DVD Playhouse--June 2009

DVD PLAYHOUSE—JUNE 2009
By
Allen Gardner

THE INTERNATIONAL (Sony) An Interpol agent (Clive Owen) joins forces with a Manhattan D.A. (Naomi Watts) to bring down an arms dealing ring and a corrupt global banking cartel that’s funding them. Superlative thriller was oddly ignored by critics and audiences alike, but expertly blends intelligence (courtesy screenwriter Eric Warren Singer’s masterfully-crafted script) and full-throttle action (director Tom Tykwer stages one of the great film shoot-outs in New York’s iconic Guggenheim Museum), making this dynamite thriller reminiscent of the best work from masters such as John Frankenheimer and Robert Aldrich. Armin Mueller-Stahl is wonderful as a world-weary covert op. Bonuses: Extended scene; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE JACK LEMMON FILM COLLECTION(Sony) Five films from the two-time Oscar winning actor, focusing on his early career: PHFFT! is a zippy comedy from 1954, one of Lemmon’s earliest films, in which he and wife Judy Holiday find they’re having second thoughts after divorcing. Great script by George Axelrod. OPERATION MAD BALL (1957) stars Lemmon in a wacky military spoof about a bored private who attempts to throw a wing-ding of a party under his stuffy commanding officer’s nose. THE NOTORIOUS LANDLADY (1962) pairs Lemmon with Kim Novak, playing an American diplomat who unwittingly stumbles into jewel thieves, intrigue and murder in London. UNDER THE YUM-YUM TREE (1963) stars Lemmon as a perennial bachelor who finds that his newest, comely tenants might be even more than his libidinous nature can handle. Based on Lawrence Roman’s hit play. GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM (1964) has Lemmon as a very married ad exec who poses as the husband of a single girl to help her land a big inheritance. Funny stuff. Bonuses: Documentary hosted by Lemmon’s son, Chris; Vintage photo gallery; Lemmon in early episode of “Ford All-Star Theater”; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
GRAN TORNIO (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood delivers what may be his finest performance as Walt Kowalski, a retired auto worker whose once-blue collar, lily white Detroit neighborhood has been repopulated by Hmong immigrants, much to his bigoted dismay. When a local gang threatens a young man whom Walt reluctantly takes under his wing, the grizzled Korean war vet finds his values, and character, put to the test. One of the few "mixed bags" that Eastwood has ever made. While the film shines from his terrific performance and steady master's hand behind the camera, Clint the director also makes the near-fatal mistake of casting non-pros (real Hmong immigrants) in key roles, and their lack of experience before the camera is glaring. In addition, writer Nick Schenk's script is a one-note affair, populated by two-dimensional characters and predictable payoffs throughout. At turns both entertaining and frustrating. Worth watching just to see the great Eastwood at work, a true American treasure. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. On Blu-ray: The Eastwood Way, a documentary that looks at Clint's creative process. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround.
THE STRANGE ONE (Sony) Ben Gazzara and George Peppard made their film debuts in this riveting, surprisingly frank 1957 drama about a sinister military school cadet (Gazzara) who seems to have an inexplicable hold over his fellow cadets. Censored upon its initial release, this is the uncut version of the film, which remains faithful to Calder Willingham’s play, “End as a Man.” Fine support from Actor’s Studio grads such as Pat Hingle, Mark Richman and Larry Gates. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
WALTZ WITH BASHIR (Sony Classics) Filmmaker Ari Folman recounts his horrific experiences in the Israeli army during the first Lebanon war, all told through animated vignettes. Scenes of haunting beauty mix with some of the most repellent images in recent memory. A truly unique work that drives home the folly of war and the high cost we all must endure from it. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Folman; Featurettes; Interview with Folman. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround.
