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Reds (25th Anniversary Edition) [HD DVD] | ![Reds (25th Anniversary Edition) [HD DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419S8203MVL._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Warren Beatty
Actors: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Edward Herrmann, Jerzy Kosinski, Jack Nicholson
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $36.99
Buy New: $4.95
as of 3/14/2010 01:13 CST details
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Seller: Kimberly Siniarski Inc.
Rating:  124 reviews
Sales Rank: 19920
Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Finnish (Original Language), French (Original Language), German (Original Language), Russian (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: HD DVD
Region: 0
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 194 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.2 x 0.5
MPN: HD119764
UPC: 097361197647
EAN: 0097361197647
ASIN: B000IOM0Y2
Theatrical Release Date: December 4, 1981
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
Warren Beatty's lengthy 1981 drama about American Communist John Reed and his relationships with both the Russian Revolution and a writer named Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) is a compelling piece of little-known history told in a uniquely personal way. Beatty plays Reed as he did the title gangster in Bugsy and Senator in Bulworth, as a visionary likely to die before anyone fully recognizes the progressiveness of the vision, including those who are supposed to be on the same page. Jack Nicholson has an interesting part as fellow intellectual Eugene O'Neill, and the late author Jerzy Kosinski--himself a refugee from then-Soviet-controlled Poland--makes a strong impression as Reed's problematic Russian liaison. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.com
In some ways, Warren Beatty's 195-minute film about the radical movement at the beginning of the 20th century is the last Hollywood studio epic. A peerless reporter, John Reed, mixes with the intellectuals of the time who see socialism as the answer to end what would become the First World War. As with epics, we go on a journey--from Portland to New York to Europe and finally Russia--just in time to witness the revolution that would make Reed famous upon publishing "Ten Days That Shook the World." But Reed had more ambition, and Beatty's ambition is splendidly captured on the screen, matched by a tremendous cast and stunning visuals (shot by Oscar-winner Vittorio Storaro). Reds doesn't have the action or vistas as a David Lean epic, but travels on the road less taken--here, seeing the birth of communism. Beatty and Trevor Griffiths lace their talky script of ideas with plenty of humor and fashion a poignant love story. Reed's infatuation with the rebel without a cause, Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), turns into a love triangle with playwright Eugene O'Neill (Jack Nicholson at his most sublime). As Brooks becomes more complex and stalwart, the love story becomes something more. Keaton is perfect in following the arc of Brooks, just another spot-on casting decision by Beatty. Also impressive is Oscar winner Maureen Stapleton as feisty activist Emma Goldman and author Jerzy Kolinsky (Being There) as a Russian diplomat. The boldest stroke is hearing from real "witnesses" talking about the times. They are funny, poetic, deft, provide musical accompaniment and, most importantly, expertly set up scenes. The uninitiated will learn about this time in remarkable fashion; the cineaste can marvel in the ground Beatty covers, never better then a montage ending first half as Reed and Brooks are literally swept up in the revolution. Beatty states at the top of the DVD extras he's not a big fan of talking about a movie (and did no publicity for the film upon its release in 1981). So there is no commentary track, just an expertly produced 90-minute retrospective with interviews from most of the major players, minus Keaton. We find out why Beatty's best performances are the ones he doesn't direct, while Nicholson provides the reason why Beatty had to star. Beatty talks about the process to interview the witnesses, and when we see bits of unused footage, it whets the appetite for more. Certainly, an hour of witness outtakes would have been something special, and would allow Beatty not to speak about his masterpiece. --Doug Thomas
Description
Reds is the story of the love affair of John Reed and Louise Bryant in a war-torn world and how the Russian Revolution shook their lives.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 124
 Reds - John Reed and a Dissenting Voice March 11, 2010
Joseph J. Slevin (Carlsbad, CA United States)
I just got finished watching another video, an older video made in Mexico about John Reed and his work with the likes of Poncho Villa during the Mexican Revolution. The Title: "Reed: Insurgent Mexico." In this, Reed is constantly running toward or from battle, as he attempts to get a clear picture of the revolution. The reason why I mention this, is that Warren Beatty as Reed, chases after the Red Army as it fights off a White Russian attack toward the end of Reds.
Basically, Reds begins where Insurgent Mexico leaves off, so, a very interesting two movies, if you can find the above.
You are left with few questions, if any, about John Reed regarding his views. Whether the last scenes were true to the real story, John Reed tells one of the leaders of Propaganda that the revolution is dissent and a dissent voice must be allowed. Throughout the movie there is the tug between the larger group dynamics versus the few having control of things.
