In theaters. Rated PG, 100 minutes. Trailer.
Disney's new take on Rapunzel was a big draw in this 2 young daughter household, so I really had no choice. Written by Cars scribe Dan Fogelman, the story is loosely based on the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) is stolen from her parents (a king and queen) by a woman who uses her magical hair to keep herself young. She grows up isolated (but taken care of) in a tower where she has no connection to the outside world. When a handsome thief stumbles into the tower just before her 18th birthday, Rapunzel hatches a plan to get out of the tower and to the place that releases lanterns every year on her birthday. Click below for more on Tangled:
The pair breaks out and makes their way to the kingdom, encountering several entertaining characters along the way. After she reunites with her royal parents the film ends with a classic fairytale ending.
Rapunzel is very well written - she is a strong female with traditional interests and a respectful demeanor. The other characters are funny and interesting as well. I would recommend this for children of any age. I am super-protective of what my children see and since this was PG I did a lot of extra research. The PG rating stems from some 'violence' that is not offensive at all. There are some romantic sparks, but they are tastefully handled. Not typically my kind of movie, but a great time for my kids.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tangled - B+
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Love and Other Drugs - C+
In theaters. Rated R(!), 113 minutes. Trailer.
A beautiful young woman with Parkinsons and a handsome and shallow prescription drug salesman fall in love and overcome the odds. This story is neither interesting or new, so I assumed that since the trailer reveals all of this then the actual film would have more to it. Ah, but I was wrong. The lure of Director Ed Zwick and stars Anne Hathaway (as Maggie Murdock) and Jake Gyllenhaal (as Jamie Randall) got me to put this high on my list, but I was sorely disappointed. The film is set in 1996 and Jamie is a charming salesman that scores when his company sets him loose selling Viagra. After a chance encounter with the jaded Maggie, they start a sexual relationship and slowly evolve into a couple in spite of Maggie's attempts at keeping it unemotional. Click below for more on LAOD:
Jake's backstory is that he is the least successful member of his family, which features 3 doctors and a dotcom millionaire. We don't get much of Maggie's backstory except that she is a cynic about medicine and thinks no one will really love her and want to be with her in the long term because of her disease. All of their courtship is boring (except for the extensive nudity) and the first half of the film is painfully ordinary. There are a few solid minutes in the middle as the couple examines Parkinsons at a conference and then travels the country to try and 'cure' Maggie. But then we're back to boring again.
The film has a few marginal characters (e.g. Hank Azaria as a doctor) that almost add to the film but ultimately just distract. The Trey Hannigan character is a total waste, taking screen time with no purpose. Ditto for several scenes and other pieces. The two leads are fine, with Hathaway giving her character a lot of life but there wasn't enough material to warrant Oscar consideration.
If you go see this, please stare at that picture of Jake above before you go, because that lovable smirk gets about 20 minutes of screen time.
Boooooooooooring.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the film was the music. For me, 1996 is where my musical brain is hardwired, so I was ready for some good stuff. Zwick fumbles the ball, though, reaching for the Spin Doctors, Liz Phair and a weak Beck song for the pivotal chase scene.
Weekend Box Office: 11/26-11/28/10
Title/Gross/%Change/Total
1. Harry Potter 7: 50 mil / -60% / 220 mil
2. Tangled: 49 mil / NEW / 69 mil
3. Megamind: 12.9 mil / -20% / 130 mil
4. Unstoppable: 11.7 mil / -10% / 61 mil
5. Burlesque: 11.4 mil / NEW / 17 mil
6. Love & Other Drugs: 10 mil / NEW / 14 mil
7. Faster: 8.7 mil / NEW / 12.2 mil
8. Due Date: 7.3 mil / -18% / 85 mil
9. Next 3 Days: 4.8 mil / -26% / 14.5 mil
10. Morning Glory: 4 mil / -23% / 26 mil
11. 127 Hours: 1.7 mil / +88% / 4.4 mil
12. Fair Game: 1.6 / +9 / 6 mil
Will Priest be shut out in November?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Best Films of the 90s - 125-101 (!)
Nearing the end of the list, I thought I'd list 25 more that were considered. Some briefly, others much longer (specifically 101-107).
125. Exotica - (1994)
Atom Egoyan tries to figure out why guys are so obsessive and possessive.
124. Much Ado About Nothing - (1993)
Kenneth Branagh spectacularly films Shakespeare's dialogue with sunlight and wit.
123. The Piano - (1993)
Great atmosphere from director Jane Campion with amazing imagery - but overpraised and way, way, way too much Harvey Keitel.
122. The Crying Game - (1992)
A terrific exploration of a person's tendencies and inclinations under the guise of an IRA thriller with an excellent twist.
121. Boyz N the Hood - (1991)
Looks less cinematic (and more TV movie-ish) now, but lots of great lines by Laurence Fishburne and great acting all around.
120. Crumb - (1995)
A fascinating R-rated documentary about the creative process and the toll it takes on family and friends.
119. A Bug's Life - (1998)
Pixar's all-time worst movie is still good enough to make this list.
118. The Freshman - (1990)
Matthew Broderick is an NYU film student who gets in over his head with some local mobsters. A great film for film nerds with an off-center sense of humor.
117. Shine - (1996)
Geoffrey Rush completely inhabits the troubled pianist.
116. Bringing Out the Dead - (1999)
Martin Scorsese's street level view of a paramedic (Nicolas Cage) over the course of 3 days is incredibly shot by Robert Richardson, but is too structured (3 different partners over 3 days) and predictable.
115. City Slickers - (1991)
The "best day, worst day" scene is a great one and the one-liners keep the majority of the film afloat. It's less successful when the drama and messages start up toward the end.
114. Secrets and Lies - (1996)
Some great scenes and insights, but way too long and in love with itself. Mike Leigh needs a stronger editor.
113. The Spanish Prisoner - (1998)
Steve Martin and Campbell Scott conform to David Mamet's dialogue and give their most interesting dramatic performances.
112. Homicide - (1991)
Joe Mantegna is a New York cop who's forced to get in touch with his Jewish heritage. David Mamet's tough guy dialogue and plot twists sail along until the frustrating ending.
111. The Lion King - (1994)
Hans Zimmer's score is perfectly fused with the images.
