Wednesday, January 25 2012
‘Jane’s Journey’: Insightful, Moving, Beautiful and Maddeningly Superficial
Lorenz Knauer presents Jane Goodall’s life as traditionally female, structured by marriages, sacrifice, and an act of reconciliation with her son.
‘Limelight’: Dancing to a Great American Crime Story
This story features plenty of the usual suspects: opportunistic thugs, opportunistic law men, and the pride which comes before a fall.
Tuesday, January 24 2012
‘‘Memphis’: A Tony Award-Winning Musical Brought to Your Living Room
Broadway hit musical Memphis is now available on DVD, offering the best of both worlds: the excitement of a live performance and the expressive opportunities offered by a multi-camera recording.
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: Live at the US Festival
The US Festival's "Country Day" in June 1983, featured both Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
Monday, January 23 2012
Daft Punk: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem
The music and the storyline build off of and rely on each other to the point that, after seeing Interstella 5555, you may never be able to disconnect the two again.
The Will of God: ‘The Borgias: The First Season’
The Borgias: The First Season on Blu-ray introduces "the original crime family", and it wastes no time in getting to the dirty secrets of one of the most powerful and influential families of the 15th century.
Friday, January 20 2012
Caution: Colonialist Charm Ahead: ‘Eclipse Series 30: Sabu!’
An Indian child perpetuated colonialism in a series of British fantasias.
A Prime-Time Tragedy in Two Acts: ‘Crime Story: The Complete Series’
Crime Story was too smart for network television, but too risk-averse to make the kind of bold statements you can feel lurking beneath the surface in the better episodes.
Thursday, January 19 2012
Debbie Reynolds in Multiple Musical Doses: ‘Give a Girl a Break’ & ‘The Affairs of Dobie Gillis’
You'd think she'd have made the minor ones before her breakthrough, but somehow Debbie Reynolds' projects devolved.
The Cosmically-Sized Anti-Star: ‘Kevin Coyne: 1979 Live at WDR-Studio L Cologne’
Championed early on by John Peel, Kevin Coyne became a favorite of artists such as Sting, John Lydon, and later, Will Oldham.
Ingmar Bergman’s Magical Masterpiece, ‘Fanny and Alexander’, Had Never Looked This Good
Ingmar Bergman's goodbye to cinema is one of the most magical swan songs ever made.
Wednesday, January 18 2012
The Film, ‘Medeski Martin & Wood: Fly in a Bottle’ Mirrors the Band’s Career to a Tee
Just as with their music, a funky and experimental form of free jazz that has led the way for improvisational music since their start in the early '90s, this film moves in and out of traceable and functional steps for its entirety.
‘What’s Your Number?’ Anna Faris Still Deserves Better
What's Your Number? strands Anna Faris, and the rest of the movie, by its devotion to those rom-com formulas.
‘Design for Living’ Is a Raunchy, Stylish, Pre-code Gem
Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins and Fredric March are a ménage-à-trois for the ages.
Tuesday, January 17 2012
The Rise of a Star. The Fall of a Legend: ‘Velvet Goldmine’
Velvet Goldmine isn't just a story of glam rock in the early '70s. It's a story about the places where dreams and memories overlap, where time is immaterial and images and impressions are everything.
Be the Best Gravy You Can Be: ‘The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin’
Wavy Gravy emerges not only as a fascinating character, but as a powerful, inspiring, even heroic man. This is what the '60s always wanted to be about, but almost never were.
Butch Cassidy is Dead, Long Live Butch Cassidy: ‘Blackthorn’
After living in Bolivia for more than 20 years under an assumed name, Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard) tries to go home. His journey takes an adventurous detour when he meets a young thief (Eduardo Noriega).
Monday, January 16 2012
‘Our Idiot Brother’ Is Not as Dumb as It Looks
"If you see people’s best intentions they’re gonna wanna live up to them."
‘Leo’s Room’ Is a Sincere Little Movie that Touches Upon Universal Topics
Leo's room is his sanctuary, because it's the only place where he can be himself. The problem is, he still doesn't know who that is.
‘The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut’ Has a Brawny, Dunderheaded Instinct
Sylvester Stallone's ultimate men-on-a-mission movie is clearly a labor of love, but not a well-articulated one.
