Michael-Douglas Movie Reviews


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VHS movie reviews for "Michael-Douglas" sorted by average review score:

Cherry Falls
Released in VHS Tape by Usa Films (09 October, 2001)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Geoffrey Wright
Cherry Falls is a small town with some dirty secrets--secrets that come to light when a psychotic killer starts killing teenagers. Only the killer has an unusual criterion: only virgins are marked for death. Cherry Falls is a striking movie that never got released in theaters, probably because marketers didn't know what to do with it. It's not a winking, smirk-while-you-shriek twist on the genre like Scream, nor is it a broad parody like Scary Movie--instead, Cherry Falls tries to turn the clichés of slasher movies into something that will do more than make you jump in shock, and it largely succeeds. It's still scary; few things are creepier than wandering the empty hallways of a high school after hours, and Cherry Falls takes full advantage of that. It's also often funny, mostly because the mechanics of a slasher movie have become just a little too much and you can't help laughing. But it also makes you think twice about attitudes towards sex--moments such as parents breaking into a brawl while talking about their children's sex activity, or an "experienced" girl's pep talk to an assembly of girls eager to lose their virginity, are both funny and caustic. Brittany Murphy (Clueless, Girl, Interrupted) shines as the sheriff's daughter caught in the middle of it all; Michael Biehn (The Terminator, The Rock) is great as the earnest sheriff who knows more than he lets on; and Jay Mohr (Go, Jerry Maguire) smoothly handles the part of a teacher with an unhealthy interest in Murphy. Cherry Falls doesn't tell you when it's funny or scary, which makes many viewers uncomfortable. But if you're interested in watching a slippery, layered examination of sexual attitudes that is also a successful, spooky slasher flick, then this movie is for you. --Bret Fetzer
Average review score:

No No No!
This film was laughable. The script would have been better used as toilet paper. When i sat down to watch this for a second time, things just jumped out at me. For instance:

1. Jody (Brittany Murphy) walks to school and doesn't notice anyone around her talking about the double murder the night before.

2. If no. 1 could be forgiven this point cannot. Imagine yourself in her position, her best friend comes up to her and tells her about the previous nights murders. If someone told you that two of your classmates where dead, what would you do? Jody justs stands there and says nothing through the whole conversation, yet you'd think anybody normal would ask how and what happened, but no, she lets him walk off without mentioning it.

3. So, we go to the classroom, and the students are being counselled, then jodys dad (the sherrif) walks in. At this point jody cries in amazement 'dad!', as if she has no idea why her dad, the sheriff, would be at her school bearing in mind that 2 of her classmates were killed the night before.

At this early point in the film i stopped the video, promptly rewound the tape, and taped something else over it.

WOW
25 years ago a horrible crime was comitted in the town of Cherry Falls, because of what happened in the past, a serial killer has targeted teenage virgins. While the sherif and the FBI plan to catch the killer, the kids have a plan of their own. After Jody is attacked by the killer word soon goes around that the killer is after virgins. Jody seems to be the main target and her father, the sheriff, seems to know more then he is telling. WOW, these new slasher movies seem to be getting better and better, god bless Scream. First of I'll I'm glad I got to see this on the big screen although it was highly cut (and shows). There are so many good things about this movie, the main thing would be the plot, how cool, a killer targeting Virgins and actully has a damn decent reason for killing as well. The killer also looked really cool when in costume, well it wasn't really a costume but he/she looked really cool. The acting in this movie is very good Brittany Murphy is the standout one great screamer then there is Michael Biehn who was the good guy from The Terminator, he's also very good and there is one of my fave actors Jay Mohr, heck the whole cast is brilliant. Cherry Falls is filled with alot of suspence and the killings are rather violent, I can't wait for the uncut DVD to appear. Cherry Falls is brill see it NOW.

The Great Cherry
I really,really liked this movie,as it was a little differen't to your usual "slasher flick" Brittany Murphy,I thought was excellent,playing the innocent girl,who always escapes the murderer.Her character was really cool I thought.The killer for once doesn't walk slowly after his victims (Michael Myers eat-ya-heart-out) but instead chases the target,wearing the most rediculous costume.There is a real twist in the movie,and you'll have to watch the movie to find that out.Also its not just full-on killing,like Scream ect...(killing off people at random) the killer actually has a motive,which is hunting down virgins.So this movie,which never made it onto the big screen is definetly one to watch!!!


