Hey folks, it’s the first Tuesday of the Month, that means Harry’s here with my usual DVD Picks and Peeks! Got quite a list this month. Let’s get right into it….
April 5th, 2005
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR COLLECTION (The Amityville Horror/ Amityville II: The Possession/ Amityville 3-D/ Bonus Disc – Amityville Confidential)
MGM has put together this really rather nice box set of the first 3 AMITYVILLE HORROR films, plus an extras DVD filled with documentaries on the original film, the true story, the controversy regarding what really happened in the Amityville house. The first AMITYVILLE HORROR’s strong points center around the performances and the atmosphere and the music. By the time you get to the second film, the performances and atmosphere have pretty much gone the way of the dodo, but instead – you have a fun as hell Possession movie that’s better than any of the Exorcist sequels. Then you have AMITYVILLE 3-D directed by Richard Fleischer, but it’s stillborn. A young young Meg Ryan flounders in and out of the film, but frankly this is the MONSTER movie version, but it’s nowhere near as fun as HOUSE. AMITYVILLE HORROR the original is the one that scares me. That weird mirror in Margot Kidder’s bedroom – my parents had that exact mirror pattern in their bedroom. The house kinda looked like the house I grew up in. That we also had seeming ghost and haunted activity in that house… well too many parallels. Plus Father Geek swung a mean axe. And looked like an axe murderer
BLUE IN THE FACE
If you’re hankering for a good movie to smoke a cigar with, you won’t find many better. This came from the time period when Wayne Wang and Paul Auster really were turning out smart and funny flicks. I also recommend their film SMOKE to any that enjoy this one. The dvd is pretty bare bones, but then other than a commentary – there’s not a lot of curiosity I’d be interested in on this title, beyond the film itself. Seems like I saw this a million years ago.
THE CORPORATION
This is just a frightening documentary, as much as it is also enlightening. More so when I realized… I started a corporation too. ACK! The film is funny as hell… just watch them psychoanalyze “corporations” as a perfect psychopath. This is perfect anti-big business fun and hilarity. Great stuff for the whole hating of corporate Earth.
Ealing Comedy Collection (THE MAGGIE / A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY / TITFIELD THUNDERBOLT / WHISKEY GALORE! / PASSPORT TO PIMLICO )
Last month I recommended 5 British War films – and damn if that set didn’t just kickass. The films I wasn’t familiar with were awesome. Here is a group of 5 British Comedies that I’m not familiar with personally, but they come out of the Ealing Studios which produced some of the funniest comedies on record. THE MAGGIE was nominated for 3 BAFTAS and starred Paul Douglas as an American hoodwinked into delivering precious cargo to an isle off the coast of Scotland on a coal burning boat captained by Alex Mackenzie. A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY was nominated for 1 BAFTA for Best Film. Has Alec Guinness playing Whimple and features a Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards taking a trip to London to collect a prize and meeting all sorts of unsavory sorts. TITFIELD THUNDERBOLT is a railroad shenanigans flick – with all sorts of tomfoolery commencing as a Bus line is trying to run a small railroad company out of business. This scored a Best Film nomination out of the BAFTAS – and of all the films in the set, it’s the one I’m most anxious to see. It’s about a bunch of Scottish islanders trying to hijack 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship and just sounds wonderful. The reviews on IMDB make it sound fantastic. PASSPORT TO PIMLICO got nominated for best screenplay at the Oscars, and for Best film at the BAFTAS. Apparently it’s a political satire of definite hilarity starring Stanley Holloway who is wonderful in everything I’ve seen him in. This is my, “discovery” hope of the list. The box set that I know I’ll enjoy just based on it’s wonderful pedigree.
ELEKTRA
I am not recommending this film – which I really have grown to hate more and more. But to tell you that it’s failure continues onto DVD – where the features or as passionless as the film they accompany… and if you were hoping on a great behind the scenes of FANTASTIC FOUR by way of the Fox discs’ usual INSIDE LOOK… here the INSIDE LOOK is the OLD FF trailer and the OLD MR & MRS SMITH trailer. Seems Fox wasn’t even trying on this thing.
THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO – SEASON TWO
Is there any greater childhood kitsch than watching the episodes of this series and singing along at the opening and closing titles all goofy with a tiny tear for your lost youth? I thought not. They have put pretty cool interviews with behind the scenes people on here, but no way could they beat that unaired spin-off pilot from the Season One box. Now, how long till Season 3 finds a spot on my shelf?
LEAVES FROM SATAN’S BOOK
By no means is this at the level of THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC – but for cineastes that love to trace the evolution of Carl Theodor Dreyer – who helped invent and define many of the cinematic devices we take for granted today – this film that traces Satan’s sad situation in eternity. You see – Satan in this film doesn’t relish being evil and trapped in Hell… Here he was sentenced to Hell for his crime against God… and given the task of being man’s temptation… where he must try his best to tempt man to evil. For every soul he wins – a 1000 years is added to his sentence in hell. But for every soul that resists he is a 1000 years closer to redemption. Let’s just say man really fucks over Satan. I love the take on the character of Satan in this… so different from anything we know in modern cinema. For fans of the horned one, this is a captivating alternative take on this well-loathed character!
MIRROR
This is the latest film from Jafar Panahi and a fascinating look into Iranian filmmaking. In terms of emotionally powerful and honest filmmaking, the world of cinema inside Iran is one of the most vital and moving in the world. Here we follow a young girl lost in the busy world of Tehran. At that level alone… the idea of being a lost girl in a big city… without the need to be a goofy comedy. The film is just honest it’s portrayal which then in turn says so much about the culture of Iran and the problems surrounding it. Brilliant film. This is a good film to get introduced to the world of Iranian film.
THE MOON-SPINNERS
Here’s an interesting fun item for the family. This is an early Walt Disney thriller starring Hayley Mills. While it isn’t anywhere near as awesome as her TWISTED NERVE turn, it’s still a wonderful little suspense turn. I just love the hearse scene… and Eli Wallach just owns in his turn as the threatening innkeeper’s brother. But silent star Pola Negri is the best thing about the flick. This is a good film to help introduce your kids to the world of suspense filmmaking. Right before Hitchcock.
MORE
Ok – this film is worth picking up for the Pink Floyd score alone. However, in addition Mimsy Farmer’s naturalistic hot as hell nudity and sex helps… but then you have Barbet Schroeder directing this dizzying trippy journey into the European drug world of the period – without any of the cheap conventions of the genre. Nestor Almendros cinematography is intoxicatingly beautiful. This isn’t some “Gosh Its great to be young and high” flicks – it actually heads more in the direction of wasted youth. But Floyd’s score and the cinematography wind up making it more druggy than I think Barbet was aiming for. Good stuff and a nice surprise.
THE PROFESSIONALS (Special Edition)
I absolutely fucking love this Western. Depending on my mood I’ll name this, WILD BUNCH, THE SEARCHERS, OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, RED RIVER or THE OX-BOW INCIDENT as my favorite western of all time. Literally just a matter of mood. However, more often or not, it’s this or JOSEY WALES. With this one coming more often. I just love the way Lancaster, Marvin, Ryan and Strode work together. Jack Cardiff’s cinematography is fucking amazing in Death Valley. This is a sweaty hot sexy violent Mutherfucker of a movie. Lancaster’s fight with Palance in that Box Canyon is one of the great fights in cinema history. Absolutely wonderful. Then there’s Claudia Cardinale’s sweaty tits. Right up there with Caroline Munro’s as the sweetest sweatiest pair of movie mammaries! Now I already owned this film on DVD – but this one has a host of cool extras and behind the scenes looks. Good show from Columbia on this! God I love this movie!
RIPE
Probably an awful film unworthy of any attention at all. Yet oddly, I bought it. I need help. Apparently so do some of you. Heh. The film is about twin 14 year old girls that runaway from a car crash that kills both their parents and find themselves in further tragedy when they hook up with a long haired biker set on exploitation. It’s only supposed to be mildly titillating, but since I own PRETTY BABY, both versions of LOLITA and MANNY & LO… well I can’t really not at least try it on.
