Product Details

• Actors: Willem Dafoe, Matt Dillon, Dennis Hopper, Jim Jarmusch, Tom Waits
• Directors: John Lurie
• Format: Color, DVD, Special Edition, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Criterion
• DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999
• Run Time: 147 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780022076
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,298 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Fishing With John (The Criterion Collection)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Originally produced for the Independent Film Channel, John Lurie's idiosyncratic take on the classical fishing program places the genre in entirely alien terrain--and that doesn't just refer to the strange and exotic locations. Best known to filmgoers for roles in Stranger Than Paradise and The Last Temptation of Christ, Lurie is also a composer, a saxophonist, the leader of the jazz group the Lounge Lizards, and a painter. Fisherman, however, is nowhere to be seen on his résumé, so this city-bred hipster's foray into rod and reel country is obviously another kettle of fish. Reeling in buddies Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper, and director Jim Jarmusch to join him on his fishing trips to such faraway locales as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Thailand, Lurie takes his show completely out of the "how to" realm: imagine a talk show defined by its contemplative silences. Fishing with John teaches nothing about fishing. Instead, John simply enjoys the company of his buddies as they venture out into unfamiliar territory and drop a line in the water, tossing in a current of absurdist commentary (dryly intoned by Roy Webb) and surreal speculation for good measure. This is the ultimate fishing show for people who could not care less about fishing. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description

John Lurie knows absolutely nothing about fishing, but that doesn't stop him from undertaking the adventure of a lifetime on Fishing With John. Traveling with his special guests to the most exotic and dangerous places on earth, John Lurie battles sharks with Jim Jarmusch off the tip of Long Island, goes ice fishing with Willem Dafoe at Maine's northernmost point, braves the Costa Rican jungle with Matt Dillon, takes Tom Waits to Jamaica, and searches for the elusive giant squid with Dennis Hopper in Thailand.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! John Lurie approaches Genius status!, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fishing With John (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

Wow - well, having all the episodes on one DVD is helpful as it gives you a chance to really study them. John Lurie's unique, subtle, sophisticated, and nearly indescribable brand of humour is present in each one. The convenience of DVD, combined with crisp sound and image quality and the completeness of this package are easily enough to justify this purchase alone. What really made it for me though, was having a separate audio track of Lurie's own commentary through each episode. I found myself watching an episode and then watching the same one again immediately following, this time while listening to Lurie. His commentary is often humorous, but at times often revealing of himself as an artist and person, not to mention the technical insights of the production of the show - its as if he's sitting in the room with you while you watch it. The disc closes with Lurie's fabulous "Big Heart" video with the Lounge Lizards which I hadn't seen since VH1's old "New Visions" show in the late 80's.

John Lurie is surely one of the most gifted, and soulful artists of the 80's and 90's. Thank you John, for sharing your humour and perspective with all of us...please do more episodes...

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare treat . . ., June 21, 2006

By 

Billy Pilgrim (A terrarium on the planet Tralfamadore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fishing With John (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

. . . that is both stupid as hell and screamingly funny. The Dennis Hopper episodes are the best.

In actual fact, whether or not Fishing With John is really funny at all, life is beautiful.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you kidding me?, August 10, 2004

By 

Snookfish (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fishing With John (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

I just have to say that this DVD may be the funniest thing I have ever seen in my entire life! If you aren't into creative humor, or you are looking for a real fishing documentary then forget it. If you appreciate the unusual however, go for it. Just make sure you have a couple of hours to devote to floor-rolling laughter. When you are done watching it, invite some friends over and watch it again! It's even better the second time around.