Rating: 
Summary: One of my favorite movies
Review: This movie isn't that well known, but it is possibly the best satire ever made. Coburn's character cracks up and descends into paranoia--comedian Arte Johnson, as a scary hitman, atttempts to blow Coburn's brains out (several times) because "Rules are rules!" He is saved by militant suburban liberals, kidnapped by the Canadian Secret Service disguised as a 1960's psychedelic band, and is almost assasinated by half-a-dozen hitman crawling after him in a field. Great film.
Rating: 
Summary: * * * * * for the film, but this CUT is butchered !
Review: Unfortunately, the listing (at the time of this writing) fails to mention that this is a "special home video edition". - - Apparently Paramount couldn't (or for whatever reasons) wouldn't get the rights to some of the original music that appeared in the film. - - End result, they had to cut and edit certain scenes. - - While legal problems are understandable, what I found disappointing was that it seems the music they replaced the original stuff with bordered on cheap LA garage band music, which in turn seemed to cheapen the film. The person responsible for this probably wasn't much of a music buff, because the music and sound of that era could easily have been replicated... - - but the fact is... if you're getting this film because you've already rented it a million times and like me, its one of your faves... get ready for a bit of disappointment. On the other hand, it is a great movie, and its good to see atleast some effort was made to get it out of the vaults. (Now when are they going to rerelease another '60s counterculture classic : Wild In The Streets ?)
Rating:
Summary: great music, over-the-top film
Review: Well, there's good news on DVD. "The President's Analyst" has arrived with its original soundtrack intact -- at least as far as I know. The Barry McGuire music is back, but as far as the "eye ball" sequence that others talk about here, I don't see it. Maybe someone else can describe better what others are talking about and what still may be missing. I think what we have here is the offical release version and this movie is excellent, a wonderful artifact of its era. I'm glad it's finally out on DVD. The 16x9 anamorphic transfer looks great. I'm giving the DVD four stars based on the quality of the movie and its picture transfer (the mono sound is a bit too compressed), but I can't give it five stars because there's no trailer and the movie deserves a commentary track (Hey Paramount Home Entertainment, director Theodore J. Flicker is still alive!), but at least the original music is back..."The changes that keep going down
And they always will
I can get my fill
If I go along with the changes
That go round and round
It's all there to see
As they come to me
If I go along with the changes..." Mother's Milk!
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous, classic satire.
Review: When the President of the US begins suffering from stress, Sidney Schaefer (James Coburn) is selected to be his psychoanalyst. The President finds the sessions enormously useful, but Schaefer finds that what was, at first, a great honor and privilege, spirals out of control. The secrets that he has heard might become very useful --or-- dangerous. His anxiety mounts until he finally decides to just make a break from Washington, setting in motion a cross-country chase with the theme: "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't after me." And indeed, everyone is. America's enemies want his secrets. Even "friendly" nations have their own agendas. And his own security services are divided between those who want to help him, and those who just want to eliminate him as a security threat.
The same plot could be played as a political thriller but, here, it is done as a marvelous satirical send-up of the 60's. The cold war, psycho-babble, political correctness, hippies, corporate corruption, bureaucracy; it's all there, and it's all fun.
Coburn and the rest of the cast are wonderful. It is one of my all-time favorite comedies. My only concern is whether the studio has bothered to put together the original film with Barry McGuire's music, and a long missing scene where Coburn's character is introduced to his girl friend. If not, I suppose I will still purchase and recommend it, but the studio should then be required to put a sticker on the box saying, "Most of the President's Analyst." We shall see.
Rating:
Summary: President's Analyst - the cautionary comedy saper
Review: Where to start? Where to start?! Perhaps, in my humble opinion, one of the funniest and snappiest comedies you will ever see. Think the Blazzing Saddles of the cold war... Think The Apartment of psychiatry! James Coburn glides shark-like through an ensemble piece of American Dream cold war paranoia. Shocked to find his star patient is actually a government agent and sometime state sactioned hitman, we find our happless hero propelled into a psychadelic rollercoaster ride as he realises he has been chosen to become the eponimous President's Analyst. Chaos ensues as the world's goverments try to kill or kidnap him. Even his own FBR want him dead. The fact that CIA and FBI were changed in postproduction (sometimes clunkily) to FBR and CEA stands tribute to how strangely subversive a movie we have here. The set pieces in the restaraunt and the attempted assassination at the hippie commune at amongst the best scenes in sixties pop culture ever to make it onto the big screen! I would take this movie into space with me if i could take no other form of entertainment!
Rating:
Summary: Whose behind all this?!
Review: You won't believe who's behind constantly watching the president's analyst. Someone or should I say something other than your typical agents. Fans of James Coburn will enjoy this movie, especially if they liked his Flint movies or Duck, You Sucker (Giù la testa, 1971). Parody after parody, it is hard to know the truth from the lies. One of my all time favorite comedies. The supporting cast is great and the director, sets, and music make it all first rate. I only hope this comes out on DVD since it belongs among the top 100 comedies even if it is a sleeper. I somehow missed this at the theater myself and caught it on TV when my closest friend was watching it. I laughed my [butt] off. Whether you grew up during the 60s or not, any fans of movies like Animal House, Blazing Saddles, Naked Gun, and Hot Shots! should not be disappointed. Anyone that grew up in the 60s, that like comedies, will love it. This will be available on DVD soon and I am looking forward to getting my copy.
|
