February 2009
	by Max (with Walt Oleksy)	view previous issues here

The 2008 Oscar nominations were announced and they look pretty good, with some intelligent movies and performances among them. The only movie in the best picture category that is available so far on DVD is FROZEN RIVER. Sony was kind enough to send me a review copy and I liked the movie so much it is one of my two Best Picks of the Month. The other best pick is a remake of a British Masterpiece Theater classic.

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FROZEN RIVER

Two destitute single mothers attempt smuggling immigrants into the U.S. across the remote New York state-Canada border between a Mohawk Indian reservation and Quebec. One is a widowed Mohawk (Misty Upham) whose mother-in-law stole her infant son. The other woman’s (Melissa Leo's) gambler husband deserted her and their two children. They need the smuggling money for down payment on a trailer home as winter sets in. The story of their attempt to survive, though illegal, is so compelling you will probably hope they get away with it. I won’t tell if they do and highly recommend you see it. The picture was the winner of the Sundance Film Festival grand jury prize. Leo is up for a best actress Oscar, and its writer-director, Courtney Hunt, was nominated for best original screenplay. It’s great to see an independent movie made on a very small budget be nominated for best picture alongside some giants from the major studios. The DVD’s extras include commentary with Hunt and Heather Ray, the film’s co-producer. From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  Max’s rating: Two paws up and lots of tail wags.

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (the movie)

The 1945 Evelyn Waugh best-selling novel about an intense friendship between two men, one of whom also falls for the other’s sister, was made into a magnificent 11-part Masterpiece Theater television miniseries in 1981 that made stars of Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews. My master and I loved the miniseries so much, we didn’t expect to like the new shorter, movie-length version, but we did, and very much. It retains most if not all the plot situations of the miniseries while condensing the drama for a single viewing. I didn’t even nap watching it. The story takes place in a World War II flashback at the ancestral mansion of a wealthy British family whose matriarch is a very devout Catholic who leads her flock as strictly the Pope leads his. Her son Sebastian (played here by Ben Whishaw in the Anthony Andrews role), becomes infatuated with Charles Ryder, a fellow student (played by Matthew Goode in the Jeremy Irons role). Their relationship becomes endangered when Charles falls in love with Sebastian’s sister. Their mother (played by the always wonderful Emma Thompson), tries her best to break up both affairs. Michael Gambon plays Marchmain in another memorable performance in a movie full of them. The movie is highly recommended but I also suggest that you watch the miniseries which has been available on DVD for several years, from Granada and Acorn Media. The movie version on DVD is from 2 Entertain and BBC Films.
Max’s rating: Two paws up and lots of “woo woos!”

PAINTED LADY

You may be surprised to see Helen Mirren very un-queenlike in this Masterpiece Theater mystery thriller. She cavorts sometimes very scantily-attired as she becomes involved in a murder and a stolen priceless painting. It’s engrossing to follow her as she tries to retrieve the painting and find the person who killed her friend, a member of the British aristocracy. Complicating matters on her journey from Ireland to London to New York and back again, the murdered man’s son attempts his own investigation. Another of my favorite Brit actors, Ian Glen, plays the son. Others I liked in the movie were Michael Maloney and Franco Nero. The DVD extras include a biography of Ms. Mirren.
From Acorn Media.

DECEMBER BRIDE

No, not the 1954 senior citizen romantic television series with Spring Byington and Henry Morgan. This is a new movie, winner of 14 international film awards, set in Ireland just after World War 1 and based on the novel by Sam Hanna Bell. Sarah, a proud servant girl, deviates from her strict upbringing by having love affairs with two men at the same time who also happen to be brothers. Of course she becomes pregnant, but won’t tell who the father is and also refuses to marry either brother. But this doesn’t keep her from living with both of them, in defiance of her strict mother and the shocked townspeople. “An eloquent film… exceptional!” says the New York Times, and “A beautiful film… one of the finest examples of ensemble acting” says the Irish Voice. Saskia Reeves stars as Sarah with Donal McCain and Ciaran Hinds as the brothers in excellent performances. From Little Bird, Central Television Enterprises, and BFS Entertainment.

DEEP WINTER

The long, cold, and snowy winter in the Chicago area where I live with my master is up on the television screen in this extreme sports action adventure about skiing and professional snowboarding. Eric Lively and Kellan Lutz star as childhood friends, one a U.S. Ski Team Downhill Racer, the other a professional snowboarder. They take a challenging vacation to Alaska to attempt to conquer a mountain no one has ever made it down before and lived to tell the tale. Filmed in Utah, Colorado, and Alaska, there are many scenes of exciting downhill skiing and snowboarding in mountain grandeur. Michael Madsen and John Carradine play supporting roles in this movie I recommend for action lovers and sports lovers. From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

REDEMPTION

This violent western is billed as “High Noon Meets Unforgiven” and does its best to live up to it. Cattle-rustler turned killer, Frank Hardin (played by Dustin James) hopes to find refuge in a dusty mining town named Redemption that is near the Mexican border. Trouble is, bandits have taken over the town and area. When they kill a farming family, town locals ask Hardin to help them. Okay, the plot is familiar (“The Magnificent Seven” for one example), but that aside, it’s good viewing for those who like their westerns on the shoot-em-up side. John Ford would never have filmed it.
From North American Motion Pictures.

