Eric Serra, An Intimate Parisian Interview

ERIC SERRA, above.

by Slavica Monczka

(This article originally appeared on SeductivelyFrench.com.)

Music mogul Eric Serra has a wealth of experience from composing his own music for his band RXRA to being the founder of the EuroVoice competition to, what he is most commonly known for, his long list of music scores for blockbuster films. From his studio in his home in Paris, I spent a day with Eric Serra curious about his beginning that led him down this path of success, and where it will taking him next!

It was the chance meeting of director Luc Besson that launched Serra’s career in the movie industry. I should say sky-rocketed his career, with such titles as The Fifth Element (1997), The Professional (1994), and La Femme Nikita (1990), Serra has composed music for all but one of Besson’s films in his entire history as film director.  Further impressive is that young Serra at that time did not consider himself a composer, explaining to Besson, as if almost not accepting the job, “well, I’m not a composer, I am just a musician.” Luckily, Besson was so impressed with Serra that he encouraged him to give it a try, leading to this marriage made in heaven where the two have collaborated their film and music for well over two decades now.

“Luc knows exactly what role he wants the music to play in the movie, for each scene. And that is probably why we work well together, because he talks about emotions. The way I work with music, even the way I listen to music, to me is emotional,” explains Serra of composing for director Besson. “That is my only concept of music. When I compose I am just expressing emotions.”

Serra describes that when composing, he is responsible to create an emotion to enhance what the director envisions. Another example of this is the music Serra produced for the show Believe by Criss Angel and Cirque Du Soleil on stage at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. The Cirque illustrates how “Serra takes the listener on a thrilling, dreamlike exploration beginning with sounds of vintage children-inspired melodies to rock and gothic moments with heavy, industrial, electronic beats to classical and operatic influences.”

Serra has composed music for a variety of movie genre, such as action/adventure Golden Eye (1995) of the James Bond mega hit film series, or animations Arthur 3 and Tarzan where he had the opportunity to work with the legendary Phil Collins. “I’m good friends with Peter Gabriel, and so it was nice to meet the other Genesis,” jokingly stating since he knows the two “now I know all the secrets of the original Genesis.”

We sit in front of his monstrous digital recording soundboard and discuss how he has come a long way in his career, yet Serra is humble when reminiscing with me his fascination with music as a child. Serra is not sure when it all began for him as he does not have much memory before age seven, when his mother unexpectedly died. “It is completely bizarre, I don’t have any memory of my mother,” reveals Serra. I ask if she has influenced his music, at least on some unconscious level? Serra answers “probably yes,” continuing as if talking about someone else, “losing your mom when you are a child is a big thing. That probably does influence you your whole life. Especially when you are an artist.”

Eric Serra and Luc Besson, above.

Serra walks me down the studio hallway of walls filled with guitars while elaborating on a few and their significance. One is his first guitar he received when he just was five years old. Then Serra’s first electric guitar he purchased when he was eleven. Serra pointed out a few that were gifts, like the one from Luc Besson purchased in Bora Bora. All I could think is if these guitars could speak words, oh the stories they could tell! For now, we can only try to translate the tunes Serra strums from them.

When I asked Serra what he prefers to do, compose music, lyrics or perform, without hesitation his answer was performing. “That is something I really love!” Serra describes performing on stage as a trance-like feeling, “when I play with my band, I close my eyes and we’re gone! The audience, they can feel this and they love it! It is my favorite thing in life!”

More recently as founder and president of EuroVoice, an interactive televised music competition, Serra has created this annual contest with a web site where new talent can be found and where musicians can simply share their music. EuroVoice 2010 Finale, televised from Athens, Greece, to over 20 countries, was hosted by Serra and Pamela Anderson, and included performances by contestants as well as special guest Enrique Iglesias.  Launched just last year, it is quite a production with a bright future for the stars of the future. Registration is already underway for the 2012 competition.

Serra is looking forward to his next concerts with band RXRA, one scheduled November 18^th in Avignon, France. Then off to the Ukraine where RXRA will be in Donetsk December 6^th and Kiev December 7^th, with special guest Assia Ahhatt.  Serra will also be starting to work on his new album for RXRA this year as well.

Need more Serra? Visit http://www.ericserra.com/ and http://eurovoice.tv/. For a show you’ve gotta see to Believe, visit

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/believe/default.aspx

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HEAVY D: 1967-2011

The Hollywood Interview is sad to report the untimely death of rapper/actor Heavy D at age 44. I interviewed Heavy D for Venice Magazine, back in June of 2005, as he was making his theatrical debut in Hollywood, in the play "Medal of Honor Rag." He was a soft-spoken, thoughtful man whose imposing physical presence couldn't hide what seemed like an inherently gentle nature. Of the hundreds of hours of interviews I've logged over the years, ours was one of the most memorable. He will be missed. Rest in peace.


HEAVY D CHANGES HIS TUNE IN
MEDAL OF HONOR RAG
By
Alex Simon

It’s fair to say that Heavy D was one of the first rap/hip-hop artists whose work crossed over into the “mainstream,” earning him points with urban fans as well as those in the suburbs. While many people were left with a bad taste from what they perceived as extreme mysoginy and hate-filled rants from certain latter-day rappers, Heavy D and his backup band The Boyz, always remained gentlemen, taking cues from old school R & B love balladeers like Barry White and Isaac Hayes, as well as mixing their own unique fusion of street poetry and Reggae-influenced beats and melodies. In addition, Heavy never let his 250 lbs-plus girth get in the way of his natural charm and sex appeal for the ladies. This, along with a healthy sense of humor and playfulness made Heavy D and The Boyz stand out from the crowd. Yes, they had an edge, and you could groove to their tracks with the best of them, but they were also the guys whose music you could play for your mom, without having to blush.

Heavy D was born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica on May 24, 1967 and moved with his family to Mt. Vernon, NY, as a young child. He discovered rap music at age eight and by junior high was making his own demo tapes. He later formed the Boyz with high-school friends DJ Eddie F (born Eddie Ferrell), Trouble T-Roy (born Troy Dixon), and G-Wiz (born Glen Parrish). Their demo tape found its way to Def Jam executive Andre Harrell who was in the process of forming his own label, Uptown. Harrell made Heavy D & the Boyz the first artists signed to Uptown in 1986, and they released their debut album, Living Large, in 1987. The follow-up album, 1989's Big Tyme, was the group's real breakthrough. Big Tyme went all the way to number one on the R&B album charts and made the Top 20 on the pop side; it was also certified platinum. Tragedy struck on the supporting tour however when Trouble T-Roy was killed in an accident on July 15, 1990.

