Search - Tin Men on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 04/02/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Comedy Drama, Period Film

The second of director Barry Levinson's Baltimore Trilogy (the first was Diner, the third Avalon), Tin Men seems at first glance to be much ado about nothing. Set in 1963, the story begins when two aluminum siding salesmen, played by Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito, are involved in a traffic accident. Fueled by their own individual frustrations--Dreyfuss dislikes the phonier aspects of his profession, while DeVito is unhappily married to Barbara Hershey--the two men begin an all-out war of harassment against one another. DeVito goes on a destructive rampage against Dreyfuss' material possessions, while Dreyfuss contrives to steal away DeVito's wife. An ironic twist of fate ironically, brings the two men to common ground at the finale. As with the earlier Diner, Levinson spends a great deal of screen time showing small minds obsessed with small things: counterpointing the snow-balling hostilities between Dreyfuss and DeVito is Jackie Gayle as DeVito's partner, who can talk of nothing but the TV series Bonanza. Michael Tucker, who like Barry Levinson was Baltimore born and bred, repeats his Diner role as "Bagel." Listen for director Levinson's voice as a baseball stadium announcer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Dreyfuss - Bill "BB" Babowsky
Danny DeVito - Ernest Tilley
Barbara Hershey - Nora Tilley
John Mahoney - Moe, Partner to "BB"
Jackie Gayle - Sam, Tilley's Partner

Door-to-door aluminum siding salesmen get their due in director Barry Levinson's comedy Tin Men. The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks exceptionally good. Sporting vivid color patterns and well-saturated black tones, this transfer appears to be very well done with only the slightest amount of edge enhancement present. The audio is featured in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround in English and is uniformly flat. While the bulk of this soundtrack is well mixed and even, overall this audio presentation is relatively lifeless with little-to-no directional use in the rear speakers. Also included on this disc are French and Spanish subtitles, as well as English closed captions. The extra features on this first-ever DVD edition of Tin Men starts with a very informative commentary track by writer/director Barry Levinson, producer Mark Johnson, costume designer Gloria Gresham, and actors Richard Dreyfuss, Barbara Hershey, Seymour Cassel, Bruno Kirby, and John Mahoney. Lively and exuberant, this commentary track is a must for any fans of the film. Also featured on this disc is a funny deleted scene with an introduction by the director, and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide