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Wednesday, 1 August 2012

My Dinner With Gore

Posted on 17:08 by Ratan

By Stephen Vittoria

With apologies to Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn.

When I decided to make the film “One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern,” the person to interview at the top of my list was Gore Vidal – for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, he knew McGovern very well and one could always count on Gore to bring his razor sharp wit, his intellectual wherewithal, and his brutal honesty to any situation. For our session in his backyard in the Hollywood Hills, he was on, very on. In fact, to this day, right to a screening last night, his interview clips elicited more great responses from the audience than anyone else in the film. It was the same at almost every screening. Here’s a sample of classic Gore Vidal from the film:

“Well, now, you know, I was brought up in the ruling class… they hate the people. The Bush family, if you gave them sodium pentothal and asked them, "And what do you think about the American people," you will hear such profanity as you've never heard before. The American people are an obstacle. The Constitution stuck us with all these elections.”

When I finished the film, I invited McGovern and Gore to a private screening, where we finished our first bottle of wine for the evening. When watching my films, I usually try to get audiences drinking before hand – it seems to help the narrative flow so much better. So, every once in awhile during the film, Gore would turn and throw me a look – I wasn’t sure if he liked something, hated something, or thought I was a buffoon or maybe a rank amateur. But he was definitely feeling something. The film ended and the lights flickered back on… but there’s always that uncomfortable moment after a small screening when two seconds of silence feels like an eternity. Of course, Gore broke the silence with the perfect quip: “Well, I didn’t think anyone could make George seem interesting. That was your hardest job. Well played. Also, I seem to remember that my interview was much longer. Didn’t make the cut, eh?” Of course, I started to stammer and went on about how difficult it is to fit everything in, seventy-five hours of interviews cut down to two hours, and the great thing about DVDs is that we can put the extra stuff on the disc. “Steve, I’m kidding.” Right. “You nailed the bastards to the cross. Good.” Right, thanks. “I know George has to go to the airport. Would you like to come back to the house? Wine, maybe some dinner?” Holy shit. An invitation from Gore Vidal. “Sure.”


On the drive back to Gore’s place in Hollywood, (too bad it wasn’t his Villa La Rondinaia on the Amalfi Coast because Hollywood is like Newark with palm trees, except Gore’s place is beautiful, way up on a hill, secluded, amazing art, eclectic furniture, pictures of him with ruling class icons and of course Camelot), I start thinking, “What the hell are you going to talk about? He’ll know you’re an imposter in like three seconds.” I start going through the books I’ve read: The City and the Pillar, Myra Breckinridge, Empire, Burr, Lincoln, Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace, Inventing a Nation about Washington, Jefferson, and Madison – or was it Adams? Maybe it was Franklin. Damn. Okay, talk about the film, maybe ask him about who he reads… and DON’T MENTION Bill Buckley and Norman Mailer. Just drink the wine, eat the food, and let him talk. He’s good at talking. You’re good at eating, especially prior to the vegan days.

We sat in Gore’s living room, which was more like a study. He had this incredibly comfortable chair that he sat in all the time (same chair I interviewed him in a year later for another documentary). We shared an incredible Italian red, I think Sangiovese, and we talked about the McGovern film, which he really liked. He read a short passage from his novel Creation because he thought something in it reminded him of George McGovern. We talked about his relationship with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, how he believed that FDR knew well in advance of the planned attack on Pearl Harbor, let it happen to suck the American people into WW2, how much he didn’t like Truman, and that the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a commercial for the Ruskies, “Hell, the Japanese were trying to surrender all summer.” So now I’m pinching myself. I’m here with arguably one of the great American writers of all time, this iconic figure in American culture, someone I admired from afar, and we’re trading thoughts on the machinations of the American Empire. I start telling him about my next project, which covers light-hearted subjects like empire, genocide, and Manifest Destiny. He tells me I’m nuts, “you’ll never tell that story in two hours.” He’s probably right but I tell him I have a plan. Thank god he didn’t ask me what the plan was because, well, you know…

Now, there was this dude who kind of ran the house for Gore… food, drink, schedule, everything, the whole deal… and stuff would just happen. Wine would appear but Gore never asked. Some snacks. Then the dude breezed by, “Dinner.” And he was gone. So we moved into a small dining area with art surrounding the table that was to die for. It was like eating in a cubbyhole at The Frick.

During dinner, we talked about his historic disdain for the fishwrap, also known as The New York Times. We talked about his time spent living in Italy, how much he preferred it to the United States, but as his health was beginning to fail, he felt more comfortable in Los Angeles near his doctors at Cedar-Sinai. In fact, he constantly referred to this period in his life as “the Cedar-Sinai years.” We then talked about his stepsister Jacqueline Lee Bouvier who married Jack Kennedy. He tells this story: “Jack Kennedy did a very good Nixon imitation, but mine was better, though I've lost mine over the years.” Now Gore says, in a Nixon voice: “’But I'm not saying that President Kennedy is a communist. I'm certainly not inferring that he is a communist. I'm only saying, though he is not a communist, he is soft on communism.’ Well, by the time he finishes, he's mentioned the word communist twenty times with poor Jack at the center of it. And then Jack said, ‘I always thought that was very clever.’"


There was more great wine, some dessert, and I was surprised by our banter. It was genuine, it was intriguing, and it was the conversation of a lifetime. For me. I’m sure for Gore, it was simply better than eating alone. We shook hands, he wished me luck on the film, and I ventured back out into the night with some immediate cool memories and a gallon of Sangiovese spinning around in my head like a pleasant vertigo.

I visited Gore one more time for a documentary project entitled “Murder Incorporated,” and I wanted him to share his thoughts and expertise about previous empires as well as the current American Empire and its march of Manifest Destiny that continues unbridled to this day. Again, he was brilliant. And then, on cue, in the middle of his answer about puppet leaders bowing to the Military Industrial Complex, he pulls out a Barbie-sized doll of George W. Bush, pulls the string on this talking replica of the mass murdering frat boy, and then goes into an amazing Andy Kaufman/Tony Clifton-like conversation with the blabbering Bush doll. Tape was rolling.

Nowadays, people throw around the term “iconoclast” to describe every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Well, stop it. Read a book or two written by Gore Vidal, read about the life and times of a true iconoclast, a man who understood the privilege he benefitted from by being part of the ruling class – going to St. Albans in D.C. and Exeter in New Hampshire – but never letting that privilege poison his compassion for those less fortunate, or poison his ability to see through the myth and lies of American history so twisted by those who possess the wealth and own the guns.

