Jim Leff's DVD Collection

Note: Summaries were not written by me!

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Total number of titles: 171

Page number: 1

Director: Ki-duk Kim (II)
Starring: Seung-yeon Lee, Hyun-kyoon Lee, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Jeong-ho Choi, Ju-seok Lee
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Sony Pictures Rated: R
Language (Country): Korean, French ()
Summary: Words really do get in the way in "3-Iron", a strange, poignant South Korean film from director Kim Ki-Duk ("Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring") in which the central character doesn't utter a single word. It's not explained why the puck never speaks, but it adds an element of mysticism to this love story that's at once humorous and disturbing. In this case, the knight in shining armor, Tae-Suk (Hee Jae) is a vagabond who supports himself by breaking into people's homes when they're on vacation. But rather than steal possessions, he cooks himself a meal, carefully washes the dishes, takes a bath, does their laundry, fixes anything broken, sleeps in their pajamas, and leaves each home spic and span. One day he trespasses on the home of a battered wife (Seung-yon Lee) who's still home. Fascinated, she leaves her husband and joins in his adventures, until one of their random break-ins gets them in trouble and the couple is forced apart.
Adding in a reliance on some stunning visuals, "3-Iron" does a good job filling itself out in a non-implicit way. In this case, compliments and banter aren't needed to tell you that the pair has found a bond that no one can wrest away from them. The ending may tickle suspended reality (it's either becoming supernatural or someone's a lot more nimble than we thought), but it's still a poetic conclusion to this twisted fairy tale. "--Ellen A. Kim"

The 4400 - The Complete Fourth Season

Director: Morgan Beggs, Milan Cheylov, John Behring
Starring:
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Studio: Paramount Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Over the last century thousands of people have gone missing. Suddenly and inexplicably 4400 missing people are returned all at once exactly as they were on the day they vanished. Unclear what this world-altering event means the government investigates the 4400 to piece together where they've been and why they've been returned. It quickly becomes apparent that their presence will change the human race in ways no one could have foreseen.System Requirements:Running Time: 561 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 097368525047 Manufacturer No: 852504

Abel Raises Cain

Director: Jenny Abel, Jeff Hockett
Starring: Jeanne Abel
Genre:
Studio: Rated: NR
Language (Country): ()
Summary: ABEL RAISES CAIN is an unprecedented glimpse into the life and bizarre career of Alan Abel, the infamous underground media prankster. He has made a name for himself several times over with stunts that are just ridiculous enough to be believable, especially to a media that feeds on salacious, far-fetched stories.

In this loving portrait of an eccentric father, Alan's daughter, Jenny, tells her firsthand account of what it was like growing up with a prankster. She, along with co-director Jeff Hockett, takes the audience on a roller coaster ride through the myriad of elaborate hoaxes and schemes that Abel pulled off over the years, all of which were designed to provoke and amuse...while at the same time, make people question everything that they see, hear and read.

"An affectionate portrait of a gadfly dedicated to lampooning American society's foibles, the laziness of the media and the tendency in all of us to swallow what we really want to believe but shouldn't."-STAR-TRIBUNE

"A humorous and highly personal documentary"-LA TIMES

"Its an impressive debut, featuring a story that's almost too perfect to be true. The film can keep you talking, telling others about this hilarious man whos still pulling the wool over the eyes of an unsuspecting media."-MINN. DAILY

"A fun and fascinating look at an American original"- ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

"Long before Borat hauled his mustachioed mischief across the Western Hemisphere, Alan Abel was giving interviews in the guise of ridiculous characters and whipping the world into an outraged lather...Narrated and co-directed by his daughter Jenny, ABEL RAISES CAIN is a small, sweet film - a loving portrait of an eccentric father." -THE STRANGER

Grand Jury Award Best Documentary-Slamdance; Audience Award Best Documentary-Sarasota Film Festival; Grand Jury Award Best Documentary- Newport International Film Festival; Grand Jury Award Best Feature-Brooklyn Underground; Voted Top Ten Audience Favorites - Hot Docs Toronto.

Abode of Illusion: The Life and Art of Chang Dai-chien

Director: Richard Gordon, Carma Hinton
Starring:
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Direct Cinema Limited Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary:

American Splendor

Director: Shari Springer Berman
Starring: Chris Ambrose, Nick Baxter, Vivienne Benesch, Shari Springer Berman, Earl Billings
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: HBO Video Rated: R
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: One of the most acclaimed films of 2003, "American Splendor" is also one of the most audaciously creative biographical movies ever made. Blending fact, fiction, and personal perspective from the comic books that inspired it, this marvelous portrait of Harvey Pekar--scowling curmudgeon, brow-beaten everyman, insightful chronicler of his own life, and frustrated file clerk at a Cleveland V.A. hospital--is an inspired amalgam of the media (comic books, TV, and film) that lifted Pekar from obscurity to the status of a pop-cultural icon. As played by Paul Giamatti in a master-stroke of casting, we see Pekar and his understanding wife (played by Hope Davis) as underdogs in a world full of obstacles, yet also infused with subtle hope and (gasp!) heartwarming perseverance. We also see the "real" Pekar, and this multifaceted commingling of "reel" and "real" turns "American Splendor" into a uniquely cinematic celebration of Pekar's life and, by extension, the tenacity of an unlikely American hero. "--Jeff Shannon"

Arrested Development - Season One

Director: Anthony Russo, Greg Mottola, Jay Chandrasekhar, Joe Russo, John Fortenberry
Starring: Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat
Genre: Comedy
Studio: 20th Century Fox Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Winner of the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy its first year out, "Arrested Development" is the kind of sitcom that gives you hope for television. A mockumentary-style exploration of the beleaguered Bluth family, it's one of those idiosyncratic shows that doesn't rely on a laugh track or a studio audience; it's shot more like a TV drama, albeit with an omniscient narrator (executive producer Ron Howard) overseeing the proceedings. Holding the Bluths together just barely is son Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the only normal guy in a family that's chock full of nuts. Hardworking and sensible, Michael's certain he's going to be given control of his family's Enron-style corporation upon the retirement of his father (Jeffrey Tambor). The fact that he's passed over instead for his mother (Jessica Walter) is only a blip when compared to his father's immediate arrest for dubious accounting practices, and the resulting freeze on the family's previously limitless wealth.
Bereft of money, and even less family love, the Bluths have to band together in their moment of need--not easy when everyone's looking out for number 1. In addition to his scabrous parents, Michael has to contend with his lothario older brother (Will Arnett), his basically useless younger brother (Tony Hale), his greedy twin sister (Portia DeRossi), and her sexually ambiguous husband (David Cross). Michael's only comrade in sanity is his son George Michael (Michael Cera), but then again, the teenage boy harbors a secret crush on his cousin (Alia Shawkat). A peerless ensemble led by the brilliant Bateman (who ever knew he could be this good?), all the actors are pitch-perfect in their roles, delivering the dryly funny, sometimes absurdist dialogue with the speed and flair of classic farce. The unusual tone of "Arrested Development" takes a bit of getting used to--it's far different from anything you'll see on TV, even HBO--but once you buy in to the Bluths' innumerable dysfunctions, you'll be laughing your head off for hours."--Mark Englehart"

