Our DVDs start witha DANGEROUS METHOD:
DVDs for March 27 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Zurich:
A Dangerous Method (***)
Canadian director David Cronenberg expands on his distinguished yet eclectic
filmography by examining a trio of actual personages. Versatile
Michael Fassbender plays psychoanalyst Carl Jung, first in Zurich in
the early 1900s and then later in Vienna. There, he consults with and
comes under the influence of Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortenson). Jung
has just taken the unstable Sabina (Keira Knightley) as one of his
first patients. She responds to his dangerous methods and even
becomes his mistress. Eventually, she recovers enough to become a
psychiatrist herself. Cronenberg follows Christopher Hampton’s script
of his own play, from John Kerr’s book. As a result, most of the
limited action takes place indoors and mostly with two characters
talking. Fortunately, the restriction may more suit a home viewing,
as the claustrophobic sets cannot disguise the otherwise sparkling
dialogue and the intensity of the relationships.
Rated R, 99 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, offers an
eight minute “making of” featurette, and 31 minutes with David
Cronenberg at a filmed seminar.
A Lonely Place to Die (***1/2)
Julian Gilbey, director and co-writer with William
Gilbey, has crafted a tense, involving survival story with limited,
if any, special effects and a surplus of reasonable narrative twists.
A group of handsome young people takes off for a day in the beautiful
Scottish Highlands. In quick succession, the group dwindles because
of a fatal mishap. In addition, two hunters out to kill the group are
supplanted by two more out to kill everyone. The seemingly
unconnected plot lines fall into place with the appearance of a
kidnapped girl, a cache of kidnappers, the police, and a nearby local
street festival that gives cover to everyone. Gilbey keeps the action
fast and filled with surprises.
Not rated, 99 minutes.
House of Pleasures (***)
This provocative French film proves long on technique,
atmospherics, and female nudity but short on story or dramatics. Set
in L’Apollinde, a 1899 Paris brothel, it examines the daily lives of
its occupants. Outwardly, everything looks exotic and sensual but
upon closer inspection, the establishment suffers through the same
trials as any commercial organization, such as rent raises and
personnel problems. Bertrand Bonello directed, using split screens to
convey the dynamic activities. And, for effect, he also jarringly
overlays his narrative with contemporary music.
Not rated, 125 minutes. The DVD also offers a 16 minute
featurette on the casting and a 25 minute segment on “From Writing
to Editing.”
Broken Tower (**)
Actor James Franco makes his writing and directing debut
and the result looks like unequal parts experimental film and student
film. Shooting in black and white, and often in long, tedious,
rambling takes, Franco tells the story of poet Hart Crane, also
played by Franco. Crane’s life begins in Cleveland, before he
relocates to New York, which saw the blossoming of his literary fame.
Franco often irritatingly sticks his camera behind the head of his
protagonist as he goes about routine chores that add nothing to the
film or to defining Crane’s life, work, or character. Michael Shannon
plays an integral figure in the poet’s maturation.
Not rated, 110 minutes. The DVD includes commentary, and
a 48 minute featurette examining Crane and his legacy.
The Sitter (***)
Jonah Hill plays Noah, the title character in our week’s
guilty pleasure. To help his mom, Noah agrees to baby-sit for three
hellish spawns about the same time his selfish faux-girlfriend calls
and wants him to bring her some drugs. Her request sets Noah and his
wards off through Manhattan, with encounters with drug dealers (Sam
Rockwell, J.B. Smoove, both hilarious), crooked cops, Noah’s
estranged father, and enough other acquaintances to keep this raucous
film from director David Gordon Green entertaining.
The DVD, in all formats, includes both the unrated (87
minutes) and R-rated theatrical (81 minutes) versions, ten deleted
and extended scenes of about 26 minutes, a brief gag reel, a 15
minute “making of” featurette, five minutes on “Jonah the
Producer,” and more.
Corman’s World (***1/2)
This enjoyable documentary examines the life of Roger
Corman, prolific film director, producer and spawn of many careers.
Director Alex Stapleton provides clips from Corman’s early, 1950s,
low budget films along with interviews with Corman and many to whom
he gave early career boosts: Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich,
Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Joe Dante, Jonathan Demme, and many more.
Jack Nicholson turns teary-eyed when talking about his early films
with Corman and how the older man mentored him but refused to
over-pay him. Director Stapleton makes a good case for Corman being
one of the most influential figures in Hollywood history, as the film
concludes with footage from the special Governors’ Ball and its
Lifetime Achievement Oscar to Corman.
Rated R, 89 minutes. The disc includes 13 additional
minutes of interviews and another 15 minutes of “special messages”
from the interviewees to Corman.
Camel Spiders (**1/2)
And speaking of Roger Corman, he “presents”
(whatever that means) this cheesy science-fiction tale about a U.S.
military unit in the middle east who unwittingly brings home the
title creatures. Once stateside, the spiders go about their
monster-movie duties terrorizing teen-agers and half-wits until
someone with the right stuff steps up.
Not rated, 85 minutes.
TrinityGoodheart (**1/2)
Family-friendly story about a guardian angel who leaves
a charm for 12 year-old Trinity Goodheart (Erica Gluck). She takes it
as a sign that her long lost mother is in trouble and needs her. As a
result, her sundered family just might reunite.
Not rated, 90 minutes.
And, finally, from this week’s TV files:
Scarecrow and Mrs. King—third season
The 22 episodes of this popular 1980s series arrive on five discs. The
seeming odd coupling of housewife Amanda King (Kate Jackson) with spy
Lee “Scarecrow” Stetson (Bruce Boxleitner) featured weekly
terrorist plots, espionage intrigues and various other adventures.
Meanwhile, they coyly fought against their mutual attraction.
Not rated, 1038 minutes.
Jane—volume one
In the ten episodes on two discs of this ABC Family sit-com, Erica Dasher
plays 16 year-old Jane, who somehow finds herself working for a big
shot executive (Andie McDowell). But Jane always finds time to juggle
her job, her friends, her parents and various school activities.
Rated TV-14 DLSV, 435 minutes.
Also on DVD: Confucius, Dragonheart, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, In
the Land of Blood and Honey