The King of Marvin Gardens | | Cast : | Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern | | Director : | Bob Rafelson | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 12, 1972 | | DVD Released Date : | April 25, 2000 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Thai (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 24, 2005 | | Summary | Against the struggled reality: evasive dreams! | Content
 | Against the struggled reality: evasive dreams!
Two brothers share a same dream; to live in an island paradise where they will both kings once they have retired; one of them is a bewildered man product of the inscrutable fate, the other the great swagger, the unexhausted dream machine who certainly swears he is a small entrepreneur. The long late night radio monologue is the standout of the film.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 04, 2005 | | Summary | Great Film. Dern Rocks. | Content
| This movie has one the best performances by Jack Nicholson and proves that acting is more about being true to life than acting like you want to be noticed; that along with Bruce Dern's outstanding performance, playing Nicholson's brother, is what makes this film tick.
Yes, it is not a fast movie.
But the outstanding cinematography of of Laslo Kovaks working off the assured direction of Bob Rafelson makes this movie a gem.
I've never seen a movie that accurately portrays the dementia of the lower end of the middle class so well, as it does so without making them drunks or drug addicts which most people need to see, to understand how delusional these people are.
What a film. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 15, 2005 | | Summary | Interesting Character Study From the 70's | Content
| "The King of Marvin Gardens" is an example of why the seventies was such a golden period in American filmmaking in that studios as well as stars would take a chance on offbeat material regardless of it's box office potential. Director Bob Rafelson creates a haunting story of disparate souls who cling to hopes that are as faded as the Atlantic City facade they inhabit. Jack Nicholson effectively plays against type as a radio personality who joins up with his brother(Bruce Dern) to partake in his latest get-rich-quick scheme that has all the earmarks of going up in flames. They are joined by Ellen Burstyn as a faded beauty queen who's along for the ride in the futile hope of attaining a dream. This film is not easy to watch at times but the more ambitious viewer can appreciate filmmaking that dares to challenge it's audience. Gorgeous cinematography of the Atlantic City landscape before the casinos were erected. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 07, 2004 | | Summary | What was the point? | Content
| I remember seeing this film as a kid and thinking to myself, maybe when I'm older I'll understand the signifigance of this movie. But 29 years later I'm even more confused as to why this film was made.
"King of Marvin Gardens" took me a record-breaking four sittings to watch because I kept falling asleep. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate a thoughtful, well-written, well-acted human interest story--but where was the human interest in this flick?? Why am I supposed to be interested in these characters?? Interesting characters don't have to be nice and heroic, but they certainly have to be compelling!
I think after the tremendous success of "Five Easy Pieces" (deservedly so), that genre of anti-story must have been all the vogue in cinema during the mid-1970s. With the exception of the last 10 minutes you have an absolutely flatliner of a film here. Movies of that period, like "Fat City" and "Scarecrow" do a much more effective job of conveying the dire banality of real life.
Although the packaging and presentation for the "King of Marvin Garden" DVD was flawless. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 04, 2000 | | Summary | A Rare Gem-Amazing! | Content
| This film really is spectacular. From the very opening(which is slightly disorienting-but becomes clear quickly), it weaves a tale filled with some very odd and fascinating characters. Nicholson plays a radio deejay of sorts that spouts some fictionalized, but engrossingly told tales. The story itself deals with his visit to his brother-played by Bruce Dern, who he must attempt to talk out of some financial scheming. Dern turns in a fine performance-comparable to his performance in SMILE(very different characters, both great performances). Ellen Burstyn is also terrific. Photography by Laszlo Kovacs ranks up with his best. A welcome follow-up to Rafelson's FIVE EASY PIECES(a follow-up that doesn't get the press it deserves). Looks beautiful on dvd! |
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