Olympia-Dukakis Movie Reviews
VHS movie reviews for "Olympia-Dukakis" sorted by average review score:
Dad
Released in VHS Tape by Universal Studios (10 March, 1998)
Starring: Jack Lemmon and Ted Danson
William Wharton's startling and moving novel about fathers and sons got an above-average film adaptation from TV's Gary David Goldberg, who wrote and directed. While the film couldn't capture the sadness and wonder of Wharton's worlds-within-worlds construct, it did get exactly right the notion of how one closes the distance from a parent or a child. Danson plays an ambitious businessman forced to put work aside to care for his aging parents (Jack Lemmon and Olympia Dukakis) when his mother is hospitalized. Mom, it turns out, is a domineering dictator who has stifled Dad all these years; with her out of the way, Dad suddenly recognizes the possibilities of his own life. Meanwhile, Danson's estranged son, Ethan Hawke, comes home as well, allowing the two of them a rapprochement. Lemmon is particularly good (and almost unrecognizable). --Marshall Fine
Average review score: 
watched in Health ClassI watched this movie in health class during a unit on ageing. The movies was very touching, and turned the whole class to tears. But, it was a great movie that was very touching, and I would suggest watching it.
Realistic, Funny, and SadI saw this movie on Father's Day. I think Jack lemmon should have received an award for this movie. Excellent supporting actors too. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good family movie.
Definitely One of My Favorite Movies"Dad" is definitely one of the most touching movies I have ever seen. I have seen this movie several times, and every time I cry at the end! The son lives far away and is so obsessed with work that he has not been home to see his elderly parents much in recent years. When his mother is unexpectedly taken ill, he comes home and is shocked to see how his father has gone down under the overprotective eye of his domineering mother. John, the son, starts teaching his father to be independent, at the same time rebuilding a good quality relationship with him. It is so touching later in the movie when his dad becomes ill and John dotes over him and refused to give up. This also inspires John to build a relationship with his own son, with whom he has not had much contact. I can relate to this story, as can anyone who has dealt with the illness and/or death of aging parents. I would recommend this movie to anyone, especially anyone who has dealt or is now having to deal with the aging and/or death of a parent. This movie puts a lot of things into perspective about aged parents and with dealing with the illness and death of a parent.
Stepmom/Steel Magnolias
Released in VHS Tape by Columbia/Tristar Studios (08 February, 2000)
Starring: Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts
Average review score:
Double The Jules, Double The FunJulie Roberts does and excellent job acting for simply two great movies. If you want to laugh our loud with a smart and funny romance story you want to watch My Best Friends Wedding. Basically its about Julianne (Julie Roberts) trying ever dirty trick in and out of the book to stop her best friend of 9 years from marrying his newly met fiancial Kimmi (Camoran Diaz) because she suddenly realizes that she truely loves her best friend. Its loaded with a bunch of hilarious scenes that actually looks really natural and its enticing to find out what really happens because things always change to Julianne's plot working and failing and ending with a surprise twist end. Stepmom is a lot more serious since its drama and sadder but still a great movie with funny scenes and it deserved that oscar. Its about this stepmom (Julie) who as a younger person is more n'sync with the culture of the two stepkids she now has and is competing with their more naturally likeble real mom (Susan). Beyond fighting over kids the story gets more interesting with the stepmom having conflicts with taking care of her stepkids and her high-paying job while the real mom has cancer. And it all ends with sad yet heart-felt end. All and all both are great movies with great acting and smart plot that will make you want to watch it more than once and continously enjoying it when you do.
ONE OF THE BEST!This movie rocks! It's kinda sad, but in my opinion, it's one of the best out there. Julia Roberts as Isabel, the new stepmother of 2 kids who obviously don't like her. She tries to get them to like her. Does it happen? Watch the movie!
Century of Women: Sexuality and Social Justice
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Home Video (14 September, 1994)
Average review score:
A Century of Women, SexualityThis is an amazing video and should be shown to any class learning about reproduction, and or womens rights. It is an essential part of American history.
Look Who's Talking / Look Who's Talking Now
Released in VHS Tape by Columbia Tristar Hom (05 June, 2001)
Starring: John Travolta and Kirstie Alley
Average review score:
Awesome Good Times!These movies were hilarious. I myself watch them over and over again. They're just great.
Rich Kids (Amazon.com Exclusive)
Released in VHS Tape by MGM/UA Video (20 February, 2001)
Average review score:
A Cautionary Tale About DivorceTrini Alvarado and Jeremy Levy play a couple of twelve year old New York City kids going to one of the better schools. Both of the characters have parents getting a divorce or are divorced. The parents fight quite a bit, so much so that they don't pay attention as the kids spend more and more time together. Jeremy's father directs commercials and he is very much into the 70's love the one you're with mentality (pre-AIDS). He gives Jeremy free access to his swinging bachelor pad where he romances trini. By the time both sets of parents realize that the kids have used the neglect to set themself up for a weekend of adult free entertainment, the kids are naked and in the hot tub. Will the parents arrive in time? Watch and see.
