Customer Reviews:
What the French are best at..........2007-11-21
If you like French movies then you will, probably, love this one. With questions about detiny vs. coincedence, and tragedy vs. drama, this is French filmmaking at its best. The acting is flawless (perfect if you enjoy watching Emmanuelle Beart and Marie Gillain), the cinematography is nothing short of beautiful and the story is slight.
Three sisters suffer the same tragedy but each end up living lives of mere drama. They each have problems with men, which echoes their 'tragic' past, and each story is kept within its own dramatic box. One of the best scenes has Emmanuelle Beart listening at hotel bedroom doors until she finds one with loud lovemaking issuing from within the room.
An enjoyable, flawless film.
Is that all there is?.......2007-08-23
Despite an impressive pedigree, Danis Tanovic's adaptation of an unfilmed Kieslowski script L'Enfer feels like a shaggy dog story at times despite some good scenes and at least one powerful moment with some overheard lovemaking. The story doesn't stand up to too much scrutiny, following the lives of three sisters who have lost touch but are still linked by the emotional fallout of their father's suicide while they were still children. The youngest, Marie Gillain, is having an affair with her own father figure (Jacques Perrin), the father of her best friend; the middle sister, Emmanuelle Beart, is in the dying days of a failed marriage to a philandering photographer (Jacques Gamblin); while the oldest, Karen Viard, is an emotional shut-in looking after their wheelchair bound mother (Carole Bouquet, particularly unconvincing in old age makeup and a terrible silver wig) and possibly being romanced by an equally socially awkward Guillaume Canet.
As they all suffer in their private hells, made worse by slight glimmers of hope, the truth about their father's prison sentence for seducing a young male student finally comes to light, leading to... well, not very much, really. Once the not very surprising cat is out of the bag, the film doesn't really know what to make of its rather underwhelming revelation. The punchline is a song title, though when it's delivered you might find yourself thinking Is That All There Is? may have been a better choice.
The presence of Emmanuelle Beart, increasingly a monument to France's collagen and silicon industries as she unwittingly turns into a Tex Avery cartoon, almost sounds a warning note: this is her second film called L'Enfer after Chabrol's misfired 1994 of an unfilmed Henri-Georges Clouzot script. It's hard not to feel that the reason both projects never saw the light of projector with their original creators was because ultimately there wasn't quite enough there to justify the effort. Certainly there's the feeling that Kieslowski's reputation has assembled a more formidable array of talent than the same material from an unknown source would have done. In some ways, the impressive cast occasionally threaten to swamp the film. While it's always a pleasure you see Jean Rochefort, his casting in a bit part adds nothing to the movie but more weight of expectation that remains unfulfilled: he really has nothing much to do. Indeed, it's significant that it's Georges Siatidis' smitten train conductor who leaves the most lasting impression in a minuscule role rather than any of the heavyweights. It's by no means a terrible film, and it certainly holds the attention en route to its anticlimax.
Still, the UK DVD presentation is excellent, with a good 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, one-hour documentary Reflections of Hell and the original trailer.
Customer Reviews:
One to add to your british gangster collection........2007-06-09
Typical Dave Courtney Production, although the acting is a little bad at times, especially by Gary Bushell et al, the scenes where Mr Courtney is " 'aving a word" are quite realistic as this is obviously remanissant of days gone by.
Billy "Don Beech" Murray is typecast in this feature as the rogue brother and there is also un-necessary cameo appearances by retired east-end gangsters with no relevance to the thin storyline.
If you ever have watched "Hard Men" on Bravo TV, then many faces will be familiar in this film. Likewise this would be a typical feature for the Bravo channel.
A fun film to watch with the lads and definately not one to watch with your lady due to the violence and excessive use of bad language.
The acting starts off a bit iffy, but then it turns round.......2006-01-15
Dave Courtney is one of those larger than life characters and beneath his gangster legend he is actually a really decent fella, though a little violent :) The film is full of very naughty people from beginning to end and certainly justifies Daves reputation as the yellow pages of crime.
There is a beautiful scene in the film in which he references Vinny Jones after an incident with a sunbed. This is him taking back the mentioned scene from Lock Stock. Vinny Jones character was based on Dave Courtney and the sunbed was a real debt collection. A few other parts of the film were episodes in Daves life and some of the footage was from the TV news at the time.
Altogether a fun DVD and a slice of life of that 'orrible little #$£@ Dave Courtney. A very funny bloke with a heart of gold, who else would auction off a signed knuckle duster for money for the local kids home.
