DVD Playhouse--March 2008

DVD PLAYHOUSE—MARCH 2008
By
Allen Gardner

AMERICA AT WAR (History Channel/NEWVIDEO) Mammoth 14 disc box set that contains The History Channel’s entire groundbreaking series about man’s greatest folly. Beginning with the Revolutionary War in volumes 1-3, followed by Davy Crockett’s last stand at The Alamo in vol. 4, The Civil War in vol. 5-6, WW I in vol. 7, WW II in vol. 8-9, Korea in vol. 10, Vietnam in vol. 11, The Gulf War in vol. 12, and the Iraq war in vol. 13-14. Bonuses include extra interviews, featurettes and archival footage. One of the most impressive documentary sets released so far this year! Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
RENDITION (New Line) Smart, powerful and topical, this thriller tells the story of an Arab-American (Omar Metwally) who is detained by U.S. government agents after disembarking from an overseas flight and the efforts of his wife (Reese Witherspoon) to learn of his whereabouts. Scathing indictment of the Bush administration and its policies. Dream cast also includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Alan Arkin and Meryl Streep! Bonuses: Commentary by director Gavin Hood; Deleted scenes and alternate ending; Two documentaries. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
PIERROT LE FOU (Criterion Collection) Jean-Luc Godard’s stinging 1965 satire about a bored bourgeois husband (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who takes to the road with the family babysitter (Anna Karina), who happens to be his former lover. A funny, shocking and still-topical kaleidoscope of images, subjects and moments, highlighted by gorgeous color cinematography from Raoul Coutard. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Interview with Karina; Featurette; Documentary; Archival interviews with cast and crew; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
AMERICAN GANGSTER (Universal) Powerhouse drama from director Ridley Scott tells the true story of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), his rise to power during the 1970s, and the determination of outcast cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) to bring him down. Top-drawer across the board, with a fine script from Steve Zallian, and a knock-out supporting cast that includes Ruby Dee, Chwetel Ejofor, Armand Assante, and (criminally overlooked by Oscar) Josh Brolin. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Unrated extended version and theatrical version; Deleted scenes including alternate opening; Documentary; Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
WE OWN THE NIGHT (Sony) A Brooklyn nightclub owner (Joaquin Phoenix) must choose between his family of cops (Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall) or the Russian mobsters that are bankrolling him. With his third feature since 1994’s Little Odessa, writer/director James Gray proves that he has a fine cinematic eye, but still can’t write a script with a shred of originality, or create three-dimensional characters that we give a damn about. Also like his previous two films, there is an overwhelming feeling of heavy self-consciousness, which weighs down the entire proceedings. Hopefully Gray will come up with a story that’s more from his heart and own life experiences, instead of continuing to make movies about all the movies that he’s seen. Bonuses: Commentary by Gray; Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LEGEND OF THE BLACK SCORPION (Dragon Dynasty/Genius Products) Dazzling martial arts epic from Hong Kong, inspired by none other than Shakespeare’s Hamlet! Staged by renowned martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping (The Matrix, Kill Bill), this eye-popping extravaganza was nominated for seven 2007 Hong Kong Film Awards. Two disc set. Bonuses: Commentary by Hong Kong film expert Bey Logan; Interview with director Feng Xiaogang; Interview with actor Daniel Wu; Two featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
GREAT WORLD OF SOUND (Magnolia) Funny little gem about two talent scouts (Kene Holliday, Pat Healy) for a small record label who travel the country in search of fresh sounds for their company, Great World of Sound. Terrific character study, reminiscent of some of the best road films of the ‘70s, like Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail. Bonuses: Additional and deleted scenes; Commentary by director Craig Zobel. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
MARGOT AT THE WEDDING (Paramount) Trenchant study of familial dysfunction stars Nicole Kidman as a successful but bitter writer, who journeys home to attend the wedding of her black sheep sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to a man (Jack Black) of whom she doesn’t approve. At turns hilarious, horrifying and squirm-inducing, writer/director Noah Baumbach has created his most daring, original film yet. Bonuses: Interview with Baumbach and Leigh; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SLIPSTREAM (Sony) Bizarre, but intriguing writing/directing debut from star Anthony Hopkins, featuring the Oscar-winner as Felix, an aging screenwriter who has lived his life in parallel states of existence: in reality and in the interior of his own imagination. While working on a new screenplay, Felix finds the line between the two worlds becoming hopelessly blurred: what is real and what is in his head? A mixed bag, to be sure, but also contains some moments of true brilliance, befitting Hopkins’ obvious