RUNAWAY DAUGHTERS
No I’m not going with a theme regarding runaway girls… sheesh ya perv! No this one is more about realizing I had found a Joe Dante film I’d never seen or heard of. Made in 1993, this film is set in 1950’s which Dante just shows with so much love. The gals fake their own kidnapping and head out on the road. Things, of course, turn bad. Have to complete my Dante collection!
SIDEWAYS
Guillermo Del Toro’s pick for best film of last year. Heh. That’s not what you expected eh? I love this movie. I’ve watched it on DVD about 3 times so far. And each viewing has made my appreciation grow for the film. One – Paul Giamatti is so goddamn good in this film. As is Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh and Thomas Haden Church. They’re great cuz they’ve got a brilliant director in Alexander Payne and a fantastic fucking screenplay. The deleted scenes are quite telling, and the commentary is hilarious. Great film.
SILVERADO
The award for ugliest DVD of the month goes to… Ahem. What the hell is up with that ugly ass packaging. The one-sheet for this is wonderful! Again, I already had this on DVD – but there’s tons of extras on that second disc, plus those long awaited Korean and Portuguese subtitles. There’s also the great extra entitled A HISTORY OF WESTERN SHOOTOUTS – narrated by John Cleese. I enjoy the film quite a bit, but it isn’t near as fun as one could have with a western wanting to have fun. But more on that later.
SPANGLISH
Here’s a film that I just allowed my anti-Adam Sandler prejudice get between me and seeing this in a theater. BAD ON ME! Somehow I overlooked the director James Brooks… again – SHAME ON ME! Somehow I missed that this was a Paz Vega film, and I’m madly in love with her from SEX AND LUCIA! Oh – and I allowed my hatred of Tea Leone get in the way too. But when the review disc came, I put it on and just fell in love. Adam is even better than he was in PUNCHDRUNK – playing someone less Drew McWeeny and more human being here. And Tea – well she’s playing a self-centered neurotic mess of a twit – and somehow… against all odds, she pulled it off as though it was the most natural thing in the world for her. And Paz… wow. WOW! I really loved this film. Great romantic film about a mother and her daughter, but not like that. You filthy person you!
SUNDANCE CHANNEL HOME ENTERTAINMENT COLLECTION
If you love independent films and don’t have these titles, then you’re really missing out. The Sundance Channel Ultimate Collection includes: AKA, Amy’s O, Die Mommie Die, Dopamine, The Heart of Me, The Hired Hand, In This World, MacArthur Park, Melvin Goes To Dinner, Mule Skinner Blues, The Other Side of the Bed, Rick, Scotland PA, Searching for Paradise, Seeing Other People, The Slaughter Rule, Sleepy Time Gal, Swimming, Tanner on Tanner, and Tesseract. Each one of them is a jewel. But in particular you’ll love to death THE HIRED HAND, MELVIN GOES TO DINNER and TANNER ON TANNER. Oh and DIE MOMMIE DIE is hilarious. And SCOTLAND,PA is great… actually they are all really good. Sundance put together a really wonderful group here. This is just a special AMAZON is running this month – there’s no special extras on the discs – but you do save $130 on the cost of the set. Which is a great saving on great titles.
THE TRUCE
Perhaps the best John Turturro performance ever. Scorsese lends his name to the film for the express purpose of hoping it’ll inspire fans of his to check out this masterpiece. It’s the story of a man, who after surviving WWII take a 1000 mile walk back home trying to find who he is, trying to reconnect with his basic humanity. Unforgettably wonderful. One of the best films I’m recommending this month!
VIVA MARIA
Sigh! Back when terrorism was called La Revolucion! Louis Malle makes a film about a carnival that turns it’s tricks and performers into revolutionaries blowing up and killing all sorts of government thugs. Revolution has never been this much fun. And who wouldn’t join Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau against any foe? The invention of the striptease by Bardot and Moreau is one hot as hell scene… as is Moreau’s sex with George Hamilton while he is shackled to a wall! God this film is insane and wonderful all at once!
