William-Forsythe Movie Reviews

Separate But Equal is a riveting portrayal of the struggle for desegration of the public schools. While some liberties are taken to enhance the story for television, it is still of reasonable historical accuracy. Sidney Poitier and Burt Lancaster turn in solid performances as opposing counsel. However, the real star of this video is the far lesser known Richard Kiley who turns in an excellent portrayal of Chief Justice Earl Warren. As a result, the stronger half of the story turns out to be the second part which provides a fascinating look at Warren's struggle to guide the court through the bitterly divisive issue of whether segregation in the public schools was unconstitutional. The intellectual battles among such strong willed men as Justices Douglas, Frankfurter, and Reed and the difficulties of the latter two to come to a resolution of the issue is masterfully portrayed. All in all, this is clearly one of the best historically based presentations I have seen in recent years.

"Separate But Equal" puts three names about the credits: Sidney Portier as Thurgood Marshall, Burt Lancaster as John W. Davis, and Richard Kiley as Earl Warren. This is significant because it helps to personify the three sides in the monumental Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education. Marshall headed the NAACP lawyers who challenged the legal doctrine that legitimized segregation in the South. Davis represented the interests of the states, not out of a sense of bigotry but out of legal principle; after all, it was the Supreme Court that had established the separate but equal doctrine. This becomes a key part of the dilemma that Chief Justice Warren faced because the law was obviously legal--it just also happened to be wrong.

This excellent 1991 docudrama was aired in two parts. The first part looks at the segregated school system in Claredon County, South Carolina, one of the four cases that comprised the ruling, and the harm of segregation is captured in a memorable sequence in which young black children always pick the white doll rather than the black doll to describe who is smarter, better, etc. The second part of the film deals with the lengthy process by which the high court deliberated the case, doing a better job of capturing the process than any drama I have ever seen.

Portier provides Marshall with all the dignity appropriate to the role, and it is a treat to see the actor play a lawyer arguing before the high court. Lancaster, in his final role, performs a key function: he is earnest and likeable, which means that in the context of this story our opposition has to be to his position and not to him personally. In other words, this is a legal matter that has to be determined on the point of law and not on our feelings about bigots and racism. However, writer/director George Stevens, Jr. has set us up, because for Kiley's Earl Warren it is a question of justice rather than the law, especially after the former Governor of California visits the battlefield at Gettysburg and discovers his driver had to sleep in the car because no local hotel would accept a black.

For me this is Kiley's film and the most fascinating part of "Separate But Equal" is watching him rally the Court to make its landmark ruling. This is a long, hard, effort for Kiley, who insists that a unanimous ruling is important to make it clear to the nation that there is no longer two sides to this issue. I appreciated that Stevens simply has Kiley read the actual ruling at the film's climax. Again, Stevens using a simple image to bring home the significance of the ruling as the preacher and father who were at the heart of the case we watched in the first part hear the news on the radio, pull over their car, get out and kneel by the side of the road to give thanks.

At 193 minutes this docudrama would consume a week of class, but it could be well worth the effort. Certainly screening it for students would produce some interesting questions and discussions. Final comment: Stevens uses irony throughout "Separate but Equal" (e.g., Marshall and the NAACP lawyers cannot get a cab to take them to the Supreme Court to hear the decision), but there is one delightful use of humor, when a young white lawyer who is helping with the appeal explains to the NAACP lawyers why he is there working with them.

This is one of the best films made for TV. It tells the story of the groundbreaking Supreme Court case that put Thurgood Marshall in the minds of most educated Americans.

However, this is a terrible DVD. The colors are dark. There is no sharpness to the film at all. In effect, it is worse than what you saw when it originally came out. As usual, Artisan does not take advantage of the DVD technology. I tried to contact them, but their website has no email address. This DVD is cheaply made, which is a shame. This a film classic, much more deserving than the shabby treatment Artisan has given it. This ranks right up there with the horrible DVD that Artisan made of "The Quiet Man." Please Artisan, either give us good copies of these great films, or quit ruining them.

