Genres

Visitors Review

2013-06-19 19:12:53

Excellent

This review is from: Raggedy Man (Amazon Instant Video) This is an excellent movie taken place during World War II. Great acting with a heart warming story of a single mother with two little boys, and the challenges they face. I have been purchasing products from Amazon for years and have never been disappointed with the service. Everything has always been on time and not damaged.

telegonus 2013-06-19 13:10:40

Southern Comfort

As a dyed in the wool Yankee I must confess to a certain weakness forthings Southern. They seem to do everything larger than life downthere, possessing a daring and a sense of style a million miles awayfrom us hyper-rational northerners, who, though we won the Civil War,seem to have lost the culture war. Anyone ever heard of Yankee friedchicken? In the movies the South can lay claim to not only the mostacclaimed movie of Hollywood's "golden age" (Gone With the Wind) to itscredit, but a lot of fine little ones as well. Indeed, since the earlysixties, around the time To Kill a Mockingbird, there has evolved agenre which for want of a better term one might call the Southern ArtFilm, which is generally a modest though not B picture with highartistic aspirations, featuring first rate actors playing believable,for the most part un-stereotyped characters (Tomorrow, Sounder,Conrack, The Great Santini, Driving Miss Daisy, The Apostle, to namejust a few). Raggedy Man falls more or less into this category, as ittells its modest tale of an abandoned wife and a footloose sailor,their love, the time they spend together, how this affects herchildren. Not a very eventful film, its slow pace and fine acting savesit. The music, alternately jaunty and wistful is of the sort that hasbecome a cliché, and I wish they hadn't used it. The actors areoutstanding, however, with Sissy Spacek and especially Eric Robertsboth in peak form. Roberts is an enigmatic presence, which works forthis film. Almost too pretty to be credible at times (not his fault),his work here makes me wonder why he never became a major star. In anycase, the movie is well worth catching for some very good moments and astory that pulls at the heartstrings, but in a gentle, uninsistant way,with an ending that's sad but not depressing.

moonspinner55 2013-06-18 06:00:04

"Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola..."

Sissy Spacek, in her first movie after her triumphant, Oscar-winningturn as Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter", excels once again as asingle mother with two small boys working out of her home as atelephone operator in WWII America. Eric Roberts (in surely his bestperformance ever) is gentle and appealing as a sailor who takes a shineto Spacek and her kids, which causes gossipy tongues to wag back intown; Sam Shepherd is the mysterious title character who lives acrossthe street and harbors a dark secret. Fine-looking movie has a strongsense of time and place, a fairly solid script and terrific players,but the tone of the film shifts in the melodramatic final act and thenarrative gets all fouled up. This portion of the picture almost feelstacked-on, and as a result the conclusion is somewhat limp. Still apretty good entertainment, and Spacek never hits a false note. *** from****

2013-06-17 16:03:59

Wonderful

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) One of the best films by Sissy Spacek and Eric Roberts, remarkable and well made right from the start, pure excellent!

2013-06-15 21:16:15

A Neglected Gem

One of Sissy's finest, yet most underrated performances, with her husband (Fisk) directing her in a gripping and suspenseful screenplay by William Wittliff (*Perfect Storm* and *Legends of the Fall*). This is Fisk's first as director, but as a former art director, it is beautiful in its attention to detail, and he presents his wife with the care that only a director in love with his leading lady can do. Sissy plays a telephone operator in a small Texas town during World War II, raising her two boys and keeping to herself. While fending off the frightening attentions of a couple of the local yokels, she causes a great deal of consternation by taking up with a sailor passing through. He is handsome and loving, and bonds with her children, but the story takes many turns before its shattering conclusion. A neglected gem, it is a magnificent showcase for Sissy's talent.

2013-06-15 00:38:13

Seen this movie before, knew it was good

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) wanted this item to add it to my movie library, It was shipped in good time. It was in great shape!!

