Blu-Ray Review

Blu-Ray Review: Pixar’s HD Collection Continues With ‘Monsters, Inc.’

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:49:17 -0700

CHICAGO – As Disney/Pixar continues to release new films on Blu-Ray, they often “piggy-back” one title with another from their catalog, choosing to release Pete Docter’s first directorial effort for the company, “Monsters, Inc.” in HD on the same day that they release his new film, “Up”. In a beautiful 4-disc combo pack that includes Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital copies of the film, “Monsters, Inc.” continues the Pixar Blu-Ray tradition.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

John Goodman and Billy Crystal star as the lovable-and-gigantic Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski, respectively. Sulley and Mike work for a scream-processing factory in Monstropolis known as “Monsters, Inc.” A little girl named Boo finds her way into the world, scaring the monsters in return, and it’s up to Sulley and Mike to restore order and get the wee one back home where she belongs.

Monsters, Inc. was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

Released in between two of my favorite animated films of all time, “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo,” I’ve always viewed “Monsters, Inc.” as a bit of a valley between giant peaks in the medium. Watching the film again on Blu-Ray, I realized that I may have been too harsh the first time and that even a Pixar valley is higher than most animated films. I still don’t think the film is the best of Pixar, but that wouldn’t stop me from including it in my Blu-Ray collection. Not everything can be “Nemo” or “WALL-E” and “Monsters, Inc.” is a fun, heartwarming family film that would make a nice addition to any Blu-Ray shelf this season.

Monsters, Inc. was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

“Monsters, Inc.” has been available on DVD before and the special features that were previously available have been imported to this edition along with a few new exclusive bonuses. True Pixar-holics are probably most interested in the HD transfer and what’s new, so that’s where we’ll start.

As for the picture, it’s typical-for-Disney-HD. In other words, it’s perfect. The audio in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is similarly perfect. Fans may want to upgrade “Monsters, Inc.” just for the new technical specs and the flexibility allowed by a combo pack that provides versions of the film for Blu-Ray, DVD, and your device of choice for digital copy.

The new special features run the gamut from filler to fascinating. There’s a new game for the little ones called “Roz’s 100-Door Challenge,” a look behind-the-scenes at a movie-themed attraction at Tokyo Disneyland called “Monsters, Inc. Hide and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Japan,” an audio commentary, and a filmmaker’s roundtable, in which many of the creators of the film reflect on its production. The filmmaker’s piece is a must-see for true Pixar nuts.

Imported original DVD bonus features include “For the Birds,” the 2001 Academy Award-winning short, and a 2002 nominee called “Mike’s New Car,” “Pixar Fun Factory Tour,” “Banished Concepts,” and much more.

With ten films released by Pixar, there are now six on Blu-Ray - “Monsters, Inc.,” “Up,” “WALL-E,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Ratatouille,” and “Cars”. I expect the “Toy Story” films to be released with the theatrical debut of “Toy Story 3” next year, leaving only “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles” waiting for their HD debut. I make no promises and have no inside information, but I would expect one or two with the BD release of “Toy Story 3” at the end of next year. That means that by this time next year, you could have a complete collection of arguably the most important studio output of films in the last twenty years. Don’t forget to include “Monsters, Inc.”.

‘Monsters, Inc.’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars the voice work of John Goodman and Billy Crystal. It was written by Andrew Stanton and directed by Pete Docter. It was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Glorious ‘Wings of Desire’ Given Criterion Treatment

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:22:16 -0700

CHICAGO – When true film fans receive the monthly Criterion newsletter, they usually skim it looking for their favorite films. It’s not that Criterion really ever makes bad decisions, but when a personal favorite gets the call, it’s like watching the baseball player you grew up idolizing get inducted into the Hall of Fane. Such is the feeling I get when I look at the Criterion Blu-Ray release of “Wings of Desire,” one of the most lyrically beautiful films ever made.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Wim Wenders’ 1987 masterpiece is the filmmaker’s ode to his favorite city, Berlin, using faith and love as its instruments. Some readers may know the story better from the Nicolas Cage remake “City of Angels,” but that film is merely a shadow of one of the most acclaimed works of the last three decades. Bruno Ganz plays Damiel, an angel who wanders the streets of Berlin and listens to the thoughts of this major city’s inhabitants. He mournfully hears their fears, hopes, and dreams until the day that he falls in love.