FIVE STARS FOR THE FILM, 1 STAR FOR ARTISAN

This is an awesome movie that accurately describes the struggles of the black students that integrated the all white Central High School in Arkansas. It details what they went through every day, not only in school but out of school. this is a movie about courageous kids that fought for an equal education. This is a film for the whole family, for the history lover, or for anyone that wants to see a good movie. I highly recommend this movie.

This is a wonderful film that was based on the real life journal teacher Elizabeth Huckaby kept during the 1957 integration that took place at a Little Rock high school. This is an intense and gripping drama that stars the talented Joanne Woodward along with Charles Durning, Henderson Forsythe and William Russ. Be sure to see this film!

I see this movie occasionaly on late night local television. I have been looking for it for quite some time. I am glad that I finally found it. It is a good movie.

This is a movie that has it all, chilling and funny at the same time. These actors make this quirky story work, and after one viewing, you'll want to see it again. It was re-released as "Highway Hitcher" to try to find an audience, but that is not even an apt title for this piece of work. Don't miss this, under either banner!

This movie was a pleasant surprise for me. Forsythe dropped his tough-guy image and did a makeover as a milquetoast businessman who innocently picks up a hitchhiker and drives into trouble. This is one of his best, and he's totally believable in the role. Forsythe's one of my favorite actors because he becomes the characters he plays. I will add this movie to my collection.

This is a movie that has it all, chilling and funny at the same time. These actors make this quirky story work, and after one viewing, you'll want to see it again. It was re-released as "Highway Hitcher" to try to find an audience, but that is not even an apt title for this piece of work. Don't miss this, under either banner!

This movie was a pleasant surprise for me. Forsythe dropped his tough-guy image and did a makeover as a milquetoast businessman who innocently picks up a hitchhiker and drives into trouble. This is one of his best, and he's totally believable in the role. Forsythe's one of my favorite actors because he becomes the characters he plays. I will add this movie to my collection.

As a Canadian film obsessor, this has definately ranked into my top three. Beautifully editted, filmed, and acted, 4 Days catches emotions with a fishhook and then sells it home. It got terrible reviews in most guides, but that's because it's a think-movie. Endings don't always have to be happy - if you don't get it the first time, don't give up. Not at all about a murder-mystery, I recommend this to anyone who wants their inner feelings to finally have a voice. And the whole reicarnation thing adds the perfect touch.

Any movie that is confined to basically one set is a tough sell. Life boat pulled it off. So does lightship. Just the interaction between Duvall, Arlis Howard and William Forsythe is worth the price of the tape. The bit where Dr. Casparry dances with Eddie Waxler while Gene Waxler looks on is so well done it looked real. This movie, much like Aliens, is chocked full of great characters, and they all get a chance to shine.

A film different than anything else that I have seen in a while. Very moving and insightful to the darkness of Hollywood.

when does soundman 2 begin filming?

This film should be titled "Dark Humor Man" instead of "Soundman". Wayne Pere delivers an amazingly funny yet dark and touching performance as the Soundman. It was interesting to find myself laughing and feeling uncomfortable within just a few beats of the story. Definitely sucked me in to the soundman's world. Reminded me of a few films (The Party, Taxi Driver, Swimming with Sharks)but was original in itself. One of my American Indie faves!

a top notch action thriller is one of the best action movies of 1996. its about Ed Harris and hes fed up with crap so he organizes a team and they hold up Alcatraz because he's going to launcha missle that'll kill a lot of people. Nicolas Cage, with Sean Connery(a man who knows Alcatraz like he knows his foes), Michael Biehn and a team of professionals go to The Rock and try to get the missles and stop Harris from killing innocent people. some stupid oneliners but otherwise its great with a car chase, missles flying, people eating toxic green balls. it has everything a action movie cooks up. theres a great team of other actors like William Forsythe, John Spencer, Vanessa Marcil, Tony Todd, Bookem Woodbine, John C. Mcginley, Steve Harris and Anthony Clark(who is gay and funny in this movie) that cook up those ingredients and give us a good ride

Never a dull moment in this is a great action flick. This may be the best of its genre in a long, long time. Jerry Bruckheimer has outdone himself. The movie opens with the two great scenes, including the well planned (and almost perfectly implemented) break in at an Army arsenal and the disarming of a terrorist bomb by Cage at work. The action does not let up until the final climactic struggles.

