DVD Playhouse--May 2008

DVD PLAYHOUSE—MAY 2008
By
Allen Gardner


THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (Genius Products/Weinstein Co.) Anthony Mann’s eye-popping 1964 spectacle was one of the last big studio costume pictures. Set in the waning days of ancient Rome, the film is both sweeping and literate, thanks to an intelligent script by Philip Yordan, Ben Barzman, and Basilio Franchina. All-star cast includes Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason, and Christopher Plummer. Three disc set bonuses include: Commentary by Bill Bronston, son of producer Samuel L. Bronston, and Mel Martin, Bronston’s biographer; 1964 featurette; Trailer; Photo galleries; Documentary on film’s production; Three featurettes; Historic film’s about ancient Rome, all filmed on location. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (Miramax) Visionary film from director Julian Schnabel tells the true story of French Vogue Editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a massive stroke in his early 40s, and can only communicate through blinking his left eye. A triumph of style, substance and technique that will leave you breathless by its conclusion. Bonuses: Two featurettes; Commentary by Schnabel; Charlie Rose interview with Schnabel. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LIONS FOR LAMBS (Universal) Three intertwining stories about the price of war in the 21st century: a powerful conservative senator (Tom Cruise) crosses swords with an idealistic journalist (Meryl Streep) during an interview; A California professor (director Robert Redford) tries to convince a once-promising student (Andrew Garfield) to fulfill his potential; Two soldiers (Derek Luke, Michael Pena) stuck behind enemy lines in Afghanistan fight for their lives. Knockout performances (and Redford’s spot-on direction) can’t save this well-made polemic from being more than what it is, although it tries very hard to rise above itself, and Matthew Michael Carnahan’s on-the-nose, and very self-consciously noble, screenplay. Worth seeing for the moments that do work, and there are many. Bonuses: Commentary by Redford; Two featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CASSANDRA’S DREAM (Genius Products/Weinstein Co.) Woody Allen returns to the neo-noir territory he first visited with Match Point in another London-based thriller. Two working class brothers (Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor, both excellent) share big dreams and equally large Achilles heels: one in the form of a gambling problem, the other in the form of his new, ambitious girlfriend (Hayley Atwell). When their successful, but nefarious uncle (Tom Wilkinson, fine as always) offers to bankroll them both in exchange for murdering a blackmailing colleague, the test of moral mettle begins. Fine drama, expertly performed and directed. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
SAAWARIYA (Sony) Engaging Bollywood romance loosely based on Dostoevsky’s “White Nights,” telling the tale of a shy musician’s chance encounter with the woman of his dreams and their four unforgettable nights together. Featuring the eye-popping visuals, costumes, sets and musical numbers that are the staples of Bollywood, Saawariya is sure to please fans of the genre. Bonuses: Featurette; Premiere night footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CLOVERFIELD (Paramount) When a giant monster attacks (and lays waste) to the Big Apple, only a handful of young New Yorkers (armed with jittery, hand-held cameras) can bring the story to light. Sort of like a modern take on the classic “Godzilla” movies on a massive dose of speed, one’s enjoyment (and tolerance) of this cinematic rollercoaster ride conjured up by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves will depend greatly on your sensitivity to motion sickness! Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Alternate endings; Outtakes; Featurettes; Commentary by Reeves. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
AWARD-WINNING SHORTS Janus Films releases three classic short subjects which were justifiably lauded upon their original release: PADDLE TO THE SEA, nominated for a 1966 Academy Award, follows the adventures of a small, wood-carved canoe as it forges a path from Ontario, through the Great Lakes, and down to the Atlantic. WHITE MANE, which won a Grand Prix award at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of the bond that develops between a young boy and a wild horse he discovers roaming the desolate plains of his village. Finally, THE RED BALLOON winner of a 1956 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and Cannes’ top prize the Palme d’Or, tells the wordless story of a young boy who discovers a stray red balloon on the streets of Paris, that seems to have a mind of its own. Touching, and heartbreaking, gorgeously photographed in Technicolor. All are full screen, Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE ALAIN DELON COLLECTION (Lions Gate) Five films from one of France’s most beloved leading men: THE SWIMMING POOL, from 1969, stars Delon and Romy Schneider as a couple whose relationship is shaken up by the appearance of a sexy teen nymphet (Jane Birkin) during a vacation in St. Tropez. DIABOLICALLY YOURS is a crackling thriller with Delon as a rich man suffering from amnesia after a car crash, struggling to solve the mystery of who he is. THE WIDOW COUDERC stars Delon in a May-December romance with Simone Signoret; THE GYPSY stars Delon as a French Gypsy who turns to crime to support himself and take revenge on the society which has turned its back on his people. Finally, OUR STORY, directed by Bertrand Blier, stars Delon as a middle-aged alcoholic whose life is turned upside down by mystery woman Nathalie Baye. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono.
