Home   >   Movies   >   King of the Hill

King of the Hill (1993)

Facts

Directed bySteven Soderbergh
CastJesse Bradford, Jeroen Krabbé, Lisa Eichhorn, Karen Allen and Spalding Gray
Theatrical ReleaseAugust 20, 1993
Running Time109 minutes
MPAA RatingPG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
UPC Code044004466332
Buy this item ...1 new from $39.99
 

Website Links

Similar Movies

The Boyhood Memoirs of A. E. Hotchner: King of the Hill and Looking for Miracles
The Boyhood Memoirs of A. E. Hotchner: King of the Hill and Looking for Miracles
Leonard Maltin\'s 2009 Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide
sex, lies, and videotape
sex, lies, and videotape
Kafka [Region 2]
Kafka [Region 2]
Out of Sight
Out of Sight

 

User Reviews

Average user review: 5.0 (17 reviews)

rating: 5 Quotei m waiting for the dvd for so longggggggggggggQuote
this is one of my alltime favourite movie ,i must have watch it for more than 10 times,how can we get them to release the dvd????????????//// June 9, 2008

rating: 5 Quoteno titleQuote
From the memoirs of A. E. Hotchner. Father here played the bad guy in "The Fugitive". A wonderful film about the 1933 Depression. Meticulous in detail. You simply can't go wrong with a Soderbergh film. November 4, 2007

rating: 5 QuoteNot to be missedQuote
"King of the Hill" was Steven Soderbergh's third film, following "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" and the inscrutable "Kafka." Compared to these films, "King of the Hill" is a small and straight-forward tale of the Depression. Jesse Bradford ("Swimfan") stars as Aaron Kurlander, a bright youngster in 1933 St. Louis. His family is impoverished, although his salesman father (Jeroen Krabbe) manages (barely) to keep them fed and housed. However, when the family's fortunes take a down-turn, they decide to send Aaron's younger brother to live with relatives. Then Aaron's mother has a relapse of TB and goes to a sanitarium. Finally, his father gets a traveling salesman job and leaves. So, Aaron finds himself alone in their apartment trying to fend for himself.

Based on a memoir by A. E. Hotchner, "King of the Hill" is a cruel film. Anyone who has ever been mistreated as a youth is likely to wince at scenes depicting Aaron's hurt at being left behind or his painful attempts to cover up his poverty from his wealthy classmates. The film is outstanding at every level - directing, acting, cinematography. Jesse Bradford has gone on to a career as a bit of a vapid teen idol, but his performance here is as wise and deep as any I've seen from a child. Adrien Brody also has one of his earliest roles as Aaron's older "mentor." Finally, watch for Lauryn Hill as the gum-popping elevator operator.

As of this writing, "King of the Hill" has not been released on DVD. That such a terrific film has been so overlooked is nothing short of criminal. It's obviously a small film, but by focusing on one boy, "King of the Hill" is able to portray the horrors and desperation of the Depression far more vividly than many "bigger" dramas, such as "Ironweed." Most highly recommended.
November 26, 2005

rating: 5 QuoteGreat Movie! Needs to be on DVD!Quote
As you can see by all the 5-star reviews, this movie is a gem. Why can't they release it on DVD??!!! February 25, 2005

rating: 5 QuoteExcellent FilmQuote
This movie is a great movie for any age. I have watched it numerous times and it always gets better. Plus when I was a kid I got to be an extra in the film. It was fun meeting all those actors who are now famous. January 20, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...