Wings of Desire was released on Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Damiel is presented with the decision of forsaking his immortality to come back to Earth to be with his true love, but the romantic angle of “Wings of Desire” is merely one part of what has become an amazing snapshot of both a country on the verge of change (the Berlin wall would fall just a few years later) and a poetic vision of longing and the humanity common within us all, even angels. Beautifully shot in stunning black and white, “Wings of Desire” is a film that truly can’t be captured in a Blu-Ray review. The only questionable element of its inclusion in The Criterion Collection is why it took until #490 to get this amazing film in this elite club.

The director-approved Blu-Ray release of “Wings of Desire” includes a gorgeous new transfer of the film, supervised and approved by Wenders with an amazing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. The film has never looked more remarkable and Criterion continues to set the bar when it comes to video and audio.

Special features include an audio commentary with Wenders and star Peter Falk, a 2003 documentary about the production of the film called “The Angels Among Us,” “Wim Wenders Berlin Jan. 87,” an interview with director of photography Henri Alekan, deleted scenes and outtakes, excerpts from the film “Alekan la lumiere,”and Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander’s “Remembrance: Film for Curt Bois,” notes and photos by art directors Heidi and Toni Ludi, trailers, and a new and improved subtitle translation.

‘Wings of Desire’ is released by The Criterion Collection and stars Bruno Ganz, Solveis Dommartin, Otto Sander, Curt Bois, and Peter Falk. It was written by Wim Wenders and Peter Handke and directed by Wenders. It was released on Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Bruno’ Lacks Freshness, But Delivers Plentiful Laughs

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:30:56 -0700

CHICAGO – “Fearless” is the best way to describe the comedy of Sacha Baron Cohen. People who find his humor too vulgar and over-the-top have missed the point. Cohen’s goal is to be as vulgar and over-the-top as humanly possible.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

I’m reminded of Mel Brooks’ oft-quoted quip, “My movies rise below vulgarity.” His comic personas are deliberately outrageous caricatures that seem to have been spawned directly from conservative America’s fear of the “other” (whether it be a homosexual or a Khazakistanian). When Cohen plunks his fictional creations into real-world situations alongside unsuspecting citizens, the results range from “Candid Camera”-style shock gags to brilliant evocations of repressed prejudices. At his best, Cohen is a triumphant champion of tolerance. He’s like Mel Brooks, Norman Lear and Peter Sellers all in one side-splitting package, and his package has never acquired more screen time than it does in “Bruno.”

Bruno was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 17th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Bruno was my favorite of Cohen’s three characters he embodied on his short-lived yet extraordinary “Da Ali G Show.” He’s a flamboyantly gay fashion reporter who exposes both the inherent mindlessness of the fashion culture, and the aggressive homophobia that exists in many Americans. Yet in his film, fashion quickly takes a backseat to homophobia, as Bruno finds himself fired from his reporting job, and decides to become a big-time celebrity in America…by any means necessary. That includes adopting an African baby, filming a sex tape (in which he mistakes Ron Paul for RuPaul), and becoming straight. On his quest for fame, Bruno is considerably more bitchy and self-obsessed than he was on the TV show, but that’s a minor quibble. The main problem with “Bruno” is…well, the exact same problem with “Borat.” What works in short vignettes on television tends to run out of steam at feature length on the big screen.

Bruno was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 17th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

When “Borat” jettisoned into mainstream theaters in 2006, only a small die-hard fan base was familiar with his comedy. To the masses, “Borat” was fresh and cutting-edge. “Bruno” has the misfortune of being made after “Borat,” and thus may seem like just more of the same. Its slick, MTV-style look (appropriate to its character) isn’t as inventive as the foreign documentary structure of “Borat.” Some critics have accused Cohen of selling out to become a commercial product, but they are confusing the artist with the character. While Oscar winners like “Milk” are still limited to art house circuits, “Bruno” is the most mainstream call for gay rights American audiences have had the opportunity to see at their local theater.