110. Jurassic Park - (1993)
Forget the exciting story and the perfect CG dinosaurs and you still have a touching story about a man discovering his paternal instincts.
109. Shadowlands - (1993)
Anthony Hopkins as C.S. Lewis shows his range. A terrific true story about faith, hope, and love.
108. Tremors - (1990)
The best "B-movie" of the decade has giant worms attacking citizens of a small desolate Arizona town. Fred Ward and Kevin Bacon are hilarious together with superb rapport. The inspired casting of Michael Gross and Reba MacIntyre as a survivalist couple plays as good as it sounds.
107. The Double Life of Veronique - (1991)
Another masterful Krzystzof Kieslowski journey about identity and purpose.
106. The Grifters - (1990)
Annette Bening's best performance. Stephen Frears's best film.
105. Lost Highway - (1997)
David Lynch's take on identity and marriage
104. Before Sunrise - (1995)
Lots of great dialogue from Richard Linklater, and a film that epitomizes the mid-90s.
103. Sling Blade - (1996)
This Lawyer favorite takes its sweet, sweet time with the pacing, but Billy Bob Thornton's Karl Childers is one of the most memorable characters of the decade.
102. The Game - (1997)
David Fincher's follow-up to Seven looks better every year.
101. Bullets over Broadway - (1994)
Woody Allen's best film of the decade by far.
100. Glengarry Glen Ross
99. Dead Again
98. Ed Wood
97. True Romance
96. The Commitments
95. Bound
94. Die Hard 2
93. In the Line of Fire
92. Affliction
91. Shakespeare in Love
90. In the Company of Men
89. Short Cuts
88. Copland
87. The Hudsucker Proxy
86. The Last Seduction
85. The Apostle
84. Burnt by the Sun
83. The Godfather Part III
82. Good Will Hunting
81. Speed
80. Reversal of Fortune
79. Forest Gump
78. American Beauty
77. Dazed and Confused
76. True Lies
75. Nixon
74. Malcolm X
73. Red Rock West
72. Hearts of Darkness
71. Wag the Dog
70. Thelma and Louise
69. Hoop Dreams
68. Quiz Show
67. Reservoir Dogs
66. Total Recall
65. The Hunt for Red October
64. Babe
63. Braveheart
62. Searching for Bobby Fischer
61. Bottle Rocket
60. Jerry Maguire
59. Terminator 2
58. Toy Story
57. Toy Story 2
56. Elizabeth
55. Apollo 13
54. Casino
53. Rushmore
52. Get Shorty
51. Barton Fink
50. Swingers
49. The Matrix
48. 12 Monkeys
47. Out of Sight
46. The Sixth Sense
45. The Limey
44. Hamlet
43. Dark City
42. Leaving Las Vegas
41. Hard Eight
40. The Fugitive
39. Three Kings
38. Waiting for Guffman
37. Beauty and the Beast
36. Hard-Boiled
35. In the Name of the Father
34. Lone Star
33. Three Colors: Blue, White, Red
32. A River Runs Through It
31. Dead Man Walking
30. The Usual Suspects
29. Dances with Wolves
28. The Player
27. Groundhog Day
26. Truman Show
25. The Sweet Hereafter
24. Last of the Mohicans
23. Heat
22. Trainspotting
21. The Big Lebowski
20. Fearless
19. The Shawshank Redemption
18. Seven
17. Being John Malkovich
16. Fight Club
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Best Films of the 90s - 20-16
20. Fearless - (1993)
Raw emotion is palpable during several scenes as plane crash survivors try to cope with the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. John Turturro's patient psychiatrist is forgotten halfway through and Tom Hulce's ambulance-chasing lawyer wears thin by the end. But Rosie Perez should have an Oscar for this and Bridges has rarely been better. The pacing falters toward the end and later scenes don't connect as well as they should, but it has my favorite ending of all time: a harrowing experience on a crashing plane followed by a man's precious discovery of life.
19. The Shawshank Redemption - (1994)
Stephen King must have written the source novella immediately after seeing 1979's Escape from Alcatraz since much of it is so similar. The film seems desperate to avoid real conflict. And the bad guys (Boggs, the warden) are essentially caricatures. And yet, it's one of the most emotionally uplifting films of all time. Partly because of Thomas Newman's classic score and partly because of Morgan Freeman's incredibly natural, lived-in performance. And the film is a gigantic comfort metaphor for individuals struggling in life, yearning to break free, and (hopefully) finally doing it.
18. Seven - (1995)
Morgan Freeman went the other way the next year in David Fincher's bleak serial killer flick. Characters grew apart, justice was not served, and there was definitely no hugging on a Mexican beach. It's the classic retiring cop-new partner plot that writer Andrew Kevin Walker turns on its head. But Fincher is only interested in the plot insomuch as it's a thing to hang his indelible moods and amazing visuals on. It's immersive, unsettling, and unforgettable. Leland Orser and Gwyneth Paltrow give their best performances. Brad Pitt solidified his stardom with an underrated performance overshadowed by his showier role in 12 Monkeys.
17. Being John Malkovich - (1999)
Film is a director's medium, but that's not 100% correct in the case of Charlie Kaufman, who can put his highly cerebral stamp on a film just as strongly and easily. In this, his first film script, Kaufman has one inspired twist after another, in scene after scene - and it's done so effortlessly and humorously. Kaufman continues to turn and contort all the way to the end. Director Spike Jonze achieves strong imagery as he gets terrific performances out of John Cusack, Catherine Keener, Cameron Diaz, and John Malkovich. The themes of immortality and control give the intellectual crowd something to deal with.
16. Fight Club - (1999)
Chuck Palahniuk's novel gave David Fincher plenty to tackle - great speeches, a terrific twist (that actually improves subsequent viewings), and a plot that keeps expanding until the very end. The anti-commercial sentiments are even truer today and its jet black humor remains terrifically sick and shocking. Unfortunately, one of the film's best parts - encouraging everyone to take responsibility for themselves and others - whiffs by most fanboys heads. They're too busy with the anti-establishment nihilism and the coolness of Tyler Durden. But there's an ocean of importance under the perfect exterior sheen.
100. Glengarry Glen Ross
99. Dead Again
98. Ed Wood
97. True Romance
96. The Commitments
95. Bound
94. Die Hard 2
93. In the Line of Fire
92. Affliction
91. Shakespeare in Love
90. In the Company of Men
89. Short Cuts
88. Copland
87. The Hudsucker Proxy
86. The Last Seduction
85. The Apostle
84. Burnt by the Sun
83. The Godfather Part III
82. Good Will Hunting
81. Speed
80. Reversal of Fortune
79. Forest Gump
78. American Beauty
77. Dazed and Confused
76. True Lies
75. Nixon
74. Malcolm X
73. Red Rock West
72. Hearts of Darkness
71. Wag the Dog
70. Thelma and Louise
69. Hoop Dreams
68. Quiz Show
67. Reservoir Dogs
66. Total Recall
65. The Hunt for Red October
64. Babe
63. Braveheart
62. Searching for Bobby Fischer
61. Bottle Rocket
60. Jerry Maguire
59. Terminator 2
58. Toy Story
57. Toy Story 2
56. Elizabeth
55. Apollo 13
54. Casino
53. Rushmore
52. Get Shorty
51. Barton Fink
50. Swingers
49. The Matrix
48. 12 Monkeys
47. Out of Sight
46. The Sixth Sense
45. The Limey
44. Hamlet
43. Dark City
42. Leaving Las Vegas
41. Hard Eight
40. The Fugitive
39. Three Kings
38. Waiting for Guffman
37. Beauty and the Beast
36. Hard-Boiled
35. In the Name of the Father
34. Lone Star
33. Three Colors: Blue, White, Red
32. A River Runs Through It
31. Dead Man Walking
30. The Usual Suspects
29. Dances with Wolves
28. The Player
27. Groundhog Day
26. Truman Show
25. The Sweet Hereafter
24. Last of the Mohicans
23. Heat
22. Trainspotting
21. The Big Lebowski
Monday, November 22, 2010
DVD and Blu-ray Releases 11/23/10
Countdown to Zero - #
Disappearance of Alice Creed - #
Eat Pray Love - #
The Expendables - #
Flipped - #
I'm Still Here - #
Madea's Big Happy Family - #
The Pillars of the Earth - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases
Beauty and the Beast - *
Deadwood - Complete Series
The Hunting Party
Metropolis - *
Salon Kitty
# - also on Blu-ray
* - Doctor approved
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New Killers Song
I'll post it next week when it is available. For now, here's the very DLP friendly cover art.
Weekend Box Office: 11/19-11/21/10
Title/Gross/%Change/Total
1. Harry Potter 7: 125 mil / NEW
2. Megamind: 16 mil / -45% / 109 mil
3. Unstoppable: 13 mil / -42% / 42 mil
4. Due Date: 9.2 mil / -41% / 73 mil
5. The Next 3 Days: 6.8 mil / NEW
6. Morning Glory: 5.2 mil / -43% / 20 mil
7. Skyline: 3.4 mil / -71% / 17.6 mil
8. Red: 2.5 mil / -50% / 83.6 mil
9. For Colored Girls: 2.4 mil / -63% / 35 mil
10. Fair Game: 1.5 mil / +44% / 3.7 mil
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Secret in Their Eyes - A-
Rated R for language, violence, and nudity.
In Spanish, 129 minutes, On DVD and Blu-ray.
This Argentinian film was a surprise Foreign Language Oscar winner last March (over The White Ribbon) since the ceremony preceded its US theatrical release. In 1999, Benjamin, a former federal investigator (Ricardo Darin) is trying to write a novel and each attempt leads him back to an unresolved rape-and-murder case from the mid-70s. He finds his ex-boss (Soledad Villamil) who has since become a federal judge - and for whom he had an unrequited love. She encourages him to solve the case and write the novel so he can move on with his life. The film cross-cuts back and forth from the original and the current investigations . . .
And in doing so, it expertly shows how people deal with the past, how the past affects the present, and how one year (or one day, or one moment) can define someone's life. The sacrifices people make and changing priorities are also effectively explored. The film is humorous and quietly accomplished for the first hour but begins to really take off during a barroom speech by Benjamin's alcoholic partner. He describes a core thing that each person has in common - a singular "passion" that, if you discover and acknowledge, can help you understand that individual. This is immediately followed by an audacious uninterrupted 5 minute (partially CG'd) shot at a soccer game.
The murky morality and political double-crossings add to the complexity of the film. Argentinian native Juan Jose Campanella has spent the last decade directing American TV (Law & Order, House, and even a 30 Rock episode). All that diversity and experience seems to help Campanella's complex direction here. He makes connections between unrelated characters visually (with their eyes or by placing them in similar location within the frame). He creates motifs (like opened and closed doors) that work on both literal and symbolic levels. He makes the longish running time worth it with consistent humor and drawing great performances out of everyone. The film could have very easily drifted into melodrama but the authenticity of the characters will have you evaluating your own past. The film is a fascinating technical exercise and an engrossing, occasionally tense, thriller, but it's the subtextual elements that will stick with you - especially if you have a few years in the bank. A-
HEADS UP!: There is full frontal male nudity, but it's the second most appropriate use ever (next to Boogie Nights).
Friday, November 19, 2010
127 Hours - B+
In theaters. Rated R, 93 minutes. Trailer.
Acclaimed director Danny Boyle tells the captivating tale of Aron Ralston (James Franco), the hiker that got his arm stuck for 5 days and had to cut it off with a dull blade and hike several miles out of a canyon to survive. Boyle manages to turn a movie of the week plotline into an occasionally contemplative story about regret, selfishness, and human survival instincts. The film opens with Ralston's frenetic trip into the canyon and classic Boyle imagery and music (the excellent "Never Hear Surf Music Again" from Free Blood). Click below for more on 127Hours:
As Aron gets into the canyon, he befriends 2 lost hikers (DLP fave Kate Mara and someone other girl) and there are several scenes that are fun to watch but don't really add to the film. After about 20 minutes he has the fateful fall that leaves him irrevocably wedged in a canyon. He frantically tries to get out and it gradually sinks in what his predicament is. As he starts to try all sorts of ways to get out, he also begins to speak into his everpresent video camera. As the hours wear on, he gets loopy and also more sentimental as he records instructions on what to do, who to contact and his final thoughts for his parents. Boyle uses his dreams and imagination to play out the regret sequences and the premonitions about his future that propel him to make the ultimate sacrifice for his life.
