The week’s DVDs begin in Israel:
DVDs and streaming for April 14 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Israel:
The Simon Wiesenthal Collection—It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl, Liberation, Echoes that Remain, Unlikely Heroes, In Search of Peace, Genocide, Ever Again, The Long Way Home, Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny, I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal, The Prime Ministers: Part I and II.
Eleven documentaries, including two Best Documentary Oscar winners, have been assembled for this outstanding collection with the imprimatur of Simon Wiesenthal films. They cover virtually every aspect of Jewish life since the late 1800s, including the founding and establishment of Israel, along with its various political, societal, and war figures. World War II and its aftermath receive special attention, as well as the horrors of the Holocaust. Every film has first-class narration from such talents as Ben Kingsley, Patrick Stewart, Martin Landau, and many others. Begin with It Is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl (2012, 97 minutes), the full story of the Hungarian-born, Vienna-raised Zionist who first imagined and then promulgated a world-wide exodus of Jews into what is today Israel. Narrated by Kingsley with Christoph Waltz voicing Herzl’s words. The comprehensive compilation documentary Liberation (1994, 100 minutes) covers World War II from its beginnings to the end, when allied forces liberated the Nazi death camps. Martin Landau narrates the often lyrical Echoes that Remain (1991, 60 minutes), a look at Polish, Czech, Rumanian and other Eastern European Jewry before World War II. Kingsley also narrates Unlikely Heroes (2003, 120 minutes), a look at seven men and women who became, as the title suggests, unlikely heroes. Richard Trank directed the Michael Douglas narrated In Search of Peace (2001, 105 minutes), an examination of the first two decades of Israel. Orson Welles narrates the Oscar winning Genocide (1982, 90 minutes), a heart-breaking analysis of the Holocaust. Kevin Costner narrates Ever Again (2006, 73 minutes), a relatively modern look at today’s lingering and still pervasive anti-Semitism. The Long Walk Home (1997, 120 minutes), also an Oscar winner, looks at the problems Jewish refugees faced at the end of World War II and before the state of Israel officially existed. Richard Trank also directed Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny (2010, 101 minutes), a portrait of the British Prime Minister, while focusing on the war years and his involvement with Israel. The eventful life of Wiesenthal, from Holocaust survivor to revered Nazi hunter, is documented in I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (rated PG-13, 2007, 106 minutes). Yehuda Avner’s self-explanatory book of the same name serves as the basis for The Prime Ministers: Part I and II (2013, 115 minutes).
Echoes (**)
In this routine horror flick written and directed by Nils Timm, Anna (Kate French), a Los Angeles-based aspiring screenwriter, goes with her manager-boyfriend Paul (Steven Brand) to spend time at his vacation home, a flashy glass house in the isolated Joshua Tree area. Not long after arriving, Paul must to return to town on business. But Anna stays behind to work. Her sleep troubles, however, bring about strange visions and hallucinations that become severe enough for her to mistake dreams for reality. Shady characters drop in and out, including local handyman Jeremy (Steve Hanks). The illusions drive Anna to do several bad things. Bad Anna. Periodically, ghoulish creatures with blanched faces appear, scaring Anna but probably no one else. The adequate but not striking effects never disguise the funereal pace.
Not rated, 88 minutes.
Big Eyes (***)
Amy Adams plays artist Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), the prolific painter of the once ubiquitous kitsch portraits of little girls with big eyes. She marries fellow artist Walter (Christoph Waltz), an evil influence who coerces her into letting him sell the paintings as his. But, Margaret finally rebels, setting up a slow third act set mostly in the court room. Director Tim Burton excels at the surfaces, capturing the costumes and the time and place of late 1950s San Francisco.
Rated PG-13, 107 minutes.
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts: Zingers and Stingers,
Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts: Hall of Famers
With a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, the sozzled Dino brought his super-louche personality to his early 1970s variety show. From its beginnings on Martin’s show, his frequent roasts grew to become a separate phenomenon. Following previous roast releases, and with more to come, “Zinger and Stingers” (not rated, 20 plus hours) features 24 complete roasts. Various high profile celebrities of the era sit for their toasting, including Carroll O’Connor, Wilt Chamberlain, Ted Knight, Redd Foxx, William Conrad and others who would seem out of place, such as: Hubert Humphrey, Truman Capote, Leo Durocher, Bobby Riggs. The roasters included the sharpened wits of comic legends Lucille Ball, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Rich Little and Bob Hope, as well as mere entertainment mortals such as Ed Asner, Orson Welles, Red Buttons, and others. Extras: the three hours plus of supplements include extra interviews, various comedy sketches, and the two featurettes “Primetime Ribbing: Roasting Small Screen Stars,” and “Sports Stars: Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts.” Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts: Hall of Famers (not rated, 176 minutes) This single disc offering consists of three roasts of daredevil Evel Knievel, baseball icon Hank Aaron, and baseball announcer and former player Joe Garagiola. To barbecue this willing trio, Martin brings in a stellar cast of roasters, including the unlikely comedy figures of Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Hall of Famers all. Joining the august roster of former players to roast are other notable entertainment personalities: Orson Welles, Rich Little, Red Button, Milton Berle and others. Extras: a featurette of various comedy sketches with Joey Bishop from the Dean Martin TV show. Plus: interviews with Dan Haggerty, Shirley Jones, Norm Crosby.
Also on DVD and streaming: The Babadook, Beside Still Waters, Roadside, Woman of Straw.