DVD PLAYHOUSE—MARCH 2011
By
Allen Gardner
127 HOURS (20th Century Fox) Harrowing true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco, in another fine turn), an extreme outdoorsman who finds himself trapped in a remote Utah canyon, his arm pinned between two boulders, with no help nearby, no communication to the outside world, and dim prospects for survival, to say the least. Director Danny Boyle manages to prove again that he’s one of the finest filmmakers working today by making a subject that is seemingly uncinematic a true example of pure cinema. Inventive, breathtaking, funny, and horrifying, often all at once. Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara make a memorable, brief appearance as hikers who connect with Ralston during his journey. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, producer Christian Colson, co-writer Simon Beaufoy; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
AMARCORD (Criterion) Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning, autobiographical classic might be the greatest work from one of cinema’s true masters. A tableaux of characters, images and memories (the title translates, literally to “I Remember”) from his childhood in rural Italy. Some of the most stunning (and repellent) images ever captured on film, all highlighted by Nino Rota’s magical score. One of those rare films that gets better with successive viewings, an invitation which has never been so inviting than with this gorgeously-restored and remastered DVD release from Criterion. The Blu-ray edition is even more eye-popping. Not to be missed. Bonuses: Commentary by film scholars Peter Brunette and Frank Burke; Fellini’s Homecoming, a 45-minute documentary; Interview with star Magli Noel; Featurettes; Conceptual art gallery; Archival audio interviews with Fellini, his family, friends and collaborators; Deleted scene; Restoration demonstration; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
DUE DATE (Warner Bros.) Two opposites (Robert Downey, Jr. and Zack Galifianakis) literally run into each other in the Atlanta airport, and wind up sharing a car with the ticking clock of Downey’s expectant wife (Michelle Monaghan) about to deliver. Occasionally funny, but mostly obvious retread of the classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with Downey and Galifianakis in the Steve Martin and John Candy roles, respectively. While there are a handful of big laughs, Martin and Candy were on an equal level as performers, where Downey effortlessly eclipses the charisma-free Galifianakis from the moment they share the frame. As one of the best of his generation, Downey deserves better vehicles than this, and most of his recent fare. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Gag reel; Digital copy of film. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
NEVER LET ME GO (20th Century Fox) Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley star in this adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s best-seller, set in an alternative near-future England, where the upper classes are given “alternates” at birth, from whom they can harvest organs and other life-extending resources, with little or no thought given to the feelings or rights of the clone. Intriguing concept is beautifully shot and designed, but also lifeless and clinical in its execution, resulting in a deadly-dull film with nary a character with whom the audience can empathize. By the time the film reaches its denouement, you’re rooting for everyone to be knocked off so you can get on with your own life! A real let-down, given the talent involved. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
STILL WALKING (Criterion) Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda’s heartfelt tribute to his mother is a lyrical, profoundly moving work. Depicting one day in the life of the Yokoyama family, who gather for a commemorative ritual whose purpose only gradually becomes clear. Subdued naturalism abounds, reminiscent of the films of Yasujiro Ozu, who was obviously a profound influence on this unique, stunning work. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Documentary on film’s production; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround.
A FRENCH GIGOLO (IFC Films) Nathalie Baye plays Judith, a successful, middle-aged entrepreneur who is wary of getting too close, and selects younger lovers from Internet dating sites with whom she can have quick, uncomplicated trysts. When she meets Marco (Eric Caravaca), an inexperienced male prostitute who is trying to keep his wife’s business afloat without her knowing what his “temp” job is, Judith falls hard for the awkward young man. Nice blend of romance, satire and eroticism, with Baye, as always, at the top of her form. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
GAME OF DEATH (Sony) Wesley Snipes stars as a CIA agent/assassin who finds himself caught in a double-cross between his colleagues at the Agency, an arms dealer, and a powerful Wall Street broker when he is framed for murder. Direct-to-video feature isn’t bad for what it is, but drives home what a waste of talent this is for a powerhouse like Snipes. Also stars Zoe Bell and Robert Davi. Available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
UNSTOPPABLE (20th Century Fox) Denzel Washington and Chris Pine star as train conductors who must commandeer a runaway carrying toxic chemicals that is barreling full-steam ahead for Scranton, PA. Rock-solid action/adventure helmed by Tony Scott literally never stops moving and takes the viewer’s breath away in the process. Pine and Washington work well together and the awesome feeling of speed and power that a modern locomotive possesses has never been captured so vividly. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by Scott. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE LAST LOVECRAFT RELIC OF CTHULHU (Dark Sky Films) A geek who’s going nowhere fast (Kyle Davis) finds he’s the last living relative of horror novelist H.P. Lovecraft and has been entrusted with a sacred relic which must be kept out of the hands of crazed cultists who want the evil god Cthulhu (the antagonist of Lovecraft’s stories) to rise from the sea and enslave mankind. Lots of astounding creature effects highlight this comedy/horror mishmash, that’s likely to appeal to audiences based on their tolerance for this type of niche material. “Masterpiece Theater” viewers, stay away! Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Extended scene; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HIGH LANE (IFC Films) A group of friends on a rock climbing vacation find themselves being picked off one-by-one by an unseen killer. Suspenseful chiller from France stars the lovely Fanny Valette, and will keep you guessing to the end. Thankfully, filmmaker Abel Ferry emphasizes suspense over buckets of gore, although the latter is certainly there. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
