Blu-ray Review – The War of the Roses

After soaring together in 1984's "Romancing the Stone," and stumbling
together in 1985's "The Jewel of the Nile," Michael Douglas, Kathleen
Turner, and Danny DeVito were cautious with the selection of their next
collaboration, looking to pick a project that would disturb expectations
set by their previous adventures. "The War of the Roses" proved an apt
left turn for the trio, with DeVito assuming directorial control over
the material, looking to inject a darkly comic tone into a bitter story,
building on his command of impish screen toxicity first explored in his
previous production, 1987's "Throw Momma from the Train." Constructed
with extraordinary confidence and exceptionally acted, "The War of the
Roses" is perhaps the greatest cinematic achievement shared between the
stars, dropping the high-flying dangers of jungles and deserts to
partake in specialized marital warfare that utilizes relationship
claustrophobia and escalating antagonism instead of explosions and
plastic quips. The picture is greatly amusing, but its lasting
achievement is DeVito's atmospheric authority, shaping a genuine
filmmaking triumph in style and mood that deserves a standing ovation. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com