movies filter: DVD-Phile

DVD-Phile: Cool Cruella And '101 Dalmations'

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:11:50 GMT

It seems strange to call a Disney film cool. In the case of “Snow White,” “Bambi,” “Dumbo” or “Pinocchio,” terms like classic, beautiful, touching and works of art are easily expressed. But the coolest? Not so much. And yet, when watching this newly released DVD of 1961's “101 Dalmatians” and the magnificent scene chewing creation of demented diva Cruella De Vil (voiced by Betty Lou Gerson), cool is almost an understatement.

Supposedly based on that high falutin', deep voiced goddess of naughty behavour, Tallulah Bankhead, the scary, two-toned bad girl, fashion plate remains one of Disney’s most inspired villains. An early version of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, diva supermodel Naomi Campbell and Joanna Lumley's Patsy from “Absolutely Fabulous,” she’s a slinking, self obsessed good time – a hip work of fashion satire years before “Zoolander” debuted its Derelict campaign (inspired by the homeless) and PETA coaxed celebrities to go naked before wearing fur. So cool, in fact, eternally hip band The Replacements covered her theme song, “Cruella De Vil.” You think Snow White would get such an honor?

Not that we’re rooting mean Cruella and her bloodthirsty desire for the perfect spotted pelt (well, maybe a little), but next to the squaresville, very properly British characters of Roger and Anita, she’s a breath of toxic air. Of course, not for her victims.

Those potential poor pups are Pongo (Rod Taylor) and Perdita (Cate Bauer), the lovely Dalmatian dogs to owners Roger and Anita, a loving doggie couple who produce 15 adorable spotted puppies. The arrival causes quite a stir and much happiness, most rabidly for Anita’s old friend, Cruella De Vil (why Anita would have ever been friends with Cruella is kind of hilarious – like a Christian youth group leader hanging with Sharon Stone). When the pups begin to disappear, Pongo and Perdita enlist the help of a charming underground dog network to save not only their own children, but the 99 Dalmatians evil Cruella has nabbed from all over London. The results are quite exciting and, in the end, touching, even for those us who’d like to see more…Cruella.

Thankfully we can, with this nicely put together Two Disc Platinum Edition with supplements geared toward adults and children. Disc One includes extra subtitle trivia tracks, pop up trivia, trailers and a music video for the song “Cruella De Vil” by pop tart Selena Gomez – something I could have lived without, but you know…kids these days.

The second disc is decidedly meatier with bonus features galore including games for children, a DVD Rom to build your own Dalmatian and some featurettes that range from so-so to interesting. "Music & More" features six musical numbers from the genesis of the production, three deleted songs and three alternate versions of songs from the picture ("Dalmatian Plantation," "Cruella de Vil" and "Kanine Krunchies" jingle). "Backstage Disney," includes the documentaries "Redefining the Line: The Making of The One Hundred and One Dalmatians," a behind the scenes look at origins and influence of the picture featuring interviews with (among others) animators, historians, and voice actor Lisa Davis. "Cruella De Vil: Drawn to be Bad" focuses on the great Cruella, “Sincerely Yours, Walt Disney" discusses the relation of Walt Disney and the “101 Dalmatians” author Dodie Smith. Other extras include trailers, TV and radio commercials and galleries.

My biggest quibble is the short running time for the Cruella doc (only seven minutes!) but then, a little Cruella does go a long, long way. This is a limited issue, so get it while it’s, as every fur clad fashion editor would say, hot.

*Other notable DVD releases include Sean Penn's acclaimed "Into the Wild," Sidney Lumet's classic "12 Angry Men" (50th Anniversary Edition), The Billy Wilder Gift Set ("The Apartment," "Some Like it Hot," "The Fortune Cookie" and "Kiss Me Stupid"), the fun soccer picture "Eleven Men Out" and the fantastic pre-code "Forbidden Hollywood Collection Vol. 2" which presents "The Divorcee," "A Free Soul," "Night Nurse," "Three on a Match" and "Female." Also included -- a fantastic documentary discussing these saucy, sensational pictures with some fine thoughts from among others, Camille Paglia, Molly Haskell and John Landis.

Search to purchase the above DVD's here.

--posted by Kim

Just In Time! Oscar Noms (And One Oscar Diss) On DVD

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:33:27 GMT

--"Michael Clayton" is up for multiple Oscars this year, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (Tony Gilroy), Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson) and Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) so if you haven't seen the acclaimed legal drama, you've still got time to rent it before the ceremony this Sunday. Just released today on DVD, the package boasts a commentary track with Gilroy and his editor/brother John and deleted scenes, including an alternate opening sequence. A must see.

