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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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The
Caveman's Valentine
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Reviewed
by: |
Sarah
Golding |
| Genre: |
Drama
|
| Video: |
Widescreen
Anamorphic |
| Audio: |
DTS/Dolby
Digital |
| Language: |
English
(DTS), English (Dolby Digital) |
| Subtitle: |
French
|
| Length: |
106
Minutes |
| Rating: |
R |
| Release
Date: |
July
17, 2001 |
| Studio: |
Universal
Studio |
| Commentary:
|
With
director Kasi Lemmons and editor Tenlyn Shropshire |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
Yes,
of cast and Kasi Lemmons |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Yes
|
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Yes-deleted
scenes |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
DVD
also boasts production notes on how the film came to be and
other film recommendations. The National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill (NAMI) has honoured Samuel L. Jackson, Director Kasi Lemmons
and Dr. Cheryl Lemmons with its 2001 Outstanding Media Award
for a dramatic motion picture [ The Cavemanıs Valentine]. |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Samuel L
Jackson, Colm Feore, Ann Magnuson, Damir Andrei, Aunjanue Ellis,
Tamara Tunie |
| Screenplay
by: |
Written By:
George Dawes Green |
| Produced
by: |
Samuel L. Jackson, Danny
Devito |
| Directed
By: |
Kasi Lemmons |
| Music: |
Terence Blanchard |
| The
Review: |
Have you
ever heard the phrase "there is a fine line between insanity
and genius?" Have you ever wondered what it would be like if
insanity and genius came together? If you have then introduce
yourself to the Caveman also known as Romulus Ledbetter to those
who know him personally. Romulus (Samuel L. Jackson) is a Juliard-trained,
homeless man who has untreated schizophrenia. Romulus, who lives
in a cave in New York, is constantly plagued by visions and
the belief that a man, Cornelius Gould Stuyvesant, is out to
control peoples minds with "y-rays" and "z-rays". Then upon
awakening one morning Romulus finds a young frozen man in a
tree outside of his cave. Romulus, who believes Stuyvesant is
the killer, works to become the unlikely hero in this murder
mystery. The real story in this movie isnıt so much the Romulusı
crime fighting adventures, but rather it is how a musical genius
suffering with schizophrenia can interact with his family, his
colleagues, his friends, and adversaries (both imagined and
real). One of the truly touching plots in this movie is how
Romulus constantly fights off his illness and his instinct in
order to make his daughter Lulu (Aujanue Ellis) proud of him.
The Cavemanıs Valentine is a beautiful example of how individuals
with mental illnesses can be heroes, fathers, geniuses, and
hard workers. In this movie Romulusı periods of mental illness
are signified by changes in lighting and film techniques, which
are quite stunning on the DVD. Also, used to help illustrate
this point are the graceful and beautiful Moth Seraphs (think
Angels with moth wings) which reside in Romulusı mind and who
are shown before he enters into a period of sickness. Although
this movie does seem to have a sort of lack lustre basic crime
plot it is a good movie to watch. Samuel L. Jackson delivers
an absolutely incredible performance as Romulus. Jackson make
you feel for Romulus and makes you see him as a person any Samuel
L. Jackson fan. Other good performances are given by Colm Feore
who play a sort of Robert Mapplethorpe-ish type photographer
named Leppenraub and Tamara Tunie also turns in a good performance
as Romulusı wife Sheila. Another splendid performer in this
film, especially on the DVD, is the stunning musical score that
was composed by Terence Blanchard for this movie. In The Caveman's
Valentine the music that the Romulus creates is just as beautiful
as the vibrant delusions that he has. This is a must see DVD
simply for that reason. |
| Image
and Sound |
The Cavemanıs
Valentine uses both image and sound not only to enhance the
film but also as a major character through out the movie. Imagery
is used in this film to establish Romulusı state of mind. Director
Kasi Lemmons states that "the cinematography is an extension
of Romulus-I wanted the look of the film to pop because thatıs
how he sees the world." The use of different types of film stock,
film techniques, and colorful imagery are what make the film
"pop". Both the colors yellow and green are used to help establish
when Romulus is about to enter into a schizophrenic state and
the different types of film stock and techniques used allow
the viewer to know when Romulus has arrived at that state. Over
seventy minutes of original music was scored for this film by
Terence Blanchard, and with the clarity of the music on this
DVD the viewer will not miss a moment of Blanchardıs beautiful
composition. The piano playing in this film is a good reason
by itself to watch this DVD. The music comes through clear and
concise, adding a richness and depth to the sound, which is,
perhaps some of the best Iıve heard on a DVD. |
| The
Extras |
Although
this DVD doesnıt boast a large amount of special features the
ones it has are definitely worth both a look and a listen. The
Cavemanıs Valentine includes such bonus features as a commentary
with director Kasi Lemmons and editor Tenlyn Shropshire, a filmography
and biography of the actors and director Lemmons, theatrical
trailers, production notes, recommendations, and a montage of
deleted scenes in chronological order of how the would have
appeared in the film. The filmography and biography of the actors
and the director is interesting to explore and read. Included
in this section of the DVD are fairly lengthy, in terms of DVDıs
that is, biographyıs of the actors and director. Also, included
in this section are the film history of the actors. The production
notes are another fascinating little special feature that gives
some great insight into the development, planning, and filming
of The Cavemanıs Valentine. In this section the DVD allows the
viewer to read about Samuel Jackson's desire to have George
Dawes Greenıs Edgar Award winning first novel make its way onto
the big screen. Also, in this section one can read about the
musical score, cinematography, the original classical jazz score,
and look of the Moth Seraphs came to be. The deleted scenes
in the bonus sections of this DVD are a real treat. The deleted
scenes in the Cavemanıs Valentine are presented as polished
pieces complete with music and sound effects. The true winner
of the deleted scenes is a several minute long piece which shows
the Moth Seraphs awakening and getting ready to do their work
for Romulus. This scene combines dance, stunning imagery and
a fantastic musical piece. This deleted scene is without a doubt
the jewel of the special features. |
| Commentary |
The commentary
track to The Cavemanıs Valentine is insightful, warm and witty.
The director Kasi Lemmons and the editor Tenlyn Shropshire come
together the make this commentary work. Lemmons and Shropshire
talk about the film, the actors, the style and the music in
this interesting reflection on the film. Watching the film with
the commentary will be enjoyable for fans of the movie and also
people who may have been confused by some of the movies story
line and visual effects. |
| Final
Words: |
The Caveman's
Valentine is a movie that relies heavily on both imagery and
sound to portray the mind of a man suffering with Schizophrenia
and that is the reason why this movie works so well on DVD.
The images and colors in this DVD are stunningly rich and the
music is hauntingly beautiful and textured. The Cavemanıs Valentine
DVD allows the viewer to fully appreciate the work and effort
that went into making a film where music and visual effects
are just as important as the actors. This movie also has a handful
of extra features that will interest anyone who enjoyed the
movie in the theatres or enjoyed George Dawes Greenıs book.
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