The week’s DVDs starts with an Oscar winner.
DVDs for Aug. 30 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in Denmark:
In a Better World (***)
This Danish drama, and Academy Award winner for Best
Foreign Language Film, examines the unexpected consequences of war.
Director Suzanne Bier focuses on a family split not only by personal
problems but also by involvement in war-time activities. Anton
(Mikael Persbrandt) shuttles between his Danish home and an African
refugee camp, where he tends to the sick and injured. His wife
Marianne (Trine Dyrholm) remains home, trying to raise their ten
year-old son, Elias (Markus Rygaard). The boy suffers from bullying
at school, until he begins to rebel using combative tactics disdained
by his peaceful parents. Eventually, Elias’ penchant for violence
becomes a cry for help.
Rated R, 119 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, includes
commentary from Bier and her editor Pernille Christensen, seven
deleted scenes, and a 16 minute interview with Bier.
Wrecked (**1/2)
Adrien Brody stars and remains constantly on screen as
an unnamed man who wakes up in a wrecked car in a desolate forest.
His legs are crushed and even when he finally makes his way out of
the car, he has no idea where he is. A gun, two inert bodies, and a
large sum of money surround him. Plus, he has disturbing visions of a
woman (Caroline Dhavernas) he cannot place. He struggles to regain
his memory, fearing he may have robbed a bank and killed someone.
Writer-director Michael Greenspan somehow sustains suspense in this
virtual one-man show.
Rated R, 91 minutes. The DVD, also on Blu-ray, offers a
14 minute “making of” featurette, as well as three other shorter
segments.
Phantom Pain (***)
Til Schweiger stars in this German language film based on true events. He
plays the scruffy Marc, likable, smart, and energetic, but he likes
to have too much fun and has trouble holding a job. He puts his
passion into bicycling until an accident leads to a leg amputation.
In rehab, he fights depression and loneliness, but, finally, with the
help of understanding friends and girlfriend (Jana Pallaske), he
regains a balance to his life. Sobering but not depressing film
offers a look at how unexpected circumstances can change a person.
Not rated, 98 minutes. The DVD includes six cast and
crew interviews, and five minutes of behind-the-scenes footage.
Phineas and Ferb—the movie
The two lovable imps from the hit Disney animated series
now have their own movie in which Phineas Flynn (voice of Vincent
Martella) and stepbrother Ferb Fletcher (Thomas Brodie-Sangster)
follow their pet platypus, and secret agent, Perry on a round of
adventures in three states and even into an alternate universe.
Rated TV-G, 77 minutes. The double disc DVD offers a
digital copy of the movie along with eight deleted scenes, a
sing-along, a bonus episode, an on-screen jukebox, a new song, and a
music video.
Language Learning Collection featuring Jorge, el Monito Ciclista,
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers and more inspiring tales.
The well regarded Scholastic Schoolbook Treasures
releases two new titles, with the first being a language learning
collection that features the energetic character Jorge, el Monito
Ciclista. This three disc set holds eighteen illustrated stories in
both Spanish and English, all geared to help 5-9 year-olds improve
language skills. Cheech Marin, Luis Guzman, and others narrate. Not
rated, 156 minutes.
In The Man/Towers, four stories come on a
single disc, but the main story focuses on Philippe Petit, also the
subject of the Oscar winning documentary Man on Wire.
Petit is a wire-walker who, in 1974, walked between the twin towers
of New York’s World Trade Center. Various notables supply the
narration, with Claire Danes performing duties on “Miss Rumphius.”
Not rated, 58 minutes. The disc also includes interviews
with author Barbara Kerley and illustrator Brian Selznick, as well as
a Spanish version of “Miss Rumphius.”
Bambi II—Special Edition
Disney reprises the sequel to one of its most beloved
characters in this tale of Bambi (voice of Alexander Gould) joining
friends Thumper, Flower, Faline and Owl for an adventure after Bambi
learns from his father (Patrick Stewart) the ways and dangers of the
forest.
Rated G, 72 minutes. The new DVD comes in various
packages of Blu-ray, DVD, combo packs, or download. Included are four
interactive learning games, a deleted song, a lesson in how to draw
Thumper, a trivia track, and more.
The Fall TV season soon arrives, so it’s time to catch
up with some of last season’s favorites:
Storage Wars—season one
This unlikely hit from cable channel A&E features
four groups of grizzled veterans who tour storage units up for
auction or about to be auctioned. Rivalries ensue while treasures
await, along with surprises like dead bodies. The season’s 19
episodes come on three discs.
Not rated, 418 minutes.
Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy
Comedian Larry tours the country in ten laugh-filled
episodes on two discs. With his trademark irreverence, he examines
what he thinks makes the country great, whether it be making
moonshine, shooting guns, or breeding mules.
Not rated, 376 minutes.
Off the Map—the complete series
The production team behind Grey’s Anatomy
was behind this engaging series about a group of outcast yet
beautiful doctors working in beautiful South American scenery (but
filmed in Oahu, Hawaii). Every segment brings new challenges in
“jungle medicine.” This solo season of 13 episodes arrives on
three discs. With Jonathan Castellanos, Valerie Cruz, Caroline
Dhavernas, Jason George, Zach Gilford, Mamie Gummer. Martin
Henderson.
Rated TV-14 DLSV, 558 minutes. The set also holds an
eight minute on-set featurette, bloopers, eleven deleted scenes, and
a five minute featurette on “Jungle Medicine.”
Brothersand Sisters—fifth and final season
The troubled Walker family says goodbye in this final
season of 22 episodes on five discs. Sally Field, Calista Flockhart,
Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Dave Annable, and an
always stand-out cast appeared throughout the series that followed
the extended family. Reconciliation and romance dominate the
concluding chapters.
Rated TV-PG DLSV, 938 minutes. The set also includes
commentary on selected episodes, a six minute featurette on actor
Gilles Marini, ten minutes with the series’ writers, and deleted
scenes and bloopers on the individual discs.
Also on DVD: The Fifth Quarter, Forks Over Knives, The
Perfect Host.