Rating: 
Summary: This movie is poignant, real and deeply stirring
Review: This is one of our family's favorite movies of all time. We initially rented it because there was nothing "good" available to rent, but we all find it to be one of the best movies we've ever seen. It's one of those movies you find yourself thinking about days and weeks after watching it, and there is much more to the script and plot than first meets the eye. I've since recommended it to many friends and relatives, who have also enjoyed it. It never hit the big time, but it has all the ingredients for success - believability, insight, compassion, family trials, crazy relatives, inspiration and humor.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sad, Sidesplitting Memoir That Hollywood Just Didn't Get
Review: This is what happens when a genuinely funny, and touching memoir is eviscerated by Hollywood hacks. The unflinching book was full of whimsy and gentle irony; the film trades on sentiment and New Age wisdom. The book brings to life a whole gallery of strange and wonderful people. The film softens all their edges (or eliminates them entirely) and becomes a golden-hued dying-mother tearjerker that's undone by its shaky premise that crazy people are more in touch with life than their rational counterparts. It tries too hard to make lunacy endearing, and its rosy approach to terminal illness makes it all seem phony.
Rating:
Summary: A very moving and sentimental movie
Review: This movie is very well done. Good character develoment as well as an interesting plot. This movie touches the viewer by allowing the viewer to crawl into the mind of all the characters. The direction of the film allows the viewer to also experience the feeling of loss and the ability to understand how the characters interact with each other.
Rating: 
Summary: Change of Pace....Terrific Cast
Review: This review refers to the DVD edition(Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment) of "Unstrung Heroes"......In the mood for something just a little different? Try spending some time with Michael Richards and Maury Chaykin. They're about as different as you can get. They are Danny an Arthur Lidz, the two very eccentric brothers(not too far removed from Richard's 'Kramer' character on "Seinfeld")who take in their young nephew Steven when things at his house are a little tough to take. Steven Lidz has always been a bit different from the rest of the kids, this no doubt due to the fact that his father is a bit of an eccentric himself.He is learning to deal with his father's way of life, but when he learns of his mother's terminal illness it's more than he can handle and runs away to stay with his uncles. Uncle Danny and Uncle Arthur are not the ideal choice for baby-sitters, but may be able to teach Steven and his father what's important in life. The story based on a book by Franz Lidz(the now grown Steven), set in the 1950's, will evoke many emotions. It is touching, at times poignant, sometimes funny, but most of all, I found it to be very heartwarming. It a story of love and family. Diane Keaton directs this emotional film, and gives us a look at her terrific behind the camera talents.Richards and Chaykin are perfectly cast in the roles of the uncles. Nathan Watt plays the young Steven(Franz) and holds his own with seasoned veterans Andie MacDowell and John Turturro as his parents.The music by Thomas Newman is as moving as the story, and was nominated for an Oscar. The DVD is a good buy for the price. It has a nice clear picture, with good color and is presented in widescreen.The sound in Dolby Dig Surround(stereo) is very good.It may be viewed in French and has subtitles in Spanish only.There are no other features. For a few smiles, a few tears, and lots of love, check this one out and enjoy.....Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Change of Pace....Terrific Cast
Review: This review refers to the DVD edition(Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment) of "Unstrung Heroes"...... In the mood for something just a little different? Try spending some time with Michael Richards and Maury Chaykin. They're about as different as you can get. They are Danny an Arthur Lidz, the two very eccentric brothers(not too far removed from Richard's 'Kramer' character on "Seinfeld")who take in their young nephew Steven when things at his house are a little tough to take. Steven Lidz has always been a bit different from the rest of the kids, this no doubt due to the fact that his father is a bit of an eccentric himself.He is learning to deal with his father's way of life, but when he learns of his mother's terminal illness it's more than he can handle and runs away to stay with his uncles. Uncle Danny and Uncle Arthur are not the ideal choice for baby-sitters, but may be able to teach Steven and his father what's important in life. The story based on a book by Franz Lidz(the now grown Steven), set in the 1950's, will evoke many emotions. It is touching, at times poignant, sometimes funny, but most of all, I found it to be very heartwarming. It a story of love and family. Diane Keaton directs this emotional film, and gives us a look at her terrific behind the camera talents.Richards and Chaykin are perfectly cast in the roles of the uncles. Nathan Watt plays the young Steven(Franz) and holds his own with seasoned veterans Andie MacDowell and John Turturro as his parents.The music by Thomas Newman is as moving as the story, and was nominated for an Oscar. The DVD is a good buy for the price. It has a nice clear picture, with good color and is presented in widescreen.The sound in Dolby Dig Surround(stereo) is very good.It may be viewed in French and has subtitles in Spanish only.There are no other features. For a few smiles, a few tears, and lots of love, check this one out and enjoy.....Laurie
Rating:
Summary: What A Missed Opportunity!
