Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 11:25:26

Still fun

I love this movie-probably because it's a film that showcase such major league talent but never takes itself seriously. Gibson and Foster have so much chemistry that I'm surprised that they haven't worked together again. Anyway, Maverick is about a gambler trying to collect money from friends so he can get into a big poker tournament and along the way he crosses paths with the overly flirtatious/ con-artist Annabelle Bransford. Each one tries to out manuever the another in efforts to get in the big game. There's quite a lot of twist and turns that keep you laughing along the way. Highly recommended.

arvie88 2012-05-24 17:07:28

Really Entertainment

I Recently saw this film for the second time and the film is reallyamusing.Mel Gibson plays his roll terrific and the film has a great number ofunexpected developments.The film is really enjoyable and i think the nomination for the Oscaris justified.I think that the majority of people agree with me on this and that thisfilm has become a classic over the years.The story is surprising and unexpected developments,the action andhumor make it that this film has become such a great popularity.

pmov 2012-05-23 05:02:54

Jodie Foster Is Great Comedienne. Who Knew?

There's one main reason for tuning in to this loud and bawdy version ofthe TV show 'Maverick' which originally ran from 1957 to 1962, andthat's Jodie Foster. Heaven knows what she's doing in this typicallyconfused confection helmed by veteran hack director Richard Donner butshe's a godsend to the movie and an utter delight as a female shysterof dubious reputation, complete with batty eyes and dodgy southernaccent ('most gentlemen enjoy my Southern'). There's absolutely nodoubt Foster is a terrific actress. Oscars for 'The Accused' and 'TheSilence Of The Lambs' as well as grounded performances in genre piecessuch as 'Panic Room' are sufficient testimony to that fact. But werarely see her doing comedy and, on the basis of this performance, sheshould lighten up more often. As with her dramatic performances, shehas great instinct and fantastic timing. With more than a hint of IreneDunne (another superb comedienne), it's a great pity she's not pairedwith someone who has better comic abilities than Mel Gibson. This movie has the dubious honour of containing one of Gibson's worstperformances. He's much better in dramatic roles ('Year Of LivingDangerously', 'Gallipoli') where he can't show off rather than theaction-comedies that he seems to prefer. Unfortunately, he just can'tresist these buddy pictures and the cronyism is complete with RichardDonner on board who panders to Gibson's worst instincts. Gibson mugsand apes his way through this and there's no one behind the cameratrying to tone him down.Donner is clueless. He seems to think that simply populating the castwith recognisable faces from other similar western TV series isinherently funny. Proof of his lack of subtlety is Danny Glover'sembarrassing and completely unnecessary cameo. Double-take, followed bytriple-take - apart from being totally humourless, I'm surprised weweren't treated to flashing subtitles saying: 'hey look, it's DannyGlover in disguise!'. Luckily Gibson's scenes with Foster have a certain amount of frisson tothem (as if Gibson momentarily seems to understand that he's dealingwith a professional). Also, on the positive side, James Garner (theoriginal Brett Maverick, fact fans) manages to get through it allwithout embarrassing himself (although he has one or two dodgymoments).This is an undemanding enough waste-of-time if you can stomach MelGibson at his worst and a Director about whom David Thomson memorablysaid: 'Mr. Donner has made several of the most successful and leastinteresting films of his age. And one doubts it's over yet'.

2012-05-22 18:44:15

My Maverick Review

This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case Packaging) (DVD) It ws great I enjoy watching this movie over and over again. Thanks

2012-05-21 18:41:33

Ideal Family Film, especially for boys of all ages

This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case Packaging) (DVD) I have two grandsons, 8 and 12. I wanted a family film we could all watch. Maverick filled the bill. In spite of a fairly complicated plot, there is no lull in the action, the comedy relaxes any tension and the surprise ending is priceless. A good choice for Movie Nite at home.

2012-05-21 12:07:29

A highly original Western comedy...

