Customer Reviews

Oscar [VHS]

5 star:		(113)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lets see we have a funny plot. A top notch cast with old giants, (Kirk Douglas, Don Ameche) An "A" list star, (Stallone) an "A" list director, (John Landis) a fine supporting cast, (Chazz Palmintari, Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry) and several television favorites (Kirkwood Smith, Ken Howard, Yvonne De Carlo,[Who actually belongs in the old giants list]) a ton of sight and word gags and a movie that flows smoothly and constantly makes you laugh and somehow it flops at the box office and isn't heard of? I don't get it. It is another absolute RIOT. All the actors I've named (and quite a few I haven't) just keep the whole thing roaring (Particularly Palmintari). How this movie remains ignored is beyond me. Even the basic plot of a gangster trying to go straight in a dishonest world works wonders! Why haven't you seen this move? Why don't you buy it now! You won't regret it!

OSCAR displays Stallone's talent for portraying a comic role that is all too often overlooked for action movies. With an all-star cast to back Sly up, this movie easily floats well. A not-so-unique plot sometimes slows this movie down, but all-in-all, OSCAR is a pretty funny movie.

Sly plays a big-time gangster who promises his dying father (cameo by Kirk Douglas) to go straight. This, however, proves difficult for our hero, with drawbacks such as a mixed up mix up of little black bags, a daughter who changes fiances three times before lunch, a bag-full of annoying visitors, and scandalling bankers and thugs.

OSCAR's cast includes the talents of Sylvester Stallone, Tim Curry (halarious role! ), Linda Gray, Joey Travolta, Ornella Muti, Peter Reigert, Yvonne De Carlo, Marisa Tomei (adorable little snotty girl), and Chazz Palminteri among many, many others.

Although it's out-of-print, it's well worth the trouble to track down and see!

John Landis scored big with his spoof of high finance magnates "Trading Places" and revisits similar terrain in "Oscar," only this time the big money was made in the crime syndicate field. Landis shrewdly sets his satire in the Depression period to provide for the same kind of contrast between rich and poor that he showcased in "Trading Places", when Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche wagered to see what will happen when poor African American Eddie Murphy is allowed into their world to make business decisions.

In "Oscar" the story begins in a scene where Don Ameche appears again, but this time as family priest saying the last rites for syndicate tycoon Kirk Douglas. Former Universal siren Yvonne De Carlo is also in the scene, which provides an interesting opening to the film as Douglas implores son Sylvester Stallone to get out of the crime business and go legitimate, slapping him several times in a robust closing act to dramatically make his point.

When Douglas passes on loyal son Stallone, despite misgivings, agrees to give up his criminal enterprise. When an important meeting is scheduled with bankers we see a hilarious study in contrasts as Stallone's old hoods have great difficulty shaking their old personas and behaving like gentlemen.

While Stallone encounters problems enough with the transition to business executive his accountant tells him he wants a raise because he is in love and wants to marry Stallone's daughter. Stallone becomes enraged and states that the fiancée in question is not actually his daughter. Meanwhile his own daughter that he acknowledges, who wants to move out from under the suffocating enclosure of the family mansion under her father's constant thumb, begins making marriage noises of his own.

Stallone is forced to constantly shift gears, all the while bemoaning that his concentration is being disrupted on the day of his important meeting with leading bankers who will propel him out of the crime field. When the identity shifts and strategic jockeying reaches a crescendo it reminds one of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's "Whose on First?" routine.

Eventually former Stallone mansion domestic Linda Gray of "Dallas" television fame surfaces. She makes a startling announcement near the film's conclusion that clears up identity problems in a manner that shocks Stallone.

Talk about a comedy with non-stop twists and surprises, "Oscar" is a hilarious movie that keeps you laughing throughout. You even feel quite exhausted after it's all said and done since there's so much going on. This has always been a favorite of mine, and I'm glad to see that it has finally found its way on DVD.

I'm going to be very brief when going over the storyline. The great thing about the movie is being surprised minute by minute. The basic story is about "Snaps" Provolone, a powerful Chicago gangster that is feared by many. However, Snaps is about to go straight because he promised his dying father on his deathbed that he would go legit. However, it's not going to be easy. In only 24 hours of trying to be straight, everything goes straight to hell, and everything that could go wrong does. And that's when all of the fun begins.

This is a terrific comedy that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. It's only PG, so it's something that even the whole family can enjoy. Sylvester Stallone can really be a card and is hilarious when given the right opportunity. His facial expressions and outbursts are truly unforgettable. And there's so many great people in this out-of-control loony bin (many that you'll recognize in a heart-beat).