2013-06-13 21:41:49

Raggedy Man: Starts Strong Finishes Weak

Sissy Spacek has made a career of playing the rural disadvantaged woman in so many films that to watch her places the viewer in a comfortable cinematic chair from which to watch her battle entrenched odds. In RAGGEDY MAN, Sissy is Nita, a World War II wife whose husband has mysteriously left her and her two young boys to an uncertain economic fate. Nita is a telephone operator who plugs into war news on a daily basis and thus incorporates the frequent death notices of local soldiers into her already fractured life. She is pretty,lonely, overworked, and underpaid. And to a pair of rednecked brothers, she is clearly undersexed as well. Nita wants nothing to do with them or with any man either until a handsome sailor Teddy (Eric Roberts) strolls into her life and sparks fly long enough for the town gossips' tongues to wag. Teddy is welcomed into Nita's life as a reminder that passion is not extinguished within her. Her two boys bond immediately to Teddy. Overseeing all this is the mysterious scarred Raggedy Man, a local oddball who performs chores and seems to stare at Nita and the enfolding drama within her house. The major problemof RAGGEDY MAN is that director Jack Fisk fails to integrate the trio of Nita, Teddy, and the Raggedy Man. If the focus was to be on the strains of life for a single woman in the South of the World War II era, then the movie should have stayed on topic. And for most of the film, it does, and the viewer learns to care for Nita and her boys as they decide how and to what extent Teddy can fit in. Yet this scarred stranger intrudes too often to dilute the viewers' interest. Further, there is no interaction between Teddy and him. The ending tries vainly to justify the Raggedy Man's appearance at convenient times with no one able to recognize him or guess his identity until a surprise ending of violence. By this time, sailor Teddy is long gone and RAGGEDY MAN concludes in an uneasy stasis of diverted audience identification. RAGGEDY MAN had the potential to be a truly captivating exploration of how some people unexpectedly reach out to like minded souls only to find that society can be a destructive wild card factor, but in this case, the attempt to introduce an element of mystery was incompatible with stark human drama.

2013-06-13 09:00:36

Really Good Forgotten Movie

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) I just watched Raggedy Man for the first time in probably 20 years. The movie still holds up as the people I watched it with, who have verying tastes all thought it was a really good movie. The consensus was also that nobody had ever heard of it. This movie stars a very young Sissy Spacek and Eric Roberts and they do a great job. It also has some very recognizable character actors filling out the cast and Sam Shepard in a pivotal role. This movie takes place during World War II on the home front. Most of the men are old or older men and men who couldn't make it into the military for one reason or another. Sissy Spacek is a divorced mother of two wonderful little boys, one played by Henry Thomas of E.T. and Gangs of New York fame. She works as the town switchboard and is stuck in a dead end job trying to raise her two boys on her own. She is seen as a "dee-vor-say" which back in that time meant that she was probably "loose". The towns folk are mostly good people but judgemental and a bunch of nosey gossips. There are also a couple of ex-convict brothers who are redneck jerks who have their eyes set on Sissy's character. Eric Roberts is a young sailor on leave for 4 days before he ships out who meets Spacek and her two boys and hits it off with them much to the scorn of the prudes and gossips in the town. This movie is a sweet and tender movie but it does have some violent content that is not for everybody but nothing graphic such as is todays standard. The movie is a forgotten and until recently out of print gem. Check it out.

jereco 2013-06-12 11:05:59

Lovely film, botched video

The most glorious scene of the film - a lovely and loving sequence inwhich Sissy Spacek dances with her broom as she sweeps the house,singing along with the Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola" - has beenbrutally excised from the video - I assume due to rights restrictions-and it's enough to make you cry. That sweet, simple scene is one ofthose priceless film moments that will haunt you always - if you werelucky enough to see the film before it was raped. Still, even a ravaged"Raggedy Man" (inside joke) is a marvelous film - especially for thehonesty in Spacek's and Eric Roberts' portrayals, the surpriseredemption delivered at the end, and the charming presence of apre-"E.T." Henry Thomas.

2013-06-11 18:46:25

Raggedy Man

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) Raggedy Man was Ordered for my wife she loves the movie ...recieved the item in good time ..no prob at all . Would buy again ..Neal & Brenda

TOMASBBloodhound 2013-06-10 06:59:14

A good film. Hard to really say what genre it is.