A 1990's Western comedy featuring Mel Gibson, Maverick was a breath of fresh air when first appeared in theaters. The film doesn't take itself so seriously as many films with a Western setting tend to do. Based on the 1950's television series by the same name in which James Garner had a starring role, Maverick is a uniquely clever and entertaining adventure comedy...When Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) needs $25,000 to enter a winner-take-all poker tournament, he travels through towns en route to the tournament in the hopes of winning every dollar he needs. But he quickly encounters Angel (Alfred Molina), a roughneck poker player in his own right who tries to kill Maverick (his attempt inevitably fails).Along the way, Maverick meets up with Ms. Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster) - a slick, conniving poker player who picks Maverick's pocket following a brief romantic encounter. When Maverick catches her, he forces her to wash his shirt as punishment. Shrinking his designer shirt, Annabelle runs off to catch a riverboat with Maverick running after her. After boarding the boat, the two are joined by Marshal Zane Cooper (James Garner) - a kind, retired sheriff famous throughout the West. Cooper's chivalry and hospitality greatly contrast with Maverick's brisk demeanor when it comes to dealing with Ms. Bransford.As the three travel cross country, they face a series of pitfalls such as a dead coach driver who almost runs their coach off the top of a cliff, a showdown with hundreds of Indians, and Maverick's financial dealings with an Archduke from Russia. Separated in the confusion, the three eventually meet again on the Riverboat Lauren Belle, home of the championship poker game hosted by the riverboat's owner Commodore Duvall. Making use of his quick wit, Maverick raises the extra cash he needs to join the poker game (as well as a few thousand extra for Annabelle Bransford). Commodore Duvall puts Marshal Zane Cooper in charge of guarding the $500,000 in entry fees for the tournament in which Angel also happens to be a participant. But in addition to beating Angel, Maverick faces other obstacles of even greater challenge...Overall, Maverick is great entertainment. The acting is superb on all fronts with standout performances by Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner. Each of the main characters creates a likeable persona. And what makes this movie a must-see (because the plot leaves much to be desired) is the ability of the on-screen characters to create a personal connection with the audience. Several of the scenes in this film are absolutely hilarious, such as the ones with Joseph (Graham Greene). Maverick isn't the type of movie that will win Academy Awards or leave one pondering the fundamental principles of the universe, but it is a whole lot of fun. And if you want to do is laugh, give this movie a try...The DVD Report

2012-05-21 13:14:48

ALL ROUND ENTERTAINMENT

Mel Gibson's Maverick is somewhat goofy but charming, sly, and fairly humorous. A number of excellent cameos provide some comic relief, especially Danny Glover near the beginning of the movie. The biggest surprise for me was Jodie Foster, who, in an impressively rare comedic role, thankfully discards her repetoire of facial tics for a much more natural performance here. The plot is kept pretty simple until near the end -- and the end has a great twist, which I won't divulge. Suffice it to say that your time will be well spent. Recommended rental for sure, but also consider buying this excellent DVD because this comedy does well with repeat viewing.

2012-05-21 08:30:45

Mel the comedian

Sure everyone knows the Lethal Weapon series, but after doing Braveheart and Ransom, most people forgot that Mel Gibson has done comedies. Not only has he done comedies he is good at them. Somehow the same charisma that helps him play William Wallace also translates into creating a likeable character like Bret Maverick. The surprise in this film is Jodie Foster. She too is able to charm the audience into liking her character Annabelle, even though she is at odds with Bret for most of the film.Richard Donner's direction once again successfully combines comedy with action at the appropriate moments. For the most part the photography is nothing special, but the timing is priceless. With just enough suspense, coincidences, and surprises the film will keep you interested even while it makes you laugh out loud. Watch for Graham Greene's absolutely hilarious performance along with a well played Danny Glover cameo.

nama chakravorty 2012-05-20 10:54:36

Good Fun!

'Maverick', directed by the legendary Richard Donner, is a genuinelyentertaining film, that also manages some good laughs in the goings-on.The film is stylishly directed, wonderfully photographed & features aFabulous performance by cult actor, Mel Gibson. Set in the American Old West, Gibson stars as Bret Maverick, awisecracking gambler, on the way to a major five-card draw pokertournament. But on his way to reach his destination, he is faced by awomen thief, a villain who wants to track him down & a legendarylawman. Based on the 1950s television series of the same name, created by RoyHuggins, 'Maverick' turns out to be Good Fun. The Screenplay iswell-written and packs in several interesting moments. The WittyOne-Liners, are hilarious and keep your interest alive. Donner'sdirection, like always, is effective. He has directed the Grand Climax,with style. Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond, is wonderful. Editing issharp. Costume Design is pitch-perfect. Performance-Wise: Gibson, as mentioned, delivers a Fabulous performanceas Maverick. He gets his comic timing spot-on and plays his part withrare ease. Jodie Foster is efficient, as expected. James Garner istop-notch. Alfred Molina & Graham Greene are decent. James Coburn isterrific in a brief, yet substantial role. On the whole, 'Maverick' is an entertaining film, that is definitelyworth a watch. Thumbs Up!

2012-05-19 19:53:25

Maverick - This is a hilarious film!

Maverick is a hilarious, enjoyable and fun film to watch and bears well over several viewings. Of course, how could this film have missed given its cast; Mel Gibson, James Garner, Jodie Foster, James Coburn and a whole slew of other stars to include an outrageously funny cameo by Danny Glover. The more interesting thing here is that James Garner played Brett Maverick when it was a television series many moons ago and he had turned down many film scripts for this one where he didn't even play the lead. Maverick is a big hit and all involved in making this fine western/comedy deserve all of the accolades they received for it!The premise:Bert, oops I mean Brett Maverick (Mel Gibson) is a card playing and fast drawing hustler who is on his way to good old St. Louis for a huge poker tournament. His main problem is that he's three thousand dollars short of the entry fee so he decides to stop in another town and play another round of poker in the hopes of picking up some of the three thousand he needs. This is where he meets Annabelle Branford played by the ever beautiful Jodie Foster. Mrs. Branford's beauty is matched only by her desire to pick up the money to enter the big poker game as well. Not too long afterwards we meet Zane Cooper (James Garner) who is a lawman of some fame and he just happens to be going the same way as Maverick and Mrs. Branford. What follows is most definitely one of the most hilarious westerns ever made. I would highly recommend this film to any and all fans of the stars and this genre.Special Features:Production notes: This particular DVD is "all" about the film itself as there is very little in the way of special features. The production notes are of course in text and somewhat interesting. {ssintrepid}

2012-05-19 04:30:51

Disappointing

A great cast wasted on a convoluted script. I was expecting much, much more.

2012-05-18 06:55:08

Blu ray Disc is HUGE upgrade from DVD

As of this writing (May 28, 2011), Best Buy exclusively sells the Blu-ray release of the 1994 western/comedy/action movie "Maverick"--and the BD is definitely a huge improvement over the DVD video and audio. If you own the DVD of this movie (and have watched it on a large-screen, HD TV), you know that the DVD transfer was simply awful--almost unwatchable due to the heavy grain and other video defects.The upgrade to Blu-ray is definitely worth the additional purchase price (less than thirteen dollars at Best Buy). It's like watching a totally different movie. The BD video is sharp, skin tones are perfect, and the color saturation is rich (but still looks natural). I rate the video transfer as 8/10--a solid transfer, especially for an "older" film. The audio is equally impressive--almost like watching a new release.The film itself is, of course, quite entertaining--wonderful cast (Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Colburn, James Garner, Graham Greene, and Alfred Molina), breath taking cinematography (filming took place at a number of scenic locations in the American West including Yosemite National Park, the Columbia River in Oregon, and the Arizona desert), a crazy plot (it's basically a comedy involving a big poker game aboard a fancy river boat--but there is plently of action), cameos by a number of country western singers (who perform a fantastic rendition of "Amazing Grace" as the ending credits roll) and a PG-13 rating, so the whole family can watch it. This upgrade to Blu-ray is highly recommended!

