Amazon.com
It takes a certain kind of comic genius to create a character who is, to quote the classic Sondheim lyric, appealing and appalling. But be forewarned: Borat is not "something for everyone." It arrives as advertised as one of the most outrageous, most offensive, and funniest films in years. Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen reprising the popular character from his Da Ali G Show, leaves his humble village to come to "U.S. of A" to film a documentary. After catching an episode of Baywatch in his New York hotel room, he impulsively scuttles his plans and, accompanied by his fat, hirsute producer (Hardy to his Laurel), proceeds to California to pursue the object of his obsession, Pamela Anderson. Borat is not about how he finds America; it's about how America finds him in a series of increasingly cringe-worthy scenes. Borat, with his '70s mustache, well-worn grey suit, and outrageously backwards attitudes (especially where Jews are concerned) interacts with a cross-section of the populace, catching them, a la Alan Funt on Candid Camera, in the act of being themselves.
Early on, an unwitting humour coach advises Borat about various types of jokes. Borat asks if his brother's retardation is a ripe subject for comedy. The coach patiently replies, "That would not be funny in America." NOT! Borat is subversively, bracingly funny. When it comes to exploring uncharted territory of what is and is not appropriate or politically correct, Borat knows no boundaries, as when he brings a fancy dinner with the southern gentry to a halt after returning from the bathroom with a bag of his feces ("The cultural differences are vast," his hostess graciously/patronisingly offers), or turns cheers to boos at a rodeo when he calls for bloodlust against the Iraqis and mangles "The Star Spangled Banner."
Success, John F. Kennedy once said, has a thousand fathers. A paternity test on Borat might reveal traces of Bill Dana's Jose Jimenez, Andy Kaufman, Michael Moore, The Jamie Kennedy Xperiment, and Jackass. Some scenes seem to have been staged (a game Anderson, whom Borat confronts at a book signing, was reportedly in on the setup), but others, as the growing litany of lawsuits attests, were not. All too real is Borat's encounter with loutish Southern frat boys who reveal their sexism and racism, and the disturbing moment when he asks a gun store owner what gun he would recommend to "kill a Jew" (a Glock automatic is the matter-of-fact reply). Comedy is not pretty, and in Borat it can get downright ugly, as when Borat and his producer get jiggly with it during a nude fight that spills out from their hotel room into the hallway, elevator, lobby and finally, a mortgage brokers association banquet. High-five! --Donald Liebenson
Amazon.co.uk Reviews
In the final quarter or so of Bobby, writer-director-actor Emilio Estevez finally starts tightening his grip on the viewer as we head inexorably toward the film's climax: the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in a Los Angeles hotel kitchen. In the course of these scenes--among them Kennedy's acceptance speech after winning the California Democratic presidential primary (the senator is seen only in file footage), his death at the hands of gunman Sirhan Sirhan, and the chaos and despair that ensued--Estevez steadily ratchets up the sense of tension and dread. Knowing exactly what's coming, while the characters onscreen don't, is excruciating, as is our grief at hearing RFK's own words, so eloquent, so hopeful and inspiring, as we watch the horrible events unfold and wonder what might have been (sure it's manipulative--but it works). But the rest of Bobby isn't nearly as compelling. Nor is it really about Kennedy, despite its obvious adulation of the man whom many thought would defeat Richard Nixon in the '68 general election. In the tradition of, say, an Irwin Allen disaster flick, we're invited into the lives of nearly two dozen folks, most of them at least partly fictional, who were at the Ambassador Hotel that June day, including guests, staff (kitchen workers, switchboard operators, management, etc.), campaign workers, reporters, and more.
There are lots of movie stars in the cast, and some of them (Sharon Stone, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy) are very good. But caring about the quotidian minutiae of these people's existences is a chore, and Estevez crams so many issues into his story (the Vietnam war, drugs, alcoholism, voting irregularities, adultery, racism, immigration, communism... even L.A. Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale's streak of consecutive shutouts) and tries so obviously to establish parallels between then and now that too much of the movie feels gratuitous and forced. A warts-and-all film about Robert Kennedy's extraordinary life and career would be welcome. Unfortunately Bobby isn't it. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews:
Rose Tinted Waste of Time .......2008-03-06
2 stars if only for Demi Moore, Sharon Stone and whoever played the busboy.
