Rating: 
Summary: Hey, call me crazy
Review: This movie was for me something of a cross between Flagg's "Fried Green Tomatoes" and McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood." All are about the Alabama thing, and Childress's novel (and screenplay) more closely resembles the McCrae book than the Flagg with its southern lunacy and thin lines between fantasy and reality. That said, I was a little let down by this. It's almost a cliche to say it, but the book was so much better. There were things that were changed, and for no reason that I could see warrented it: The television show in the book is "The Beverly Hillbillies" and the one in the movie is "Bewitched." The former made more sense. Also, I liked the casting with the exception of Griffith. Southern women of the ilk that Childress created are not that sluggish--they're more quick witted and fiesty. All-in-all it was a pleasurable experience and better than most of the stuff nowadays.
Rating:
Summary: A Star Is Born!
Review: This Movie was just...how shall I say? It was great! It was realy great! Melanie is better than ever! It's the Story of a Woman who lives in Alabama, she killed her husband, decapetated him and put his head in bag! With the Bag she's off to Hollywood to become a hillarious Actress! And she becomes one! But when she comes back to Alabama a whole lot of truble is waiting for her!It's a wonderful Picture, with a great Soundtrack and a very good Crew! Two Thumbs up (!!!) for Antonio Banderas Director-Debut...
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This should be considered one of the best films of the year. In his first attempt as a director, Antonio Banderas did a superb job, and Melanie Griffith was born to play Lucille. The excellent supporting cast, lead by a powerful performance by Meat Loaf as the brutal sheriff, also helped bring the two different storylines together. Technically, the DVD is great. The picture and sound are excellent, and there are a lot of great extra features included. Both the Making-Of Featurette and Photo Montage are interesting, but I wish they could have included more of the deleted scenes and bloopers.
Rating: 
Summary: Wacky beaten wives and quirky racism!
Review: Ugh, this film is a Hollywood stinker of the worst sort. Director Antonio Banderas throws stylistic flourishes in your face at every turn, but he has no feeling for emotional depth. Two murders occur early on in the film, and there is not a single honest emotional reaction to either of them. Later when Melanie Griffith must seduce an offish police officer in his podunk jail, the two of them just fumble clumsily through the scene, not bothering to make a moment of it believable.
Banderas, of course, can only be blamed for about half of the trouble, as the rest is generated by the inept screenplay. There is nothing in the story, for instance, to ever convince you that Griffith's character is a real mother--let alone a mother of *seven* children. Her squalling brood, which she never has to interact with on-screne, seems thrown in simply to make her character more sympathetic. Worst, though, is the story's split personality; it doesn't know if it wants to be a quirky black comedy or a serious drama. It drags in issues of racism and domestic abuse and does no justice by them. Screenwriter Mark Childress, also author of the novel, is as bad as any politician parading "the children" to enliven the latest Washington DC scare-crisis and fill the pork-barrel.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent family viewing - except for those with headaches..
Review: When Mom brought this one from the video rental store, I was immediately bored - what kind of movie has a title like "Crazy in Alabama"? To me that says only one thing - low budget. I'd never heard of the actors except for Melanie Griffiths who sounded vaguely familiar. My attitude was a complete turnaround as we went into the film - full of excellent comedy, interesting twists and, best of all, the film poses one of THE QUESTIONS - if your husband is really really cruel, does that give you the right to chop his head off and carry it to Hollywood with you? Melanie Griffiths gives a star's performance in this one. None of the usual Hollywood sex scenes either - just good old fun. I also enjoyed the thought-provoking scenes with the whole deal over a swimming pool and racism - for those of you who haven't watched it, I won't tell you what happens. I'd say this is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and would recommend it to anyone - if only to listen to Frank Sinatra's daughter singing in the opening tunes!
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