Product Details

• Actors: Martin Donovan, Daniel Edwards, Richard Schiff, Joanna Going, Patrick Malahide
• Directors: Scott Reynolds
• Writers: Scott Reynolds, Chad Taylor
• Producers: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Jan Haynes, Sue Rogers
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: November 9, 1999
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00001W9GH
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,928 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Violent But Very Good, September 5, 2000

By 

carol irvin "carol irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heaven (DVD)

There are a lot of violent characters that commit some very violent acts in this film, including rape, arson, murder and kidnapping. I mention this first because many filmgoers have limited tolerance for this much violence. It is a New Zealand film so the violence didn't surprise me. The films I've seen from that country have all been very violent. Nonetheless, the film has a very good plot involving a transsexual, a man who should have been born a woman, named Heaven, who can see the future, mostly when she is not conscious. She and the other lead character, a compulsive gambler played by Martin Donovan, are two people who live on the fringes of society and are perpetually victimized. They come to each other's aid in the movie in very inventive fashions, including Heaven's being able to see a certain card game unfold. There are lots of time shifts that are potentially confusing in watching the plot unfold. You will either find them vexing or inventive. I found them inventive and was not confused. All in all, I thought it was very good.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Richard Schiff fans get this!, September 25, 2000

By 

Tobyfan (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heaven (DVD)

If you are a Richard Schiff fan, you have to get this movie and you won't be sorry if you do. The character (Stanner) he plays in this movie is so opposite of his performance as Toby Ziegler on ``West Wing'' that you have to see it to believe it! Stanner is both despicable and immensely enjoyable to watch.

Stanner is the owner of a transvestite strip joint and he's not very good to his ``girls.'' One of his dancers, who calls herself Heaven, can see flashes of the future. She helps Stanner win his poker games but eventually turns on him when a friend of his, played my Martin Donovan, helps her. She gives Martin the knowledge he needs to win a big game.

The movie is very violent and has lots of backstabbing and double crossing going on. Still, it's fascinating to watch.

Richard Schiff, as Stanner, chuckles constantly but he seems to be the only one who gets the joke. He can also be unbelievably cruel and twisted. Richard's performance is amazing to watch. There's a great scene where he tells Martin's character about the plot of a movie he thinks should be made. It's called ``Chairman of the Board'' and his description is priceless.

If you can handle the violence, the movie is well worth the price.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heaven starring Martin Donovan, December 15, 1999

By 

Claire Robertson (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

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

This is a not to be missed opportunity to see Karl Urban in action. Famous for his roles of Cupid and Caesar on syndicated TV shows around the world, Karl lives up to his reputation as a chameleon in this movie. He plays a bouncer known as The Sweeper. Those who are familiar with his TV work will be shocked to learn why he is called that by the end of the movie. While he was in very few of the scenes, he stole everything but the cameras; putting in the only noteworthy performance of the entire cast. Viewers familiar with his previous work will wonder how long he had to train for the fight scenes and how many takes were needed to get them just right. He moves so quickly and smoothly you would swear this was his regular job. The dialog is riddled with curses as if the main players were still in their juvenile delinquent ages rather than adults. Urban's lines are a pleasant diversion from the rest of the film with perhaps one single exception throughout. The movie is dark due largely to it being filmed mostly at night. But also because the plot is a dark one. While the movie does jump from one perspective to another going from premonitions to the present and finally at the end to an actual memory, the plot is relatively easy to follow. A basic arson plan gone terribly awry. The movie is closed captioned which is also a plus for those viewers who like dark dramas but can't enjoy them in theatres due to hearing impairments such as myself. Not for children or those squeamish about viewing rape scenes as there are at least two, I still recommend this movie if only for Karl Urban's standout performance. He is young and popular and I, for one, will be waiting impatiently for more of his work to be released on video in the near future.