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The War of the Roses |  | Director: Danny DeVito
Actors: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Marianne Sägebrecht, Sean Astin
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
Buy New: $9.98
as of 9/10/2010 21:57 CDT details
New (41) from $3.68
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  72 reviews
Sales Rank: 14321
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 024543023401
UPC: 024543023401
EAN: 0024543023401
ASIN: B0009X75PQ
Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 1989
Release Date: December 18, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 04/13/2010
Amazon.com
Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reunited for a third time to fabulous effect in this dark, disturbing comedy of martial trauma and revenge, which couldn't be more different from their sunnier outings in Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Douglas and Turner, in career-best performances, are the materialistic, consumer-driven Roses of the title (Oliver and Barbara) whose seemingly perfect marriage has soured beyond repair; their only point of contact, aside from their two college-bound kids, is their meticulously maintained dream house, which Douglas bought and Turner decorated to perfection. When Turner gets a taste of financial independence, she asks Douglas for divorce--all she wants is the house and everything in it (aside from his clothes and shaving kit). He laughs at her and she punches him in the face. Things only get worse from there, as nasty divorce proceedings (with DeVito as Douglas's lawyer) give way to insults, threats, ruined dinner parties, and pet abuse. And through it all, the Roses begin destroying their beloved home and its contents, just to spite each other. DeVito, who also directed, takes Michael Leeson's blacker-than-black screenplay and gives it a hyperstylized spin, complete with skewed camera angles and wonderfully expressionistic cinematography (by Stephen Burum) as Douglas and Turner barricade themselves in their house, both refusing to give an inch. Shocking for a mainstream studio picture, with its unsympathetic protagonists, escalating bitterness, and disturbing finale, Roses is a poisonously funny valentine to both marriage and '80s materialism, tempered only by its framing device as a cautionary tale. Definitely not a date movie. --Mark Englehart
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 war of the roses July 4, 2010
Alan R. Plante (USA)
I like this dvd it was in great shape and a good deal when purchased
when you're in a wicked mood! May 17, 2010
Blue Grass (Olympic Peninsula)
A love story -- it's definitely not. A wicked, diabolical tale of mutual descent (Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas) into darkness, narrated by the ever-sardonic Danny Devito -- it is. It's also (unfortunately) a not-too-unrealistic portrayal of how passionate love may become passionate hatred and madness. So, when you're in the right mood, watch this movie!
Pleasantly dark and edgy March 7, 2010
K. Swanson (Austin, TX United States)
4.4 stars
While it does seem a bit dated by now, Roses does have many very funny scenes, and is one of the blackest comedies to come out of Hollywood since the 70s. Douglas and Turner are far better here than in their Romancing The Stone flicks, and DeVito's direction does credit to Leeson's excellent script.
I can only imagine that anyone going through a divorce would love this one. Thankfully I can't comment on that aspect, knock on wood. There's no love lost between any of the central players here, not just the Roses, and the cynicism is hard-bitten, all the more so for the flashes of love on display. I've always sensed that both Turner and Douglas are at heart rather dark people...there's that edge of nastiness lurking beneath all their best roles that just feels a little too believable. DeVito tkaes those edges and polishes them to gleaming blackness here, and adds many fine camera shots to boot.
I'm not nuts about his overly self-glorifying narrative role, though, and think it detracts a bit and adds too much length to a slightly overlong film. (DeVito says on the dvd extras that WOTR was 3 hours before editing, but even a little more could have been trimmed. The extras are well done, btw, and add to the package. DeVito is clearly proud of this film, and justifiably so.) Trivia note: the guy Danny talks to in his office is actually the voice of Homer Simpson. At least his marriage works!
I loved the ending, so very atypical and so perfectly apt. All in all, this is an almost five star movie that goes on just a little too long, but is absolutely worth seeing if you're in the mood for a very black comedy, or are in the throes of a failing marriage. And seeing as most weddings are soon followed by divorce these days, that leaves a nice wide audience for the Roses and their dyspeptic charades.
Fun to watch! November 17, 2009
J. Reid
Movie was a lot of fun to watch. It's not overly exciting, but was funny and very entertaining.
 FUNNY........ June 28, 2009
Jane E. Vogt
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
THIS MOVIE WAS TO FUNNY IF YOUR GOING THREW OR NOT....A DIVORCE. I JUST TO HAVE A COPY TO WATCH OVER AND OVER...VERY ENJOYABLE. I RECOMEND IT TO ALL.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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