During this time, Heavy was also establshing himself as an actor, having made his television debut on the "Cosby Show" spin-off "A Different World," and soon appearing in a recurring role on the hit series Roc. Heavy made his big screen debut in Nick Gomez’s urban thriller New Jersey Drive in 1995, followed by impressive turns in Ted Demme’s Life and Lasse Hallstrom’s hit The Cider House Rules (both 1999). Cider House also co-starred Delroy Lindo. The two men formed a bond during the shoot, and vowed to work together again. And so they did…

Heavy D should now probably change his moniker to “Good-Sized D,” or “Lean and Mean D (L & MD, anyone?),” after shedding 135 pounds. Along with this new image, Heavy is establishing himself as a gifted stage actor, with his powerful turn in Tom Cole’s Medal of Honor Rag. Directed by Delroy Lindo (who makes his directing debut), the play is set in 1971, during the waning days of the Vietnam war. D.J. Jackson, Vietnam veteran and winner of The Congressional Medal of Honor, has been sent to the Veteran’s Hospital in New York, where he tries to exorcise his demons with the help of a sympathetic psychiatrist (Paul Schackman, also fine). What follows is a spellbinding battle of psyches as the two men mentally and and verbally spar with one other. Medal of Honor Rag runs at The Egyptian Arena Theater through July 17.

Heavy D sat down with Venice recently at the Egyptian Arena Theater, just a few hours before he took the stage, to discuss his latest artistic venture.

Tell us how the show came to you originally.

Heavy D: I did a play with Laurence Fishburne about ten years ago called Riff-Raff, which he wrote and directed. When I finished doing that, I really had the bug to do it again, and Fish said “You should do a play called Medal of Honor Rag.” It took me ten years to get to it because I just didn’t have the chops to do it (until now). It’s a huge undertaking emotionally, and I was able to gain a lot more experience by acting as much as I could here and there, and constantly stealing things from good actors that I would see or work with! (laughs) All of that people watching goes into this little library that I hopefully have now. The reason I chose someone like Delroy to direct it is that whatever I don’t have in terms of technique, I knew I could get a good portion of that through Delroy, which is exactly what’s happening. I’m in a really good place right now.

Heavy D & the Boyz.

Who’re some of the other actors you mentioned that you “steal” from, and admire?
Gene Hackman. Walter Matthau. Geoffrey Wright. Wood Harris. Wood and Geoff I put up on a pedestal. Wood is actually coming to the show tonight. He’s a brilliant actor, and just a well-rounded artist. He plays guitar, he’s a beautiful person to be around. Then there’s Denzel, of course, and Delroy. Laurence Fishburne. Johnny Depp.

One thing that Delroy and I discussed when I interviewed him was that, prior to our going to Iraq for the second time, this play might have felt dated (it was written in 1976). Now, in today’s climate, it feels very contemporary.

What about the Gulf War?

That was a blip on the radar compared to what’s going on now, don’t you think?
Yeah, on the surface it’s easy to say something like that. But it’s always relevant, what these (soldiers) go through. This isn’t about Iraq, obviously, it’s about Vietnam. D.J. represents millions of people who’ve served our country. It’s not filled with slang or music that would make it seem dated. I think it’s just a powerful piece.

Heavy D in Medal of Honor Rag.

I didn’t mean dated in that sense. I just meant that it would have definitley felt like a period piece had I seen it prior to the Iraq war. Remember, during Vietnam there were lots of very powerful anti-Vietnam movies and plays that were set in WW II and Korea, because people were afraid to dissent too openly in some cases.

Yeah, yeah, you may be right. I know Delroy felt that way, until we went to Iraq, but to me, good is good. One of the things I’ve taken away from this play is that we prepare people to go to war. That’s all part of the process. But no one prepares them to go home from it, and that’s what these guys are going through now.

Ah, but we used to. We used to during WW I and WW II. Why is it that we’ve moved backwards since then?

You know what it was: people were fighting a reason.



Yeah, that and there were no socio-economic boundries in terms of who fought those wars. We haven’t had a war that’s been fought by middle, upper middle class and the wealthy since WW II.

Right, right. They’re looking for a way out, and then they get trapped in that war. But man, imagine being drafted today? I don’t think that would go over too well. I think there would be a huge uprising.

I don’t think it would ever pass The House, although they might get it as far as a vote. Recruitment is at an all-time low right now.

I think we’d have a bigger uprising than what we had in the 60s, because people are more savvy right now. Nobody wants to send their kids to war, especially after what they saw happen in Vietnam. If you call somebody a “draft dodger” I don’t think it’ll have the same connotation it once had. Now it’s like “Hey, I’m saving my kid’s life.” Especially with African-Americans.

They’ll be like “Hell no, I’m not sending my kid over there!” And from what I gague, the majority of the country is becoming opposed to the war. It’s like “What are we fighting for, again? I thought we were going after somebody else.” This is more about power and control than anything else.

That and economics.

Right. It’s much more about that than it is about what’s right for the country.

Tell us about some of the responses you’ve gotten from veterans who’ve seen the play.

Those have been the most gratifying compliments we’ve gotten. Danny, who runs the house here, is a Vietnam vet, and he’s been thouroughly moved. A guy named Wayne Patton, who’s been one of our advisors for the show, has been thoroughly moved. You hear these stories and see the distance in these guys’ eyes when they go back to that place, and it’s almost surreal. We’re all human, so we all adapt to our surroundings, but at a point, it’s almost impossible to comprehend what these guys went through.

How did you come to acting originally?

After I appeared on that episode of "A Different World" as myself, I just fell in love with the whole process.

How is being on stage different than working in front of a camera?

Well, the main difference is you have to be sharp and be able to transition seamlessly from one moment to another. That’s been a real challenge for me, but one that I’ve really enjoyed. Every day I’m discovering new things about my character: mannerisms, things like that. So the main difference is, you just have to be able to turn on a dime when you’re on stage, whereas on film, you can take a moment to prepare for each transition.

Do you like to be directed?

