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The Devil and Daniel Webster (2004)

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14 comments in total

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16 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
A Very Good film and definitely worth watching, 25 August 2006

Author: cute_little_seniorita from United States

I saw this film at the Venice Film Festival and have waited a long time to comment on it as I wanted to see it again when I was released. However, it still has not come out and I don't know if it ever will.

Alec Baldwin is a writer, down on his luck and nowhere to go but down even further.

As with many viewers I suspect, I was attracted to this film by the cast and the fact that it has received so much press, good and bad. The plot is based on the old casino idea of a writer whose career in next to nil and is getting ready to self destruct – and unless you get into it, it'll feel rather forced and silly at times.

However the film helped me to overcome this by being very low key and downbeat – very much like Baldwin himself. The film is not a great thing but one that is easy to get into. The film uses Las Vegas really well but it is a classic story that is fun to believe in. It is much better than the fun, breezy and slick fantasies that we are sold in other films. The mix of romance, comedy and violence works very well – at points it was very touching, at others quite funny.

It isn't perfect of course and the writing is where the problems lie; the story did rely on the audience buying into it and at times the dialogue comes very close to corn (but just misses). The only time I felt really let down was the ending, which, although fitting with the spirit of the film, missed a great chance to be fun, exciting and original all at the same time.

Still, a good film and definitely worth the watching.

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6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
There Is no Shortcut to Happiness, 25 April 2008

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Manhattan, the aspirant writer Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwyn) is a complete loser: he is not able to sell his novels, he lives in a lousy apartment and he does not have success with women. When one of his friends Julius Jenson (Dan Aykroyd) sells his novel for US$ 190,000.00 to an editor, Jabez fells envy and promises to sell his soul to the devil for success and accidentally kills a woman with his typing machine. The Devil (Jeniffer Love Hewitt) knocks on his door, fixes the situation and seals a contract with Jabez. His low quality novels have bad reviews but become best-sellers; Jabez enriches; has success with women, but has no time for his friends. Jabez meets with the publisher Daniel Webster (Anthony Hopkins) who offers him a chance to break the contract with the devil.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is an original and delightful version of Faust, alternating comedy and drama and giving great messages in the end. The lovely and cute Jeniffer Love Hewitt "steals" the movie with her interpretation of a sexy and smart devil. Anthony Hopkins has another top-notch performance. Kim Cattrall is very comfortable performing Constance Hurry that recalls Samantha, from "Sex and the City". Dan Aykroid shows talent in his dramatic interpretation and is a good surprise. Alec Baldwyn has a good performance too in spite of some bad reviews, and I did not know that the director Harry Kirkpatrick is actually a pseudonym of Alec Baldwyn. In the end, this movie is a pleasant and worthwhile entertainment. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Julgamento do Diabo" ("The Trial of the Devil")

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16 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
I Had A Devil Of A Time Watching This Film!!, 21 May 2005

Author: michaelzstuff from California

I think this film is truly cursed! I wonder how much more could happen to it. But, to give the Devil its due, this is really a good film. I saw it at a screening and it had two of the makings of a successful film: Good cast and a good story.

However, the drawbacks are that Baldwin did a mediocre job directing it and an even more mediocre job playing the lead. BUT, in spite of Baldwin's ineptness, it actually turned out to be a very good film. I would go see it again and I would take my family to see it (if they edited out the bedroom scene).

BOTTOM LINE: It's a wonderful and classic story with a wonderful cast and somehow this film has been able to overcome all of the obstacles that stood in its way. Hopkins was great, Hewitt was terrific, Cattrall was excellent and Akroyd, as usual did a very good job.

Don't be put off by all the negative hype, go see it for yourself!!

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
I was surprised at how good this film was, 7 October 2006

Author: Sean Daniel from United States

When I first saw The Devil and Daniel Webster I was in amazement of how good it was. I was thinking about it for a long time after and when I got to watch it recently on a DVD, it made me think about it all over again but this time raises some questions.

I didn't find it as good the second time round since the time that I first saw it but in the recent viewing I was paying more attention than before. I still think Alec Baldwin was maybe not right as Jabez Stone. He has some good moments but I think he has to many moments where he is trying to act is ass off and making it look obvious. Is it me or in some scenes where Baldwin is talking he sounds kind of goofy and over the top. Just a thought.

Anthony Hopkins was perfect as Daniel Webster but again, isn't he always? Whatever shortfalls his film has, Hopkins makes up for it in his charm and charisma which he tackles head on easily throughout the movie.

The best acting we get here is from Dan Akroyd and Jennifer Love but especially Hewitt, which is no surprise to me considering how well she has done in some of her previous films.

The story doesn't really kick off till the very end where everything unfolds very fast to an entertaining climax which without this film would have failed badly. I don't know much about producer Michael Z. Gordon's previous work except with the good film "Narc", but I am impressed with how he handled this film.

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
A good film whose weaknesses in the writing are covered up by a great cast, 30 September 2006

Author: cara7890 from United States

This gem of a movie will probably not be a blockbuster when it finally is released. The storyline, which has been used many times before and most people will consider that a negative, could be summed up as, "everyone deserves to get a second chance to appreciate what you've got". Nevertheless, this is a classic story and it has all the ingredients to make this an interesting film. This must be the sort of movie that every good actor and actress would love to have a role in as the screenplay has been written by an accomplished screenwriter. It is a farcical melodrama rather than a comedy but nonetheless highly enjoyable. It has a wonderful cast and it was well-acted so I'm not sure I could ask for more. All in all, I heartily recommend this film.

