Customer Reviews

Eyes of Laura Mars [VHS]

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yes, I also remember when "Eyes of Lara Mars" came out with comely star Faye Dunaway arrayed in some of the best fashions of the 70's as a fashion photographer who sees murders before they happen. "Eyes of Lara Mars" is fantastically put together from the dynamic opening song by Barbra Streisand to the last frame -- it's a feast for the eyes and a great mix of glitzy 70's fashion icons and suspense. At that time, with the paint not yet dried on the women's movement (dig Dunaway's bralessness in tribute to the bra-burning times), there was an apparent backlash in the fashion world. In fact, so affected was I by this, that I still have a clipping on the subject from TIME MAGAZINE, which shows the disturbing violent imagery cropping up in many fashion magazines at that time, particularly from uber-photographer Helmut Newton who specialized in dark, kinky and dynamic images featuring some of the supermodels who star in this film. It is Newton's photographs, in fact, which are used as Lara Mars' images.

Anyway, the film is loads of fun with the suspense intact and yet enough unintentional camp to keep things entertaining. As many reviewers mentioned, the scenes of Dunaway running (in stylish tartans), screaming the next victim's name are really worthwhile alone. It is especially amusing because Dunaway is required to run in knee-high, stiletto-heeled (very stylish) suede boots -- and on none-too-even pavements on the mean streets of New York. What a hoot! (How did her ankles survive it?)

It's a good cast with aside from Dunaway, Raul Julia, Tommy Lee Jones as a detective on the case (he and Dunaway in one scene become a study in Gothic bone structure, both with their hollowed cheekbones and hooded eyes), and the flamboyant Rene Auberjonois (who rather annoyed me but was nonetheless fun) as "Donnaaaaallllld." It all works and it looks mah-velous! Faye looks mighty fetching, too; with her own high-fashion-glamour elegance, she's a perfect choice for the role. Oh, the beautiful people! And dig Dunaway's boudoir in this!

"Eyes of Laura Mars" may be a flawed picture to some degree, but it's a great semi-kinky period piece [only "semi" by today's standards], the actors are good and paranoid and appropriately overwrought, and there is an atmosphere that holds this well-directed/well-edited film together.
The only faults are a couple minor quirks in the script-- like you can tell whodunit almost right away.

Irvin Kirschner, the very intelligent director who guided this (as well as "Empire Strikes Back", etc..), provides a non-stop commentary track which is interesting.

My main complaint with the DVD: as a double-sided disc, you have the option of watching it on the square "full screen" shaped for TV, or the ALLEGED widescreen--- but the widescreen here is actually the square TV-version only with the 'heads and feet' cut-off in letterbox style... In other words, you're not only missing the SIDES of the picture [as you do in a standard square TV print, of course] but they've lopped off the top and bottom to create a pseudo-widescreen version, which means you're missing a major part of the picture from ALL FOUR SIDES! (As a result, the standard, square TV version has more visual data.... but neither side of the disc gives you the actual original widescreen theatre version.)

I was surprised at how good this film was and how creepy it was in parts. Faye Dunaway gives a fairly polished performance as the renowned but fragile photographer Laura Mars who has the uncanny ability to recreate (using live models) violent crime scenes that have taken already place. This ability does not escape the attention of a local police officer, John Neville played by Tommy Lee Jones in an early acting role. The relationship between John and Laura is both tender and brittle. Both are damaged people with secrets to hide and both fear exposure of the truth behind Laura's gift of second-sight. There is a good cast, such as Rene Auberjonois and Brad Dourif but they have minor roles, these were days before Deep Space Nine and Star Trek - Voyager. A spooky, thoughtful little movie with good camera work, vivid splashes of color and a funky 1970s sound track to accompany it. There's also a neat twist at the end of the film that took me by surprise but I won't spoil it for everyone by revealing it in this review!

If you are a fan of Faye Dunaway, this movie is absolutely fabulous. She looks great, the story is great, and it's got a amazing soundtrack. I just love her to death. If you're not a Faye Dunaway fan, you'll probably find it a little boring and slow, however.

Many years ago, I had a friend recommend this film to see but never got around to seeing it. Eventually, found an old copy on videodisc and watched it on my old RCA videodisc player. When it came out on DVD, I waited for a while since I had the old copy. Why did I wait?! The DVD restoration is crisp and clear with excellent video and sound. If you love scary/thrillers and Faye Dunaway, I highly recommend this movie. Tommy Lee Jones does a great job too!!