For all of its shortcomings, “Bruno” still made my throat sore from laughing, and for all of its hit-or-miss gags, it delivered several unforgettable moments of comic genius. There’s some acrobatic sexual activity that may boggle the most liberal mind, and an uproarious TV pilot Bruno plays for appalled test audiences that builds to what may very well be the single most outrageous image ever to be granted the R-rating by the MPAA. Bruno’s graphic “kissing” of an invisible male spirit is some kind of dirty tour-de-force, and a climactic sequence set in a violently heterosexual cage match manages to equal “Borat”’s great rodeo scene while achieving a kind of beautiful poignance amidst the raucous hilarity. At the end of “Bruno”’s slight 84 minutes, the prevailing feeling is not of embarrassment or disgust, but rather gleeful elation at Cohen’s gift for finding vital truth in outlandish humor.

“Bruno” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio), and is accompanied by English, Spanish and French audio tracks. Though the BD-Live-enabled disc includes over an hour of additional footage, no deleted scene proves to be as memorable as Borat’s trip through the supermarket. The true highlight of the film’s Blu-ray edition is a thoroughly entertaining video commentary by Cohen and director Larry Charles. It provides a surprisingly candid look behind the scenes, as the duo discusses their endless battles with disgruntled citizens, confused cops, and the MPAA.

‘Bruno’ is released by Universal Home Entertainment and stars Sacha Baron Cohen. It was written by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Mazer & Jeff Schaffer and directed by Larry Charles. It was released on November 17th, 2009. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Pixar’s Beloved ‘Up’ Continues HD Dominance

BrianTT — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:30 -0700

CHICAGO – One of the most beloved films of the year and a likely contender for the Oscar for Best Picture now that the category has expanded to ten nominees, Pixar’s “Up” was recently released on Blu-Ray in yet another lovingly produced set from a company that has been a pioneer in the next-gen format. “Up” doesn’t exceed expectations but also doesn’t falter from the critically-acclaimed pattern.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Pixar has built a reputation by taking unexpected character models and turning them into movie magic. Whether it be toys that come to life, a refined rat, a family of superheroes, or a lovable robot, one never can judge a Pixar character by its cover. Such is the case with Carl Fredericksen (Ed Asner), the delightful hero of “Up” who just happens to be a crotchety old man.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

It’s hard to truly capture the magic of “Up” in a plot description, which is why the advertising has focused so heavily on the colorful balloons. There’s a lot more to Pete Docter’s film than a house that flies.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

The film opens with a young Carl fawning over the exploits of adventurer Charles Muntz. The silent-but-wide-eyed Carl finds himself entangled with another young dreamer named Ellie and the two form a bond that will last nearly a century. A spectacular, heart-breaking montage details the life of Carl and Ellie, ending with her passing, which leaves our hero grumpy, creaky, and alone. When the nursing home comes to take him away, he follows through on a promise he made to a young Ellie and uses helium balloons to fly away from this cruel world and find happiness somewhere else. Along for the ride are a junior explorer (Jordan Nagai), a talking dog, and a colorful bird.

There’s a lot to love about “Up” but an element that has been missed in much of the copious praise is that Docter’s film is simply hilarious. “WALL-E” was a sci-fi adventure, “The Incredibles” was an action movie, and “Ratatouille” was a film about culinary passion, but “Up” is primarily a comedy. There are dramatic themes but fans will revisit this movie and laugh out loud as they fall in love with the importance of never letting life get in the way of your spirit of adventure.

The first two acts of “Up” are as perfect as anything released this year but the film somewhat falters in the final one. Action has never been a strength of Pixar and the film gets a bit too goofy for its own good in the final act as dozens of talking dogs, a blimp, and the balloon-buoyed house are forced into a somewhat awkwardly-conceived action sequence. The ending also lacks a bit of the emotional undercurrent of not just the best of Pixar but the rest of the film.

Up was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Home Video

I may be harder on “Up” than I would be if it were a Sony or Fox film and there’s MORE than enough here to warrant a recommendation. The fact that “Up” is “merely” one of the most entertaining films of the year is only a viable criticism when one considers the bar set by what Pixar had produced before. (“WALL-E” was my number one film of 2008 and both “Toy Story”s, “Finding Nemo,” “Ratatouille,” and “The Incredibles” are among my favorite films of the last twenty years.)

Ultimately, what has allowed Pixar to shine is the fact that they recognize that animation is a medium, not a genre, You can make action films, dramas, sci-fi adventures, or whatever your imagination can dream up within that medium. With “Up,” Pixar produced a beautiful, heartwarming, comedy adventure that shouldn’t be missed.