Gore had many detractors and a whole bunch of enemies. He probably wouldn’t want it any other way. He was a polemicist in the best sense of the word. If this country had more polemicists, like Gore Vidal, the Republic would be thriving right now rather than crumbling. When I read his books now, I hear his voice, sitting in his chair in his study in the Hollywood Hills.

He graced my films and for that I am forever grateful because he made me a better filmmaker just by sharing his thoughts… and he graces my personal memories because I had the unique chance to share some time with him.

Gore believed that when you die it’s pretty much like birth… nothing is now something, something is now nothing. No drama. No experience. Epicurus deftly summed it up millennia ago, writing, "When I am, death is not, and when death is, I am not." I get the existential downer but the marvelous thing is that Gore’s genius and masterful work will be with us for a very long time. And that is a gift.

Peace, Gore.


Stephen Vittoria is an independent filmmaker who lives in Los Angeles.


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DVD Playhouse--November 2012

Posted on 15:11 by Ratan





By Allen Gardner

PIER PAOLO PASOLINI’S TRILOGY OF LIFE (Criterion) Pier Paolo Pasolini was Italy’s last Neo-Realist, a product of post-WW II Europe who was fervently Catholic, openly gay, defiantly Marxist, and one of the most original voices of the 20th century’s second half. Before his brutal murder in 1975 (after the premiere of his still-controversial swan song, “Salo”), Pasolini directed a trilogy of films based on masterpieces of medieval literature: Boccaccio’s “The Decameron,” Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales,” and “The Thousand and One Nights (also known as “The Arabian Nights”). The three films celebrate the uninhibited, earthy, raw carnal nature of the original texts, leaving little to the imagination, but also offering Pasolini’s own very unique and pointed views on modern society, consumerism, religious and sexual mores (and hypocrisies), and an unexpurgated celebration of the human body, both male and female. Extraordinary production design by Dante Ferretti and another evocative, memorable score by maestro Ennio Morricone. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Visual essays by film scholars Patrick Rumble and Tony Rayns; Interviews with Ferretti, Morricone, film scholar Sam Rohdie; Intro to “Arabian Nights” by Pasolini; Documentaries on the films’ productions and on Pasolini himself; Deleted scenes; Trailers. All are widescreen, Dolby 1.0 mono.
AMERICANO (MPI) A Frenchman (writer/director Mathieu Demy, son of filmmakers Jacques Demy and Agnes Varda) journeys to Los Angeles to settle his late mother’s estate and track down the mysterious woman (Salma Hayek) named in her will. Demy, who is the spitting image of his late father, has fashioned both an homage to his parents’ work as well as a freshman outing that’s unique unto itself, and only partly successful on that end. While its nobility and good intentions are obvious, the film lacks a sure hand and its obviousness becomes its own worst enemy, undercutting any sense of subtlety or subtext, both things his parents were masters of. Hayek is okay as a world-weary Mexican stripper, but better work is delivered by Geraldine Chaplin and Chiara Mastroianni (another Euro-celeb offspring: of Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni). A mixed bag, but worth a look. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interview with Demy; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE WATCH (20th Century Fox) In suburban Ohio, four neighborhood friends (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade) decide to form a watch group after the mysterious death of a security guard at the local Costco. When the four quickly discover it’s not a crime wave that’s hit their quiet hamlet, but a full-scale alien invasion, they must try to single-handedly save their ‘hood—and the world. Promising set-up is given middling treatment, thanks to a script (co-written by Seth Rogen) that focuses more on potty humor than clever set-ups and executions. Lots of gross-out gags abound, as well, a few of them funny, but they become redundant very quickly. A real shame, what with all the talent both in front of and behind the camera. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Gag reel; Alternate takes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE EXPENDABLES 2 (Lionsgate) The long-in-the-tooth action heroes (Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth) are back, this time hell-bent on revenge when one of their own is killed by a psychotic terrorist. Simon West takes the directorial reins from Stallone this time out, doing a solid job, and raising the bar just slightly higher than the original—which isn’t saying much. Fans of lobotomized action flicks will likely enjoy this cinematic mayhem, others, stay clear. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by West; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
WEEKEND (Criterion) Jean-Luc Godard’s 1967 satire on, well, just about everything is at once startling, brilliant and prescient as well as dull, annoying and downright pretentious. It’s undoubtedly the most polarizing film ever made by, arguably, the world’s most polarizing filmmaker. “Weekend” follows a bourgeois couple who attempt a weekend holiday in their new car. After getting stuck in the screen’s most epic traffic jam (featuring one cinema’s most astonishing tracking shots), the couple undergo an odyssey that makes anything written by Homer (or the Marquis de Sade, for that matter) look anemic in comparison. Hugely influential, from its camerawork, to its self-reflexive asides, to its use of intertitles to break up action, “Weekend” is a film that should be seen by all who view themselves as serious connoisseurs of cinema, although after watching it, be warned: you might start questioning your own cinefile status and reach for the nearest superhero Blu-ray just to feel sane again. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Video essay by writer and filmmaker Kent Jones; Archival interviews with actors Mireille Darc and Jean Yanne, cinematographer Raoul Coutard and A.D. Claude Miller; Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
RUDYARD KIPLING’S MARK OF THE BEAST (Blood Bath Pictures) Ellen Muth and Debbie Rochon star in this modern adaptation of the classic Kipling horror story. Two women lose their way after fighting off a faceless creature in the woods. Ultra-low budget feature suffers from its humble origins at times, with some amateurish acting and staging, but the creature effects are quite remarkable and the two leads do solid work. What’s more impressive is how Kipling’s 19th century tale, with subtext involving political and religious themes, is still relevant today. Bonuses: Featurettes; Documentary on film’s production; Commentary by directors Jon Gorman and Thomas Edward Seymour. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
RASHOMON (Criterion) Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 classic is often credited as being the film responsible for creating the “Best Foreign Film” Oscar category, having received a special Oscar for just that in 1952. Toshiro Mifune stars in this objective account of four different people’s versions of a man’s murder and rape of his wife, all seen in flashback. Legendary film revolutionized the language of cinema and put Japanese films on the international map. One of the all-time greats. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Audio commentary by Japanese film historian Donald Richie; Interview with Robert Altman; Featurettes; Documentary; Archival radio interview with actor Takashi Shimura; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
MAGIC MIKE (Warner Bros.) Channing Tatum plays a veteran male stripper who shows a directionless twenty-something (Alex Pettyfer) the ropes and the moves at Dallas’ hottest ladies’ club. That’s about the extent of this modern take on “42nd Street,” and the like that populated screens in the 1930s and early 1940s. The fact that it was helmed by Steven Soderbergh, arguably one of the most important directors working today, is the biggest conundrum the film presents. Soderbergh didn’t have to make this film any more than Martin Scorsese had to make “Shutter Island,” both essentially being B-grade exploitation films, with Scorsese’s dressed up in Armani clothing. “Magic Mike,” however, offers little, if any cinematic flair or invention, and presents its rather straightforward story…straightforwardly. Not a bad film, per se, but at the end this viewer found himself scratching his head and muttering “Yeah…and?” Lots of gorgeous manflesh on display for the ladies (and men) looking for that kind of thing. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Extended dance scenes; Dance playback mode. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
