Search - Elmer Bernstein :: Oscar (1991 Film)

HOW DID THIS MOVIE EVER FLOP?

Peter Ingemi | Worcester County, Massachusetts United States | 07/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lets see we have a funny plot. A top notch cast with old giants, (Kirk Douglas, Don Ameche) An "A" list star, (Stallone) an "A" list director, (John Landis) a fine supporting cast, (Chazz Palmintari, Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry) and several television favorites (Kirkwood Smith, Ken Howard, Yvonne De Carlo,[Who actually belongs in the old giants list]) a ton of sight and word gags and a movie that flows smoothly and constantly makes you laugh and somehow it flops at the box office and isn't heard of? I don't get it. It is another absolute RIOT. All the actors I've named (and quite a few I haven't) just keep the whole thing roaring (Particularly Palmintari). How this movie remains ignored is beyond me. Even the basic plot of a gangster trying to go straight in a dishonest world works wonders! Why haven't you seen this move? Why don't you buy it now! You won't regret it!"

A "Nicely Rounded" Movie

LeAnn | Georgia, USA | 02/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OSCAR displays Stallone's talent for portraying a comic role that is all too often overlooked for action movies. With an all-star cast to back Sly up, this movie easily floats well. A not-so-unique plot sometimes slows this movie down, but all-in-all, OSCAR is a pretty funny movie.Sly plays a big-time gangster who promises his dying father (cameo by Kirk Douglas) to go straight. This, however, proves difficult for our hero, with drawbacks such as a mixed up mix up of little black bags, a daughter who changes fiances three times before lunch, a bag-full of annoying visitors, and scandalling bankers and thugs. OSCAR's cast includes the talents of Sylvester Stallone, Tim Curry (halarious role! ), Linda Gray, Joey Travolta, Ornella Muti, Peter Reigert, Yvonne De Carlo, Marisa Tomei (adorable little snotty girl), and Chazz Palminteri among many, many others. Although it's out-of-print, it's well worth the trouble to track down and see!"

Going Straight is Never Easy....

Michael Crane | Orland Park, IL USA | 05/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about a comedy with non-stop twists and surprises, "Oscar" is a hilarious movie that keeps you laughing throughout. You even feel quite exhausted after it's all said and done since there's so much going on. This has always been a favorite of mine, and I'm glad to see that it has finally found its way on DVD.I'm going to be very brief when going over the storyline. The great thing about the movie is being surprised minute by minute. The basic story is about "Snaps" Provolone, a powerful Chicago gangster that is feared by many. However, Snaps is about to go straight because he promised his dying father on his deathbed that he would go legit. However, it's not going to be easy. In only 24 hours of trying to be straight, everything goes straight to hell, and everything that could go wrong does. And that's when all of the fun begins.This is a terrific comedy that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. It's only PG, so it's something that even the whole family can enjoy. Sylvester Stallone can really be a card and is hilarious when given the right opportunity. His facial expressions and outbursts are truly unforgettable. And there's so many great people in this out-of-control loony bin (many that you'll recognize in a heart-beat). The movie has a lot of brains too. For a comedy it is extremely complex and well-thought out. John Landis does a terrific job of directing this movie. The screenplay is brilliantly funny and very surprising with every step. You'll find yourself repeating many of the lines as you watch this over and over again.The DVD really doesn't have much to offer, but for a movie like this there's really no need to have a lot of special features (it would've been nice to have SOME though!). There's not even a theatrical trailer, so be warned. The picture and sound quality is pretty good (nice to see that it's enhanced for 16x9 TVs). So, it could've been a better DVD, but in all honesty I'm just glad to see that it is finally on DVD."Oscar" is an outstanding comedy that proves that a movie can be funny and smart at the same time. Bring the family and enjoy the chaos that happens in this crazy circus of gangsters, not-so-smart hit-men, crooked accountants, snobbish bankers, frustrated cops, confused priests, and more. "Oscar" is definitely worth checking out, especially if you want to have a great time and laugh like crazy. You really will be surprised if you have not seen this movie yet, so give it a shot!"