Black Rain
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (29 May, 2001)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, and Kate Capshaw
A guilty pleasure if ever there was one, Black Rain is a ridiculously entertaining thriller by Ridley Scott (Alien), starring Michael Douglas as a tough New York cop who--along with his partner (Andy Garcia)--goes to Japan to deliver a local mobster. When the latter escapes, Douglas's brand of gonzo crime fighting rubs his Japanese hosts the wrong way. Slick, mechanistic, and absurd, the film is all surface action and attitude (not to mention Scott's incredibly busy, trademark art direction); and one can get lost in the sheer indulgence of it. However, if you can buy Douglas as an iconoclastic lawman, you can buy anything else here, including the notion of Kate Capshaw as a blonde escort highly desired by Japanese businessmen. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

AMAZING ACTION/CRIME DRAMA: ALL- STAR CAST
this movie was incredible. michael douglas is at his best while andy garcia and ken takakura play amazing supporting roles. douglas plays a cop who is under heavy scrutiny from internal affairs and is getting investigated for possible money smuggling from a case he was head of in past years. the story starts out when douglas and garcia are eating lunch, the restaurant is then interrupted when the japanese mafia intervenes at the restaurant, killing people, and then garcia and douglas track down the head man.(Sato). douglas and garcia are informed that they must take sato back to japan for the japanese government to take care of him. upon arriving in japan, sato escapes and douglas refuses to leave japan without getting his man. this is an overlooked film of douglas' but it shouldnt be. this is one of his great films!

CLASSIC RIDLEY SCOTT.
Created in the late 80's, this movie is the classic EAST meets WEST.

Unbelivable performances by Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and a JAPANESE STAR.

Michael Douglas plays the opitome of an anti-hero. He's a dirty cop with more skeletons in the closet than the catacombes of Paris. Yet, he's a loyal friend, an excellent detective, and is willing to improve his faults.

The story...two NYC cops are forced to escort a YAKUZA (Japanese Mafioso) to Japan. But to no fault of Andy Garcia and Michael Douglas' characters, the mafioso escapes. Rumors in NYC and Japan run rampant that Michael Douglas took money for the freedom of the Japanese Mafioso. The two NYC cops stay in Japan to try and help the Japanese police to locate this criminal. The Japanese, in the classic we can do it better than anyone else mentality, really don't want their help. They assign a highly respected Japanese Detective to escort the two NYC cops.

Michael Douglas is the Vaquero. The American COWBOy. Cocky, stubborn and eternally the tough guy. The Japanese Detective is the stereotypical Stoic, BY-THE-RUles agent. In a clash of cultures, the two derive a friendship that is pure.

There is so many subplots and complexities that I've watched this movie 20 times. I love this movie and rate it in my top 5 of all time.

It may have been created in the late 80's, but it stands up to the test of time. Watch this movie over and over again. If you don't want to dive into the cerebral...enjoy the fast paced action.

Perfect Ridley Scott
One of my favorite films--if for no other reason, it is signature Scott. However, it is a very good film all around! Douglas, Takakura and Capshaw were outstanding! Some may not like the genre or Scott, hence, some of the reviews. A caution: Be sure to read the reviewer's comments about the quality of the DVD version on down the list.


Black Rain
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (06 February, 2001)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, and Kate Capshaw
A guilty pleasure if ever there was one, Black Rain is a ridiculously entertaining thriller by Ridley Scott (Alien), starring Michael Douglas as a tough New York cop who--along with his partner (Andy Garcia)--goes to Japan to deliver a local mobster. When the latter escapes, Douglas's brand of gonzo crime fighting rubs his Japanese hosts the wrong way. Slick, mechanistic, and absurd, the film is all surface action and attitude (not to mention Scott's incredibly busy, trademark art direction); and one can get lost in the sheer indulgence of it. However, if you can buy Douglas as an iconoclastic lawman, you can buy anything else here, including the notion of Kate Capshaw as a blonde escort highly desired by Japanese businessmen. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

AMAZING ACTION/CRIME DRAMA: ALL- STAR CAST
this movie was incredible. michael douglas is at his best while andy garcia and ken takakura play amazing supporting roles. douglas plays a cop who is under heavy scrutiny from internal affairs and is getting investigated for possible money smuggling from a case he was head of in past years. the story starts out when douglas and garcia are eating lunch, the restaurant is then interrupted when the japanese mafia intervenes at the restaurant, killing people, and then garcia and douglas track down the head man.(Sato). douglas and garcia are informed that they must take sato back to japan for the japanese government to take care of him. upon arriving in japan, sato escapes and douglas refuses to leave japan without getting his man. this is an overlooked film of douglas' but it shouldnt be. this is one of his great films!

CLASSIC RIDLEY SCOTT.
Created in the late 80's, this movie is the classic EAST meets WEST.

Unbelivable performances by Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and a JAPANESE STAR.

