Six Degrees of Separation (Widescreen/Full Screen): Amazon.ca: DVD: DVD

Product Description

Amazon.com essential video

John Guare's hit Broadway play--about an Upper East Side couple who gets bilked by a young black man claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son--receives a terrific screen translation in this film by Fred Schepisi. Though the play was discursive and episodic, Schepisi, working from Guare's adaptation, makes it all flow like a fascinating evening listening to friends recount something that happened to them. But the story itself is also intriguing for the disparity it reveals between the wealthy, the would-be wealthy, and the have-nots yearning to be rich. Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland are exceptional as the couple who open their home to a young man they believe is a friend of their children (to whom they barely speak); Will Smith is fascinatingly glib as the young man, who claims that his famous father is casting a film version of Cats and offers his hosts roles as extras in the film. Smith finds the heartbreaking core of this character and Channing is haunting as a woman looking to make a connection, even with a confused young con artist. --Marshall Fine

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

29 Reviews

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, Mar 1 2004

By

Gautam (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Six Degrees of Separation (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)

A wonderful movie with many hidden truths about life. All characters in the movie have done an excellent job in portraying the superficial lifestyles that is common in the West.
As the families in this movie get taken advantage off, by the young Paul Poitier, they begin to learn more about themselves. The reality of life we accept may not be the reality that we once hoped for. Ouisa, Paul's star student finally understands herself and how her life has been a complete lie, serving her husbands needs and neglecting her own. The pursuit of money is a driving principle in the Western culture and we often neglect other aspects in life that deserve more of our energy. Paul is the catalyst in showing Ouisa the truth about life and removing her social mask. A person of mystery who demonstrates that anything is possible in life.
Overall, an amazing movie that should be watched more than once to capture the brilliance it portrays.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

3.0 out of 5 stars too-clever adaption of the play, Feb 27 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Six Degrees of Separation (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)

You can read other reviews for the plot but in conclusion I found this adaptation of the play not to work as well as it could. While the individually performances by title cast are exceptionally strong, the unbalanced parody of the stereotypes diminishes the piece: The shallow, smug socialite is not shallow enough, the disaffected, spoilt child is too shrill, the poor prospective conman too composed - its as though the film cannot decide whether to be more farcical or more serious. Direction aside, the main themes of the story reach conclusion midway through from which point it begins to wander and in the end, the continuing relationship between the Kittredges and Paul, in particular Ouisa Kittredge's revelation about her perceived connection, feel too contrived.
In part a self-proclaimed social commentary, the film adaptation also overlooks the opportunity to properly contrast the existing class division's between Paul and the Kittredge party, concentrating instead on the pseudo intellectualizing conversations - which Paul adeptly mimics/takes on - of the Manhattan social elite (i.e. the clever part). Having said that, it was a worthy attempt and it certainly *is* worth watching: there is a lot to take away from the film which by the way also has some great cinematic pans of New York City.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent recreation of thoroughly entertaining play, Oct 11 2003

By

Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Six Degrees of Separation (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)

I recall reading a press report on the Columbine School shootings and the lifestyle of the two protaganists - apparently they were friends who
spent many many undisturbed hours in the basement of one of their parent's home making bombs etc as is the want of modern middle class teenagers. The point of the report was how dissociated or at least unaware the parents were of what their adolescent children were up to.
This wonderful film is about in part spoilt children and the huge gap that exists between them and their parents - or at the least the horror the parents experience when the children mirror their values. There is a wonderful scene when the wealthy Kitteredges (played by the SUPERB Mr Sutherland and Ms Stockard Channing) are abused for giving away their son's pink shirt to a wounded stranger. Or the horror they experience when the children DON'T mirror theirb values. Another scene features a telephone call from a student who tells her parents that she is getting married and going to Afghanistan to help the peasants in revenge against her parents for her highly privileged upbringing.
In this fine film, Paul (Will Smith was BORN to play this role) brings joy to the people her interacts with and actually changes the life of some, especially Mrs Kitteridge. Playing a ... black who is talented but poor, Mr Smith makes being an outsider in a materialistic hypocritical society a glamorous and attractive thing. Good or bad? It is also ravishingly photographed which fits one of its major themes - Western societies obsession with appearances - as well as fitted with excellent soundtrack. A thoroughly ENJOYABLE cinematic experience. After a dozen viewings, my intial impressions have been resoundingly confirmed. Worth owning.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 29 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 71 reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars but no English subtitles!
Without copying what others have already written about this beautifully crafted and cast movie.... I feel I need to add an important point. Read more

Published on Aug 28 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Chaos, control...
We are all connected in this world. It is strange to think that not only in big cities where people are anonymous or across rural hinterlands but all across the globe, thanks to... Read more

Published on Jun 12 2003 by FrKurt Messick