Great casting, with Sean Connery as a political prisoner (and former member of the British elite Special Air Service, the only man alive to break out of Alcatraz). Add Nicholas Cage as FBI agent (and self-described biochemical "super freak", who of course is grossly overmatched among these hard guys. Their foil is Ed Harris, who is great as a highly decorated military officer, disillusioned by the betrayal of his men during Desert Storm, and his cadre of soldiers. The supporting roles include David Morse, John McGinley and Greg Collins as his loyal soldiers, and John Spencer as a less than honorable FBI director They are all joined at Alcatraz prison, taken over by Harris and his men. They hold a few hostages (irrelevant to the story), along with rockets filled with deadly poison gas. Unless the government pays the big bucks, they will unleash their deadly toxins. Only a sixty year old Connery can get them onto the Rock, with the support of a group of Navy Seals and fighter planes to save the day.

Of course, they do.

Not a dull moment in this movie.

Only Bad Boys comes close to this action extravaganza about a group of marines who take hostages on Alcatraz and threaten the San Francisco Bay Area with poison gas rockets. Sean Connery, Nick Cage and Ed Harris are in fine form supported by a great ensemble of actors, including the always excellent David Morse. This is Michael Bay's best. It has a good story (never mind some of the plot holes this is a movie!), tons of action and great shots that make it look very slick.

The DVD presented by those generous folks at Criterion is pretty good. The video transfer is exceptionally good with only a few artefacts here and there. The sound comes in DTS and Dolby Digital and both are loud and make full use of the surrounds. The score by Hans Zimmer just roars into action.

The special features are extensive with a commentary and several interesting documentaries. It is a pretty extensive (not more so than Armageddon) 2 disc set with a very interesting commentary on disc 1. The Hollywood Gunplay feature is one of the more interesting ones that deserve a mention

This movie with a running time over 2 hours goes by at a blistering pace. I highly recommend the Criterion Collection set of The Rock.

a top notch action thriller is one of the best action movies of 1996. its about Ed Harris and hes fed up with crap so he organizes a team and they hold up Alcatraz because he's going to launcha missle that'll kill a lot of people. Nicolas Cage, with Sean Connery(a man who knows Alcatraz like he knows his foes), Michael Biehn and a team of professionals go to The Rock and try to get the missles and stop Harris from killing innocent people. some stupid oneliners but otherwise its great with a car chase, missles flying, people eating toxic green balls. it has everything a action movie cooks up. theres a great team of other actors like William Forsythe, John Spencer, Vanessa Marcil, Tony Todd, Bookem Woodbine, John C. Mcginley, Steve Harris and Anthony Clark(who is gay and funny in this movie) that cook up those ingredients and give us a good ride

Never a dull moment in this is a great action flick. This may be the best of its genre in a long, long time. Jerry Bruckheimer has outdone himself. The movie opens with the two great scenes, including the well planned (and almost perfectly implemented) break in at an Army arsenal and the disarming of a terrorist bomb by Cage at work. The action does not let up until the final climactic struggles.

Great casting, with Sean Connery as a political prisoner (and former member of the British elite Special Air Service, the only man alive to break out of Alcatraz). Add Nicholas Cage as FBI agent (and self-described biochemical "super freak", who of course is grossly overmatched among these hard guys. Their foil is Ed Harris, who is great as a highly decorated military officer, disillusioned by the betrayal of his men during Desert Storm, and his cadre of soldiers. The supporting roles include David Morse, John McGinley and Greg Collins as his loyal soldiers, and John Spencer as a less than honorable FBI director They are all joined at Alcatraz prison, taken over by Harris and his men. They hold a few hostages (irrelevant to the story), along with rockets filled with deadly poison gas. Unless the government pays the big bucks, they will unleash their deadly toxins. Only a sixty year old Connery can get them onto the Rock, with the support of a group of Navy Seals and fighter planes to save the day.