talent. Bonuses: Commentary by Hopkins; Deleted scenes; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LUST, CAUTION (Universal) Lush epic from director Ang Lee, set against WW II era Shanghai in which a naïve young woman finds herself caught up in a plot to assassinate an intelligence agent. Gorgeously shot and designed, brilliantly recreating a specific time and place in history, as well as some truly erotic love scenes, which earned the picture an NC-17 rating. It is however, about as far from pornographic as one can get! An intelligent, riveting outing for adult viewers. Also available in an edited, R-rated version, but why bother? : ) Bonuses: Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE ARISTOCATS: SPECIAL EDITION (Disney) Disney animated classic about Duchess, a Parisian housecat who finds that her adoring mistress has willed her entire, very valuable estate to her and her three kittens, and the scheming butler who tries to hatch an elaborate catnap caper! When Duchess finds herself on the street, she soon hooks up with streetwise feline Thomas O’Malley and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day. Great family fun. Bonuses: Games and activities; DVD-ROM features; Backstage featurettes; Deleted scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FAST GIRL (Allumination Filmworks) Charming family film about the daughter (Mircea Monroe) of a champion racecar driver who was killed behind the wheel, and her determination to follow in dad’s footsteps, in spite of her disapproving uncle (Dwier Brown). Topic subject matter in this, the age of Danica Patrick and other female race car champs. Nice work from first-time screenwriter Luke Ricci, and director Daniel Zirilli. Good support from teen heartthrob Justin Guarini. Bonuses: Featurette. Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SILK (New Line) Beautifully-shot epic based on Alessandro Baricco’s best-seller about a 19th century man (Michael Pitt)’s devotion to his loving bride (Keira Knightley) and the temptations and dangers he faces during trade missions for elusive silkworms, which are crucial for his family, and his village’s, survival. Slow in spots, but overall a mesmerizing visual feast and touching love story. Fine performances by the two young leads. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SCREAMERS (Maya Releasing) Stirring documentary-cum-concert film featuring System of a Down, lending their presence and their music to the true story of government-sanctioned genocide during the 20th century. Undeniably powerful subject matter that most people don’t want to acknowledge, but demands to be seen and heard. Bonuses: Featurette; Press conference; Bonus song. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! More of television’s best titles arrive on DVD this month. Acorn Media delivers MIDSOMER MURDERS: THE EARLY CASES, the first 18 episodes of the venerable series starring John Nettles as a dogged police investigator who always find his man (or woman) in the small English village he inhabits. Fun to see early turns by the likes of Emily Mortimer, Orlando Bloom, and veterans like Anna Massey and Prunella Scales. Also this month, is MIDSOMER MURDERS: SET TEN, featuring four new episodes on four discs. Bonuses on both: Featurettes; Bonus disc documentary; Filmographies. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox releases NEWHART: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, Bob Newhart’s second long-running series, from the 1980s, this time featuring him as a New England innkeeper. 3 discs feature all 22 episodes. Bonuses: Four featurettes. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. The History Channel/NEWVIDEO releases 1968, a fascinating look at The United States’ most turbulent year, hosted and compiled by NBC news veteran Tom Brokaw. Loaded with little-seen archival footage, gives a very objective view from both sides about the fallout that we’re still feeling from forty years ago. Bonuses: Interview with Brokaw; Bonus and extended interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
BEOWULF: DIRECTOR’S CUT (Paramount) Robert Zemeckis’ visionary re-telling of the epic poem, featuring a near-seamless blend of digitally-enhanced live-action and CGI. Ray Winstone voices the title character, a mighty Norse warrior who is both champion of his people, and victim to his own desires and human foibles. Also features fine work from Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, and Brendan Gleeson. Director’s cut features footage “too intense” for theaters, and makes a thrilling movie even more so! Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Four featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TERROR’S ADVOCATE (Magnolia) Fascinating documentary from director Barbet Schroeder about the enigmatic Jacques Verges, an attorney who has defended some of the most notorious figures in modern history, including Nazi Klaus Barbie, and Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy. As always, Schroeder lends an unbiased eye to his subject matter, an obviously brilliant man who is as full of contradictions, as he is clarity. Bonuses: Historical timeline. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
