- Hot Hollywood favorite Winona Ryder (MR. DEEDS, GIRL, INTERRUPTED) stars in this compelling story of mystery and intrigue! On the run from her family, the police -- and a terrible secret -- an attractive young woman (Ryder) suddenly appears at an exclusive prep school, searching for a safe place to hide. But when a rebellious student (Lukas Haas -- ZOOLANDER) helps to keep her identity a secret, t
An odd-but-gifted poet, Evan Merck (Wes Bentley, American Beauty) makes his living writing suicide notes for the soon-to-be departed. So when he meets Charlotte (Winona Ryder, Girl, Interrupted), the free-spirited sister of his latest client, Evan has no choice but to lie about his relationship to her late, lamented brother. Curiously attracted by his evasive charms, a smitten Charlotte begins her pursuit, forcing Evan to juggle an amorous new girlfriend, a sarcastic new client (Ray Romano, Everybod! y Loves Raymond) and an ever-increasing mountain of lies in this dark romantic comedy about a quirky young man who can't tell write from wrong.HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT - DVD MovieBased on the bestseller by Whitney Otto, this film seemed to miss all the poetry and the ephemeral charms of the wispy novel by trying to make a concrete movie out of it. Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse (who made a similar hash out of
A Thousand Acres), the film centers on Winona Ryder, who is debating her impending marriage and decides to make up her mind while spending the summer with her grandmother (Ellen Burstyn). This leads to a variety of encounters with Grandma and her sewing circle (which includes Anne Bancroft, Kate Nelligan, and Maya Angelou, among others), who reminisce about men, love, and marriage. It's put together piecemeal, like a quilt, but the parts add up to a fragmented, unsatisfying whole, despite some solid acting.
--Marshall FineThe Salem witch trials of 16! 92 are brought vividly to life in this compelling adaptation o! f Arthur Miller's play, directed by Nicholas Hytner ("The Madness of King George"). A group of teenage girls meet in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony. While the other girls attempt to cast love spells, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) wishes for the death of her former lover's (Daniel Day-Lewis) wife. When their ceremony is witnessed by the town minister, the girls suddenly find themselves accused of witchcraft. Soon the entire village is consumed by cries of witchcraft, and as the hysteria grows, blameless victims are torn from their homes, leading to a devastating climax.The Salem witch hunts are given a new and nasty perspective when a vengeful teenage girl uses superstition and repression to her advantage, creating a killing machine that becomes a force unto itself. Pulsating with seductive energy, this provocative drama is as visually arresting as it is intellectually engrossing. Arthur Miller based his classic 1953 play on the actual Salem witch tr! ials of 1692, creating what has since become a durable fixture of school drama courses. It may look like a historical drama, but Miller also meant the work as a parable for the misery created by the McCarthy anti-Communist hearings of the 1950s. This searing version of his drama delves into matters of conscience with concise accuracy and emotional honesty. Three passionate cheers for Miller, director Nicholas Hytner, and costars Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder.
--Rochelle O'Gorman ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT'S CIVIL WAR-ERA NOVEL ABOUT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE FOUR MARCH SISTERS. SPECIAL FEATURES: SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, CHINESE, KOREAN AND THAI, DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY, TWO TRIVIA GAMES, TALENT FILES, HISTORICAL TIMELINE, DELETED SCENES AND MUCH MORE.The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War,
Little Women is a triumph for! all involved. We follow one family as they split into the wo! rld, end ing up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics and conclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life's little accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh, so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into a modern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. Kirsten Dunst (
Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The young ensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a role akin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of an Oscar.
--Doug ThomasGIRL INTERRUPTED - DVD MovieBased on Susanna Kaysen's acclaimed journal-memoir,
Girl, Interrupted bears inevitable resemblance to
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and pale comparison to that earlier classic is impossible to avoid. The mental institution settings of both films guarantee a certain degree of déjà vu and at le! ast one Oscar winner (in this case, Angelina Jolie), since playing a loony is any actor's dream gig. Unfortunately, director James Mangold seems to have misplaced the depth and delicacy of his underrated debut,
Heavy, despite a great deal of earnest effort by everyone involved. It's easy to see why Winona Ryder chose to star in (and executive-produce) this nearly worthy adaptation of Kaysen's book, since it's a strong vehicle for female casting and potent drama. Mangold certainly got the former; whether he succeeded with the latter is not so clear.
