Welcome to the last DVD/Blu-ray column for 2014.
This time out we’ve got some fantastic films including some catalog titles, some television and several must see films.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Now. fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart.
This is Where I Leave You
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| Warner Bros / Released 12/16/14 |
When their father passes away, four grown siblings (Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver and Corey Stoll), bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother (Jane Fonda) and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves. Extras include commentary, featurettes, deleted and extended scenes.
Last Word: Ensemble films are tricky business, and those set around a family are particularly delicate when it comes to casting. We as an audience need to believe that not only are these actors related, but also believe in the verisimilitude of their dynamics. This is Where I Leave You might not have an ensemble that looks like they shared the same womb, but they certainly make themselves believable. Unfortunately, the movie itself never lets these characters do much else, which is a shame since the ensemble (which also includes Kathryn Hahn, Rose Byrne, Timothy Olyphant, Connie Britton, Ben Schwartz and Debra Monk) is wasted with an underwritten emotional base. This is Where I Leave You is light and enjoyable, which in some ways belittles the actual plot of a dysfunctional family being forced to sit Shiva together. Recommended, but ultimately forgettable.
Magic in the Moonlight
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| Sony / Released 12/16/14 |
Acclaimed magician Stanley Crawford (Academy Award Winner Colin Firth) dazzles his audiences with feats of supernatural amazement. But when it comes to the inexplicable, Stanley is a dedicated skeptic. Enter Sophie Baker (Emma Stone), psychic, soothsayer, and stunning seductress. As Stanley and Sophie embark on misadventures up and down the French Riviera, will they discover proof of a world beyond the laws of physics or have they fallen under the sway of a more earthly chemistry? Woody Allen pulls the strings with precision in this enchanting romantic comedy that explores the realm between what’s understood in our minds and what’s known in our hearts. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: Magic in the Moonlight is a romantic comedy with Woody Allen’s telltale wit that harkens back to his The Purple Rose of Cairo. Allen seems to have a love and affinity for Old Hollywood and it shows.Magic in the Moonlight takes place during the roaring 20’s on the stylish French Riviera. Colin Firth plays Stanley Crawford, an arrogant, aristocratic Englishman who who is secretly Wei Ling Soo, a famous, Chinese magician.
As a master of illusion, Stanley sees no real magic in the world. He believes in only cold, pure logic. To him, magic is all tricks and slight of hand. And he revels in exposes psychic and mediums as being fakes. So when his long-time friend and fellow magician, Howard Burkan (Simon McBurney), ask for his help in exposing Sophie Baker (Emma Stone), an American psychic that is plaguing a wealth family, Stanley jumps at the chance to expose her.At first Stanley is completely dismissive of Sophie.
He finds her beneath him. Being neither well-educated nor having any breeding, he sees no way she could compete with him. He declares that he will be able to debunk her in no time. However, as time goes Stanley comes no closer to exposing Sophie as a fake. On the contrary, she is able to delve into Stanley’s past through her “mental images”, tuning into personal information she could have not possible way of knowing.
Against his better judgement, Stanley begins to believe that Sophie may be the genuine article, causing him to reevaluate the way he looks at life and the world around him. His new view shines a different light on Sophie herself. Stanley begins to see a magic there between them as well.
Firth is perfectly cast as the stiff Englishman. He blusters through each scene, always confident that he knows more than anyone else in the room. Emma Stone does her best to act as a quick-witted, American foil to Firth’s stuffy, proper aristocrat but mostly seems out of her depth. She’s not bad, she’s just not as good as the rest of the cast around her. She is surrounded by actors and actress that have won Oscars and or have been appointed CBE by the Queen. In this company, one can’t fault her for looking a little out of place as the girl hired to be the pretty face. Dame Eileen Atkins plays the wonderfully spirited, wealthy Aunt that we all wish we had. Oscar winner, Marcia Gay Harden takes a turn as Sophie’s eye-on-the-prize mother, and Jacki Weaver is lovable as the widow who just wants the comfort of hearing again from her deceased husband. Their delivery of Allen’s dialogue is vintage Woody Allen.
Woody Allen loves this time era. His attention to detail goes beyond costumes and sets. His collaboration with cinematographer Darius Khondji gets the film of the time right. From the framing of the shots to the lighting of the characters to the coloring of the film, Magic in the Moonlight feels like a film of Old Hollywood. (– Elizabeth Robbins)
The Skeleton Twins
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| Lionsgate / Released 12/16/14 |
When estranged twins Maggie (Kristen Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) feel they’re at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. With an irresistible mix of humor and heart and a stellar supporting cast including Luke Wilson and Ty Burrell, The Skeleton Twins follows Maggie and Milo’s unforgettable journey to reconnect, as they realize that the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Extras include commentary, featurettes, gag reel, outtakes and deleted scenes.
