Keith-Carradine Movie Reviews

The dramatization of Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres" is dissapointing in that not only does it come from an excellent novel, but also because of the dream cast involved.
The story is loosly based on Shakespeare's "King Lear," in only that the father in the modern version is an evil villain, while the two daughters are alleged martyrs. The issues involved in the film are important and though-provoking--incest, sexual abuse, breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, dysfunctional families--too bad the writers handled these noteworthy subjects so messily. The calamities piled upon the characters happen in an episodic way, that makes the film feel like a miniseries without commercial breaks. With each new mini-drama, you feel as if you should watch this movie in installments. The script is also full of cliched dialogue, and characters without motivation.
Despite all these flaws, the film is still worth watching if just for the cast. Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jason Robards prove themselves brilliant performers in this film--each actor gives more than the shallow script deserves.
Lange plays Ginny Cook, the shy and docile oldest daughter, who accepts her lot in life without complaint, and manages to live a relatively happy life. Her character is the most appealing, and Lange gives nuances and shadings to the character that weren't written in. Ginny described herself in the film as a "ninny" and she is written as so--Lange gives her so much more, and it is amazing to watch her create a true three-dimensional character.
Jason Robards is Larry Cook, a dragon of a father. He like Lange is given an essentially cardboard character, and his performance gives Larry a sense of pity and pathos, that the script did not allow. The writer wanted him to be simply evil, and Robards chose, wisely, to instead, elevate Larry out from the cartoonishly evil lines he was given, and make him a complex human being.
Michelle Pfeiffer gives the most provoking performance of the three main stars, because hers seems to be an mixture of Robards and Lange's. Her role is also quite underwritten, but she manages to breath life (not just fire) into her character, the angry and resentful, Rose. The part is written as dour and bitter--completely unlikable, and even as the story moves on (slowly) and you realize the sacrifices Rose has made, she is still written in a completely shrewish way. Pfeiffer gives her vulnerability sorely needed, and manages to steal the film (not an easy thing to do, considering her costars).
Jennifer Jason Leigh has a smaller role as Caroline, the youngest daughter. Her role is underwritten on the lines of Robards' and Pfeiffer's characters, yet unlike the two, she fails to bring any depth to the essentially pouty and boring person she is portraying.
All in all, a good movie to watch to witness the beautiful chemistry between two of America's finest actresses.

The actors save this sparse script in this film.

Based on the novel of the same name, this is the story of a farmer who signs over his farm to his adult daughters and the tragic results that follow.

It's not the type of movie I usually like. It's slow and talky with soap opera elements. However, perhaps it was because I saw this on video and the intimacy of the small screen was my own private viewing room, that I really got into it.

It was the excellent characterizations superbly acted by Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfieffer and Jason Robards that did it for me. The plot unfolded slowly and every scene revealed yet more about these characters. And even though it was set on a farm in Iowa with a very different life style than mine, I was able to get into their heads. I fell asleep thinking of the characters, not the actors who portrayed them, and was still haunted by them the next morning.

The movie is sad. There's sickness, betrayal, anger, weakness and unhappy resolution. True drama in every sense of the word. It works

This film Kung Fu the movie woulld appeal to most people but I do not like it. It is a bore. The end fight with Cardine and Brandon is good but even that is slow. It is not a great film but if you like a film with one good fight in it feel free to get this. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $5 FOR IT

I liked the film, although Brandon Lee (one of my favourate martial arts performer) did not appear so often in the film. D. Carradine was great.

Brandon Lee is a very great martial artist, and as much as a role he had in this film it was enough to light up the screen and create a wonderful movie, I am a martial artist and have studied the martial arts my whole life just to be like my idol...Brandon Lee.

This film Kung Fu the movie woulld appeal to most people but I do not like it. It is a bore. The end fight with Cardine and Brandon is good but even that is slow. It is not a great film but if you like a film with one good fight in it feel free to get this. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $5 FOR IT

I liked the film, although Brandon Lee (one of my favourate martial arts performer) did not appear so often in the film. D. Carradine was great.

Brandon Lee is a very great martial artist, and as much as a role he had in this film it was enough to light up the screen and create a wonderful movie, I am a martial artist and have studied the martial arts my whole life just to be like my idol...Brandon Lee.

So-so movie with so-so acting - think of an unsuccessful cross between one of those many made-for-television grade-B drama films on the Lifetime Channel and an ABC Afterschool Special and you have a general idea what the film is like.

See on cable if you must, don't waste your time renting it out or buying it.

