Hey folks, Harry here... Sorry about disappearing on you for December. It's such an effed up month for me, a fun one, but hard to concentrate on the column. But with this edition, I've caught up to today - and with one last column for the year to go. Like usual, if you can remember when it was usual, by clicking on the titles or box art you'll be sent to Amazon, where you can learn more on the title in question, or if you feel like it purchase the title which would go to help support the ongoing efforts of this column, which will be back to regular after this. So you've waited long enough... dig in!

Tuesday December 9th, 2008

THE DARK KNIGHT

If not your pick for Best Picture of 2008, very very near that spot resides THE DARK KNIGHT. I’ve watched my Blu Ray of this about 7 times now. I love watching this film. I love that the aspect ratio changes from the IMAX to the regular 35mm during the film – and I love that I don’t really notice… but that it works as if a sequence that you should really open your eyes for is about to happen. The visual clarity is just stunning. There’s tons of extras here – with what they call “Focus Points” which can be played in their entirety – or as a Picture in Picture that plays along with the feature. As stated, you get the film in 2.40:1 and 1.78:1 – then there’s all the other extras. Plus you get a digital copy of the feature – galleries of concept art, Joker cards, etc etc etc… And with this one, you get a really awesome Batpod. This is the new release that will most likely get played most.

LOST – 4th Season

Yoko and I haven’t had a chance to sit down and take in the 4th season – but I’ve heard that fans were pretty pleased with it. I’m looking forward to digesting it. As with all the LOST season discs – this is filled with extras – and really has the latest in Blu-Ray technology – including this thing called SEASONPLAY – which allows you to watch the entire season – but say you get wear and you want to watch something else. When you put the disc back in, the player remembers where you were and plays from that point on. Pretty nifty, eh?

THE WIRE – Complete Series

Perhaps the most intensely complex television show ever crafted presented in its entirety. The less you know about THE WIRE before delving into its secrets, the better. It is a televised novel of the utmost quality. Enjoy it all.

MAN ON WIRE

God willing, this documentary will be nominated and will go on to win the Best Documentary of the year at this year’s Oscars. If it isn’t – it will simply be the best documentary of the year to join a long list of previous Best Documentaries of their respective years ignored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences – which has a pretty notorious history for being about as wrong as could be regarding this matter. MAN ON WIRE is one of the most passionate documentaries I’ve ever seen about the compulsion of an artist to create one’s art. In this case, it is about a tight rope artist – one that is not satisfied with merely walking the line allowed, but of dreaming of putting that line in places nobody dared allow anyone to walk. I can not recommend this film high enough.

DEADWOOD: The Complete Series

For just over 1 Benjamin, you can own the entire brilliant revisionist Western series from HBO called DEADWOOD. That’s pretty damn sweet. Ian McShane is tremendous here, though in his recent film work he just hasn’t found a role anywhere near the quality of the work he brought to life here. I gave mine to Father Geek, who has been eating this series up. Great work!

HAPPY DAYS 4th Season

This is the season where Al replaced Arnold, when The Fonz created the pre-Trash Compactor “THE GARBAGE GULPER” – however you still have to wait for the next season to get your Scott Baio fix (Eli Roth, I’m looking at you). I love HAPPY DAYS and love that this series is here again!

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU

I love this film because of just how bizarre it is. If I get a chance to sit down with a certain director of a film with the initials T.R.T. I’m going to ask if this film and if the Vanderhofs were any sort of influence on the Tenenbaums. Because they kinda feel that way to me. Here you have a typically great Capra cast with Lionel Barrymore, Jimmy Stewart, Edward Arnold (the great Depression Era Evil Republican), the lovely Jean Arthur and many other wonderful character actors. This is one of the quirkiest films that Capra ever made. And it is a blast.

MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

This is easily one of my favorite films of all time. I first saw it while on a trip to Washington DC when I was part of the National Young Leaders Society in High School and it blew my mind. I make no bones about it, I’m a Capracrat – an idealistic populist that would like to believe in the better nature of mankind despite all evidence to the contrary and this film is one of the reasons I believe in the good of man. This movie was made, it’s been around for 60 years – millions have seen it. Perhaps its message was as clearly made to them as it was to me. If you haven’t seen it, see it now. Watch Jimmy Stewart as Jefferson Smith – the all time coolest boy scout of boy scouts. Jean Arthur as the hardened Washington DC cynic that begins to believe in Jefferson’s suicidal effort. The brilliant Claude Rains. Fucking Claude Rains. Man – if McCain was ever brought to life on film, it’s Claude’s Senator Paine. Then there’s Edward Arnold as the ultimate evil bad guy in the back rooms. Add to that cast Friar Tuck from ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, the great wise man from LOST HORIZON, the giggly fat man from all those wonderful Busby Berkeley films. And more. This is just outstanding. The dvd has a commentary from Frank Capra Jr. And is one of my favorite all time films.

PETER AND THE WOLF

I cheered at the last Oscars when PETER AND THE WOLF won best animated short film. Based on Prokofiev’s classic – this animated film is just unbelievably brilliant. Haven’t yet acquired it, so I don’t know what else is on the DVD if anything, but PETER & THE WOLF makes it totally worth it all on its own. Brilliant film.

JET LI’S FEARLESS (BluRay)

I absolutely love FEARLESS, the story of Huo Yuanjia, a true story, is absolutely fascinating and illuminating. It goes to the very root of organized teaching of Kung Fu. Where the original discipline ethics and rules came from and why it is such a source for pride to the Chinese people. This film has stunning martial arts sequences, but more than that, it has a brilliant story that is the film that gives Jet Li his greatest sense of accomplishment. I can see why.

THE MASK (BluRay)

I remember watching Siskel & Ebert before this film came out. They went GAGA over Cameron Diaz. Seriously – it was embarrassing how much they loved her in the film. And I went, and I had a blast with the film. It’s hard to imagine just how amazing these effects were in 1994, CG was the bright shiny new frontier and THE MASK was one of the astoundingly imaginative and stunning CG miracles of that early era. Jim Carrey was electric and the dog ruled. I still like this film quite a bit, but please never ask me to watch the sequel again.

SUPER TROOPERS (BluRay)

Damn, it’s funny!

EUROPA – Criterion Collection

Known in the U.S. as ZENTROPA – EUROPA stands as one of the great films from Lars Von Trier. Criterion, as usual, has done a great job with this 2-Disc set. Here’s the extras:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer
Audio commentary featuring director Lars von Trier and producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen (in Danish)
The Making of Europa (1991), a documentary following the film from storyboarding to production
Trier s Element (1991), a documentary featuring an interview with von Trier, and footage from the set and Europa s Cannes premiere and press conference
Anecdotes from Europa (2005), a short documentary featuring interviews with film historian Peter Schepelern, actor Jean-Marc Barr, producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen, assistant director Tómas Gislason, co-writer Niels Vørsel, and prop master Peter Grant
2005 interviews with cinematographer Henning Bendtsen, composer Joachim Holbek, costume designer Manon Rasmussen, film-school teacher Mogens Rukov, editor/director Tómas Gislason, producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen, art director Peter Grant, actor Michael Simpson, production manager Per Arman, actor Ole Ernst
A conversation with Lars von Trier from 2005, in which the director speaks about the Europa trilogy
Europa The Faecal Location (2005), a short film by Gislason
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Howard Hampton

MURNAU, BORZAGE & FOX BOX SET

This amazing set contains Murnau’s SUNRISE (1927) and CITY GIRL (1930) – and Borzage’s LAZYBONES (1925), SEVENTH HEAVEN (1928), STREE ANGEL (1928), LUCKY STAR (1929), THE HAD TO SEE PARIS (1929), LILIOM (1930), SONG O’ MY HEART (1930), BAD GIRL (1931), AFTER TOMORROW (1932), YOUNG AMERICA (1932) – it also has a documentary on Murnau and Borzage – along with other special treats. This set features wonderful work from Spencer Tracy,Maureen O’Sullivan, Charles Farrell, Will Rogers, Janet Gaynor and many other early film stars at their best. I didn’t get this set for Christmas, but there’s no way I’m not going to pick it up soon. Murnau and Borzage are great filmmakers and much of this work I’ve only ever read about, but the ones I have seen have me fired up to see the rest. This is a very important film release!

