Product: 8 Women (2002)
Rating: 5.0
Bought It For The Cast......Stayed For The Fun....
This review refers to the widescreen DVD(Universal/Focus Features) edition of "8 Women"( "8 femmes" )......I don't usually buy a DVD unless I have already seen the film and know that I will get my money's worth. But when I saw the cast of this one, it practically jumped into my cart all by itself. The cast includes some of the most wonderful international actresses around.From the legends to the young stars I figured I couldn't go wrong with these names... Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardent, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux,Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. I figured right.Insert tounge in cheek and get ready for 8 times the fun in this mystery/comedy.When a wealthy family plans to spend Christmas together in their secluded home, the unexpected happens. Marcel, the only man among all the women, is found murdered in his own bed. The women who all immediatley begin to suspect each other are snowed in and have found the phone wires cut.The eight women, including Marcel's wife, daughters, mother in law, his sister,sister-in-law, the maid and the cook all have motives, they all have secrets, and they are all about half a bubble off the plumb. Whodunit? It's a geat treat finding out.After my first view,I was orignally planning to go 4 stars on this film as my standard for mystery/comedy is "The Pink Panther", but this film was so highly entertaining and fun I know I will get years of enjoyment for myself and anyone else who views it.And as I write this I know I can't wait to watch it again. The actresses are brillant,work exceptionaly well together, and the story totaly engaging. Each actress even gets her own clever and fun musical numbers to perform as well. It was written and directed by Francois Ozon and adapted from the Play by Robert Thomas.Now about the DVD...It is a great view in anamorphic widescreen(1.85:1), a clear picture and sounds great in 5.1 surround. I had a few technical problems with it though, it could be just my copy, but there were several times where it just paused itself. Sometimes it would just restart and sometimes it wouldn't. I found that by reloading it a couple of times, the glitches seemed to work themselves out, but it was annoying to have to do it in the first place. There are no special features other than a couple of theatrical trailers. The film will automatically come on in French with English subtitles, but also has subtitles in Spanish as well. Another reviewer mentioned that to play it only in French without the subtitles, just click on "8 femmes" instead of "8 Women", but I could not locate this option anywhere on my copy.The actresses won 2 prestigious awards for their wonderful achievement as an ensemble. A Silver Berlin Bear from the Berlin Film Festival and Best Ensemble form the European Film Awards as well. Director Francois Ozon was also recognized with a Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost" at the Berlin Film Festival. It was also nominated for several other awards.The film is very French! It is rated R for some adult thematic situations(lesbianism, adultry) but I found nothing offensive or graphic about it.also available in a great francois ozon 2 pack with a fabulous thriller8 Women / Swimming Pool ( Franois Ozon 2 pack)Merci Beaucoup.....LaurieIsabelle Huppert fans may also enjoy:Comedy of Innocence