GLORIOUS 39 (eOne) Romola Garai stars as a young woman from a politically-powerful family in England, just on the cusp of WW II, who stumbles onto a homegrown Nazi plot that might lead right to her front door. Tense thriller starts out like gangbusters, then starts to unravel halfway through, and completely falls apart by the end. Too bad, as it’s handsomely-made and boasts a superb cast (Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, David Tennant, and Christopher Lee, to name a few). Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes and interviews. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
INHALE (IFC Films) Dermot Mulroney stars as a district attorney who travels south of the border to get his critically-ill daughter the illegal organs she needs to survive. Powerful thriller is buoyed by a strong cast, including Diane Kruger, Rosanna Arquette and Sam Shepard. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HAPPY EVER AFTERS (IFC Films) Sally Hawkins stars as a newlywed who finds herself falling head-over-heels for another man (Tom Riley), who also happens to be newlywed! Writer/director Stephen Burke delivers a screwball whale of a comedy, featuring a charming cast and zany laughs as only the Brits can deliver. Bonuses: Trailer; Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SHOPPING (Severin Films) In his first starring role, Jude Law plays a charming ex-con named Billy who, along with his sexy girlfriend (Sadie Frost), get off on stealing high-end sports cars, leading police on high speed chases, then crashing through windows of expensive shops and looting them. Tough, gritty thriller from 1994 was cut to pieces by Roger Corman, who initially distributed it in the U.S., and is now featured in its complete, 106 minute version. Also stars Jonathan Pryce, Sean Bean and Sean Pertwee, written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Bonuses: Commentary by Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
WILD TARGET (20th Century Fox) Emily Blunt stars as a free-spirited thief who nearly gets killed by a professional assassin (Bill Nighy), who spares her life instead. With his dim-witted protégée (Rupert Grint) in tow, the three try to think of a way to do away with the assassin’s unhappy client. Lifeless bomb of a comedy from a talented group (directed by comedy vet Jonathan Lynn) who inexplicably came up with this dud. Skip it! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER (Sony) Woody Allen’s latest is another ensemble piece (Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Gemma Jones) built around a common center (a storefront psychic, charmingly played by Pauline Collins). When a psychic tells Jones that a new romance is coming soon, after husband Hopkins has left her for a younger model (Lucy Punch, hilarious), a domino effect knocks a number of people’s lives out of balance. Quite a few funny bits, and Hopkins is always a pleasure to watch, regardless of the quality of the film he’s in, but overall very middling effort from Allen, which is quickly forgotten. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
CONVICTION (20th Century Fox) Hilary Swank stars in this “based on a true story” tale of Betty Anne Waters, a working class young woman whose life is turned upside down when her ne’er do well brother Kenny (Sam Rockwell) is wrongfully convicted of murder, largely due to a corrupt police officer (played by always-wonderful Melissa Leo). Betty Anne spends the next 18 years working to get Kenny released, including getting a law degree, and becoming an expert in forensic science. TV movie-of-the-week material is raised up several notches by the excellent cast (which also includes Minnie Driver, Peter Gallagher, and Juliette Lewis), and solid direction by sometime-actor Tony Goldwyn. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
HATCHET II (Dark Sky Films) Follow-up by writer/director Adam Green to his first splatterfest/satire, picking up where its predecessor left off as Marybeth (Danielle Harris) escapes the clutches of bayou killer Victor Crowley. When she learns of the brutal fate of her family at Victor’s hands, Marybeth returns to the bayou with hired gun Reverend Zombie (Tony Todd) with payback on her mind. A notch above the usual bloodbath fare, with its pretensions toward satire and movie in-jokes (supporting players include horror movie maestros like filmmaker Tom Holland, screenwriter Marcus Dunston, and Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman), but that’s not much of a recommendation… Available in R-rated and unrated versions. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers and teasers; TV spot; Radio spot; Commentary by cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LEAVING (IFC Films) A bourgeois housewife (Kristen Scott Thomas) living in the South of France finds herself drawn into a torrid affair with a sexy Spanish construction worker (Sergi Lopez). When her husband (Yvan Attal) finds out, he will stop at nothing, including violence, to end the liaison, more because his wife has crossed social lines than due to her infidelity. Scott Thomas does a terrific turn as the conflicted housewife, and all performances are top notch, but film itself is a mixed bag: much more successful as an erotic thriller than as social commentary. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
YI YI (Criterion) Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang wrote and directed this heartfelt epic following a middle-class family in Taipei over the course of a year, starting with a wedding and ending in a funeral. Quiet, yet also full of passion and dazzling filmmaking from a true master of his craft. Sadly, it was Yang’s final film before his death in 2007. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Yang, and Asia cinema critic Tony Rayns; Interview with Rayns about Yang and the new Taiwan Cinema Movement; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround.
AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS (GOODBYE, CHILDREN) (Criterion) Louis Malle’s autobiographical story of his friendship with a Jewish boy, hiding as a Gentile, in a Catholic boarding school in occupied France during WW II. A quiet, honest mediation about adolescence becomes a shattering study of how we shape our own lives, and those of others, through the most subtle of actions, whether intended or not. An unforgettable work from one of the cinema’s greatest artists. Not to be missed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with Malle biographer Pierre Billard and Malle’s widow, actress Candice Bergen; Featurettes; Charlie Chaplin’s 1917 short The Immigrant; Audio excerpts from a 1988 AFI interview with Malle; Trailer and teaser. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
RED HILL (Sony) When a young cop (Ryan Kwanten) arrives in the small hamlet of Red Hill hoping for a quieter life, he finds himself tested as a brutal murderer breaks out of prison and heads straight for the town seeking revenge. Rock-solid modern oater that certainly covers familiar territory, but does so with skill. Kwanten proves himself to be a very capable actor outside the bayou of “True Blood.” Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
YOU AGAIN (Touchstone) Kristen Bell stars as a former high school nerd who’s blossomed in adulthood, but finds her past coming back to haunt her, when her brother marries her former adolescent nemesis (Odette Yustman). Compounding this dynamic is the fact that said nemesis is the daughter of Bell’s mom (Jamie Lee Curtis)’s own high school torturer (Sigourney Weaver). Labored comedy offers few laughs from the get go, in spite of the additional presence of national treasure Betty White. Fine cast (particularly Weaver and Curtis) deserves better. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: 11 deleted scenes; Featurettes; Bloopers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE GIRL (Olive Films) Set in 1981 Sweden, a nine year-old girl is left behind in her aunt’s care as her family travels to Africa as aid workers. When her aunt goes off with a boyfriend for what she promises to be a brief holiday, the girl is left unsupervised, which she keeps to herself. Fascinating view of an adult’s world through the unblinking eyes of a child. Young Blanca Engstrom is extraordinary in the lead. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
UNMADE BEDS (IFC Films) Two young adults (Fernando Tielve and Deborah Francois) take diverse journeys while sharing an apartment in London. Axl (Tielve) tracks down his biological father, a real estate broker, and pretends to be house-hunting so he can get to know his dad. Vera (Francois) engages in a series of casual relationships, determined not to fall in love. Fascinating, very cinematic character study, from Argentinean wunderkind Alexis Dos Santos. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CHANGE OF PLANS (IFC Films) Charming ensemble sex comedy with a who’s-who of European talent (Karin Viard, Dany Boon, Marina Fois, Patrick Bruel, Emmanuelle Seigner, Christopher Thompson, Marina Hands, Patrick Chesnais, Blanca Li, Laurent Stocker and Pierre Arditi) as a group of friends who gather for a dinner party with all of them seemingly about to engage in, or currently involved with, an affair—and sometimes with each other. Clever use of time juxtaposition to tell the intersecting stories, with all coming together in the end. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interviews; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ROOM IN ROME (IFC Films) Two women (Elena Anaya and Natasha Yarovenko) bare their bodies and souls during one heated, erotic night in a Roman hotel. Writer/director Julio Medem (Sex and Lucia) revisits the world of torrid love affairs that put him on the map in this visceral film that’s a sort of lesbian Last Tango in Paris, and nearly as good. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FISH TANK (Criterion) Writer/director Andrea Arnold’s powerful kitchen sink drama owes much to the work of Tony Richardson, John Osborne, Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, but also stands on its own as a unique work. Fly-on-the-wall realism heightens this story of precocious Mia, a fifteen year-old living in the bleak housing projects of Essex. When her mother’s new boyfriend (Michael Fassbender, in a dynamite turn) finds himself uncontrollably attracted to her, and she to him, dangerous sparks fly in all directions. Powerful, unsentimental and uncompromising on all levels. Not always easy to watch, and not easily forgotten. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Three short films by Arnold; Interviews with cast and crew; Audition footage; Photo gallery; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 and DTS-HD surround.
