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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Ghost
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Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
Supernatural
thriller |
| Video: |
1.85:1
anamorphic widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English
|
| Length: |
2
hrs, 6 min |
| Rating: |
PG-13 |
| Release
Date: |
4/24/01
|
| Studio: |
Paramount
Pictures |
| Commentary:
|
director
Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel Rubin |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
"Remembering
the Magic"- retrospective |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Yes |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Patrick Swayze,
Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn |
| Screenplay
by: |
Bruce Joel
Rubin |
| Produced
by: |
Lisa Weinstein |
| Directed
By: |
Jerry Zucker |
| Music: |
Maurice Jarre |
| The
Review: |
A
picture-perfect modern-day romance that tells an exciting romantic
story, "Ghost" is one of the best romantic films ever made.
In it, we see just what lengths someone will go to for their
love for someone else, and also shows us that the love we have
for someone in our life goes on after death. Director Jerry
Zucker, and acting by Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi
Goldberg, all make this movie a landmark that everybody knows
about. What is so special about the story is the connection
between the two romantic leads. Swayze plays Sam Wheat, who,
with his longtime girlfriend Molly, is remodeling a penthouse
apartment in New York, where they soon live together, completely
happy and in love. We have no reason to question the love story
angle because the direction and acting tell us from the very
beginning the nature of their relationship, and does it in understandable
terms. Sam also works for a major banking corporation, where
he has a best friend Carl, who seems more than willing to take
certain workloads off of Sam's shoulders. One night, Sam and
Molly are set upon by a thief, who demands Sam's wallet, and
after a struggle, Sam is left with a fatal gunshot wound. Of
course, being dead, he is now a ghost, and must watch as Molly
comes to the realization that her lover is dead. The acting
of these two actors is what makes all of this incredibly affecting,
most especially Molly's coping with Sam's sudden exit from her
life. She keeps his personal things, as well as any little scrap
of paper or memory she can hold onto, with Sam watching all
of this from behind her shoulder and Carl trying his best to
comfort and console her. Sam soon pays a visit to a con artist
medium named Otta Mae Brown, played by Whoopi Goldberg, who
is the only person that Sam is able to talk to. The comedy of
the movie really picks up as we are given scenes of Brown walking
in the streets arguing with the air, talking to the walls, and
having hissy fits with Sam in public. Goldberg is really given
a chance to shine in this role, playing out some of her best
lines and material ever. Comedy then mixes with drama and action
as the plot reveals that Carl was a mastermind behind a murder
conspiracy. Carl is in desperate need of money, and when he
found out that Sam was in charge of a four million dollar bank
account, he hired a hitman to have Sam killed in order to try
and take over the account and steal the money. As he further
tries to worm his way into Molly's life, Sam becomes more and
more determined to try and find a way of reaching her aside
from giving Otta Mae instructions on what to say to her. Swayze
is able to give us a powerhouse performance here, as his character
sits back and can do nothing to physically protect his love.
He feels weak, helpless, and these emotions are played out brilliantly.
The film won an Academy Award, one of two, for Best Original
Screenplay for 1990. The script is a melting pot of many different
elements: comedy that comes from the relationship of Otta Mae
and Sam's collaboration, supernatural elements stemming from
the ghost angle, thriller techniques that reside in the mystery
of Sam's death and Carl's intentions, and most important, the
love story that Molly and Sam live out, which serves as the
basis for everything that happens. It has a little bit of everything
for everyone, which gave diverse audiences what they wanted
and made it a sheer success among people. Demi Moore and Patrick
Swayze both give excellent performances that keep the love story
going. They both have a chemistry that never stops or staggers
the film, but keeps it going. Whoopi Goldberg is Otta Mae Brown,
a role she was born to play and for which she won an Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her comic genius and diverse
areas of acting play a major role, and sometimes become the
heart of the film. Tony Goldwyn plays the conniving Carl, and
does so effectively. He is one of those few people in a movie
that the audience can truly despise for his crimes, and when
the ending comes, it is pure satisfaction to watch him get what's
coming to him. "Ghost" is nothing short of a successful movie,
keeping us enthralled with comedic, romantic and thrilling elements,
making us believe in things beyond this world. It never stops
moving, it is utterly original, and it keeps us at the edge
of our seats as well as tugging at our hearts. |
| Image
and Sound |
Fans of
the movie will appreciate having it for the first time on DVD,
after years with nothing but a VHS release. Just the mere fact
that this movie is coming to such a pristine video format is
enough to give it praise, and here's another kicker: the picture
and sound rock! The images are solid, though some scenes do
contain minor noise and/or artifacts. Nonetheless, the picture
quality delivers. The sound quality is better than ever, with
a nice use of the surrounds as well as deep bass for scenes
involving the spirits from hell. This is a very pleasing DVD
production. |
| The
Extras |
This is
a standard Paramount release, containing less than you would
see from other production companies. However, considering the
movie's age, the features included are appropriate, saving the
title from being a loss. A commentary by director Jerry Zucker
and writer Bruce Joel Rubin is revealing and insightful, while
the retrospective featurette, "Remembering the Magic," features
interviews with the cast and crew, a nice addition. Also included
is a theatrical trailer. Not the most packed DVD edition on
the market, but certainly not a failure. |
| Commentary |
A nice addition
to a long-awaited DVD release, the commentary for "Ghost" features
voice-overs from director Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel
Rubin, both of whom had their doubts about working with one
another on this project. This comes up in one section of the
commentary; Rubin also talks about character development and
the way in which the cast is able to give each character the
right amount and type of substance, while Zucker gives us insight
into the creation of the special effects and some scene organization.
Watching the movie with the commentary is a whole new experience,
so enjoy! |
| Final
Words: |
"Ghost"
has remained a popular hit ever since its release in 1990. Its
nomination for Best Picture, as well as its wins for Best Supporting
Actress Whoopi Goldberg and Best Original Screenplay carve it
a place in film history as well as in our hearts forever with
its story of love, death, deception, and the ultimate sacrifice.
A well-crafted thriller/romance/comedy that nevers fails to
amaze. |
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