Ricky-Jay Movie Reviews

Unlike most of the reviewers here I am more of a dawghead than a deadhead. David Grisman is my musical idol. The man is a musical genius. I bought the DVD because there's very little video available of David Grisman and I knew that this would be a video bonanza for Grisman fans. I'm not disappointed. The only drawback to this movie in my opinion is that it wasn't shot as a documentary but as Gillian Grisman says, it was a hodgepodge of home movies that were simply used to create a documentary a few years after Garcia's death. Still, there is a certain charm to the fact that it wasn't shot as a documentary. The subjects are free to be themselves, not realizing that anyone outside of their inner circle will ever view the footage. It's obvious that Gillian decided to study the art of movie making once she determined that she was going to create a documentary. She went to great lengths to tell the story of her dad and Garcia with an appropriate thread of performance, studio, and interview video. Sure, there are a lot of interview clips, but it is a documentary after all. Personally I didn't find them all that distracting. And for an added bonus, the DVD viewer has the option of viewing the movie with commentaries from David and Gillian. Several outtakes are also added, including Vassar Clements' embarrassing story of how he was playing with Garcia without really knowing who the Grateful Dead are. I'm sure most deadheads will love this flick. I know dawgheads like me will.

This is a great look into Jerry Garcia's life outside his more well known life in the Grateful Dead. The duo of David Grisman and Jerry Garcia created some great music that most people have never been exposed to. From folk, jazz, rock and other genres, these two did it all and they did it all very WELL! This dvd gives you some insight as to what Jerry did outside of his more known life in the Grateful Dead. Deadheads and others will love this look into the roots of Jerry and David's musical life.

A totally awesome documentary that will make you tap your feet, smile, shed a tear and dry your eyes on the wind. Not only is this DVD absorbing and enlightening, it is also cozy as an old hammock. For lovers of Jerry's music and the man himself, you'll get to see him in a further intimate setting than usual. You will learn of Jerry's other musical loves and how and where this sound was originated from. You will also be graced with the expertise of a one Mr. David Grisman, whom like Jerry is able to carry himself to another time and place and bring back to you, the listener, this assured style of music known as DAWG. Speaking in Psychedelic babble, I truly believe these folks perform a certain type of melodious séance, if you will, to bring to us this sweet sound of long beyond. Many thanks to David Grisman for making this film possible and allowing admirers of Jerry to see him in a different sphere. On a sad note, it will make you miss Jerry all the more.
This is a must for any Dead Head, especially those who loved the traditional ballads.
Peace, friendship and love your family with this disk.
*Remember, this is not a concert piece. This is a pure Documentary and if you are looking for just a concert, it may not be for you.

This 1989 sequel follows up immediatley where the 1985 original left off. The team of Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas Wilson, and Robert Zemeckis return. In this dizzying, and visually brilliant and stunning follow up, Marty McFly(Fox) and Doc Brown(Lloyd)travel into the future(complete with flying cars) to save Marty's out of control son from going to jail. They head back to 1985 after they are done, and something has gone terribly wrong. 1985 wasn't the same 1985 they had left. Everything is different. Marty's dad is dead and his mom is married to Biff, who's a big casino owner. Marty and Doc realize what the problem is, and what caused it, and set out to right the wrong to make everything right again in the past. Am I making sense?. I'm starting to confuse myself. Lol. The effects are dazzling and total eye candy. The flying hoverboard sequence is great. The set design and clothes are all well done for the future scenes. Some people complain that this movie had too much going on, and it gave them a headache. Well, I'll let you be the judge on that one. The script is exceptionally written and crafted together. It's incredibly structured and thought out. You have to sit and watch all three films together to really get the full impact of the brilliant storyline the writers have concocted. The best part is Michael J. Fox playing 4 different roles. He plays the Marty we all know and love, plus he plays himself in the future, his son, and his daughter. Yes, I said his daughter. That wasn't a typo. It's a real fun segment and Fox pulled it off. No, this film isn't as monumental as the classic original. What sequel is?. It's very well done and is just one hell of a great ride!!!!.

If you've seen the original, then you need to see this one. If you haven't, don't see this one until you've seen the original. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox are back with the sequel that will not disappoint. Good family entertainment. The future that is shown in this film is just as exciting as when the film was released in the mid 1980's. The end of the film forces you to have to see Part III (unlike the ending of the first film which just teased you about a sequel), which was the least memorable of the 3 films.

