Oleanna [DVD]

David Mamet's screen adaption of the play (also written by Mamet) is an extraordinary journey into the world of perception. The film has only two characters, one being a college professor (played by William H Macy) and a shy young student (played by Debra Eisenstadt) even though these two characters are the only prominent players in the story; the director manages to develop a nerve retching, edge of your seat thriller that will have you thinking during the credits.The film begins with carol (the shy student) that is failing a college course and is really eager to pass her class. She tries to convince her professor of giving her a second chance at passing the class. the professor has no interest in doing so, the student insists. This is pretty much the whole story a feedback between student and professor, between the so called experienced and the amateur. the story gets in to full thriller mode when carol begins to blackmail her professor, claiming that he harassed and intended to rape her. The films climax is also amazing and it will leave you wondering as to what you would do in that type of situation.MY PERSONAL RATING: 3 ½ out of 5

This film is very unrealistic. A professor and a student in a confrontation about a failing grade. The attitude of the student is sophomoric ( 8th grade maybe.) The dialog goes like this: the student makes a statement, and the professor pontificates with philosophical response. The student kind of understands. This reiterates for a scene that lasted 30 minutes. When I attended college, you knew you how you were doing by the mid-term exams. In addition, I had to make an appointment to see my professor. The back drop of the story is the professor was pressed for time to attend an important meeting with his wife for a real-estate transaction that had issues.

Sure, on the surface this seems like a movie/play about sexual harrassment, but it is truly deeper and more terrifying than that. I believe what this story is about is modern man's inability to conduct civil discourse, and of our propensity to run roughshod over our fellow citizens just to prove that we can. The professor and the student in this story are both extremely flawed in their own ways, but in common they are both terrible at simple human communication (and Mamet's staccato style and rhythm of dialogue deliberately adds fuel to that fire). As a result, a very minor event gets blown WAY out of proportion, and neither character has the foresight to see how badly things may well turn out as a result - at least until it's too late. This is actually a very sharp microcosm of America's litigous society. We seek to sue rather than to compromise or understand. It's not enough to be right - everyone else has to be wrong. This story is as good an example as anything else I've encountered of why our society is going to hell in a handbasket. We as a society are so full of hatred, self-loathing, insecurity, and/or pomposity that we are hastening our own cultural demise. The tag line for this movie (and the play) is "Whatever side you take, you're wrong." How right that is! There is no right side or wrong side. That is not the point anyway. The point is, look at the kinds of problems we create for ourselves in this society. It is truly scary how much real life is mirrored in this story.

This film adds fuel to the fire that men are always wrong and women are always right. Ahead of it's time in that regard. The fact is the female should have been fined and expelled from school for making false allegations. When she added rape to the allegations, because she knew she could get away with it, she should be sued for slander per se, and given the same prison sentence a rapist would get. That would send a message this society needs.

Annoying movie. Haven't seen William Macy in a lackluster movie until this one. Storyline was there but delivered in an irritating way. Exaggerated acting. The two actors constantly interrupting one another grew old. Anxious for the end. The female needs to return to acting school and hopefully Macy avoids scripts like this one.

This movie is based on a Mamet play: two characters in search of a common field of understanding. Understanding what? Who has the power. Here, a blandly 'radical', self-satisfied, pompous teacher meets an incompetent student who turns into a terrifying, puritanically 'correct' monster (or an icon of the battle against sexism?) None of the usual Hollywood emotional cliches, gasps, mumbled lines, bewildered looks, etc. Instead, two actors simply saying their lines in a very clear manner (the sound is incredibly crisp), not trying to impress with their craft, but using it simply in order to tell a story.

This movie is very slow, and only focuses on two actors in the movie. It's about a student that needs help by her intructer; but takes things personal. To the point where she accuses her instructer of rape and battery. At the end of the movie, the instructer eventually loses his cool and beats his student up. Because of the students smart mouth, along with the students threats. This movie is better to watch on television; instead of buying the movie. Because this movie is very slow that is why.

NOT light entertainment-but it is fascinatingly disturbing and fascinatingly disgusting. NOT a "feel-good' movie-in fact, you will feel quite haunted by it for a while (especially if you are an educator--teachers have been victimized and traumatized enough in today's society! Do you really need to feel attacked by proxy? Do you really need to feel more anger than you already do?). While I would say that it is a well-made film--with good acting--would I recommend that others view it? I can't say yes to that--there is enough "icky" out there already.

This is an American disc, so you need a DVD player that can play all regions to watch it. It is a vivid version of the play and brings the text to life in the way Mamet intended because he directed it. I love the fact that the two main characters are ordinary and annoying - it's fun to compare it with the clips on You Tube from the Broadway version with good-looking, sympathetic actors.

This thing is soooo tricky to find this guy has gotta be the only one on earth you can get this from. Tricky thing is its got a different region code but if you download windvd or powerdvd you can watch it on laptop. The first on got lost in customs but he very kindly sent another and I'm happy with the service :)

Underrated by critics and a forgotten piece of well made cinema.A keeper indeed.

...but totally engrossing flick...