Michael Douglas plays the opitome of an anti-hero. He's a dirty cop with more skeletons in the closet than the catacombes of Paris. Yet, he's a loyal friend, an excellent detective, and is willing to improve his faults.

The story...two NYC cops are forced to escort a YAKUZA (Japanese Mafioso) to Japan. But to no fault of Andy Garcia and Michael Douglas' characters, the mafioso escapes. Rumors in NYC and Japan run rampant that Michael Douglas took money for the freedom of the Japanese Mafioso. The two NYC cops stay in Japan to try and help the Japanese police to locate this criminal. The Japanese, in the classic we can do it better than anyone else mentality, really don't want their help. They assign a highly respected Japanese Detective to escort the two NYC cops.

Michael Douglas is the Vaquero. The American COWBOy. Cocky, stubborn and eternally the tough guy. The Japanese Detective is the stereotypical Stoic, BY-THE-RUles agent. In a clash of cultures, the two derive a friendship that is pure.

There is so many subplots and complexities that I've watched this movie 20 times. I love this movie and rate it in my top 5 of all time.

It may have been created in the late 80's, but it stands up to the test of time. Watch this movie over and over again. If you don't want to dive into the cerebral...enjoy the fast paced action.

Perfect Ridley Scott
One of my favorite films--if for no other reason, it is signature Scott. However, it is a very good film all around! Douglas, Takakura and Capshaw were outstanding! Some may not like the genre or Scott, hence, some of the reviews. A caution: Be sure to read the reviewer's comments about the quality of the DVD version on down the list.


Ghost Story
Released in VHS Tape by Universal Studios (01 January, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: John Irvin
Starring: Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Craig Wasson, and Alice Krige
Upon its release in 1981, John Irvin's version of Peter Straub's bestselling horror novel was deemed one of the worst adaptations that the genre had ever produced. Now it's available on DVD, and for the first time in widescreen presentation, and not much has changed. It's still a nearly unwatchable dud. Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn Douglas, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. play old friends, members of the self-created Chowder Society, who get together and tell ghost tales. The scariest story of all, however, is the one they never speak to each other. Fifty years ago, the four men accidentally killed a young woman, and now she's back (with much less meat on her bones) and seeking vengeance. Sound chilling? Well, in Straub's hands it was, and the novel remains the author's finest achievement. Irvin, however, distills Staub's rich characterizations, gradual tension, and creepy atmosphere, and replaces them with aging golden oldies (only Houseman appears to be having any fun) hamming it up and hokey special-effect shots of a rotting corpse. The film moves about as quickly as its ancient cast could during a relay race. The whole thing has arthritis. --Dave McCoy
Average review score:

Better Than The Book
As much as I enjoy reading Peter Straub, I didn't care for the book "Ghost Story," and thought that the simplification of the original story made a pretty good movie. It is an old fashioned ghost story of revenge. I thought all of the performances were quite good, although I found the young men in the flash-back to be irritating. This movie relies on atmosphere and the marvelous performance of Alice Krige. It's not gory or bloody, although it is kind of violent (a character falls to his death rather graphically in the beginning of the film sans clothing). There is a bit of nudity so if that offends you, don't watch this film.

Ghost Story
This is an excellent horror. I've been looking for it for years. More of a good old fashioned horror. I had to own it, there's suspense and the story line is intense.

one incredible woman
While I thought Ghost Story was a very good movie, I must say that the performance by young South African beauty Alice Krige was absolutely incredible. This is one of the best performances I have ever seen from any actress. Krige plays the duel roles of Eva Galli and Alma Mobley in the film who are actually the same person. She does an outstanding job of portraying a character who will stop at nothing,including using sex as a weapon,to gain her revenge. I feel it is a shame that Krige has not gotten more recognition for her work in this film. Also I feel that she is one of the most beautiful,most sexiest women I have ever seen. Every male character,at one point in the film, falls in love with her. Given her incredible beauty I sure none of the male actors had pretend at all. In closing,this is an outstanding tale of revenge,sex,and seduction,but the main reason it is a must see is because of one incredible woman,Alice Krige.

a

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Disclosure
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (22 April, 1997)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Michael Douglas and Demi Moore
Michael Crichton's bestselling novel was both a high-tech thriller and source of controversy with its hot-button plot about a man's charge of sexual harassment against a female colleague and former lover. The movie, directed by Barry Levinson, turned these issues into a prurient thriller gussied up in glossy production values, virtual reality computer graphics, and steamy sex between Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Having cornered the market on roles for men whose brains are located south of their waistline, Douglas is well cast as the computer-industry guy who loses a plush promotion to the opportunistic Moore, and he's perfected the expression of paranoid panic. If you don't think about it too much, this is one of those films that can draw you into its manipulative web and really grab your attention. Disclosure is more entertaining than thought provoking (because the filmmakers basically danced around the story's potential controversy), but there's enough star power and visual glitz to make this an enjoyable ride. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

