How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes and David Mumpower
October 6, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who can't get enough of Ruth Fisher: Six Feet Under: The Complete Series (New Packaging)
A repackaging of Six Feet Under: The Complete Series will be released today after the original series collection hit stores three years ago. Being my favorite show of all time, I'll without hesitation jump at the opportunity to free write about what made Alan Ball's popular television series so freakin' great.
Before he essentially saved HBO from lagging behind a surging Showtime with his hit vampire series, True Blood, Ball created a uniquely different series that revolved around the eccentric lives of members of a family-owned funeral home: Fisher & Sons. Seamlessly blending tear-jerking drama with side-splitting comedy, Six Feet Under tackled countless societal issues – underage sex, hardcore drugs, homosexuality and church politics, among others – that many television shows before it failed to address or regrettably ignored.
Every episode – save for one – opened with a death. Early on, Ball and his writing staff would incorporate the death into the week's storyline. Sometimes the victim revealed a secret truth in one of the show's main characters; other times the victim would "battle" a member of the Fisher family by taunting them in their subconscious. As time passed and the world in which the Fisher family lived in grew, less emphasis was put on the victims, their families and how the home put together a proper funeral and burial. In its place was entertaining, melodramatic soap that pretty much sustained throughout the series' 63-episode run.
No show is perfect. In fact, there are a couple of episodes in Six Feet Under's sophomore and junior seasons that were, I'll admit, disappointingly boring. Yet looking back on the series as a whole, I can't say I've ever come across anything quite like it. In fact, the series finale – especially the final six minutes – is in my opinion television's finest hour. If you can manage to get through the thing without getting wet in the eyes, or in my case losing yourself in a pool of tears, then clearly there's something wrong with you.
Disc includes: Not released
For those of you who like your women thinner than a saw blade: Ally McBeal: The Complete Series
That's right, the pop culture darling of the late 1990s has finally found a home on DVD. Like so many shows of this type, music rights had prevented the David E. Kelley Fox hit from being released in this format. It had been considered one of the greatest remaining network hits yet to be available on DVD, so the release of the complete series is a hallmark moment for...well, a lot of people who were over the show long before it stopped airing because of the Robert Downey Jr. mess.
Ally McBeal's quality was as up and down a ride as Millennium Force (apologies to those of you who aren't roller coaster enthusiasts). Originally, it was an instant blockbuster comedy/drama telling the story of the shortiest-skirted single female lawyer (yes, the subject of that Futurama bit) dealing with a man's world of a law firm. Over time, the show meandered into awkward storylines featuring lesbian kisses with Lucy Liu (hello, desperate ratings ploy!), brain cancer for Gil Bellows, and simply far too much Peter MacNicol "comic relief". It had exactly the sort of inconsistent brilliance that has defined David E. Kelley's career. Before that happened, however, Ally McBeal was celebrated as a refreshing take on the premise of sex and the single lady, a clear forerunner to the eventually more popular descendants Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives. In fact, Time Magazine once proclaimed the title character to be the "face of feminism", something about which the show good-naturedly ribbed itself. Ally McBeal was the Twilight of 1998, which is why its release on DVD is such a hallmark event.
Even if you didn't watch the show and don't really care what the buzz is about, however, the fourth season of Ally McBeal is still highly recommended television. That year saw the introduction of Larry Paul, an instantly popular character who could have become an anchor for the show had the actor playing the role not imploded. Enraptured by his talent, Kelley gave Robert Downey Jr. a chance to overcome his demons. The result was some brilliant television that coincided with what Downey has described as the worst period of his life. Not one but two very public drug busts and a media maelstrom that would make TMZ blush forced the show to terminate the actor's employment as well as re-write most of the planned story arcs during this period. Intuitive viewers can easily track the points at which Downey was stoned yet sliding by based on pure natural talent. The entirety of it is impressive and depressing all at once. It's the rare style of behind the scenes reality television taking place right in front of the viewer's eyes, and I expect it to be a source of fascination for future generations in the same way that Hogan's Heroes is for those of us who have seen Auto Focus. If you love Downey's recent career ascension and want to see just how far he's come in just a few years, season four of Ally McBeal is the perfect starting point.
Disc includes: The Best of Ally McBeal CD soundtrack, Bygone Days: All McBeal Retrospective, Season 2 TV Special: Life and Trials of Ally McBeal, Behind-the-scenes featurettes, Goodbye: Ally Season 5 featurette, bonus crossover episode with The Practice, "I Know Better" by Vonda Shepard music video.
For people who can't handle Kevin Nealon comparing his johnson with Andy Milder anymore: Kevin Nealon: Now Hear Me Out!