Of course, they do.

Not a dull moment in this movie.

Only Bad Boys comes close to this action extravaganza about a group of marines who take hostages on Alcatraz and threaten the San Francisco Bay Area with poison gas rockets. Sean Connery, Nick Cage and Ed Harris are in fine form supported by a great ensemble of actors, including the always excellent David Morse. This is Michael Bay's best. It has a good story (never mind some of the plot holes this is a movie!), tons of action and great shots that make it look very slick.

The DVD presented by those generous folks at Criterion is pretty good. The video transfer is exceptionally good with only a few artefacts here and there. The sound comes in DTS and Dolby Digital and both are loud and make full use of the surrounds. The score by Hans Zimmer just roars into action.

The special features are extensive with a commentary and several interesting documentaries. It is a pretty extensive (not more so than Armageddon) 2 disc set with a very interesting commentary on disc 1. The Hollywood Gunplay feature is one of the more interesting ones that deserve a mention

This movie with a running time over 2 hours goes by at a blistering pace. I highly recommend the Criterion Collection set of The Rock.

Once again Sergio Leone proves that he is the master of the classically "American" genre film, this time training his exquisite eye from the Western to the gangster film...gangster EPIC, actually.
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This movie takes place via disjointed flashbacks over a period of fifty years, focusing on the life (and death) of crime as experienced by four childhood friends, specifically David "Noodles" Aaronson, portrayed in maturity by Robert DeNiro in another typically inspired performance.
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The movie in its American release nearly 20 years ago was absolutely butchered by the US-based distributor, with over an hour of footage removed from the feature in order to make it more managable for US audiences. The result was that the personality of the movie was essentially siphoned off and the film was savaged by film critics nationwide. When the movie was released for cable a year or so later, a fair bit of the footage was restored (and in fact another edit presented the film exclusively in chronological order from Noodles' youth to old age).
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This restored version does include as much as the film's original footage as can be accounted for (to our knowledge), and the effect is somewhat more enlightening than the cable edit I first saw (and legitimately loved) almost two decades prior. The violence edited back into the movie makes it more difficult for the viewer to find sympathy/empathy with any of the characters (which may have been a stretch to begin with)...but while the extra features are a wonderful addition to the DVD (James Woods' admission on the Leone bio piece that to this day he is asked what exactly happened in "his" last scene...and to this day he's uncertain himself...is worth the price of purchase alone. And Richard Schickel's film-length commentary track is also a joy to watch/listen to.
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But Warner Brothers REALLY dropped the ball by deciding to split the film into two equal lengths for the purpose of placing it on 2 discs; particularly when considering that in fact Leone did make provision for an intermission within 2:45 of the film's original running time. The most obvious issue is that yes, a rather crucial scene was unceremoniously interrupted as Disc One ends and resumed at the beginning of Disc Two. Arguments will be made that this was necessary to include the full-length commentary track for both discs, but even "Pulp Fiction" with a complete running time of over two-and-a-half hours was able to complete the presentation with commentary track on the same disc; you have to believe Warner Borthers could at least have done a better job with Leone's final masterpiece. As it is, the perfect realization of the film that was by all admissions nearest and dearest to the Italian film maestro's heart still eludes him, even in this digital age. Had he lived to see it, he could not have been pleased with this treatment. Nor was I. A terrific film, beautifully and lovingly shot as always, speaking to the emotions of the viewer in a way that so many American directors simply can't pull off...but once again the editors have failed the artist. I own it, and will view it regularly out of respect to its brilliance as a film, but someone should have been sacked over this DVD presentation.

this movie is a must see for any fan of Robert De Niro.its a timeless glance back to the way life was in NewYork after the turn of the century.with a superb cast this is one of my favorites.

This movie stands out because in many ways it is very strange! However, I think that it is very special because it is so different from most movies. It is very LONG but I must admit that once I started watching it I got hooked. Even if you end up not liking it, you too will probably be drawn to it. You'll love it if you love DeNiro and if you love epic film-making! I recommend that you AT LEAST watch the entire film once in your life!