Discloses nothing.
Tacky thriller that lures one into thinking it's going to be controversial. One thing about *Disclosure*, it's not unprofessional: director Barry Levinson, in his (apparent) tale of sexual harassment, delivers a pretty hot payoff early in the movie that certainly appeals to our prurient interests. During the first half-hour, we wait for Demi Moore to "attack" Michael Douglas, and she certainly does, to our voyeuristic delight. Indeed, the entire movie fairly hums with a rancid energy that's at times entertaining to watch. But the plot soon reveals that the filmmakers aren't really all that interested in the subject of sexual harassment, even if the woman's the harasser. Lust is doubtless too deep a subject for them to want to fool around with, so they simply make Moore's character a cold career-type whose motives aren't sensual but strictly professional. She wants Douglas out of the company, and her attack on him turns out to be just a devious means to a desired end. This gives Levinson further license to waste our time with (now horribly dated) "virtual-reality" scenarios involving corporate espionage. (The "digital" Demi that appears when Douglas is in the virtual-reality world looking for some file or other is a pure howler. Almost makes this movie worth a rent.) *Disclosure* finally becomes just another dumb suspense movie. But Demi sure was something in those days, eh?

Not the anti-PC book that Crichton wrote.....luckily
Michael Douglas and Demi Moore fight the battle of the sexes in the film version of Michael Crichton's novel "Disclosure". A rising star at one of those Seattle firms that churns out consumer high-tech, Tom Sanders (Douglas) finds his career at stake instead. Losing his promotion to Meredith Johnson (Moore), who knows less about high-tech than sleeping her way to an exec position, Sanders tries to make the best of things. This is complicated by three things - Sanders's division is having problems delivering a line of new CD-ROM players, his company is in the formative stages of a crucial merger and Johnson has set her sights on him....for something. Sanders and Johnson had had an affair some time before, and Johnson's predatory habits give a not-so-subtle hint as to what that must have been like. When Sanders - now a family man - resists, Johnson turns the tables on him, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Director Barry Levinson wisely underplays the controversial aspects of the book. (Despite Crichton's sincere belief that he was taking on a PC establishment that refuses to see women in terms other than victims of aggressive white males, the corporate intrigue aspect of the story undermines this - Sanders's victimization stemmed largely from forces that wanted Johnson to oust Sanders. This is a common occurrence in Crichton's polemical novels where the author rails at forces like PC or media manipulation when some undrlying cloak and dagger is the real culprit.) Those who shun Sanders after Johnson's accusations become known are reacting less to PC angst than a fear for their careers. Instead, Levinson plays up The "man against the conspiracy" angle - with Douglas playing detective, sneaking into computer files, pulling out answering machine messages and tracking down any leads. Much of the suspense is artificial, but it works.

Good Movie
I caught this movie on TV a couple of years ago, and got wrapped up in it. I haven't read the book (I prefer non-fiction reading), so I can't compare this movie to the book. I thought this was an intelligent, but entertaining movie. It has a good ending - the bad guy (or girl) gets what is coming to them. There were only a few times I found scenes ridiculously implausible - like when Douglas's character is listening to Meredith and another worker scheme while she walks on a stairmaster, and they never notice him. Give me a break. I bet the good folks in Austin were irked when Michael Douglas's character turned up his nose at the possibility of being transferred to Austin.

Dennis Miller has a small role, but plays it effectively. Demi Moore is so beautiful, and plays a tough woman very convincingly. Michael Douglas's character was done so dirty in this movie, I was rooting for him all the way to the end. And thank goodness for "A Friend."

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes movies with more depth than just car crashes and explosions.