I AM LEGEND – Ultimate Collector’s Edition – Blu Ray

I know this film made a shitload of money and there is a whole lot to like about the film, till all the silly unnecessary bad cg vampire things show up – and yes, the best cg vampire acting was cut from the film and you can see it on the previous edition, but if you LOVE this film. I mean, this is YOUR movie of last year. Then go ahead and pick this up, I kinda can’t imagine that this works. Now here’s the thing – this cut of the film, which is different from the version in theaters. It’s way fucking better than what got released. And this is MUCH BETTER a release than this movie had before, which was pretty damn good. There’s a 40 plus page book filled with concept sketches that are real cool. This is probably the most deluxe treatment that a film like this one has received. This edit was pretty great. But this isn’t Directors Cut of THE ABYSS awesome… or even Director’s Cut of ALIENS awesome. So you may want to see if you can rent it first.

THE SHUTTERED ROOM / IT!

Oh this is great! Specifically, I love IT! IT! Is a Roddy McDowall film that is essentially a remake of THE GOLEM, but done fantastically. There’s a bit of Norman Bates to Roddy here, but it’s Roddy’s take. As for THE SHUTTERED ROOM, it’s an Oliver Reed gnawing on the film stock edges style performance. Both films are highly worth catching.

CHAMBER OF HORRORS / BRIDES OF FU MANCHU

Chamber of Horrors is hokey as hell, but BRIDES OF FU MANCHU – well… it’s Christopher Lee and the fiendish Dr Fu Manchu bent on capturing and torturing the hot daughters of the world’s leading scientist – to get their dads to build him an awesome Death Ray, with which to RULE THE WORLD! Fucking A! Torture and capture hot white scientists daughters and get a Death Ray. Sounds like a plan!

OLYMPIA (2 disc Special Edition)

Have you ever wanted to check out a young hot naked Leni Riefenstahl? Well here’s your chance, that’s her… naked dancing in the prologue of the film! This has both the first part and the second part of the infamous Leni Riefenstahl’s probable masterpiece, OLYMPIA. This is just stunning to watch. The Berlin games wear their Nazi party staging proudly, thus disturbing as Hell, but the film techniques at play here is amazing. If you love the Olympics, this is the best and most artistic capturing of them that we’ve ever seen. This set is magnificent!

OPEN CITY

This is THE masterpiece of the Italian NeoRealist movement. Some would say BICYCLE THIEF, but for me, it is OPEN CITY by Roberto Rossellini. If only because I’ve always been fascinated by World War II and the premise of this film’s story, the Italian Resistance and their struggle in Nazi controlled Rome. The stark realism of the story did nothing but enhance the drama and the tension of the scenes. Beyond being a landmark in the world of film history, it’s just plainly a great story to watch.

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE

A pretty damn awful musical. Musically off.

DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG

By far the Best Musical of 2008 – I’m not an automatic worshipper of the Joss Whedon shrine that Herc has assembled in Coax, but I love love love DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG as much or more than just about anything I’ve seen this year. I bought this on iTunes – and I’m going to hold off buying till they come out with a Blu-Ray option – because the version on my Hard Drive is fine enough for me. BUT – this work is brilliant. It makes me happy and sad – and to see my old friend Felicia Day in something this brilliant just makes me smile!

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR

Proof that Brendan Fraser is more badass than Jet Li? NOT ON YOUR LIFE! This is more proof that Rob Cohen just should not be allowed near high-profile projects, as he destroyed this film. Actually, it was a combination of things. Rushing the film without a solid script due to the strike. Making a terrible budget decision and not bringing Rachel back. And then bringing Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh together on screen and not scheduling enough time to do that wonderful possible fight within a light year of the coolness it could have been – instead wasting our time with shit over-cutting. That said – it does feature some wonderful effects, love those Yetis and the production is beautiful. I like the actors, the art direction, the premise and enough to have it join the first two films, but damn I wanted this to be a much better film.

BURN AFTER READING

I love the Coens so much. And I wish everyone that doesn’t like this could see the film through my eyes. This is a brilliant riff on the modern spy genre, Washington D.C. and all things serious. All at the same time, the film allows all of the actors to skewer their own personalities, intelligence and station in film. The result is delightful, surprising and hilarious. From Clooney’s present for his wife, to Brad coming out of the closet, to Tilda’s bitchiness, to Malkovich’s rage… everything works in this movie. Everything. And it is great!

