Our TABLOID society hits shelves in Morris documentary
DVDs for Nov. 8 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in the 1970s:
Tabloid (***1/2)
Documentary filmmaker Errol Morris again displays his
uncanny knack for finding interesting subjects. But this time,
instead of a high profile target, such as Robert McNamara in his
Oscar-winning Fog of War, Morris turns his attention to
a nearly forgotten event from the 1970s. At that time, former Miss
Wyoming Joyce McKinney, who sat for lengthy interviews with Morris
and then brought legal action against the film, allegedly kidnapped
her Mormon boyfriend Kirk Anderson (who would not be interviewed). He
was in England on a church mission when she orchestrated an elaborate
nabbing scheme. No one agrees now on exactly what happened, but at
the time McKinney went through various persecutions. She also became
international media fodder, presaging our current cultural
obsessions. Today, she comes across as bubbly, unstable, and someone
you would not want sitting next to you on a long airplane flight.
Rated R, 88 minutes.
Snowflower and the Secret Fan (**1/2)
In this thoughtful, measured film by director Wayne
Wang, with screenplay based on Lisa See’s best-selling novel, two
current day Chinese girls grow up together. They pledge to remain
life-long friends, but, after a long separation, one flashes back not
only to the earlier days in their relationship, but to a story of
their ancestors in 19th century China–two best friends
who also shared a secret communication. The story resembles their own
state in modern China, with abusive conditions for women.
Rated PG-13, 120 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray,
contains a comprehensive 29 minute featurette, containing interviews
with director Wang and novelist See.
An Invisible Sign (**)
Jessica Alba stars as Mona, a numbers-obsessed young
woman, bright in math but low in social skills. She lacks a college
degree but somehow lands a job teaching math at her old high school,
where she connects with the science teacher (Chris Messina) and bonds
with one of the students (Sophie Nyweide). Only they can break her
numeric spell and help her to open up.
Rated PG-13, 96 minutes.
The Perfect Age of Rock ‘N Roll (**1/2)
In this cautionary tale, former rock star Spyder (Kevin
Zegers) tells an interviewer (Lukas Haas) about a road trip he took
two decades earlier. In it, his re-assembled rock group planned to
complete their much anticipated third album–which never arrived. In
the flashback, reluctant guitarist and song-writer Eric (Josh Ritter)
will only leave his teaching job if everyone agrees to take a cross
country road trip on the old Route 66. Former rock impresario Augie
(Peter Fonda) drives the caravan, and band manager Rose (Taryn
Manning) eventually comes between Spyder and Eric. The road-trip saga
benefits from a flavorful sound track and engaging leads.
Rated R, 91 minutes. The DVD also includes a 16 minute
“behind-the-scenes” featurette, two deleted scenes, a music video
and six minutes of music outtakes.
Rickey Smiley: Open Casket Sharp
Comedian, actor, and radio personality Rickey Smiley
performs his stand-up act in Atlanta to a receptive crowd.
Not rated, 65 minutes. The DVD contains two bonus
sketches.
The Hideaways (***), My Brother Talks to Horses (***)
These two releases from On-Demand Warner Archives serve
as cinematic precursors, with The Hideaways (rated G,
105 minutes) telling the story of a young sister and brother (Sally
Prager, Johnny Doran). They take a train to New York and then spend a
week hiding in the Museum of Art, long before Ben Stiller was a night
watchman. The two end up on another grand adventure by going to New
Jersey to visit a reclusive widow (Ingrid Bergman) to learn about the
authenticity of a Michelangelo sculpture. Fun, family-friendly
journey.
Before he became the polished director of such classics
as From Here to Eternity, Oklahoma, High Noon, The Day of the
Jackal, A Man for All Seasons, Fred Zinneman perfected his
craft with Brother/Horses (not rated, 92 minutes), a
pre “Dr. Doolittle” quasi-fable about a boy (Butch Jenkins) in
turn of last century Baltimore who telepathically communicates with
horses. Both his flaky inventor-brother (Peter Lawford) and his
yoga-practicing mother (Spring Byington) believe him, but a kindly
stranger (Charlie Ruggles) actually wants to use the information to
gamble on horse races. Imagine. Engaging story.
And, for kids this week:
Several animated collections of unrated, holiday
classics arrive from the distinguished Rankin/Bass portfolio: ‘Twas
the Night Before Christmas Blu-ray, Santa’s Magical
Stories, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, Dr. Seuss’ Holiday
on the Loose. In order:
Joel Gray narrates the main story in Night/Christmas
(24 minutes) about Albert Mouse finally seeing reason and
helping Santa return to Junctionville for Christmas. The three disc
set of Santa’s/Stories (317 minutes) includes
eight holiday-themed classics, such as “How the Grinch Stole
Christmas” and “A Miser Brothers’ Christmas” and more. Andy
Griffith, and an unlikely Shelly Winters and Jackie Vernon narrates
the main story in Frosty’s/Wonderland (24 minutes)
about the magic snowman returning to entertain children in a
small town for Christmas. Seuss/Loose (76
minutes) offers three Dr. Seuss classics, along
with interviews, and several featurettes on the animation and other
topics. Supplements vary on all sets, so check labels.
The Essential Daffy Duck
Various career escapades of the anarchic duck, the
creation of Warner Brother legends Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Frank
Tashlin, and Chuck Jones, return in 21 cartoons on two discs. Daffy
shares the screen with co-stars Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam
and Porky Pig.
Not rated, 169 minutes. The set also contains a “Career
Profile” featurette on Daffy and separate Easter and Thanksgiving
TV specials
Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas
The popular new creation from Aardman Animation returns
in seven episodes and a bonus segment and game. In every episode,
Shaun must deal with his nemesis, The Farmer.
Not rated, 45 minutes.
Also on DVD: Being Human—season one; Evil Dead 2;
Inni; Larry Crowne; Three Colors: Blue, White, Red.