WHO KILLED BAMBI
I loved the movie, A FRIEND LIKE HARRY and when I heard the screenwriter of that directed this… I gave it a look-see. And I found a wonderfully sensual erotic thriller like the box says! Sophie Quinton… drooooool. And Laurent Lucas – ohmyfuckinggod he’s a great cinematic asshole. This isn’t an action thriller, more of an intellectual one… but with a strong sense of sexuality. Really nice film though.
April 12th, 2005
BAD EDUCATION (NC-17 – Uncut Version)
Pedro Almodovar’s wonderfully brilliant DePalma/Hitchcock flick is absolutely fantastic. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, who just continues to prove he’s not only one of the best actors in the world, but that he’s got some of the best taste in scripts in the business. With a habit of picking the best material out there. Now, this isn’t necessarily the film you watch to think fondly upon the Catholic church, but it’s still an incredibly wonderful twisted film. Hey, it’s Almodovar – what the hell do you expect?01
BOB NEWHART SHOW – First Season
Now here’s some funny as hell television. I love The BOB NEWHART SHOW! Hell, more than that, I love Bob Newhart. That second that he appeared in ELF, the film just ignited, all because of Bob’s warmth. On this original season set you’ll find that times 10. This is Newhart operating on all cylinders, his Dr. Hartley is one of the all time funniest television creations. His calm, he does more with the slightest turn of the corner of the mouth and a furled brow – than all the pratfalls and gross overreaction you see out of other comedians. Here you’ll see a master at play.
C H O M P S
OK, shoot me, but I love… LOVE C H O M P S. This always felt like a bit of a crazy insane Disney flick. I mean… essentially its standard Disney doggie movie fare – but with a robotic super dog. And I can’t imagine any boy inside any man that didn’t want a robotic super dog as a kid. The film is just kind of amazing. It’s not great – but… hell, it’s just C H O M P S – and just watching it reminds me of how wonderful it was to believe in a robotic super dog. It was never as cool as Dynomutt, but what is?
CRIMINAL
While it isn’t as great as the original Argentinean NINE QUEENS, it’s still quite a solid American remake. The reason it succeeds is through the power of John C Reilly, Diego Luna and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Those 3 are so damn likable, that even though I could feel the movie going through the motions of being like the original – those three personalities and the performances they brought to the film were really wonderful. Soderbergh’s 2nd Unit Director, taking the reins on this really proves he has a cinematic place at the table of filmmakers. Gregory Jacobs is someone to watch, this really is quite an accomplished remake.
DiG!
The film conquered SUNDANCE – and as great as it was to see this in theaters – this DVD is just filled to the gills. 3 commentaries, 2 hours of extra footage and scenes. Then there’s all the 3 Dandy Warhols videos, the 3 Brian Jonestown Massacre live performances. And tons more. This is a really great 2 disc DVD about this rivalry, and a great look at the lives of two bands from the northwest that were always on each other’s radar. Great stuff.
HARVEY BIRDMAN ATTORNEY AT LAW, VOL 1
Now personally I loved the original Hanna Barbera incarnation – but this is like a million times more fun. Being able to have the Bannon vs Quest custody trial on DVD – how can one not do backflips of joy? Or Shaggy being busted? You get 13 episodes and tons of extras – from pencil tests through deleted scenes to commentaries and much more. Great for putting on at parties after the Daily Show is over!
HOTEL RWANDA
This is a film that grows in power on subsequent viewings. Cheadle’s performance as Paul Rusesabagina is deceptively powerful. It isn’t about big grand show-off scenes – in many ways it reminds me of Bogart’s Rick from Casablanca. He’s the kinda man that just gets things done, who knows the angles, that knows the ups and the downs. He’s the sorta guy that sticks his neck out for nobody, but his own… until hell comes to his country – and then when it really comes down to it, he realizes that there is a greater good, that there is a point where you just overlook your sense of self-preservation and do whatever it takes to do what is right. A towering film of incredible power – and one that really calls in question the priorities of our foreign policy. Great film! As a dvd – the commentary between Terry George and Paul Rusesabagina is one of those things that you just kind of have to experience if you love this movie and the story. Wow.