Technically, the Blu-Ray release for “Up” is a beauty. Disney and Pixar films always look amazing in HD and this one’s perfect, as is the audio mix.

Special features for “Up” include a commentary by Docter and co-director Bob Peterson, the mildly-amusing “Dug’s Special Mission” short film, the great “Partly Cloudy” short film that played in theaters, “The Many Endings of Muntz” (which proves that perhaps there were a few problems with the development of the final act of the film), “Adventure is Out There,” the “Cine-Explore” feature, “Geriatric Hero,” “Canine Companions,” “Russell: Wilderness Explorer,” “Our Giant Flightless Friend, Kevin,” “Homemakers of Pixar,” “Balloons and Flight,” “Composing for Characters,” “Married Life,” and “The Global Guardian Badge Game”.

The combo pack release for “Up” also includes a DVD and digital copy of the film, continuing Pixar/Disney’s fantastic trend of providing their films in every format, recognizing that families need options when it comes to entertainment. Don’t miss the option to add “Up” to your collection.

‘Up’ is released by Walt Disney Home Video and stars the voice work of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, and Delroy Lindo. It was written by Bob Peterson and directed by Pete Docter. It was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 10th, 2009.

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

Blu-Ray Review: ‘I Love You, Beth Cooper’ Inspires Nothing But Hate

BrianTT — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:08:55 -0700

CHICAGO – Chris Columbus is not a filmmaker renowned for his use of subtlety. He seems incapable of telling a relatable human story without relying on his trademark brand of sophomoric slapstick. I was surprised that Macaulay Culkin didn’t pop up in Columbus’s “Rent,” and start hurling paint cans at the characters during their “Seasons of Love.” Even at age 51, Columbus is still an unruly child at heart.

That’s why his best films are the ones aimed at children, such as the original “Home Alone” or the first two “Harry Potter” installments. But when he attempts to reach an older audience, the results are often disastrous. And in an era of exceptional adult comedies, “I Love You, Beth Cooper” is a flat-out embarrassment.

Blu-Ray Rating: 1.0/5.0

This film proves that any source material can be drained of its humanity. The script was written by Larry Doyle, who based it off his own acclaimed debut novel. His intention was to write a satirical commentary on teen comedies, cramming in all the cliches typified by 80s classics (most obviously those from the late John Hughes). Perhaps this seemed clever on paper, but on film, the “plot” resembles a crude cut-and-paste job, devoid of any subversive wit. The characters barely have time to register a tangible emotion because they’re too busy racing through homages of everything from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Porky’s.” What’s worse is that the characters feel as artificial as the set-pieces.

I Love You, Beth Cooper was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox Home Video

Paul Rust stars as Denis Cooverman, a nerdy valedictorian who decides on a whim to profess his “love” for his long-time infatuation, the ever-unobtainable Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere), during his graduation speech. He then goes on to say exactly what he thinks about the rest of his peers, and his lines are just nasty enough to fleetingly build promise for the picture. Could this be a scathing high school satire in the tradition of “Election”? No such luck. The film immediately derails after its opening scene, and by the 20-minute mark, it’s officially dead. That’s when Beth shows up at Denis’s door, and decides to show him the Best Night Of His Life. Of course, poor Denis must endure an unending series of humiliations before he can plant a kiss on Beth’s perfect, Clearasil-laden face.

I Love You, Beth Cooper was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox Home Video

But Denis doesn’t mind. That’s because he’s the kind of geek destined to be on “Beauty and the Geek.” Though Beth sees him primarily as an object of ridicule, Denis pretends he can see into her soul. “You’re better than that,” he tells her, after she swaps spit with a store clerk (Samm Levine, wasted yet again) in exchange for beer. Such lines are entirely unearned, since Denis clearly knows nothing about this girl, and clearly wants to get into her pants. His “heartfelt” observations are so unconvincing that they earn unintentional laughs, especially when he says, “You’re the most alive person I know.” That’s after Beth playfully drives him down a dark wooded road without headlights, thus demonstrating that the filmmakers are completely oblivious to the numerous deaths resulting from such “playful” behavior.