Ever since Weeds revamped its format by transplanting most of its Californian characters from the affluent, gossip-infested Agrestic to the quieter, Spanish-influenced Ren Mar, things just haven't been the same. The storylines feel uneven, the comedy isn't quite as golden and probably worst of all, a few of the leads – I'm looking at you, Celia Hodes – feel like they're still on the show for the sake of being on the show. One of the series' lone saving graces is Kevin Nealon's character, Doug Wilson, a fun-loving accountant whose wacky ideas and crazy antics while high make it all but impossible for me to give up on the show entirely.
For people who enjoy Nealon's brand of humor, be aware that his first stand-up comedy special, Now Hear Me Out!, makes its way to DVD today. The special, which clocks in at 72 minutes and features a special appearance by Garry Shandling, has the comedian hitting on topics ranging from getting older (he celebrates 56 years next month) to birthing babies (he and his wife, Susan Yeagley, had their first child in 2007).
Disc includes: Behind-the-scenes footage, Interview with Kevin Nealon featurette, audio commentary
For people who would let Patricia Arquette read their mind any day of the week: Medium: The Fifth Season
As if NBC's woes couldn't get any worse, turns out the show it ditched at the end of last season – Medium – is alive and kicking in its sixth year on CBS. Even better for The Eye, the supernatural drama starring Emmy winner Patricia Arquette probably couldn't be any more compatible with its other hit Friday series, Ghost Whisperer. In its first two respective airings in its new home, Medium has twice scored more total viewers than its lead-in.
The series' fifth season gets released today on DVD. The series stars Arquette as the real-life Allison DuBois, a self-proclaimed medium who uses her psychic abilities to help U.S. law enforcement solve crimes across the country.
Disc includes: The Making of Medium: Season 5 featurette, Script to Screen: Apocalypse Now? featurette, Jake and Patricia Q&A featurette, Curious Maria featurette
For people who think Michael Cera is in need of a hit movie... and fast: Year One (Unrated)
The ads for Year One were mediocre at best, marking the usual Hollywood instance where the best bits were in the trailer. Surprisingly, Americans weren't swayed by the cast – Jack Black, Michael Cera, Paul Rudd, among others – and instead stuck with their guts. Their guts, of course, told them to skip over the summer feature. Year One never finished any higher than fourth place on a weekend and failed to make back (on the domestic end) even 75% of its fairly steep $60-million budget.
Cera could use a little career CPR at this point, given that his social relevancy has fallen a bit since Juno hit it big two years ago. This is yet another reason why an Arrested Development movie has to happen.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, line-o-rama, extended/alternate scenes, audio commentary, Year One: The Journey Begins featurette, alternate ending, gag reel, Sodom's Got ‘Em! featurette, Leeroy Jenkins: The Gates of Sodom featurette
October 6, 2009
Blu-ray
100 Feet
Audition
Bones: Season 4
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Children
Comedy Collection
Contact
Dinosaurs Alive! (IMAX)
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (Deluxe Edition)
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Deluxe Edition)
Extreme Action Collection
Fantasy Collection
Ghost Ship
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
Hoop Reality
Horror Classics Collection
Imagine That
Kenny G: An Evening of Rhythm & Romance
Kurt Cobain: About A Son
Miracle On 34th Street
My Life in Ruins
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
New York Ripper
The Number 23 (Uncut)
Offspring
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Romantic Comedy Collection
Sci-Fi Collection
Seventh Moon
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
The Thaw
Trick 'r Treat (Special Edition)
Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Wolf
Year One
DVD
Ally McBeal: The Complete First Season
Ally McBeal: The Complete Series (Set)
Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (Special Edition)
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Audition (Collector's Edition)
Blood Ties: Season Two
Bones: Season 4
The Children
Chinatown (Centennial Collection)
Dinosaurs Alive! (IMAX)
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (Deluxe Edition)
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Deluxe Edition)
The Gate (Widescreen Special Edition)
Get Smart: Season 4
Halloween (Unrated Director's Cut)
The Hills: Season Five, Part One
Imagine That
It's Alive
Kenny Chesney: All I Want For Christmas
Kenny G: An Evening of Rhythm & Romance
Kevin Nealon: Now Hear Me Out!
Kurt Cobain: About A Son
Luther Vandross: This Is Christmas
Man v. Food: Season One
Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Season 5
Medium: Seasons 1-5 (Set)
Medium: The Fifth Season
A Miser Brothers' Christmas (Deluxe Edition)
Mister Ed: Season One
My Life in Ruins
National Geographic: Animal Holiday (Special Edition)
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Nip/Tuck: Season 5, Part 2
Nip/Tuck: Seasons 1-5.2 (Set)
The Number 23 (Uncut)
Peanuts: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition)
Rodney: The Complete Season Season
Seventh Moon
Six Feet Under: The Complete Series (New Packaging)
Trick 'r Treat (Special Edition)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection
Werewolf: The Complete Series
Whitney Houston: One Wish Holiday Album
Wicked Lake (Special Edition)
Wolf
Year One (Unrated)