The week’s DVDs begin in Québec:
DVDs for July 23 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Québec:
Starbuck (***)
This Canadian dramatic-comedy has received the official seal of approval in that it is now being remade as a Hollywood comedy with Vince Vaughn. The outlandish yet almost believable main premise provides enough material for endless situations: 42 year-old David (Patrick Huard) learns that of the many times he donated sperm when younger, 533 children were born, and 142 of them have entered into a class action lawsuit to force the clinic to negate his confidentiality clause and reveal his identity. The case becomes a national sensation, with David’s position becoming even dicier when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. He finally wants to take some responsibility and become a father, but not to five hundred children at once. Writer-director Ken Scott milks all the obvious situations, while occasionally over-playing treacly yet obvious messages on the importance of family.
Rated R, 110 minutes. The DVD includes a six minute interview with Huard, a seven minute interview with Scott, nine minutes of deleted scenes, seven minutes of bloopers, and a music video.
Trance (**1/2)
The new psychological thriller Trance looks great. In the wandering opus, director Danny Boyle shows off his internationally renowned skill for projecting visual imagery, as evinced previously not only by his films (Slumdog Millionaire) but also by his staging of the opening ceremonies at the London Olympics. Here, he again paints striking portraits that seem to reflect the inner chaos of his characters. But, in doing so, he unfortunately loses track of keeping a firm hand on his narrative, resulting in an erratically confusing as well as a jumbled unraveling of Joe Ahearne and John Hodge’s screenplay. The main difficulty in staying attuned to Trance and its endless divergences, many of which may or may not be imagined, is that its plot hinges on the audience accepting, first, the hoary plot device of amnesia (at one point, one of the minor characters says “Amnesia is bollocks.”); and second, the efficacy of hypnosis. To overcome audience reluctance in accepting these two blatant contrivances, Ahearne and Hodge’s script throws in a surfeit of scientific and medical-sounding terms. Doyle confuses matters by not delivering the faux-explanations somberly, but instead with a visual feast of quick cuts, Caligariesque camera angles, and a speedy pace. Trance revolves around Simon (James McAvoy), an employee at a London auction house when a priceless Goya painting is stolen and then goes missing During the robbery, Simon suffers a blow to the head, giving him amnesia. But it is also quickly revealed he was part of the heist by a gang led by Frank (Vincent Cassell). Before long, Frank’s crew tortures Simon to “help” him remember where the painting is. Then, as one big happy family, they all decide Simon should go to a hypnotherapist to help him retrieve his memory. And that’s when things turn loopy. Seems the therapist, Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), has an agenda of her own, and it may include sleeping with Frank, or Simon, or whomever it takes. Boyle keeps back certain details about everyone’s relation to everyone else, so that plot points can be revealed intermittently and it will appear to be grossly dramatic. Or not. Since Simon and Elizabeth deal mostly with Simon’s repressed memories, and his dreams, director Boyle throws in a series of scenes that may be dreams, or not, and may be hallucinations, or not, and may belong to Simon, or not. And it could become confusing for anyone staying tuned in to the end. Or not.
Rated R, 101 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes seven deleted scenes, a comprehensive 34 minute “making of” featurette, a five minute Danny Boyle retrospective featurette, and a 13 minute minute short film by Spencer Susser. Plus: segments on “The Look,” hypnotherapy, the final re-write, and more.
Welcome to the Punch (***)
A good cast enlivens this dark British crime drama about detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy), wounded during an attempted robbery by notorious criminal Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong). Three years later and Lewinsky still suffers lingering effects from Sternwood’s gun shot. The thief has fled the country but re-enters when his son becomes involved in a nefarious affair that somehow ends up bringing together the detective and his nemesis. Before long, a wide ranging conspiracy unfolds involving some of Lewinsky’s police superiors. Writer-director Eran Creevy maintains a steady pace while bathing his scenes in darkness and shadows. With Peter Mullan, Andrea Risborough, David Morrissey
Rated R, 99 minutes. The DVD includes seven separate interviews with cast and crew and an 18 minute “making of” featurette.
Love and Honor (**1/2)
In July, 1969, two soldiers based in Vietnam go on leave. Dalton (Austin Sowell) has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Jane (Aimee Teegarden). So, he defies his travel restrictions and returns home to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see her. His best friend Mickey (Liam Hemsworth) goes with him. The two committed soldiers meet a group of anti-war activists, including Candace (Teresa Palmer). Before long, the soldiers question their commitments as well as the war they have been fighting. Actor Danny Mooney makes his directing debut, lingering needlessly on too many sappy puppy love moments while still conveying the angst felt by both young men when they have to make life-changing decisions.
Rated PG-13, 96 minutes.
Mario Bava double feature: Black Sabbath (***), Kidnapped (**1/2)
Kino Lorber gives Blu-ray debuts to two provocative, unrated, films from prolific Italian director Mario Bava, who specialized in horror and suspense. His ability to creature fear and terror can best be seen in Black Sabbath (1963, 92 minutes), a stylish yet traditional horror film featuring Boris Karloff first as the introducing host and then in the middle of three segments taken from works by Chekhov, Tolstoy and de Maupassant. Karloff plays the patriarch of a small family of vampires whose reverie is disturbed when a stranger invades their home. The other two entries feature a twist-filled small drama about a woman frightened first by a series of telephone calls and then by reports of the prison escape of a former lover. The third tale revolves around a cursed ring that brings woe to several women who ignorantly try to steal it off corpses. Kidnapped (1974, 92 minutes), also known as Rabid Dogs, takes place mostly inside a car as four criminals botch a robbery and, when reduced to three, kidnap a couple with a sick child to make their getaway. The limited action takes place inside the car as the snarling trio of bad guys eventually meets their deserved fate but not before Bava introduces a delicious last second twist. The film, once thought lost, has been recovered by producer Alfredo Leone and Bava’s son Lamberto.
The Demented (**1/2)
This zombie flick with flair benefits from the energetic and enthusiastic efforts of cast, crew and willing extras—particularly the swarms of young people who dash around destroying the myth of comatose zombies stumbling around in a daze. A group of Louisiana college students wants to celebrate graduation by spending a weekend at a friend’s parents’ country home. But before all electronics go down, a radio report tells of a terrorist attack that has been thwarted, something the youngsters doubt after witnessing a nearby explosion. Before long, they are attacked by swarming hordes of not really zombies but their first cousins, biologically infected mutants. The group faces a struggle for survival, eliminating many of the undead while, naturally, facing down a few of their own demons.
Rated R, 92 minutes.
Detention of the Dead (**)
Teen angst meets zombie apocalypse in this derivative confection about zombies attacking a high school while six students sit in detention hall. Everyone shows true grit, fighting the hordes while winning over and protecting loved ones. With Christa B. Allen, Jacob Zachar, Jayson Blair, Justin Chen, Max Adler.
Not rated, 87 minutes. The DVD contains commentary with writer-director Alex Craig Mann and a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Femmes Fatales—second season
This lurid series from Cinemax returns with 12 sex-filled episodes on two discs and a third disc with bonus materials. The series revolves around Tanit Phoenix playing hostess Lilith, who spins on the plot while delivering supposedly insightful comments. Every episode connects to a seasonal story and also contains a succession of beautiful females who commit the same crimes and misdemeanors usually reserved for men. The season’s guest stars include Vivica Fox, Jeff Fahey, Casper Van Dien, Eric Roberts, Nikki Griffin, Chris Mulkey, and others.
Rated TV-MA, 392 minutes. The set offers commentary on every episode, along with a red carpet premier, a Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes and more than half a dozen “making of” featurettes.
Also on DVD: The Silence, Trance.