Two Lovers Review

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(More customer reviews)Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) struggles with depression after his fiance leaves him. The movie opens with Leonard attempting suicide. That night he meets Sandra (Vanessa Shaw)-a sweet, affable, loving girl. A short time later he runs into Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow)-a drug addled, promiscuous, party girl who loves a married man. Sandra wants to take care of Leonard and Leonard wants to take care of Michelle.
In his relationship with Michelle, Leonard is the strong one, the good one. In his relationship with Sandra, he continues to be the weak man from his past-the guy that needs gentle understanding. It's no wonder he pines for Michelle even though she's going to lead him down the path of self destruction. But every lover wants the chase.
I loved this movie and am frankly surprised by the bad reviews. Two Lovers may be subtle and a bit slow for some, but I found it nuanced and charming. At times in my life I've been the sunny party girl in love with the wrong man, the depressed lover pining for a an ex, and the sweet affable girl who could utter such lines as "if you don't want me, it's ok. I mean a lot of guys don't want me." Everyone should find at least one character in this film they can relate to. Highly recommended.

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Set in the insular world of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, TWO LOVERS is a classic romantic drama, with Joaquin Phoenix giving a raw and vulnerable performance as Leonard, a charismatic but troubled young man who moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents (Isabella Rossellini and Moni Monoshov), Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra, the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family's dry-cleaning business. Leonard becomes deeply infatuated by Michelle, who seems poised to fall for him, but is having a self-destructive affair with a married man. At the same time, mounting pressure from his family pushes him towards committing to Sandra. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision between the impetuousness of desire and the comfort of love or risk falling back into the darkness that nearly killed him.

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Tracy Anderson Perfect Design Series Set Review

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(More customer reviews)I was thrilled when I pre-ordered the Perfect Design DVD in December. I only ordered the 3rd disc because of the cost, plus I consider myself an advanced exerciser. Tracy's Mat workout was different from any workout I'd ever tried, and I absolutely loved it. The movements flowed, it had an artsy/dancelike undertone to it - very feminine, extremely effective. Her webisodes have been up to par with her 2008 workouts, surely the PD series would meet the expectation level set by her Mat workout. Her unique arm sequences & ab sequences placed her in a new category. Results from the arm segments in the Mat workout were proof enough that she was not even comparable to other trainers(IMO).
There are several instructors with programs to help women slim down thighs/glutes, elongating the legs by creating a toned/sleek look. That's great for those who tend to be pear shaped! I've had thin legs all my life - it takes minimal effort to tone my legs. But arms, nothing worked to slim them down. A toned/sleek look was something I could only dream about. Then Tracy Anderson does the impossible. So, her Perfect Design Series focuses on glutes!?
The PD series, Tracy chooses to do voice over - seemed a little lazy. A majority of the workout is leg/glute work. You need a sturdy chair, and you will use it....too much. Maybe if I had the SAME chair she did, I wouldn't have been as annoyed? Sure some of the moves were unique, however, the same muscles could be worked without making it so complicated. One positive with using the chair, you do engage your core a lot! Otherwise, it was BORING!!
Arms consisted of one segment, no weights. Because it is voice over, she makes vague comments which are of no help. The camera will focus on her face, showing the upper arm (nothing past the elbow) as she says to make sure you watch the direction her palms are facing. You can't see what her hands are doing?! She looks as if she is improvising as she goes along. The setting is a loft with big windows at night with lights dimmed. Not the best choice for a segment you need to really focus on. The ab work was alright, again, not up to par with her Mat workout. It wasn't challenging for me, just blah.
On a positive note, if you are new to Tracy Anderson or didn't like her Mat workout - you will most likely enjoy this! If you are looking for some unique moves to target your lower body & enjoy chairs...this is for you =) It's still a unique workout. Seriously, great lower body work! The ab work will be interesting as well. A change of pace is always refreshing, and I recommend this if you haven't tried her previous workouts.
If you like & own the Mat workout, I wouldn't waste my money on this. I'm going to stick to the Mat DVD & webisodes for now. This seems thrown together and sloppy considering the hype around her workouts. If you wanted some arm & ab work comparable to her previous DVDs, you won't find it here. This was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT for me. Maybe my expectations were too high?

