Trainspotting and more in this week’s DVDs:
DVDs for Sept. 20 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Scotland:
Trainspotting—Collector’s Edition (****)
Director Danny Boyle’s second feature film catapulted the careers of many of
his excellent young cast, while also signaling the arrival of his own
unique cinematic creativity. The shocking 1996 film centers on a
group of Edinburgh heroin addicts, led by Mark Renton (Ewan
McGregor). Their drug dependence and their interactions provide the
dramas, and abundant black humor, that propel John Hodge’s
Oscar-nominated screenplay, from Irvine Welsh’s novel.
Rated R, 94 minutes. This new Blu-ray edition includes commentary, 10
deleted scenes, five interviews from the Cannes Film Festival, a 10
minute “making of” featurette, a four part Trainspotting
retrospective, interviews with Boyle, Welsh, Hodge, and producer
Andrew MacDonald, and more.
The Tempest (***)
Helen Mirren stars as Prospera, not Prospero, in flamboyant director Julie
Taymor’s lively, colorful rendition of what some believe
Shakespeare’s final play. Prospera lives with her daughter Miranda
(Felicity Jones) on an isolated island when various sprites and
ship-wrecked royalty try to intercede, not bargaining for Prospera’s
magic powers. With Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Alan Cumming, Chris
Cooper.
Rated PG-13, 110 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, offers two separate
commentaries, a comprehensive 66 minute “making of” featurette, a
music video, brief footage of Russell Brand rehearsing, 14 minutes
“Inside Rehearsals,” and more.
Straw Dogs (***1/2), Dressed to Kill (***)
As the new Straw Dogs lands in theaters,
Sam Peckinpaugh’s original 1971 violent masterpiece returns in a 40th
anniversary Blu-ray edition. The iconoclastic director punches every
emotional button while telling the story of a mild-mannered American
mathematician (Dustin Hoffman) and his young British wife (Susan
George), as they return to her Cornish hometown. There, he is
increasingly ridiculed by the natives while she is harassed, all
building to a famously violent climax. Unrated, 118 minutes.
Brian De Palma was at his most lurid in his 1980 Dressed
to Kill (unrated, 105 minutes), a sensationalistic murder mystery in which the killer’s identity is
obvious from the first. Michael Caine stars as Dr. Elliott, a
Manhattan psychiatrist to frustrated housewife Kate Miller (Angie
Dickinson) and, eventually, to free-spirited prostitute Liz Blake
(Nancy Allen). Bodies start piling up, while Dennis Franz heads an
investigation unknowingly aided by Kate’s teen son Peter (Keith
Gordon, now a successful director). The new Blu-ray edition holds a
44 minute “making of” segment, along with three separate
featurettes of about ten minutes, including an appreciation from
Keith Gordon.
Henry’s Crime (***)
Keanu Reeves plays Henry, a meek, married man sent to
prison for robbing a bank he did not rob. When released after a few
years, he helps parole his old prison-mate Max (James Caan).
Together, they plot to rob the Buffalo bank Henry was convicted of
robbing. They plan on tunneling into the bank from an adjacent
theater, a contrivance that forces Henry and Max to become part of
the theater’s acting troop, including a hilarious Julie (Vera
Farmiga), with whom Henry becomes romantically involved. Well-plotted
with numerous twists in a clever if absurd script.
Rated R, 108 minutes, also on Blu-ray.
Derek Jeter’s 3000th Hit
Major League Baseball continues to release highlights
from the sport, with the spotlight here on Derek Jeter’s recent
accomplishment. Along with numerous replays of the milestone at-bat,
the disc includes Jeter’s post-game press conference along with other
clips of his many achievements.
Not rated, 180 minutes.
Many new TV series now arrive in anticipation of the
fall season:
Sanctuary—third season
Amanda Tipping stars as Dr. Helen Magnus in this
mysterious series in which she and her team search out those who
secretly hide among us, whatever their fantastical origins. The
notable cast includes Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman, Ryan Robbins
as Henry Foss, and Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander. The season’s full
20 episodes come on six discs.
Not rated, 880 minutes. The set also includes
commentary, bloopers and outtakes, and seven “making of” and
“behind-the-scenes” featurettes.
Ghosthunters—season six: part one
Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes of the Atlantic Paranormal
Society return, investigating dubious claims about the supernatural
in this popular Syfy Channel series. In these 12 episodes, on three
discs, Hawes and Wilson visit Alcatraz Prison, the Philadelphia Zoo,
and other exotic locales.
Not rated, 528 minutes.
Private Practice—fourth season
Twenty-two episodes of this increasingly popular medical
drama from the Grey’s Anatomy creators arrive on five
discs. This season, Addison (Kate Walsh) and Sam (Taye Diggs) feud
while working at their Oceanside Wellness Group, Pete (Tim Daly) and
Violet (Amy Brenneman) head to the alter, and Charlotte (KaDee
Strickland) and Cooper (Paul Adelstein) strive to overcome recent
adversity.
Rated TV-14 DLSV, 986 minutes. The set includes deleted
scenes, bloopers, and the featurette “An Inside Look: The Violation
of Charlotte King.”
Grey’s Anatomy—seventh season
In the 22 episodes, on six discs, the drama intensifies
in this latest season about the doctors, nurses, and administrators
of Seattle’s Grace Hospital. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) becomes
friendlier with April (Sara Drew) but finds time to tell Derek
(Patrick Dempsey) she is pregnant. Elsewhere, several doctors compete
for a grant, and Mark (Eric Dane) tries to reconcile with Callie
(Sara Ramirez). Before the season ends, deception in a clinical trial
is uncovered, and a celebrated “Musical Event” takes place.
Rated TV-14 DLSV, 946 minutes. The set also offers an
extended “Music Event” episode and a look behind the big Event.
Plus: unaired scenes, outtakes, and webisodes.
Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer—the complete series
Veteran tough-guy Darren McGavin starred as Mickey
Spillane’s decidedly politically incorrect Manhattan detective in
this once-revered TV series that began in 1958 and ran two seasons.
The 78 episodes, on 12 discs, come filled with action and some clever
whodunit plots always wrapped up neatly in around 26 minutes. The
series also had guest appearances from period stars such as Angie
Dickinson, Lorne Greene, Barbara Bain, Ted Knight, Marion Ross and
many more. For the 1950s, the series represented the peak of
detective-crime drama.
Not rated, 32 hours 50 minutes.
Also on DVD: Bridesmaids, Mike and Molly—first season, Modern Family—second
season, Set-Up.