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Special Features
"My First Real Job”- Additional interview footage
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Talk about Hollywood dish. His Way is one of those rare documentaries about the behind-the-scenes machinations of Tinseltown--warts, egos, and all. His Way, which premiered originally on HBO, profiles the legendary film producer Jerry Weintraub, who has been a producer for so long (since the 1970s) that he has started to remake his earlier films (The Karate Kid, Oh, God!). Weintraub's story is a fascinating one, because his career is considered a shining example of how to be a successful Hollywood player. Yet a good portion of Weintraub's films over the years (Cruising, All Night Long, the third Karate Kid) have been critical and commercial flops. (And he also is responsible for a lot of successes, too, from small gems like Diner and Nashville to the megahits of the George Clooney Ocean's films.) Yet at a certain level in Hollywood, as His Way clearly demonstrates, there's no such thing as failure, and Weintraub is portrayed as a man whose connections and networking have allowed him to become--and continue to be--one of the heaviest hitters in Hollywood.
His Way seems to have been filmed alongside Ocean's Thirteen, because there are entertaining (and potty-mouthed) tributes from several of that film's stars, including Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Don Cheadle. Weintraub himself has excellent dish about some of the people he worked with early on in his career, such as John Denver (the original Oh, God!), Robert Altman (Nashville), and Frank Sinatra. And the viewer also gets to bask in Weintraub's reflected glory, in his magnificent pad overlooking the lights of Los Angeles, with his too-tan face and slightly too-tight smile beaming over the whole lot. And why not? Weintraub worked his way, hard, to the top of Hollywood, and His Way shows how it's highly unlikely he would ever need to consider stepping down. A must for film fans. --A.T. Hurley
Product Description
Persistent. Lucky. Sly. Audacious. Jerry Weintraub has been called a lot of things as one of Hollywood’s longest-working producers and most powerful talent managers. Though he will use any means to get to the top of the game, he’s experienced both its highs and lows during an enviable five-decade career. In this star-studded, feature-length documentary, the man himself spins compelling yarns of his life, loves, and livelihood. Nothing can stop Jerry Weintraub until he gets His Way.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining Documentary That Only Scratches The Surface Of A Real Hollywood Power Player
April 7, 2011
Format:DVD
If you love show business, there's no reason you wouldn't want to check out the documentary "His Way" about producer Jerry Weintraub. A Hollywood power player for almost forty years, Weintraub is the epitome of stubbornness, perseverance, and never take no for an answer. His tenaciousness is legendary--from his early dealings with Frank Sinatra and Elvis to his modern day machinations that brought the biggest stars together for not one, but three, "Oceans" films. While no biographical documentary, however, can hope to be completely comprehensive--"His Way" never gets too close to its subject. And thus, I remained somewhat unenlightened about most of Weintraub's career. In fact, I ended up knowing far more about his marriage than anything else. Don't get me wrong. Every bit of this film entertained and engaged me, but it misses the mark on really showcasing Weintraub's professional contributions between the start of his career and now.
Peppered with much star power (this must have been shot around "Oceans 13" time), we've got George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Ellen Barkin, and James Caan all weighing in with anecdotes about Weintraub. To highlight my point about the film's focus, though, take this example: The film spends about five minutes or less on when Weintraub opened a studio in the eighties, released a slate of under-performing films, and had to close up shop at a great financial loss. Arguably, this episode had to be devastating and a very significant developmental step in Weintraub's professional journey. The film actually spends far more time on practical jokes Clooney played on Weintraub on a film set. Again, it's fun--but it lacks a bit of depth.
The film does focus on Weintraub's start and his relationship with Sinatra, Elvis, and John Denver is great stuff. After working with Altman on the magnificent "Nashville" (about a minute of screen time), the only other films that rate a mention are Diner, Karate Kid, and Oceans. That's it! I'd have loved to hear about some other films that maybe didn't work so well. He had four films Razzie nominated for the worst in their respective years--1981's Cruising, 1989's Karate Kid Part 3, 1994's The Specialist, and 1998's The Avengers. Much more time is spent with his wife and their unorthodox working partnership. Again, fascinating--but I never expected a entertainment biography would give short shrift to Weintraub's contribution to entertainment. He's a great character and I liked "His Way." But if you're looking for an in-depth analysis, this isn't it. About 3 1/2 stars, I'll certainly round up for the larger than life Weintraub. KGHarris, 4/11.
Peppered with much star power (this must have been shot around "Oceans 13" time), we've got George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Ellen Barkin, and James Caan all weighing in with anecdotes about Weintraub. To highlight my point about the film's focus, though, take this example: The film spends about five minutes or less on when Weintraub opened a studio in the eighties, released a slate of under-performing films, and had to close up shop at a great financial loss. Arguably, this episode had to be devastating and a very significant developmental step in Weintraub's professional journey. The film actually spends far more time on practical jokes Clooney played on Weintraub on a film set. Again, it's fun--but it lacks a bit of depth.