REDACTED (Magnolia) Episodic tale of soldiers fighting in Iraq, told cinema verite-style. Interesting experimental effort from director Brian De Palma, who, like many filmmakers of his generation, seems to be dipping his toe back into the avant-garde pool from which he sprang. Some fine young actors give credible performances in what ultimately has to be viewed as a noble experiment that fails in the end. Bonuses: Two featurettes; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA (New Line) Epic tale based on the best-seller by Gabriel Garcia Marquez about a young man (Javier Bardem) and his unrequited love for a sheltered girl whose father refuses to let her marry. Technically dazzling but emotionally dead on arrival, this film is loaded with talent in front of, and behind (director Mike Newell, screenwriter Ronald Harwood) the camera, but like many of Marquez’s works, just doesn’t translate to the screen. Bonuses: Commentary by Newell; Featurette; Deleted scenes with commentary by editor Mick Audsley; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
GONE BABY GONE (Miramax) Two young private detectives in Boston (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) investigate the disappearance of a toddler from the city’s tough Southie neighborhood. As always in the private eye genre, everything is not as it seems. Fine blend of mystery, drama and sociological study, debuting director Ben Affleck has a fine eye for both local color and nuanced turns in his cast. Dream cast includes Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Oscar-nominee Amy Ryan. Bonuses: Extended ending; Deleted scenes; Two featurettes; Commentary by Ben Affleck, writer Aaron Stockard. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BECOMING JANE (Miramax) Young Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) finds first love with a dashing young man (James McAvoy) who hasn’t a penny to his name, which in turn inspires the plots of her most beloved novels. Delightful, charming romantic comedy with attractive leads and a fine supporting cast that includes Maggie Smith, James Cromwell and Julie Walters. Bonuses: Commentary by the filmmakers; Pop-up facts and footnotes; Featurette; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion) Bernardo Bertolucci’s tale of Emperor Pu Yi, the last aristocratic ruler of China before Communism took over, won the 1987 Oscar for Best Picture. Filmed on location inside the walls of the previously-restricted Forbidden City, Emperor is a cinematic masterpiece and will surely be remembered as one of the high points of ‘80s cinema. Criterion offers two versions of the film: the 165 minute theatrical version and the 218 minute television cut. Fine cast includes John Lone in the title role and the always-great Peter O’Toole as Pu Yi’s British tutor. Four disc set bonuses include: Commentary by Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, composer/actor Ryuichi Sakamoto; Trailer; Documentaries; Videos on location shot by Bertolucci; Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.
THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE (Paramount/DreamWorks) After her husband (David Duchovny) is murdered, a single mother (Halle Berry) invites his life-long, but troubled, best friend (Benicio Del Toro) to move in with them. Overall a fine drama that was strangely overlooked by critics and audiences alike. The two leads deliver some of their best work in years. Bonuses: Seven deleted scenes; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
INTO THE WILD (Paramount) A young man (Emile Hirsch) who seemingly has it all after graduating from a prestigious university, chucks it and heads into the Alaskan outback to live off the land. Candide-like journey is masterfully-told by screenwriter/director Sean Penn, and based on a true story. Criminally overlooked by Oscar, it is one of 2007’s best films, and features fine support from William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener, and the great Hal Holbrook. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Extended footage; Two featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ATONEMENT (Universal) A young girl (Saoirse Ronan) with an overly-active imagination tells a lie that has life-long repercussion for herself and her entire family. Masterful storytelling, filmmaking and acting combine to make an unforgettable film. Director Joe Wright proves (with an eye-popping six minute tracking shot alone) that he’s one of the best filmmakers of his generation. Fine cast includes James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Commentary by Wright. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE BILLY WILDER FILM COLLECTION (MGM/UA/Fox) Four of the Austrian master’s best comedies in one box: SOME LIKE IT HOT: SPECIAL EDITION features Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as musicians on the lam from the mob, who dress in drag, and travel with an all-girl band, led by luscious Marilyn Monroe! Has what many consider to be the best last line in movie history. THE APARTMENT: COLLECTOR’S EDITION tells a satirical tale of corporate ambition, as a young exec (Jack Lemmon) attempts to climb the ladder by loaning his bachelor pad out to married superiors for their weekly trysts. Shirley MacLaine solidified her stardom as the sassy elevator operator that catches Lemmon’s eye. KISS ME, STUPID stars Dean Martin and Kim Novak as a famous singer and a conniving beauty who are stuck in a small town between L.A. and Vegas. THE FORTUNE COOKIE stars Lemmon and Walter Matthau as an injured cameraman and his scheming brother-in-law, respectively, who try to cash in on the former’s accident. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono and 5.1 surround.