I won’t even go into describing Beth’s two vacant BFFs, or her militaristic nutjob of a boyfriend, or Denis’s closeted gay buddy (whose obnoxious penchant for spouting movie quotes is meant to illustrate the film’s pop culture savviness), or the raccoon that attacks with an animatronic mouth (but fails to utter “Chaos reigns”). As an honest cinematic slice of teenage life, this film makes “Superbad” look like “Rebel Without a Cause.”

“I Love You, Beth Cooper” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio), and is accompanied by English, Spanish, Portuguese and French audio tracks, which prove that the dialogue fails to amuse in any language. Though the disk jacket promises a certifiably “Outrageous” alternate ending, the actual scene just serves up more slapstick silliness, though it does save the viewer from having to endure the original’s sickly sweetness.

‘I Love You, Beth Cooper’ is released by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and stars Paul Rust, Hayden Panettiere, Jack Carpenter and Alan Ruck. It was written by Larry Doyle and directed by Chris Columbus. It was released on November 3rd, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Stunning ‘The Prisoner’ Still Holds Viewer Interest Captive

BrianTT — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:09:25 -0700

CHICAGO – Patrick McGoohan was ready to quit. After playing secret agent John Drake in over eighty episodes of the British TV show “Danger Man” (known in the US as “Secret Agent”), McGoohan was clearly in need of a change. Luckily, his script editor George Markstein had a great idea up his sleeve. What if Drake suddenly resigned, and his employers wouldn’t let him go? What if they kidnapped Drake and sent him to a secret location where he couldn’t escape? Markstein was clearly inspired by the actual incidents during WWII where people were incarcerated and under constant surveillance in resort-like prisons. McGoohan loved the idea, and together they created one of the most astoundingly original and richly entertaining programs in television history in “The Prisoner,” recently released on Blu-Ray to coincide with the AMC remake starring Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

“The Prisoner” debuted in 1967, and ran for 17 hour-long episodes that altogether form a magnificent mini-series. McGoohan emerged as the driving creative force behind the production, serving as co-writer, executive producer and director (often under a pseudonym). But it’s his captivating lead performance, shifting between debonair grace and raw intensity, that made the show truly shine. His character is a recently resigned secret agent not unlike Drake, who awakens in the mysterious seaside community known as “the Village,” and is immediately assigned the name, “Number Six.” As he explores the benignly inviting landscape, where fellow prisoners attempt to live in oblivion of the powers that control them, the show both evokes the spirit of Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” and foreshadows future science fiction parables such as “The Truman Show.”

The Prisoner: The Complete Series was released on Blu-Ray on October 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: A&E Home Video

This premise, worthy of a grand “Twilight Zone” story, would seem in danger of wearing thin after a few episodes, but the series never flags in its invention or ingenious social satire. Every episode finds a fresh stylistic and thematic approach to the material, as Number Six undergoes his epic journey to discover the identity of the Village’s chief authority figure, known as “Number One.” The ever-changing second-in-command, “Number Two,” informs our protagonist in the first episode that he is being held captive because of the information he possesses, and because of the inexplicable nature of his resignation. Thus, Number Six’s freedoms have been stripped away, though he is determined to find a way to escape back to London.

The Prisoner: The Complete Series was released on Blu-Ray on October 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: A&E Home Video

One of the show’s most arresting images is that of a looming circular rover that roars through the tranquil town and consumes unsuspecting prisoners. Every episode is jam-packed with twists and surprises, while milking its subtext (steeped in cold war paranoia) for all it’s worth. The exuberant music contains inspired riffs on various classic tunes, and the show’s explosive climax is ironically scored to The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.” The show’s consistent energy and exuberance makes every hour a pleasure, yet what primarily makes “The Prisoner” vital programming is its timely metaphor for an individual’s struggle against a powerful system of brainwashing, technologically-obsessed, dehumanizing conformity. This causes it to be an ideal subject for a remake, yet this new Blu-ray edition of the classic series further proves that AMC’s new version (premiering on Sunday, November 15th) has awfully big shoes to fill.

