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The Gingerbread Man (1997)
Released By: PolyGram Video   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: PolyGram Video
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Robert Altman
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Embeth Davidtz, Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey, Jr.
Published ID: 7443
UPC: 025192244124,
Plot: Robert Altman directed this John Grisham tale that begins at a party where Savannah attorney Rick Magruder (Kenneth Branagh) celebrates his successful defense of a man who shot a local cop. The partygoers include his ex-wife Leeanne (Famke Janssen), the mother of his two children; his law partner Lois Harlan (Daryl Hannah); and caterer Mallory Doss (Embeth Davidtz). After Mallory finds her car stolen, Rick gives her a ride home where things turn sexual. Attracted to Mallory, he learns that her crazed father Dixon Doss (Robert Duvall) has been threatening her. Getting too closely involved with this woman he hardly knows, Rick has the police round up her unstable father, and he next subpoenas her ex-husband Pete (Tom Berenger) to testify against Dixon, who is institutionalized. The crazed Dixon manages to escape from the asylum, intent on revenge against all his betrayers and enemies. As a potent hurricane blows into Savannah, Mallory's car is torched, and Rick receives threats. Believing his children are in danger, Rick removes them from school, prompting a warrant for his arrest. When his children disappear, Rich goes on the counterattack against Dixon. Chinese cinematographer Changwei Gu (of Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine and Zhang Yimou's Ju Dou) captured the soaked Savannah sites. The script is not an adaptation from a John Grisham novel; Grisham wrote it as an original screenplay just before the success of The Firm (1993), and it was acquired by producer Jeremy Tannenbaum. After Island Pictures came into the project at $1.4 million, Grisham returned for rewrites. Altman did even more drafts, so the pseudonym Al Hayes was created as the scripting credit. When Polygram suggested to Altman that the electronic score could be replaced with a traditional score, Altman had friends call reporters to say he had been dismissed. Polygram began re-editing the $25 million movie, but their edit didn't test much better than Altman's version, so they handed the reins back to Altman. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Only watch this if you're completely bored
Added 6/23/2009

1. I happened to rent this at the library--> overall, a barely entertaining film with surprising mediocre acting via K. Branagh.

2. I'm just doing my service to mankind by warning folks to steer clear of this dud of a film.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
POOR HISTORY
Added 6/11/2009

TOO PREDICTIBLE POOR ACTION, SOO SORRY FOR ALL THE STORIES OF GRISHAM CAUSE THIS MOVIE ISN'T TO BUY
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Well done, and I'm not a fan of "Hollywoodization" of books!
Added 12/1/2008

first, let me say that I usually avoid movies based on books I have read and enjoyed. They tend to get lost in the Holywood presentation. That said, this particular movie was a pleasant surprise. I am a huge fan of Branagh's work, but the only other non-Shakespeare film I'd seen of his was "Dead Again" (which I also highly recommend!). I think that he carried off the role of Rick Magruder very well, accent and all. Was the accent perfect? Probably not... particularly to those from the South. But it was spoken well enough, and Branagh's "character presence" was enough to make any slips either unapparent or forgivable. The entire cast did a spectacular job of bringing the characters to life and bringing them together in a believable manner. All in all, a very well put together adaptation of Grisham's work.. possibly the best I've seen yet.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Kenneth Branagh's Sticky and Sweet Tour
Added 10/16/2008

"The Gingerbread Man" was a departure for the late auteur Robert Altman. As David Mamet made a successful entree in costume drama was "The Winslow Boy",so did Altman made a less-than-successful entree in a mainstream,John Grisham thriller. It's heavy-handed,silly,and in its own way,an unlikely cult classic.

"Gingerbread Man" is about a successful Savannah attorney (Kenneth Branagh) Branagh's hammy take on a Southern accent is as sappy as a sugary mint julep. He finds himself smitten with a client (Embeth Davidtz) who claims that her father (Robert Duvall) is a violent cult leader. There are some hilarious love scenes,that arouse... laughter. The minor characters,however,turn in some good performances that make the movie watchable. Duvall is excellent as the violent father, Daryl Hannah is great as the dowdy assistant,and Robert Downey,Jr. is credible as an alcoholic attorney. They keep the movie going even when the plot is ludicrous. The closing scene,in an odd way,is an interesting meditation on gun control laws when Branagh realizes he's in a legal trap. It's open-ended when it comes to his fate.

"Gingerbread Man" is a sugary cookie.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Underrated, overlooked film noir masterpiece
Added 8/11/2008

Before you think "oh, yet another Grisham book made into a film", think again. This is a totally unique film noir with a huge ensemble cast. It maintains the "noir" feel throughout the film until the closing credits, thanks to Robert Altman. In this film you get Kenneth Brannagh in the lead as a prominent litigator, Robert Downey as a sleazy P.I., Darryl Hannah as the long suffering wife, Embeth Davitz as the "woman in trouble", Robert Duvall as a grizzled outback man, Famke Jannsen, Tom Berenger, etc. Get it, and keep it because the DVD is probably rare.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Only watch this if you're completely bored
Added 6/23/2009

1. I happened to rent this at the library--> overall, a barely entertaining film with surprising mediocre acting via K. Branagh.

2. I'm just doing my service to mankind by warning folks to steer clear of this dud of a film.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
POOR HISTORY
Added 6/11/2009

TOO PREDICTIBLE POOR ACTION, SOO SORRY FOR ALL THE STORIES OF GRISHAM CAUSE THIS MOVIE ISN'T TO BUY
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Well done, and I'm not a fan of "Hollywoodization" of books!
Added 12/1/2008

first, let me say that I usually avoid movies based on books I have read and enjoyed. They tend to get lost in the Holywood presentation. That said, this particular movie was a pleasant surprise. I am a huge fan of Branagh's work, but the only other non-Shakespeare film I'd seen of his was "Dead Again" (which I also highly recommend!). I think that he carried off the role of Rick Magruder very well, accent and all. Was the accent perfect? Probably not... particularly to those from the South. But it was spoken well enough, and Branagh's "character presence" was enough to make any slips either unapparent or forgivable. The entire cast did a spectacular job of bringing the characters to life and bringing them together in a believable manner. All in all, a very well put together adaptation of Grisham's work.. possibly the best I've seen yet.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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