I saw this picture back in the 70's when it first came to cable. It was on a total of eight times and I watched it each and every time. There is an electric energy here between Faye Dunaway and Tommie Lee Jones that cannot be denied. The story is fantastic and the 70's chic shines through. It is also quite a good twister. Every scene is dynamic cinematically and the title sequence is just great. By the way, the song sung by the incomparable Barbra Streisand, was originally supposed to be a part of "A Star Is Born" but it was cut. Thank goodness, because it fits just perfectly here and I could not imagine another song in its place. Get this movie, you will not be disappointed. I loved every minute of it.

Laura Mars is a very successful high-end fashion and advertising photographer. Detective John Neville notes striking similarities between her art photos and those of actual crime scenes. Although suspicious of her, he soon realizes that she hasn't been involved in any of the crimes but can see what is happening through the eyes of the killer. After her friends and some of her models are killed, she joins forces with Neville to identify the killer before she too becomes a victim. Dunaway is always consistent in delivering good performances and this one is no exception. Clever story, and good original. Adds a nice twist to the usual cops-hunting-murderer story. Good atmosphere and cinematography all around, with some strong direction. The tense moments are well done. Some nice, genuine, surprises throughout the movie. It does manage to successfully keep you guessing just who the killer is. A terrific thriller, both gripping and spell-binding movie.

Faye Dunaway is the title character Laura Mars. Cutting edge fashion photographer of the avant garde, of questionable taste (her forte is sexualized violence), Laura suddenly experiences a vision one night: she wakes up unable to see what is in front of her ... instead she can see through the eyes of a murderer as he kills an associate. Things quickly spiral out of control as the visions occur more frequently, and her friends are dispersed in the process. In comes the police, unbelieving of her visions, but none the less forced to protect as it looks as though the killer is ultimately aiming for her.

A taut, yet somehow not so unbelievable love story ensues between Laura and the cop who is to protect her played by a young Tommy Lee Jones (a man always to be involved in films where he is a position of legal authority: No Country for Old Men, The Fugitive, The Client ... you know the rest). Red herrings abound to an ending that everyone might see coming.

This movie is more titillating (pun INTENDED) than suspenseful or shocking. A 70s film for sure; as sexuality, nudity, partying, and the decadence of glamour and glitz abound in this film from beginning to end. I did like it, as it is at least an interesting film that was worth watching once, especially if you like 70s era films. My greatest wish was that Raul Julia was more involved (especially after the film The Morning After, which is a similar 80s film, so maybe check it out)!

I absolutely LOVE this movie, and I am also a fan of Faye Dunaway, who played the title character in this film. Her character (Laura Mars) is a fashion freelance photographer who has a "psychic" ability to see murders taking place from her mind even though she is never at those happenings in person, and whose photographic work is controversial. Tommy Lee Jones, who played Laura's police bodyguard (John Neville), was great as well. It is really shocking to also see a slight trace of nudity in it. Well, it's not considered a pornographic movie because there is not enough nudity in it. It's really amazing to see Faye using a camera in this movie (that's why her character is a photographer). This DVD is excellent. When you put this into your DVD player, you have the option of watching the movie in either widescreen or full screen (I prefer widescreen mostly; but then again, it doesn't hurt to see it in full screen once in a while). You also have the option of seeing the movie with Irvin Kershner's directorial commentary. He did a great job on his commentary, because it's almost like you're watching the movie with him. There is also a featurette called "Visions", which describes the making of the movie. And, there is also a photo gallery (with interesting photos) with the DVD producer describing how some of the things differ from the script and the finalized movie. Barbra Streisand had declined to play the title character in this movie, but did agree to sing the title theme from the movie, "Prisoner". Even though Barbra declined to star in the film, I strongly believe that she did a great job singing the "Prisoner" theme. The other music heard in the film is wonderful as well, with some well known disco grooves and some incidental instrumental music. I have the soundtrack album of this movie on LP, and I think it is so appalling that it has not become available on CD. I hope Columbia/Sony Music can get it issued sometime. Great movie....see it!!

"The Eyes of Laura Mars", is a thriller I have long enjoyed both for its vivid imagery of the 1970's New York fashion scene and for its most original core idea that drives the suspense in the story. Faye Dunaway, a fine actress in any diverse role she decides to tackle, was given a fascinating star vehicle here in "Laura Mars" as a highly innovative fashion photographer at the peak of her career who suddenly begins having visions of the murders of close collegues and friends before they even occur. The building tension in this story as the lead character tries to work out who is responsible for the murders she is seeing before they happen and the numerous red herrings thrown in for good measure along the way really keeps you guessing until almost the conclusion and makes "The Eyes of Laura Mars", a most worthy edition to the gallery of many fine thrillers turned out by film makers in the 1970's. Sadly not well remembered today it nevertheless displays Faye Dunaway in a role perfectly suited to her dramatic talents and both she and lead actor Tommy Lee Jones as a mystery man with many sides to his character make the most of this highly original and very enjoyable story.