To be sure, Ryder conveys the confusion and chaos that signified Kaysen's life during nearly 18 months of voluntary institutionalization beginning in 1967. But the film seems too eager to embrace the cliché that the "crazies" of the Claymoore women's ward are saner than the war-torn world outside, and lack of narrative focus gives way to semipredictable character study. Susanna (Ryder) is labeled with "borderline p! ersonality disorder," a diagnosis as ambiguous as her own emo! tions, a nd while Jolie chews the scenery as the resident bad-girl sociopath, Ryder effectively conveys an odyssey from vulnerable fear to self-awareness and, finally, to healing. The ensemble cast is uniformly superb, making this drama well worthwhile, even as it treads familiar territory. If it ultimately lacks dramatic impact, Girl, Interrupted makes it painfully clear that the boundaries of dysfunction are hazy in a world where everyone's crazy once in a while. --Jeff ShannonLois Wilson was a woman of great inner strength and determination. Together, Lois and Bill Wilson started movements that have helped millions of people around the world. And together, they've given us an inspiring love story.
Lois met and fell in love with Bill Wilson. When Bill returned from World War I, they married. Despite concerns over Bill's drinking, Lois believed he was destined for greatness. Soon he was working on Wall Street and they were living a luxurious lifestyle. But Bill's drinking spiraled out of control and soon his job, their home, even their dreams were gone.
Despite repeated disappointments, Lois continued to believe her love and support would eventually persuade Bill to quit drinking. When Bill finally attained sobriety, he poured his time and energy into helping other drunks, which led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lois felt resentment that her patience and devotion were not acknowledged. When she discovered the wives of other alcoholics experienced the same anger and frustration, Lois learned her own experience as the wife of a drunk could be invaluable in helping families of other problem drinkers. This was the beginning of Al-Anon.
The DVD also includes the making of "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story," conversations, credits and production stories, and biographies.Based on Susanna Kaysen's acclaimed journal-memoir, Girl, Interrupted bears inevitable resemblance to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and pale comparison to that earlier classic is impossible to avoid. The mental institution settings of both films guarantee a certain degree of déjà vu and at least one Oscar winner (in this case, Angelina Jolie), since playing a loony is any actor's dream gig. Unfortunately, director James Mangold seems to have misplaced the depth and delicacy of his underrated debut, Heavy, despite a great deal of earnest effort by everyone involved. It's easy to see why Winona Ryder chose to star in (and executive-produce) this nearly worthy adaptation of Kaysen's book, since it's a strong vehicle for female casting and potent drama. Mangold certainly got the former; whether he succe! eded with the latter is not so clear.
To be sure, Ryder conveys the confusion and chaos that signified Kaysen's life during nearly 18 months of voluntary institutionalization beginning in 1967. But the film seems too eager to embrace the cliché that the "crazies" of the Claymoore women's ward are saner than the war-torn world outside, and lack of narrative focus gives way to semipredictable character study. Susanna (Ryder) is labeled with "borderline personality disorder," a diagnosis as ambiguous as her own emotions, and while Jolie chews the scenery as the resident bad-girl sociopath, Ryder effectively conveys an odyssey from vulnerable fear to self-awareness and, finally, to healing. The ensemble cast is uniformly superb, making this drama well worthwhile, even as it treads familiar territory. If it ultimately lacks dramatic impact, Girl, Interrupted makes it painfully clear that the boundaries of dysfunction are hazy in a world where everyone's crazy once! in a while. --Jeff ShannonIt made overnight stars of W! inona Ry der and Christian Slater,shocked uncool film critics everywhere and became oneof the biggest cult classics of the ʻ80s. Twenty years later, HEATHERS remains the only brilliantly black comedy about peer pressure, malicious croquet and having abrain tumor for breakfast. At Westerburg High where cliques rule, jerk jocks dominate and the most popular girls are all named Heather, itʼs going to take a Veronica (Ryder) and the mysterious – and possibly psychotic – new kid J.D. (Slater) to give teen angst a body count. Shannen Doherty co-stars in the most cruelly hilarious high school movie ever made,featuring a new, high quality transfer. The extreme always seems to make an impression: Heathers is back like youʼve never seen or heard it before!This dark comedy from 1989 was a good showcase for Winona Ryder, playing a high school girl brought into a clique of bitchy classmates (all named Heather), and Christian Slater, doing his early Jack Nicholson thing. While Ryder's charact! er mulls over the consequences of giving up one set of friends for another, her association with a new boy (Slater) in school turns out