| Nuts | | Cast : | Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss | | Director : | Martin Ritt | | Studio : | Warner Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 20, 1987 | | DVD Released Date : | December 21, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 28, 2005 | | Summary | An absorbing, well-made film with some show-offy acting... | Content
 | A high-class call-girl, who killed a customer in self-defense, must prove her sanity in a courtroom hearing after her embarrassed parents try to have her declared incompetent. Not a subtle courtroom piece, but a well-made, absorbing one. Barbra Streisand is, of course, Barbra Streisand, using her show-biz energy and clever wiles to flesh out the pretty much intolerable Claudia Draper(great character name, by the way). Richard Dreyfuss not only gives a strong performance as her court-appointed attorney, but he does double-duty keeping Streisand in check(that should've have been the director's job, but the fabulous Martin Ritt is curiously lax here). The patchy plot is full of soapy melodrama, but the colorful supporting cast and some neat editing tricks keeps everything interesting. Streisand's full-length commentary is pro-and-con: she only chimes in once in awhile, and when she gets stuck on a detail tangent, many opportunities for insight slip by. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 12, 2005 | | Summary | "I won't be nuts for you" | Content
| Badly neglected by both audiences and critics at the time of it's original release, NUTS is a film that is ripe for reevaluation. Based on Tom Toplor's 1981 courtroom play, NUTS is definitely a dialogue-based film with little Hollywood flashiness. Though extremely well-written (by Toplor, adapting his own work with Darryl Ponicsan and Alvin Sargent) and sharply staged and directed by veteran Martin Ritt, it is the cast whom is really responsible bringing NUTS to life. Barbra Streisand gives an absolutely bravura performance that should have earned her an Oscar nomination. Alternately hilarious and frightening, Streisand is always mesmerizing as she delves so far into character.
Richard Dreyfess is nothing less than Streisand's equal as her public defender. He too was robbed of an Oscar nomination. The supporting cast is a top-notch ensemble of professional character actors (Maureen Stapleton, Eli Wallach, Robert Webber, James Whitmore, and Karl Malden), all of whom work their craft flawlessly. NUTS' screenplay does indulge in the predictability of some of the typical courtroom-plot conventions a little too often, but Toplor's absorbing script still deserves high praise for it's fascinating exploration of what constitutes as normality and whether or not the insane should be required to receive treatment. NUTS isn't going to win over any fans of 3-cuts-per-second action films, but it leave lovers of thought-provoking, expertly-acted dramas fascinated.
About the DVD: The picture quality is dark and grainy, however, I believe that this reflects the film's intended look. The sound is fine, and it's nice to have the film's trailer included. Streisand's intelligent and entertaining full-length commentary is the main extra here, and it more than makes up for the disappointing tracks she contributed to the WHAT'S UP, DOC? and MAIN EVENT DVDs. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 18, 2005 | | Summary | Better than Critics rate it ! | Content
| This movie is pretty good. The casting is possibly the best of any of Streisand's movies, Outside of Prince of Tides, and the performances put together by Streisand and Dreyfus are easily the best of their careers. The court room scenes are sterotypical of any courtroom drama, but the story outside the room is what keeps the film moving. Recommend it to anyone looking for a good Streisand or Dreyfus film. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 27, 2005 | | Summary | Nuts (1987) | Content
| Barbra Streisand has been one of the most talented female singers in this world, with releasing a slew of successful albums. It wasn't until 1968, when Barbra decided to get her hands on acting career to back up her singing career, when she starred in the film adapted version of the Broadway classic, "Funny Girl", where she played the lead role of Fanny Brice. After Funny Girl, Barbra took the lead role of many other films, such as "The Way We Were", "Funny Lady", "Yentl", "The Main Event", "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever", "Hello Dolly", and many others. But in 1987, Barbra landed herself the lead role no one will ever forget. That role, ladies and gentlemen, was Claudia Draper for the film, "Nuts".
Claudia Draper (played by Barbra Streisand) is an expensive hooker, who is arrested for the murder of one of her clients (played by Leslie Nielson). What the courts and police don't know is that what Claudia has done was not first-degree manslaughter; it was clearly self-defense. Claudia and her date have already had sex with each other, but her date wanted a bit more. After refusing, he became rather aggressive, attacking Claudia. Strangling her, Claudia picks up a piece of glass and kills her date, in self-defense. Her mother, Rose Kirk (played by Maureen Stapleton), and her stepfather, Arthur Kirk (played by Karl Malden), along with two psychiatrists, as well as the police have considered her to be incompetent, especially for attending the trial, forcing her to stay in an institution. Defending Claudia is Aaron Levinsky (played by the brilliant and outstanding Richard Dreyfuss). During the preliminary hearing, Claudia's stepfather has revealed a devastating secret to his wife, as well as, the court. His deepest secret is the perfect explanation to why Claudia has terrible temper, as to also why her childhood was so terrible.
I have seen a pretty good share of Barbra's films, but as far as I'm concerned, her role as Claudia Draper is her highest and most brilliant. Whether you enjoy her music more, or her acting more, you cannot deny that this film is her absolute best. If you have not seen this film, then I suggest to you strongly that you see this film and watch Barbra Streisand in her most serious and touching role ever. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 24, 2004 | | Summary | CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCES OVERSHADOW SOMEWHAT CLICHED PLOT | Content
| The movie is almost solely carried by Barbara Streisand's scorching performance as a high class hooker wrongly accused of first degree manslaughter. The courtroom scenes are fascinating, and if you love fast witty banter, this is a delight. The subject is weighty (a couple of rants toward the end are also a bit predictably feminist) but thought-provoking, and its rendition into the dramatic screenplay is very, very satisfying. Highly recommended for the discerning viewer. |
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