Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-19 17:29:02

What a swinging movie!

Shameless guilt is another word to put it in the movie One Night Stand. Snipes, Kinski, MacLachlan & Wen are just the typical cosmopolitan city dwellers engaging with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The movie proves something good though that the consequences of consensual sex and infidelity does lead to better understandings between relationships. The movie challenges the issues of infidelity and the wake of AIDS in our city life. I guess the viewers should draw their own judgments about the issues here. And Ming Wen's orgasmic scene, ouuuuch! Production of the DVD is great for the price. One thing that is so different from the other DVDs I own is the isolated soundtrack which is one of a kind. I play it for my listening pleasures. All in all, I put this movie on my "I like It" category which is equivalent to 4 stars.

2012-05-18 21:30:54

The hollow morality of the behavior often seen in modern civilization

Most movies that score the highest in the public's minds, arethose that take people to other times and spaces, constitutingentertainment value, often with some humoresque quip that sticksin the minds of theater patrons after they walk out. Forexample, Clint Eastwood's "Make my Day" or Bobby DeNiro's "Youtalkin' to me?" and so on, leave an impression.There are others, that tell biographical tales about people'slives, their ups and downs, highs and lows, of popular peopleand how they met their demise.In this story, ONE NIGHT STAND, Nastassja Kinski reprises herrole, as a East-European photogenic, sophisticated female withexpensive desires or tastes, but low-profile nonetheless. On theother hand, Wesley Snipes is brought in, to show that he's notout of his league to hang with a certain professional socialcircle, in the advertising elite of New York, and stands hisground very well, with his own character, and upbringing, his isable to converge to others minds at work.Unfortunately, this picture is hallow in its message, and lostin its purpose and lessons. The path is more important than thedestination. Ironically, the conclusions that are drawn, willstem from the way the story unfolds, in this case, that of theprotagonist played by Robert Downey Jr, who plays a very popularperson working in the advertising industry, meeting his demisefrom the terminal illness of AIDS.As a result, perhaps the audience will be split in theirreaction, of either being horrified with the script, or perhapssympathetic to the plight of that hospitalized individual, oreven, vindicated in their religious beliefs and socialupbringing that judges as fundamentally flawed the frequent(mis)behaviors that are shown in this picture.For example, Snipes and Kinski, who are married to their ownwife and husband, actually get together, and split from theirpartners and kids, as ex-marital affairs develop from theinsatisfaction in their sexual expectations. Snipes's wife buysa video hoping to carve out a path to climaxes that arepurported in the mass media, as being in everyone's power toattain. The fact that Downey Jr's character, on his dying bed,admits to promiscuity in the 100's of partners, also perhaps mayserve as ammunition by some against the gay lifestyle or thepromiscuous sexual lifestyle. It is often said that mass mediavehicles condone sex to sell products and get the attention ofviewers.There is no concrete lesson, that ONE NIGHT STAND wishes toimpart on the public. Yet, the lack of entertainment value ofthis picture, coupled with the hollow morality of the behaviorof the protagonists in it, perhaps among the more enlightenedviewers, may secretly confirm the serious risks that they see asbeing taken by reckless moral behavior, and reiterate the battlethat is seen in the souls of people residing in megacities, inaddition to everyone's own mortality. 1.5 stars.

2012-05-16 10:55:03

A great cast can't save this movie.

Empty and pointless story. Poor screenplay. And worst of all, characters that the audience just doesn't care about. The final plot twists lack purpose and leave the viewer thinking: "So what? "This movie strives to be insightful, full of suprises, and make the audience think... Unfortunately the story is shallow and fails miserably.

2012-05-15 19:15:34

Good acting but story gets way too unbelievable by the end

The first half is a fascinating tale of self realization and the prospect of getting lost within one's own life. But then it falls into a tailspin with one too many coincidences. The acting is superb. One other thing to note, the movie deals exceptionally well with interracial relationships -- mainly it draws little to no attention to them and instead portrays cross-racial romances as commonplace. This should be commended because most other movies would stuff it down your throat.

Andreas Jacke 2012-05-13 03:38:25

A film about fear and love

There is this night, when a men (Snipes) and a girl (N.Kinski) gointoopera and after these there are some gangsters, who want to taketheremoney. In the same night, the men stay by the women and in the middel of itshe dream about the gangsters. The fear of them is alreadythere.Then the men loved the girl in a tender way rare shown in cinemaandthe wolrd become good again. On the next day, the men is flying home tohiswife and they make a sort of dirty sex, where you can see, the love betweensame is not very deep. Then there is a completly other story, about an othermen , who is very ill and dying then. At last the men and the women from theone night stand will be toghter and ther love is so muchmorethan only for one night. An interesting movie.

