Drama > Hoffman, Dustin Drama

Straw Dogs can't bite can they?.....Ouch!

Advantages: Fantastic performances, great story
Disadvantages: Very Violent

Straw Dogs is a Sam Pekinpah film, adapted from 'The Siege of Trenchers Farm' a 1969 novel by Gordon Williams, it is known by many simply for the brutal violences which seemed shocking at the time but now seems brutal but not out of the ordinary. It has a reputation due to a brutal rape scene, which is awful, but absolutely relevant to the story and the dramatic events that follow. As it was not allowed for home release it developed a notoriety along ...
...film is about David and Amy Sumner (Dustin Hoffman and Susan George) a couple who move to the remote Cornish village where Amy grew up ironically to escape the violence and brutality of inner city America. Due to a misunderstanding over some building work the Sumners ask for on their broken down farmhouse, a local builder Charlie Venner (Del Henney) and his workmen create whispers about the Sumners and a campaign of deep seated mistrust and resentment ...

paulie1975 28.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Straw Dogs (DVD)

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Advantages: It's a great film with a great cast
Disadvantages: It's hard to watch at times due to the brutality

This is one of the most watched films in my collection. Mainly because it is such a powerful movie, yet very bleak. Set in New York's Hell's Kitchen, 4 teenage boys, played by Brad Renfro (RIP)(Michael Sullivan), Joe Perrino (Shakes), Jonathon Tucker (Tommy) and Geoffrey Widgor (John Reilly) are best friends and seem to be drawn together by their equally awful home lives dealing with regular beatings, poverty and a generally shitty childhood. The ...
...4 friends get up to all sorts, swimming and fishing and playing ball games in the street, but pay the ultimate price when a prank goes wrong and an old man ends up in hospital. They are sentenced to serve at least one year in the Wilkinson Home for Boys (a juvenile detention centre). The middle part of the film follows their time at Wilkinsons enduring endless rapes and beatings at the hands of the guard Noakes (Kevin Bacon) and his colleagues. ...

theshinyone 07.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Sleepers (DVD)

Run, jury-man, run!

Advantages: Some good acting
Disadvantages: Disappointing film adaptation - might be better if you watch before you read the book.

...all. Anyway, the film, The Runaway Jury, based on the equally titled book by John Grisham, came on television recently. I must be getting too keen as I actually decided to watch it just so that I could write this review! I have to admit reading the book has influenced my opinion on this film and therefore somewhat had an impact on my review. Perhaps I liked the film better before I knew how good the novel was. Story There are some differences between ...
...really be condoning violence. The Runaway Jury has been rated 15, and I’m not sure why it didn’t make a 12 (I thought it was a 12 until I looked it up) although I doubt most teenagers or younger would be interested in this sort of film anyway. It really is aimed at a slightly older audience. There were no sexual scenes and I don't actually remember much swearing, so at least the film is not offensive! Conclusion The second time I watched this film ...

Ayesha- 16.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Runaway Jury (DVD)

To Death Us To Part

Advantages: A Classic
Disadvantages: A bit long

...freebie of the film The Death of a Salesman came as a DVD from the Daily Telegraph. The film is an adaptation based upon a play by the now famous Arthur Miller (modern US author). The film is PG parental guidance (some scenes might be unsuitable for young children). The New York Times describe it as " A powerful and magnificent classic". The story has a few players whose characteristics will be discussed below. THE PLOT Willy Loman (Dustin Hoffman) ...
...travelling salesman, he is delusional about his families ability to succeed (his family are rather the same). In order to cope with failure Willy lives in the past and begins to loose touch with reality. It gets worse Willy is sacked from his long - term job. He is forced to live off handouts from his old friend Charlie (Charles Durning). His depression worsens as he comes to terms with life around him - his eldest sun Biff (John Kalkovich) is an ...

JeffreyB 26.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Death Of A Salesman (DVD)

Papillon

Advantages: Really drags you in to the emotion of it all
Disadvantages: Some may be put off by the lack of dialogue

...premise of the film surrounds Papillon (Steve McQueen) and his imprisonment on the infamous Devil's Island. He makes friends with Dega (Dustin Hoffman) as he ceaselessly plots means of escape. Despite several failed escape attempts, Papillon refuses to have his spirit broken by his ruthless and humiliating captors. If you are after a film with sparkling dialogue, you will want to give this a miss as there are long periods where not a word is spoken. ...
...than make up for it. Usually after reading a book, the film adaptation is extremely disappointing, but thankfully in this case, the film more than lives up to its billing. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and would heartily recommend it as, despite it's length, the time will fly by as you are brilliantly drawn into the struggles and yearning for freedom of Papillon. ...

kipper54 04.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Papillon (DVD)