Dialogue is pretty much awful throughout, sorry but lines like 'today you're a king' do not help generate any kind of reality.
Things that worked, RFK getting shot. Possibly because the lead up to that point is so dull when that happens it is effective. In fact if half the cast had been shot I would have rated this higher because overall this is dishwater dull. (Actually I couldn't wait for him to get shot so the film would be over or it would finally get moving).
It's neither a documentary or straight up fiction, it doesn't draw you into the surrounding characters in the hotel so who cares about them, several are based on real people but they don't feel real.
I quite liked hearing and seeing clips of RFK's speeches, in fact that alone would have made a more interesting film than this.
It's clear that Estevez has a love for RJK, perhaps that has clouded his judgement in making this film?
A film both about RFK and not about RFK.......2008-03-03
This is a highly interesting film, one which combines the multi strand narrative technique recently seen in Magnolia ans Crash and places it in and around the events leading up to the assassination of Robert Kennedy. The only time we see the eponymous Bobby Kennedy is in newsreel footage of his presidential campaign. The film is about the events leading up to his death but it also more about other people, the key players such as his campaign managers and those with minor roles such as the kitchen staff at the Ambassador Hotel. Most of the events are seen through the eyes of these characters, all played with remarkable skill by an array of fine actors including Helen Hunt, Anthony Hopkins, Estevez himself and Laurence Fishburne.
The film is flawed, its flow is a little clunky at times but the power is there and the tension leading up to the assassination is very real and shows the promise and skill of the novice director Estevez.
Emotional History.......2008-02-04
Difficult to evaluate or criticise this film rationally. Responses to it will be dependent on the individuals response to the basic proposition, ie that Bobby Kennedy was a virtual saint who would have brought peace with honour to Vietnam, ended racial strife, and more or less brought about the millenium, had he lived. The reverence for Kennedy's utterances is on a par with the treatment of Christ in an earlier generation of Hollywood Blockbusters. Still, the 'pro' lobby seems to be in the ascendent, so heres my twopence worth.
On one level this is an 'Airport '77' type All Star Soap/Disaster Movie, moving inexorably to its undeniably affecting climax. On another, it is a non critical political canonisation by Hollywood liberals of their hero. The story itself is a spectacular day in the life of various disparate individuals, a 'Hollywoods eye-view' physically attractive cross section of '60s California, with various nods to the present. Hardworking decent illegal immigrants; decent, flawed, liberal, anti-racist husband/adulterers; theres even a racist kitchen manager who puts his head above the parapet and gets sacked. If I'd watched this when I was 17 I would have been deeply moved by it. But I'm not 17, I dont like being preached at, I dont like stereotypical cliches, and I've got enough sense to know that eulogising politicians whose ideals were never tested by the reality of governing a superpower, or of dealing with a regime like that of (then) North Vietnam, is a facile exercise in hero worship.
Bobby Kennedy had iron in his soul. His life and potential deserves a better thought out study than this.
Surprising.......2008-01-25
When sitting down to watch a movie which primarily centres around the last days, and assasination of, Bobby Kennedy I thought I was to be watching a political thriller who's major priority would be to immortalise Bobby Kennedy in the viewers mind as a hero and leave a clear villain who had robbed their generation of a victorious leader.
Instead I was very pleasantly surprised to see a film about people. As a character Bobby Kennedy does not feature at all, in fact we simply see actual news footage of his campaign at various and significant points throughout the movie. It is a touching example of the lives of some ordinary and some not so ordinay people who were living their day to day lives at the time of Kennedy's campaign. However accurate the account of racial tensions, political debates and marital taboos is, does not seem to matter as it still manages to maintain an air of honesty and leaves you genuinely concerned for each individual.
