Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Amazon.ca
Though not as successful as What's Up, Doc? or The Way We Were, Up the Sandbox springs from the early 1970s, when Barbra Streisand's career was in full stride. Streisand stars as Margaret, a stay-at-home mom in the middle of New York who's feeling the strain of her narrow life. Frustrated by her self-involved husband and the emotionally rewarding but mentally unstimulating tasks of motherhood, she escapes into fantasies--such as being hit on by a cross-gendered Fidel Castro, bombing the Statue of Liberty with black militants, and having a furious catfight with her overbearing mother. The movie's strength lies in these fantasies' slippery nature; some are over the top, but others are so subtle you're not always sure where they start and stop, making the portrait of Margaret's psyche intriguingly complex. Streisand fans should check out this sleeper. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
A woman contemplates trying to tell her husband she is pregnant yet again, her attempts puncuated by her own fears and fantasies.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:DVD
After the uproarious zaniness of WHAT'S UP, DOC?, Streisand's follow-up picture, the decidedly bizarre UP THE SANDBOX, confused much of the film-going public and the film became the star's first flop at the box office. However, this poor reputation has only added luster to the film's appeal today, and UP THE SANDBOX has become a film that is very special to Streisand's many fans. The film's new-found appreciation is largely due to Streisand's beautifully restrained performance, which is full of warmth and nuanced believability. When she's taking on the routine banalities that were typical of the seventies' housewife, Streisand never fails to make the mundane appear so radiant and lovely.
Director Irvin Kershner (best known for directing THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK) gives the film an eerily abstract, European-like feel that lends UP THE SANDBOX an usual art house-style vibe. This is not a perfect film, however. The pace is almost rigidly slow and, even for a film with a 98 minute runtime, there are scenes that feel endless. Also, several of the fantasy sequences do not parallel the central storyline as well as they were intended to, which throws the film a bit off-balance and making it feel more uneven than it should. Finally, many of the issues the film raises, which were somewhat quaint even in '72, have dated badly when viewed today. But I still praise the film for it's uniqueness, and it's terrific lead performance. In the end, UP THE SANDBOX works as a vehicle for Streisand, and it allows the actress to showcase the quieter side of her brilliance.
About the DVD: The picture quality is very good (light years ahead of the hazy VHS copies), and the mono sound is also fine. The trailer and vintage featurette are entertaining, but the biggest feature is Streisand's terrific full-length commentary track (which more than makes up for the disappointedly skimpy track that she contributed to the WHAT'S UP, DOC DVD). Director Kershner is featured on a separate track, which is also very much worth listening to.
By Patrick
Format:DVD
This movie came as a total surprise to me. I've seen every Streisand movie and this one is the one that stands out the most. Not because it's the best but it's the most...strange? ...unique? Barbra fits the role perfectly. It shocks me how beautiful she was at that age. She looked amazing! She does such a broad range of acting in this movie. A tiny bit of action, some comedy, drama, romance. She can do it all. My favorite scene is the one where she fights with her mother. That scene is hilarious! This movie is all over the place and it probably would be better if it chose one path to follow but it still works. My biggest complaint is the editing. There's a lot of footage that should have been cut out like the family film scene. That was just boring.
By S. Gould
Format:DVD
If you missed "Up The Sandbox" at the movies, now is the time to make up for it. The wit in this complex movie exploring a mother's daydreams about the more exciting life she may have lost when choosing to start a family may be subtle but it is fresh and funny even today. Barbra Streisand shows her comedic talent in this off beat gem.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 29 reviews
3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
What Women Dream About...
"Up the Sandbox" is a little known but interesting movie among Barbara Streisand's cannon of film's. Read more
Published on July 8 2003 by Kenneth M. Gelwasser
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty Sandbox
Margaret Reynolds has an overactive imagination. She imagines confronting her husband's female coworker; her mother. Read more
Published on July 6 2003 by Matt Howe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barbra's talent is way"UP"there
I won't bore anyone with a long review BUT this is a Barbra you don't often get to see. Take my advise and see it. You won't be sorry. Read more
Published on Aug 15 2002 by John T. Borek
3.0 out of 5 stars
a Compelling performance
I give this film 3 stars but I give Barbra Streisand 5 stars. Her performance is so incredibly touching and honest. Read more
Published on April 18 2002
3.0 out of 5 stars
Barbra's Barwood first steps
This is the first film Barbra Streisand's production company produced for herself, aother change of pace role after she did 3 musical Broadway translations, The Owl and the... Read more
Published on July 23 2001 by Peter Shelley
5.0 out of 5 stars
A True Gem
Although this is one of Ms. Streisand's poorest selling films, it is truly ingenious. She co-produced it too! Read more
Published on Nov 18 2000 by Austin Carroll
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barbra's Best Acting
It's a film about choices. Choose jealousy, choose controvery, choose adventure, choose abortion? A lonely NYC housewife in the early 70's with 2 children, an ambitious husband... Read more
Published on Feb 5 2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed bag as a film, but one of Barbra's finest perfomances
One can only speculate what would have happened to Streisand the actress had the response to this film would have been different. Read more
Published on Aug 30 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
Didnt get it
Could sombody explain me what this movie is all about.Their is no point,no moral,no comedy.I only recommend you to watch this movie to see the hidden secret of Fidel Castro.
Published on Aug 8 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
What if Streisand Made More Movies Like This?
You know, this is a 70's feminist movie, but very enjoyable. The most remarkable thing is that Streisand is so very good in it. It is a Streiand we don't see enough of. Read more
Published on May 9 1999 by Matt Howe
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