The movie has a lot of brains too. For a comedy it is extremely complex and well-thought out. John Landis does a terrific job of directing this movie. The screenplay is brilliantly funny and very surprising with every step. You'll find yourself repeating many of the lines as you watch this over and over again.

The DVD really doesn't have much to offer, but for a movie like this there's really no need to have a lot of special features (it would've been nice to have SOME though!). There's not even a theatrical trailer, so be warned. The picture and sound quality is pretty good (nice to see that it's enhanced for 16x9 TVs). So, it could've been a better DVD, but in all honesty I'm just glad to see that it is finally on DVD.

"Oscar" is an outstanding comedy that proves that a movie can be funny and smart at the same time. Bring the family and enjoy the chaos that happens in this crazy circus of gangsters, not-so-smart hit-men, crooked accountants, snobbish bankers, frustrated cops, confused priests, and more. "Oscar" is definitely worth checking out, especially if you want to have a great time and laugh like crazy. You really will be surprised if you have not seen this movie yet, so give it a shot!

I watched this movie 10 years ago expecting a dopey gangster parody with Sylvester "Rocky / Rambo" Stallone in a suit. What I got instead was a very funny, refreshing comedy with lots of great gags and interesting characters. Stallone is hilarious as "Snaps" Provolone, big time gangster and future banker (due to a deathbed promise to his dying father, played by Kirk Douglas). His mob (including Peter Reigert and Chazz Palminteri) are far more inept than intimidating, bumbling along with their boss in his attempt to go straight. You'll never forget the crazy bunch in OSCAR! Merissa Tomei is perfect as Snaps' daughter Lisa, the squeaky, flapper-girl wannabe. Tim Curry plays his best role since Frank N. Furter as linguistics instructor, Thornton Pool. Then there's Kurtwood Smith as the over-zealous cop, Toomey. A riot! I've seen OSCAR at least a dozen times and it still cracks me up! Deserves to be a classic...

This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I watch it whenever it's on cable. It is just as hilariously funny every time I see it. I can't believe they don't make it any more! I would buy it on DVD; wouldn't you?

I have seen this movie at least a dozen times...one of the greatest farces of all....fast moving....side splitting funny...it should be on DVD...and revived for others to enjoy.

Why didnt Stalone do more comedy?...he is great!

For that matter why don't they make movies that are this much fun anymore?

Once again, a gem that was given horrible reviews because they were trying to kill off Sylvester Stallone. It worked. When critics gang up on a star they don't like, they can end their careers. Stallone wanted to try comedy, but the critics wouldn't have it. He was hilarious in this very underrated play-turned-movie.

If you like slapstick comedies that are based on one day, in one place such as Clue and Radioland Murders, you will love this. This isn't a mystery like those, but the confusion over everything in one morning is overwhelming to "Snaps" Provolone. And he can't even kill anybody anymore.

It's his first day of "going straight" from the gangster life of the early 30's during prohibition and people are already seemlingly taking advantage of that right away.

This is filled with hilarious dialogue and is delivered perfectly by everyone. Yes, even Stallone. And you felt so proud when Chazz was ahead of everyone else after not knowing a thing about a thing.

I see there are many Oscar fans here and that's great. Listen to them.

If you're a fan of comedy and haven't seen it because of the bad reviews, or you don't think Stallone can do comedy, just rent it and see for yourself. 10 minutes after credits, you'll purchase this DVD here.

Oscar is a very funny movie with a very clever script. Why isn't this out on DVD?? I don't have a lot of DVDs, but I would definitely like to have this one in my library. It doesn't get much better than this for light-hearted entertainment.

Was the world ready, in 1991, for an honest-to-Gosh period farce from Mr. Sylvester Stallone? Based on the box office receipts, I guess the answer is a resounding 'no.' Has that status changed in the decade-and-a-half since the film's theatrical release? Based on the majority of reviews found here, I'd say the answer is an emphatic 'yes!'

Look, my loyal pee-pees, the sad truth is that when Sly turned to comedy in the early-90s, he was looked at as wanting to expand his fanbase the way Arnold did in the late-80s beginning with the movie "Twins." People forget that Sly was in a very funny comedy called "Rhinestone" way back in 1984. Comedy was nothing new to him. "Oscar" was a broad farce, well directed by John Landis. It features a great ensemble cast. Sly is often sort of a straight man to the much more colorful supporting characters, but it needs to be pointed out that he carries the movie with a light, effective comic touch. I think many people who are just now getting around to seeing this are very suprised by the amount of time they spend cracking up.