Without a Clue
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.25 You Save: $7.73 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.90 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Without a Clue
Movie Review: "He knows you're an idiot." "Oh, thank God!"
Summary: 5 Stars
I must first say that there is no excuse for any DVD to be released without the film being available in widescreen format. Shame on the distributors for skimping.
That said, this is an absolute joy.
I suspect the idea for the film came from watching Remington Steele, because the premise is about identical, but here it is perfected. Ben Kingsley's performance as the put-upon and rigidly proper Watson is flawless. Michael Caine has a great talent for playing the aloof genius, and also for playing the colossal moron. He doubles the talent by switching from one extreme to the other in the blink of an eye.
And Paul Freeman perfects a sublimely sinister portrayal of Moriarty (no, not Arty Morty). From just watching the film without looking up the name, who would have caught that this was the evil French anti-Indy from "Raiders of the Lost Ark"?
The only negative I might say about the movie is Jeffrey Jones' badly affected accent, but who cares? His performance as Lestrade is fun to watch with some sympathy - he's aware that Holmes is faking it but never quite able to nail it down with any proof, even to himself.
This is a fun, intelligent movie, and I suppose that's its own downfall.
This movie was one of so many sad cases that show how the best movies tend to get pathetic marketing behind them, just because they don't cater to the lowest common denominator.
Movie Review: Delightful
Summary: 5 Stars
My Russian born soulmate and I recently watched this movie (DVD) and I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I discovered shortly after we started dating that the Russians have their own movie renditions of Sherlock Holmes and I must admit they are quite excellent. I was a bit afraid that she might find the whole idea of a comedy based on Holmes rather rediculous. I was also a bit concerned for myself, as I'd never even HEARD of this movie before we picked it up at the store the other day, despite the fact that it came out in 1988. But, given that it WAS a Holmes story and starred Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine, we figured "how bad can it be?".
Well, I'm happy to report that we both thoroughly enjoyed this movie, both as Holmes fans and as folks who enjoy a good comedy now and then. I was a bit surprised just how much and how often my girlfriend laughed. When we'd finished watching it, she said she not only liked it but considered it one of her favorites. This coming from a woman who judges both movies in general and Holmes movies in particular with a rather discerning eye.
Others have explained the plot well enough here so I'll just that the production values, acting and directing of this movie make it great fun for lovers of Holmes and comedy alike.
Movie Review: Very clever, a lot of fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
What if Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley) is the real detective and Sherlock Holmes is his fictional alter ego whose name he created and uses to protect his medical practice? And what if, when pressured to produce Holmes to the public, Watson hires an out-of-work actor to pretend to be Holmes (Michael Caine). All the actor playing Holmes has to do is what Dr. Watson tells him to do as he, Watson, does all the real sleuthing. This is the clever premise of this film -- all the more clever if you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a doctor who wrote the Holmes detective mysteries on the side.
Of course, things start to spiral out of control when "Holmes" tries to solve the mysteries without Watson and "Holmes" makes up a lot of the famous mannerisms.
Lots of humor, a good mystery with quite a bit of suspense and the threat of real danger, plus very nice repartee between the two men as Watson becomes increasingly exasperated with his creation. (This has an almost "Remington Steele" like premise if any of you remember that 1980s TV show starring Pierce Brosnam.) This is a very under-rated film with a top notch cast.
I have not seen this film on the new DVD so can't comment on the quality of this DVD. I'm just reviewing the film itself.
Movie Review: A true gem! And never mind the formatting!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished watching this DVD and I couldn't be happier with it. Read the reviews already written to get an idea of how well done this was by ALL concerned, director, writers, cast, and production staff. And they had a decent budget too. It shows. One thing, however, about a few of the reviews which I can't accept are the complaints about formatting! The DVD is presented in "full screen" which might be a small disappointment, except that I've recently viewed two other '80s films, a police/romance, and a police/comedy, and they were BAD. And their age was a real factor. Then I tried "Without A Clue", also done in the '80s, but with no aging problem at all. What a blessed relief! To me the formatting issue is a tiny one, infinitesimal in the face of this exceptional production. Good price too!Movie Review: "John, you have jeopardized the integrity of English literature!"
Summary: 5 Stars
I can unequivocally state that this film ruined the Sherlock Holmes mysteries for me forever.
At first glance, that statement may seem unduly negative, but bear with me and you will see otherwise, I promise you. The slick, subtle humour and clever reversal of roles in "Without a Clue", especially when combined with the incomparable talents of Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley at once sparring and collaborating in their characters' dilemma, cannot be matched, even by the original, genuine article of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation.
Watch it often; It just gets funnier and funnier every single time.