I thought this sequel was way too cool! When I first saw this movie in the theater and when they were traveling to 2015 in the time machine I was wondering if that's what the future is going to be like with the flying cars, hoverboards, and a Jaws 19 which I think that won't happen. Because there are only four Jaws movies and they hadn't made another sequel since 1987. Today is 2003 and there hasn't been in any change yet but it could happen with all those flying cars and hoverboards. It would be really cool if there was a future like that. But they used it for special effects and it kind of sucks that it won't happen. It also happens in Minority Report too with those flying cars. That was a cool movie too. I also think the DVD set is way too cool! It has 10 hours of features throughout all 3 films which is like the oriignal trailers, making, deleted scenes, and hilarious outtakes. There's only one mistake in this film it made me mad it also made me not like the first Back to the Future for some reason because he was going back to 1955 and it showed some segments from the first flim which completely ruined the whole movie I thought. I also think that if you watch this film and hadn't seen the others and just watch it because you really want to you will not understand it. Go see the first one first then the other two and you will get the picture. I also don't like the way that they put in different actress for Elizabeth Shue as Jennifer. I mean if that other actress had to leave they should have just stopped at one then making other sequels. But I'm glad they completed the whole trilogy and there really is a Deolorean that's just like the car in the movie except you can't go back in time because time travel is possible. That was just used for special effects also. I didn't really like the 3rd one that much because it was a western spoof. I am not much of a big western fan. It was also kind of dumb too. The only cool thing in that movie was the train at the end and that was awesome it made me think that they were going to make a Back to the Future IV which I think there not because Steven Speilberg is probably too tired of making a fourth one. There is not really a hoverboard either just used for special effects unless if someone's really smart to make one they could be a famous inventor. Get the DVD set it's way too cool you will like it!

This film features Mamet's trademark dialog, a mix of repeated words, pauses and overlapping phrases that flow like the rapids in a river. Always unpredictable, the story begins as a low-key narrative when a famous psychologist tries to help a patient with a problem. She is quickly drawn into a dark world where nothing is what it appears to be. Her fascination with the men she meets in this world begins as work-related observation, but quickly escalates into some very personal encounters. Watching this film is like sliding down an ice-covered roof, a headlong rush toward an unknown and frightening destination. Lindsay Crouse is superb as the psychologist, a completely believable mix of cool and curious, and Joe Mantegna delivers another perfectly nuanced performance as he guides her through his dark domain. The late J. T. Walsh shines here as always, his brief but pivotal role raising the energy level to a fever pitch. Ricky Jay and Mike Nussbaum are fascinating as con men who seem to enjoy showing some of their tricks to an interested spectator. This film will satisfy both mystery fans and suspense addicts.

The script of "House of Games" probably has some of the most brazen plot twists and wicked undercurrents that I've seen in all of film. You'd almost think the director, David Mamet - who won a Pulitzer for a 1984 play - holds the audience in contempt, since the main character in the movie, a psychiatrist with a best-selling motivational book, experiences every deception and con with as little perspicacity as the viewer (unless you know what to expect).

The movie is basically a study on ruses and truth. It's funny to see Dr. Ford being strung along by Byzantine plots throughout the film; but kind of disturbing to see how the experience has affected her in the end. The ploys perpetrated by the confidence men in the film should inspire some slack-jawed admiration and awe, even if there success in real life would be questionable. I think in certain works it is OK to accept these kinds of slightly dubious happenings if they further the thematic purpose of the film. I mean, how many people out there would really fall for Chance's unwitting façade in "Being There."

I hold the opinion that "House of Games" would have been an even greater achievement as a book. It might be one of those films where reading its screenplay is superior to actually watching the final product. The direction is good from a layman's perspective, but there's a strange forced, muted quality to the actor's interactions. They talk to each other like, well, con men and ultra-professionals. The actors are told to perform in a way that doesn't appeal to me much, but maybe I'm missing the point.

The doctor is a strong character - tough, competent, yet still with that hidden, unexplored crevice that cries out for genuine human affection and attachment. The warmer side of her personality is vital to the film's success because the audience couldn't identify with her if she was made of iron and never got hurt. It's also doubtful that she would have fallen into the long, convoluted trap that she did otherwise. The ending of the film is compelling and rather twisted, and probably created some good material for psychology term papers.

Lindsay Crouse plays a psychologist who is treating an adictive gambler. In the middle of their session, he pulls out a gun.

He tells her he owes money to an underworld bad guy, which he can't pay back. That he has no choice but suicide.

He also tells her-- and this is VERY important to the Mamet's theme--that for all her treatment, nothing has changed. It's just words. All she does is talk.

Crouse decides she'll prove him wrong. She will meet and negotiate with the 'badguy'---Brilliantly played by Joe Mantegna.