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11 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
An Excellent Movie!! It was well worth the wait., 14 August 2006

Author: babyhayhayrocks from United States

This film was shot in 2002 but it was three years later that I saw this film at the Naples Film Festival and it was a terrific film!! Anthony Hopkins was the lawyer who is hired to save Baldwin form eternal damnation and he was terrific. Jennifer Love Hewitt was sensational as the Devil and as usual, Kim Cattrall was a knock-out. Dan Akroyd really showed off his dramatic talents.

Of all the actors in the film, the one I had to rank the lowest was Baldwin. He really had no business acting or directing this film. His performance left a lot to be desired and his directing even more so. I found out later that he walked off the set after he turned in his Director's cut and they hired a new editor who literally saved this film the dying a slow death.

I read in the trades where Producers Michael Gordon and David Glasser were the ones who kept trying to keep this film from sitting on a shelf for the next twenty years and finally got Bob Yari to acquire the film from the insurance company. Make a point to see this film when it comes out, I think it was well worth the wait.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Good Movie, Hopkins Great!, 13 March 2007

Author: edwinafh from United States

I also saw this movie at the Naples Film Festival. I disagree with the other comments that Cattrell and Baldwin were good or great. They were the worst of the cast. I couldn't figure out if Catrell was really such a bad actress or if she was acting as a bad actress. I can't stand Baldwin on general principle.

Hopkins, and surprisingly Hewitt, were great! The bedroom scene wasn't that bad and is cute when it reveals something about Hewitt.

The story has been told dozens of times before under different names. This isn't the best version but it's worth seeing, especially since Baldwin has removed his name and association with it.

Edwina

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Another version of an old idea ... but it worths watching, 22 November 2007
Author: charlesdias from Brazil

It's very interesting how some old ideas always come back "in new clothing" to movies or literature. This movie is a good example. It's about the "old but nice" cliché of Faust, the man how sells his immortal soul to the devil in exchange of achieving happiness.

I like Jennifer Love Hewitt playing devil in this movie. I don't think she's gorgeous or a tremendous actress, but she's cute and did a good job in this movie.

This movie mixes references to classic US writers, the "not a penny in the pocket" world of the amateur writers struggling to be noted by a publisher and the the US mania for justice court battles.

It's a light movie for relaxing with friends or the girlfriend/boyfriend.

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8 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Great cast and an entertaining film!, 2 October 2006

Author: Patty Blumberg from United States

Wealth. Power. Admiration. They all sound pretty enticing. Indeed many people spend their life in pursuit of these or similar goals and are willing to sacrifice anything and everything in the process. But what if there was an easy way to do it, say, selling your soul? You're not really using it anyways. As the saying goes, the day I decided to do it there'd probably be a glut on the market.

Jabez Stone is, for lack of a better word, a loser. Trying to write a novel and watch a friend pass him by makes him even more angry because "I am a better writer than him!" While lamenting his lot in life he casually mentions that he would give anything to have a successful novel. Enter the Princess of Darkness, stage left.

Although the basics between this movie and the 1941 classic of the same name are similar, there are so many differences (styles of humor, characters, plot, etc) that comparisons are pointless. So I won't even try. "Devil" offers something so few fantasies do these days without relying on endless juvenile scatological humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the transformation that Jabez goes through as he realizes he made a big mistake. Jabez soon discovers that when dealing with the devil - surprise, surprise - nothing is, as it seems.

I have always liked Alec Baldwin since I saw him in "The Marrying Man". Since then, he has proved himself capable of doing both serious ("The Cooler") and comedy roles ("Beetle Juice"). With this part he shows just how versatile he is and does so admirably.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is deliciously wicked in a role that she was born to play (if reports about her are true) and it appears that she enjoyed herself. Her spin on the ultimate temptress is hilarious and personally, I'll take red-haired vixens over horny (or is that "horned") guys any day. Anthony Hopkins, brings the same verve and versatility that he always displays without going over the top. The supporting cast provides the finishing touch rounding out the film nicely. I really enjoyed this film.

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13 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Nine Stars and two thumbs up for me!, 16 August 2006

Author: annepietro from United States

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" gets 9 enthusiastic stars and 2 thumbs up for me.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is one of those films that will make keep your attention from start to finish. With talented stars, a script that has something for everyone and legendary characters, "The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a movie to watch.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is a remake of an earlier Academy Award-winning film of the same name which was released in 1941. In "The Devil and Daniel Webster", the Devil takes human form (Jennifer Love Hewitt) as she comes to "help out" a failing writer, Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwin). However, after Stone accepts her offer, he soon realizes that his deal wasn't quite what he expected it to be. Anthony Hopkins adds his superstar status as the wise sage, which he plays so convincingly.

There is only one result that can come from inserting two of the most talented actors in a film that has a good script. Hopkins stars alongside Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Love Hewitt in one of the best classic fantasies that I have seen in a long time.

When I heard Hopkins was starring as a part of the film, I immediately thought of the amount of credibility he would give toward "The Devil and Daniel Webster"" Hopkins is the type of actor like Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman whose mere presence on film will alert the viewer that they will be watching an excellent film. Hopkins brought integrity, intelligence, and honesty to this role.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" is truly a movie with a classic story of good over evil. Alec Baldwin's approach was enjoyable to watch as he seemed to pull it off with such innocence. It was like he is learning life's lessons all over again from scratch. Also, Jennifer Love Hewitt's performance is like a mirror image to that of Hopkins.

Hewitt is a vision to behold in "The Devil and Daniel Webster" as her beauty radiates off the screen with such sexiness. Hewitt showcases her true ability to capture the essence of her character and portrays it with cleverness and believability. Audiences will enjoy the surprises Hewitt has in store for them.

"The Devil and Daniel Webster" gets 9 enthusiastic stars and 2 thumbs up.

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