Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2005
Synopsis
Sydney is a poker-faced professional gambler with a soft heart for a hard luck story. He plays guardian angel to unlucky John and a hooker, Clementine, whom he grows to love like family. When John and Clementine’s honeymoon night leads to a disastrous hostage situation, Sydney takes care of it, as usual. But when slick casino pro Jimmy threatens to reveal a secret from Sydney’s past that could destroy his relationship with the newlyweds, Sydney decides to hedge his bets and not leave anything to ch...nce.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2005
Synopsis
For awhile, the jokes made by people like Chris Rock were geared towards HBO being a naked channel, with 38 different versions of the Real Sex show that they would air on their 12 channels (my numbers may be off, but not by much, which is scary) were pretty dead on. But, as part of their documentary series America Undercover, an hour of time was spent discussing the happiest place on Earth, the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada, where prostitution is legal and the party never ends.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 20th, 2005
Lost Lake is an incomprehensible mess. Think David Lynch with less sense. If that makes any. The story takes place at an isolated ski lodge. Cue the entrance of exotic hottie Kat Walker (played by Angel Boris). The movie is hard to describe. Let’s just say…the ski lodge has some really weird guests. And pee can make frozen privates thaw from metal. Didn’t you know that? An avalanche also comes into play. Kat starts having “visionsâ€. I dunno. The plot is convoluted and makes Mulholland D...ive look like logic. The dialogue is laughable, but there are some nudie shots and cool skiing stuff to make this dreck a little more watchable.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 20th, 2005
Synopsis
The superbly obnoxious Ben Stiller plans to have his Globo Gym take over and destroy the building that houses the apathetic Vince Vaughn’s Average Joe’s. Unless Vaughn and his friends raise $50,000.00 before the end of the month, all will be lost. Their only hope is to win a dodgeball championship. They’re no damn good, but help comes in the form of psychotic ex-dodgeball champ Rip Torn and Christine Taylor as an accountant with a killer throw.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 19th, 2005
I was not too eager to see Hitch in the theater, thinking that DVD was just fine for a film such as this; it is after all only a romantic comedy. I was one of the few who thought this way, as Hitch killed at the box office, brining in over $175 million in its theatrical run. After seeing the film on DVD, I can see why it did so well at the box office – it is the ultimate date movie. You get a charismatic Will Smith, a funny Kevin James, and a gorgeous Eva Mendes – the perfect blend for any sure fire enjoyment by all. This is not to say that this is THAT great of a film, but it hits the mark for what it is.
I am sure you know the plot by now… Alex 'Hitch' Hitchens (Smith) is the date doctor. He seems to be able to make everyone else’s relationships work, including an odd pairing like Albert (James) and heiress Allegra Cole (Valletta), but cannot seem to have anything go right when around his love interest (Mendes). The comedy ensues, and yada yada yada.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 18th, 2005
Again, this USA Network series is based very loosely on the early Stephen King novel or the film with Martin Sheen. The third season takes the series much closer to the darker world of the King novel. Johnny’s growing obsession with Candidate Stillson flirts ever so dangerously with the tragic conclusion of the original story. Of course, the series appears to have strong legs. A fourth and fifth season are already ordered, so Johnny won’t be taking that ever fateful step... just yet. What makes this increasingly compelling storyline work is twofold. Fans of the original finally have some beef to sink their canines into. The second benefit is a direct payoff of this being a series instead of a single film. While we may think we know where Johnny’s headed, we now get to see it have a profound impact on his life. This is a solid 12 episode run and well worth the DVD shelf space required to display it.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 18th, 2005
Until the Night is a "fly under the radar" movie. You haven't heard of it, but then you watch it. And you're quite taken with it. Until the Night is in the tradition of those relationship/talkie movies (indy god Cassavetes comes to mind). Night also has shades of Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Characters talk to a camcorder, and there are some Soderbergh moments of time fracture.
The plot (to call it one) revolves around a pair of relationships. Elizabeth (played wonderfully by ...athleen Robertson) struggles to keep her chin up abou their marriage to Daniel (played by Michael T. Weiss). In the meantime Robert (played by the underated Norman Reedus) is a photographer who is descends in to a pit of despair over is failing relationship to Mina (Missy Crider). Robert and Elizabeth eventually, and inevitably, meet. And well...the tangled web of romance is weaved. The director/writer Gregory Hatanaka, in his first film, has shown a maturity of theme. This is a strong, truthful film about adult relationships.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 17th, 2005
Synopsis
Direct-to-Video queen Kari Wuhrer headlines as hard-edged reporter willing to risk life and limb for a story. Her editor sends her to Bucharest (your first hint of the pic’s minimal budget) to investigate a strange cult of people who call themselves “Deaders.” The members of this group appear to have died and been resurrected by the charismatic leader. Wuhrer descends into the underground, and reality goes all rubbery after she finds and opens a Lament Configuration, summoning Pinhead into h...r life.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005
Poker viewing on television has been a phenomenon that has exploded over the last few years. This 8-disc set of The World Poker Tour - Season Two (14 episodes and one disc with bonus material) is a viewing pleasure for any poker fan who just enjoys watching it or is looking to improve their game.
Each episode includes poker instruction and player profiles for an inside look at the professional poker world. The host team of Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten are very knowledgeable and add excitement t... every match, and then of course there’s Shana Hiatt!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on June 16th, 2005
In watching Being John Malkovich again recently, for the first time in awhile, the thing I was struck by is how unique it is (duh!). It doesn't try too hard at being different, to the point that it's going to suck, everything is matter of fact, and it's hilarious. Its characters are flawed, but we feel for some of them a great deal. It's funny, it's touching, it's dramatic, it works on many levels. I'd expected this to be a 112 minute MTV video from Spiegel heir Spike Jonze, but it's clear that with his work, combined with Charlie Kaufman's script, the result is a story about the 3 main characters experiencing deep, life-altering experiences, and from those experiences, finding (or wanting to find) love. How they get there though, that's another story.
Craig Schwartz (John Cusack, High Fidelity) is a street puppeteer dreaming of success. Sometimes his puppet shows are a little on the PG-13 tip for some G audiences, leading to a young girl's father punching Craig. He then returns home to his wife Lotte (you'd barely notice, but it is Cameron Diaz of There's Something About Mary) convinces him to try and find a job. Lotte runs a pet store, and their apartment is crowded with pets, among them a chimp suffering from an ulcer. With Craig's expert hands, he manages to find a job working as a file clerk at LesterCorp, located in the Merton Flemmer building on the 7th floor. He meets and falls for Maxine, who is not afraid to speak her mind, especially when it comes to Craig's passion. She tolerates Craig, knowing that he's pretty harmless. One day at work, Craig accidentally drops a file behind a cabinet, and behind the cabinet, finds a door and a small crawlspace. Going through the door whisks him through a portal which places him inside of John Malkovich's head for 15 minutes, before depositing him along the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. Craig returns to work and tells Maxine (and subsequently Lotte) about the portal, and things go from there.
