Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-20 09:16:58

actually fullscreen

This review is from: Freeway (DVD) This DVD is actually fullscreen format.On a full screen tv, there will be bars on the top and bottom of the picture.On a widescreen tv, there will be bars on all four sides, if you set thePicture Size to 4:3 to view the movie with the proper aspect ratio.Depending on the player and the tv's capabilities, you may be able tochoose a picture size that will at least eliminate the bars on the left andright sides of the picture - while preserving the aspect ratio.My widescreen tv will only do this, via picture size 'Zoom1', if I lower theresolution by using a DVD player without 1080 upscaling. This entails usingcomponent video or other lower-resolution inputs instead of HDMI input.

2013-05-20 01:09:17

Sleeper Hit City!

This review is from: Freeway (DVD) I discovered this film on cable a few months ago and had to rush right out and buy the DVD. A young Reese Witherspoon gives her best performance in my opinion as the daughter of a white trash prostitute and her sexually abusive, drug addicted step father.In an attempt to escape from this situation she runs away to live with her grandmother, who didn't even know she existed. Along the way she's confronted by a local serial killer, Kiefer Southerland, who offers her a ride and befriends her as a clinical psychologist. That's when the story begins. . .If you like suspense, comedy, horror, controversy, and bad-ass prison women, then you'll love this film. It holds nothing back. It didn't receive the attention it deserves and is a definite must see for all Reese Witherspoon fans.

TexasFan 2013-05-16 05:21:07

Classic.....

Reese is the perfect hot white trash chick. The acting is wonderful and even Brooke Shields looks hot. This movie has laughs, suspense and action. You can pick this movie up in the Wal Mart dollar bin - get it.

Kim B 2013-05-15 17:40:05

Funniest

This is one of the funniest movies that i have ever seen. When i first turned it on, I was like, oh brother. And then it just got funnier and funnier. I love dark humor.

2013-05-15 07:23:39

Funny with a twist

This review is from: Freeway (DVD) Reese Witherspoon was the best person to play this role. she was funny mixed with street smarts. This movie is funny everytime I watch it.

hippiedj 2013-05-14 22:02:16

Find out what makes Vanessa claustrophobic....

I've been a fan of Mathew Bright ever since I saw him in Forbidden Zone, andfor his unique screenwriting like in Dark Angel: The Ascent.Freeway is a glorious vehicle for his talents! Over the top and on the markat the same time.The idea of taking Little Red Riding Hood and turning it into a comment onurban decay and throwaway lives is a task that can only work in capablehands, otherwise it would turn out too serious or too stupid. Brightmanages to find the right note and works it for everything it's worth. Unlike the trashy in-name only "sequal" Confessions Of A Trickbaby (based onHansel & Gretel), Freeway doesn't lower itself to gratuitous nudity butinstead focuses on the characters and the story -- and still maintains agreat sense of outrageousness. So, to that reviewer on IMDb that wantedmore skin, you have to realize this film wasn't made just for you. If youwant to satisfy your need for bare breasts, there are plenty of otheravenues for that. As gritty as this film already is, turning into a badRoger Corman women-in-prison breast-fest flick would have just lessened thelegitimacy it has.Besides the clever concept, the choice casting is perfection. ReeseWitherspoon wowed me first with The Man In The Moon, and for me her role asVanessa in Freeway is her best to date. She is definitely one of the finestactresses around and has an incredible talent for displaying emotion andfacial expressions. The one scene in the car with Kiefer Sutherland whereshe is pouring her heart out is astounding -- even Bright mentions on thecommentary that she manages to have so many believable expressions withinone segment. (I still giggle every time I see her make that twinkling smilein Legally Blonde after talking about Days Of Our Lives and also saying "Iobject!"). Kiefer Sutherland is so menacing without having to outwardly actlike a maniac, and the rest of the cast including Brooke Shields (seeing hercuss out the cop is a gem), Dan Hedeya, Conchata Ferrel, Amanda Plummer,Michael T. Weiss.....it just couldn't have been done better! For triviafans, look for porn star Kitty Foxx as Vanessa's grandmother!! Andapparently director Bright had a field day doing all the girls' hairstyleshimself! Now every time I see a certain profile shot in one scene of ReeseI laugh because Bright endearingly referred to her in that scene as TweetyBird.Funny and unsettling all at once, Freeway guarantees not to disappoint thosewith an open mind. Those who think no character in this film has redeemingvalue hasn't thought about the histories of each one, particularly Vanessa. She's quite complex and quite angry, but you understand where she's comingfrom and root for her all the way. Freeway has one of THE most memorable lines in film history: look for whenshe forces a john at gunpoint into a car trunk and he tells her he'sclaustrophobic -- just listen for her response! It will make your day! AndI've never been more terrified when I heard her say "Do you accept JesusChrist as your lord and saviour?"Obviously this film is not for all tastes and it's downright rough, but whatan experience it is and such a great display of talent from all involved. I've heard some people say they wouldn't buy a film on home video becausethey can't understand why you'd want to watch a film more than once, even ifyou liked it. That's a shame, because true gems like Freeway offer so muchwith each viewing that goes beyond entertainment. See for yourself, youwon't forget this one! It's astonishing, shocking, brilliant, scary, andfunny! Little Red Riding Hood will forever NEVER be thesame!