What follows is a series of plot turns--which I will not give away and spoil the film for you. In fact, the plot is so well crafted that it's easy to lose sight of the theme.

This is Mamet at his cynical best.
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There are cardplayers who make their living by finding and fleecing suckers but consoling them by saying they just had bad luck that night. Dance instuctors who seduce women into falling in love with them but never have sex with them, as that would spoil the romance they weave--and the steady cash flow.

Indeed in these two examples (Politicians, gurus, and used car salesmen are too easy ) this IS what professional card players and dance teachers are TRAINED to do. How do you think they make their money?

Compared to them Mantegna's character is almost honest.

But what of Crouse? Is she good and truly caring or is she simply another type of con artist? One who makes the kind of bucks that cardsharps and Tango instructors would envy in a cushy job where she simply 'talks' for a living ?

Don't decide until the end.

Great film noir.

Absolutely awful. Poor script, plot and acting was stagey. It looked more like a Jr. High School play rather than a full length feature film. Christian and Morgan are two great actors but you couldn't tell in this chaotic mess. Skip it and save your money.

Hard Rain might have a twisted plot, pitting an armored truck guard against some robbers who are trying to steal 3 million dollars, but that doesn't really make it a bad movie. All the while, they're surrounded by a massive flood as their main obstacle. Hard Rain has some of the best actors such as Morgan Freeman and Randy Quaid playing the leading roles and they all do great jobs. Hard Rain also has some good action sequences and a lot of suspense throughout the film. It's like a wet and wild goosechase with everybody trying to catch Christian Slater in order to get the money. The special effects with all the water and rain couldn't have been done much better. Hard Rain is just another usual action movie until Morgan Freeman joins Christian Slater and they both team up and try to survive against the other robbers. That's when this movie gets a lot better with all the suspense and action.

If you like good action movies with some suspense added in, you will probably like Hard Rain. The only drawback is the twisted plot, sometimes you might wonder what the movie is really about. But watch it and you'll figure it out without a problem.

This movie made me drool at the cinema. The action scenes are incredible and this movie is very well made. The bouncing, shaking, wobbling camera was very impressive on the big screen. And the music was just totally awesome too. Randy Quaid and Morgan Freeman were very good in this film although I don't think Minnie Driver was good at an American accent.

Don't be to hard on this film. It wasn't made to move CITIZEN KANE off its throne. Christopher Young's score is hugely action packed and very loud throughout the film.

The film was originally called THE FLOOD and had numerous other characters in it and had many daylight scenes. But because of an abundance of disaster movies at the time it was reshot as an action movie that was set totally at night. And practically in real time too.

The DVD is in Dolby 5.1 and is letterboxed at 2.30:1.

Absolutely awful. Poor script, plot and acting was stagey. It looked more like a Jr. High School play rather than a full length feature film. Christian and Morgan are two great actors but you couldn't tell in this chaotic mess. Skip it and save your money.

Hard Rain might have a twisted plot, pitting an armored truck guard against some robbers who are trying to steal 3 million dollars, but that doesn't really make it a bad movie. All the while, they're surrounded by a massive flood as their main obstacle. Hard Rain has some of the best actors such as Morgan Freeman and Randy Quaid playing the leading roles and they all do great jobs. Hard Rain also has some good action sequences and a lot of suspense throughout the film. It's like a wet and wild goosechase with everybody trying to catch Christian Slater in order to get the money. The special effects with all the water and rain couldn't have been done much better. Hard Rain is just another usual action movie until Morgan Freeman joins Christian Slater and they both team up and try to survive against the other robbers. That's when this movie gets a lot better with all the suspense and action.

If you like good action movies with some suspense added in, you will probably like Hard Rain. The only drawback is the twisted plot, sometimes you might wonder what the movie is really about. But watch it and you'll figure it out without a problem.

This movie made me drool at the cinema. The action scenes are incredible and this movie is very well made. The bouncing, shaking, wobbling camera was very impressive on the big screen. And the music was just totally awesome too. Randy Quaid and Morgan Freeman were very good in this film although I don't think Minnie Driver was good at an American accent.

Don't be to hard on this film. It wasn't made to move CITIZEN KANE off its throne. Christopher Young's score is hugely action packed and very loud throughout the film.

The film was originally called THE FLOOD and had numerous other characters in it and had many daylight scenes. But because of an abundance of disaster movies at the time it was reshot as an action movie that was set totally at night. And practically in real time too.

The DVD is in Dolby 5.1 and is letterboxed at 2.30:1.