Last Word: The Skeleton Twins quietly became one of my favorite films of the year. Years of working together on Saturday Night Live certainly informed the chemistry of Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as two suicidal, estranged twins who reconnect unexpectedly. Both of the characters are survivors; neither coming to terms with their father’s suicide, their poor relationship with their emotionally distant mother and their own damaged histories. And despite their relationships with other people (Luke Wilson plays Maggie’s husband, Lance and Ty Burrell plays Milo’s former English teacher, Rich), the film does an excellent job conveying their own complicated histories both as individuals and as family. Both characters are tremendously flawed people, but by the end of the film, it’s pretty had to be rooting for them. Highly recommended.
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| Magnolia / Released 12/9/14 |
Michael Fassbender stars as Frank, a genius rock musician who performs wearing a giant fake head that he never removes. Things get rocky between his protective bandmate Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and newcomer Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who is convinced they’re meant for stardom. The band lands their biggest gig, but are they ready? And is the world? Extras include commentary, featurettes, and interviews.
Last Word: Every so often, a film comes about that leaves you stumped. There are aspects of it that you find yourself being absolutely in love with, but for whatever reason, you cannot quite understand why. It can be a mix of breathtaking characters, witty dialogue, or even a profound message. These types of films are hard to describe. When you attempt to tell another person why they simply must see it, you find yourself always telling them they just have to watch it for themselves. Frank is, unquestionably, one of these films. It is engrossed with emotion while also radiating a magnificent style of comedy. This film finds its life in a number of powerful performances, while at the same time capturing the audience with its quirky and confusing theme. Frank, more than most films we have seen in the past decade, dares to be different in a way that is as delightful as it gets.
Our story is brought to life with inspiration from English punk rocker, Chris Sievey. Chris created a comic persona, during which he wore a large papier-mâché head. He called it Frank Sidebottom. This bulbous, unblinking head with painted on hair, delivers the exact avant-garde artistic style the film is driven by. There is something very endearing about following the creative path of a man who feels the need to hide beneath this helmet in order for his true talent to flourish.
We are induced to Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), an office worker with aspirations of being a songwriter. He doesn’t really seem to have very much talent as a keyboardist, and, based on his relentless Twitter activity, it seems that he may be more interested in fame than music. Jon stumbles on an underground Indie band called The Soronprfbs, who are lead by the bobble headed Frank (Michael Fassbender). This gang could not exist further from the commercial spectrum of music. When the keyboard player in this abstract group attempts suicide, Jon offers to fill his spot. While the band is hesitant at first, they eventually welcome him in after Frank insists he will be a good addition.
Jon packs a single pair of pants, only to find that The Soronprfbs drove their van to a small cabin in the woods, and prepare to stay there for “as long as it takes” to create the perfect album. Fassbender is a revelation as he captains the group of ratty hipsters to musical majesty. There is a mystery about the head that makes Frank’s band members look at him like he is a sort of prophet. He has a unique way of creating, and it emits the image that these sounds are traveling from inside of him and through his instruments. Jon is blown away with Frank’s process, and he is determined to make the band a phenomenon. This ambition does not mesh well with the rest of the band, especially not with Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who seems to be the only one who knows that behind Frank’s exterior head is a mentally fragile man.
Through Gleeson’s comedic prowess, and Fassbender’s imaginative spirit, we are gifted with so many hysterically unusual moments. The unorthodox approach to making music this band takes is nothing short of confusing yet lovely. Amidst Frank sleeping, running, singing, and even showering in his papier-mâché head, we too begin to believe he must be a genius. We see a powerful dynamic develop, as Jon’s use of social media begins to create a great deal of interest in the band. Clara knows the more popular they get, the more Frank’s psyche will be at risk. Jon fails to see this, as he is supremely focused on The Soronprfbs being world famous.
The struggle lies in a man who may be corrupting the true beauty of this band’s art form. Jon sees Frank and The Soronprfbs as a gift that must be shared. It is also an opportunity for him to grasp the fame and popularity he has always wanted. Seeing the innocence slowly fade from the group with each new fan is something to behold. The inner differences that come alive between Jon and the rest of the band are performed tremendously. It is both endearing and painful watching the shift that happens to this peculiar group along their journey.
