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Mr Rice's Secret on DVD (2000)

Mr Rice's Secret cover art
Average rating: 52%
13122093
2.5
from 103 members
 
Starring: David Bowie, Bill Switzer, Teryl Rothery, Garwin Sanford, Zack Lipovsky
Director: Nicholas Kendall
Run time: 92 mins
Certificate: 12
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 22/09/2003

Brief synopsis of Mr Rice's Secret

In Nicholas Kendall's enchanting film, Owen (Bill Switzer) is a young boy with terminal cancer. Sadly, his closest friend--the enigmatic Mr. Rice (David Bowie)--has just died. When Owen sneaks into Mr. Rice's empty house on a dare, the boy finds a series of letters written to him by his old friend in code, leading to a mysterious treasure hunt and other heartwarming surprises.

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Rated - 1 starsThe worst Film Bowie has ever made

JamesMc from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 14/03/2005

This was made by Sky TV and it shows. It has the feel of a syruppy TV Movie designed to be shown in the afternoon (although with one swear word for some reason) and is truely awful.

The plot resolves around a 14 year old who has cancer, although he doesn't look very ill, cos he's strong and he's a fighter. Bowie is his dead old friend who has left him clues to the titular secret (which is revealed on the cover of the DVD, but I won't spoil it for you. The film does that for itself.) One of the clues involves the boy having to dig his body up, so he can't be that much of a friend, despite the fact (in flashback) he speaks in home spun moralising cliches. 'It's not how long you live, it's what you do in life.'

Oh, and there are subplots about standing up to bullies, and learning to be nice to people.

I don't think Bowie is as bad an actor as people say he is (and to be fair, the acting is not the problem in this film, it's just a dreadful script), but this is a truly awful film. If you love the Bowie of Heroes, Life on Mars, Slip Away and Hallo Spaceboy, avoid this piece of tripe like the plague.

  1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsBad, Bad.....Bad!

A customer from hitchin , 08/03/2007

As a BIG David Bowie fan, i have to say this film sucks. The writing is horrible - everything is sickly sweet .....and every David can't deliver the lines without sounding over the top!

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Rated - 4 starsteen /family movie

A customer from norfolk , 20/04/2007

i enjoyed this film ...good cast

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 1 starsThe worst Film Bowie has ever made

JamesMc from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 14/03/2005

This was made by Sky TV and it shows. It has the feel of a syruppy TV Movie designed to be shown in the afternoon (although with one swear word for some reason) and is truely awful.

The plot resolves around a 14 year old who has cancer, although he doesn't look very ill, cos he's strong and he's a fighter. Bowie is his dead old friend who has left him clues to the titular secret (which is revealed on the cover of the DVD, but I won't spoil it for you. The film does that for itself.) One of the clues involves the boy having to dig his body up, so he can't be that much of a friend, despite the fact (in flashback) he speaks in home spun moralising cliches. 'It's not how long you live, it's what you do in life.'

Oh, and there are subplots about standing up to bullies, and learning to be nice to people.

I don't think Bowie is as bad an actor as people say he is (and to be fair, the acting is not the problem in this film, it's just a dreadful script), but this is a truly awful film. If you love the Bowie of Heroes, Life on Mars, Slip Away and Hallo Spaceboy, avoid this piece of tripe like the plague.

  1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Report offending content.

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