TRAITOR

I really really liked this film. I don’t know why I’m surprised – Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce are a pair of my favorite actors working today. I think it was that this was a first time director whose only written work I knew was THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW – but this film was so much more than that. As this film twisted and turned I really liked what I found. I felt it was really great work, and how it all wrapped up? Very pleasing. Don’t miss checking this film out. It’s probably my favorite ‘terrorist’ thriller to come out in recent years. Very well done.

AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, Vol. 6

I’m not really a fan of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It just doesn’t do it for me, but I know a lot of you are fans, so I figured I’d let you know, if you didn’t, about this release. You even get stickers with this set!

DEATH RACE

This is a pretty crappy film, with some fun moments. But throughout the film, I found myself constantly reminded how the original film kicked ass – and this one just didn’t make any goddamn sense at all. I know, I’m asking for sense from a Paul W.S. Anderson film? How about a bit of coherence? The geography of the track made zero visual sense. It reminded me of the retarded track created for the beyond shitty remake of ROLLERBALL, which this remake is better than… but that’s not saying much. The most entertaining thing about the film is just the personalities of the main actors which Paul couldn’t crush. There’s a perverse joy in just seeing Joan Allen in trash like this. But Tyrese Gibson plays his character from the second FAST AND FURIOUS film, only fully out of the closet. Jason Statham is just plain likable. And Ian McShane is in yet another post-DEADWOOD performance looking for a role worthy of his talent.

THE THIRD MAN (Blu Ray)

Absolutely Exquisite. Amongst my favorite films is Carol Reed’s classic story about the death of Harry Lime and his good friend’s investigation into it. Who is Harry Lime? Well, he’s an AICN on and off again writer, but for the purpose of this review, Harry Lime is Orson Welles in my third favorite role, behind his work in TOUCH OF EVIL and his radio character of THE SHADOW. But this film is a perfect film. From the unmistakable score, to the brilliant use of light and shadow. You’ve never seen THE THIRD MAN look this good. The 1080p makes this film leap off the screen. This was the first Criterion Blu Ray I saw and I was hooked.

BOTTLE ROCKET (Blu Ray)

Wes Anderson’s first film is a great comedy that introduced us to the talents of not only Wes, but of Luke and Owen Wilson. And I don’t know if I’ve seen an Owen Wilson character that I loved more than his Dignan in BOTTLE ROCKET. This Blu Ray transfer is gorgeous, and as expected you get a ton of great extras:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/star Owen Wilson
The Making of Bottle Rocket : an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
Eleven deleted scenes
Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson
Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese, and original artwork by Ian Dingman

CHUNGKING EXPRESS (Blu Ray)

If you want to witness the greater glory of Blu Ray – Wong Kar-Wai’s heartbreakingly beautiful film will sell you on the format faster than … well, let’s face it, if you want Wong Kar-Wai’s CHUNGKING EXPRESS in Blu-Ray – you don’t need me to tell you a damn thing. There’s not a lot of extras with this film. A commentary by Asian Cinema expert Tony Rayns and a trailer, but ya know… the jewel of this disc is the film itself. Watching the grain of this film fully rendered is what will sell you on the format.

INTO THE WILD (Blu Ray)

One of the best films of 2007 and one whose beauty was captured by Sean Penn and deserves to be seen in Home Video’s finest existing format. INTO THE WILD is a stunning film on BluRay… or any other format, but in BluRay it really shines. It’s nice to have it out!