VAMPS (Anchor Bay) Goody (Alicia Silverstone) and Stacy (Krysten Ritter) are BFFs and wells as BVFs (Best Vampire Friends), both having been undead for hundreds of years. As they try to navigate being vampires in the modern world, both find that being blood-suckers and finding compatible romantic partners is rather challenging. Director Amy Heckerling (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Clueless”) brings undeniable energy to this comic-horror pastiche, but while it’s loaded with cleverness and appealing performances, it never quite finds its legs. Terrific cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Wallace Shawn, Richard Lewis, Kristen Johnson and many more familiar faces. It is good to see Heckerling back on her game again. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
PAINTED SKIN: THE RESURRECTION (Well Go USA) A battle wits and wills between a demon who’s taken on human form and a scarred princess pursuing her one true love propels this martial arts adventure from Hong Kong. Eye-popping visuals, bone-crunching stunts and an attractive cast keeps this moving at a breakneck pace, which also helps cover up some major convolution in the plot, providing you look too closely. On the whole, a riveting period martial arts adventure. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE CAMPAIGN (Warner Bros.) Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis play an incumbent redneck congressman from North Carolina and his long-shot challenger in this broad, often funny, often strained comic effort. Director Jay Roach, a comedy veteran whose credits include the “Austin Powers” films among others, does his best to navigate Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell’s elbow-in-the-ribs script, using the two leads’ very appealing and contrasting personas to keep the proceedings moving at a nice clip. It’s all downhill from Ferrell’s sure to be classic opening mantra, however: “It’s all about America, Jesus and freedom!” My gut still hurts from that one…Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Gag reel; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
CHERNOBYL DIARIES (Warner Bros.) Twenty-five years after the disaster at Russia’s Chernobyl nuclear facility, six young vacationers, seeking “extreme tourism,” visit the ruins of the city that surrounded the plant, thought to be abandoned. When they are forced to stay the night (what else?), they soon find out they are anything but alone. Co-producer/co-writer Oren Peli, creator of the “Paranormal Activity” frachsise, takes what could have been a clever set-up ripe for not only good scares, but also humor, satire and pointed social commentary, and plays it by-the-numbers from the first frame. Hardly extreme tourism, more like taking a vacation with one of those old stereoscopic Viewmasters, seeing the sights without actually being there. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Alternate ending; Featurettes; Bonus scene. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
ROSEMARY’S BABY (Criterion) Roman Polanski’s 1968 film based on Ira Levin’s best-selling novel has lovely Midwesterner Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and her ambitious actor husband Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes, at his intense, twitchy best) moving into a grand old apartment house on Central Park West (actually the Dakota, where John Lennon was infamously gunned down a decade later). After the tragic death of a neighbor, Rosemary and Guy find themselves “adopted” by the building’s oldest denizens, Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer). When Rosemary discovers she’s pregnant, the Castavets take a pointed interest in seeing her pregnancy through with her: giving her special vitamin drinks, suggesting an OBGYN, cooking her meals. Then the nightmares begin, and the stomach pains, and the discovery of a disturbing book…Quite simply the greatest blend of satire and full-throttle horror ever committed to film. Everyone in “Rosemary’s Baby” is at their finest hour (save Polanski, who exceeded himself six years later with “Chinatown”), and it still holds up and feels fresh, forty-four years later. Not to be missed and a must-have for any cinefile’s library. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Documentary on film’s production; Interview with Levin; Documentary on composer Krzysztof Komeda. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
DARK HORSE (Virgil Films) Abe (Jordan Gelber) is overweight, in his mid-30s, and still lives at home with his parents (Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow) and his collection of action figures. When he has an awkward meeting with Miranda (Selma Blair), whose mishaps have also landed her back at her parents’ house, a tentative romance slowly builds. Writer/director Todd Solondz once again populates his nightmarish suburban landscape with a parade of utter losers who we wouldn’t want to stand in line with at the grocery store, much less spend two hours with in a cinema (or on television). What Solondz does that works, once again, is make these utterly pathetic people somehow empathetic by arguing that they deserve compassion as much as anyone else. Not easy, to be sure, but rewarding if you’re willing to stick it out. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
YOUR SISTER’S SISTER (IFC Films) After the death of his brother shatters Jack (Mark Duplass), he accepts the invitation of his brother’s girlfriend Iris (Emily Blunt) to spend the weekend at her family’s cabin. When Iris’ sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), raw from a recent breakup with her girlfriend, also arrives at the family homestead for a weekend of respite, she and Jack find themselves engaging in a drunken night of confessions and shared experiences. Writer/director Lynn Shelton brings humor, pathos and realism to the proceedings, reminiscent of films like “Five Easy Pieces” and “The King of Marvin Gardens.” Great stuff. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Trailer; Commentary by cast and crew; Commentary by Shelton and Duplass. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
JAVIER BARDEM: 3-FILM COLLECTION (Lionsgate) Spain’s biggest male star has made a splash on this side of the Pond, as well. This set contains three of his best: BIUTIFUL features Javier as Uxbal, a single father of two children, who finds his life in chaos after he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is forced to escape the heat of crime in underground Barcelona, to break away from the manic depressive, abusive mother of his children and to regain spiritual insight in his life. Tough stuff and a shattering emotional experience. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN offers Bardem in his Oscar-winning role as a ruthless assassin who must track down a cache of drug money stolen by an itinerant cowboy (Josh Brolin). Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel captured the Best Picture Oscar. MONDAYS IN THE SUN is set in an industrial city in Spain, where five unemployed middle-aged friends daily meet in a bar, whose owner was also a former employee of the local shipyard, for drinking and small talk. Santa (Bardem) is their rebel leader, who dreams of moving to Australia, where he imagines he’ll have a better life. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
RITES OF SPRING (IFC Films) This movie is about Rachel and her friend who are taken by someone while in a car park while changing a tire. They wake up in a strange barn tied up and frightened. They know that things are going to get worse. The reason why they are abducted becomes clear as there is a horrible secret in the town where girls have gone missing each Spring for many years, and this year is no different. Meanwhile a group of kidnappers are plotting to take the child of a prominent business man and his wife. They take the child and go to a farm where they wait to get their ransom. The two groups collide when Rachel escapes but is chased by a stranger wearing a mask of some sort. She runs to the farm where the kidnappers are and all hell breaks loose. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Storyboard, poster, art work galleries; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BURNING MAN (IFC Films) Matthew Goode (“Match Point,” “Brideshead Revisited,” “The Lookout”) stars as a hotshot restaurateur in Sydney who is dancing as fast as he can to keep his life from falling apart after a tragedy forces him into a tailspin. Goode is terrific as an unhinged former superstar and the film is loaded with visual pyrotechnics, proving helmer Jonathan Teplizky has an unerring eye. That said, there is more pizzazz than substance on hand and by the film’s end, you feel somewhat cheated, as though you’d gone to a haute cuisine restaurant for a meal, and only been served a gorgeously presented appetizer. Still worth a look. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.


DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL!

ALCATRAZ: THE COMPLETE SERIES (Warner Bros.) Intriguing blend of sci-fi and police procedural as San Francisco cops must team with FBI agents to track down the notorious “63s,” a group of prisoners and guards who mysteriously vanished from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, only to resurface on the streets of modern-day San Fran. Veteran actors Sam Neill, Leon Rippy and Jonny Coyne team with young pups Sarah Jones, Parminder Nagra and Jason Butler Harner to create an entertaining chase. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Unaired scenes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Lifetime releases two movie collections. The first, MOMS TO THE RESCUE COLLECTION, features “Honeymoon with Mom,” about a young woman (Virginia Williams) jilted at the altar, who takes refuge on a tropical paradise with her mom (Shelley Long), not knowing she has an agenda all her own. “Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story” stars Taraj P. Henson in the true story of a woman’s fight to get custody of her kidnapped son back from Korea. “Mom, Dad and Her” tells the story of Sydney (Brittney Wilson) who is sent to live with her father and stepmother after a rebellious period, only to find that her stepmother and their new baby reunite both families. Finally, “Mom at Sixteen” tells the story of Jacey, a 16 year-old honor student (Danielle Panabaker) who, when she discovers she’s pregnant, finds her mother (Mercedes Ruehl) moves them to a new town, where she raises the baby as her own, until an attentive teacher (Jane Krakowski) helps Jacey come to terms with the lie she’s living. THE GOLD COLLECTION features “Homeless to Harvard,” starring Thora Birch as a homeless teen who doesn’t let her adverse conditions prevent her from attending Harvard. “Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy” tells the story of Geralyn (Sarah Chalke) who tackles her breast cancer diagnosis with aplomb. “Ambulance Girl,” directed by and starring Kathy Bates, tells the empowering, and often hilarious story, of a woman who overcomes depression by becoming an EMT. “We Were the Mulvaneys” is a thrice Emmy-nominated movie starring Beau Bridges and Blythe Danner as the scions of a “perfect” family who try to hide the shameful secret of their daughter’s rape. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
TOUCH: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (20th Century Fox) Kiefer Sutherland stars as Martin Bohm, a single father struggling to raise his emotionally-challenged son, Jake. He soon discovers that Jake has an amazing gift: the ability to see hidden patterns of numbers that connect everyone on the planet. With the help of a brilliant professor (Danny Glover), Martin learns to communicate with Jake and help people around the world. 3-disc set. Bonuses: Featurettes; Extended pilot episode; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Vivendi releases two Hallmark productions: THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT stars Melissa Gilbert as a big-shot Broadway director whose temperamental ways get her fired from another job. When the only gig she can find is directing a small town Christmas pageant, she must swallow her pride to prove herself. Robert Mailhouse and Edward Herrmann co-star. ANNIE CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN stars Maria Thayer as Santa’s daughter, who has moved from the North Pole to sunny California, where she spreads Christmas cheer throughout L.A., all the while looking for a replacement for her dad to run things up north. Cute, sure to please the little ones. Both are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
WOLF LAKE: THE COMPLETE SERIES (eOne) Lou Diamond Phillips stars as Detective John Kanin, a Seattle cop who finds his world turned upside down when his girlfriend Kathy (Mia Kirshner) mysteriously vanishes one night. After months of searching, an anonymous tip leads John back to Ruby’s hometown Wolf Lake, a place where the residents hide a dark secret…Bonuses: Unaired pilot; Commentary by creator/exec producer John Leekley and director Rupert Wainwright; Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
A&E/New Video release a host of reality titles, starting with: DUCK DYNASTY: SEASON ONE, which follows Louisiana’s Robertson family, proprietors of Duck Commander, a sporting goods empire specializing in top-drawer duck calls and decoys. ANCIENT ALIENS: SEASON FOUR looks at the hypothesis that natural disasters could really be the work of extraterrestrial forces. Also takes a look at the Mayan Long Count Calendar, which many believe gives credence to the Doomsday Prophecies that the world will end on December 21, 2012. Also available on Blu-ray disc. TOP SHOT: SEASON FOUR returns with Colby Donaldson as host, with competitors vying for a $100K prize package. Sharpshooters include a 21 year-old world champion pistol shooter and a high school custodian who makes his own ammunition. SHIPPING WARS: SEASON ONE follows six independent shippers who have discovered fortunes can be made transporting items that traditional carriers won’t touch, from oversized loads to the truly bizarre, some of which must be seen to be believed. AMERICAN RESTORATION: SEASON TWO, features Rick Dale and his crew of loose screws at Rick’s Restorations in Las Vegas, NV. Whether it’s a giant gas pump from the ‘40s, a Hopalong Cassidy bicycle from the ‘50s, every restoration is a high-stakes business project. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.


