[.ca] The Eyes of Laura Mars (Widescreen/Full Screen) (ISBN 0767821610)

The movie is as exotic as the name:
Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is an artist with a unique vision. She stages crime scenes for her unique photography. She has quit an imagination. Or does she? Visiting her gallery is John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) a police authority. He recognizes her pictures as unpublished actual crimes. We must get to the bottom of this. And of course as with all mysteries it is the last person you would suspect. (Sure) John Neville, whispering "It's terrifying." Laura, "Yes." John Neville:, whispering "It's beautiful." Laura, "Yes."

I SEE YOU:
Only in the seventies could a glossy, overblown film like this be so good. And it is..in spite of its excesses. Faye Dunaway, fresh from her Oscar turn in NETWORK, plays Laura Mars, a fashion photographer specializing in grotesque murder images. She also can "see" the murderer of several of her models while he or she is committing the foul deeds. Conveniently, the script doesn't address just how Laura got this "psychic ability." But it doesn't matter as it makes a compelling device when she joins the murderer via satellite. Rene Auberjenois chews up the scenery as her manager/agent, whose foppishness and over the top emoting are delightful to watch. Tommy Lee Jones, in one of his first big-screen features, plays the dashing detective John Neville, who falls in love with Dunaway and tries to believe her psychic witnessing. Director Irving Kershner keeps the glamour and glitz going with some deft mood swings. He gets good performances from his whole cast, although at times Faye seems to be auditioning for her later role in "Mommie Dearest," but she pulls back enough to keep her performance interesting. Jones is smooth, although his youth hinders some major transformations in the film. And definitely the costume designer had her work cut out for her with all of the fashions Dunaway wears. But it's the glitzy seventies and the mystery holds your attention, so that Laura Mars emerges as a gripping and entertaining whodunit. Also, it has the stunning "Prisoner" sung by producer Jon Peters' main squeeze then, Barbra Streisand.

Fun, Fun, Fun!:
What a howl! Not too scary ... but all that glam cheesy NYC late 70's stuff is captured perfectly. It's like looking at one of the photo books about decadant urban nightlife - disco, models, lesbianism, gay b'day parties, Faye-dearest, Tommy Lee-needs dermabrasion-Jones,and a token serial killer thrown in. Let's all chant!

Eyes of Laura Mars with All Those Great Stars!!!:
I can remember when "Eyes of Laura Mars" came out back in 1978. The movie trailer shows that fantastic scene when Tommy Lee Jones comes right through that huge glass window. They would show this over and over on TV back then, when advertising this movie. For some reason, I knew who Tommy Lee Jones was back then. And I didn't watch the soap opera he was on either. Goes to show you what STAR POWER he had then. So cute with that great bowlish haircut!!! Twenty Five years later, this movie still holds up!! I hadn't seen it in so long, we used to have a black & white television, this is how long i have seen it. But i purchased the DVD last night, and watched it about 3 times. Seeing it in color is a real treat, and there are actors that i now recognize that i didn't back then. Raul Julia as the Ex husband Michael Reisler has the line of the decade when he says to Faye Dunaway "I was your husband, I was never your friend!"...... Brad Dourif as Tommy Ludlow is wonderful as the loyal but suspicious looking chauffeuer/go-for. As Irvin Kershner states in his commentary "look at this guy, he's in the inner circle, and he's sloppily dressed, and his hair's a mess..." I love Rene Auberjonois in this film. At this time, during the mid-late 1970's you could find Rene in just about every TV show, made for TV movie and film. This guy must never have been home!!! Lisa Taylor at the time was about one of the most beautiful models in the early to later 1970's. I remember Darlanne Fleugel well (she was also in Crime Story in the late 1980s)but had never really connected her face with her name until now. Also you will see a young John Sahag, he plays a hairdresser in the movie. In real life he is one of the top hair stylists today, and is still cute with that shaggy hair and tight shirts!! He really hasn't changed!!!! It's these types of things that i like about the movie. The fashion, the music, the accessories, and even the wonderful STEIFF bear that is in the police precinct. He is sitting on the large table where Tommy Lee Jones conducts his investigations. You can see Lisa Taylor hugging the bear in another scene, and she doesn't want to let go. Neither would I, for that matter!!! But the film is great, and is a must see for those who enjoyed the films of the 1970's. Also invaluable is a nice "Eyes on Laura" photo gallery, where a person by the name of Laurent, gives us an inside to the script's changes while they show some great photos. Then the Director's Commentary is wonderful~~~Irvin Kershner talks to you, not AT YOU, just as if you were sitting with him in a living room, relaxing, and he gives you a play by play on the whole movie!!! He seems to be a person you can relate to, and his generous information will really brighten your day!

DONALD!!!!:
Dunaway gives one of her best performances here! Laura Mars is a fashion photog who is the toast of town with her 70's kitsch style glam shots. She also has the extraordinary ability to see through a serial killer's eyes! Tommy Lee Jones appears as a detective who falls for her. The film is pure camp and Dunaway chews the scenery as only she can. When her pal Donald bites it you can just feel the hilarity as she shreiks "Donnnnnaaaaallllldddd!" Do not pass this up!