And Everything Is Going Fine
and Gray’s Anatomy
(Criterion)
Spalding Gray’s unique theatrical
contributions were his subversively funny monologues, and Steven Soderbergh’s
films brilliantly take the measure of Gray as performer and human being. 1997’s
Anatomy intercuts Gray’s incisive eye-operation
monologue with others’ accounts of equally bizarre ocular problems; 2010’s Everything comprises footage of Gray—who
killed himself in 2004—that serves as a fine memorial. Soderbergh’s affection
for Gray (who starred in Soderbergh’s King
of the Hill) is obvious in both movies and in his interviews on these
typically superb Criterion Collection discs. The movies have flawless transfers
and, as extras, interviews with his widow Kathleen Russo and
ex-partner/producer Renee Shafranksy, and—most important—two of Gray’s early monologues,
Sex and Death to Age 14 and A Personal History of American Theater.
(Drafthouse Films)
Writer-director Michael R.
Roskam’s nifty psychological thriller—whose title refers to cattle steroids our
hero injects—is too clever for its own good, especially when Roskam overexplains
his hero’s behavior through flashbacks to a horrific injury suffered as a boy. Still,
led by a hearty performance by Matthias Schornaerts as “Bullhead,” the movie
is, if not unforgettable, at least quite diverting. There’s an impeccably
detailed hi-def transfer; extras include Roskam’s commentary, Roskam and
Schornaerts interviews, a making-of featurette and Roskam’s 2005 short, The One Thing to Do.
(Warners)
Although it’s inferior to James Dickey’s
poetically disturbing novel of four businessmen on a weekend canoe trip gone
wrong, John Boorman’s 1972 adaptation is rip-roaring entertainment that’s
equally disturbing, superbly directed and starring a first-rate cast of then
not-well-knowns (Burt Reynolds, Jon Voigt, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty). The prodigiously
realized photography and editing look equally splendid on Blu-ray, thanks to a terrific
transfer. Extras include a Boorman commentary, new featurette reuniting the
four principals and vintage featurettes.
(Cinema Guild)
Turkish director Nuri Bilge
Ceylan’s latest begins as a group of officers travels to a remote area with murder
suspects to find a body. Spending interminable time waiting, they engage in
small talk (like buffalo yogurt!); we soon find those involved have their own
ethical and personal problems. Magnificent compositions mask a disjointed narrative:
would police be so inept and forget a body bag or not have room in vehicles for
a body? Would an autopsy be conducted with the victim’s wife and son outside
the room? The Blu-ray image is immaculate; voluminous extras include a
95-minute making-of documentary and 50 minutes of Cannes Film Festival footage.
(Cohen Media Group)
The shocking true story of
thousands of British children being sent to new, orphaned lives in Australia is
brought to the screen with the humane anger of Ken Loach—er, that should be Jim
Loach, the brilliant director’s talented son. As his father does, Loach fils smartly casts his central role, as
Emily Watson (one of those rare actresses believable in anything) beautifully plays
the woman who helps the now adult kids discover—or at least find out about—their
real families. This nicely understated drama delivers an emotional punch in the
usual Loach tradition. There’s a sturdy, understated hi-def transfer; extras
include interviews with Loach, Watson, writer Rona Munro and other actors.
(Eagle Vision)
The making of Pink Floyd’s compelling
follow-up to the massive-selling Dark
Side of the Moon is recounted in new interviews with the three surviving members,
Nick Mason, Roger Waters and David Gilmour, along with vintage studio and
concert footage. Best of all—since much of the album comprises tributes and
allusions to Floyd founder Syd Barrett—are the members’ touching reminiscences
of him. The Blu-ray image is fine; extras include added interviews and
“dueling” performances by Gilmour and Waters of “Wish You Were Here” and “Shine
on You Crazy Diamond.”
(Sony)
I don’t get how Jonah Hill, basically
a one-note amateur, has somehow become a big star. His non-talent is on display
in this meretricious reboot of the late ‘80s TV show, with a game Channing
Tatum as Hill’s inept cop sidekick who’s the only reason to watch this overlong
action-cum-comedy flick. The movie is painful to watch, especially since it promises
another unnecessary franchise; that the show’s original stars, Johnny Depp and Peter
DeLuise, have cameos is depressing. The Blu-ray image looks decent enough;
extras include commentary, gag reel, 20 deleted scenes and interviews.
(Warners)
This sequel to the Clash of the Titans remake has titanic
talent—Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson—and little imaginative
drama. Once again, there are fantastic creatures, less than fantastic humans or
gods and less than impressive special effects, despite the use of state-of-the-art
CGI. At least Neeson and Fiennes try to keep straight faces throughout. The
hi-def image, despite—or because of—the extensive CGI, looks a bit too
unrealistic, more robotized than human in movement; extras include Maximum
Movie Mode, storyboards and deleted scenes.
DVDs of the Week
(Sony)
Capable young lawyer Ellen comes
into her own during the fourth season as she takes the lead in investigating
the smug head of a private military organization, a la Blackwater, doing
underhanded things in the Middle East. Damages
smartly moves delectable Rose Byrne—by far the best reason to sit through Bridesmaids—into a true co-leading role
with Glenn Close (Patty), and the two women’s complex relationship is the main
interest of these 10 episodes, although John Goodman chews heavy scenery as the
head thug. Extras include outtakes, deleted scenes and featurettes with cast
and crew interviews.
(Neoclassics)
A real find, pre-teen actress
Garance Le Guillermic is a natural as a young girl who’s planning to kill
herself on her birthday, but instead builds an unlikely friendship with her family’s
building’s concierge (the sweetly hard-headed Josiane Balasko). Writer-director
Mona Achache’s engrossing character study never condescends; the result is a
fascinating look at a real relationship that you wouldn’t see on our screens except
as sappy melodrama. The lone extra is a making-of featurette.
(e one)
It’s a clever sitcom premise: a
psychiatrist conducts sessions online. Lisa Kudrow is funny in the lead, and
there are amusing special guests as her web patients: Courtney Cox, Jane Lynch,
Alan Cumming and Rashida Jones. There’s even Victor Garber as her husband and
Lily Tomlin as her mom. But despite everyone’s best intentions, the show is extremely
hit-or-miss, and the laughs dwindle as the series wears on. Perhaps this could
only work as an occasional web series with short episodes, a la Children’s Hospital. Extras include
audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurette and outtakes.
Rising: Music for Flute and Strings
(Bridge)
It’s always good news when famous
musicians go beyond their comfort zone, and flutist Carol Wincenc’s new CD is a
great example. The three flute quintets she plays with an excellent ensemble from
the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival are a cross-section of American
composers. She begins with Joan Tower’s new Rising,
an atmospheric and memorable work that shows off Wincenc’s formidable technique
and the quartet’s sympathetic support. Also performed are two short but flavorful
works by Arthur Foote from 1918, and Theme
and Variations by the underrated Amy Beach (1867-1944), finally getting her
due as a formidable American composer.
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