|
|
The Bargain Nexus - Ironweed
|
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $50.00
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Vestron Video
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Diane Venora
Directed By: Hector Babenco
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786301007887
Format: Color
ISBN: 6301007883
Label: Vestron Video
Manufacturer: Vestron Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Vestron Video
Release Date: 1994-09-28
Running Time: 143
Studio: Vestron Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1988-02
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ironweed
Comment: Very interesting movie a bit dark not full of fun and happiness but well acted and I like this movie.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fantastic American Film
Comment: Like a cinematic Hopper painting, this film stays with you even when you are not looking at it. It is a perfect example of how American film can have substance and not insult you by giving you all the information and all the answers.
The film tells the story of a short period of time in the life of a "bum", played by Jack Nicholson. He has been adrift ever since two decades earlier he accidently killed his 13 day old son. He seems to go from place to place on the rails, with no other goals than making a buck here and there and finding a drink. He has no constant companions, only other bums he sees from time to time. The closest he has to a best friend is Meryl Streep's character. Aside from her alcoholism, she also seems to be mentally troubled. She has her own past to deal with, as it seems she came from a well-off family and was a noted singer at one time.
The film finds Nicholson's character returning to his home town of Albany, NY, and confronting some of his past. Aside from his son, he has also been responsible for the deaths of at least two other people, one by accident, and one in self defense. Their ghosts, as well as others he feels he has wronged, haunt him regularly. Eventually he returns to his family for a visit, but I would leave it up to the viewer to decide what he comes away with.
The acting is superb, as are the depictions of the life of these people and the people they come in contact with. Tom Waits is so good in his role, he had to be born to play it. I defy anyone with a soul to not be moved incredibly by the scene in which Streep sings in a saloon for a kindly washed up singer played by Fred Gwynne. It doesn't happen often, but I turned the TV off after the scene and sat in the dark for a while. Find a scene like that in a recent film, if you can.
It is a deliberately paced film, and there is no traditional plot, but that works to it's advantage. Well worth the time and the effort it will take to leave an indelible impression on the viewer.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A breathtaking film
Comment: This is a great movie. The period in history is sad and some of its characters came to very sad endings. Nicholson and Streep are fantastic; one of Nicholson's best characters. Waits is extremely good even though he is not a main character. I don't have enough thumbs to devote to an 'up' signal for this film. It is a mystery that it has not been released to DVD in the U.S.; interesting and entertaining.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Gimme A Break....
Comment: ....Could Hardly Wait For The Credits. I don't usually write movie reviews, but people gotta be warned here. I saw this ages ago, and it left just a vague impression. Decided to order it and view again, as Nicholson is one of my favorites. I could not sympathize with any of the characters in this movie. The actors and actresses never seemed to drop into their roles at all. The sets and backdrops were just too phony and ordinary, and the themes and places portrayed should have come across much more raw and gritty. The acting was sub-par and the dialogue was contrived and predictable. Nicholson couldn't even save this flick for me. Streep acted like a paper sack in this one. The recurring ghosts were just annoying and the family reunion scene made me ache is was so lousy. If you wanna see a real drama about destitute and homeless people, get Barfly. If you wanna see Nicholson is an unforgettable role, get The Last Detail, One Flew Over..., or even Goin' South. Streep shined much brighter in Silkwood and Sophie's Choice. This one was a mess. Sorry-don't blow your $$$ on Ironweed. Two stars are for some effective flashback sequenses and Streep singing in the bar (only scene in movie that moved me at all). Notice when Nicholson, as a youth, hits the guy with whatever he threw during the strike. The projectile never came close to hitting the guy, and the man who (supposedly) got struck covered his face and fell backwards before anything even got near him. Simply pathetic.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Perfect screen adaption of a classic book
Comment: I saw this movie on cable many years ago and did not get it.
Fast foward to about ten years later and I discovered William Kennedys "Albany Trio" at the library. When I finally got to the last of the trio tales I read "Ironweed" in one day and then went out and rented the vhs version at my local video store. Jack Nicholson does an outstanding job in his role as "Francis Phelan" a man haunted by the ghosts from his past.
Tom Waits as "Rudy the kraut" was my favorite character. Meryl Streep is outstanding as usual in her role as Francis Phelans girlfriend. Yes it is sad, depressing and not for all tastes (especially mainstream moviegoers) but, the performances by all are heartfelt. One of the few movies brought to the screen from a great story by William Kennedy who also wrote the screenplay.
Great soundtrack by John Morris and Hector Babenco directed this wonderful adaption. Now with all the garbage DVD's on sale I can not understand why this movie is not available on DVD.
I managed to find an old vhs copy for $3.00 at a small video store here in Heidelberg, Germany where I currrently reside, but I will still wait patiently for this film classic to be released on DVD.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