2012-05-16 01:48:52

Another widescreen review

PICTURE QUALITY = 4-SOUND QUALITY = 5+The overall picture quality is pleasant and satisfying. Color is nice but pxilazation is very present in the begining of movie. Improves as movie goes on. This being a very senic movie I was not completly happy but still satisfied. Could've been a bit sharper and remastered from high definition but wasnt.The sound quality in Dolby was awesome. Not in Dolby Digital but on a system with Pro Logic II it souded great if not better than most non-digital dolby surround. All surround sounds are present and really stood out. The soundtrack is placed perfectly and surrounds the room. Very happpy with this DVD sound quality.THE MOVIE - *note spolier. The movie was excellent in all entertainment areas if your looking for a FUN Western movie. Comedy, action, stunts, scenery, and many great actors. Everything you would want in a "fun" western film in the old fashioned tradition. Light on violence and good enough for the whole family.*Spoiler - The best (and my favorite) thing about this movie is the fact that James Garner still plays as Maverick even though the audience doesn't know it. Watching it over and knowing that Mel Gibson is playing his role as "the son of Maverick" and James Garner is still the orginal character he played in the past makes this a great movie to watch over and over.My overall review is that it is worth buying and I'd give it 5 stars if the picture was just a touch better. Don't be fooled though, I have a large projection widescreen tv with a progressive component DVD player so I see almost any grain there is if any is present. Overall this DVD was satisfying enough to make me happy I bought it. On any other tv it will display a perfect picture. Sound quality is great on a home theatre sound system.This is a movie that should be made on a Superbit DVD.

dbdumonteil 2012-05-15 09:04:56

a maverick main protagonist in a maverick western

In the nineties, western was somewhat ditched in the landscape of theAmerican cinema in spite of commendable endeavors to renew it likeClint Eastwood's revisionist, dusky "Unforgiven" (1992). "Maverick"hasn't got the pretensions to give the genre a new lease of life but ismuch fun to watch. It is one of Richard Donner's most palatable effortsin a filmography dominated by action-packed stories like the "LethalWeapon" saga. It even predates a fashion which was to thrive in thefollowing decade in the Hollywood industry: to adapt a TV series forthe silver screen. I must admit that I have never seen an installmentof the "Maverick" series.Action-packed stories are Donner's specialty and he knows his job.There are action and stunts in "Maverick" coupled with twists as onecould wish, particularly in the end. They are part of a droll,fantastic story lived by a threesome of delightful actors who arelinked through bickering, deceits to collect the necessary amount ofmoney to take part in a poker tournament.But Donner goes beyond this and rehashes some distinctive elements ofthe western (Indians, sinister-looking killers, representative scenerylike the saloon, the bank or habits like gambling) but gives them azany inflexion. So, Donner's shooting of Maverick's incredible storynever takes itself too seriously and takes often a leap into uproariouslaughter. The filmmaker takes pleasure in deceiving the audience aboutseveral apparent self-explanatory actions Maverick is about to do.Towards the beginning of the film, he takes his shirt off in front ofAnnabelle. No, he doesn't want to make love with her but wants her towash it (the shirt)! Or later when he presses his ear against theground. No, it's not to hear whether the Indians are very close but"I'm going to have a rest while waiting for the white men dressed asIndians!". Needless to add that Donner has fun with the clichés linkedto the western and most notably the Indians and the sinister-lookingkillers and it helps to produce hilarious sequences (my favorite one iswhen Maverick is "prisoner" in the tribe of the Indian chief Joseph).Mel Gibson is one of Donner's favorite actors and here he simply fitsin and doesn't go far. He gives a lot of presence to his incorrigibleegocentric poker player sometimes unpredictable in his actions. JodieFoster and James Garner are prime secondary roles who perfectlycomplete themselves with Gibson.Certain of the strong points (a cinematographic genre, here thewestern, for fun, an assumed zany tone, a controlled direction ofactors) which make of "Maverick" a prime product will leave the duoDonner/Gibson for their collective effort three years later,"Conspiracy Theory" (1997) which will deal a severe blow to the successof this collaboration.

