Customer Reviews

Feeling Minnesota [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This is a remarkable movie, not only in it's unusual and very funny way of making the points that it does, but in that it is written from a point of view that is almost never seen from the all-too-privileged aristocracy to which most of the movie industry's writers and directors belong. This movie is almost painfully insightful into the mental state of hopelessness which traps people into sordid lives, particularly those who are raised in that sort of life and have never experienced anything else. The characters Jjaks and Freddie not only manage to envision a way out, together they fight their way to some measure of freedom in the end. They do so using the only tools and behaviors they know, which means that it is all very sordid indeed, but their goals are so much more noble than anything that could be expected from that environment, that it is very close to a miracle that they exist at all. It should be noted that those characters who have chosen to embrace the sordid life instead of resist it are relatively thriving at the beginning of the film (Sam, Ben Costikyan, etc.) Jjaks, who has been to prison before, may once have been like them, but if so, something must have happened to change him (before the story in the movie?). The movie shows Jjaks' transformation, opening his capacity for compassion and love for another, and finally gaining the courage to hope. Keanu Reeves really nails his character admirably, playing someone who feels more than is really safe to feel in his environment, and has developed a deeply engrained habit of hiding his feelings. Look carefully for the use of color to symbolize the different stages in his transformation, and the meaning of the dog too.

I had a hard time grasping how a group of people is stealing (trading/swapping/owning) huge amounts of money from each other, yet individually looked, talked, acted, dressed, and lived like folks far below the poverty level.

Freddie (Cameron Diaz) is being forced to marry Sam Clayton (Vincent d'Onofrio) by Red (Delroy Lindo). For big, bad Red, it is a tidy transaction. Freddie supposedly stole ten thousand from him, and Red owes this amount to Sam. The film opens with reluctant Freddie in all her wedding finery racing madly down a dirt road in an ugly midwestern milieu chased by a muscle car filled with yowling raging men. Freddie loses and is perforce married to Sam (resplendent in a baby blue tuxedo and ruffled shirt) in an outdoor wedding held in the backyard of a very modest home. Enter Jjaks (unbeloved brother of Sam, Keanu Reeves), a loser from childhood days who is returning from a stint in the slammer. Freddie spots him after the nuptials, and for reasons best known to herself, looks to Jjaks as her salvation. He's supposedly going to get her out of the marriage and find the money that Sam has hidden. After a seduction of Jjaks subtle as a sledgehammer, they take off. The chase is on. The Clayton brothers steal cars like most people change their socks, so neither brother was ever short of transportation. After violent mayhem, dead bodies, and spectacular chase scenes, Freddie & Jjaks make their separate ways out of Minnesota and reunite (sorta).

"Feeling Minnesota" spared nothing in the talent department. Along with the principals, Tuesday Weld and Courtney Love had small roles as respectively, Mom Clayton and a dippy waitress. Special mention must go to Vincent d'Onofrio as unlovable, clumsy, hysterical Sam. He has a physical knack of stealing almost every scene he is in. Cameron Diaz gave the picture what little centeredness it had with her wanton, vulnerable, compelling performance as Freddy. Delroy Lindo as Red makes his character a tinderbox of menace and macho combined with heavy-handed good humor. I am always amazed at Keanu Reeves who can mumble his way through a stone faced performance; then smile once and collect big bucks and swarms of fans. He sticks to this winning combination in "Feeling Minnesota."

While overall enjoyable and with some great comic moments, the film teeters between dark comedy and wincing brutality. The viewer has a difficult time reconciling the entire experience. Unless you are a diehard Keanu Reeves fan, I think a rental will be enough.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

This movie really is not that bad. It all depends on what kind of movie you like. If your touchy and don't like violence, don't see this movie, but if your in the mood for something that is not mainstream, by all means have some fun and see this movie. You have to realize that this is not meant to be taken seriously, and those who do will be disapointed. I liked this movie because it was funny, not in a nice way, but hey, who cares? Don't listen to these other people, they can't see beyond their own opinions enough to judge fairly. See it for yourself and then decide. This is a movie for fans of black comedy, who dislike their siblings, and love Keanu. It's not the greatest film, and was not meant to be, but it is certainly not as bad as these people are saying.

First of all I agree 100% with Lauren's review. This movie would never be nominated for an oscar so if that's what you are looking for you will be disappointed; however, for what the director/script/actors are trying to achieve, they successfully achieved it. It is kind of a cross between Thelma and Louise and Pulp Fiction. If that doesn't get your curiousity whetted enough to see it..... You will enjoy this movie if you enjoy cool music and have an "attitude." Rent it out and test yourself. I personally am buying it.