Customer Reviews:
Really draws you in!.......2008-03-07
I watched the whole first and second series of this, and I have to say the story line really drew me in! It's not like any other animes I've watched, and one of the only few I've seen to the end. Definatley worth the money! It has an interesting plotline and I really find the whole idea quite thought-provoking.
Customer Reviews:
One to add to your british gangster collection........2007-06-09
Typical Dave Courtney Production, although the acting is a little bad at times, especially by Gary Bushell et al, the scenes where Mr Courtney is " 'aving a word" are quite realistic as this is obviously remanissant of days gone by.
Billy "Don Beech" Murray is typecast in this feature as the rogue brother and there is also un-necessary cameo appearances by retired east-end gangsters with no relevance to the thin storyline.
If you ever have watched "Hard Men" on Bravo TV, then many faces will be familiar in this film. Likewise this would be a typical feature for the Bravo channel.
A fun film to watch with the lads and definately not one to watch with your lady due to the violence and excessive use of bad language.
The acting starts off a bit iffy, but then it turns round.......2006-01-15
Dave Courtney is one of those larger than life characters and beneath his gangster legend he is actually a really decent fella, though a little violent :) The film is full of very naughty people from beginning to end and certainly justifies Daves reputation as the yellow pages of crime.
There is a beautiful scene in the film in which he references Vinny Jones after an incident with a sunbed. This is him taking back the mentioned scene from Lock Stock. Vinny Jones character was based on Dave Courtney and the sunbed was a real debt collection. A few other parts of the film were episodes in Daves life and some of the footage was from the TV news at the time.
Altogether a fun DVD and a slice of life of that 'orrible little #$£@ Dave Courtney. A very funny bloke with a heart of gold, who else would auction off a signed knuckle duster for money for the local kids home.
Customer Reviews:
Andy's got a problem.......2006-02-11
Andy's got a problem
He's had it all his life
He's forty and a virgin
And this cuts him like a knife
In early romps while growing up
He had the worst of luck
Feet aren't meant to be in mouths
But his got firmly stuck
Now scarred for life, he spends his time
Collecting action toys
It's his hobby that turns him on
The one thing he enjoys
Until one day the guys find out
And vow to set things straight
They load him down with bad advice
And send him on a date
The next thing is an image change
They make him wax his chest
The expletives deleted here
Are probably for the best
He finally finds an ideal mate
But true love's never easy
This movie's got some awkward parts
That'll make you feel quite queasy
Though not as funny as the hype
It has its ups and downs
The moral is - "Beware of friends,
When they're a bunch of clowns"
Rated: 3.5 stars
Amanda Richards
Amazon.co.uk Review
Will Smith's easygoing charm makes Hitch the kind of pleasant, uplifting romantic comedy that you could recommend to almost anyone--especially if there's romance in the air. As suave Manhattan dating consultant Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, Smith plays up the smoother, sophisticated side of his established screen persona as he mentors a pudgy accountant (Kevin James) on the lessons of love. The joke, of course, is that Hitch's own love life is a mess, and as he coaches James toward romance with a rich, powerful, and seemingly inaccessible beauty named Allegra (Amber Valetta), he's trying too hard to impress a savvy gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) with whom he's fallen in love. Through mistaken identities and mismatched couples, director Andy Tennant brings the same light touch that made Drew Barrymore's Ever After so effortlessly engaging. As romantic comedies go, Hitch doesn't offer any big surprises, but as a date movie it gets the job done with amiable ease and style. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Big Will fights off the cheese..........2008-03-14
This film is superb. "Hitch" is the nickname of Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens played by Will Smith who provides a consultancy service with a difference. He will give advice on matters of the heart for lonely, lovesick bachelors, who are desperate to make the first move, on the lady of their dreams. He careful screens his clients, thus ensuring that their intentions towards their target ladies, are honourable and worthy. Sara on the other hand, is the career driven gossip columnist for a New York tabloid, always in the know, and one step ahead of the rest of the paparazzi pack, when hunting down the latest celebrity rumours. She and Hitch meet up at a stylist New York club, where Hitch proves he can take a huge gulp of his own medicine, by charming Sara into coming out with him. the story really gets going, when the two main characters get their wires crossed, when Hitch's latest client, is the bumbling but cute Albert, who is pining after millionaire socialite Allegra Cole, someone who Sara is all too desperate to get on her front page day after day. mayhem ensues. well worth renting out.
a good romantic comedy.......2007-10-26
A very enjoyable romantic film with lots of humour and unexpected twists and turns in the plot.