OCEAN’S TWELVE
I prefer this film to the original. Mainly because I hate Vegas and the going through the motions of the remake… Here, the actors create their own characters in a story that is all their own. Now, you can either have fun with it, or sit back calling foul on it, but me… I thought it was a blast. I especially liked Matt Damon’s character arc on this film. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
April 19th, 2005
BIRTH
What if, in the midst of remarrying… what if the loved one you had before died… That you truly loved. And then a 10 year old comes forward with the same name – claiming to be your loved one. Knowing the things your dearly departed could only know. What would you do? Could you just dismiss it? But what could you do? This is the premise behind SEXY BEAST’s Jonathan Glazer’s latest film. All performers are fantastic in this film, in particular - I feel it is the best thing that Anne Heche has ever done. She’s incredibly beguiling in this film. It brings into question the concept of souls and reincarnation. It’s really quite a powerful film.
The Errol Flynn Signature Collection ( CAPTAIN BLOOD / THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX / THE SEA HAWK / THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON / DODGE CITY / THE ADVENTURES OF ERROL FLYNN )
Errol Flynn is my favorite movie star in the history of film. When I think of the word adventure, I see him. When I think of charm and romance, I see him as the male definition of those words. He is incredibly cool. My favorite film of his is THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, which Warner Home Video did a great 2 dvd box on last year. Now we get the first of what will hopefully be a series of Flynn sets. CAPTAIN BLOOD – the beach fight between Rathbone and Flynn, the rogue-ish flirtation between Flynn and De Havilland… rules. Michael Curtiz’s direction of this film is perfection. While it is a great film, the sea-faring pirate tale was better told in THE SEA HAWK, but personally the romance here is my fave. With THE SEA HAWK – it’s just a fantastic tale. Swash-buckling at its peak. Dynamic and thrilling. Now, it seems quite a few folks don’t care for THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX, sure – the fire isn’t there between Flynn and Bette Davis the way is with him and Olivia, but I still love this film. Davis imbues Elizabeth with a genuine sense of majesty. No matter what it is a spectacular production. Now… THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON… I love. Now in the modern age, Custer is seen as being a horrific entity. This is from the period where Custer was allowed the illusion of being a hero. As that hero, he’s fantastic. The Max Steiner score is one of the greatest scores in the history of cinema, his use of leit motif in the final “last stand” is awesome. Lastly there’s DODGE CITY, Flynn’s first Western and one of his best. Here I just love the easy friendliness between Flynn, Hale and Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams. Then there’s the Flynn doc, which I love on pure star worship levels. I hope to god this set sells like crazy, cuz I want all of the rest of Flynn’s flicks given this same wonderful treatment.
THE FOUR FEATHERS
Ya know… this particular day is such an amazing DVD day for folks that love good old fashioned adventure films. THE FOUR FEATHERS has been revisited time and time again, but this is the very best version. Startling for how graphic portions are. But John Clements and Ralph Richardson are so great in this, and the film is absolutely gorgeous. One of the great adventure yarns of all time.
Hanzo The Razor Box Set (SWORD OF JUSTICE, THE SNARE, WHO’S GOT THE GOLD)
Ok – from the wonderfully sick & twisted genius of Kazuo Koike (creator of LONE WOLF & CUB) and starring the amazing Shintaro Katsu (the original ZATOICHI) comes the greatest exploitation cult anything I’ve ever seen. I really had no earthly idea what I was getting ready to watch as I put SWORD OF JUSTICE in. OHMYGOD! On back of the box – the tagline, “HE’S DIRTIER THAN HARRY AND SHAFTIER THAN SHAFT,” is boldly proclaimed. My thought was bullshit. Then I watched. It’s astonishing. Try to imagine this. This is, essentially a 70’s Exploitation tougher than railroad spikes Cop film. Think Popeye Doyle or Dirty Harry or McQ or Bullitt or Shaft. Think of that Lalo Schifrin jazzy 70’s funk sound. Imagine that open empowered sexuality. Think about how those characters handled their chiefs. NOW – it isn’t set in the 70s and in New York or Los Angeles or San Francisco. It’s set hundreds of years ago – and Hanzo is a badass samurai ‘cop’ in feudal era Japan. He’s every bit as deadly as Ogami Ito, but this time there ain’t no babycart. Instead. Instead. Goddamn. How to put this. Ok – I have to tell you this. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE! Don’t do further research, don’t ask around. Just get it. Just put it in. Afterwards, you’ll call up everyone you know and you’ll laugh your asses off as your jaws hit the fucking floor. Now, I love exploitation film. I love the work of Miike. This is just so damn pervasive. It’s perverse, sick, twisted and so far from anything you’ve ever seen. There is serious nudity and things you’ll see that may forever change the fetishistic wet dreams you’ll have after having witness Hanzo the Razor. It is that amazing. Now excuse me, I must go buy a cargo net and a block and tackle. Heh. -- Oh hell, I forgot to mention THE SNARE and WHO’S GOT THE GOLD? These are also fantastic, but not quite at the stunning production level as SWORD OF JUSTICE. Brilliant film!