Automorphosis

Director: Harrod Blank
Starring: Steve Baker, José Benavides, Harrod Blank, Hyler Bracey, James Bright
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Rated:
Language (Country): (USA)
Summary:

Begging Naked

Director: Karen Gehres
Starring:
Genre:
Studio: Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary:

Belleville Rendez-Vous

Director: Sylvain Chomet
Starring: Mari-Lou Gauthier, Lina Boudreau, Béatrice Bonifassi, Michel Robin, Michèle Caucheteux
Genre: World Cinema
Studio: Tartan Video Rated: Universal, suitable for all
Language (Country): French, Portuguese ()
Summary: One of the more surprising critical hits of 2003, Sylvain Chomet's "Belleville Rendezvous" is a French animation that combines occasional beauty and charm with sardonic grotesquerie. People have commented about its bitchy portrait of a USA where everyone is overweight and over-helpful; it is equally nasty about a provincial France, where everything is grey and nothing is convenient. A grandmother and her dog set out to rescue a cyclist who has been kidnapped by the French Mafia and is forced to race endlessly into a receding projected landscape; she is helped by a superannuated trio of female close-harmony "chansonniers" marooned in American poverty.
Nothing in this film is mere chance--almost everything we see turns out to be relevant. There is also little dialogue--most of the time, sound effects and music take its place, from the irritating squeak of a mechanic's breathing to the sublimity of Mozart's "Kyrie" as a storm rages at sea. "Belleville Rendezvous" uses the best of traditional animation techniques and modern technology to produce something sharply funny and beautifully composed; it is not quite like anything you have seen before. --"Roz Kaveney"

The Big Lebowski

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Gramercy Pictures Rated: R
Language (Country): English, German, Hebrew, Spanish ()
Summary: After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of "Fargo", this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, "The Big Lebowski" is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because "The Big Lebowski" might give you a giddy case of the munchies. "--Jeff Shannon"

Bill Hicks - Sane Man

Director:
Starring: Bill Hicks (II)
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Rykodisc Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Comic Bill Hicks's star shone so bright and emitted such intense heat that he almost seemed destined to die before his time--which he did, at age 32 in 1994. But while he was here, Hicks's brilliance enabled him to thrive in circumstances that were sometimes less than ideal. On "Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1", he turned a gig in front of "the worst audience I've ever faced" into a triumph; and here on "Sane Man", an hour-long, early-career performance recorded in 1989 in Austin, TX, the force of his personality and humor overcome some nagging technical problems. In what amounts to a glorified home video, the picture is grainy and the audio is indistinct; the latter is the bigger problem, as it lessens the impact of Hicks's delivery. But his sheer presence--not just what he says, but his restless physicality and wild vocalisms--eventually trump those distractions. Fans will recognize many of these bits, as Hicks's riffs on smoking, drinking (he was newly sober at the time), and drugs ("not only do I think pot should be legal, it should be mandatory") were staples of his repertoire throughout his career. So were his takes on pop music, but although they're somewhat dated now (cf. potshots at Kenny Rogers and George Michael), they provide the funniest and most extreme moments here, including a hilariously raunchy fantasy involving Debbie Gibson and Tiffany that proves yet again that Hicks had no peer when it came to pure, unalloyed bile. "Sane Man"'s bonus features are generous, to say the least: an extended (by about 20 minutes) version of the main feature, lengthy clips from other performances, a long text bio, and even a CD/DVD "Hicksography" with audio clips accompanying every entry. "--Sam Graham"

Billy the Kid

Director: Jennifer Venditti
Starring:
Genre:
Studio: Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary:

Blanco Y Negro: En Vivo

Director:
Starring: Bebo & Cigala
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: RCA Victor Group Rated: NR
Language (Country): Spanish ()
Summary: I LOVED this cd the moment I first listened to it. It is one of the most beautiful, touching albums I have ever heard. It is one of my top 5 ALL TIME recordings. To see the evolution and collaboration of these two amazing artists was a gift. To see the love between Bebo and Cigala as people and as artist was touching. I can watch and listen to this DVD over and over again.

Boston Legal: Season Four

Director:
Starring: Boston Legal
Genre: Drama
Studio: 20th Century Fox Rated: NR
Language (Country): English, French ()
Summary: The quirky characters at Crane, Poole and Schmidt are at it again, bringing the most outrageous and often times improbable cases to court.

Beyond "Boston Legal – Season 4" on DVD
"Boston Legal – Season One" on DVD
"Boston Legal – Season Two" on DVD
"Boston Legal – Season Three" on DVD

Stills from "Boston Legal – Season Four" (Click for larger image)

Brazil - The Criterion Collection -

Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Jim Broadbent, Anthony G. Brown, Patrick Connor, Robert De Niro
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Criterion Rated: R
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is an extremely ambitious effort brimming with socio-political criticism. It is filled with intense, chaotic images of a highly centralized, technological, authoritarian society gone horribly sour. It is 1984 brought to flesh, and done with the Gilliam touch where dreams are the only way to escape a reality that is completely insane. What is disturbing is that this world looks so familiar...the endless paperwork to do the simplest things...the failure of gadgetry to make life easier...bureaucracy failing to take into account people...nepotism, vanity, the constant threat of "terrorists" to unite people in fear...mindless consumerism as religion...yes, Gilliam's kinetic visuals are indeed center stage, but much of the world in this film is a prophecy and funhouse refraction of our own world. Welcome to fascism: welcome to Brazil.

Breaking Bad - The Complete First Season

Director:
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt
Genre: Drama
Studio: Sony Pictures Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Popular water-cooler drama about an unremarkable and uncharismatic chemistry teacher, Walter, who discovers new passion in his life after he learns he has terminal cancer. Once a successful chemist, Walter now teaches apathetic high school students and works part-time at a car wash to help support his family - wife Skyler, who earns a modest income buying and selling items on eBay, and son Walter, Jr., a strong-willed 17-year-old suffering from cerebral palsy. Realizing he has nothing but his family left to live for, Walter's new sense of purpose reinvigorates him into a man of action as he turns to an exciting life of crime to provide for the ones he loves.

Breathless - Criterion Collection

Director:
Starring: Jean Domarchi, Van Doude, Roger Hanin, Henri-Jacques Huet, Claude Mansard
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Criterion Collection Rated: Unrated
Language (Country): English, French ()
Summary: There was before Breathless, and there was after Breathless. With its lack of polish, surplus of attitude, crackling personalities of rising stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, and anything-goes crime narrative, Jean-Luc Godard's debut fashioned a simultaneous homage to and critique of the American film genres that influenced and rocked him as a film writer for Cahiers du cinema. Jazzy, free-form, and sexy, Breathless (A bout de souffle) helped launch the French new wave and ensured cinema would never be the same.

