How to Spend $20
By Les Winan
May 24, 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. The massive unreleased studio (film and television) back-catalogue means that every week there's likely something for you.
For people wondering what Eazy-E would be doing if he'd lived: Are We There Yet? (2005)
If one was forced to make a prediction on the future of Ice Cube in the early nineties, it would be difficult, based on his image, to not at least consider the possibility that Ice Cube would be been long dead by 2005. It's safe to say that when making that 1990-era assumption, you would also guess that he would die violently. Cube's seminal rap group, N.W.A., was the genesis of gansta rap, a genre that did eventually lead to the violent deaths of a number of its stars (Tupac, Biggie, etc.) and any number of non-lethal violent incidents. Given N.W.A.'s status as literally one of the most influential and important musical acts of the late twentieth century, it's ironic that of the now former members of N.W.A., only one is dead (Eazy-E of AIDS), another is one of the most sought after rap producers and moguls in the music industry (Dr. Dre) and yet another has become a movie star.
To say that Ice Cube is a movie star does not do justice to the fact that since his initial success with the Friday movies, Cube has moved on from "urban" films (Boyz n the Hood, Barbershop) to mainstream action movies (xXx: State of the Union) and now, most bizarrely, kiddie fare like Are We There Yet?. The notion of Ice Cube as the star of a bland children's film would probably have so offended the Ice Cube of fifteen years ago that he would, at a bare minimum, have written a profanity-laced tirade of a song about it for one of his albums. It's a bit like the notion of Colin Farrell evolving over the span of the next fifteen years into Raffi.
Are We There Yet?, a film about a desperate man driving his non-girlfriend's children on a long trip has to be as painful as the premise sounds. The DVD does include a reasonable amount of extra features, including an audio commentary with director Brian Levant (it's a shame Ice Cube couldn't be talked into discussing his sins); a blooper reel; deleted scenes; featurettes; and, hilariously, storyboard comparisons.
For having a sense of humor about yourself: Fat Actress: The Complete First Season (2-DVD Set) (2005)
Rare in Hollywood is the star, particularly female, that is willing to mock, of all things, her weight. Credit then must go to Kirstie Alley, who took tabloid fascination with her heft and transformed it into a sort of career makeover. This semi-real show (call it Curb Your Enthusiasm-esque) revolves around Alley's life as she attempts to revive her career, date, and lose weight (all done in a "fictional" sense). There are no extra features except for the odd guest starring roles by a number of recognizable faces (including, oddly, Mayim 'Blossom' Bialik as herself) from Alley's Scientology club and her past career (Rhea Perlman, Kelly Preston, John Travolta).
For the most recent movie to not win Scorcese an Oscar: The Aviator (Widescreen) (2004)
Maybe the most enjoyable moment of the Academy Award telecast was seeing Leonardo DiCaprio scowl at Clint Eastwood after Martin Scorcese, who had directed DiCaprio in The Aviator, won Best Director. I take no joy in seeing Scorcese lose out, his work on The Aviator certainly was deserving (unlike Gangs of New York), but the notion of DiCaprio angry about the loss is actually somewhat touching. The shame of it all is that when Scorcese does finally win a Best Director Oscar, it will probably be for something like Gangs of New York, which is not nearly as deserving as much of his other work.
Unlike Ray, The Aviator is everything that a biopic should be and ran circles around Ray in every aspect except for lead acting. That's no slam on DiCaprio, who gives an absolutely outstanding performance as Howard Hughes. The Aviator features coherent narrative, interesting supporting characters, quality acting from all involved, lack of obvious biopic cliches and superior direction. One of the aspects of the film that I enjoyed a great deal, despite it being nearly showy enough to be too gimmicky, is Scorcese's use of different colors and film stock as the film follows Hughes through the years. It's a terrific film made better by an outstanding DVD set. Included on the disc are an audio commentary with Scorsese; a single deleted scene; nearly a dozen featurettes and documentaries and a still gallery.
