11.23.09 | Jerry Frebowitz | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post
New DVD Releases for this week include Angels & Demons, Four Christmases and Funny People along with other theatrical newcomers, plus the violent heart-pounding Italian crime epic from 2008, Gomorrah. Also new this week are memories from the Golden Age of Television and a restored version of one of the best movies about WWII, A Walk In The Sun, directed by Lewis Milestone.
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Angels & Demons (2009)
Turning Dan Brown's prequel novel into a thrilling sequel to the 2006 film of "The Da Vinci Code," director Ron Howard spins another mystery-packed yarn following Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) to the Vatican after the death of a popular pope brings about deadly intrigues surrounding his potential successors. Is there one among the holy men attempting to thwart religious progress...or many? Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer co-star.
Four Christmases (2008)
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star as a couple who always slip away to spend Christmas in a sunny vacation spot. Not this time. When fog grounds them at the airport and they're caught on tape by the local news, they're forced to endure, not one, not even two, but four family gatherings--one at each of their divorced parents' homes. What could go wrong? Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen co-star in this offbeat holiday comedy.
Funny People (2009)
Told he has less than a year to live, a successful, self-centered movie star (Adam Sandler) returns to his stand-up comedy roots, befriending an aspiring comic (Seth Rogen) whom he hires as an assistant. But when Sandler learns his illness is in remission, he sets his sights on reconnecting with an unhappily married old flame (Leslie Mann). Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, and Eric Bana also star in writer/director Judd Apatow's bittersweet comedy.
Shorts (2009)
Broken up into a series of non-linear episodes, Robert Rodriguez's ("Spy Kids") effects-filled fantasy for the whole family is set in a small Texas town where a magical, wish-granting rock falls into the hands of a bullied tween (Jimmy Bennett). As the rock is passed from person to person, the quiet suburban burg is soon teeming with such wild sights as aliens, giant hot dogs, upright crocodiles, booger monsters, and more. With James Spader, Jon Cryer, Leslie Mann, Kat Dennings, and William H. Macy.
Imagine That (2009)
This comedic fantasy stars Eddie Murphy as a divorced financial executive who is obsessed with upward mobility. After his career starts to spiral downwards, he begins getting work advice from the residents of the elaborate fantasy world that exists in the mind of his 7-year-old daughter. Using his child's clairvoyant business insights, he learns how to truly succeed in the office and as a father. With Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Ronny Cox.
Gomorrah (2008)
Hardened Italian mobsters working for the Naples-based syndicate Camorra carry out the violent work that keeps their bosses wealthy and powerful. Split into five stories, this modern-day crime epic centers around the corruption connected to a local housing project, and how murder and mayhem inform the processes of waste disposal, high fashion sales, and the drug trade. Salvatore Abruzzese, Simone Sacchettino star. In Italian with English subtitles.
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (2-Disc DVD) (1937)
The first feature-length cartoon from Walt Disney remains a masterpiece of animation to this day. Follow beautiful Snow White as she flees the clutches of her evil stepmother and finds refuge in the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs. (Remember them all? Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.) Songs include "Heigh Ho," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Whistle While You Work."
Mad Dog Morgan (2-Disc Limited Edition) (1976)
Dennis Hopper is on the prowl as mid-19th-century Australian outlaw Daniel "Mad Dog" Morgan in this fact-based, action-packed adventure. Released from prison after 15 years of hard labor, Mad Dog enlists the aid of an Aborigine named Billy and embarks on a bloody quest for vengeance against the colonial establishment that turns him into an unlikely folk hero. With Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil.
The House On Sorority Row (25th Anniversary Edition) (1983)
The sisters of Theta Pi's plans for a graduation party behind the back of their strict housemother lead to a prank that culminates in the woman's accidental death. The festivities go on as scheduled (of course), but an uninvited guest is killing the girls one by one. Slasher classic stars Eileen Davidson, Kathryn McNeil, Harley Jane Kozak.
Silent Scream (1980)
Terror so sudden there is no time to scream! When a young co-ed is unable to find housing on campus, she moves in to a local mansion that has been transformed into a boarding house for college students run by a woman and her son. But when people begin getting murdered at the residence, two detectives try to solve the mystery of the deaths before the body count rises. Rebecca Balding, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Steele, and Yvonne De Carlo star.
Art Of Love (Ars Amandi) (1983)
Director/co-writer Walerian Borowczyk's ("The Beast") "Immoral Trilogy" concludes with this searing and sensual drama set in 8 A.D. Rome. Roman poet Ovid (Massimo Girotti) is central to the drama, observing decadent couplings between men, women, and animals taking place all around him. Marina Pierro, Michele Placido, and Milena Vukotic also star in this restored, uncensored, and uncut version of the film. In Italian with English subtitles.
The Cricket (1980)
This steamy Italian drama follows an ex-nightclub singer (Virna Lisi) who takes to the road with an impressionable young fan (Cleo Goldsmith) so that they can both earn a living as prostitutes. As much as the beautiful performer may harbor dreams of a "normal" family life, lechery ultimately acts as a force of total destruction. With Anthony Franciosa, Renato Salvatori.
A Walk In The Sun (Restored Version) (1945)
Terrific WWII drama from director Lewis Milestone follows one infantry platoon in battle from the time they land on an Italian beach to their bloody drive to claim an enemy-held farmhouse six miles inland. Top-notch cast includes Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, John Ireland, Lloyd Bridges, Norman Lloyd, and Huntz Hall. A new interview with cast member Norman Lloyd has been produced for this release.
Kobe: Doin' Work (2009)
There's no arguing that L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant is one of the most talented and successful players in the NBA. Now, with the help of ESPN, renowned filmmaker Spike Lee takes 30 cameras and grants viewers unprecedented access to Bryant's game-day preparation for a huge 2008 game against the San Antonio Spurs in this original and thorough documentary. Behind-the-scenes locker room footage, as well as game action, is included.
The Golden Age Of Television
An early TV staple, anthology series such as "Goodyear Television Playhouse," "Kraft Television Theatre," and "Playhouse 90" offered original live dramas featuring top stars as well as rising talent. This three-disc set of vintage broadcasts includes Rod Steiger as Paddy Chayefsky's "Marty" (1953); Ed Begley and Everett Sloane in "Patterns" (1955) by Rod Serling; Andy Griffith in "No Time for Sergeants" (1955); "A Wind from the South" (1955) with Julie Harris; Jack Palance, Kim Hunter, and Ed Wynn in Serling's "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1956); "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1956), with Paul Newman; Mickey Rooney as "The Comedian" (1957); and Cliff Robertson and Piper Laurie in "Days of Wine and Roses" (1958).
Laredo: The Complete Series
This 1965-67 NBC spinoff of "The Virginian" combined comedy and drama, as three very different Texas Rangers united under the often frustrated command of Capt. Edward Parmalee (Philip Carey). Eccentric elder Reese Bennett (Neville Brand), tough and shady Joe Riley (William Smith), and smooth-talking Chad Cooper (Peter Brown) always managed to find humor while coming together to uphold the law during their wild western adventures. All 56 episodes are presented on 12 discs.
For details and availability of more of this week’s new releases, click here