--Also released today, the Oscar nominated (Tommy Lee Jones, for Best Actor) "In the Valley of Elah" directed by "Crash" winner Paul Haggis. I love a DVD that provides an actual long documentary, and "Elah" does just that, with a 42 minute look at the movie and the reality concerning solders in Iraq. And Josh Brolin co- stars, which is all I ever need to hear...

--And more Oscar nominated DVDS -- Ridley Scott's epic "American Gangster" is out, which means for any of you who missed it -- you can now see what all the fuss is concerning Best Supporting Actress shoe-in Ruby Dee (personally Cate Blanchet should win but I have a feeling this won't happen). This is Ridley Scott so expect the extras, in this case an alternate, unrated extended version. The movie (based on a true story) which pits Denzel Washington's Harlem crime lord against Russell Crowe's drug busting detective comes with 18 additional minutes. This is a three-disc set, so revel in the featurettes, commentaries and deleted scenes galore. Scott will leave no stone unturned. Oh yes, and did I mention Josh Brolin co-stars? So, you know, in the collection.

--Then there's the case of the movie snubbed (snubbed!) by the Oscars, Noah Baumbach's brilliant "Margot at the Wedding," a movie that so gets family dysfunction, passive aggressive behavior, the love/rivalry between sisters and all those bizarre, unresolved feelings associated with, not only family, but day to day life as well. A lived-in, harsh, but very, very real look at dysfunction, it's a tough movie to shake, which might be why Academy voters blanched -- it probably freaked them out a little. And Nicole Kidman as Margot, gave one of the greatest performances of her career. Next to Julie Christie (nominated for "Away From Her") Kidman would have been my pick for Best Actress this Sunday. Alas, the Academy ignored one of the best actresses and pictures of the year. Don't do the same. Rent it. Also features terrific performances by Jennifer Jason Leigh and a nicely toned down Jack Black. Look for the DVD's extra, “A Conversation With Noah Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh" -- the talented Leigh is Baumbach's real wife, so this will hopefully prove a fascinating family affair.

Search for all available outlets and prices to purchase the above DVD's here.

--posted by Kim

DVD Of The Week: 'The Naked Prey'

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:15:20 GMT

One of the most notable DVD releases this week is Cornel Wilde's "The Naked Prey" -- a longstanding cult movie given the full Criterion treatment.

Since he starred in a few of my favorite film noirs (the arguable noir "Leave Her To Heaven," the great, underseen "Road House" and the stellar "Big Combo") I've always been fascinated by Wilde as an actor/director. I was happy to read DK Holm discuss Wilde at his blog Reel Politique:

"Cornel Wilde is an interesting case as an actor-turned-director, an act for which he has received no respect. A Jewish Hungarian immigrant, Wilde was an expert fencer (he was on the 1936 Olympic team but dropped out for unstated reasons), which proved to be his entry into acting, first as a fencing coordinator, then as an actor in actioners, and then, rather quickly and mysteriously, as an Oscar-nominated leading man in a film about Franz Liszt. Unfortunately, though Wilde was pretty in a Tyrone Power sort of way, he was somewhat inert, not unlike his true analog Victor Mature, and his descendant, Stallone. Perhaps aware of these limitations, Wilde gravitated to production and director, his company making one of the best film noirs, 'The Big Combo' and Wilde himself directing eight features from 1955 to 1975 (he died in 1989).

"In this he resembles no less than Ida Lupino, an actress of intellectual ambitions who also had around eight credited and uncredited titles on her filmography. Both performers used their directorial work to explore ideas and social problems not found amid the mainstream pabulum. Both were intellectually ambitious in the manner of Hollywood actors who buck up against the implacable commerciality of the movie business. Despite impediments and critical indifference, they struggled on."

Read the rest of Holm's take on Wilde and the release of "The Naked Prey" here.

--posted by Kim

'Zodiac' Special Edition

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:30:19 GMT

One of the best movies of 2007, "Zodiac" was released today in a special edition "Director's Cut," with two fascinating documentaries, commentary tracks that include (among others) director David Fincher and crime novelist James Ellroy, and nearly ten minutes added to the picture.

If you missed this masterpiece in the theater (shame on you!) then get thee to your Netflix and rent this edition. Or even better, buy the thing.

And while you're at it, read MSN DVD columnist Sean Axmaker's take:

David Fincher's look at the unsolved Zodiac killings of the 1970s is the director's most disciplined, focused and mesmerizing film to date and one of the best films of 2007. Based in part on the nonfiction book by Robert Graysmith, the San Francisco Chronicle political cartoonist who became obsessed with the investigation, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards as the investigating officers, and Robert Downey Jr. as the reporter called out by the killer in his enigmatic messages. The low-key thriller is as much a study in obsession and detail as it is a murder mystery, and Fincher is appropriately obsessive in his attention to detail, from the complexity of the investigation to his re-creation of '70s San Francisco and American culture.

