyable to watch. James Caan never lets you down.
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Yards fulfils the promise of writer-director James Gray's debut film, Little Odessa, proving that Gray is a mature storyteller who attracts good actors and elicits their best work. Inspired by the experiences of his own father, he sets The Yards inside the corrupt workings of the New York City railway system, in which men such as Frank Olchin (James Caan) maintain their dominance by sabotaging the work of their competitors. Mark Wahlberg is well cast as Leo Handler, who serves jail time for a crime he didn't commit and returns home to a warm welcome from his ailing mother (Ellen Burstyn), his aunt Kitty (and Frank's wife, played by Faye Dunaway), and cousin Erica (Charlize Theron).
He's also welcomed by his friend Willie (Joaquin Phoenix), who does most of Uncle Frank's dirty work and brings the needy Leo into his lucrative fold. Things go from bad to worse, and Leo's suspected in the killing of a railway official and the beating of a city patrolman. On the run, he uncovers the political machinations that keep Uncle Frank in power, and The Yards unfolds as a compelling tale of family, twisted loyalties, and the quest for truth. There's stellar work from everyone involved, but if The Yards has one major flaw, it's that Gray directs with a solemnity that's almost off-putting, as if a moment of levity would violate his story's integrity. Visually the movie invites comparison to The Godfather, and it boasts much of that film's moral complexity and depth of character, but it's too self-consciously heavy, and that compromises its overall impact. Still, this is good work from a talented director whose future films will be watched with interest. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
HELLO IS ANYBODY STILL AWAKE ?.......2007-07-29
The ultimate in boring, inane and totally crap films. If James Caan could take the cotton wool out of his mouth so we could understand what he is saying it would improve the ratings by 2%. Don`t waste your hard earned cash on this, rather bet on the rank outsider at the donkey derby.
FORGET "GLADIATOR" , TRY "THE YARDS".......2003-05-03
After LITTLE ODESSA in 1994, THE YARDS is quite an impressive second movie of american writer/director James Gray who plays in the same league than Martin Scorsese, Francis Coppola or Sidney Lumet. Furthermore, James Gray has given two important roles to James Caan and Ellen Burstyn and a choice like this can only be made by a clever and talented person. If you are not so fond of Ridley Scott's bodybuilt gladiators, try for a change a movie with more brains than muscles. In the long run, it gives more satisfaction.
THE YARDS is a movie about ambiguity, a mood created firstly by the images of the movie, cold and almost metallic for the exterior scenes but warm and always red, brown or yellow for the interior scenes. This antagonism is also underlined by the recurrent theme of the electric lights which suddenly plunge the characters in a black no-man's land several times during the course of the movie.
James - Frank Olchin - Caan is the most ambiguous character of the movie. He may appear as a rotten businessman ready to corrupt anything that has power at times but can also develop a "Don Corleone" à la Brando attitude when trying to protect his family. Superb job from James Caan. Mark - Leo Handler - Wahlberg is also not a straight character and one important scene of the movie confirms this point. After having been abandoned by his pairs, he's ready to join the enemy and crucify his former friends.
A DVD zone your library.
Interesting..............2001-12-05
So, the plot may get a little confusing at times (i spent ages explaing it to a friend who watched it with me) and at times it can get a little too heavy, but overall, this is an excellent example of independent film. Superb directing from Gray, whos dark and gritty atmosphere really cranks the tension up a notch. There is a good and imaginative plot accomanied by a good script and belivable characters who you actually care about. A good example of Mark Wahlberg's acting capablities, far better than his attempt in this summers 'Planet of the Apes'. The actor that really stood out for me was Joaquin Pheonix, who's turn as the scheaming Willie is a fine addition to his already impresive resume. A must buy for all lovers of independent film. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
A great spin on the the old corruption theme.......2001-08-10
This film is a great spin on the old corruption and manipulation theme. With a good cast and some decent screenplay, you soon become enthralled in the dark vision of the film. Although the film will never stand up to films like the godfather, goodfellas its still highly enjoyable to watch. James Caan never lets you down.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Have a little patience with The Whole Nine Yards, an agreeably convoluted caper, and in the end you'll find it a modestly entertaining yarn. But forbearance is necessary because, truthfully, the first half-hour of the movie promises a train wreck of epic proportions.
Matthew Perry stars as a mild-mannered Montreal dentist, married to a French-Canadian shrew (Rosanna Arquette), whose new next-door neighbour (Bruce Willis) just happens to be a notorious mob hit-man out on parole. The wife, catching the whiff of easy money and probably just hoping to put hubby in harms way, orders her hen pecked spouse to rat out the gunman to his former employers, who have many compelling reasons to want him dead. Needless to say, complications--and plenty of them--ensue.