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
Released in VHS Tape by Hbo Studios (06 May, 2003)
Perennial Oscar(r) nominee Judi Dench shakes off the dust of period pieces to play a sassy widow looking to recapture a little of the excitement of her youth: she was the star saxophone player of a World War II-era all-girl dance band. Yanking her instrument from mothballs, she starts blowing the old standards as a street musician, much to the horror of her cultured children (they prefer symphonies to swing classics), and then hatches a plan to track down her band mates for a gala reunion at her granddaughter's school dance. The script carries little suspense and few surprises, but the cast is a delight. Ian Holm costars as the band's womanizing drummer (in a dress and a platinum blonde wig), a rascally old rogue who seduced almost every member during their brief wartime run and married half of them in the intervening years. Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck) is their trombonist, a hard-drinking American widow living it up in a Scottish castle; jazz great Cleo Laine is a trumpeter turned torch singer; and Leslie Caron cameos as their brassy bass player. Joan Sims (a fixture of the Carry On movies), Billie Whitelaw (Quills), and June Whitfield (the mother on Absolutely Fabulous) are among the great British character actors who join the fun. The old broads bring sass to the sentimentality in this fluffy, feel-good, made-for-cable comedy, insisting there is not only life after 60, but that it swings sweetly if only you let it. --Sean Axmaker
Average review score:
Swing with the best in this nostalgic jazz flashbackI loved this movie when I saw it on HBO, and can't wait to buy it. The script is a delight, as are all the actors - from the little girl to the 1940's flashback band, to the current day chronies jazzing it up again. Judi is as always a delight, and Dame Cleo Laine proves she's still got that swing in her voice. Now if they would only come out with the soundtrack on CD!
Judi Dench, Olympia Dukakis, Leslie Caron and Cleo LaineJudi Dench is a recent widow who wonders what happened to her life. In her youth she was the star saxaphonist for an all girl swing band, The Blonde Bombshells. She picks up her sax and busks with a young musician. There she is reunited with the only male member of the band, a womanizing drummer who played in drag. Together, try to reunite the band. They manage to find the band leader(She played Madge in Dench's series As Time Goes by), the trumpet player(Dukakis' drunken rich lady is wonderful), the singer, and another band member who joined the Salvation Army. Together, they ready themselves for their first gig, Dench's granddaughter's school dance.
Dench, as usual, is excellent in this role. The supporting cast is cast pretty near perfectly, especially Dench's stodgy children. You find yourself rooting for the band's reunion very soon into the story, and the film does not disappoint.
One of The Very Best Movies I Have Ever SeenThis wonderful movie is a must for those of us who remember the good old days, when music was played by real musicians, who could read music. This is another WW 2 movie and there are hundreds of them, but this is a bitter sweet comedy drama that will make you sit back and close your eyes and transport yourself back into the era which many call, "The greatest musical period of the 20th century. Judi Dench surly deserved an award for her performance of a grandmother saxophone player who played with an all girls band during the war. She was the star. She had not played in years and after her husband had died her little grandaughter asked her to pu the band back together to play at her school dance. The story of how this came about is funny, sad, sentimental and entertaining. I will leave the rest for you to see, but I give this a 5 star rating and if there 10 stars it would get that. Enjoy an afternoon with these ladies and relax, you are in for an enjoyable time.
Sinatra
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (10 December, 1992)
Average review score:
Good enough to have been a real movieI don't know a whole lot about Frank Sinatra, so I don't know how accurate it is. However, I enjoyed this very much. It's a little lengthy (over 4 hours) because it was a made for TV special or movie or something, but it does not drag on. His childhood and early career are told very well. However it speeds up too much at the end, attempting to explain his Kennedy and mafia connections but failing. Its still worth watching if you wanna know about him and what he did.
This is a GREAT representation of Sinatra's lifeThis is the most detailed and accurate documentary of Frank Sinatra out there. Tina Sinatra, his daughter was a producer of this film so it is as close to the real thing as it gets.
Philip Casnoff has the opportunity to be Frank, and does so very well. He is VERY believable. You can tell that he took time to study Frank very hard because he picked up his accent and body movements.
This film starts well, at the beginning! It shows the odds that were against him and his great desire to sing. He begins his career in the Hoboken 4, and sings "Shine" which becomes somewhat a hit. The 4 hour long movie goes through his life, depicting his rise to stardom as he sings with Harry James, and Tommy Dorsey. It also takes you through many loves and many movies that he filmed like On the Town, and Pal Joey. The film even portrays the acedemy award ceremony where he wins best oscar for From Here To Eternity.