A Brighter Summer Day

Director:
Starring: Elaine Kam, Cheung Kwok Chu, Yang De Chang
Genre:
Studio: A Brighter Summer Day Rated:
Language (Country): Mandarin ()
Summary: From visionary Taiwanese directory Edward Yang comes A Brighter Summer Day, an epic four-hour film set in 1960s Taiwan. Using a cast of nonactors and natural, real locations, Yang brings what looks like a tale of rival street gangs to the screen. But his focus is really one young man, who faces his own individual struggles as the people of Taiwan come to grips with their personal identity. The boy's generation is the first born to Taiwan after the massive immigration of Nationalist Chinese from the Mainland following the rise of Communism. These new Taiwanese struggle to define their own identity, and find inspiration in sources from Chinese swordplay novels, to Russian literature, to Japanese weaponry, to American pop culture and music.The world of A Brighter Summer Day is opposed to its hopeful title, and reflects one of uncertainty, where the future has never seemed quite so cloudy or unpredictable. Yang draws upon the trials of his own childhood - the daily dangers of gang violence, his own rural background, and the true-life murder of a thirteen year-old girl by a fourteen year-old boy - to weave a complex tapestry of the anxieties and fears facing a nation uprooted by change and exile. A stunning, mesmerizing film which exemplifies the notion of film as art, A Brighter Summer Day is one of the definitive films of modern Taiwanese cinema.

Burden of Dreams - Criterion Collection

Director: Les Blank
Starring: Miguel Ángel Fuentes, José Lewgoy, Alfredo De Rio Tambo, Father Mariano Gagnon, Ángela Reina
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Criterion Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: For nearly five years, acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog desperately tried to complete the most ambitious and difficult film of his career-Fitzcarraldo, the story of one man's attempt to build an opera house deep in the Amazon jungle. Documentary filmmaker Les Blank captured the unfolding of this production, made all the more perilous by Herzog's determination to shoot the most daunting scenes without models or special effects, including a sequence requiring hundreds of natives to pull a full-sized, 320-ton steamship over a small mountain. The result is an extraordinary document of the filmmaking process and a unique look into the single-minded passion of one of cinema#s most fearless directors.

Burmese Harp - Criterion Collection

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Starring: Rentaro Mikuni, Shôji Yasui, Jun Hamamura, Taketoshi Naitô, Kô Nishimura
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Criterion Rated: Unrated
Language (Country): Japanese ()
Summary: Kon Ichikawa's Buddhist tale of peace, "The Burmese Harp", is universally relevant in various eras and cultures, although it comments specifically on the destruction of Burma during World War II. Based on the novel by Michio Takeyama, "The Burmese Harp" stars a Japanese platoon stationed in Burma whose choir skills are inspired by their star musician, Private Mizushima (Rentaro Mikuni), who strums his harp to cheer the homesick soldiers. As the troop surrenders to the British and is interred in Mudon prison camp, Mizushima escapes to be faced with not only his imminent death, but also the deaths of thousands of other soldiers and civilians. Relinquishing his life as a military man, Mizushima retreats into a life of Buddhist prayer, dedicating himself to healing a wounded country. Filmed in black and white, strong visual contrasts heighten the divide between peace, war, life, and death in this highly symbolic film. Scenes in which the Japanese soldiers urge opposing forces to sing with them portray military men regardless of alliance as emotionally sensitive. Showing the humanistic aspects of war, such as the male bonding that occurs between soldiers, doesn't justify war as much as deepens its tragedy. This release includes interviews with the director and with Mikuni, further contextualizing its place in Japanese cinema. "The Burmese Harp", with its lessons in compassion and selflessness, is so transformative that viewing it feels somewhat akin to a religious experience. "--Trinie Dalton"

Cafe Lumiere

Director: Hsiao-hsien Hou
Starring: Yo Hitoto, Tadanobu Asano, Masato Hagiwara, Kimiko Yo, Nenji Kobayashi
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Fox Lorber Rated: NR
Language (Country): Japanese ()
Summary: One of today's greatest filmmakers, Hou Hsiao-hsien pays homage to one of the masters, Yasujiro Ozu, commemorating the centenary of Ozu's birth. In a residential Tokyo neighborhood, Yoko, a young freelance writer defies her strongly traditional parents with news that she is pregnant and has no desire to marry the father. She calmly accepts this reality and stoically deals with the worried reactions of her family. In an effort to alleviate her loneliness, she befriends the owner of a second-hand bookstore. He falls in love with her, but keeps his feelings silent. Gradually, Yoko begins to re-evaluate everything in her life in this meditative masterpiece of young urban solitude.

Capturing the Friedmans

Director: Andrew Jarecki
Starring: Arnold Friedman (II), Elaine Friedman, David Friedman (IX), Seth Friedman (II), Jesse Friedman (II)
Genre: Documentary
Studio: HBO Video Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: A Sundance Grand Jury prize winner and a true conversation starter, "Capturing the Friedmans" travels into one apparently ordinary Long Island family's heart of darkness. Arnold and Elaine Friedman had a normal life with their three sons until Arnold was arrested on multiple (and increasingly lurid) charges of child abuse. Because the Friedmans had documented their own lives with copious home movies, filmmaker Andrew Jarecki is able to sift through their material looking for clues. Yet what emerges is more surreal than fiction: the youngest Friedman son went to jail, the eldest became a birthday-party clown. In the end, we can't be sure whether Arnold Friedman is a monstrous child molester or the victim of railroading. The portrait of a disconnected family is deeply disturbing, either way, and this film is further proof that a documentary can be just as spellbinding as anything a great storyteller dreams up. "--Robert Horton"

Chimes At Midnight

Director:
Starring:
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Hollywood's Attic Rated: NR
Language (Country): ()
Summary: Sir John Falstaff (Shakespearian character superbly portrayed by Orson Welles), is the charming although drunken and obese companion of young Henry V. At first Prince Hal and Falstaff lead a life of debauchery and idleness, but as the prince sees the import of his destiny as the future king of England, Falstaff fearfully believes their relationship might be heading for trouble. Welles marvelous portrayal of this jovial but tragic character and strong acting throughout make Chimes at Midnight an exceptionally worthwhile film.

Comedy Central's TV Funhouse

Director:
Starring: Comedy Central's TV Funhouse
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Comedy Central Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: COMEDY CENTRAL'S TV FUNHOUSE (DVD MOVIE)

Creature Comforts - The Complete First and Second Seasons

Director: Nick Park, Richard Goleszowski
Starring: The Great British Public
Genre: Kids & Family
Studio: Sony Pictures Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: " Creature Comforts " is a brilliant and hilarious clay animation series about the lives of animals as told by the animals themselves. Interviews with these lovable claymation creatures leave no stone unturned, no tree unclimbed, no sea uncrossed in the quest to discover what our fine-finned, furred and feathered friends really think about the issues that are closest to their hearts. It's a "mockumentary" like none you've ever seen, and it could only come from Nick Park and the untamed minds at Aardman Animation.