SENSO (Criterion) Luchino Visconti’s lush Technicolor epic stars Alida Valli as a 19th century Italian countess who engages in a forbidden, torrid affair with an Austrian officer (Farley Granger) during that country’s occupation of Italy. Operatic and somewhat dated in its execution (it was released in 1954), but worth seeing for Visconti’s unparalleled opulent eye. Also available on Blu-ray disc in an eye-popping transfer. Bonuses: Digital restoration supervised by Martin Scorsese; The Wanton Countess, a rarely-seen English language version of the film; Documentary on film’s production; Featurettes; Viva Verdi, a new documentary on Visconti, Senso, and opera; Visual essay by film scholar Peter Cowie; 1966 BBC program on Visconti. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (Criterion) One of the great films of the 1950s. Burt Lancaster stars as a sociopathic gossip columnist, modeled not-so-subtly after Walter Winchell, and Tony Curtis is an ambitious press agent he ropes into his web to help him smear the name of a rising jazz musician who has designs on his sister. Brilliant, pungent screenplay by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman, stunning cinematography by the great James Wong Howe, and crackling direction by Alexander Mackendrick. A stunning evocation of 1950s Manhattan that has gone on to influence a host of other films and TV programs, most recently “Mad Men.” A true masterpiece. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by film scholar James Naremore; 1986 documentary on Mackendrick; 1973 documentary on Howe; Featurettes; Interviews with film critics and scholars. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
RIOT (Olive Films/Paramount) A state prison erupts into a violent uprising, led by a literate inmate (Gene Hackman, in one of his earliest starring roles). An inmate up for parole (Jim Brown, excellent) finds himself at odds with his fellow prisoners, when he defends a guard under attack, and finds himself the unwitting mediator between the prisoners, the cops and the warden (played by real-life prison warden Frank A. Eyman). Shot in 1968 in the Arizona State Penitentiary, this stark, ultra-realistic film foreshadowed brutal uprisings in places like Attica, and other bloodbaths, which forever changed the treatment of inmates on a national level. Dated, but still powerful drama, directed by TV movie vet Buzz Kulik and produced by horror maestro William Castle. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
WUSA (Olive Films/Paramount) Paul Newman plays a world-weary DJ who joins a right-wing station in New Orleans, which preaches hate, fascism and misogyny at every turn. When he tires of spreading the hate perpetrated by station owner Pat Hingle, Newman joins forces with working gal Joanne Woodward to turn the tables on the hatemongering and spread some brotherly love. Well-meaning liberal black comedy has its moments, but is also hopelessly dated in its staunch nobility and on-the-nose message. Woodward and Newman are always a treat to watch, especially performing together, but this isn’t one of their better vehicles. Nice support from Anthony Perkins, Cloris Leachman and Laurence Harvey. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
FUTUREWORLD (MGM/Fox) Sequel to Michael Crichton’s 1973 hit Westworld finds reporters Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner investigating the Delos Corporation’s newly opened resort, Futureworld, and finding more sinister goings-on. Nowhere near the same league as its predecessor, but still fun escapism, with Fonda and Danner sharing nice chemistry, and a great villainous turn from Arthur Hill, one of the great “evil white guys” of ‘70s cinema. Yul Brynner makes a return as the Gunslinger character he originated in Westworld. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE SPIKES GANG (MGM/Fox) Lee Marvin plays an aging outlaw who takes a group of rebellious teens (Ron Howard, Gary Grimes, Charles Martin Smith) under his wing after they nurse him back to health from a near-fatal shooting. When he betrays the boys, they vow revenge. Tough, shockingly brutal at times, and completely unsentimental revisionist western, overlooked at the time of its 1973 release, but will hopefully gain greater appreciation on DVD. Screenplay by the great team of Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank, Jr. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE 7th DAWN (MGM/Fox) William Holden stars in this 1964 melodrama about a WW II officer who stays in Malaya to fight off Communist insurgents. Lots of fancy production design, and nice scenery courtesy of lovely co-stars Capucine and Susannah York, but director Lewis Gilbert, whose later credits include the Alfie, as well as several James Bond classics, barely raises the film’s pulse to a level that can be considered vital signs. Handsome, but very dated. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
BURLESQUE (Sony) Small town girl (Christina Aguilera) moves to the big town to make her dreams come true, finding herself headlining at a nightclub for a world-weary ex-showgirl (Cher). “Weary” is right for this tired retread of a thousand showbiz clichés which have been told with far greater skill and panache in dozens of previously exposed rolls of celluloid. It goes without saying that both ladies previously mentioned are huge talents, but they deserve far better than this on their worst days. Only Stanley Tucci, who must just love to work, manages to come out unscathed from this mess. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Alternate opening; Blooper reel; Director commentary. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (Well Go) An ex-intelligence agent leads a solitary, brooding existence, his only connection being with a little girl who lives next door to him. When the girl and her mother are kidnapped by drug smugglers, he hunts them down with a ferocity that can only be seen in a Korean thriller—for good reason! Dynamite film never stops moving, from its opening frame to its fade out, easily one of the best action films to arrive on the scene in years. Tough stuff, however, and not for the faint-of-heart. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 and DTS-HD.