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The first of its kind from Tracy Anderson, the Perfect Design Series 3 Disk Set allows the viewer the unique opportunity to progress through 3 levels of muscular structure training. A must have for anyone who owned the Tracy Anderson Mat DVD. Sequence I, II and III included. DVD's are 60 minutes each. No Special Equipment is needed.

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Bounce (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)While waiting in an airport, Buddy Amarol (Ben Affleck) meets Greg Janello (Tony Goldwyn) a writer. The two men get to talking, and it becomes clear, Greg, wants to get home to see his wife, and kids. Buddy, scheming to have a one-night-stand with Mimi (Natasha Henstridge), also hanging around the airport, decides to be a "nice" guy, and give his plane ticket to Greg.
Buddy is stirred out of sleep by sirens, he quickly turns on the television to find out the plane he was supposed to be on has crashed, killing all the passengers.
Tormented by what has happened, Buddy turns to booze, eventually landing him in rehab. Once sober, Buddy sets out to meet Abby (Gwyneth Paltrow), the wife of Greg. After a brief stalking period, the two actually talk and begin falling in love. But all is not so perfect for this couple, as a videotape of Buddy and Greg at the airport surfaces, throwing Abby into a state of wonder, and confusion.
"Bounce" is not the cute movie the trailer's depicted, but actually a dark love story, that is somewhat creepy. Affleck, and Paltrow are likable in their roles, and they do work well together, but it isn't enough to carry the whole movie.
If there is nothing else to watch, "Bounce" will pass the time, but many will come away from the film disappointed.
Nick Gonnella

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Buddy Amaral (Ben Affleck), a cocky, self-absorbed ad executive who--in desiring a tryst with the gorgeous Mimi (Natasha Henstridge), a woman he meets at the airport--gives up his plane ticket back to Los Angeles to writer Greg Janello (Tony Goldwyn). The plane crashes, and Buddy begins a downward spiral of alcoholism and self-loathing until he undergoes rehab. Once out, he decides to pay a visit to the dead man's widow. Abby Janello (Gwyneth Paltrow) is a struggling real estate agent with two young sons. She slowly befriends Buddy and falls in love with him while Buddy struggles with the guilty secret of his connection to her husband's untimely death which could destroy their relationship.

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A Perfect Murder (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)For the record, "A Perfect Murder" is a remake of "Dial M for Murder," Alfred Hitchcock's maliciously clever but hopelessly stagebound adaptation of the popular play by Frederick Knott. But it is great deal more fun to view the new movie as a sequel to "Wall Street," with Michael Douglas once again in top form as a ruthlessly manipulative financial whiz. Imagine Gordon Gekko just a few years past his prime as a high-flying corporate raider, with a trophy wife who's just beginning to tarnish, and you'll get the idea. The big difference is, this time, instead of extolling the virtues of greed, Douglas' character is willing to consider the benefits of an even deadlier sin.
In "A Perfect Murder," which Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive") has directed from a screenplay by Patrick Smith Kelly, Douglas is Steven Taylor, a Manhattan-based millionaire industrialist who has over-extended himself while playing the international money markets. Worse, he knows that his most prized possession -- Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow), his radiantly beautiful and conspicuously younger wife -- is drifting out of his jealously tight grip.
Right from the start, the audience knows that Emily is having an affair with David (Viggo Mortensen), a broodingly hunky artist who invites her to his fashionably seedy downtown loft for afternoon delights. Trouble is, Steven also knows about the affair. This, too, is made clear very early in the story, as Steven and Emily share a drink in their luxurious apartment before attending a gallery opening. Despite all their polite chit-chat, there is an edge of menace in the air. When Steven abruptly suggests that she wear another dress to the occasion, his words have the unmistakable sound of a command. Not surprisingly, Emily does as she's told.
At the gallery opening, Steven is effortlessly gracious as his wife introduces him to David, whom she identifies as a casual acquaintance. Of course, he's much more than that -- much more, in fact, than even Emily realizes.
After inviting himself to David's loft, Steven reverts to his natural state. He knows that David is an ex-convict who taught himself to paint in prison -- and, more important, has mastered the art of seducing, then robbing, rich women. Sounding very much like a hard-bargaining businessman, Steven wastes little time in making his pitch: He offers David $500,000 to kill Emily. For a few minutes, David rejects the offer. But the money -- coupled with the threat of exposure -- is too tempting to resist.
It would be difficult to say more about what happens next without running the risk of spilling some beans. Even if you've already seen Hitchcock's 1954 original, or one of the many revivals of Knott's play, you are in for a few surprises. Davis and Kelly treat "Dial M for Murder" more as a source of inspiration than a classic worthy of replication. They take the play's basic set-up -- the husband concocts a tricky murder scheme that hinges on the placement of a latchkey and the ringing of a telephone -- but go off in a different, far more intriguing direction.
Perhaps the most striking difference between Hitchcock's film and Davis' update is the casually amoral cynicism that informs "A Perfect Murder." In the 1954 thriller, the wife's lover was a boyishly buoyant mystery writer, affably played by Robert Cummings, while the wife -- played by Hitchcock's favorite leading lady, Grace Kelly -- was a relatively innocent adulteress who generated sympathy while paying for her sins. Even the cuckolded husband, played by Ray Milland, came across as genial rogue who was motivated by love as much as money.
Welcome to the 1990s: In "A Perfect Murder," the lover is a con man with a gift for blackmail, the husband has lust in his heart for his wife's trust fund, and even the wife is a strong believer in enlightened self-interest. You won't feel excessive sympathy for any of these characters as they hatch their plots and counter-plots. In fact, you may think one of them gets off far too easily in the end. But with the lead roles cast so effectively, and the plot twisting so cleverly, you likely will wind up feeling that, unlike Steven, you've gotten your money's worth.

