Rating: 
Summary: Unsettling, Macabre and Devilishly Captivating
Review: Did Claus Von Bulow (Jeremy Irons) really try to kill his wife, Sunny (Glenn Close)twice? To this day, the heiress to a small fortune remains a prisoner of her own body, suspended in a coma that some say, Claus had his hand in. Perhaps we will never know the truth. The film plays no favorites, allowing for both Claus's innocence and guilt to come forward and be judged. Jeremy Iron's won his Best Actor Oscar, and rightly so, for his absolutely chilling performance. To be sure the Von Bulow's marriage was far from ideal but perhaps it wasn't as diabolically doomed as some would like to believe.
Warner Home Video has given us the film in a rather worn out looking print. Chips, scratches and dirt inherent in the original camera negative are present throughout and colors are somewhat dated. Though the picture is at times quite sharp, there is quite a bit of edge enhancement and shimmering of fine details that make for a rather mediocre viewing experience. The audio has been nicely restored and mixed to 5.1. There's also an informative commentary track to help you along with the details pertaining to Claus's case. All in all, this is a film screaming for one of Warner's fabulous 2-disc special editions and, in light of Warner's recent committment to its catalogue library of films, the prospects that this film will eventually be given its due are, I would say, quite good. Bottom line: Get it for the film, not the transfer.
Rating: 
Summary: Jeremy Irons? Great Villain[?]
Review: Had occasion to see this terrific legal docu-drama again after 15 years and marveled at the performance of Jeremy Irons as convicted would-be-murderer Klaus Von Bulow. Buoyed by a great supporting cast, this movie tells the tale of the reversal of the conviction of Klaus for attempted murder of his socialite wife Sunny, played by Glenn Close. Irons steals the show though with his elegant, dark, emotionally hooded, and overtly sinister portrayal. While the film makes no moral judgments, and Bulow was eventually acquitted in real life; one can't help but wonder about the real outcome of the night that left Sunny a comatose vegetable to this day.
Rating:
Summary: Jeremy Irons¿ Great Villain[?]
Review: Had occasion to see this terrific legal docu-drama again after 15 years and marveled at the performance of Jeremy Irons as convicted would-be-murderer Klaus Von Bulow. Buoyed by a great supporting cast, this movie tells the tale of the reversal of the conviction of Klaus for attempted murder of his socialite wife Sunny, played by Glenn Close. Irons steals the show though with his elegant, dark, emotionally hooded, and overtly sinister portrayal. While the film makes no moral judgments, and Bulow was eventually acquitted in real life; one can't help but wonder about the real outcome of the night that left Sunny a comatose vegetable to this day.
Rating: 
Summary: A treat but you decide on the consequence
Review: I confess ignorance about the supposedly real world trial of Claus von Bulow (charged with the attempted murder of his socialite wife) that this movie is based on. May be it was just not that big of a deal outside the US. But the movie is a riveting thriller and a fascinating treat if you have a thing for courtroom drama. Faced with a client who he obviously believes is probably guilty, Alan Dershowitz (Bulow's clearly sly lawyer) resorts to one of the least respected of all legal tactics: blaming the victim. The film then escalates from a rather ordinary legal drama into an endless string of ad hominem against the character of Sunny von Bulow (played notoriously well by Close) who, being in a coma, is hardly in any shape to defend herself. The film seems to have a pretty hardline posture, frequently suggesting that if Sunny von Bulow didn't cause her own misfortune, she certainly had it coming to her. Anything offered in defense of Sunny (testimony from friends/relatives) is swiftly discredited in one way or another. Is this an audacious bias in the script? Most certainly. So be prepared for it. But the jury does not seem to wilt. As though this is not enough to make you cringe, the comatose vegetable of a Sunny (in her coma bed) has words put into her mouth by the unscrupulous lawyer, a shady voice recording that is. How the lawyer could get away with this in a court of law is beyond me. If I replace Bulow with OJ, and I doubt the story would change too much at least in the manner that this movie intends to potray it, I would actually find it a little taut, even villainous in its depiction of liberties with legal integrity. But this is not a documentary, it is a Hollywood flick. Jeremy Irons in a quirky award winning performance is superb as usual. Glenn Close even from the stupor of her medical condition is fascinating. Dershowitz, the scum of the legal profession is, well, just that. In other words, great acting all round. The climax is never found or attempted, it's left to your creativity. Was Bulow exonerated? May be. I read his criminal conviction was overturned. But in public opinion, after seeing this movie, I'd say not. Contours of the OJ trial. As for the movie, a pretty decent, well paced fare and definitely a good evening's rental recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: good film
Review: I hadn't seen this film in years&I was reminded of how well the acting&Direction was in this Project.Jeremy Irons was on point He truly made the film with His strong performance from start to finish.it was a real cliff hanger&treat.