to have deadly consequences. Director Michael Lehmann turned this unusual film into something more than another teen-death flick. There is real wit and sharp satire afoot, and the very fusion of horror and comedy is provocative in itself. Heathers remains a kind of benchmark in contemporary cinema for bringing surreal intelligence into Hollywood films. --Tom KeoghThis dark comedy from 1989 was a good showcase for Winona Ryder, playing a high school girl brought into a clique of bitchy classmates (all named Heather), and Christian Slater, doing his early Jack Nicholson thing. While Ryder's character mulls over the consequences of giving up one set of friends for another, her association with a new boy (Slater) in school turns out to have deadly consequences. Director Michael Lehmann turned this unusual film into something more ! than another teen-death flick. There is real wit and sharp sat! ire afoo t, and the very fusion of horror and comedy is provocative in itself. Heathers remains a kind of benchmark in contemporary cinema for bringing surreal intelligence into Hollywood films. --Tom Keogh
Stills from Heathers (Click for larger image)
Beyond Heathers
Heathers [Blu-ray]
| 
Heathers - Limited Edition Box Set | 
Heathers (THX Version) |
Cher is magical [and] electric (The Hollywood Reporter), Winona Ryder enchanting and funny (The New York Times) and Christina Ri! cci adorable and engaging (Variety) in this hilarious and heartwarming portrait of a 1960s single-parent family trying to adjust to each other'sgrowing independence. Charlotte (Ryder) is an adolescent girl torn between her blossoming passions for a handsome caretaker (Michael Schoeffling)...and her desire to be a nun (a tough calling for a girl who's Jewish). Complicating her already precarious teen angst is a little sister (Ricci), a determined would-be swimmer she affectionately calls fishhead, and their mother (Cher), a non-traditional, sexy, flamboyant woman who relocates them to a new town every time she causes a hint of scandalwhich is often. But even as their personal styles clash, these three incredibly different individuals begin to see that nothingnot even a life-threatening tragedycan tear apart the bonds of family.In the early '60s, nomadic single mom Mrs. Flax (Cher) packs up her two daughters, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci), in a beat! -up Chevy wagon and moves to small-town Massachusetts. Preteen! Kate is obsessed with swimming, while 15-year-old Charlotte is searching for ways to rebel against her mom (and mom's flirty ways). The route she chooses is to become fascinated with Catholicism and all its arcane rituals, even though the family is Jewish. Her coming of age is handled with plenty of
Wonder Years-style voiceovers as she fantasizes about Christ, the saints, the Pope, the Church--all things Catholic. Cracks in her religious armor begin to appear, though, in the form of a hunky local guy (Michael Schoeffling) who works at the convent. Meanwhile, her mom strikes up a romance with the town shoe-store proprietor, Lou (Bob Hoskins). Though Richard Benjamin's movie is a bit slow and tends to lose its focus somewhat in the last third,
Mermaids also has fairly credible dialogue and surprisingly believable chemistry between Cher and Hoskins. The segments dealing with JFK's assassination are handled particularly well, and while Ricci's role is a rather small o! ne, she's charming nonetheless. It's all too easy for coming-of-age movies to veer toward the maudlin, but thankfully this engaging comedy-drama seldom does. Cher, by the way, reprises her 1966 Sonny and Cher look, substituting a tight skirt and pumps for her turtleneck and fur vest.
--Jerry RenshawHot Hollywood favorite Winona Ryder (MR. DEEDS, GIRL, INTERRUPTED) stars in this compelling story of mystery and intrigue! On the run from her family, the police -- and a terrible secret -- an attractive young woman (Ryder) suddenly appears at an exclusive prep school, searching for a safe place to hide. But when a rebellious student (Lukas Haas -- ZOOLANDER) helps to keep her identity a secret, they soon find themselves intimately involved ... with time running out and the authorities closing in! With riveting performances and a thrilling, high-energy soundtrack, BOYS is big-screen entertainment you don't want to miss!Winona Ryder delivers an unusually delicate performan! ce as Patty, a fragile "bad girl" with a reckless streak and a! haunted conscience, in Stacy Cochran's promising but ultimately disappointing follow-up to his playful
My New Gun. Lukas Haas is the smitten prep school senior who risks expulsion when he rescues Patty from a riding accident and hides her in his dorm room. Cochran draws tender, vulnerable performances from both actors and beautifully orchestrates the hormonally charged maelstrom in the corridors of the boys' dorm as rumors of the forbidden "older woman" spread like wildfire. It's the conventional, colorless stories that frame their relationship--she's on the run from the cops, he's slowly suffocating under the demands of a severe father--that fail them. Perpetually on the verge of something happening,
Boys ends without delivering on the promise of the evocative atmosphere, lovely grace notes, and rich, unexpected performances.
--Sean Axmaker