There's a little of the famous repetitive, stylized Mamet dialogue, especially in the beginning of this intriguing, tongue-in-cheek thriller, but mostly what director Mamet does is play it (almost) straight. The premise is a con, called "the Spanish Prisoner" con. Steve Martin is the chief con artist, Jimmy Dell, while Campbell Scott is the victim, Joe Ross, whose proprietary business formula--displayed prominently throughout the movie as a red bound notebook--is the booty.

Most of us are familiar with this con from our e-mail where it typically takes the form of an African or the Middle Eastern princess seeking help from us to escape from a corrupt society or an oppressive husband. We are advised that she has many millions of dollars but can't get them out of the country without our help in the form of a few thousand bucks for various fees, etc. If we send the money we are assured that we will get a significant percentage of the millions.

Here the come-on includes a dark-haired beauty we see only in passing and in photos. Playing her foil is Rebecca Pidgeon (Mamet's talented wife) as Susan Ricci, a somewhat ditzy secretary for Joe's company. At the beginning everything is opaque and intriguing. It's not clear who is who, and who can be trusted and who can't. Indeed if this movie had a theme it would be "you can't trust anybody." The real worry, however, seems to be whether Joe will get paid for his work. Mr. Klein (Ben Gazzara) keeps putting him off. And so it appears that we may be viewing another business and relationships satire for which Mamet is justly famous (e.g., Glengarry Glen Ross 1992), but after a bit we begin to see the sinister plot unfold.

The acting is good and Mamet sets up his plot twists with precision--although the resolutions of some of the twists are a bit strained; in fact, probability and logic, in keeping with the time-honored tenets of the genre, are sometimes just plain ignored. But what carries this unusual thriller is an underlying tone of irony. Steve Martin is perfectly cast because underneath his sly exterior there seems lurking a guy about to bust out laughing; and indeed the entire edifice is a crafty but covert spoof of Hollywood thrillers. It's almost as though Mamet set out to write and direct a standard thriller but just couldn't help himself. On the other hand he may have had the understated parody in mind all the way, but just didn't want to tell anybody! Certainly Steve Martin was not fooled, but I do wonder about Campbell Scott who played his part with such single-minded intensity.

Anyway, there's a lot of clever dialogue, some of it cribbed ("Beware of enterprises requiring new clothes" is from Thoreau), and some interesting stage business (the tickets, the tennis book, the red-bound book, the camera/gun, the club certificate/request for passage to Venezuela, etc.). And trying to figure out who is up to what will keep you awake. But see this for Rebecca Pidgeon who, in her way, is as original as Mamet. Although her role here is not strictly comedic she reminds me a little of the Japanese comedic actress, Nobuko Miyamoto, widow of director Juzo Itami. She also reminds me of somebody who should be playing Saturday Night Live. Maybe she has.

You can forget the dreaded Fear of Foreign Films. "The Spanish Prisoner" is in English. In fact, it takes place in America. This movie is so great that I'm giving you but one clue about the title. It does not refer to a person. If you haven't seen it or read about it, but know what the term means, I doubt I'd want to be within a thousand miles of you.

The director and writer, David Mamet, is both talented and prolific. His many writing credits include "Ronin", "Wag the Dog", "The Edge" and "The Untouchables". As good as his work is on big projects, he truly excels on smaller ones such as "The Spanish Prisoner", 1988's "Things Change", and 1987's "House of Games".

Reviewers relentlessly compare countless suspense thrillers to those of the master, Alfred Hitchcock. They cringe in horror at any remake of one of his films, even before it goes into production. Mamet's film follows the formula of the genre so perfectly that I suspect Hitch himself would have loved it and perhaps would not have seen an attempt to imitate his style.

What Mamet understands is that a thriller is not the same animal as a mystery. A thriller has less to do with who done it that it does with the suspense created by our trying to figure out how - or if - the main character is going to get out of the terrible mess he or she has gotten trapped in. I have always found this setting to be especially chilling, because it makes me think of a large spider's web.

You will note that it is rated PG. Don't be fooled by that innocent tag. It's dark, intense and devious. It is crammed with characters who lie, cheat and steal with style and relish. You could almost say they love their work. The movie is so rated because it's a rare example of substance over style.

Except for Steve Martin, the cast members have made careers by working in independent productions. I must tell you that Mr. Martin's character is serious, and he is excellent as an affable yet mysterious businessman.

