DVD Round Up, Feb. 1, 2010: ‘B-Girl,’ ‘Wushu,’ ‘Fireball’

CHICAGO – The DVD Round-Up is back with a collection of foreign films, indie flicks, a documentary, and a Kathy Griffin stand-up special. The key word for 2010 is diversity and there’s no DVD column more embracing of the variety of titles at your local store than the Round-Up.

“Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut a Bitch” and “You, The Living” were released on January 12th, 2010.

“Chevolution” was released on January 19th, 2010.

“B-Girl,” “Fireball,” “Import Export,” and “Wushu” were released on January 26th, 2010.

“Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut a Bitch”

Photo credit: Shout Factory

Synopsis: “The Emmy-Nominated special comes to DVD! Two-time Emmy Award-winning and self-proclaimed “D-Lister” Kathy Griffin’s latest comedy special takes you backstage in Hollywood — from the Emmys to the Grammys and even to Cher’s Malibu mansion! Appearing before a sold-out crowd at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon, Griffin is in top form dishing about scandalous misbehaving celebrities and her own uproarious escapades in Tinsel Town.

Star of television’s My Life on the D-List, Griffin’s sharp, revealing narratives have become legendary, and her latest special She’ll Cut a Bitch is no exception.”

“Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut a Bitch” was written and performed by Kathy Griffin. The special runs 60 minutes and is not rated.

Special features include “Never-Before-Seen Bonus Bits: Unaired Stand-Up From the Special”.

“Chevolution”

Photo credit: Magnolia

Synopsis: “In 1960, Cuban photographer Alberto “Korda” Diaz snapped a photo of Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Eight years later, the image exploded throughout Europe and Latin America, where it became a symbol of protest and dissent. Today, the photograph remains of the of the most dominant icons of the twentieth century. Chevolution is a film about a single photograph, and how this portrait with its enigmatic gaze became a symbol of countless visions for change.”

“Chevolution” was written by Sylvia Stevens & Trisha Ziff and directed by Ziff & Luis Lopez. The film runs 90 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in its original widescreen 1.78:1 aspect ration and accompanied by an English Dolby 5.1 track.

Special features include the film’s trailer.

“You, The Living”

Photo credit: Palisades Tartan Video

Synopsis: “You, The Living is made up of 50 brilliantly staged and often darkly comic vignettes that illustrate the truth, humor, poetry and drama of human existence. Few filmmakers ever develop a style as distinctive as director Roy Andersson, a master of composing elaborate set pieces and one of the most gifted artists working in film today. Through his beautifully shot sketches he suggests that we should treasure the life we have, and has us laughing as he shows us that even when we feel sad, alone and that no one understands us, that we all understand perfectly.”

“You, The Living” stars Jessika Lundberg, Elisabet Helander, Bjorn Englund, Leif Larsson, Ollie Olson, Kemal Sener, Hakan Angser, Birgitta Persson, and Gunnar Ivahsson. It was written and directed by Roy Andersson. The film runs 95 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in anamorphic widescreen with its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Dolby Surround 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio track. It is not rated and runs 95 minutes.

Special features include Director Roy Andersson Commentary, “Sample of Sets” Featurette, Excerpts From Earlier Films By Roy Andersson, 15 Minute Preview of a Documentary on Studio 24 and the Making of “You, The Living, and an Exclusive Featurette” - “Roy Andersson in New York, Sept. 2009”.

“B-Girl”

Photo credit: Screen Media Films

Synopsis: “After a crippling, back alley assault, a show-stopping breakdancer, Angel (Julie ‘Jules’ Ulrich), switches coasts and starts a new life. In an effort to gain back her rep, she must prove herself, battling the West coast’s top street talents. B-Girlculminates in a high-flying, head-spinning breakdance showdown, featuring some of film’s finest hip-hop performers.”

“B-Girl” stars Jules Ulrich, Missy Yager, Drew Sidora, Aimee Garcia, James Martinez, Richard Yniguez, Jenny Gago, and Wesley Jonathan. It was written and directed by Emily Dell. The film is presented in widescreen and accompanied by a 5.1 Surround Sound track. It is rated PG-13 and runs 88 minutes.

Special features include bloopers, dance auditions, dancer profiles, and “The Battle”.

“Import Export”

Photo credit: Palisades Tartan Video

Synopsis: “Olga and Paul. Both are looking for work, a new beginning, an existence, life: Olga, who comes from the Eastern part of Europe, where unremitting poverty is the order of the day. Paul, who comes from the Western part, where unemployment means not hunger, but a crisis of meaning and sense of uselessness. Both are struggling to believe in themselves, to find a meaning in life. In both the West and East. Both travel to a new country, and thus into its depths. Import Export deals with sex and death, living and dying, winners and losers, power and helplessness, and how to give the teeth of a stuffed fox a professional cleaning job.”

“Import Export” stars Paul Hoffman, Michael Thomas, Ekateryna Rak, Maria Hofstiter, and George Friedrich. It was written by Ulrich Seidl & Veronika Franz and directed by Seidl. The film is presented in anamorphic 1.66:1 and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. It is not rated and runs 135 minutes.

Special features include Interview with Director Ulrich Seidl and Interview with Cinematographer Ed Lachman.

“Fireball”

Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: “Tai is discharged from jail and returns home only to find his brother in a coma. Determined to find the truth, Tai assumes his brother Tan’s identity, which ultimately leads him to an underground ultra-violent game based on Muay Thai and Basketball principles, but hosted by criminal drug lords. On a mission to find the man that hospitalized his brother, Tai risks his life to avenge his brother on the only court where murder is legal. No rules, no mercy, and only the strongest will survive. ”

“Fireball” stars Preeti Barameeanat, Khanutra Chuchuaysuwan, Kumpanat Oungsoongnern, Phutharit Prombandal, and Arucha Tosawat. It was written by Thanakorn Pongsuwan, Kiat Sansanandana, Taweewat Wantha, and Uncle and directed by Pongsuwan. The film is presented in widescreen 1.78:1 and accompanied by an English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio track. It is rated R and runs 97 minutes.

Special features include Behind the Scenes and Trailer Gallery.

“Wushu”

Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: “Upon arrival to an elite martial arts conservatory, a group of young boys swear an allegiance to each other and form a gang. A decade later at graduation, they unexpectedly cross paths with an evil martial arts master and foil his kidnapping plan. Now, they must put their combat skills to the test in order to defeat this enemy and save their brotherhood.”

“Wushu” stars Sammo Hung, Liu Fengchao, Wang Wenjie, Wang Fei, Liu Yongchen, and Wang Yachao. It was written by Lao Ho-Leung and Dennis Chan and directed by Anthony Szeto. The film is presented in widescreen 2.35:1 and accompanied by an English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Mandarin 5.1 Dolby Digital track. It is rated PG-13 and runs 98 minutes.

Special features include Behind the Scenes, “Wushu” World Premiere in Cannes Featuring Jackie Chan, and Trailer Gallery.

[15]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [16] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [15]