Birthday Girl (US)

7 / 10
2 votes cast
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Somebody`s In For A Big Surprise
Certificate: R
Running Time: 90 mins
Retail Price: $29.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
The irresistible Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, The Others) powers a sexy thriller where appearances can be deceiving and nothing ends as expected! A lonely and repressed bank employee, John Buckingham (Ben Chaplin - Murder By Numbers, The Thin Red Line) desperately want to meet the right girl. Then through a Russian mail-order bride service, he is introduced to Nadia (Kidman), a quiet and attractive woman who doesn`t speak English. After several sensual encounters, John`s fondess for Nadia grows…until the sudden arrival of Nadia`s two gregarious cousins makes John realize that he`s in over his head! Acclaimed by critics everywhere, this unpredictably entertaining hit will keep you guesssing as it keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Special Features:
Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
"Somethin` Stupid" Music Video

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1 French

Subtitle Tracks:
Spanish
CC: English

Directed By:
Jez Butterworth

Written By:
Jez Butterworth
Tom Butterworth

Starring:
Kate Lynn Evans
Mathieu Kassovitz
Vincent Cassel
Ben Chaplin
Nicole Kidman

Casting By:
Jina Jay

Soundtrack By:
Stephen Warbeck

Director of Photography:
Oliver Stapleton

Costume Designer:
Phoebe De Gaye

Production Designer:
Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski

Producer:
Vicki Popplewell
Diana Phillips
Donna Grey
Steve Butterworth
Eric Abraham

Executive Producer:
Paul Webster
Rick Schwartz
Sydney Pollack
Colin Leventhal
Julie Goldstein

Distributor:
Buena Vista

Your Opinions and Comments

6 / 10

First, I thought this movie is a thriller. Then I thought it`s a drama. Later, I thought it was a romantic drama. Later on, I thought it was a comedy. Finally, I realized it`s nothing other than a black comedy, and not a good one, too.
The video transfer is good. There are no compression signs to be seen and the colors are nicely (yet not overly) saturated.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is a bit flat. There`s almost no usage of the surrounds.
Note that the dialog includes a lot of Russian, which might not satisfy your ear. Personally, I`d rather listen to fingernails scratching a blackboard.
The menus are still with music.
The extras include a very short behind the scenes look and a music video.
Bottom line - a very average movie, which is not really enjoyable, and an ok disc. Rent if you`re a die-hard Kidman fan. Otherwise - skip it.

posted by Zvi Josef on 4/12/2002 16:15