Customer Reviews

Twice in a Lifetime [VHS]

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

 

 

"Twice in a Lifetime" is a good drama and worth seeing. Unfortunately, this new DVD is not widescreen as Warner Home Video originally announced, but instead is an especially poorly done pan-and-scan presentation. I do not recommend this disc and am posting this as a public service to those who might be misled by Warner's original announcement or Amazon's "technical details," which are incorrect.

I saw this at the theater when it was released and also purchased the VHS. This is an excellent movie and it really mystifies me as to what took so long for it to be released on DVD when so much plastic is committed to garbage every week for movies that were better left to deteriorate on film (and were a waste of that film to begin with).

This is one of Gene Hackman's lesser known movies but he did a wonderful job of acting, as a long-time married man who meets a new woman bartender (Ann Margaret) on his birthday and begins an affair with her. The film deals with the complications of Hackman's and Margaret's new found love as well as guilt, along with the anguish it causes his wife (Ellyn Burnstyn) and kids. Perhaps Amy Madigan's acting as Hackman's forever-angry daughter is a bit over the top but I felt all of the acting was superb, as was the script. True, adultery is not an acceptable behavior but it happens and in this movie we see the temptations that led to this happening, as well as the effect is has on everyone in a very realistic and emotional portrayal.

As an aside, I also enjoyed the bits of Pat Metheny's music that was used in the score. This is a "talky" movie and contained too much profanity for my tastes but I also thought it fit with the movie. Now that it is on DVD I am looking forward to its release because this is one of my favorites, and I prefer DVD over VHS. Highly recommended if you are a fan of relationship movies.

This is a tender movie in which you can really feel for each of the characters....the fiftyish man in midlife crisis(Hackman), his devoted wife (Burstyn), the "other woman" (Ann Margaret)with whom he falls in love, and his grown children who are grappling to understand. The story line keeps your interest as the characters grow and deal with their life altering situation. The acting by these three veteran actors is superb. Brian Dennehy is also excellent in his supporting role as Hackman's best friend. The only negative comment I can make about this movie pertains to the performance of Amy Madigan, who plays Hackman's daughter. Throughout the movie, she loudly over-acts and is so over emotional (about her father's affair) that it distracts from what is otherwise a wonderful movie.

for anyone waiting for a decent presentation of this fine film, keep waiting. The transfer is old and grainy and is only availabe in full screen. In this day and age of wide screen TV's and the DVD boom, how can a studio still release product without the slightest consideration for FILM FANS.....BEATS ME?

Gene Hackman is my favorite actor, but with technology the way that it is, I would expect a better DVD transfer than this! It's dirty with scratches and spots and dropouts. Plus, it's only in full-frame format. NO WIDESCREEN!
I gave it 1 star because of Gene Hackman's performance but for me, it's unwatchable.
The tragedy is that this may be the only transfer done of this movie, since it's not a block buster.
COME ON GUYS, LET'S SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THESE MOVIES! THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF GENE HACKMAN FANS OUT HERE!
By the way, same review for TARGET, although it is in widescreen. That was also very disappointing.

Gene Hackman stars as an aging Steelworker mostly contented but with something missing who falls in love with a beautiful barmaid who also is attracted to him also co-starring Ellen Burstyn,Ann Margaret and Amy Madigan.This is a nicely done although not too well known Gene Hackman movie!!

Gene Hackman is not handsome or suave. He isn't a tough guy in the mold of Bogart or Cagney though he has a manly presence. He doesn't have a romantic persona on screen, but somehow he carries off a believable middle-age romance with Ann Margret in Twice in a Lifetime. Well, who wouldn't if the object of affection was Ann-Margret?

When a man leaves his family after fifty, dumps his wife, lovely Ellen Burstyn, and separates himself from his angry daughter, Amy Madigan of the short hair do and Ally Sheedy of the Brat Pack fame, well, all hell breaks lose. If blue collar, Mariner and Sea Hawk rooting, Harry MacKenzie wants a second chance at love, he has to face the wrath of all those that love him.

This is an uncharacteristic look at middle-age divorce and love so rare in a Hollywood film. Harry has wrought a moral and ethical riddle. The audience will have to decide.

I was raised in the town of Snohomish Washington, where this movie was filmed. I bought it for only one reason I wanted to See Snohomish on film. If you live in the northwest you need to get a copy for yourself, so you to can recognize some of the buildings and streets that you also know. In the end of the movie there is a wedding that was filmed in the old First Baptist church. I built the cross that hangs in the baptistry for my sisters Wedding years before, it was kinda neat to see it hanging there and know that my work is in the movies. If you choose to watch it you will enjoy it.
The Railroadman

Product arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. Would order from them again.