Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina Directed By: Richard Donner Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 01, 2004 Running Time: 127 minutes Theatrical Release Date: May 20, 1994
Product Description: This fun-filled western romp about a charming con-man is based on the classic tv series. Features scene access and production notes. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/07/2005 Starring: Mel Gibson Jodie Foster Run time: 127 minutes Rating: Pg
Amazon.com essential video: Inspired by the 1960s TV series that starred James Garner in the title role, this lightweight Western from 1994 proved to be a surprising box-office hit. Well, maybe not such a big surprise, since it's from the star and director of the Lethal Weapon movies, and operates with a similar combination of mainstream plotting and easygoing humor. Mel Gibson stars as card-playing gunslinger Brett Maverick, who meets up with wily gambler Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster) and a marshal named Zane Cooper (James Garner, trading his old role to Gibson) on his way to the World Series of poker in St. Louis. Maverick's trying to raise the $5,000 needed to join the high-stakes contest, but that's easier said than done due to a lot of unscrupulous competition and a twisting plot of tricks and deceptions. It's all played for laughs and action, so the movie never wears out its welcome, despite a running time that could've used a good trimming. It's also fun to see the rapport between Gibson and Garner, as if the present and former Mavericks were a kind of surrogate son and father, bonded by their mutual skill in charming and conning their way through tight spots. Director Richard Donner also pays tribute to old Westerns by casting veterans of the genre in cameo roles (including Bert Remsen, Dub Taylor, and Denver Pyle), and Gibson's Lethal Weapon costar Danny Glover pops in for a surprise appearance. None of this really adds up to much since the movie makes no pretense about taking itself seriously, but that's precisely why audiences found it so entertaining. --Jeff Shannon
Burt. . .no, Bart. . ., no, Bret! If you've had a rough day, slip the 1994 version of MAVERICK into your DVD player, and sit back for two hours of smiles and thigh-slappin' fun. Mel Gibson and Richard Donner got along so well on the LETHAL WEAPON movies that they teamed up again on this sideways take on the Western. The script, courtesy of one of Hollywood's best, William Goldman (BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, MARATHON MAN), takes off from the original 1957-60 TV series and drops Bret Maverick into the Biggest Poker Game In The West, to the tune of a $25,000 buy-in. Mel's easy charm and penchant for practical jokes works well for Bret, so the role fits him like a comfortable shoe. The original Maverick, the wonderful James Garner, comes in as Marshal Zane Cooper, who is part of the Game to protect the money from underhandedness. Of course there is lots and lots of underhandedness. The third part of this triangle is double Oscar-winner Jodie Foster, taking a refreshing break from drama to essay the delicious Annabelle Bransford, whose floating Southernish drawl attracts both Bret and Coop. Strong support is provided by Graham Greene as Bret's Native American friend Joseph, who loves a good con just as much as Bret, the late James Coburn (what a great voice!) as Commodore Duvall, organizer of the Big Game, and future Doc Ock Alfred Molina as Angel, the main Villain of the film.
MAVERICK is all froth, designed to go down as easy as a good dark German beer. Donner hired pretty much every Western character actor still in the business, so you will have a lot of fun spotting cameos by Dub Taylor, Geoffrey Lewis, Paul L. Smith, Dan Hedaya, Will Hutchins (SUAGRFOOT), Doug McClure, Denver Pyle (watch the hat!), Henry Darrow, William Smith, James Drury (I used to watch THE VIRGINIAN every week), Paul Brinegar (Raw-hiiiiiiide!), the regal William Marshall, Robert Fuller and Bill Henderson. Also keep an eye out for Michael Paul Chan, John Fogerty (yes, really!), Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings and Kathy Mattea as a husband and wife who can't decide who owns the gun, Vince Gill, Carlene Carter, Clint Black (one, two, THREE!), and a certain gentleman whose unmistakable voice betrays his identity to Bret during a bank robbery. Oh, yes: don't forget Margot Kidder as Margret Mary. Or is it Mary Margret?
Randy Newman provided the classic Western score, with his own idiosyncratic flourishes. Not quite as memorable as THE NATURAL or TOY STORY, but very Randy. The score is augumented with a passel o' tunes by Clint Black, Carlene Carter, Waylon Jennings and other sidewindin' bushwhackers. The beautiful cinematography is by Vilmos Zsigmond (Oscar winner for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND).
Lots of action, lots of gunplay (heavy accent on the "play"), lots of great lines delivered by actors having a great time. Not surprisingly, MAVERICK was a big hit in the Summer of 1994.
Warners has issued MAVERICK as a bare-bones DVD, with Pan and Scan on one side of the disc and 2:35 to 1 Widescreen on the other. The transfer to digital is bright and clear, best seen on a big-screen TV, and the sound is great, nice and sharp, with balanced bass and midrange. No trailer, but there is a section called "Gallery", with cast and crew information and bios, background information on the making of the film, and a few other tidbits.
It would have been nice to get a commentary track for MAVERICK, as Donner and Gibson would have been a hoot. As it is, this is still a keeper for your DVD library.
And since they left it open, where's the sequel?
Jodi Foster is hot!!! Just look at this cover and tell me that Jodi Foster is not hot. If you said she is not hot, you are a liar and blind!!!
Buy this movie and have a Jodi Foster night with it.
overrated Obviously my tastes are not mainstream, cause I really didn't like this movie. For the PG rating, I didn't appreciate all the swearing and the slurpy kisses/seduction between Foster and Gibson. IT had its funny moments, the Indian scenes especially, and an amazing cast of cameos. But it was just too Hollywood for me and the language really got in the way for me.
Spectacular Maverick as Western based action comedy is simply excellent. Its starcast also adds to the success of the hollywood blockbuster. The movie is so realistically filmed that it at times doesn't seem like a 90's movie at all. It looks exactly like the movies The Good, the bad and the ugly and Fistfull of Dollars only even better. The animatronic rattle snakes used in the movie look completely realistic and life like. However, there are a few draw backs few of them can be noted. One is the make up for Alfred Molina. He does not look anything like himself. I agree that he is the bad guy but please not that bad. And Jodie Foster's making her escape with the money is completely inappropriate. Now that both of them play theives instead of outwitting each other their characters should team up.
Just Plain Fun! ...this movie is just plain fun. The characters are great and it was wonderful to see all the old actors/singers again who take part in the poker game on the ship. Pop some corn, pull out the blankets, and enjoy.
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