It's comforting to know that 17 years hasn't much changed Francis Coppola's (minus the Ford for this film) circa 1928 period piece intertwining the stories of jazz clarinetist Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere), who's recruited as a babysitter for Dutch Schultz's (James Remar) sideline squeeze (Diane Lane); Dixie's wannabe gangster brother Vincent (Nicolas Cage); Owney Madden (Bob Hoskins), whose Cotton Club is the scene for much of the film's action; and aspiring tap dancer Sandman Williams (Gregory Hines). After the credits roll--both in 1984 and now--it's not the baffling character motivation or jumpy storylines that stick with you, but the incredible show numbers, and Hines' (joined by his brother Maurice) tap dancing. The widescreen transfer looks pretty good for being nearly two decades old, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio gives real oomph to the hoppin' soundtrack. Released with virtually no extras, this lower-priced DVD is still a strong optional purchase that will be appreciated by Coppola fans and dance aficionados. (R. Pitman)
The Cotton Club
MGM, 129 min., R, DVD: $19.98 Volume 16, Issue 6
The Cotton Club
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