Product Details

• Actors: Lauren Holly, Edward Burns, Jon Bon Jovi, Kevin Heffernan, Mark Schulte
• Directors: Edward Burns
• Writers: Edward Burns
• Producers: Edward Burns, Alysse Bezahler, John Sloss, Michael Nozik, Robert Redford
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram USA Video
• VHS Release Date: January 12, 1999
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304981848
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,573 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The third film in writer-director-actor Edward Burns's "Long Island Trilogy" is in some ways the slightest of the three, and that's a blessing and a curse. By keeping things spare, Burns is able to focus on the simple, honest humanity of his story, which centers on the emotional dilemma of Claudia (Lauren Holly), a small-town waitress whose engagement to blue-collar Michael (Jon Bon Jovi) is challenged when old flame Charlie (Burns) returns after an extended absence. Their shared history includes an abortion that left Claudia feeling abandoned and resentful, and for good reason, given Charlie's reputation for self-involved aloofness.

As in his previous films, Burns demonstrates a subtle hand with actors and a keen awareness of life's authentic rhythm; this movie will strongly affect anyone who can relate to Claudia's need to find herself, independent of her tenuous relationships. The performances are uniformly superb: Holly expresses the confusion and seeking quality of her character; Burns makes Charlie both charming and bluntly self-serving; and Bon Jovi shows strong potential beyond his rock-star handsomeness. Indeed, the film's only weakness is that it's stretched too thin to be truly substantial, and Burns relies far too heavily on a soundtrack (with heavy doses of Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow) that too often substitutes for dialogue. It's as if Burns didn't trust his own material; he needn't have been so insecure. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not nescesarally his worst, February 18, 2003

By 

richard hood (lusby, md United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Looking Back (DVD)

five years ago, my wife brought this video home for us to watch,-after having brought the first two home for us to watch. this movie seemed somehow prophetic at the time. it was. she left me a month after we watched it. I found it dreary and depressing at the time,- and needless to say; - Ive had no desire to watch it since. but along with ALL his other movies, Ive ordered it on DVD from amazon[.com]. what I take away from it is that no-wheresville small towns CAN have attributes [its POSSIBLE], and edward burns himself. he plays more or less the same character in all of his films,- cool, detatched yet involved, and AWARELY EXPERIENCING life. above all-solid. his character in every film thinks and feels, yet at root, theres nothing thats going to DESTROY this guy. a man engaged in life for the long haul.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BURNS IS ON FIRE!!!, October 13, 2000

By 

RACEGAL8 "jami1331" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward Burns Box Set - The Brothers McMullen, She's The One, No Looking Back (DVD)

Edward Burns is a great writer and director and all three films in this set are great. My favorite of the three is No Looking Back. It's a great story about a woman freeing herself from a life going nowhere and becoming an independent person. It's a great story and all three lead actors in the movie are perfect in their roles. I was skeptical about Jon Bon Jovi, but, he proved me wrong once again. The other two movies are absolutely fabulous also!!! Ed Burns is three for three!!! Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Looking Back -- Captivating, March 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Edward Burns Box Set - The Brothers McMullen, She's The One, No Looking Back (DVD)

This movie is captivating. I'm sorry that this point of view is lost on the professional reviewer, and anyone else unable to enjoy it as such. For me it is utterly memorable. It appears to have been made not just carefully, but with loving attention to detail. I've seen it twice and look forward to watching it again. RELEASE THE SOUNDTRACK -- PLEASE!