Customer Reviews

Men Don't Leave [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jessica Lange is an American Treasure in the same league as Meryl Streep but with a much less lauded filmography. In "Men Don't Leave," Lange plays a recently widowed woman who finds herself without much money, two young sons and no job. She moves to Baltimore to seek her fortune and make a new life for herself and for her family.
There is a deep and abiding humanity in everything Lange does. Here she is all naked emotion and frantic desperation tempered with an endless well of positivism.

Chris O'Donnell's scene at the Riverfront with Arliss Howard is one of the great, emotionally open and heart wrenching scenes in movies...ever. O'Donnell has not been as truthful in films, since.
"Men Don't Leave" was much ignored when it first opened and it is an embarrassment that it is not available on DVD. But nonetheless, it contains one of the best performances of Jessica Lange's career and it is not to be missed by anyone interested in fine movie acting.

On the A-list of my favorite movies. This is an overlooked gem of a film, where everything works. It reminds me of a great Salinger short story, where all the details are both suprising and totally convincing. There are many moments in this movie that had to be based on direct observation, or, if not, are acts of great creative imagination: the grocery line conversation, the breakfast scene, the food delivery to the Peabody musical performance, and many others. Joan Cusack, Kathy Black, Chris O'Donnell are all outstanding. The music is perfect, as in Brickman's other great effort: Risky Business. There are scenes shot in such a way that they keep evoking different reactions, flipping back and forth between the feel of present event and poignant memory, a sort of bipolar mood established sometimes by nothing more than the distance of the camera from the actors and the lighting. Lange's performance has one of two moments that seemed unconvincing or forced to me, though she's tremendous overall. Like Bottle Rocket and High Art, this is a nearly perfect movie that does what it does so softly it hasn't gotten nearly as much critical attention as it deserves.

This has to be Jessica Lange's greatest performance of all her great films. She portrays the shattered widow so believably, a woman that picks up and moves her and her two sons from small town life to Baltimore after her husbands sudden death. While her son's are trying to adapt and pick up the pieces with their new lives, she tries to fight off her depression with her frantic late night baking and constant daytime sleeping. Charlie Korsmo is heartbreaking as the sensitive younger son trying desperately to bring his Mom back to life. Arliss Howard plays the sweet musician that comes into her life quite by accident. Joan Cusack is great as the ditsy nurse that seduces the elder son, and Kathy Bates has a small part as the abrasive boss, for which she is at her usual best. I couldn't recommend this movie more, and make sure you have your hanky ready. I agree with the rest of the reviewers, when will this film be available on DVD???

Men Don't Leave is one of my favorite movies. I have been looking for it to be released on DVD for years, and still its only on VHS. How can horrible, low budget horror movies be on DVD and this masterpiece about living after a great loss, still only be available on VHS?

PLEASE release this on DVD!!!

For the last decade, this has been one of my all-time favorite movies. It is brilliant and beautiful. The sad story centers around a family for whom life consistently goes down hill. Lange, O'Donnell, Cusack and Bates are all flawless. The best aspect is near the end when Beth (Jessica Lange) feels so helpless, hopeless and depressed that she can no longer get out of bed- for days. We have all felt this way at the lowest point in our lives and it's reassuring to see a movie that explores the depths of melancholy and then tells us that we can get through it.

First of all, I agree with many of you that this should be on DVD! This story is heartbreaking but it is also empowering! The power of saying goodbye and getting your life back. This is one of Jessica's best films, my #1 film that she did will always be "Sweet Dreams", followed by "Frances"
The only other actress besides Jessica that can portray complex characters in a sea of emotions would be Meryl, it's sad that so many of Jessicas films are underseen by many people. That is also why I respect her, she chooses the roles for acting not the big bucks! I love you Jessica!!!!
and for the Studio-PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON DVD

such a great movie. its an anthem to single mothers!!! i will buy this movie as gifts for all of my friends. how could anyone not take advantage of this gem with Jessica Lange!!!! its a work of art!!!
DVD DVD!!!

This movie is a gem. It is not only about the widow wonderfully portrayed by Jessica Lange. All of the characters are dealing with difficulties in their lives and find a connection with each other that is so endearing. Each is acted superbly by Arliss Howard (divorced father), Kathy Bates (angry business owner), and a bittersweet performance by Joan Cusack as a lonely x-ray technician - What a cast! Chris O'Donnell as the older son does a great job in one of his earliest roles. This movie also has a superb music score by Thomas Newman that really adds to the atmosphere of this film. Why is this not on DVD!!!

This is on my all-time Top 5, and it is a crime that it is not on dvd (but thank god we can get "Porky's 7"). If you like funny but a little melancholy movies you MUST SEE THIS. Sweet and sad, romantic and quirky, "Men Don't Leave" offers a stellar cast and top notch writing and directing. What more can you ask for?

Can Jessica Lange be any better (besides her EXCELLENT performance {and well deserved Oscar win} in "Blue Sky")? Not only is she one of the best all time actresses ever, but in this role, she really makes you believe in the character and what she is going through. I can't belive she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for this performance. A feel good, or even great movie with excellent support from Joan Cusack (always a pleasure to watch) and Chris O'Donnell (always nice to look at) If you have not seen this movie, do so. You will be in for a real treat.