DVD Review

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

DVD Review: Spectacular ‘The Shield: The Complete Series Collection’

BrianTT — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:32:19 -0700

CHICAGO – All seven season of the Emmy-winning, groundbreaking “The Shield,” easily one of the best programs of the ’00s, have been collected into one absolutely gorgeous set for “The Shield: The Complete Series Collection”. This time of year usually produces several complete series sets to essentially re-sell already available programs to holiday shoppers. This is one of the best.

DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0

The 88 episodes of “The Shield” have been collection on 28 DVDS, beautifully housed in a 34-page bound anthology book filled with photos, quotes, and a special letter from Shawn Ryan. Purely from a packaging perspective, “The Shield” is one of the most beautiful sets that a TV fan could include on their shelf. Sometimes complete series sets are literally nothing more than the previous releases crammed into one box. That’s not the case here as the entire show has been lovingly bound like a book you want to read again.

The Shield: The Complete Series Collection was released on DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony

It’s interesting to me that “The Shield” has been bound like a novel because the arc of the show played like one. What happened at the end of episode one - corrupt cop Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) killing a fellow police officer - resonated all the way through to the final scene of episode eighty-eight. The writers of “The Shield” masterfully intertwined plotlines through every season of the show. Unlike so many TV programs, actions had consequences in the world of “The Shield,” and the entire series plays more like an extended film than a episode series.

From season to season, “The Shield” had its ups and downs. Even the greatest shows of all time had some low moments. But now that we can look back at the entirety of Shawn Ryan’s program, it’s the highs - including arguably the best series finale in the history of television - that stand out. If you didn’t watch “The Shield” or if you were a huge fan and want to revisit it, this set should top your holiday wish list.

“The Shield: The Complete Series Collection” also includes over 63 hours of amazing special features from all seven seasons, along with two exclusive never-before-seen featurettes - “Rampart” (a documentary on the police scandal that inspired “The Shield”) and “A Place We Called Home” (a look back at the set of “The Shield”).

The only drawback of this release is that it’s probably the final word on one of the best shows of the ’00s. The show was an underrated, crucial part of the TV landscape of the decade and now it’s gotten the collection that it truly deserves.

‘The Shield: The Complete Series Collection’ was released by Sony Home Video and stars Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, David Rees Snell, Jay Karnes, CCH Pounder, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, Laurie Holden, Paula Garces, Glenn Close, Forest Whitaker, and Benito Martinez. It was created by Shawn Ryan. The show was released on November 3rd, 2009. It is not rated.

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

DVD Review: ‘Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush’

BrianTT — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:49:28 -0700

CHICAGO – When I first heard about Will Ferrell’s one-man Broadway show in which he would deliver a nearly-90-minute monologue as outgoing President George W. Bush, I was both excited at the potential and nervous as to how on Earth the talented comedian could keep it interesting for its full running time. Wouldn’t it play like an extended “Saturday Night Live” sketch? “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush” not only justifies its running time but is smart, clever, and well-written enough that I wished it was twice as long.

DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

In his first-ever HBO special, Ferrell brings his Tony-nominated portrayal of George W. Bush to audiences who couldn’t make it to New York City earlier this year. Timed to coincide with Bush handing over the reins of the country to Barack Obama, “You’re Welcome America” is a searing, satirical look at not just the Presidency of George W. Bush but his entire misunderestimated life.

Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush was released on DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: HBO Home Video

Of course, if you’re in the 29% of Americans who approved of the job Bush was doing when he left office, I’m not naive enough to think that you’ll get as much enjoyment out of “You’re Welcome America” as the rest of us (although I think even supporters of Bush would recognize the comic ability on display in what Ferrell has accomplished). This is not a kind portrayal of our former leader, as Ferrell skewers every aspect of the life, legend, and legacy of the recently unemployed 43rd U.S. President.

The DVD release of “You’re Welcome America” is what one would expect for what is essentially a stand-up special. There are, naturally, not going to be copious special features or remarkable technical specs. The piece pretty much speaks for itself.