Much has been made about the arm being cut off. I am a major violence wimp, and I didn't have a problem with it - Boyle handled it perfectly. The most cringeworthy part of the ordeal was the severing of the nerves complete with screechy sound effects. I enjoyed the primal urge of survival that propelled him to cut off the arm - the moment when he cracks his bones and then the bloody aftermath of his 'surgery' are very powerful. Those moments are so intense and personal that when the actual Ralston is shown it is impactful and almost eery because the audience feels like we have been through something so completely personal and crzy with him. The film has some similarities with Into the Wild. Worth your time.
Extra! Extra! - Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln
Lawyer's favorite actor to portray Abraham Lincoln (replacing Liam Neeson) in new Steven Spielberg bio-pic. Can't wait.
Continue reading this postConcert Review - Wolf Parade in Dallas, 11/16/10
[Guest Review - Europpraiser]
Granada Theatre, Dallas, November 16, 2010
I just checked a big one off the to-do list and had to write about it. The Granada Theatre, located in the hipster heavy Lower Greenville area of Dallas, is one of the best concert halls in town. It’s an old intimate (1,150 Capacity) general admission venue with great sight lines and tiered platforms for the standing patrons. We witnessed the event from the third tier, to the left, about 40 feet from the center stage. I wish more of my favorites played the Granada instead of the Palladium Ballroom, which is a hollowed out warehouse that’s too big for it’s own good. Click below for lots more on Wolf Parade:
Doors opened at 7:00. The wife and I showed around 8:15, just as the opening band Ogre, You Asshole took the stage. If you haven’t heard of Ogre, You Asshole, get in line…right behind me. They’re a young Japanese band (Nagano to be exact) that might be described as a prog-ish grunge group with off-kilter guitar riffs and interesting song structures. They were LOUD, and the skinny young singer had a boyishly high voice as he squealed in his native tongue. Therefore, no lyrical critique is provided. They definitely had more appeal to the younger folk in the crowd. As an old codger, I wasn’t too upset to see them walk off around 9:00. Quite a long set for an opener. The between acts intermission isn’t too dreadful at the Granada. A large screen drops down that fully covers the stage and music videos for upcoming artists are played, providing both visual and audible stimulation while waiting for the headlining act.
For those unfamiliar the Canadian indie darlings, let’s get the preface out of the way. Wolf Parade was formed in the spring of 2003 in Montreal, when Spencer Krug was offered a gig opening for Arcade Fire and had three weeks to form a band. He called up his buddy Dan Boeckner and they put a few songs together with a guitar, keyboards and drum machine in Krug’s apartment. They added drummer Arlen Thompson and had one practice before their first show. The band added Hadji Bakara later in 2003 and then lost him in 2008 to the University of Chicago English PhD Program. Dante DeCaro, former guitarist of Hot Hot Heat, was added to the line-up in 2005. The group operates as a four-piece and have had two lead-singers from day one. Krug and Boeckner, make up the creative force behind the bands unique sound. Both have prolific resumes complete with side projects (Sunset Rubdown & Handsome Furs) and fulltime tour schedules.
Musically, there’s a notable differences between them. Boeckner writes strait 
forward post-punk guitar infused rock tunes with catchy riffs and cleverly written lyrics about modern life and the machine eats man world we’ve built. He shares the Radiohead / Muse perspective in that regard. However, his approach is less detached and more visceral. It seems he is writing about his feelings and views of the world and not about the world itself. He delivers his stuff with a tempered aggressiveness that sounds both serious and resolute. Adversely, Spencer Krug creates broad ranging epics that can be larger than life in scope and complexity. His allegorical style takes you to another place with bizarre and outlandish lyrics. His eccentric and dramatic writing style is channeled through an equally distinct and interesting voice. Typically, there’s more diversity in tempo and mood within a Krug song. The two styles have blended well and evolved over past seven years, making each cd more cohesive than the one before. Wolf Parade released their third full length cd Expo 86 on June 29, 2010.
Now, on to the show. At 9:45 the band goes on. The sound is great and fills the space without blowing your ears off. Their style translates nicely to the live show and the venue fit’s the act superbly. Boeckner’s guitar is in full harmony with Krug’s piano/synth. DeCaro and Thompson are holding up their end of the bargain as well. There’s nothing flat about it. The band is into it and so is the crowd.
They start off with Language City, an upbeat Boeckner number with strong melodies.
As in their recorded work, the setlist consists of lead vocal trade-offs. Next was the Spencer Krug offering What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way). Probably my favorite from the new cd.
Before playing In the Direction of the Moon (Krug), Spencer Krug states “We don’t play this one very often”. Obligatory crowd cheering. He retorts “ you might not want to cheer about that”. Self deprecation is always appreciated.
One of the fan favorites from Expo 86 is Yulia (Boeckner), written about a 1960’s Soviet space mission to the moon; chronicled in the documentary movie The Red Stuff. A cosmonaut’s wife realizes she had literally lost her husband in space as the connection ended live on national radio and a string of patriotic Russian hymns just started playing.
California Dreamer (Krug) was written from the perspective of the one left behind by The Mamas and the Papas.
The only surprise, they didn’t play Modern World (Boeckner), a definite favorite.
Here’s the full setlist with cd notations.
Language City - At Mount Zoomer (AMZ)
What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way) - Expo 86
Palm Road - Expo 86
Dears Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts - Apologies to the Queen Mary (AQM)
Ghost Preasure - Expo 86
In the Direction of the Moon - Expo 86
Fine Young Cannibals - AMZ
Cave-O-Sapien - Exp 86
This Heart’s on Fire - AQM
I’ll believe in Anything - AQM
Yulia - Expo 86
California Dreamer - AMZ (Top 5 Live - up there with White Discussion…Seriously)
Encore
You Are a Runner and I am My Father’s Son - AQM
Fancy Claps - AQM
Kissing the Beehive - AMZ (Great Ender - Strong Finish)
On the walk back to the car the Mrs and I agreed that Wolf Parade was the best show we’ve seen in a while. The performance was tight and detailed. The sound was full and dynamic. We left quite satisfied, but still wanting more. Which is always nice. Go see Wolf Parade. You won’t regret it.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Get Him to The Greek - C+
On DVD. Rated R, 109 minutes. Trailer.