Utterley,Utterley Brilliant........2007-11-27
The official reviewer of this film does not know what he is talking about,the acting without exception is masterful,the music hypnotic,the story line entertaining,gripping,educational and a true reflection of the times,the world was robbed of a potential president of the USA who would have tried to reconcile all people in America and would have ended the Vietnam war years earlier than it finished.This is a classic film.
Customer Reviews:
A mish-mash story from start to finish........2008-01-07
The description on the reverse of the DVD cover with reference to Michael Ironside and the character "Ray" is wrong as he plays "Doc" in the film.The first mistake and this doesn't help. There are similar unhelpful errors which "throw" you in following who's who, not that it really much matters because I personally don't agree with the DVD cover description anyway when it describes the film as containing "truly breathtaking action sequences a superbly gritty war film that pulls no punches".At a guess at least 60%-70% of the film takes place in a hotel room, no action there,all action is par for the course, nothing particularly riveting. The last couple of films I've seen Ally Sheedy in have been real Prize Turkeys and this is no better.If Sidney Furie directed the Ipcress File, which I think was Michael Cane's first major role perhaps he should think about putting his feet up if this is all he has to offer and Michael Ironside would have done better to have stayed lost in Vietnam!
Arduous and fake.......2007-09-16
This is an arduous film to watch which could have done with better editing and a tighter script. I also found that the casting was misguided and so didn't allow the true characters to come to the fore. Much about this film has a fake quality and feel to it. Beginning with the outside shot of the hotel window - doesn't look anything like the architecture in Vietnam, more like downtown US or Canada. That 'faking it' never quite leaves you.
What also hampers this film's progress are the constant switches between the present action and the memories of the protagonists. If you think the scenes in the hotel room are perfunctory and longwinded then the war scenes in Vietnam too are somehwat unbelievable with visible duds but being fired and actors really giving it a shot at acting as if this was an instructional film about how not to act. In some scenes a film crew is visible, one is never sure whether they are supposed to be in the picture or are unedited clips were the actual crew was filmed by mistake... There is also a lot of shouting (or hollering) and screaming of repetitive words which don't resemble anything done in real action.
As for the plot; if you want a whodunnit with the usual big brother government cover-ups and silencing of of witnesses and survivors - here you have it. This film really does not make compelling viewing.
Customer Reviews:
A wasted opportunity.......2007-11-25
I'm very sorry to have to tell you Amazon readers that Night Listener is pretty much the dullest film I've ever seen. And that's saying something, since I've recently reviewed the sleep inducing Meet Joe Black. Night Listener is one of the few movies I've felt had robbed me of two hours of my life.
slow.......2007-11-16
a very slow and very strange film not what i thought it would be, but it drew me in and i found that i had to keep watching to the end
disappointing .......2007-11-12
Despite its apparent real life premise (author corresponds with writer of groundbreaking autobiography who may not exist), this film quickly descends into conventional psycho-horror mode (Williams is creepy anyway). Wants to be a slasher movie, but can't quite cut... it.
Don't watch it alone.......2007-07-29
Have I been in outer space for a while, or was this tight little film just under-reviewed? I'd never heard of it, and picked it out on a whim with no clue what to expect. I'm not exactly president of the Robin Williams' fan club, and knowing that Armistead `Tales of the City' Maupin had written the source novel I kind of expected some heart-warming melting pot story with guys in chaps and moustaches... But nothing could be further from the truth, I'm happy to say. Foregoing his usual hamming, Williams barely seems to be acting at all here. As Gabriel Noone he's a middle-aged writer and radio star, desperately lonely after his long-time boyfriend walks out on him. Along comes child abuse survivor, Pete, to fill the void - a teenager wise beyond his years and author of a shocking exposé, `The Blacking Factory'. A tentative father/son relationship begins to develop. But, needless to say, all is not what it seems.
