PITTSBURGH - PITTSBURGH

• Specifications
• Product Reviews
• Similar Products
• ANTOnline Reviews

Product Description

Jeff Goldblum stars in Pittsburgh, a fly-on-the-wall comedy in which the Jurassic Park and Independence Day actor plays himself taking a career hit by playing Harold Hill in a regional theatre production of The Music Man. Despite the pleas of his agent to take a plum part in a new Michael Bay sci-fi epic, Goldblum locks himself into a two-week stint in his hometown of Pittsburgh in order to help his fiancée, actress Catherine Wreford (also playing herself)--cast in the musical as Hill's love interest, Marian--get a green card. The very idea of Goldblum taking on the larger-than-life role of con man Hill is hilarious, and he gamely plays up his absolute unsuitability for the job. While Golblum's anxiety goes up and up over botched rehearsals, other people in his life--especially good friend Ed Begley Jr. and Illeana Douglas--draw him into their own problems (Begley with a failed solar-power machine and Douglas with her ill-fated romance with Moby). Co-directed by Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache (Illeanarama), Pittsburgh is a remarkably energetic movie in which Goldblum appears to be working harder than he ever has before on screen, dancing and singing and throwing himself into a series of demanding scenes that often last no more than a few seconds. This is well worth a visit for fans of Goldblum or anyone who enjoyed the likes of Waiting for Guffman. --Tom Keogh

• Actors: Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Illeana Douglas, Moby, Alanis Morissette
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Language (Original Language): English
• Release Date: 2007-09-18
• Running Time: 84 minutes
• Theatrical Release Date: 2006

Customer Reviews

Reviewed on 2008-03-01 Magnificent, Thoroughly Enjoyable Movie, From Beginning To End This is a thoroughly enjoyable movie that shows the deep humanity of Jeff Goldblum and how he is such a genuine human being, going through the difficulties of a commitment he made for love. You see him facing incredible odds as he tries to make his role in "The Music Man" workable. You can see his fear that he may be in the process of damaging his career. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my mind, this movie cements Jeff Goldblum as someone whose entire career and very essence I admire. He's just a good guy. Not a negative could be said about him and I would even show that some of the stereotypes of him from the past were turned on their heads in this appearance. I watched this movie right through to the end and though I was elated with his triumph, I didn't want it to end. One final note: when I heard Jeff say he had been thinking of retiring from acting, I felt a huge sense of alarm. Please, Mr. Goldblum. You're only 51. You look fantastic. Please keep working. You are a Movie Star.

Reviewed on 2008-02-08 Energetic,winning with a capital P,which stands for "Pittsburgh" The highlights of every Summer Season in Pittsburgh,Pa.are the two week runs of The Pittsburgh Light Opera Company's productions of various famous musicals.The gorgeous restored 2000+seat Benendum Theater hosts these shows every season.This is regional theater and it is good.In steps famous actor Jeff Goldblum,a native of Pittsburgh, who takes on a two-week run In Meredith Wilson's iconoclastic "The Music Man." Can he do it? He works hard. The director doesn't believe in him. Does Jeff believe in himself, like the fast-talking Harold Hill that he must portray? "Pittsburgh" is one energetic and sharply edited semi-"mock/doc" that follows actor Jeff Goldblum back to his native Pittsburgh to discover that acting in "The Music Man" is perhaps harder than his work in The Fly (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), Jurassic Park (Widescreen Collector's Edition), The Big Chill or Independence Day. This film is one big stitch,and Jeff Goldblum is so infectious and adorably innocent that I smiled from ear to ear for all 90 minutes of this semi-spoof of an actor returning to his "humble origins."( I have been up to Pittsburgh for these productions and they are good regional shows that act as "Summer Stock" for named actors!...and the theater is bigger than 99% of NYC "houses!") This film is not like the Christopher Guest mockumentaries.It stands on it's own as an hilarious look at the fear that a great one experiences when he has to act in front of his home town.July 13th becomes "Jeff Goldblum Day." Goldblum is amazing in this film! I met Mr.Goldblum when he was acting in "The Pillowman" on Broadway in 2005.He is a marvelous stage presence and has numerous Broadway stints to his credit.Unfortunately,people that only know him from film think that stage acting is beyond his ken.THIS is what "Pittsburgh" spoofs. Goldblum taps and twizzles his way to the last row of The Benendum and the audience goes wild.The "Hometown Boy" has come home!4 and 1/2 stars!

Reviewed on 2008-01-29 Boring I saw this at a film fesival where they screened the movie for free. Half way through people began walking out due to boredom. By the time the movie was done, maybe one quarter of the original audience was still there.

Reviewed on 2007-12-28 Great quirky comedy I have to say, I'm disappointed by the lukewarm reviews of this film. I really liked it! Okay, so it's no "Waiting for Guffman", but it's a heck of a lot better than Christopher Guest's last movie. In fact, it's one of the more enjoyable comedies I've seen in a while. I'm amazed at how thoroughly Jeff Goldblum owns this film. His goofy, winning personality shines throughout and is a pleasure to watch. He (or at least the version of himself in the film) is the kind of guy I'd like to have as a best friend - his quirky behavior is totally endearing. The other actors are great too, especially Illeana Douglas. I guess I can see why Pittsburgh isn't for everyone. It's a subtle humor, relying more on personality quirks than jokes, and there aren't that many laugh-out-loud moments. But I really enjoyed it and even decided to buy the DVD. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend renting it if you're a fan of Guest's films or of sweet, silly comedies.

Reviewed on 2007-11-11 Light-hearted and Enjoyable I thought Pittsburgh was enjoyable and had plenty of laughable moments. The reactions of people to Goldblum's decision to actually audition for the lead part in a regional play are really funny. His agent acts as if Goldblum is committing career suicide, and the Director's comments to Goldblum are not what you would expect. But it is all for love. The interactions with Ed Begley and Illeana Douglas, along with Moby, are also funny. I don't know how much of this is real v. make-believe, but it is funny. The film is short and you see it as a fly on the wall, so you should not expect more than what it is.

Similar Products

PRIVATE EYES (DVD) $23.05 Don Knotts and Tim Conway star in The Private Eyes , a 1980 comedy about two bumbling detectives solving a murder. It's an impressively incompetent affair. Every ancient joke falls with a muffled thu...

DIFFERENT STROKES-COMPLETE 1ST SEASON (DVD/3 DISC/P&S 1.33/MONO) $23.57 More than just a ratings hit for NBC, the Norman Lear/Bud Yorkin-produced Diff'rent Strokes was a pop-culture phenomenon, thanks largely to the wise-beyond-his-years performance of star Gary Coleman....

MR WONDERFUL (DVD/ST&WS/SCENE ACCESS/INTERACTIVE) $5.71 Romantic comedy centering around a New York con edison worker who gets an unexpected second chance at first love. Actors: Matt Dillon, Annabella Sciorra, Mary-Louise Parker, William Hurt, Vincent D'O...