A Hole in One - review

Kathy · 30 Dec 2005, 03:01

What a movie! I enjoyed it, although using that word sounds a little odd to my own ear. Certainly, it grabbed my attention right from the beginning and I was held riveted throughout. It's a hard movie to pigeonhole. It's educational (apparently they really did lobotomies like that!); it's a period piece (portrays the American 50's beautifully); it's a sort of fable about sanity vs. insanity, and about our personal responsibility for coping with reality; it's a story about a romantic triangle; and ... it's a comedy of sorts, absurd and often funny. This last I didn't expect, but it's a very good element for this movie to have, because otherwise it would be too unrelentingly horrifying and grim. For instance, I was grinning at Billy's two bodyguards waiting outside the Agora Club door - but the scenes that followed wiped the smile right off my face... Yet even then, Billy's absurd comment about the Greek salads made me blink, and gave a little relief. I think I will watch A Hole in One again pretty soon - and I'm sure I'll find that the shock value will have lessened and I'll find it even funnier.

Meat is just great in this movie! He plays Billy, a thug and a homicidal psychopath. Meat plays a menacing character very well - Billy is raise-the-hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck scary. And yet Billy is not a one-dimensional character. Someone told me (I don't have the original reference) that Meat had said in an interview that the character of Billy had "no redeeming qualities." Not redeeming, maybe, but Billy does have touching human qualities, at least the way Meat plays him. The scene where Billy discovers Anna with Tom is heartbreaking because Billy is so completely overcome with pain and grief that we the audience are in full sympathy with him, which is impressive because by this point in the movie, we are very, very certain we don't like Billy!! To me, this was Meat's Oscar-worthy moment.

And in another earlier scene in the kitchen, where Billy is telling Anna that he will help her if she really wants a lobotomy, Billy walks toward Anna. As he approaches her, rather than tower over her, he bends his knees a little so that he is on her level, and kisses her on the cheek. I thought this was touching, because it contrasts so with Billy's size and personal power, as well as the attitudes of that era. And of course the funny parts are right up Meat's alley (yes, Billy, your friend sure was better off before!

)

I strongly recommend this movie.
-Kathy

Pudding · 30 Dec 2005, 03:07

Is it on DVD ?

Pud

Kathy · 30 Dec 2005, 03:13

Yes, it was released on Tuesday.
-Kathy

Pudding · 30 Dec 2005, 03:57

I might have a look out for that at the video shop then.

Pud

**The Flying Mouse** · 30 Dec 2005, 04:01

Roll on the UK release

Jeanie · 30 Dec 2005, 05:13

You summed it up very well, Kathy, well said.

Jeanie, one of few people to see this film in the theatre, when it was screened at a Film Festival and have a ticket from the film, autographed by the man himself.

djfierce · 31 Dec 2005, 16:02

When do we get it here. Anyone know?

Kathy · 31 Dec 2005, 18:15

Amazon.co.uk has it - it's Region 1, NTSC.
-Kathy

Kathy · 31 Dec 2005, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanie

You summed it up very well, Kathy, well said.

Jeanie, one of few people to see this film in the theatre, when it was screened at a Film Festival and have a ticket from the film, autographed by the man himself.

Thanks Jeanie, I've been wanting to see it really bad ever since you did

- I didn't know about your autographed ticket! - how cool!!
-Kathy

Jeanie · 31 Dec 2005, 20:08

Yes, I got Meat to sign it, at the M&G we were at this yr, in NH, Kathy.

J.

djfierce · 01 Jan 2006, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy

Amazon.co.uk has it - it's Region 1, NTSC.
-Kathy

Thanks Kathy, will have a look

Eva · 12 Jan 2006, 10:44

I got it from www.amazon.com today

**Ankie** · 12 Jan 2006, 12:04

Thanks Eva!

Wow, Jeanie! Good on you!!

ChloeLee88 · 12 Jan 2006, 13:59

I have ordered a copy of this film...i should get it on the next couple of weeks. It looks great i cant wait. I got rustin at the same time too

))

Jeanie....the autographed ticket.....what a cool idea!!!!

Chloe

Jeanie · 12 Jan 2006, 19:13

Thanks Ankie & Chloe.

That's a wonderful pic of Meat on the back of the dvd.

Thanks for sharing it with us,Eva.

J.

Paul191 · 15 Jan 2006, 01:48

WOW! this film looks and sounds great. I'm gonna order it tommorrow when i get up. Thanks!

Kathy · 15 Jan 2006, 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul191

WOW! this film looks and sounds great. I'm gonna order it tommorrow when i get up. Thanks!

It really is great ... and for the faint-hearted (like me

) it's much easier and more fun to watch the 2nd time around! You notice things you didn't the first time.. It's really a good movie!!
-Kathy

MLFAN17 · 23 Jan 2006, 14:17

I live in the US East coast. I cant find this movie ANYWHERE! Not even for rent. Anybodh know of any stores where it might be o sale?

Kathy · 23 Jan 2006, 17:55

I got mine at Best Buy, and a friend in Delaware found it there, also. Good luck!
-Kathy

Jeanie · 24 Jan 2006, 05:43

Amazon.com has it as well, MLFAN17

J.

Elijah's way · 29 Jan 2006, 14:51

Ordered mine off deepdiscountdvd.com, free shipping!