Yeah, very much, especially at the stage of the game that I’m in now. I imagine that you want to wish to only work with good directors if you choose to be the actor who’s going to listen. In film, it’s a director’s medium. On stage, it’s an actor’s medium. On TV, it’s a writer and producer’s medium. So you’ve just got to know your place and what you’re doing.

How is it different working with someone like Delroy, who’s an actor/director, as opposed to someone like Lasse Hallstrom, who’s purely a filmmaker?

Since Delroy’s a first time director, there’s always that fine line between “Am I telling him how to act, or am I giving him direction?” which was something we all had to figure out at the beginning. You’re talking about a guy who’s coming from an extensive theater background. So he has that muscle developed. He knows his craft. He has that discipline. Whatever I don’t know, he knows. So it’s been great.

One thing I love about the play is its simplicity: just two people talking. I think we’ve forgotten about the beauty of simplicity in this age of spectacle. Broadway’s even become all about spectacle.

Yeah, bells and whistles. Characters. Who are these people? And it’s hard to answer those questions in the midst of bells and whistles. And I think we’re doing a good job of that.

R.I.P.

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THE RED ROBIN Takes Flight With Cast Announcement

(THE RED ROBIN logo, above.)

By Terry Keefe




Actors Judd Hirsch, Ryan O'Nan, C.S. Lee, Jaime Ray Newman, Caroline Lagerfelt, and Joseph Lyle Taylor have all joined the cast of The Red Robin feature film, which begins shooting outside Philadelphia on December 3rd.

The Red Robin will be directed and produced by screenwriter Michael Z. Wechsler. The psychological thriller is Executive Produced by Jonathan Sanger (The Producers, The Elephant Man),  Rick Porras (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Shawn Singh.

O’Nan will play Tommy Shellner, the adopted adult son of Hirsch’s Nathaniel Shellner, a famed, and dying, trauma psychiatrist who was rumored to have done some confidential work for the CIA during the Cold War. A family reunion on Nathan’s death bed spirals into chaos when Tommy accuses his father of adopting his large family of children for the purposes of dark experiments in mind control.

Earlier this year, O’Nan wrote, directed, and starred in The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, playing half of a fictional musical duo with Michael Weston. Rhino Records was so taken with the Brooklyn Brothers that they signed O’Nan and Weston to record under their fictional band name shortly after the first festival screening. O’Nan also recently starred in Freelancers, with Robert De Niro and Forrest Whitaker. In January, O’Nan will shoot The Frozen Ground in Alaska, appropriately enough, opposite Nicolas Cage, and will then appear in the feature The Iceman, opposite Michael Shannon and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

C.S. Lee, who plays forensic investigator Vince Masuka, on “Dexter,” will portray Harry Shellner, the adopted brother of O’Nan’s Tommy.

Judd Hirsch earned an Academy Award nomination for his work playing a psychiatrist previously in Ordinary People, but his role as Nathaniel Shellner may reveal a far darker side of the same profession. Some of the many highlights of Hirsch’s long and distinguished career include his two Emmys for his work in “Taxi,” a Golden Globe for his work in the series “Dear John,” and a Tony Award for Conversations With My Father. He is currently appearing on “Damages," as well as on the big screen in The Muppets.

Jaime Ray Newman, who starred previously on “General Hospital,” “Eastwick,” and “Drop Dead Diva,” will play the role of Julie Shellner, the daughter of the family.

Caroline Lagerfelt of “Gossip Girl” has also joined the cast as Lillian Shellner, the matriarch of the Shellner house.

Joseph Lyle Taylor, who will shortly be seen as one of In Bruges writer-director Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, will play the role of Leonard, the one biological child of the family.

The Red Robin begins production outside Philadelphia on December 3^rd.


THE RED ROBIN TEASER TRAILER below:

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Inside SEDONA: THE MOVIE: Talking with Filmmaker Tommy Stovall

By Terry Keefe

Sedona: the Movie, the second feature film from filmmaker Tommy Stovall, reminded me of a very fun cross-blending between the Kafka-esque comedy of After Hours, and the road movie plot staple of a stranger breaking down in a very odd town. The film intercuts two stories. First, we meet Tammy (played by Frances Fisher), who does, in fact, break down in Sedona, Arizona (when a plane lands on the road behind her) en route to a huge business meeting in Phoenix. She’s forced to spend the better part of the day with some very eccentric Sedona characters, portrayed by actors Beth Grant, Barry Corbin, Christopher Atkins, Kylee Cochran, and Lin Shaye (who you’ll remember as the Cameron Diaz’s very tanned next-door neighbor in There’s Something About Mary), amongst others.

Tammy’s story is paralleled by the more serious tale of Scott (Seth Peterson), a workaholic executive who goes hiking in the mountains outside Sedona with his son, only to have his child disappear for some time. During their adventures in Sedona, both Tammy and Scott come to life-changing self-realizations. The charming film premiered last month at the Hollywood Film Festival. We spoke to Tommy Stovall shortly thereafter.

Did anything in particular inspire the story of Sedona: the Movie?

Tommy Stovall: We moved to Sedona 9 years ago from Texas and quickly entrenched ourselves in the community. Sedona is full of wonderful and fascinating people with interesting stories and we thought it was rich with material for a movie, or even a TV series. In fact, one of the first people we met after we moved here was our friend Deb Lovejoy, who would come over to our house a lot for movie nights. I told her early on that I thought she would make a great movie character, and a few years later when I wrote the script for Sedona, I put her into the story! Beth Grant plays her. I knew that Sedona would be a gorgeous backdrop. I actually came up with a lot of my ideas for the movie while hiking out on the trails here.

(Tommy Stovall working with Frances Fisher, above.)

What has the response in Sedona been to the film? 

The response has been incredible! We previewed the movie earlier this year here at the Sedona International Film Festival, and people came out in droves to see it, thankfully. My biggest concern about doing this movie was how people here would feel about it. Even though it has a lot of comedy, the last thing I wanted was for people to think the movie makes fun of Sedona. It’s impossible to do anything without offending somebody, but so far no one has told me they were offended by the movie. And I’ve asked.

Were there any westerns or comedies that also served as inspiration? I'm sort of thinking After Hours and U-Turn, but I'm sure there are others! 

One of the challenges of the script was working with more than one storyline. So I studied other movies with multiple overlapping stories like Grand Canyon and Love Actually. The thing we always said from the get-go was that it would be like the series "Northern Exposure," which I was a big fan of. So it is incredibly ironic and way too cool that we have Barry Corbin in the movie!

