| Tin Men | | Cast : | Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito | | Director : | Barry Levinson | | Studio : | Hollywood Pictures | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | March 06, 1987 | | DVD Released Date : | January 14, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 10, 2005 | | Summary | The Metal Men | Content
 | I guess what some people feel is funny is not funny to other people. I viewed this movie and have seen it a couple of times. I personally feel this is a funny movie. Devito has everything go wrong that could go wrong. He loses his wife (which he doesn't seem to want anyway), his house, the IRS is investigating him, he gets his car damaged and further damaged throughout the film. One scene in the movie that is funny is that Devito hasn't been making any money. So he goes home and tells his wife that it might be a good idea to move and downsize their home (His place is already small). The funny parts are Devito's bad luck and everything is crumbling around him. You feel for him and laugh at the situation as he does with a sardonic wit. It is an amusing film. Worth seeing. Give it a chance. The humor is sly. Good film. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 18, 2005 | | Summary | In Levinson's Baltimore again | Content
| Richard Dreyfus and Danny DeVito play a couple of aluminum siding hucksters in Baltimore; after a minor car accident between the two they begin warring against each other in their businesses. Directed by Barry Levinson, who directed "Diner," this movie is similar in approach and even locale: the "main story" is almost inconsequential to the series of side stories that take place. Some of this is funny, but not enough to call the picture a success. We just never really get involved with the characters, and they just seem to be going through their routines. The love story between Dreyfus and DeVito's wife (Barbara Hershey) is the worst part of the movie; it seems like only a tag-on. Best is Dreyfus and DeVito going at it toe to toe. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 29, 2004 | | Summary | Amazing Movie!!! | Content
| A short while back, I somewhat accidentally came upon the newly released widescreen DVD of Tin Men, Barry Levinson's 1987 follow up to his remarkable 1982 Diner. I hadn't seen this movie for quite a while and was expecting an entertaining thoughtful movie-experience in light of my recent appreciation of having just seen Diner for the first time in a few years.
I recalled enjoying Tin Men when it was originally released in theaters, but I was wonderfully surprised that it was even better than I'd remembered.
I think Tin Men is a significantly "better" film than Diner. While the latter is a fantastically written and directed, assembly of choice intimate moments in the lives of a few remarkably entertaining boys (and one girl) on the teetering verge of new adulthood, Tin Men is much more. The same seemingly stream-of-consciousness throw-away snappy-patter permeates the experience, but the situations are much more "adult..." sorta.
Overall, Tin Men is a technically much more evolved movie than Diner, and while I don't prescribe to the notion that technical prowess is tantamount to perfection, I also don't think that clumsy, inept movie-making is the key to "good" colloquial entertainment, "indie" or otherwise (although I'm sure it is to some people). While someone like a Kevin Smith plays at the contrivances of continually remaking an amateur movie, Barry graduates from a mere excellent movie-maker to an incredibly wonderful movie maker.
With Tin Men, Levinson has learned even more about the emotional contributions of music, lighting, camera movement, interesting frame composition (although this may indeed be the developing artistic eye of Cinematographer, Peter Sova), and most important; the art of "naturally" evolving his characters in very compelling light. The story takes a back-seat to the lives and emotionally-natural free-fall of his main characters.
The performances are quite remarkable. Richard Dreyfus and Danny DeVitto - being the focal points for the two "families" of tin men that inter-react - have a fascinating and very complicated rapport. Dreyfus' performance is especially interesting in light of what is said by him in the commentary. Barbara Hershey's performance doesn't seem to have as much range as the rest of the ensemble, but fits quite naturally amid all the turmoil expressed by the other main characters and their entourage. It's interesting to realize that Tin Men and Diner are mostly about Boy's Clubs with the pivot of action revolving and resolving around the singular female lead.
One of Levinson's strengths is his ability to interest a movie-going audience in what is essentially a play, in that, the forward motion of the experience is driven almost entirely by dialogue, and he does it with a most wonderful quiet panache.
One of the rumors I've heard since its initial release is that the Micky Rourke character in "Diner" was supposed to be the same character as the Richard Dreyfece character, albeit grown up. The only clue I've found being the last comments about aluminum-siding from the friend of Boogie's (Micky Rourke) father who saves Boogie from a beating in the last few minutes of Diner.
All in all, a wonderful experience with a great and informative commentary, especially suited for a burgeoning writer or director.
peace,
~albabe |
| Rating | | | Date | December 12, 2004 | | Summary | I did not find it funny | Content
| The only way you will find this movie funny is if misfortune and incompetence in life tickle you. The setting is Baltimore in the late 1950's or early 1960's and Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito play the two main characters. They are aluminum siding salesmen, commonly referred to as Tin Men and are largely con men. Almost anything goes when pursuing a sale; lies and deception are acceptable sales techniques. In order to maintain the appropriate image, it is almost mandatory that a Tin Man drives a Cadillac.
Dreyfuss is at the local dealership and purchases a Cadillac. In the process of backing out of the dealership driveway, he is hit by DeVito. Both men blame the other for the accident and this starts a personal feud. It starts a cycle of car smashing and other vandalism, until Dreyfuss decides to go for the ultimate score. He decides to seduce DeVito's wife. This proves to be easy, as DeVito is incompetent as a husband. Immediately after Dreyfuss scores with DeVito's wife, he calls DeVito to inform him of that fact. This immediately ends the marriage, and DeVito throws a pathetic fit. I fail to see how anyone could consider this to be funny.
This starts a cycle of further disasters for DeVito. A city commission is investigating the practices of the Tin Men and DeVito is stripped of his license to sell siding. The IRS is investigating him for failing to pay his taxes and they are demanding that he pay them immediately. Once again, his responses are to get angry and blame everyone else for his problems.
If there is a bright side to the movie, it is some of the conversations between the Tin Men. Especially interesting is the talk about the old Bonanza television show. One man wonders why there are four men on the Ponderosa and they appear to have no interest in women. While it is clear he is hinting at homosexuality, the producers were adept at keeping the conversation within the bounds of the time.
I did not find the movie funny, in fact I was glad when it was over. DeVito is so pathetic that you feel sorry for him, but feeling sorry is nowhere near laughing.
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| Rating | | | Date | November 17, 2004 | | Summary | Tin Men of Ahhhs.... | Content
| There is absolutely no way this film could have been less than great, as the casting is nothing short of brilliant. This ensemble of performers could turn Ed Woods worst script into "Shakepeare in the Park". The entire film is extremely well made, and works well on every level. The movie is so entertaining, you can ALMOST overlook the anachronism of "The Fine Young Cannibals", playing their greatest hits in the early sixties, and the unlikely coupling of the beautiful Barbara Hershey with the diminutive Danny DeVito. But these are minor quibbles. Sit back with your significant other, and enjoy a trip back into the pre-hippy sixties. |
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