Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 5th, 2005
Mike Leigh is one of England's most accomplished directors. His recent success, Vera Drake, shows that the man hasn't lost his touch. Leigh's films go back over 30 years. His famous "Mike Leigh" method (in short hand) involves actors improvising scenes for months; Leigh writes the scenes down and a screenplay is created. The films he's made include quirky character dramadies, Life is Sweet and down and dirty slices of life, Naked. But nowhere is this "Mike Leigh method" more successful tha... in his masterpiece Secrets & Lies.
Secrets & Lies has a few story lines. But the main narrative follows the character of Hortense Cumberbatch (great name) as she searches for her birth mother (played by Brenda Blethyn). But Hortense is a black woman and Cynthia (the birth mother) is a very working class white woman. Sounds like a vehicle for Beonce? Mike Leigh has more class than that. But there are hilarious moments; and the climax of the film is shattering. Secrets & Lies garnered many major Oscar nominations for its year, and rightly so. It's a damn fine film; a masterpiece of British cinema.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 5th, 2005
Mike Leigh is one of England's most accomplished directors. His recent success, Vera Drake, shows that the man hasn't lost his touch. Leigh's films go back over 30 years. His famous "Mike Leigh" method (in short hand) involves actors improvising scenes for months; Leigh writes the scenes down and a screenplay is created. The films he's made include quirky character dramadies, Life is Sweet and down and dirty slices of life, Naked. But nowhere is this "Mike Leigh method" more successful tha... in his masterpiece Secrets & Lies.
Secrets & Lies has a few story lines. But the main narrative follows the character of Hortense Cumberbatch (great name) as she searches for her birth mother (played by Brenda Blethyn). But Hortense is a black woman and Cynthia (the birth mother) is a very working class white woman. Sounds like a vehicle for Beonce? Mike Leigh has more class than that. But there are hilarious moments; and the climax of the film is shattering. Secrets & Lies garnered many major Oscar nominations for its year, and rightly so. It's a damn fine film; a masterpiece of British cinema.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 3rd, 2005
Soap is a curious soap opera parody from the late 1970?s. It has a quality ensemble cast, Richard Mulligan, Robert Guilliaume, Katherine Helmond, and much younger Billy Crystal (to name a few). Soap was a bit groundbreaking for its time, as it tackled some hot button issues (homosexuality being one). But the show is committed to its ridiculousness; alien abductions, demon possession, and prison breaks confirm Soap?s bizarre and wacky charm.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 2nd, 2005
There is cause for joy for TV sitcom fans. Taxi's second season is now on DVD. It's an important season to own, since the show develops more memorable characters like Reverend Jim and Simka (played by the great Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane). But series regulars, like Alex, Latka, Louis, Nardo, Tony, and Bobby Wheeler, all show more depth here. Taxi really came into its own in the second year, and its multiple Emmy awards were justified. All 24 episodes are here. Farcical but human, Taxi...should belong on any TV collector's shelf. I could listen to that melancholic theme song for days.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 2nd, 2005
Fear of nuclear proliferation was a definite threat in the Reagan era 80's. Movies like The Day After played into those fears. Another film that deals with the consequences of nuclear fallout is 1983's Testament. Testament is a small, quiet film about the effects of nuclear fallout on a family and a community. The director, Lynne Littman, is a veteran of documentary films, and she brings a certain truth and realism to the story. There are no mushroom clouds or special effects, just human eff...cts. Jane Alexander plays the mother, and she's the rock that keeps her family together. She deserved the Oscar nomination she received that year. A very young Kevin Costner also makes a cameo.
Audio
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on February 2nd, 2005
Fox Home Entertainment will release the Jennifer Garner comic-book adventure known as Elektra on April 5th. The disc will be presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with both English DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. Extras will include deleted scenes, a "Making-of Elektra" featurette, an "Inside the Editing Room" feature, a Comic-Con Presentation, trailers, a soundtrack promo, and an "Inside Look" at the Fantastic Four and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on January 31st, 2005
Warner Home Video will release the extremely controversial Nicole Kidman film Birth on April 9th. This disc will be presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen tranfer, along with both English Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 5.1 audio tracks. As for extras, this disc will include the theatrical trailer, and DVD-ROM features.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 30th, 2005
Written by Jason Franz
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 25th, 2005
Written by Jason Franz
Synopsis
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on January 25th, 2005
On May 3rd, Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the Nicholas Cage action film National Treasure in seperate widescreen and fullscreen editions. Each disc will feature a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, as well as Deleted scenes and an Alternate Ending (with optional director's commentary), four featurettes ("National Treasure On Location", "the Knights Templar", "Treasure Hunters Revealed" & "Riley's Decode This!), Three challenge games, and an opening scene animatic (also with optional Director's co...mentary).