How was Frances Fisher cast and could you speak about working with her a bit? 

It was all because of Beth Grant. When the idea of Beth playing Deb came up, I actually found Beth’s Facebook page and just sent her a message through it, not knowing if she would even get it. She responded immediately and we enthusiastically cast her very soon after that. Beth and Frances were working together on their own project at the time, so Beth brought up the idea of Frances playing Tammy. She asked if she could give Frances the script and I, again, very enthusiastically said “yes!” And then, lucky for us, Frances said “yes.” In working with her, she and I had to hit the ground running because she arrived in Sedona pretty late the night before our first day of shooting. We had literally no prep time, so we would talk about the character and script on the fly as we went along. That was a challenge, of course, but it certainly helped that she’s so unbelievably amazing, and her attention to detail is incredible. 

How many days did you shoot? 

We shot 23 days – a pretty fast pace. 

What was the biggest challenge of the production of the film? 

Well, money is always the biggest challenge working with a low budget, because it limits time, resources, everything. So you have to be creative on many different levels. But we were very fortunate in that we got a lot of help from the community – local businesses, residents, organizations – people who wanted to be a part of it and recognized how beneficial this project could be for all of Sedona. It really became a community event. 

You managed to get quite a bit of production value, particularly with the “plane landing on the road” scene. How was that shot? 

Again, we had to get very creative for that scene! We were hoping to be able to actually land the plane on the highway and we spent a lot of time planning to do that. But as it turned out, we weren’t able to land the plane for real, so we did the best we could with camera tricks and visual effects. 

What are you working on next? 

There could very well be some kind of sequel or two to this one – we’ll see what happens. I have a couple of scripts from other writers I’m interested in as well. And I’d love to do a really cool, smart, hip horror movie!

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DVD Playhouse--November 2011