"The Spanish Prisoner" has several layers to it. It may be the best film of its type you'll see this year, and on that level, it is pure entertainment. Underneath the fun and games, there is a chilling indictment of the way big business is conducted. David Mamet is most sophisticated, and the viewpoint is that things are run today in the same way they have been for centuries. When huge sums of money show up, even otherwise honest people can quickly be filled with greed and lust. Why, when the Spaniards arrived at what is now Mexico City, they encountered what was then the largest city in the world. What they saw was gold in quantities they never dreamed existed. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, they'd never bothered to have it appraised.

As in all of Mamet's work, "The Spanish Prisoner" is full of memorable dialog. I'll never know how this technique went out of style. "Hasta la vista, baby" does not a screenplay make. Dialog is the way characters are developed and defined. It also sets the tone. So Mamet's characters say words like this: "We must never forget we are human, and as humans we dream, and when we dream, we dream of money." Or this: "Never trust an enterprise that requires you to buy new clothes." These words easily connect us to the way the characters think and feel.

I think many people missed the point of this film. It isn't till the end (and after a second viewing) that you realize that, you, much like the main character, have been conned. You believe you are watching a serious mystery when in actuality, you are watching a very subtle and cleverly disguised spoof. The one dimensional acting, the outrageous twists, the "TV movie of the week" production, the times where you can see the actors smirking subtly after delivering a hammy line... and most notably, the last scene in the film when Susan is escorted into the police truck and gives the audience a glimpse of her breaking into laughter as she turns away to get into the van. Absolutely brilliant film making. So subtle, so clever. A real treat to watch.

This review refers to the New Line Home Entertainment DVD of "State and Main".......

There's trouble with a capitol "T" brewing in Waterford, Vermont as a Hollywood film crew descends on this folksy little town, where everybody knows your name.But who's running the show is the question? Find out in this hilarious story that has one of the best casts ever assembled.

Written and Directed by David Mamet, a small town discovers they are to be the location of a big budget film. The crew arrives and immediatly takes over the hotel, and the main streets of town. The Hollywood types from the quirky director(William H Macy) to the lecherous movie star(Alec Baldwin)are in a take charge frame of mind. But wait...The townfolk also want in on the action.You'll laugh your way through, as you meet the actress(Sarah Jessica Parker) who has second thoughts on her provacative scenes, the writer(Philip Seymour Hoffman) who finds love and scruples in the small town,the teenage girl(Julia Stiles)who causes a scandal and a lawsuit, and the Producer(David Paymner) who will stop at nothing to get this film made. The cast also includes Charles Durning, Patti Lupone and Rebecca Pidgeon.They will all have you laughing.And if you stay through the credits you'll be treated to some very funny stuff.

The DVD may be viewed in either the widescreen 2.35:1 aspect or a standard format if you prefer. The picture is clear and sharp with vibrant colors. The 5.1 Surround sound is great and you can watch the film with commentary by some of the stars if you choose. The DVD also has DVD-ROM. There are English subtitles if needed.

This tounge-in-cheek humor gets better with each viewing..go for it....Laurie

This warm, homey, satirical comedy is David Mamet's homage to the filmmaking industry. It's a story about purity - the unforced, unpretentious timeless simplicity of a quiet New England town populated by just plain folks, and the age-old heroic struggle of the artist trying to share his vision with the world. But it's also a story about second chances, even if it's only the opportunity to make the same mistake twice. And certainly it's a story about money, too, but enough with generalities...

The ensemble cast features some of Mamet's favorite actors, including the wonderful William Macy as the smooth-talking director who is determined to get his movie made no matter what, and the always-quirky Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the sensitive author who struggles to keep up with the ever-changing demands that reality makes on his screenplay. Sarah Jessica Parker plays the leading lady brilliantly, showing us a woman with beauty and charm and animal grace who can scarcely speak a complete sentence unless she's reading it from a script.... Alec Baldwin's performance is less notable; he never really seems to take on the character of the film's skirt-chasing star, but seems to be merely playing himself.

The real standout is the terrific performance by Rebecca Pidgeon whose luminous presence really steals the film and makes her character's romance with the writer the main plot focus. She's a bookseller, and like most of the people in this small, out of the way town, is much smarter than anyone in the production company (or for that matter watching the movie) expects them to be. Her dialogues with Hoffman are intimate, artful, creative, and ultimately rather unrealistic, but then, this isn't a very realistic film, and if the illusion of real life is important to you, you might give this one a miss. If you're willing to concede Mamet his artifice, this sweet, charming story should delight the small-town intellectual in everyone.

Second chances is the theme of State and Main. Nearly all the characters have screwed up and are getting a second chance. How will they handle it? Will the movie star (Alex Baldwin) whose weakness for underage girls got the production evicted from their last location behave until the shooting is done? Will the small-town bookstore owner (Rebecca Pidgeon) who everyone agrees could "do better" than her overly-ambitious lawyer fiance, do better? Will the sensitive, helpless screenwriter (Philip Seymour Hoffman) be able to rewrite the screenplay on short notice? And more important, will he do the right thing when it comes to what he witnessed at the corner of State and Main?Great cast with William H. Macy as the director. The ending was a bit of a cop-out, but Mamet is always on the line between what is right and what is wrong, and maybe that's the point. Or maybe it was just supposed to be a fun, entertaining movie with witty dialogue. Either way, a very funny movie.

This was an interesting movie. I saw it after reading a part in the New Psycho-Cybernetics mentioned it. It seemed to be playing with the idea of truth. One scene had a lawyer guy asking another guy to rehearse a lie out loud just to make sure he could say it. The dialogue didn't feel real to me, but like they were forced to say things in a certain way. There was one part where Alec Baldwin's character is signing a baseball and says something like, 'Baseball... that's America's favorite past time'. It's like some people are walking around stating obvious things and others are lying. If you held up a piece of paper and said, "This is a piece of paper," you would fit into this movie nicely.

Near the end, the main character was asking "What is truth?" It reminded me of Pontious Pilate asking Christ the same thing. There was one scene where a person is wearing a jacket that says "Assembly of Death" Maybe that was to symbolize the lying nature of the film crew people. I dunno. The ending where he gets a second chance reminded me a little of Abraham bringing his son to the altar to sacrifice him, but is stopped by God at the last second. And then there's the newspaper that says on it not to bear false witness.

All in all, this movie was strange and I'm not sure what it was trying to say.

I recently watched Sarah Jessica Parker on "Inside the Actors Studio" and the host (James Lipton)was going through all of her movies but just before he spoke of "State and Main" he paused..... looked at the audience.... took a deep breath and said "Now tell us about (long pause again) State and Main" their was a crescendo of clapping from the audience/students. So I decided to rent this movie to see what the whole "awe" was about.

The Amazon description pretty much tells you what "State and Main" is about so I won't repeat it. The movie was quick, the dialogue between the characters witty and smart. The acting was definitely some of the best that I have seen in a long time. Alec Baldwin is so endearing as the "big-Hollywood" actor with a thing for young women (I'm talking teens), William H. Macy perfect as the director trying to keep the actors happy and the crew focused <--- which was very funny in itself to watch :)

Philip Seymour Hoffman always plays such interesting characters he does not disappoint in this one either, he is somewhat a idealistic writer who falls for the local bookstore owner (played by Rebecca Pidgeon) the interaction between these two was again smart, quick, witty lines... David Paymer was (in my personal opinion) the one that stole the movie he was a Hard A$$ producer he didn't take nothing from nobody str8 in your face and what a wonderful change to see this actor play such a part he is usually so secondary that I was pleasantly surprised.

I must make honorable mention to Julia Stiles, Sarah Jessica Parker and Charles Durney whom all did a great job. This was just a very good movie all together the town folks, the town (perfect setting), the film crew (in the movie) great secondary characters. I wouldn't say that I had a lot of LOL moments but it did keep me engaged.

I liked "Get Shorty" and "The Birdcage" I would put this movie in those categories for Smart Comedy with a very well written script and look at Hollywood coming into a small town and taking over.

Respectfully Reviewed

This is a comedy with wit and heart.
When the cast and crew of a Hollywood film are run out of one small town for the "fetish" of the lead actor (Baldwin) they must quickly relocate to yet another SmallTown USA.
They are assailed almost immediately by the townfolk, who want a part in the film. The director has his hands full meeting and greeting people, trying to get the movie made on time (and within the budget). The actors are struggling with their own moral dilemas (Baldwin is flirting with disaster in the form of an adoring fan who's just a tad underage and Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't want to show off her breasts in a contractual nude scene because she's found religion). And the poor writer, whose art is being torn apart by actors, producers, and necessity of sets, is just looking for a typewriter to complete the rewrites they're demanding of him.
His quest leads him to a local bookstore, where he finds not only the typewriter, but love, as the woman working the counter turns out to be as intellegent and well read as she is beautiful.
Crisis after crisis ensues, with everything happening around the intersection of State and Main.
When Baldwin is caught with his underage fan, all seems doomed, as the writer is confronted with the moral dilema of having to testify against the star and cancelling the production (and blacklisting himself in Hollywood forevermore) or lying, and losing the affections of the woman he loves.
It all boils down to a surprise ending, that I cannot reveal. All I can say is that this is a film with a great deal of thought behind it, and a brilliant satire of the Hollywood world.