Disclosure
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (13 October, 1998)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Michael Douglas and Demi Moore
Michael Crichton's bestselling novel was both a high-tech thriller and source of controversy with its hot-button plot about a man's charge of sexual harassment against a female colleague and former lover. The movie, directed by Barry Levinson, turned these issues into a prurient thriller gussied up in glossy production values, virtual reality computer graphics, and steamy sex between Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Having cornered the market on roles for men whose brains are located south of their waistline, Douglas is well cast as the computer-industry guy who loses a plush promotion to the opportunistic Moore, and he's perfected the expression of paranoid panic. If you don't think about it too much, this is one of those films that can draw you into its manipulative web and really grab your attention. Disclosure is more entertaining than thought provoking (because the filmmakers basically danced around the story's potential controversy), but there's enough star power and visual glitz to make this an enjoyable ride. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

Discloses nothing.
Tacky thriller that lures one into thinking it's going to be controversial. One thing about *Disclosure*, it's not unprofessional: director Barry Levinson, in his (apparent) tale of sexual harassment, delivers a pretty hot payoff early in the movie that certainly appeals to our prurient interests. During the first half-hour, we wait for Demi Moore to "attack" Michael Douglas, and she certainly does, to our voyeuristic delight. Indeed, the entire movie fairly hums with a rancid energy that's at times entertaining to watch. But the plot soon reveals that the filmmakers aren't really all that interested in the subject of sexual harassment, even if the woman's the harasser. Lust is doubtless too deep a subject for them to want to fool around with, so they simply make Moore's character a cold career-type whose motives aren't sensual but strictly professional. She wants Douglas out of the company, and her attack on him turns out to be just a devious means to a desired end. This gives Levinson further license to waste our time with (now horribly dated) "virtual-reality" scenarios involving corporate espionage. (The "digital" Demi that appears when Douglas is in the virtual-reality world looking for some file or other is a pure howler. Almost makes this movie worth a rent.) *Disclosure* finally becomes just another dumb suspense movie. But Demi sure was something in those days, eh?

Not the anti-PC book that Crichton wrote.....luckily
Michael Douglas and Demi Moore fight the battle of the sexes in the film version of Michael Crichton's novel "Disclosure". A rising star at one of those Seattle firms that churns out consumer high-tech, Tom Sanders (Douglas) finds his career at stake instead. Losing his promotion to Meredith Johnson (Moore), who knows less about high-tech than sleeping her way to an exec position, Sanders tries to make the best of things. This is complicated by three things - Sanders's division is having problems delivering a line of new CD-ROM players, his company is in the formative stages of a crucial merger and Johnson has set her sights on him....for something. Sanders and Johnson had had an affair some time before, and Johnson's predatory habits give a not-so-subtle hint as to what that must have been like. When Sanders - now a family man - resists, Johnson turns the tables on him, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Director Barry Levinson wisely underplays the controversial aspects of the book. (Despite Crichton's sincere belief that he was taking on a PC establishment that refuses to see women in terms other than victims of aggressive white males, the corporate intrigue aspect of the story undermines this - Sanders's victimization stemmed largely from forces that wanted Johnson to oust Sanders. This is a common occurrence in Crichton's polemical novels where the author rails at forces like PC or media manipulation when some undrlying cloak and dagger is the real culprit.) Those who shun Sanders after Johnson's accusations become known are reacting less to PC angst than a fear for their careers. Instead, Levinson plays up The "man against the conspiracy" angle - with Douglas playing detective, sneaking into computer files, pulling out answering machine messages and tracking down any leads. Much of the suspense is artificial, but it works.

Good Movie
I caught this movie on TV a couple of years ago, and got wrapped up in it. I haven't read the book (I prefer non-fiction reading), so I can't compare this movie to the book. I thought this was an intelligent, but entertaining movie. It has a good ending - the bad guy (or girl) gets what is coming to them. There were only a few times I found scenes ridiculously implausible - like when Douglas's character is listening to Meredith and another worker scheme while she walks on a stairmaster, and they never notice him. Give me a break. I bet the good folks in Austin were irked when Michael Douglas's character turned up his nose at the possibility of being transferred to Austin.

Dennis Miller has a small role, but plays it effectively. Demi Moore is so beautiful, and plays a tough woman very convincingly. Michael Douglas's character was done so dirty in this movie, I was rooting for him all the way to the end. And thank goodness for "A Friend."

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes movies with more depth than just car crashes and explosions.


Disclosure
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (29 August, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Michael Douglas and Demi Moore
Michael Crichton's bestselling novel was both a high-tech thriller and source of controversy with its hot-button plot about a man's charge of sexual harassment against a female colleague and former lover. The movie, directed by Barry Levinson, turned these issues into a prurient thriller gussied up in glossy production values, virtual reality computer graphics, and steamy sex between Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Having cornered the market on roles for men whose brains are located south of their waistline, Douglas is well cast as the computer-industry guy who loses a plush promotion to the opportunistic Moore, and he's perfected the expression of paranoid panic. If you don't think about it too much, this is one of those films that can draw you into its manipulative web and really grab your attention. Disclosure is more entertaining than thought provoking (because the filmmakers basically danced around the story's potential controversy), but there's enough star power and visual glitz to make this an enjoyable ride. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

A Much-Ado Movie Constructed Around Nothing Important
The allegedly questionable behavior exhibited by character Meredith Johnson in this film was a whole lot of hype about nothing of much importance. It certainly did not rise to the level of Johnson's dismissal from the company -- in fact, she was working as hard as she could, doing the business of the company. Plus, everybody does this sort of thing, it is common behavior in the corporate world. Plus, the charges of harassment leveled by Tom Sanders were lies. Also, the suggestion that Meredith had done something which merited dismissal from her job was a lot of hate talk, the corporate politics of personal destruction. And finally, by the time the harassment charges really arose in the movie, most of the characters had pretty much put it in the past, they had turned the page and moved on with business -- it was old news.