FRIDAY THE 13th PARTS V-VII Paramount releases FRIDAY THE 13th PART V: A NEW BEGINNING, FRIDAY THE 13th PART VI: JASON LIVES, and FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER, although “final” could hardly apply to a series that continued ad infinitum, even after every conceivable way of hacking up fornicating teenagers had been milked dry by the splatter genre’s sickest scribes, not the least of which was the remake of the original, which squirted across screens earlier this year. These “Deluxe Editions” feature cast and crew commentary, featurettes, documentaries on the films’ productions, as well as deleted scenes and original trailers. Beautifully restored and remastered picture and sound, but in the end, what’s the point? They were scarier on your older brother’s battered, grainy, ‘80s-era VHS. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
WOODSTOCK: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (Warner Bros.) 40th anniversary edition of Michael Wadleigh’s landmark documentary of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival in upstate New York, which signified the peak of the hippie movement, ‘60s rock, and a freewheeling idealism that was soon to be shattered with the tragedy at Altamont Speedway, escalation in Vietnam and Watergate. But enough naysaying: sit back and be enthralled at the pure genius of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a who’s-who of iconic ‘60s bands and performers, all caught like lightning in a bottle in this remarkable cinematic document. Note: Martin Scorsese was one of the film’s editors. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Retrospective documentary. Bonus disc featuring extra performances. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DEFINANCE (Paramount) True story of the Bielski brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell), scrappy farmers who led their fellow Jews into the forests of Eastern Europe and managed to build a formidable resistance army to occupying Nazi forces. Terrific story is a sort of Semitic version of Spartacus, but is undone almost as soon as it starts, by ham-fisted direction and writing (and don’t even get me started about the overbearing musical score) that makes most movies-of-the-week look subtle in comparison. Too bad, because there’s some fine work here, particularly by Craig. Bonuses: Commentary by director Edward Zwick; Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
VALKYRIE (20th Century Fox) Tom Cruise (oddly cast, but still effective) stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who masterminded an assassination plot against Adolf Hitler during the waning days of WW II. Fascinating history lesson is also a terrific adventure film, with some truly nail-biting suspense, courtesy of director Bryan Singer. Fine supporting cast of iconic actors such as Terence Stamp, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, and Tom Wilkinson. Two disc set. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Cruise and Singer, co-writers Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander; Featurettes; Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND OTHER STORIES (Malaprop Productions) Underground classic starring a then-16 year-old Christina Ricci in a twisted version of the classic fairy tale, gorgeously photographed and narrated by Quentin Crisp. Packs a wallop for a 30 minute short! Stylish, scary and subversively sexy. Bonuses: Commentary by director David Kaplan, folklore scholar Jack Zipes; Short films by Kaplan. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
MAN HUNT (20th Century Fox) Classic Fritz Lang thriller from 1941 about a British big game hunter (Walter Pidgeon) who is determined to bag his era’s most sought-after prey: Adolf Hitler. After being captured by a wily Gestapo agent (George Sanders), Pidgeon must trust in a beautiful street waif (Joan Bennett) to help him escape. Crackerjack suspense film, holds up beautifully today. Bonuses: Commentary by film scholar Patrick McGilligan; Featurette; Trailer; Restoration comparison; Ad, artwork and photo galleries. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
EDEN LOG (Magnet) Riveting French thriller about an amnesiac man who awakens in a subterranean cave, trailed by a mysterious creature, desperately trying to find his way to the surface. Claustrophobic, atmospheric and truly creepy thriller will get under your skin and stay there for days. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
TAKEN (20th Century Fox) Liam Neeson stars as a former intelligence operative whose daughter is kidnapped while vacationing in Paris. Determined to find the girl at all costs, he uses a unique set of deadly skills few can compete with, turning the City of Lights upside down in the process. Neeson is the whole show in this utterly preposterous, but completely entertaining thriller. Features both PG-13 and unrated versions of the film. We vote for the latter. : ) Also available on Blu-ray disc. 2 disc set bonuses include: Commentary by filmmakers; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
SINNER (Matson Films) Intriguing drama about a Catholic priest (Nick Chinlund) who finds himself in a mid-career, and mid-life, crisis when a grifter (Georgina Cates) enters the scene, using her seductive charms to prey on celibate priests. When the priest grants her sanctuary in the church rectory, the two form an uneasy alliance, where each reveals dark secrets to the other. Solid character study, well-made with a fine cast. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (Warner Bros.) Fine ensemble cast (Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, and others) try to bring comedic cohesion to a film version of the runaway best-seller that was embraced by women the world-over. The result is a mildly amusing romp with a few laugh-out-loud moments following a group of seemingly desirable women who just can’t figure out why Mr. Right hasn’t dropped into their laps yet. Your level of enjoyment might also correspond with your level of estrogen. Those of us with a preponderance of testosterone might want to give this one a wide berth…Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Additional scenes with commentary by director Ken Kwapis; Featurettes; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround.
