| Someone to Watch Over Me | 
 enlarge | Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Tom Berenger, Mimi Rogers, Lorraine Bracco, Jerry Orbach, John Rubinstein
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
Buy New: $28.95
New (8) Used (9) Collectible (2) from $13.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 52240
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Georgian (Subtitled), Chinese (Subtitled), Thai (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 107
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Array
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D08779D
ISBN: 0767827872
UPC: 043396087798
EAN: 9780767827874
ASIN: B00000K3TU
Theatrical Release Date: October 9, 1987
Release Date: October 19, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
This stylish, smart 1987 movie stars Tom Berenger as a New York cop and family man who falls for the rich and beautiful witness (Mimi Rogers) he's assigned to protect. Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) does something here he should be doing a lot more often: directing contemporary film noir with his eye for extraordinary art direction. Berenger and Rogers rise to the occasion, seemingly aware that they're making something special. --Tom Keogh
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Every cliche in the book May 27, 2008
Absolutely painful film to watch and easily Ridley Scott's worst. He obviously does not understand the thriller genre as both this and Black Rain are some of the lamest cop flicks you'll ever see. But Someone to Watch Over me gets extra credit for taking the most incredible city in the world into a swamp of cliches that defies description.
It's not so much that Tom Berenger is bad or that the set-up is totally unrealistic, but more that it is so absolutely predictable and devoid of any surprises. Or is it that there seems to be no chemistry between any of the actors? Or simply, that the material is so wafer thin that the film winds up saying virtually nothing except the totally obvious regarding class distinctions? This is the film where Ridley Scott firmly earned his reputation as a shallow stylist. Ugh. Maybe if Mimi Roger's character was anything but a shallow bore as well -- for she is supposedly the magnetic awe-inspiring center of this sordid tale. And Tom Berenger has the charisma of a stale graham cracker. Whatever... it's AWFUL.
This film really makes you wonder -- if you strip away all of the 70mm affects, and genre conventions of his previous efforts, if Ridley Scott really understands how to tell an original story that is not derivative or referential. It is puzzling because Alien features some great moments of tension... but maybe without the support of a monster or flying cars, or gobs of CGI he just kind of turns out to be kinda boring.
What happened to Tom Berenger? May 30, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a very good movie. Ridley Scott has created a 100% authentic world with this movie. Tom Berenger plays his character fantastically. It's really a shame that he lost his talent to low rent action films when he could've continued with films like this. The atmosphere and cinemotography, as well as the soundtrack featuring liscensed (?) music really contributes to the overall mood, which is kind of casual and realistic. One thing that I think is good is that the story isn't pushed along by action and violence, it's pushed along by the struggles of Mike Keegan who has just been promoted to Detective, and on his first job as a Detective, his life is ruined. Recommended to Ridley Scott and 80's film fans alike.
 Murder and Passion in the Big Apple February 27, 2005
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This review refers to "Someone To Watch Over Me"(VHS Columbia)...
No matter how often I view this thriller, I still get caught up in the suspense, the thrills and the romance. Director Ridley Scott does an excellent job of pulling us into the lives of the characters, and like in a good Hitchcock flick, has us wanting to warn them of impending danger.
New York City is the setting. On one side of town, in Queens, a party is going on at the modest home of newly promoted Detective, Mike Keegan. It's a close knit group of cops and their wives having a great time. Meanwhile in uptown Manhattan, another party is going on in a very upscale apartment, attended by the rich and "beautiful people". One of the guests is the lovely Claire Gregory. Claire is invited to view some artwork on a lower level of the building, and it is there she witnesses the brutal murder of her friend. The murderer spots her and now her very life is in danger.
Keegan has his first assignment...babysit the witness until the perp is hauled in and identified. But Joey Venza, the killer, is ruthless and is not going to let a few cops get in the way of his plans for Miss Gregory. The film provides many heartstopping moments of thrills and suspense as he goes after her. The film is more than just a thriller though, and as the song goes, like 'lost lambs', family man Mike and Claire find passion and comfort in each other's arms. The film becomes a complex but tight story of murder and passion, that will have you immersed from the first frame to the last.