2013-05-14 11:08:42

Reese Witherspoon is insane! (In a good way!)

This movie is all you'll ever need if you're into girls kicking total [rear]! The dialogue is chalk full of wit and humor to keep you interested and on your toes. Reese Witherspoon plays an outstanding role, and this is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again. Definitely worth buying!

JesNollie 2013-05-13 20:12:12

A very funny movie

Hands down one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Reese Witherspoon isfantastic. One of the best performances I've ever seen, in any movie. Shemakes the movie, although the supporting cast especially Amanda Plummer asthe mother (she's only there for one scene, but it's memorable) is verygood. The subject matter is dark, and there's plenty of violence, but themovie is just hysterical.

2013-04-28 16:57:09

"'Cause I'm p*ssed off, and the whole world owes me"

There is nothing sacred in FREEWAY. Movies like this get your friendly neighborhood "family values" handwringers drooling in righteousness. Oliver Stone was executive producer, which may be one reason why it feels just like an one of his movies. Yet I think its far better than the self-indulgent NATURAL BORN KILLERS (definitely superior to U-TURN). Its pretenses are much lower, and then there's Reese Witherspoon.This is possibly her best performance; she definitely doesn't play it safe here. An endearing, sociopathic and illiterate 15-year old who "had an anger problem, but not any more." It's fun to think of the LEGALLY BLONDE fanatics renting this and being horrified at their princess turning tricks and having a black boyfriend. At the same time, she really does do interesting movies. ELECTION is way different, yet I think is a great companion to this movie with its dark, subversive humor. AMERICAN PSYCHO and CRUEL INTENTIONS are by no means good movies, but we're not talking Sandra Bullock's stuff here.Anyway, FREEWAY is in its own class, taking urban white trash clich?s in absurd and droll directions. Vanessa Lutz's prostitute mother, pederast step-father and their crack rocks are taken away by the County cops, and she just wants to get to grandmother's trailer park where everything will be okay. (Her dream sequence, with a trailer park paradise with kitsch giraffe statutes makes for an hysterical ideal) So she sets off, on the I-5 in southern California. She eventually falls into the hands of bourgeois child therapist and ambitious serial killer Bob Wolverton (Keifer), who manipulates her into talking about herself. This is one of the best parts of the movie.Sutherland is fine as the wolf. The two detectives are hilarious. Dan Hedaya as the slightly bemused older guy, and Wolfgang Bodison as the patronizing young guy who Vanessa beats the crap out of at one point.Strange moral debates constantly play out in the subtext of the movie, and I think enhance its humor. There are few well-written movies that even approach the black humor and socially sacriligeous quality of this movie. It's up there with REPO MAN and WAY OF THE GUN. Director Matthew Bright's commentary is pretty interesting, especially talking about the dynamics of filming on a very limited budget. Also, through his constant remarks about girls, girls' hair, Reese, and hints of his own perversions, he comes across as a very weird fellow on his own. So it is worth listening to if you're a fan of the movie.

2013-04-28 00:57:17

Great flick

This review is from: Freeway (Amazon Instant Video) Hilarious movie. One of Reece Witherspoon's best. Sutherland plays an excellent villian in this movie. Loosely based on little red riding hood. Must see.

2013-04-25 22:47:36

Phenomenal

This was the second Reese Witherspoon movie I saw, and the first one where I realized how brilliant she is as an actress.The other reviewers have already raved about the great writing, and the performances given by Witherspoon and Sutherland. And they're completely right.If you want a smart, edgy update to the classic Little Red Riding Hood fable, get this DVD.

Avril Shun 2013-04-25 05:17:05

Wonderful, simply wonderful!