“The Prisoner: The Complete Series” is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, with flawless picture and sound quality. Each of the 17 episodes comes equipped with newly mixed 5.1 surround sound, while seven of them include commentary (from various members of the production) offering perceptive musings on the show’s ever-burgeoning relevance in modern society. In addition to the four Blu-ray disc set is a DVD loaded with special features, including an excellent feature-length making-of documentary, “Don’t Knock Yourself Out,” and extended interviews with actor Peter Wyngarte and music editor Eric Mival. It also features original edits of the first two episodes, as well as extensive image and production paperwork archives.

‘The Prisoner: The Complete Series’ is released by A&E Home Video and stars Patrick McGoohan. It was written by George Markstein & Patrick McGoohan & David Tomblin & Anthony Skene & Terence Feely & Vincent Tilsley and directed by Pat Jackson & Patrick McGoohan & Don Chaffey & David Tomblin. It was released on October 27th, 2009. It is not rated.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Alfred Hitchcock Makes Striking HD Debut With ‘North by Northwest’

BrianTT — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:06:04 -0700

CHICAGO – It is as difficult for me to write critically about “North by Northwest” as it would be for someone to discuss their first love. The films of Hitchcock are, without question, why I do what I do and my only concern, as they start to be released on Blu-Ray, is that they won’t live up to the bar set by the package put together for first Hitch movie on the next-gen format - “North by Northwest”.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

What more could possibly be written about “North by Northwest”? As co-star Martin Landau recently told me, it played to him like a “greatest hits” of Hitchcock’s career to that point. This is Alfred Hitchcock at the top of his game playing with themes that had been a part of his career since silent film. Released in between “Vertigo” and “Psycho,” “North by Northwest” is one of the most beloved films ever made (currently #32 on IMDB’s readers poll of film history) and the 50th Anniversary Edition recently released on Blu-Ray makes it 1080p-clear why it has stood the test of time.

North by Northwest was released on Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

“NxNW” would mark the fourth time that Hitchcock would work with one of his best leading men, the still-underrated-as-an-actor Cary Grant, as a Manhattan advertising executive plunged into a world of spies, double crosses, and the constant threat of death. Co-starring Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Landau, “North by Northwest” is Hitchcock’s best film about “being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” a common theme in everything from “The Man Who Knew Too Much” to “Rear Window”. With timeless set-pieces like the legendary crop duster scene and a climax on Mount Rushmore, “North by Northwest” is one of Hitchcock’s most purely entertaining films. A great choice to start the legend of the director on Blu-Ray.

North by Northwest was released on Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

And Warner Brothers has recognized that a Hitchcock classic has become a release that can’t just be shuffled off to Blu-Ray. Hitch fans are film lovers and they need to be treated with the respect that a great studio like WB gives their classics.

First, the film itself looks absolutely stunning. This is arguably the most well-balanced Blu-Ray transfer for a classic film to date. I’ve seen most of Hitchcock’s films more than once and there were times during this latest (and first HD) viewing that felt like I was watching it for the first time. The audio mix is similarly stellar.

As for special features, they are plentiful and fascinating. Who among us who can truly call themselves a film lover wouldn’t want to hear Martin Scorsese discussing what he loves about the work of Alfred Hitchcock? He’s only one of several great directors interviewed in the new documentary “The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style”. Others include Curtis Hanson, Guillermo Del Toro, William Friedkin, and many more. The other new documentary, “North by Northwest: One for the Ages” focuses more on the film itself.

Additional special features imported from previous releases include a screenwriter commentary, music-only track, a feature-length TCM documentary narrated by Helen Mirren called “Cary Grant: A Class Apart,” “Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest” hosted by Eva Marie Saint, a photo gallery, and a trailer gallery.

‘North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau. It was written by Ernest Lehman and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The special edition was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Michael Mann’s ‘Heat’ a Modern Masterpiece

BrianTT — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:23:31 -0700

CHICAGO – Michael Mann might first seem the ideal fit for Blu-Ray. He’s a notorious perfectionist, apparent in every frame of his remarkable output of films that includes such great modern classics as “Manhunter,” “The Insider,” “Collateral,” and “Public Enemies”. But one of Mann’s best films, “Heat,” recently released on Blu-Ray, is an interesting example of a director who has a vision that shouldn’t necessarily be overly polished by the HD format. The film looks like Mann wants it - gritty, dark, and like, well, actual film. It’s a release that some buyers may think doesn’t look “HD enough,” but to this Mann aficionado thinks that it looks just right.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

As for the film itself, it’s one of the rare ’90s films that gets better every time I see it. It’s a battle of wills between two of the most legendary actors of all time - Al Pacino & Robert De Niro - and it is arguably the last time they would ever be this good. It saddens me deeply to think about a young generation who may only know De Niro as the old guy from “Meet the Fockers” and the reputation Pacino must have after junk like “88 Minutes” is something I don’t even want to think about. This is the final gust of wind from when these two were still not just actors, they were forces of nature.