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul

Director: Fatih Akin
Starring: Alexander Hacke (II), Baba Zula, Orient Expressions, Duman, Replikas
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Strand Releasing Rated: NR
Language (Country): German ()
Summary:
German-born Turkish director Faith Akin captures in his film the endless variety of the different styles in music and songs in Istanbul, a city that is a bridge between East and West, a city that is uniquely located on both sides of the Bosporus, in Europe and in Asia. Kurdish dirges represented by Aynur, who performs her own brand of Kurdish gospel music, passionate and melodic. We are introduced to Romany instrumentals, to Orhan Gencebay, who has been called the Elvis of Arabesque music - sounds of music are heard everywhere in the city as Faith Akin takes us into underground clubs, to the street performers, and to recording sessions. German bassist Alexander Hacke who comes to Istanbul to play and to learn about Turkish music quotes Confucius, "To understand the place, you have to listen to the music it plays". Akin's fine documentary does just that - gives us 90 minutes of music that helps to cross the bridges. For me, watching the movie was especially interesting because I recently visited Istanbul as a part of my vacation and spent four days there. The city fascinated me by its images, colors, crowds, vibrancy and visual beauty. Now, I can add the sounds of music to the ever-changing portrait of Istanbul

The Cult of the Suicide Bomber

Director:
Starring: Robert Baer
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Disinformation Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Features Robert Baer, former CIA Agent and the man whose book "See No Evil" was the basis for the film "Syriana", and the man George Clooney’s character in the film is based upon.
Their devastating and deadly actions punctuate the world news almost nightly, yet they remain faceless figures amidst the violence and turmoil that engulf the Middle East. And, whether it’s the C4-laden martyrs of Hezbollah or the car bombing insurgents of Iraq, what could possibly compel a suicide bomber to voluntarily take their own lives, along with those of hundreds of innocent victims? There is perhaps no one better equipped to investigate this terrifying practice than Robert Baer, a decorated, former Middle East CIA Agent and the man George Clooney’s character was based on in the Academy Award®-winning film, Syriana.
Robert Baer returns to his former center of operations, the Middle East, to trace the origins of the modern day bomber. In this poignant documentary, Baer reveals the fascinating story of the world's first suicide bomber, 13-year-old Hossein Fahmideh–who was martyred in the Iran-Iraq war and is now a hero in Iran; and visits his highly decorated grave in the graveyard of martyrs just outside Tehran.

Dangerous Liaisons

Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves
Genre: Drama
Studio: Warner Home Video Rated: R
Language (Country): English, French ()
Summary: A sumptuously mounted and photographed celebration of artful wickedness, betrayal, and sexual intrigue among depraved 18th-century French aristocrats, "Dangerous Liaisons" (based on Christopher Hampton's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses") is seductively decadent fun. The villainous heroes are the Marquise De Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte De Valmont (John Malkovich), who have cultivated their mutual cynicism into a highly developed and exquisitely mannered form of (in-)human expression. Former lovers, they now fancy themselves rather like demigods whose mutual desires have evolved beyond the crudeness of sex or emotion. They ritualistically act out their twisted affections by engaging in elaborate conspiracies to destroy the lives of their less calculating acquaintances, daring each other to ever-more-dastardly acts of manipulation and betrayal. Why? Just because they can; it's their perverted way of getting get their kicks in a dead-end, pre-Revolutionary culture. Among their voluptuous and virtuous prey are fair-haired angels played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman, who have never looked more ripe for ravishing. When the Vicomte finds himself beset by bewilderingly genuine emotions for one of his victims, the Marquise considers it the ultimate betrayal and plots her heartless revenge. "Dangerous Liaisons" is a high-mannered revel for the actors, who also include Swoosie Kurtz, Mildred Natwick, and Keanu Reeves. "--Jim Emerson"

Dark City

Director: Alex Proyas
Starring: Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O'Brien
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: New Line Home Video Rated: R
Language (Country): English, French ()
Summary: If you're a fan of brooding comic-book antiheroes, got a nihilistic jolt from "The Crow" (1994), and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to call "Dark City" an instant classic of visual imagination. It's one of those films that exists in a world purely of its own making, setting its own rules and playing by them fairly, so that even its derivative elements (and there are quite a few) acquire their own specific uniqueness. Before long, however, the film becomes interesting only as a triumph of production design. And while that's certainly enough to grab your attention ("Blade Runner" is considered a classic, after all), it's painfully clear that "Dark City" has precious little heart and soul. One-dimensional characters are no match for the film's abundance of retro-futuristic style, so it's best to admire the latter on its own splendidly cinematic terms. Trivia buffs will be interested to know that the film's 50-plus sets (partially inspired by German expressionism) were built at the Fox Film Studios in Sydney, Australia, home base of director Alex Proyas and producer Andrew Mason. The underground world depicted in the film required the largest indoor set ever built in Australia. Befitting a film of such ambition, the DVD includes a feast of bonus features, including audio commentaries by the director, producer, writers, and cinematographer, and also by film critic Roger Ebert, who named "Dark City" one of the best films of 1998. Also included is an isolated music track, an interactive game, and a photo gallery of production stills and set design sketches. "--Jeff Shannon"

Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Dave Chappelle, Lauryn Hill, Big Daddy Kane, Andrea Smith, Rudolph Walker
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Universal Studios Rated: R
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Few movies, documentary or otherwise, capture the relaxed exuberance of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party". This is Chappelle's first project since his show on Comedy Central received so much popular and critical attention that he apparently had a psychological meltdown and fled to Africa to escape. You can still see a hint of weariness and wariness in his eyes--but even more you can see his relief to be launching a project that bears no expectations. Funded by his own money and free to all who attended, Chappelle set up a secret concert location in Brooklyn and pulled together a musical lineup of stellar acts, including Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Common, the Roots, Dead Prez, and the reunion of the Fugees, all of whom give vibrant performances. But "Block Party" doesn't just capture the show; at least a third of the movie is Chappelle wandering around Brooklyn or the Ohio neighborhood where he lives and interacting with the people he meets, many of whom he gives free tickets for the show. These scenes, combined with footage of the performers rehearsing or just gassing around before the show, offer a sense that for Chappelle performing is just an extension of his everyday life; that he takes just as much pleasure from goofing around with one person as he does goofing around in front of hundreds or thousands. Putting together this event becomes a unique self-portrait as well as an experience that rejuvenated Chappelle. If you surrender to the vitality of the show and Chappelle's loose comic jazz, you may find it rejuvenating too. "--Bret Fetzer"

