Click here for the review of The War of the Roses (1989)

The last entry in the "1980s" series.

It's not as dark as, say, 'Happiness' (what comedy is?), but nevertheless it is a gut punch and is arguably more daring in that it was a mainstream endeavor. I agree with you on the film as a whole; excellent, and dark, dark, dark.

The first paragraph is very well written. (Not that I didn't like the rest of the review) I especially liked the Dante quote.

I think that the bad thing about happy endings is that they some times don't make any sense. I mean, the characters indicate what kind of ending suits them and in this movie it would be abnormal to have it any other way.

What a great movie, although I thought it got too silly by the end, past the point of absurdity. But I guess that was the point.

I haven't seen it for twenty years; I'd love to check it out again.

Great series, JB. I was wondering what you're planning to do for your next little project?

Reviews of all the Oscar Best Picture winners (that I haven't already reviewed), one per week. Should take roughly 40 weeks starting in early October. Should finish up around the end of June.

Oh my God, you're reviewing 'The Deer Hunter', 'Annie Hall', 'The Lost Weekend', 'Midnight Cowboy', and 'Marty'!


Oh my God... you're reviewing 'Driving Miss Daisy', 'Around The World In 80 Days', 'Gandhi', 'Cimmaron', and 'The Greatest Show On Earth'. Vomit!

And don't forget Terms of Endearment

"Oh my god" is right for this one.

In all fairness, I have only seen it once and that was many years ago (in preparation for a theatrical viewing of its sequel). Maybe this time I won't feel like rushing into the bathroom and throwing up.

I can't stand most of the best picture winners, they just tend to either nauseate me or bore me to death.

Good luck with this. I have no idea how Judd Apatow used this film as a primary influence and managed to make good films afterwards. Great example of sewing damp, odious straw into gold.


EDIT: Whoooops.


As mentioned before, a few of these titles ('Lost Weekend' and 'Deer Hunter' most especially) are personal favorites and I would love to see your input for them (although I'm guessing - while not exactly certain - that you will use the term 'dated' in conjunction with both, the former in particular).

James has already said that he will be reviewing both Wings & Sunrise.

Great flick. Havent seen it in awhile though.


I always wished that Douglas and Turner had made one more movie together when they were both in their primes. They had great chemistry together.

3 movies weren't enough for you?

I liked the film immensly.
I thought that the chemistry between Douglas and turner was brilliant.
I also loved the interaction between the main charactors and Devitto.
I would to see Devitto direct another film. I have never seen him direct a bad film.

'Death To Smoochy'. What a horrid piece of trash.