2012-05-12 23:02:46

Lame

It started out looking like it would be interesing although the trailer left me wondering - another 'man leaves family for a something different' movie? There was the non-depth of the characters that never sorted itself out. Why did this take so little thought or so very little emotion, I wondered. Then the acting. Karen - was this a really passive come on or just an undefined character? In the end you have her casting fond looks at her once-husband (played as well as the non-character chould be played) as she had earlier cast looks at Max and you wonder if it's about to happen all over again. And why did Max just suddenly wake up one day and find his energetic, explosive wife with personality so uncomparable to the limp Karen who has silent orgasms? The ending is no surprise at all even though they really give it a very obvious try to be clever. Lame. I give it 2 stars rather than one for for the orange story's presentation by Charlie.

2012-05-09 17:09:14

spectacular drama

Wesley Snipes(superb) and Nastassja Kinski(superb and sexy and you get to see her boobies in this one, hooray) have a one night stand, beacuse its the movies title after Kinski and Snipes get mugged and Snipes also visits his dying gay friend played nicely by Robert Downey Jr. Snipes goes home with his with Ming Na Win(you see her boobies too, hoorah). one year later he comes back because Downey's on the death bed and his brother, Kyle Maclachlan is there as well, Maclachlan introduces Snipes to his wife, Kinski(bum, bum, bummmmm) and then things start to heat up. Downey finds out then dies and then theres that scene where Kinski and Snipes are getting their groove on up against the wall and then they stop and turn and see Maclachlan and Win on the couch getting their groove on as well. then they switch partners and its a satisfying end.

2012-05-09 08:31:01

Finally, a drama that plays something like real life!

I've just finished watching One Night Stand. I enjoyed it enough to wanttowrite something and to read what others thought of it.Wow, some folks sure like to spew their venom! I'm surprised; I'm thankfulthat someone like Figgis actually has a presence in Hollywood, the home ofsuperficial characters, simplistic plots, and unbelievable dialogue.Figgisdoesn't fall into any of these traps.Instead, he goes against the grain by presenting a character, Max, playedbySnipes (who does a superb job at understatement - who knew?) who is notentirely likable. He's arrogant, self-centered, and way-too-impulsive.Hey, wait a second: how am I going to identify with him? He's not all thatslick or heroic (he discovers first-hand that his wife's having an affairand promptly loses her).But somehow Figgis drew me into the story. And he resisted usingpredictableploys. He managed to reveal something important about this self-satisfiedguy that turns things upside down: Max is terribly unsatisfied.Someone commented on the phoney quality of his wife's orgasm. Gee, maybeitwasn't the ACTRESS chewing the scenery, maybe it was the CHARACTER chewingit. D'you think that Mike may actually be sophisticated enough as aDirectorthat he'd ask his ACTRESS to play her CHARACTER, which he scripted, assomething of a loud-mouth? Seems plausible.The segment at the Dinner Party shows the complexity of the characters.During dinner, surrounded by people who are intricately connected with TV,Max makes a statement about the moral and artistic vacuity of theIndustry.I mean, its almost as good as Peter Finch's "I'm mad as hell..." speech.(This alone made me admire Figgis and the character he created - a personwho bites the hand that feeds him in an act of outrage takes guts!) Later,in the privacy of their bedroom, Max's wife tears into him, accusing himofbeing arrogant. Well, no, maybe he's just really sick of the way TV twistsartists with integrity into hyenas.Doesn't her reaction help to explain Max's general malaise? He's caught inacareer that's not all he thought it would be, that came between him andhisbest friend (R. Downey, Jr). And now his wife doesn't want to hear himspeakcritically of it.Question: Why are we genuinely surprised when we encounter something otherthan the flattest of characters? Answer: Because we don't recognize whatisunfamiliar to us. And complex or nuanced charcters in a Hollywood movieareunfamiliar creatures.I respect Figgis for giving us characters whose next move you can'tpredict.It helps me regard the world with more nuance - which is precisely thesortof thing Art should be doing.

elizabeth55 2012-05-06 00:52:49

Disappointing

One would think with this interesting cast, this flick would have been atthe very least, "rent worthy". Was very disappointed in the lack ofdepthto the characters and relationships. Not one grabbed me enough to carewhathappened to any of them---the relationships and charactersthemselves.The opening 5 minutes was the best of the film and then it just draggedonfrom that point forward. There was no credible chemistry between any ofthecharacters, which was a shame. The only reason to rent this film is toseeMing Na's breasts, if that's what you fancy; otherwise, I wouldn't evenbother. (And I love Robert Downey Jr. as an actor; but this wasdefinitelynot one of his best roles.)

