How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
January 13, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who think baldness breaks some sort of cowboy code: Appaloosa
Failing to become the breakout, 3:10 to Yuma-sized hit of 2008, Appaloosa earned back its $20-million budget in domestic theaters, but not much more than that. Those that did see this one probably liked what they saw. (Three-quarters of Rotten Tomatoes critics gave the title a favorable review). And those that didn't see it now have a reason to pay a visit to their local Blockbuster – or even DVD retailer if they feel so inclined.
The 1880s western Appaloosa stars Ed Harris (who also picks up producer, writer and director credits here) as Virgil Cole, a lawman hired to defend a town from a murderer (Jeremy Irons) alongside his deputy, Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen). Their friendship and defense efforts are put to the test when a new woman (Renée Zellweger) arrives in town. The story is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Robert B. Parker.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted scenes, Bringing the Characters of Appaloosa featurette, Historic Accuracy of Appalossa featurette, The Town of Appaloosa featurette, Dean Semler's Return of the Western featurette
For people who loved it when conservative character Ruth Fisher smoked pot on Six Feet Under and have been anxiously waiting for her real-life counterpart to light up another bowl: Humboldt County (Widescreen)
One movie I was ecstatic about seeing after I saw its trailer for the first time was Humboldt County, a September 26th release from Magnolia Pictures. However, it never appeared in more than nine theaters, so no blame rests on my lack of motivation, but rather on its pathetically lousy performance at the box office. Like $82,000 lousy. I'm sure Frances Conroy, who plays matriarch Rosie, could have donated that kind of money if she wanted to.
The movie gets it title from a region located on the far North Coast of California (many nickname it "The Lost Coast"). There, marijuana farmers – like Rosie and the rest of her tight clan – co-exist peacefully with the neighboring community. Disillusioned UCLA med student Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong) finds himself stranded there after his drunken one-night stand, Bogart (Fairuza Balk), turns into more than a one-nighter when she escorts the boy to visit her family in Humboldt. Frustrated by school and home life, the tightly-wound Peter initially rejects the lifestyle of the eccentric pot smokers, yet eventually embraces their ideals.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, interviews
For people who never knew Canadians could be so brutal (save for that nasty Greyhound beheading): My Bloody Valentine (Special Edition)
In a few days, Lionsgate will resurrect a low-budget, Canadian slasher film from the early 1980s by releasing a new version of My Bloody Valentine (...in 3-D!). But before that happens, take a look at the new horror flick's original source material in the similarly titled, My Bloody Valentine (...sans 3-D!)
The movie is infamous among horror movie aficionados for having a solid nine minutes cut by the MPAA for excessive gore (which essentially is an oxymoron in slasher speak anyway). Co-producer John Dunning always insisted that the footage still existed...somewhere. Yet no one outside of those close to the project has ever seen the material. Until now. To coincide with the remake, a special edition DVD goes to market today with the never-before-seen footage spliced back into the film.
Disc includes: Bloodlust: My Bloody Valentine and the Rise of the Slasher Film featurette, Bloodlines: An Interactive Horror Film History featurette, deleted scenes
For people who thought Ricky Gervais was hilarious at the Golden Globes Sunday night: Little Britain USA
Speaking of oxymorons, how about the title to the new HBO comedy series, Little Britain USA? A spinoff of the British BBC television series – whose title appropriately has the USA chopped off the end – the six-episode first season copied the successful formula popularized by the U.K. original in having co-writers/directors/stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams play a number of the series' lead characters. This includes many more not seen in the Brit comedy, which ended its three-series run on BBC in 2006.
And many stars flocked to Little British USA's freshman season, including Rosie O'Donnell (playing a "FatFighter," no less), Harry Lenix, Vivica A. Fox and Paul Rudd (as France's President, of course). Though viewership was way low, HBO has already greenlit a second season.
Disc includes: The Making of Little Britain USA featurette, audio commentary, character playlist, deleted scenes, bloopers
For people who think Kiefer Sutherland is already vain enough and don't need to see the guy stick his face in front of a bunch of mirrors for 110 minutes: Mirrors (Special Edition)
Based on the 2003 South Korean horror movie, Into the Mirror (though not a strict remake of it), Alexandre Aja's Mirrors stars everyone's favorite government agent – in a totally different scenario. Here, Kiefer Sutherland appears as Ben Carson, the head of – what else? – security at a department store, which is struck by a series of strange, unexplained deaths. Soon after a woman, who claims to have bizarrely lost her life in the store, tries using mirrors to get back into the world of the living.
How...stupid.
Unlike The Strangers that preceded it in May, or even The Unborn, which just opened to the tune of nearly $20 million this weekend, Mirrors failed to grab hold of a huge chunk of audience during its brief ride in theaters. With international grosses included, the title doubled its $35-million budget, yet you can't help but think 20th Century Fox was expecting a bit more with the release.
Disc includes: Theatrical and unrated version of the film, Reflections: The Making of Mirrors Shockumentary, Behind the Mirror featurette, deleted scenes, alternate ending
January 13, 2009
Breakfast At Tiffany's (Centennial Collection)
Brideshead Revisited
Dallas: Seasons 1-10 (Set)
Dallas: The Complete Tenth Season
Drumline (Special Edition)
Funny Face (Centennial Collection)
Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence
Lovejoy: The Complete Season Four
Man vs. Wild: Season 2
The Marriage Counselor
Matlock: The Second Season
My Best Friend's Girl (Special Edition)
Paul McCartney: In Performance (Widescreen)
Postal (Unrated Director's Cut)
Reba: Season 5
Skins: Volume 1 (Widescreen)
Stargate: The Ark of Truth Blu-ray]
Superhero Movie (Extended Edition)
'Til Death: The Complete Second Season (Widescreen)
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (Widescreen)
Walker Texas Ranger: The Sixth Season
Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling
Zodiac (Director's Cut)