David Lynch's Inland Empire

Director: David Lynch
Starring: Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux
Genre: Drama
Studio: Absurda / Rhino Rated: R
Language (Country): English, Polish, French ()
Summary: Though Inland Empire's three hours of befuddling abstraction could try the patience of the most devoted David Lynch fan, its aim to reinvigorate the Lynch-ian symbolic order is ambitious, not to mention visually arresting. The director's archetypes recognizable from previous movies once again construct the film's inherent logic, but with a new twist. Sets vibrate between the contemporary and a 1950s alternate universe crammed with dim lamps, long hallways, mysterious doors, sparsely furnished rooms and, this time, a vortex/apartment/sitcom set where rabbit-masked humans dwell, and a Polish town where women are abused and killed. Instead of speaking backwards, mystic soothsayers and criminals speak Polish. Filmed on video, the film's look has the sinister, frightening feel of a Mark Savage film or a bootlegged snuff movie. Constant close-ups, both in and out of focus, make Inland Empire feel as if a stalker covertly filmed it. A straightforward, hokey plot unravels during the first third of Inland Empire to ground the viewer before a dive off the deep end. Actor Nikki Grace (Laura Dern) is cast as Susan Blue, an adulterous white trash Southerner, in a film that mimics too closely her actual life with an overbearingly jealous and dangerous husband. When Nikki and co-star Devon (Justin Theroux) learn that the cursed film project was earlier abandoned when its stars were murdered, the pair lose their grasp of reality. Nikki suffers a schizophrenic identity switch to Sue that lasts until nearly the film's end. Suspense builds as Nikki's alter ego sleuths her way through surreal situations to discover her killer, culminating in Sue's gnarly death on set. Sue's actions drag on because any sign of a narrative thread disappears due to idiosyncratic editing. Non-sensical scenes still captivate, however, such as when Sue stumbles onto the soundstage where she finds Nikki (herself) rehearsing for Sue's part. In this meta-film about identity slippage, Dern's multiple characters remind one of how a victim can become the hunter in their fight for survival. Lynch's portrayal of Nikki/Sue's increasing paranoia is, in its own confusion, utterly realistic. Laura Dern has created her own Lady Macbeth, undone by her guilt over infidelity. Even though Inland Empire is too long and too random, Laura Dern's performance coupled with Lynch's video experiments make it magical. --Trinie Dalton

Derren Brown - The Specials

Director:
Starring:
Genre: Documentary
Studio: 4dvd Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
Language (Country): ()
Summary: How does he do it?

There is a bit in Derren Brown's book where he makes a point often made by magicians, illusionists, mentalists - call them what you will: you don't really WANT to know how it's done. Usually the trick is so simple and straightforward that it's profoundly disappointing to know the secret. The real trick, of course, is the breathtaking showmanship with which it is executed.

All the same, I really WOULD like to know how he did these! These are some of his most audaciously-executed one-offs and fans have been waiting for them to come out on DVD for some time. His Russian Roulette stunt got the whole country talking. Some people seemed genuinely surprised that there was any element of trickery involved at all ('What, so he was never in any real danger of blowing his own head off? Aw!') but whatever your perspective, it plays brilliantly with your expectations and creates real tension.

As for The Seance, despite the fact that he TOLD everyone it was trickery and nothing supernatural was going on, it became one of Channel 4's most complained-about programmes because loads of people thought he was meddling with dark forces. This reveals just how convincing his stunts are.

I was once asked, in my capacity as a psychologist, to be in the audience of one of his other specials, The Gathering, but it wasn't one of his classics. How I wish I'd been in one of these four instead! Mesmerising stuff!

The Devil, Probably

Director: Robert Bresson
Starring: Antoine Monnier, Tina Irissari, Henri de Maublanc
Genre: Period
Studio: Artificial Eye Rated: Suitable for 18 years and over
Language (Country): ()
Summary: Sometimes, the outward manner of a work of art (the "style" or "form") may be incredibly rigorous and intensely stylized, yet the thematic concerns (the "story" or "content") may be wildly disorganized, almost anarchic. It may seem a heresy to say this of Robert Bresson, but after UNE FEMME DOUCE (1969), his concentration on youth and his determined pessimism led him into a series of increasingly fragmented works, perhaps mirroring his fractured sense of the world.

THE DEVIL, PROBABLY is surely one of the most schizoid film in Bresson's career: there are (literally) unleavened chunks of didactic discourse, droning lectures over immaculately edited stock footage showing atrocities done to animals (baby seals, etc.) and the planet. The "message" isn't even subtle: Bresson wants to clobber his viewer with his vision of a planet gone beyond redemption, now in the throes of degradation and destruction. Yet Bresson lingers over his youthful protagonists, in their (deliberately) blank ambiguity (innocence? inexperience?), and he allows the camera to catch them in moments which come perilously close to emotion.

The fracture in the movie's structure is symptomatic of what seems to be an almost hysterical need to make a statement on Bresson's part (and he was never known for didacticism before). Yet, as photographed by Pasqualino De Santis, this is one of Bresson's most seductively tacticle works, with the lighting seeming to irradiate most of the scenes.

The late 1960s and early 1970s seemed to be a time when many in the French cinema were driven to make apocalyptic fantasies: Godard with ALPHAVILLE and WEEKEND, Truffaut with FAHRENHEIT 451, Louis Malle with BLACK MOON, Alain Resnais with JE T'AIME JE T'AIME, even Jacques Demy with THE PIED PIPER. But Bresson didn't turn towards science fiction for his apocalypse: he turned to science fact, and let the facts speak for themselves to come up with this vision of hell on earth.

Dexter: The Complete Second Season

Director:
Starring: Michael C. Hall
Genre: Drama
Studio: Showtime / Paramount Rated: NR
Language (Country): English, Spanish ()
Summary: Dark and sinister is the new sexy, thanks to "Dexter", which in its second season has proven to be the most successful series Showtime has offered up yet. Remember how much you squirmed in your seat during the season one finale? Believe it or not, the premiere of season two felt like it could have been a season finale--because jaws were on the floor when the credits rolled. For being a supposed sociopath, Dex is pretty broken up about the gruesome events that concluded last season. The one and only person who could possibly understand him is six feet under, and it seems our unlikely hero is losing his homicidal grip. He’s even having a little trouble slicing up a few of his latest victims (from a murderous gang member to a chainsaw-wielding fiend from his past). Enter Lila (Jaime Murray, "Hustle"), a lady with a sweet British accent and a few dark secrets of her own. She seems to accept Dex for who he really is, and he finds himself feeling relaxed for the first time in his life. In contrast, his relationship with his girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) has been stretched almost to a breaking point. The problem is, he should be anything but relaxed. Someone picked a poor place to go scuba diving off the Florida coast, and came across an underwater graveyard: Dex’s primo spot for dropping dismembered bodies wrapped in heavy-duty trash bags. Word about the "Bay Harbor Butcher" gets out quick, and the F.B.I. sends the best of the best, Special Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine, "Deadwood") to work alongside the police to sniff out Miami’s latest serial killer. This guy is no schlub, and Dex may have met his match. And, yes, Dexter gets to work with Lundy on a daily basis, which provides some wonderfully awkward moments. It certainly doesn’t help that the intuitively paranoid Sergeant Doakes (Erik King, "Oz") is hot on Dex’s trail.
Season two of "Dexter" is all about decisions. Lila or Rita? Old code or new code? Run or fight? Right or wrong? Well, one thing’s for sure: When it comes to writing, casting, acting, and production, the makers of this show made all the right decisions. Michael C. Hall is simply superb as the title character. You’ll never find yourself more willing to genuinely root for a serial killer. It’s bloody liberating. --"Jordan Thompson"