FOUR LIONS (Magnolia/Magnet) Five Brits, four of Pakistani descent and one Englishman, decide to become Jihadi suicide bombers, only to fail miserably at every turn. A sort of extreme update of The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, film tries very hard to be edgy, blackly humorous and as un-PC as you can get—and often succeeds, but in the end, is more unsettling than funny, which is not, it would seem, what the filmmakers intended. Might play better in 10-20 years when (hopefully) the strife in the Middle East (and the fallout from its extremists) has died down. Still, many critics cited it as one of 2010’s best films, one even going so far as labeling it “The blackest, ballsiest political comedy since Dr. Strangelove,” so judge for yourself. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Storyboard gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS (20th Century Fox) Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway star as two twenty-somethings who start out as casual lovers, then turn serious when it’s revealed she’s in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Director Edward Zwick (who co-wrote the script with longtime collaborator Marshall Herskovitz and Charles Randolph) delivers a film that never quite finds its genre: romantic comedy/weepy Love Story-style romantic tragedy/or buddy comedy. There are a number of effective, well-staged scenes, with Hathaway in particular delivering a stellar turn, but the story never quite finds its legs, or anyone else’s. Too bad, because there are the makings of something that could have been really special here. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; BD-LIVE features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
MADE IN DAGENHAM (Sony) True story of events that took place in Dagenham, England in 1968. Sally Hawkins plays a female auto plant employee who rallies her fellow femme co-workers to fight for equal pay to their male counterparts, starting a chain of events that leads to social upheaval, tragedy, and ultimately a catalyst for a profound turning point in history. Fine “kitchen sink” drama is more than slightly reminiscent of Martin Ritt’s Norma Rae, but still works beautifully. Fine support from Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson and Rosamund Pike. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Outtakes and deleted scenes; Commentary by director Nigel Cole; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! A&E releases HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN: SEASON ONE, producer/star Michael Landon’s 1980s hit about an unconventional angel sent down from heaven to aid those in need. Saccharine, sanctimonious and about as subtle as a brick through a plate glass window, this series was nevertheless a huge hit in the heartland, and that is likely where it will play best today. 24 episodes on seven discs. Bonuses: Documentary on Landon; Outtakes; Biographies of Landon and co-star Victor French. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE AND TWO arrive in two separate DVD sets. Jane Seymour plays a 19th century Bostonian doctor who relocates to rural Colorado Springs, encountering many challenges from the untamed frontier. Skillful combination of feminist drama and romance had legions of fans during its long run on CBS. Set one features 24 episodes on seven discs and set two contains 17 episodes on five discs. Bonuses: Documentary on Seymour; Featurettes; Photo galleries. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR offers up more reality show drama following long-haul truckers as they travel across Alaska’s most unforgiving terrain. Skillfully shot, and quite suspenseful. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Additional footage. Full screen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround. GANGLAND: THE FINAL SEASON offer up the seventh, and final series that takes a detailed look at some of the country’s most notorious gangs and their members. Bonus 75th episode offers a recap of the series’ most notorious characters, hosted by Ice-T and Snoop Dog. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround. HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO takes a fascinating look at the natural, and sometimes cataclysmic, events that shaped our planet. Stunning use of computer graphics, interviews with scientists and location footage of geographical phenomena make this a stunning educational experience. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround. Lionsgate releases TYLER PERRY’S HOUSE OF PAYNE: VOLUME SIX, featuring 24 episodes of the hit show that follows the Payne family and their chaotic adventures. Fun for the whole family. 3 disc set. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. PBS Video releases four titles in their “Pioneers of Television” collection: CRIME DRAMAS looks at the history of the “policiers” that have populated the airwaves since the medium was invented, including classics like “Dragnet,” “The Untouchables,” “I Spy,” and “The Rockford Files.” LOCAL KIDS’ TV examines the local children’s shows around the country that helped shape generations of viewers. Included are interviews with pioneers such as Stan Freberg, whose show “Time for Benny” was one of the earliest kids’ shows on TV. Also included are Muppets creator Jim Henson, Chuck McCann, and Bill Thompson, creator the venerable Phoenix staple “Wallace & Ladmo.” WESTERNS looks at one of TV’s most popular genres, with looks back at classics like “Gunsmoke,” “Maverick,” “Davy Crockett,” “The Big Valley,” “Bonanza,” and “The Wild Wild West.” Interviews with Robert Conrad, James Arness, and James Garner are highlights. Finally, SCIENCE FICTION looks at some the groundbreaking series that examined worlds beyond our own, including “The Twilight Zone,” “Star Trek,” “Lost in Space,” and others. Archival and new interviews with Rod Serling, Leonard Nimoy, Gene Roddenberry, and William Shatner are featured. All are Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox releases GLEE: SEASON 2, VOLUME 1, containing all ten season 2 episodes on 3 discs. More hilarious musical hijinks from New Directions as they face another year of burgeoning romances, awkward puberty and exciting challenges. Terrific ensemble cast, including perennial favorite Jane Lynch, make this show one for the ages. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus songs. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Lifetime releases four new telefilms to disc: CONFESSIONS OF AN AMERIACAN BRIDE stars Shannon Elizabeth and Eddie McClintock as a frantic bride-to-be and her old flame, who unexpectedly rekindle their romance during a chance meeting. Fun, frothy comedy. I DO (BUT I DON’T) stars Denise Richards and Dean Cain about a wedding planner who’s convinced that the man of her dreams is about to marry the client of her nightmares. Nice support from Mimi Kuzyk, and Jessica Walter. HOW I MARRIED MY HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH stars Katee Sackhoff stars as a high school senior who gets her wish of seeing her future wedding to life-long crush Brian (Sage Brocklebank) during a solar eclipse. Fun, although echoes of Peggy Sue Got Married abound…Erica Durance and Paul Popowich star in I ME WED is a screwball comedy about a woman who becomes an overnight media sensation after she plans a wedding in which she marries herself! Funny and clever, with a game cast. MAKING MR. RIGHT stars Dean Cain and Christina Cox in a modern day reversal of My Fair Lady in which an uptight magazine editor does a complete makeover on a scruffy con man, falling in love with him in the process. All films are Full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
BLU BAYOU MGM/Fox lead the pack with this month’s Blu releases: Ridley Scott’s THELMA & LOUISE gets a 20th anniversary release, with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis playing two Arkansas gals whose weekend joyride turns into a feminist manifesto of sex, rage and redemption. Terrific support from Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher MacDonald and, in his star-making turn, Brad Pitt as the most charming bandit since Butch and Sundance. Bonuses: Commentary by Scott, Sarandon, Davis and screenwriter Callie Khouri; Featurettes; Deleted and extended scenes; Storyboards; Music video by Glenn Frey. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround. MOONSTRUCK won Cher a Best Actress Oscar for her turn as an Italian-American widow in Brooklyn who finds herself in an unexpected romance with her fiancée (Danny Aiello)’s unstable younger brother (Nicolas Cage). Charming script from John Patrick Shanley also won an Oscar, as did Olympia Dukakis for Best Supporting Actress. Bonuses: Commentary by director Norman Jewison, Cher, Shanley; Documentary on film’s production; Featurette. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround. RAINMAN is Barry Levinson’s serio-comic look at the relationship between two brothers: Charlie, the youngest (Tom Cruise), a hot-headed hustler and Raymond, the elder (Dustin Hoffman), a middle-aged autistic savant. When Cruise is informed their wealthy father has left his vast estate to the elder brother, Charlie kidnaps Raymond from his extended care home and hits the road in their dad’s classic Buick Roadmaster. Writers Ron Bass and Barry Morrow, Hoffman, Levinson, and producer Mark Johnson, all won Oscars, including Best Picture for the latter. Bonuses: Commentary by Levinson, Bass, Morrow; Featurette; Deleted scene; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround. LAST TANGO IN PARIS is the 1972 arthouse hit from Bernardo Bertolucci that helped jump-start the career of Marlon Brando that year (along with a little picture called The Godfather). Brando has never been better as a grieving widower in the city of light who embarks on a sadomasochistic affair with a young woman (Maria Schneider) he meets by chance. Controversial and X-rated upon its release (it now carries an NC-17) for its frank treatment of sexuality and scatological dialogue, the film still packs an emotional wallop, and is one of the most honest portraits of how the battle between the sexes is ultimately futile and tragic. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 mono. Lionsgate releases Richard Attenborough’s CHAPLIN, a flawed, but nonetheless engaging biopic of silent screen master Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey, Jr.)’s life and times. Downey is a revelation as Chaplin, and carries the film brilliantly. Fine support from a who’s-who cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Diane Lane, Kevin Kline, Dan Aykroyd, and Geraldine Chaplin, playing her own grandmother. Bonuses: Chaplin home movie; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 surround. Blue Underground releases DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, director Harry Kimmel’s kinky lesbian vampire classic about an ageless European countess (the lovely Delphine Seyrig) and her “companion” (Andrea Rau) who seduce and kill young couples on holiday, in this case newlyweds Danielle Quimet and John Karlen. Almost perfect combination of truly elegant filmmaking and pure grindhouse sleaze, making this one of the finest examples of the latter genre. Bonuses: Commentary by Kimmel, Karlen, and journalist David Del Valle; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailer and radio spots. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 mono. Criterion releases James L. Brooks’ BROADCAST NEWS, a sly, witty romantic comedy about a love triangle between three TV journalists: type A producer Holly Hunter, handsome but morally ambiguous William Hurt, and earnest intellectual Albert Brooks. When the network news division announces massive layoffs, both men vie for Hunter’s affections, coming at her from diametrically (and morally)-opposed angles. Brilliant, witty, literate adult comedy sparkles with nearly every line of inspired dialogue. One of the 1980s' finest cinematic hours. Jack Nicholson is a hoot in a cameo as an egotistical news anchor. Bonuses: Commentary by Brooks and editor Richard Marks; Documentary on Brooks; Alternate ending and deleted scenes; Featurettes; Behind-the-scenes footage; Trailer Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 surround. THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE is Krzysztof Kieslowski’s breakthrough film from 1991, starring Irene Jacob in a dual role as Weronika, a Polish choir soprano, and Veronique, a French music teacher. Fascinating mediation on identity, love and human intuition. Bonuses: Commentary by critic and film historian Annette Insdorf; Three short documentaries by Kieslowski; Featurettes; Documentaries on Kieslowski; Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox releases the classics AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in