The film does focus on Weintraub's start and his relationship with Sinatra, Elvis, and John Denver is great stuff. After working with Altman on the magnificent "Nashville" (about a minute of screen time), the only other films that rate a mention are Diner, Karate Kid, and Oceans. That's it! I'd have loved to hear about some other films that maybe didn't work so well. He had four films Razzie nominated for the worst in their respective years--1981's Cruising, 1989's Karate Kid Part 3, 1994's The Specialist, and 1998's The Avengers. Much more time is spent with his wife and their unorthodox working partnership. Again, fascinating--but I never expected a entertainment biography would give short shrift to Weintraub's contribution to entertainment. He's a great character and I liked "His Way." But if you're looking for an in-depth analysis, this isn't it. About 3 1/2 stars, I'll certainly round up for the larger than life Weintraub. KGHarris, 4/11.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By DVD Verdict
Format:DVD
Clark Douglas, DVD Verdict -Initially, I feared His Way was going to be an incredibly tedious experience, as the first few minutes of the film are devoted to one celebrity after another fawning over the man: "He's so amazing...he's like a father figure...he's a genius among geniuses...he's one of the greatest men I've ever known." I'm paraphrasing, but that's the general idea. Thankfully, after the miscalculated introduction (it's unwise to start piling showers of praise on a guy before we've learned anything about what he's done to earn such praise) the film primarily focuses on Weintraub and allows him to do what he does best: capture our attention with his charmingly larger-than-life stories of behind-the-scenes adventures.
Though His Way is rarely as commanding or entertaining as the Robert Evans confessional The Kid Stays in the Picture, Weintraub's enthusiasm for the life he's lived is kind of infectious. When he recalls his initial encounters with Presley and Sinatra (two of the best stories this film has to offer), his eyes light up as if he's nothing more than a youthful fan recounting his brush with greatness. If Weintraub's accounts of events are to be believed, he stumbled into fame and fortune through a fortunate blend of cleverness, earnest naivete and luck. His swanky life wasn't handed down to him; his story is a heartening tale of pulling-oneself-up-by-the-bootstraps work ethic.
The film looks excellent on DVD, though there's not a whole lot to observe aside from some talking heads. The packaging heavily promotes the inclusion of clips of musical acts and films from Weintraub's career, but these are actually pretty minimal (as are other stills, bits of archival footage and so on). Audio is solid throughout, with a score by Rachel Portman (overqualified for this sort of thing, but a nice effort nonetheless) blending unobtrusively with the dialogue. The only supplement is some additional footage of Weintraub talking about his first job in the Air Force.
-Full review at dvdverdict.com
Though His Way is rarely as commanding or entertaining as the Robert Evans confessional The Kid Stays in the Picture, Weintraub's enthusiasm for the life he's lived is kind of infectious. When he recalls his initial encounters with Presley and Sinatra (two of the best stories this film has to offer), his eyes light up as if he's nothing more than a youthful fan recounting his brush with greatness. If Weintraub's accounts of events are to be believed, he stumbled into fame and fortune through a fortunate blend of cleverness, earnest naivete and luck. His swanky life wasn't handed down to him; his story is a heartening tale of pulling-oneself-up-by-the-bootstraps work ethic.
The film looks excellent on DVD, though there's not a whole lot to observe aside from some talking heads. The packaging heavily promotes the inclusion of clips of musical acts and films from Weintraub's career, but these are actually pretty minimal (as are other stills, bits of archival footage and so on). Audio is solid throughout, with a score by Rachel Portman (overqualified for this sort of thing, but a nice effort nonetheless) blending unobtrusively with the dialogue. The only supplement is some additional footage of Weintraub talking about his first job in the Air Force.
-Full review at dvdverdict.com
By Tom D'Angelo
Format:DVD
This is one of the most inspirational and entertaining stories I have ever watched. Jerry Weintraub has accomplished more than most people have ever dreamed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great doc
Great doc on the life and work of Jerry Weintraub. Audacious, Ambitious, Honest, Funny. He has covered a lot a ground in one lifetime.
Published 4 months ago by Savita
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truth Matters
"His Way" is one of the most refreshing documentaries I've seen in a long time. You can't help but like Jerry and his wife, Jane, an incredible singer and smart woman. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Scribbette
5.0 out of 5 stars
great, entertaining- real life experiences
Exceptional life experiences. Entertaining, exciting and what a thinker on his feet.
Don't much care for his current life style.
Don't much care for his current life style.
Published 10 months ago by Max L. Hubrich
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply The Best...
Every since I saw the preview of this great HBO presentation...I was hooked. When I finally got to see it in its entirety...I was sold. Read more
Published on May 5, 2011 by Gene Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
His Way
One of the best programs I've ever seen. I've watched it 4 times and will watch it again soon. Just as good as his book. Great production. Read more
Published on April 19, 2011 by LBF