2012-05-08 22:19:09

Best Fun I've Ever Had with a Western

This is a western because it takes place in the old west but that is not what this film is all about. It is about laughs. It is a comedy that takes place in the old west.Mel Gibson plays a professional gambler, Brett Maverick, who wants to pit his skills against the best poker players around in a big tournament. The entry fee is 25,000 and the prize is half a million dollars. He has most of his stake and lots of people owe him money but everything seems to go wrong as he tries to collect the money due him, always with hilarious results. As he makes his way towards to tournament, he encounters another gambler, played by Jodie Foster, who also wants to enter the tournament. She too is a bit short of a stake and will stop at nothing to get into the tournament and this includes playing the vamp and the pickpocket. The final main character is the US Marshall played by James Garner. He does not seem interested in playing poker but he is on his way to the tournament as well. He has been hired to provide security.As they make their way to the big event, all three of the protagonists take their shots at the others. The Indians get involved and come across as the funniest, most honest and most intelligent people around. They finally get Maverick his stake (with lots of laughs) and the stage is set for the big tournament.The tournament itself is full of laughs, surprises, twists and turns. It also has a lot of cameo appearances from old time western stars. All of this is fun but the interplay between Gibson, Foster and Garner is the real fun. Get this one for the laughs and then prepare to hold your sides while you bust a gut laughing.

John Langbein 2012-05-08 08:14:56

Delightful salute

For many of the younger people, most would not remember the old Maverickseries. This was a delightful hat tip to that great series, with the addedbonus of James Garner as Sheriff Cooper. Garner portrayed Bret Maverick inthe original series, so obviously, he was quite happy with his "protoge" MelGibson's performance.From this movie, I came up with the term "a Maverick ending". I don't knowif this was the first movie to do what they did with their twist, but it'scertainly one of the most delightful ones. I just remember seeing it for thefirst time and laughing so hard I fell out of my chair. (ok... when thescene started, I knew what was about to happen, but I still lovedit).Just see it and have fun. And, if you get a chance to see the older series,please do. You will be glad you did.

2012-05-05 00:33:57

Knee slapping funny!

For sure one of the best comedies ever made. The stars are all great, but some of the most memorable scenes in my mind came from the guest appearances of Graham Greene (as the indian chief) and James Coburn (as the commodore).This definitely a movie you would want to watch over and over again!

James Hitchcock 2012-05-04 14:10:28

Nothing that is deep or serious, but plenty that is entertaining

"Maverick" is a comedy Western which relates the adventures of BretMaverick, a gambler and adventurer in the Old West. (It is based,apparently, on a television series from the 1950s, but I am too youngto remember it; indeed, I am not sure if it was ever shown in Britain).Maverick wants to enter a major poker tournament, but lacks the entryfee of $25,000. The film tells the story of how he manages to scrapetogether the required money and what happens to him during thetournament itself, as well as his dealings with three people he meetsalong the way- Marshal Zane Cooper, a lawman based upon Wyatt Earp, arival poker player named Angel (ironically, as he is far from angelic)and a young thief and con-woman named Annabelle Bransford.The film stars two actors, Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, whom I wouldnot normally have associated with comedy. Gibson had previously madethe light action-adventure films "Bird on a Wire", and the "LethalWeapon" films contain some elements of humour, but "Maverick" is theclosest he had yet come to pure comedy. As for Jodie, while she hadmade some comedies such as "Bugsy Malone" in her teenage days, by 1994she had become regarded as a rather serious, intense young actress. Herprevious film before this one was "Sommersby", another costume dramaset in the late nineteenth century, but much more serious.Both, however, reveal their previously hidden comic talents here, whichis just as well. Neither Maverick nor Annabelle is, morally speaking, aparticularly admirable individual. He is a wisecracking adventurer wholives by his wits; his code of ethics as a professional gambler mightprevent him from cheating at the poker table, but he is not always soscrupulous in other areas, of his life, although he is occasionallycapable of a generous gesture. She makes a living out of stealing andswindling, normally from men who are attracted to her good looks. Asneither is admirable, therefore, it was important to make themsympathetic, and both Gibson and Foster succeed in this. Gibson'sMaverick comes across as a likable rogue and Foster makes Annabellesexy and winning enough for us to overlook the fact that she is ascheming minx. Another good performance comes from James Garner asCooper; in the sort of in-joke that modern casting directors love,Garner played Bret Maverick in the television series.The film was directed by Richard Donner, who had earlier directedGibson in three instalments of the "Lethal Weapon" franchise and waslater to direct him in a fourth, as well as in "Conspiracy Theory".Donner is an experienced director of action films, and manages to makethe film an entertaining mixture of humour and thrills, often combiningthe two in the same scene, such as the one where Maverick isdesperately trying to stop a runaway stagecoach in which he, Annabelleand Cooper are travelling. Unlike some other films from this periodstarring Gibson (e.g. "The Man without a Face") or Foster (e.g."Nell"), there is nothing very deep or serious about "Maverick". Forall that, however, it makes entertaining viewing. 7/10

