Category: DVD Review

DVD Releases for March 3, 2009

I’ve Loved You So Long
Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein
Rated PG-13 for thematic material and smoking
French language with English subtitles (Includes English dubbed version also)
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Juliette (Thomas) has been in prison for 15 years and upon release goes to live with her younger sister (Zylberstein) and her family.  After being closed in for so long, Juliette must learn to open up and get her life back together in the hopes of not only developing a relationship with her sister, but forgiving herself for her crime.  What starts out feeling like a depressing and dark film, soon becomes a compelling drama that keeps you glued to your seat.  What helps this great script along is the terrific acting by everyone, especially Thomas.  You don’t know how to take her at first, but by the halfway point you just want to dive into her head just to see what’s in there.  This was one of 2008’s best dramas.  A

Australia
Starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman
Rated PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Set in Australia during the second world war, Jackman and Kidman meet and fall in love during a rough and tough cattle drive that nearly costs them their lives.  While the film has an epic feel to it, the strange script and spotty performances make it look like all style and little substance.  This film needed to be about 45 minutes shorter and could have used a real villain instead of the Snidely Whiplash bad guy seen here.  This is a disappointing pic, considering what director Baz Luhrmann has brought to the table before.  C

Body of Lies
Rated R for strong violence including torture, and for language throughout
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe team up in this Ridley Scott film about the CIA fighting terrorism in the Middle East.  The acting, directing, and production are remarkable, but due to a less than compelling story, the film was a box office dud.  I do think that this film deserves a look and might find a better home on DVD and cable. As usual with Ridley Scott films, there are tons of extras to be found giving the buyer more than their money’s worth.  B+

Changeling
Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Oscar nominated Angelina Jolie is a mother in 1920’s Los Angeles whose only son is kidnapped, and then replaced by a different child by the L.A.P.D.  Clint Eastwood directs this chilling drama that took me by surprise.  The acting, writing, directing and overall production make Changeling one of this year’s must-see films.  I will even go as far as to say it is Clint’s best film since The Unforgiven.  A

Capote/In Cold Blood Double Feature
Both Rated R for violent images and strong language
Available on Blu-ray
This week Sony is releasing a few pics from their Oscar collection on Blu-ray including Gandhi, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Capote/In Cold Blood, but I consider the latter to be the best of the bunch.  In Cold Blood tells the story of two thugs that murder an innocent family in Kansas in the 60s, while Capote follows author Truman Capote as he writes the book In Cold Blood, based on the murders.  Aside from the out-of-place score by Quincy Jones, In Cold Blood is a terrific crime thriller that looks so crisp on Blu-ray that you think you are watching a black-and-white film that was made yesterday.  The two films together make for a whammy of a double feature.  In Cold Blood A-; Capote A

I Served the King of England
Rated R for sexual content and nudity
Available on DVD
The Czech entry for Best Foreign Language Film follows an ambitious waiter that longs to be a millionaire and will do anything to achieve that goal.  I’m a little mixed on this film.  The first half plays like a Woody Allen sex comedy, but then come the Nazis to lessen the funny.  At the very least, this is an entertaining, weird little film that keeps you engaged throughout.  B-

Touch the Top of the World
Unrated – made for television
Available on DVD
The tale of Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind man to have climbed to the top of Mount Everest, is one of the most compelling stories of our decade.  Therefore it’s too bad that the movie based on his life is this cheesy mess filled with bad acting, writing, and directing.  D

Blindness
Rated R for violence including sexual assaults, language and sexuality/nudity
Available on DVD
Blindness tells the story of a futuristic world where everyone except Julianne Moore becomes blind.  The film shows real potential in the beginning, but the overly-long asylum scene is tedious and much of the picture becomes somewhat unbelievable.  After City of God and The Constant Gardener, I was really hoping that director Fernando Meirelles was going to knock another one out of the park, and I was sorely disappointed with this strike out.  C

Miracle at St. Anna
Rated R for strong war violence, language and some sexual content/nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The biggest problem with this latest Spike Lee film is that their is too much Spike Lee in it.  Following a group of black soldiers during World War 2 in Italy, the film has a few interesting moments but ruins them with too many embarrassingly and laughable scenes.  And after 160 minutes, Lee didn’t once try to explain the miracle in the title.  D

My Name Is Bruce
Rated R for language and some violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Iconic actor Bruce Campbell makes fun of himself with this tongue-in-cheek tale about a small town that recruits Bruce to take on a giant ghost-monster that is killing off its citizens.  If you are a fan of Bruce Campbell, you might find this a somewhat enjoyable film.  If you don’t recognize the name then trust me – do not attempt this movie – you’ll hate it.  This is bad filmmaking that tries to be bad, and revels in it.  C

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Rated R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Writer/director Kevin Smith’s latest opus stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as roommates that decide to produce a porno in order to pay their rent.  While completely silly and over-the-top (just like the rest of Smith’s work), it still remains crudely funny and provides for the best sight gag of 2009.  Just don’t watch it over dinner or you may lose yours.  Fair warning.  B-

Rent: The Final Performance Filmed Live on Broadway
Not Rated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Thirteen years ago I spent the night outside during an ice storm just so that I could score front row center tickets for the Broadway phenomenon called Rent.  While my extremities were upset with me, it turned out to be one of my most cherished memories.  I went back another 6 times over the next decade to see the show again.  So I am sad to say that the show can’t go on forever, and in 2008 the final performance was given.  Luckily for us it was recorded and now on DVD and Blu-ray with tons of special features about the ground-breaking show.  This release and the not the Rent movie is the definitive version of the show and the best way to relive history.  A

Oliver and Company
Rated G
Available on DVD
In 1989, one year before they changed their tune with The Little Mermaid, Disney Animation released this pop musical based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.  The biggest problem with this film is that it is clearly dated.  To make matters worse, the music is reprehensible and the animation is truly ugly.  The only saving grace on this DVD is the Oscar winning Pluto short “Lend a Paw” located in the special features section.  D+

Fireproof
Rated PG for thematic material and some peril
Available on DVD

This little Christian film cost about a half million to make and pulled in 33.5 million at the box office.  That makes it one of the most successful films of the year by anyone’s estimate.  Although this pic about a fireman (Kirk Cameron) and his wife whose marriage has hit the rocks is poorly written and sloppily directed, the message is strong and the audience is apparently pleased.  Not for everyone, but many believe in it’s power.  C

Mary Poppins: 45th Anniversary Special Edition
Rated G
Available on DVD

The magical nanny is back for another special edition.  The movie could look better with a more rigorous restoration, but it’s still a good representation of the ground breaking Disney flick.  The best reason to buy this new edition is that the second disc focuses on the new Broadway production and features a look at the very impressive new version of the chimney sweep song Step in Time.  B+

Pride and Glory
Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and brief drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray

Edward Norton and Colin Ferrel prove that they can sometimes make questionable career choices in this mediocre cop thriller about cops gone bad and family that protects them.  Everything about this film, including the acting, writing, directing, pacing and even the special features on the dvd, are just plain blah.  D+

DVD Releases for January 20, 2009

The Express
Rated PG-13 for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray

Based on the true story about Ernie Davis, the first black college football player to win the Heisman Trophy, The Express follows Ernie’s life from his childhood to its sad conclusion.  While there are some good moments as well as an inspirational story, the writing and directing are pretty weak.  Off the field, we learn about Ernie and his struggle.  On the field, we get stereotyped fans, poorly directed by someone who needs to read a book about shooting sports films.  C-