When I watched this movie, I felt like I was really watching Frank's life being lived in front of me. You hear his music all throughout the film. After you watch Sinatra, check out a book and cd set called Frank Sinatra An American Legend. The cd contains most of the music that he sang in the movie as well as commericals and promotions that he did!
If you have always wanted to know how Frank lived it, checks this movie out. It is as realistic as it gets.
Kudos to TinaAt first, I thought Casnoff was a poor choice...after all, who could possibly play Sinatra, a cultural institution? I should've trusted his daughter to choose the right actor. Philip Casnoff was perfect. Each time I see the film, I like him better and better. There was an edge to his portrayal that fits the Sinatra who lives in my head. I thought Gina Gershon was wonderful as the long-suffering Nancy Sinatra, Sr.
The Pentagon Wars
Released in VHS Tape by Hbo Studios (07 August, 2001)
Average review score:
A real life funny movie about our miltary testing weapons!The first time I saw this video,I had brought it and it colllected some dust from not being opend or viewed yet. The opening credit were hilarious! We next cut to Kelsey Grammar in front of a milary board of some kind. Grammar then recalls the testing the miltary did on the Bradley,a machine that has been tested for over 20 years! Cary Elwes come on to help test the Bradley. Elwes eventually gets a real life testing of the Bradley. This movie is so funny it can be taken as serious action/drama movie , yet it's a comedy too! It's amazing the stuff our government does to waste the taxpayers money! The movie at the end mentions what happened to the real life people the movie showed! Also because of Elwes character in the movie , Gulf War injuries were lesser than our government though! This fact is shown at the end of the movie! This movie is a must for watchdogs of the government or former miltary people! I love it and I never served in the miltary! It 's a great movie with a "Penatagon Wars Kicks Brass " attitude!
Brilliantly on targetIt is well-known that when it comes to procurement, the Department of Defense does not usually put a priority on such incidentals as whether the item actually works. DOD history is cluttered with such gold-plated duds as the Sergeant York gun and the infamous $7600 coffeemaker. "The Pentagon Wars," a made-for-cable film originally aired on HBO, is a devastatingly satirical -- and true -- look at one such boondoggle, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Col. James Burton (Cary Elwes) is a by-the-books Air Force officer who is given the job of making sure the Bradley is effective and ready for use. He quickly learns that the vehicle is a Frankenstein's monster, designed by committee and unable to do any of the tasks it was meant for, but which is being built anyway. In his attempts to adequately test the vehicle, Burton is up against Gen. Partridge (Kelsey Grammer), who is determined to get the Bradley into production no matter what. After all, it has been 17 years in design, with $14 billion already spent on it. Who cares whether it works or not? Burton does, actually, and is equally determined to make sure the Bradley actually works before he signs off on it, an attitude which does not earn him plaudits from Partridge. Running interference are Col. Bock and Maj. Sayers (John C. McGinley and Tom Wright), who sabotage every one of Burton's tests with darkly hilarious results.
(The buy-it-now-and-test-it-later culture is, unfortunately, alive and well in the Pentagon even today. No better illustration exists than the $50 billion -- pre-cost overruns -- National Missile Defense, now in production despite failing most tests and passing a few only under grossly rigged test conditions.)
"The Pentagon Wars" is a darkly gleeful look at the government weapons procurement culture. Pick it up if you get a chance.
It would be very funny if it were not based on a true storyThe acting is great and the storyline funny and sad at the same time. Viola Davis, my favorite actress, is great as usual. I recommend the film.
The Pentagon Wars
Released in VHS Tape by Hbo Studios (07 August, 2001)
Average review score:
A real life funny movie about our miltary testing weapons!The first time I saw this video,I had brought it and it colllected some dust from not being opend or viewed yet. The opening credit were hilarious! We next cut to Kelsey Grammar in front of a milary board of some kind. Grammar then recalls the testing the miltary did on the Bradley,a machine that has been tested for over 20 years! Cary Elwes come on to help test the Bradley. Elwes eventually gets a real life testing of the Bradley. This movie is so funny it can be taken as serious action/drama movie , yet it's a comedy too! It's amazing the stuff our government does to waste the taxpayers money! The movie at the end mentions what happened to the real life people the movie showed! Also because of Elwes character in the movie , Gulf War injuries were lesser than our government though! This fact is shown at the end of the movie! This movie is a must for watchdogs of the government or former miltary people! I love it and I never served in the miltary! It 's a great movie with a "Penatagon Wars Kicks Brass " attitude!