The dynamic between Russell Brand and Jonah Hill in Forgetting Sarah Marshall was comedic gold. The director of that film, Nicholas Stoller, took FSM writer Jason Segal's characters and wrote Get Him to The Greek as an expansion of Brand's cocky rock star Aldous Snow and a sycophantic fan and music producer portrayed by Hill. The result is a film that has some spots of humor, but replaces Segal's cleverness with unnecessary and unfunny crudeness. Click below for more on GHTTG:
Hill portays a generic music company employee that loves the band, Infant Sorrow, fronted by Aldous Snow. Hill proposes a comeback concert for Snow, who is reeling from the critical and commercial failure of his recent album. The CEO of the music company (Sean P. Diddy Puff Daddy Combs) likes his idea and sends Hill to London to pitch the idea to Snow. The chemistry between Snow and Hill isn't even close to what it is in Sarah Marshall, but there are a few funny moments between them.
The film mostly fails because there are no surprises - we expect everything that happens and the relationships are boring. The film goes waaay off the rails with the 3 way scene between Snow, Hill and Hill's longtime girlfriend. Avoid it.
Monday, November 15, 2010
DVD and Blu-ray Releases 11/16/10
Cats & Dogs - #
Disney's A Christmas Carol - #
The Extra Man - #
The Kids Are All Right - #
The Last Airbender - #
Lottery Ticket - #
The Tournament - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases.
Air Force One
Avatar (Extended Edition)
Falling Down
The Fifth Element
Metropolis - *
Modern Times (Criterion) - *
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Night of the Hunter (Criterion) - *
Open Season
The Polar Express
Sherlock Jr./Three Ages - *
Snatch
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
# - also on Blu-ray
* - Doctor approved
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Weekend Box Office: 11/12-11/14/10
The Social Network and Secretariat lost bunches of screens and finally fell out of the top 10. 100 million would have been nice for TSN, but hopefully 90 will be impressive enough for Oscar voters.
Title/Gross/%Change/Total
1. Megamind: 30 mil / -35% / 90 mil
2. Unstoppable: 23.5 mil / NEW
3. Due Date: 15.5 mil / -53% / 59 mil
4. Skyline: 11.7 mil / NEW
5. Morning Glory: 9.6 mil / NEW
6. For Colored Girls: 6.8 mil / -65% / 31 mil
7. Red: 5.1 mil / -41% / 80 mil
8. Parnormal Activity 2: 3 mil / -57% / 82 mil
9. Saw 3D: 2.8 mil / -64% / 43 mil
10. Jackass 3-D: 2.3 mil / -54% / 115 mil
11. Secretariat: 2.2 mil / -46% / 55 mil
12. Social Network: 1.7 mil / -50% / 88 mil
13. Hereafter: 1.3 mil / -68% / 31 mil
14. Life as We Know It: 1.3 mil / -58% / 51 mil
15. Fair Game: 1 mil / NEW
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Best Films of the 90s - 25-21
25. The Sweet Hereafter - (1997)
Most of the children in a small Canadian town die in a bus accident and their devastated parents grieve in different ways. There's more genuine emotion and heartache found here than in any other film of the decade. The film is anchored by the great Ian Holm, who plays a lawyer who visits the parents in an attempt to form a class action lawsuit. Sarah Polley is also excellent as a crippled accident survivor who's more accepting and forgiving than the adults. Director Atom Egoyan frames the characters exceptionally well and depicts the wintry landscapes perfectly.
24. Last of the Mohicans - (1992)
Michael Mann was known as an accomplished TV producer-director before this and would never be seen the same again. His vision of colonial America is now the benchmark and his use of music is unparalleled. His search for perfection led him to multiple composers (Trevor Jones did the rousing, bold stuff and Randy Edelman did the beautiful, smaller stuff). Mann is ably assisted by Daniel Day-Lewis, who controls the screen with intensity and exactness. It could be more epic, but chooses to become a "pursuit" movie in the second half. But it really couldn't end better, and is easily the best romantic film of the decade.
23. Heat - (1995)
Michael Mann owns the modern crime movie with Thief, Miami Vice, Collateral and this 3 hour epic. The Robert De Niro half is perfect with specific characterizations and expert acting all around, including Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore. Even small roles like Dennis Haysbert's are fleshed out fully. The mechanics of the robberies and shootings contain an authenticity rarely found outside of Mann's filmography. The Al Pacino half gets better with each viewing; his over-acting now seems like a device to unsettle his interview subjects. The Diane Venora character is a thankless role and the low point of the film, but she's good in it. I'm sort of buying the 2 sides of the same coin thing, but I never completely sympathize with De Niro since, after all, he's just a murdering thief. Tremendous supporting cast (Jon Voight, Ted Levine, Tom Noonan, Jeremy Piven, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Wes Studi, Ashley Judd, Hank Azaria, Tone Loc, and on and on).
22. Trainspotting - (1996)
Danny Boyle's aggressive direction actually serves the story about Scottish heroin addicts by depicting abuse, craving, and withdrawal energetically and truthfully. The convergence of the source music (Iggy Pop, Lou Reed) with Boyle's inventive images are instantly unforgettable upon first viewing. Ewan McGregor and Kelly MacDonald still have stellar careers nearly 15 years out. McGregor has never been better, and neither has Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, or Robert Carlyle, whose Begbie is a force of nature. But it's Boyle's kinetic camera that really makes this one kick - and stick.
21. The Big Lebowski - (1998)
Much of it is overly misanthropic and in very poor taste, but nearly every one of Walter Sobchak's lines is classic, each perfectly delivered by John Goodman. Jeff Bridges creates an equally indelible character as The Dude, who, for such a laid back character gets awfully angry and frustrated with Walter for the whole film. David Thewlis and Julianne Moore throw down some strong supporting work as some pretentious artsy jerks, but it's scene-stealer John Turturro as pedophile and expert bowler Jesus who gives the best performance in the film. The film is told in classic Raymond Chandler fashion and all the expected plot points are hit. Roger Deakins's cinematography is beautiful and the musical choices by the Coens hit the MJ mood perfectly.
