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New DVD reviews = May 13, 2008 |
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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
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(Ratings are out of four stars)
ADAMS CHRONICLES
(1976)
* * *1/2
Starring George Grizzard, Kathryn Walker, William Daniels, David Birney, John Beal, Peter Brandon, Charles Siebert, Nancy Marchand
Acorn Media/Not Rated/Drama/650 min
This wonderful miniseries, produced for PBS in the mid-’70s, traces the life of John Adams, a founding father, diplomat and second president of the United States. George Grizzard faithfully assumes the mantle of a farm boy determined to become an attorney. After marrying Abigail, who saw potential in John where her parents saw a hopeless dreamer, Adams became caught up in the struggle to free our nation from Britain’s grasp. That cause would define Adams’s professional and personal life. He was often at odds with Alexander Hamilton and was an emissary to France for the purpose of gaining support in ending the American Revolution. Across the pond, Adams bumped heads with his longtime friend, Ben Franklin, who Adams observed had begun to believe his own press acclaiming Franklin the toast of the Parisian Court. Forced to leave his beloved Abigail and three of his children behind, Adams brought his eldest son, John, to Europe where he molded the 11-year-old into a future statesman. Approximately halfway through these 13 episodes, the death of John Adams sees his legacy continued by his son, grandchildren and great grandchildren, well into the 20th century. PBS excels in well-researched historical sagas, and the exploits of the Adams family are an excellent example. 4-disc DVD features: 12-page program guide featuring articles by C. James Taylor; editor in chief of the Adams Papers and Neil Horstman; president of the White House Historical Association, DD English language track(s), full-screen.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Season Four
(1969)
* * *1/2
Created by Bruce Geller
Starring Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, Lee Meriwether
Paramount/Not Rated/Thriller/1314 min
Following a contract dispute, Martin Landau and wife, Barbara Bain, left the show that made Landau a household name and garnered three Emmys for his wife. Landau’s replacement was Leonard Nimoy, fresh from the cancelled “Star Trek” series. Nimoy brings gravitas and class to the IMF (Impossible Mission Force), but lacks Landau’s chameleon quality. Graves continues as IMF team leader, Jim Phelps, while Greg Morris and Peter Lupus remain in the roles of the team’s electronics expert and strong man, respectively. Creator Bruce Geller’s acolyte, Lee Meriwether made seven guest appearances as the team’s femme fatale, but the season also features an appearance by Anne Francis an most unforgettable episode. Though nearly every mission involves either a fictitious South American or Eastern European dictator, the cons employed by the IMF team are consistently twisted and clever. As the season wears on, identifying the exterior locations on Paramount’s lot, is inescapable, but considering the show’s exacting focus on each mission and the superb quality of its writing, these cost cutting measures are a minor distraction. 7-disc DVD set features: DD 5.1 SS English, DD Mono English or Spanish language track(s), full-screen.
COTTAGE
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Paul Andrew Williams
Starring Andy Serkis, Reece Shearsmith, Jennifer Ellison
Sony/Not Rated/Horror/93 min
British humor and gore make good bedfellows when idiot brothers, David and Peter (Serkis and Shearsmith), kidnap Tracey (Ellison), a gangster’s daughter. While planning their next move, the pair hole up in a country cottage -- unaware they are being tracked by the gangster’s henchmen, and stalked by a slasher. The banter between captors and their hostage contrasts the brother’s phobias with their captive’s unbridled malice. Slashing and killing erupt mid-film -- the physical embodiment of emotional undercurrents threatening these characters throughout an imperfect, but entertaining tale. DVD features: deleted scenes, outtakes, storyboard gallery, bonus digital copy, DD 5.1 English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish language track(s), widescreen.