Perry is serviceably harried as the beleaguered Everyman whom, as nice as everyone around him agrees that he is the person, just about everyone, wants to kill. Willis, much as he did in The Sixth Sense, gets better mileage out of not trying so hard; his irksome smirk is almost held in check. Amanda Peet has some funny scenes as a hit-man groupie—it's when her true role in the proceedings is revealed that the film finally kicks into comic gear. Michael Clarke Duncan is fine as yet another hit man to cross Perry's path; however, Arquette seems to be in a contest with Kevin Pollak (playing a mob boss) to see who can uncork both the most ludicrous accent and the most obvious performance. That kind of unevenness ensures that the pleasures that do exist within The Whole Nine Yards remain fairly minor. --David Kronke, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable romantic comedy with punch.......2006-03-24
The Whole Nine Yards is an enjoyable romantic comedy about assassins and the mob. It's nice to see Bruce Willis mocking his tendency to be typecast by taking a role as a mobster in a film of this genre. There's wheeling and dealing and a fair few plot twists to keep you entertained after a convicted murderer (Willis) moves into a quiet neighbourhood next door to a law abiding, impressionable dentist (Matthew Perry). I'm not a real fan of romantic comedies but this one has a punch to it.
Great Comedy.......2004-06-30
This film is amazing!!! and now i have seen The whole 10 yards in the cinema im even more amazed what great films Bruce willis is great and Mathew Perry is even better WOW!
Eagerly awaiting the sequal!.......2003-12-10
I didn't know much about this movie when I bought it, but since it had a good cast lineup and the DVD was dirt cheap, I thought "Why Not?". And I tell you, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really loved the movie. Though Matthew Perry is very Chandler-esque, that is the role that was needed for it none-the-less and it works very well within the film. Bruce Willis plays the ex-hitman Jimmy Tudeski beautifully, making Oz(Perry) nervous at every line. The two beautiful leading ladies (Natasha Henstridge & Amanda Peet) giving some pretty good roles (Peet even has a Flash seen where you see her breasts, very nice I might add!)
There is, as always some wonderful chemistry between Michael Clarke Duncan and Bruce Willis(they've been in quite a few films together).
The rest of the supporting cast is under par with Rosanna Arquette and Kevin Pollak, both giving horrible accents to their characters, their roles can't keep up with the rest of the cast.
Despite the last fact, I give this movie a 5 out of 5 for a wonderfull script, great main cast and it's extremely funny predicaments. I eagerly await the sequal, 'The Whole Ten Yards' coming 2004.
Please explain to me how that's any of your business?.......2003-01-17
Having seen and loved Three To Tango, and been reasonably impressed with Fools Rush In, I was keen to see more of Matthew Perry. This film also starred Bruce Willis, but even he couldn't steal the show from an excellently played dentist in Canada. There were many funny lines, an unreasonable amount of nudity and an unbelievable storyline, but those last two didn't seem to matter, as Matthew Perry's performance as a nervous and naive acquaintance to a hitman (Willis) discovers that his wife is trying to kill him. The plot becomes unnecessarily complex, with everyone trying to kill everyone else, but I would readily welcome The Whole Nine Yards Two. Not as good as Three To Tango, but with better one-liners (see review title).
A WONDERFULLY FUNNY FILM..........2002-12-01
When this movie first came out, I passed on it, mistakenly believing it to be a football film. Was I ever wrong! It is a terrific black comedy, with wonderful performances by Matthew Perry, the ever cool Bruce Willis, Michael Clarke Duncan, and a break out performance by Amanda Peet. Quite frankly, the movie is just plain hilarious, and a little gem of a film which one could happily see again and again, as I already have, and laugh each and every time.
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!
Amazon.co.uk Review
Have a little patience with The Whole Nine Yards, an agreeably convoluted caper, and in the end you'll find it a modestly entertaining yarn. But forbearance is necessary because, truthfully, the first half-hour of the movie promises a train wreck of epic proportions.
Matthew Perry stars as a mild-mannered Montreal dentist, married to a French-Canadian shrew (Rosanna Arquette), whose new next-door neighbour (Bruce Willis) just happens to be a notorious mob hit-man out on parole. The wife, catching the whiff of easy money and probably just hoping to put hubby in harms way, orders her hen pecked spouse to rat out the gunman to his former employers, who have many compelling reasons to want him dead. Needless to say, complications--and plenty of them--ensue.
