Greetings poster & wallpaper

Gerrit Graham, Jonathan Warden, Megan McCormick

The misadventures of three freewheeling, youthful anti-heroes of the late 60s.

Flixster Users

42% liked it

1,234 ratings

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Brian DePalma

Release Date: January 1, 1968

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 1, 2002

Stats: 58 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (58)

  • 76Majikat
    March 28, 2009
    76Majikat
    A quirky early film for De Niro, where it doesn?t really give his acting skills chance to shine through and yet, it is strangely intriguing. It feels like the type of movie which could have developed a Cult following, being an either love it or hate it type of film and yet I?m g...( read more)uessing as a lesser known title, this didn?t seem to be the case.
  • harrycaul
    January 25, 2008
    harrycaul
    A fascinating time-capsule from Brian De Palma, featuring Robert De Niro. The pair had previously worked together in 1963 on a film called "The Wedding Party", which still hadn't been released theatrically by the time "Greetings" came out in 1968. You can tell how dated this film...( read more) is by listing its primary interests: draft-dodging, the Vietnam War in general and conspiracy theories surrounding President Kennedy's assassination. In fact, just about the only topic the film deals with which hasn't dated is that ageless concern of young people the world over, getting laid. There's no discernible plot or a particular point being made here; it's just an irreverent, episodic, freewheeling, ballsy poke in the eye to the prevailing sacred cows of the time. De Palma's thematic interest in voyeurism can be traced back to De Niro's character in "Greetings", Jon Rubin, who would be further developed in the superior sequel, "Hi, Mom!" a couple of years later. Gerrit Graham is very funny as an obsessive critic of the Warren Commission, and there's a great scene where he meets a paranoid eyewitness to the JFK assassination in a bookstore: "There's a plaster cast of the pillow that was used to smother my aunt!"
  • littlecharmer1959
    September 11, 2009
    littlecharmer1959
    An early film for Brian De Palma, and the debut role for Robert De Niro. "Greetings" follows three friends in late 60s New York all trying to avoid being drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. We have De Niro's "Jon", the peeping tom (whose film within a film is one of the fu...( read more)nniest sequences), then there's Gerrit Graham's "Lloyd", who has an obsession with the Kennedy Assassination, finally there's "Paul" (Jonathan Warden) who seems to be the most normal of the bunch. The little touches De Palma puts in give it a very Godardian feel, with title cards, jump cuts, speeded up film etc. As a flowing film it doesn't really work but as a series of satirical sketches I rather enjoyed it.
    In my opinion a rather underated film from the counter-culture era, also De Niro reprised his role in the sequel "Hi, Mom!"
  • Ivan6655321
    January 4, 2009
    Ivan6655321
    Very, very underrated film, and in my opinion, this is one of Brian De Palma's finest films. It is great to see Robert DeNiro in his humble years, and this is certainly not an exception for me. His performance and the film itself is very natural, but still with artistic touch. Th...( read more)e amateurish look of the film added to its humor, and the editing was good. The ending determined the fate of the three main characters, each having a semi-tragic feeling, but still be giving your face a weird smile as the credit rolls. I was very surprised by "Greetings" as a whole, I never thought it will be this good, because I just picked my copy of this in a "sale" bin, so thank god I've bought this unique film. The non-linear approach to the film made the film one-of-a-kind, filled with quick cuts and colorful title cards to separate the episodic scenes. The "peeping tom" scene was very unforgettable, one proof that Brian De Palma, even at a young age, can make a film that is both artistic and humorous. The satirical approach to hot issues at the time was hilarious, especially the one about the JFK assassination and how can it drive a normal person into paranoia. "Greetings" is literally a hidden gem, one that I really did not expect to be that good.
  • theoneandonlytony
    June 15, 2008
    theoneandonlytony
    I guess everyone has to start somewhere, though even with that in mind... this movie is still pretty awful.
    It appears DePalma has written and directed a series of loosely based sketches about three friends trying to avoid being conscripted to fight in Vietnam.... and the everyda...( read more)y "happenings and involvements" of their characters.
    Basically you're just going to be watching De Nero and Graham acting out "Benny Hill style shenanigans" on camera set to a clearly dated 60's tune of a band no one has even ever heard of.
    I guess its not fair to criticise someone's early work... especialyl when they both have become the legends of today. But the direction on this is terrible. It is amateur, there is no motion to the camerawork and the editing is shot to ribbons. It really is poor even for a student film.
    Litereally if your friend decided to made a movie right now... it would be a similar result to this but probably better due to the technology. Having said that you can see the way Depalma's technique has dramatically improved over the years and the clever way he has adapted a Brechtian style and long unedited scenes to cover up some obvious flaws.
    As for his script... it is almost as if he has tried to incorporate every clever thing he has ever heard into one movie. Often you will find the film's focus is totally lost due to irrelevant scenes and total lack of pace.
    For example it feels like DePalma has decided to film a total unknown man at a local pub and his comments on war and just stick them right smack in the middle of his movie... simply because he can.
    Even though the movie has a shortish running time... all this movie is, is just one thing followed by different thing entirely.
    For me the main problem with this movie is it tries to be smarter than it is, and it tries in the bluntest way possible! Two main controversies are brought up in the form of the Kenedy assassination and Vietnam, just as simple titbits, these topics become nothing more than laughable in a social period where they would have been quite serious. This movie feels like nothing more than a piss take.
    DeNero doesn't shine... there is no amazing screen presence to relate to. No catapulted path to stardom, in actuality it is quite the reverse. He is overlooked and uninteresting as the dull peeping tom character that he plays.
    Special mention goes to Gerrit Graham who steals every scene and actually adds a bit of interest to this lifeless lump of a movie. Then again he gets all the best lines and that always helps.
    Only real enthusiasts of either De Nero or Depalma should consider this, as it really is F***ing dull.
    Instantly forgettable!
  • Rossjm
    June 8, 2008
    Rossjm
    Sadly I was disappointed by this film. I was exited, knowing that Brian De Palma directed it and that it starred Robert De Niro (and in his feaure film debut, which made me more intrigued). But then i was massivly let down. Although this was still good, I felt conned and was exp...( read more)ecting at least a 4 star film. There is some memorably funny dialogue, particularily from the one friend trying to solve the JFK mystery and the one about an ex-date who only wanted milk at the bar. And Brian De palma again directs exeedingly well, but, unfortunatly, this really was a let down.

