... Oh and the title? Well ‘Whisky’ refers to the request from the cameramen to speak that word with a smile for the various photo opportunities throughout the film; not heavy drinking like the dust cover of the DVD suggests. The comfortable run time of 88 minutes means you won’t need a booze ... Read review
Internationally acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, 'Whiskey' is an intoxicating ... more
deadpan comedy reminiscent of the films of Aki Kaurismaki and Jim Jarmusch. Jacobo is a man of dull routine who arrives each day at his run-down sock factory at the ...
A Highland fling on a tight little island! The Scottish islanders of Todday bypass war ... more
time rationing and delight in smuggling cases of their favourite tipple from a wrecked ship... Basil Radford stars as the teetotal English official who is totally unable to comprehend the significance of whisky to the islanders. Marvellously detailed and well played it firmly established the richest Ealing vein with the common theme of a small group triumphing over a more powerful opponent.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Intersting South American film Disadvantages: Subtitles
Jacob Koller (Andres Pazus) is a grumpy old Jewish tailor, running a small business in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, only his trusty charge-hand Marta (Mirella), tolerant of his curmudgeonly ways.
Jacobs’s mother has just died, caring for her in his small flat for the last months, meaning his brother, also owning a clothing business-this time in Brazil-will be coming over for the traditional Jewish service. Their relationship ... ...(Jorge Bolani) intent on enjoying his brothers company, what ever each others mood.
The biggest problem Jacob has right now is he’s not married, very much a bachelor set in his ways. So to avoid the embarrassment of his brother getting one up on him he asks Marta if she will play wifey for his brother’s visit and funeral. The two haven’t met for ages so he thinks Herman will be none the wiser and so able to pull off the deception. ... more
Jacob Koller (Andres Pazus) is a grumpy old Jewish tailor, running a small business in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, only his trusty charge-hand Marta (Mirella), tolerant of his curmudgeonly ways.
Jacobs’s mother has just died, caring for her in his small flat for the last months, meaning his brother, also owning a clothing business-this time in Brazil-will be coming over for the traditional Jewish service. Their relationship is opposites to say the least, the more out-going Herman (Jorge Bolani) intent on enjoying his brothers company, what ever each others mood.
The biggest problem Jacob has right now is he’s not married, very much a bachelor set in his ways. So to avoid the embarrassment of his brother getting one up on him he asks Marta if she will play wifey for his brother’s visit and funeral. The two haven’t met for ages so he thinks Herman will be none the wiser and so able to pull off the deception. Marta and Jacob are pretty much the odd couple at work anyway so she wont be doing anything more for him than she is now.
After the boys hook up, Herman doesn’t question the ‘arranged’ marriage, but is delighted with meeting Marta. Once mum is buried and the funeral done and dusted Herman invites them to join him in Brazil for a few days, deciding to drive back instead so to get to know Jacobs new wife. In this way he can make it up to his brother for not helping with the caring of their mum by giving him some sort of compensation. Not only that but Herman quite fancies his chances with Jacobs’s dour ‘pretendy’ wife, of which she is extremely flattered with the attention. Herman is particularly impressed with her ability to speak backwards. But its Marta’s loyalty to Jacob that will be the test for all, especially as far as maintaining the subterfuge goes.
---------Cast--------- Andrés Pazos.... Jacob Koller Mirella Pascual.... Marta Acuña Jorge Bolani.... Herman Koller Ana Katz.... Graciela, the young wife Daniel Hendler.... Martín, the young husband Verónica Perrotta.... Jacob’s worker 1 Mariana Velazques.... Jacob’s worker 2 ----------------------Thoughts------------------
I haven’t seen many Uruguayan films, in fact I don’t think I have seen any, but the one I have was pretty good. I presume it wouldn’t have arrived in the UK if it wasn’t any good. This one is unusual for Latin American cinema in that it’s quite dry and observational, over the usual quirky and sexual comedy from that saucy continent. It has an unexpected and groovy sound track too!
The big joke here is that suggested Jewish frugal mentality, the two brothers picking each other business methods apart to see who gets the best value, each engaging in subtle one-upmanship. It’s also about how apparently boring underlings are often the ones with hidden talents when given the chance to shine, many of us taking people at face value.