Raggedy Man is an unusual mix of themes and styles, but maybe somehowthat helps the film to work. The film has quite a lot going for it. Theacting, casting, locations, and strong nostalgia are all there. Andthere is even a surprise twist ending that we see in so many thrillerstoday. Maybe the ending was a bit out of place. This just is a toughfilm to really put your finger on, but it basically works.Sissy Spacek, who is as terrific as ever, plays a divorced womanworking as a telephone operator in a small Texas town, and trying toraise two rambunctious little boys between phone call transfers. Shedesperately wants out of this job and the little town, but her bosskeeps telling her she's "frozen" because a war is going on. Themajority of the film does take place in 1944. Apparently changing jobswas not possible back then if you were doing civil servant type thingswhile a war was going on. Who knows? But Spacek is stuck there in herhouse, and very lonely and unhappy. That is until one rainy night, apolite sailor comes to the door hoping to use her public phone. Thesailor, played by a somewhat subdued Eric Roberts, learns on the phonethat his girlfriend has just dumped him. With nowhere to stay before heships out in four days, Roberts is taken in by Spacek. The two quicklydiscover they have feelings for one another, and this does not sit wellwith the gossipy small town.Further complicating matters are a couple of local louts who have thehots for Spacek and get very jealous of the sailor. Also hanging aroundand peeping in windows is the "raggedy man" himself. Who is thismysterious deformed man who also seems to be taking an interest inSpacek and her boys? Well, the final twist pretty much answers thatquestion. And this revelation is a bit difficult to swallow. The filmends somewhat violently, as the louts are dealt with. And thingsgenerally seem to be upbeat as the credits roll.The film has some wonderful selling points. The acting is top-drawer byall involved. The casting choices were absolutely perfect. Especiallyin support. Tracey Walter and William Sanderson were born to play partslike the two louts. They are very recognizable character actors. If youdon't immediately recognize Sanderson, just think, "I'm Larry, this ismy brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl." Yes, he wasLarry on Newhart. Look for little Henry Thomas who did this film justbefore E.T.. Bill Thurman of Last Picture Show fame has a bit part asthe Sheriff. The town in this film looks a lot like Anarene in thatfilm. If you were alive and recall the way things were on the homefront during WWII, then this film will certainly take you back therementally. The film is ultimately a strange cross between Summer of '42,To Kill a Mockingbird, and.... God knows what else. But somehow it allseems to work. The great cast can probably be thanked for that as muchas anything. 7 of 10 stars.The Hound.

gibsonny5 2013-06-09 19:12:17

Still shines

Anyone who thinks of Eric Roberts as an over-the-top B-movie actor shouldsee this film, in which he gives a sweet, subtle performance as a youngWWIIera sailor on leave.Roberts and Spacek both shine in this film, and have terrific chemistry astwo young adults who manage to steal a moment together despite theiroverwhelming responsibilities. They don't appear to be "acting" for evenaminute, and the rest of cast, especially the two young boys playingSpacek'skids, are just as good.I agree with the reviewer who said Eric Roberts needs a big role again.Heis one of the finest actors of his generation, and it's a shame that mostpeople don't know it. I'd also love to see him on stage one moretime.

2013-06-09 04:38:35

Superb acting and setting.

This movie is tops. One of those rare movies you can view again and again for the great acting and the photography and setting. As a story it is true to life. I grew up in a small town during that time and yes, worked on a one person switchboard! Sissy Spacek always gives a top notch performance and she is especially at home in this movie. A mother trying to care for her children and caught in the mores of the '40s and a small town. A wonderful story and wonderfully photographed.

2013-06-08 20:00:15

Badlands

Let me start off by saying that Sissy Spacek is my favorite actress of all time. I haven't watched all of her movies but after seeing Badlands, I was blown away by her acting. After following up on her other movies, such as Carrie, I saw her talent and she stands out like no other actress does, I love her accent!

2013-06-08 04:34:33

I'm not quite sure what kind of movie this is trying to be...

`Raggedy Man' is a small film in approach and scope, yet there are moments that leave you with a lot to chew on so-to-speak. The problem I have with the film is that it doesn't seem to know what kind of film to really wants to be. It seems to throw everything at you, leaving you to discern for yourself how you want to take it. In parts it works very well, but together it tends to be rather uneven and a little preposterous. The ending, it just irks me.The film tells of Nita Longley, a middle aged mother of two living in rural Texas during World War II. Divorced from her philandering husband and working as a telephone operator, Nita is confined by the life she was dealt and struggles to find some sort of balance between living and dying in this small town. She's accosted by two creepy men and mistreated by her selfish boss, and coupling this with the raising of her two young boys is wearing on Nita. Then she meets Teddy, a young sailor who stumbles into her life in the middle of a storm. Her sons immediately grow attached to Teddy, who proves to be a father figure they've needed, and Nita too finds herself falling for this young man. News travels fast and the town is up in arms over Nita's apparent lifestyle choices, but in the end everything Nita does is for the benefit of her sons.As a love story this movie works rather nicely, and I found myself intrigued by the relationship blossoming between Nita and Teddy. As a suspense driven thriller though, the film fails to really impress. I think maybe because it tries too hard in such a short time period. It shifts gears so drastically so suddenly, and this makes the final few minutes of the film feel out of place.It becomes `Halloween'.The acting is a saving grace for the lack of direction in the script, which is astonishing especially on the part of Spacek who has to juggle two films so-to-speak. She does so very well, capturing the naivety and graceful innocence of a romantic heroine as well as the fear and natural mothering instincts of a terrified victim. Eric Roberts shocked me, delivering a charming and delightful performance. William Sanderson and Tracy Walter deliver their performances with the right amount of edge to create believable villains. Sam Shepard has a small role, and the most preposterous at that, and it's not like you can call what he does acting so I'll refrain from comment.It has all the workings of a good film but winds up becoming nothing more than a halfway decent one. It has its moments and really the whole first half or so is really good, but the ending is just too over-the-top for me; and the final revelation, on the porch, is just ridiculous in my opinion. Spacek is stunning, that much is very true, but the film itself is not.