100. Glengarry Glen Ross
99. Dead Again
98. Ed Wood
97. True Romance
96. The Commitments
95. Bound
94. Die Hard 2
93. In the Line of Fire
92. Affliction
91. Shakespeare in Love
90. In the Company of Men
89. Short Cuts
88. Copland
87. The Hudsucker Proxy
86. The Last Seduction
85. The Apostle
84. Burnt by the Sun
83. The Godfather Part III
82. Good Will Hunting
81. Speed
80. Reversal of Fortune
79. Forest Gump
78. American Beauty
77. Dazed and Confused
76. True Lies
75. Nixon
74. Malcolm X
73. Red Rock West
72. Hearts of Darkness
71. Wag the Dog
70. Thelma and Louise
69. Hoop Dreams
68. Quiz Show
67. Reservoir Dogs
66. Total Recall
65. The Hunt for Red October
64. Babe
63. Braveheart
62. Searching for Bobby Fischer
61. Bottle Rocket
60. Jerry Maguire
59. Terminator 2
58. Toy Story
57. Toy Story 2
56. Elizabeth
55. Apollo 13
54. Casino
53. Rushmore
52. Get Shorty
51. Barton Fink
50. Swingers
49. The Matrix
48. 12 Monkeys
47. Out of Sight
46. The Sixth Sense
45. The Limey
44. Hamlet
43. Dark City
42. Leaving Las Vegas
41. Hard Eight
40. The Fugitive
39. Three Kings
38. Waiting for Guffman
37. Beauty and the Beast
36. Hard-Boiled
35. In the Name of the Father
34. Lone Star
33. Three Colors: Blue, White, Red
32. A River Runs Through It
31. Dead Man Walking
30. The Usual Suspects
29. Dances with Wolves
28. The Player
27. Groundhog Day
26. Truman Show
Friday, November 12, 2010
Song of the Day - Linkin Park, Leave Out All The Rest
I like Linkin Park. There, I said it. This is another angsty rock/rap ballad that works for me.
Continue reading this postThursday, November 11, 2010
The Best That Never Was - A-
On ESPN (Part of the 30 for 30 series). Trailer. 
ESPN's excellent 30 for 30 series has found its best film with The Best That Never Was. The film tells the tragic story of gifted running back Marcus DuPree and how he squandered his talent and was taken advantage of by those he trusted. I had never heard of him before watching the film, but basically he was the Lebron James of football back in the late 1970's. The film focuses on his background and recruitment by OU and UT, which was won by OU. There is a great sequence shot inside Barry Switzer's office where he shows off all the OU hardware from his successes - cool even for a non-college football fan and OU hater like me. The documentary is poetic at times and taps into several emotional moments and nuanced interviews. Definitely worth your time. Re-airs on November 28 (click 30 for 30 link above for other times).
DVD and Blu-ray Releases 11/9/10
Anitchrist - #
Charlie St. Cloud - #
Grown Ups - #
Hunt to Kill - #
Knucklehead - #
Love Ranch - #
Ramona and Beezus - #
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - #
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases.
A Christmas Carol
Ocean's 11 (1960)
Tremors - *
# - also on Blu-ray
* - Doctor approved
Song of the Day - Bring the Light, Beady Eye
Liam Gallagher's new band, Beady Eye, has released its first single "Bring the Light" from its forthcoming album. Worst song ever.
Continue reading this postWednesday, November 10, 2010
Song of the Day - Kurt Vile, He's Alright
This is the best song the Verve never put out. This guy is a singer-songwriter from Philadephia and this was the closing song of the second season of Eastbound and Down (amazing season that it was). I can't stop listening to it.
Continue reading this postTuesday, November 9, 2010
Due Date - B
In theaters. Rated R, 99 minutes. Trailer.
Director Todd Phillips is already in the guy-comedy hall of fame after delivering the goods in Gen-X guy touchstone Old School and the raucous, but not quite as good follow-up The Hangover. The latest entry in the Phillips canon is Due Date, an update of the Planes, Trains and Automobiles concept starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. After a very disappointing showing in Dinner for Schmucks, ZG is back to his hilarious free-form self as Ethan Tremblay, the well-meaning but impossibly clueless and grating wannabe actor. Robert Downey Jr. is Peter Highman, the professional trying to return in time for the birth of his first son when his interactions with Tremblay get both of them kicked off their flight. Click below for more on Due Date:
The guys end up on the no-fly list and Highman's wallet gets lost, so he ends up traveling with Tremblay across the country. They fulfill their respective roles and go through several predictably awkward situations culminating in the requisite bonding and friendship. The chemistry between the two leads is great and there are multiple laugh outloud moments, mostly involving ZG. His delivery and general manner is so unique his bits never get old. Downey provides an excellent straight man to ZG, with the best scene being their fight with Danny McBride's Western Union employee.
The film tries a few times to get sentimental, but it is way too screwball to make it work. At times the plot veers too wildly and is too fantastic, most notably in the "Tremblay proves his worthiness as a friend" scene when he breaks Highman out of prison. If you enjoyed Phillips' prior films, you'll like this as well. A good time is had by all.
Song of the Day - Animal, Neon Trees
A pop-infused Muse ripoff from Neon Trees, but a good song nonetheless.
Continue reading this postMonday, November 8, 2010
Extraordinary Measures - B-
On DVD and Blu-ray
106 minutes, Rated PG
John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) has 2 children with Pompe disease, a genetic disorder which results in enlargement of multiple organs (including the heart and liver) due to the absence of an enzyme that would normally breakdown glycogen, a sugar that gets deposited everywhere in the body. This usually leads to death by the age of 9. Rather than accept his children's fate, he and his wife (Keri Russell) decide to reach out to a research doctor (Harrison Ford) who's on the verge of cure. Crowley uses his business sense to get funding for the research and the film shows the difficulties to get a new drug to the market . . .
Fraser and Russell are fine as the suffering parents, never going too far in the sentimental direction. Ford is clearly having fun playing the irascible, reclusive doctor - definitely against his typical role. Mad Men's Jared Harris is excellent as a corporate lackey whose objectivity drives Crowley nuts. The film is tough to watch but if you have kids, you'll certainly place yourself in the center of it, wondering how you'd react and respond to not only the terrible disease, but also all the hurdles thrown at you by the uncaring business world (the "bean-counters" as they're called at one point).
