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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Polygram USA Video
Salesrank: 57617
Released: September 29, 1998 |
| Our Price: $5.24 |
| Used Price: $2.62 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When released in 1997, The Gingerbread Man was the only John Grisham movie that did not use one of the popular novelist's bestsellers as its inspiration. Rather, it's based on an original screenplay by Grisham that displays the author's familiar flair for Southern characters and settings within a labyrinthine plot propelled by his trademark narrative twists and turns. Sporting a spot-on Georgian accent, Kenneth Branagh plays a Savannah attorney who comes to the assistance of a troubled woman (Embeth Davidtz) and finds himself enmeshed in a scenario involving the woman's father (Robert Duvall) that grows increasingly complex and dangerous, where nothing, of course, is really as it seems. It's a totally absorbing movie made in the modern film-noir tradition; what's most interesting here (and most underrated by critics at the time) is the combination of Grisham's mainstream mystery and the offbeat style of maverick director Robert Altman. Despite a battle with executives that nearly caused Altman to disown the film, The Gingerbread Man demonstrates the director's skill in bringing a fresh, characteristically offbeat approach to conventional material, especially in the use of a threatening hurricane to hold the plot in a state of dangerous urgency. Unfortunately overlooked during its theatrical release, this intelligent thriller provides a fine double bill with Francis Coppola's film of Grisham's The Rainmaker. --Jeff Shannon
The Gingerbread Man Reviews:
Underrated, overlooked film noir masterpiece 
2008-08-11 - 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.
Interesting 
2007-10-30 - Whether doing Shakespeare or otherwise, Kenneth Branagh is an awesome actor. Sure, TGM is not exactly a "movie of the year" or anything but it was entertaining enough to be worth watching. Like with all these types of movies, there's a twist. For me, the test for a good movie is: can I figure out the twist before the movie reveals it. On this one, I didn't. There were some big-name actors in this one but most of them seemed to have relatively minor roles. Strange.
Anyway, overall, TGM was an interesting movie.
Recommended.
Branagh in Savannah 
2006-03-27 - I haven't anything to say on the movie as a whole - it's a grade-B thriller, creaky and contrived - but I wanted to add my 2 cents' worth on the phenomenon of Branagh the impersonator. I live in central east Georgia, and it has been my misfortune to spend quite a lot of time in the company of Savannah lawyers; Kenneth Branagh's character in this movie could have slipped into one of those practices like hair into hair oil. The look, the walk, the gestures, the speech - all of it seemed to me perfect. I am not native to Georgia, it's true, but I've lived here for 6 years, and usually accents bother me. Branagh's art - his ear, his technique - is something special.
So, if you're interested in him, or in mimicry in general, you will get something out of this over-all low-grade film.
A Savannahian's Review of "The Gingerbread Man"
2006-01-29 - The "film noir" lives in the '90s! GREAT characterizations and suspense right up until the final, crashing denouement!
The cinematography is outstanding, and the skilful use of the impending "descent" of a hurricane only adds to the urgency with which the script effectively and satisfyingly "bustles" you along.
'
Robert Duvall's performance brings to mind an older, but basically unchanged "Boo Radley."
Branagh, Duvall, Downey, Hannah, Jansen.........great cast!
Four and 1/2 stars from me!
Disappointing and predictable 
2006-01-23 - This is not a good film. And I'm surprised by the relatively positive responses here and on critics' websites. I found the story flimsy and obvious, the acting over done or boring, the characters uninteresting, the lighting frequently too dark and overall aggrivating.
I do love Altman, and appreciate his stamp here. The intensity of activity and conversation is here, but limited by glaring accents and dialogue. As great as some of his films are, he has equal the number of films that don't work, and loyal I remain, but this is one of the latter.
