Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his sceptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story. And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity... The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland
Director Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride is a gently amusing, affectionate pastiche of a medieval fairytale adventure, offering a similar blend of warm, literate humour as his Stand By Me (1985) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). Adapted from his own novel, William Goldman's script plays with the conventions of such 1980s fantasies as Ladyhawke and Legend (both 1985), and with the budget never allowing for spectacle, sensibly concentrates on creating a gallery of memorable characters. Robin Wright makes a delightful Princess Buttercup, Cary Elwes is splendid as Westley and "Dread Pirate Roberts", while Mandy Patinkin makes fine Spanish avenger. With winning support from Mel Smith, Peter Cook, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane there is sometimes a Terry Gilliam/Monty Python feel to the proceedings, and the whole film is beautifully shot, with a memorably romantic main theme by Mark Knopfler. Occasionally interrupted by Peter Falk as a grandfather reading the story to his grandson, The Princess Bride is an elegant post-modern family fable about storytelling itself; a theme found in other 1980s films The Neverending Story (1984) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). A modest, small-scale work that manages to be both cynically modern and genuinely romantic all at once. As charming as you wish. On the DVD: The 1.77:1 anamorphic transfer is strong, if not quite as detailed as it might be. Colours lack just a little solidity and some scenes evidence a fair amount of grain. Released theatrically in Dolby stereo, the Dolby Digital 5.1 remix spreads the sound effectively across the front speakers but makes very little use of the rear channels indeed. Extras are limited to filmographies of five of the leading actors, and a 4:3 presentation of the theatrical trailer, which gives far too many of the film's surprises away.--Gary S Dalkin
During a New Year's Eve celebration, a Los Angeles disc jockey receives a phone call saying that when New Year's strikes in each time zone, someone will be murdered - and she will be the last one.
Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clichés being sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his sceptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story. And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity... The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland
Teen queen Hilary Duff tries to find Mr. Right for her single mum in this comedy.
The second of Francis Ford Coppola's films based on the popular juvenile novels of S.E. Hinton (the first being The Outsiders), Rumble Fish split critics into opposite camps: those who admired the film for its heavily stylised indulgence, and those who hated it for the very same reason. Whatever the response, it's clearly the work of a maverick director who isn't afraid to push the limits of his innovative talent. Filmed almost entirely in black and white with an occasional dash of color for symbolic effect, this tale of alienated youth centers on gang leader Rusty James (Matt Dillon) and his band of punk pals. Rusty's got a girlfriend (Diane Lane), an older brother named Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke), and a drunken father (Dennis Hopper) who've all given up trying to straighten him out. He's best at making trouble, and he pursues that skill with an enthusiastic flair that eventually catches up with him. But it's not the whacked-out story here that matters--it's the uninhibited verve of Coppola's visual approach, which includes everything from time-lapse clouds to the kind of smoky streets and alleyways that could only exist in the movies. The supporting cast includes a host of fresh faces who went on to thriving careers, including Nicolas Cage, Christopher Penn, Vincent Spano, Laurence Fishburne, and musician Tom Waits. --Jeff Shannon
In this explosive story of revenge and urban violence Charles Bronson plays Paul Kersey a bleeding-heart liberal who has a change of opinion after his wife and daughter are violently attacked by a gang of thugs in their apartment. His daughter is raped and his wife is raped and murdered. Bronson then turns vigilante as he stalks the mean streets of New York on the prowl for muggers hoodlums and the like. Death Wish is a violent controversial film that is frank and original in its treatment of urban crime and the average citizen's helplessness in dealing with it. Herbie Hancock wrote the musical score and Jeff Goldblum makes his big screen debut as one of the thugs.
A young boy confined to bed with the flu is less than thrilled when his grandfather (Peter Falk) arrives to read him the story of The Princess Bride. It tells the adventures of Buttercup the most beautiful woman in the world and Westley the man she loves in the fairy-tale kingdom of Florin. When Buttercup is kidnapped Westley has to overcome some pretty tough obstacles if he is to rescue her from the clutches of three kidnappers - scaling the cliffs of insanity battling rodents of unusual size facing tortue in the Pit of Despair... True love has never been a snap.
