New Blu-rays and DVDs include the dark comedy 'Burn After Reading' and 'The Women'

 

 

“BURN AFTER READING”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen 2008, R for pervasive language, sexual content and violence 

Best extra: "Finding the Burn," a brief making-of featurette that captures a hint of the movie's low-down, dirty humor.

 

THIS YEAR, scientists announced that they had created the darkest substance ever, made of a cluster of carbon nanotubes.

 

They were wrong. The darkest thing in the whole, entire world was created by the Coen brothers. It's called "Burn After Reading," and it's made of greed, lust, malice, sweat and catastrophically bad decision-making.

 

The hi-def imagery is top notch with excellent sharpness and contrast, while highlighting some familiar Washington, D.C. sites.

 

The disc has extras, but there's not much to them. Three slender hi-def featurettes discuss making the movie, its look and setting, and George Clooney's return as the Coen brothers' favorite absurd clown. There's no real discussion, sadly, of Brad Pitt's Oscar-worthy dance moves.

 

It's a shame the extras are so paltry; perhaps a commentary by writers/directors/producers Joel and Ethan Coen, would’ve shed a bit more light on this blackest of black humor. Instead, viewers are left in the dark, much like the movie's hapless characters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best extra: The 20-minute hi-def featurette, with its on-set camaraderie and thorough dissection of what it took to make the film, is almost more enjoyable than the movie itself.

 

A LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE its spots; and neither, regrettably, can writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson ("Mortal Kombat," the "Resident Evil" films). Through his insistent use of mindless action, his 13-year dream to transform a campy satirical action film into a poignant little masterpiece was, quite literally, shattered. The nifty message of reality TV gone extreme –  "Network" done by NASCAR – is handily eclipsed by a hail of gunfire and screeching car chases. Even the panache of Joan Allen as a scheming warden and Ian McShane ("Deadwood") as a wily mechanic, doesn't give the film the heft the creators so desperately wanted.

 

Watching the extras saddens us for the film that could have been. In the commentary, Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt outline their first remake idea: a race in the far future with extreme effects. (They abandoned the idea in favor of a more believable present; to their credit, very little CGI is used in the film.)

 

The two hi-def featurettes reveal a production that was extremely well-thought out, including the sprawling Canadian set at a bleak, abandoned train factory, and the tricking out of famous racing cars of yore with missiles and plated armor. But it's the shallow characters, alas, that stumble. Right after you hear Bolt explain why this isn't a "B" picture, for instance, you see a clip of Academy Award nominee Allen spouting ridiculous expletives. Sigh.

 

The hi-def imagery is solid with high contrast and desaturated colors, providing a gritty look. The uncompressed DTS HD soundtrack kicks some major bass; watch out as the bullets zoom from speaker to speaker.

 

The Blu-ray includes both theatrical release and uncut versions and an exclusive U-Control option, with a pop-up video commentary containing behind-the-scenes footage from the production and interviews with the cast and crew matching the action on screen.

 

It also includes an interactive dossier of the nine reality TV drivers from Terminal Island, plus the drivers' convictions and sentence sheet. Driver Jensen Ames/aka Frankenstein has been convicted of homicide, assault, assault of prison guard, breaking and entering and larceny. His car is a 2006 Mustang GT, 4.6L V8, equipped with twin 30mm belt-fed machine guns as his weapon of death.

 

Want to be the a film editor? The Blu-ray lets you select multiple camera angles and assemble your own cut of an action sequence. However, it is not a perfect operation.

 

Finally, Blu-ray also allows you to create your own commentary track (becoming a common feature on Blu-rays), available via live internet connection with Universal's BD site. Your player must have an ethernet or PS3 wireless connection. You can also have your own live chat while watching this futuristic thriller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best extra: “The Women Behind ‘The Women’: Visiting the Cast and Crew to Cover Issues of Female Empowerment, Body Image and Self-Esteem for Girls”

 

EVEN AN ALL ALL-STAR cast can’t make a mediocre movie, and a remake to boot, sing. That’s the case with “The Women,” based on a 1930's Broadway play by Clare Booth Luce, later made into a movie in 1939 with Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer and Paulette Goddard.