Heat was released on Blu-Ray on November 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

Two of the best actors of all time star as a cop and his number one criminal in Mann’s modern crime epic. Densely plotted, incredibly detailed, and perfectly acted by an ensemble that also includes Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, and Amy Brenneman, “Heat” is one of the best movies of its kind ever made, a contemporary action classic.

Before he finalized “Public Enemies,” Mann went into a studio and personally oversaw a detailed remastering of “Heat” for this Blu-Ray release. The result is a 1080p transfer (in 2.40:1) that looks simply amazing. There’s been a bit of controversy as to the lack of detail in it but Mann has made a film that he wants to look gritty and dark and, ultimately, the format shouldn’t be built around presenting the most polished picture but the one that most captures the intention of the filmmaker. I believe the “Heat” Blu-Ray does just that.

As for special features, it’s an extensive lot including a commentary by Mann, 11 additional scenes, and 5 documentaries - “True Crime,” “Crime Stories,” “Into the Fire,” “Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation,” and “Return to the Scene of the Crime”.

There was much controversy surrounding the quality of Mann’s last two films - “Public Enemies” and “Miami Vice” - and, as I mentioned before, the legacy of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro simply must be tarnished by some of the choices these two great actors made in the ’00s. Anyone turned off by any of the recent work by these three gentlemen shouldn’t keep that from going back and seeing what they accomplished when they got together. And anyone who still likes Mann’s films, shouldn’t miss a great Blu-Ray for one of his best.

‘Heat’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer. It was written and directed by Michael Mann. The film was released on Blu-Ray on November 10th, 2009. It is rated R.

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

Blu-Ray Review: Annoying ‘The Answer Man’ Full of Hot Air

BrianTT — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:36:11 -0700

CHICAGO – “Hell is other people!” declares reclusive author Arlen Faber. That’s nothing compared to the hell of fake people, who permeate so many subpar pictures marketed as “indie” entertainment. There’s not a single character in “The Answer Man” that feels the least bit realistic. There’s not a single line of dialogue that sounds as if it was spontaneously spoken, instead of typed by a screenwriter with a slick Thesaurus. But most importantly, the film doesn’t work because its characters are simply undeserving of the required audience empathy. It’s impossible to care about anyone on the screen, or anything that happens to them.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

So why is this film a mediocre dud rather than a catastrophic failure? Because it is populated by gifted actors who try to inject the contrived material with vibrant life. Jeff Daniels is one of the most appealing actors in modern cinema, particularly when he plays characters who are less than appealing. He gave one of the best performances of his career in Noah Baumbach’s “The Squid and the Whale,” where he played a decadent, self-absorbed writer who has no patience for “philistines.”

Daniels’s “Answer Man” Arlen is basically the same guy, minus the Jim Henson beard and scalding wit. He spends his life hiding from the spiritual philistines who believe his book, which details his conversations with God, to be the real deal. Regardless of its authenticity, it’s impossible to believe that a bitter sad sack like Arlen could be capable of writing a book with the power to inspire millions.

The Answer Man was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Magnolia Home Video

It’s equally impossible to accept the film’s jarring shifts in tone between broad comedy and awkward melodrama. You know a film’s in trouble when it relies on intrusive music to tell the audience how to feel. Teddy Castellucci’s score thumps along with Scrooge-like energy when Arlen has one of his “funny” tirades, and slows to a thoughtful cadence when Arlen has one of his “serious” revelations.

The Answer Man was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Magnolia Home Video

Meanwhile, the audience has no chance to react because the music is doing all the work. Too bad the funny music doesn’t kick in when Arlen whines, “I showed you my monsters!” You see, Arlen is putting the moves on the lovely Elizabeth (Lauren Graham) by showing her his collection of monster models. When she moves in for a kiss, Arlen is distracted by his prized plastic possessions. Unfortunately, it takes Elizabeth several more scenes to finally walk away from the schmuck, inspiring him to utter the aforemetioned line. She should’ve kept walking.