For a show that was screwed around by a network that isn't Fox: Newsradio: The Complete First & Second Seasons (1995)
One of the least appreciated television comedies of the last ten years, Newsradio is finally being released on DVD. Absolutely (and deservingly) worshipped, Newsradio starred Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Andy Dick, Vicki Lewis, Stephen Root, Khandi Alexander, Joe Rogan and the late great Phil Hartman as the on-air talent and management of a New York news radio station. Included in this set are the first season's seven episodes and the second season's twenty-two. On twenty of the episodes, audio commentaries by the cast and crew are included. Also included on the disc is a lengthy gag reel, a featurette, and other minor features. Newsradio features outstanding writing, acting and, most importantly, timing, and despite having five seasons (including the abbreviated first season) on NBC, never was truly appreciated'until now.
For WHAT? YAYAH! WHAT? YAYAH!: Chappelle's Show: Season Two (3-DVD Set) (2004)
When news broke last week that Dave Chappelle was not, in fact, crazy (or at least not crazy enough to be in a South African mental institution), it was great news for fans of his eponymous television show. However, it was terrible news for those of us who had been begging off unpleasant tasks by saying, simply "I'm in a South African mental institution". Unfortunately, the long-promised and long-delayed third season of Chappelle's Show now seems unlikely to happen, which is a shame, because Season Two is brilliance defined. From the racial draft to Wayne Brady on a rampage to Lil John and Prince playing basketball, Chappelle's Show: Season Two is some of the most intelligent, funny, clever social commentary in sketch comedy form television has ever seen. It also has taken Charlie Murphy to the point that he currently has a far more relevant and interesting career than his much more famous brother.
Most famous for the legendary, "I'm Rick James, BITCH!" catch-phrase spawning Rick James stories, the season became a colossal hit for Chappelle and Comedy Central, resulting in a new contract and raised expectations and profile for the show. Crazy or not, Chappelle is clearly having a hard time with those expectations. Even if the third season never happens, season two is legendary enough (and worth that status) to hold a place in comedy lore. Luckily for fans of the show, before Chappelle went - wherever he is - he took the time to make significant contributions to the DVD. Included on the disc is audio commentary tracks by Chappelle and series co-creator Neal Brennan; additional stand-up comedy from Dave; bloopers and deleted scenes; 2 unaired Charlie Murphy stories; The Rick James extended interview and, well the show itself. Far and away the DVD Pick of the Week, Chappelle's Show: Season Two is an absolute must-have
May 24, 2005
16 Years of Alcohol (2003)
2B Perfectly Honest (2004)
Airwolf: Season One (2-DVD Set) (1984)
The Andy Griffith Show: The Complete Second Season (5-DVD) (1961)
Anna and the King of Siam (1946)
Are We There Yet? (2005)
The Aviator (Full Frame) (2004)
The Aviator (Widescreen) (2004)
Back in the Day (2004)
The Best of Everything (1959)
Big Ain't Bad (2002)
The Big Town (1987)
Blood Trap (2004)
The Bravados (1958)
Broken Lance (1954)
The Brooke Ellison Story (2004)
Chappelle's Show: Season Two (3-DVD Set) (2004)
Cowboys Run (2003)
The Day After Tomorrow (Collector's Edition) (2004)
The Detective (1968)
Dirty Filthy Love (2004)
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
A Farewell to Arms (1957)
Fat Actress: The Complete First Season (2-DVD Set) (2005)
Forty Guns (1957)
H (2002)
I, Robot (Collector's Edition) (2004)
In Old Arizona (1929)
Lady in Cement (1968)
Lethal Eviction (2005)
Man on Fire (Collector's Edition) (2004)
MPD Psycho (2000)
National Lampoon's Lost Reality 2: More of the Worst (2005)
Newsradio: The Complete First & Second Seasons (1995)
The Phantom of Liberty (Criterion Edition) (1974)
Possessed (2004)
The Razor's Edge (1946)
Spin (2003)
SpongeBob Squarepants: Fear of a Krabby Patty (2005)
Street Fury: Redline (2005)
Tony Rome (1967)
The Trail to Hope Rose (2004)
Warlock (1959)
Print this column
