The Dude says . . .

DVDs for Aug. 16 by Boo Allen

This week, we begin with The Dude:

The Big Lebowski—Limited Edition Blu-ray (****)

Universal Home Entertainment brings to Blu-ray one of the most cherished
comedies of the last quarter century. The Coen brothers’ hilarious
shaggy dog story only gets better with repeat viewings. Jeff Bridges
will never live down, or up to, his role as Jeff Lebowski, better
known as The Dude. Everything begins when when his house is broken
into and his rug is, well, soiled (“It tied the room together,
man”). From there, he and his high-strung friend Walter (John
Goodman) embark on a tale of redress that embroils them in an
ill-defined kidnapping scheme. This time around, note the amazingly
clever script, the brilliant use and mixture of music, Roger Deakins’
shimmering photography, the fantastic dream sequences, and the
overlooked performances of Ben Gazzara, Julianne Moore, Steve
Buscemi, and John Turturro as Jesus.

Rated R, 119 minutes. The new digitally remastered Blu-ray contains more
than two hours of supplements, including several features accessible
while viewing, such as the “What’s My Line Trivia,” as well as
trademark Universal features such as BD-Live and U-Control, which
allow scene comparisons and an immediate identification of the music
being played. Also: a new five minute, satirical introduction, a ten
minute featurette on the “Dude’s Life,” a 25 minute featurette on
The Big Lebowski ten years later, four minutes on the
dream sequences, and 14 minutes at a Big Lebowski
festival. Plus: an entertaining and informative 26 page booklet, and
a code-key for downloading a digital copy.

This will not stand, this aggression, man.

The Bang, Bang Club (***)

In this episodic yet compelling story based on true events, four
photo-journalists (Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Kitsch, Frank Rautenbach,
Neels Van Jaarsvald) risk their lives daily in early 1990s South
Africa visiting chaotic areas during tribal conflicts. Director
Steven Silver ably captures the numerous white-knuckle sequences of
the photographers working at their craft. Silver also orchestrates
several terrifying mob scenes, and he also finds time to document the
fractured personal lives of the four, as they experience traumas
about benefiting at the expense of others’ miseries. Malin Akerman
plays a love interest as well as the picture editor of a local
newspaper. Two of the four photographers earned Pulitzer Prizes.

Rated R, 97 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes director’s
commentary, a 45 minute “making  of” featurette, a four minute
slide show, five deleted scenes, and 14 minutes of cast and crew
interviews.

The Hucksters (***1/2),
Any Number Can Play (***1/2)

On-demand Warner Archives releases two unrated features with Hollywood King
Clark Gable. The 1947 The Hucksters (115
minutes) can be seen as a Mad Men prequel,
with Gable playing a returning World War II veteran who re-enters the
New York advertising world. While he again displays his creative
ability, it seems he must now struggle to maintain his integrity in a
job that requires deceit. Ava Gardner plays the odd-woman-out, while
regal Deborah Kerr steals Gable’s heart. With Adolph Menjou and
Sidney Greenstreet. In 1949’s provocative Number, Gable
plays the owner of a shady gambling establishment. He provides a
luxurious home for his wife (Alexis Smith) but embarrasses his teen
son (Darryl Hickman) with his profession. Only an attempted robbery
and  a close call with financial disaster can restore his standing.
Interesting character portrait.

Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf (*)

Andrew Cymek accomplishes the rare cinematic triple crown by writing a
cliche-ridden screenplay and then ineptly directing it. He claims his
hat trick, however, by turning in an oak-like performance in the main
role as a police detective who visits an asylum where his estranged
wife works. While there, an electrical malfunction releases the
violent inmates from their cells. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between
the staff and the inmates seeking revenge, including a cannibal who
exercises her favorite pastime in a gratuitously noisome sequence.

Not rated, 111 minutes. The DVD includes commentary with

Mr. Cymek, an alternate ending, and 15 minutes of deleted and extended
scenes

Meet Monica Velour (**1/2)
Tobe (Dustin Ingram), a typical, love-starved, 17
year-old, obsesses on former porn star Monica Velour (a down and
dirty Kim Cattrall). He buys her old videos, collects magazine
articles about her, and tries to track her current whereabouts on the
Internet. When he discovers a pending appearance for her at a sleazy
strip club in Indiana, he drives his Weiner-mobile from Washington
state to meet her. And even though she has fallen on hard times, has
drug and alcohol problems, and is fired from her bar job, Tobe
retains his crush to the point of inveigling himself into her life.
Sad, whimsical, and often funny, the film reflects on unreal
illusions and the hazards of young love. With Brian Dennehy, Keith
David, and Tony Cox.
Rated R, 99 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes
about eight minutes of four deleted scenes.

Lavell
Crawford: Can a Brother Get Some Love?
Stand-up comedian Lavell Crawford performed his act at
the Orpheum Theatre in St. Louis, his hometown, which guaranteed him
a receptive audience. The rotund funnyman generously laughs at
himself with constant rifts about his body and his weight .
Not rated, 80 minutes. The DVD includes

 
Gone (**1/2)
Molly Parker stars in this over-plotted Lifetime movie
as a nurse whose daughter is kidnapped and the only way the girl will
be returned is if mom will murder one of her patients. From there,
the often tense drama mixes in elements of government and police
corruption over a vaccine scarcity. Fast-paced, with a good
performance from Parker as the harried mother.
Not rated, 87 minutes.

Hoodwinked
Two: Hood vs. Evil
This family-friendly sequel sees Red (voice of Hayden
Panettiere) joining her HEA group (Happily Ever After) in an
undercover assignment against the bad guys. Other voices supplied by
Glenn Close, Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Patrick Warburton.
Rated PG, 87 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes
three music videos, a featurette on the film’s voices, and a
storyboard sequence.

 
Also on DVD: The Best and The Brightest, The Chameleon,
Choose, Cul-De-Sac, Dream House, Jane Eyre, The Ward.