DOCUMENTARY DAYS

THE DUST BOWL (PBS) Another landmark, epic doc from Ken Burns, this time focusing on the worst man-made ecological disaster in U.S. history when a frenzied wheat boom on the southern Plains, followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s, nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation. Undoubtedly the darkest chapter of the Great Depression, Burns does his usual exemplary job of combining archival footage, photos, dramatic re-enactments and voice-over narration from some of America’s best actors (Peter Coyote, Patricia Clarkson) to create a searing document of struggle, survival and redemption. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Additional interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
History Channel/New Video release DISASTERS RECONSTRUCTED, which painstakingly recounts some of the worst accidents, mishaps and tragedies in recent history, including the explosion of the dirigible The Hindenburg, the sinking of the Titanic, and engineering disasters involving dams, buildings and vehicles. 6-disc set. HISTORY IN 3D offers three blu-ray programs in 3D: WWII IN 3D, loaded with color and B&W archival footage, most never before seen, of the 20th century’s greatest conflict, TITANIC: 100 YEARS IN 3D, looking at the doomed ship’s final resting place with remarkable underwater footage, and HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN TWO HOURS IN 3D, offers a CGI-enhanced look at the world’s origins, offering a rapid-fire view of 14 billion years of evolution. 3-disc set. THE UNIVERSE IN 3D reconstructs the violent natural events that brought the universe, as we know it today, into being. Eye-popping CGI effects enhance this fascinating program, even more so in 3D. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
CELEBRITY TRIALS IN THE MEDIA (MVD) Director Brian Malone takes a look at some of the more sensational tabloid and legitimate news stories that have filled the headlines and the Internet in recent years, including the Kobe Bryant rape case, O.J. Simpson’s multitude of legal issues, the child molestation trial of Michael Jackson, and more. Informative and objective study, refreshingly free of sensationalism. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
HIGH GROUND (Virgil Films) Terrific blend of action movie and documentary chronicles eleven wounded U.S. veterans who join an expedition to climb the 20,000 foot Himalayan giant Mount Lobuche, led by a blind adventurer named Erik Weihenmayer! Truly remarkable film and story of the indelible human spirit. Bonuses: Trailer; Commentary by Weihenmayer; Deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
NAZI COLLABORATORS (Shanachie) 13-part documentary looks at the reasons why so many Europeans and Middle Easterners collaborated with Hitler and the Nazis after their countries were invaded by the German war machine. Culled from over 4000 hours of archival footage, this massive doc takes painstaking care to present objective viewpoints of all involved. Fascinating and highly unsettling—as it could easily happen again. 4-disc set. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE ROLLING STONES UNDER REVIEW: THE RONNIE WOOD YEARS, 1975-1983 (Part 1). (Sexy Intellectual) Interesting look at the tenure of Ronnie Wood, former guitarist for the legendary sixties band The Faces, as a member of the Rolling Stones, and how his unique brand of guitar playing and singular persona helped The Stones redefine themselves during a period when many feel they were growing stale. Loaded with archival footage and interviews, a must for any Stones fan. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
MINDS IN THE WATER (EOE) Terrific doc about pro surfer Dave “Rasta” Rastovich and his international journey to help save whales, dolphins and their ocean environment. Five years in the making, the film offers amazing surf footage of Rastovich as well as remarkable footage of marine life in its natural habitat. Inspiring and thrilling. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.


FOR THE YOUNG ‘UNS

BRAVE (Disney/Pixar) Another animated extravaganza from the Pixar team that’s sure to become a classic. Merida, a Scottish princess whose interests include archery and horse riding, is told by her mother that her interests are not what a princess should be doing and that she has to marry. But Merida chooses to defy her mother. And when she and her mother have an argument Merida rides off and meets a witch. She asks for a spell to change her mother. And the witch gives her a cake which she gives to her mother but the change is not what she was hoping for. So she tries to find a way to fix it. Terrific CGI animation, loaded with knowing humor and pathos that’s sure to appeal to kids and adults, alike. Voice work from Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane adds to the greatness. Available in Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy combo pack. Bonuses: Featurettes; Shorts; Alternate opening; Art gallery; Promotional pieces; Extended scenes; Commentary by cast and crew. Widescreen. DTS-HD 7.1 surround, Dolby 5.1 surround.
PIXAR SHORT FILMS COLLECTION 2 (Disney/Pixar) More inventive genius from the Pixar crew, this time featuring 12 animated shorts, including multiple Oscar nominees (“Presto,” “Day and Night,” “La Luna”) and a host of family favorites. As an added bonus, this 2-disc collection features all the student short films of Pixar bosses John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Pete Doctor. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by filmmakers. Widescreen. DTS-HD 7.1 and Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL: 20th ANNIVERSARY (Disney) Charles Dickens gets the Jim Henson treatment, or is it the other way around? The Muppets assume the roles in Dickens’ classic tale of a miserly lout (Michael Caine) who is visited by a group of ghostly apparitions one Christmas Eve who force him to take stock of his life’s choices. Lots of clever bits and creative reimagining of the original text and story abound, leaving little wonder why this holiday classic has endured for two decades. Caine makes a wonderful human contribution to the cast, as does ‘70s icon Paul Williams with his soundtrack. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Bonuses: Commentary by the Muppets and director Brian Henson; Featurettes. Widescreen. DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 surround.
Shout Factory releases TRANSFORMERS PRIME: SEASON TWO, featuring all 26 episodes of the series’ sophomore season, courtesy scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, whose skills raise the proceedings up several notches. ASTONISHING X-MEN marks a collaboration between the creative minds of Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday, featuring four X-Men adventures: “Gifted,” “Dangerous,” “Torn,” and “Unstoppable.” Loaded with knowing humor and loads of imaginative action. Both discs are available on Blu-ray, and look terrific. Bonuses: Interviews with the makers; Featurettes; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK (DreamWorks) TV spin-off of the hit “How to Train Your Dragon” is still great fun, featuring the epic story of Hiccup, Toothless and his fearless friends continues with four fun and exciting new episodes of adventures. Bonuses: Featurettes; Collectible trading cards. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS (Shout Factory) Four episodes of the hit animated series featuring the adventures of teen hero Ray, who has been recruited by the mysterious Duel Masters to study Kiajudo—an ancient martial art. Although it’s an extended form of product placement by co-producer Hasbro (who produce the best-selling Duel Masters card game), the shows are imaginatively designed and executed. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trading card. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ADVENTURES OF BAILEY: CHRISTMAS HERO (eOne) Bailey the Labrador find himself worried that he won’t get any presents from Santa this year until he learns of a mysterious Native American brave who can make his holiday wishes come true. Loaded with adorable animals who take on human voices, sure to please both the little ones and adults with a soft spot for our furry friends. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
ROBOT: MY FIRST COLLECTION VOL. 4 (Scholastic) Another “read-along” title featuring 12 award-winning stories on 3 DVDs, brought to life through animation and voice work from the likes of Zach Braff and many more. The three volumes are “Robot Zot!...and Many More Rhyming Stories,” “Too Many Toys…and More Stories About Problem Solving,” and “The Curious Garden…and More Stories About Nature.” Bonuses: Interviews with stories’ authors and illustrators; Read-along. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
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DVD Playhouse--August 2012