We meet John Reed after we meet who was to become his wife, Louise Bryant, played by Diane Keaton. We see Maureen Stapleton, playing Emma Goldman. (Fascinating to me how Maureen Stapleton never seemed to age. She played Mama in Bye Bye Birdie over 18 years before and look very much the same. Jack Nicholson plays the Irish American Eugene O'Niell. He plays more of a pragmatic role juxtaposed to Reeds idealism. Not to be left out is a very upbeat Gene Hackman, who plays a reporter who is really the opposite idealogically of Reed and his cohort.
The fact that these people gave their time, life and effort to a cause that they really believed in. These men and women spent ample time imprisoned in numerous places because of their quest for what they felt was right.
Additionally the movie is filmed in Russia (The USSR at the time) which was actually amazing due to the stories openness. It has an epic feel at times, yet the invterviews from actual witnesses and acquiantences of the Reeds and their story, brings a much more personal feel.
One scene is very telling, Reed is asked how is he supposed to do so much with so few. He proceeds to ask a question about how many were involved in Revolutionary America with the first shot heard around the world. He answers, 77. So few were able to do so much.
Whether or not you agree with the ideology of Reed anyone looking for a view of unbending character in ideology, you get that in this story.
 Reds February 22, 2010
scott89119 (Whittier, CA)
Reds is a quintessential epic, a big movie about big history. Warren Beatty plays Jack Reed, an intellectual revolutionary trying to get into the mix of the Russian Revolution. He meets Louise Bryant (played by Diane Keaton), an earnest writer of sorts who doesn't have a cause but who greatly desires change. They move to Greenwich Village and take up with other famous movers and shakers of that time, such as Eugene O'Neill and Emma Goldman. Events escalate overseas, Reed becomes enmeshed with the Communists, and Bryant tried to find herself through trying to find out what makes Reed tick.
That, of course, is the tip of the iceberg here. Westerners often look to Russian art and history to get a palatable panorama of human existence, and this film excels at dissecting that fascination. Beatty directs this film with great skill, making it a digestible history lesson wrapped in an absorbing love story. Parts of it are also a lot of fun- who wouldn't want to see Jack Nicholson's take on Eugene O'Neill? There is also a very subtle thread of humor throughout- Beatty knows how much info to give the audience at any given time before the story suffers. Also praiseworthy is the film's exquisite cinematography- this is a huge sweeping homage to the great epics of the 40's and 50's. It is a rather large commitment for any passive fan, but I would highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the Revolution or Communism in Europe.
Red is one of my favorite colors... January 15, 2010
Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
One of my all time favorite films to broach one of my all time favorite subjects; `Reds' is an outstanding example of filmmaking at its absolute finest (in every possible way). It's hard for me to really put into words what I think about this film, because it is such an experience in itself that mere words don't seem to do the film justice.
I've heard so many complain that this film is boring and overly long and I'm stumped because I don't think a single film has really ever engulfed me like `Reds'. That isn't to say that this is the best movie out there (in fact, it isn't even the best movie of '81; that honor goes to `Diva'), but Beatty's direction is truly one of the best directorial achievements of all time. His delicate yet swift hand helped create a lavish and exciting epic feel without losing the intimacy and personal taste level needed to give this type of story `flesh'.
This movie was such a joy to watch.
The film centers on American Communist John Reed, and it tells his story; from his involvement in the Russian Revolution to his intimate relationship with Louise Bryant, a writer who sparks his interest and tests his values. Their relationship (as chaotic and conflicted as it was) is the true heart of this film; and while `Reds' is a political masterpiece (it is one of those rare films that really makes you feel a part of the history, delivering a powerful and intelligent story without losing the audience in the unfolding) it is first and foremost a beautiful love story that captures the heart of man. Reed's loyalties are tested by Bryant, but their love is never in question.
Don't get anxious, for this is not your typical weepy romantic film. What I mean by love story is that is really fleshes out the human NEED to love.
Garnering a slew of Oscar nominations, and even netting Beatty that coveted directing Oscar, `Reds' is certainly outstanding in every area. Warren Beatty is not an actor I am really head-over-heals for. I often find him either stiff (he was the worst part of the otherwise superb `Bonnie and Clyde') or forgettable (again, he was the worst part of the otherwise enjoyable `Shampoo') but he has impressed me a few times (his ferocious approach in `Bugsy' was startling and breathtaking at the same time) and this is one of them. Sure, he is not best in show, but he really understands the political and emotional makeup of this character. I think maybe his directing had a hand in his grasp of character, but he really sunk into this one. Personally, this film belongs to Diane Keaton. I just LOVE this performance; so strong and full of fervor and tenacity. She develops a fully fleshed out woman who longs to get a hold on all she holds dear but is unable to fully comprehend how to do that. So many rave Keaton's `Annie Hall', but honestly, her Louise Bryant is MUCH better.