DVD PLAYHOUSE—NOVEMBER 2011
By Allen Gardner

TREE OF LIFE (20th Century Fox) Terrence Malick’s latest effort is both the best film of 2011 and the finest work of his (arguably) mixed, but often masterly canon. A series of vignettes, mostly set in 1950s Texas, capture the memory of a man (Sean Penn) in present-day New York who looks back on his life, and his parents’ (Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain) troubled marriage, when word of his younger brother’s suicide reaches him. Almost indescribable beyond that, except to say no other film in history so perfectly evokes the magic and mystery of the human memory, which both crystalizes (and sometimes idealizes) the past. Like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001, this is a challenging, polarizing work that you must let wash over you. If you go along for the ride, you’re in for a unique, rewarding cinematic experience. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
KURONEKO (Criterion) Poetic and atmospheric horror fable from director Kaneto Shindo set in war-torn feudal Japan, where samurai are found with their throats ripped out, seemingly by malevolent spirits. When a military hero is chosen to find and confront the supernatural forces killing his comrades, he must slay some inner demons, as well. Gorgeously shot, with an eerie atmosphere of dread that pervades throughout. Stunning special effects, particularly for 1968. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interview with Shindo; Interview with critic Tadao Sato; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 (Warner Bros.) Epic finale of the Harry Potter saga, has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) finally facing off against arch-enemy Lord Voldemort (Ralph Feinnes). Full of eye-popping special effects and visuals, as expected, but also a film of tremendous heart and terrific suspense. All-star cast of British talent includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaccs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and of course, Rupert Gint and Emma Watson as Harry’s comrades-in-wands. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Nine in-depth Featurettes; A conversation between Daniel Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling; Extra Featurettes; Additional scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ON STRANGER TIDES (Disney) Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, here matching wits with a beautiful woman (Penelope Cruz) from his past, who seeks the legendary Fountain of Youth. The series has been getting slightly stale, but here officially jumps the shark. In spite of all the talent before (Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush) and behind (director Rob Marshall) the camera, everyone feels like they’re just going through the motions, even Depp, whom most people rightfully regard as a national treasure. A real let-down. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interactive featurettes; Commentary by Marshall and producer John DeLuca; Bloopers; LEGO Animated Shorts. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 7.1 surround.
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (Criterion) Pre-Code horror masterpiece from 1932 is nearly unrivaled in its nightmarish atmosphere and truly disturbing images that are every bit as potent today as they must have been nearly 80 years ago. Charles Laughton makes his screen debut as the demented scientist conducting mad genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, offering shelter of sorts to a shipwrecked man (Richard Arlen) who washes up there, but soon finds himself a prisoner. Watch with the lights out! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Uncut theatrical version; Conversation between John Landis and makeup artist Rick Baker, who discuss the film’s landmark makeup effects; Interviews with film historians and critics; Short film from 1976 by Devo; Stills gallery; Trailer. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
CRAZY STUPID LOVE (Warner Bros.) Steve Carell plays Cal Weaver, another average Joe/average schlub whose gorgeous wife (Julianne Moore) wants a divorce. Seeking to reinvent himself as a ladies’ man, Carell enlists the help of master player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) who promises to teach him the ropes in all things female and seduction. Meanwhile, Jacob finds his player mettle tested when he meets comely and smart lady lawyer Emma Stone. Likable enough comedy has lots of charming moments, but was also wildly overpraised by critics upon its release, most of whom were hungry, no doubt, for some funny romantic fare that didn’t involve bodily function jokes aimed at teens. Nice support from Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei and John Carroll Lynch. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN (20th Century Fox) Wayne Wang’s latest feature is an adaptation of the best-seller about friendship among two women from rival clans in Feudal China, and their secret communication system through the folds of a white silk fan. Later, in modern day Shanghai, the womens’ ancestors seek to draw inspiration from their great-grandmothers’ past to find their own identities in the hyper-modernized/mechanized present. Visually gorgeous, with Wang’s Eagle eye for detail a major selling point. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: In-depth documentary; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
FANNY & ALEXANDER (Criterion) Ingmar Bergman’s autobiographical tale of two children growing up under the unforgiving hand of their stern father in early 20th century Sweden is one of the master filmmaker’s greatest works. Originally made for Swedish television in 1982, that complete, four hour version is available here for the first time, and is even richer, more beautiful and more complex than the three hour theatrical version which was intended by Bergman to be his cinematic swan song (but thankfully wasn’t). Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Theatrical and television version; Bergman’s documentary The Making of Fanny & Alexander; Conversation between Bergman and critic Nilks Petter Sundgren from 1984; Interviews with cast and crew; Stills gallery; Costume and production design galleries; Commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
SOUTH OF HEAVEN (Synapse Films) Weird, wacky and wild blend of Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brothers that must be seen to be believed. Two brothers (Aaron Nee, Adam Nee) get caught up in a case of mistaken identity, kidnapping, extortion and revenge—and that’s just in the first ten minutes. Writer/director J.L. Vara has fashioned a wholly originally satire of the darkest order, with fine support from a terrific cast, including Jon Gries, Thomas Jay Ryan and Shea Whigham, who nearly steals the show as one of cinema’s most twisted, and convincing sociopaths. If you’re thrown by the film’s low budgeted weirdness during the first act, stick with it, and enjoy the quirky, dangerously twisted ride down a celluloid road to hell. Bonuses: Audio commentaries by Wigham, Vara, cast and crew, producers Brian Udovich, Glenn Abbott, Eric Inman, and Jason Polstein, critics Todd Brown, Scott Weinberg and Devin Faraci; Three short films by Vara. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE HEART SPECIALIST (20th Century Fox) Writer/director Dennis Cooper’s smart, funny romantic comedy about a cocky, womanizing Harvard Medical School grad (Brian White) who gets lessons beyond the E.R. from a senior doctor (Wood Harris) under whom he is interning. Zoe Saldana co-stars as Harris’ knowing girlfriend who also teaches the young doc a thing or two about the Rx of love, life and medicine. Bonuses: Additional scenes. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
ATTACK ON LENINGRAD (eOne) World War II’s most iconic, and infamous, battle is given epic treatment in this Russian production, with some truly eye-popping battle scenes and set pieces, but fails to achieve the greatness it reaches for when the bombs start dropping and its cast starts speaking. Mira Sorvino, Gabriel Byrne and Armin Mueller-Stahl lead the most Eastern European cast (with Sorvino speaking in a highly-questionable British accent). Writer/director Alexander Buravsky seems as though he studied all those star-studded WW II pictures from the ‘60s, which tried to balance great action set pieces with soapy subplots from its gorgeous international casts. It was middling then, and really creaks now. Worth seeing for its good points, but not likely to hold a place in most cinefiles’ permanent libraries. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interview with Burvasky; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE FOUR FEATHERS (Criterion) An early Technicolor masterpiece, from director Zoltan Korda and producer Alexander Kora, in 1939, is the finest of the many adaptations of A.E.W. Mason’s classic 1902 adventure novel about British colonial soldiers and their exploits in late 19th century Africa. Fine cast includes Ralph Richardson, John Clements, and June Duprez, with a fine score from the great Miklos Rozsa and gorgeous cinematography from Georges Perinal and Osmond Borradaile. Also available on Blu-ray disc, which is the perfect format to reproduce the beauty of early Technicolor. Bonuses: Commentary by film historian Charles Drazin; Interview with David Korda; Behind-the-scenes footage; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
BAARIA (Image) Writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso)’s autobiographical tale looks at generations of life in the small Sicilian town of Bagheria, nicknamed “Barria” by its residents. Sprawling epic is mostly successful in its ensemble stories, with some amazing imagery, reminiscent of Fellini (and particularly of his masterpiece Amarcord, of which this is a first cousin), nicely balanced with Tornatore’s signature blend of sentimentality and pathos. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Tornatore; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Photo and poster galleries. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
HORRIBLE BOSSES (Warner Bros./New Line) Three working stiffs (Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis, and Charlie Day) are mad as hell and not taking it anymore as they plan concurrent revenge against their horrific, soul-crushing, rage-inducing bosses (Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey). For the most part, very funny, always raunchy and immensely entertaining, although it does go over-the-top one too many times for this reviewer. Nice support from Donald Sutherland, Jamie Foxx, and a welcome cameo from the great Bob Newhart. Also features extended, unrated cut and theatrical R-rated cut. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
HARAKIRI (Criterion) A masterless samurai begs a feudal lord for permission to commit ritual suicide on his property so he can die with honor. The samurai in the lord’s employ think it’s a trick on the part of the desperate ronin to gain a position of power within the lord’s circle. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Special Jury Prize of 1962, director Masaki Kobayashi ‘s masterful blend of sociology, melodrama and pathos is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Introduction by Japanese film historian Donald Richie; Interviews with Kobayashi, star Tatsuya Nakadai, screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
MAIN STREET (Magnolia) Author/screenwriter Horton Foote’s swan song is a picaresque tale about a once-prosperous North Carolina tobacco town that has fallen on hard times. When an outsider (Colin Firth) arrives, promising an era of new prosperity if he’s allowed to bring new industry and businesses to their hamlet, the residents find themselves divided. Fine support from a dream cast (Ellen Burstyn, Patricia Clarkson, Amber Tamblyn, Orlando Bloom) raises the bar on this quiet little drama, but its ensemble plot remains too diffuse for the viewer to ever empathize with any one character, resulting in a pleasant, albeit detached, experience. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL (Magnet) Two hillbillies (Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine) take a weekend off at their West Virginia mountain cabin , only to find themselves under siege from a group of preppy collegians who assume they’re both chainsaw-wielding killer/buggerers of the Deliverance variety. Shamelessly campy, over-the-top bloody, and also much, much better than it has any reason to be, this gleefully goofy comic thriller is one of the most inventive films of its genre since Shawn of the Dead. Katrina Bowden adds lovely scenery to the proceedings. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Outtakes; Storyboards; Commentary by director Eli Craig, Labine, and Tudyk; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
IDENTIFICATION OF A WOMAN (Criterion) Michelangelo Antonioni’s bleak, haunting drama about a filmmaker (the great Tomas Milian) who embarks on affairs with two wildly divergent women after his wife leaves him. Renowned for its sexual explicitness at the time of its release (1982), the film is less shocking today for its ample helpings of flesh, but remains a pungent, and scathing commentary on male/female relations and the circular battle of the sexes. Antonioni’s last film before suffering a stroke which nearly incapacitated him until his death. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (20th Century Fox) Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson star in this adaptation of Sara Gruen’s best-seller, the love story between a veterinary student (Pattinson) and a circus performer (Witherspoon) whose mutual love for an elephant brings them together, while her jealous husband (Christoph Waltz) threatens to destroy them both. Well-meaning in the extreme and gorgeous to look at, but also lifeless and uninvolving. Too bad, particularly with talents like screenwriter Richard LaGravenese and director Francis Lawrence working behind the camera. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by Lawrence; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
DAZED AND CONFUSED (Criterion) A disparate group of teens is followed during the last day of high school in an Austin, TX. suburb circa 1976 in this delightful time capsule from writer/director Richard Linklater, rightfully compared to George Lucas’ American Graffiti for its evocative portrait of young adults coming-of-age. Terrific young cast of stars-to-be, including Matthew McConaughy, Ben Affleck, Adam Goldberg, Parker Posey, Rory Cochrane, as well as should-have-been-bigger stars such as Joey Lauren Adams, Michelle Burke, Wiley Wiggins and Jason London make this one of those rare films that begs repeated viewings. Terrific soundtrack of period music just ups the ante even more. Not to be missed! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Linklater; Documentary on film’s production; Behind the scenes footage; Audition footage and deleted scenes; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
HELLDRIVER (Well Go USA) After an alien-spawned, mysterious mist blankets northern Japan, the country is torn in half, with the top being populated by flesh-hungry zombies who must journey south to find food. A savoir arrives in the form of Kika, a high school girl whose beauty is only matched by her skill with a chainsaw against hungry flesh-eaters. Deliberately over-the-top and goofy, this gorefest should appeal to aficionados of the genre, while others (myself included) who have had their fill of zombies, vampires and the like in recent years, stay away! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Director’s introduction; Three spin-off short films; Featurette; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE PASSAGE (MGM/Fox) During WW II, a Basque peasant (Anthony Quinn) smuggles a French scientist (James Mason) and his family (Kay Lenz, Patricia Neal) into Spain, while being pursued by a psychotic SS officer (Malcolm McDowell). Director J. Lee Thompson delivers an unabashedly trashy melodrama, with McDowell’s turn a high point in modern camp (and also what makes the movie so much fun). Christopher Lee, Marcel Bozuffi and Michael Lonsdale also make appearances, and help make the proceedings far better than they have any business being. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE WHITE BUS (MGM/Fox) Lindsay Anderson’s follow-up to his auspicious debut with This Sporting Life (1963) was filmed and released four years later, and tells the story of a fragile young girl (Patricia Healey) who is taken from the brink of suicide in London, back to her small town in the North of England. Sharp, often brutal social commentary on the futility of life for most Brits of working class origin, this film is a fascinating time capsule and touches on many of the themes that were explored more in-depth in Anderson’s next film, the masterpiece If...Produced by Tony Richardson’s company, Woodfall. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE MUSIC LOVERS (MGM/Fox) Ken Russell’s deliriously cinematic biopic about the ill-fated love affair between Peter Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain), who wrestled with his homosexuality his entire life, and Antonina Milyukova (Glenda Jackson) is a feast for the senses, and displays Russell’s wizardry behind the camera better than any other film in his career. Marvelous soundtrack featuring the composer’s greatest works, conducted by Andre Previn. Screenplay by journalist and TV host Melvyn Bragg. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
TRIGGER (eOne) Rock solid Canadian production about former bandmates (Molly Parker and Tracy Wright) who reunite to play a benefit concert. After a heartfelt tete-a-tete, the women face down and examine their friendship, warts-and-all. Plays more like a photographed play than something written directly for the screen, but still works quite well, thanks to a good script and powerful turns by the two leads. Bonuses: Table reading footage; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ATLAS SHRUGGED PART I (20th Century Fox) Almost inexplicable low budget filming of Ayn Rand’s seemingly unfilmable signature novel is at best a curiosity and at its worst, an abomination of Biblical proportions. Set in the near-future of 2016, with the U.S. on the brink of economic collapse and the emphasis changing from individual achievement to collective mediocrity, with its most gifted citizens targeted for elimination. Rand’s 1957 novel, some might say rightfully, certainly seems prescient on many levels today, but the team that produced this amateur-hour version of the story seem to be living up to Rand’s worst nightmare prophesized in the story they purport to be telling. God help us if part II ever makes it to celluloid! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Filmmaker commentary. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
SHAOLIN (Well Go USA) In the early days of the Republic of China, a handful of greedy warlords, left over from the Feudal era, attempt to fuel war and strife to retain their foothold on a changing society. When one of them, the brutal Hou Jie (Andy Lau) seeks refuge with the gentle Shaolin monks, whom he previously betrayed. When his traitorous former protégée (Nicholas Tse) tracks him down, Hou must adapt to the ways of the Shaolin to stop the monster he created. Jackie Chan offers fine support in this excellent drama, which expectedly, also features some incredible martial arts action. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.