The best advice anyone could have given Tom, at the point he decided to go public and complain, was a wise bit of rape crisis counselling provided on one occasion by another of society's mistreated male victims: "You'd better get some ice on that."

A good movie adaption to a Great book
I was very happy with this movie. I always watch the film version of a book after I have read it, and this is one of the few I really enjoyed. Of course, like most movies that started as books, there are a few differences, but nothing big enough for me to complain about.

Douglas and Moore do a great job in this movie and make it very believable. This is based on a true story after all. The parts were picked out perfectly also. Even though I didnt picture Michael Douglas as Tom Sanders when I read the book, he does a great job of becoming this character.

Overall, this movie is a great thriller with good acting. I would think that 3 out of 4 people will walk away from this movie with a smile.

Great and rich movie, raised many intelligent questions...
Ever wondered why it is usually males that end up being accused of (overt) sexual harassment? Is it only because women are generally viewed as (consumable and/or disposable) sexual objects, whereas men seldom are? Here Crichton makes a good point: One of the main reasons is because it is generally males that have the (conventional, social and hierarchical) power of doing so. No authority and no power implies no sexual harassment, no sexual mobbing? Well, maybe, at least formally, and the consequences would certainly be of a lesser sort...

So one of the questions this movie raises, is that if there were more women that had hierarchical power, there would be just as much sexual harassment to be expected from them, generically, as there is now from men, although it would probably take on a more subtle and pernicious form. Well, this is indeed a very complex theme, that is further muddled by social conventions...

What this movie also goes on to show, is that one of the best, if not most efficient and direct, although meanest, way to socially and professionally destroy a person, is through the allegations of sexual misbehaviour and/or misconduct, with the use of reverse sexual harassment remaining one of the all-time favorites. This is now just as old as Adam and Eve are, and whereas there is doubtless just as many (silent) feminine sufferes as there is masculine ones, suffering men are usually put much more in the spotlight. Also, the consequences for men (including presidents), are usually of a much more devastating sort than they are for women.

The truth is that men often feel relatively guilty abour their sexuality (witness the tandrum of habitual dirty jokes and puns intended for either self-reassurance or self-justification), like it were something extraneous to their person and to their dignity, whereas women usually find themselves in a much better place to incorporate sexuality as just another of the many aspects of their personality and of their lives, and, believe me, you don't have to watch (a popular talk show) to realize that.

Nevertheless, if you ever have, as a male, felt sexually aggressed, harrassed or mobbed by a female, or by another male as to sexual connotations, in a working environment, you might well find this movie to be a relatively lucid and enjoyable one. Entertaining and suspencefull, it certainly is.


Bella Mafia
Released in VHS Tape by Vidmark/Trimark (10 December, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: David Greene
Average review score:

Kinski has never been sexier
rented this one. I'm a big Nastassja Kinski fan. This is just about Kinski who falls in love with Dennis Farina's son Michael and then Kinski has sex with him and she ends up pregnant and Michael ends up dead. Kinski puts her child in a church place for children and she gives her son her necklace. Then she enters Farina's famly, falling in love with Michael's brother, forgot his name. Then the other men marry their brides (including Jennifer Tilly and Illeana Douglas). Dennis Farina is married to Vanessa Redgrave. Farina has this enemy on the outside who wants to control everything he has got. Kinski's son grows up without any mother or father and he has a sick riddled friend who guides him the knowledge he gets when he grows up and he grows up into a man (played by The X-Men's James Marsden, he has some what of an ok role). He is adopted by Farina's enemy and remember his mother Kinski is in that family. Kinski bares 2 boys. Gina Phillips(from Jeepers Creepers #1) has a role as a daughter of I forgot. Marsdens is trained by Farina's enemy and he goes one night, kills Kinski's 2 boys( which he kills his little brothers and doesnt know) and he kills Farina and the husbands. Determined to kill, Kinski, Douglas, , Phillips, Redgrave and Tilly want revenge and Kinski just who to kill. At the funerals, Farina's enemy is there and then he is killed by Marsden. Marsden is hit by the car that Kinski's riding in, they take him back and then he realizes where he is and then he becomes like a stalker and the women don't know if he's good or bad. In the end Kinski kills Marsden who she reconizes the necklace and then it is all put together. Great movie, Kinski has never been sexier, I just want to lick her up and everyone gives strong performances. If you waanna hear James Marsden yelp and cry like a sappy baby, plus his performance when hes tied to the chair is great, I was being sarcastic, this is the movie