Discovery Channel 20th Anniversary DVD Collection

Director:
Starring:
Genre: <Name>Television
Studio: Discovery Channel Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary: Product Detail:
Celebrate two decades of globe-spanning exploration and top-notch entertainment with this special, five-disc collection. Featuring a variety of hit programs from Discovery's first 20 years some never before available on DVD.

Forbidden City: The Great Within
Explore one of the world's most extravagant palaces the Forbidden City of Beijing. Unprecedented access reveals for the first time some of its reputed 9,999 rooms and 240 acres of palace grounds, schools, temples and theaters. Once closed off to the world, this icon of Chinese imperial power is now yours to discover.

Wolves at Our Door
Join documentary filmmaker Jim Dutcher and his wife, Jamie, as they share their experiences living with a family of wolves for three years. By bottle feeding them as puppies and being a constant presence in their lives, the Dutchers gain unprecedented acceptance into the world of these lively but misunderstood canines.

Titanic: Anatomy of a Disaster
Touted as unsinkable prior to its maiden voyage, the manner in which the Titanic sank has long been a source of debate. Watch as scientists and researchers combine underwater archaeology, forensic science, metallurgy and other disciplines to get to the bottom of this 90-year-old mystery.

Queen of the Elephants
As India's population explodes, precious elephant grazing areas are beginning to disappear. Join conservationist Mark Shand and elephant handler Parbarti Barua as they stride 300 miles across India on the backs of elephants to generate awareness for the plight of these gentle giants.

Carrier: Fortress at Sea
Meet the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and shove off for a six-month, 45,000-mile voyage from San Francisco to the Persian Gulf. Along the way, thrill to the real-life story of the Navy's top guns as told by the men themselves and marvel at the visual excitement of flight deck operations and footage from jet-mounted cameras.

Presented in full screen format.

Doc Martin - Series 3 - Complete

Director: Minkie Spiro, Ben Bolt
Starring: Joe Absolom, Lucy Punch, Carol Catz, Stephanie Cole, Martin Clunes
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Ent Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
Language (Country): ()
Summary: The adventures of Doctor Martin Ellingham--more commonly known as "Doc Martin"--have proven to be one of ITV's most popular hits of recent years. And within this series three DVD set, you've got plenty of evidence as to why.
For newcomers, "Doc Martin", played with effortless skill by Martin Clunes, is a surgeon based in a small Cornish village. But it's not his direct, blunt manner that proves to be his only problem. No, the issue too is that the Doc has a phobia of blood. It's not the handiest problem for a Doctor to have, but it does allow "Doc Martin" to mix in good chunks of comedy alongside its drama.

Doc Martin Series 1 & 2

Director:
Starring: Joe Absolom, Martin Clunes, Carol Catz, Ian McNeice, Lucy Punch
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Momentum Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
Language (Country): English ()
Summary:

Dogville

Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harriet Andersson, Lauren Bacall, Jean-Marc Barr, Paul Bettany
Genre: Drama
Studio: Lions Gate Rated: R
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: The latest galvanizing and controversial film from Lars von Trier ("Dancer in the Dark", "Breaking the Waves", "The Kingdom"), "Dogville" uses ingenious theatricality to tell the Depression-era story of Grace (Nicole Kidman, "The Others"), a beautiful fugitive who stumbles onto a tiny town in the Rocky Mountains. Spurred on by Tom (Paul Bettany, "Master and Commander"), who fancies himself the town's moral guide, the citizens of Dogville first resist Grace, then embrace her, then resent and torment her--little realizing they will pay a price for their selfish brutality. The town is indicated by fragments of building and chalk outlines on a soundstage floor, stylishly pointing to the movie's roots in classic plays (particularly Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" and Friedrich Durrenmatt's "The Visit"). Several critics have stridently attacked "Dogville" as anti-American, but the movie's dark, compelling view applies as easily to Rwanda, Bosnia, the Middle East, or pretty much anywhere in the world. Also featuring Lauren Bacall, Patricia Clarkson, Jeremy Davies, Stellan Skarsgârd, Chloe Sevigny, and many more. "--Bret Fetzer"

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist - Season 1

Director:
Starring: Jonathan Katz, H. Jon Benjamin, Laura Silverman, Will Le Bow, Julianne Shapiro
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Paramount Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist: Season One" includes the first six 1995 episodes from the Comedy Central animated series, which was based, the story goes, on comic actor Jonathan Katz's personal life. Playing himself (i.e., providing the voice for his cartoon self) as a divorced psychologist whose clients include a number of comedians, Katz is very funny in a non-confrontational, quietly frustrated yet loquacious way. Dr. Katz lives with his grown son (H. Jon Benjamin), an unemployed, apparently unskilled loser who hangs around Katz's office ineptly trying to pick up his dad's prickly receptionist (Laura Silverman). The latter is so surly and self-centered she tells Katz he doesn't "know what it's like" to spend a day around "crazy people" at work. (Katz, being Katz, has no comeback to that remark.) These three absurd characters (and the inspired performers behind them) would be enough to fill a show by themselves. But the biggest plus in "Dr. Katz" is a succession of vocal performances (which sound largely improvised) by some welcome comedians playing neurotic versions of themselves, including (and especially) Ray Romano, Wendy Liebman, Dave Attell, Laura Kightlinger, and Larry Miller, all in the first season. Each episode exudes anxiety and churns along to the sound of rambling dialogues that barely paper over repressed desire and rage. Sort of like real life, except funnier. "--Tom Keogh"

The Duke of the Bachata Preview Edition

Director: Adam Taub
Starring:
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Horizon Line Documentary Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary: The Duke of the Bachata is a documentary film about Joan Soriano, a Bachata Musician from the Dominican Republic, as he struggles to reach his goal of a hit CD and success as a musician. It is also the story of his large extended family living in the rural countryside of Monte Plata near Santo Domingo. They dream along with him, hoping that his success will improve their economic situation and quality of life.The bachatas and merengues he plays have their origins in the Dominican Republic yet draw upon a variety of musical influences from regions of Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Soriano is a practitioner of Afro-Dominican traditional salve and palo as well, and he blends these percussive styles with bachata to create a fresh sound.* This is a preview version of the documentary "The Duke of the Bachata"This version contains the documentaryas initially screened in 2009.The DVD does not include chapters, an extensive menu, nor bonus features.The film contains spoken Spanish and English with English subtitles over the spoken Spanish.
"This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply."

