Customer Reviews

Used People [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Touching, romantic, comedic, satiric, sad...and that's just Marsha Gay Harden's character! THIS MOVIE SHOULD BE RELEASED ON DVD NOW!

When is this title comming out on DVD? With all the junk out there comming out 2 days after it's final movie runs, why can't they release this future classic on DVD. So well written, funny, sad, heart warming all at the same time. There are very few movies that can make you feel this many emotions all in one movie. I have the VHS version but would LOVE the DVD if it ever comes out. If you liked this movie, please rally for it's release on DVD by indicating it in your review. Thanks

At her husband's funeral, a Jewish woman (Shirley MacLaine) is approached by an Italian man (Marcello Mastroianni). After offering his condolences he asks her on a date. She accepts just to shock her sister and mother-in-law who are watching over her with their instructions of what she can and cannot do. On their first date, for coffee, she learns that 25 years ago her husband was going to leave her but was talked out of it by the man who sits before her. He's waited all this time for her to be free. She doesn't know how to deal with information so she deserts him. He's not easily discouraged and positions himself in her life affecting both her and the members of her family.

This story is about life after death and how the death of a loved one affects those left behind; in particular, the wife and her two daughters and their children. Shirley MacLaine is excellent as the bitter widow who laid down her life for her husband and children and now that her husband is gone and her children are grown and on their own she isn't too sure what to do with herself.

Kathy Bates plays an overweight waitress with two children of her own and wears her pain on her sleeve while her Marcia Gay Harden plays her sister, a bank clerk who dresses up like different movie stars to cover up her pain. Marcia makes a hot Marilyn Monroe and Anne Bancroft. She has a son who things he's Superman and is grieving over another child that died. Both women gave stellar performances.

The costumes, food, funeral, wedding and family dinners are just window dressing for this gripping story about coming to terms with aging and the loneliness associated with both loss of love and loss of who they use to be. But it's also a celebration of the time remaining and finding a reason to celebrate each day. It was longish in parts and sometimes it was hard to understand what Mastroianni was saying but overall an inspiring movie.

A must see film totally underated We loved the mix of religions and how really raw the characters were A tale with a great twist of love and a wonderful restrained love from Mother-Daughters relaitionship What did Shirley Maclaine have on her dinner plate when her daughter told her the news she was moving to California what a scene Kathy Bates was marvellous Go buy it Now

Shirley MacLaine is wonderful in this underrated comedy-drama that I feel rings very true and warm (contrary to critics like Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin). It's a smart, funny movie about a Jewish woman who realizes on the day of her husband's funeral that an Italian-American man has loved her for years. It also richly explores the generations of a family, the struggles and the joys they face, and what life is all about for us. I remember seeing it around late 1992 in theatres and haven't gotten around to seeing it ever since I rented it again tonight. But surprisingly I still remembered every moment of its utter beauty as I watched it again eight years later. That should tell you something.

How can you not love a great movie? I sat down and watched this, and absolutely loved it. Marcia Gay Harden is hillarious with her dead movie star impressions (Audrey Hepburn "Breakfast at Tiffany's", Marilyn Monroe "The Seven Year Itch", Anne Bancroft "The Graduate"). Kathy Bates was delightful as the low self-esteemed Bibby, who never seems to please her mother. Ah...Here comes the stars of the film: Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastrionni. These two are great! They make the whole film worth buying. The chemistry between the two is terrific and touching, and must I say that there will never be a charming, sweet-talking Italian like this man. It swept me off my feet listening to his song he made for the love of his life. After adoring her for 23 years, he finally gets the nerve to ask her out; at her husband's funeral! Terrific movie. 5 stars. Definitely. I'd buy it right now if I were you.

Once more, we will have the immense pleasure to watch two legends of the cinema in the peak of its creativeness. The versatile Shirley MacLaine plays the role of a recent Jewish widowed and the well educated Italian gentleman, who also lost his wife.

Nevertheless, this autumnal romance really lacks of a true narrative vertebral column and from time to time yields us to effective vignettes, that work out as a tongue in the cheek. You should remind for instance "Moonstruck" to understand plainly the problem to deal with a heavy-handed script bounded with a magnificent and a superior cast.

Fresh and funny but ultimately disappointing.

You will laugh when Shirley MacLaine smashes the dish in the hall while screaming her head off at Kathy Bates and when she tells her daughter that her nephew needs a mother and not Zsa Zsa Gabor!
Marcia Gay Harden is one of the best things in this movies, dressing up as Faye "Bonnie" Dunaway, Marilyn "7-Year-Itch" Monroe, Barbra "Funny Girl" Streisand, Anne "Graduate" Bancroft, Audrey "Breakfast-At-Tiffany's" Hepburn and countless others.
I have watched this movie lots of times and I am happy I finally bought it!!
Also worth to watch the scenes between senile-playing Sylvia Sidney (love her lines!!!!)and Jessica Tandy!
You won't regret buying this one!

Shirley MacLaine (Artists and Models), Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy (Cocoon, Driving Miss Daisy), Sylvia Sidney (Mars Attacks), Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond). I have recently started watching Fellini films with Marcello Mastroianni. He is perfectly cast to romance Shirley MacLaine. Kathy Bates (Titanic, Misery) is always wonderful as far as I'm concerned. She really has met her match with Shirley MacLaine. Kathy Bates has been playing more crazy mother roles now, this is great to see her on the receiving end. This movie is comparable to Moonstruck, Steel Magnolias and even Terms of Endearment. Marcia Gay Harden is incredibly funny dressing up as by gone movie stars. I can't tell you all the great parts but Jessica Tandy, Doris Roberts, everyone is wonderful. "You need trees? You gonna climb them?"

I've loved this film for years and just came on Amazon to put it on my wish list, when to my horror I realized that it's not available on DVD! What gives?! I WANT MY DVD!