Don't be expecting The Sixth Sense. Yes, Toni Colette's in this as well (she's fantastic as Pete's 'new mom'). But if you go to the Night Listener waiting to `guess the twist' you'll be sorely disappointed. It's not about that. In fact, quite the opposite - it pretty much wears the `twist' on its sleeve for most of the film, and therein lies the beauty. It's not about `what', or `who' - it's `why' that matters. Whether it's the tight camera angles or the muted colour schemes or some other directorial trick of the trade, there's just something indefinably creepy about this film. It's a mood piece, big on atmosphere, that manages to say plenty about the human condition without a split second of sentimentality.
One quibble, though - it's over too quickly. At roughly 80 minutes, I'm guessing this is a cut version. The book - which I've just started reading - makes quite a feature of Pete and Gabriel's phone conversations, and losing so much of that from the film takes meat off the bones and leaves it feeling just the tiniest bit insubstantial.
Slow-Paced But Always Entertaining.......2007-05-26
The cliche term 'pulse-pounding' is used far too much in description of modern day thriller motion pictures. Were it used to describe 2006's "The Night Listener", the aforementioned term would retain its hyperbolic state. This Robin Williams vehicle isn't at all what could be considered fast-paced or entertaining in the way most pictures of its kind are. However, what this interesting thriller does is consistently keep the audience enthralled, intrigued and interested from beginning to end. Expertly directed by Patrick Stettner, "The Night Listener" finds strength moreso in the talent involved ahead of and behind the camera than it does in any innovavite scripting. Over-analyse what's on offer and you're likely to dismiss the picture on the basis that there aren't any real surprises to be had. However, such dismission would be narrow-minded and, most of all, flat-out wrong. "The Night Listener" may seem an open-and-shut case but its far from conventional film-making and its never less than great.
Homosexual radio show host Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams) finds his relationship with boyfriend Jess (Bobby Cannavale) crumbling before him. In the midst of said failing relationship he receives a book written by a fourteen-year-old boy named Pete D. Logand (Rory Culkin). Abused as a child, Pete's book opens the window into his shattered life and convinces Gabriel to contact Pete. However, when Jess claims to Gabriel that Pete's voice is the same as his alleged carer Donna's (Toni Collette) Gabriel becomes confused and suspicious. Thus, he sets out on a quest to find out the truth about the mysterious boy who no-one seems to have actually seen in the flesh except for Donna, who puts obstacles in Gabriel's way as he attempt to discover the truth.
Robin Williams has shown his ability to steer away from his comic roots with previous efforts, such as 2002's "One Hour Photo". This time portraying the desperate protagonist worried that someone's making a fool out of him, Williams' performance is convincing, truly making the audience believe his character's plight. Toni Collette is a fine actress and her role in "The Night Listener" is perhaps one of her most challenging to date. Potentially a liar and potentially truthful, Donna's true motivations aren't revealed until late in proceedings. Up until that point Collette's mysterious performance is the preferred counter-piece to Williams' protagonist performance. Rory Culkin isn't given much to work with, essentially he features prominently early on in proceedings before all-but dropping out for the remainder of the motion picture.
"The Night Listener" doesn't shy away from questionable plot elements. When Williams' Gabriel breaks into Donna's house and is prompty apprehended by a police officer, he isn't taken straight to the police station. Apparently believing his suspect to have been one of the parents that abused Pete, despite being another that hasn't actually seen Pete in the flesh, the officer takes Gabriel to an open field and proceeds to use a taser device on him. In other hands that specific scene could have been ludicrous and laughable. Thanks to clever scripting and self-aware direction, though, the scene restrains from being as such.
Going into "The Night Listener" and expecting something different to the majority of thematic offerings, you shall not be disappointed. Expecting something unrealistically spontaneous, you'll likely be disappointed. There's barely a moment to spare with "The Night Listener"'s eighty-minute collective running-time but never does the movie feel rushed. Instead, lack of innovation is made up for by taut cleverness by everybody involved. If the conclusion doesn't surprise you than it hasn't failed, because "The Night Listener" doesn't pretend that things are going to end in a way that no-one expects. Whether or not Pete exists is the question, by the end "The Night Listener" gives us a somewhat clear idea. And it's well worth it.