Perry is serviceably harried as the beleaguered Everyman whom, as nice as everyone around him agrees that he is the person, just about everyone, wants to kill. Willis, much as he did in The Sixth Sense, gets better mileage out of not trying so hard; his irksome smirk is almost held in check. Amanda Peet has some funny scenes as a hit-man groupie—it's when her true role in the proceedings is revealed that the film finally kicks into comic gear. Michael Clarke Duncan is fine as yet another hit man to cross Perry's path; however, Arquette seems to be in a contest with Kevin Pollak (playing a mob boss) to see who can uncork both the most ludicrous accent and the most obvious performance. That kind of unevenness ensures that the pleasures that do exist within The Whole Nine Yards remain fairly minor. --David Kronke, Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Yards fulfils the promise of writer-director James Gray's debut film, Little Odessa, proving that Gray is a mature storyteller who attracts good actors and elicits their best work. Inspired by the experiences of his own father, he sets The Yards inside the corrupt workings of the New York City railway system, in which men such as Frank Olchin (James Caan) maintain their dominance by sabotaging the work of their competitors. Mark Wahlberg is well cast as Leo Handler, who serves jail time for a crime he didn't commit and returns home to a warm welcome from his ailing mother (Ellen Burstyn), his aunt Kitty (and Frank's wife, played by Faye Dunaway), and cousin Erica (Charlize Theron).
He's also welcomed by his friend Willie (Joaquin Phoenix), who does most of Uncle Frank's dirty work and brings the needy Leo into his lucrative fold. Things go from bad to worse, and Leo's suspected in the killing of a railway official and the beating of a city patrolman. On the run, he uncovers the political machinations that keep Uncle Frank in power, and The Yards unfolds as a compelling tale of family, twisted loyalties, and the quest for truth. There's stellar work from everyone involved, but if The Yards has one major flaw, it's that Gray directs with a solemnity that's almost off-putting, as if a moment of levity would violate his story's integrity. Visually the movie invites comparison to The Godfather, and it boasts much of that film's moral complexity and depth of character, but it's too self-consciously heavy, and that compromises its overall impact. Still, this is good work from a talented director whose future films will be watched with interest. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
HELLO IS ANYBODY STILL AWAKE ?.......2007-07-29
The ultimate in boring, inane and totally crap films. If James Caan could take the cotton wool out of his mouth so we could understand what he is saying it would improve the ratings by 2%. Don`t waste your hard earned cash on this, rather bet on the rank outsider at the donkey derby.
FORGET "GLADIATOR" , TRY "THE YARDS".......2003-05-03
After LITTLE ODESSA in 1994, THE YARDS is quite an impressive second movie of american writer/director James Gray who plays in the same league than Martin Scorsese, Francis Coppola or Sidney Lumet. Furthermore, James Gray has given two important roles to James Caan and Ellen Burstyn and a choice like this can only be made by a clever and talented person. If you are not so fond of Ridley Scott's bodybuilt gladiators, try for a change a movie with more brains than muscles. In the long run, it gives more satisfaction.
THE YARDS is a movie about ambiguity, a mood created firstly by the images of the movie, cold and almost metallic for the exterior scenes but warm and always red, brown or yellow for the interior scenes. This antagonism is also underlined by the recurrent theme of the electric lights which suddenly plunge the characters in a black no-man's land several times during the course of the movie.
James - Frank Olchin - Caan is the most ambiguous character of the movie. He may appear as a rotten businessman ready to corrupt anything that has power at times but can also develop a "Don Corleone" à la Brando attitude when trying to protect his family. Superb job from James Caan. Mark - Leo Handler - Wahlberg is also not a straight character and one important scene of the movie confirms this point. After having been abandoned by his pairs, he's ready to join the enemy and crucify his former friends.
A DVD zone your library.
Interesting..............2001-12-05
So, the plot may get a little confusing at times (i spent ages explaing it to a friend who watched it with me) and at times it can get a little too heavy, but overall, this is an excellent example of independent film. Superb directing from Gray, whos dark and gritty atmosphere really cranks the tension up a notch. There is a good and imaginative plot accomanied by a good script and belivable characters who you actually care about. A good example of Mark Wahlberg's acting capablities, far better than his attempt in this summers 'Planet of the Apes'. The actor that really stood out for me was Joaquin Pheonix, who's turn as the scheaming Willie is a fine addition to his already impresive resume. A must buy for all lovers of independent film. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
A great spin on the the old corruption theme.......2001-08-10
This film is a great spin on the old corruption and manipulation theme. With a good cast and some decent screenplay, you soon become enthralled in the dark vision of the film. Although the film will never stand up to films like the godfather, goodfellas its still highly enjoyable to watch. James Caan never lets you down.
DVD:
- Thunderbird 6: The Movie [1968]
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- Tom And Jerry - A Nutcracker Tale
- Tom And Jerry Blast Off To Mars
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