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A powerful Wall Street power broker tries to get his wife's lover to murder her.Genre: SuspenseRating: RRelease Date: 8-FEB-2005Media Type: DVD

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The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)When picking out films to see, I usually gravitate toward the "small" independent type of film usually avoiding the larger "major" productions. Thus, I avoided "the Talented Mr. Ripley" up until recently. My mistake! "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is outstanding and has, to me, everything a movie should have to make it the "complete film experience"-great script and direction, great acting, wonderful sound tract and beautiful cinematography. This film has it all!
The acting, by all of the actors, is superb. Matt Damon, as Tom Ripley is outstanding. He portrays a very complicated character believably. At no time are you aware that he is acting. This character does things that are, indeed, despicable; however, due to the acting skills of Damon, I actually liked the guy and felt deep sympathy and empathy for him and for his desire to be someone else
(I think we all have been there-at least I have-fortunately all of us don't do what Tom Ripley does, in the film, to achieve our wishes). To me the last scene of the film is fantastic and heart breaking due to Matt Damon giving a gut wrenching performance--the character Tom has finally found someone to love, and has found someone that accepts him as himself but due to past deeds and the need to keep his past hidden, he has to kill the person that could have brought him love and happiness. As usual, Jude Law, as the playboy and errant son Dickie, is awesome. He plays a cad but due to his acting skills you, like this cad. Gwenyth Platrow gives a "knock-em dead" performance, as Dickie's girlfriend starting out as a plastic rich "air-head" and ending up as the only one that really knows what has happened to Dickie when he has disappeared and becoming a completely different person because of that knowledge. Her knock down drag out with the character Tom is great. Cate Blanchett plays a socialite- debutante-type wonderfully. The acting alone would have made "The Talented Mr. Ripley" a great film; however, there is more!
The film has one of the best sound tracts that I've ever heard. The sound tract makes use of Renaissance Church music, so-called "Classical music" "cool" jazz and one of my favorites I (if not my favorite) pop standards-"My Funny Valentine" sung wonderfully by Matt Damon. The sound tract is gorgeous! What impressed me the most is that Matt Damon and Jude Law took the time to learn to really play the instruments that they were suppose to be playing in the film-Damon, the piano and Law the saxophone. One of my favorite scenes is in the smoked filled American-jazz nightclub--fabulous.
The recreation of 1950-era Italy is great and it is shot beautifully.
If you want to have an enjoyable film experience, buy this film

