Oscar
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.04 You Save: $5.95 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.48 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Oscar
Movie Review: Going Straight is Never Easy....
Summary: 5 Stars
Talk about a comedy with non-stop twists and surprises, "Oscar" is a hilarious movie that keeps you laughing throughout. You even feel quite exhausted after it's all said and done since there's so much going on. This has always been a favorite of mine, and I'm glad to see that it has finally found its way on DVD.I'm going to be very brief when going over the storyline. The great thing about the movie is being surprised minute by minute. The basic story is about "Snaps" Provolone, a powerful Chicago gangster that is feared by many. However, Snaps is about to go straight because he promised his dying father on his deathbed that he would go legit. However, it's not going to be easy. In only 24 hours of trying to be straight, everything goes straight to hell, and everything that could go wrong does. And that's when all of the fun begins.
This is a terrific comedy that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. It's only PG, so it's something that even the whole family can enjoy. Sylvester Stallone can really be a card and is hilarious when given the right opportunity. His facial expressions and outbursts are truly unforgettable. And there's so many great people in this out-of-control loony bin (many that you'll recognize in a heart-beat).
The movie has a lot of brains too. For a comedy it is extremely complex and well-thought out. John Landis does a terrific job of directing this movie. The screenplay is brilliantly funny and very surprising with every step. You'll find yourself repeating many of the lines as you watch this over and over again.
The DVD really doesn't have much to offer, but for a movie like this there's really no need to have a lot of special features (it would've been nice to have SOME though!). There's not even a theatrical trailer, so be warned. The picture and sound quality is pretty good (nice to see that it's enhanced for 16x9 TVs). So, it could've been a better DVD, but in all honesty I'm just glad to see that it is finally on DVD.
"Oscar" is an outstanding comedy that proves that a movie can be funny and smart at the same time. Bring the family and enjoy the chaos that happens in this crazy circus of gangsters, not-so-smart hit-men, crooked accountants, snobbish bankers, frustrated cops, confused priests, and more. "Oscar" is definitely worth checking out, especially if you want to have a great time and laugh like crazy. You really will be surprised if you have not seen this movie yet, so give it a shot!
Movie Review: Stallone Dazzles In Sparkling Comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing "Oscar" when it was in the theatres in 1991. The critics heaved a collective yawn. When I saw it there was a group of mentally challenged people in the audience laughing hysterically throughout. I was laughing along with them. Why has this terrific film fallen into relative obscurity? My guess is that people don't normally associate the action oriented Sylvester Stallone in a broad comic vehicle. But if one follows the trajectory of his career this is not the first time that Stallone has extended himself into the comic realm. No, I'm not talking about "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot" which I haven't seen but was heaped with almost universal disdain, fair or unfair. In 1978 Stallone adapted his serio-comic novel "Paradise Alley" to the big screen and I thought it was a terrifically offbeat film. "Oscar", however, is a collaborative effort between star and director. John Landis is trying to evoke the breathlessness of classic screwball comedy of Hawks, Sturgis, and Wilder and it works to a tee. The film is replete with mistaken identities, switched bags, and slamming doors and in lesser hands would be cliched but it works here to a tee. Stallone is in perfect synch with his director and his gangster attempting to go legitimate, Angelo "Snaps" Provolone, anchors the film's breakneck pace. The film also has a great ensemble cast notably Marisa Tomei, in an early part, as Snaps' randy daughter and Tim Curry as Snaps' elocutionist. I think the greatest compliment you can pay a film is that some part of it stays in your subconscious. There's a throwaway line Snaps' henchman Aldo (Peter Riegert) says to a German chauffeur that became part of my everyday vernacular. Upon entering Snaps' living room Aldo implores the chauffeur to "Sitten Sie".Movie Review: Hilarious!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a movie with a truly well-written script. Unlike a lot of the 'comdies' that are written now, which are often primarily full of idiot jokes about sex that anyone could write, this script is truly hilarious without being crude.
Stallone's performance is perfect and really makes the movie happen well: but that's not to take away from the other performances which are also excellent: my favourite other than Stallone is the character "Dr. Pool" (Tim Curry) who serves as Stallone's alucution teacher, and ends up marrying Stallone's daughter. Bad actors would have turned this script into a horrible movie, but together the strength of the script and the strength of the actors in their respective roles is excellent.
The basic plot is that when "Snaps" Provalone's (Stallone) dad is on his deathbed, he makes "Snaps" promise that he'll 'go straight' and stop being a gangster. Of course this proves to be extremely difficult...especially in light of his suddenly "pregnant" daughter, a fake daughter who turns out to be a real daughter, and the new maid who happens to be the now real daughter's mother who disappeared long ago! As some other reviewers have noted, this movie if full of all different forms of humor, and the nuances get funnier each time you see the movie. I agree with the others - how is it possible that this movie flopped?
Buy this movie and enjoy it over and over again...
Movie Review: Bad Reviews. What? Did they expect Godfather?
Summary: 5 Stars
Once again, a gem that was given horrible reviews because they were trying to kill off Sylvester Stallone. It worked. When critics gang up on a star they don't like, they can end their careers. Stallone wanted to try comedy, but the critics wouldn't have it. He was hilarious in this very underrated play-turned-movie.If you like slapstick comedies that are based on one day, in one place such as Clue and Radioland Murders, you will love this. This isn't a mystery like those, but the confusion over everything in one morning is overwhelming to "Snaps" Provolone. And he can't even kill anybody anymore.
It's his first day of "going straight" from the gangster life of the early 30's during prohibition and people are already seemlingly taking advantage of that right away.
This is filled with hilarious dialogue and is delivered perfectly by everyone. Yes, even Stallone. And you felt so proud when Chazz was ahead of everyone else after not knowing a thing about a thing.
I see there are many Oscar fans here and that's great. Listen to them.
If you're a fan of comedy and haven't seen it because of the bad reviews, or you don't think Stallone can do comedy, just rent it and see for yourself. 10 minutes after credits, you'll purchase this DVD here.
Movie Review: On DVD at last!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can finally stop renting Blockbuster's only (and extremly used) copy of Oscar! I don't know how this movie has been over-looked all these years. Stallone's wonderful performance in a non-action was a pleasant surprise, ... I am a big fan of dramatic irony (ie the audience is aware of things that the characters are not) and the plot gets more and more twisted every second. Oscar falls into the "mixed-up identity" catagory along with A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, The Clandestine Marriage, Sibling Rivalry, and Three to Tango. If you enjoy movies that twist and turn as people who thought they knew what was going on, find out they really don't have a clue, then Oscar is for you. Trying to explain the plot would be futile, within 20 minutes it's more complicated than a soap opera! The tip of the iceberg is that Stallone plays a gangster who promises his dying father that he will stop shaming the family and become an honest man. The whole movie takes place on his first day at attempting to grant his father's dying wish. Watch the first 5 minutes and I guarantee you'll be hooked.