This could have been a really funny movie, considering the talented cast in it. Unfortunately, it's fitfully funny, and the cast is mostly wasted. Therefore, it's mostly unfunny. It was amusing to watch Garafolo attack villains with her dad's head (encased in a bowling ball), with which she holds conversations.
But the rest are wasted--Hank Azaria as an effete British superhero, William Macy as a guy who carries a shovel, Paul Ruebens as some fella who attacks people with his spleen (I think you can figure it out, although I think a better name for him might have been the Bile). Dang, this really could have been a truly funny movie. As it is, I think most would be disappointed in it.

-- so, just sit back and enjoy it! Original, very funny andentertaining movie about a group of superhero-wannabes who bandtogether to save their city's real, yet commercially-sponsored,superhero (Greg Kinnear) from the clutches of the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) and his Bee Gees-loving henchmen. Led by The Shoveler (William H. Macy)and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the "Mystery Men" -- a misnomer since the group's person with any real powers is a woman (Janeane Garofalo at her sarcastic best)-- team up with a non-lethal weapons expert (Tom Waits) to save their city. Some really funny moments and memorable lines, especially from the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), the "British" superhero who doesn't have a shred of blue in his outfit, and the "terribly mysterious" Sphnix ("Dances with Wolves'" Wes Studi). I would have loved to seen more development of Invisible Boy's (Kel Martin) character -- no pun intended -- but less of scenes like Spleen's (Paul Reubens) encounter with the skunk. The movie's message is obvious -- we identify with these heroes because they represent who we are. Bottom line -- rent it first, because you'll either love it or hate it. If ya love it, I'm sure Amazon can hook you up. If not, then take comfort that there are worse movies you could've rented. Peace!... END

Champion City is the home of one of the greatest superheroes of all time: Captain Amazing. Unfortunatly for him, his crime fighting skills have left him without any publicity left except for the odd toothpaste commercial. Reduced to fighting gangs at nursing homes and steadily loosing his sponsers, Captain Amazing comes up with a plan. Using his alterego, the millionaire Lance Hunt, he bids for the release of one of his favourite arch-villains to be released in the hopes of defeating him and gaining some much-needed recognition. Thus, Casanova Frankenstein is released.

But there is another level to the superhero regime: the Shoveller (whose weapon is various types of shovels), the Blue Rajah (who throws forks, has a fake British accent and still lives with his mum) and Mr Furious (whose power comes from his barely controlled temper and has trouble coming up with suitable comebacks) are all wannabe heroes, who usually emerge from a fight with black eyes. Yet when Captain Amazing goes missing, they agree that it's up to them to stop Casanova and rescue the city from whatever terrible scheme he's cooking up.

To do this, the boys need reinforcements: after a rather dismal audition for new recruits to the team, the trio install the Bowler, whose murdered father's skull she keeps incased in a bowling ball, the Spleen whose power comes from the awful potency of his flatulence, and the Invisible Boy...who can only turn invisible when no one's looking at him. Rounding it off is the Sphinx, who takes the superheroes in for some physcho-babble training ("control your power, or your power will control you", and so on), and Professor Heller, who provides the team with the non-lethal weapons he invents. Its a somewhat troubled team, but one that has the rousing speeches and slow-motion walk down cold - they just might pull this off!

In my opinion, "Mystery Men" is hilarious, and is the long awaited spoof of superhero comics that we've been waiting for. The reason the humour works so well is in the performances of the top-notch cast, who perform with such seriousness that even the most rediculous moments come across as likely senarios. There are many moments from comic books that are easily familiar, such as the Shoveller's inability to believe Furious's theory that Lance Hunt and Captain Amazing are one and the same because: "Lance Hunt wears glasses. Captain Amazing *doesn't* wear glasses. He wouldn't be able to see!" Likewise, the good guys' distain at the evil henchmen who don't even have a theme to their costume and the many wannabe-heroes that turn up to the audition are continously funny.

Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo in particular carry their roles across with droll humour, and Geoffry Rush looked as if he had the time of his life playing the evil Casanova Frankenstein. All the characters, such as the Shoveller's long-suffering wife, Furious's waitressing love interest, and the Rajah's mother fit into the movie perfectly, creating a "real" backdrop for the heroes to work against.

It won't be everyone's cup of tea, and I admit that certain scenes (such as the fork-sitting, Spleen's farting and the skunk encounter) could have done with a little editing, but it suited my sense of humour perfectly, and had just the right amount of mockery and reverence toward the comic book heroes that makes it one of my favourite spoof movies.

