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The House of Yes

The House of Yes

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: rock my world
Review: those are really the only words i can use to describe it. literally. the house of yes ROCKED MY WORLD!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: There is no word for what this movie does for me.
Review: I have never seen anything in my life better than this. It has brought me glee. Finally.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Harrowingly funny one-liners underscore more macabre theme..
Review: The movie makes the biggest impact 2-3 days later when you realize you can't shake the eerie feeling it's left with you. Parker Posey gives her best performance since the manic "Party Girl" and Josh Hamilton reigns in a potentially overwrought role with understated anguish and longing. Tori Spelling fills the air-headed role well in the beginning and then wonderfully when her character gains strength. All in all a movie worth watching even as you gasp at material rivaling the Zapruder film in sheer horror.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow! Great Flick
Review: This movie is really good. Parker Posey once again shows us the indie-actin' ability that's made her one of the most under appreciated actresses in the business. Great tension in the acting, and even Tori Spelling puts in a respectable performance.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "I'm in a box, and I can't get out"
Review: Parker Posey was once quoted as wanting to stay in the independent film genre and not moving into the big budget films, and I say "Thank God!" We want her here! She is probably one of the smartest actors of our time, and this is probably one of the most brilliant scripts we may encounter. The fact that this movie relies on dialogue, and not sinking ships or laser wars, makes me think that there is hope for the cinema. I finished watching this film, rewound and watched it again, but not before shuddering at the fact that I found a movie that showcased incest so incredibly funny. Get this movie if you are interested in the fine art of acting because movies like this are what make it still an art.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Arguably the Best Movie Ever Made
Review: Some may consider this film "good" or merely "excellent." Others, such as myself, view it as the crown jewel of all cinema. A low-budget, high-quality independent film about a family brought together for Thanksgiving brings the electricity of playwright Wendy MacLeod's words to gleaming ferocity before your very eyes. You'll be disappointed if you're expecting computer-generated asteroid collisions or giant space-robots: the focus of this film is doubtlessly its dialogue. Tori Spelling, a naive outsider (Is she acting? Who can say?), is suddenly introduced into this family and taken completely unaware by their sharp wit and seething mindgames. Characters banter effortlessly in the closest thing I have ever seen to verbal fencing. The cohesive family unit is clearly abnormal, which gives every frame of this movie a twisted and dark feel to it. This movie is a must-have for any fan of Parker Posey, because she shines on the screen as the manipulative and vicious-yet-at-the-same-time-very-fragile Jackie-O Pascal. Upon watching "The House of Yes," you will be changed. Maybe a little, maybe a lot.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Time to hide the kitchen knives and hope for the best
Review:
The credits of "The House of Yes" take us back and forth from black & white film of Jackie Kennedy giving her famous televised tour of the White House and color home movies of a young girl (Rachel Leigh Cook) dressed like Jackie and providing a similar tour of her own home. We quickly learn that the night JFK was shot, the father of the young girl and her unseen twin brother behind the camera, disappeared. In the present the young girl, known as Jackie-O (Parker Posey) has recently returned from a mental institution and is excited that her twin brother Marty (Josh Hamilton) is returning home for Thanksgiving in 1983. Unfortunately Marty has brought home a fianc?, Lesly (Tori Spelling), and this does nothing good for Jackie-O's sanity. All her mother (Genevi?ve Bujold) can do is "baste the turkey and hide the kitchen knives."

The problem is that Jackie and Marty are very close twins. Their mother explains to Lesly that that when they emerged from the womb Jackie was holding on to Marty's penis and as this film develops we learn she still has a rather unhealthy attachment to both it and him. Throw into the mix another brother, Anthony (Freddie Prinze Jr.) who takes a liking to Lesly and there is just no end to how badly this Thanksgiving can go. At one point Anthony explains to Lesly that she is the first guest ever to spend the night in the house, which should be enough to send her fleeing from the Pascual residence, but that comes later.

The Pascuals are one of those unhappy families that is unhappy in a peculiarly sick little way. The opening credits inform us that "The House of Yes" was based on a play by Wendy MacLeod and as soon as the dialogue begins you certainly hear the staginess of the words. But it makes sense to me that this story of twins obsessed with incest and the Kennedy assassination was originally a play, because the black comedy probably worked even better in that context. The humor here is warped, to say the least, but the cast is in fine former and makes it easier for us to laugh.

Posey is the star of the show (her performance received special recognition for acting at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival), gleefully enjoying Jackie-O's insanity, starting with her frantic response to Marty's introduction of Lesly as his fianc?. The only one who can go toe to toe with her is Marty, which probably explains why he is so important to her. It is why he continues to act out the JFK assassination with her and get physical that remains a mystery. Prinze turns in a performance that makes me think of a mellower Anthony Perkins, while Bujold keeps urging everybody to just jump ahead to the obvious ending, where Lesly goes away so that Marty and Jackie-O can apparently live happily ever after. Even the casting of Spelling works in this case, although undoubtedly a big surprise to the many who cast aspirations on her acting career.

"The House of Yes" will not be to everyone's taste, but that is what happens when you combine incest and the Kennedy assassination. The situation is surreal enough that you do not take it seriously, but you can still understand why some people are going to give up on this one early on or not even start it once they know what it is about. As a play I would have associated this with some of those I saw during the 1970s, which is why I am probably open to this sort of storyline: I have seen stranger and weirder things. But if you watch "The House of Yes" what you are going to remember in the end are the performances and not the plot.




Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Do They Have Paintings In Pennsylvania?"
Review: I thought this movie was great! It's definitely for the more cultured and intillectual movie-goer. It's probably the best dark comedy I've ever seen (only to rival the masterpiece that is "Heathers"). The dialog in this movie with leave you with one-liners for years to come. After seeing "Party Girl" I fell in love with Parker Posey, and when I saw this I loved her even more. This instantly became one of my favorite movies of all time, but then again I'm a huge fan of good dark comedies and I have a sick sense of humor. Everyone I know absolutely loved this move (including my MOM!) In any event, this is a definite must-see for any fan of Parker Posey and dark comedy. Excellent.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not even Parker Posey's performance can save this movie.
Review: Much like writer/director David O. Russell's "Spanking The Monkey", "The House Of Yes" gives us a disturbing look at dysfunctional families involving taboo subjects. Since I don't like it when reviewers give too much away, I'll leave it at that for now. Although many reviewers have said (albeit incorrectly in my opinion) one's enjoyment of this film depends one's idea of comedy and how much tolerance one has for sick humor or subversive humor, I disagree with the assessment because I disliked this movie not due to any "taste" sensibilities, I just thought that it was not entertaining at almost any level. I can name several movies that I have enjoyed that are rooted in dark or subversive humor that have made me laugh my ___ off, like "Heathers," "Election," "Welcome To The Dollhouse," "In The Company Of Men," "Jackass: The Movie," and even some of John Waters' early comedies, such as "Desperate Living" and "Pink Flamingos," just to name a few. Accordingly, I know that my dislike comes not from the genre but from the actual movie.

"The House Of Yes" at first looks like it's trying to spoof home-for-the-holidays flicks, which always provide much room for surprises; however, to me this movie looks like a desperate attempt to be provocative but it winds up falling flat. Although it does have some funny moments, it actually attempts to provide an academic/psychological explanation for some of the behavior that it chronicles. So on top of not being very funny, much of the dialogue, especially towards the end of the movie sounds so pretentious that you want to slap the film maker into at least focusing on the humorous aspects the he began with, instead of resorting to bumper-sticker psychological explanations that it attempts to provide as the impetus for the leading character's behavior.

Speaking of the lead character, thank God that this mess at least was fortunate enough to land Parker Posey as the main protagonist. If not for what is an amazing and brave performance by Posey with strong support from Josh Hamilton, I would have stopped watching half way through, which I've only done onece. This movie falls prey to the belief that any independent movie is better than what the major studios spit out.

While the world of film would be absolutely catastrophic if not for the work of strong independent filmmakers and those who back them, "The House Of Yes" should only be considered for viewing the aforementioned performances; however, no matter how brilliant they may be, they just can't save the movie. At best the movie makes a strong case that Posey and Hamilton should be huge stars by now. Posey has such range and spark that it is only when she is on that the movie is bearable. If you love Posey and have not seen her work and want to see what all the rage is all about, I would suggest "Best In Show," "Dazed And Confused," "Scream 3," as well as her small but must see performance in "Tales Of The City," and her work on an outstanding episode of what is usually a tired "Will & Grace", in which she steals the show from her fellow actors and proves that Posey not only should be a major movie star, but that she would also be amazing in a well written TV show.

In conclusion, like I said before, I won't tell you much about the plot of this movie just in case you happen to want to see it. My recommendation is that you don't, but if you do, you at least deserve to be kept in the dark about some of the give-a-ways that some reviewers sometimes forget take away from any surprise element that a movie may have. There is hope for the director of this movie as the director for the awful "Spanking The Monkey" went on to direct one of 1999's best films ("Three Kings").

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This movie and cocktails makes a fabulous friday night
Review: This move is a trip. One I am sure some people will hate - but hey, it takes all kinds. Parker Posey's performance is just incredible. An unstable Jackie O' wannabe, her mood swings,rapid-fire one liners, and attitude make this film the winner it is.

Bujold as the matriarch shows a droll comic side that I have never seen in her before and it is perfect with the dialogue she has. "Talk? Why would we want to do that, it only leads to trouble." A scene where she is trying to ship Tori Spelling off in a cab is hysterical.

Tori Spelling does a good job as the naive Donut Queen who has no clue what she just walked into. I mean the poor girl grew up eating pancakes. Even Freddie Prinze Jr. does not do badly.

Yeah the plot is sick: incest, assasinations, mental instability, jealousy and denial. But mixed up with this cast it is very, very funny. Strange and wonderful if you are the dark humor type.


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