30 Dec 2005, 03:01	#1
Kathy Super Loafer Join Date: 02.10.2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA Posts: 610	A Hole in One - review What a movie! I enjoyed it, although using that word sounds a little odd to my own ear. Certainly, it grabbed my attention right from the beginning and I was held riveted throughout. It's a hard movie to pigeonhole. It's educational (apparently they really did lobotomies like that!); it's a period piece (portrays the American 50's beautifully); it's a sort of fable about sanity vs. insanity, and about our personal responsibility for coping with reality; it's a story about a romantic triangle; and ... it's a comedy of sorts, absurd and often funny. This last I didn't expect, but it's a very good element for this movie to have, because otherwise it would be too unrelentingly horrifying and grim. For instance, I was grinning at Billy's two bodyguards waiting outside the Agora Club door - but the scenes that followed wiped the smile right off my face... Yet even then, Billy's absurd comment about the Greek salads made me blink, and gave a little relief. I think I will watch A Hole in One again pretty soon - and I'm sure I'll find that the shock value will have lessened and I'll find it even funnier. Meat is just great in this movie! He plays Billy, a thug and a homicidal psychopath. Meat plays a menacing character very well - Billy is raise-the-hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck scary. And yet Billy is not a one-dimensional character. Someone told me (I don't have the original reference) that Meat had said in an interview that the character of Billy had "no redeeming qualities." Not redeeming, maybe, but Billy does have touching human qualities, at least the way Meat plays him. The scene where Billy discovers Anna with Tom is heartbreaking because Billy is so completely overcome with pain and grief that we the audience are in full sympathy with him, which is impressive because by this point in the movie, we are very, very certain we don't like Billy!! To me, this was Meat's Oscar-worthy moment. And in another earlier scene in the kitchen, where Billy is telling Anna that he will help her if she really wants a lobotomy, Billy walks toward Anna. As he approaches her, rather than tower over her, he bends his knees a little so that he is on her level, and kisses her on the cheek. I thought this was touching, because it contrasts so with Billy's size and personal power, as well as the attitudes of that era. And of course the funny parts are right up Meat's alley (yes, Billy, your friend sure was better off before! ) I strongly recommend this movie. -Kathy

12 Jan 2006, 10:44	#12
Eva friend Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Posts: 1,788	I got it from www.amazon.com today Last edited by Eva; 12 Jan 2006 at 10:50.

30 Dec 2005, 03:07	#2
Pudding I'm A Prize Fight Lover... Join Date: 22.10.2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,532	Is it on DVD ? Pud

30 Dec 2005, 03:13	#3
Kathy Super Loafer Join Date: 02.10.2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA Posts: 610	Yes, it was released on Tuesday. -Kathy

30 Dec 2005, 03:57	#4
Pudding I'm A Prize Fight Lover... Join Date: 22.10.2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,532	I might have a look out for that at the video shop then. Pud

30 Dec 2005, 04:01	#5
The Flying Mouse Armed ba$tard and Jo's other half. Join Date: 06.08.2002 Location: In the middle of nowhere near the end of the line. Posts: 16,104	Roll on the UK release

30 Dec 2005, 05:13	#6
Jeanie Super Loafer Join Date: 09.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 996	You summed it up very well, Kathy, well said. Jeanie, one of few people to see this film in the theatre, when it was screened at a Film Festival and have a ticket from the film, autographed by the man himself.

31 Dec 2005, 16:02	#7
djfierce Mega Loafer Join Date: 15.06.2005 Location: Posts: 3,596	When do we get it here. Anyone know?

31 Dec 2005, 18:15	#8
Kathy Super Loafer Join Date: 02.10.2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA Posts: 610	Amazon.co.uk has it - it's Region 1, NTSC. -Kathy

31 Dec 2005, 20:08	#10
Jeanie Super Loafer Join Date: 09.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 996	Yes, I got Meat to sign it, at the M&G we were at this yr, in NH, Kathy. J.

12 Jan 2006, 12:04	#13
Ankie Office manager Join Date: 25.04.2002 Posts: 1,883	Thanks Eva! Wow, Jeanie! Good on you!!

12 Jan 2006, 13:59	#14
ChloeLee88 Super Loafer Join Date: 27.07.2005 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester Posts: 666	I have ordered a copy of this film...i should get it on the next couple of weeks. It looks great i cant wait. I got rustin at the same time too )) Jeanie....the autographed ticket.....what a cool idea!!!! Chloe

12 Jan 2006, 19:13	#15
Jeanie Super Loafer Join Date: 09.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 996	Thanks Ankie & Chloe. That's a wonderful pic of Meat on the back of the dvd. Thanks for sharing it with us,Eva. J.

15 Jan 2006, 01:48	#16
Paul191 Mega Loafer Join Date: 26.11.2005 Location: Posts: 1,530	WOW! this film looks and sounds great. I'm gonna order it tommorrow when i get up. Thanks!

23 Jan 2006, 14:17	#18
MLFAN17 Senior Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Va Posts: 110	I live in the US East coast. I cant find this movie ANYWHERE! Not even for rent. Anybodh know of any stores where it might be o sale?

23 Jan 2006, 17:55	#19
Kathy Super Loafer Join Date: 02.10.2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA Posts: 610	I got mine at Best Buy, and a friend in Delaware found it there, also. Good luck! -Kathy

24 Jan 2006, 05:43	#20
Jeanie Super Loafer Join Date: 09.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 996	Amazon.com has it as well, MLFAN17 J.

29 Jan 2006, 14:51	#21
Elijah's way Soul Auctioneer Join Date: 26.06.2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, AL Posts: 1,529	Ordered mine off deepdiscountdvd.com, free shipping!