FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: White Palace [DVD] [1991]

White Palace [DVD] [1991]
enlarge	Director: Luis Mandoki Actors: Susan Sarandon, James Spader, Jason Alexander, Kathy Bates, Eileen Brennan Studio: Uca Catalogue Category: DVD List Price: ~~£9.99~~ Buy New: £2.86 as of 22/11/2009 04:42 GMT details You Save: £7.13 (71%) New (10) Used (3) from £2.50 Seller: selectcheaper Rating: 6 reviews Sales Rank: 16945 Format: PAL Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 99 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5050582078596 ASIN: B0000UM0OO Theatrical Release Date: October 19, 1990 Release Date: November 10, 2003 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


Similar Items: Dream Lover [DVD] [1994] Bad Influence [DVD] [1990] Sex, Lies And Videotape [DVD] [1989] Secretary [2002] [DVD] Jack's Back [1988] [DVD] [2007]


Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Glenn Savan's depressing and self-loathing novel about a 27-year-old upper-class Jewish widower mired in self-pity after his beloved wife dies, and who finds love and sexual rebirth with a trailer-trash older woman, was brought to the big screen by the competent director Luis Mandoki (IWhen a Man Loves a Woman/I, IMessage in a Bottle/I). But the savage irony in Savan's book has been face-lifted by screenwriters Ted Tally (IThe Silence of the Lambs/I) and Alvin Sargent (IOrdinary People/I) into something else entirely: what passes for low-rent "slumming" in Hollywood means hiring sexy Susan Sarandon to play Nora Baker, the poor, uneducated 43-year-old waitress in a White Palace burger joint who strikes up an unlikely relationship with sad Max Baron (James Spader). Widower Max attends a bachelor party for best pal Neil (Jason Alexander) and discovers that the local White Palace has stiffed the boys a whopping six burgers. Max barges into the joint, bent on getting his money back, and meets a testy Nora, who is bemused at the young man's insolence. While driving home, Max stops abruptly at a bar for a drink. Inside, Nora is nursing a vodka and takes a shine to the tuxedo-clad, handsome, and morose younger man. He gives her a lift, she seduces him, and the rest of the movie examines how two such opposites in manners and morals can find happiness. The only common bond they have is great sex and a private tragedy. IWhite Palace/I nudges at the dark journey and the smashing of illusion that was at the heart of the novel, but there is still a fairy-tale element to the film that negates the earthy essence that distinguished the book. In Mandoki's vision, IWhite Palace/I is about overcoming class, family, and outside opinion to find true love. In Savan's book, Max wastes into decline while Nora ultimately thrives in the quest for truth, redemption, and self-forgiveness. She becomes his salvation only after he stops hating himself. But mainstream Hollywood shuns making "protagonists" so mad, bad, or sad, and as such, too much glitter is tossed on Spader, while Sarandon, as usual, is the only one who seems to embody and understand her character's angst. She deserved her Oscar for Nora, not the nun in IDead Man Walking/I. --IPaula Nechak/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 6 1 2 Next » White Hot Passion February 27, 2007 Four Violets (Hertford UK) 13 out of 13 found this review helpful This film is unusual - it succeeds in being both romantic and extremely erotic. Its also a very enjoyable film for both women and men -for women because unusually the man is much younger than the woman; and what man could fail to find Susan Sarandon extremely easy on the eye. A cynical part of me always says at the end of the film "I give them six months till the novelty of the sex wears off and he leaves"; but still it remains a totally watchable film with a classic line by Susan Sarandon when she opens the door to the eager James Spader - simply "I'm 43". So what Susan, go for it! Pure gold! January 20, 2006 ruthie_uk2001 (United Kingdom) 11 out of 12 found this review helpful To any fan of James Spader a justification for watching this movie would be completely unecessary. One of Spader#x27;s finest performances as grieving Max, who finds love and happiness again in the most unlikely of places. For anyone new to Spader#x27;s work, this film is a touching story of a relationship which breaks the mould and defies convention, with an excellent cast and good supporting music and writing. It#x27;s a film guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart. white hot palace May 6, 2009 Mr. William J. Sterling Superb Spader performance as usual. Equalled by Sarandon. They both hold the off-beat story together. Imaginatively directed with strong supporting cast. One for thecineastes among us. Celebration of relationships October 4, 2000 13 out of 15 found this review helpful This film runs you through all the reasons why some relationships should not work and in so doing makes you examine prejudice from different angles. It is an adult film and, as such, can also deal with sex in a relationship and how important that is. Having set all that boring stuff aside it is very enjoyable and well worth watching. Perfect Palace July 31, 2009 TheGerbilTamer (London) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful This film centres around late twentysomething Jewish widower Max Baron and his relationship with the older Nora Baker. Both have suffered tragedy but their mutual sexual passion binds them together through class and age differences. br / br /I thought the two central performances were excellent, powerful performances from both Max (Spader) as the grieving widower and Nora (Sarandon) as the blowsy fortysomething waitress. The supporting actors were good too and special mention must be made of Nora's psychic mother. The sex scenes were erotic without being too explicit and the passion was pretty evident. The ending was fairly cliched, but that's Hollywood for you! Showing reviews 1-5 of 6 1 2 Next »

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON EU S.à.r.l. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.