June 2008
	by Max (with Walt Oleksy)	view previous issues here

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CRANFORD

The Brits and Masterpiece Theater, now just called Masterpiece, come through again this month with our best pick. Judi Dench stars as one of a group of women who virtually run the small town of the title, near London in the 1840s. You might think you’re watching another Jane Austen story, but it comes from the novels of Elizabeth Gaskell. It’s set in a backward-looking town where most everyone fears the future since it involves a railroad to be built nearby. Dench and Eileen Atkins are spinster sisters and Imelda Staunten and some other wonderful character actresses gossip and help or hinder their ways though their own and others’ fortunes and misfortunes which all make for very entertaining episodes. Michael Gambon appears in one episode involving a sedate romance of Dench. It’s all jolly good fun from BBC Video.

BELLA

Two unhappy people with troubled pasts work at the same Mexican restaurant in New York City, but don’t discover each other until adversity comes along for the girl when she‘s fired and we learn she’s pregnant and broke. The boy has earlier had his encounter with much worse adversity, but I won’t tell what that was. Then the boy comes to the girl’s rescue with compassion that leads to love. It’s a very gentle, slow-moving modern fable that I liked and you probably will too, as did many reviewers. Tammy Blanchard plays the girl, and Mexican soap opera star Eduardo Verastegui plays the boy. She is passably pretty but a fine actress, while he is a fine actor and very handsome, in the scenes where he is younger. When scenes switch to the present, he wears the bushiest black hair, mustache, and beard ever put on an actor. I hadn’t seen so much facial hair since the old Wolf Man movies. But, pardon the pun, it will grow on you and I think you will like this movie very much. Be warned there is one scene that is hard to take… a little girl is killed by a speeding car. I guess they had to show the scene rather than allude to it, but it was still heart-wrenching. From Lionsgate.

ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES

While the latest INDIANA JONES movie is in theaters, the third and final set of televised films of the derring-do exploits of the whip-snapping, fedora-wearing archaeologist as a boy, teenager, and college student have been released on DVD. It’s a super 10-DVD set of adventures with Corey Carrier as the boy Indy and Sean Patrick Flanery as the young man Indy. Carrier doesn’t get to do much in his few early episodes, but Flanery makes up for it in one exciting adventure after another and plays the part with assurance and charm. The boys meet some of the most famous people of the past century and become involved in some of the great events of the era. These also become 94 excellent documentaries among the special features on the DVDS. The complete set covers the entire 22 hour and a half television series, in chronological order. It’s one of the best combinations of adventure and history from George Lucas. It’s also fun to see among the supporting players Daniel Craig as a German World War I attaché, Catherine Zeta-Jones as a veiled spy, and others early in their acting careers. From Paramount Home Entertainment.

ANGLO-SAXON ATTITUDES

A nothing title for a really excellent family drama from the satirical novel of Angus Wilson and written for British television by Andrew Davies who also wrote the screenplay for “Pride and Prejudice.” Richard Johnson stars as a disillusioned historian who recalls a romance when he was a soldier in World War I. Tara Fitzgerald plays the woman, who is the fiancée of the hero’s best friend. Woven into the long-enduring romance is an archaeological mystery involving an object Johnson saw unearthed in a 1912 dig. Along the way, the movie is “a darkly comic, take-no-prisoners satire that skewers British social and academic hypocrisy to the very core.” When televised in the mid-1990s, it won many awards, and deservedly so. Daniel Craig appears briefly in a pre-James Bond role as a mischief-making soldier, and Kate Winslet makes one of her first screen appearances. It comes to DVD in a 2-volume boxed set from Acorn Media.

CRYSTAL RIVER

An unhappy housewife finds romance with a newcomer to town. No, it’s not a remake of “The Bridges of Madison County,”
it’s a new take on that old subject and done very well indeed. Emily Carpenter, who also co-wrote and produced the film, plays the woman who desperately wants children but has suffered her fourth miscarriage and fears she is destined to remain childless. She becomes first curious about the young man who comes to live in the house across the street, and their relationship blossoms from mutual caring into love. It’s a quiet film about relationships, rare for an American movie, and I highly recommend it for its story and performances. A very worthy first feature film by an independent company named Levner, it says a lot and deserves a much wider audience than it got from its theatrical release, from Lifesize.

