Product Details

• Actors: Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman, Kate Capshaw, Denzel Washington
• Directors: Sidney Lumet
• Writers: David Himmelstein
• Producers: Kenneth Utt, Mark Tarlov, Reene Schisgal, Wolfgang Glattes
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: October 13, 1998
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0790737779
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,177 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blast from start to finish - plus a message, January 31, 2004

By 

Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power (DVD)

Maybe I just don't get it. But I've loved this film ever since I first saw it in the eighties, and was mesmerized and thrilled by the opening sequence of Mr Gere practising drumming on a practise drum skin to the music of Benny Goodman's version of SING SING SING with Gene Krupa drumming. An opening sequence does not a movie make, but I knew I was in for an exciting ride with Mr Lumet who has rarely failed to thrill me from his first film TWELVE ANGRY MEN, and thereafter with PRINCE OF THE CITY, THE ANDERSON TAPES, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK et al. In POWER, part of the deal is to GO WITH IT, that is, willingly suspend disbelief and take the dramatic ride. For my own part the ability of Pete St John (Mr Gere) to manipulate public opinion and get politicians elected has more than a touch of truth about it and the relish with which St John does his job is fascinating to see - he's a professional without a principled bone in his being and Mr Gere (ironically a professed Budhhist) is brilliant , playing that character. He survives - one of the great lines he gives to his ex-lover (played by Ms Julie Christie) is "don't blame yourself". Those in the film who HAVE principles, either commit suicide (Senator played by the great Mr E.G. Marshall), descend into embarrassing alcoholism (Mr Hackman playing a rival media adviser wonderfully comic) or suffer the apparent loneliness and unremunerative fate of the loser (Ms Christie, though that might be stretching it a bit). I can't think of a parallel to this film but PRIMARY COLORS or NETWORK come close, although this film is superior to it. Mr Maltin, and I guess, many others, have got it badly wrong with this film, as I consider it one of the best political films of all time. It's a blast from beginning to end, fuelled by some of films greatest actors, including DENZEL WASHINGTON, superb set design, pungent writing, and great direction, not to mention GENE KRUPA's drumming. Then again, maybe I just don't get it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like politics, you'll like this., July 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Power [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This gets real technical when dealing with politics. I loved it! The cast is first rate (Gene Hackman is best), and the direction, deft (by veteran Sidney Lumet). If you want to to pay attention to details (or try to understand) it is rewarding. If you want a paranoia thriller, this ain't for you!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars With this star-power, you know it's gotta be good., November 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Power [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Richard Gere, JT Walsh and a host of other famous faces create an intense political picture. Gere is a political analyst/(person who makes a candidate look good) and he's running several campaigns. Gene Hackman is a nemesis, so-to-speak. Washington seems to meddling around in Gere's work and from there the abuse of power unfolds. This is a good film, I wouldn't say great due to long periods of slowness, but I do heartily reccommend this film.