EDDIE PALMIERI AND FRIENDS-DVD SALSA y JAZZ LIVE

Director:
Starring:
Genre:
Studio: Rated:
Language (Country): ()
Summary:

Eden

Director: Michael Hoffman
Starring: Josef Ostendorf, Charlotte Roche, Devid Striesow, Max Rudlinger, Leonie Stebb
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Drakes Avenue Pictures Rated: Suitable for 12 years and over
Language (Country): ()
Summary: Michael Hoffman's film is yet another tale of food on screen as an allegory.. in this case passion. This idea has been done so many times now (Chocolat most notably) that it is difficult to approach without a jaded eye, and yet there is some enjoyment to be had.

A gluttonous chef, proud of his 137 kilo girth, is renowned for his culinary masterpieces which are so good we only see people eating ravenously and never delicately. When his path crosses with that of a waitress and her Down's Syndrome daughter, his food rejuvenates her passion and his affection grows into something more. So far, so Hollywood, but the rub is the passions his food ignites only bring her closer to her husband, and not as he hopes to himself. Gluttony, jealousy, ignorance and unrequited love follow. There are problems... The food as photographed never quite sets the mouth watering enough to make you believe it can have the miraculously aphrodisiac effects it does, and not a single one of the characters are truly endearing enough to make you really care.

Story-wise, the movie follows an interesting course, while still feeling a little bloated (pun intended) at 98 minutes... and without giving anything away, the ending is more satisfactory than any Hollywood version would have been, making the wait worth it.

Subtitles are reasonably good, and the German is clear. Worth watching then - but enough with the food related films for a while, ok?

Elevator to the Gallows - Criterion Collection

Director: Louis Malle
Starring: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Jean Wall
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: Criterion Rated: Unrated
Language (Country): French ()
Summary: "Elevator to the Gallows" is many things: A tight, delicious crime thriller; the debut of director Louis Malle ("Zazie dans le metro", "Atlantic City", "Au Revoir, Les Enfants", and many more works of subtle genius); a movie with perhaps the greatest jazz soundtrack of all time, created improvisationally by trumpeter Miles Davis; but above all, "Elevator to the Gallows" is the blooming of Jeanne Moreau to the status of true movie star, launching her on a career that included "Jules & Jim", "La notte", and "La Femme Nikita". After killing his lover's husband, Julien (Maurice Ronet, "Purple Noon") gets trapped in an elevator, forcing him to miss his rendezvous with Florence (Moreau) and allowing his car to be stolen by a joy-riding young couple. From there, the movie splits into three directions: Julien's efforts to escape; Florence wandering the streets, trying not to believe that Julien has abandoned her; and the car thieves, who get caught up in a murder of their own. The movie skillfully fuses Hitchcockian suspense with intimate psychodrama. As she stalks through the night, Moreau is a vision of tortured heartbreak, her woeful eyes and lush, sensuous lips illuminated by neon signs and baleful streetlamps. This is pure cinematic pleasure, visual beauty fused with taut, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

The Essential Steve McQueen Collection

Director: Norman Jewison, John Sturges, Sam Peckinpah
Starring: Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld
Genre: Action & Adventure
Studio: Warner Home Video Rated: PG
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: 6 Steve McQueen classic movies are now available in one giftset -- THE ESSENTIAL STEVE McQUEEN COLLECTION! BULLITT TWO DISC-SPECIAL EDITION: Buckle up for gritty police procedure and a wild, trend-setting chase over Frisco's hills with THE GETAWAY DELUXE EDITION A heist gone wrong is dead-right in the hands of McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah. THE CINCINNATI KID McQueen and Edward G. Robinson ante up. Norman Jewison guides the big-time poker flick. NEVER SO FEW Commando action in World War II Burma! McQueen's first big-budget film. Frank Sinatra stars. PAPILLON Can McQueen and Dustin Hoffman escape Devil's Island? From the director of Patton. TOM HORN True to the cowboy way! McQueen rides tall in a star-packed elegy to a changing West. Titles also available separately.

Everest

Director: David Breashears, Greg MacGillivray, Stephen Judson
Starring: Liam Neeson, Lhakpa Dorji, Dorje Sherpa, Ed Viesturs, Muktu Lhakpa Sherpa
Genre: Drama
Studio: Miramax Rated: Unrated
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Filmed in the IMAX format, this film had the luck (or lack thereof) to be shot during the same fateful and fatal climb of Mount Everest chronicled in Jon Krakauer's book, "Into Thin Air", in which a group of rich hobby climbers found themselves trapped by a blizzard near the summit. The IMAX film contains footage of those people, but focuses on its own group, as they make their assault on the top of the world's highest peak. Some startling footage of the mountain and the approaches--and, as in Krakauer's book, the depiction of what is involved in this kind of adventure (particularly the pain and suffering)--makes you wonder exactly where the fun is. But documentary film is about showing you something you're not likely to see otherwise, and this movie certainly fills the bill. "--Marshall Fine"

Ewan McGregor And Charley Boorman - Long Way Round

Director:
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman
Genre: Television
Studio: EMI Rated: Exempt
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: "Long Way Round" is a documentary detailing the 20,000-mile motorcycle trip Ewan McGregor took around the world with best friend Charley Boorman over 115 days. Their trip took them from London through locales such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, and Canada, to name a few, before ending in New York.
Armed with a cameraman, McGregor and Boorman encounter separation anxiety from their families; a shifty stranger (later revealed to be Mafia) who leads them through winding dark corridors to a posh hotel room; delays at international borders; hosts who offer them animal parts for dinner; injuries, equipment breakdowns, and more.
The pair also film their own video diaries, in which they voice concerns and frustrations. The result is an emotional, rich breadth of experiences, from the hardship of logistical setbacks paired with the joy of visiting the children of Chernobyl and encountering hospitable locals who insist on escorting them wherever they go. McGregor and Boorman also make witty emcees, cheerfully upbeat even when they wonder aloud if one of their gun-happy hosts is a psycho murderer. The seven-episode series concludes with their emotional ride into the Big Apple and some surprises for the pair courtesy of the show's producers.
"Long Way Round" may have been an arduous once-in-a-lifetime experience, but you can't help but hope McGregor and Boorman suit up for another road trip someday. -- "Ellen A. Kim"