Yet another example of why you should always seek a third opinion-YOUR OWN!-and not listen exclusively to video rating encyclos or your friends-even those with compatible tastes to yours-when it comes to critically lacerated movies. The entire cast does an impressive job-esp. Keanu-you can really FEEL for this likeable miscreant!I just rented it from the public library but I'm going to buy it and I would recommend doing the same!

When I watched the movie for the first time, I thought the plot twists were bizarre. I found myself laughing, which surprised me because it did not dawn on me that the movie would be a comedy. The acting was very good and the characters well developed. Oh yeah, Keanu looked delicious, all scruffy,worn...perfect.

You know, with this one, I really do not understand at all with the '1 star reviews', I do not agree! You must feel this is a pretty senseless movie-as I don't get that, as I laughed so much at this one years ago when I first saw it, now buying it, I can't wait for it's arrival.
It really appears that I can appreciate ALL the dark humor without 'feeling' the need to analyze every detail behind it, I simply take in the story as it comes.
It seems that people can find no plot, how about this one: Diaz is being forced to marry one out of a pair of brothers she does not want to, when the other one comes along for the wedding (Keanu) purely by happenstance-she takes a liking to him for escape and he's ready to oblige her! Tearing off they go, with many mishaps to follow, adding generous doses of that humor I alluded to. These three become all kinds of nutty, that's the fun part. The particular scene of the two brothers on the bridge, fighting and throwing shoes at each other is priceless.
Who really cares about the amount of money, their dress or demeanor? When you have to take "Feeling Minnesota" more on a superficial basis, you can then see how amusing it really is--Ah, sibling brothers! One scorned and one carefree. Is that not the case over and over? Really movies based on siblings never really make much sense without all that "put them on the psychiatrist couch" or into family therapy, uncalled for here, in this movie, or you'll ruin the funny moments throughout it.
I don't think it is meant to run that deep. Sit back and laugh at all the ludicrous happenings going on here and let it completely entertain you. It sure did me!!
It's quite evident to me that Keanu Reeves has such a varied range in acting ability; romance, comedy, drama, action, adventure, serious issues, 'off the cuff 'roles', hey is there anything he can't pull off and make you 'feel' during it?
If you are REALLY in the mood for analyzing--try to decipher, "My Own Private Idaho"!!! Not much this actor cannot pull off for whatever you're in the mood for.
He has put out a movie for whatever you are in the mood for, although, I would take this one as pure comedic fun. After all, why sit and think when you can just Feel Minnesota?

This is definately not one of Cameron Diaz's best. In my opinion she ends up being a traitor in this movie. This is not a role that Cameron would normally play. Don't get me wrong, her acting is great as well as Vincent's and Keanu's. I think Keanu was the best one in this movie however. This is about a woman forced to get married...against her will. Then her knight and shining armor comes in, or so you think. Until things go totally awry. Things go a totally different way than what you expect them to, some very unexpected events occur. Despite her role in this movie, it is worth seeing.

Sorta like a simple love story lost in a lowlife doublecrossing (vaguely "pulp fiction"ish) tale. It gets tedious following whos cheating who after awhile, but Keanu is charming (really sweet), Diaz is surprisingly effective, and rest of the cast is game...the cast saves it. Too bad about the script..overall pleasantly mediocre.

this is one of those movies that divides everyone in the world into two camps ... those who get it and those who don't ... i suspect that much like 'masked and anonymous' or 'fear and loathing in las vegas' divides people, this movie probably roughly divides them into the same groups ...

it's not about stealing, tho there's plenty of that ... it's not about abuse, tho there's plenty of that ... it's not about family problems, tho there's plenty of that as well ...

it's about love ... that true and cosmic connection with that one other person in the world we is supposed to be available to all of us ... most of us miss it tho i'm sure ... we aren't standing on that street corner at quite the right moment or we've rushed thru some errands and missed bumping into that person by a few steps ...

one of the other reviewers said they can't understand how 'low-class people' who talk and dress so badly can make so much money for other low-class people to cheat and steal to get ... first off, you need to broaden your horizons a bit ... second, do you think all the drug dealers, pimps, sleazy bar and club owners, etc, are well-dressed, well-spoken people? seriously, you don't believe that low-lifes in this world make money? they do ... just so you know ... you don't have to be a college graduate to get rich or even particularly bright if you get into the right line of work ...

great performances from the three primary characters as well as the always underrated Dan Akroyd ... this might be the only movie Cameron Diaz ever made that is worth watching ...

if you're looking for one of the usual cookie-cutter love stories from the hollywood crap machine, rent a julia roberts or mathew mccaunehey movie ... if you want a movie that shows life as it more often is than is not, this is one for you