2012-05-05 18:46:54

Above all, I like the music!

Above all, i liked the music. The story was a little weired, but okay. It is just one of Hollywood's love-story movies. Kinski was so beautiful. I wanna looking for her another movies. The music made movie fantastic.

2012-05-02 05:50:30

It was one night that changed everything.

Another great Wesley Snipes movie that is very enjoyable from the start to the ending credits. Snipes plays Max Carlyle, a Los Angeles commercials director, who visits his friend Charlie (Robert Downey Jr.) in New York. Max meets Karen (Nastassja Kinski), and they have a one-night stand. Max returns home to his wife Mimi (Ming-Na Wen) and his two kids, but goes back to New York after he learns that Charlie is now dying. He meets up with Karen again, where she is married to Charlie's brother Vernon (Kyle MacLachan). The film takes off from here with dishonesty, romance, and moral issues. Definitely a must-see movie for Wesley fans. Ming-Na Wen looked hot in this movie!

2012-05-01 21:36:09

Disappointing follow up to "Leaving Las Vegas"

Director Mike Figgis followed up his triumphant "Leaving Las Vegas" with this disappointing film.Wesley Snipes takes a rare (understandbly so) turn as a dramatic actor. Kinski attempts to resurrect her career (and fails). Only Ming Na Wen escapes unscathed from this vacuous "drama". Unfortunately, she is now voicing computer generated characters in "Final Fantasy - Flop".

komiga p 2012-04-30 21:59:49

Hot

I'm only writing this review to say that I don't know what that person who gave an F is talking about. I saw this movie today the same date of his review but I really don't know what planet that person comes from or what the hell his problem is. About the movie, as the title of my review shows, I think it's good.

2012-04-30 09:40:54

Seedy Love Life Makes Good Story

I liked the whole story (partly because I'm nuts over Ming Na Wen). The tone is seedy kinda like the Game with Michael Douglas. You get this "awkward, deep, uncomfortable, yet curious" feeling from this flick. It is a great story, but falls short to movies like Gattaca and Before Sunrise in where the story becomes truly memorable. A definite see!

2012-04-28 13:12:09

Great Movie!

Nastassja Kinski is on her best, the story is fascinating and malicious! A must see!!!!!!!

2012-04-27 21:58:27

Interesting film.

Not really good, not bad. Interesting. Downey's performance was excellent and heartbreaking. He amazes me with his versatility. He can be totally silly, like in Friends and Lovers, or utterly brilliant, like in Restoration, which is a masterpiece, and everything in between. The man is a superb actor. He was definately the shining star in this one, although his part was small.

2012-04-23 19:50:01

Beautiful, quietly subversive, Existentialist Masterpiece

In order to truly appreciate this film, you really need to compare it to another film on the same subject of random one-time infidelity that came out ten years earlier: 1987's "Fatal Attraction." That film provided us with graphic voyeuristic pleasure alongside moralistic self-satisfaction, titillating us with a sensationalistic view of adulterous casual sex which leads to divine/karmic retribution as the spurned One-Time Other Woman morphs into a vengeful psycho. The message of "Fatal Attraction" was crystal clear and clicked with Reaganite America: stick to the safe and narrow, or terrible things will happen to you!In contrast, 1997's "One Night Stand" implies the opposite: let things flow and DIVERGE from the safe, familiar everyday even just once...and incredible personal and interpersonal transformation blossoms. For many, it's a disturbing subtext: take a chance, walk on the (somewhat) "wild" side, and your bliss just might follow!It's easy to see why this film got such mixed reviews here in the States, and such good reviews in Europe: it bravely refuses to follow the standard American cliches about sexuality, marriage, materialism, "success," AIDS, death and life itself. And there's a brilliant unspoken reversal of popular racial stereotypes and typical Hollywood stock roles: a Chinese-American woman (Ming-Na) is loud, aggressive, and sexually voracious while her African-American husband (Snipes) is quiet, introspective, intellectual, and sexually subdued in comparison. A beautiful blonde woman (Kinski) is actually a super-intelligent astrophysicist. A straight black man and a flamboyantly gay man (Downey Jr.) are longtime best friends. The gay man is dying of AIDS but refuses to engage in regrets or self-pity. And the sex scene between the two initial adulterers, Snipes and Kinski, is actually very restrained, non-sensationalistic, and emotionally substantiative---not the frantic animal lust portrayed in "Fatal Attraction" but two fragile human beings taking blessed refuge in each other during a passing fortuitous moment.And that's what this film is really all about: life as a series of passing moments, which must each in its own turn be honored and lived as fully as possible. The cinematography and score are seamlessly stunning, so the DVD format should serve well. Granted, there are a few contrived plot turns, the dialogue does sound a bit written in two or three places, and it does put a LOT of things on your plate. Bittersweet and poignant and a feast for both eyes and ears and even the gray matter between the ears. This is not some simple-minded, focus-group-pandering, saccharine feel-good Hollywood schmaltzfest but a mature, subtle, and passionately challenging film that Mike Figgis probably would never have had the chance to make were it not for the success of his "Leaving Las Vegas" which preceded this movie. Too bad for Hollywood...

