Customer Reviews

Gift [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Any movie put out by a musician is going to be geared toward their particular fan base. This movie is no different. However, I get the feeling that even if a person was not a fan, and they kept an open mind toward the message this film is putting across, that there is a chance that they could enjoy this twisted tale of love and drug addiction.

While recording an album, Perry's common-law wife (there is footage of their santeria wedding on here in "flashback"), overdoses on heroine. He comes home to find her dead, and instead of immediately calling the police, he bathes and prepares her body, and it is implied that he actually has sex with her corpse. Sick? Well, duh... yeah.

Yet, when you sit and watch this movie, and put yourself in Perry's place, even if you have no necrophiliac tendencies (the author assures all readers that she has no such tendencies!), you can sympathize with him. After all, if you came home to find the love of your life dead, wouldn't you want to pay your last respects in private, without the rush of authorities coming to take the person away from you in a terrible state? Would you want all these people touching and hauling off your loved one before you could say good-bye in your own way? Not everyone reacts to death and grief in the same manner and the assumption that people do is poignantly addressed.

Granted, Perry is no actor, but he pulls this off with an amazing sense of sincerity that really hits home.

There are some funny parts, particularly at the beginning, and the rooster that roams their house is oddly hilarious, especially when one knows that this truly was one of their pets.

Perry is an intelligent person with intelligent points to put across. This shows in his music, this movie, and countless interviews when he is not discussing alien visitations. Intelligence and talent have always attracted me to this band, and "Gift" is just another example of this.

If you are a fan, as I am, there is no question that you will enjoy this movie. If you are not, you will likely enjoy it anyway provided you are into dark and introspective stories.

Put aside the drugs and the sex, although crucial componenets, as another reviewer stated it is mainly about LOVE. Love of another, love of music, love of art, love of self. This is the best low-budget movie I have ever seen because it captures the tone of Jane's Addiction, Perry himself, and the Ritual album to perfection. When I see this video it makes me feel exactly how the album does. I enjoyed seeing the actual album artwork from Ritual and Nothing's Shocking. Perry is such a prescence that acting skill could be mediocre and still captivates the viewer. In all of its suppossed vulgarity it didn't come across as so to me where in other films it certainly would have. I think Perry is amazing and I think the love he and Casey had was so mystical in itself. I think that love although dark was quite pure and definitely inspiring. I am continually inspired by the classic girl video and it was nice to see more footage of their Santeria wedding. It is so romantic and powerful. I feel anyone, even non-Jane's fans should watch this film if they consider themselves a lover of great music in general. It encapsulates a time in rock n roll by a very pionerring band. Gift is a gift to everyone who views it whether they know it or not. Beautiful!!!!!!!

The Gift is an intense and revealing look at the L.A. drug subculture and the profound way it shapes the city's music scene. Jane's Addiction are a band for the ages and this movie proves it. But it also shows that the life of the musician and indeed the drug addict, is by no means an easy ride. It is also a moving love story, made all the more convincing by the fact that Casey Niccoli was Perry Farrell's real life love interest at the time this film was made. Above all else however, is the truly mindblowing 'duet' of "Don't call me Nigger, Whitey" between Jane's and Body Count. I have never seen such energy in a live performance.

I remembered this film from a few years ago....and if a film sticks out in my mind for so long, than it's obviously struck me in some emotional way. Many people may find the storyline to be twisted, but looking at it from the lover's point of view.....probably one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.

Perry really did it this time by finally having a chance to show his talent beyond the realm of music (hinted at by the covers of all three Jane's albums). From the opening scene of an drug score to the inside of a rehab clinic to live Jane's footage, this video does have it all. Combining an interesting score with over a dozen unforgettable and eccentric characters (including the manager, Marty Mefurst), this video will not only shock you, but will also rock you. A must see not only for Jane's fans, but for anyone who can appreciate un-Hollywood, counter-culture quality filmmaking.

