The Gingerbread Man | 
| Director: Robert Altman
Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz, Robert Downey Jr., Daryl Hannah, Tom Berenger
Studio: Polygram USA Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $3.61
You Save: $11.37 (76%)
New (10) Used (21) Collectible (1) from $1.88
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 93001
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Array
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 630511286X
UPC: 044008504924
EAN: 9786305112860
ASIN: 630511286X
Theatrical Release Date: January 23, 1998
Release Date: September 29, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
When released in 1997, The Gingerbread Man was the only John Grisham movie that did not use one of the popular novelist's bestsellers as its inspiration. Rather, it's based on an original screenplay by Grisham that displays the author's familiar flair for Southern characters and settings within a labyrinthine plot propelled by his trademark narrative twists and turns. Sporting a spot-on Georgian accent, Kenneth Branagh plays a Savannah attorney who comes to the assistance of a troubled woman (Embeth Davidtz) and finds himself enmeshed in a scenario involving the woman's father (Robert Duvall) that grows increasingly complex and dangerous, where nothing, of course, is really as it seems. It's a totally absorbing movie made in the modern film-noir tradition; what's most interesting here (and most underrated by critics at the time) is the combination of Grisham's mainstream mystery and the offbeat style of maverick director Robert Altman. Despite a battle with executives that nearly caused Altman to disown the film, The Gingerbread Man demonstrates the director's skill in bringing a fresh, characteristically offbeat approach to conventional material, especially in the use of a threatening hurricane to hold the plot in a state of dangerous urgency. Unfortunately overlooked during its theatrical release, this intelligent thriller provides a fine double bill with Francis Coppola's film of Grisham's The Rainmaker. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 Only watch this if you're completely bored June 23, 2009
Harry M. Shin (Livermore, CA USA)
1. I happened to rent this at the library--> overall, a barely entertaining film with surprising mediocre acting via K. Branagh.
2. I'm just doing my service to mankind by warning folks to steer clear of this dud of a film.
 POOR HISTORY June 11, 2009
Moises F. Ramos Gonzalez
TOO PREDICTIBLE POOR ACTION, SOO SORRY FOR ALL THE STORIES OF GRISHAM CAUSE THIS MOVIE ISN'T TO BUY
 Well done, and I'm not a fan of "Hollywoodization" of books! December 1, 2008
K. E. Ruef (Shawnee, OK, USA)
first, let me say that I usually avoid movies based on books I have read and enjoyed. They tend to get lost in the Holywood presentation. That said, this particular movie was a pleasant surprise. I am a huge fan of Branagh's work, but the only other non-Shakespeare film I'd seen of his was "Dead Again" (which I also highly recommend!). I think that he carried off the role of Rick Magruder very well, accent and all. Was the accent perfect? Probably not... particularly to those from the South. But it was spoken well enough, and Branagh's "character presence" was enough to make any slips either unapparent or forgivable. The entire cast did a spectacular job of bringing the characters to life and bringing them together in a believable manner. All in all, a very well put together adaptation of Grisham's work.. possibly the best I've seen yet.
Kenneth Branagh's Sticky and Sweet Tour October 16, 2008
Amaranth (Northern California)
"The Gingerbread Man" was a departure for the late auteur Robert Altman. As David Mamet made a successful entree in costume drama was "The Winslow Boy",so did Altman made a less-than-successful entree in a mainstream,John Grisham thriller. It's heavy-handed,silly,and in its own way,an unlikely cult classic.
"Gingerbread Man" is about a successful Savannah attorney (Kenneth Branagh) Branagh's hammy take on a Southern accent is as sappy as a sugary mint julep. He finds himself smitten with a client (Embeth Davidtz) who claims that her father (Robert Duvall) is a violent cult leader. There are some hilarious love scenes,that arouse... laughter. The minor characters,however,turn in some good performances that make the movie watchable. Duvall is excellent as the violent father, Daryl Hannah is great as the dowdy assistant,and Robert Downey,Jr. is credible as an alcoholic attorney. They keep the movie going even when the plot is ludicrous. The closing scene,in an odd way,is an interesting meditation on gun control laws when Branagh realizes he's in a legal trap. It's open-ended when it comes to his fate.
"Gingerbread Man" is a sugary cookie.
Underrated, overlooked film noir masterpiece August 11, 2008
James Burns
Before you think "oh, yet another Grisham book made into a film", think again. This is a totally unique film noir with a huge ensemble cast. It maintains the "noir" feel throughout the film until the closing credits, thanks to Robert Altman. In this film you get Kenneth Brannagh in the lead as a prominent litigator, Robert Downey as a sleazy P.I., Darryl Hannah as the long suffering wife, Embeth Davitz as the "woman in trouble", Robert Duvall as a grizzled outback man, Famke Jannsen, Tom Berenger, etc. Get it, and keep it because the DVD is probably rare.
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