Brilliantly on targetIt is well-known that when it comes to procurement, the Department of Defense does not usually put a priority on such incidentals as whether the item actually works. DOD history is cluttered with such gold-plated duds as the Sergeant York gun and the infamous $7600 coffeemaker. "The Pentagon Wars," a made-for-cable film originally aired on HBO, is a devastatingly satirical -- and true -- look at one such boondoggle, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Col. James Burton (Cary Elwes) is a by-the-books Air Force officer who is given the job of making sure the Bradley is effective and ready for use. He quickly learns that the vehicle is a Frankenstein's monster, designed by committee and unable to do any of the tasks it was meant for, but which is being built anyway. In his attempts to adequately test the vehicle, Burton is up against Gen. Partridge (Kelsey Grammer), who is determined to get the Bradley into production no matter what. After all, it has been 17 years in design, with $14 billion already spent on it. Who cares whether it works or not? Burton does, actually, and is equally determined to make sure the Bradley actually works before he signs off on it, an attitude which does not earn him plaudits from Partridge. Running interference are Col. Bock and Maj. Sayers (John C. McGinley and Tom Wright), who sabotage every one of Burton's tests with darkly hilarious results.
(The buy-it-now-and-test-it-later culture is, unfortunately, alive and well in the Pentagon even today. No better illustration exists than the $50 billion -- pre-cost overruns -- National Missile Defense, now in production despite failing most tests and passing a few only under grossly rigged test conditions.)
"The Pentagon Wars" is a darkly gleeful look at the government weapons procurement culture. Pick it up if you get a chance.
It would be very funny if it were not based on a true storyThe acting is great and the storyline funny and sad at the same time. Viola Davis, my favorite actress, is great as usual. I recommend the film.
Strange Relations
Released in VHS Tape by Showtime Entertainme (04 November, 2003)
Average review score: 
moving, and emoitonalfinally available on DVD, quality is good, though just a transfer from original VHS source. Still, a surprisingly unheralded drama about a NY pyschiatrist (Reiser) who, diagnosed with leukemia and in need of a bone marrow donor, goes in search of his biologial family in Liverpool upon learning he is adopted. Well acted, well written drama (though with a good dose of humor) and literally made me sob. Have watched it numerous times on tape and cable and it keeps sucking you in with the story and its endearing characters, especially a good Julie Walters (Educating Rita).
Can't go wrong with this purchase!
Can't go wrong with this purchase!
Wonderful, Sensitive, Humorous, Riveting, Fantastic MovieThere aren't enough good words in my vocabulary to describe this movie. What can I say except that STRANGE RELATIONS is my favorite movie of all time and I can't stop recommending it to everyone. If you want a movie that will make you laugh and cry, a movie where you can't take your eyes off the screen for fear of missing a single moment, or a movie that teaches you to look for what's really important in life (Love and Family) then you must see this movie !
The acting is superb. Julie Walters even won a BAFTA award for her role as the lively mother, Shelia. And Paul Reiser was so believable that you couldn't help but sympathize with his character of Dr. Jerry Lipman. Add the rest of the all-star cast - Warm and Funny George Wendt, Beautiful Amy Robbins, and A Touching Olympia Dukasis and things couldn't get any better !
But what really stands out in this movie is the writing. Mr. Tim Kazurinsky has done a fantastic job. The story is touching, funny and even surprising with an unforeseen twist at the end. And with such character development, you end up feeling like you know this wonderful, diverse family and love each one of them.
Kudos to everyone involved with STRANGE RELATIONS (aka MY BEAUTIFUL SON as seen in the U.K.) GREAT MOVIE !!!!
The acting is superb. Julie Walters even won a BAFTA award for her role as the lively mother, Shelia. And Paul Reiser was so believable that you couldn't help but sympathize with his character of Dr. Jerry Lipman. Add the rest of the all-star cast - Warm and Funny George Wendt, Beautiful Amy Robbins, and A Touching Olympia Dukasis and things couldn't get any better !
But what really stands out in this movie is the writing. Mr. Tim Kazurinsky has done a fantastic job. The story is touching, funny and even surprising with an unforeseen twist at the end. And with such character development, you end up feeling like you know this wonderful, diverse family and love each one of them.
Kudos to everyone involved with STRANGE RELATIONS (aka MY BEAUTIFUL SON as seen in the U.K.) GREAT MOVIE !!!!
Funny, yet touchingI caught this movie on cable and couldn't turn it off. I'd never heard of it until then. One of the few movies to bring a tear to my eye and keep me laughing, too. Hard to believe that this movie has been around since 2001, packed with recognizable stars, yet I never heard of it before. Highly recommended, but some of the language is not what I'd like my younger children to hear. My wife and I have watched it several times and still love it. Can't wait to get it on DVD.