There is something oddly beautiful in this film, as it delivers a totally fresh story combined with lovably outrageous characters. Using a massive fake head to project a creative aptitude that is actually veiling a mental instability is so vulnerably beautiful. As the film progresses, we cannot help but be completely enthralled with Frank’s musical process. Each of the out-of-the-box band members brings their own strange method that it is impossible not to be smitten. They are so brilliantly unique that they convince us the sound they create must be spectacular. Frank is weird and jovial. It is perplexing and charming. This film is a breath of fresh air in one of the best ways imaginable, and behind the mysterious outer shell, is a welcoming smile. (– Dan Powers)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: 75th Anniversary Edition
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| Sony / Released 12/2/14 |
An idealistic, newly-appointed senator (James Stewart) heads to Washington, where he single-handedly battles ruthless politicians out to destroy him. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of this beloved and influential classic – now fully restored in 4K – with this collectible Blu-ray Digibook, complete with rare behind-the-scenes photos and an all-new essay about the making of the film. Winner of the 1939 Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Story), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a timeless and stirring ode to the power of democracy. Extras include commentary, trailers, featurettes and feature length documentary, Frank Capra’s American Dream.Last Word: Capra’s look at our government is as effective today as it was almost eight decades ago when it was released. Still entertaining and surprisingly relevant, the film takes a bold look at optimism versus corruption. What’s even more surprising is that the spin-doctoring and manipulation of the media, as well as the stark reality of someone who has altruistic views versus the establishment were very much in place at this time. One would think that a film considered a classic doesn’t come off as inspiration, but rather as a warning to anyone who thinks that the goal of politics should be making the lives of it’s people better. A must see for anyone interested in politics or media or more importantly, anyone who wants to be entertained and enlightened. Highest recommendation.
Impractical Jokers: Season 2
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| Turner Home Ent / Released 11/4/14 |
Impractical Jokers centers on four real-life best friends (Q, Sal, Joe and Murr) who dare one another to do ridiculous things in public. They then capture their extreme dares on hidden camera, complete with the unsuspecting public’s amused, confused, or flabbergasted reactions. After completing each dare, the guys are given a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down to determine who succeeded under pressure and who collapsed in defeat. At the end of each episode, the guy with the most fails must face a mortifying punishment with truly humiliating consequences. Extras include commentaries, deleted scenes and featurettes.
And So It Goes
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 11/18/14 |
Oscar Winners Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton give captivating performances in acclaimed director Rob Reiner’s smart, sexy comedy about life, love and second chances. When his estranged son leaves his daughter for him to raise, obnoxious realtor Oren Little (Douglas) recruits his sweet neighbor Leah (Keaton) to help out. In the process, he realizes it may not be too late to begin appreciating the people in his life – and even allowing a few new ones into it!
Last Word: Director Rob Reiner brings us another movie that I know my parents will love to watch, a romantic comedy made unabashedly for the baby-boomer generation.
Michael Douglas plays Oren Little, a martini drinking, widowed, self absorbed, real estate broker in a Hamptons-like town in Connecticut. Oren is looking to make that one last big real estate deal so he can retire to Nowhereville, Vermont. For his neighbors, including the flighty lounge singer, Leah, (Diane Keaton) Oren can’t move soon enough. His bullying and abrasive manner wins him few friends.
Things begin to change when Oren’s estranged son pops up out of the blue and gives his daughter into Oren’s sole custody before going to jail for a white collar crime. Oren is left with a granddaughter, Sarah (Sterling Jerins), that he never knew existed. Seeing that leaving Sarah in Oren’s care would be a disaster, Leah intervenes on the little girl’s behalf. With Sarah there to bring them together, Oren and Leah begin a rocky road to romance.
Rob Reiner has the ability to take a mundane, made for TV movie romance and fill it with wonderful, off beat moments and humor. The banter between Douglas and Keaton has a hint of genuineness that hits home. Douglas’s acidic delivery is a great foil to Keaton’s sweetly deceptive sarcasm. Jernis walks the line well of playing Sarah earnestly without overshooting it into Candyland saccharine the way some child actors do. This movie was not made for me or my generation, and that is what I liked about it. There are no 20-30 something leading men or ladies in tight clothes looking pouty at the camera for their close up. You have two actors who were sex symbols of their generation still being sex symbols for their generation. Reiner is letting us know that life doesn’t stop at 60. There is sex, fun, heartache, lessons to learn, and opportunities to love and grow.
And So It Goes has it’s schmaltz moments, but it has that great Reiner combination of dry humor and heart to make it worth watching. (– Elizabeth Robbins)
Stonehearst Asylum
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| Millennium /Released 12/16/14 |
When young doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at Stonehearst Asylum in search of an apprenticeship, he is warmly welcomed by superintendent Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley) and a mesmerizing woman by the name of Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale). Edward is intrigued by Lambs modern methods of treating the insane until a series of unusual events leads him to make a horrifying discovery, exposing Lambs utopia and pushing Edward to the limits of his conscience. Inspired by a short story from Edgar Allan Poe, Stonehearst Asylum is a tale in which nobody is who or what they appear to be. Extras include a featurette.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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| Paramount / Released 12/16/14 |
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are bigger and better than ever in this blockbuster hit loaded with nonstop action and laughs! When New York City is in trouble, it’s up to these four ninja-fighting, pizza-loving brothers to save it. Aided by determined reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and their wise master Splinter, these unlikely heroes must face their ultimate nemesis – the evil Shredder. Extras include featurettes, extended ending and music video.