It’s nicely paced and you dont have to spend all day reading subtitles, facial expressions filling in the gaps etc, a film of few words. It is very specialist and arty though and so wont appeal to all. If you are doing Spanish at evening class this is a really good movie to practice it as the dialogue is quite sparse and simple, empathising the boring lives of the three incumbents. It’s all in the nuance here. Oh and the title? Well ‘Whisky’ refers to the request from the cameramen to speak that word with a smile for the various photo opportunities throughout the film; not heavy drinking like the dust cover of the DVD suggests. The comfortable run time of 88 minutes means you won’t need a booze break either.
---------------Additional features-------------
*Making off*
Subtitled conversation with the director is about as interesting as it sounds. Advanced Spanish students only!
*Deleted Scenes and Out-Take*
Subtitled extended and new scenes. Quite a lot of them and another film lurking on the cutting room floor.
Advantages: Great characters and a good cast, amusing story and film, ealing classic Disadvantages: Very dated
Whiskey Galore is one of those charming Black and White Ealing comedies that is highly enjoyable but is so out of touch with today, that it may as well be set on the planet Zog. Released in 1949 one can see why it is out of touch to say the least. Let's face it that is almost 60 years ago. However it still appears on the small screen, from time to time, and is available on DVD for collectors of classic films, as yes that is what it is.
On a remote Scottish Island, called Todday desperation has set in as the island has nearly run dry. Dry of whiskey that is. It is the second world war and rationing is taking it's toll. Then, as if sent by God, a cargo ship full to the brim with whiskey runs aground on the rocks around Todday. 50,000 cases of Whiskey are there for the taking but will it be that easy?
There are many pitfalls, some ...
Advantages: Relaxing and absorbing paranormal violence. Disadvantages: You either love this stuff or you hate it.
Last night I found myself up late as everyone had gone to bed and I wasn?t sleepy so I grabbed my headphones out of my studio, a bottle of whisky and many nibbly things from the kitchen, and looked for a good DVD to watch. My eye fell upon ?Hellboy?. So I picked it up again, screwed it back in its socket, and sat back for an hour or two of comic book jolliness.
Although the house around me was in silence, my amp and headphone arrangement gave me fantastic stereo pumping out at high volumes so I could really appreciate the excellent audio. Rain isn?t rain until you?ve heard it under these conditions blasting out from the Hellboy soundtrack. Monsters' roars are just that bit more convincing when they go off inside your head.
The story opens with a paranormal scientist leading a bunch of cynical and sceptical US soldiers on a raid ...
FlameDruid 30.11.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hellboy (DVD)
Advantages: Well told story mixed in with gripping footage. Disadvantages: Abrupt ending, just too short ---
Another Christmas present.
To be perfectly honest I didn't expect much from it. Perhaps it was the packaging, perhaps it was the subject matter --- I thought it was going to be a bit of a sleeper (if you get what I mean.) However being the kind loving son in law that I am I dutifully played it --- fearing the worst.
What did I fear? I feared a glorified form of those Sunday afternoon chats that we all have had with the "older generation" where they all moan about the state of today's society and "big up" the days gone by... all the while dribbling quietly into their coffee/tea/whisky/sherry (choose as appropriate) my grandparents (God bless them) imbibed in all of them!
I was not familiar with the series but the DVD is part of a series where historical episodes are explained through the reminscences of the people who lived ...
Making Of Documentary, Theatrical Trailer, Director Biographies
Aspect Ratio
Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish
Professional reviews
Review
A movie with great poignancy and charm. (The Guardian, )
A gem... Beautifully low-key performances. (The Independent, )
A deliciously funny, beautifully acted, bone-dry comedy. (Time Out, )
DVD Description
Jacobo Koller is the owner of an old factory, and is deeply immersed in the dullness of everyday life. When his brother Herman returns from Brazil Jacobo wants to prove his life has amounted to something and so he turns to Marta who works at the factory. Up until now their relationship had been a little testy but this would have to change if they are to convince his brother that she is his wife...
![Whisky [2004] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78505621.jpg)
![Whisky Galore [Special Edition]-DVD](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/103543275.jpg "Whisky Galore [Special Edition]-DVD")