BELLA MAFIA...
IS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE!!! IT HAS IT ALL...DRAMA, RESPECT, LOVE, HATE AND SADNESS! I COULD WATCH THIS MOVIE OVER AND OVER AND NEVER GET TIRED OF IT. SUCH GOOD ACTING...I LOVE THE ITALIAN ACCENTS AND LANGUAGE. IF YOU'VE NOT YET SEEN THIS MOVIE, I REALLY RECOMMEND IT AND KNOW YOU'LL LOVE IT TOO!!! BELLA MAFIA...LOVE IT!!!

Strong Female Leads
After you've seen all the other mafia movies with all the men running the show, and women just being their trademark "jewelry", check out these five women who avenge their loved one's deaths. Proving that love and vengence is just as strong for women as it is men, "Bella Mafia" sheds the weak female characters of the mob with strong, stubborn, and purposeful women. The settings, costuming, and performances from the men also make this a movie event not to be missed. Being a man, myself, it is great to see women who can control their destiny. Venessa Redgrave and Jennifer Tilly give performances to "die" for!


One Night at McCool's
Released in VHS Tape by Usa (05 February, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Harald Zwart
Starring: Matt Dillon and Liv Tyler
A giddy attempt to combine a standard film noir plot and a contemporary sex farce about men who (to quote John Hiatt's song) let their little heads do the thinking, One Night at McCool's is a promising comedy that never hits full speed, coasting along amiably enough before spiraling into violence that clashes with its trashy sensibility. It's not as polished as Grosse Pointe Blank, but it's fun enough to recommend, especially for those who drool at the sight of Liv Tyler. The movie begins by suggesting that Liv is sexy, then proceeds to prove it, and then continually insists upon it until you're left with no choice but to wholeheartedly agree. It's an easy choice, but pity the movie's wretched guys for making it.

As bombshell Jewell Valentine, Tyler lures three guys into her criminal scheme of happy homemaking. Bartender Matt Dillon's the first to take the bait; as Dillon's lawyer cousin, Paul Reiser can't resist; and when murder complicates everything, detective John Goodman employs his own love-struck brand of chivalry. Sporting a tacky pompadour, Michael Douglas steals the show as a hit man hired to whack the scheming sexpot--and Andrew Dice Clay is surprisingly funny in a dangerous dual role--but of course Liv can hold her own. It's all quite amusing, but rarely is McCool's as funny as you hope it will be; the dialogue by Stan Seidel (who sadly died before filming completed) is zesty enough but lacks the Coenesque punch that would kick it over the top. It hardly matters, though; with a femme fatale like Liv in control, the movie's faults will be easily forgiven. --Jeff Shannon

Average review score:

An entetaining black comedy.
Mc Cool`s bar was just jumping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there. His cousin lawyer Carl (Paul Raiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once the bar become a crime scene. Was it the dead body (Andrew Dice Clay) that tied these man together? Not as tightly as the live were who was also there that night. An stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). Now Randy wants his life back, by hiring a Hit-Man (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Micheal Douglas).

DVD`s has an clear anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Included:An running commentary cast by the Director:Harold Zwart and Cast, Deleted Scenes, Different Ending and more. Good comic performances from the cast. An underrated comic gem. Grade:B+.

A night to remember
What happens when you mix together a con man, a con man's twin brother, a bartender,a shrink, a hit-man, a priest, a cop, 2 lawyers and a sultry siren? Well, the result will be something like ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL's. As with any mixed drink of this sort, you may not get what you expect, but you'll leave the bar happy.

If ever there were such a thing as a dark romantic comedy, this would be it. If you think you're getting another couples-friendly run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, you're wrong. Whether that is good or bad depends on the viewer.

The movie features an all-star cast that includes Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Paul Reiser and John Goodman. However, the performance that carries the film is that of Liv Tyler as the gorgeous femme fatal who is bad news for everyone. Not only does she possess the physical assets to pull off the part, but she is a bona-fide good actress on top of that. The car wash scene by itself is worth the modest price of the DVD.