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS

In the “Indiana Jones” mode, this second in the “National Treasure” franchise has a good story, excitement, and a wooden leading man. I keep wondering how Nicholas Cage ever became an A-list movie star. As in all his movies, he sneers his way through this tale of an archaeologist-fortune seeker involving a so-called book of secrets kept by U.S. Presidents for decades. Cage’s sidekick in the movie, Justin Bartha, has more charisma in his left hand little pinkie than the star has in his entire body. Jon Voight and Helen Mirren have cameo roles as Cage’s bickering parents. Recommended as fairly good summer diversion, from Disney.

CUT OFF

The billionaire father of a spoiled heiress cuts her off so he learns how ordinary working people live. Amanda Brooks can’t live without her luxury cars and yacht, so she and her boyfriend try a Bonnie and Clyde bit, but botch the robbery. They then hijack an ambulance whose passenger is a drug dealer. Faye Dunaway plays the girl’s mother and Malcolm McDowell her tycoon father. It’s not great, but somewhat entertaining, from Union Station Media.

WIDE SARGASSON SEA

Novelist Jean Rhys took on a daunting task when she wrote a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s classic gothic romance, Jane Eyre. Rhys’ novel also won literary acclaim, and makes an engrossing movie telling the earlier life of Mr. Rochester in 1800s Jamaica. We learn who the crazy woman in the attic was before Jane Eyre first heard her nightly sobbing and screams. It’s a good story, well-acted by Rafe Spall as Rochester and Rebecca Hall as the beautiful, rich Creole whom he marries and who later becomes the mystery woman in the attic. The title refers to a region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by ocean currents that is connected to the Bermuda Triangle. It has been portrayed in other literature symbolizing an undercurrent of mystery and danger. Excellent drama of special interest to lovers of Gothic romance, it was first seen on television in 2006 and is now on DVD released by Acorn Media.

BEAU BRUMMELL: THIS CHARMING MAN

James Purefoy stars as the British dandy who brought trousers to the world of fashion and also took off the white wigs men wore in Regency England. He wins the favor of the Prince Regent and rides high in court society, then runs afoul of the prince and his followers when he befriends the then notorious and misanthropic poet, Lord Byron. It’s a riches-to-rags drama with some humor and backside nudity by Purefoy. I liked this telling of the Brummell story better than the 1954 film of the same title that starred Stewart Granger as the Casanova-fop. Purefoy has more life in him in the role, and really puts his backside into it, of course. From BBC Television and Acorn Media.

RUTH RENDELL MYSTERIES, SET 3

I love this series of mysteries without detectives by best-selling British crime writer Ruth Rendell. They’re about people who seem ordinary but who become the targets of crime, often involving murder. Among my favorites in this third set of DVDs from the popular British television series is “The Lake of Darkness” which tells what can happen to a nice guy who wins the lottery and tries to give it away to help people. Jerome Flynn plays the young man whose good luck changes when he meets and falls in love with a mysterious beauty who turns out to be not what she seems. Twists of plot are hallmarks of Rendell’s mysteries and they make for very entertaining dramas. From Acorn Media.

DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT

The NBC television detective series from 1952-1953 starring veteran actor Brian Donlevy is now on DVD in a five-disc set. Donlevy plays U.S. government agent Steve Mitchell, having originated the role on radio, who travels the globe investigating international espionage, sabotage, and other threats to national security. (Where is he when we need him now?) Digitally remastered for sharp picture and sound, from Infinity Entertainment and Falcon Picture Group.

REBUS, SET 3

Ken Stott returns as maverick detective John Rebus in four more thrillers from the best-selling crime novels of Ian Rankin whom one critic says created “the most compelling mind in modern crime fiction.” In this new set from the popular series, the hard-drinking Scottish detective continues to hunt down murderers in modern-day Edinburgh with his detective sergeant partner played by Claire Price. Familiar to viewers of BBC America, the DVDs of the series are released by Acorn Media.

CHURCHILL: The Life and Speeches

Winston Churchill’s life as an aristocrat who possessed the common touch and, as British Prime Minister, was a brilliant leader and orator who inspired his nation to come through World War II victorious. The hour-long DVD also contains excerpts from some of his most famous speeches, spoken by him. “This man who himself created history will be remembered as long as history is read,” said the London Times. Now on DVD, his life and speeches can be remembered as long as history is viewed and heard. From Whitestar and Kulture International Films.

