Search - Union City on DVD

Good Movie, "Eh" Transfer

03/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting is wonderful, the photography is great, and the real 'noir' feeling of it is wonderful. But, for those who have not seen it, you must be patient. The movie does not travel at 100 MPH like several of the modern movies, it is rather a slowly paced, slowly unfolding movie. You must be prepared to sit, watch, and enjoy. It is also a very humorous movie. This movie can teach you to appreciate and even laugh at the bizarre. However, no matter how much I love the movie, the DVD transfer is at a 'so-so' level. It is grainy, and the big spots that are usually invisible when remastered are still there. Also, the only extra is a biography on Ms. Harry. So, if you can appreciate slow moving movies and mediocre transfers, then this movie is a must have."

Moody, tense--film noir the way it's spozed to be

LGwriter | Astoria, N.Y. United States | 11/16/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Based on the short story "The Corpse Next Door" by Cornell Woolrich (dating back to the '40s), Union City is a great example of what you can do with practically no money for a feature length film noir.A big reason for this is the director, Marcus Reichert. Prior to (and after, as well) making this film, Mr. Reichert was known principally as an artist. Sense of color is a particularly strong element in this film; in almost every interior set, we see striking primary colors predominating. In Harlan (Dennis Lipscomb) and Lillian's (Debbie Harry) apartment, the living room is a deep disturbing red; another room's blue; a third, green. In one scene, Lillian wears a bright yellow dress that almost makes your eyes water.The actors are all fine here. Lipscomb and Harry are well matched as a dysfunctional couple. Everett McGill turns in a solid performance as the hunky superintendent. And Sam McMurray, CCH Pounder and Pat Benatar (I guess this was a queen of rock casting film!) are all right on target in their respective roles.This is a story of anxiety, obsession, murder, and guilt. It's an edgy work well complemented by the moody colors of its sets. The dialogue is a little stilted, but you can see that these slightly awkward phrases work well in the context of the jittery atmosphere. The two principals both have something to be agitated about--murder and adultery.And with the price of this DVD, this is a real bargain. Buy it before it goes out of print!"

Union (rhymes with) "City"

BRIAN A. LAFOUNTAIN | Hot Springs, Virginia United States | 01/29/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Long awaiting this release on DVD and fully expecting technology to chime new life into this dark pleasantry of a Debbie Harry fan's movie, I was virtually STARTLED at the grain and blocking of color that Union City in DVD format suffers. Sometimes the images appear to actually be a grid of sorts with the worst-ever digital transfer possible. You see a milky haze over the entire production along with the "jigsaw puzzle" appearance of some of the shots not noticed on VHS tape copies. An "SLP" recording of Union City on a bad VHS tape that is 15 years old is actually clearer than this DVD and I can prove it. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I weren't so angered at the loss of money and hopes."

Classic Film, Shame About the (...) Presentation

BRIAN A. LAFOUNTAIN | 04/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A truly historical film, Union City was the first neo-noir, before Body Heat, etc. Evidently made with no money, this film still looks fantastic. Many of the people involved in its making went on to become very successful, like script supervisor Kathryn Bigelow (Director of Strange Days, etc.), Director of Photography Edward Lachman (Erin Brokovich, The Virgin Suicides), gaffer Stefan Czapsky (D.P., Ed Wood), make-up artist Richard Dean (always works with Julia Roberts), creative producer Monty Montgomery (producer on Wild At Heart, Portrait of A Lady), and actors Dennis Lipscomb (Soldiers Story), Everett McGill (Under Seige II, The Straight Story), Sam McMurray (Raising Arizona), and CCH Pounder (Bagdhad Cafe). An amazing group of people and an amazing film. But whatever happened to the writer and director Mark Reichert? Has he made any more films? I would welcome any information on this mysterious character."