Rating: 
Summary: I loved this movie
Review: This is a great movie, especially if you've gone to college, you will be able to relate to the grad students that are the main characters. A star-studded cast, it's really entertaining, from beginning to end. I hardly ever write reviews, but this one deserves 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Liberal Vengence
Review: This is an excellent movie that never really recieved much publicity when it came out. What this movie basically tries to depict what it would be like if a group of liberals decided to go to extreme measures to rid the world of outspoken right-wingers who's death (to coin a phrase) would make the world a better place in their eyes. It does not sound like something worth observing but a few years ago I just happened to catch it playing on a cable movie channel and I just couldn't stop watching it!The movie starts with you introduction to the primary characters consisting of a group of liberal graduate students at Iowa State University. This group is played by Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Jonathan Penner, a still relatively unknown Cameron Diaz, and the great character actor Courtney B. Vance. The story starts out on a stormy night while all but one of the students is watching T.V. and discussing the nonsense gloating of well known conservative Norman Arbuthnot (Ron Perlman). Then there is a knock on the door and upon answering it they find out that their other roommate's car had broken down and he had been brought home by a truckdriver named Zack (Bill Paxton). They decide to be polite and invite Zack in for dinner. Through the course of events they find out that Zack is an extreme right-winger and desert storm veteran (and argument waiting to happen). To make a long story short they get into a scuff wherein Zack breaks Pete's (Ron Eldard) arm and Marc (Jonathan Penner) in the heat of the moment stabs Zack in the back with a kitchen knife. In the aftermath of this incident, they (as calmly as they could) decide that it is best to not mention this to anyone as the courts would probably side with Zack. So they bury Zack in the backyard and dump his pickup in the river. Well in the days after the incident, after much deep conversation about what happened (which we liberals tend to do), they start to think about whether what happened was actually a bad thing or not. (What if someone with enought motivation were to get rid of some of these dangerous right wing a** ho*es and in the process make the world a "better place") So they basically form a plan to invite a different person for dinner and discussion every weekend that has extreme conservative views and try to change their minds about things through debate. And if the person cannot be persuaded, they kill them by giving them wine poisoned with arsenic. Thereby getting rid of a potentially dangerous person (A potential Hitler they call it) and making the world a better place. So this is how the story gets started and how the suspense is wound up through the course of their plan. The people that they invite over are played by many well-known actors including Charles Durning, Mark Harmon, Jason Alexander(Seinfeld), and finally Ron Perlman's character himself. The story is suspensefull and gripping and also includes a lot of insitefull symbolizm. A definite must see for anyone liberal or conservative. It holds a special significance for me because I am an Iowa State grad student myself (note: I am not really sure that it was actually filmed in Ames, Iowa I really don't recognize any of the scenery shown in the movie). Let it be known that the extremedy of the political and social viewpoints presented by the characters in this film are not my viewpoints or beliefs. It is just a wonderful movie for all adults. See it, absorb it, love it!
Rating:
Summary: Liberal Vengence
Review: This is an excellent movie that never really recieved much publicity when it came out. What this movie basically tries to depict what it would be like if a group of liberals decided to go to extreme measures to rid the world of outspoken right-wingers who's death (to coin a phrase) would make the world a better place in their eyes. It does not sound like something worth observing but a few years ago I just happened to catch it playing on a cable movie channel and I just couldn't stop watching it! The movie starts with you introduction to the primary characters consisting of a group of liberal graduate students at Iowa State University. This group is played by Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Jonathan Penner, a still relatively unknown Cameron Diaz, and the great character actor Courtney B. Vance. The story starts out on a stormy night while all but one of the students is watching T.V. and discussing the nonsense gloating of well known conservative Norman Arbuthnot (Ron Perlman). Then there is a knock on the door and upon answering it they find out that their other roommate's car had broken down and he had been brought home by a truckdriver named Zack (Bill Paxton). They decide to be polite and invite Zack in for dinner. Through the course of events they find out that Zack is an extreme right-winger and desert storm veteran (and argument waiting to happen). To make a long story short they get into a scuff wherein Zack breaks Pete's (Ron Eldard) arm and Marc (Jonathan Penner) in the heat of the moment stabs Zack in the back with a kitchen knife. In the aftermath of this incident, they (as calmly as they could) decide that it is best to not mention this to anyone as the courts would probably side with Zack. So they bury Zack in the backyard and dump his pickup in the river. Well in the days after the incident, after much deep conversation about what happened (which we liberals tend to do), they start to think about whether what happened was actually a bad thing or not. (What if someone with enought motivation were to get rid of some of these dangerous right wing a** ho*es and in the process make the world a "better place") So they basically form a plan to invite a different person for dinner and discussion every weekend that has extreme conservative views and try to change their minds about things through debate. And if the person cannot be persuaded, they kill them by giving them wine poisoned with arsenic. Thereby getting rid of a potentially dangerous person (A potential Hitler they call it) and making the world a better place. So this is how the story gets started and how the suspense is wound up through the course of their plan. The people that they invite over are played by many well-known actors including Charles Durning, Mark Harmon, Jason Alexander(Seinfeld), and finally Ron Perlman's character himself. The story is suspensefull and gripping and also includes a lot of insitefull symbolizm. A definite must see for anyone liberal or conservative. It holds a special significance for me because I am an Iowa State grad student myself (note: I am not really sure that it was actually filmed in Ames, Iowa I really don't recognize any of the scenery shown in the movie). Let it be known that the extremedy of the political and social viewpoints presented by the characters in this film are not my viewpoints or beliefs. It is just a wonderful movie for all adults. See it, absorb it, love it!
