Product Details

• Actors: Tommy Lee Jones, Virginia Madsen, Colin Bruce, Denise Stephenson, Kevin Jarre
• Directors: Lloyd Fonvielle
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 6, 1989
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301153960
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,852 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish and brilliantly acted, November 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Gotham [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of my favorite movies, and it's a mystery to me that it isn't more popular. I am waiting patiently for it to appear on DVD - I already have it on laserdisk.

Virginia Madsen portrays the dead wife of a wealthy man who has hired Tommy Lee Jones (a barely-competent private eye), to get her to leave him alone. Jones plays along with the wealthy client, whom he assumes is a nut case, because he needs the work. As things develop, Jones starts to fall in love with Madsen.

Gotham is an extremely stylish detective/ghost story that includes Virginia Madsen's best acting performance. She should have won an Oscar for her performance here. Her piercing eye contact with the camera at the very end of the movie is both hypnotizing and electrifying. There are many other scenes that really take your breath away - like when she listens to a street musician sing "Danny Boy."

This movie gets my strongest recommendation. If you are a fan of Virginia Madsen, you MUST have this movie.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars off-beat film that has so many layers, October 7, 2004

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gotham (DVD)

Chances are you have missed this devilish delightful gem and that is a shame. With Tommy Lee Jones being one of the best actors around, I was sorry this film is totally ignored. I think the few that saw it was not entirely sure what to make of it. For those who have found it, they generally adore this quirky, sexy thriller, a who dun it, who stole the jewels, and if half the cast are alive or not!

Tommy Lee Jones gives a great performance (when does he not) as Eddie Mallard. Eddie is a down-on-his-lucky, so-so gumshoe in the Sam Spade tradition. When a friend wants to be a client with the tale he wants Eddie to persuade his ex-wife Rachel Carlyle (sexy Virginia Madsen) to leave him alone, Eddie says yes. All in a days business. Well, problems soon become apparent that is "ex" wife was not an "ex" because his friend divorced her, but rather he killed her and then stole all her jewelry. When this fact comes to light, Eddie's client insists he still wants Eddie to convince Rachel to go away. Befuddled by his friends insistence he wants the dead woman to leave him alone, Eddie thinks, what the heck, easy money, eh? However, Rachel soon turns up and she hardly looks like a ghost. She is a very sexy bombshell. Soon Eddie is drawn into Rachel's web and into an affair.

It's done with a ton of symbolism that requires the viewer to watch this one a dozen times to catch all the little nuances. The moody atmospheric lensing adds to the teasing, tantalizing feel, with two strong performances by two very amazing actors. I have always adored Virginia Madsen. She is the epitome blonde bombshell, yet intelligence radiated, snapping from her eyes challenging you to dare call her a dumb blonde.

In one very poignant scene, Madsen and Jones stop before a street singer and asks him to sing a song. And he says there is only one song. He signs the most beautiful version of Danny Boy. I defy anyone not have a tear in their eye after the haunting melody. The singer ends the song in tears himself, wipes them and says "Mercy." saying it just does not get any better than this.

That sums up this whole beautiful, quirky film. Mercy!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful gem, January 1, 2005

By 

P. Rogers (Western USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gotham (DVD)

This is a wonderful little movie that, I think, was made originally for cable. I saw it when it came out and it has always been a favorite. What I love most about the film is the haunting tone, which is reflected in the noir storyline, visuals, and music. I especially liked the music -- the noted version of Danny Boy is the best rendition I've ever heard, and the torch music is great and fits the cosmopolitan "feel" of the movie. Since it was a little seen film, you won't get a lot of reviews. Don't let the fact that it was not widely seen scare you off -- it is a keeper. Tommy Lee Jones gives a great performance and Virginia Madsen has never been more beautiful.