Harry's DVD PICKS & PEEKS: 3rd wk of Aug 2010: A Juggalo Western, Coppola's CONVERSATION, Miley Cyrus' LAST SONG (we wish)!!!

Hey folks, Harry here… and looky, it is on time! Well, you can thank the rather limited options I had to choose from this week. Last week and our next week are pretty damn strong, but this week – aside from a few releases… well… you’ll see. I didn’t put the latest season of DEXTER on here, because I feel very inadequate talking about that show – as I know it deserves an enthusiastic HARRY – but I haven’t really gotten caught up in DEXTER and that would show horribly, but it is a series that enough friends are badgering me to watch in its entirety – so one day, I hope to be in love with the show… I’m just not there yet. As usual, the images and titles link to AMAZON – where you can learn more or purchase the item – which would be awfully nice of ya, as a portion of that price goes to help support this column. So thank you in advance. Now – go buy a copy of THE CONVERSATION, you’ve been waiting forever for that one, trust me! Here ya go… Tuesday, August 17th, 2010



BLACK ORPHEUS (Criterion Blu)

Here’s another vintage WOW from Criterion Blu – so far my favorite company putting vintage Blus out. This won Best Foreign Film back in its day – and helped bring a latin beat to the United States in 1952. And yes, this is an adaptation of that great Greek Myth – and takes it somewhere amazingly colorful and musical. Criterion does their standard brilliance on this disc – in particular watching this is another way of showing folks just how amazing films from half a century ago look on Blu. The cinematography on this film is one for the records. Stunning stunning colors. The single greatest release of this week! New, restored high-definition digital transfer Uncompressed monaural soundtrack Optional English-dubbed soundtrack Archival interviews with director Marcel Camus and actress Marpessa Dawn New video interviews with Robert Stam, Gary Giddins, and Ruy Castro A la recherche d' "Orfeu negro," a feature-length documentary Theatrical trailer PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson

THE LAST SONG

I can’t wait for Craig Brewer’s FOOTLOOSE. In all the ways that this is a soulless piece of spoonfed drivel, that film will live and soar. THE LAST SONG is the latest teen porn from the author of THE NOTEBOOK. Oh sure – there’s no actual sex in the film, there’s not even any skin beyond the 27 ab squares above Liam Hemsworth’s KEN-Doll nub. This film literally sent Yoko running to go to sleep the other night. I stuck with it I’m sorry to say – and ya know – Greg Kinnear wanted to be in a good movie. I can see it in his performance. The only problem? Miley Cyrus and the other actors of her generation on display here are about as real as sitcom kids ever get. Which is, not at all. Or maybe they’re exactly correct, and that’s why SCOTT PILGRIM didn’t make giant money this weekend. Because this is a crazy majority of a certain part of youth culture today. This is a film about losing one’s virginity the summer where that wouldn’t be her greatest loss. The problems facing her are mainly concerning gossip and class struggles. That said, it is an incredibly ‘safe world’ – where everyone goes to church, dad makes stained glass windows for the church, and she’s a brilliantly talented musical talent that just doesn’t want to be what everyone expects her to be. So, ya know it’s hard. This is the fantasy where you can scuba dive with your boyfriend in the multimillion dollar aquarium – and that’s the reason Miley made the movie, to swim in that Aquarium and to soak up some class from Greg, which doesn’t really work, it just makes her seem all the more vinyl. And not the groovy kind. It’d be easy to be dismissive of this, but this pap made two and a half times what SCOTT PILGRIM did – and that’s a very real reason to fret about American youth. Seriously. At what point will this particular audience Rock? Or will Miley own them to the grave? Will Nicholas Sparks be this audience’s John Hughes – god, that got me to cough up some bile. It is a sickening thought – it’s just kind of sad.

FURRY VENGEANCE

I suppose at some level this is supposed to be funny. Thankfully, I seem to be immune. So instead I watched this with the same dumbstruck frat boy trying to run 50 yards with a hot dog weiner squeezed between his ass cheeks – a disgusted feeling of being exploited every second that it was on. This is a truly staggeringly inept work. And continues to make GODS AND MONSTERS seem like a miracle.

COUGAR TOWN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

A show created by one of AICN’s fondest past writers – and I watch every week amazed that Kevin is able to be as filthy as he is on a Disney show that is oddly subversive and funny. I just have to celebrate the release of a dear friend’s first created TV Series, you go Kevin! But I do prefer SCRUBS – the show he worked on prior to this. And I miss reading his reviews.

THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN

If you love MST3K – this is a film made intentially for you. Now the problem is this. With a little more effort, for this same kind of budget and acting – they could intentionally attempt to make a very good movie. Something like MONOLITH MONSTERS or FIEND WITHOUT A FACE – and that would make me so much happier than intentionally hammy acting. I know I’m supposed to just have fun with it, but I have a very strong love and appreciation for the films of the 40’s through mid-60’s that a film like this is kinda riffing on. I keep wondering if someone with a retro-love will attempt to make a film as good as the classics of the genre. And do it for real. Best to watch this with friends and have fun having fun with it. By yourself, it’s easy to be a grump about it.

DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

Feels like Dinner Theater caught on film. Made by the same folks that were behind LOST SKELETON OF CADAVERA and the above sequel. Here they’re doing that Old Dark House type of thing, but if OLD DARK HOUSE were tone-deaf. This just isn’t for me. I just respect the genre and prefer a straighter take on all of this. But then, I’m not a MST3Ker either.

