Our week’s DVD begin in Denmark:
DVDs for Oct. 18 by Boo Allen
This week we begin in Denmark:
Submarino (***1/2)
Two brothers in Copenhagen experience an awful trauma in
their childhood. One, Nick (Jakob Cedergren), grows up with an awful
temper, no aptitude for being around people, and a knack for doing
the wrong thing. The other, Martins (Peter Plauborg), becomes a
heroin addict and then a drug pusher. In adulthood, they briefly
reconcile, but it is obvious they are both too damaged for normal
relationships. Provocative Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration)
thoughtfully examines how upbringing and environment determine
character and destiny.
Not rated, 110 minutes.
Submarine (***1/2)
In this funny, odd, coming-of-age tale (not to be confused with Submarino),
Oliver (Craig Roberts), a British teen, daydreams when he shouldn’t
and only comes to life around his prospective new girlfriend (Yasmin
Paige). While at home, he schemes to keep his parents together (Sally
Hawkins, Jonah Taylor) after mom strays with a local man (Paddy
Considine). Writer/director Richard Ayoade conveys the eccentricities
of Joe Dunthorne’s novel while convincingly capturing teen angst.
Rated R, 98 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes
a 16 minute “making of” featurette and a deleted scene.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (**)
This summer, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returned for the fourth
time in this worldwide blockbuster. But this latest version offers
little more than the previous three, however well
stocked it is with mermaids and magical ships. Geoffrey Rush again
plays Barbossa, and Keith Richards once more appears as Jack’s
father. Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio have Sparrow again
escaping punishment, this time only to team with old love flame
Angelica (Penelope Cruz). Together, they join with her supposed
father Blackbeard (Ian McShane) to track down the Fountain of Youth,
a quest which takes up much of the film.
John Myhre provides colorful sets and production designs but Dariusz
Wolski’s cinematography keeps everything so dark, it’s often hard to
see them.
Rated PG-13, 136 minutes. The DVD arrives in every
available form including an unbelievable five disc combo pack and in
3-D. Various versions include varying supplements, so check labels
for: commentary, deleted and extended scenes, bloopers, Disney’s
Second Screen option, and featurettes on “Legends,” “In Search
of the Fountain,” “Last Sail/First Voyage,” and much more. A
limited 15 disc collection of all four “Pirates” movies will also
be available.
The Trip (***)
Prolific Michael Winterbottom directed this road trip
comedy starring two of his regulars, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. The
duo play themselves as they set off to Northern England on a
restaurant tour, spending days in the car together and dining out at
night. In between, they heckle each other, talk business, and trade
hilarious imitations. Undeniably slight but consistently funny and
enjoyable.
Not Rated, 112 minutes. The DVD includes a 17 minute
“making of” featurette, still photos, a 13 minute “Food Cut,”
and, demonstrating the film’s heavy improvisation, an unheard of 102
minutes of deleted scenes.
Mr. Nice (**1/2)
Rhys Ifans stars in this supposedly true story as Howard
Marks, who goes from a working class Welsh upbringing to an Oxford
education, before going to graduate school in international drug
dealing and consorting with Irish terrorists. In between, he marries
Judy (Chloe Sevigny), has children, spies for the British government,
is thrown into jail, and is chased across several continents. Ifans
holds up admirably with his constant screen presence in this wild
ride.
Not rated, 121 minutes. The DVD also includes a ten
minute “making of” featurette.
Beautiful Boy (**)
Maudlin, extremely depressing film about the parents (Maria Bello, Michael
Sheen) of Sammy (Kyle Gallner), a college student who massacres other
students and teachers at his school. Soon after, the two stay with
relatives to avoid the media. Later, they re-locate again to a motel.
They question themselves and wallow in guilt, giving the two actors
freedom to register various volcanic emotional eruptions. Agonizing
situation not helped by trite dialogue and a director (Shawn Ku) who
insists on constantly jiggling the hand-held camera.
Rated R, 101 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes
commentary and brief deleted scenes.
Cinema Paradiso (****)
This charming 1988 Best Foreign Language Oscar winner debuts on Blu-ray,
finely remastered in high definition. Giuseppe Tornatore turned out a
movie-lover’s delight with his story of a famous Italian film-maker
(Jacques Perrin) returning to his small village where his memories
flash back to his childhood years. There, he first became aware of
the opposite sex at the same time his love for movies blossomed. In
both pursuits, he is aided by his good friend and mentor, the
projectionist (Phillipe Noriet).
Rated PG, 121 minutes.
Father of Invention (***)
Kevin Spacey stars in this oddball comedy as Robert
Axle, a one-time TV pitchman sent to jail for a defective product. He
leaves eight years later and moves in with his 22 year-old daughter
Claire (Camilla Bell) and her two roommates. Unwanted by everyone, he
struggles to reconcile with Claire, while trying to rejuvenate his
career as an inventor of sorts. With Heather Graham, John Stamos,
Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville.
Rated PG-13, 93 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, also
includes a 14 minute “making of” featurette.
The Howling Reborn (**1/2)
On his 18th birthday, a high school senior
(Landon Liboiron) discovers that his mother (Ivana Milicevic),
thought to be long dead, is actually the Alpha leader of some nasty
werewolves. Plus, to compound his woes, he also learns he too carries
the werewolf malady, a condition that gives him further troubles when
dealing with his new girlfriend (Lindsey Shaw), the school’s hot
babe. Played straight and with no levity, this latest from the
Howling franchise mixes puppy love and ferocious
blood-letting.
Rated R, 92 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, contains
a 30 minute “making of” featurette.
Elvira’s Haunted Hills
Dark mistress Elvira returns in time for Halloween in
this 2001 epic in which she travels through 1851 Rumania on her way
to her Parisian Revue. She stops at a creepy castle whose owner
(Richard O’Brien) notices a resemblance between Elvira and his dead
wife.
Not rated, 90 minutes. The DVD contains commentary, a
“making of” featurette, an interview with O’Brien, outtakes, an
extended interview with cast and crew
Also on DVD: Bad Teacher, Batman: Year One, Monte Carlo, Red State, The
Robber.