This could have been a really funny movie, considering the talented cast in it. Unfortunately, it's fitfully funny, and the cast is mostly wasted. Therefore, it's mostly unfunny. It was amusing to watch Garafolo attack villains with her dad's head (encased in a bowling ball), with which she holds conversations.
But the rest are wasted--Hank Azaria as an effete British superhero, William Macy as a guy who carries a shovel, Paul Ruebens as some fella who attacks people with his spleen (I think you can figure it out, although I think a better name for him might have been the Bile). Dang, this really could have been a truly funny movie. As it is, I think most would be disappointed in it.

-- so, just sit back and enjoy it! Original, very funny andentertaining movie about a group of superhero-wannabes who bandtogether to save their city's real, yet commercially-sponsored,superhero (Greg Kinnear) from the clutches of the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) and his Bee Gees-loving henchmen. Led by The Shoveler (William H. Macy)and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the "Mystery Men" -- a misnomer since the group's person with any real powers is a woman (Janeane Garofalo at her sarcastic best)-- team up with a non-lethal weapons expert (Tom Waits) to save their city. Some really funny moments and memorable lines, especially from the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), the "British" superhero who doesn't have a shred of blue in his outfit, and the "terribly mysterious" Sphnix ("Dances with Wolves'" Wes Studi). I would have loved to seen more development of Invisible Boy's (Kel Martin) character -- no pun intended -- but less of scenes like Spleen's (Paul Reubens) encounter with the skunk. The movie's message is obvious -- we identify with these heroes because they represent who we are. Bottom line -- rent it first, because you'll either love it or hate it. If ya love it, I'm sure Amazon can hook you up. If not, then take comfort that there are worse movies you could've rented. Peace!... END

Champion City is the home of one of the greatest superheroes of all time: Captain Amazing. Unfortunatly for him, his crime fighting skills have left him without any publicity left except for the odd toothpaste commercial. Reduced to fighting gangs at nursing homes and steadily loosing his sponsers, Captain Amazing comes up with a plan. Using his alterego, the millionaire Lance Hunt, he bids for the release of one of his favourite arch-villains to be released in the hopes of defeating him and gaining some much-needed recognition. Thus, Casanova Frankenstein is released.

But there is another level to the superhero regime: the Shoveller (whose weapon is various types of shovels), the Blue Rajah (who throws forks, has a fake British accent and still lives with his mum) and Mr Furious (whose power comes from his barely controlled temper and has trouble coming up with suitable comebacks) are all wannabe heroes, who usually emerge from a fight with black eyes. Yet when Captain Amazing goes missing, they agree that it's up to them to stop Casanova and rescue the city from whatever terrible scheme he's cooking up.

To do this, the boys need reinforcements: after a rather dismal audition for new recruits to the team, the trio install the Bowler, whose murdered father's skull she keeps incased in a bowling ball, the Spleen whose power comes from the awful potency of his flatulence, and the Invisible Boy...who can only turn invisible when no one's looking at him. Rounding it off is the Sphinx, who takes the superheroes in for some physcho-babble training ("control your power, or your power will control you", and so on), and Professor Heller, who provides the team with the non-lethal weapons he invents. Its a somewhat troubled team, but one that has the rousing speeches and slow-motion walk down cold - they just might pull this off!

In my opinion, "Mystery Men" is hilarious, and is the long awaited spoof of superhero comics that we've been waiting for. The reason the humour works so well is in the performances of the top-notch cast, who perform with such seriousness that even the most rediculous moments come across as likely senarios. There are many moments from comic books that are easily familiar, such as the Shoveller's inability to believe Furious's theory that Lance Hunt and Captain Amazing are one and the same because: "Lance Hunt wears glasses. Captain Amazing *doesn't* wear glasses. He wouldn't be able to see!" Likewise, the good guys' distain at the evil henchmen who don't even have a theme to their costume and the many wannabe-heroes that turn up to the audition are continously funny.

Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo in particular carry their roles across with droll humour, and Geoffry Rush looked as if he had the time of his life playing the evil Casanova Frankenstein. All the characters, such as the Shoveller's long-suffering wife, Furious's waitressing love interest, and the Rajah's mother fit into the movie perfectly, creating a "real" backdrop for the heroes to work against.

It won't be everyone's cup of tea, and I admit that certain scenes (such as the fork-sitting, Spleen's farting and the skunk encounter) could have done with a little editing, but it suited my sense of humour perfectly, and had just the right amount of mockery and reverence toward the comic book heroes that makes it one of my favourite spoof movies.