director Leo McCarey’s story of two people who meet by chance aboard an ocean liner, each engaged to other people, and fall deeply in love. They agree to meet six months later atop the Empire State Building, until tragedy strikes. Great mix of romance, drama and weepy emotion that still holds up beautifully. Bonuses: Commentary by signer Marni Nixon and film historian Joseph McBride; Featurettes; Fox Movietone News; Trailer. ALL ABOUT EVE stars Bette Davis in her signature role as Margo Channing, an aging Broadway star about to be upstaged by her understudy (Anne Baxter). Scintillating script by director Joseph L. Mankiewicz retains its power as one of the best showbiz stories ever filmed. Fine support from George Sanders, Celeste Holm and (Davis’ real-life husband at the time) Gary Merrill. Bonuses: Commentary by Holm, Mankiewicz biographer Ken Geist, and Christopher Mankiewicz, author Sam Staggs; Isolated score track; Featurettes; Vintage promotions; Fox Movietone News; Trailer. Both are widescreen, DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
DOCUMENTARY DAYS Sony Pictures Classics releases the 2010 Best Documentary Oscar-winner INSIDE JOB, a brilliantly-told, and infuriating look at the cause of the global financial crisis of 2008, who and what brought it about, how it could have been stopped, and what become of its perpetrators. Director Charles Ferguson combines new interviews with archival footage, as well as narration by Matt Damon, and creates a documentary with the pace of a thriller. Don’t watch this one before bedtime, as you will be up pacing for hours! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Commentary by Ferguson and producer Ashley Marrs. BD-LIVE features more than 60 minutes of deleted scenes. Widescreen Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Shout Factory releases TEDDY PENDEGRASS LIVE IN ’82, a filmed record of the legendary singer’s sold-out concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, showing him at the peak of his powers. Over an hour of music, featuring Pendegrass’ biggest hits. Bonuses: Extra performance footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. eOne releases APOCALYPSE: WORLD WAR II features over 300 minutes of newly-colorized and restored battlefield footage taken during the second world war, telling the story of the conflict through the eyes of the men that fought it. Featuring uncensored footage, most of it unseen before, film provides and chilling and astonishing portrait of war as hell on earth. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. ALONZO BODDEN: WHO’S PAYING ATTENTION? features the winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” performing an hour-long set in New York City, where he tackles everything from pop culture, to real estate, to swine flu. Funny and insightful pop philosophy, reminiscent of George Carlin, Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus standup; Interview. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Lionsgate releases THE LAST PLAY AT SHEA is both a dynamite concert film recording, featuring turns by Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, John Mayer and Roger Daltrey, as well as a look at the ups and downs of the venerable Shea Stadium itself, a New York and Long Island institution. Bonuses: Featurette; Interview with Chuck Klosterman. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. MICHAEL JORDAN TO THE MAX is the box office smash (shot and originally presented in IMAX) that gives and up close and personal view of the basketball great both on the court and off, featuring interviews with friends and colleagues such as Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr, Doug Collins, and Bob Costas. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary with co-directors/producers James D. Stern and Don Kempf, producer Steve Kempf; Featurettes; Michael Jordon stats; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. RONALD REAGAN: AN AMERICAN JOURNEY offers a chest-thumping look at one of the most polarizing presidents, and figures, in modern history. Love him or hate him, Ronald Reagan left a mark on the world and its people, although this piece of right-wing propaganda would have you believe he was the second coming of Christ himself. You know you’re in trouble when the opening title of a film reads “A presentation of Enduring Freedom Productions, Inc.” For a more balanced, and critical view of the 40th President, take a look at the HBO documentary, simply titled “Reagan.” Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. New Video/History Channel releases I AM ALIVE: SURVIVING THE ANDES PLANE CRASH is a harrowing look the 1972 air disaster that left 45 rugby team members stranded in the Andes Mountains for 72 days, during which time they were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. Tough stuff and not for the faint-of-heart, to be sure. Bonuses: Featurettes; Extended interviews; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. JEFFERSON offers a portrait of founding father Thomas Jefferson and the seemingly endless list of contradictions that made up his life: humanist, slave owner, intellectual, aristocratic, revolutionary, and aesthete. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. OUR PLANET: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF EARTH, takes a three part look at how the Earth was made, the potentially catastrophic results of our own behavior on it, and the possibility of a world wiped clean of humanity. Contains three of History Channel’s most acclaimed docs on these subjects: “How the Earth Was Made,” “A Global Warning?” and “Life After People.” Bonuses: Bonus documentary “Inside the Volcano”; Additional scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. PBS releases another large slate of titles, beginning with TREE SAFARI: THE KOA CONNECTION follows world-class sculptor Brad Sells as he meets curators, conservationists, carvers, and cattlemen in a quest for koa wood to craft his art.Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. ROBERT E. LEE takes a warts-and-all look at the iconic Southern general who led the Confederacy and continues to remain a polarizing figure nearly two centuries after his birth. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. NANCY REAGAN: ROLE OF A LIFETIME takes a look at the 40th First Lady and her role in shaping the career and life of her husband, “Ronnie.” Produced by the esteemed news team of MacNeil/Lehrer, fascinating doc is buoyed by interviews with former White House staffers, advisors, family and friends. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. AFTER THE WALL—A WORLD UNITED takes a look at the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany after 40 years of separation, and the peaceful end of the Cold War. Interviews with George H.W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl gives first-hand perspective on the events, as well as archival and brand new footage of Berlin, and other former Eastern Bloc cities during and after the Iron Curtain. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. TRIANGLE FIRE explores the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Greenwich Village on March 25th, 1911. As the blaze tore through the congested building, the fire fed by piles of textile trimmings, hundreds of immigrant workers were killed, many burned beyond recognition, while the flimsy fire escapes collapsed, killing dozens more. A seminal event in American history that helped rewrite labor and safety laws in the workplace, powerfully told. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. ELSA’S LEGACY marks the 50th anniversary (2010) of the publication of Born Free, the landmark book (and later film) that changed the way the world looked at wildlife. Elsa, the orphaned lion cub raised by George and Joy Adamson became the living symbol of animal rights, and this fascinating doc looks at the Adamsons’ life raising Elsa. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE LONGORIA AFFAIR looks at how the death of WW II hero Felix Longoria overseas, and the subsequent refusal of his Texas hometown funeral parlor to use its chapel due to the racism of the time, helped spark the Chicano movement across the country. Bonuses: Trailer; Bonus video. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. BIRDS OF THE GODS takes a look at the spectacular avians that populate the island of New Guinea in the South Pacific. Narrated by celebrated naturalist David Attenborough, the recorded expedition is led by a young team of New Guinean scientists into areas that have never been filmed before. Fascinating and beautiful documentary. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. EMERGENCY MINE RESCUE takes a look at the recent Chilean mine disaster where 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days, and finally rescued, all alive, in an event that captivated the world. Filmed around the San Jose mine, doc also features interviews with the rescued miners, their families, as well as animations of the underground tunnels carved out by a century of mining. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. DINOSAUR WARS takes a look at Victorian-era paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh and his virtual monopolization of the earliest dinosaur fossil finds, particularly in the newly-opened American West. A sort of Jurassic thriller, made all the more fascinating by being true! Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ANIMATION NATION Disney once again leads the pack with its release of BAMBI: DIAMOND EDITION, featuring both Blu-ray and regular DVDs of the family classic about the orphaned baby deer who comes of age with the aid of playful lupine friend Thumper, amiable skunk Flower and the sage Friend Owl. Beautifully-restored classic remains one of the Disney studio’s finest hours, combining eye-popping animation, storytelling and pathos. Bonuses: Introduction by Diane Disney Miller; Deleted scenes and song; Featurettes; Interactive game; Interactive Blu-ray galleries. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround and DTS-HD 7.1 surround. Warner Bros. releases ELMO’S WORLD: PENGUINS AND FRIENDS, featuring three educational vignettes revolving around animals: “Penguin Pals,” “Hop to It!” and “Horsing Around.” Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. ALL STAR SUPERMAN is an all-new animated feature starring the Caped Crusader facing off against arch-enemy Lex Luthor, who has poisoned Superman with solar radiation, and plans to take over the world now that the Man of Steel is too weak to stop him. Terrific, imaginative animation help make this adventure great fun, along with fine voice work from James Denton, Christina Hendricks and Anthony LaPaglia. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Lionsgate releases THE LAST UNICORN, a whimsical tale about a lone unicorn seeking out her identity. Based on the popular children’s book, this 1982 classic features voice work from Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Christopher Lee. In a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by writer Peter S. Beagle and publisher Connor Cochran; Art galleries; Trailers; Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. JONAH is a VeggieTales take on the classic fable of Jonah and the belly of the whale, populated in this incarnation by Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and the rest of the Veggie gang. Sure to please small children, in particular. BD/DVD combo back. Bonuses: Commentary by filmmakers and animators; Featurettes; Music video; Outtakes; Digital dallies; Progression reels; Trailers and previews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE MIRACLE MAKER: THE STORY OF JESUS, tells The Greatest Story Ever Told with possibly the greatest voice cast ever assembled: Ralph Fiennes, Julie Christie, James Frain, Richard E. Grant, Ian Holm, William Hurt, Daniel Massey, Alfred Molina, Miranda Richardson, and David Thewlis, to name a few! BD/DVD combo pack. Bonuses: Commentary by the filmmakers; Making-of documentary; Featurettes; Trailers; Interactive games. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Paramount/Nickelodeon present INVADER ZIM: OPERATION DOOM an animated ditty about an annoying would-be extraterrestrial invader. 13 episodes make up the feature. SPONGEBOB SQAUREPANTS: THE GREAT PATTY CAPER features seven Spongebob episodes with a whodunit theme. THE BACKYARDIGANS: WE ARRRR PIRATES! offers the gang in four pirate-themed episodes, tipping its collective hat to Pirates of the Caribbean and its sequels. Finally, DORA’S BALLET ADVENTURES serves up four episodes revolving around music and dance, sure to please the budding black swan in your household. All titles are full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