2013-06-08 01:51:21

Well worth revisiting

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) I am down to my last 70 or so vhs movies. The seeming zillions of others have either been converted to dvd, replaced on dvd or burned to dvd from a movie channel. But this last 70, well, they are the question marks: Do I really want to replace them with the dvd's? Will they ever be broadcast on any of the movie channels I get? Do I just need to let them go because I've seen them enough?Raggedy Man is one I kept hoping would show up on a movie channel, but hasn't that I have seen. Like most of Sissy Spacek films, it is quietly powerful and beautifully acted.I think that Sissy Spacek faces a similar problem as does Meryl Streep. The performance bar is set so high and we expect so much that often we take for granted how nuanced and complete her acting is. It all seems so effortless. In Raggedy Man, this is certainly the case. She IS the divorcee, alone except for her little boys, in rural Texas, in the 1940's, during wartime, trying to survive.The other standout is Eric Roberts as the sailor passing through Sissy's town. His performance is just amazing in its sweetness and in its believability. Eric Roberts was the guy to watch in the 1980's until mid-90's. He gave stellar performance after stellar performance - and then just seemed to disappear, except for the odd role here and there. I always wondered what had happened to him and his rising star until I saw he was on Celebrity Rehab. Maybe he will be able to come back as an actor, but in the meantime, we have a wealth of great performances from him.This movie more than stands the test of time and one that is worth a look at - again and again.

2013-06-05 20:04:16

Excellent story and cinematography...

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) I remember seeing this film for the first time when it played on HBO back in the early 80's. I was just getting into photography at the time, and I was immediately struck by the masterful use of light and composition that this film exhibited. It was almost as if the great story and interesting characters were a bonus to the photography! Especially appealing to me is the opening sequence, where the car's headlights are shown through the sheer curtains of the house at night, then the camera follows them as they move across the walls of Sissy Spacek's bedroom, stopping on a family photo, with a small porcelain flower's shadow showing on the face of the family photo. If you appreciate great photography, this is it! Other noticeably great photographic sequences include the thunderstorm, where the power goes out while Nita and her new sailor friend, Teddy Roebuck, are talking to each other across the kitchen table. The room goes completely dark, and we see both characters illuminated only by the flashing of the lightning bolts through the window, and by a cigarette lighter. Another occurs when Teddy brings Nita a pair of stockings, and she holds them up to inspect them, pushing her hand into them while the backlight of a candle on the kitchen table gives a very soft iridescence and glow to her silhouetted arm, while she and Teddy hold hands. Then, too, there is the masterful use of light coming from a hidden part of the room where Nita is taking a bath, which illuminates her from the side with a warm glow, while the troublemaker Triplet brothers window peep outside her house.This is one of those great sleeper movies that are seldom known or seen, but are quiet gifts when found. From an industry which I generally tend to loathe in this day and age, I recognize and classify "Raggedy Man" as a movie made by masters of their craft. It is both a feast for eyes and ears.

hlw27 2013-06-05 08:47:53

What are you waiting for...?

Go Rent This Movie! Really, it's a very good drama, set in what lookslikeSouth Central/Central Texas during WWII. Spacek and Roberts reach theirthespian peaks in this film. It is a true classic with tones of despairandhopelessness, followed by love/passion and intestinal fortitude.TremendousRealism, you'll push back the tears.

Emanuel Levy 2013-06-03 10:29:38

Worth seeing for Sissy Spacek's turn, but the film is incoherent, borrowing elements from To Kill a Mockingbird (Sam Shepard's strange) character and the notion of a sexually harassed woman trapped in her own home, just like Wait Until Dark.

2013-06-02 22:51:07

great sellers performance and wonderful item

This review is from: Raggedy Man (DVD) this was great buy and i am not complaining about the performance and looking forward of doing more business in the near future