Abandon
by Stephen Gaghan
List Price:
Our Price: $2.00
You Save: $7.98 (80%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Benjamin Bratt, Charlie Hunnam, Fred Ward, Katie Holmes, Zooey DeschanelDirector: Stephen Gaghan
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-03-18
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Abandon
Movie Review: Looking at this to see Charlie Hunnam?
Summary: 4 Stars
In the director's commentary, (director, screenwriter) Gaghan and (cinematographer) Libatique spend A LOT of time talking about the lighting and tones and colors... Don't be fooled. It's Mr. Hunnam's presence that lights up the screen here. He has a tendency to do this in everything he's in and I rented this purely to see him. I'm sure I won't be the last person to do so. He is mesmerizing.
It's a real shame his character (Embry, the missing boyfriend) couldn't be the main focus of this one (and that he wasn't discussed more on the commentary track or interviewed longer on the Making Of featurette). It would have been a more compelling film and I would have given it another star or two, I'm sure. It's definitely worth renting though to see him, if that's what you're after.
It's a good film overall though I think perhaps skipping any sort of explanation of why the villain was the villain might have served it better, as the one given was a bit lame (or "undeveloped", as reviewers say). I don't find Katie Holmes or Benjamin Bratt compelling enough to rent or buy a movie just to see either of them, but I wouldn't say they are bad actors either. The supporting cast is solidly quirky with Zooey Deschanel as a bit of a scene stealer, as usual. Any flaws are down to the screenwriter really.
That said, I didn't fast forward just to get to Charlie Hunnam's scenes. I think in this case, considering he was my only motivation for watching in the first place, that's actually a positive review. Enjoy.
Summary of Abandon
You can admire Abandon more for what it attempts, as opposed to what it actually achieves. Making his directorial debut after winning an Oscar? for scripting Traffic, screenwriter Stephen Gaghan emphasizes character dynamics and time-shifting structure over action and plotting, and the results are intelligent but oddly detached. As a recovering alcoholic detective (Benjamin Bratt) is assigned to reopen the two-year-old disappearance of an arrogant college student, we're drawn into the thoughts and emotions of the missing person's former girlfriend (Katie Holmes), whose behavior--especially when her volatile ex-boyfriend suddenly reappears--is key to the slowly unfolding mystery. Abandon is all about mood and atmosphere--shadowy gloom is dominant throughout--and viewers may grow impatient as the tissue-thin plot leads to an anticlimactic revelation. Still, Gaghan's sharp dialogue draws fine work from Holmes, and his supporting cast (especially Zooey Deschanel and Melanie Lynskey, as fellow students) adds much-needed energy on the fringes of this lugubrious psychological thriller. --Jeff ShannonAction & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in The Best of Katie Holmes (In Order)
Go (Special Edition)Sony; Release date: 1999-08-24; DVD
Best price: $3.66
Price in other shops:
The GiftParamount; Release date: 2001-07-17; DVD
Best price: $5.25
Price in other shops:
Batman Begins (Full Screen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $6.15
Price in other shops:
AbandonRelease date: 2003-03-18; DVD
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
Phone BoothRelease date: 2003-07-08; DVD
Best price: $2.90
Price in other shops:
Disturbing BehaviorRelease date: 1999-01-05; DVD
Best price: $5.35
Price in other shops:
Mad MoneyMad; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $7.98
Price in other shops:
First DaughterRelease date: 2005-01-25; DVD
Best price: $3.40
Price in other shops:
Dawson's Creek - The Complete Series (Seasons 1-6 Plus Series Finale)Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $170.00
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
EulogyLions Gate; Release date: 2005-02-08; DVD
Best price: $4.10
Price in other shops:
Murder by Numbers (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $2.88
Price in other shops:
Don't Say a WordRelease date: 2002-02-19; DVD
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops:
Pieces of AprilTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-02-24; DVD
Best price: $2.89
Price in other shops:
Go (Special Edition)Sony; Release date: 1999-08-24; DVD
Best price: $3.66
Price in other shops:
Green Street HooligansWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-06-13; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Teaching Mrs. TingleRelease date: 1999-12-21; DVD
Best price: $4.88
Price in other shops:
Nicholas NicklebyTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2003-07-22; DVD
Best price: $2.92
Price in other shops:
The GiftParamount; Release date: 2001-07-17; DVD
Best price: $5.25
Price in other shops:
Disturbing BehaviorRelease date: 1999-01-05; DVD
Best price: $5.35
Price in other shops: