Michael Neumann
It may be a far cry from classic screwball comedy, but even during its many forgettable moments this fish-out-of-water farce isn't a total write-off. Certainly there's nothing in it to justify the cold-blooded lack of confidence that killed it at the Box Office: the throwaway release it received is usually reserved for lame dogs someone wants put out of misery, and in this case it worked.At least the film never pretends to be anything more than what it is: a self-consciously wacky social comedy with an outsider's exaggerated, broad-as-a-barn-door view of American manners, starring Daniel Day Lewis as a dapper English art appraiser who runs into an oddball collection of cartoon Confederate rebels while investigating a lost Renoir in backwoods Georgia. All the film needs is a laugh-track to become a respectable TV sitcom (a degenerate Beverly Hillbillies?), but director Pat O'Connor doesn't show much aptitude for low comedy, and the laughs collapse into a feeble slapstick conclusion, leaving the door wide open for a sequel which will never be made.
peter-patti
William Boyd's "Stars and Bars" - the book - stands in the great tradition of the English comic novel (Evelyn Waugh being one of Boyd's masters and inspirators). Now, I've seen the film only in German language... That's a pity because of the resulting demi-lack of Englishman-in-New-York-effects. As you can image, the German translation cannot be that perfect. I guess that the linguistical misunderstandings between the "hero" (Day Lewis) and the bizarre Georgian family with Anglophobic slursare are ten times funnier in the original version (as they are in the book). Anyway, I liked the film immediately and I'm happy to have taped it. Great cast! Unforgettable: Maury Chaykin as Elvis-like Freeborn.
eno2000
This is one of those rare films that seems to divide into only two
groups:
You will only be able to love or hate this movie. However, I think the
previous reviews leave out an essential element to determining which camp
you fall into: whether you are interested in the actors (based on
previous
roles) or the film.The best way to give you some idea of what to expect is the usual
vehicle:
comparison with other films. If you loved Martin Scorcese's film, After
Hours or enjoyed Something Wild (with Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels)
or
were even guiltily amused by Who's That Girl (Madonna and Griffin Dunne),
then you will probably like this movie. Stars and Bars uses a similar
formula of "straight laced, uptight man" being taken for a wild adventure
by
"free-spirited, sexy woman".Obviously, this would put someone like Daniel Day-Lewis into the right
role
(a tightly wound serious man), but in a very different universe from
films
like "My Left Foot" and "The Age of Innocence". If you are hoping for
another period piece or serious art, this film is not for you. Luckily,
I
happen to like films that range from Wim Wenders to the latest Adam
Sandler
vehicle. :)
MovieAlien
I was switching around channels one day when I happened to catch the beginning fencing scene of the movie on Showtime. I thought it would be good, as Daniel Day Lewis was in it, and when the beginning credits mentioned other members of the cast, it seemed like a diamond in a rough. Well, I was right about the "rough" part, but not about a diamond. Nothing about this movie resembled a gemstone, and it just goes to show that things aren't always what they seem.The movie is a fish-out-of-water look at a self-centered British art expert who takes a trip to southern America so he could pick up a priceless Renoir which somehow surfaced there. Only problem, is that he'll have to get past a group of reckless hillbillies and crazies in the process. The film was poorly written, and some parts didn't seem scripted at all. Day Lewis' character is so unappealing, that the only thing left to root for in the movie is hopes that this painting will come away undamaged. I tried to channel surf to see if something else was on, just to get away from watching this horrible wreck.I haven't talked to very many people about this film, but those I've had said they have never seen it or heard of it. It figures.
AD