Last Word: First off I am going to say that this current incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is EXACTLY what you would expect from Nickelodeon Movies. This is not as damning a statement as you might think. Secondly, with all the brouhaha over the evil and soulless Michael Bay being attached to this film, one must remember that he IS NOT DIRECTING this film. He is the producer. Much like George Lucas in the 80’s, Bay has reached his fingers into his pockets and uses his influence to get films made.
Michael Bay had about as much to do with this film as Spielberg did with the Transformers franchise. (Why yes, he DID produce those films)
So now that we have gotten that little bit of information and MIS-information, out of the way, let me say that TMNT is not a film made for me. Me being someone who grew up reading the newsprint black and white comic books of the early 1980’s. This film is also not made for you late 80’s early 90’s kids who remember the old pizza ridden, cowabunga filled animated saturday morning cartoon and/or the live-action films with brilliant animatronics and puppetry of Jim Henson Studios. Hell, this film isn’t even really for the few and far between fans of the very cool, I may add, 2007 CGI, fourth installment (which I loved BTW).
This film is for the current Nick Kids crowd. Did/will this film ruin the well loved 30-year old franchise? I don’t think so. At least no more than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures published by Archie Comics back in 1988, based on the Saturday morning cartoon, did decades ago. (Yeah I am one of THOSE guys)
This film was basically everything you would want, story wise, from a TMNT movie. It hit all the major points you would want them to tell. Yes, they re-vamped a portion of their origin by making them April O’Neil’s pets. Totally unnecessary but definitely not a ruin worthy editorial choice. But at it’s basic core this is a TMNT movie. It was silly, stupid at parts, action packed, full of groan worthy dialog and mediocre, at best, acting. Not sure you remember those Henson live-action films but those films aren’t any kind of good once you take off the nostalgia tinted glasses.
So the big question, do I recommend this film? To this I give a very reserved, yes. Most of you will think me crazy, or call me a Bay apologist. I won’t lie. I LOVE Michael Bay. He makes movies about explosions, fighting, yelling, destruction, sexy ladies, sexy dudes, fast cars, asteroids, Nicholas Cage, swearing Sean Connery, robots and robots fighting and exploding while being fast cars with hot ladies in them.
Do I recommend this film to people who are looking for their childhood wrapped up in a loving candy coated kiss? Absolutely not. This film will be a steaming pile of turtle dung. If you have kids who love the new Nickelodeon cartoon and you, yourself, have a fleeting nostalgic curiosity? Then yes. It isn’t a good movie by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however fun and an adequate installment to the already varied and ever mutating franchise of “Heroes in a Half Shell”. (–Benn Robbins)
The Americans: The Complete Second Season
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/16/14 |
One of television’s most exhilarating series, The Americans, returns for Season 2 – with more danger, more intrigue and more steamy alliances. Technological advances have escalated Cold War tensions to an all-time high, and undercover KGB operatives Elizabeth and Philip Jennings (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) face the growing threat of discovery. As their assignments grow more deadly, their family is in more danger, and their loyalties are tested like never before in this thrilling series. Extras include featurettes, deleted scenes and gag reel.
Last Word: One of television’s smartest and least hyped shows, The Americans spent much of their second season building the drama before some very satisfying payoffs. The Jennings family realizes that everything that they are, as both KGB operatives and parents is fragile, and the tension calculatingly builds as it slowly reveals itself layer by layer. This series is a must see and with both seasons now available, set aside a week to binge this series and you’ll start to question who you know that might be a mole. Highly recommended.
Extant: Season 1
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| Paramount / Released 12/16/14 |
Academy Award-winning producer Steven Spielberg comes a sci-fi thriller that hinges on the meaning of family and the essence of humanity. When astronaut Molly Woods (Academy Award winner Halle Berry) returned from a 13-month solo mission aboard a space station, she did not come back alone. Against all odds and explanation, she is pregnant.
Her doctor Sam Barton (Golden Globe winner Camryn Manheim) is baffled. While Molly acclimates to life back on earth, she struggles to make sense of the events surrounding her miraculous, mystery pregnancy and tries to balance life with her ambitious husband and increasingly enigmatic son. After her husband John (Goran Visnjic) and she were unable to conceive, he used his skills as a robotics engineer to create their “son,” Ethan is a “humanich” – a humanoid robot who serves as the prototype for John’s career-defining project. Science and emotions collide as Molly tries to keep her family and life together. As details of her space journey emerge, it becomes clear that one daring mission is poised to change human history. Extras include featurettes, deleted scenes, and gag reel.
