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Bad Manners (1998)
Released By: Bell Canyon Entertainment Inc.   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Bell Canyon Entertainment Inc.
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jonathan Kaufer
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Bonnie Bedelia, David Strathairn, Julie Harris, Saul Rubinek
Published ID: 988140
UPC: N/A
Plot: Two couples share an evening of bad karma in this domestic drama. Matt (Saul Rubinek) is a musicologist who has devised a computer program that can spontaneously compose music; however, one of the first pieces it comes up with features a prominent quote from A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. His girlfriend Kim (Caroleen Feeney) is a computer expert with a nasty sense of humor; Matt thinks she may have fudged his program just to make him look silly. Nancy (Bonnie Bedelia) is a distinguished college professor who has been granted tenure at Harvard. Her husband Wes (David Strathairn) has a fragile ego, and it hasn't been soothed by his recent denial of tenure at the less prestigious institution where he teaches. Nancy and Wes have invited Matt and Kim over for dinner; Nancy and Matt were once lovers, which puts Wes on edge at the outset, and Kim seems to find him an amusing target for her sarcastic sense of humor. Wes finally begins to lose his grip when he discovers that a $50 bill is missing and is convinced that Kim has pocketed it. Kim denies it, but even after the bill turns up, Wes is convinced that she -- or someone -- has it in for him. Bad Manners screenwriter David Gilman adapted this material from his play {+Ghost in the Machine}. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Who's Afraid of...the $50 bill?
Added 9/17/2005

Another awesome film in the "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" style. It is one of those rare films in which each actor is perfect for their role.

The acting and dialogue are independent theater caliber.

The main characters are two professors who are married to each other, the wife's old flame, the old flame's girlfriend, and a $50 bill...let the games begin!


2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Hey, I liked it.
Added 6/15/2002

It was a pretty good film full of twists and turns. There is this coupple and the womans ex-boyfriend comes to visit and brings his new girlfriend along. The the coupple think that the ex-boyfriend's girlfriend stolled money from the man's wallet and it just goes on with accuzations and miss judgements. The ending, for me was slightly unclear but mabey I just didn't notice some key elements. It had really good acting and I enjoyed this movie. I kept me on the edge of my seat.
2 out of 5 people found this helpful.
Interesting and Tense, but hardly Virgina Wolfe
Added 4/27/2002

I saw this on a lazy Saturday afternoon, lucky enough to catch it on cable by accident just as it began. I would imagine the V.Wolfe comparisons are drawn from the way the author has these four volatile main characters never completely answer the all important questions. Words are spoken, sexual tensions and (possible?) liasons occur, pressing questions arise, but as in the best of Shakespearen drama, the "truth" is always at best an opinion of the audience. For those interested in tidy endings that kill most Hollywood scripts nowadays, it ain't here. And that's what makes this a great watch. As in V.Wlofe, the four main characters personalites are slowly exposed through interaction, sometimes brutal interaction, with each other. It's a fly on the wall view of social pleasantries falling away to be replaced by raw emotions. While I thoroughly enjoyed the script, my most negative comments are reserved for the sometimes, and somewhat "Alan Alda" esque feel to the film. A certain phony-1980's-middle-age-Alda-smugness often drips from both male leads. While it could be partly from the fact that they play their parts to well (too intellectuall and macho depleted), the parts alternatly could have been played to the same violent confrontational tone that rears its head so often in V.Wolfe.
All in all, though, a memorable and non-disposable watch.

1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Interesting and Tense, but hardly Virgina Wolfe
Added 4/27/2002

I saw this on a lazy Saturday afternoon, lucky enough to catch it on cable by accident just as it began. I would imagine the V.Wolfe comparisons are drawn from the way the author has these four volatile main characters never completely answer the all important questions. Words are spoken, sexual tensions and (possible?) liasons occur, pressing questions arise, but as in the best of Shakespearen drama, the "truth" is always at best an opinion of the audience. For those interested in tidy endings that kill most Hollywood scripts nowadays, it ain't here. And that's what makes this a great watch. As in V.Wlofe, the four main characters personalites are slowly exposed through interaction, sometimes brutal interaction, with each other. It's a fly on the wall view of social pleasantries falling away to be replaced by raw emotions. While I thoroughly enjoyed the script, my most negative comments are reserved for the sometimes, and somewhat "Alan Alda" esque feel to the film. A certain phony-1980's-middle-age-Alda-smugness often drips from both male leads. While it could be partly from the fact that they play their parts to well (too intellectuall and macho depleted), the parts alternatly could have been played to the same violent confrontational tone that rears its head so often in V.Wolfe.
All in all, though, a memorable and non-disposable watch.

2 out of 4 people found this helpful.
Sleeper Gem
Added 2/27/2002

Immediately brings to mind "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", similar format, but very different plot, splendid writing and acting. I caught this first on satellite TV and had to own it. Unforunately the DVD leaves a lot to be desired. Parts appear as if shot through a screen door, it has only 2 channel sound and an annoying background hum in chapter 10 (also noticeable on satellite but worse on DVD).In spite of these caveats, I don't regret the purchase one bit--it bears repeated watching.
3 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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