Freeway is one of the best exploitation films in recent years. It standsoutas a quick reminder of why I became so fascinated with these films tobeginwith, and what intelligent, important work that can actually be achievedwithin the genre. Mark my words, In another five years it will consideredone of the finest video cult-classics of the 90s.The film is described as a retelling of that old molestation tale LittleRedRiding Hood - and, great as the movie, that's pretty much all it does.WhatI liked about the movie though is that the filmmakers not only retold thestory in a more adult way, but they also modernised it and changed thecharacters and plot to something that actually tells us something of ourtimes and its problems. Something Hollywood would't touch. Little RedRidingHood (wonderfully portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) is a "bad" girl tryingtomake it in a rotten world, and the wolf (Keither Sotherland in his onlyparti've liked - probably because he gets it so hard in the end) is a psychoserial killer with a taste for young girls.One thing that the film makes clear from the very first frame is thatthereis a sex-war going on between men and women. A war in which thefreethinking, sexual and non-submissive young woman of the lower class areon the bottom of societys food chain. It could be argued that Freeway wasintended as a morale-booster to these, often looked at as "bad", girls. Ifthat was the case I would support it all the way - just thinking of howinsane young girls are treated in our society (that whole virginity-thingfor example, or the fact that rapist can get away with it if the victimworeshort skirt!) makes it clear that more films like Freeway are needed. Youdon't have to take the film so serious though, it's a fun, campy and toughfilm any way you watch it.Also check out Freeway II, which is like Freeway I on acid. It doesn'treally work (that whole goat-thing sure came out of nowhere...), but isfunviewing anyway.

jrabbit-2 2013-04-24 07:15:42

Never underestimate a white-trash girl with a gun.

This movie starts slow, so you might be tempted to shut it off in thefirst10 minutes if you lack the virtue of patience. Once Vanessa meets KeiferSutherland's character, the movie kicks into gear and stays there.Not for the faint of heart.

dangimsexy 2013-04-23 20:32:45

Witherspoon's best.....

With uppety, cheerful flicks like Legally Blonde and Alabama, Freewayenraptures Reese's capablity of a 3 dimensional actress, full throttle. "Vanessa" the 15 year old she plays is so real and vulgure and captivating,the audience cannot help to hate and love her. Freeway is to me one of thebest movies of the 90's, with a clever script and a marvelous cast, Freewayresembles cult faves like Pulp Fiction. It doesn't sugar-coat. Awesomemovie.

gerryggoerlich 2013-04-19 16:39:29

This movie has it all. Comedy, Suspense, Great Story Line and Great Acting.

This was a very exciting movie with many twists and turns. It is forsure on my personal top 50 favorite movies of all times. I fell in lovewith Reese Witherspoon as an actress and she deserved a lot more creditthan she received for this role. She is still one of my favoriteactresses and I think this role was just as demanding as "Walk theLine". The acting was also good from the other stars.Kiefer Sutherlandplays an excellent Villain. You really wonder how unfair it is when itis happening to her. The Way the movie unravels is a masterpiece andyou are constantly feeling the hopefulness of her situation.The endingwas what you go to the movies for in the first place. I think thismovie is worth renting or buying.

Vida 2013-04-18 19:14:43

Thoroughly enjoyable - for a dark comedy

This movie is one of those off-beat, hidden treasures you're lucky to runinto. In the same sort of macabre way as The Last Supper, it's both terriblyfunny and terribly frightening. I found the first 20 minutes or so verydifficult to watch - these are lowlife characters NOBODY would want to know- but once Vanessa Lutz takes control in Bob Wolverton's vehicle, it neverturns back. Reese Witherspoon was a tour-de-force as the luckless Vanessa.I've recommended this movie to anyone who can stomach the roughpatches.

Joe Bridge 2013-04-18 06:33:57

Wait... So This Movie Was Released in the West?

I just saw this movie, and as soon as it started with the bizarre,embarrassingly bad "Red Riding Hood" opening credits and horridcheap-sounding soundtrack, I was certain it was some sort of fake"knock-off" video, especially as someone gave me this copy as sold inIndonesia. The ending credits were really bad and fake-looking as well,so maybe both were replaced in the Indonesian version, not sure, but italso is so bad throughout, perhaps the entire movie was replaced? Whilewatching this, my friends and I were almost certain the actor creditswere fake and that it was filmed by a group of amateur film-makers (asit was so utterly badly made - I was certain it was made in Indonesiaor other Foreign country and was meant to make fun of the West), untilKeifer Sutherland showed up and we were fairly certain it was him. Wasthis a straight-to-video movie? It was just so badly made and badlyacted even for a dark comedy. Just because it is a comedy doesn't meanyou have to act as if you are playing around with the script and notsaying the lines in any way that makes sense.The acting was so disturbingly over-the-top bad, the accents annoyingand ridiculous throughout (sounded mostly like hillbillies from themore isolated areas of Kentucky - yet supposedly was taking place inCalifornia), and the actors themselves looking so awful in every waypossible (even Brooke Shields looked as if they used CGI to warp herbody into something not quite human in that weird sailor outfit - againunless our copy was tampered with), I'm certain this was MEANT to be afarce/comedy, especially with the ludicrous climax regarding the actualLittle Red Riding Hood story - which kind of added insult to injury -how could any writer be THAT ridiculous? Obviously it wasn't meant tobe crime drama or anything like that, even though the premise suggestedit was drama. It does have an overwhelming "quickly made televisionmovie" and "print every first take" feel.So it appears that this movie (or a version of it) WAS released in theUSA (not sure about here in Australia) after all? I'm still fairlycertain our copy was tampered with (especially the ridiculous lookingand sounding opening and ending credits - that were in static-riddenForeign-sounding music and in mono - which wouldn't meet even thelowest standards these days), as nothing could be that badly made andbe released. Most of us thought that it was one of those "experimental"films that was made especially for places like Indonesia and neverplaced directly in the actors' credits, and which wasn't releasedelsewhere, but seeing the information on IMDb is quite stunning in itsimplications about the general populace... Unbelievable.

Keegen 2013-04-18 02:03:21

Dreadful!

There is only one word that describes this film: Dreadful. I don't see thepoint of making this terrible movie, it was meaningless. The story wasnothing, it had no substance. It started off bad which meant it could onlyget better. It didn't. It chose to take the hard way out and took us on anugly ride. The main character is totally unlikeable. I hated here from thestart, she is annoying and bitchy. And when Sutherland came into the scene,it just made things worse. His character was the most awful character ever,even though he was suppose to be mean. He was dreadful. The performance ofSutherland was a heartache. He just proved to me that he isn't worthwatching. Reese on the same hand was horrible. What made her sink so low todo this film. I hated this film the only good thing about it was the musicby the excellent Danny Elfman.

Andy 2013-04-13 06:07:58

That's not all I did to grandma.

While watching this film I was disgusted, disturbed, and horrifiedwhile all the while LOVING THIS FILM. Living in a house where fairytale literature is commonplace (my wife studies Children's Literature),I was surprised by this film. Seeing it in the value bin at most videostores, I expected poor production, horrible direction, and a patheticcast. We have all seen these films that boast big names, but somehownever fully follow through. Freeway is nothing of the kind. It is acarefully written and delivered retelling of one of our most belovedfairy tales with a extremely dark twist.Reece Witherspoon (pre-Legally Blonde) gives a performance thatsurprised me. I did not realize that she was so capable of bringingthis character to life. Her counterpart, the illustrious 'Wolf', playedby 80s child Keifer Sutherland, is yet another powerful force in thisfilm. The two of them nearly carry this film on their shoulders. Thisis one of those perfect examples of a film that did not have muchpublicity after its release, but has since then obtained 'cult' statusthrough avid viewer's word of mouth. This is definitely a film for allmovie critics, film buffs, and fanatics to gaze at just once. I knowthere were some poor reviews when it was first released, but I am surethat a second viewing would bring this gem back to life.I would also like to add that director Matthew Bright is a film genius.He successfully took a very wholesome and good natured story (or thatwe think) and transforms it into the fearsome dark story that it shouldbe. Our society has the consistency of taking dark elements andtransforming them into stories for our children. A wolf eats agrandmother in this story … how happy and uplifting is that? I applaudBright for taking this story and transforming it into a modern dayfairy tale. It is gripping, fascinating, and downright beautiful.If you enjoyed Natural Born Killers and was hoping for a nicer twist,this film is your answer. I also suggest that if you couldn't getenough of Freeway that you try to get your hands on the very rareFreeway 2: Confessions of a Trickbaby. See how Bright delicatelytransforms yet another dark fairy tale (Hansel and Gretel) into amodern masterpiece.Grade: ***** out of *****

2013-04-12 23:31:45

Income Challenged Caucasion Comedy

Freeway is a dark comedy about a girl from a poor white trash family. Her mother is hooker who walks the neighborhood streets while her horny step-father stalks Vanessa. She gets fed up and decides to run away and meet her grandmother. On the way, she gets picked up by Bob the guidance councelor. She discovers that Bob is not such a wonderful guy and she punishes him severely. Vanessa's court room scene is hysterical and I almost felt sorry for Bob while laughing the entire time.