 

Granted, a movie with powerful, confident women carries a wonderful message for today’s girls, and the bonus feature in hi-def enlightens viewers about how the actresses behind the characters view themselves in today’s world. Fourteen-year-old India Ennenga (Molly Haines) interviews the women in this bonus, which makes it all the more poignant.

 

A making-of bonus also filmed in hi-def does a great job comparing the 1939 film, its history and the latest version directed by Diane English (“Murphy Brown” creator). There also are additional scenes.

 

Be prepared on the Blu-ray disc to be amazed at how some of these women (Annette Bening, Meg Ryan) are showing their age, but not in a stereotypical way. Instead, each has a beautiful glow proving that women look great at any age.

 

 

 

 

 

Best extra: Pop Quiz: Cast Interviews, short, though, and not very enlightening into the characters’ personalities

 

SURE HIGH SCHOOL’S become more intense than when some of us went, and “American Teen” puts it into perspective for 21st century teens.

 

A hit at Sundance 2008, “American Teen” follows a year in the lives of five archetypes of everybody’s high school: the jock, the nerd, the homecoming queen, the heartthrob and the rebel. It’s a realistic look at this awkward time, when the adult is screaming to get out, but the insecurities of childhood still persist.

 

The bonus features don’t add much to the film itself. They include a pop quiz of the cast – more snippets than actual interviews with questions like, hey, are you guys friends now? Then there’s blogs from Hannah, the rebel, but they’re basically video blurbs of her pontificating on things from guys to life after high school. Finally, there are character trailers seen in theaters trying to coerce people to see this flick, and deleted scenes.

 

As with any documentary on teens, the music is mainly indie, and the video quality is respectable. It’s hard to believe that this film could be as good as “The Breakfast Club” and as heartwarming as “Juno,” but it is.

 

 

 

 

 

Best extra:  “Making Number 2” the extra’s name gives you a clue as to the sophomoric, coarse humor you’re in for with this satirical look at a high school drama class and its failed actor-turned-teacher.

 

DON’T EXPECT a real sequel to Shakespeare’s great tragedy. Instead, to save his endangered program, teacher Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) pens a flashy, tasteless extravaganza that blends “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the Bard and the teacher’s personal traumas. “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” is the show’s catchiest tune.

 

This film’s almost as funny as “Wayne’s World.” That’s largely because, in the wonderful British comic actor Coogan, it has a talent nearly as captivating, shameless and full of himself as Mike Myers.

 

Some favorite moments: Jesus (Coogan) moonwalking on silky fabric “water,” Elisabeth Shue as a celebrity-turned-nurse who disses Hollywood and Marschz’s encounters with a child theater reviewer whom he fears and reveres.

 

In the 15-minute making-of documentary, you see how different Coogan normally looks and sounds and you grasp how silly the co-writers are. “I believe this film will appeal to my friends, mentally unstable people, people out for cheap laughs and drunkards,” said writer/director Andrew Fleming.

 

 

 

 

Best extra:  Not really an extra, one of the discs includes the feature length documentary "Murnau, Borzage and Fox".  It's the key to the set, explaining how the hopeless romantic, the German Expressionist and one of Hollywood's first tycoons, came together to make movies that cinemaphiles still talk about, eighty years after their release.

 

JUST BEFORE SOUND became a part of Hollywood, critics agree that the best silent films ever made, were made by F. W. Murnau, Frank Borzage and produced by William Fox.  Even great art can be overtaken by technology, as the films in the collection show.

 

Beginning with Murnau's "Sunrise," (three Academy Awards), "City Girl," and a discussion of his lost masterpiece "4 Devils," (the only copy was burned in a fire in the 1930's), Murnau's Hollywood sojourn is covered. "Sunrise" is on a double-sided disc, one version with the musical soundtrack, one side the European silent release.  Extras on "Sunrise" include commentary by cinematographer John Bailey, outtakes, (also with his commentary), outtakes with text cards, the theatrical trailer, the original scenario by Carl Meyer with notes by Murnau, the screenplay, restoration notes and a still gallery.  "City Girl" is also double sided, the flip side being the information on "4 Devils."

