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DVD Playhouse--November 2009

14 November 2009 6:25 PM, PST | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »

DVD Playhouse—November 2009

Allen Gardner

Watchmen—The Ultimate Cut (Warner Bros.) Director Zack Snyder’s film of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel is as worthy an adaptation of a great book that has ever been filmed. In an alternative version of the year 1985, Richard Nixon is serving his third term as President and super heroes have been outlawed by a congressional act, in spite of the fact that two of the most high-profile “masks,” Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helped the U.S. win the Vietnam War. When The Comedian is found murdered, many former heroes become concerned that a conspiracy is afoot to assassinate retired costumed crime fighters. Former masks Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and still-operating Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley, in an Oscar-worthy turn) launch an investigation of their own, all while the Pentagon’s “Doomsday »

- The Hollywood Interview.com

See full article at The Flickcast »

New On DVD This Week

3 November 2009 3:35 PM, PST | The Flickcast | See recent The Flickcast news »

Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic, and not-so-classic, movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.

Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Blu-ray versions of movies and TV shows such as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, North by Northwest, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Rockford Files. Plus, there’s some classic Dr. Who coming out this week as well.

Check them out.

Movies

A Christmas Carol ~ Alastair Sim, Jack Warner (Blu-ray)

Aliens in the Attic ~ Kevin Nealon, Doris Roberts (DVD and Blu-ray)

Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1 (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper) ~ (DVD)

The Claudette Colbert Collection (Three-Cornered Moon / Maid of Salem / I Met Him in ParisI Met »

- Joe Gillis

This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: November 3, 2009

3 November 2009 4:53 AM, PST | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed

Before we get into this week's releases I thought I would alert you to an upcoming 50% off Criterion Collection titles at Barnes and Nobles beginning on November 10 and running for two weeks. The full details, and a $5 off coupon, can be found in the DVD Talk forums.

Wings of Desire (Criterion Collection) This is a huge week for major title releases on Blu-ray as Criterion's release of Wim Wenders's Wings of Desire is just the first of three titles I reviewed and most likely blew my word count for the next two weeks trying to get all of my thoughts squared away.

As for this title specifically, it was my first time seeing it and as it played on and on I began to enjoy it more and more. However, if you read my lengthy review, you will »

- Brad Brevet

My Apologies to Vera Farmiga

14 September 2009 7:40 AM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

I dream of celebrity. I don't even know what day it is anymore. I was sick all weekend and sleeping erratically. When I woke up this morning (last night? yesterday afternoon?) I was convinced that I had just been interviewing Vera Farmiga. She looked exactly like Sarah Paulson.

Instead of asking Ms. Farmiga about the her new picture, the Oscar contender Up in the Air -- view trailer -- I kept asking her what I should have for lunch. Did she maybe have the pancake recipe that made Claudette Colbert wealthy in Imitation of Life? If so, could I borrow it? Vera/Sarah became very frustrated that I wasn't interested in her career (but I am. Even though I never write about it!)

"Order the damn Blt" she finally declared with exasperation.

I ignored her and ordered the tuna melt instead.

P.S. Fans of I Heart Huckabees will sadly »

- NATHANIEL R

Mm@M: "9 out of 10 Hollywood stars depend on Lux"

24 August 2009 11:20 AM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Mad Men at the Movies. In this series we've been covering movie references made on the 1960s show. Even if you don't watch, you're here because you love talking 'bout the movies. Previously we covered a telling Gidget reference, a throwaway Wizard of Oz bit and the scandal of Lady Chatterley's Lover. Episode 4 mentions an ad campaign that featured Hollywood's A-List actresses.

1.4 "New Amsterdam"

Young account executive Pete Campbell is at dinner with the rich in-laws. The father in-law has some unsolicited advice.

Tom: You've got to get that Lux soap campaign over to Sterling Cooper. Janet Leigh, Natalie Wood -- now, there's a day at the office. I'm telling you, you boys have got it made: Martini lunches, gorgeous women parading through. In my next life I'm coming back as an ad man.

Pete Campbell: Well, there's slightly more to it than that.