Having said that, fans will find an interesting mini-featurette called “Road to Broadway,” a mildly amusing piece called “Bush on Bush Interview” in which Ferrell plays Dubya interviewing himself, and a disturbing true or false game called “It’s Time Has Come of Being a Decider, America”.

‘Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush’ is released by HBO Home Video and stars Will Ferrell. It was written by Ferrell and directed by Marty Callner. The show was released on DVD on November 3rd, 2009. It is rated TV-MA.

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

DVD Review: For Veterans Day, ‘The 95th’ Honors World War II Soldiers

PatrickMcD — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:57:57 -0700

CHICAGO – As Veterans Day approaches on November 11th, the generation that fought in World War 2 are dying off with each passing day. “The 95th: The Iron Men of Metz” profiles those few good men left, so that they can tell their story.

DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

The 95th refers to the 95th Infantry Division, a World War Two army sector that was under the command of General George S. Patton. Their assignment? Bring down the German stronghold of Metz, a heavily fortified city in the northeast region of France. Their eventual liberation of the city, fraught with heavy casualties, earned them the nickname “The Iron Men of Metz” and the “Bravest of the Brave.”

WWII-era Uniform with the 95th Infantry Division Insignia
Photo credit: SoldiersandSailors.us

Four veterans of the division – Steve Finik, Nick Fusco, Chuck Wood and Paul Madden – tell their stories throughout the documentary, adding personal recollections to the broader scope of footage depicting their march into the heavily fortified German occupied city of Metz, and their orders to take it by force.

What was captivating about the stories was the surprising perspective that each veteran revealed. The film starts out with the flat assertion by Steve Finik that “war is just senseless,” and that the killing is “just not right,” and this was the supposed “Good War.” Phrases like “legal killing” and “there is the right way, and then the army way” are peppered throughout the reminiscences and adds a dash of real grit to what-did-you-do-in-the-war-daddy type of recollection.

There was also a nice reminder that in the time of war during the era, the guys that went over there weren’t necessarily the gung-ho types. Nick Fusco was in the engineering corp and couldn’t imagine himself as a killing element. His story of fraternizing with the German girls was telling because (as he said) he will willing to risk it for a little break in the action.

Giving these men the opportunity to tell their stories, some for the first time, gives a viewpoint on the strange alchemy of putting 18-year old neophytes, slapping a green uniform on each, outfitting them with a weapon and telling them to “take that town.” Chuck Wood was most elementary about the reflections of war, choosing when he first came home not to talk about it because, there was no one who could understand without having gone through it. He also hoped that he hadn’t killed anyone, but he wasn’t sure.

It was those pragmatic vulnerabilities that were most poignant in the re-telling, for it reflects an honesty about both the purpose of a war and the victims that are part of the circumstance.

DVD Cover of ‘The 95th: The Iron Men of Metz’
Photo credit: The95thMovie.com

Director Davidson Cole gives the documentary a nice balance between the interviews and archival photos/film of World War II. With more time passing and more veterans doing the same, it is good to put some context to that grainy black and white film that often represents the entire war. The filmmakers found rare footage of training, equipment examples and actual Metz newsreel sequences to fortify the look back by the surviving veterans.

Music from the era seemingly covered all the emotions of the era. Besides using standards such as “This is the Army, Mr. Jones” and the Big Band Swing, chestnuts like “Der Fuehrer’s Face” and “Dear Mom” gave in to a sense of time and place, with a context that evoked feeling as well as nostalgia.

The film climaxes with the four men traveling back to France, participating in the 55th anniversary of the Metz liberation in 1999. Like the rest of the film, it is a honest recitation of the hellish conditions they had to face, with a poignant scene in a cemetery with its infinite rows of white crosses that adds to the sense of enormous loss. Chuck Wood even remembered that one of those crosses owed him 10 bucks.