Rating:
Summary: Dark Humor at its best / original script
Review: This is black comedy at its best. Stacy Title wrote an incredibly original script. The acting is amazing with a very young Cameron Diaz which Im not a huge fan of but this may be her best performance. Courtney Vance is great as usual & 1 of my favorite female actresses Annabeth Gish. Also Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) gives an hilarious performance as an extreme conservative right winger. The story 5 left wing liberal grad students in Iowa share a house together & every Sunday they have supper together discussing left wing politics /socialism & ways they can change the world. In short they come across a drifter truck driver (Bill Paxton) who comes to their door. They invite him in for the ritual supper & he turns out to be a fascist,mysoginistic hitler loving ex marine. In an argument with one of the hosts he breaks their arm. They stab him in the back killing him then they hide the body in their garden. Deciding this is the only way to make a difference they come up with an idea to start inviting known conservative right wingers for last suppers allowing them to plead their choice of political & social views. Like judge & jury if not up to agreement with the hosts a little poison goes in the right wingers wine. A very dark original indie film & script. One of my favorite dark satirical comedies.
Rating:
Summary: will this ever be on DVD?
Review: This is one of my favorite movies. I have the VHS version but i have been waiting to see if they are ever going to put it on DVD. I would like to see some extra stuff for this movie. Does anyone out there know if and when this might be available on DVD? Do yourself a favor and watch this movie if you haven't already.
Rating:
Summary: Secrets in the sauce
Review: This movie is about a group of grad students who go off the deep end with their political views. They end up inviting to dinner various people who have completely opposite political views. The dinners end up being a trail for the lives of their dinner guests and the deciding factor: how well they represent themselves and how much they are liked by their hosts (well not always). As the drama builds in this film the reason for a verdict in the hosts favor becomes more and more bizarre. Contributing factors: The living life between each other and the tension between themselves and the one person who upsets them the most, a television man completely opposite of every political value they have they watch him obsessivly even screaming at the television as if he could hear them. This is one of cameron diaz's first movies although unknown by many, w/ the suprise ending its one of the best movies I've ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark Comedy about Free Speech
Review: This movie is an interesting surprise...a movie about free speech in which 5 prototypical liberal graduate students embark on a mission to rid the world of ideologues with whom they disagree. One by one, they invite these unfortunate souls to their home for pasta, wine, and poison. As more and more guests are buried in the tomato garden in the back yard, the quintet becomes more bloodthirsty and anxious about the morality of their actions. When SNL veteran Nora Dunn appears as a police officer investigating the disappearance of their first victim, they become downright paranoid. Finally, they encounter a Rush Limbaugh-style radio talk show host who, in person, makes cogent arguments supporting the right of everyone to think and say whatever they will and the group is forced to consider the moral implications of what it is doing. The end of the movie is an entertaining resolution to this dilemma. The 5 housemates are all entertaining young actors, most notably Cameron Diaz and Annabeth Gish, and Nora Dunn is wonderful as the sheriff becoming increasingly suspicious of the bizarre actions of the housemates. But the real stars of this cast are the cameos by the guests/victims, including Bill Pullman, Jason Alexander, and Ron Perlman, who does an outstanding job as the arrogant shock jock who unwittingly calls the housemates' scheme into question by simply making good arguments about the right to free speech for all people. This is not a deep film, and the stereotypes are drawn a bit thin in order to drive home the point, but it is an entertaining movie that should appeal to anyone who favors dark comedy and could be a good discussion starter over a glass of wine. Just make sure you drink from the safe carafe!
Rating:
Summary: Dark Comedy about Free Speech
Review: This movie is an interesting surprise...a movie about free speech in which 5 prototypical liberal graduate students embark on a mission to rid the world of ideologues with whom they disagree. One by one, they invite these unfortunate souls to their home for pasta, wine, and poison. As more and more guests are buried in the tomato garden in the back yard, the quintet becomes more bloodthirsty and anxious about the morality of their actions. When SNL veteran Nora Dunn appears as a police officer investigating the disappearance of their first victim, they become downright paranoid. Finally, they encounter a Rush Limbaugh-style radio talk show host who, in person, makes cogent arguments supporting the right of everyone to think and say whatever they will and the group is forced to consider the moral implications of what it is doing. The end of the movie is an entertaining resolution to this dilemma. The 5 housemates are all entertaining young actors, most notably Cameron Diaz and Annabeth Gish, and Nora Dunn is wonderful as the sheriff becoming increasingly suspicious of the bizarre actions of the housemates. But the real stars of this cast are the cameos by the guests/victims, including Bill Pullman, Jason Alexander, and Ron Perlman, who does an outstanding job as the arrogant shock jock who unwittingly calls the housemates' scheme into question by simply making good arguments about the right to free speech for all people. This is not a deep film, and the stereotypes are drawn a bit thin in order to drive home the point, but it is an entertaining movie that should appeal to anyone who favors dark comedy and could be a good discussion starter over a glass of wine. Just make sure you drink from the safe carafe!
Rating:
Summary: Dark comedy at its BEST!
Review: This movie is witty, clever, funny, dark, and all around MESSED-UP! It is the disturbing tale of several grad students that invite guests to dinner for discussion and wine... and what happens when they don't agree with their points of view. It cameos Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld) and Cameron Diaz is absolutely wonderful in this film, as is the rest of the cast. For a great laugh and a distorted perspective at life, check out this intellectual (liberal) comedy. ENJOY it over and over.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best movie
Review: Thought-provoking, funny, dark, intelligent (despite a couple of raw takes) - I watched the movie three times in a row and still want to watch it twice as much. The ending was a bit too soon but very much in the spirit of crime and punishment in carmic point of view.
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