BLU BAYOU
Criterion leads the pack this month, with their BD release of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM, the controversial auteur’s notorious final film (he was brutally murdered days after its 1975 release) takes the Marquis de Sade’s story of torture and degradation and re-sets it in the waning days of Fascist Italy. Arguably the most disgusting, and debated, “art” film ever made, this reviewer counts it as one of neo-realisms great masterpieces. Tough going, to be sure, but for discriminating viewers, an experience that is sure to stay with you, and a message that remains timely as ever (think about some of the images that came out of Abu Ghraib prison, and compare them to those in this film). Bonuses: Trailer; Three documentaries on the film; Interviews with film scholars and crew members. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
MGM/Fox releases David Lynch’s 1986 masterpiece BLUE VELVET, in a beautiful, 25th anniversary edition. Described by Lynch as “The Hardy Boys go to hell,” this surreal, horrific, and often hilarious tale stars Kyle MacLachlan as a naïve college student whose dangerous obsession with a torch singer (Isabella Rossellini) plunges the young man into a nightmarish world of kidnapping, murder and madness, not to mention an encounter with what might be the screen’s most terrifying and hypnotic villain, Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper, in his greatest performance, which was criminally-overlooked by Oscar). Nearly indescribable beyond that, other than the fact that it remains one of “the great films” that must be seen multiple times to fully appreciate. Fine support from Dean Stockwell, Laura Dern, Hope Lange, George Dickerson and Brad Dourif. Bonuses: Nearly an hour of lost footage; Original “Siskel & Ebert” review; Featurettes; Trailer/TV spots; Outtakes. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Shout Factory releases THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE, co-directed by the band’s frontman, Jerry Garcia, is a superlative record of the band’s October, 1974 concert at San Francisco’s Winterland arena, showcasing the band at the peak of their powers. Beautifully restored and remastered for BD, with five different audio mixes, and two different formats, with one Blu-ray and one regular DVD in the collection. Bonuses: Over 95 minutes of bonus concert footage; Bonus songs transferred from original 16mm camera negative; Visible lyrics option; Two documentaries about the film’s production; TV commercial from ’74; Multicamera and multitrack audio demonstration; Photo gallery. Full screen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1
MVD releases IGGY AND THE STOOGES RAW POWER LIVE: IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS, where six fans were selected to film The Stooges’ September 3, 2010 reunion concert as the band performed “Raw Power” to a stunned audience at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival. Following the show, the same fans did extensive interviews with Iggy Pop and the band. Terrific stuff and a must for all Iggy/Stooges fans! Bonuses: Exclusive interviews with Iggy, James & Scott; Contest submission videos; Linter notes from Mike Watt. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Blue Underground releases two titles from Italian gore maestro Lucio Fulci. ZOMBIE (1979) is regarded by most of his fans as Fulci’s “masterpiece,” a sort of unofficial sequel to George Romero’s masterpiece Dawn of the Dead, where a mad doctor (former British heartthrob Richard Johnson) is conducting experiments on his Caribbean island hideaway that result in a plague of the living dead. In this reviewer’s opinion, Mr. Fulci couldn’t direct traffic, and this film is living proof of that, utterly inept on every level, unless Fulci’s signature zoom shots of spurting wounds and beautiful women getting their eyeballs gouged out are your idea of entertainment. Not to mention those whip pan shots that would give football players with 19-inch necks whiplash. Utter garbage, and in no way worthy of the A+ treatment given it on this handsomely-produced disc. Two disc set. Bonuses: Commentary by star Ian McCullouch and Diabolik Magazine editor Jason J. Slater; Trailers, TV and radio spots; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Interview with and introduction by Guillermo del Toro. Widescreen. DTS-HD 7.1 surround and Dolby 5.1 surround. Fulci’s follow-up, 1981’s THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETARY, is about a young family that relocates from crime-ridden New York City to seemingly idyllic New England, into a gorgeous, rambling house that turns out to have very bad karma, indeed, with previous owner Dr. Freudstein (yes, you read it right) having performed monstrous experiments within the confines of the home’s genteel walls. Another excuse for excessive gore and dismemberment, courtesy of some very impressive make-up special effects, but that’s about it. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Deleted scene; Trailers; TV spot; Posters and still galleries. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 stereo.
Anchor Bay releases THE HOWLING REBORN, an in-name only “reboot” of the original 1980 classic, with the mark of the werewolf finding itself wreaking havoc upon a class of high schoolers. Again, some impressive make-up special effects, but otherwise a real stinker. Bonuses: Commentary by writer/director Joe Nimziki and actor Lindsey Shaw; Featurette; Storyboard gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HBO releases Angelina Jolie’s star-making turn in GIA (UNRATED), a harrowing biopic about supermodel Gia Carangi, whose reign over the modeling world of the late ‘70s in New York was surpassed by her descent into the subculture of disco, hard drugs and harder sex. Jolie creates one of the most complex and harrowing portraits of an addictive personality ever committed to film, so much so that we soon forget that we’re watching one of the world’s biggest stars as she seamlessly disappears into Gia’s tragic skin. Fine support from Faye Dunaway, Mercedes Reuhl, and Elizabeth Mitchell. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE CANNONBALL RUN is the 1981 box office smash starring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dan Marin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jackie Chan, and Jamie Farr (get the idea?), all of whom take part in a winner-take-all cross country auto race. Produced by chopsocky vet Raymond Chow and directed by legendary stuntman Hal Needam, if you’re willing to accept the film’s unabashed awfulness (which all the cast most certainly does), you’re in for a great time. If you’re a fan of Bergman, look elsewhere. Bonuses: Commentary by Needham and producer Albert S. Ruddy. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.




DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL!PBS releases PAGE EIGHT, a smart, clever political thriller starring Billy Nighy in a contemporary spy thriller from playwright David Hare, who also directed. Nighy plays a veteran MI5 officer who finds his life topsy-turvy after the death of his mentor (Michael Gambon) brings him into contact with a Top Secret file that threatens the stability of the entire agency. Fine support from Rachel Weisz, Judy Davis, and Ralph Fiennes, just add to the brilliance of this drama, that’s sure to become a modern classic. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
A&E releases FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES, featuring all four seasons (88 episodes) of the sci-fi hit on four discs in a handsome box set loaded with extras, and in a Blu-ray edition that really enhances the show’s dazzling production design and special effects. Bonuses include: New, feature-length documentary on the series’ production; Behind-the-scenes special, “Farscape Undressed”; Three archival documentaries; Three Featurettes; 31 audio commentaries; Deleted scenes; Director’s cut scenes; Alternate version of season 2 premiere; Video profiles and interviews with cast and crew; TV promos. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
ROBOTECH: THE COMPLETE SERIES offers another beautiful box set of the hit anime series’ 85 episodes on 17 discs, including 10 hours of bonus material, including: New documentary, “Carl Macek’s Robotech Universe”; Music videos; Alternate versions of select episodes; Robotech: the Movie supplementals; Promo reel of the Chinese series launch; Over an hour of deleted scenes; Featurettes; Original pilot episodes, including a 70 minute extended version; Presentation reels; International clips: Stills gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
20th Century Fox releases BONES: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON, stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz as forensic detectives Dr. Temperance Brennan and FBI agent Seeley Booth, assigned to crack the most confounding cases. 4-disc set contains all 23 episodes of season six. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Two extended episodes; Featurettes; Select episode audio commentary; Pilot episode for “The Killing.” Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE LEAGUE: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO, offers all 13 episodes of the series’ sophomore season about a group of friends obsessed with fantasy football. Bonuses include: Extended episodes; Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
History Channel/Newvideo releases TOP SHOT: RELOADED, the competition series where sixteen top marksmen complete for a $100,000 prize and the title of “Top Shot.” 13 episodes on 4 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes. PAWN STARS VOLUME THREE offers all sixteen third season episodes on two discs, taking a fly-on-the-wall view of Las Vegas’ Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, and the venerable Harrison family, who have run it for generations. AMERICAN PICKERS VOLUME TWO looks at Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, owners of Antique Archeology, who scour the nation’s garbage dumps for hidden treasures among the refuse. Eight episodes on two discs. All are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Lifetime releases a host of holiday themed TV-movies, including: HOLIDAY WISHES, starring Britt McKillip as a spoiled rich kid and Katie Keating, an orphan, who switch bodies after paying a visit to Santa. UNDER THE MISTLETOE stars Jaime Ray Newman as a lifelong altruist whose self-sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed by her young son, who decides to play matchmaker. A VERY MERRY DAUGHTER OF THE BRIDE stars Joanna Garcia as a wedding planner who disapproves of her mother (Helen Shaver) getting remarried, and joins forces with her stepbrother-to-be (Luke Perry) to bring the nuptials to a halt. A CHRISTMAS WEDDING stars Sarah Paulson as a bride-to-be who finds her Christmas Day wedding plans heading south after a series of foul-ups. Also stars Dean Cain, Mimi Kuzyk and Art Hindle.