 

Frank Borzage's three time Oscar winner "7th Heaven" has commentary by film historians Robert Birchard and Anthony Slide, a copy of the screenplay, sound track notes and a still gallery.  The flip side of the disc has a "reconstruction" of Borzage's "The River" (a complete copy of the film does not now exist), filled out with stills from the Borzage heir's private collection. Borzage's "Bad Girl," (a talkie!), rounds out what is available for review at this time.

 

The commentaries are detailed and exhaustive.  For those whose only knowledge of Murnau is "Nosferatu," or the delightful (and fictional) "Shadow of the Vampire," they will be able to expand their horizons considerably.

 

The entire collection has twelve films and a book of photography – making it a prefect gift for the hard core film buff. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best extra: “Return to Edge City” retrospective documentary

 

 

Best extra: “Still Dumb After All These Years” retrospective documentary

 

IT WAS THE YEAR of Jim Carrey in 1994 when he made the jump to the big screen in crowd pleasers like “The Mask,” “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Hoping to capture some of those glory days – and a bit of publicity from Carrey’s latest, “Yes Man” – New Line has released “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber” on Blu-ray.

 

Both films hold up well, particularly “The Mask” which appeals to a much broader audience. (Americans love their trickster characters from Bugs Bunny to Jack Sparrow.) Color looks great, intensely saturated for those amazing dance scenes that, initially, the studio wanted to cut. Reactions from preview audiences changed their minds. Blacks are deep and definition is clear. Sound is terrific, especially in the big dance number with Carrey and the Edge City cops.

 

Extras include commentary by director Chuck Russell, another commentary with Russell and several others, including Bob Shaye of New Line, a couple of deleted scenes and a short bio on Cameron Diaz. “The Mask” was Diaz’s first film; she was snatched up from a modeling agency. 

 

The Blu-ray presentation is as good as you’re going to find for “Dumb and Dumber,” a film that makes the work of the The Three Stooges look like high art and is sure to nauseate those of a less ribald persuasion. The director’s unrated cut includes an extra six minutes of footage. There’s nothing exclusive among the standard-def features. Viewers will find additional scenes, alternate endings, and “Most Annoying Sound” and “The Toilet Scene” featurettes.

 

 

“IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE”

Blu-ray widescreen, 2007, PG-13 for action violence

Best extra:  A "Behind the Scenes" feature that has, oddly, no narration, makes you realize how unnecessary voice-overs can be on that kind of material.  I also saw evidence, (although I always suspected it), that Ron Perlman likes to have a little fun with his work no matter what the project.

DIRECTOR UWE BOLL continues his life's work of adapting computer/video games into movies with "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale." Jason Statham heads a cast that includes Jonathan Rhys-Davies, Leelee Sobieski, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Burt Reynolds and Ray Liotta in a filmed version of the "Dungeon Siege" game.  Remote controlled monsters, the Krug, are sent by evil wizard Ray Liotta in a plot to take over Burt Reynolds' kingdom.

We'll pause here to let you screw your head back on.

Jason Statham is the "Farmer" character, leading a small band to avenge the murder of his son and locate his kidnapped wife.  He slings a mean boomerang and various edged weapons in his quest. Liotta actually works out rather nicely, once you get past the vague traces of New Jersey in his speech. Wisely, he doesn't even try to affect any sort of accent; neither do any of the other American cast members. Over all, it's not as bad as it could have been, but it's a video game. We're not looking for the next "Lord of the Rings" here.

 

Now that it’s available in Blu-ray, you’ll have the chance to see it all in improved color with good, solid blacks although there’s still some grain. Sound has also improved, but not by much. Special features are in standard-def and include deleted and extended scenes, the same as found on the original DVD release.

— Mike Reynolds