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Ripley is sent to Italy to bring home a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy but befriends him instead. As he begins to enjoy the rich life, Ripley kills the playboy and assumes his life.Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: RRelease Date: 29-DEC-2004Media Type: DVD

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Duets (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)I thought this movie was wonderful and am surprised at the vitriolic critiques by reviewers. Gwynneth is always a great actress and she played the part of the daughter reunited with a reluctant father well. There were several subplots in this move, all involving wonderful singing and complex relationships.
Don't believe the critics on this one. It actually is an enjoyable movie, which is in turns funny, sweet and sad.

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Academy Award(R)-winner Gwyneth Paltrow (Best Actress, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY) and Scott Speedman (TV's FELICITY) are part of the stellar ensemble cast in a hilariously offbeat comedy! The lives of six stranges become outrageously intertwined when a riotous road trip culminates at the site of the national Karaoke championships. As they compete for the $5,000 grand prize, this unlikely group will eventually learn all about each other ... while discovering answers to the questions about themselves! Also featuring great performances from Maria Bello (COYOTE UGLY), Andre Braugher (FREQUENCY), Paul Giamatti (BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE), and Huey Lewis (SHADOW OF DOUBT) -- you'll agree with audiences everywhere who fell in love with this uncommonly entertaining comedy!

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The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)I am in my 30s and have been a lifelong on and off exerciser(gym, treadmill, mostly The Firm videos)... About a year ago, I had an a-ha moment and realized that I was having a hard time "sticking" with working out, because with my Firm videos I wasn't really seeing good results and they were boring me to death!
That's when I switched over to yoga/pilates/barre workouts which I have truly enjoyed and have provided me with results...however, I had plateau'ed and was (coincidentally) thinking of how I could supplement with dance cardio when I saw Gwyneth Paltrow and TA on Oprah. After some research I ordered the TA Dance Aerobics (older dvd) through her studio...and enjoyed it so much that I decided to go for it with the Mat WO as well, even though I had promised myself to not spend any more $$ on tapes for a little while.
This has to be my #1 favorite DVD I own now. I have been doing it about three times a week and also doing the dance aerobics dvd. I have lost some inches over the past month even though I took a lot of days off and haven't had the best diet due to the holidays.
Here are some things I wanted to point out to anyone considering purchasing the Mat DVD:
* This is an intermediate-advanced workout. Newbies should expect to take it easy and definitely don't plan to be able to do this 4-6xs a week at first! You could hurt yourself (I am thinking mainly with the arm/shoulder portion) due to overtraining.
* The arm workout is a ~~standout~~ feature of the TA method. I have very rounded shoulders, I believe due to poor posture and bad genes. It took me almost one month before I was able to get through the unweighted arm session (I think this is a sign of how weak the smaller muscle groups were in my upper body). I see more change in my arms/shoulders/chest/back than I have ever seen doing any other kind of workout. Thank you, Tracy!
* Weighted arm section, most likely you will need 1-2 lbs to start regardless of your strength. I could use 10lbs with Firm tapes but could barely get through using 1lb weights at first.
* The leg exercises really require a lot of concentration (as Tracy says herself during the workout). Due to the large range of motion, you can easily just swing your legs around(momentum) and not really use the muscles properly. I try to imagine I am pulling a weight with my toes and envision my leg is following an imaginary line to help keep control and the leg portion has become much more difficult the more I control it.
* I must say...I do not endorse doing 2hrs ~or the two tapes~ a day unless you are an more experienced exerciser and know your body well and know about overtraining. With that said, this tape will provide you with great results doing it 3-4 times a week along with cardio and I personally find Tracy (her philosophy and body type) to be inspiring fitness-wise.
**Edited to add:
(I thought it would be helpful to add this one last thing)
WHY IS THIS WORKOUT DIFFERENT:
Tracy Anderson's Mat Workout really does take different components from other exercise genres and combines them to make a very unique workout.
For instance, she uses the Fluidity principle of trying to engage as many muscles as possible in movements... An example of this would be traditional floor hip-thigh isolation work from Firm workouts, she does similar moves but while standing behind a chair, so you are working the moving leg but also the standing leg and additionally you are engaging the muscles in the arms while holding the chair and the core and back.
She also incorporates Pilates elements into her exercises (stretch and strengthen types of movements, larger ranges of motion).
Many of her standing leg "rotations" seem to me to be a variation of the Callanetics/Bar Method's Pretzel (which targets the outer hip/glute area).
Lastly, because it is such high repetitions, lots of motion, I feel I am keeping my heartrate up during much of the workout.
I have added 10-30 minutes of Dance Aerobics before doing the Mat WO to warm up and my body feels as if it every single muscle has been exhausted from head to toe but leaves me also feeling invigorated with a "workout high". Happy Exercising!