DELIRIOUS (Genius Entertainment) Scathing satire stars Steve Buscemi as Les, a small-time paparazzi desperate to score one big photo that will make his career. When a young homeless man (Michael Pitt) he befriends becomes involved with a celebrity pop star (Alison Lohman), Les sees his chance for a shot at the big time. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by director Tom Dicillo; Trailer; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING (Lions Gate) Frank Langella is unforgettable as once-legendary author Leonard Schiller, who finds himself cursed with illness, writer’s block and a world that has passed him by. When an ambitious graduate student (Lauren Ambrose) convinces him that his work still has meaning, Schiller attempts to find a new lease on life. Fine, intelligent, literate drama, which truly captures the complex inner workings of a writer’s mind. Bonuses: Commentary by director Andrew Wagner; TV spot and trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FIRST KNIGHT SPECIAL EDITION (Sony) The legend of King Arthur in repose: Sean Connery plays the legendary British lion as an aging monarch whose love for the young Guinevere (Julia Ormand) is thwarted by her affair with his champion knight, Lancelot (Richard Gere, curiously miscast, but still effective). Ben Cross adds panache to the proceedings as the villain. Solid entertainment, boosted by William Nicholson’s literate script. Bonuses: Commentary by director Jerry Zucker, producer Hunt Lowry; Arthurian legend commentary; Two featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DEATH OF A CYCLIST (Criterion) Terrific drama from 1955 Spain focuses on a bourgeois couple having an affair who, while driving back from a late-night tryst, accidentally run over a cyclist and flee the scene. Scathing look at the class divisions in Franco’s Spain during the mid-50s was censored for years by the Fascist government, and has now been beautifully restored by Criterion. Bonuses: Documentary on director Juan Antonio Bardem. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH (Sony) Tim Roth plays an elderly linguistics professor in 1930s Romania who, after being struck by lightning, finds himself youthening instead of aging. Given the gift of reliving his youth on the eve of a Europe overrun by Fascism, Roth must decide where he stands personally, politically and spiritually. A welcome return to the director’s chair by Francis Ford Coppola, this adaptation of Mircea Eliade’s esoteric novel will thrill some who enjoy avant-garde film, and confound others longing for Coppola’s classics like The Godfather. Bonuses: Commentary by Coppola; Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE GREAT DEBATERS (Genius Products/Weinstein Co.) Denzel Washington stars in, and directed, this true story of a debate coach at Wiley College, a black college in 1935 Texas whose small, but intrepid team of verbal pugilists face off against none other than Ivy League stalwart Harvard in the national championship. Well-acted to near-perfection by Washington, Forest Whittaker and a fine young cast, but film also suffers from terminal earnestness, and a very one-sided portrayal of all the white characters, who seem to be either drooling rednecks who burn black children at the stake, or blue-blooded prigs who look down their noses at the young Texans. And by the way, the school that Wiley College actually faced off against in 1935 was USC, not Harvard! Two disc set bonuses include: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Music videos. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
I’M NOT THERE (Genius Products/Weinstein Co.) One-of-a-kind film from co-writer (with Oren Moverman)/director Todd Haynes tells a series of literal, and metaphorical vignettes in the life of Bob Dylan, portrayed by six different actors: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw. Blanchett is the standout in a stellar crowd, and Ledger’s portrait of a young star teetering on the brink of a breakdown proved to be all-too-prescient. Two disc set bonuses include: Commentary by Haynes; On-screen lyrics; Song selections; Deleted, alternate, and extended scenes; Outtakes; Auditions; Interview with Haynes; Featurettes; Photo and trailer galleries; Dylanography. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DANS PARIS (IFC Films) Moving, sometimes amusing, sometimes sad portrait of a young man nursing a broken heart, who returns home to Paris. Once there, his father and younger brother, who try to help him re-embrace life. Charming film from writer/director Christophe Honore. Bonuses: Short film by Honore; Deleted scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DON’T DRINK THE WATER (Lions Gate) Jackie Gleason and Estelle Parsons star in this 1969 cold war comedy penned by Woody Allen in which a typical American family is arrested for spying in a fictitious Iron Curtain country. Director Howard Morris lays it on pretty thick in this dated, but still amusing film. Woody himself directed a much better version for television 25 years later. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