Its easy to forget, after almost three generations removed, that over 416,000 military deaths occurred during World War 2. The 95th Infantry Division itself suffered over 10,000 casualties during the conflict. This documentary honors the survivors in old age, but at the same time acknowledges the sacrifice of those who didn’t get the privilege to age.

“We gave hell, and we took hell…If you’re gonna fight be the winner, don’t be the loser, because then you’ve got big trouble. You lost a lot of men and you gained nothing.” veteran Steve Finik of the 95th Infantry, in a DVD extra interview.

”The 95th: The Iron Men of Metz” is available on DVD and features interviews with Steve Finik, Nick Fusco, Chuck Wood and Paul Madden, directed by Davidson Cole. DVD extras include archival footage, a tour of Metz and additional interviews. Click here for more information.

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

DVD Review: Complete Set For ‘Eleventh Hour’ Available Online

BrianTT — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:33 -0700

CHICAGO – There simply wasn’t space on television for both “Fringe” and “Eleventh Hour”. As soon as I saw them, I knew one or both of the fall 2008 shows would have to go. With the strong lead performances by the great Rufus Sewell and beautiful Marley Shelton, I thought “Eleventh Hour” had the edge, especially after it did pretty well in its first season.

As many of us know, “Fringe” is currently struggling for ratings on FOX and CBS’ “Eleventh Hour” has been reduced to a cheap, online-only, feature-free complete series set. The show was far from perfect but it deserved better than this fate.

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

The problem with “Eleventh Hour” is clear just after disc one of the series set - it wasn’t original enough to distinguish itself from not just “Fringe” but countless other shows. The program often feels like “CSI: The X-Files,” being clearly inspired by the procedural shows that still serve as the backbone of CBS. It’s just another variation on a well-played tune. Only strong performances from its two consistent leads made it an occasionally entertaining diversion.

Eleventh Hour: The Complete Series was released on DVD on October 22nd, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

Sewell plays Jacob Hood, who could easily be called a combination of Adrian Monk and Fox Mulder. The overly eccentric Hood swoops in when mysterious cases involving science gone out of control rear their head. In a world of cloning and chemical warfare, the DNA-collecting teams of “CSI” are not always enough. Sometimes you need someone willing to look at a case from another angle and Hood definitely sees things that other detectives do not.

Hood is overseen by Rachel Young, the consistent but always underused Marley Shelton. With upcoming turns in “(Untitled)” and “Women in Trouble,” Shelton is one of those young actresses that seems perpetually on the verge of stardom without ever quite getting there. She was woefully used as second fiddle on “Eleventh Hour,” always playing back up to the mystery of the week and Sewell’s lead.

“Eleventh Hour” was canceled after not being able to hold its “CSI” lead-in audience, but the move, especially now with NBC giving up on the 10pm timeslot, was surprising, especially when one realizes that the show finished 22nd on the year with an average of 12.11 million viewers a week, above its premiere numbers. CBS made a number of unusual decisions at the end of the 2008-09 season. Canceling “Eleventh Hour” was definitely one of them.

The only eighteen episodes of “Eleventh Hour” ever produced are included in a six-disc set that is exclusively available through the Warner Brothers Shop. Sadly, it includes no special features and the technical presentation is below average with night scenes looking downright embarrassingly dirty.

A decent show with decent ratings was canceled and has now been given a sub-par complete series treatment. It’s a mystery worthy of Jacob Hood.

‘Eleventh Hour: The Complete Series’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Rufus Sewell and Marley Shelton. The show was created by Mick Davis. The show was released on DVD on October 22nd, 2009, available only online. It is not rated. It runs roughly 13 hours.

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

DVD Review: ‘Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition’ Rules

BrianTT — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:01:52 -0700

CHICAGO – Legendary TV shows deserve legendary DVD sets and the “Ultimate Edition” release for the beloved “Blackadder” truly lives up to the often over-used “ultimate” title. Giving fans everything “Adder”-related that they could possibly ask for, this is the perfect gift this holiday season for fans of British television.

DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0

The glorious six-disc set for “Blackadder” includes every episode of the show digitally restored from the original program masters plus a host of all-new bonus features.

Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition was released on DVD on October 20th, 2009.
Photo credit: BBC Home Video

Starring Rowan Atkinson (“Bean”), Hugh Laurie (“House”), Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, and more, the four-series program is a classic in England and has a legion of fans here in the States, and this set is good enough to make a few new “Adder”-holics on either side of the pond.

Each of the four series of “Blackadder” features the title anti-hero in a different historical period. The four series are “The Black Adder,” “Blackadder II,” “Blackadder the Third,” and the massively successful “Blackadder Goes Forth”. In a 2004 poll to find Britain’s best sitcom in history, “Blackadder” finished second and Empire Magazine ranked the show in the 20 best of all time.

The “Ultimate Edition” includes all four series and brand new audio commentaries with Rowan Atkinson & John Lloyd, Stephen Fry, Ben Elton & Richard Curtis, and Tony Robinson & Tim McInnerny. Also includes are exclusive extended interviews with Hugh Laurie, Atkinson, Curtis & Elton, Robinson, and Fry.

There were several “Blackadder” specials produced and they’re all included - “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol,” “Blackadder The Cavalier Years,” “Blackadder Back and Forth,” “Baldrick’s Video Diary,” and more. Also included are costume features with Miranda Richardson, Patsy Byrne, Robinson, and McInnerny, and a ridiculously good 60-minute documentary to mark the 25th anniversary called “Blackadder Rides Again”.

The words “Ultimate Edition” have been incredibly over-used in the world of DVD but this beautiful set for a beloved series lives up to its name. Interviews, behind-the-scenes details, retrospective documentaries, and every piece of aired material that ever bore the name “Blackadder”. This is easily one of the best TV on DVD sets of the entire year.

‘Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition’ is released by BBC Video and stars Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, and Miranda Richardson. The show was created by Atkinson and Richard Curtis. The show was released on DVD on October 20th, 2009. It is not rated. It runs roughly 15 hours.

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

DVD Review: ‘Fear(s) of the Dark’ Dazzles More Than Scares

BrianTT — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:03:29 -0700

CHICAGO – Though graphic novels may read like great movie storyboards, they often fail to translate into compelling cinema. From “Sin City” to “Watchmen,” filmmakers have tried replicating graphic art with a reverence more suffocating than exhilarating. Images that reverberated with power on the page become coldly calculated on the big screen. No matter how tightly structured a film may be, it must give viewers the illusion of spontaneity. And there’s nothing more tiresome than a horror film in which all the scares feel telegraphed.

DVD Rating: 3.0/5.0

That’s the interesting challenge facing “Fear(s) of the Dark,” a compilation of short subjects from six of today’s most celebrated graphic artists. As an animation exercise, the film is consistently fascinating. Each artist’s approach to the cinematic medium is as distinctive as their trademark visual styles. Though their films are wildly different from each other, they all grapple with the inherently consuming nature of fear, as well as the inherently unsettling nature of insects, animals and other mysterious creatures. The film is often wonderful to watch, but as horror, it falls flat. Few of the artists seem to understand the rhythm and pacing necessary to produce a good jolt onscreen. But most of the shorts do succeed at creating an appropriately eerie atmosphere.

Fear(s) of the Dark was released on DVD on October 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: IFC Films

Ironically, the two most memorable tales utilize the often annoyingly uncinematic tool of narration. Charles Burns evokes the fluid yet stark style of “Waltz with Bashir” in his piece about an alienated schoolboy who spends his time capturing bugs in jars. His antisocial behavior causes him to view women in the same way, as if they were all encased in glass. But once he finds a girlfriend, the tables begin to turn. While Burns methodically builds dread, Lorenzo Mattotti sets off miniature eruptions of fright in his tale about an unknown beast terrorizing a small community. This segment has the best editing of the bunch, and its varying shades of gray and black are simply mesmerizing.

