Search - Sabrina 1995 (Chk) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 8/6/2023...

Harrison Ford in a much different role and light but he played his character well. The Sabrina older actress was a bit miscast she eventually started to fit into the plotline. Lots of stars you know in this, enjoy the ride! A must watch!

What's wrong with you people?

Robert T. L. Chang | Sunnyvale, CA, USA | 12/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't care what anyone says; there's no need to compare 1995's SABRINA to the Audrey Hepburn classic. This one, in my opinion, is far superior than the original. By default, film as an artform has evolved and matured far beyond where it was almost half a century ago. Unless the original was of undebatable achievement in every aspect, from technical to artistic(which the original SABRINA wasn't), the remake will usually be more refined due to the natural evolution of film making technique and sensibility. Side by side, the 1995 SABRINA is more clever in dialogue, plot, and filming. Let's not even get into how the Hepburn version is better simply because it's OLD, or a legendary actress was in it; who's to say 1995's SABRINA won't become a classic and Julia Ormond won't become a legendary actress? (Well, I think all Julia fans would agree that she's ALREADY legendary, from her debut, and throughout every single effort she's made.)On top of that, Harrison and Greg made much more charming and convincing Linus and David than the original cast. Another touch that made it better was changing Sabrina's Paris trip to becoming a photgrapher instead of a cook. It gave her so much more confidence and validated her as an individual who's accomplished in artistic achievement and sensitivity(which matched her sentimental personality far better). It was also a great move to have Linus truely be the head of the family by taking out the father. That way, Linus became even more of a figure to be intimidated by, and the weight on his shoulders seemed that much heavier. The original SABRINA didn't do a very good job at convincing us why Linus should fall in love with Sabrina. The 1995 version did a great job showing us how Sabrina managed to melt Linus's icy exterior by being sensitive, understanding, encouraging, and challenging to him. What can I say? I love 1995's version. If you havn't seen it, please give it a try. You will be delighted."

More than just a romantic comedy...

Dennis Littrell | 09/25/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This remake of the 1954 Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart adds its own wonderful twist on a classic. Harrison Ford is Linus Larrabee, the eldest son of the Larrabee family who took over the reigns for his father and turned the multi-million dollar family business into some "serious cash." Greg Kinnear makes his onscreen debut and makes the younger brother, David, into a lovable hopeless lover. Sabrina, played by the incandescent Julia Ormond, admires David from afar, and is the daughter of the family's chaffeur. After a trip to Paris turns Sabrina into a stunning beauty, David finds it hard to keep his attentions on his lovely fíance, Elizabeth Tyson (Lauren Holly). Linus proceeds to court Sabrina for what seems to be "business purposes", but is he really hinding his feelings for the beautiful Sabrina? Nancy Marchand plays as Maude Larrabee, David's and Linus's mother, and has some real gems for lines, adding to the devilishly clever sarcasm that makes this movie absolutely hilarious. Definitely one of the best movies I know of."

Enjoyable, more meaningful/romantic version than original

H. Katz | 01/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you look through the reviews for this version and those for the old B&W, you'll see that there is a little debate going on about which is better. Really, both films have their merits. The original was cute and unpretentious, presenting a fragile Audrey Hepburn in some fashionable clothing (including that absurd gown she dragged through the tennis court scene). But this recent version has the benefit of having a much more appealing hero. Harrison Ford, though he is awkward in romantic roles, is still a far better choice than the clumsy and unattractive Humphrey Bogart. Ford plays the lead, Linus Larrabee, the oldest of two brothers and the responsible (even greedy) one. Greg Kinnear gives a brilliant performance as the younger brother, David, a playboy with only women on his mind. Caught between the two is Sabrina, even more brilliantly played by Julia Ormond. Unlike Hepburn, who presented a shy and awkward Sabrina, Ormond plays the role with not just shyness or insecurity, but an underlying gentleness that fleshes out the character, making her very real and very appealing. Each scene, she delivers just the right amount of insecurity combined with the right amount of emotion, and each line is delivered perfectly. Yet you are never aware that she is acting. The interactions between Kinnear and Ormond have tremendous "chemistry", more so than those she has with Ford. But between Julia and Greg, or rather their characters, there is so much honesty and quite frankly such superb acting that what you are witnessing is not some celebrity actors playing themselves playing a role, but two true actors who make it all look natural. (I know, something Hollywood typically doesn't appreciate.) Their scenes bring a passion and a reality to the film that is rather inspiring -- I'd like to see these two paired again, this time as the lovers and not those who end up "just friends". The storyline is played gently, more for comedy than drama. This film owes a lot to its predecessor, but I have to vote that this is the better, more charming, more emotional and more natural version. The cast of supporting characters is marvelous and expert, including Nancy Marchand as the Larrabee matriarch, John Wood as Sabrina's sensible father, Angie Dickinson and Richard Crenna as the Tysons of Tyson Electronics and a billion dollar merger if David marries their daughter, a physician played by Lauren Holly. Dana Ivey is Mack, Linus' secretary, who has all the funny lines ("We were up to our arms in your underwear drawer. It was like touching the Shroud of Turin.")All the supporting cast do a wonderful job of, well, supporting the stars. The pace never lags, the fun and the drama don't stop. The DVD version has excellent sound and color picture. This is a good investment if you want to see a film that is adult, gently dramatic, clever, and pure pleasure."