Tin
Men on DVD
Danny Devito and Richard Dreyfuss are at each other's throats in Barry
Levinson's period piece.
Set in Baltimore in the early 1960's, both protagonists are "tin
men," commission aluminum siding salesmen for competing companies.
They have a lot in common, from the sleazy scams they use to sell their
siding to the Cadillacs they drive to ensure they impart the proper image.
Neither of them knows the other until 'BB' Babowsky (Dreyfuss) backs
his brand new Caddy out of the dealership right into the path of the oncoming
Caddy of Ernest Tilley (DeVito). The resulting collision puts them at
odds with each other and sets off a war of one upmanship between them
that threatens to escalate into something ridiculous.
To get the ultimate payback, BB seduces Tilley's wife (Barbara Hershey)
- but much to his chagrin this lifelong bachelor discovers he's fallen
for her. Perhaps worse still, Tilley doesn't care; he's just as happy
getting rid of Nora anyway - and it also means he gets the last laugh
on BB because losing his wife isn't the mortal blow to his psyche his
nemesis had expected.
It's a bittersweet comedy, more of an affectionate look at life in the
era portrayed, with remarkable dialogue that comes from writer-director
Barry Levinson's ear for people and the way they talk. For example, though
it has nothing really to do with the story, there's a running discussion
between one of the tin men gangs about why four men live together with
no women in the old TV series Bonanza. It's just the kind of conversational
stuff a bunch of work buddies might talk about.
That doesn't mean there are no laughs; there are, but rather than this
being a real yukfest it balances and blends humor with real human emotions,
and it does it very well.
Dreyfuss and Devito give their usual good and believable performances,
as does Hershey. They're joined by a great supporting group of character
actors including Jackie Gayle, Bruno Kirby, John Mahoney, and J.T. Walsh.
The DVD isn't spectacular, but there's nothing really wrong with it.
It's presented in anamorphic widescreen (16x9 TV compatible), and the
picture quality is very good. It's a bit soft, but that actually helps
make it look more like a piece shot during the period of the story, rather
than a modern movie set in the past.
The audio, which is Dolby Digital surround, is good, though there isn't
a lot of surround in evidence.
Unlike other recent Buena Vista DVD's, like Dick Tracy for example, Tin
Men includes some good extras. First, there's a running commentary given
by writer/director Levinson, stars Dreyfuss, DeVito, Hershey as well as
other cast and crew members. You also get a deleted scene, introduced
by Levinson himself.
Don't look for Tin Man to be a screwball laugh a minute comedy - but
if you're into a film that recreates believably a bygone era, and populates
it with believable characters you can like and humorous and interesting
situations, Tin Man might be worth a view in your home theater.
Tin Men, from Buena Vista Home Entertainment
108 min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 TV compatible, Dolby Digital
surround
Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito, Barbara Hershey
Produced by Mark Johnson,
Written and Directed by Barry Levinson
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