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (Blu Ray)

One of the great Seventies science fiction films and David Bowie’s acting debut in Nicolas Roeg’s fantastic MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH. This isn’t a science fiction film obsessed with gadgets and doo-dads, but on concepts and ideas… as a result it is a very rare bird indeed. A beautiful film – and one I’m very happy to have in Blu Ray. This Criterion release has great extras:

High-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Nicolas Roeg
Uncompressed stereo soundtrack
Audio commentary by Roeg and actors David Bowie and Buck Henry
A video interview with screenwriter Paul Mayersberg
Performance, video interviews with actors Candy Clark and
Rip Torn
Audio interviews with costume designer May Routh and production designer Brian Eatwell
Audio interview from 1984 with author Walter Tevis, conducted by Don Swaim
Multiple stills galleries, including Routh s costume sketches; behind-the-scenes photos; and production and publicity stills, introduced by set photographer David James
Gallery of posters from Roeg s films
Trailers
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Graham Fuller

HAMLET 2

Trust me – most of you never had a chance to see HAMLET 2, as it didn’t play everywhere in this world, but check this comedy out! It’s brought to life by writers from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and SOUTH PARK and the results are hilarious and weird. At 92 minutes, you’re in for quirky weird laughs and an end musical sequence that will have you singing Rock Me Sexy Jesus… seriously. It’s a whole lot of fun.

TOMMY BOY (Blu Ray)

We didn’t get enough of Chris Farley, but with TOMMY BOY – we got one perfect little jewel. It’s broad comedy and silly as hell, but there’s a sweet as hell heart to this movie that sneaks in and makes you care about a boy that’s just slightly retarded and traumatized by… well, if you haven’t seen the movie, I won’t say. Also – David Newman’s scoreis just tremendous! Really outstanding score! I forgot how much I loved this little movie.

Will Eisner: Profession – Cartoonist

With a host of comic professionals and a great deal of art and interviews – this is a wonderful way, besides going out and buying all of Eisner’s work, to get a perspective on the artist that so many feel have been unjustly destroyed by Frank Miller. I think they all cry foul a bit too loud mind you, but it would be interesting to have heard Eisner’s thoughts on Frank’s flick. This is a wonderful documentary about one of the greatest Comic artists and creators ever.

IPCRESS FILE (Blu Ray)

This all-region Blu Ray release is fantastic. Easily one of the great Michael Caine films and a great spy film! You need to introduce yourself to the great Harry Palmer – not a flashy gadget hound, but an incredibly smart and exact spy, this is a lean and mean spy film with an amazing score by John Barry. This looks fantastic in Blu Ray!

GIGI (Blu Ray)

Vincente Minnelli’s great GIGI is one of THE classic fifties Musicals. Nevermind that its plot is essentially one of the dirtiest – but in the realm of Blu-Ray we’re not getting nearly enough vintage titles, but thank God for Little Girls and All Region Imports, cuz we wouldn’t have GIGI otherwise in 1080p. This is beautiful, nothing like Technicolor widescreen in perfect clarity!

Tuesday December 23rd, 2008

THE DUCHESS

I really really liked this film. What is it about the stories of arranged marriages in ages past that provide such awesome fodder for film. This film has a lot of great talent, and Keira does an excellent job as a woman married to a man that wants only sons and has no real love in his heart – at least that she can see. This is one of those everyone is betraying everyone sort of films – and about the powerless struggle of women in a time where they were meant to just breed boy babies for their husbands. Not a great film, but very very good.

EAGLE EYE

D.J. Caruso is just getting better and better and Shia is growing up. He’s wonderful in this film and Michelle Monaghan… well, her costume design isn’t as great as it was in KISS KISS BANG BANG, but damn she’s fun on screen! This film is an excellent thriller, mystery and adventure flick with some oh so slight science fiction for good measure. My only problem with the film is with the decision after the conclusion of the main thrust of the story. But you can bet that was a studio decision. Can’t wait to see what’s next from DJ!

GHOST TOWN

I had a whole host of reasons to be predisposed to hate this movie, but I actually liked it. I think the marketing on the film was lacking, mainly because the title really doesn’t fit the movie – it doesn’t. This sort of story was more of a romantic triangle than a Ghost movie, and wasn’t really about a town of ghosts as much as a handful in New York. BUT – Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni and Greg Kinnear pull the film off. That’s probably because Koepp is a solid director, especially when going with his own material…. Of which, this is the most different thing he’s ever attempted.

That's the catch up, Tonight - I'll get the last DVD column of the year out, which holds Blu Rays of SERENITY, EVENT HORIZON, GHOST, DAYS OF THUNDER, THE TRUMAN SHOW - along with new titles like TOWELHEAD, SURFER DUDE, HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2 and BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE - it's not a big Tuesday, but it is the last of 2008! See ya soon!