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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
The uncut version needs to be released, August 28, 2006
This review is from: Onassis: The Richest Man In The World (DVD)
According to a couple of internet sources, this DVD is a drastically truncated version of what was originally a 200 min. miniseries. This could explain many of my problems with the film, which seems to skip briefly over the biographical and emotional high points of Aristotle Onassis's life, without giving us much insight into his character or much depth to his romantic relationships. Jane Seymour won an Emmy for her portrayal of Maria Callas, but I suspect that much of her performance that prompted the award has been cut from this DVD, leaving mostly over-the-top moments (even in the context of the character being played) from this usually very subtle actress. While I admire Raul Julia's body of work, I think he may have been miscast as Onassis. While, again, more subtle, character revealing aspects of his performance may show up in the full version of the film, his acting choices here were awkward and abrupt, and he never convinced me that Onassis was anything more than a shallow, unpleasant, not particularly interesting character who never would have a film made of him were it not for his wealth and taste in women. Anthony Quinn (who here is cast as Onassis's father), at a (not too much) younger age would have done a better job of portraying what I suspect the scriptwriter wanted us to see in Onassis: a charming, often likeable rogue. The most powerful emotional moment on this DVD came from Francesca Annis as Jacqueline Kennedy, who convincingly conveyed what was probably the core reason for the latter's marriage to Onassis: stark fear that her entire family would share the same violent fate as John and Robert Kennedy, resulting in her search for protection. I hope that a full version of this miniseries will be released on DVD, so that viewers can discover how much more depth to Onassis's story might be found in the missing 82 minutes.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Truncated Version Terrible, February 12, 2007
This review is from: Onassis: The Richest Man In The World (DVD)
I agree with the reviewer who noted that the original mini-series was more like 200 minutes long & included a lot more interesting background. I recorded the original broadcast, & was very disappointed in the abbbreviated version. Hopefully the longer version will be released on DVD before my VHS copy wears out....
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but the casting left something to be desired, October 17, 2006
This review is from: Onassis: The Richest Man In The World (DVD)
I watched this on the WE station 10/16/06 with commercials. I must assume it was not the abreviated version as there was Part I and Part II. Seymour was very good, altho when I saw her in the credits I could not believe she would be playing Callas. Onassis was a short, not too handsome a man and the casting was not good here altho a fine actor, J. is tall and handsome. The contrast between Onassis/Jackie would have been more real with another actor nearer to Onassis' looks/stature... The Jackie actress was super. Young Onassis had a gay affair with the Turkish soldier for self preservation? Has this been known? I agree the reason for Jackie marrying him was known but well scripted in this movie. I thought Onassis' quote (I assume) that women all marry for money was interesting. In Jackie's case it was a matter of price.She ended up living in NY and without fear. Worth a look. Rent if you can. A bit different than the Anthony Quinn/Bisset TV movie.
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