Arrested Development: Season 4
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/16/14 |
Welcome to Season 4 of the Emmy-winning series about the ethically questionable but unquestionably hilarious Bluth family. This season, when Michael asks Gob to help fill the vacant Sudden Valley housing development, the isolated location becomes a selling point to sex offenders, including…Tobias? After Buster’s testimony helps land Lucille in “prison,” her solution to hostile inmates is to build a great wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, where Oscar and George Sr. have a scam going. Lindsay seeks spirituality, Maeby likes high school too much, and George-Michael has a very unlikely rival in Arrested Development‘s funniest season yet! Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: The Bluth family returned after a several year interruption as the first series financed by Netflix. This fourth season was released in a single day, garnering millions of people binge watching and walking away disappointed. Now, the series has finally gotten a home video release and looking at it again with fresh eyes ultimately results in the same experience. Much of the season is composed of the same several jokes told from multiple angles and all set up by narrator Ron Howard. The problem in itself, is that many of the gags fall flat. Scheduling conflicts resulted in the series taking on a new structure; each episode focuses on a single character’s arc, which allows for the actor’s availability, but also unfortunately prevented much of the cast from interacting with one another for the majority of the episodes. It’s not as good as the previous seasons, but viewers also tend to ignore some of the lackluster directions the series took in it’s third season such as Wee Town and Charlize Theron’s MRF, Rita Leeds (if there’s one thing that A Million Ways to Die in the West reminded us is that Theron’s beauty is only overshadowed by her lack of comedic chops). If you’re a fan of the series, you’d likely already seen it on Netflix. If you haven’t, it’s not as bad as you heard, but not close to being as good as you’d hoped.
Uncle Grandpa – Tiger Trails
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| Warner Bros. / Released 12/16/14 |
Good Mornin! For the first time ever on DVD, It’s Uncle Grandpa! Everybody knows Uncle Grandpa because he’s everybody’s favorite Uncle and Grandpa! Created by Pete Browngardt, who also voices the eponymous character, Uncle Grandpa is a show about everyone’s “magical” uncle and grandpa who travels around the world in a mystical RV. An eternal optimist, his glass is always full of something delicious and he’s always ready to greet the day (and everything and everyone) with his signature, “GOOD MORNIN’!” Joined by a cast of friends including Pizza Steve, Mr. Gus, Belly Bag and Giant Realistic Flying Tiger, Uncle Grandpa brings bring magic and happiness on his wacky adventures.
The Device
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| Image Entertainment / Released 12/16/14 |
What if the rumors and urban legends are real… that aliens walk among us, abducting people for unthinkable experiments? Sisters Abby and Rebecca are about to discover the horrifying truth when they find a harmless looking object in the woods near their family’s cabin. The small black sphere is the key to a shocking mystery that will change the course of human destiny. The Device has plans for us, and this world is no longer ours. Extras include commentaries.
The Good Lie
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| Warner Bros / Released 12/23/14 |
They were known simply as “The Lost Boys.” Orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan, which began in 1983, these young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3,600 lost boys, as well as girls, to America.
Mamere and Theo are sons of the Chief in their village in Southern Sudan. When an attack by the Northern militia destroys their home and kills their parents, eldest son Theo is forced to assume the role of Chief and lead a group of young survivors, including his sister Abital, away from harm. But the hostile, treacherous terrain has other dangers in store for them. As the tattered group makes the difficult trek to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, they meet other fleeing children, forging a bond with Jeremiah, who, at 13, is already a man of faith, and Paul, whose skills become essential to their survival.
Thirteen years later, the now young adults are given the opportunity to leave the camp and resettle in America. Upon arriving in Kansas, they are met by Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), an employment agency counselor who has been enlisted to help find them jobs—no easy task, when things like light switches and telephones are brand new to them.
Although Carrie has successfully kept herself from any emotional entanglements, these refugees, who desperately require help navigating the 21st century and rebuilding their shattered lives, need just that. So Carrie embarks on her own unchartered territory, enlisting the help of her boss, Jack (Corey Stoll). Extras include deleted scenes and featurette.
Last Word: Although Reese Witherspoon is front and center on the marketing materials, this film really focuses on the Sudanese refugees and their journey and eventual assimilation into American culture. Witherspoon delivers a fine supporting performance, but it’s the refugees, Ger Duanhy, Arnold Oceng, Kuoth Wiel and Emmanuel Jal, who deliver the film’s finest performances (Duanhy and Jal were both actual child soldiers). What’s a shame is that the film never found a broader audience; the film is being marketed as “the next Blind Side,” when in fact The Good Lie is not only one of the most powerful films of the year, it’s one of the most important. Highly recommended.