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This is the The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD

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Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy Workout DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)When I saw that Jennifer Aniston's yoga instructor was putting out a DVD I couldn't wait to purchase it - who doesn't want to look like Jennifer Aniston? I have been doing yoga regularly, both at home and with an instructor for about 6 years and am always looking for new yoga workouts. What a disappointment this DVD is!
First, the cover promises 2 complete 30-minute workouts and one longer 55 minute workout. What it doesn't tell you is that the 2 30- minute workouts are identical except that one provides instruction and the other does not. In addition, the longer workout is just the same 30-minute workout with a more traditional sun-salute series stuck onto the beginning.
The 30 minute workouts are really not yoga at all - I felt like I was back in my college dorm room doing Jane Fonda! The sun salute series is impossible to follow unless you are actually looking at the screen which is obviously not practical. Also, the workout is very disjointed - there is a lot of standing around while Mandy explains what's coming up. There is absolutely no flow.
I guess if I'm going to look like Jennifer, I'm going to have to do it alone!

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Celebrated yoga and fitness instructor Mandy Ingber offers an all-new, unique program that will sculpt sleek muscles and unwind your mind. Yogalosophy, a groundbreaking workout from superstar celebrity yoga instructor, promotes weight loss and getting into shape with an easy-to-follow but challenging routine. The program includes two versions of a 30-Minute Routine and a Fully-Loaded, 55-Minute Challenge. Available for the first time ever on DVD, this hybrid workout pairs yoga poses with toning exercises that will get you into the best shape of your life while connecting your mind, body, and emotions. Believe. Feel. Become.

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Country Strong (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)I seem to be in a minority, but I thought this was a superb movie, a great start to 2011 (countering what Rebecca Murray said about the movie). Was it the greatest movie of all time? Not by a long shot, no. But it accomplished what it set out to do: it told a great story, showcased great performances both dramatically and musically.
While Paltrow may take first-billing, and while her musical numbers are phenomenal, to me it is Beau and Chiles (Hedlund and Meester) who this movie is really about.

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The Tracy Anderson Method Presents Post-Pregnancy Workout DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)I know this DVD is aimed at post-natal women, but the way it targets common trouble areas like the abs, hips and outer-thighs makes it a wonderful workout for any woman. I did have a baby 16 months ago, and have had a terrible time getting back in shape and losing the baby weight. I keep buying new workout videos, looking for that magically inspirational workout that is going to help me get my body back, with no luck, until now. I am completely hooked on Tracy Anderson! Her DVDs are beautifully produced, the setting is elegant, the music on this DVD is classical and complements the tone of the workout very well. Tracy's demeanor is encouraging and kind, she explains the mechanisms of each move quite well, but she does not talk too much.
The workout itself is about 45 minutes long, and is composed of a brief warm-up, a lot of ab work, some side lying ab work, some leg and glute lifts and squeezes, and then two series of arm exercises, one without weights and one with light weights, and then it finishes with a cool down and stretch. The workout is definitely challenging, even for a more experienced student, but not overwhelmingly hard.
The greatest thing about both this post-natal workout and Tracy's Mat Workout is that they are fun - the time flies by - and they leave you feeling strong, a bit sore, but totally refreshed. I am actually disappointed if I can't find the time to workout - definitely no "dread-factor" here! Highly recommended - Thank You Tracy!

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The Tracy Anderson Method Presents Post-Pregnancy Workout DVD

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