Tom: Yeah? Well, I'd keep that to yourself. »

- NATHANIEL R

Splendor in the Link

14 August 2009 10:45 AM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Oh. My. God. A Natalie Wood Retro right here in NYC next week. Wheeeee. I'm bouncing up and down in my chair as I type. (I'll fix the resultant typos later).

If you've never seen Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice you'd be insane to miss it. "Oh, Insight!" I'd also suggest catching Inside Daisy Clover because it's a) really weird and b) all about Hollywood and c) they totally nominated the wrong supporting actress from it for the Oscar.

There's also the opportunity to see Rebel Without a Cause, Gypsy, This Property is Condemned or West Side Story on the big screen if you haven't. I have so I'll be trying to catch the ones I haven't laid eyes on yet: Tomorrow is Forever (1946) with Claudette Colbert, the controversial hard to find Kings Go Forth (1958) with Frank Sinatra and Peeper (1975) with Michael Caine. Why can't this series last longer than a week. »

- NATHANIEL R

See full article at Comingsoon.net »

Eastman Adapting Scotch's Time of My Life

9 August 2009 | Comingsoon.net | See recent Comingsoon.net news »

Nicole Eastman ( The Ugly Truth ) is adapting Allison Winn Scotch's time-travel drama "Time of My Life" for Superb Entertainment and the Weinstein Company, reports Variety . The novel, published last year, centers on a woman with a beautiful house in the suburbs, a loving husband and a baby girl who wakes up seven years in the past with her previous boyfriend and a chance to do her life over. Eastman's credits include The Gilded Lily , a remake of the 1935 Claudette Colbert film from Universal; ABC pilot "The Girl Next Door"; Reese Witherspoon vehicle The Proposal ; and the adaptation of I'm Fine for Paramount and director Ken Kwapis. »

See full article at Monsters and Critics »

Cleopatra 75th Anniversary Edition (Universal Backlot Series) - DVD Review

17 April 2009 6:28 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »

Universal begins a new collection of classic films, the Backlot Series, with the release of Cecil B. DeMille.s historical epic. It.s welcome news for fans of cinema - such as me. The film may be a bit creaky as far as acting style goes, but it still has a sexy side and an abundance of pageantry. More please, Universal. Cleopatra (Claudette Colbert) is the queen of Egypt, but finds herself in political trouble as an attempted coup threatens to strand her in the desert and lose her crown. She outsmarts her usurpers and sneaks into their audience with Julius Caesar (Warren William) and succeeds in defeating them in their own game. She also takes Caesar as her lover »

- Jeff Swindoll

See full article at The Hollywood Interview »

DVD Playhouse: April 2009

11 April 2009 11:58 AM, PDT | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »

DVD Playhouse—April 2009

Allen Gardner

Milk (Universal) Sean Penn deservedly captured his second Best Actor Oscar (and Dustin Lance Black a statuette for his original screenplay) in director Gus Van Sant’s portrait of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in the U.S. Alternately heartbreaking, infuriating and very funny, a film that both captures a bygone era and is still very timely. Fine support from Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, James Franco and Emile Hirsch. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.

Slumdog Millionaire (20th Century Fox) The Best Picture of 2008 is a kinetic, clever audience-pleaser about a determined lad (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, who has his chance at literal and financial redemption as a contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Best Director Danny Boyle dazzles »

- The Hollywood Interview.com

This Week On DVD and Blu-ray: April 7, 2009

7 April 2009 1:36 AM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

DVD Links: DVD News | Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed Doubt I have this Blu-ray sitting right here and plan on popping it in as soon as I get done with this column and will hopefully have a review up in the next day or so. Doubt is a solid film with fantastic performances and with cinematography from Roger Deakins I am sure it will look gorgeous in high-def (even though Deakins didn't exactly bring his A-game to this one). The features, however, do look a bit on the weak side with four traditional featurettes and a commentary from writer/director John Patrick Shanley, but Shanley's comments may prove to be solid enough for a recommendation. However, all likelihood is this one is best left as a rental as I don't consider it a buy based on my one theatrical experience. No Country for Old Men (Collector's Edition) Along »