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
A romance first. A stunning martial arts masterpiece second. Ziyi Zhang’s stunning echo drum dance is one of the great cinematic scenes. The color green has never been more beautiful. The fight in this bamboo, will forever replace the one we loved in CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON. And that snow scene… heart-breaking. Zhang Yimou has really outdone himself with this film. Now – if you watch this and want something as crude as this is elegant, try HANZO THE RAZOR. Heh. Presenting this film in Seattle last year was so wonderful. This is a martial arts movie for romantics.
PRIMER
Now here’s a film that DVD was invented for. Shane Carruth’s PRIMER is a puzzle and a riddle that demands multiple viewings and chapter stops and a commentary. That’s exactly what this DVD gives you. A micro-budget film that happens to be the smartest science fiction film of the last several years. This is HARD SCIENCE fiction. The concept of time travel as you’ve never seen it handled. If you haven’t seen it – think of it as a science fiction version of MEMENTO. It’s that clever, only this feels so damn authentic. It isn’t a gimmick flick, it’s just a brilliant film about invention, the process of invention and the danger of invention. It won the Grand Prize at Sundance last year and absolutely commands your attention!
April 26th, 2005
Andrzej Wajda – Three War Films ( A GENERATION, KANAL and ASHES & DIAMONDS ) – Criterion Collection
Andrzej Wajda won an honorary Academy Award for his body of work including these 3 incredibly powerful films. In the box you’ll find Commentary by Annette Insdorf on ASHES & DIAMONDS, interviews with Wajda regarding each of the films. Newsreels, a short film by Wajda and all sorts of behind the scenes treats. As for the films? A GENERATION tells the story of a young teen that joins the Youth Underground, recruits his friends and fight the Nazis. It’s best to view the film from the point of view of these kids fighting the Nazis, completely unaware of what is coming for them on the other side of this conflict in Poland… as Stalin was every bit the horror – but the film doesn’t deal with that. KANAL is about the resistance in Warsaw in September of 1944. It is a desperate film about fighting incredible odds, of knowing when to give in, of escaping to fight another day and the suffering and death that surrounded them. Great great film. ASHES & DIAMONDS is about the end of WWII, when a Resistance fighter is ordered to kill a fellow Resistance fighter who is becoming a Communist district fighter. Which ultimately symbolizes the next degree of hell that was to face Poland. All three of these films are absolutely superior works in the finest Criterion tradition.
ANTHOLOGY OF SURREAL CINEMA, Vol 1
Surrealistic Cinema of the 1920s is wonderful. Experimenting wildly with the medium of film. Painters like Dali hooked up with Bunuel and we all know that film. Well here we have a film by cubist master, Fernand Leger, the founder of Dadaism – Marcel Duchamp and more. These 4 films define the spirit of surrealistic cinema, which is all but dead today… except for the amazing WHAT IS IT? – by Crispin Glover which is keeping it alive and well. Not for everyone, but it is for those that have more adventurous cinematic yearnings.
DOUBLE CROSS
I’ve never seen the film, and according to IMDB, nobody else has either. But it’s a 1941 mystery starring Kane Richmond – and I’m a Kane Richmond geek – he was the square jawed b-movie hero of SPY SMASHER fame and THE RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE and any number of B-movies I love like BLACK MARKET BABIES and HAUNTED HARBOR. What the hell, I’ll give it a shot.
