Monty Python

DVD Round Up, Nov. 19, 2009: ‘Spread,’ ‘Open Road,’ ‘Train’

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:17:10 -0700

CHICAGO – The DVD Round-Up is back! Did you miss us? HollywoodChicago.com’s intermittent column designed to serve as a safety net for releases that may otherwise fall without notice is back with a motley crew of titles that have nearly nothing in common. Classic TV, drama, horror, copious sex, and Justin Timberlake. You make the connections.

“The Fugitive: Season Three, Volume One” was released on October 27th, 2009

“The Dead” was released on November 3rd, 2009.

“Spread” was released on November 10th, 2009.

“The Canyon,” “Open Road” and “Train” were released on November 17th, 2009

“The Fugitive: Season Three, Volume One”

Photo credit: Paramount

Synopsis: “The hit series The Fugitive is back, featuring the first 15 Season Three episodes, on DVD for the first time ever! Golden Globe Award winner David Janssen expertly portrays Dr. Richard Kimble, the pediatrician falsely accused of killing his wife, who needs to prove his innocence by leading the obsessive Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse) to the murderous one-armed man. His life in constant danger, Kimble has by now honed his skills in deception in order to evade capture - a new town, a dead-end job, a different identity. Yet he continues to live in a nightmare world that he can never escape.

Relive all the thrills and chills of The Fugitive in the season that won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Dramatic Series.”

“The Fugitive” stars David Janssen, William Conrad, and Barry Morse. The show is presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Dolby Digital mono track. It is not rated and runs 771 minutes on four discs.

The set includes no special features.

“The Dead”

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis: “In his final achievement, legendary director John Huston brings the magic of James Joyce to the screen with this evocative drama starring his daughter, Anjelica Huston. The Dead takes place in early 20th century Dublin at a vibrant holiday feast. Gretta and Gabriel, a young couple, seem to share a comfortable life. But that night, a familiar voice recalls poignant memories and Gabriel learns of his wife’s unforgotten love.”

“The Dead” stars Anjelica Huston, Donal McCann, Helena Carroll, Cathleen Delany, Rachael Dowling, Ingrid Craigie, Dan O’Herlihy, Marie Kean, Donal Donnelly, Sean McClory, and Frank Patterson. It was written by Tony Huston and directed by John Huston. The film is presented in its original 1.78:1 widescreen format and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. The film runs 73 minutes and is rated PG.

Sadly, the film includes no special features and it’s equally shameful that Huston’s last film is not available on Blu-Ray.

“Spread”

Photo credit: Anchor Bay

Synopsis: “Spread is a look at the trails and tribulations of sleeping your way to a life of privilege in L.A. Nikki (Ashton Kutcher) is a fun-loving, freeloading hipster who understands his greatest assets are his looks and sexual prowess. His latest conquest, Samantha (Anne Heche), a stunning middle-aged lawyer, gives Nikki more than he’s ever had before. But when Heather (Margarita Levieva), a gorgeous waitress playing the same game, catches his eye their lifestyles force a choice between love and money. Nikki has to decide if he can live on his own once and for all in the hopes of finding something real.”

“Spread” stars Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, Rachel Blanchard, Marie Conchita Alonso, Margarita Levieva, and Sebastian Stan. It was written by Jason Dean Hall and directed by David Mackenzie. The film is presented in its original 2.40:1 widescreen format and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. It runs 97 minutes and is rated R.

Special features include “Living the Dream - The Making of Spread,” “The World According to Nikki,” “Behind-the-Scenes with Ashton Kutcher,” and an audio commentary with actor/producer Ashton Kutcher and actors Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva.

“The Canyon”

Photo credit: Magnolia

Synopsis: “Honeymooners, Nick and Lori head off to the Grand Canyon for adventure and time alone together. Upon arriving, they hire Henry as their guide, who seems to have his own idea about the outdoor excursion. When tragedy strikes, the newlyweds must fend for themselves. Discovering they are prey being hunted by something or someone, they desperately fight for survival to escape the canyon alive.”

“The Canyon” stars Yvonne Strahovski, Will Patton, and Eion Bailey. It was written by Steve Allrich and directed by Richard Harrah. The film is presented in its original widescreen 2.40:1 format and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. It runs 102 minutes and is rated R.

Special features include “Discovering The Canyon,” Behind-the-Scenes Montage, deleted scenes, and Yvonne Strahovski casting session.

“Open Road”

Photo credit: Anchor Bay

Synopsis: “In this heartwarming comedy, minor leaguer Carlton Garrett (Justin Timberlake) must track down his estranged father, legendary pro-athlete Kyle Garrett (Jeff Bridges), when Carlton’s mother (May Steenburgen) becomes sick. Knowing his father’s likelihood to disappoint, Carlton enlists his ex-girlfriend Lucy (Kate Mara) for emotional support.

Years of miscommunication, frustration and comically awkward attempts at bonding come to a head as the mismatched trio make their way home from Ohio back to Houston to reunite their family.”

“Open Road” stars Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Kate Mara, Harry Dean Stanton, Lyle Lovett, and Mary Steenburgen. It was written and directed by Michael Meredith. It is presented in both 2.35:1 widescreen and 1.33:1 full frame and accompanied by a Dolby Surround 5.1 audio track. The film runs 90 minutes and is rated PG-13.

Special features include “Behind the Scenes of The Open Road” and an audio commentary featuring writer/director Michael Meredith and actor Jeff Bridges.

