Winter Kills

This review refers to the Anchor Bay(2 disc)DVD edition of "Winter Kills".....

Based on the novel by Richard Condon("Prizzi's Honor"), "Winter Kills" is a somewhat dark comical thriller that seems to parallel the Kennedy Assassination investigation.

The story opens 19 years after the death of President Tim Kegan.The "lone gunman" theory is about to come to an end! A dying man gives his confession to the half brother of the President, Nick Kegan(Jeff Bridges).He was the second gunman hired by some very notorious characters. There's evidence to prove it and Nick decides to go after it.Nick soon finds himself involved deep in a "conspiracy theory" that leads to more deaths and suspects leading to some very surprising twists and turns along the way. Nick doesn't know who he can trust and may now be a target himself.

It's a very enjoyable film for it's neverending unpredictable turns of events that keep you on the edge of your seat. One that is certainly worth pulling out and viewing every so often.Bridges is excellent in the role and the list of Hollywood greats that make appearances as the larger than life and somewhat zaney characters is worth the view alone(even though some may be considered as mere cameos).
John Huston steals the show as the all controlling "Pa Kegan". The list also includes Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Sterling Hayden(as a crazy billionaire war freak),Toshiro Mifune, Ralph Meeker,Dorothy Malone, Belinda Bauer, Richard Boone(sorry... no "Pallidan" music),and Elizabeth Taylor, who only has one line, that is mouthed, but what a line it is! Maurice Jarre supplies the wonderful music and William Richert superbly directs.

This 1979 film looks fabulous on this DVD. A nice clear picture with good color in widescreen(2.35:1). The sound is good in DD2.0(Mono) with all the dialouge, music and background noises clear and distinguishable.There are 2 discs. Disc one contains the film and commentary by the director. Disc 2 has a ton of special features to peruse including, interviews on a feaurette called "Who Killed Winter Kills", a trailer, a still gallery and more(see tech info for complete list).It is also very nicely packaged with the case inside a slip-sleeve. I agree with the other reviewers that the price is a little high, but it's definatly worth the view. You may want to rent it, or put it on your wish list and watch for a reasonably priced used edition.

It's something out of the ordinary with a few chuckles and some great thrills..check it out....Laurie

Twelve years before Oliver Stone dazzled (or repelled) audiences with "JFK," director William Richert delivered a more potent vision of a political assassination, and the country that fostered the implements of such an act, with his unbelievably radical adaptation of the late Richard Condon's novel.
As surreal as it is plausible, Richert's 1979 movie about a man's search for the truth behind the slaying of his president-brother ranks among the best political thrillers Hollywood ever produced during the conspiracy-happy '70s. As with "The Parallax View," "Executive Action" and other similarly themed films, "Winter Kills" is enthralling entertainment that puts the viewer on the front seat of a rollercoaster ride through an eerie labyrinth of deceit and corruption.
The two-disc DVD version of this neglected gem is way overpriced and could have been included on the reverse side of a single disc but the package does include several extras that complement this wild movie that reflected the public's growing distrust of the government and the people who run it.

One of those 70s films that haunts me (John Huston's Wiseblood is another, there are lots more). This was based on a story by Richard Condon who also wrote The Manchurian Candidiate. A great cast with a very young Jeff Bridges as the lead in this partially based on fact, darkest of comedies, paranoid controversy theoretical waking nightmare of a movie.
Richard Boone, Sterling Hayden, Toshiro Mifune, Liz Taylor, JOHN HUSTON, Anthony Perkins, Ralph Meeker, Eli Wallach, Tomas Milian, many only get a scene or two, some only a scene, but they are all used for all the iconic power they are capable of generating. Not to mention exquisite cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and an astounding debut for director/actor/etc., William Richert. This film was way too early for it's time, and in the same way Welles' Citizen Kane stepped on the feet of a giant this film also played with the thinly veiled mythology of real people, in this case the Kennedys. The story of why this brilliant film was stillborn upon it's initial release is likely a story worthy of the intrigue and rampant angst that fuels this spectacular film itself; though it's only hinted at in the Who Killed Winter Kills documentary, (that helps to flesh out the second disc disc of this set). I must admit that this all could have fit well onto one disc; but whatever the form, this is a film that is well worth seeking out, and it holds up very well to repeated viewings. It's one of those movies you'll want to turn other people on to. Check it out.