How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
February 10, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who didn't know they could have sympathy for Dubya: W.
I went into W. with an open mind, and ended up tremendously enjoying Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic. More considerate of the former president than I expected from the liberal director, the picture follows Bush's ascension to the White House and just how in the hell he ended up there in the first place. News to some, the Texan was basically a yes man to Cheney and his administrators. And if George Sr. had his way, Jeb would have been the country's 43rd president...not W.
Like a top-notch SNL skit, the movie features a number of established actors – who, by the way, ARE ready for primetime – putting on their best impressions of the members of the Bush administration and family. Casting includes Josh Brolin as George, James Cromwell as George Sr., Elizabeth Banks as Laura, Ellen Burstyn as Barbara, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney and Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Presidency featurette, DVD-ROM research and annotations guide
For people who can't think of the mechanics of the flux capacitor without giggling uncontrollably: Back To the Future (Special Edition)
It's here: Back to the Future's special edition DVD. Yes! This is just the thing people wanted, considering that 2009 is the year the trilogy celebrates its...wait for it...24th anniversary? I realize times are tough right now, but let's release these anniversary DVDs on actual milestone years. Eh, Universal?
Either way, the two-disc set comes packed with a number of features that science fiction aficionados (and Christopher Lloyd enthusiasts) are bound to enjoy, including five featurettes and interviews with star Michael J. Fox and director Robert Zemeckis.
Also released today are special editions of Back to the Future Parts II and III.
Disc includes: Back to the Future: The Ride featurette, Looking Back to the Future featurette, Back to the Future Night featurette, The Making of Back to the Future featurette, Making the Trilogy: Chapter One featurette, Q&A with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale, Michael J. Fox interview, audio commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, animated anecdotes, original makeup tests, production archives, original screenplay excerpts
For people who want to see Samuel L. Jackson lookin' good in a suit: Soul Men
We've seen him scream at snakes. We've seen him yell at happily married couples. We've even seen him bark at Darth Maul. So when Samuel L. Jackson finds the time to shriek into a microphone, you ought to just sit and listen to the music. Here, the 60-year-old stars as a former backup soul singer who reluctantly agrees to reteam with his singing partner (Bernie Mac) after 20 years of separation for a reunion concert in honor of their deceased lead singer (John Legend). A beautiful woman (Sharon Leal) joins the duo as their new lead vocalist.
The comedy, which scored an OK 44% of positive reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, marks Mac's second-to-last posthumous releases. His final movie is Disney's Old Dogs, slated for release on November 25th.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, The Soul Men: Bernie Mac & Samuel L. Jackson featurette, The Cast of Soul Men featurette, Director Malcolm D. Lee featurette, A Tribute to Bernie Mac featurette, A Tribute to Isaac Hayes featurette, Boogie Ain't Nuttin': Behind-the-Scenes featurette, Bernie Mac at The Apollo featurette
For people who'd like to know what Melissa Leo's been up to since her days on Homicide: Life on the Street: Frozen River
Appearing on a dozen top-ten lists from the nation's critics and earning two nods at the Academy's upcoming Oscar ceremony, Frozen River proved its Grand Jury Prize win at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival wasn't a fluke. The movie, which follows two women (Melissa Leo and Misty Upham) who make ends meet by smuggling illegals across the Canadian/U.S. border, marks Courtney Hunt's directing debut.
Disc includes: Audio commentary
For people who can't believe that "cellar door" is the most beautiful phrase in the English language: Donnie Darko [Blu-ray]
Finally, I end the week on a high note: Donnie Darko is available on Blu-ray. The 2001 psychological thriller, which barely crossed $500,000 during its original theater run, built a loyal fan base following its release on DVD and VHS the subsequent year. As proof, a theater in New York's East Village began midnight showings of the film around the same time. The screening stretch continued for more than two years.
The movie stars a young Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular character, a troubled teenager who does what every good boy would do when a giant-sized bunny comes knocking at the door. Donnie follows him outside. Though the action prevents the kid from being home at the time that a jet engine crashes into his bedroom – phew! – the bunny tells him that the world will end in 28 days. Shucks.
Other cast mates include Jake's sister, Maggie, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle and Patrick Swayze. Only Daveigh Chase, who plays Donnie's sister, Sam, will reprise her role for the direct-to-DVD sequel, S. Darko, due out in late April.
Disc includes: Theatrical cut and director's cut of the movie, audio commentary, Behind-the-Scenes featurette, #1 Fan: A Darkomentary documentary, Storyboard-to-Screen featurette, They Made Me Do It featurette
February 10th, 2009
Blu-ray
Amadeus
The Boondock Saints
Chocolate
Djinn: An Ancient Fairy Tail
Donnie Darko (Collector's Edition)
Doom (Unrated)
Frozen River
Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk
A History of Violence
Miracle at St. Anna
My Name is Bruce
Nights in Rodanthe (Special Edition)
The Pelican Brief
Ping Pong Playa
Pretty Woman
Raging Bull
The Rock Collection
The Rundown
Soul Men
Street Fighter (Extreme Edition)
A Time To Kill
W.
XPW: A Cold Day In Hell
DVD
Back To The Future, Part II (Special Edition)
Back To The Future, Part III (Special Edition)
Batman & Robin (2 Disc Collector's Edition)
Batman Forever (2 Disc Collector's Edition)
Blindness (Widescreen)
Chocolate
Clint Eastwood American Icon Collection
David Bowie: Space Oddity (Collector's Edition)
Donnie Darko (Collector's Edition)
The Enforcer (Collector's Edition)
Friday The 13th, The Series: The 2nd Season
Joni Mitchell: Fiddle & The Drum
Kennedy: The Complete Series
The Lodger (Premiere Collection)
Miracle at St. Anna
My Name is Bruce
Nights in Rodanthe (Special Edition)
Pan's Labyrinth (Oscars O-Sleeve Special Edition)
Ping Pong Playa
Simon & Simon: Season 2
Siren in the Dark (Director's Cut)
The Skulls Trilogy
Street Fighter (Extreme Edition)