Leatherheads [2008]

See Larger Image	List Price: £15.99 Our Price: £5.97 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK Starring: Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce, George Clooney, John Krasinski Directed By: George Clooney Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Parental Guidance Binding: DVD EAN: 5050582540307 Format: PAL Label: Universal Pictures UK Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Universal Pictures UK Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2008-08-18 Running Time: 110 Studio: Universal Pictures UK Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Editorial Reviews: Leatherheads is a sort of two-fisted homage, simultaneously celebrating the early, unstructured days of professional football and the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s. George Clooney stars as "Dodge" Connelly of the Duluth Bulldogs, a wily (if a bit long in the tooth) player whose team goes bankrupt. His solution is to lure a war hero and star of the college-football circuit, Carter "The Bullet" Rutherford (John Krasinski from the American version of The Office) to join the team and, through the sheer force of his celebrity, legitimise professional football. Little does Connelly know that Rutherford's war record is being scrutinised by reporter Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger) and what she uncovers may undermine the whole scheme. Leatherheads isn't seamless--at times the screwball flavour feels forced and Zellweger's performance is laboured--but those few awkward elements only emphasize how zippy and fun the rest of the movie is. Clooney also directed and demonstrates some real flair with editing and letting the fringes of the story be as vital as the main plot. Krasinski, with his goofy handsomeness and a streak of Jimmy Stewart charm, shows real promise as a movie star. Though Leatherheads has plenty of broad slapstick (and most of it is pretty funny), the movie's real comic richness comes out in offhand gestures and sly revelations of character. All in all, it isn't Preston Sturges (director of classic comedies like The Lady Eve and The Palm Beach Story), but it's in his neighbourhood, and that's a pretty wonderful neighbourhood to be in. --Bret Fetzer
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Clean and healthy Comment: This film was clean and healthy, though not that good a film, but also not rubbish either. Story was ok, some funny bits in it and lots of mud in the American football fields and ruff and tumble. Customer Rating: Summary: Elegant and funny Comment: Leatherheads is one of the most enjoyable films of the year. It's both a homage to football before it became big business and to 30s/40s comedies. The chemistry between Zellweger and Clooney works fine nad they have some great scenes together both in terms of comedy and unsentimental romance. The film is well written, perfect timing and an altogether nice balance of elements. I particularly liked how Clooney poked gentle fun at his own age. Visually, Leatherheads is one of the most elegant films I have ever seen with a dominance of warm colours. The costumes are absolutely awesome. Randy Newman yet again delivers a superb soundtrack (and a delightful cameo experience Customer Rating: Summary: Who let the dogs out? Comment: A big name cast hones their passing game in this funny romantic comedy based on the humble beginnings of professional football. (And by football I'm referring to the American game where you hardly ever get to hit the ball with your foot) Renee Zellweger matches George Clooney scene for scene and zinger for zinger, and for the most part the best of the action is between these two instead of on the field. Defense and offense are handled nicely by John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce and Stephen Root. Short Attention Span Summary (SASS): 1. Tackles, passes, fumbles, fouls, interceptions and cheap shots abound in the movie, and some of them are even on the playing field. 2. Dodge Connelly (Clooney) doggedly and pugnaciously leads the Duluth Bulldogs, even though he ought to be put out to stud. 3. When the league runs out of starch, he gets an idea to recruit a new top dog named Carter (Krasinski), who just happens to be a war hero. 4. As legend has it, Carter single handedly captured a whole platoon of German soldiers, using his bare hands. 5. Reporter Lexie (Zellweger) is out to do a little investigative reporting, and ends up receiving double coverage 6. The introduction of rules ruins pro-football for ever 7. The odds are even that it all comes down to one big game 8. Extra points must be awarded for those tight ends A most enjoyable period movie, with all the mud-slinging that accompanied the introduction of a rulebook for the gridiron. Worth touching down at the DVD store. Amanda Richards More Reviews