How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
July 15, 2008
Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP's look at the latest DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: Jason Statham increases his masculinity by starring in another thriller, Reno 911! heads back to the small screen (where it belongs) and the dance movie genre proves it's lucrative yet again.Pick of the WeekFor people who like watching wild goose chases through the streets of London: The Bank Job (Special Edition)
You'd think that with three big franchises – The Transporter (second sequel due out this November), Crank and The Italian Job (both sequels due out next year) – action film star Jason Statham would quit putting energy in outside projects, at least for a few years. But no, the actor had to go ahead and star in yet another crime thriller. And for the first time in awhile, it's really well received. Here, the beefy Brit stars as lawbreaker-turned-good guy Terry Leathers in a film based on a true robbery of a London bank way back in 1971, although money and other stolen goods were never recovered. Up until now, details of the story were kept under wraps to allegedly protect a member of the British Royal Family (*cough*...Princess Margaret...*cough*). Thus, screenwriters attached to the project fictionalized certain elements and kept others ambiguous.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, Inside the Bank Job featurette, The Baker Street Bank Raid featurette, deleted and extended scenes, movie trailers for The Forbidden Kingdom, Rambo and other films, digital copy of film for iPods and other portable video players.
For people who think the Reno 911! team should never make another disastrous, spin-off film: Reno 911!: The Complete Fifth Season
Talk about a quick turnaround. Just last Thursday, Comedy Central aired Reno 911!'s season five finale, and already the complete 16-episode season is available on DVD. I don't understand. A parody of Fox's COPS, Reno 911! is a mockumentary-style show centering on the inept law enforcement officials of Reno, Nevada's police department. The core cast of characters – Lt. Dangle (Thomas Lennon), Dpt. Wiegel (Kerry Kenney-Silver), etc. – have been on the heavily-improvised show from the start. The extremely butch, is-she-or-isn't-she-a-lesbian Dpt. Kimball (Mary Birdsong) joined the force a couple of seasons ago, though I've never felt her presence improved matters.
In season five, the officials tackle a number of odd tasks, like building an Iraqi police force, paying their respects to a dying Jackie the Prostitute and volunteering to build a section of the wall at the Mexican border. Of course, just about nothing is outside of their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, no word at this time whether there will be a season six.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, outtakes, Inside the Minds of Reno's Deputies featurette.
For people who wonder why Holly Hunter stopped making movies: Saving Grace: Season One
While you're at it, talk about poor planning. Saving Grace's second season got off to an explosive start just last night, yet today is when 20th Century Fox decided to release the series' premiere season on DVD. Whoops? Saving Grace stars Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter as title character Grace Hanadarko, a binge-drinking, sex-obsessed, going-straight-to-hell detective in Oklahoma City who is visited by an angel, Earl (Leon Rippy), one night after calling out in desperation for a God she doesn't even believe in. Throughout the show's first season run, Earl frequently appears by the detective's side, hoping she'll eventually seek God's help and shy away from her somewhat innate, self-destructive tendencies.
Coupled with the dramatic phenomenon that is The Closer, TNT has quietly beefed up its Monday nights, rivaling the best of what even the larger broadcast networks have to offer. Maybe fare like Greatest American Dog wasn't a good choice. Eh, CBS?
Disc includes: Audio commentary, season one recap, Behind the Scenes with Holly Hunter featurette, On the Set featurette, Conversation with Executive Producer Gary Randall featurette, No Ordinary Angel: Behind the Scenes with Leon Rippy featurette, Rhetta: Laura San Giamcomo on Her Character featurette, Saving Grace: Overview, music video.
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