Product Details

• Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Brad Johnson (II), John Goodman, Audrey Hepburn
• Directors: Steven Spielberg
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 1992
• Run Time: 123 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1558803602
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,068 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Considered by many to represent a low point in Steven Spielberg's career, 1990's Always did suggest something of a temporary drift in the director's sensibility. A remake of the classic Spencer Tracy film A Guy Named Joe, Always stars Richard Dreyfuss as a Forest Service pilot who takes great risks with his own life to douse wildfires from a plane. After promising his frightened fiancée (Holly Hunter) to keep his feet on the ground and go into teaching, Dreyfuss's character is killed during one last flight. But his spirit wanders restlessly, hopelessly attached to and possessive of Hunter, who can't see or hear him. Then the real conflict begins: a trainee pilot (Brad Johnson), a likable doofus, begins wooing a not-unappreciative Hunter--and it becomes Dreyfuss's heavenly mandate to accept, and even assist in, their budding romance. The trouble with the film is a certain airlessness, a hyper-inventiveness in every scene and sequence that screams of Spielberg's self-education in Hollywood classicism. Unlike the masters he is constantly quoting and emulating in Always, he forgets to back off and let the movie breathe on its own sometimes, which would better serve his clockwork orchestration of suspense and comedy elsewhere. Still, there are lovely passages in this film, such as the unforgettable look on Dreyfuss's face a half-second before fate claims him. John Goodman contributes good supporting work, and Audrey Hepburn makes her final screen appearance as an angel. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well..., October 3, 2002

By	"[e-mail]" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always (DVD)

Richard Dreyfuss is a pilot, and kind of a wild card when it comes to his fire fighter flying. This concerns the people around him, girlfriend Holly Hunter and best friend John Goodman, but Dreyfuss shruggs it off because this is what he does. Finally Hunter convinces him he should take a job in Flat Rock, Colorado training pilots to do what he does. Unfortunately he never makes it to Flat Rock, at least not in the flesh. Not trying to give too much away, Dreyfuss comes back as a sort of guardian angel, forced to deal with two things: his love for Hunter and his duty to a young pilot she falls for.

Always is a well made picture. From Spielberg we expect nothing less, though I think his name hinders this film**. The cinematography and the score are excellent as in all his films, as are the action sequences involving the planes. However, the acting is the strongest part of this film. This is the kind of role Dreyfuss shines in. His fusion of wit and sincere emotion is wonderfull and he delivers some difficult monologues which would seem trite is lesser hands. Holly Hunter and John Goodman are excellent as the people dealing with his loss. Also Audrey Hepburn makes her final screen appearance in two scenes as an angel (how fitting).

**I have this theory about Always. It was almost universally panned by critics, but I think the criticism is directed more at Spielberg than at the film. Certainly Spielberg has made better pictures, and perhaps this film was made on a grander scale than it needed to be, but I think if any other director had done this film it would not have received so much scrutiny. But, I also believe in the hands of a lesser director this movie would not be as good. Always combines action, humor, genuine sorrow, and happiness , and it combines them well, which is no small achievement. Spielberg made a good film, let it go.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALWAYS--An Unfairly Maligned Movie, March 16, 2002

By	Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

A loose reworking of Victor Fleming's 1943 World War II drama A GUY NAMED JOE, ALWAYS has to rank as perhaps director Steven Spielberg's most unfairly maligned movie. Even though it has a very old-fashioned feel updated to the late 1980s, this is still a fine movie done with real poignancy. This is nowhere near the bottom of the Spielberg canon; that dubious distinction belongs to "1941" and HOOK.

Richard Dreyfuss stars as Pete, a dare-devil aerial firefighter with a penchant for taking a lot of unneccesary chances in his line of work. As much "fun" as he has, he is worrying not only his partner Al (John Goodman), but also his one true love Dorinda (Holly Hunter). After much pressure, including Hunter's threat to leave him, he agrees to settle down and become an instructor for up-and-coming flyers in Colorado after one last mission. But on that mission, in the process of saving Goodman when his plane catches fire, Dreyfuss loses his life when his aircraft explodes. Goodman is horrified, and Hunter devastated.

In heaven (or a burned-out section of forest), Dreyfuss is met by a guardian angel (Audrey Hepburn, in her final role). He comes back to earth as a spirit, to help a rookie fire-fighter (Brad Johnson) learn the tricks of the trade. Johnson does this and more; unfortunately, he also falls head over heels for Hunter, and Dreyfuss feels the pain of having to watch this, not being able to let go. But Hepburn gives him very good counsel, and he is redeemed by saving Hunter from a fiery death in a flight through a nightmarish firestorm.

One of Spielberg's most touching movies, ALWAYS was unfairly castigated by critics as being heavy-handed and manipulative. I, however, am extremely cynical of such critics who only analyze certain films and don't really FEEL anything. This is a film of pure emotions, ranging from comedy, both dark and slapstick, to tear-jerking drama to a suspense and terror-laden climax. The cinematography and the special effects are typical for Spielberg--convincing and top notch. Spielberg, however, wisely, does not stint on the drama. Dreyfuss and Hunter are excellent, as are Goodman and Hepburn. Johnson, often heavily trashed, does a fairly good job with his role, complete with his John Wayne imitation (specifically borrowing a line from John Ford's THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE).

A typically fine score by John Williams, which presages his work for Spielberg's controversial 2001 sci-fi drama A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, tops off ALWAYS, one of the most misunderstood movies of recent times. For poignant romantic drama, this is an essential movie, a true must-see.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OF "UNDYING" LOVE AND LETTING GO, October 11, 2003

By	Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Always (DVD)

Do you remember "Ghost" with Demi Moore? I have a sneaking suspicion that that was an ultra-Hollywood version of this movie, and yet this 1989 wonder from Spielberg is such magic on film that I bet it'll enter your list of personal favorites on the very first viewing.

The very moving theme revolves around Dreyfuss' character who has a hard time letting go of his significant other, played by the irridiscent Holly Hunter. Above all, what'll linger in your mind is an exquisite bittersweet bond of tenderness and sexual tension between Dreyfuss and Hunter, one that parallels Goodbye Girl. Such maturity and understanding is very rare in your average Hollywood fare. With the immaculate cinematography and background score, at times you can feel what their characters were feeling.

And yet, the movie manages to be pretty funny, not your "American Pie" kind of schtick but an intelligent witty kind of humour. Plus there's a bit of thrilling action too, especially towards the end.

Of love, passion, friendships, letting go -- without giving any further away, this is a delectable family movie that you can (and probably will) see again and again.