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

Remember the actor who rode the rocket at the end of DR. STRANGELOVE? His name was Slim Pickens, and that’s what there is this month in the way of new movies on DVD. Except for the new version of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED which will be released later this month and was not available for review as this is being written. So I can only recommend a few new releases for early January:

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INTO THE WILD

You may either love or dislike this movie, a real life contemporary “On the Road” about a young college graduate, Chris McCandless, who chooses to try a life of freedom in the wilderness rather than become part of the greed and hypocrisy he sees around him. You may love it if you share his passions and dislike it if you regard him as immature and not fully realizing the life-threatening dangers he has chosen to undertake. Emil Hirsch plays Chris so well you think he may well be Chris. William Hurt plays his hypocritical father, and Hal Holbrook comes in near the end as a philosophical elder statesman. Sean Penn directed and also wrote the screenplay from the 1996 best-selling book by Jon Krakauer who tells in a DVD extra how he followed a path similar to Chris’. I liked it a lot but kept thinking, like Dorothy of Kansas, there’s no place like home. From Vantage and Paramount.
Max’s rating: two paws up.

GOD ON TRIAL

This is grim but worth experiencing. It asks the question, “Was God watching?” as a group of prisoners were tortured in a Nazi death camp during World War II. The new prisoners at Auschwitz put God on trial to reach a conclusion before they are to be killed or put to hard labor. Fascinating movie starring Dominic Cooper, Stellan Skarsfard, Rupert Graves and others. Seen on Masterpiece Contemporary, it is on DVD from WGBH Boston Video.

MY UNCLE SILAS

Albert Finney has aged quite a bit since he played TOM JONES, but has grown as one of the best of the senior generation of British actors. He plays lovable Uncle Silas in this new movie, a hard-drinking, womanizing rascal who is a bad influence on his 10-year-old nephew who comes to visit him for a summer in the country. It’s set in Victorian-era England and there’s lots of warmth and humor as we see that maybe Uncle Silas is a good influence on the boy after all. A 2 DVD set comprises series one of the Masterpiece Theater miniseries, from BFS Entertainment.

THE BEIDERBECKE AFFAIR

Bix Lives! The fabulous 1920s jazz great Bix Beiderbecke’s music gets a very welcome reprise in this new British mystery series created by Alan Plater. James Bolam plays a wisecracking schoolteacher with a passion for Bix who becomes an amateur detective when a set of his Bix records goes missing. His girlfriend and fellow teacher, played by Barbara Flynn, joins him in the mystery that takes them into a world of black market goods in a church basement, secret meetings in a parking lot, and corruption in high places. Six light-hearted episodes of the new television series from the 1990s are in a 2 volume boxed set from Acorn Media Group.

CHANGE MY LIFE

A very unusual drama about an unemployed actress (Fanny Ardant) who overdoses on tranquilizers and collapses on a Paris street. Only one person comes to her aid, a young Algerian man who comes jogging by. After saving her life, he disappears into the night. She finally tracks him down and discovers he is a failed Olympic long-distance runner who has turned to drugs and prostitution. They help each other find their ways back to lives worth living. It’s strong stuff from Synkronized and Koch Entertainment.

SAMSON AND THE 7 MIRACLES

Gordon Scott, the chesty hunk who played Tarzan five times, also made his share of sword-and-sandal epics in Italian films. This is one of them, part of a double-feature of such adventures. As Samson, he is in 13th century China, trying to rescue a prince and princess from a cruel Tarter chieftain trying to steal their kingdom. The co-feature is ALI BABA AND THE 7 SARACENS which has a similar plot but stars Dan Harrison. Not great movies, but fun in the sun during a cold winter. From Retromedia and Infinity Entertainment.

A VIKING SAGE: SON OF THOR

Based on a true story and a battle for survival that changed history, it is the tale of Helgi, a 10-year-old boy who witnessed the slaughter of his family and village. Years later he discovers that the new reigning king was responsible for the long-ago carnage. Exciting adventure from Sknkronized and Koch Entertainment.

NATURE TECH is an award-winning documentary from the Smithsonian Networks that examines “biomimetic,” the evolving science of looking to nature for answers to modern problems. Three episodes view the world with fresh eyes, from Infinity Entertainment. It won an Emmy for its nature cinematography.

NEW YORK NOIR: HISTORY OF BLACK NEW YORK tells the remarkable story of African-Americans in New York City from the early 1600s through today. I was surprised to learn that African-Americans lived in the Big Apple long before the arrival of the British, Irish, Italians, or anyone Jewish or Christian. The documentary includes rare historical footage and segments on civil rights, politics, business, military heroes, and entertainment. From Little Dizzy Home Video.

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN has the nine-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soul legend in the 25th anniversary edition DVD of his musical exploration of faith. Extras include a 90 minute audio interview with Green. From Acorn Media Group.

SONNY ROLLINS: SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS is a documentary about the jazz great Grammy award winner for lifetime achievement. Green speaks candidly about his life, creative process, spirituality, and music. From Acorn Media Group.