Customer Reviews

Union City

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

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting is wonderful, the photography is great, and the real 'noir' feeling of it is wonderful. But, for those who have not seen it, you must be patient. The movie does not travel at 100 MPH like several of the modern movies, it is rather a slowly paced, slowly unfolding movie. You must be prepared to sit, watch, and enjoy. It is also a very humorous movie. This movie can teach you to appreciate and even laugh at the bizarre. However, no matter how much I love the movie, the DVD transfer is at a 'so-so' level. It is grainy, and the big spots that are usually invisible when remastered are still there. Also, the only extra is a biography on Ms. Harry. So, if you can appreciate slow moving movies and mediocre transfers, then this movie is a must have.

Based on the short story "The Corpse Next Door" by Cornell Woolrich (dating back to the '40s), Union City is a great example of what you can do with practically no money for a feature length film noir.

A big reason for this is the director, Marcus Reichert. Prior to (and after, as well) making this film, Mr. Reichert was known principally as an artist. Sense of color is a particularly strong element in this film; in almost every interior set, we see striking primary colors predominating. In Harlan (Dennis Lipscomb) and Lillian's (Debbie Harry) apartment, the living room is a deep disturbing red; another room's blue; a third, green. In one scene, Lillian wears a bright yellow dress that almost makes your eyes water.

The actors are all fine here. Lipscomb and Harry are well matched as a dysfunctional couple. Everett McGill turns in a solid performance as the hunky superintendent. And Sam McMurray, CCH Pounder and Pat Benatar (I guess this was a queen of rock casting film!) are all right on target in their respective roles.

This is a story of anxiety, obsession, murder, and guilt. It's an edgy work well complemented by the moody colors of its sets. The dialogue is a little stilted, but you can see that these slightly awkward phrases work well in the context of the jittery atmosphere. The two principals both have something to be agitated about--murder and adultery.

And with the price of this DVD, this is a real bargain. Buy it before it goes out of print!

Long awaiting this release on DVD and fully expecting technology to chime new life into this dark pleasantry of a Debbie Harry fan's movie, I was virtually STARTLED at the grain and blocking of color that Union City in DVD format suffers. Sometimes the images appear to actually be a grid of sorts with the worst-ever digital transfer possible. You see a milky haze over the entire production along with the "jigsaw puzzle" appearance of some of the shots not noticed on VHS tape copies. An "SLP" recording of Union City on a bad VHS tape that is 15 years old is actually clearer than this DVD and I can prove it. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I weren't so angered at the loss of money and hopes.

A truly historical film, Union City was the first neo-noir, before Body Heat, etc. Evidently made with no money, this film still looks fantastic. Many of the people involved in its making went on to become very successful, like script supervisor Kathryn Bigelow (Director of Strange Days, etc.), Director of Photography Edward Lachman (Erin Brokovich, The Virgin Suicides), gaffer Stefan Czapsky (D.P., Ed Wood), make-up artist Richard Dean (always works with Julia Roberts), creative producer Monty Montgomery (producer on Wild At Heart, Portrait of A Lady), and actors Dennis Lipscomb (Soldiers Story), Everett McGill (Under Seige II, The Straight Story), Sam McMurray (Raising Arizona), and CCH Pounder (Bagdhad Cafe). An amazing group of people and an amazing film. But whatever happened to the writer and director Mark Reichert? Has he made any more films? I would welcome any information on this mysterious character.

"Union City" is a bizarre, dark, occasionally funny film that stars Blondie's Deborah Harry in her first major film role. Ms. Harry had already conquered the music scene by this time; the silver screen was waiting. In the twenty-plus years since this movie debuted, Deborah Harry has racked up an impressive body of work, including critically acclaimed appearances in "Hairspray" and "Heavy." "Union City" is a chance to see where it all began. Pat Benatar, who went on to be another super pop star, also lights up the screen in a brief, but striking, role.

Union City is a interesting and subtle film about a neurotic accountant, Harland (The George Costanzaish Dennis Lipscomb) who becomes increasingly obsessed with a vagrant who is stealing his milk every morning, much to the dispair of his sexy, young wife Lillain (a brown haired Deborah Harry), who we later discover is having an affair with her handsome building janitor. Meanwhile Harland devises a trap to catch the vagrant red handed, when he does, he kills the young man in a fit of rage. As Harland becomes more and more paraniod with guilt and fear of being caught, his wife begins to find true happiness with her new love and makes plans to run away with him. This is an independent production with an almost non existent budget, the whole film is pretty much set in the one apartment, with some moody lighting to add interest. What the film does have however is a talented cast including Harry (who reportedly replaced Meryl Streep in the role !) and Everett Mcgill who later found fame as Ed in "Twin Peaks". Another highlight is the soundtrack created by Debbie's Blondie bandmate Chris Stein which adds to the 1940's feel of the movie perfectly. While not to everyones taste Union City will appeal to cult film buffs and to fans of Harry (the movie was made at the peak of her "Heart of glass" days). A movie that becomes more interesting with repeated viewings

This would be a great DVD if only the transfer were at least mediocre. It is in fact possibly the worst transfer of film to DVD I've ever seen. I remember seeing this film at the Filmex film festival many years ago, and recalling the cinematography by Ed Lachman to be way too cool. None of that is apparent by watching this release by Fox Lorber. Please, someone release a better version!

...Union City is the ultimate French existentialist thriller - you hang on every word like a meathook - but made in New Jersey in 1979. Firstly, you have got to get off on the images, which are like rotting fruit, and, secondly, you have got to wonder at the conviction of these actors, especially Deborah Harry, who all give the most extraordinary dead-pan performances....

I remember seeing this movie back in the early 80s when I was a kid and loved it even then, as it featured two female rockers Debbie Harry and Pat Benatar in their film debuts - not to mention an authnetic retro film noir feel and amazing cinemtography from Edward Lachman (!) - this movie would never be made like this today: this film gradually unfolds at a deliberate pace, taking its time to build character, mood, and plot - today it would be 2-3 second edit/edit/cut/cut MTV style takes. Sigh. Anyway, if you really like this film, you should search out the OOP UK import DVD released by Tartan Video - that DVD version features a cleaner transfer (not sure if remasterd, but I have both DVDs, and the Tartan DVD print looks markedly cleaner) - plus the UK DVD features bonus features like: Debbie Harry early screen tests, the original vintage trailer, and more. They used to show this flick in the early days of HBO - now you can add it your collection. A must-have slice of memorabilia for Blondie fans!

I was expecting a bad movie and I got one. I was not disappointed. I am familiar with Union City and that is the only reason I wanted to see the film. Otherwise, it would not be worth the time. The DVD is fine for a DVD but the content is bleh!