Aside from those two beautiful performances, there is Oscar nominated (and deserving of those nominations) Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton (Stapleton actually won the Oscar). I adore Stapleton in this film. I was thinking the other day about supporting performances that truly define the category, and this performance kept popping up in my head. She really delivers such an authentic and natural progression of character; never delving into ticks or gimmicks or clichés to build her character, but hinging her entire performance on pure and genuine humanity.
Just breathtaking.
I'd feel bad if I didn't spend at least a few moments talking about Nicholson, since it is `Jack Nicholson Friday'. His performance here is one that slowly creeps up on you. For the first half of the film he seemed like nothing more than a background character to me, but as the film progressed and his character's intentions and motives started to unveil themselves I started to find that he was all I could think about. Even when he wasn't on the screen I could feel his presence in the eyes of Keaton (another testament to her BRILLIANT performance) and long after the film is through I can still feel the impact of his advances. It is a small performance from someone who is usually larger than life, but for me that makes this one all the more special.
If you love broadly stroked epic films that embody the screen with rich characters, tightly woven plots and beautiful scenery, `Reds' is a film for you. One of those biopics that feels like so much more because it is so much more. This film defies genre for me, for it covers everything, and it does so without ever missing a beat.
 Less about the Revolution, mostly about Reed... December 31, 2009
J.Lebowski (STL area)
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
I watched this movie for the first time last night and I should have read a cross-section of the reviews here on Amazon. I was expecting this to be more of a cinematic adaptation of Reed's eyewitness account of the events in Petrograd/his life in Russia and less a bio-pic spanning Reed's life from WW1 to his death/Reed-Bryant love story. I at least knew before putting this into my DVD player that this was a man that I did not exactly agree or sympathize with. I also suspected that this film would give the DisneyLand treatment of any scenes involving the Russian Revolution. Politics aside, this film did not grab me on a cinematic level.
In the first 1.5 hours the viewer is treated to Bohemian/radical left life in Greenwich Village, WW1 era Socialist Party politics, and a love triangle between Reed (Beatty), Louise Bryant (Keaton), and Eugene O'Neill (Nicholson). These are things that would never had interested me and Beatty's direction did little to pique my interest. The most fascinating depiction was Maureen Stapleton's Emma Goldman and Nicholson was excellent.
Throughout the film we get accounts from Reed's real-life colleagues. Some of these help to flesh out who the real John Reed was (far better than Beatty's fawning depiction), while others consist of either self indulgent pats on the back or old women with boarding school accents discussing the salacious gossip that surrounded Reed and Bryant's social lives.
Reed's/Bryant's first trip to Russia gets 20 minutes. Here they interview Lenin and future Stalin-purge victims Radek and Zinoviev while being swept up in the heady early days of the Revolution.
The next 45 minutes or so covers Reed back in NYC and the schism within the Socialist Party and the early beginnings of the Communist Party. Again, I was less than enthralled. Beatty could have given the viewer an idea of what motivated the various factions instead of dishing out more manic speeches from Reed.
The last hour picks up again with the final years of Reed's life in Russia. Here we also get more of the exiled Emma Goldman and the realization begins to set in among the Americans that the highly anticipated worker's Revolution has gone off of the rails. And we get more tousle-haired, fire and brimstone Reed advocating worldwide Revolution.
I liked the basic nuts and bolts of the film--the performances were fine, great cinematography, etc. Aesthetically, Beatty is not too convincing as a post-WW1 revolutionary with his 70s/80s mop. Because of the politics of the film, this is obviously not a picture that everybody is going to love. If you answer yes to the following, you should probably avoid: A) I am not an admirer of John Reed nor interested in his relationship with Louise Bryant. B) I am not a communist/socialist who gets misty eyed every time I hear "The Internationale". C) I am not a Warren Beatty fanboy/girl.
Helluva movie....hellish long, too! December 19, 2009
M. Corey (Skagit Valley, Wa USA)
WOW! I just finished watching "Reds" for the first time since it was first run, and while I liked it much more than before, I'm glad I got it at my local library, & had a week to watch it....or I would have, if I hadn't found it so gripping that I watched it spread over about 10 hours.
I always really found the "talking heads" spots very interesting. These spots with people who knew Jack Reed, Louise Bryant, and Emma Goldman(or at least people who were around then) were very interesting, except for George Jessel...why him??
Brew some coffee, pop some corn, & settle in. "Reds" isn't for everyone, but it is an intelligent look at a time that almost no one is alive to tell us about.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 124
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