Cihan "Sean Victorydawn" Vercan 2012-05-03 11:34:22

The most memorable absurd and rebel Western/Comedy anti-hero film of its era

Maverick is one most favourite Mel Gibson idol, and is truly anAmerican icon. In the western/comedy genre movies of all time cinemahistory, Maverick comes anyhow in the top-5 list. After the severalfailures of Red Kit(Lucky Luke)'s cinema adaptation between 1991-1993;Roy Huggins's "Maverick TV-series" of 1950s' had been enriched with theHanna&Barbera vision of Lucky Luke(1984 TV-cartoon series) to integratethe whole concept of writing a new modern day Maverick by the writerWilliam Goldman. There are a bunch of similarities between these twoWestern legends, but still Maverick's story was unique and impressive.Here in my review I would much rather talk about this movie itself,instead of its production values. Anyway, if you would like to shareyour opinions with me and everybody else, visit my message board topicwith the title "40 factors that Lucky Luke and Maverick have incommon".Director Donner has preferred a left-in-the-middle Adventure typeopening right away in the first scene, as if it's a continuation toMaverick's adventures. His antagonist, performed by British actorAlfred Molina, has left him in a trapped dilemma; that appears to oureyes as Maverick is just about to die. As the widely known old sayingsays: "A person recalls his life just before he dies" , Maverick startsto tell his story to sum up the reason how he ended up being in thatdeadly dilemma. Under his narration, we're welcomed to aheart-warmingly told weirdo story. He's been collecting money to enrollin a Poker tournament and travelling the country through severaladventures.What makes Maverick memorable and unique in style is first of all, themood. There is a political film-noir view that we get every time wemeet a new character. Every single character, even the cameos in thismovie is so selfish, rebel and against the law. Robbery, racketeering,murder, gambling, bribery, deception is a must-have character profilefor all. The sheriff of a town is in debt with fugitives. A crediblepolice chief steals a $500,000 poker tournament prize from his son. Ason of a police chief is a bandit. Well, his father known as the mostcredible police chief in Western America; and he even steals money fromhis own single child son. Even the most likable Jodie Foster'sAnnabelle character tries to steal money from everywhere, she foolsevery man to steal their wallet; even from a dead old poor wagon riderIt's very absurd and reasonable at the same time that this is thegreatest dreamy Western adventureland ever that the audience iswitnessed.After this great accomplishment, who cares if there are gaps in theplot? Indians might be so friendly(especially after Dances With Wolves,all the American Indians in Western movies somehow has become veryfriendly). All the bandits might be sappy. Set Designs might be cheapand distracting. Audio and sound effects might be the lowest quality.But still with craggy zigzagged narrated style of editing worksperfect, and thus the film always rises unexpected incidents andsurprises. The zigzags of the storytelling keeps the viewers' attentionon trying to find the reasons why each character chooses to do whatthey do. Cinematography and directing of photography are alsoadmirable. The sceneries are taken in rivers of Arizona, uplands ofOregon, canyons of Utah, prairies of Washington, Yosemite National Parkof California. It feels like a falsely guided visit to Western states;Maverick says that he's going to the poker tournament in New York,while in the actual Earth geography he's in Yosemite. This film wasnominated only in Costume Design category at the Academy Awards, butinstead Hugo Weaving & Guy Pearce's Australian desert comedy won it.Maverick can be seen entirely by everyone. Mostly with humour andfilm-noir comedy of Old West, it's also worth your time for Poker/RoadTrip Sceneries/Adventure/Cowboy Gunfights/Living with the Indianssegments.

2012-05-03 04:53:34

Maverick

This review is from: Maverick (Keepcase) (DVD) This movie is funny, engaging and has plenty of action. Mell Gibson, James Garner and Jodie Foster interact to make this a very enjoyable movie to watch.