ROBBIE COLTRAINE: INCREDIBLE BRITAIN

An off-beat road trip with Scotland’s beloved humorist taking armchair travelers from London to Glasgow in a vintage Jaguar convertible. You’ll meet a teenage wing-walker, a cleric who ministers to motorcyclists, a man who changes tires on a 20-ton monster, and a rugby match played not with a ball but a beer keg. With the price of gas being what it is worldwide, park the car at home and come along with Coltraine on a delightful mini-vacation from Acorn Media.

THE 2007 NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL

The “Connoisseur’s Collection” features highlights of the classical music festival from Newport, Rhode Island, including concerts from composers Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Schubert. Performers include Adam Golka, the 20-year-old American pianist making his Newport debut playing Chopin; French superstars Jean-Philippe Collard and Henri Demarquette playing Liszt; and pianist John Bayless with new Mozart improvisations. The treasure trove of 15 hours of festival performances plus bonus performances is in a 10-DVD boxed set from Acorn Media Group. And not a mindless popular music “boom boom boom” sound in the collection.

APES AND DINOSAURS

Two outstanding NOVA specials released on DVD this month are “Ape Genius: What Separates Apes from Humans” and “The Four-Winged Dinosaur: Microraptors and the Bird Origin Debate.” Learn more about how chimps, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas are our nearest relatives in the animal world in the co-production with National Geographic. In the second release, scientists investigates prehistoric feathered, winged dinosaurs whose fossil remains were found in a volcano in eastern China. Fascinating natural history from WGBH Boston Video.

CANCER AND CARE-GIVING

Two new lifestyle DVDs, “The Truth About Cancer” and “Caring for Your Parents,” are available this month from WGBH Boston Video. The cancer documentary follows one man’s personal battle with terminal cancer. The other is about how American families deal with care-giving for their elderly parents.

TENNIS, ANYONE?

Last month’s historic tennis match between Roger Federer and Peter Sampras at Madison Square Garden now can be relived and studied in a DVD from StarGames called Netjets Showdown.

MIST

A delightful story about a puppy who grows up to be a brave sheepdog on a farm along the foggy, windy coast of Devonshire in southwest England. Derek Jacoby narrates the adventures in which the dogs also talk. Movies about dogs are becoming increasingly popular and this is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, from Borough Valley and Spring Pictures.

LOOPDIDOO

Alex Nesme’s “Grabouillon” comic books are in a DVD from France, the animated adventures of a 5-year-old cat named Petunia and her mischievous mutt friend Loopdidoo. The DVD contains 13 very short cartoon adventures aimed at pre-schoolers, released by PorchLight Entertainment.

TWISTED: A BALLOONAMENTARY

Eight people show their talents in balloon twisting. Creations include a flying octopus and 100-foot-tall soccer players. More than just a documentary on how to fashion balloons into figures, it tells how balloon twisting changed the lives of the eight people, one of whom moved from a life of crime and found salvation through twisting balloons. From WGBH Boston Video.

64 ZOO LANE

Belgium author An Vrombaut’s adventures of a girl named Lucy who lives next door to a zoo. Each night she visits her animal friends who tell her a story. Scheherazade never had so much fun while she learns about social and personal issues such as responsibility, friendship, helping and caring. Kids aged 2 to 5 have enjoyed the shows on Nickelodeon Jr. The DVD is from PorchLight Home Entertainment.

BARNEY and BOB THE BUILDER

Kids will enjoy these two new DVD adventures of some of their favorite characters. “Barney: Hi! I’m Riff!” introduces Barney fans to a six-year-old Hadrosaur who sings. “Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks” has Bob and his Can-Do Crew welcoming new friends including a dairy truck to Sunflower Valley. From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

THE LAMPIES

A lamp post is just a street light, right? Not in this DVD from PorchLight. In every lamp post is a charming little Lampie who takes kids on adventures such as keeping bad guys from turning the world into darkness. Clever entertainment for pre-schoolers.

Sydney Pollack, the director and actor who died on May 26 at the age of 73, was one of the best and last of Hollywood’s major creative talents. I will remember him best for his Oscar-winning direction of “Out of Africa” in 1985, although among his other achievements were “Tootsie,” “The Way We Were,” and “Jeremiah Johnson.” And, as co-producer of “Michael Clayton,” a gutsy recent George Clooney film about corporate dirty-dealings that have global repercussions.
His maturity and cultural taste will be sorely missed in a Hollywood now focused on movies for those who do not want to be intellectually challenged. You know, you can be both intellectually challenged and entertained. Producers today should watch some of Pollack’s movies to learn how to dance that often award-winning and lucrative two-step.