Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4375 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-06-02
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Format: NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 99 minutes

Customer Reviews

Funny and cool
I saw this movie in the early '90's when independent and foreign films were still independent in the real sense. At this point, I had only seen Daniel Day-Lewis in Room With A View, so this movie was a significant departure from that. It is a fish-out-of-water comedic film. A Britsh art-dealer living in New York (and dating the boss's daughter) is sent to the South to collect a valuable painting from the estate of an eccentric Southern gentleman. Along the way, he encounters the woman of his dreams and the man's wacky family. High jinks ensue.

I really liked it. The casting was genius: Laurie Metcalf, Glenne Headley, Joan Cusack, Maury Chaykin, Will Patton, and many others. While funny and strange with a touch of Southern gothic, the film also questions the real value of American success. A good companion film would be Shy People with Barbara Hershey.

Danny in the raw
If you've got a yen to see Daniel Day-Lewis naked, this is worth your while. He has two nude scenes, one of them, er, lengthy and revealing (and some might say, risky--he's crawling out of a second floor window, naked in the rain). Otherwise, this is a surprising misfire, and a waste of a good cast.

Brit meets NYC meets Georgia
My father's from GA, my husband's from England & we've both lived in/near NYC. So this film hit us where we've lived. Having seen "In the name of the Father" & "Gangs of NY" we couldn't imagine Day-Lewis in a comedic role but he was brilliant. His physical shtick was prime: absurd canoe rowing at the Atlanta hotel & especially his nude escape from bad guys who were also after the priceless Renoir. Jogging down the NYC streets in a cardboard box, he was rippingly funny. The ever-wonderful Harry Dean Stanton was perfect as the "Big Daddy" of a completely dilapidated Southern Mansion. All the minor characters did great jobs of work, especially the trailer wife (not sure of actress's name). We could've done w/ more of Joan Cusak & her bright comedic heart but truly this film is FOUR & 1/2 Stars! ...