PARTITION (Allumination Filmworks) In 1947 Pakistan, a Sikh (Jimi Mistry) falls in love with a young Muslim woman (Kristin Kreuk) after saving her life. Moving tale of the how the human heart can survive amidst culture clash. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
STEEL CITY (Peace Arch Entertainment) Fine urban family drama about a young man (Thomas Guiry) who must adjust to life without his father (John Heard) after he’s sent to prison. Although he has a loving uncle (Raymond J. Barry, brilliant as always) and girlfriend (America Ferrara, also fine), his belligerent older brother (Clayne Crawford) makes things complicated, particularly when family skeletons start to be revealed. Excellent work across the board from neophyte writer/editor/director Brian Jun. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Short film by Jun; Commentary by Jun, cast and crew; Photo and trailer galleries. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DOCUMENTARY DAYS Warner Bros. releases SHARKWATER, which follows biologist/filmmaker Rob Stewart as he studies the decreasing population of the world’s sharks. Fascinating stuff, with some amazing footage of the beasts up close! Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailer and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Image/THINKFilm releases NANKING tells the harrowing story of the so-called “rape of Nanking” by the Japanese army in 1937, and the small group of westerners who stayed behind, and saved thousands of lives. Powerful film won an award at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. WARDANCE tells the story of a group of children in war-torn Uganda whose love of music brings joy and hope back into their lives. Bonuses: Deleted and extended scenes; Trailer gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Kultur releases JAMES JOYCE: SO THIS IS DYOUBLONG? which takes an in-depth look into the life and works of Irish author James Joyce. An illuminating look at the life and work of one of the 20th century’s greatest and most complex writers. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. MTV Home Entertainment releases I’M STILL HERE, a riveting look at the diaries of young people who were affected by the Holocaust during WW II. Scored by Grammy-winner Moby, readings from the diaries are done by a who’s-who of young stars: Elijah Wood, Amber Tamblyn, Joaquin Phoenix, Ryan Gosling, Kate Hudson, and Brittany Murphy. Bonuses: Featurette; Interviews with filmmakers; Study guide. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
THE HORROR, THE HORROR More scary titles hit DVD this month. MGM/Fox kicks off the list with the 1987 classic HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II, in which a 30 years-dead prom queen returns from the netherworld to wreak havoc on a fresh crop of students at her alma mater! Michael Ironside stars. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono. Lions Gate releases THE BACKWOODS, starring Gary Oldman as one half of two couples who find themselves at odds with creepy backwoodsmen when they rescue a young girl during a hunting trip. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Life Size Entertainment releases FEAR HOUSE, a fun and gory update on the old haunted house story, with a seemingly-agoraphobic novelist stuck inside a possessed cottage. Bonuses: Cast and crew commentary; Outtakes; Trailer; Rehearsal footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Sony releases THE COTTAGE in which two brothers’ (Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith) kidnapping scheme goes awry as their victim turns the tables on them! Bonuses: Deleted scenes and outtakes; Storyboard gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Lions Gate releases their series 8 FILMS TO DIE FOR, starting with THE DEATHS OF NATHAN STONE, a suspenser about a young man who keeps meeting an untimely end and being reborn daily; LAKE DEAD tells the gruesome tale of three comely sisters who fall prey to a group of crazed rednecks; BORDERLAND tells the macabre tale of three Texas college students who run afoul of a Satanic cult south of the border; TOOTH AND NAIL tells the story of post-nuclear survivors who must battle vicious bands of cannibals to stay alive; MULBERRY ST. tells the horrific tale of a small band of apartment dwellers who must fight off the rest of their neighbors, all victims of a virus that has turned them into ravenous killers! NIGHTMARE MAN tells the tale of a young wife who, after receiving a mysterious mask, has hallucinations of being attacked by an evil being. UNEARTHED follows the denizens of a desert town who must battle an ancient creature accidentally unearthed during an archeological dig. Finally, CRAZY EIGHTS spins the twisted tale of six childhood friends who must confront their demons (literally) after the funeral of one of their former group. Bonuses on some of the titles include: commentary by cast and crew; Extended scenes; Gag reels; Featurettes; Photo and trailer galleries; Miss Horrorfest Contest webisodes. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Koch Vision releases the British drama NEW STREET LAW, the UK’s answer to The Practice, starring John Hannah as a barrister whose single-minded pursuit of justice often puts his life, and those of his colleagues in jeopardy. Complete second season on 2 discs. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. COUNTRY MATTERS, originally produced for Masterpiece Theater in 1972, is an adaptation of eight short stories by authors A.E. Coppard and H.E. Bates set in the English countryside post WW I. Great early turns by Ian McKellen, Peter Firth, and Pauline Collins. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. A&E Home Video releases the 1978 miniseries DISRAELI, starring Ian McShane as the 19th century British Prime Minister, thus far the only Jew to hold that office. 2 disc set. Bonuses: McShane biography and filmography. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. NIGHT OF THE FOX, an exciting WW II thriller from the novel by Jack Higgins, stars Michael York, George Peppard and Deborah Raffin, set around the D-Day invasion. Bonuses: Cast and crew biographies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. THE ROMANCE COLLECTION is a lavish box set of eight literary adaptations: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, VICTORIA & ALBERT, EMMA, JANE EYRE, LORNA DOONE, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, TOM JONES and IVANHOE, all originally produced for the BBC. Bonuses include: Author biographies and bibliographies; Cast bios; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Acorn Media releases DA VINCI’S INQUEST: SEASON 3, the popular Canadian drama following the adventures of Vancouver’s chief coroner. 13 episodes on 4 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes; Photo galleries; Filmographies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. TIME FOR MURDER is a six-part series of mystery stories penned by some of Britain’s most renowned authors of the genre: Fay Weldon, Antonia Fraser, Gordon Honeycombe, and Charles Wood, among others, deliver nail-biting suspense and intrigue, delivered by the likes of Claire Bloom, Sylvia Sims, Charles Dance, Trevor Howard, and others. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. THE GRAND is a five disc collection of the acclaimed miniseries set in and around Manchester’s finest hotel in the roaring ‘20s. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Warner Bros. releases TWO AND A HALF MEN: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON, starring Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer as polar opposite brothers sharing a Malibu beach house, along with Charlie’s precocious son, with comic results. Bonuses: Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Lions Gate releases THE KILL POINT, starring John Leguizamo as an Iraq war vet whose carefully-planned bank heist goes horribly wrong. Gripping miniseries also stars Donnie Wahlberg as the no-nonsense hostage negotiator. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Sony releases BEWITCHED: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON, featuring a brand new baby, new maid and a new Darrin Stevens in the form of Dick Sargent. Elizabeth Montgomery sparkles as suburban witch Samantha Stevens. 30 episodes on 4 discs. Bonuses: Minisodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Finally, Paramount releases THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES, VOL. 3: THE YEARS OF CHANGE a ten disc collection of the hit series about the adventures of young Indiana Jones (Sean Patrick Flannery) as he grows to manhood, and encounters some of history’s most important figures. Smart, inventive, great fun for the whole family. Bonuses: two dozen in-depth documentaries; Historical timeline; Interactive game. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. CHEERS: THE NINTH SEASON, features more fun and shenanigans for the denizens of Beantown’s favorite bar. Give disc set features 26 episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 surround. THE 4400: THE FOURTH SEASON, continues the incredible story of 4400 people who were secretly abducted by aliens, then returned to Earth. 4 disc set contains 13 episodes. Bonuses: Director’s cut of first episode; Featurettes; Blooper reel; Commentary by cast and crew; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Shout Factory releases the Japanese anime series OBAN STAR RACERS VOL. 1-2, a brilliant bit of sci-fi set ten thousand years in the future, follows a group of Earth-bound fighter pilots who defend the planet from intergalactic enemies. Bonuses: Featurettes; Star-racer profiles; Concept art; Trailers. Each 2 disc set features 13 episodes, all uncut. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. STARGATE INFINITY: THE COMPLETE SERIES is a two disc set featuring all 26 episodes of the animated sci-fi series about Stargate Command, and their battle against a warrior race known as Tlak’kahn. Fun, imaginative stuff! Bonuses: Special effects test; Animation tests; Concept art. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 surround.