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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 13068
Released: December 7, 2004 |
| Our Price: $29.95 |
| Used Price: $13.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In TESTAMENT, an unexpected nuclear strike has occurred and no one knows who did it or why it happened. With her husband away on business, and now unable to be reached, Carol Weatherly must remain strong for the sake of her children. Things take a turn for the worse once food and other supplies become scarce. . The film is directed by Lynn Littman.
Description of Testament:
There seemed to be a particular spike in nuclear-war paranoia in the early 1980s, probably having to do Reagan's finger being on the trigger. Whatever the cause, it resulted in two particularly powerful 1983 films on the subject: the made-for-TV The Day After and Lynne Littman's Testament, which had a theatrical release before playing on PBS's American Playhouse. Starring Jane Alexander (and Kevin Costner in a cameo), the film shows what happens to a suburban family in the Pacific Northwest after a nearby nuclear attack. As it turns out, those killed by the initial blast are the lucky ones; Alexander and her family must suffer through radiation poisoning and sickness, the daily diminution of life this causes, and, for Alexander, the eventual deaths of those around her. Quietly powerful and never overstated. --Marshall Fine
Testament Reviews:
3 stars out of 4 
2009-03-01 - The Bottom Line:
A quiet and moving (and bleak and depressing) look at America before the end, Testament never attained the level of cultural penetration that The Day After did but in its own way its a worthier film; with a powerful performance by Jane Alexander in the lead and a conclusion that'll put a lump in your throat, it's quite a little gem.
Excellent service. 
2009-01-26 - Excellent portrayal of a difficult time we all feared in the 50's, 60's and 70's.
Underrated
2008-11-11 - Simply put, I knew of this movie for awhile but never watched it. I saw Threads, The Day After and such many years ago but always put this movie on the back burner. This movie did not have the graphic nature of many nuclear war movies, and that is what made it work. It didnt need it. One's own imagination of the breaking down of society and the bleak future was troubling and made me a little sick. Definatley watch this movie.
Still makes sense
2008-10-30 - I know this was made in the early 80's, and I was born in the late 70's. The cold war was pretty much over by the time i was in grade school. I heard good things about this movie over at imdb, and too a chance renting it, and I'm glad I did.
The story is pretty straightforward, and it leaves out info like what country did the attack, which would have made no difference to them anywhow. A nice, normal family goes about it's day, Dad heads to the city for work, Mom helps at son's preschool, daughter practices piano, and then the brightest light, a nuclear bomb goes off. They were spared the explosion but not the fall out.
As a mother, I found this story so sad and heart wrenching because the things that were killing her family were totally out of her control, and there was no place to go for help. This movie does take a real look at grief, from the teddy bear cene to the birds and the bees scene. With all the threats of terrorism, I think this movie fits quite well with today's society. It made me feel like I had no control over protecting my daughter, and the sad truth is I wouldn't be able to save her. Duck and cover? Get out of here. They just say that so people feel like there's something they can do. I loved this movie, and thought it was very powerful. On the DVD they do interviews with the cast and crew 20 years later, and I enjoyed watching that.
I don't think this is a movie I will ever forget, and I'm so glad I watched it. I just hope none of us ever has to live something like it.
She smiled all through the show 
2008-09-11 - I used to work for Lurene Tuttle, an actress in this movie. She played the wife of Leon Ames, who has the only working ham radio in town. There's a scene at their home and Lurene says something about reaching a man in Oklahoma, I think. I haven't seen the movie in years. The only time I watched it was with Lurene, and even tho the subject matter is so terribly sad and disturbing, she smiled all through the show. When it was over, I was ready to cry, but she looked at me and chattered away about the wonderful setting, the costumes, the camera man, etc. etc. NOT a word about the plot. But after being in theater and movies for almost 70 years, I guess she looked at other things..... I didn't even know this movie had been released. I'll had to add it to my Lurene Tuttle collection. Lurene is the red-head in the movie "Niagara," played Jack Lemmon's mother in "Fortune Cookie, " and also in "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken."