    I still can't wait to see Hi Mom! as it is meant to be so much better.
  • garaballer23
    August 4, 2007
    garaballer23
    it's kind of like several episodes of a TV show. pretty random, but also pretty funny most of the time.
  • grantl65
    July 15, 2007
    grantl65
    Sadly dated and amateurish. Not recommended unless you are a hardcore fan of De Niro or De Palma .
  • gavinlawson
    March 20, 2007
    gavinlawson
    A zany early comedy from DePalma that captures the turbulent 1960's and a couple of geezers trying to dodge the draft. Zany!
  • michaelcorleone
    September 29, 2006
    michaelcorleone
    The objectives of this peculiar film are clouded by its microscopic budget, and as a result it drags even at the short length of 88 minutes. The dialogue exchanged between the talented young actors is its only real appeal.

View All Greetings Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

Comments

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Greetings" !

Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • A Bronx Tale
    A Bronx Tale (67%)
  • The Good Shepherd
    The Good Shepherd (30%)
  • Men of Honor
    Men of Honor (67%)
  • Sliver
    Sliver (100%)

More Movies like Greetings

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Greetings : Watch Free on TV

Greetings Trivia

  • IN what movie did the line "Greetings Programs' appear?  Answer »
  • In this 1982 Disney movie Jeff Bridges plays a game computer wiz kid. that has the line greetings progames.  Answer »
  • Who directed these films? Icarus Dressed to kill Blow out Greetings  Answer »
  • Name the Movie... "Greetings, my friends! We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friends; future events such as these will affect you in the future."  Answer »
More Greetings Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Greetings. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Greetings to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?