Posted on 13:11 by Ratan




By Allen Gardner

A SEPARATION (Sony) This drama from Iran won the 2011 Best Foreign Film Oscar, telling the story of a couple who file for a legal separation, with the wife pushing for a divorce. He won’t leave his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father behind, while she is wanting to take their young daughter with her to the United States. After a series of misunderstandings, threats and legal actions, the couple find that there is more than just their marriage that’s on the line. Hyper-realistic to a fault, reminiscent of the neo-realist films that came out of post-WW II Europe, but also repressive and redundant in the extreme, with the characters seeming to throw the same temper tantrum for two hours straight while the story, meanwhile, seems stalled. Wildly overpraised film is a real litmus test, with viewers seeming to be staunch defenders or equally impassioned detractors. It did win an Oscar, so judge for yourself. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by writer/director; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TREASURE ISLAND (Gaiam Vivendi) Gritty version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale about young Jim Hawkins’ coming-of-age aboard a pirate vessel after stumbling across a treasure map. After being taken under the wing of the ship’s crusty cook, “Long” John Silver (Eddie Izzard) whose real motives soon become deadly clear. Also starring Elijah Wood, Donald Sutherland and Toby Regbo. Great fun. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by director Steve Barron, Izzard; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FRIENDS WITH KIDS (Lionsgate) Jennifer Westfeldt (who also wrote and directed) and Adam Scott star as life-long platonic friends who’ve had no luck finding true love. Approaching forty, and surrounded by friends who have married and reproduced (among them Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph). Deciding to have a child together, but remain platonic, the two soon find their feelings becoming more complicated, especially after the baby is born. Awkward mix of sophisticated humor and potty jokes, with the latter tending to overshadow the former, which are far funnier, making for a brew that never quite gels. Also, it strains credibility that a schlub like Scott would attract so many beautiful women, particularly of the Megan Fox variety, who plays one of Scott’s post-baby flames. Chris O’Dowd and Edward Burns co-star in this mixed bag. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Westfeldt, Hamm and William Rexer; Featurttes; Ad-libs and bloopers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE THREE STOOGES: THE MOVIE (20th Century Fox) Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, who scored with classic comedy hits such as “There’s Something About Mary,” and “Dumb and Dumber” tackle the ne-plus-ultra of “dumb” humor with this reboot of the Golden Age comedy trio of Larry, Moe and Curly, three obnoxious dim-wits who can only express themselves through physical violence toward each other and the utter destruction of the world around them. The plot of this slight, but still enjoyable, effort has the boys trying to save their childhood home from foreclosure, with the expected mayhem ensuing as they try to do good. Not destined to become a classic, by any means, but cute enough for a look. Kids in particular should get a hoot from it. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Screen tests; Deleted/extended scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE BUNNY GAME (Autonomy Pictures) A prostitute (Radleen Getsic, who co-wrote) is kidnapped by one of her johns, a truck driver (Jeff Renfro) and taken to an isolated location where he subjects her to series of brutal and increasingly violent “games,” the final one involving her head being sealed inside a plastic bunny mask. If you’re thinking “another entry in the waning torture porn genre,” you’d be more spot-on than you know, as all the violence and sex in the film is, supposedly, unsimulated. That’s right, it’s just slightly to the right of a full-stop snuff film. While it’s well-shot in moody black & white, director and co-writer Adam Rehmeier gives it no real story, characters or payoff in the end. It’s just seventy-six minutes of a woman being degraded and tortured (for real), dressed up as an indie, arty exercise. If this is your idea of a fun night at the movies, go for it, kids. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Rehmeier, Getsic; Featurette; Trailers; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
HEAVEN STREWN (Cinema Libre) Two friends, one a disgraced counterfeiter looking to get back at the guys who burned him, the other a journalist whose career and personal life seem to be taking a nose dive, find themselves involved in criminal activity after stumbling upon what they think is a life-changing find. Writer/director Jeremiah Gurzi shot his debut feature in 16mm anamorphic, and it looks amazing, particularly considering its shoestring origins. Script and characters are solid, as is the acting. While it’s not quite on the par with the work of people like John Cassavetes (which seems to be what he’s going for), the film shows great promise and it will be interesting to see what Gurzi can do once he has a real budget. Worth a look, particularly for fans of offbeat and quirky stories. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Deleted scene; Photo gallery; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
LE HAVRE (Criterion) Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki returns with another left-of-center comedy, this time focusing on a young African refugee (Blondin Miguel) who forms an unlikely friendship with an aging hippie shoeshine man (Andre Wilms) in the French harbor city of Le Havre. When the boy is threatened with deportation, the shoeshine man and his tightknit community of friends rally ‘round the boy and fight to keep him in France. Kaurismaki infuses the film with his signature elements of magic realism and optimism, a real delight from start to finish. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interview with cast members; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