MAFIOSO (Criterion) From 1962, auto factory worker Nino (Alberto Sordi) decides to leave the chaos of Milan and move his family back to his native Sicily, so he can reconnect with his roots. Nino soon gets more than he bargained for when he discovers that his ancestors were notorious mobsters that ruled the region! Very funny blend of culture-clash farce and existential nightmare. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Trailers; Promotional art gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
TWO FROM PACINO (Sony) …AND JUSTICE FOR ALL garnered a 1979 Best Screenplay nomination for Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin’s wise and witty script about a young lawyer (Pacino, nominated for Best Actor) who must defend a despicable judge (John Forsythe) against a charge of rape and assault. Fine support from Jack Warden, Lee Strasberg and, in an early turn, Christine Lahti. Bonuses: Commentary by director Norman Jewison; Two featurettes; Deleted scenes. BOBBY DEERFIELD is one of those frustrated movies that is loaded with talent (Pacino, Marthe Keller, director Sydney Pollack, writer Alvin Sargent), but still falls flat. Pacino plays a narcissistic race car driver who undergoes a crisis of conscience when a friend is killed during a race, and he falls in love with a mysterious woman (Keller). Both are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN: THE IMMACULATE EDITION (Sony) Outrageous, ribald take on the life of Christ by England’s naughtiest comedians, the Pythons. The late Graham Chapman stars as Brian, an average guy who had the misfortune of being born at exactly the same time and place as the baby Jesus. Mistaken for the Messiah as he grows the manhood, Brian must dodge religious zealots, Julius Caesar, and even some goofy space aliens! One of the funniest comedies ever made. If you don’t laugh, check yourself for a heartbeat! Bonuses: Commentary by the Pythons; Deleted scenes; Radio ads; Documentary; Illustrated recording of the screenplay-in-progress. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THREE FROM YUL BRYNNER MGM/UA/Fox releases three classic titles starring the magnetic Yul Brynner: TARAS BULBA co-stars Tony Curtis with Brynner as the legendary Cossack chieftain defending his land from Polish invaders. Screenplay co-written by Waldo Salt. Exciting epic, well-made. SOLOMON AND SHEBA stars Brynner as the Biblical hero King Solomon who must resist the advances of the seductive Queen of Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) if he is to save Israel from collapse. Director by the legenary King Vidor. Finally, KINGS OF THE SUN features Brynner and George Chakiris as rival kings forced to forge an alliance against an invading army. Shirley Anne Filed co-stars. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE: BEHIND THE SEAMS EDITION (20th Century Fox) Robin Williams shines as an out-of-work actor who can’t hold down a McJob to support his family, much to the consternation of his upwardly-mobile wife (Sally Field) who finally dumps him and gets custody of their kids. In a ploy to stay in his childrens’ lives, Williams makes himself up as a dowdy Scottish housekeeper and gets hired as the kids’ nanny! Pierce Brosnan is very funny in support as Field’s dapper suitor. Bonuses: Deleted, extended and alternate scenes; Featurettes; Photo galleries; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
12 ANGRY MEN: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (MGM/UA/Fox) Twelve jurors must decide the fate of a young man on trial for murdering his father. Eleven of the twelve are immediately convinced he’s guilty, with one holdout (Henry Fonda) who isn’t quite sure. One of the greatest claustrophobic dramas ever put to film, director Sidney Lumet made his reputation with this classic, as did many of the up-and-coming actors in support: Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Robert Webber, and veterans like Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, and Ed Begley. A masterpiece. Bonuses: Commentary by film historian Drew Casper; Two featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
DAY ZERO (First Look) Fine ensemble drama follows three young men (Elijah Wood, Jon Bernthal and Chris Klein) in a “what if?” story of the military draft being reinstated in the U.S. and how each reacts upon receiving his notice to report for duty. Film is topical without being didactic, and also features fine work from Ginnifer Goodwin. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
EN LA CAMA (IN BED) (Koch Lorber) A young man and woman meet at a party, then spend the night together in a seedy motel making love, revealing perhaps more than they should to each other. Charged erotic drama packs a punch, with fine performances from leads Blanca Lewin and Gonzalo Valenzuela. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Short film; Deleted scenes; Rehearsal footage; TV spots; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
DOCUMENTARY DAYS Three fascinating slices of real life arrive on disc this month: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON (THINKFilm) tells the story of the American space program between 1968 and 1972, and the 12 men who walked on the moon’s surface during that time. Loaded with archival footage from NASA, as well as interviews with the astronauts themselves, this is an invaluable document of a different time and different breed of man. Bonuses: Intro by Ron Howard; Featurettes; Filmmaker commentary; Deleted and extended scenes. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. RADIANT CITY (Koch Lorber) Canadian documentary by surrealist filmmaker Gary Burns takes a look at the dark side of suburbia as we are exposed to the underbelly of a planned community. Fascinating, funny and somewhat scary! Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. ROBYN HITCHCOCK: SEX, FOOD, DEATH…AND INSECTS (A & E) takes a look at the legendary underground rocker and his creative process. Following Hitchcock as he creates his latest album, the formation of his band Venus 3, and their subsequent U.S. tour, film is a fascinating glimpse into a unique, creative mind. Bonuses: Over 20 live performances; Bonus interviews and music videos. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.