In contrast, the films from Marie Caillou and Richard McGuire would probably inspire more nightmares on paper than on film. While Caillou’s canvas consists entirely of pale, ghostly grays (with the occasional bloody splash of red), McGuire creates the only segment primarily consisting of darkness. Both of their segments are intricately designed, but feel oddly empty. The same can be said of the transitional vignettes by Blutch and Pierre Di Sciullo. While Blutch unleashes a series of increasingly gruesome episodes involving a deranged man and his pack of wild dogs, Di Sciullo takes a more clinical approach to the theme of fear. His abstract images resemble a Rorschach test that consistently morphs, as anonymous voices confess fears along the lines of, “I’m scared of deluding myself politically.” Sadly, there’s no mention of clowns.

Like Burns’ schoolboy, viewers may feel as if they are watching a picture encased in a glass frame. There’s a lot to look at, but not a whole lot to feel. It’s a film to admire rather than enjoy, but since it offers a great deal to admire, it’s certainly worth a look.

You don’t need a Blu-Ray player in order to marvel at the endless visual delights in “Fear(s) of the Dark,” thanks to the DVD’s masterful picture quality. The film is presented in its 1.85:1 aspect ratio with an anamorphic widescreen transfer. The disc includes English and Spanish subtitles, as well as an assortment of extras that are guaranteed to captivate any animation buff. Artistic director Etienne Robial guides viewers through an exhibition of the film’s various production stages, while another featurette focuses on the evolution of each short subject. Best of all are the winning videos and drawings of the “Fear(s) Myspace French Contest,” many of which are more viscerally disturbing than anything in the actual film.

‘Fear(s) of the Dark’ is released by MPI Home Video and it’s artistic director is Etienne Robial. It was written by Blutch & Charles Burns & Pierre Di Sciullo & Jerry Kramski & Richard McGuire & Michael Pirus & Romain Slocombe and directed by Blutch & Charles Burns & Marie Caillou & Pierre Di Sciullo & Lorenzo Mattotti & Richard McGuire. It was released on October 27th, 2009. It is not rated.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

DVD Round Up, Oct. 30, 2009: ‘Sauna,’ ‘The Tournament,’ ‘The Butcher’

BrianTT — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Many editions of the DVD Round-Up have featured a different genre and focus for each title within it. This week seems a little more thematically linked as we have a trio of foreign horror films and a few more independent films than usual. Of course, there has to a holiday comedy to spice things up.

Consider this column informational with synopsis, tech specs, and special features info for titles that might go otherwise unnoticed, but if you’re looking for more critical opinion, we covered “Sauna” when it played at the EU Film Fest, “Medicine For Melancholy” when it was available on IFC Direct, and “Nothing Like the Holidays” when it played in theaters.

“P” and “The Tournament” were released on October 20th, 2009

“The Butcher,” “Medicine For Melancholy,” “Nothing Like the Holidays,” and “Sauna” were released on October 27th, 2009

“Nothing Like the Holidays”

Photo credit: Anchor Bay

Synopsis: “John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Moulin Rouge!), Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under, Bobby), Debra Messing (Will & Grace, The Starter Wife), and Alfred Molina (The Pink Panther 2) lead a hilarious ensemble cast in this humorous and heartwarming holiday story that is “laugh-out-loud-funny and downright touching.” (MoviePictureFilm.com)

It’s Christmastime in Chicago, and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents’ house to celebrate the season. During the course of this eventful week, traditions will be celebrated, secrets revealed, old resentments forgotten, familial bonds re-affirmed and the healing power of laughter will work its magic. Nothing Like The Holidays is a “heartfelt” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) gift for the whole family.”

