Product Details

• Actors: Virginia Madsen
• Directors: Jim Amatulli
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Mti Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006IIPWG
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,291 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Art Appreciation Daze, November 17, 2005

By	Angie Engles (Columbia, MD United States) - See all my reviews

While it's easy for me to get caught up in Virginia Madsen's ability to lend her understated, sometimes breathtaking talents to even the most mediocre of roles (think HIGHLANDER 2), I still had trouble enjoying ARTWORKS. Though the cinematography is first-rate and the acting pretty decent among the cast, something falls short.

Maybe it's the rather blah writing or the lack of motivation and background on the characters of Bret Rogers and Cory Wells. It also could be the fact that all the chemistry in the world still doesn't really explain why Emma Becker and Bret fall in love (Do we really even care?)

The main reason I stuck with this "art heist movie trying to be an independent film" was because I could relate to the aching appreciation for art Virginia Madsen so eloquently conveys through her portrayal of Emma Becker. Her quiet suffering at the loss of her newborn baby can only be alleviated through painting and acquiring, unfortunately through illegal means, artwork that others take for granted.

"Artworks" might have worked better if the writers could have made us care more about the action scenes. ("Action" is probably too generous a word since each art theft seems to have been phoned in, rather than played with any enthusiasm that reflects the characters' passion for art.)

It's true I'm giving this movie three stars, but I would like to give the cat who appears during one particularly passionless scene five stars for providing one of "Artwork"'s few suspenseful moments:).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Virginia Madsen and Rick Rossovich in a Sexy Thriller., May 30, 2005

By	Wing Lee "filmfan" (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this sexy and captivating thriller about art heist, Virginia Madsen turned in a multilayered performance as a home alarm technician/aspiring artist with a desire to steal some of her clients' expensive paintings. Emma Becker(Madssen) is still grieving over the death of her baby and she is on the verge of getting a divorce from her husband who no longer connects to her. She meets Bret Rogers(Rick Rossovich), an art gallery owner with a history of art heist. They hit it off romantically, and they shared the same passion for art. They envy their wealthy clients, and decide to steal some paintings. With the help of Bret's assistant Cory Wells(Eddie Mills), a lock specialist, they successfully stole paintings by replacing the originals with fake ones. When Bret grew tired and worried about getting caught, Emma insisted on doing one more job before moving away to a wine country down south. At the same time, one of the house reported the crime when the painting was recognized as a fake. Will Emma's police chief father be able to help them get out of the situation and avoid any arrest?...

Virginia Madsen and Rick Rossovich had some very steamy scenes together, and they made a perfect couple. They had plenty of romantic chemistry. The story and characters are well written, while the film is not keen on elaborate scenes of the stealing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what it could have been, January 15, 2006

By	Glen Sooter (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

I had "The Thomas Crowne Affair" in hand when I wondered if there might be a similar movie I hadn't yet seen. "Artworks" was an obvious choice.

It proved entertaining and interesting enough - particularly its premise. But the whole thing had a "made for TV" feel to it - the cinematography, script, and the acting (which may have just been a result of the writing - hard to tell).

I can only imagine how good this good-guy heist movie could have been had it had the cinematic mood and suspenseful style of "The Thomas Crowne Affair" or the chic style and crisp dialogue of "Ocean's 11".