- Brad Brevet

See full article at TribecaFilm.com »

The Reelist: It Happened One Night

11 March 2009 7:00 AM, PDT | TribecaFilm.com | See recent Tribeca Film news »

This year marks the 75th anniversary of It Happened One Night, the wonderfully fizzy Clark Gable/Claudette Colbert starrer from 1934. Directed by Frank Capra, this was a Code-flaunting sweet-tart of a screwball comedy, and the Academy responded in kind; along with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Silence of the Lambs, Night is one of only three films to win the 'Big Five' categories at the Oscars (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Screenplay, and Director). This week, the Reelist pays tribute to one of the best movies of all time with a list of other romantic comedy classics that go down like a gulp of champage on a starlit night. If you haven't seen any of these flicks, grab your best guy or girl and get thee to Netflix (or, preferably, your local indie video store). A swell date night is guaranteed. (Apologies to My Man Godfrey, The Philadelphia Story, »

Why Do So Many Romantic Comedies Suck?

11 March 2009 12:16 AM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

A reader sent in a link to E's interview with Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (featured to the right) and the interviewer asks the two stars of the upcoming 500 Days of Summer, "Why do you think so many romantic comedies suck?" A valid question and Deschanel beats around the bush to ultimately come to the conclusion that once you tell the same story 100 different times just with different people it kind of gets old. Gordon-Levitt believes the films seem to fall into the trap of pandering to their audience rather than say something true, which sounds to me like a roundabout way of saying filmmakers are treating the audiences as idiots when they aren't. I haven't seen 500 Days of Summer yet, but I have heard good things, but this question of why have romantic comedies gone so far downhill in the recent years is something I have talked about with »

- Brad Brevet

Don't you wish old photos came with audio tracks?

3 March 2009 1:44 PM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Or that you could time travel into the room as they were being taken.

[photo src]

And if either of those things were possible, wouldn't you grab every Old Hollywood candid you could find in order to listen in or join the party? What exactly would Rosalind Russell, Greer Garson and Merle Oberon chat about anyway? Roz only cares about the camera but who are Greer and Merle all smiles about?

I mean just fantasize for a moment about a night at ... on the bar with Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert.

[photo src]

How much would you have to drink to not be starstruck and join right in. Too much. Too much I say. The mind clouds. The hangover would be epic.

Here's a photo I've cherished my whole life from an old out of print Natalie Wood book from the 80s. It's Dennis Hopper and Wood discussing acting styles as they screen A Streetcar Named Desire »

- NATHANIEL R

See full article at Cinematical »

Fan Rant: No Shopping on Cinema Screens!

18 February 2009 9:02 AM, PST | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »

I feel bad for you, Isla Fisher. I may have bashed your ridiculous movie in a rant, but I can't believe that everyone is making such a big deal about you playing a confessed shopaholic. Such was my distaste for the film that I initially agreed with everyone mocking its economic ill-timing, and laughed along with them. (The best quote is from Time: "But as an ill-timed anthropological artifact, Confessions offers weird pleasures, not least among them the fact that it makes us root for the debt collector.") Then I came across this Sarah Jessica Parker quote from Access Hollywood pondering how a Sex in the City sequel would avoid a Shopaholic trap. "How do we address these economic times in a franchise that has a lot to do with luxury and labels? How do we do that well? And how do we do that in a not lazy way? »

- Elisabeth Rappe

The Ultimate Guide to TCM's 31 Days of Oscar Begins Here

31 January 2009 5:56 PM, PST | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

From this Sunday, February 1 through Tuesday, March 3 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) begins their annual 31 Days of Oscar, which brings you night after night of Oscar winning and nominated films uncut and commercial free on TCM and I have put together for you a mini guide for films to look for each day so you can either sit down and enjoy them as they play or set your DVR to record them for later. Either way, this is a great way to knock off so many of those classic films from your must see list. First, how about the TCM video montage preview. Can you name the films?

Now, for the full schedule you can click here to download the Pdf or you can browse TCM's online calendar at the 31 Days of Oscar official site. Because one thing is for sure, even though I list films for every single day below »

- Brad Brevet