There is probably a minuscule target audience for this one, of which I am definitely part. Medical research and the pharmaceutical business are accurately and interestingly portrayed. And the payoff is emotionally satisfying albeit predictable. The film could have used some more humor but it's tough to make such wrenching material watchable and director Tom Vaughan (What Happens in Vegas!) makes it work. The film received a shellacking by the critics who must have prejudged by its January release. While its familiar and safe, its heart is in the right place and the story deserves to be seen by the widest possible audience. B-
Song of the Day - Mew, Comforting Sounds
A cosmic gem from Mew, gets amazing at 1:57. Great music to just listen to and think about things.
Continue reading this postSunday, November 7, 2010
Song of the Day - Civil Twilight, Letters From the Sky
Moody alt-rock song from South African band Civil Twilight sounds great. Picks up at 1:07.
Continue reading this postWeekend Box Office: 11/5-11/7/10
Title/Gross/%Change/Total
1. Megamind: 47.7 mil / NEW
2. Due Date: 33.5 mil / NEW
3. For Colored Girls: 20 mil / NEW
4. Red: 8.9 mil / -17% / 72 mil
5. Saw 3D: 8.2 mil / -64% / 39 mil
6. Paranormal Activity 2: 7 mil / -56% / 77 mil
7. Jackass 3-D: 5 mil / -40% / 111 mil
8. Hereafter: 4 mil / -37% / 29 mil
9. Secretariat: 4 mil / -20% / 51 mil
10. Social Network: 3.6 mil / -20% / 85 mil
11. Life as We Know It: 3 mil / -24% / 49 mil
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Best Films of the 90s - 30-26
30. The Usual Suspects - (1995)
Take away one of the best twist endings of all time an you still have an exciting film about storytelling, trust, and male bonding. The tough guy posturing is interlaced with humor exceptionally well. Benicio del Toro's crazy left field performance is a thing of beauty as is Gabriel Byrne's slow and steady anchor. But Kevin Spacey (literally) runs off with the movie as the observant, creative motormouth Verbal Kint. He would never be this interesting again.
29. Dances with Wolves - (1990)
The story of a Civil War veteran who befriends the Sioux tribe still resonates on many levels. On the surface, the landscapes and scenery are perfectly mixed with exciting action set-pieces. John Barry's score is inspiring and moving and the cinematography makes you feel like you're on the screen. On a deeper level, the film uses humor to endear the Sioux characters thus strengthening the commonalities between different races, etc. It's a little too formulaic with every character getting their "moment", but it's also ridiculously successful in more ways than it has any right to be. Some other thoughts here and here.
28. The Player - (1992)
Robert Altman's love letter to Hollywood (and film geeks) is self-referential, cynical, and hilarious. Film executive Tim Robbins accidentally murders a screenwriter he thinks has been harassing him. But the harassment continues and as Robbins tries to keep his job, the tension mounts. Altman's satirical edge has never been sharper and his reliance on a strong screenplay makes this his most accessible film - that and more stars than a moonless prairie night.
27. Groundhog Day - (1993)
A self-centered, arrogant weatherman (Bill Murray) hoping for the big-time gets stuck in a small town living the same day over and over again. He falls for his producer (the radiant Andie MacDowell) who sees him for what he is. What is initially played for hilarity becomes a philosophical dissertation about the meaning of life and personal responsibility. When Phil (Murray) accepts his station in life and decides to act to the betterment of himself and those around him, he finally stops hearing that blasted Sonny and Cher song.
26. The Truman Show - (1998)
Truman (Jim Carrey) wants to escape his repetitious life, but unbeknownst to him, he's the star of a successful and lucrative reality TV show and the show's creator - Christof (Ed Harris) - won't let him. Like most impossible plots (see #27), metaphors about life are the main focus. Carrey overdoes it in some early scenes but is appropriately mature and affecting otherwise. Director Peter Weir uses bright colors and terrific imagery ("Position 1" near the end is a favorite moment) to make the film visually fascinating and uses existing Philip Glass music (here and here) to potentiate Truman's drive and desire.
100. Glengarry Glen Ross
99. Dead Again
98. Ed Wood
97. True Romance
96. The Commitments
95. Bound
94. Die Hard 2
93. In the Line of Fire
92. Affliction
91. Shakespeare in Love
90. In the Company of Men
89. Short Cuts
88. Copland
87. The Hudsucker Proxy
86. The Last Seduction
85. The Apostle
84. Burnt by the Sun
83. The Godfather Part III
82. Good Will Hunting
81. Speed
80. Reversal of Fortune
79. Forest Gump
78. American Beauty
77. Dazed and Confused
76. True Lies
75. Nixon
74. Malcolm X
73. Red Rock West
72. Hearts of Darkness
71. Wag the Dog
70. Thelma and Louise
69. Hoop Dreams
68. Quiz Show
67. Reservoir Dogs
66. Total Recall
65. The Hunt for Red October
64. Babe
63. Braveheart
62. Searching for Bobby Fischer
61. Bottle Rocket
60. Jerry Maguire
59. Terminator 2
58. Toy Story
57. Toy Story 2
56. Elizabeth
55. Apollo 13
54. Casino
53. Rushmore
52. Get Shorty
51. Barton Fink
50. Swingers
49. The Matrix
48. 12 Monkeys
47. Out of Sight
46. The Sixth Sense
45. The Limey
44. Hamlet
43. Dark City
42. Leaving Las Vegas
41. Hard Eight
40. The Fugitive
39. Three Kings
38. Waiting for Guffman
37. Beauty and the Beast
36. Hard-Boiled
35. In the Name of the Father
34. Lone Star
33. Three Colors: Blue, White, Red
32. A River Runs Through It
31. Dead Man Walking
The White Ribbon - B+
Rated R, on DVD and Blu-ray
In German, 144 minutes, Trailer
In a small Northern German town, violent crimes and accidents begin occurring in the summer of 1913. At first they appear unrelated, but when strange coincidences arise, the 30 year old schoolteacher tries to connect and solve them. The schoolteacher also serves as the narrator and he is likely an unreliable one since he is recounting the events decades later . . .