The best reason to buy this flick is that it is utterly hilarious. The way it hits on every man's fantasy will be appealing to male viewers, while the fact that it at the same time mocks these fantasies will be something women will find amusing. The film finds humor in rather bizarre situations, but it will nonetheless leave you in stitches.

So, with this in mind, go out and spend a night at McCool's. Stick around awhile and enjoy your drink - it all goes down smooth. Then at the end of the night, click your feet three times and say "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home." And, by the way, home is where the DVD is...

very funny, very good, made me laugh outsoloud!
this is a surprisingly good and fun movie. got all the elements of a good comedy. i really enjoyed it. i couldn't help but laughed so loud every time there was a joyable twist. i love this moive and love to be a low moral standard guy instead of a pretentious right wing conservative extremist when watching fun movie.


One Night at McCool's
Released in VHS Tape by Umvd (05 November, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Harald Zwart
Starring: Matt Dillon and Liv Tyler
A giddy attempt to combine a standard film noir plot and a contemporary sex farce about men who (to quote John Hiatt's song) let their little heads do the thinking, One Night at McCool's is a promising comedy that never hits full speed, coasting along amiably enough before spiraling into violence that clashes with its trashy sensibility. It's not as polished as Grosse Pointe Blank, but it's fun enough to recommend, especially for those who drool at the sight of Liv Tyler. The movie begins by suggesting that Liv is sexy, then proceeds to prove it, and then continually insists upon it until you're left with no choice but to wholeheartedly agree. It's an easy choice, but pity the movie's wretched guys for making it.

As bombshell Jewell Valentine, Tyler lures three guys into her criminal scheme of happy homemaking. Bartender Matt Dillon's the first to take the bait; as Dillon's lawyer cousin, Paul Reiser can't resist; and when murder complicates everything, detective John Goodman employs his own love-struck brand of chivalry. Sporting a tacky pompadour, Michael Douglas steals the show as a hit man hired to whack the scheming sexpot--and Andrew Dice Clay is surprisingly funny in a dangerous dual role--but of course Liv can hold her own. It's all quite amusing, but rarely is McCool's as funny as you hope it will be; the dialogue by Stan Seidel (who sadly died before filming completed) is zesty enough but lacks the Coenesque punch that would kick it over the top. It hardly matters, though; with a femme fatale like Liv in control, the movie's faults will be easily forgiven. --Jeff Shannon

Average review score:

An entetaining black comedy.
Mc Cool`s bar was just jumping that night. Randy (Matt Dillon) worked there. His cousin lawyer Carl (Paul Raiser) was there until past closing. Detective Dehling (John Goodman) got there once the bar become a crime scene. Was it the dead body (Andrew Dice Clay) that tied these man together? Not as tightly as the live were who was also there that night. An stunning young woman aptly named Jewel (Liv Tyler). Now Randy wants his life back, by hiring a Hit-Man (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Micheal Douglas).

DVD`s has an clear anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Included:An running commentary cast by the Director:Harold Zwart and Cast, Deleted Scenes, Different Ending and more. Good comic performances from the cast. An underrated comic gem. Grade:B+.

A night to remember
What happens when you mix together a con man, a con man's twin brother, a bartender,a shrink, a hit-man, a priest, a cop, 2 lawyers and a sultry siren? Well, the result will be something like ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL's. As with any mixed drink of this sort, you may not get what you expect, but you'll leave the bar happy.

If ever there were such a thing as a dark romantic comedy, this would be it. If you think you're getting another couples-friendly run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, you're wrong. Whether that is good or bad depends on the viewer.

The movie features an all-star cast that includes Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Paul Reiser and John Goodman. However, the performance that carries the film is that of Liv Tyler as the gorgeous femme fatal who is bad news for everyone. Not only does she possess the physical assets to pull off the part, but she is a bona-fide good actress on top of that. The car wash scene by itself is worth the modest price of the DVD.

The best reason to buy this flick is that it is utterly hilarious. The way it hits on every man's fantasy will be appealing to male viewers, while the fact that it at the same time mocks these fantasies will be something women will find amusing. The film finds humor in rather bizarre situations, but it will nonetheless leave you in stitches.

So, with this in mind, go out and spend a night at McCool's. Stick around awhile and enjoy your drink - it all goes down smooth. Then at the end of the night, click your feet three times and say "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home." And, by the way, home is where the DVD is...

very funny, very good, made me laugh outsoloud!
this is a surprisingly good and fun movie. got all the elements of a good comedy. i really enjoyed it. i couldn't help but laughed so loud every time there was a joyable twist. i love this moive and love to be a low moral standard guy instead of a pretentious right wing conservative extremist when watching fun movie.


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