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Fantastical writer Gary Ross (Big, Dave) makes an auspicious directorial debut with this inspired and oddly touching comedy about two '90s kids (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) thrust into the black-and-white TV world of Pleasantville, a Leave It to Beaver-style sitcom complete with picket fences, corner malt shop, and warm chocolate chip cookies. When a somewhat unusual remote control (provided by repairman Don Knotts) transports them from the jaded real world to G-rated TV land, Maguire and Witherspoon are forced to play along as Bud and Mary Sue, the obedient children of George and Betty Parker (William H. Macy and Joan Allen). Maguire, an obsessive Pleasantville devotee, understands the need for not toppling the natural balance of things; Witherspoon, on the other hand, starts shaking the town up, most notably when she takes football stud Skip (Paul Walker) up to Lover's Lane for some modern-day fun and games. Soon enough, Pleasantville's teens are discovering sex along with--gasp!--rock & roll, free thinking, and soul-changing Technicolor. Filled with delightful and shrewd details about sitcom life (no toilets, no double beds, only two streets in the town), Pleasantville is a joy to watch, not only for its comedy but for the groundbreaking visual effects and astonishing production design as the town gradually transforms from crisp black and white to glorious color. Ross does tip his hand a bit about halfway through the film, obscuring the movie's basic message of the unpredictability of life with overloaded and obvious symbolism, as the black-and-white denizens of the town gang up on the "coloreds" and impose rules of conduct to keep their strait-laced town laced up. Still, the characterizations from the phenomenal cast--especially repressed housewife Allen and soda-shop owner Jeff Daniels, doing some of their best work ever--will keep you emotionally invested in the film's outcome, and waiting to see Pleasantville in all its final Technicolor glory. --Mark Englehart
Special Features
Includes a behind-the-scenes look at the special effects used in the making of Pleasantville.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By falcon
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
i really enjoyed this movie.i thought it was very clever.it also deals
with themes that are as relevant today as they were in the 1950's and it
touches on themes that were relevant in the 1940's.this film is set both
in the 90's and the 50's.it's multi-layered in terms of story and
content.there's a lot of depth here.a lot of thought was put into the
characters,as well as the story.it's very thought provoking,as well as
entertaining and even funny.not only is the story well written,but so
are the quirky characters.Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Magiure are
wonderful as the two leads.Jeff Daniels,Joan Allen,William
H.Macy,J.T.Walsh,and the great Don Knotts also star and are equally
good.Credit must also go to Gary Ross,who not only directed the
movie,but also produced and wrote it.even though there are some dark
themes,i think this a movie that could be,and should be watched by the
whole family.but parents should use their discretion.for
me,Pleasantville is a 5/5
with themes that are as relevant today as they were in the 1950's and it
touches on themes that were relevant in the 1940's.this film is set both
in the 90's and the 50's.it's multi-layered in terms of story and
content.there's a lot of depth here.a lot of thought was put into the
characters,as well as the story.it's very thought provoking,as well as
entertaining and even funny.not only is the story well written,but so
are the quirky characters.Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Magiure are
wonderful as the two leads.Jeff Daniels,Joan Allen,William
H.Macy,J.T.Walsh,and the great Don Knotts also star and are equally
good.Credit must also go to Gary Ross,who not only directed the
movie,but also produced and wrote it.even though there are some dark
themes,i think this a movie that could be,and should be watched by the
whole family.but parents should use their discretion.for
me,Pleasantville is a 5/5
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By L. Laushway
Format:DVD
I saw this movie under the impression that it would be a fun and lighthearted exploration of the Leave it to Beaver fantasy. While it certainly delivers on that, it's the fact that this movie doesn't shy away from the racially-charged undertones of the era that makes this flick really shine. A bright, smart and thoroughly satisfying movie.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is another weird film that is totally irresistible. The concept of traveling through one's TV set into a 1950s sitcom where everything is black & white is kind of neat to say the least. The presence of the "strangers" causes those in Pleasantville to start assessing their existence in a town that only has a ring road; you can't get out of town because there's nothing beyond it.
The film also encourages the viewer to consider if a "Pleasantville" really is something to wish for.
It seems like it should be a good idea where everyone is pleasant to each other, but too much predictability can be a bad thing. When laws are enacted about being "Pleasant" you know you're in for an interesting ride.
I enjoyed it immensely and would put it on the same pegging as Back to the Future, Mr. Destiny and The Truman Show.
The film also encourages the viewer to consider if a "Pleasantville" really is something to wish for.
It seems like it should be a good idea where everyone is pleasant to each other, but too much predictability can be a bad thing. When laws are enacted about being "Pleasant" you know you're in for an interesting ride.
I enjoyed it immensely and would put it on the same pegging as Back to the Future, Mr. Destiny and The Truman Show.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Movie, Nice PQ and AQ
This is a very well made movie. The colors and black and whites are great.
Nice Picture and Audio Quality.
Not many extras though.
Nice Picture and Audio Quality.
Not many extras though.
Published on Mar 3 2011 by Juan Castillo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not like anything you've seen
I liked it because it was so different. It's a story of a boy that likes an old black & white TV show, like `Leave it to Beaver', and he and his sister gets sucked into it. Read more
Published on Oct 2 2010 by Mr. Lawrence E. Jenkins
2.0 out of 5 stars
"Honey, I'm home!"
Teen twins David and Jennifer (Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon) are very different: Jennifer is quite the wild child while David's passion is watching re-runs of the 50s TV sitcom... Read more
Published on Jun 25 2007 by Kona
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful film but also thought provoking.
A modern day brother and sister David and Jennifer argue over what to watch on T.V. He wants to watch his favourite show 'Pleasantville'(a black and white show set in the 1950's);... Read more
Published on Oct 5 2004 by Ms. H. Sinton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep in the extreme!
Who says Hollywood can't make a movie that is both smart and entertaining? Pleasantville is proof that it can. Here is a movie that is an enjoyable escapist entertainment. Read more
Published on July 1 2004 by Luis M. Luque
4.0 out of 5 stars
An unusual 'feel good' film.
I'm not really sure why I like this film....and that's one of the things I like! Weird.
Background - The hit 50's television show 'Pleasantville' is having an all night marathon. Read more
Published on Jun 17 2004 by chemikalguy
4.0 out of 5 stars
An unusual 'feel good' film.
I'm not really sure why I like this film....and that's one of the things I like! Weird.
Background - The hit 50's television show 'Pleasantville' is having an all night marathon. Read more
Published on Jun 17 2004 by chemikalguy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is order an illusion? Is chaos the norm?
This is a question that ran through my mind while watching Pleasantville starring Reese Witherspoon as Jennifer/Mary Sue Parker, and Tobey Maguire as David/Bud... Read more
Published on Mar 19 2004 by A. I. Baruti KMT-Sisouvong
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Moral and Religious Masterpiece
A beautiful film, make no mistake. But what is "Pleasantville" really about? The "moral/repressed" 1950's against the "decadent/free-spirited" 1990's? Read more
Published on Mar 11 2004 by Chris O'Malley
5.0 out of 5 stars
GEE WHIZ!
Pleasantville is a 1950's tv show that paints the lives of people living in a "perfect" world, full of good family values where colors don't exist, where firemen never have to deal... Read more
Published on Feb 15 2004 by Babeur
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