Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 7th, 2005
Synopsis
Jean Reno plays Léon, a preternaturally gifted hit man. Shortly after taking down a smallarmy of goons in a high rise, he finds himself having to look after 11-year-old Mathilda (NataliePortman), whose family has been wiped out by Gary Oldman (whose performance goesshamelessly over the top). In between mega-massacres at the beginning and end of the film, wesee the development of the relationship between precocious Mathilda and child-like Léon.
And that is where many...
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...
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...
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
The Dolby Digital 2....
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: 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...
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...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 2nd, 2005
Synopsis
A group of teens (one of whom is searching for his brother, who is believed to be lost at sea)board a sailboat commandeered by a thief. The ship is unintentionally unmoored, and the groupfind themselves at sea. During a storm they are shipwrecked in an encounter with giant lobsterEbirah, and wash up on what at first appears to be a deserted island. In fact, they haveunwelcome company here: this is the base of the evil Communist outfit Red Bamboo, who areenslaving natives an...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 2nd, 2005
Synopsis
The driver and passengers of a city bus are gunned down. One of the victims is an off-dutypolice officer, who is also investigating cop Walter Matthau’s partner. Saddled with a new,motor-mouthed partner (Bruce Dern), Matthau follows the clues, which gradually point to aconnection with an old, unsolved case of his.
Director/producer Stuart (The Amityville Horror) Rosenberg’s thriller aspires todocumentary realism in the investigation process, and there is an a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 1st, 2005
Synopsis
Coalwood, West Virgina, is a typical mining company town in 1957. For most of the malepopulation, the only future is a descent into the mines, with all the hardships and early death thatentails. Jake Gyllenhaal hopes for better, and he is inspired by the launch of Sputnik to build hisown rocket, a project which involves three of his friends, and is encouraged by teacher LauraDern. Against Gyllenhaal are the skepticism of the town, the difficulties of the project, and thetro...
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