“Train”

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis: “Touring Eastern Europe with her college wrestling team, Alex (Thora Birch) attends a debauched late-night party that causes Alex and several teammates to miss their train to Odessa. Her coach is furious, but a mysterious woman offers the coach and wrestlers a ride on an alternative train. The coach agrees, and the athletes, exhausted and hung over, gratefully climb aboard. But the train harbors a deadly secret, and for Alex and her fellow passengers, a blood-soaked nightmare is just beginning.”

“Train” stars Thora Birch, Todd Jensen, and Gideon Emery. It was written and directed by Gideon Raff. The film is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. The film runs 94 minutes and is rated R.

Special features include a behind-the-scenes featurette.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: British Comedian Steve Coogan Rocks Sexy Jesus Character in ‘Hamlet 2’

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:10:50 -0600

CHICAGO – Steve Coogan is a British comedy icon. Forging a career from creating an array of characters, though, he’s not as well known in America (except to BBC cultists).

He brings this talent for characterization to the lead role of an American high school drama teacher in the new film “Hamlet 2”. Coogan adds some peculiar quirks to the depiction of the clueless soul who seemingly will do anything to project his dramatic “vision”.

“Hamlet 2” star Steve Coogan in Chicago on July 30, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

Steve Coogan stars in Andy Fleming’s comedy “Hamlet 2”.
Photo credit: Cathy Kanavy

In a recent HollywoodChicago.com interview with Coogan, he philosophized about the nature of his comedy and how he hopes it can translate both in “Hamlet 2” and within the larger entertainment scope as his career progresses.

Describing the roots of his basis in developing characters, Coogan went back to his childhood in Manchester, England.

“As a kid before cable or VCRs, I used to use an audio cassette recorder to tape TV shows,” Coogan recalled.

He added: “[I did it] just to get the audio tracks. Also there was a lot of comedy on records. I would listen to Monty Python and older British comedy like Tony Hancock and The Goon Show.”

Steve Coogan (center) and Skylar Astin (right) star in Andy Fleming’s comedy “Hamlet 2”.
Photo credit: Cathy Kanavy

Rating: 2.5/5.0

“Often people would describe their favorite moments on the TV shows or records,” he continued. “I would say: ‘No. You’ve got it wrong.’ I would start to mimic what was accurate on those shows. I would enjoy the retelling of the stuff. I would enjoy people’s reaction to it once I did it.”

“Hamlet 2” is a bit of a departure from the British scene. It depicts Coogan as Dana Marschz: a down and out American actor forced to teach bad drama in a high school in Tucson, Ariz. His student body consists of two worshipful pupils who do stage recreations of movies like “Erin Brockovich”.

When Dana is forced to take some rougher students into his classes, it’s within the context that the school system is about to cut the drama department entirely. What is necessary is a big production. It must be something the bureaucracy can’t ignore.

Dana Marschz will come up with the sequel to one of Shakespeare’s best. He’ll call it “Hamlet 2”. Coogan added: “What attracted me to the character of Dana was that it’s a funny part.”

Steve Coogan (left), Elisabeth Shue (center) and Amy Poehler (right) star in Andy Fleming’s comedy “Hamlet 2”.
Photo credit: Focus Features

Melonie Diaz (left), Steve Coogan (center) and Phoebe Strole (right) star in Andy Fleming’s comedy “Hamlet 2”.
Photo credit: Cathy Kanavy

He continued: “He is vulnerable, which was a departure from characters I’ve played who are unlikable. I am attracted toward dysfunctional people because I find them more interesting. It’s a challenge to play someone odd or dysfunctional and still make the audience care about them.”

While Dana plots his masterpiece, his marriage dissolves around him. Still, the plucky and gullible dramatist forges on.

His play will revolve around a time machine (so the dead characters in the first “Hamlet” can be revived), musical numbers and the character of “Sexy Jesus” for the big finish.

“We talked about how to make Jesus sexy,” Coogan explained. “That’s why we settled on the jeans and T-shirt. The hair was always kind of cool.”

“It did make me a little nervous to play Jesus,” he admitted. “I did wonder whether (writer/director) Andy (Fleming) was just trying to be provocative to annoy Christians in a certain way or if it was just funny. I wasn’t quite sure, but in the end, I just did it.”

Coogan also talked about playing Dana as an American and the differences between that freedom and the more repressed British psychology.

RELATED IMAGE GALLERY
View our full, high-resolution “Hamlet 2” image gallery.

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More film reviews from critic Patrick McDonald.

“As a generalization, I think Americans are less repressed than British people,” he said. “Culturally, people from America come from somewhere else, so there’s the risk factor within the personality that makes them more free.”

“There is no subtext with Dana,” Coogan added. “The challenge was how to make it interesting when he’s so big and demonstrative – without making it over the top – especially in contrast with the other characters in the film who are more grounded.”

In his final thoughts, Coogan mentioned why he sometimes has trouble being pigeonholed in the way he’s cast in movies.

“I like variety. I don’t like to repeat myself,” he said. “In this marketplace, that is difficult because representatives sometimes don’t know how to sell me. I do so many different things. But it satisfies me creatively.”

“Hamlet 2,” which is written and directed by Andrew Fleming, features Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler, Melonie Diaz, Phoebe Strole and Skylar Astin. The film opened on Aug. 22, 2008.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com