RAT PACK, THE (DVD)

Chris Dudley must be a famous movie maker, that's why he knows so much more about making films than the people who made this piece of terrific entertainment. Why, this film doesn't "focus" on how each one of them became famous. It spends too much time on Sinatra, when really we all wanted to see more of Peter Lawford. At least Dudley knows how to spell "non-sequitur" but either he doesn't understand it or doesn't get why the lyrics to the song "I'm Gonna Live" perfectly presage the extracts from the life of its singer, Frank Sinatra, we're about to see.Dudley doesn't want a movie, he wanted a 10-hour mini-series.What we got was fun and exciting, with several scenes you will remember forever (at least I will), not just because it's like you're watching the real history we never knew at the time, but because they are well played and paced. For example, the scene in a nightclub with Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, Marilyn Monroe, Joe Dimaggio, and Jack and Bobby Kennedy sitting at a big table, with Judy Campbell (later to become Exner) sitting at a small table off to the side, with mobsters Johnny Roselli and Mickey Cohen over there, is extraordinary. The "High Hopes" number was great, and yes it did happen. The meeting between Joe Kennedy and Sinatra where the Kennedy clan patriarch directs Sinatra to ditch the blacklisted writer he had hired and to get his mob pals to help "win" the West Virginia primary is all the more powerful for being so brief. Frank's passionate argument with Ava showed how much two people who really love each other can hurt the other. How much more can you reasonably ask from a 2 hour TV movie, or indeed from any movie?I didn't see this until just the other day and I damn near stayed up all night just to watch it, and it takes something arresting to grab my attention and keep it that late at night when I really had no intention of seeing the sun come up.

The title of this movie – “The Rat Pack: They Never Let Business Get in the Way of Having Fun” – is a little misleading. There is a good bit of the fun and shtick that the Rat Pack was known for, but the script is actually more serious. It dwells a lot on Sinatra’s relationship with the Kennedy’s and how that relationship affected the dynamics within the Rat Pack. For me, that part of the movie was more intriguing and could have been the main focus from the get-go. The Pack’s involvement with political change, race issues, the mob, Hollywood, and maintaining loyalties throughout all the changes would have been enough to carry a movie.The parts of the movie that included musical performances fell flat for me. I could barely accept Ray Liotta as Sinatra, and whoever was trying to sing like Sinatra was not convincing. Joe Mantegna was not a good pick for Dean Martin; he doesn’t look, talk, nor sing like Dean. Sammy Davis, Jr. was played by Don Cheadle, who is a great actor and delivered a fine performance, for what it was, but lacked the idiosyncrasies that made Sammy – his laugh, his gate, the way he sang, etc. The actors playing Lawford and Bishop were better castings. When making music bio-pics I always wonder why film producers don’t look at established impersonators. Vegas, for example, is full of them and they’re making a living at it because they look and sound like the person they’re imitating. Just a thought . . .If you can get past the casting, the music performances, and the change of mood as the movie progresses, it’s worth watching – especially for the second half. Fans of the Rat Pack should also enjoy the well-made Sinatra bio-pic, “Sinatra: the True Story of the Man and the Legend.” It’s a longer project and focuses solely on Sinatra, but many of the same events from “The Rat Pack” are portrayed.

Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr - absolute perfection in the role! It really grabs you, and does not let go. Joe Mantegna does an excellent job as portraying Dean Martin as well. Ray Liotta does as good of a job as any one could have as Frank Sinatra. And he deserves credit for having the courage to even take on the role! It isn't a stellar performance on Ray Liotta's part, but when you bring Liotta, Cheadle and Mantegna together - you forget all about Liotta's shortcomings. And honestly, no one could have pulled off Frank, other than.. Frank. (Nothing near the catastrophe of Jennifer Love Hewitt as Audrey Hepburn!) I enjoyed the movie very much! Especially the performances in Vegas! I laughed so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks. It is too bad it was only 2 hours, these actors together could have pulled off a riveting series. I took away a star due to Barbara Niven's performance as Marilyn Monroe. Where she did catch Marilyn's dark and cynical side, she had none of Marilyn's softness or sensuality - to a distraction. Luckily she has a very small role in this film. Had her part been any larger, I might not have finished watching the film. Which would have been a huge discredit to the amazing performances of the other actors.

The Rat Pack is a movie about the love of glory and success, and the deceptions and pain that comes with it.It tells the story of the Rat Pack, their success and problems in life and on the stage, the Untouchable Frank Sinatra and his climb to power through the mob and his political connection with The Kennedy's, his persistence and loyalty to his friends, his love to Eva Gardner and his deceptions in life.A great entertaining movie with some good true history; perfect acting, with great sceneries from the 50' and the 60's not to mention the beautiful costumes and cars of that period.The quality of the DVD is also perfect; no extra features unfortunately.Recommended.Note: After I watched this movie, I got involved in all Sinatra's music which I never was. Great music with a great voice.

I had no idea this movie existed until recently. Great stuff.Good characterisations; you forget they're not the real people after a while.

Good

Waited quite a while for this to arrive. When I received it the DVD needed settings placed as it was a USA film and not suitable for British regions or your typical DVD players!!!! It needed to be placed into the settings so the tape could be played on a British or a normal DVD.Guess what. It didn't work. I took it to my local DVD shop to see if they could correct the USA setting into a UK setting area....even the shop said it was faulty.I contacted the company, who intact said basically that the USA DVD only works on a certain DVD player in the UK.Great I thinks!!!!! Why then doesn't this get mentioned on the add? If this had been mentioned 'buying a DVD from USA sometimes causes a problem with a USA film on a British DVD player, then I wouldn't of bothere'd buying it.I cant rate the DVD as haven't watched it. No sign of a replacement or my refund from the company.

The movie isnt extremely exciting, but it does show a little about who the rat pack were, and it is culturally relevant history

Great film. Great cast.