If These Walls Could Talk 2

( 5 )

Overview

This DVD marks the home video release of a trio of short films that appeared originally on HBO. While the first If These Walls Could Talk dealt with the sensitive issue of abortion, the sequel tackles three stories concerning lesbianism. The transfer is a standard full-frame 1.33:1 image that faithfully reproduces the original aspect ratio. An English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a Spanish soundtrack can be heard in Dolby Digital Stereo. Subtitles are accessible in English, Spanish, or ...
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More About This Product

Overview

This DVD marks the home video release of a trio of short films that appeared originally on HBO. While the first If These Walls Could Talk dealt with the sensitive issue of abortion, the sequel tackles three stories concerning lesbianism. The transfer is a standard full-frame 1.33:1 image that faithfully reproduces the original aspect ratio. An English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a Spanish soundtrack can be heard in Dolby Digital Stereo. Subtitles are accessible in English, Spanish, or French. This bare-bones release has only cast and crew bios to offer in the way of special features.
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Special Features

Interactive menus; Cast & crew bios; Language/subtitles; Chapter selections
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Doree Shafrir
The 1996 anthology film If These Walls Could Talk earned kudos for exploring abortion through the eyes of three women of different eras. In If These Walls Could Talk 2, HBO again tackles complexities, dealing with the joys and sorrows of being a lesbian in the 1960s, the '70s, and today. Divided into three separate-though-related stories, the film's tone is one of gentle humor, careful pathos, and compassion. The first and most poignant tale, simply titled "1961," features Vanessa Redgrave in a haunting, Emmy-winning performance as an elderly woman mourning over death of her lifelong partner -- while her partner's family is coldly eager to move on. Next comes the surprisingly nostalgic "1972," directed by Martha Coolidge Rambling Rose. This story introduces Linda Michelle Williams of Dawson's Creek as a politically active coed whose equally radical friends Natasha Lyonne, Nia Long, Amy Carlson frown on her choice of girlfriends -- a rather butch cross-dresser Chloe Sevigny. The third segment, "2000," stars Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres as a yuppie couple who, having made the decision to have a child, face the challenge of finding an appropriate sperm donor -- with help from, most notably, Kathy Najimy as a sympathetic gynecologist. "2000," the most lighthearted of the three segments, marks the directorial debut of Anne Heche, now DeGeneres's famously former main squeeze. If These Walls Could Talk 2 is at its most powerful when exploring the love between each of its couples. And while the pieces have their uneven moments, as a whole, they are thought-provoking and tender portraits.
All Movie Guide - Michael Hastings
HBO's popular franchise of woman-centric omnibus melodramas continues with this second installment, which boasts a gaggle of big-name talent and an similarly outsized earnestness that ultimately sinks the entire project. Audiences are best-advised to leave If These Walls Could Talk 2 after its first segment, writer-director Jane Anderson's touching "1961," since nothing that follows approaches the depth of feeling or complexity of character put forth by Anderson and lead Vanessa Redgrave. Though Redgrave's Edith has a limited amount of screentime opposite her longtime companion Abby (Marian Seldes), the actress manages to convey a profound sense of grief at her lover's loss, one that gives way to an even more heartbreaking and understated resignation. As Abby's family intervenes in dividing up her estate, Redgrave and Anderson handle what could have been clichéd, routine scenes of discrimination with delicacy and realism. The same can't be said of Martha Coolidge's hackneyed lesbian after-school special, "1972," which boasts haltingly awful, topic-sentence dialogue that isn't excused by the fact that the characters speaking it are part of a militant campus women's-lib group. The film culminates with a regrettable they're-having-a-baby vanity project directed by Anne Heche and starring her then-girlfriend Ellen DeGeneres; their ostensible stab at domestic comedy only underlines how low the film has stooped from its opening salvo.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/10/2000
  • UPC: 026359170720
  • Original Release: 2000

    • Rating:

  • Source: Hbo Home Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Sound: Dolby Surround
  • Language: English, Español
  • Time: 1:36:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 7,601