Extras - The Complete First Season

Director:
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Hbo Home Video Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: After the British series of "The Office" came to an end, co-creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant were faced with an enviable problem: After making the most influential and acclaimed sitcom of the past decade, what do you do next? Amazingly, they've actually created an equally brilliant show: "Extras", in which Gervais plays Andy Millman, an frustrated actor who can only get work as a "background artist"--i.e., an extra. Not only does the role continue to mine Gervais' gift for self-humiliation (which, staggeringly enough, may be even more excruciating than his David Brent's behavior in "The Office", because Andy is more socially capable yet still can't avoid moments of jaw-dropping embarrassment), but Gervais has also persuaded a glorious variety of stars to tweak their own images. High points include Kate Winslet ("Sense & Sensibility") teaching Andy's best friend Maggie (Ashley Jensen, "Ugly Betty") how to talk dirty and Patrick Stewart ("X-Men") describing his new screenplay about a man who uses psychic powers to remove women's clothing. But Ben Stiller, Samuel L. Jackson, Ross Kemp (sort of the British version of Michael Chiklis), and Les Dennis (sort of the British version of...well, there may not be an American version of Les Dennis) all also turn in deliciously ego-bursting turns. Merchant plays Andy's deliriously dense agent, but the core of the show is the relationship between Andy and Maggie. Over the course of six episodes, the interplay between this hapless, starry-eyed pair grows into a wonderfully tender portrait of friendship that perfectly balances the show's so-funny-it-hurts humor. The extras are few but worth watching: Along with a behind-the-scenes featurette, genuinely funny deleted scenes, and the usual clips of everyone forgetting their lines and swearing, there's a very funny sequence of Gervais and Merchant desperately trying to replace Jude Law (who had to drop out of an episode) with Leonardo DiCaprio. All in all, "Extras: The Complete First Season" is essential viewing. "--Bret Fetzer"

Extras - The Complete Second Season

Director:
Starring: Ricky Gervais
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Hbo Home Video Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: In "Extras"' exquisitely excruciating second and, alas, final season, Andy Millman, former "supporting artist," learns a humbling lesson: Be careful what you wish for. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is still "an impossible person," but he is now an impossible person with a sitcom, one that, to his increasing horror, humiliation, and disgust he allows to be severely compromised. The character he portrays, a factory boss, is outfitted in a ridiculous wig and big glasses, and Andy becomes enthrall to his catchphrase: "Are you havin' a laugh?" The result is high ratings for the show, but the critics' slings and arrows are aimed at Andy. Surely, David Bowie (just one of the A-listers who grace this season) can relate to Andy's struggle for artistic integrity. Instead, his plight inspires Bowie to improvise a V.I.P. lounge sing-along ditty that mocks his pretensions ("Little fat man who sold his soul/Little fat man who sold his dream"). Andy's two closest relationships drive the series. The first is with his clueless and useless manager (Stephen Merchant), who in one there's-everything-wrong-with-that episode, arranges for Andy to be unwittingly cast as a gay man in a play. The second is with Maggie (Ashley Jensen), Andy's platonic friend, still an extra, who is steadfast and supportive, but at times absolutely tactless, as when she reveals to a woman whom Andy dumped how he lost his virginity (an embarrassing anecdote the vengeful woman proceeds to share with the attendees of Britain's most prestigious awards ceremony).
Season 2 is a no less star-studded affair than its predecessor. Among the astonishingly game notables having a laugh at themselves are Orlando Bloom ("You know who does get ignored?" he tries to impress Maggie, "Johnny Depp"), a randy Daniel Radcliffe, and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who makes a hilariously gratuitous guest-star appearance on Andy's show. Priceless are cameos by such venerable British entertainers as Robert Lindsay, Ronnie Corbett (one of "The Two Ronnies") and "Barry from "EastEnders"." "Extras" is a classic cringe comedy in the grand tradition of Albert Brooks, "The Larry Sanders Show", and "Curb Your Enthusiasm". All of Andy's worst impulses are magnified by his newfound fame. In one episode, he complains about a disruptive child in a restaurant, only to discover he has Down's Syndrome. Enhancing these all-too-few six episodes are "Extras"' extremely entertaining extras, including a multi-part behind-the-scenes look at the show. One wonders how the actors got through these brilliantly funny episodes without "corpsing" (breaking up). As the generous outtakes reveal, they very often didn't. With "Extras", Gervais has accomplished what the hapless Andy could not: Create "a good credible comedy that will stand the test of time." "--Donald Liebenson"

Fairweather Man

Director: Aviva Ziegler
Starring: Jack Frisch
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Fury Productions Rated:
Language (Country): (Australia)
Summary: When Ian Fairweather died in 1974 Australia lost an extraordinary artist and one of its greatest eccentrics. The reclusive, driven man left behind a body of paintings that today command huge prices at auction and hang on the walls of galleries around the world. At 60 years of age, Fairweather set off on a solo voyage across the sea on a hand-built, primitive raft. It is said that before the voyage he was a talented artist, but after-wards he became an extraordinary one. 'Fairweather Man' is the story of Ian Fairweather's life and travels, and also a journey deep into the heart and soul of the man and his work.

Fawlty Towers - The Complete Series

Director:
Starring: Fawlty Towers
Genre: Art House & International
Studio: BBC Warner Rated: NR
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: Inspired by a hotel John Cleese once stayed in when he was filming "Monty Python." This complete set of Fawlty Towers episodes includes special new commentary by John Cleese. Please see individual volumes for episode descriptions.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection

Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Ellen Barkin, Gary Busey
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Criterion Rated: R
Language (Country): English ()
Summary: The original cowriter and director of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was Alex Cox, whose earlier film "Sid and Nancy" suggests that Cox could have been a perfect match in filming Hunter S. Thompson's psychotropic masterpiece of "gonzo" journalism. Unfortunately Cox departed due to the usual "creative differences," and this ill-fated adaptation was thrust upon Terry Gilliam, whose formidable gifts as a visionary filmmaker were squandered on the seemingly unfilmable elements of Thompson's ether-fogged narrative. The result is a one-joke movie without the joke--an endless series of repetitive scenes involving rampant substance abuse and the hallucinogenic fallout of a road trip that's run crazily out of control. Johnny Depp plays Thompson's alter ego, "gonzo" journalist Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro is his sidekick and so-called lawyer Dr. Gonzo. During the course of a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, they ingest a veritable chemistry set of drugs, and Gilliam does his best to show us the hallucinatory state of their zonked-out minds. This allows for some dazzling imagery and the rampant humor of stumbling buffoons, and the mumbling performances of Depp and Del Toro wholeheartedly embrace the tripped-out, paranoid lunacy of Thompson's celebrated book. But over two hours of this insanity tends to grate on the nerves--like being the only sober guest at a party full of drunken idiots. So while Gilliam's film may achieve some modest cult status over the years, it's only because "Fear and Loathing" is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. "--Jeff Shannon"

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