| Thinner | 
 enlarge | Director: Tom Holland
Actors: Robert John Burke, Joe Mantegna, Lucinda Jenney, Michael Constantine, Kari Wuhrer
Studio: Republic Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $2.50
You Save: $7.48 (75%)
New (46) Used (36) from $2.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 18837
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Thx, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 116
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: REPD011419D
UPC: 017153114195
EAN: 0017153114195
ASIN: B00005O439
Theatrical Release Date: October 25, 1996
Release Date: August 14, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/22/2007 Run time: 92 minutes Rating: R
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Rent it for Joe Mantegna's Character October 20, 2008
The good news for Stephen King fans is that Tom Holland's "Thinner" is a faithful adaptation of King's tale, the bad news is that "Thinner" isn't one of King's best stories to build a film around.
Robert John Burke plays a rotund, and thoroughly unlikable lawyer who literally gets away with murder. Drawing the wrath of a band of gypsies he finds himself on the receiving end of a thinning curse. No matter how much he eats, he continues to lose weight.
The premise is pretty original, and the cast does a really good job with the material they are handed. Burke as a slimy lawyer does a particularly disgustingly good job. He is so repulsive both in character and physically, you almost root for the gypsy.
**On a side note, I would love to see just how much this film affected popcorn sales at theaters where it played? Watching Burke shovel in food hand over fist is truly nauseating! I can't imagine anyone eating while viewing scenes of him stuffing away food to try and gain weight!!**
Michael Constantine does a great job as the 106-year old Gypsy King, and Kari Wuhrer is smokin' hot as his grand-daughter.
But this movie belongs to Joe Mantegna. His portrayal of mobster Richie Ginelli is the one likable character in the entire film. Mantegna is having so much fun as the vegeance seeking mobster you can't help but get caught up in the spirit of things. You almost wish the focus of the film were on the Ginelli character solely.
The story is a bleak a depressive tale, populated by unlikable characters. And while the special effects are fantastic and the acting top notch, it's just too hard to recommend this film for anyone buy die-hard Stephen King fans.
 WHY YOU NOT WATCHING WHITE MAN FROM TOWN?!? WHY YOU NOT WATCHING!?! August 19, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Stephen King's THINNER is a real treat to anyone who loves those old(like me)E.C.COMICS and TALES FROM THE CRYPT. The story tells of a obese lawyer
who accidentally hits and kills a old gypsy woman. He gets off Scott free
which permits a old gypsy man to put a curse on him. GYPSY: YOU FRAME THE POLICE-YOU FRAME DA JUDGE NOTHING HAPPEN TO YOU WHITE MAN FROM TOWN! SO I CURSE YOU WITH JUSTICE...GYPSY JUSTICE!!! Anyway in 6 weeks our star goes from 300 pounds to 60 pounds and is about to die when all of a sudden...
Wait I don't want to give the story away just buy this puppy for it is FUNTASTIC(sic) It stars John Burke(ROBOCOP 3) Joe Mantegna and of course Keuri (OSHHEEEEE BA-BA-BOO-EEEE-GRRRRR)Wuhrer. A definite must for the SPOOK FEST COLLECTION
 One of the better Stephen King film adaptions June 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Stephen King's novels have been served well (CHRISTINE, HEARTS IN ATLANTIS, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, the TV miniseries version of THE SHINING) and served poorly (FIRESTARTER, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, THE TOMMYKNOCKERS, PET SEMATARY) by film. Your mileage may vary, but THINNER is one of the better ones, in this reviewer's opinion. The screenplay by director Tom Holland and the late novelist Michael McDowell (author of BEETLEJUICE) takes King's story and streamlines it a bit, clarifying some plot points and letting others remain ambiguous. Robert John Burke (perhaps best known to genre fans from ROBOCOP 3, but to TV addicts from his work in RESCUE ME, LAW AND ORDER: SVU and his role as Astronaut Bill Anders in FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON) is perfect as Billy Halleck, the overweight lawyer cursed by a Gypsy King to lose weight until he is, as Billy comes to realize, "erased". The malevolent Gypsy is portrayed by Michael Constantine, a veteran character actor fondly remembered from the breakthrough 1969-1974 TV series ROOM 222. The third major role is that of the mobster Richie Ginelli, a client of Halleck's, here essayed by the great Joe Mantegna from GODFATHER III, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, HOUSE OF GAMES and the TV series JOAN OF ARCADIA. When all else fails, Billy Halleck calls on his friend Richie to help him get the curse lifted.
I won't spoil the film for you by enumerating plot points. If you've never seen THINNER nor read the book (written by Steve under his short-lived "Richard Bachman" nom de plume), suffice to say that the story will surprise you with its left turns. Greg Cannom's makeup effects for not only the rapidly thinning Halleck but the ancient Gypsy King and a few other goodies are plausible and just realistic enough to make the film work. Bear in mind, however, that this is a genre film, so there is a certain amount of license taken with the makeup and necessary gore.
The supporting cast, mostly from the New York stage world, is uniformly excellent, bringing character to the smallest roles. In the accompanying commentary, Tom Holland makes note of as many of the supporting roles as possible, so that you can now put names to those very familiar faces.
Speaking of the commentary, Holland is joined by Joe Mantegna. He has a few memories to pass on, but says surprisingly little. Holland carries the bulk of the commentary, but has a habit of telling us what we are already seeing on the screen. The commentary does have some interesting moments, but (there's that "but" again) I would recommend you watch the makeup short with Greg Cannom first (unless you have not seen the movie at all).
The film is THX remastered, so the sound is as good as you would expect, clean and crisp. It would have been nice if THX had color-corrected the two major scenes which Holland, in his commentary, indicates were originally printed very shadowy and dark for theatrical release. This is the print with these two scenes printed much lighter for TV broadcast. It doesn't ruin THINNER, but this should not have been overlooked.
No trailer, surprisingly. The film is letterboxed in its original 1:85 to 1 aspect ratio.
Overall, a fairly good presentation of THINNER. And watch for Stephen King's cameo!
 Feels Like Something's Missing June 27, 2008
I'm sure you've had the feeling that something's missing in a movie. The one thing I must applaud in this movie are the genuinely subtle special effects of the main character's change. The story itself seems a little TOO short and just...ends when you don't really expect it to, like you're hoping it's going to continue. If you read the book, are a horror fan or a Stephen King fan, I'd recommend this movie. Everyone else, steer clear, as unfortunate as that may seem. Rent/buy Misery or the Shining instead, they're much, MUCH better movies.
***3 stars***
Thinner DVD June 11, 2008
This movie is one of my favorites by Stephen King! Its very rare to find but thankfully amazon sells very very rare stuff! This item arrived at my house in fantastic condition! I recommend checking it out!
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