A 'coming of age' movie of sorts, this particular feature is a tad slow for my general taste. However, David Arnott is so incredibly gorgeuos, I find myself watching this one again and again. A good and believable young actor he is as well. I've always enjoyed Goldie Hawn, which makes this one well worth owning in my book.

Just in case anyone is confused, Arliss Howard does not play Goldie Hawn's son. Arliss Howard is an MAN, not a teenage boy.

This movie was horrible and was just a rip off of The superior Hand that Rocks the Cradle which is like 100 times better! Keith Carradine, Vincent Spano, Moira Kelly and Daryl Hannah were wasted in this mess of a movie!

This was the most disturbing movie I have ever seen! It was way too violent and what the psychotic lady did to Vincent Spano's character's friend's baby was totally unnecessary and obviouly only for shock value! If you want to see this movie because you Liked The Hand That Rocks The Cradle that movie wasn't anywhere near as disturbing as this movie!

I watched it coz it wasfrom the same maker(s) of "The hand that rocks the cradle" & I had high expectations. All I can say is it's no near to that movie & this film is such a disappointment.

It is depressing to see actors and crew who have worked on some of the most important films of the last half-century (stars Keith Carradine and Monica Vitti; composer Georges Delerue; cinematographer Henri Decae) directed by a major American film-maker (Michael Ritchie) in hamfisted slush like this. It strives to be both an Altmanesque lampoon of the film-industry during the Cannes Film Festival, but lacks authenticity, detail, atmosphere, wit or satiric nous; and a Euro-romance, drenched in a soupily romantic score and TV-movie soft-focus visuals. It would be nice to say both impulses pull each other apart, but neither strand has anything to recommend itself beyond disbelief that THESE talents are actually doing THIS. Any Henry James-like tension, ironic or otherwise, in a plot featuring an 'innocent' American abroad in decadent Europe is ruined by Carradine's equine cloddishness and Vitti in Anna Magnani Italian blowsy mode. Independent film-maker Carradine is encouraged to take more interest in people than his art in order to make better movies: this film is totally perfect proof against such bogus platitudes.

This film's been unfairly maligned for years; dumped by its distributor and savaged by critics in its initial release, perhaps it can find an appreciative audience in this spiffy new DVD version. The plot, a slight romance between American indie filmmaker Carradine and Italian producer's wife Vitti at the Cannes film festival, is slight, but very pleasant. There's real chemistry between the pair; Monica, particularly, is touching and very appealing. Some genuine laughs in the Walter Bernstein screenplay, sympathetic direction from Michael Richie, and a glorious score from the always-reliable Georges Delarue add to the film's pleasures. Also enjoyable are the unbilled star cameos, and the running joke about the remake of STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Vanessa Redgrave and Charles Bronson (if memory serves, such a project was discussed in the 70's; the proposed Stanley was Stallone, even more ludicrous!) The transfer's gorgeous; at bargain price, this one's really worth checking out.

Not the Sea Hawk or Captain Blood by any means,but still enjoyable.With a cast like Laughton,Carradine and Scott it can't be too bad.Historicaly not very accurate and a little hokey.But then again it doesn't claim to be factual.Laughton is great as the scheaming Kidd and Scott as the hero is his usually heroic self.If you are a fan of this type of film,and i am,you will enjoy this picture.

Not the Sea Hawk or Captain Blood by any means,but still enjoyable.With a cast like Laughton,Carradine and Scott it can't be too bad.Historicaly not very accurate and a little hokey.But then again it doesn't claim to be factual.Laughton is great as the scheaming Kidd and Scott as the hero is his usually heroic self.If you are a fan of this type of film,and i am,you will enjoy this picture.

Not the Sea Hawk or Captain Blood by any means,but still enjoyable.With a cast like Laughton,Carradine and Scott it can't be too bad.Historicaly not very accurate and a little hokey.But then again it doesn't claim to be factual.Laughton is great as the scheaming Kidd and Scott as the hero is his usually heroic self.If you are a fan of this type of film,and i am,you will enjoy this picture.

Being a George O'Brien fan l immediately jumped at the chance of buying this DVD.Unfortunately the quality (sound and picture)
are terrible.There is so much damage done to this copy,that at
times it is difficult to understand what the actors are saying.
I will never buy a DVD from this company again.Don't waste your money.

The review you have of the movie Daniel Boone which starred George O'Brien does not match the movie you have for sale. You should correct this - I just received the movie from you as a gift for my father. What a disappointment.