Stolen Summer | | Cast : | Kevin Pollak, Amara Balthrop-Lewis | | Director : | Pete Jones | | Studio : | Buena Vista Home Vid | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | January 01, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | May 03, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | March 21, 2005 | | Summary | A surprisingly good movie | Content
 | Surprising because its inherent gentleness has been overshadowed by the harsh realities of producing it. It would be better to see this movie first, THEN watch the Project Greenlight series, because the backstabbing, budgetary problems and logistical nightmares would come as a surprise, not as a dark cloud that hangs over an otherwise first-rate effort. (It seems Miramax made a an enormous error holding the release of the movie up until well after the series had aired. It should have been released at the end of the series, as the vastly inferior "Battle of Shaker Heights" was.)
There is nothing slick or Hollywood about this film, which helps the viewer focus on the story of a youngster's quest to do good and to help his dying friend get to Heaven. Kevin Pollack and Aiden Quinn give great performances, Quinn as an angry, edgy fireman and Pollack as a Rabbi dealing with more than his share of adversity. Pete Biagi's cinematography is straightforward but stylish, and Pete Jones turns in a great effort with this, his first film. It should be judged on its own merits, not as a coda to the Chris Moore/Jeff Balis/Pat Peach inter-personal dynamics that raged around it. |
| Rating | | | Date | October 04, 2004 | | Summary | Stolen Summer | Content
| This is my most favorite movie in the world. We should all have such a quest. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 25, 2004 | | Summary | Mike Weinberg is worth watching! | Content
| This movie may not have gotten the best reviews, but it's still a wonderfully touching story, and worth a look if only for little Mike Weinberg's [Danny] performance. His actions and expressions are priceless. Young Mr. Weinberg alone is worth the price of this hidden gem! |
| Rating | | | Date | May 09, 2004 | | Summary | GENTLE, WELL-MEANING TALE WITH A LAID BACK PACE. | Content
| I chanced upon this movie on cable, but Stolen Summer isn't the kind of film that gets made too often nowadays -- light and cute, but balanced with a touching serious side that carries universal messages about religion, God, love, family, growing up. The director's style is of the point-and-shoot variety, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as over-the-top visual flourishes likely would've taken our attention away from the ample dialogue. The script contains a good amount of surprises, and the character development is quite caringly done. A word for the acting. Though the characters get gritty on occasion, the film is paced very well. Some protagonists are young (kids) but their work is impressively natural. Bonnie Hunt in particular should have merited more screen time, she works a taut but tender magic as a straight-talking mother. If you care for meaningful cinema, I think this would make for a very worthwhile rental. |
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