Product Details

• Actors: Laura San Giacomo, Paul Rhys, Michael O'Keefe, Cristi Conaway, Fisher Stevens
• Directors: Alan Jacobs
• Writers: Alan Jacobs
• Producers: Alan Jacobs, Clarisse Perrette, Graeme Bretall, Jane Hernandez, Shelby Notkin
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios
• VHS Release Date: April 13, 1999
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303678580
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,856 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Laura San Giacomo, introduced to us in the gangbuster role in sex, lies & videotape (1989), only appeared in a handful of empty independent films or small parts in blockbusters (Julia Roberts' best friend in Pretty Woman) before nabbing the starring role in the TV series Just Shoot Me starting in 1997. Nina Takes a Lover, a trite, cute comedy, finds San Giacomo as a wife who decides she deserves a break today and jumps into a lovable affair with a visiting British photographer (Paul Rhys). To first-time filmmaker Alan Jacobs's credit, he takes an earnest road, but the movie takes itself too seriously. Nina narrates her plight to a journalist (Michael O'Keefe) who notes these things (do we know anybody like this?) and before you can say Red Shoe Diaries she's igniting her love life. The film might have been more successful if it stayed as light as a Sandra Bullock vehicle (While You Were Sleeping opened at the same time) although it showcases San Giacomo's leading-lady appeal and provides an interesting role for the brooding Rhys. There's a lovely score by Todd Boekelheide to boot. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, Breezy, Beautiful...Crying Girl?, October 2, 2005

By 

Shannon Lilia "shannonlilia" (Chicagoland, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nina Takes a Lover (Romance Collection) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Feeling this storyline, hearing the rain as if it were outside my window and having my heart race according to the beat of each character's affairs was as lush and satisfying as it gets for me, an avid, observant film lover. Any book, song or movie that makes me cry a good deep from the heart sob is "A-OK" in my book. I LOOOOOVE this movie. It captures the city, the characters and an artsy, cool quirkiness and works it all to delicious advantage. The story is about a married woman, Nina telling the background, circumstances and resultant residues of an affair that shook her married life to a gentle, curious interviewer with time to listen and questions to softly ask toward healing and understanding. Why, how, who and for how long are the questions that subtly beg to be unfolded along the way. The acting is easy and down to earth. You feel like maybe you're watching the characters from across the store, from the booth next door or from the other side of the park. The surprising ending will hit you in the gut if you are a romantic. The realism found in the relationships was what made this one of my top ten of all time favorites. Laura San Giacomo is a nuanced genius in love stories and I wanted what she had by the end of the movie. I can't tell what that is because it'll ruin it for those of you who haven't viewed it yet. For those who have, it is all we could hope for in all it's sordid abandon. I think. (sigh)

5.0 out of 5 stars This movie is amazing, December 29, 2011

By 

Anglea M. Leith (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nina Takes a Lover (DVD)

This is a very little known movie. Nina takes a lover is a "thinking" movie. It is one of my all time favorites. If you have ever been married or especially divorced this is a must see.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I don't get it . . . but my wife does., August 13, 2007

By 

arganon (mid-atlantic) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nina Takes a Lover (DVD)

This is a hard one for me to review. On one hand I like the "surprise" ending because it was a surprise . . . at least to me. (Interestingly enough, my wife surmised the ending as the plot unfolded. Hmmm?) On the other hand it left me kind of flat. "Surprise-ending" movies are usually GREAT because there are so many tired storylines to have to live through. But, once the "surprise" was revealed I kind of felt, not quite cheated, but I didn't get full satisfaction either. It was like, "big whoop", I'm not sure I really care.

The movie has its charm because it feels very intimate; all nice cozy. The acting is pretty good and keeps the viewer interested throughout the piece. But . . . then again there is that "but" for me. It's all OK , but I just didn't get the payoff I felt this movie was leading up too. Maybe it's the "guy-thing" in me that just isn't getting it? I think there's something in there that I must be missing? There are a lot of good things about this picture so on that I rate it 3 stars. But . . .