The Trip to Italy
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| MPI / Released 12/23/14 |
Michael Winterbottom’s largely improvised film The Trip took comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon or semifictionalized versions thereof on a restaurant tour around northern England. In this witty and incisive follow-up, Winterbottom reunites the pair for a new culinary road trip, retracing the steps of the Romantic poets grand tour of Italy and indulging in some sparkling banter and impersonation-offs. Once again Coogan and Brydon enjoy mouthwatering meals in gorgeous settings from Liguria to Capri while riffing on subjects as varied as Batman s vocal register, the artistic merits of Jagged Little Pill, and, of course, the virtue of sequels. Equally hilarious and insightful, The Trip To Italy effortlessly melds the crackling chemistry between Coogan and Brydon to create a brilliantly comic rumination on the nuances of friendship and the juggling of family and career.
Last Word: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon take their bickering comedy duo on the road again in The Trip to Italy, where they sample the finest Italian cuisine, stay in luxury resorts and continue their dead-on celebrity impersonations. Whether or not you’ve seen the first film (which had them touring England’s Lake District) or you even know who these two scoundrels are, they’re hilarious.
The food and the beautiful settings are really just an occasion for them to launch into comedic riffs, as in the scene in which they both channel Michael Caine as Batman’s butler, “Alfred” at their first restaurant. I haven’t laughed harder at a movie all year. They make fun of themselves, the whole idea of a doing a sequel and, since they’re in Italy, everything to do with Al Pacino and The Godfather.
Director Michael Winterbottom again allows them to improvise along the way, while adding a few plot points such as Brydon’s audition for a Michael Mann film and Coogan’s teenage son joining them along the way –- neither of which are real: Since they’re playing fictionalized versions of themselves, you needn’t fret as much as Brydon does over his Italian infidelities. Among their stops are the stunning resort where Humphrey Bogart stayed while filming Beat the Devil, and Pompeii, where Brydon indulges in some non-PC humor at the expense of some of the famously immortalized victims of Mt. Vesuvius.
While you don’t need to be familiar with Coogan and Brydon, it does help if you appreciate their devotion to Byron and Shelley, who get name checked throughout as the duo is retracing the famous poets’ steps. If you enjoy British wit, mouth-watering Italian food, and watching middle-aged men flirt with impossibly beautiful women and sing along to Alanis Morissette, then this is the film for you. (– Sharon Knolle)
Pride
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| Sony / Released 12/23/14 |
Pride is inspired by an extraordinary true story. It’s the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all. Extras include a featurette and deleted/extended scenes.
Last Word: England has a wonderful track record for producing inspiring films that focus on underdogs. From The Full Monty to Billy Elliot to Brassed Off to Blow Dry to Slumdog Millionaire, these films all have you rooting for the main character(s) to succeed. The latest, and one of the most inspirational is Pride. Based on a true story, it’s formulaic, funny, charming and moving. There’s definitely a strong LGTB angle, but to label it as such would dismiss what it’s really about; People. Community. Friendship. Performances throughout are terrific (with Bill Nighy being brilliant, as always) and the film leaves you a smile on your face, tears in your eyes and a warmth in your heart. Another one of 2014’s true gems, Pride is a must see.
Running Scared
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| Kino Lorber / Released 12/9/14 |
Peter Hyams directs Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal in the motion picture that asks the question, “How come the bad guys always drive the good cars?” The answer has them Running Scared in this lightning-paced comic thriller. Ray and Danny are the wild men of the Windy City’s police force. The pair’s unorthodox methods get results in a tough town – until they come up against Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits), a smooth-talking drug dealer who is bucking to become Chicago’s first Spanish Godfather. Trying to nail Gonzales, they blow a delicate undercover operation and are sent on a forced vacation to Key West – where they discover the good life of warm weather and warmer women. The new locale makes them decide to retire… but not before putting Gonzales behind bars first. The stellar cast includes Steven Bauer, Darlanne Fluegel, Joe Pantoliano, John Gries and Dan Hedaya. Extras include commentary, featurette, trailer, outtakes, and EPK scenes.
Last Word: Running Scared made being a cop fighting drug lords seem fun. Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines are partners and best friends in this entertaining, albeit slightly dated comedy action buddy cop film. As they continue to shake down low level informant Spider (Pantoliano) for information about Smits’ Gonzales, the duo decide to plan their retirement, and then the once bold and daring detectives become hyper aware of their mortality, desperately avoiding danger before moving to Key West. Hyams is a solid action director and the chemistry between Crystal and Hines is both warm and genuine. With sharp dialogue, well executed set pieces and some solid performances, Running Scared might not be a great film, but it is an entertaining one.