In this explosive story of revenge and urban violence, Charles Bronson plays Paul Kersey, a bleeding-heart liberal who has a change of opinion after his wife and daughter are violently attacked by a gang of thugs in their apartment. His daughter is sexually assaulted and his wife is murdered. Bronson then turns vigilante as he stalks the mean streets of New York on the prowl for muggers, hoodlums and the like. Death Wish is a violent, controversial film that is frank and original in its treatment of urban crime and the average citizen's helplessness in dealing with it. Herbie Hancock wrote the musical score. And watch for a young Jeff Goldblum in his film debut as one of the thugs. Features: Theatrical Trailer
The second of Francis Ford Coppola's films based on the popular juvenile novels of S.E. Hinton (the first being The Outsiders), Rumble Fish split critics into opposite camps: those who admired the film for its heavily stylised indulgence, and those who hated it for the very same reason. Whatever the response, it's clearly the work of a maverick director who isn't afraid to push the limits of his innovative talent. Filmed almost entirely in black and white with an occasional dash of color for symbolic effect, this tale of alienated youth centers on gang leader Rusty James (Matt Dillon) and his band of punk pals. Rusty's got a girlfriend (Diane Lane), an older brother named Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke), and a drunken father (Dennis Hopper) who've all given up trying to straighten him out. He's best at making trouble, and he pursues that skill with an enthusiastic flair that eventually catches up with him. But it's not the whacked-out story here that matters--it's the uninhibited verve of Coppola's visual approach, which includes everything from time-lapse clouds to the kind of smoky streets and alleyways that could only exist in the movies. The supporting cast includes a host of fresh faces who went on to thriving careers, including Nicolas Cage, Christopher Penn, Vincent Spano, Laurence Fishburne, and musician Tom Waits. --Jeff Shannon
DRIVE WELL SLEEP CAREFULLY joins DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE on tour in the spring of 2004. Director Justin Mitchell (Songs for Cassavetes Dirty Old Town) captured dozens of live performances across the country and interviewed the band at length in their hometown of Seattle. The stunning live footage is mixed with candid conversations about the creative process the band's dedication to their music and the joys and demands of life on the road. Since forming in 1997 DCFC has steadily gaine
Artie is a college senior who has a little problem with wind. Actually it is a big problem Artie farts uncontrollably. Fortunately his fraternity brothers especially Bear the Frat president at Buck University accept him for the smelly b*st*rd that he is. But the girl of Artie's dreams Andrea will have nothing to do with him. So basically it's your typical boy meets girl boy loses girl boy farts like crazy love story!
Bewitched: Be warned. Be ready. A producer remaking the classic sitcom ""Bewitched"" unknowingly casts an actual witch for the lead role! Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell headline this hilarious romantic comedy based on the beloved sitcom starring Elizabeth Montgomery. (Dir. Nora Ephron 2005) Wimbledon: She's the golden girl. He's the longshot. It's a match made in... A pro tennis player has lost his ambition and has fallen in rank to 119. Fortunately for him he meets a young female player on the women's circuit who helps him recapture his focus for Wimbledon at the cost of losing hers... (Dir. Richard Loncraine 2004) The Perfect Man: Is it all too good to be true? Teenager Holly Hamilton (Hilary Duff) is fed up of moving every time her single-parent mother Jean (Heather Locklear) breaks-up with another dead-beat boyfriend. To distract her mother from her latest bad choice Holly conceives the perfect plan for the perfect man - an imaginary secret admirer who will romance Jean and boost her self-esteem. When the virtual relationship takes off Holly finds herself having to produce a suitor from somewhere; borrowing her friend's charming and handsome uncle Ben (Chris Noth) as the face behind the emails notes and gifts! Holly must resort to increasingly desperate measures to keep the ruse alive and protect her Mother's newfound happiness... Almost missing the real perfect man when he does come along. (Dir. Mark Rosman 2005)
Best Selling crime author Todd Russell is famous wealthy and engaged to the stunningly beautiful Lori. In fact he seems to be the man who has everything but looks can be deceiving! Homicide detectives David Wolcott and Dwayne Seaver uncover a string of murders which took place ten years earlier suggesting a copycat killer is on the loose. With the killings being identical in every detail the conclusion is that only one man could possibly have such detail and that is the detective who investigated and became obsessed with the Evergreen murders. That man was Todd Russell before he quit the force to become a best selling author! Finding himself as the prime suspect Russell is further confused when he receives an ambiguous call notifying him that a woman who he has never heard of has passed away and bequeathed everything to him as her only son! As far as she is concerned Russell believes that his mother who he knows and loves is alive and well and for this mystery writer fiction soon starts to blur with reality as his life starts to spiral out of control and the copycat killings escalate. He hurtles from one surreal situation to another with the detectives hot on his tail but they are thrown into confusion themselves as possible further suspects are unearthed.
A quirky teenage seduction set in the edgy world of prostitution and pornography - a romp that runs from Piccadilly, Manchester to Piccadilly, London.Jake's exams didn't go too well, and it's time to leave home. He heads for Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens, to earn money for a trip to the bright lights of London's Piccadilly Circus, where the living's easy as a rent boy.Accompanied by other would-be rent boys, he arrives a Piccadilly Circus, but where are the punters? Money's tight - but to the rescue comes Henri De La Plus Ooooh Arrgh (Alexis Arquette), the rich American freak LA porn director, auditioning for his latest flick. Jake is tempted into the sleazy world of gender-bending pornography...Explicit sex, sexual vulgarities, rent boys, and sexploitation.
The Perfect Man (Dir. Mark Rosman 2005): Teenager Holly Hamilton (Hilary Duff) is fed up of moving every time her single-parent mother Jean (Heather Locklear) breaks-up with another dead-beat boyfriend. To distract her mother from her latest bad choice Holly conceives the perfect plan for the perfect man - an imaginary secret admirer who will romance Jean and boost her self-esteem. When the virtual relationship takes off Holly finds herself having to produce a suitor from
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