WILLIAM & CATHERINE: A ROYAL ROMANCE (Lionsgate) The true life fairy tale love story of Prince William (Dan Amboyer) and commoner Catherine Middleton (Alice St. Clair). While William is initially conflicted about not marrying someone of royal lineage, he thinks back to the advice of his late mother, Princess Diana (Lesley Harcourt, excellent). Not as bad as you might think, but not terribly good either. For what it is, it’s not unbearable. The young leads are attractive and they’re supported by fine veterans, such as Jane Alexander, Victor Garber and Jean Smart. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HANGFIRE (MGM/Fox) Two thousand escaped prisoners take control of a small town. When the town sheriff (Brad Davis) realizes that his young wife (Kim Delaney) is one of the hostages, he becomes as ruthless as the outlaws to get her back safely. What can you say about a film with Oscar-winners (George Kennedy) and nominees (Davis) in its cast, along with names like Lyle Alzado, Lou Ferrigno and Jan-Michael Vincent (far past his ‘70s prime)? Yeah, that’s what we thought, too, and we were mostly right—the movie sucks, but it’s also fun in a drive-in/grindhouse sort of way. Sadly, this was Davis’ last feature film before succumbing to AIDS. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE CHILDREN OF TIMES SQUARE (MGM/Fox) A teenage runaway (Brandon Douglas) takes off to New York City, where he finds himself fallen in with a gang of delinquents working as drug dealers and pickpockets for a shady crime boss (Howard Rollins). Update of “Oliver Twist” works quite well, thanks to the capable hands of writer/director Curtis Hanson, who would go onto bigger things soon after this aired on network TV in 1986. Nice support from the always-lovely Joanna Cassidy as the boy’s mother. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
MY WAY (Well Go USA) Two men grow up as national rivals in marathon running, one for Korea, the other Japan. When WW II breaks out, the two find themselves serving in the same unit for the duration of the war, finally ending on the beaches of Normandy, transformed into close friends. Excellent study of the bonds of brotherhood that are formed under duress, superbly directed and acted. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
BLUE LIKE JAZZ (Lionsgate) A devout Christian college student (Marshall Allman) transfers to uber-liberal Reed College in Oregon and finds himself questioning his religious upbringing and faith in general, particularly after falling in love with an outspoken fellow student (Claire Holt). Former Christian singer Steve Taylor directed and co-adapted the screenplay from Donald Miller’s best-selling memoir and while it’s not in the same nadir category as things like Kirk Cameron’s Christian screed “Fireproof,” neither is it as progressive and open-minded as its advertising would have you believe. Middle-of-the-road Christians might find it rewarding, whereas most right-wingers and secularists will most likely be put off by its middling stance on just about everything. Production values are high, however: a great-looking film for one done on a micro-budget. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Miller, cinematographer Ben Pearson, Taylor; Deleted scenes; Photo gallery; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
20th Century Fox releases fifteen vintage titles in their Cinema Archives Collection, with a host of classic titles, mostly from the 1930s and ‘40s. LOVE IS NEWS features Tyrone Power as a gossip columnist who tangles with a beautiful, feisty heiress (Loretta Young). Also stars Don Ameche. THEY CAME TO BLOW UP AMERICA stars George Sanders as an American FBI agent of German heritage who infiltrates a Nazi bund to foil an act of sabotage. WAY OF A GAUCHO stars Rory Calhoun as an Argentinian who enlists in the army after accidentally killing a man, then forms a band of outlaws. Co-stars Gene Tierney and Richard Boone, directed by Jacques Tourneur. MR. BELVEDERE RINGS THE BELL stars Clifton Webb as his signature character, here bringing joy and breathing life into a dreary old age home. Also stars Zero Mostel and Joanna Dru. LIFE BEGINS AT EIGHT-THIRTY stars Monty Woolley and Ida Lupino as a disabled girl and her composer boyfriend who try to redeem the life and career of her alcoholic father. Also stars Cornel Wilde. SUEZ stars Tyrone Power in this epic telling of the construction of the Suez Canal. Also stars Loretta Young, Sidney Blackmer and Nigel Bruce, directed by silent film great Alan Dwan. DIPLOMATIC COURIER again stars Tyrone Power, here in a Cold War spy tale about an agent who must hunt down information about Russia’s plans to invade Yugoslavia. Also features Patricia Neal, Karl Malden. Directed by the great Henry Hathaway. KIDNAPPED stars Freddie Bartholomew as the young protagonist of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel who finds himself the victim of a band of kidnappers, when he is saved by a dubious renegade (Warner Baxter). Also stars John Carradine, Nigel Bruce. MY WIFE’S BEST FRIEND stars MacDonald Carey as a husband who confesses infidelity to his loving wife (Anne Baxter), who then fantasizes about how various historical figures would handle the same situation. Look for TV stalwart Martin Milner in an early role. FRONTIER MARSHALL stars Randolph Scott as legendary lawman Wyatt Earp who tries to tame the lawless hamlet of Tombstone, AZ., but runs afoul of a group of outlaws who won’t mend their ways. One of the first films about the O.K. Corral shootout, and quite good, too. CLAUDIA is a surprisingly frank story (for its time) about a young bride (Dorothy McGuire) and her trials and tribulations in the 1940s. Also stars Robert Young. DANGEROUS YEARS is a B-movie that cashes in on the 1950s’ juvenile delinquent craze, featuring William Hallop as a district attorney who prosecutes a teenage boy for robbery, not realizing the boy is his son. Features ‘50s teen actors like Scotty Beckett, Darryl Hickman, and Dickie Moore as the kids, as well as a newcomer named Marilyn Monroe in a bit! FRAULEIN tells the story of a German girl (Dana Wynter) who helps the Allies during the waning days of WW II, falling in love with one of the American officers who saves her. The only color film in the group. Also features Mel Ferrer, Theodor Bickel. THE FOXES OF HARROW is set in 1820 New Orleans, where an adventurer (Rex Harrison) schemes and charms his way to the top of Big Easy society. Also stars Maureen O’Hara, Victor McLaglen. RINGS ON HER FINGERS stars Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney in a story about a pair of swindlers who convince a young girl to pretend to fall in love with a man they believe is a millionaire. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. All titles are Dolby 2.0 mono and full screen.
LA GRANDE ILLUSION (Lionsgate) A gorgeous Blu-ray transfer of Jean Renoir’s 1937 film, which was lauded as an instant classic upon its release and has deservedly grown in reputation since then. Jean Gabin and Pierre Fresnay star as French soldiers being held in a German POW camp during WW I. Silent film auteur Erich Von Stroheim steals the show as the camp’s martinet commandant, Captain von Rauffenstein. Not only one of the greatest films ever made, but one of the most poetic expressions of an anti-war sentiment committed to celluloid. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers from 1937 and 1958; Restoration demonstration. Full screen. DTS-HD 1.0 mono.


DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL!

BOSS—SEASON ONE (Lionsgate) Kelsey Grammer turns a new leaf from his signature role as fussy Fraser Crane, delivering a stunning turn as Tom Kane, Chicago’s ruthless mayor who rules his city as a fiefdom, with a fist of corrugated iron. As he fights a degenerative brain disorder that threatens to usurp his power, Kane’s paranoia increases. Co-starring a stellar cast including Kathleen Robertson, Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, Martin Donovan and Troy Garity. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary with cast and crew; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
LEVERAGE—THE 4th SEASON (20th Century Fox) Timothy Hutton stars as Nate Ford, the leader of a group of elite con artists who use their gift for grift to fight injustice. Season four pits them against their most formidable foes yet, taking on missions in Alaska and other exotic locales, as well as encountering a new foe who has been spying on their activities and gathering intel to bring the group down. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Lifetime/New Video release two Lifetime movie collections: THE JODI PICOULT COLLECTION features adaptations of Picoult’s best-selling novels, including SALEM FALLS, starring James Van Der Beek as a soccer coach at an exclusive girls’ school who is the victim of false accusations when a student’s crush is taken out of context. PLAIN TRUTH stars Mariska Hargitay and Alison Pill about a high profile attorney who ditches everything to defend an Amish teenager for murdering her baby. THE PACT stars Megan Mullally in a tale about how two teens’ suicide pact goes horribly awry and the aftermath. SURVIVING HIGH SCHOOL features four coming-of-age stories, including: ODD GIRL OUT, starring Alexa Vega as a once-popular teen who finds herself a victim of bullying when her clique of girlfriends turn on her. AUGUSTA, GONE stars Tim Matheson (who also directed) and Sharon Lawrence as the parents of a teenager (Mika Boorem) whose life spirals out of control with drug and alcohol abuse. THE PERFECT TEACHER stars Megan Park as a spoiled, willful and possibly psychotic student who will stop at nothing in her pursuit of handsome math teacher Jim Wilkes (David Charvet). FOR ONE NIGHT stars Raven-Symone) as an African-American high school student in the Deep South who shakes up her small town by attending her prom, which has been segregated for decades. All titles are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.


DOCUMENTARY DAYS

MARLEY (Magnolia) Epic look at the life of Reggae superstar Bob Marley, who helped popularize the Jamaican musical (and lifestyle) movement on a global level, before his untimely death from cancer at age 36. Loaded with archival footage of Marley at work, play and of course, in concert. Helmed by Scottish director Kevin MacDonald (“The Last King of Scotland”), film features more like a narrative feature than a doc, and moves like lightning, in spite of its two hour-plus running time. Should prove fascinating for those who aren’t even fans of Marley’s music, and will most likely convert you if you fall into that camp! Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus interviews; Photo gallery; Commentary by MacDonald and Ziggy Marley; Trailer. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (Magnolia) Delectable story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by connoisseurs to be the world’s greatest sushi chef, in spite of his ten-seat restaurant being located in the bowels of a Tokyo subway station, the only establishment of its type to be awarded the coveted Michelin Guide three-star rating. A fascinating study of work, family and the art of perfection. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Commentary by director David Geib, editor Brandon Driscoll-Luthringer; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
LAST DAYS HERE (Sundance Selects) Fascinating look at the last days of cult rock icon Bobby Liebling, lead singer of Pentagram, regarded by critics and fans alike as a genre-defining heavy metal band. After suffering through years of emotional problems as well as break ups with his band, Liebling vanished into obscurity, living in his parents’ basement. When he was rediscovered by the so-called “Heavy Metal Underground,” Bobby fought to get hold of his demons and staged a remarkable comeback. Terrific study of self-destruction and redemption, with as much suspense as a thriller. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Two sports-oriented titles arrive this month, first from Warner Bros., who release LOS ANGELES KINGS: STANLEY CUP 2012 CHAMPIONS, which offers not only all the Stanley Cup final games between the Kings and the Vancouver Canucks, but behind-the-scenes footage in the locker room, on the ice, and on the road. Loaded with bonuses, including interviews with star players, featurettes, extended footage of games and press conferences, TV spots, and more. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 stereo. A&E releases BASEBALL’S GREATEST GAMES: NEW YORK METS FIRST NO-HITTER, revisits the night pitcher Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in the Mets’ history when he blanked the St. Louis Cardinals and shocked his own fans during a magic night at Citi Field. A must-have for any Mets fan! Bonuses: Alternate audio tracks; Play-by-play in Spanish and English. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
PBS releases three new documentaries: CRACKING THE KOALA CODE is a “Nature” program that looks at Australia’s indigenous marsupials and how they adjust to encroaching civilization on the outskirts of Brisbane. Viewers are sure to get a fresh perspective and respect for these seemingly-“cuddly” creatures after viewing this remarkable doc. Also available on Blu-ray disc. HIDDEN INDIA: THE KERALA SPICELANDS introduces audiences to the culinary traditions and culture of this famous region where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and tea grow in abundance. QUEEN & COUNTRY looks at Queen Elizabeth II and her reign as Britain’s second-longest ruling monarch. Narrated by veteran newsman Sir Trevor McDonald, this fascinating program looks not only at the traditions and institutions surrounding the monarchy, but the fabric of British life and history. All titles are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.


FOR THE WEE ONES

LET IT SHINE: EXTENDED EDITION (Disney) Updated version of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” following aspiring hip-hop artist Cyrus DeBarge (Tyler James Williams), who enters a songwriting contest sponsored by the music label of his childhood friend-turned-singing-star Roxanne "Roxie" Andrews (Coco Jones). But when a mistake names his best friend, Kris McDuffy (Trevor Jackson), as the winner for Cyrus' song, shy Cyrus agrees to let Kris have the spotlight while he stands in the shadows scripting the music. Things get more complicated as Cyrus watches his friend win over fans and woo Roxie with Cyrus' own lyrics and words while he keeps his true identity a secret. But when the truth comes out, Cyrus must conquer his own doubts to accept his recognition and earn Roxie's trust again. Innocuous fun for young kids, although adolescents will probably be bored by its forced innocence. Bonuses: Extra music scene. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Paramount/Nickelodeon release three new titles this month: WINX CLUB: THE SECRET OF THE LOST KINGDOM MOVIE, is set during graduation day at Alfea and Bloom is determined to find her birth parents, a journey that takes her and the Winx Club to a forbidding planet with evil lurking around every corner. Bonuses: 7 extra “Winx Club” episodes. DORA’S FANTASTIC GYMNASTICS ADVENTURE features three “Dora” episodes revolving around sports, plus two bonus episodes: “A Ribbon for Pinto” and “Swiper’s Favorite Things.” THE FRESH BEAT BAND has the gang setting out to find the Wizard of Song in a TV-movie twist on “The Wizard of Oz.” Bonuses: 2 extra episodes, including “Ghost Band” and “Chimps in Charge.” All three are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Shout Factory releases two new animated adventures: TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ONE SHALL STAND is a feature-length animated movie from writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci about a battle between Optimus Prime against the evil Megatron. Beautifully design and drawn, with voice work from Peter Cullen, Adam Baldwin, Frank Welker, Ernie Hudson, John Noble, Gina Torres and Jeffrey Combs. ASTONISHING X-MEN: TORN features a story by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday revolving around Emma Frost’s erractic behavior that has her fellow X-Men spinning in a downward spiral. Both are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
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