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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Coen brothers (Raising Arizona, Fargo) have become the most consistently original filmmakers in the land. In a salute/reworking of the fast-talking comedies of the 40s, we follow Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) and his amazing rise to the top. But he's only a puppet for the evil Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman), who wants the company for himself. The Coens' design is the real star and their first big-budget film will stimulate movie fans. The story weakens in the middle but you will find very few films that move with this much imagination. As a Kate Hepburn-hybrid, Jennifer Jason Leigh is wonderful in an almost unplayable role. The less you know about the film, the better it plays, so just think of it as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying mixed with Brazil and every journalistic drama made before 1960. Sam Raimi co-wrote the screenplay. --Doug Thomas
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Coen brothers (Raising Arizona, Fargo) have become the most consistently original filmmakers in the land. In a salute/reworking of the fast-talking comedies of the '40s, we follow Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) and his amazing rise to the top. But he's only a puppet for the evil Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman), who wants the company for himself. The Coens' design is the real star, and their first big-budget film will stimulate movie fans. The story weakens in the middle, but you will find very few films that move with this much imagination. As a Kate Hepburn hybrid, Jennifer Jason Leigh is wonderful in an almost unplayable role. The less you know about the film, the better it plays, so just think of it as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying mixed with Brazil and every journalistic drama made before 1960. Cowritten by Sam Raimi. --Doug Thomas
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This was the third of a hat-trick of great Coen Brothers films and I think it is the best one. It is my favourite. The film is brightly funny but darkly satirical. It is uplifting as well. It absorbs the history of American cinema into a superb modern context, making the best of everything. It has many great set-pieces, wonderful sets and colour photography, great casting and acting. It is surely Paul Newman's best outing. Ravishing and wonderful, it looks great on DVD. This is one of the best films I've ever seen.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this film on television several years ago and thought it one of the funniest and cleverest things I'd ever seen. I've been trying to buy it on DVD for ages. Apparently it didn't succeed at the box office. Why on earth not, I wonder. It's one of those films that I would watch again and again, if only I could get hold of a copy. Recently it was reported on one of those film review programmes that some films are not just making more money from DVD sales than cinema ticket sales, but film-makers are coming more and more to depend on DVD sales - viewing ticket sales as the secondary rather than the primary source of income. If that is the case then I think it is time the Hudsucker Proxy was resurrected. It seems astonishing to me that such an excellent film should have disappeared. Goodness knows, some truly dreadful stuff is readily available so why not a gem like this?
Tim Robbins plays Norville Barnes, a likeable dim-wit (a very funny one) from Muncie, Paul Newman plays Sidney Mussberger, the Chief Executive of Hudsucker Industries, a ruthless capitalist (a very funny one), Jennifer Leigh plays a tough, fast-talking newspaper woman (very funny). They're all very funny. The film is a feast of funniness. The greedy and devious Mussberger tries to use the sweet but gullible Barnes to bring down the share price of Hudsucker industries. The sharp, Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper lady quickly spots that something underhand is afoot and digs for a story as news-hounds do. A supernatural entity intervenes to assist the progress of the right outcome. The unexpected success of Barnes's invention (the extruded plastic dingus) upsets the board of directors plans. The filming is very fine, the sets are spectacular with an almost nightmare quality (like the previous reviewer, I was reminded slightly of Fritz Lang's Metropolis - also Brazil and the sets from the television series of Agatha Christie's Poirot - a combination of stark, grim and beautiful), the actors are first-class and constantly hilarious. It's very American so I may have missed some subtle cultural touches but if so I didn't notice and wasn't left scratching my head in puzzlement, because the whole thing was so well done and enjoyable.
If you get the chance to watch this film, grab it. I hope those in the business of selling DVDs will have the wit to stir up a demand for this film because I think it could become very popular .... and, of course, I want to be able to buy a copy that will play on my region 2 DVD player.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Dont believe some of the bad reviews this film got .... especially the ones from the internet. From the opening credits I knew this film would be interesting at the very least, but its more than that.
This is a dark comedy set early in the 20th century. Tim Robbins is a country boy arriving in the big city to earn his fortune. Both Robbins and Paul Newman turn in great comedic performances. As all Coen brothers films, this flick is weird and very atmospheric. The dialogue is entertaining and the story is fast and at times had me laughing out loud.
Along with 'Millers Crossing' this is one of the best films from the Coen Brothers and just like Millers Crossing it is rarely talked about and very under-rated.
This is a dark comedy set early in the 20th century. Tim Robbins is a country boy arriving in the big city to earn his fortune. Both Robbins and Paul Newman turn in great comedic performances. As all Coen brothers films, this flick is weird and very atmospheric. The dialogue is entertaining and the story is fast and at times had me laughing out loud.
Along with 'Millers Crossing' this is one of the best films from the Coen Brothers and just like Millers Crossing it is rarely talked about and very under-rated.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
unconvincing silliness
There are brilliant touches to this film, though they are mostly to do with its design. The rest of the film is a mishmash of cinematic ideas and references that never seem to add... Read more
Published 15 months ago by biffothebovverboy
Brilliant
I have loved this film ever since I saw it in the cinema when first released! I just love, love, love it so when I saw it on tv first thought was to buy it on DVD to watch over... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Mrs. L. C. Eastlake
Visually stunning homage to classic Hollywood (you know, NOT for...
This film is the Coen Brothers homage to classic 30/40s Hollywood films and was a big improvement on their previous film 'Barton Fink'. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by G. E. Harrison
If Terry Gilliam remade Citizen Kane, Brewster's Millions and Trading...
This is a witty, zany, break-the-rules feelgood film which is far better than you might think. Yes, it was a commercial bomb and a critical flop, but it has been unjustly cast... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2009 by Petrolhead
"...What the hell is it?"
The Hudsucker Proxy manages to capture much of the essence of old-style Hollywood. It is visually very impressive with 1950s style and a touch of an alternatate reality about it. Read more
Published on 22 May 2009 by GeekZilla
The most underestimated jewel in Coen's history!
Recently I realized I had never bought this movie on DVD, since I always had an old VHS of it, and I immediately decided to fix this unforgivable omission by buying this DVD. Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by V'ger
In my top ten
This film would make my top ten films of all time. It is superb. The acting is first class and the story extremely funny even if a little predictable. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005
Great Film Why Cant I Get A Copy
What can i say but WHY IS THIS FILM NOT REGION 2 YET???? this is a fantastic film and i want a copy now but as it is i dont want a NTSC copy, due to living in the UK. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2005
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET...
Ok, ok, the title of the movie stinks and probably contributed to the movie hitting the basement, as soon as it was released. Still, it is a pretty clever and unusual movie. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2002 by Lawyeraau
Industrial fantasy
While many were disappointed with the Coen brothers' follow-up to the dark Hollywood satire 'Barton Fink', 'The Hudsucker Proxy' is perhaps one of the Coen's best films. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2002 by richard english
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