HEART OF THE BEHOLDER (DVD MOVIE) Mike and Diane Howard were a typical young couple with dreams of raising a family and starting a business of their own. They opened the first videocassette rental store in St. Louis in 1981. With hard work their company grew into a multi-million dollar chain of video stores. It was then that the Howards were visited with increasing frequency by a group of religious people called the Citizens For Decency who insisted they remove movies from their stores that they felt were “obscene films such as Taxi Driver Agnes of God and Blazing Saddles. When Martin Scorsese’s; The Last Temptation of Christ was released on video the Howards’ were the only video stores in St. Louis unafraid to offer the film for rent. The CFD declared war and the Howards received death threats against their daughter. A corrupt prosecuting attorney was in the pocket of the CFD by fear of being exposed for sexual indiscretions. Alleging they had ties to organized crime the Howards were shunned as social outcasts. Ultimately they won their case in court but the negative publicity and legal fees bankrupted their business and destroyed their family. Shortly thereafter a chance encounter with a woman reveals the truth about the CFD and the attorney and the Howards get their ultimate payback. (www.beholder.com)Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA UPC: 658769821130 Manufacturer No: VF8211
Customer Review: Heroes Really Do Exist – And This Film Proves It
A wonderful film, well deserving of the awards it won and many more. This superlative film is based on a true story. It’s not really a story of revenge though. It’s much more: It’s a powerful and touching account of how, even against terrific odds, justice can manage to prevail, and uplift and even change the human heart. Don’t be surprised to learn that the production of Heart of the Beholder is a very meaningful labor of love — this actually produces a special quality that shines throughout so that the audience senses that something truly different and remarkable is going on here.
Customer Review: As a movie store owner – I had to see it…
This movie has garnered plenty of self promotional support, festival screenings the last three years, and heartfelt arguments against the naysayers. In my five years of being a movie store owner and reviewing films, this one appears to the most difficult for me to find impartiality.
DVD: The DVD had a fair quality transfer, with the camera artifacts, mic sounds and lighting shortages showing up throughout; ironically, the best clarity appeared in a brief segment at the paintball sequence where they changed cameras. The DVD promo was a wash of other films that would be hard pressed in finding distribution, and the slide show segment pushed more of the films obvious slant (understandably).
Cast: The cast is made up of a “where did I see that actor before” every few minutes, including pros from Star Tek NG, General Hospital, Ally McBeal, Third Watch, Three’s Company, etc. The film resonates like a Lifetime movie both in film quality and production, but with the nudity, sex and language.
Film: I spent more time watching the background props (posters, cases, store fixtures) as the first 20 minutes reminded me of how I started in this business. The Chuck Barry tie-in was a surprise, as was seeing Beta beating VHS in customer count. The whole premise is actually very sad and scary, as I would have reacted much differently had it been my daughter. The acting was painful at times, but I know this was a passion piece, and Sarah Brown had one of the best scenes showing her abs without fear or makeup (bedroom 3-way scene at the end) – not common in Hollywood.
I have had a religious group boycott my store before over carrying documentaries, so I empathize with the story. I will be carrying this film on my shelves as I feel it is a necessary story to relay, albeit the message is told with a “local” feel. Have no expectations, roll your eyes a few times at the forced schtick, but give it a try. NOTE: had I not been an owner I would have said skip it.
Thanks for the info Mr. Tipton.
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Man With a Movie Camera DVD (1929) a Silent Film Documentary Masterpiece by Dziga Vertov. Man With a Movie Camera is a groundbreaking Russian film from the silent era. Pioneering director Dziga Vertov created a masterpiece; this film is a dazzling display of innovative moviemaking techniques. Capturing urban Russia at the start of the 20th century with breathtaking alacrity, Vertov weaves this documentary style picture together with a bevy of insights and experimentations. The piercing and brilliant nature of the filmmaking adds a brightness to this historically penetrating Russian film. Man With a Movie Camera (originally titled Chelovek S Kinoappartom) is a triumph of early movie production.