SPRING BREAKDOWN (Warner Bros.) Three late-thirtysomething women (Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler and Parker Posey) have always dreamed of being cool, but never outgrew their geeky, awkward phases. When Posey gets the opportunity to chaperone daughter Ashley (Amber Tamblyn, a hoot)’s spring break trip to South Padre Island, the three ladies try to make up for lost time and join in on the fun. Mixed bag of very clever physical comedy and absolute comedic bricks. Worth watching for the good parts, but definitely “a rental.” Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Dratch and director Ryan Shiraki; Additional scenes; Gag reel; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TWO FILMS BY WAYNE WANG (Magnolia) Iconic indie director Wayne Wang presents a double feature of two though-provoking films: A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS follows a woman in her early 40s who moves from China to the U.S. to start a new life, only to have her father visit, confronting her about her recent divorce. As the skeletons tumble out of the family closet, a startling portrait of a culture and people emerges. THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA focuses on an 18 year-old Chinese student in the States who, finding herself pregnant, leaves her studies in Nebraska and travels to San Francisco to sort out her options. Both films are fine character studies, quiet, yet completely engaging. Bonuses: Interviews with cast members; Photo galleries; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
EDDIE MURPHY DELIRIOUS: 25th ANNVIERSARY EDITION (Anchor Bay) Comic Eddie Murphy was an ‘80s icon, with his edgy, vulgar brand of humor defining what was then the cutting-edge of comedy. 25 years later, watching then-22 year-old Murphy strut the stage at Washington DC’s Constitution Hall in his red leather outfit, punctuating every other word with some form of “fuck,” this reviewer found the laughs few and far between, and saw instead a cocky, very talented, but hugely insecure kid struggling to keep his composure, and his monologues, straight. Murphy grew into his enormous talent beautifully as he got older, evidenced by his Oscar-nominated work in Dreamgirls (and other solid work), but his puppy paws trip him up more than once in this fascinating, and very dated, time capsule. Bonuses: Extra footage; Interview with Murphy; Featurette. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (Paramount) Fine adaptation of Richard Yates’ period novel about young marrieds (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) struggling to make sense of their seemingly meaningless lives in a 1950s suburban bedroom community. Director Sam Mendes puts his fine eye for detail to good use here, accentuating the heartbreak and desperation felt by people who realize too late that they’ve played by the rules past the point of no return. Fine work from Michael Shannon and Kathy Bates in support. Bonuses: Commentary by Mendes, screenwriter Justin Haythe; Deleted scenes with optional commentary; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
UNE FEMME MARIEE (Koch Lorber) Early New Wave classic from Jean-Luc Godard about a married Parisienne (Macha Meril) who drifts between her artist lover (Bernard Noel) and bourgeois husband (Philippe Leroy), unsure if she loves either of them. Intriguing story is full of Godard’s signature imagery and is quite frank for its time (1964). Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
BLU-RAY TITLES MGM/Fox releases more classic 007 to Blu-ray this month, starting with 1974’s THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, Roger Moore’s second outing as James Bond, and where he finally found solid footing in his portrayal of the suave British agent, here on the trail of an enigmatic assassin (Christopher Lee, terrific) who has marked Bond for death. Maud Adams and Britt Ekland provide some nice scenery, along with the international locales. 1989 brought Timothy Dalton’s second, and final, appearance as Bond in what many fans consider a high point in the series, LICENCE TO KILL, a tough, mean revenge tale that has Bond in hot pursuit of the drug kingpin (Robert Davi) who maimed his best friend. Look fast for Benicio Del Toro as one of Davi’s goons. Bonuses: Cast and crew commentary, including some charming anecdotes from Sir Roger Moore; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; TV spots and trailers; Documentaries on the films’ production; Music videos. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY is the Farrelly brothers’ classic comedy, perhaps the funniest film of the ‘90s, about a loveable schlub (Ben Stiller) who tries to win the heart of his unrequited love (Cameron Diaz) from high school. Raunchy, clever, and near-brilliant in its comic sensibility. Nice support from Matt Dillon, Lee Evans and Chris Elliott, with terrific musical support from the great Jonathan Richman. Bonuses: Theatrical and extended cuts of the film; Commentary by the Farrellys and co-writers John J. Strauss and Ed Decter; Animated title sequence; Featurettes; Music video; Outtakes; Karaoke. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. FARGO is the Coen brothers’ blackly comic masterpiece about a pregnant sheriff (Frances McDormand, Oscar winner for Best Actress) in small town Minnesota investigating a series of brutal murders by two of the most incompetent criminals (Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare) in film history. William H. Macy scores as a dim-witted car salesman who opens the Pandora’s box. Bonuses: Commentary by cinematographer Roger Deakins; Featurette; Trivia track; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. BIG made a star out of Tom Hanks, with his portrayal of a 12 year-old who gets his wish to be “big” and wakes up one morning as a full-grown man. Much-imitated film has never been equaled, with a near-perfect blend of humor, heart and pathos. Bonuses: Theatrical version and extended cut; Audio documentary by screenwriters Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY marked the third in director Sergio Leone’s “Man with no Name” trilogy starring Clint Eastwood as a gunslinging anti-hero, here joining forces with bandit Eli Wallach to find a cache of Confederate gold before an evil ex-army officer (Lee Van Cleef) does. Beautifully shot, directed and edited, a true masterpiece of the genre. Fully restored extended version. Bonuses: Commentary by film historians Richard Schickel and Christopher Frayling; Documentaries; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. SETH MACFARLANE’S CAVALCADE OF CARTOON COMEDY (UNCENSORED) is a series of hilarious animated shorts from the creator of Family Guy and American Dad! Smart, raunchy and twisted sometimes beyond belief, this adults-only cartoon fest is sure to have the most jaded viewer rolling in the aisles. Bonuses: Red carpet premiere footage; Still galleries. Full screen. DTS 5.1 surround. S. DARKO is a so-so follow-up to the cult hit Donnie Darko, picking up seven years after the first film ended, with Donnie’s sister (Daveigh Chase) taking refuge in a desert town that finds itself plunged into chaos when a meteorite strikes nearby, plunging the world toward Armageddon. Bonuses: Filmmaker commentary; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Lionsgate releases a fantastic Blu-ray edition of James Cameron’s T2: JUDGEMENT DAY—SKYNET EDITION, with its groundbreaking CGI effects that still hold up quite well nearly 20 years later. Story picks up 15 years after the original Terminator, with a teenaged John Connor (Edward Furlong) being protected this time by Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger, against uber-Terminator Robert Patrick. Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Connor, reinvented as a sinewy, feral, feminist warrior. Dynamite! Bonuses: Multiple versions of the film; Commentary by Cameron, co-writer William Wisher, cast and crew; D-Box Metadata audio track; BD Live features including picture-in-picture behind-the-scenes video and multimedia galleries, Storyboard-script mode; Quizzes and games. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 EX and DTS 6.1 surround. Universal releases Spike Lee’s thriller INSIDE MAN, starring Denzel Washington as a clever NYPD detective, playing a cat-and-mouse game of wits with bank robber Clive Owen. Well-made, with a dream cast that includes Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, and Willem Dafoe, but Russell Gewirtz’s script is ultimately about the fact that it’s clever, and nothing more. Bonuses: Commentary by Lee; Deleted scenes; Featurettes; BD Live features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Sony releases AIR FORCE ONE, starring Harrison Ford as the President of the United States, who must revert to his military training when his plane his hijacked by terrorist Gary Oldman, and his wife and daughter are taken hostage. Director Wolfgang Petersen provides plenty of suspense and pyrotechnics, but enough already with the “Die Hard in a…” formula! Bonuses: Commentary by Petersen. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. GLORY is the epic tale of 54th Massachusetts regiment: the first black military unit in U.S. history, formed during the Civil War. Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington (Best Supporting Actor, 1988) head a magnificent cast that make up one of the ‘80s’ best films, a masterpiece worthy of David Lean. Bonuses: Interactive battlefield map; Documentary; Featurettes; Filmmaker commentary; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN, COMPLETE is an eye-popping CGI animated adventure about a young warrior who is forced to defend his planet from an impending invasion. Extended director’s cut features 26 extra minutes of footage. Bonuses: Animated film; Featurettes; Story digests; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. Blue Underground releases FAST COMPANY a change of pace for director David Cronenberg made in between his horror hits Rabid and The Brood, focusing on the world of dragstrip racing and the fringe characters that make it up. Starring B-movie stalwarts William Smith, John Saxon and the late Claudia Jennings (in her final role), film is a fun, fascinating look into a pre-NASCAR subculture. Bonuses: Commentary by Cronenberg; Interviews with Smith and Saxon, cinematographer Mark Irwin; Trailer; Early films by Cronenberg. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 7.1 surround. Paramount releases Blu-ray editions of two hit films by Adrian Lynne: FATAL ATTRACTION changed the face of the “date movie” as we know it, with yuppie Michael Douglas foolishly engaging in an extramarital tryst with psychotic Glenn Close. Terrific up until the final scene, which is over-the-top in the extreme. Bonuses: Commentary by Lynne; Cast and crew interviews; Featurettes; Rehearsal footage; Alternate ending; Trailer. INDECENT PROPOSAL is a preposterous, but entertaining, drama about a rich businessman (Robert Redford) who offers a struggling young couple (Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore) a million dollars for one night in the sack with the wife. Interesting moral drama has as many misses as hits, but Redford is magnificent and somehow, the film still works in spite of its flaws. Bonuses: Commentary by Lynne. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. FRIDAY THE 13th PART 2 AND PART 3 (3-D) feature more hack and slay gruesomeness from everyone’s favorite hockey mask-wearing psycho killer, Jason Voorhees, who always manages to come up with new and inventive ways to dismember fornicating teenagers. Blu-ray really brings those gory make-up effects home, however, if that’s your cup of Joe. Part 3 comes with 2 pair of 3-D glasses. Other bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Acorn Media releases classic titles from the other side of “the pond,” starting with CALLAN: SET 1, starring Edward Woodward as a British intelligence agent cum assassin whose grubby existence is a harsh counterpoint to the glamour of 007. The BAFTA-winning series, which ran from 1970-74 was a landmark in British television for its frank depiction of violence, language and sexuality, not to mention its openly-critical stance against the British government and their policies. Owes much to the work of John Le Carre. One of television’s finest hours, dated only by its use of early video as opposed to film stock. 3 disc set bonuses include: Trivia; Biography of Woodward. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: THE MOVIE COLLECTION SET 4, features the inimitable David Suchet as the Belgian sleuth whose love of crimebusting is matched only by his passion as an aesthete. Three disc set. Bonuses: Documentary on the series’ production. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. LIFE ON MARS: SERIES ONE, is a mind-bending policier in which a present-day Manchester detective finds himself transported back to 1973 after being hit by a car, where he must resume his role as a policeman in a man’s world, ruled by hard-drinking, two-fisted cops who have little regard for policy, procedure or any of the CSI-style crime-solving technology that exists today. Clever, funny and tough, a truly unique addition to the genre that spawned a short-lived American remake. 4 disc set. Bonuses: Audio commentary by cast and crew; Documentary; Featurettes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. E1 Entertainment releases THE HUNGER: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, a creepy horror anthology series from 1997, exec produced by Tony and Ridley Scott, featuring stars past (Karen Black, Margot Kidder) and present (Daniel Craig, Jason Flemyng, Timothy Spall) in 22 episodes on 4 discs. Nice blend of the horrific and the erotic. Bonuses: Featurette. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Universal releases LAND OF THE LOST: THE COMPLETE SERIES, Sid and Marty Kroftt’s ‘70s Saturday morning classic about a family transported back into prehistoric times, where they must do battle with man-eating reptiles one day, and beings from another dimension the next. Features all 43 of the series’ episodes housed in a reproduction of a classic LOTL lunchbox! Bonuses: Featurette of the new Will Ferrell Land of the Lost feature film. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Paramount releases CANNON: SEASON TWO, VOL. 1, featuring more adventures of LA’s most formidable detective (William Conrad). 3 disc set features ten episodes from the 1972 season. Bonuses: Episodic promos. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE CLEANER: THE FIRST SEASON stars Benjamin Bratt as an extreme interventionist who has devoted his life to rescue addicts from their battles with drugs and drink. 4 disc set features 13 episodes. Bonuses: Cast and crew commentary; Featurettes; Gag reel; Deleted scenes; Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. PERRY MASON: SEASON 4, VOL. 1 features more courtroom drama from Raymond Burr’s intrepid defense attorney, who always gets his man (or woman). 16 episodes on 4 discs from the 1960-61 season. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.