F FOR FAKE – Criterion Collection
Now here’s an Orson Welles film you’ve probably never seen. This is one of Welles’ documentaries. Here you get to see Welles’ preoccupation with pulling the wool over one’s eyes. He celebrates the joy of fooling people, be they a brilliant forger or a biographer of ill-repute. Heh. Welles relishes taking us on this journey, of course he is. He’s the man behind the greatest prank in history… Martians invading indeed. Heh. The disc also features a documentary on Orson’s unfinished projects, an Intro by Bogdanovich and much more. Another fantastic job by Criterion!
LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
I really enjoy this film. Probably because I find Carrey’s delicious devious Uncle, an Uncle after my own black heart. I was completely unfamiliar with the Lemony Snicket books, but am very curious to explore this 2 disc set. I’m interested in the commentary between Silberling and Lemony Snicket himself. I’m curious as hell about the 11 deleted scenes and 5 outtakes – and then there’s all the documentaries. It won HELLBOY’s Make-Up Academy Award – which was easy, cuz they didn’t even nominate Hellboy’s makeup. I swear, I’ll go into an angry fit if SIN CITY is ignored in the make-up category.
LOST CITY: SERIAL Chapters 1 – 12
Not a great serial, but a fun one. Ultimately it’s all about zombie natives in an African Jungle controlled by the evil Zolok who rules the steel-plated city beneath the African Jungle. If that doesn’t get ya excited, well… I’m sorry. Heh.
THE MANSON FAMILY
This film is something. It was championed by Capone last year – and is finally coming to the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin soon. But this 2-disc set of the unrated version is not for everyone. You must have a macabre curiosity and an iron stomach. It’s a great cult film, literally. But not a film for those of you on psychedelics. Please.
MY NAME IS NOBODY
No you either love Terrence Hill or you hate him or you’ve never heard of him. I grew up on the Trinity westerns, SuperFuzz and March or Die. And MY NAME IS NOBODY – which could be the best Terrence Hill film altogether. For one, it costarred Henry Fonda as a bent on retirement gunslinger that Hill idolizes. Imagine THE WILD BUNCH filled with belly laughs, and you’re almost there. Very fun stuff.
The Olive Thomas Collection ( THE FLAPPER and OLIVE THOMAS: EVERYBODY’S SWEETHEART)
One of the first female starlets, Olive Thomas had a spell she cast on audiences in the teens. She was THE FLAPPER. She skyrocketed to fame… THE FLAPPER being known as her crowning achievement. She was married to Mary Pickford’s brother Jack – and after filming one more film after THE FLAPPER – she went on vacation to Paris with him, and in a darkened bathroom accidentally mistook a bottle of bichloride of mercury instead of the medicine she went for. She died on top of the world as it’s biggest female star. Think James Dean or Bruce Lee, but for another era. This fantastic DVD from Milestone is another silent marvel. A 2 disc set showing THE FLAPPER for the wonder that it is, and then OLIVE THOMAS: EVERYBODY’S SWEETHEART. She died early, but lives forever here!
THE PLOT AGAINST HARRY
Not a documentary about Quint & Moriarty and their plans to put me in an early grave, that’s scheduled for release next year. This is actually one of the earliest signs of the American Independent Film Movement in the 1960’s. The film literally sat in a can for 20 years without ever being distributed, then found new life on the fresh indie scene of the late 80’s early 90’s – where it was embraced by critics anew. The film is hilarious and Martin Priest is great as the middle management mobster type. It really is something out of the ordinary, but fun as hell.
WOMENS PRISON MASSACRE
Ok – look at that DVD box. Right there – you’re either gonna buy it or not. It’s a women in prison exploitation flick from the early 80s in Italy. It’s got all the hallmarks of the genre – nudity, orgy, rape, s&m, torture and is just about demeaning as humanly possible to women. So if you got space next to BAMBOO DOLL HOUSE, CAGED HEAT, REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS and THE BIG BIRDCAGE – well here ya go!