“Nothing Like the Holidays” stars John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, Luis Guzman, Melonie Diaz, Vanessa Ferlito, Jay Hernandez, and Elizabeth Pena. It was written by Alison Swan and Rick Najeira and directed by Alfredo de Villa. The film runs 98 minutes and is rated PG-13. It is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Dolby Surround 5.1 audio track.

Special features include “Nothing Like a Family: Cast Reunion,” Audio Commentary by Actor/Producer Freddy Rodriguez, Director Alfredo de Villa, and Producer Robert Teitel, Bloopers, and Theatrical Trailer.

“The Tournament”

Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

Synopsis: “Every seven years, thirty of the world’s most deadly assassins face off against one another for an outrageous cash prize. There’s only one rule: kill or die. As dozens of wealthy gamblers watch via closed-circuit TV, a city is overrun by brutal assassins - all aiming to be the last one standing. Starring Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible films), Kelly Hu (X2: X-Men United) and Robert Carlyle (Stargate: Universe), The Tournament is an explosive, action-loaded thriller where the winner takes all”

“The Tournament” stars Ving Rhames, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Hu. It was written by Gary Young, Jonathan Frank, & Nick Rowntree and directed by Scott Mann. The film runs 95 minutes and is rated R. It is presented in a matted widescreen transfer and accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features include…nothing.

“Medicine For Melancholy”

Photo credit: IFC Films

Synopsis: “Wyatt Cenac (of The Daily Show) and Tracey Heggins star in this love story about two African-American twenty-somethings, their one-night stand, and a revealing day-after in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco - a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American city. In his internationally acclaimed and award-winning debut feature, writer/director Barry Jenkins creates a tender yet resonant tale of sex, race, bicycles and modern urban life that became one of the most significant hits of the festival season and remains perhaps the most talked-about independent film of the year.”

“Medicine For Melancholy” stars Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins. It was written and directed by Barry Jenkins. The film runs 88 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in an enhanced widescreen transfer and accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features include the trailer and “Director’s Notes: An In-Depth Interview with Barry Jenkins at the London Film Festival”.

“Sauna”

Photo credit: IFC Films

Synopsis: “A chilling horror film, Sauna explores the space between Christianity and paganism. The year 1595 - a long and brutal war is finally over. Brothers Knut and Erik - who are part of a commission marking the border between Finland and Russia - commit a terrible sin as they leave a young girl to die a horrible death. As the commission crosses the uncharted swamp, the girl returns to haunt them. Weary men find solace from the nameless village and find a sauna - the sauna where all sins are washed away. Seeking forgiveness the brothers step in…”

“Sauna” stars Ville Vertanen, Tommi Eronen, and Viktor Klimenko. It was written by Iiro Kuttner and directed by AJ Annila. The film runs 84 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer and accompanied by a Finnish/Russian Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features include the film’s trailer.

“P”

Photo credit: Palisades Tartan

Synopsis: “While growing up in rural Thailand, a young orphan girl, Dau, is taught magic by her grandmother. But when her grandmother falls sick, Dau is lured to Bangkok to find work so that she can buy medicine. She finds herself working in a go-go bar, and her journey from naïveté to maturity is swift. She uses the magical skills her grandmother taught her to her advantage, but in doing so makes enemies within the bar. As her magic gets darker, and the consequences increasingly horrific, she gradually loses control, and something evil takes over. ”

“P” was written and directed by Paul Spurrier. The movie runs 110 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in anamorphic widescreen and accompanied by a Thai Dolby Digital Audio 5.1 track.

Special features include Directors Audio Commentary, “Behind the Scenes,” “Soi Cowboy Go-Go Bars” Featurette, Rawang Music Video, Production Photos, and Original Theatrical Trailer.

“The Butcher”

Photo credit: Palisades Tartan

Synopsis: “Told entirely through two POV video cameras, The Butcher throws you into the middle of chaos and death: a handful of people have been abducted and lie bloodied and bound on the floor of a rotting slaughterhouse. Nearby, a team of snuff film producers are discussing their gruesome handiwork: torturing their captives to death, one by one.”