trpdean 2012-04-22 22:49:18

Intriguing

**** Spoilers THROUGHOUT - do not read if you don't wish to know plot***I'd never heard of this movie. I find it interesting that it gatheredsuch a high proportion of foreign reviewers. Was this more highlypromoted overseas than in the U.S.? I've never heard anyone in the U.S.refer to this.This is an intriguing movie primarily due to the truly wonderfulcaution-to-the-winds casting and the understated, very lightly limnedlove affair that yields the title. I'd never seen a Wesley Snipes movie, so I know him only fromadvertisements for action movies I'd no particular interest in seeing.In this, he's very much the center of the movie - yet quite understatedand somewhat disagreeable -- in somehow an appealing way.As fine a performance as Downey gives, I don't like the plot point of adying man causing others to "seize the day". It's simply too obvious -and although I know this is the movie's central theme, I don't like itbecause I don't believe "seizing the day" should ever mean jettisoningthose to whom one has pledged to be faithful throughout life. Nor do I believe that one should determine all decisions in life by thecriterion of what is likely to yield greater fulfillment/satisfaction.Such a criterion would mean the jettisoning of any obligation, anypledge, any promise, that is burdensome, onerous, draining to honor.When such pledges are those of marriage vows made before God and man -I have no truck with those who say it's the better course to abandonthem because life is short and better times lie elsewhere. Sure,perhaps one should have married another. So? One didn't. The pastexists - and vows are made to be kept.So, do I disagree with the central theme of this movie? Yup.Yet I still enjoyed this very much - largely due to the casting and fora change, the very skeletal nicely written plot. Unlike a few otherscommenting, I did find Snipes and Kinski to have a chemistry together -and found the pairing of white Pole and black American intriguing.I loved MacLachlan's performance (so many of those around a homosexualdying of AIDS do NOT fit - and yet they are always shown in drama asbeing happily approving of homosexuality).Well Maclachlan isn't - yetamazingly the movie doesn't demonize him. He cares deeply, loves sostrongly his brother - and hates the fact that immoral behavior causedhis death. It's a great character. MacLachlan does a great job but so do all. Thomas Haden Church issuperb (a strongly unlikeable character - all arrogance). One thing I like about the movie is its pretence that race is justwholly irrelevant to people's considerations. I sometimes like to thinkso - but don't really think all in the country act THAT heedless ofrace when it comes to fundamental decisions about marriage, children,etc. Hmmm, perhaps in L.A.? Does it matter to no one if their childrenwill not resemble their own complexion? I doubt it - yet it's appealingto see a movie in which this indifference is assumed.The ending is meant to be a surprise - but isn't really - and does seemmeant to produce a jack-in-the-box response in the viewer. (But thescreenwriter just seemed to be having fun - that's OK but it doesreduce the movie's dramatic effect).Do see this - it's remarkable for everyone's performances- but thestory itself is just, well, quite intriguing.

2012-04-19 14:03:12

Figgis & Relationships

pretty solid movie exploring the dynamics of a commited relationships

2012-04-18 15:38:10

This is one of Wesleys Best Movies I think

I am a Wesley Snipes fan...I have seen all of his movies. I think this one was great. I saw it as a way to show that love at first site , and fate, can come in the most weirdest forms, and at the strangest times, and that there is such a thing as "soul mates". I think this is one of Mr. Snipes best performances, and the ending was just like, "WOW" , I kind of had a feeling it was going to end differently than it did, but it didn't. Anyone who likes a movie that is a little romance, comedy, serious, and sexy, or anyone (like me who thinks Wesley Snipes is the best) will love this movie.. Many a girl will wish she was the "ONE NIGHT STAND" with him... But I feel this is a must see....