How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
April 6, 2005
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.
For people who literally can’t wait for the next episode of Alias. I mean literally. Like someone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to watch something with Jennifer Garner in it and no episodes of Felicity are available: Elektra (2005)
I can’t say enough how desperate to see Jennifer Garner in red leather you have to be to even consider watching this movie. I should note at this point that I have never seen the movie, but that I do have an affinity for Jennifer Garner in little or no clothing, movies based on comic books and, unfortunately for the box office receipts of Elektra, reading movie reviews. Those reviews warned me to not see the movie and I would encourage you to follow their guidance. Not even the deleted scenes; documentary and featurettes make the DVD worth renting.
For anyone with their only reference for Kevin Kline in a western is from when he wore a dress in Wild Wild West: Silverado (Gift Set) (1985)
Watching Silverado, you’ll be struck by the fact that you’ve seen this plot before in every other recent western. Cowboy-types travel to a city/town with/to meet friends, they find injustice/are wrongfully persecuted, and then they exact justice and shoot things. It’s pretty easy to predict. Not every recent western, (that western with James Van Der Beek in it, I’m looking in your direction) can pull it off. Silverado is blessed with being written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Kevin Costner, Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Dennehy, Rosanna Arquette and John Cleese. The talent levels alone make this a far more promising film than most, and Silverado is both entertaining and well made. This two-disc Superbit gift set includes a 16-page movie scrapbook; vintage playing cards; and featurettes. Most promising of the featuretters is "A History of Western Shootouts”, narrated by John Cleese.
For people who really like sandwiches: Spanglish (2004)
Remember what we said about reviews? We read them. As a result, we (the American people), didn’t see Spanglish. But what I remember most about the Spanglish era in America is, in the ads and previews, repeatedly seeing that fantastic looking sandwich that Adam Sandler’s character makes for himself in the film. Well, that and one of the characters running into a glass door. Why is the sandwich so crucial in this discussion? One of the extra features is a featurette titled "How to Make the World's Greatest Sandwich". For those of us with a love of sandwiches (along with cereal, one of the greatest meals around), this might be one of the better extra features ever. Also included on the disc are an audio commentary with director James L. Brooks; additional scenes and the film’s casting sessions.
For people vehemently uninterested in drinking merlot: Sideways (2004)
Aside from Sandra Oh beating the shit out of Thomas Haden Church with a motorcycle helmet and the naked man chasing after Paul Giamatti, one of my favorite moments in Sideways is Paul Giamatti screaming “I AM NOT DRINKING ANY FUCKING MERLOT!” Not quite as subtle as the initial moments between he and Virginia Madsen, but a nice piece of rage and acting all the same. That Giamatti has been snubbed at Oscar nomination time two years in a row is an absolute crime. Perhaps it’s his penchant for playing generally unlikeable charaters, but there is really no excuse for ignoring his work in Sideways or American Splendor.
I think a general sign of the aging of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is their unwillingness to recognize, in any meaningful way, two types of movies: comedies and films that fall outside the pre-approved “Oscar winning” subjects or themes (biopic, war, epic, etc.). Over the last two years, there have been two movies and two actors who have suffered from this more than anyone: Lost in Translation and star Bill Murray, and Sideways and Giamatti (who could also have a case for American Splendor). Both are comedic films, just outside the mainstream, and in both cases, despite many more Oscar nominations, both were rewarded with a Best Screenplay Oscar. Now, no Oscar is something to sniff at, but clearly these are cases where great films frightened and confused Academy voters, who knew they needed to recognize the films, but didn’t quite feel comfortable giving them any of the “big” awards.
In the case of Sideways, an outstanding adaptation of Rex Pickett’s novel, nearly all of the acting is exceptional (I have to say the angry naked guy wouldn’t get any awards from me), with Madsen and Church receiving Oscar nominations and Giamatti and Oh ignored. The movie centers on Giamatti and Church’s characters, off on a wine-tasting spree in the Napa Valley for Church’s character’s bachelor party and follows them through the ups and downs of two unhappy men trying to figure out what they truly want. It’s a fantastic film and the type of movie that Hollywood should be celebrating and rewarding. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with Giamatti and Church (which is apparently hilarious), deleted scenes, a featurette and some easter eggs. If not for the last gasp of an old friend, Sideways would be the DVD Pick of the Week.
For savoring the beginning of the end: The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season (2002)
If the first season was the fast climb to the top, seasons two and three were a plateau of greatness, season four was the beginning of a slide toward season five’s mediocrity (the jury’s still deliberating on season six). The final season of The West Wing that will grace my shelves is the last with creator Aaron Sorkin at the helm and the last with nominal star Rob Lowe. Lowe I can live without, but without Sorkin, something of the soul of The West Wing died. Sorkin, in addition to providing the intelligent storylines; interesting, well-written characters; fast moving plots and dialogue, provided humor.
Season four finishes out the election cycle started in season three, provides a replacement for Lowe’s departing Sam Seaborn, and takes some throwaway comments by Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet from season one and turns them into a season ending cliffhanger that could only satisfy John Wells (he of “this week on the most exciting E.R. EVER!!!!!), the new creative head of the show for season five. The West Wing, even in decline, is one of my favorite television shows of all time. Included on this DVD set are audio commentaries on three episodes by series creator Aaron Sorkin; two documentaries and extra scenes. Like the previous three season’s DVD releases, the extra features don’t do justice to the greatness of the show, but the show’s the thing and The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season is the DVD Pick of the Week.
April 5, 2005
The Graduate (1967)
Hand of Death (1976)
Hey Babu Riba (1988)
I Am David (2004)
Intruder (1988)
Jubal (1956)
Lust for Gold (1949)
The Mirror (1997)
More (1969)
Nuns on the Run (1990)
The Professionals (Special Edition) (1966)
Queer as Folk: The Compete Fourth Season (5-DVD Set) (2003)
Reform School Girl (1994)
Ripe (1996)
Runaway Daughters (1994)
Sideways (2004)
Silverado (Gift Set) (1985)
Spanglish (2004)
Suburban Madness (2004)
A Talking Picture (2003)
Texas (1941)
The Violent Man (1955)
Viva Maria (1965)
The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season (2002)
Who Killed Bambi? (2003)
Winners and Sinners (1983)
With or Without You (2003)
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