Ruscio, Al

Showgirls (Fully Exposed Edition)

Seduction passion and power struggles unfold when the creators of Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troopers) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Original Sin) blow the lid off the seemingly glamorous world of Las Vegas showdancing to create one of the most controversialand shockingfilms of all time. Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) has what it takes to make it as a Las Vegas showgirlwhat she doesn't have is a way in. To survive she accepts the only job available: lap dancing at a seedy club. And when she meets Cristal (Gina Gershon) Vegas'reigning showgirl Nomi wants everything she hasincluding her boyfriend (Kyle MacLachlan). And as Nomi dives deeper into the world she so desperately desires a rivalry between the two women heatsup. The battle for the spotlight becomes so fiercely competitive that it drives Nomi to desperate lengthsand devious heightsfor fame in Sin City.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NC-17 UPC: 027616081407 Manufacturer No: M108140

When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in First Wives Club, she publicly stated that Berkley deserved the opportunity to redeem herself after starring in the ridiculous Showgirls. That says it all: this sleazy, stupid movie, which mixes soft pornography with the clichés of backstage dramas, is the kind of project an aspiring actress would have to put well behind her to keep a career going (though costar Gina Gershon certainly benefited from her, uh, exposure in the film). Berkley plays a drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas, becomes a lap dancer and then a performer, and discovers--gasp!--there's a whole world of sex and violence involved with these things. Gershon is probably the best element in the film, playing Berkley's bisexual rival for the big spotlight on stage. Joe Eszterhas was well overpaid for writing this howler, and director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) should have known better than to take it seriously. --Tom Keogh

Any Which Way You Can

Sequel to "Every Which Way but Loose" in which Eastwood is back as bare-knuckle brawler Philo Beddoe. With his 165-pound orangutan pal Clyde Philo is lured out of retirement by a new contender and mobsters kidnap his girl to ensure he'll turn up for the showdown.Running Time: 116 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 085391858621 Manufacturer No: 18586

Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) is back in this sequel to Every Which Way but Loose, once again brawling to make ends meet and just trying to manage his life with a crazy mother (Ruth Gordon), a dimwitted best friend (Geoffrey Lewis) and, of course, Clyde the Orangutan. He's had enough of this life, but when a mobster (Harry Guardino) comes along to make him an offer he can't refuse, Philo must use his wits as well as his fists to get himself out of yet another jam. The humor is thin and sporadic (though Gordon is in fine form), and Eastwood has since gone on to better things; but a film that features a brawl with a monkey and a motorcycle gang can't be all bad. --Robert Lane

Boss of Bosses

The powerful and unexpectedly moving true story of the rise and fall of the infamous crime boss Paul Castellano. Castellano's visionary plans to evolve the Cosa Nostra into a legitimate business ultimately lead to his assassination by members of the family, who lived and died by the mob's unwavering dedication to tradition.

Jagged Edge

Before screenwriter Joe Eszterhas wrote the ridiculous Showgirls, he crafted some entertaining if porous thrillers along the lines of the 1985 Jagged Edge, a taut mystery about an attorney (Glenn Close) who defends a newspaper publisher (Jeff Bridges) accused of murder. The fact that Close's character falls for him is more convenient than plausible, but it is a necessary emotional bridge for Eszterhas and the late director Richard Marquand (Eye of the Needle) to build toward a powerful finale. Scary, fun as courtroom dramas go, the film is well serviced by the two lead stars and has impressive support from costar Peter Coyote and especially from Robert Loggia, who plays Close's cop buddy. --Tom Keogh

Showgirls

No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NC17
Release Date: 5-JUN-2001
Media Type: DVD

When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in First Wives Club, she publicly stated that Berkley deserved the opportunity to redeem herself after starring in the ridiculous Showgirls. That says it all: this sleazy, stupid movie, which mixes soft pornography with the clichés of backstage dramas, is the kind of project an aspiring actress would have to put well behind her to keep a career going (though costar Gina Gershon certainly benefited from her, uh, exposure in the film). Berkley plays a drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas, becomes a lap dancer and then a performer, and discovers--gasp!--there's a whole world of sex and violence involved with these things. Gershon is probably the best element in the film, playing Berkley's bisexual rival for the big spotlight on stage. Joe Eszterhas was well overpaid for writing this howler, and director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) should have known better than to take it seriously. --Tom Keogh

The Phantom

This plain-vanilla version of the old Lee Falk comic strip stars Billy Zane as a 1930s incarnation of the Phantom, an African-based, masked hero whose forefathers have all donned the costume at one time or another. Sworn to crush evil, the Phantom leaves his jungle lair to venture to New York, where he takes on a charming but criminal mastermind (Treat Williams). There's no oomph to this film at all. The very capable director Simon Wincer (Phar Lap) seems to be working with a leaden production and an inferior talent pool behind the camera. The talent in front of the camera do their best, but it isn't enough. --Tom Keogh

Showgirls (VIP Limited Edition)

Seduction passion and power struggles unfold when the creators of Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troopers) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Original Sin) blow the lid off the seemingly glamorous world of Las Vegas showdancing to create one of the most controversial -- and shocking -- films of all time.Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) has what it takes to make it as a Las Vegas showgirl -- what she doesn't have is a way in. To survive she accepts the only job available: lap dancing at a seedy club. And when she meets Cristal (Gina Gershon) Vegas' reigning showgirl Nomi wants everything she has -- including her boyfriend (MacLachlan). And as Nomi dives deeper into the world she so desperately desires a rivalry between the two women heats up. The battle for the spotlight becomes so fiercely competitive that it drives Nomi to desperate lengths -- and devious heights -- for fame in Sin City.System Requirements: Runnning Time 131 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NC-17 UPC: 027616908254 Manufacturer No: 1006664

When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in First Wives Club, she publicly stated that Berkley deserved the opportunity to redeem herself after starring in the ridiculous Showgirls. That says it all: this sleazy, stupid movie, which mixes soft pornography with the clichés of backstage dramas, is the kind of project an aspiring actress would have to put well behind her to keep a career going (though costar Gina Gershon certainly benefited from her, uh, exposure in the film). Berkley plays a drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas, becomes a lap dancer and then a performer, and discovers--gasp!--there's a whole world of sex and violence involved with these things. Gershon is probably the best element in the film, playing Berkley's bisexual rival for the big spotlight on stage. Joe Eszterhas was well overpaid for writing this howler, and director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) should have known better than to take it seriously. --Tom Keogh

I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore

Cage

If you've seen TV wrestling you know what a "caged" bout is. In Cage it's for real; two testosterone-pumped behemoths are placed in a cage where they duke it out to the death. Lou Ferrigno plays the muscle-bound Vietnam vet who is finagled into cage-fighting by a group of mobsters. Reb Brow the man whose life Ferrigno saved in Nam finds himself (through a series of ludicrous plot twists) facing his former savior in the dreaded cage.System Requirements:Running Time 100 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 692865141334 Manufacturer No: T-1413

Boys Briefs

A lively compilation of award-winning short films about gay first love, presented by JASON TOBIN of BETTER LUCK TOMORROW and MICHAEL SAUCEDO of RIVER MADE TO DROWN IN, who take the viewer on a fabulous tour of world-famous Melrose Avenue.