Product Details

• Actors: Michael Rooker, Big Daddy Wayne, Jack Wallace, Will Sasso, Selma Blair
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Sterling Home Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: April 4, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630581516X

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Low Budget, High on Talent, April 17, 2000

By 

Robert L. Smentek "Stetson Fedora" (Land of Milk and Honey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brown's Requiem [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jason Freeland's "Brown's Requiem" is proof that you don't need to spend 100 million dollars to make a great movie. "Requiem" is an adaptation of James Ellroy's first novel, and like the book it is high on suspense and twists. The plot is typical Ellroy: an emotionally battered man atones for past sins by involving himself in a labrythian mystery. Michael Rooker, as Fritz Brown, gives a phenomenal performance filled with subtlty and sly acting. The cast is filled with many great character actors including Selma Blair, Brad Dourif, Valerie Perrine, and the late Brion James. Freeland's script is exceptionally tight and is remarkably faithful to the complex novel. Check this movie out!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but interesting, June 1, 2007

By 

Ben Armstrong "Arkansawyer" (Fort Smith, AR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown's Requiem (DVD)

I didn't like how the story resolved itself in the end, but the cast and production were great. The dialogue was terrific. Amateurish or self-consciously neo noir? Perhaps, but it did a better job as an homage to that genre than "Brick" or "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang." I didn't read the book so I am just judging the film on its own terms. I say it's worth two hours of your time and a few bucks.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice try, but..., November 2, 2000

By 

C. S. Junker "soul_survivor" (Burien, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brown's Requiem (DVD)

Uneven attempt to adapt James Ellroy's first novel. Features an excellent cast --- William Sasso's portrayal of Fat Dog Baker is worth the price of admission --- but Michael Rooker in the starring role seems badly miscast for an Ellroy-style "hero." Brown's relationships with Jane Baker and Walter are never developed; these characters appear only briefly so it's difficult to feel much emotional resonance (in the novel these relationships are crucial to Brown's motivations and why he acts as he does). A worthwhile entertainment for hard-core mystery fans, but it does make one yearn for the depth and complexity of the novel.

Nothing special about the DVD. The audio is two-channel Dolby and the transfer is letterboxed but not enhanced for 16x9 TVs. Extra features are limited to a trailer and cast and crew bios, although there is an audio commentary by the director.