The Man With Two Brains
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| Warner Archive / Released 12/9/14 |
Widowed, world-famous neurosurgeon Michael Hfuhruhurr (Steve Martin) is trapped in a loveless marriage with Dolores Benedict (Kathleen Turner), who is only interested in Hfuhruhurr’s money. On a trip to Vienna to attend a medical conference, Hfuhruhurr falls in love with a bottled brain (voiced by Sissy Spacek), and finds himself in the middle of murders committed by the elevator killer.
Last Word: The third and second to last collaboration between Martin and director, comedy legend Carl Reiner, The Man With Two Brains, is one of the strange and bizarre studio comedies that would never get made today. Martin plays Dr. Hfuhruhurr, inventor of the cranial screw-top zip-lock brain surgery who finds himself falling in love with a bottled brain. When at a medical conference, he finds himself in the middle of a series of murders, committed by the elevator killer, who kills his victims by injecting them with window cleaner.
If that wasn’t surreal enough, the killer’s identity is that of talk show personality Merv Griffin as himself (“I’ve always just loved to kill. I really enjoyed it. But then I got famous, and – it’s just too hard for me. And so many witnesses. I mean, everybody recognized me. I couldn’t even lurk anymore. I’d hear, “Who’s that lurking over there? Isn’t that Merv Griffin?”). The Man With Two Brains is finally presented in widescreen for the first time, and is a definite must have for any cinegeek.”
Joe’s Apartment
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| Warner Archive / Released 12/9/14 |
Jerry O’Connell (TV’s “Sliders,” “Stand By Me”) is fresh off the bus from Iowa and just trying to make it in New York, but he’s got no job, no girl and, worst of all, no place to live. But life’s about to change when he finds a home. It’s a slummy, squalid, seedy little box of a place, but it’s a pad Joe can call his own…or so he thinks. It seems that not all of the apartment’s former tenants have evacuated. His roommates — 50,000 dancing, singing, talking cockroaches. This creepy, funny musical film is based on the award-winning MTV live-action/animated short. Co-starring Megan Ward (“Party of Five,” “Encino Man”), Jim Turner (“The Ref,” “The Lost Boys”), rap group Salt-n-Pepa’s Sandra Denton and Robert Vaughn (“The Towering Inferno,” “The Man From UNCLE”).
Last Word: Based on a short film that aired on MTV, Joe’s Apartment is another example of the kind of film that by all logic shouldn’t exist. Joe (O’Connell) shares his apartment with Busby Berkeley inspired cockroaches. The fact that Don Ho plays a crime boss is a testament to the eclectic approach to every aspect of the film. The film is visually electric and the effects are truly fantastic; as someone who finds roaches repulsive, the inhabitants of Joe’s Apartment are pretty hard not to like. Recommended.
My Blue Heaven
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| Warner Archive / Released 12/9/14 |
Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Steve Martin stars as a charming, silver-tongued mob informant who, when relocated to a small California town under the Federal Witness Protection Program, turns the community upside down, making life difficult not only for the townsfolk, but for the by-the-books FBI agent who must protect him (Emmy Award-winner Rick Moranis). This delightful comedy was directed by Golden Globe-winner Herbert Ross (“Steel Magnolias,” “The Turning Point”) and written by Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Nora Ephron (“Sleepless In Seattle, ” “When Harry Met Sally…”).
Last Word: The unofficial sequel to Goodfellas (writer Ephron was married to Goodfellas author Nick Pileggi, who reveals at the conclusion of the book that Henry Hill went into Witness Relocation and then started a crime ring), My Blue Heaven has Martin’s Vinnie Antonelli realizing that the small town he was placed in was full of former associates, all of whom were anxious to get back to the good old mob days. Moranis plays straight man as Martin’s handler, FBI Agent Barney Coopersmith, and the duo make a great comedy team. My Blue Heaven is one of Martin’s most underrated films and this new widescreen release makes it a must own.
The Quatermass Xperiment aka The Creeping Unknown
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| Kino Lorber / Released 12/2/14 |
Val Guest directed this chilling film about a spacecraft returning to earth with a frightening surprise on board. Two of the ship’s three astronauts have mysteriously vanished, while the third is sick with an unidentifiable illness. While doctors try to help the third man recover, an investigation takes place to figure out just what happened to his comrades. As it turns out, the survivor’s body has been taken over by an alien fungus that needs blood to survive. After the astronaut escapes from the hospital, he transforms into a monster, attacking everyone who gets in its way. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard detective Lomax (Jack Warner) and Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy), a determined scientist, attempt to track down the creature before it finds new victims. Extras include featurettes, commentary, Trailers From Hell segment, alternate main title, trailer and interview with John Carpenter.
Last Word: I think this one is overrated, but it gets progressively tense and spooky as the story takes shape. As others have said before me, it sometimes feels like a standard 1950s B-movie, but there is a briskness and intelligence to the production that sets it apart from the herd. It predates Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Blob, both of which it occasionally resembles. It inspired two sequels, the second of which (Quatermass and the Pit) is usually considered the best.