Rating:
Summary: Good Law Movie
Review: I liked this movie, my favorite character was Jeremy Irons as Claus Von Bulow. Its amazing that he could talk like that through the whole movie (German Accent). In case you don't know, this movie is about a real life story about an aristocrat that was convicted of murdering his wife. The movie is about the appeals process for that conviction and how Alan Dershowitz assigns parts of the case to teams of students who work to get get Von Bulow a successful appeal. The movie is not boring nor is it predictable (the two main criteria I use to critique a movie) so all in all i liked it. The only problem i had with it is the generous portrayal of Alan Dershowit he comes off as a highly moral and liberal person, but personally i've never liked him or his opinions on certain issues. By the way, someone said that the character did not look like Dershowitz, but i've got a picture of Dershowitz that pretty much looks like the character in the movie...
Rating:
Summary: Good Law Movie
Review: I liked this movie, my favorite character was Jeremy Irons as Claus Von Bulow. Its amazing that he could talk like that through the whole movie (German Accent). In case you don't know, this movie is about a real life story about an aristocrat that was convicted of murdering his wife. The movie is about the appeals process for that conviction and how Alan Dershowitz assigns parts of the case to teams of students who work to get get Von Bulow a successful appeal. The movie is not boring nor is it predictable (the two main criteria I use to critique a movie) so all in all i liked it. The only problem i had with it is the generous portrayal of Alan Dershowit he comes off as a highly moral and liberal person, but personally i've never liked him or his opinions on certain issues. By the way, someone said that the character did not look like Dershowitz, but i've got a picture of Dershowitz that pretty much looks like the character in the movie...
Rating:
Summary: One classics that'been ignored. A elegant, delicate cameo
Review: I wondered why this film was not as well known as other classics about law such as"the frim",besides it was a true story.This is my favorite movie.Because the plot was real,reflecting the curel world and the whole legal system,the darkest part was that one man was innocent if he didn't kill a person, even through he didn't save that one's life.The cinmatography was good, the scene was beautiful,the performance was perfect, the screenplay was clever and elegant,and the music, in my opinion the best part, was excellent! It gave the feeling ofthe movie which was somehow dark and sad.Was Jeremy Irons a gentleman? Absolutely.Do you think you know about the truth? Try it again, you have no idea.
Rating:
Summary: The Voice!
Review: Jeremy Irons has such a cool voice!! I'm totally in love with his voice-I really like that kind of seedy, despondant tone. The voice! The voice!
Rating:
Summary: NEEDLEPOINT...........
Review: OH, just a delicious little bon-bon of a dark, glossy comedy about the Rich and Famous - East Coast style! Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close are picture-perfect as our somnambulistic lovers doomed to be driven apart by mischevous offspring - or is it? We're never quite sure ....... Glenn Close as Sunny VonB. comatose long bofore that fateful overdose [?] OR was it sheer boredom? Oh, there are plenty of nighmareish scenes - especially the large double bed - With the Mrs. on one sunny side - stupored, And poor old nightcapped hubby on the South side cowering ...... now, there were those whispers about necrophelia ..... and stuff. Great defense too - once the case hits the tabloids, and the dirty laundry! My! My! Just what did happen between Mr. Von B. and his late mama??? One shudders delightfully. No, seriously, the performances are quite superior - especially the minor roles - Uta Hagen - great Uta as the faithfuly maid, Christine Baranski as the replacement 'wife', etc. etc. Director Barbet Schroeder never fails to deliver. Creepiness at it's best - and naturally it is based on fact! {Footnote :- Sunny's still with us [69 I believe] - so's the gentleman - 75ish ..... the tapestry of terror continues, it's all very 'Notorious'...with just a whiff or two of "Suspicion"}
|