Customer Reviews:
very slow and boring.......2007-11-10
I feel i have just wasted 2 hours of my life.
The film was slow to start and stayed slow throughout. This film follows a similar format to the the film crash, The only difference is that when the film comes to an end and the multiple stories are connected you feel it just wasnt worth the wait. The acting was ok and you can't blame them for an uneventful story.
this film tried to be cool and deep, but failed due to the lack of story.
GUNS, GANJA, GIRLS & GANGSTER'S .......2007-07-18
I have to say I am not normally a big fan of Orlando Bloom, but this was something different. Into the Blue meets Pirates of the Carribean in this violent ensemble film, it is pretty relentless.
Orlando plays a small time fisherman living a peaceful life in the tropics, when he meets a beautiful girl his actions start a turf war amongst the bent businessmen around the carribean islands.
Full of guns, girls gangsters and of course piles of money and drugs, Haven should not pass you buy and is well worth a look. Boys should watch this just for Zoe Saldana, she is seriously stunning!!!
Chupong.
A fantastic must-own film.......2007-06-27
Not being Orlando Bloom's biggest fan put me off this film at first, however, his performance within such a strong cast changed my mind within the first five minutes. I can't think of another film that brings to life the West Indies in a better way than this. It has everything, action, romance, gansters and a bit of tragedy as well. There is a great soundtrack on this film and it looks really stunning. Highly recommended.
Almost flawless.......2007-06-26
I should give it 4 stars really because there are only two flaws in this film and they are the accents are inconsistent and one or two unbelievable and secondly it takes a little while before all the drama to start.
But I love it. The directing is brilliant and Orlando Bloom is at his very best in acting along with the rest of the cast. It's multi plotted so you get all these different perspectives and when everything ties in nicely at the end you're left really impressed. It's one of those films you can watch over and over to pick up the clues and links.
It's a shame this film didn't get the wide release it deserved because it could've really done wonders for Orlando Bloom's credibility as an flexible actor and also give some much deserved limelight on the rest of the cast, including Frank E. Flowers the director and writer.
The soundtrack is also very good and fits in perfectly. Although there are quite a few different storylines going on at once they are all easy to follow. The beginning may drag on a little bit but when the film is viewed in its entirety you can really appreciate it.
The ending. Well. It's brilliant in my opinion, but it's one that will have most people divided... it's open to interpretation and I also think that every character gets just about what they deserve. This really is a timeworthy film, one of those little gems that never really get discovered.
Amazon.com
Sweet baby Jesus, we thank you for blessing Will Ferrell (Blades of Glory, Stranger than Fiction) and Adam McKay with the talent to create a NASCAR comedy as hilarious as Talladega Nights. The so-called "Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is hardly flawless - in fact it's not always firing on all cylinders - but with comedy star Ferrell and director McKay still hot from the success of their previous comedy hit Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, most of this 108-minute spoof of oval-track racing is so knee-slappin' funny that you can't help but surrender to the stupidity. Obviously, Ferrell's the shining star, and his portrayal of lead-footed pit-crew-member-turned-#1 NASCAR champion Ricky "I Wanna Go Fast" Bobby (how can you not love that name?) is spot-on perfect, righteously spoofing the entirety of NASCAR culture without insulting its oft-ridiculed roots in redneck bootlegging of a bygone era. You could even argue that Talladega Nights is truer to NASCAR than Tom Cruise's Days of Thunder, and it's certainly more entertaining, especially when you add John C. Reilly as Ricky's life-long pal, teammate, and eventual rival Cal Naughton, Jr. (together they're nicknamed "Shake 'n Bake"), and Sacha Baron Cohen (Da Ali G Show and Borat) as gay French "Formula Un" driver-turned NASCAR rival Jean Girrard, to a stellar cast including Molly Shannon, Greg Germann, Amy Adams and Michael Clarke Duncan. Sure, it's mostly a showcase for Ferrell's loud, over-the-top antics and non-sensical non-sequiturs (like cameo appearances by Elvis Costello and Mos Def), but with Ferrell behind the wheel, Talladega Nights rolls into victory lane with fuel to spare, and there's one final bit of comedy (with a tip of the hat to William Faulkner) for those who sit through the credits. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Stupidly Funny.......2008-03-03
Will Farrell doing what Will Farrell does best, acting stupid to make you laugh ! and with the added bonus of having Sacha Baron Cohen as Will's excentric french ex F1 driver rival you will be sure to be laughin at many points in this film.