I can't count how many times I've gotten together with friends, smoked grass and watched this movie. I own a rapidly decaying copy of this that was used and abused by a previous owner who must have loved it as much as I do. Like the other reviewers have already mentioned, this is a simple "what if" about Perry and Casey's romance in the early 90's. While Perry is recording "Three Days," Casey buys some smack, shoots up and overdoses. Perry comes home to find his wife dead and makes love to her body, but not before getting high off of the leftover supply. Through the movie we get treated to live performances by Jane's, footage of the couple's Santeria wedding, multiple scenes of drug use and two of the ugliest, stupidest most beligerant cops in cinema history. Those pigs are the kind of people you'd want to see with Ice T and Body Count in the back of an L.A. club. This movie is not Citizen Kane. If you don't like Jane's or at least tolerate them, you won't like the picture. Some of the support acting is lame (Misstress Kiki, Marty, Pizza Dude) and there are some rather nasty injection shots. However, the camerawork is totally awesome, some of the actors are incredibly good (Perry, Casey, the Doctor, the Cops), the music is beyond good. The overall VIBE of the movie is beautiful. Some of the scenes make my friends and I just stop talking and really watch: the scoring scenes (valuable knowledge for users), Casey's overdose (the bloody injection coupled with the incessant knocking at the door is downright scary), Perry crying over his wife's corpse, and the final interrogation scene. If there is one thing in this world that will make you despise cops, its the interrogation scene. The whole movie is a celebration of freedom coupled with the nasty consequnces. It is a balanced movie. The junkies are beautiful, but their dead and incarcerated too. This movie is a remarkable little flick that just might move you. A weird little bit of history for those of us who were too young to be shooting smack and head banging to Jane's in the early 90's.

Are you a RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL fan? Well then, fire up a copy of GIFT and viddy its spirit via different medium, film. A studio session and live concert (Mexico City) footage are woven into a fictional line. I think it adds to the picture of that era and where they were coming from to create such a masterful work such as Ritual. See Venice. See Perry surf. See Perry get married on some island where he's so obviously drawn inspiration. Meet a hen. See Ritual's sculpture (as well as Shocking's sculpture) in scale to a pizza delivery guy. Hear Perry's confessions re: spoons. If this makes no sense and you're interested in Jane's Addiction, well then, bubba, check 'er out. It's ART! It goes w/ RITUAL.

This movie is one of the most un-noticed masterpieces of the 20th century. The movie depicts how a drug addiction can take everything away thats important to you in one small instance. What if you came home and youre one true love was dead in front of you?? What would you do? Perry is a creative genius always able to reinvent himself..this movie being made a long time ago isnt reflective as Farrell as a person now, but definitley captures his inner fears, as well as his being. His method of presenting his story to the viewer is clear and precise, and considering the low budget status of the movie it, puts any high budget thriller to shame... its real... its moving...and Perry proves once again he is truly a icon in 20th century history. END

In true Perry fashion, he has created a touching, nauseating, emotional, and violently honest depiction of what it is to exist in the Zombie State of Super-Stardom Heroin addiction. Watch and learn, all you novices, what it means to be in the grip. No one is untouchable, major record-label-deal or no, and he'll ram the truth of it down your throat in true hype form. If you love Perry and all that he produces musically, venture into another world with him, his first and only full-length film-making event. Backed by 'Ritual' as the soundtrack, this movie will make your blood run like ice then like mercury, then like motor oil, and you'll drink in every second of the Hypster's magnificent fearless portrayal of himself and the woman he loves, and the drug he loves, and the city he loves. Check it out.

This movie is great. If you like Jane's you'll like this movie. It is a wonderful love story between Perry and casey. It seems to be partly fact and partly fiction. Gift has to do with sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. The story line is basicly: Casey dies of a drug overdose. Then you see what Perry does to/with her body. It also has lots of flash backs of their wedding and best of all Jane's Addiction performances. It has Been Caught Stealing, Classic Girl, Stop, Aint No Right, Three Days, and Don't Call Me Nigger Whitey. You must see this excellent movie. Oh, and it's much better than Soul Kiss.