As much as first-time writer/director John Hindman would like you to believe otherwise, Arlen is an irredeemable S.O.B. He’s vile to everyone except the woman that he hopes to seduce. The tender moments he has with Elizabeth’s son clash entirely with his sadistic treatment of adoring fans (like a mailman played by Tony Hale).

Since the plot and characters are blatantly manipulated in order to ensure that Arlen becomes a better person, the film could be seen as an inferior retread of “Groundhog Day” (with Daniels, Graham and Hale standing in for Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Stephen Tobolowsky). One of the most irritating subplots involves a troubled kid (Lou Taylor Pucci), who barges in to Arlen’s apartment and immediately wins the maternal warmth of Elizabeth. This is one of the only moments where I sided with Arlen. I found myself resisting the eye-rolling plot mechanics every bit as much as he was.

One of the biggest laughs on this disc occurs in the extras, when producer Jana Edelbaum prides herself on taking a risk with such “unbankable” material. If this is Edelbaum’s idea of taking a risk, I’d hate to see her play it safe. Let’s face it: “The Answer Man” formula was already tested in last year’s indie dramedy “Smart People,” and it didn’t work any better the first time.

“The Answer Man” is presented in grainy 1080p High Definition (with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio). Special features include a jokey commentary from Hindman, Graham and producer Kevin Missack, along with three repetitive making-of featurettes.

‘The Answer Man’ is released by Magnolia Home Entertainment and stars Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Tony Hale, Kat Dennings, Olivia Thirlby, and Lou Taylor Pucci. It was written and directed by John Hindman. It was released on November 3rd, 2009. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Ultimate Collector’s Edition’

BrianTT — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:10:11 -0700

CHICAGO – Does the fact that “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is receiving a lavish 20th anniversary edition Blu-Ray release make anyone else feel old? Just me? Whether you’re old enough to remember the first “Vacation” or young enough to know Chevy Chase as “that old guy on Community,” this is a lavish collector’s set for a great holiday film timed for holiday shopping.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

Warner Home Video has begun an interesting trend of making Blu-Ray sets for their most beloved films that almost feel more about the collectibles than the movie itself. In some cases (“Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” “The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition”), the disc itself includes enough bonus material and a lovingly remastered picture that the collectibles appropriately feel like a companion instead of the main draw. Such is not the case with the set for “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” as the film itself practically feels like an afterthought.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Ultimate Collector’s Edition was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

The standard package for the Blu-Ray of “Christmas Vacation” comes housed in a very-not-standard collectible gift tin, which I suppose you could fill with Christmas cookies this holiday season if you wanted to look truly dorky.

Within the tin, fans will find a replica of Clark Griswold’s holiday Santa hat, a set of holiday themed drink coasters with memorable quotes from the film, a box of faux snow, an “I Survived a Griswold Family Christmas” button,” and a collectible Moose figurine (which is exclusive to Blu-Ray). Oh, and the actual movie.

If you haven’t seen “Christmas Vacation,” it basically centers around patriarch Clark Griswold’s (Chase) desperate attempts to constantly keep his family happy around a holiday instead of a trip to Wally World (as in “Vacation”) or a trip overseas (as in “European Vacation”). More of a family film than the first two Griswold adventures, “Christmas Vacation” has become a modern comedy classic of the genre that plays on cable every season and basically stands as Chase’s last good movie.

The Blu-Ray for “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is presented in 1080p High Definition with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and, surprisingly, accompanied by only a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. The special features are shockingly light with just a theatrical trailer and a commentary track by Randy Quaid, Beverly D’Angelo, Johnny Galecki, Miriam Flynn, Director Jeremiah Chechik, and Producer Matty Simmons. Where’s Chase? Where’s the retrospective look back at the film 20 years later? Maybe those will be on the 25th super-duper-mega-ultimate collector’s edition. Save space on your shelf.

‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Ultimate Collector’s Edition’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Johnny Galecki, Diane Ladd, Juliette Lewis, and Julia-Louis Dreyfus. It was written by John Hughes and directed by Jeremiah Chechik. The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 3rd, 2009. It is rated PG.

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