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Vanessa Redgrave Edith
Marian Seldes Abby
Michelle Williams Linda
Natasha Lyonne Jeanne
Sharon Stone Fran
Ellen DeGeneres Kal
Paul Giamatti Ted
Elizabeth Perkins Alice
Jenny O'Hara Mrs. Carpenter
Donald Elson
Chloë Sevigny Amy
Nia Long Karen
Heather McComb Diane
Amy Carlson Michelle
Lee Garlington
Rashida Jones
Kirk Trutner
Regina King Allie
Kathy Najimy Doctor
Mitchell Anderson
George Newbern
Lucinda Jenney
Technical Credits
Jane Anderson Director, Screenwriter
Martha Coolidge Director
Anne Heche Director, Screenwriter
Julia Caston Costumes/Costume Designer
Ellen DeGeneres Executive Producer
Peter Deming Cinematographer
Paul Elliott Cinematographer
Margie Goodspeed Editor
Robbie Greenberg Cinematographer
Mary Kane Producer
Evyen Klean Musical Direction/Supervision
Priscilla Nedd-Friendly Editor
John Papsidera Casting
Basil Poledouris Score Composer
Pamela Post Associate Producer
Nina Ruscio Production Designer
Alex Sichel Original Story
Sylvia Sichel Screenwriter
Suzanne Todd Executive Producer
Jennifer Todd Executive Producer
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Scene Index

Side #1
0. Chapters
1. Opening/Secret love [7:03]
2. Lost love [6:41]
3. Arrangements [3:38]
4. Down to business [9:06]
5. If you knew her [10:06]
6. Feminists [3:49]
7. "The tie" [8:33]
8. Too many rules [9:25]
9. Labels? [2:52]
10. Acceptance [6:14]
11. Donors [6:41]
12. Another man [6:30]
13. This is it! [6:47]
14. Its all from love [4:11]
15. Two great moms/Credits [4:19]
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Menu

Side #1
   Play movie
   Cast & crew
      Edith - Vanessa Redgrave
      Abby - Marian Seldes
      Ted - Paul Giamatti
      Alice - Elizabeth Perkins
      Linda - Michelle Williams
      Amy - Chloë Sevigny
      Karen - Nia Long
      Jeanne - natasha Lyonne
      Fran - Sharon Stone
      Kal - Ellen DeGeneres
      Doctor - Kathy Najimy
      Jane Anderson (Writer & Director)
      Sylvia and Alex Sichel (Writers)
      Martha Coolidge (Director)
      Anne Heche (Writer & Director)
   Languages
      English Dolby Surround
      Spanish
   Subtitles
      English
      Spanish
      French
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 5 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(2)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(1)

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Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 30, 2012

    Beautiful

    Beautiful

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Awesome!!!!

    Awesome!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Awesome

    This is one the best lesbian love stories of all time. I love how it is 3 stories in one. I cried as much as I laughed. This is sure to be a classic.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The 'Big Picture' of lesbianism

    This film was incredible and I laughed so hard, and I cried just as hard! This is a must have and will, I believe, be a lesbian film classic!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Berkeley's House of Lesbos!

    This trilogy is one of the sweetest movies ever made. Finally a movie about Lesbians that shows them happy! It's divided into three segments. Each features a lesbian family living in the same house at different times. The first features Vanessa Redgrave as a lesbian 'widow' and the troubles she faces from her late lover's insensitive relatives. She won an emmy for this role; it was very well deserved. Slate Magazine recently ran a commentary on Vanessa's celibacy; that's a loss for everyone! At 63 she's still a hottie! The second features four lesbian college students active in the Women's Movement; their struggle with the straight feminists is downplayed, though. The best scene is where one of them (Michelle Williams) becomes involved with a butch townie (Chloe Sevigny) and the other roommates look upon her in askance. One (Natasha Lyonne) even positions herself as if to fight the baby butch upstart, and later criticizes her for her masculine wardrobe! The last segment concerns a lesbian couple (Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone) trying to get pregnant. This is the funniest one. Kathy Najimy is excellent as a fertility doctor. Highly recommended!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews