Category: (DVD)
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FATAL ATTRACTION (DVD) (SPECIAL COLLECTORS EDITION
The date movie of the late 1980s, this had everyone arguing in the aisles. Does Michael Douglas deserve the unwanted attention he and his family are receiving at the hands of loony stalker Glenn Close? After a weekend extramarital affair with colleague Close, he returns home to wife Anne Archer, and Close becomes progressively angrier. You might even say she is boiling bunny mad.
Directed by Adrian Lyne, this is not your average thriller, as it garnered six Academy Award nominations. The plot is too obvious, but the dialogue rings true and the intense performances hold the story together. Anne Archer deserves kudos for side-stepping cliché as the strong but frightened wife, and Close is a scream as she chews up the scenery.
The film's original ending, which was reshot after poor preview screenings, has been added to the video release. --Rochelle O'Gorman
late 80's crazy in New YorkReviewed by R. Bagula, 2010-01-17
This movie is just a nasty story of a woman
who slept with the wrong guy
and wouldn't let go?
I think it is a sign of the times where
morals and social decay catch up with a modern successful
lawyer
on his way up.
I really didn't like this movie.
Fatal AttractionReviewed by Arnita D. Brown, 2010-01-05
A happily married New York City attorney engages in a one- night
stand while his wife and child are away. The woman refuses to end
the affair and, subsequently terrorizes the attorney and his
family. This movie is a classic. The perfect mix between romance
and thriller. Michael Douglas and Glen Close simply outstanding.
Very thrilling and entertaing movie.
Very goodReviewed by F. B. NEVES, 2009-12-28
I didn't buy the DVD, but the blu-ray is indeed great. This movie never looked better.
Great movieReviewed by S. Miller, 2009-12-22
Thanks for the fast delivery. I have this movie on VHS but was glad I found it on dvd.
Just 'Say No' to adultery!Reviewed by - Durrkk, 2009-11-14
"Fatal Attraction" tells the story of a Manhattan attorney (Michael
Douglas) who foolishly decides to have a weekend affair with a
sharp blond (Glenn Close) while his wife (Anne Archer) & kid
are away visiting the grandparents. The situation turns
increasingly harrowing and horrifying when the woman refuses to end
the union.
The film was hugely popular when it was released in 1987, but I
didn't see it until a decade later. I saw it again this week and I
had forgotten how good it is.
It's easy to compare to Clint Eastwood's "Play Misty for Me" (1971)
since both films deal with a sexual affair gone bad and the clingy
psycho woman, but other than the obvious similarities the stories,
characters and locales are totally different. In other words, just
because you've seen one doesn't mean you shouldn't see the other.
Both are very good, even great, and worth your time if you're in
the mood for such a flick. That said, however, if I were to compare
the two unbiasedly I'd have to give the edge to "Fatal," even
though "Misty" has better locations (beautiful Carmel,
California).
Many question why Douglas would even consider cheating on a wife as
beautiful as Archer, but the film clearly shows that Douglas was
starting to get sexually frustrated (there's a scene where Douglas
is looking foward to sex but his daughter ends up sleeping on the
bed with his wife while he gets stuck on the couch). It's also
clear that Douglas didn't plan to commit adultery; the opportunity
presented itself while his wife was away and it simply didn't take
much for him to fall into the temptation. I'm not defending his
unfaithfulness, in fact I'm totally opposed to it, but at least his
actions weren't premeditated.
Others complain that Glenn Close isn't attractive in the film, but
she looks pretty dang sharp to me. As the story progresses and we
see how truly disturbed she is it's only natural to view her as
ugly; in fact, she becomes absolutely hideous! Regardless, beauty
is in the eye of the beholder.
The drama and acting are outstanding here. As Close becomes
increasingly irritating and clingy you can see Douglas's
progressive horror on his face, as if he's saying, "What did I get
myself into? I'm so stupid! How can I get rid of her? --
AaaaaAAAAHH!"
Some complain about Douglas breaking into Close's apartment and
attacking her, but in light of her actions this is a very realistic
and understandable reaction.
Then there's the debate about who's the real villain -- Close or
Douglas -- and that Close deserves at least a little compassion,
especially on the grounds that Douglas' character views their
sexual union as a mere physical encounter and Close as a throwaway
object in which he can satisfy his lust and pride (of course, you
could argue the same vice versa). On the contrary, Close is a real
person who apparently sees their union as something deeper.
Something not just physical, but emotional and spiritual as well.
Is it any wonder that she starts to increasingly lose it after
Douglas breaks off the fling? Not that I'm justifying her actions.
I'm just pointing out how "Fatal Attraction" potently illustrates
the possible consequences of treating people like throwaway sex
objects. In the vast majority of cases, of course, the consequences
aren't nearly as extreme, but there are always repercussions, even
if it's just a broken or hardened heart. Try as we might,
separating the physical from the spiritual is a lost cause.
Nevertheless, the story makes it clear that Douglas "made the bed
he's sleeping in"; he certainly deserves to experience the
consequences of his foolish actions, if for no other reason than to
learn from his mistakes, but by the end of the film anyone who
believes he (and his family) hasn't suffered enough is a sadist! As
for compassion on Close's character: Yes, up to a point she
deserves an ounce or two of human compassion (we all screw up and
make wrong choices from time to time, don't we?), but only up to a
point. After all, she walked into this fling fully knowing he was a
married family man, not to mention she adamantly claimed to be
discreet and insisted the same in him. Besides, it takes two to
tango. Regardless, there is zero justification for her actions as
the story progresses; she clearly earns the label of villain and
Douglas the foolhardy victim.
I do have a few cavils with the film: The phone plays too big of a
role and gets bothersome after awhile. Plus, Douglas and his wife
act too naively late in the story. The psycho woman is missing and
has already broken into their house and kidnapped their kid from
school. Shouldn't they be extremely on guard? Also, the 'kid' is
actually a girl named Ellen, but throughout the film she looks like
a boy named Allen. Go figure.
Be sure to check out the original ending on the dvd. The original
ending [SPOILER ALERT!] has Close committing suicide and getting
back at Douglas as his fingerprints are on the knife and he gets
arrested. But Douglas' wife finds a cassette with Close admitting
that she was going to kill herself so he gets off the hook. [END
SPOILER]. All the principle filmmakers, including Douglas, felt the
original ending was ineffective and test audiences verified this;
only Close and Archer defended it. Hence, eight months after
completion they shot a different ending. Did they make the right
choice? That's for you to decide, but I agree with the filmmakers
that the deleted climax is rather flat whereas the newer ending is
simply more entertaining. Less believable, perhaps, but more
exciting and entertaining (but certainly not outside the realm of
possibility, except for one horror cliche).
Filmed on location in Manhattan and the New York countryside; the
film runs 2 hours.