DOCUMENTARY DAYS
MPI/Sundance Selects releases Errol Morris’ TABLOID, a scathing, funny and painful portrait of Joyce McKinney, woman who gained tabloid infamy in the late ‘70s UK after traveling from the States to “rescue” her Mormon missionary lover from the clutches of his church. Has to be seen to be believed, but Morris delivers his signature blend of sociological insight, character study and jaw-dropping revelations with such panache, the just-under 90 minutes of the film goes by in a flash. A must-see! Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
PBS releases THOSE AMAZING SHADOWS: THE MOVIES THAT MAKE AMERICA takes a look at the select list of films that have been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress, including diverse classics like Casablanca, West Side Story and Blazing Saddles. Fascinating, and a must-see for film buffs. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Film preservation/restoration documentary; Outtakes; Alternate and deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE MAN WHO KNEW is a “Frontline” program that tells the story of FBI agent John O’Neill, who believed Osama Bin Laden posed a deadly threat to the U.S. years before 9/11 took place, and how the Bureau forced him out, when his “James Bond” tactics became an embarrassment, only to meet an ironic, tragic fate. TOP SECRET AMERICA is another “Frontline,” this time examining the invisible legacies of 9/11: a series of clandestine government and private agencies designed to hunt terrorists and prevent future attacks on the U.S. HISTORY DETECTIVES follows a group of academics who travel around the country to explore stories behind local folklore, prominent figures and family legends. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
WWII IN HD: COLLECTOR’S EDITION is a stunning collection of color footage (culled from over three thousand hours of film) as well as journals and personal accounts of the men who served and fought. Series follows 12 soldiers who fought in both the Pacific and European Theaters. An absolutely breathtaking an immersive experience you won’t forget. Bonuses: “The Battle for Iwo Jima,” a look at the famous battle using recently restored color footage; “WW II: The Air War,” the untold story of the 8th Air Force’s bloody battle to defeat the German Luftwaffe in the months leading to D-Day; Featurettes; Character profiles. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
AMERICA: THE STORY OF US, COLLECTOR’S EDITION, tells the riveting story of how the United States was invented, covering 400 years of American history. Epic, 12-part series uses recreations, mixed media, interviews with historians and exceptional individuals, including Meryl Streep, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams, and more. Bonuses: 400 page, hardback companion book; “Modern Marvels: The Statue of Liberty.” Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Lionsgate releases THE PEOPLE VS. GEORGE LUCAS, a (slightly) satiric account of the love-hate relationship between Star Wars fans and the iconic, reclusive filmmaker who brought the film series and its characters to life. Utilizing interviews from over 600 hours of footage, the film paints a humorous, and sometimes sad, portrait of the subculture that has grown up around Star Wars and (to a lesser but still significant extent) Indiana Jones. Bonuses: Filmmaker commentary; Featurettes; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
MVD releases NAZI HUNTERS, offering eight spellbinding, suspenseful portraits of Nazi war criminals who were hunted down and brought to trial, as well as a few who managed to elude justice to the end of their days. Stunning true-life stories will leave your jaw agape at many points. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Columbia/Monkey Wrench releases Cameron Crowe’s documentary PEARL JAM TWENTY, chronicling the years leading up to the iconic band’s formation and the chaos that ensued after their rise to superstardom. Told as only a rock music aficionado and expert like Crowe could, this is a seamless blend of intimate interviews with the band’s members, their fans and colleagues, as well as amazing concert footage that proves why the band still endures after two decades. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
eOne releases THE CAPTAINS, a doc written and directed by William Shatner, in which the iconic thespian interviews all six actors (Chris Pine, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew and Scott Bakula) who have played the commander of the Starship Enterprise since Shatner first assumed the mantle in the 1960s. Charming, insightful and intimate portrait of actors and why they love their work. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.




FOR THE YOUNG ‘UNS
Warner Bros. releases BATMAN YEAR ONE, an eye-popping, original animated movie about the birth of Batman, and the crime-fighting legend he became. Featuring stellar voice work from actors like Bryan Cranston, Ben McKenzie, Katee Sackhoff, Eliza Dushku and Alex Rocco. Two-disc set. Bonuses: Featurettes; Two bonus cartoons, including “Catwoman.” Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. SESAME STREET: BYE-BYE PACIFIER! teaches children lessons in how to be a “big kid,” with help from Elmo, Abby and Baby Bear. Bonuses: Classic clip, “Proud”; Tips for parents; Downloadable coloring and activity book. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Disney releases WINNIE THE POOH, a brand new animated adventure based on A.A. Milne’s classic series of books. Narrated by John Cleese and bursting with songs performed by Zooey Deschanel, this is one bear that’s sure to find a place in any child’s heart! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Sing-alongs; 5 deleted scenes; Shorts. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Shout Factory releases MR. MAGOO: THE TELEVISION COLLECTION 1960-1977, a beautiful 10-disc set that contains all three television series following the optically-challenged bumbler in all his glory. Voiced by the inimitable Jim Backus, Magoo has delighted generations of kids and adults since his debut in 1949. Bonuses: Featurette; Commentary by animation historians; Photo gallery with storyboards and drawings. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Paramount releases CELEBRATE WITH DORA, a 3-disc gift set featuring three adventures set during Halloween, Dora’s birthday and Christmastime, respectively. Over four hours of programming, sure to delight the most die-hard Dora fan in your household. HOLIDAYS WITH SPONGEBOB is another holiday-themed 3-disc set, this time featuring Spongebob in adventures set during Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. Both are full screen, Dolby 2.0 mono.

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