Review: This sappy, syrupy reworking of a splendid memoir is only affecting because it manipilates audiences by focus group-tested Hollywood formula. Sadly, the filmmakers were too callow to take even minimal risks and follow the book, which is exciting and volatile and genuinely affecting. The memoir survives on its honesty -- the film is hollow from its first false frame to its last. Only John Turturro's brilliant performance redeems this cheap, commercial project. But then, what else would you expect from Disney?
Rating:
Summary: Lacks Memoir's Effortless Brand of Storytelling Brilliance
Review: This semi-comic update of the world crystallised by Samuel Beckett charts the disastrous involvement of laidback dopehead Sidney "The Sid" Lidz (Turturro) in a kidnapping case involving the wife of his millionaire namesake (Watt). The Sid is hired as bagman and of course finds himself increasingly at risk as he makes his way around an L.A. populated by the rich, strange and dangerous. Nor do his bowling buddies help: Arthur (Chaykin) is several pins short of a strike; while Richards, a crazed, irascible Vietnam vet, is so determined to stand his (and The Sid's) ground that he causes more trouble than he solves. What this all has to do with Franz Lidz's memoir "Unstrung Heroes" is anybody's guess. (Not mine).
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, moving story of a young boy's life
Review: This was the best movie I have ever seen. Riveting performances with unbridled enthusiasm from Andie MacDowell, John Turturro and Michael Richards weave together into something worthy of an Oscar. The way triumph and tragedy come together represents an eccentric view of a young boy's coming to terms with his own beliefs, morals, griefs, and most important, family. I would reccomend this book to anyone and everyone. Amelie you have to see this one.
Rating: 
Summary: As nutty as lemon meringue pie
Review: Too much of a bad thing can be terrible. It's fish 4 days old, I wouldn't buy it. Or even rent it. The movie drips with treacle. Whoever said they cried during this movie must have an open canister of tear gas left around the house. Insanity runs in MY family, infact it practically gallops. But this adorably silly family acts more like silly putty.
Rating:
Summary: The film's OK, but the book's far, far better
Review: Unstrung Heroes is one of my alltime favorite books, and I was deeply disappointed how the filmmakers homogenized, pasteurized, de-ethnisized and generally watered it down. Granted, paring is a function of filmmaking - but the treacley script fails to capture the memoir's honesty, humor or dark irony. Unlike the book, the film wallows in sentimentality. Gone are 2 of the uncles - most missed is Uncle Leo, whom the young boy visits in the asylum that's been his home for more than 30 years. Instead of being genuinely mad and edgy, the two remaining uncles play out like Oscar and Felix on The Odd Couple. (They've been Disneyfied, like the rest of the major characters). And the boy's profoundly evil best friend - Ash - is reduced to a sort of Eddie Haskell. This film loses a lot - mostly an urban edge - by shifting locales from New York City to Pasadena (!!!) On top of that, the father (John Turturro) is shorn of all humor - the Sidney Lidz portrayed in the book was an extremely witty (though deeply flawed) man. Turturro does a fantastic job with a badly scripted, unplayable part. He transcends this disappointing adaptation and warrants 5 stars. And Disney has added all kinds of dopey capers (like the boy "saving" his uncles from eviction) to "move the action along." Really dumb and insulting to the viewer! My advice: Buy the book! It's richly rewarding, still in paperback and dirt-cheap.
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