Something Wild | | Cast : | Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith | | Director : | Jonathan Demme | | Studio : | MGM/UA Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 07, 1986 | | DVD Released Date : | June 05, 2001 | | Language : | Unknown (Dubbed), English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed), English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 23, 2005 | | Summary | LOCO DE MOR!!! | Content
 | Rather than attempt a sweeping appraisal of "Something Wild" - a film which contains worlds - and in honor of an earlier reviewer who pondered in earnest the religious dimensions of the film, I would like to offer an observation about one particular detail which illustrates the richness and generosity of Jonathan Demme's human comedy:
Our hero Charlie Driggs, when the occasion arises, uses the ubiquitous badge of the working man and woman, the name tag, as a means of creating a small measure of intimacy with the people he meets. That is, when he meets someone wearing such a tag, he calls them by name. "It just makes things a little friendlier. I like that," he bashfully explains to an amused Audrey.
It's easy to imagine another movie maker using this quirk to paint Charlie as a dope, a square. Even Demme admits the possibility that Audrey thinks it's pretty corny. However, Demme doesn't leave the matter there, but allows a notion to blossom as the movie goes forward - that ordinary gestures like Charlie's make the world a better place. Seriously. The film is populated end to end by people, usually strangers, reaching out and offering the gift of their better natures to one another. Whatever else the movie is about, it is certainly about this.
Later, when Irene (sinister Ray's date at the "Spirit of '76" high school reunion) hits on Charlie, she seems to think she's being brazen and exciting when she explains her lack of a name tag: "I don't believe in them."
Charlie tosses off a rejoinder: he says he's never had many concrete convictions about name tags one way or another. Actually, Charlie is that rare man who could say this and not be telling the truth. Why the white lie? Because some persons, fancying themselves brash, think he's joking when he tells the truth? Just what IS so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
Another couple facets of this gem:
The sign on the diner where Audrey and Charlie meet and reunite, reading "HEROES/HOME COOKING", couldn't be a more appropriate harbinger for the joint odyssey upon which Charlie and Audrey embark; Audrey catalyses Charlie's inner hero; Charlie brings out a stabilizing domesticity in Audrey, both enhancing rather than compromising the other.
And finally, let's hear it for the end credit sequence: in a single extended shot, the camera bids Charlie and Audrey farewell as they drive away in that "station wagon she's not gonna be too happy with" (Ray's words; turns out the station wagon is hers, and it is, impeccably, a Woody); then the camera swings toward the Fire Engine Red exterior of the diner, and hangs out while Sister Carol offers a reggae-inflected live version of "Wild Thing". Here, Demme, the master filmmaker, gives us one of the most uncannily blissful moments in motion pictures.
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| Rating | | | Date | March 19, 2005 | | Summary | Wild indeed | Content
| A straight-laced banker (Jeff Daniels) is confronted by a woman (Melanie Griffith) after walking out of a restaurant without paying; rather than turning him in, she invites him to come with her--and there begins a wild and eventually tragic weekend. She takes him first to a motel to make love, then home to her mother, then to her 10th-year high school reunion, where she meets an old hoodlum flame (Ray Liotta). They rob a store and Liotta kidnaps Griffith, so Daniels decides to rescue her. The best part of the movie is the first half, where nothing makes sense and everything is a surprise: there's total unpredictability and Daniels is basically helpless. Things get fuzzy after he decides to rescue Griffith, but he's broken from the "chains" (routine, dullsville) that have bound him before he met her. Quite a romp. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 20, 2004 | | Summary | SOMETHING WILD UNRATED VERSION ON VHS/DVDV ? | Content
| I WATCHED THIS MOVIE THE FIRST TIME IN MY COUNTRY , AND LET ME TELL YOU , THE U.S "R" VIDEO RELEASED VERSION OF THIS MASTERPIECE STINKS,THEY CUT MOST OF THE SEX SCENES,I MEAN ,THIS MOVIE(ORIGINAL VERSION)IS REALLY HOT WITH STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND NUDITY .I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE UNRATED VERSION FOR YEARS. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 04, 2004 | | Summary | Something special | Content
| "Something Wild" is an early Melanie Griffith film from 1986. It went by unnoticed on its theatrical release, but quickly found an audience on video. It's full of laughs! Melanie Griffith plays Lulu, a fun-loving lady with a shady past. She stumbles across Jeff Daniels one day in a diner and is drawn to him through his attempt to leave without paying. Next thing the two of them are on a wild journey full of funny situations. However, its not all fun! There are some genuine scary and tense moments in the film when Lulu's ex-husband turns up. But these help add spark to the film and make it one of the great films of the 80's. Something Wild" is one of those special films that comes along once in awhile. It's also one of those films you can watch over and over, I just love it! Along with "Working Girl", this is one of Melanie Griffith's shining moments. DVD SUMMARY: Let me begin by saying that I was thrilled to obtain this on DVD, after owning a rather poor quality pan/scan video version of it. The DVD is in widescreen anamorphic, and while the transfer is not exactly clear and pristine, it is accceptable considering its age. Special features include a trailor. SOMETHING WILD is a must-own DVD. Grab it before it goes out of print. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 26, 2003 | | Summary | Great musical time capsule for the time | Content
| First, the music in this movie. Director Jonathan Demme has always put good songs in, but "Something Wild" might be the best example. Just about every song used reminds me of the good things about inventive creative music from the 80's, while leaving the garbage out. Thus the "time capsule" header, as this is the way I'd like to remember that era. The movie itself is a wild roller coaster that is somewhat of an updated version of a Hitchcock movie. The comparison here is based on an everyday guy getting himself drawn deeper and deeper in to a situation, where he not only at times escape is fairly difficult, but he'll eventually have to fight for his life. But what makes it more intriguing is that when the everyday guy does get a chance to escape, he finds his situation so intriguing that he changes his mind. He not only spies on the situation he probably should be running away from as fast as he can, but he also confronts it in one of the most ballsy scenes in movie history. The restaurant scene where he virtually walks in and takes the girl from the nasty bad guy is a cinematic treat. So is the casting. Jeff Daniels is perfect as the everyday guy. It's disappointing to see Melanie Griffith today, because in this movie she absolutely sizzles as the bad girl who gets him into the predicament, but also has a good side that wants to get out of the bad life. And the screen debut of Ray Liotta is absolutely electrifying as an intelligent violent man, and I'm sure this is what got him the recognition that led to "Goodfellas". I'm amazed that I saw this movie while well into my adult life, and considering that was already sixteen years ago, I'm starting to feel old again. |
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