“The Butcher” was written and directed by Kim Jinwon. The movie runs 75 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in anamorphic widescreen with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Korean Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track.

Special features include Alternative Ending, Behind the Scenes Photos, Storyboard Sketches, and the Original Theatrical Trailer.

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

DVD Review: Belgian ‘Left Bank’ is Short on Suspense

BrianTT — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:23 -0600

CHICAGO – “Left Bank” centers on` a woman whose apartment appears to be above a black hole, or a pit or something dark and deep like that. The Belgian horror outing (which has gone straight to DVD in the United States after playing in Chicago at the EU Film Fest) isn’t nearly as dumb as that synopsis makes it out to be, but in the end, that’s actually more of criticism than a compliment.

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

The laughably bad movies in the horror genre and even the “Saw”-inspired examples of torture porn at least succeed in provoking a reaction out of people. Pieter Van Hees’s film is too tasteful to breed disgust and too thin and slow-building to nurture suspense, let alone terror. At best, watching “Left Bank” is like riding on a bus late at night next to a mumbling drunk. You feel a little uncomfortable from time to time, but there’s never a sickening sense that anyone’s safety is truly at risk.

Left Bank was released on DVD on October 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: IFC Films

The young lady with the pit problem is Marie (Eline Kuppens), a 22-year-old runner on the verge of qualifying for the European Championships. Out of stubbornness, Marie overexerts herself in a race and is ordered to take a rest. Since she can’t bear to have her mother telling her what and what not to do, she decides to spend that time with her new boyfriend in the grubby-looking title town.

Soon after she settles in with Bobby (Matthias Schoenaerts), Marie’s luck and health worsen. She can’t sleep, she can’t stop throwing up, and when she starts running again, she suffers a seriously icky knee injury, complete with ever-present blood and pus. Could these misfortunes be related to the woman who lived in Marie’s unit before vanishing? And why was that woman so interested in what’s hidden in the cellar?

There’s little point in agonizing over those questions because Van Hees (working from a script co-written with Dimitri Karakatsanis) spends the first 80 percent of the movie putting Marie in situations that aren’t especially threatening. As Marie herself mentions, her nausea might just be a sign of pregnancy, and though it’s not entirely clear how she hurt her knee, she never acts as if the injury occurred under suspicious circumstances. In fact, she’s so far from being creeped out by her new environment that she doesn’t even try to leave until it’s her day to be sacrificed to the pit, or the black hole or whatever the heck it is.

Instead of sealing the story with doom, the answers to the aforementioned questions point to how much else in the narrative is left unsettled. If Marie is being subjected to some form of devilish curse, are the powers of evil coming from her specific apartment, her specific building, or from the community at large? If she’s to be part of a cult, was she chosen from the very beginning? And if so, how did anyone from Left Bank figure she’d be lured there? Are they responsible for the physical problems that jeopardized her career and led her to follow Bobby in the first place?

No doubt, some of these dangling mysteries might be solvable by replaying the film and hunting for the subtlest of clues. But once the main riddle is unraveled, bothering with the rest of them hardly seems worth the effort.

‘Left Bank’ is released by IFC Films and it stars Eline Kuppens and Matthias Schoenaerts. It was written by Pieter Van Hees & Dimitry Karakatsanis and directed by Van Hees. It was released on October 27th, 2009. It is not rated.

By DAVID STYBURSKI
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

DVD Review: Beautiful Series Set For ‘It’s Garry Shandling’s Show’

BrianTT — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0600

CHICAGO – A lot of classic TV comedies are often pointed to as being “ahead of their time”. The quirky, weird, and memorable “It’s Garry Shandling Show” wasn’t really ahead of its time because there’s nothing quite like it on the air. The groundbreaking cult classic is now available in a gorgeous 16-disc set from Shout Factory and it’s just what Shandling fans deserve.

