Search - The Home Front on DVD

Overall .. Very Entertaining

07/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was very pleased to find "Homefront" at my local blockbuster, as I had heard many interesting things about it. I found the movie to be quite entertaining, and the acting to be above par. Tim Curry was actually very believable as the coniving priest, and it's always a joy to watch Julian Sands. However I believe a new talent has been found in Kurt Gerard, who played one of the German soldiers taken hostage. Although Gerard had limited screen time and dialogue, I felt drawn to his character, and his on-screen prescence. I surely hope we get to see more of him in the future."

Tatum's still a little darling!!

Main | United Kingdom | 05/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Moving World War Drama which brings a welcome return to the screen for the gorgeous TATUM O'NEAL after way too long an absence. The Scoundrels Wife is well-told and played by all and benefits from a strong central emotionally charged performance by Tatum in a film which deserves a wider audience than it will probably get. For fans of w.war drama's and Tatum O'Neal, you won't be disappointed!"

Slow going period drama

K. Gittins | CA USA | 05/05/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The movie is a slow-moving period drama which takes place in Louisiana at the start of America's entry into WWII. One particular military-type pokes around looking for coastal fishermen (one of which is Tatum O'Neal's character) who may be trading goods with the Germans who are sinking US ships off the coast. O'Neal's character has a not-so-hidden past which causes the townspeople to be suspicious of her and her family (which includes Lacey Chabert).

Tim Curry has the best character, and shows the best acting, as the mostly-drunk Catholic priest. Lacey Chabert was pretty good. Others were so-so.

While the movie itself was OK, the "featurette" was irritating. It consists of a few sentences (and even has titlecards for each snippet) that are 10-20 second "soundbites" from the 4 or 5 major characters. Arg! The titlecard tells you what the person is going to talk about, and the length in seconds. The person speaks one or two sentences, then fade to black and cut to another titlecard telling us what the person is going to talk about, and the duration in seconds. This is repeated about 20 times (4 or 5 subjects per actor). Tatum is even shown in two different outfits. Talk about tedious! Even with all the filler, it is only a few minutes long.

Funny thing that the DVD cover shows a German U-Boat - the only place you'll see it. Also, the title on the cover and description on the back "The Home*Front" with a star between words. The title in the movie itself is "Home Front", and in the crappy featurette, it is listed as "The Scoundrel's Wife" and is referred to as such by Lacey Chabert.

I don't recall any language, but there is an R-rated glimpse of Tatum's tatas as she and her suspected doctor-friend do the horizontal bop, and Lacey is sort of naked in the bathtub for a second, though the angle is not optimum on that.

Movie is maybe 3-plus stars, with a 1-star extra."

An Unusual War Story

Artist & Author | Near Mt. Baker, WA | 03/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this to be a very compelling movie. There are so many issues that come up that it should provide good family discussion for quite a while. First, the priest is not respected by the village people because he is an alcoholic. The mother of the two teens was involved is a sin for which the townspeople have ostracized her and her kids for years. A gypsy escapes for Germany early in the war, stealing the identity of a Jewish doctor, and is eventually sent to Cajun country to be their town doctor. An inexperienced Coast Guard ensign is put under such pressure to find any locals who are assisting the German U-boats that are lurking in the Gulf that he resorts to setting up the ostracized woman as helping the Germans.

All this comes together in a climax that most traditional values families will find satisfying. It is a story of facing up to one's past sins. Unfortunately, it is done only tangentially in the context of a loving and just God. Still, this is one true story that those who like moving drama will surely be glad they viewed it. I don't know why it is 'R' rated because most of the violence is off camera, and nothing erotic is shown of the one love scene. Indeed, virtually of the the terrible injuries the sailors suffered when the Germans sank their ships are shown in the context of the 'medical team' saving their lives."