Customer Reviews

Dominick & Eugene [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WOW. If you've never seen this movie, grab a hankie, or a box of them, and be prepared to be touched through your soul. Ray Liotta proves why he is one of our generation's best actors, while Tom Hulce impresses in a way he hasn't done since "Amadeus." I'm one of those folks who absolutely hated the heart string pulls of "Terms of Endearment" which I found manipulative in a not-so-good-way. This flick, in comparison, never works against the viewer, by making us choose a "bad guy" or be antagonistic towards the victim. Therein lies its beauty - this tale of two brothers refuses to victimize either one of them and is therefore startling in its effectiveness. Critics panned the flick during an era where grown men could not cry and get away with it. Today, the message is just as powerful, only men CAN cry without being labeled as anything less than men. This story of two men whose lives are eternally tied together despite their own challenges, hopes and dreams, is a valentine to brotherhood, fraternity and family. In these times of war, "Dominick and Eugene" reminds us what it means to be a family. A wonderful movie you will treasure forever. Just keep the hankies on hand since you're bound to use them.

This is a movie that will leave you changed. A story about two brothers, Dominick (Hulce) a slow-witted garbageman with a heart of gold who supports his Med School brother Eugene (Liotta). These superb actors draw you into their relationship so convincingly that you feel you're witnessing a real life drama instead of a movie. Eugene's love for Dominick is handled with dignity and sensitivity, as he constantly tries to balance his brother's needs with his own. There are so many nuances and revelations in this story that I fear that I can spoil it if I reveal too much of it. Suffice it to say, the purpose of my review is to whet the appetite of the reader without spoiling their dinner. This movie has a lot to say and does so brillantly. Both Hulce and Liotta should have been oscar winners for their performances in this film. Tom Hulce has to be one of the most underrated actors; his performance in "Amadeus" was also brilliant. In that film, he and F. Murray Abraham (best actor) should have both won as best actors. "Dominick and Eugene" is a film that deserves to be owned, it certainly will will get frequent viewings. Highly Recommended!

At the time I'm writing this review this film has an average customer rating of 5 stars: perfect, in other words. Is it really that good? Yes, it is really that good. The DVD looks to be without extras of any sort, but it's not that kind of movie anyway.
It is also not a sappy, movie-of-the-week type melodrama, although it would be easy to get that impression. The writing is sharp and sometimes very funny. The cast is terrific, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Todd Graff in supporting parts and the wonderful David Strathairn in a small but key role. Tom Hulce is great as Nicky, but Eugene is in many ways the more difficult part and Ray Liotta is subtle, charismatic and sometimes a little scary as a man with a lot more on his mind than is immediately apparent...
Which brings me to my final point, that this is a subtle, even sneaky film, and it's almost impossible to tell you what's best about it without giving too much away. You could watch the first hour and only have a few hints of what it's really about, but then the film's real subject matter surfaces, suddenly and violently, leading to a climactic confrontation between the brothers which tests both of them and redefines their relationship forever.
And that's about all a spoiler-free review can say, except that this is exactly the kind of movie guys tend to avoid, and a movie every man should see.

I just saw this movie like last night. It was on one of the movie channels, encore. Wow, this has to be either my second or third favorite movie (Rain Man being the first then Stand by Me). First of all, I'm 13 years old, and I love like all old movies from the 70s and 80s. Anyway, this is about two brothers, Dominick who's brain damaged, and Eugene who's studying to become a surgeon. It's such a great movie, and it will make you laugh and cry. I recammend this to young and old alike.

This movie is great. A fantastic story about a brain damaged sibling working as a trashman to earn money to put his brother through Med School. This is a much better story than Forrest Gump and it's also a much better film. I had seen this movie years before Gump came out and this is everything Gump wanted to be but couldn't be.

The commitment between these two brothers is a wonderful story and shows the depth of character that Hulce can play when portraying a dullard. (He is a much better actor than Tom Hanks). Do yourself a favor and buy or rent this flick, you won't be disappointed.

This is a heart warming tear jerker, and not just because of the two great main characters. Todd Graff is great as Nicky's garbage collector partner, and this was the first movie in which I saw David Straithairn, who has gone on to be one of the best and most underrated actors ever. I believe the young boy who plays his son might be Edward Furlong, of "The Terminator" fame. Not sure on that, though. At any rate, the whole story is great and so well acted. I'm buying the DVD so I can watch it any time I want.

Once again Tom Hulce extends his superior talent toward a character who is not only believably real, but who exemplifies the goodness and innocence that lies inside of all human beings. Tom Hulce became my favorite actor after I saw his comical, yet vulnerably inclined performance in Amadeus. It's unfortunate that he has not been recognized for his list of powerful performances with anything but Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. His ability to take on extremely memorable and complex characters as well as the emotions he imparts through facial expressions is invaluable in an actor and it is one of the features that make Tom Hulce the extraordinary actor he is. He truly embodies the innocence and goodness in Dominick ("Nicky")Luciano. Through Dominick, Hulce instills the importance of the human spirit, emotions, and ties that everyday people are bound to and makes his audience want to search for the uniqueness in every individual.

Few films can brilliantly display the sensitive love shared between two men, especially if they're siblings, and this film is a landmark in that department. I first saw this in December of 1994 and fell in love with it instantly. Parts of it remind me of my deep and heartfelt friendship with two of my best friends. Some scenes are so full of emotion you have to run for the nearest box of Kleenex. True brotherly love was never more greatly brought to life than the way it is in this film. It proves that it's okay for a man to cry and to have a loving relationship with someone you so greatly care about.

This 1988 gem features Ray Liotta (playing Eugene), as the easily angered brother of Dominick. A slow, child-like character played by Tom Hulce, in his greatest performance ever. Eugene struggles to care for Dominick and carry on a relationship with Jennifer (Jamie Lee Curtis). Although, her character is basically very shallow, and was most likely writen into the script to bring conflict between the two main characters, but over all this film is a classic and one of Robert M. Young's best. I am glad to see it's finally going to be available on DVD.

The acting is superb. The story is relatively simple -- two brothers: one is a medical student, the other is a retarded man who works as a garbage collector to put his brother through medical school. Loving, affectionate, thoughtful, the movie show us how they relate through good times and bad, including an incredibly difficult-to-watch sequence that explains their most important secrets and motivations. With the ever-reliable and delightful Jamie Lee Curtis in a quiet supporting role as another medical student (and love interest for Liotta).

Lovely, understated movie that deserves a wider audience.