LIGHTHOUSE HILL

A nice little romance for cold winter nights. Jason Flemyng plays a young man whose best friend has died, so he seeks tranquility in a village called Lighthouse Hill. Strangely, he discovers that everyone seems to know a lot more about him than he would think, since he’s never been there before. A romance soon develops between him and a local woman (Kirsty Mitchell), which leads him to discover some very interesting things about her, the town, and himself. From American Home Treasures and BFS Entertainment.

RELATIVE STRANGERS

Brenda Fricker, Academy Award-winner for “My Left Foot,” stars as a newly widowed mother who discovers that her late husband had another wife. Her search for the woman leads her to learn that the other wife had a child, a little boy. Complications pile up when she learns that the boy is sick and needs the care and help of her own children to survive. Nominated for Irish film and television awards, the movie co-stars Adrian Dunbar and Lena Stolze, from Little Bird/Tatfilm Productions and BFS Entertainment.

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

For much-needed laughs, Oliver Goldsmith’s very funny classic 1773 play comes to DVD from a five episode British television series. Roy Marsden, Mark Dexter, and Susannah Fielding star with guest appearances by Polly Hemingway, Ian Redford, and others. It’s about a beautiful young lady who, though well-bred, poses as a bar maid to win the heart of her stuffy suitor. There are mistaken identities, lots of deceptions, and masks worn in social situations are uncovered in a journey to learn about love. Filmed at a 17th Century manor house, the farce is directed by Tony Britten. Good old fun from Acorn Media.

ENEMY AT THE DOOR

Series 1 of the BBC television miniseries about the Nazi occupation of Britain’s Channel Islands during World War II. Little-known stories of the war are played out in 13 episodes of a 4 DVD boxed set from Acorn Media. First seen in the late 1970s, the series stars Alfred Burke, Bernard Horsfall, and Emily Richard with guest stars John Nettles, Alun Armstrong, Joss Ackland, and the acting debut of Anthony Stewart Head of television’s Buffy and the Vampire Slayer. It is an uneasy coexistence between the occupiers and the occupied who tread the fine line between cooperation and collaboration as islanders struggle to survive. Very interesting war stories here.

WILD AT HEART

This popular British television series takes place in the African wilderness. Middle-aged newlyweds, both previously married, take a family trip to Africa to escape domestic problems at home in England, and decide to stay. They buy a rundown game reserve deep in the African bush and try to restore it. While trying to help the wild animals around them, they begin to help heal their own personal and family wounds. It’s good drama and adventure filmed on location at a game reserve near Johannesburg, South Africa. Series 1 is out this month from Acorn Media.

WYCLIFFE

Another British television detective, this one with Jack Shepherd as Wycliffe, trying to solve murders in Cornwall. Calm, serious, but quick-thinking, he goes to work in six episodes on three DVDs in a boxed set from BFS Entertainment.

SPACE SHUTTLE DISASTER

Nova recalled the day of tragedy on February 1, 2003 when the space shuttle Columbia blew up over Texas just 16 minutes before it was due to land. All seven astronauts aboard were killed. What caused the disaster is explored in this chilling documentary by members of the investigation board. NASA’s plans for the future of space travel also are revealed on the DVD from WGBH Boston Video.

PICTURING THE PRESIDENTS

Historical portraits of all past American Presidents housed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. are on this DVD from Infinity Entertainment Group. You may not want to linger long looking at the Bushes or Nixon or some others, but then again maybe you should, looking for reasons why they were voted into office at all.

ARCTIC DINOSAURS

Scientists have long wondered how dinosaurs survived and even thrived in the polar regions. A NOVA field expedition to Alaska’s North Slope documents the enigma and finds new fossil clues to solve the mystery. The fascinating DVD is from WGBH Boston Video.

THE RED GREEN SHOW, 2001 Season

The eleventh season of the Canadian television comedy has creator and star Steve Smith again playing the handyman at Possum Lake that you might not want to call, even in an emergency. In one of the 17 episodes, Red’s nephew Harold accidentally rents a lodge to nudists, while Red adds more crazy contraptions to his inventions, including a lawn-mower coffee-maker. Good fun from Acorn Media.

THE BERENSTAIN BEARS are back in a Valentine’s Day collection called Kindness, Caring, and Sharing. The features include the original V-Day network special called “Comic Valentine,” plus four more episodes about birthdays, new neighbors, and kite-flying. Good entertainment for preschoolers from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

BARNEY: ONCE UPON A DINO TALE has our friendly dinosaur exploring the enchanted world of fairy tales including Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella. A bonus feature is Barney’s Sing-along Jukebox. From HiT Entertainment and Lionsgate

BOB THE BUILDER: RACE TO THE FINISH is an all-new movie in which Bob takes on his biggest job ever, a new sports Stadium. From HiT Entertainment and Lionsgate.

My master and I didn't know anything about BURN AFTER READING and watched it, to our great displeasure. It's another sick humor movie written and directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Cohen whom Hollywood and most critics seem to worship. Remember FARGO which won Oscars?  It thought shredding a man was great fun. Same with BURN... George Clooney finds Brad Pitt hiding in his closet so he shoots him between the eyes, and John Malkovich chops up a man with a hatchet. And it's supposed to be a comedy. What the Coen brothers and Hollywood moviemakers like them is, is sick.