| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Obsessed
Warner Bros. // Unrated // September 7, 2004
List Price: $19.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
THE MOVIE
I know there have to be lots of guys like me who think that the idea of being stalked by someone as beautiful as Jenna Elfman wouldn't be such a bad thing at all. But all kidding aside, what if something like this did happen to you...and you were happily married – with a family and a successful career to boot?
That's the idea behind Lifetime TV's Obsessed, which stands out among most of the other Lifetime movies I have seen (okay, honestly the list isn't that long!) in that in most other made-for-TV films it would be the man doing the stalking instead of the woman.
But what makes Obsessed an enjoyable watch is that the viewer is never quite sure which side is telling the truth. Elfman plays Ellena Roberts, a woman whom we see arrested for harassment during the very first scene of the movie. But as she relays her tale to her lawyer (played by Kate Burton), Ellena claims that it was the man who scorned her, rather than vice versa.
Ellena tells the story (which we see in flashbacks) of how she met Dr. David Stillman (Sam Robards), and how they fell in love and began a relationship together – which ended with Stillman calling it off because he didn't want to risk losing his family and career status in a drawn-out divorce. On the other hand, Stillman's story is quite different (which we also see in flashbacks). He claims that he and Ellena only met once – for dinner – and that was for a job interview, rather than any interest he had in her.
Obsessed is apparently based on a true story, and the only failing the movie has is that it gives the viewer a clear-cut resolution at the end as to who is telling the truth and who is lying. A more interesting film would have left the real truth as something more ambiguous. Still, the movie is fun while it lasts – and Elfman is particularly enjoyable to watch in this role as she plays the range from innocent victim to sexy lover to manipulative siren to...well...downright unhinged.
THE DVD
Video:
The movie is presented in the full-frame format, which is it's original presentation ratio. Surprisingly, the quality of the picture isn't that great at all – and there's a lot of grain in the look of the film, and a few hints of dirt on the print as well.
Audio:
The audio is presented in 2.0 Dolby, and is adequate enough for this movie.
Extras:
Usually these types of releases don't come with any bonus material whatsoever, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a 7-minute Behind The Scenes featurette on the making of the movie, which includes interview segments with stars Jenna Elfman and Sam Robards, plus some comments from director John Badham.
THE BOTTOM LINE
For a made-for-TV movie (especially one made for the Lifetime Network!), Obsessed turns out to be pretty entertaining. Elfman gives a nice performance and she alone may be the best reason for giving this film a look. It's probably not worth adding to your collection since the replay value isn't particularly high, but it's definitely worth a rental.
I know there have to be lots of guys like me who think that the idea of being stalked by someone as beautiful as Jenna Elfman wouldn't be such a bad thing at all. But all kidding aside, what if something like this did happen to you...and you were happily married – with a family and a successful career to boot?
That's the idea behind Lifetime TV's Obsessed, which stands out among most of the other Lifetime movies I have seen (okay, honestly the list isn't that long!) in that in most other made-for-TV films it would be the man doing the stalking instead of the woman.
But what makes Obsessed an enjoyable watch is that the viewer is never quite sure which side is telling the truth. Elfman plays Ellena Roberts, a woman whom we see arrested for harassment during the very first scene of the movie. But as she relays her tale to her lawyer (played by Kate Burton), Ellena claims that it was the man who scorned her, rather than vice versa.
Ellena tells the story (which we see in flashbacks) of how she met Dr. David Stillman (Sam Robards), and how they fell in love and began a relationship together – which ended with Stillman calling it off because he didn't want to risk losing his family and career status in a drawn-out divorce. On the other hand, Stillman's story is quite different (which we also see in flashbacks). He claims that he and Ellena only met once – for dinner – and that was for a job interview, rather than any interest he had in her.
Obsessed is apparently based on a true story, and the only failing the movie has is that it gives the viewer a clear-cut resolution at the end as to who is telling the truth and who is lying. A more interesting film would have left the real truth as something more ambiguous. Still, the movie is fun while it lasts – and Elfman is particularly enjoyable to watch in this role as she plays the range from innocent victim to sexy lover to manipulative siren to...well...downright unhinged.
THE DVD
Video:
The movie is presented in the full-frame format, which is it's original presentation ratio. Surprisingly, the quality of the picture isn't that great at all – and there's a lot of grain in the look of the film, and a few hints of dirt on the print as well.
Audio:
The audio is presented in 2.0 Dolby, and is adequate enough for this movie.
Extras:
Usually these types of releases don't come with any bonus material whatsoever, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a 7-minute Behind The Scenes featurette on the making of the movie, which includes interview segments with stars Jenna Elfman and Sam Robards, plus some comments from director John Badham.
THE BOTTOM LINE
For a made-for-TV movie (especially one made for the Lifetime Network!), Obsessed turns out to be pretty entertaining. Elfman gives a nice performance and she alone may be the best reason for giving this film a look. It's probably not worth adding to your collection since the replay value isn't particularly high, but it's definitely worth a rental.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||