The spectacular high-contrast black and white cinematography makes it look like classic 1950s Ingmar Bergman. The cast of unknowns is superb with memorable faces filling each role. Director Michael Haneke gets authentic performances out of the children and adults alike. There are dozens of distinct characters which are juggled beautifully. The lack of a main character puts Haneke center stage and he makes the most of it. His camera holds still, allowing things to play out realistically. He also holds onto shots longer than expected which gives the film an unusual feel reminiscent of his own Cache. Like that film, the answer to the mystery(s) is open for interpretation and lends itself to an intellectual discussion. Haneke is much more interested in human behavior, childhood trauma, and class envy than classic story structure.
Given the choice of location and time, Haneke is clearly dissecting the roots of Nazi fascism. Early in the narration, the schoolteacher describes the horrors that later arise in Germany. With the numerous Christian references (the white ribbon is a symbol of renewed purity), it's clear Haneke feels that German fascism was born out of strict, fundamentalist Protestantism. Haneke cites other potential contributing causes (including income disparity and abusive parents). It would seem suppression and hypocrisy could be initiating factors as well (all of which would help explain fascism in Catholic Italy and atheist Russia).
The lack of adult role models in the film is alarming and thoughts about the accelerating moral decay in America spring to mind easily. Indeed, the closing shot at a chapel has the congregation looking at the screen, indicating we should be aware of our own actions and how they affect others. A heavy-handed lesson to be sure, but one that bears repeating and remembering. The film has shocking moments of R-rated violence and sex, but the harshest scene is when the town doctor dumps his lover, belittling everything about her. This will be too ambiguous for some and too accusatory for many. My initial reaction was frustration, but the film's complexity and ambition has grown on me. B+
Friday, November 5, 2010
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer - B
In theaters. Rated R, 117 minutes. Trailer.
The story of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's downfall is fascinating. As told by noted documentarian Alex Gibney, the story is transformed into a goliath/goliath story that almost casts Spitzer as a victim. Gibney begins the film by showing Spitzer's brave/reckless fight against Wall Street during the early 2000s. Some of those fights were surprisingly prescient, and they earned Spitzer some powerful and wealthy enemies. As he assumes the governorship, he is at his political zenith but he also begins to get hookers from a high end escort service, culminating in his downfall. Click below for more on Client 9:
The strength of the film are the interviews with Spitzer and the prostitutes. The actual girl that brought him down (Ashley Dupre) was not in the film because she wanted to have control over how her interviews were portrayed. Spitzer's discussion of himself is painful because he is so smart and he knows how stupid he was, but he still can't explain it. The girls that are interviewed are so flighty and stupid it just continues to drive home the staggering recklessness it would take for him to have been meeting prostitutes.
Gibney also introduces us to the cast of enemies that may or may not have alerted the authorities to Spitzer's conduct. They are funny and interesting, but also pretty clearly happy to have the credit for his downfall. Worth your time if you're into politics and morality.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Karate Kid (2010) - C-
In a remake that epitomizes everything wrong in Hollywood, the introduction of Mr. Han (tediously played by Jackie Chan) references the 1984 original by showing his attempt to catch a fly with chopsticks. But instead of revealing strong character traits like patience, discipline, and restraint, he violently squashes it with a big flyswatter with the alternate hand. This lack of subtlety is demonstrated throughout the rest of the film with the hysteric antics of Taraji P. Henson and the mugging face of Jaden Smith. Director Harold Zwart generically films the boring dialogue while mismanaging the confusing fight scenes . . .
In this update, a Detroit single mother (Henson) and her son Dre (Smith) move to Beijing for her job. He immediately gets bullied by some one-dimensional thugs and then meets a maintenance man (Chan) with a troubled past and a knack for kicking butt. Mr. Han's backstory is much less noble and he has absolutely zero sense of humor (one of the best and most memorable parts of Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi). Like the original film, the single mother is mostly forgotten as the film progresses to a tournament that has Dre taking on his rivals.
One of the biggest problems of the film is the change in the protagonist's age. Being a 12 year old obviously takes away the romantic rivalry aspect of the first film. It also makes Chan look unforgivably abusive when he beats up a bunch of kids. There is a girl (who's given her own superfluous violin recital), but their relationship is forced at best. This is the kind of film that asks you to believe that a classically trained violinist who does nothing else can suddenly dance better than an LA Laker girl when someone just asks her to.
The initial training sessions are simplistic and implausible since the jacket "moves" don't even come close to what Dre uses later in the film. Mr. Han then takes Dre to the Great Wall for no good reason other than to show that they are actually in China. It also shows that Dre's mother doesn't mind her young son going off with an unshaven, disheveled, borderline alcoholic she barely knows (apparently there are no pedophiles in China). Dre runs across a Kung Fu master who can control a cobra's mind. When Mr. Han says that it takes a lifetime to master the technique, you can be damn sure that Dre will have it down pat in 6-8 weeks to use at the lifeless, predictable tournament.
The original film had brilliant acting by Morita and Ralph Macchio (both in their signature roles). When Daniel LaRusso says, "You're the best friend I've ever had", you really believe him. When Dre says it, you don't care. (Thankfully, Chan doesn't even try Morita's classic reply "You pretty OK too"). The music in the first by Bill Conti is inspiring and moving; the music in the remake is as generic as it gets - probably the same score used for dozens of films during the past 2 years. The first film also had a strong soundtrack (led by "Cruel Summer") - all we have here is an end credits Justin Bieber-Jaden Smith debacle that will have you reaching for the mute button. C-
After a recent viewing of the original, I was struck by how long director John G. Avildsen let the scenes play out without cutting - allowing his actors to genuinely react to each other. The original blonde bad guys were similar but unique in their own ways (inarguably lost in the remake). The East Coast-West Coast rivalry is there as is an Aryan-Italian one. The 1984 film looks like a mini-masterpiece in retrospect - only slipping with a few dated songs. 1984 version: A-
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
DVD and Blu-ray Releases 11/2/10
Car Toon: Mater's Tall Tales - #, *
Centurion - #
ExTerminators - #
Fallen - #
The Larry Sanders Show - *
Once Fallen - #
The Pacific (HBO Miniseries) - #, *
Toy Story 3 - #, *
V- First Season - #, *
Click below for this week's Blu-ray releases
The Bridge on the River Kwai - *
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The Goonies
Highlander
Highlander 2
The Sound of Music
White Christmas
# - also on Blu-ray
* - Doctor approved