How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
August 21, 2004
Taking a look ahead at the week's DVD releases is always dicey for your wallet. Nearly every week, there's a disc that would fit nicely into any size collection. When it comes time to decide what to buy, there are really two determining factors: how much you love the content and the quality of the extra features on the disc.
As a result, decisions will be totally subjective (I bought the full run of the unjustly canceled ABC dramedy Sports Night, no matter that the discs are featureless, The Criterion Collection edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a disc I had been dreaming of for years). The massive unreleased studio (film and television) back-catalogue means that every week there's likely something for every film fan. So before you think to yourself, "I don’t feel like chasing much of anything, but I’ll still watch Cannonball Run Europe: Chasing the Cannonball more than once!" stop; ask yourself, "Why!?" and then check to see if Cannonball Run Europe: Chasing the Cannonball (or your disc of choice) is one of the weekly BOP DVD recommendations.
Apologies for the column delay this week…I’ve been sick with a fever…OLYMPIC FEVER! Anyway, it’s just been nice that every event on NBC hasn’t been interrupted by a five minute discussion of the inspirational past of every athlete. I can’t believe I’m actually lauding NBC’s coverage, but it hasn’t been bad. In light of past debacles, that’s a huge compliment. Also, I’ve been house hunting, which is a strange process. You’re essentially given a tour of other people’s homes wherein you judge them. Often harshly. You know who cleans their bathrooms, you know who makes the bed, and you know who just got divorced. Also, it’s damned expensive. If you’d like to help out with the cost, feel free to throw some money my way. If you’d like to throw money away in another direction, there’s some DVDs out this week you might like. Or, you know…not.
For people really, really enjoying Nia Vardalos’ participation on the Olympic Coverage: Connie and Carla (Widescreen) (2004)
Count me among the millions of people who saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Personally, I was about as amused as the time I watched the premiere of Jesse, starring Christina Applegate as a witty Buffalo, NY barmaid. I’ll remember it forever, much like The Single Guy, starring Jonathan Silverman as a neurotic New Yorker who couldn’t get laid. From my perspective, MBFGW was like a failed Must See TV pilot that somehow struck a chord with audiences. Luckily, the true “talents” of the lead (Nia Vardalos) didn’t translate to an actual television pilot, or any of her future “starring” roles, and she ended up lamely narrating Discovery Channels segments on Greece during the Olympics. Instant karma’s gonna get your big fat Greek ass. Her attempt at proving her box office stardom, Connie and Carla, came and went from theatres faster than David Caruso. If you must have the DVD, you’ll find an audio commentary with “creator” (whatever that means) and “star” (questionable, in this case) Vardalos and director Michael Lambeck; deleted scenes; outtakes; and a featurette.
For people wondering how long it would take Mary-Kate Olsen to blow away in a strong breeze: New York Minute (Widescreen) (2004)
It’s too bad there isn’t a vacant, brainwashed audio commentary with the Olsen Twins. I’m guessing you’d be able to hear Ashley counting stacks of hundred dollar bills in the background. Mary Kate would likely be heard rolling up one of the hundreds and snorting “something” with it. That would be entertaining. If you’re enough of a masochist to pick up this DVD, you’ll be treated to alternate endings, a featurette, and what I’m sure are very wacky bloopers.
For people who enjoy synergy between watching a movie and what it makes you want to do to those involved in making it: Taking Lives (Widescreen) (2004)
You know, it’s an act of M. Night Shyalamamanamaanalan-size hubris to have a documentary titled "Profiling a Director: Inside D.J. Caruso's Mind” on the DVD of a film that did $32 million in box office and didn’t get particularly good reviews. But hey, it’s the DVD age, and every film needs a special edition DVD. Somehow, rather than a commentary track with Ethan Hawke, Angelina Jolie and Kiefer Sutherland, the makers of the Taking Lives DVD stuck us all with said documentary (and three others) and a gag reel. WOO! This is yet another entry in the “Angelina Jolie Bad Career Choices Hall of Fame”.
For everyone who feels like they had it too easy growing up: Mean Streets (Special Edition) (1973)
De Niro. Scorcese. Harvey Keitel. Finally on DVD, with audio commentary by Scorsese and a “vintage featurette”. I assume that means the featurette can be purchased at a used clothing store. I’m not a huge Scorcese fan, so I’ve never seen this film, but since there are, ahem, quite a few fans of Scorcese out there, you probably have.
For really big Alexander Hamilton fans: Duel (Collector's Edition) (1971)
It’s great director week in the DVD universe. One (Scorcese) who embraces the medium by doing audio commentaries and special features and the other…well…Steven Spielberg. Yet another film where Spielberg isn’t doing an audio commentary. I’m starting to think that this whole “no audio commentary” thing is just a ploy to make people re-buy the discs in a few years when he magically changes his mind. I wonder who would make money off of the decision? Hmmm… Probably Steven Spielberg. In any case, if you want this disc despite the lack of Spielberg on it, you’ll find a photo gallery; featurettes and several other minor features. Whee. So exciting.
For people trying to collect every film where Joe Pesci plays an over-the-top lunatic: GoodFellas (Special Edition) (1990)
Now this is a special edition from a great director. I have a hard time with GoodFellas, much like I do with Boogie Nights. I think it’s the long spiral into decrepit cocaine addiction that takes up the last half of both movies. That having been said, GoodFellas is a terrific movie and the DVD Pick of the Week.
Based on the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), GoodFellas focuses on Hill’s life as a Mafioso. The cast includes Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Paul Sorvino and Lorraine Bracco. With a huge fanbase, buyers of the GoodFellas DVD will be thrilled with the extra features on the disc. Featured is audio commentaries with director Scorsese, stars Liotta, Bracco, Sorvino, Frank Vincent, co-screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, producers Barbara De Fina and Irwin Winkler, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, editor Thelma Schoomaker, FBI agent Edward McDonald, and Hill. In addition, there are three documentaries. It’s a great set, fan of the film or not.
August 17, 2004
After Hours (1985)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Amityville Dollhouse (1997)
Bon Voyage (2003)
Candyman (Special Edition) (1992)
Camera Buff (1979)
Cannonball Run Europe: Chasing the Cannonball (2003)
Chopping Mall (1986)
Connie and Carla (Full Frame) (2004)
Connie and Carla (Widescreen) (2004)
Dinner for Five: Season One (2-DVD Set) (2001)
Duel (Collector's Edition) (1971)
Godforsaken (2003)
Godsend (2004)
GoodFellas (Special Edition) (1990)
The Guyver (1991)
The Guyver 2 (1994)
Happy Days: The Complete First Season (3-DVD Set) (1974)
The Last Great Wilderness (2002)
Love, Sex and Eating the Bones (2003)
The Mangler (1995)
Mean Streets (Special Edition) (1973)
Millennium Mambo (2001)
A Million to Juan (1994)
Moto X Kids (2004)
Nate and the Colonel (2003)
New York Minute (Full Frame) (2004)
New York Minute (Widescreen) (2004)
No End (1984)
Past Midnight (1992)
Red Shadow (2001)
Revolution (Margaret Cho) (2004)
Rolling Kansas (2003)
Seeing Other People (2004)
Sinsitivity (2003)
The Sugarland Express (1974)
Taking Lives (Full Frame) (2004)
Taking Lives (Widescreen) (2004)
The Three Musketeers (2004)
Triggermen (2002)
War Stories (2003)
Who's That Knocking at My Door? (1968)
XXXL: The John Holmes Story (2000)
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