Will Smith as Cupid.......2007-05-20
THE FILM
Will Smith stars quite admirably as Cupid in this romantic comedy about "the basic principles" of love (claiming, at the end, that there are none, is just the movie being modest; it really is about showing the broad lines of those principles). It is well-written, keeps your attention and does contain several really good bits. There is also the usual sentimental fluff to keep the hopeless romantics in the audience happy, but this movie is also for guys. The previous comment claims that the movie paints a flawless image of women - this is completely wrong. The very climax of the movie is to criticize women for the way they condemn men for using tricks and tactics in the romantic process, when women are themselves far more guilty of the same thing. Men are usually being looked down upon for planning how to snag a girl because the assumption is that he's only doing it for sex. Will Smith's character in this movie is the other side of the coin, demonstrating a much needed truth to women who think that men are just pigs: some men actually want relationships and not just non-committal sex. Of course, some men *are* pigs, which the movie also makes a point of showing, thus being a balanced account of the real world. But it's also showing that most of the problem about getting a relationship off the ground is the way women needlessly mistrust men - and how this mistrust can get way out of hand and undermine true love. Especially when coupled with the despicable tabloid press, which, while often looking harmless, is the very definition of shallow. I mean, Smith and Mendez' characters really are quite shallow and superficial. The couple we care about is the awkward and overweight accountant and the not-unattainable-after-all heiress, who are the ones not only getting something extraordinary, but fulfilling their most hopeless yearnings, showing that nothing is impossible.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Watch out for the Making Of...where Will SMith is teaching Kevin James how to dance...The outtake is hilarious...with Will telling James 'Never ever dance like that in front of me again'. Shows you that the casting for this light hearted comedy is indeed excellent.
A few changes to 5-stars...too late.......2007-03-14
This movie would've easily gotten 5 starts from me, and I do agree with the review that touched on the chemistry between Will Smith & Kevin James, but unfortunately the story and/or script didn't really help the movie.
I just found the part about the quick accusative assumption (not wanting to include plot spoiling details here) of the two girls (columnist & her friend) unrealistic and exaggerated, when the movie is supposed to be a make-believe movie. (Possible minor spoiler ahead) Also I felt Will Smith's attempts towards the end of the movie to win back Eva Mendes exaggerated, when actually she was the one supposed to be apologetic all the way, and even if he was cold once, then he could've gotten in touch to indirectly accept her apology, in a warm and casual way, not do all that and act that way. I appreciate that movies are not supposed to be realistic, but in a movie like this, there is the unrealistic comic part that you appreciate, and there's the unrealistic social & relationship & common sense part that spoils your immersion & make-believe. Basically, all exaggerations in the movie went unnoticed & were genuinely funny, but when they treated sad drama with exaggerations too and with an exclusive bias to women, it was very disappointing. Perhaps it is time to talk about equality between men & women in romance media coverage, drama or not? :)
But anyway, the movie is certainly sweet, funny, romantic, and enjoyable. A definite rent, but not a library classic in my opinion, mainly because of those unrealistic, exaggerated sad parts.
The Chemistry is the reason.......................2006-12-30
why this is a great film. For starters Will Smith and Kevin James III have a great rapport, and their scenes sizzle. I can imagine that they improvised a lot of their scenes. Will Smith and Eva Mendes look like they are in love, and both produce great performances. Anytime I feel low I put this on, and it always produces a smile, and a lot of laughs. Great Film.
Customer Reviews:
Action with a little suspense.......2007-10-06
I never played the game, but watching this movie made me think this is how the game must look like on the screen. If you like The Movie Alien, you might like this. Some of the same feel to it. Moments of on the edge of your seat suspense before all out action. Seemed more like a made for TV movie or direct video. But it is still worth watching. If you are not a big fan of the game...rent it.
UK DVD:
- Hells Angels
- Henry And June [1990]
- Hideous Kinky [1999]
- Higher Learning [1995]
- Histoires De Marie Et Julien [2003]
- Hitchcock DVD Collection - Dial M For Murder / I Confess / Stage Fright / The Wrong Man / Strangers On A Train / North By Northwest
- Hotel Du Lac [1986]
- In Love And War [1997]
- James Cagney - The Signature Collection : Angels With Dirty Faces / Public Enemy / Roaring Twenties / White Heat (4 Disc Box Set) [1931]
- Japon [2002]
UK DVD List
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