MAD MONEY
(2008)
* *
Directed by Callie Khouri
Starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Roger Cross, Adam Rothenberg, Finesse Mitchell
Anchor Bay/Rated PG-13/Comedy/103 min
Based on an actual British crime, this film essentially remakes a British 2001 made-for-TV movie (not available on VHS or DVD). Bridget is a suburban housewife compelled to accept a janitorial job at the Federal Reserve Bank when her husband (Danson) becomes unemployed. Bridget sees recycling potential in the palettes of worn out money that are routinely shredded. She recruits fellow janitors, ditzy Jackie (Holmes), and single mother Nina (Latifah), to help her smuggle the dough out of the bank, inside their underwear. Score one for the ladies, and none for the Brits who let the big screen version get away. DVD features: director commentary, Making-of featurette, theatrical trailer, DD 5.1 SS or DD 2.0 Stereo English language track(s), widescreen.
UNTRACEABLE, DVD or Blu-ray
(2008)
*1/2
Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Starring Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Erin Carufel, Billy Burke, Joseph Cross, Mary Beth Hurt
Sony/Rated R/Thriller/101 min
Diane Lane gets into Jodie Foster mode as Jennifer, an FBI Agent working out of Oregon’s Cyber Crimes Unit. She and partner, Griffin (Hanks) stumble onto an Internet murderer who broadcasts his killings online, allowing site visitors to time time each subject’s death. Jennifer begins to hone in on the psycho only to learn her family has made the killer’s murder list. Perhaps this latest, in a string of inept Internet murder thrillers, will finally do the subgenre in. DVD or Blu-ray features: director commentary with producer, Hawk Koch, and production designer, Paul Eads, featurettes: Tracking Untraceable, The Personnel Files, Blueprint of Murder, Anatomy of Murder, DD 5.1 or DD 2.0 English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish language track(s), widescreen.
THE GREAT DEBATERS
(2007)
* * *
Directed by Denzel Washington
Starring Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Denzel Whitaker
Genius/Rated PG-13/Drama/130 min
In this highly fictionalized account of the 1935 debate competition between an all-black, Texas college and USC (recast here as Harvard University), Washington and Forest Whitaker play professors with differing views about how to further civil rights. The film explores the lives of its young debaters competing in an arena other than sports, for equality. Directed by Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey, this pedigreed film exhibits the straightforward approach Washington used to devastating effect, in “Antwone Fisher.” DVD features: commentary, Deleted Scenes, Featurettes: Music, Music Videos, Text and Photo Galleries of: Casting, Costume and Design, and Poetry of Melvin Tolson, DD Stereo English language track(s), full-screen or widescreen.
WALK ALL OVER ME
(2007)
* *
Directed by Robert Cuffley
Starring Leelee Sobieski, Tricia Helfer, Lothaire Bluteau, Jacob Tierney
Genius/Not Rated/Thriller/99 min
There’s something to be said for a film that explores the milieu of a dominatrix, but “Walk” wimps out on that promise. Alberta (Sobieski), hoping for more money and excitement, moves in with, and poses as Celene (Helfer), a high class call-girl who excels in cracking the whip. Alberta’s first client, Paul (Tierney), draws her into his efforts to escape a nasty thug (Bluteau). The film devolves into a chain of kidnappings while trying to blend comedy and suspense, but is sustained by leading ladies who narrowly avoid being walked all over. DVD features: commentary by Sobieski and Helfer with director Cuffley, deleted scene w/optional commentary, behind-the-scenes, outtakes, music video, still gallery, theatrical trailer, DD Stereo English language track(s), Spanish Subtitles, widescreen.
Released in New Formats
BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID, Blu-ray
(1969)
* * * *
Directed by George Roy Hill
Starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross
Fox/Rated PG/Action/110 min
The Oscar winning story blends historical fact with comedy. Newman appears as self-assured, risk addicted, Butch Cassidy, a bank robber partnering with sharpshooter, Sundance Kid (Redford). Pursued by a gun toting posse, Butch, his girlfriend (Ross) and Sundance escape to Bolivia, but can’t resist the lure of the American West. Stinging one-liners and tense action highlight this masterpiece. Blu-ray features: Commentary with director, lyricist, David, Documentary George Roy Hill; Director, Robert Crawford; cinematographer; Conrad Hall, and screenwriter; William Goldman, deleted scenes, Featurettes: Making-of (2005), the True Tale of Butch & Sundance, theatrical trailers, DD SS 5.1 English or DD Mono English, Spanish or French language track(s), Cantonese, or Korean subtitles, widescreen.
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