Professor Quatermass is a dauntless American (Brian Donlevy, known also for Noir films like The Big Combo) surrounded by prudent Brits. You find him annoying and admirable at once. He gets many good lines: “If the whole world waited for official sanction, it would be standing still.” To the hapless astronaut’s frantic wife, Quatermass exclaims: “There’s no room for personal feelings in science, Judith!” Quatermass differs from typical British heroes (James Bond, Doctor Who, etc.) in remaining deadly serious and having no discernible sense of humor. The film’s alternate title is The Creeping Unknown. First Man into Space has a similar premise. The Quatermass name was derived by writer Nigel Kneale (Nineteen Eighty-Four) from an old Norman land measurement.
Here’s more about Hammer Film Productions (“Hammer Studios”), which formed after World War II (or technically re-formed from a small entertainment production company) in response to growing demand for British-made films. After this first Quatermass film, Hammer went on to produce a string of excellent horror and science fiction films.
Hammer is famous for its resourcefulness, doing much with limited budgets. Its pictures are known for bright colors, bright lighting, period accuracy, deep red blood, sexiness, and gore… all without sacrificing intelligence. Many of its most active personnel served alternately as writers, producers, and directors; the three most active of these were Terence Fisher, Michael Carreras, and Jimmy Sangster. Roy Ward Baker, Freddie Francis, and Anthony Hinds also contributed much. Art director and production designer Bernard Robinson is credited for creating the sumptuous period beauty. The Romantic Era and Victorian Era costumes and interiors are a prime Hammer appeal. (– David E. Goldweber)
Hickey & Boggs
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| Kino Lorber / Released 12/2/14 |
I Spy stars, Bill Cosby and Robert Culp are united again in this modern film noir about two detectives investigating a kidnapping and running into a gang of vicious criminals responsible for a string of murders. The world of Private Investigators is thoroughly exposed by Hickey & Boggs in this action-packed crime thriller scripted by the great Walter Hill (The Long Riders) and directed by Culp, his one and only directorial effort. When the deadly duo is called upon to find a missing girl they inadvertently stumble upon something far bigger, and end up chasing down a gang of thieves and a $400,000 loot. Featuring a top-notch supporting cast that includes James Woods, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Bill Hickman and Ed Lauter.
Last Word: Hickey and Boggs are burnt out, down on their luck Los Angeles private detectives, scraping by when a missing persons case falls into their lap and immediately puts them in over their heads in a world of violence. Like many films of the early Seventies, this is a dark, cynical film that pays close attention to small details and at times, moves very slow, giving it a naturalistic quality missing from many films produced today.
Cosby in particular gives a solid, dramatic performance that’s a significant departure from the sitcom mugging for the camera that most audiences associate with him. The supporting cast is also effective and it includes such recognizable faces as Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, James Woods, and Isabel Sanford, and Roger E. Mosley.
Reminiscent of Night Moves, The Long Goodbye and Freebie & the Bean, Hickey and Boggs is a must see for fans of Seventies films or post modern-noir.
The Long Goodbye
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| Kino Lorber / Released 11/25/14 |
Elliott Gould gives one of his best performances as a quirky, mischievous Philip Marlowe in Robert Altman’s fascinating and original send-up of Raymond Chandler’s classic detective story. Co-starring Nina Van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden, Mark Rydell and Henry Gibson with a screenplay Leigh Brackett, The Long Goodbye is a gloriously inspired tribute to Hollywood with an ending that’s as controversial as is it provocative. Private eye Philip Marlowe (Gould) faces the most bizarre case of his life, when a friend’s apparent suicide turns into a double murder involving a sexy blonde, a disturbed gangster and a suitcase of drug money. But as Marlowe stumbles toward the truth, he soon finds himself lost in a maze of sex and deceit – only to discover that in L.A., if love is dangerous… friendship is murder.
Last Word: Robert Altman’s love letter to noir puts the 1940’s-esque Philip Marlowe dead center in a very 70’s world. And unlike other films adapting Chandler, Gould’s interpretation is the detective as a schlub; out of his element and not nearly as smooth as one would expect or hope. There’s a sense of parody in this adaptation; Gould playing the quintessential noir private eye in a world that he barely understands; a stranger in a strange land, while maintaining the morals of a different era in a time without morality. The casting of Gould as a more blue-collared interpretation of the character is perfect (he’s one of the iconic actors of the decade, making his role in a film that uses the time period to define itself is pure kismet). Watch for an early appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a thug, and uncredited cameos by Carl Gottlieb and David Carradine. Not ideal as a viewers first experience with either Altman or film noir, but for cinegeeks, this one is pure gold.
