The week’s DVDs begin 16th century Flanders:
DVDs for Feb. 14 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in 16th century Flanders:
The Mill and the Cross (****)
As strange as it sounds, this visually stunning film, a
personal favorite from last year, from Polish writer-director Lech
Majewski, actually “enters” a still painting—that of Pieter
Bruegel’s masterpiece “The Procession to Calvary.” Majewski moves
slowly in order to appreciate Bruegel’s varying tableaux. The
paintings come to life, as Majewski steers Bruegel (Rutger Hauer)
among his family and around his native Flanders, which struggles with
its occupation by Spanish armies. Majewski took more than three years
to mix special effects, optics, and polished computer imaging to
complement his exquisitely composed scenes. Michael York plays the
painter’s patron, and Charlotte Rampling appear as a stylized Virgin
Mary. In English.
Not rated, 92 minutes. The DVD, in various formats,
offers the comprehensive 45 minute “making of” featurette “The
World According to Bruegel,” which includes interviews with
Majewski, Hauer, and York, as well as generous amounts of on-set
footage. Plus, a 20 interview with Majewski.
Take Shelter (***1/2)
In what is probably the most unsettling mainstream movie from last year, Michael Shannon
turns in a powerful performance as a man who suffers from strange
weather-related nightmares. Texas filmmaker writer-director Jeff
Nichols slowly and craftily layers his film with a series of shocks
and jolts (although he could have done with a few less
wake-up-from-a-nightmare gimmicks). Shannon plays Curtis, a
small-town working man. His hallucinations and his premonitions of
disaster, perceived by him to be true, make him turn against his wife
Samantha (Jessica Chastain). He eventually rips up his back yard to
build a tornado shelter, all while acting strangely and forecasting
future doom. He loses his job, terrifies everyone, and seems headed
over the cliff. Well made film uses minimal special effects for
maximum results.
Rated R, 120 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes
commentary from Nichols and Shannon, an 11 minute “behind-the-scenes”
featurette, a 20 minute interview with Shannon and co-star Shea
Whigham, and six minutes of deleted scenes.
Manhattan (****), Annie Hall (****1/2), The Apartment (****)–Blu-ray
editions
Making their Blu-rays debuts are three remastered
classic comedies by two cinematic masters. Woody Allen wrote,
directed, and starred in his elegiac Manhattan, a
softly endearing film about love, loss, and Allen’s obsession with
his hometown. Gordon Willis’ stunning black and white cinematography
captures the city’s beauty while also rendering Allen’s neurotic
romances. For the iconic Annie Hall, Allen nabbed Best
Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, and Diane Keaton earned
Best Actress. Supposedly, the tumultuous on-screen romance between
Allen and Keaton mirrored their real-life relationship. Touching and
funny, with Allen at his best. Legendary writer-director Billy Wilder
created the five-time Oscar-winning Best Picture The Apartment.
Wilder bitingly skewered the era’s corporate culture, with Jack
Lemmon playing a young executive who reluctantly makes compromises to
succeed. Shirley MacLaine and Fred McMurray excelled, respectively,
as an elevator operator compromised by a top executive (MacMurray).
Manhattan (1979, rated R, 96 minutes)
Annie Hall (1977, rated PG, 93 minutes)
The Apartment (1960, not rated, 125
minutes) The DVD includes a 30 minute “making of” featurette and
a 13 minute segment on Jack Lemmon.
The Young Stranger (***), Period of Adjustment (***), The Fugitive (****)
On Demand Warner Archive releases three new, unrated
works, all distinguished by various well known talents. The 1957
coming-of-age drama Young Stranger marks the debut of
television director John Frankenheimer, who eventually helmed
Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days in May and many more.
In Young Stranger (1957, 84 minutes), a troubled teen
(James MacArthur) lands in trouble with the police over a
misunderstanding. His film producer father (James Daley) tries to
intervene, causing resentment all around. For a first film,
Frankenheimer admirably juggles the film’s various emotional forces.
Period of Adjustment (1962, 111 minutes)
is an unlikely comedy from Tennessee Williams, and it marks the first
film from director George Roy Hill (The Sting). Jim
Hutton and Jane Fonda play newlyweds who quickly find something
irritating about the other. On their ill-conceived honeymoon, they
land at the home of one of his friends (Tony Franciosa) who makes the
two knuckle-heads realize how much they are suited for one another.
Funny enough film, considering the source. John Ford directed The
Fugitive (1947, 99 minutes), based on a Graham Greene
novel. Henry Fonda stars as a nameless Mexican priest fleeing the
authorities. He lingers to say mass and give blessings, all while
soldiers and policeman hunt him down. The beautifully photographed
film captures the variegated enchantments of the Mexican countryside.
With Dolores Del Rio.
Big Year (***)
Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson star in this
buddy-comedy about three male bird-watchers, i.e., birders, at
different points in their lives. They individually make the same
decision to go for their “Big Year,” a competition among birders
about who can see the most species in a single year. This sets up
non-stop, cross-country road trips resulting in various madcap
adventures as the three men re-discover their love of life outside
their manic pursuit. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears
Prada) keeps the mood light and avoids the maudlin, while
also capturing birders’ enthusiasm.
Rated PG, 100 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes
both the theatrical and the extended versions of the film. Plus: an
18 minute “making of” featurette, a six minute gag reel, and over
40 minutes of 12 deleted scenes.
What My Husband Doesn’t Know
Multi-talented playwright and filmmaker David E. Talbert
pushes Tyler Perry for supremacy in the African-American market with
his lengthy film about a man (Brian White) who discovers that because
he has neglected his wife (Michelle Williams), she has found solace
from another man.
Not rated, 150 minutes.
Metal Shifters (**1/2)
This 1950s horror throwback, an original from Syfy
channel, sports a cheesy monster, seen only briefly, terrorizing a
community while a pair of lovers make it to safety. In a small
Alaskan village on Christmas Eve, a junk yard owner’s man-made
sculptor comes to life. The 20 foot heap of metal stomps through
town, snapping off villagers until, finally, someone does the right
thing and saves all.
Rated PG-13, 87 minutes. The DVD, in various formats,
also includes a 15 minute behind-the-scenes featurette.
Also on DVD: The Elite Squad, Perfect Weapon, The Rum
Diary.