About Last Night…

Review by Darren Harrison for About Last Night…
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Based on David Mamet’s play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” this movie, starring Rob Lowe and a young Demi Moore, is a particular favorite of mine. It’s an involving and at times searing portrayal of the relationship between two people in 1980s Chicago and the interactions and problems that relationship causes them in their existing friendships.

First we have Rob Lowe as Danny, a salesman with dreams of one day owning his own restaurant and his best friend Bernie (played for almost comic relief by James Belushi). One night he meets in a bar the beautiful Debbie (played by Moore who has never looked more attractive) and her best friend and roommate Joan (played by Elizabeth Perkins).

After a rather shaky beginning Danny and Debbie are soon off on a whirlwind romance that eventually leads to Debbie moving into Danny’s apartment and the two inadvertently ignoring their friends (much to the chagrin of both Bernie and Joan).

Of course trouble is soon brewing as Danny has to forsake his rather player lifestyle and Debbie wants more commitment than he is willing, or able to offer. The movie follows the ups and downs in the relationship and leaves the viewer really rooting for the two of them to work out their differences. It’s hard to exactly figure out what it is that this movie does right. t seems to have a perfect blend of comedy, drama, passion and sorrow that makes for some compelling viewing. This movie would almost be required viewing for young adults as a precautionary tale if it were not for the gratuitous nudity (has Demi Moore ever had more topless scenes in any one picture?) and scenes of a drunk Danny spiraling down into despair.

This is a true gem of a movie and probably one of the best date movies ever. The DVD is a little thin on special features but at under $10 this is a must-own.

Review by Arsell Potasky for About Last Night…
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I was in law school when I saw this flick with my girlfriend at the time, Joanne. Jo and I had been going steady two years, and were getting pretty serious. We were even talking about getting married.

I thought that the film was a real hoot, great lines. I came out of the film in a bouyant mood. But on the way home Jo was quiet, brooding. She asked me to pull over because she had to tell me something.

She said that she always wanted a guy like Danny Martin (Rob Lowe ) but instead she got me, a guy who was way too much like Bernie Litko(Jim Belushi). She said she wasn’t willing to settle for a Bernie Litko, and she told me it was over.

She wanted Rob Lowe, and that was that.

I admit that other of my friends told me that I reminded them of Bernie, and I have to say that I look vaguely like Jim Belushi, but still it hurt.

I married an Armenian who looks like a duskier version Demi Moore. Jo married a busdriver who looks like a somewhat mangled version of Rob Lowe.

It was a fateful evening.

Good flick, though.

Review by C.C. for About Last Night…
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For me this is best and most truthful date film of the 80′s. Being from Chicago everything just rings true. I always thought the film makers did a great job of adapting a David Mamet play into an 80′s comerical date movie, while leaving in some of Mamet’s complex wording in the dialogue.

Everytime I see this film it makes me miss my wild days in Chicago during the 80′s. Ahhhh the memories….

Review by M. Casarino for The Commitments
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“The Commitments” is a raucous and joyful celebration of music. It’s a gloriously simple and lovable tale, told with passion, profanity, and a deep understanding of how music can infect even the most despairing life with joy. About time the movie got its proper release on DVD.If you’ve never seen “The Commitments” because you cringe at the notion of white Dubliners singing American soul tunes, well, I hear ya. I fully expected watered-down music along the lines of Michael Bolton butchering Percy Sledge. However, I was wrong – the music, in the context of the movie, is pure and genuine, and performed by young actors who understand that you don’t have to pretend to be anything you’re not to get soul. Besides, Jimmy Rabbitte, the mastermind behind the band, gives them all a thoroughly convincing speech that assures the lads and lasses from Dublin that they, too, are qualified to sing soul.The movie – well, it’s wonderful. Hilarious, free, sometimes moving, life-affirming. I almost wish the movie let the characters develop a little more before the inevitable and mythical ending, but then Joey the Lips gently reminds me (and Rabbitte), “this way, it’s poetry.” He’s right – this is the proper ending for these guys, and the movie.The DVD offers some great extras, including a revealing making-of doc, where we learn that director Parker combed the nightclubs of Dublin nightly, looking for fresh talent. I also love the 10-years-later feature, where we get to revisit our old friends again. These are suitable extras for a movie that just plain makes you feel glad to be alive – how much more can you ask of a movie than that?

Review by for The Commitments
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“The Commitments” is an exceptional movie that holds up very well through repeated viewings. It is exactly the kind of film you would want to own in your DVD collection, because you could enjoy it for many years. That’s why I was very disappointed that the DVD version is available only as pan and scan (1.33:1 aspect ratio). This is the equivalent of taking a 5-channel audio theatrical release and making a DVD that’s available only in mono sound.As much as I like this film, I will not buy a DVD that has been degraded from the original theatrical release. Apparently the film companies don’t yet understand what motivates buyers to pay extra for DVD quality and home theater systems. I hope that “The Commitments” will be available soon as a re-released DVD in its original 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical version.