HAMLET (Blu-Book)

Amongst my favorite Charlton Heston performances is contained in Branagh’s HAMLET – a gorgeous treasure of a film. That said, the film seemed oddly flat on Blu Ray. I don’t think that is a problem with the transfer so much as my 70mm memory which shows the limits of 1080p easily. I know many of you have never been lucky enough to see a 70mm film. But to see a film like HAMLET or DR ZHIVAGO or 2001 in its native 70mm… it’s just unforgettable. It is a portal to another realm. That said, the opulence of this release is clearly on display, I just hope Warners keeps high quality 70mm prints available for the venues that can play them – as a film like this truly can reveal the beauty of the best that film can look. I hope this version of Branagh shows up for THOR. I hope.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD (Blu)

Moriarty’s quote whoring aside, this film really is ridiculous fun. This is a film that will increase your pulse rate and make you believe in a hyper-real cinematic universe that is many times cooler than our own. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is just one of those films that is just amazing to watch. Some of the stunts are truly jaw-dropping in a kind of Errol Flynn wow kinda way. Just… they went for it, ya know? Probably the single most fun Korean film I’ve ever seen. It is pretty devoid of incest and those other dark subject matters usually found in Korean films. Well – other than PRIVATE EYE… but that awesome film still doesn’t have a US distributor. Brilliant film though. Just awesome!

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD – Season One, Part One

I really hope we get a Blu Ray release of the whole of season one… but I’m betting we’re screwed. They’re also being real bad on this particular series doing 3 tiny releases out of this season, then a first half of the season – then we’ll get a second half of the season, then a full season – and then maybe if we’re all good lil sheep we’ll get a Blu Ray. Personally, I’d hold off. Unless you can’t. In which case… you don’t really need my advice, you’ve made a decision – the show is way fucking cool and you know that. Good stuff here, just half as much as I wanted.

THE CONVERSATION

Is it true? Is this really the first time this has come to DVD? I suppose it is ludicrous of me to expect a Blu-Ray anytime soon… so I’ll just continue to treasure my 16mm print – of this, my very favorite Gene Hackman performance ever. I know I’m supposed to say Popeye Doyle and THE FRENCH CONNECTION – but I think when I bought my 16mm print of THE CONVERSATION… back before this film was available on VHS… and I was the one guy that anyone knew that could watch THE CONVERSATION on demand… it became MY GENE HACKMAN movie – and I showed it to folks repeatedly. Watching not just the nuance of Hackman’s brilliant HARRY Caul… yeah, his character name is Harry. I don’t mind admitting that I love that. I love what a prick Harrison Ford is in the film. I love “Shirley” in the film – and this side of THE DION BROTHERS, Frederic Forrest hasn’t been better. But the pure staggering genius of this film is Coppola’s direction & writing – and the BRILLIANT sound design by Walter Murch. So much of this film is about SOUND. A brilliant double feature with BLOW OUT, watch THE CONVERSATION first though. Remember that. If you’ve never seen THE CONVERSATION, and I’m betting a majority of those that read this column have probably never had the opportunity to – this is a major victory for this brilliant film. Now – Coppola… call Criterion and let’s get the great release that this underseen masterpiece deserves. Hell – do a remaster and get it out in theaters. Give people a chance to see this the right way. This is easily one of the top films of the 70s. A towering decade of cinema. Discover Harry Caul. You’ll be very glad you did. If you love this and BLOW OUT. Let me recommend KLUTE, THE PARALLAX VIEW and 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR. But THE CONVERSATION is king.

BIG MONEY RUSTLAS

I’m buying this. Because this could be some strange existential form of genius – if nothing else – support it for their attempt to end the reality embarrassment of Tila Tequila. Have you seen the trailer for this yet? Here… behold…



How is that not the greatest curiousity train wreck of awesome you’ve seen since MIRACLES? I mean. This exists. Can you imagine everything else in this movie? I mean… they’re evil old west clown thugs. It could very well be the scariest most ridiculous thing ever shat from the minds of humans. I can’t wait to wipe it up. I seriously might write up a full on review when I see it. I’m drawn to it like a fly to shit. I can’t wait.

L’ENFANCE NUE (Criterion Collection)

I would recommend before ever adopting a near teenage child with a troubled history, to watch this film. Pialat’s film captures almost exactly what I’ve heard many experiences with this type of adoption. I wouldn’t call it harrowing, but it is a slap to the face. It wakes you up to some very harsh realities about this type of experience. Brilliant film. Amazingly powerful. L'amour existe, director Maurice Pialat's 1960 short film Choses vues, autour de "L'enfance nue," a fifty-minute documentary Excerpts from a 1973 French television interview with Pialat New visual essay by critic Kent Jones Video interview with Pialat collaborators New and improved English subtitle translation A booklet featuring an essay by critic Phillip Lopate

GOSH IT’S ME! ALICE GOODBODY

This is a softcore sex comedy that kinda reminds me of Robert Altman’s THE PLAYER, but more cynical – and less accomplished (obviously) – but I really enjoyed this crazy film. But this is good seventies softcore sex comedy work. And this is how Hollywood is run. Seriously. Well, maybe not too seriously. Heh.

Like I said, this week was pretty weak. But next week… you get the final season of LOST, the 13th season of THE SIMPSONS, TIME BANDITS on Blu, George Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, DORIAN GRAY, SHOGUN ASSASSIN (Blu), Three Silent Classics by Josef Von Sternberg, THE SQUARE on Blu, MACHINE GUN MCCAIN on Blu, WITHNAIL AND I on Blu, AJAMI, MONA LISA on Blu, THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY on Blu, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED, NINJAS VS ZOMBIES… that’s right, I said NINJAS VS ZOMBIES – did your mind just ejaculate snot out your nose? Cuz that phrase made my brain drool too. Sadly, the grown up that is tied firmly to the rocking horse keeps whispering that it probably definitely sucks. I’ll be finding out soon enough – it’s on the top of the stack next to the computer. Yup, I dare to dream. Only way to be.