The cast are all excellent. Tom Berenger is Keegan, torn between his family and his feelings for Claire, while still protecting her from harm. The role of Claire, is tailor made for the beautiful Mimi Rogers as she just exudes class. Lorraine Bracco packs a punch(literally) as Keegan's wife. Jerry Orbach is of course the perfect choice to play "the whip", Keegan's superior, John Rubinstein is Claire's stodgy boyfriend and Andreas Katsulas(the one armed murderer in "The Fugitve"), will scare you out of your wits as Joey Venza, "the perp".
An excellent soundtrack, that flows right along with the story, will treat you to some haunting Opera music, and 3 different renditions of "Someone To Watch Over Me", including one by Roberta Flack over the closing credits. The cinematography is also a wonderful plus for this film and includes some great views of the New York Skyline, and one fabulous shot of the WTC, as Berenger and Bracco are lunching in the city.
Five stars for a film that has not lost any of it's appeal since it's release in 1987. A great thriller to add to your library. One that will stand up to repeated heartpumping viewings.
Get the popcorn ready and enjoy.....Laurie
Not an Oscar winner, but worth watching February 13, 2005
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
All right, this is a bit of a difficult film to review, because while I enjoyed it, I can't decide whether I would actually want to be bothered to watch it again -- and that usually defines a great movie, for me. But I'll do my best and we'll see where we go.
To sum up the plot, Tom Berenger plays Mike, a happily married (sexy) police detective who's hired to protect Claire (Mimi Rogers), a rich woman who's witnessed a murder. Predictably, perhaps, Claire and Mike fall in love, and as Mike's marriage begins to fall apart, the murderer steps up his pursuit of Claire in an attempt to find and destroy her...
Okay, okay, so it's a bit of an average plot, from the sounds of it. But the complexity of the storyline and the decent character developments kept me watching. I actually disliked all the of the performances of the principal actors, but they were probably the only actors for the parts and for each other in this movie. I like how Mimi Rogers's character likes opera, it gives her this artsy, deep dynamic, but all in all, I wasn't that convinced that her character actually develops beyond "learning not to fall in love with bodyguards." The same goes for the others. It's like the plot moves along, but the characters don't quite go with it.
Nonetheless! The actors aren't HORRIBLE, the plot is decent, and Tom Berenger is one hot bodyguard. Mimi Rogers DOES get the helpless victim act across well, and the set, costumes, etc. are terrific. The suspense is suspenseful. The movie will keep you interested.
One of the other reviewers of this movie wrote that 'Someone to Watch Over Me' is a good date movie. It is. It's definitely worth watching, if you're on a stay-in date, or just in need of a decent movie to kill time, and after watching it you'll feel that the two hours wasn't wasted. It's worth the $20 or so for the DVD if you like '80s movies; otherwise it's a rental, but a worthwhile one.
one of the classiest thrillers ever made May 10, 2004
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This movie is fantastic. Mimi Rogers plays a wealthy socialate
who witnesses a murder. The killer is after her. Tom Berenger
plays a detective who along with two other detectives are assigned to protect her. He takes the night shift. He is married and has a son. He is impressed by Mimi Rogers upper
class lifestyle, her beautiful apartment, classical music, she
is a very classy lady. I must say Mimi Rogers was perfect for
the part she is beautiful and carries herself so gracefully.
Tom Berenger is a blue collar detective. The two actors have
excellent chemistry. Tom Berenger is married. A romance begins
with Tom Berenger and Mimi Rogers. The killer is released on
a mistake which was made for his arrest. He is crazy and goes
after Mimi Rogers. This movie has a look about it like a 1940's
movie. The sets are amazing and the locations are breathtaking.
The movie is very suspenseful and the ending is excellent. This
is one of the best movies ever made in my opinion
|
|
|