The blu-ray itself has ok picture quality and sound is good, with the racing brought to life with excelent use of surround sound. Some good extra features on the disc as well which give you even more to laugh at even after the film has finnished.
I have only given this 3 stars because I aint the biggest will farrel fan in the world and I though anchor man was better, But this shouldn't put anyone off taking this blu-ray for a spin ... sorry had to be done !
What I watched it on.
Panasonic 42px60 (plasma 1080i)
playstation 3 blu-ray player (HDMI)
JVC th-v70r surround sound (optical) (dolby digital 5.1) (inc tannoy m1 front L/R speakers)
Wet myself laughing........2008-02-27
This is such a funny film, even people with minus sense of humour would still laugh at this.
Amazon.com
It takes a certain kind of comic genius to create a character who is, to quote the classic Sondheim lyric, appealing and appalling. But be forewarned: Borat is not "something for everyone." It arrives as advertised as one of the most outrageous, most offensive, and funniest films in years. Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen reprising the popular character from his Da Ali G Show, leaves his humble village to come to "U.S. of A" to film a documentary. After catching an episode of Baywatch in his New York hotel room, he impulsively scuttles his plans and, accompanied by his fat, hirsute producer (Hardy to his Laurel), proceeds to California to pursue the object of his obsession, Pamela Anderson. Borat is not about how he finds America; it's about how America finds him in a series of increasingly cringe-worthy scenes. Borat, with his '70s mustache, well-worn grey suit, and outrageously backwards attitudes (especially where Jews are concerned) interacts with a cross-section of the populace, catching them, a la Alan Funt on Candid Camera, in the act of being themselves.
Early on, an unwitting humour coach advises Borat about various types of jokes. Borat asks if his brother's retardation is a ripe subject for comedy. The coach patiently replies, "That would not be funny in America." NOT! Borat is subversively, bracingly funny. When it comes to exploring uncharted territory of what is and is not appropriate or politically correct, Borat knows no boundaries, as when he brings a fancy dinner with the southern gentry to a halt after returning from the bathroom with a bag of his feces ("The cultural differences are vast," his hostess graciously/patronisingly offers), or turns cheers to boos at a rodeo when he calls for bloodlust against the Iraqis and mangles "The Star Spangled Banner."
Success, John F. Kennedy once said, has a thousand fathers. A paternity test on Borat might reveal traces of Bill Dana's Jose Jimenez, Andy Kaufman, Michael Moore, The Jamie Kennedy Xperiment, and Jackass. Some scenes seem to have been staged (a game Anderson, whom Borat confronts at a book signing, was reportedly in on the setup), but others, as the growing litany of lawsuits attests, were not. All too real is Borat's encounter with loutish Southern frat boys who reveal their sexism and racism, and the disturbing moment when he asks a gun store owner what gun he would recommend to "kill a Jew" (a Glock automatic is the matter-of-fact reply). Comedy is not pretty, and in Borat it can get downright ugly, as when Borat and his producer get jiggly with it during a nude fight that spills out from their hotel room into the hallway, elevator, lobby and finally, a mortgage brokers association banquet. High-five! --Donald Liebenson
UK DVD:
- Boston Legal: Season 3 [2006]
- Bouquet of Barbed Wire / Another Bouquet - Complete Box Set
- Carrie's War [2003]
- City Of Lost Children [1995]
- Cold Mountain [2004]
- Cromwell [1970]
- Cry Freedom [1987]
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Miami - Season 2 - Part 1
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Miami - Season 3 - Part 1
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Miami - Season 4 - Part 1
UK DVD List
UK DVD