DVD Rating: 4.5/5.0

Between his stint as the heir apparent to Johnny Carson (Shandling guest hosted “The Tonight Show” an incredible number of times) and the pioneering television he would do on one of the best sitcoms of all time, “The Larry Sanders Show,” there was “It’s Garry Shandling Show,” which ran for 72 episodes from 1986 to 1990. The program was the first ever broadcast on Showtime and would later be rerun and more widely seen on FOX.

Showtime had given Shandling and his co-writer Alan Zweibel the freedom to do whatever they wanted on the network and they decided to try and tear down the sitcom template. From it’s memorable theme song to Shandling’s constant breaking of the fourth wall, “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” was more of a theatrical experience than a television one. It was surreal, experimental, and barely got the credit it deserved when it was on the air. Sure, it was also very inconsistent (especially in the early episodes), but it’s fascinating to now watch how the show developed over its four years on the air and how clearly it influenced the great TV that Shandling would make in the ’90s.

It’s Garry Shandling’s Show: The Complete Series was released on DVD on October 20th, 2009.
Photo credit: Shout Factory

Over the years, several major TV writers would come out of “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” including people who went on to work on “Seinfeld” and “The Simpsons” and the show featured major guest stars, always playing themselves, including Tom Petty, Rob Reiner, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Mull, Gilda Radner, Carl Reiner, Chevy Chase, and more. Come to think of it, the neurotic sitcom star with celebrity guest stars playing themselves almost sounds like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” one of the few shows that you probably could link back to this unique series in terms of influence.

Shout Factory has been putting together great TV sets for years with arguably the best box in the history of the form for “Freaks and Geeks” and a great recent release for “Thirtysomething”. They spare no expense with “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” providing hours of special features, organized as such:

Season 1
Outtakes
“Getting There” - The Road to the Show
“Television Parts” - Sketches - “Garry Dates Miss Maryland,” “Garry’s Car”

Commentaries
1.1: “The Day Garry Moved In” - Garry Shandling & Alan Zweibel
1.5: “The Graduate” - Garry Shandling & Alan Zweibel
1.8: “Grant’s Date” - Garry Shandling & Ed Solomon
1.10: “Fate” - Ed Solomon
1.14: “Dial L For Laundry” - Tom Gammill, Max Pross, Garry Shandling, & Alan Zweibel

Season 2
Outtakes
“Being There” - The Cast Remembers
Original Promos

Commentaries
2.2: “No Baby, No Show” - Shandling & Zweibel
2.4: “The Schumakers Go To Hollywood” - Gammill, Pross, & Solomon
2.10: “Mr. Sparks” - Gammill & Pross
2.17: “Mr. Smith Goes to Nam” - Zweibel

Season 3
Outtakes
“Still There” - The Writers and Crew Remember
“Show & Tell With Tom & Max”
“The Shandlines” - Backstage Newsletters

Commentaries
3.1: “Goin’ Places” - Gammill, Pross, Shandling, & Solomon
3.3: “What’s Happening to Me?” - Gammill, Pross, Shandling, & Zweibel
3.5: “The Natural” - Al Jean, Michael Reiss, & Shandling
3.12: “Garry Acts Like a Moron” - Jean & Reiss
3.17: “Garry Goes Golfing” - Jean, Reiss, & Shandling
3.19: “Worry Wart” - Gammill, Pross, Shandling, & Zweibel

Season 4
Outtakes
“Try to Remember” - A Conversation with Garry and Alan

Commentaries
4.7: “Firehose” - Jean & Reiss
4.15: “Family Man” - Zweibel
4.19: “Driving Miss Garry” - Jean & Reiss

The set also includes a booklet with essays about the show by the great Larry Gelbart and Judd Apatow, who lists the series as a major influence. Each episode looks great in its original full frame presentation and is accompanied by an adequate audio track.

‘It’s Garry Shandling’s Show: The Complete Series’ is released by Shout Factory and stars Garry Shandling. The show was released on DVD on October 20th, 2009. It is not rated. It runs roughly 31 hours.

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