Fincher offers a slightly reworked version of the film for the "2-Disc Director's Cut." It runs only a few minutes longer and, from what I can tell, the added footage is mostly toward the end, but it's still essentially the same fascinating film. The director also gives good commentary, offering technical and production details but always relating the technique and tools in terms of the art and meaning. Fincher is articulate and really invites you into his creative process. A second track features stars Gyllenhaal and Downey Jr., screenwriter James Vanderbilt, and producer Brad Fischer, joined by author and true-crime aficionado James Ellroy, who (nitpicks aside) loves the film: "The dramatic arc of this film is unlike any other crime film ever. There are no acts. It's an accumulation and accretion of detail that is all logically underpinned and makes perfect sense. You are situated within the film and the film is entirely coherent all the way through." The second disc is divided into sections on "The Film" (featuring the well-made 54-minute making-of documentary "Zodiac Deciphered" and a shorter featurette on the visual effects) and "The Facts" (with the feature-length documentary "This Is Zodiac Speaking" and the 42-minute profile of the prime suspect, "His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen"). They are substantial supplements to a worthy special edition.

Read all of Sean's DVD coverage (including "3:10 to Yuma," "Sunshine," "Shoot 'Em Up" and more) here.

--posted by Kim

What's in Your DVD Player, David Cronenberg?

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:52:13 GMT

The great David Cronenberg, director of the current "Eastern Promises" as well as classics like "Shivers," "The Brood," and "Naked Lunch" discusses his take on in-home movie viewing (and more) with MSN'S Sean Axmaker:

David Cronenberg is not only one of the most interesting and intense filmmakers working today, he's also one of the most thoughtful and articulate directors to ever record a DVD commentary track. His commentaries on "A History of Violence," "Dead Ringers," "Videodrome," "The Fly," and even his early feature "Rabid" are observant, introspective and instructive, and he returns to the commentary booth for the DVD release of his latest film, "Eastern Promises," a dark crime thriller set in the London underworld of Russian gangsters and human trafficking. I spent so much time in our brief interview session discussing DVDs that I was cut off before even getting to the film, let alone the question that was really plaguing: Does Cronenberg use a DVD player, or can he simply insert discs directly into his body like James Woods in "Videodrome"? The answer to that will have to wait for another interview.

MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

David Cronenberg: "La Vie En Rose." Because I am a member of the Academy and so I get these screeners from various producers and studios.

Do you watch a lot of films on DVD?

Most of my film watching is on DVD. I very rarely go to the cinema.

Is that a preference?

Yes, it is. At this point in my life, I'm not so interested in the social aspects of movie watching, other than the ones that I have at home, which I wind up watching with my wife or with my children. So that's enough socializing. I don't really need to go to a mall and hang out and do all that stuff that goes along with a lot of film watching these days.

I think of "Videodrome," and people watching media in more isolated situations. Do you think that's happening to cinema because of DVD?

It's obvious that there are some movies that still get a huge turnout. But I do think that there's a lot of isolation going on. To me it's more like reading a book. I like to be able to stop it and start it the way you would stop reading a book, especially if people insist on making two-hour-and-40-minute movies. You don't sit and read "War and Peace" all the way through in one sitting.

Read the entire interview here.

--posted by Kim

You Can Never Go Fast Enough

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:42:31 GMT

"Two-Lane Blacktop." Criterion Edition. Greatest Car Movie Ever Made. My year is complete. Yes.

"If I'm not grounded pretty soon, I'm gonna go into orbit."

--Warren Oates A.K.A. GTO

It feels almost too easy applying the term “existential” to Monte Hellman’s mysterious "Two-Lane Blacktop," (and Mr. Hellman has always insisted that the picture is not “existential”) but I think the alienated, ambiguous, weirdly funny and, at times, desultory cult car classic deserves the appellation. A work of stark Sisyphean power, the picture brilliantly combines automobile allure and the expectations of the race with a sparer saga of the road – a road that seems free but really isn’t.

Now this may sound rather joyless for a car movie, and indeed for the greatest car movie ever made, but the picture is so inventive, so austerely beautiful, so unexpected and, yes, so auto-centric, that it’s a singular wonder. With a then much discussed script by Rudy Wurlitzer, the movie came with an interesting amount of hype. The screenplay managed the honor of being featured on the cover of Esquire Magazine before the film was made, something that was unheard of at the time, and something that made the movie’s lack of box office more of a disappointment. Naturally, it’s been a cult favorite ever since.

Leading this gear-head mediation through its long stretches of lonesome highway are characters stripped down to their basic handles -- James Taylor is known only as the “Driver,” Dennis Wilson the “Mechanic,” Laurie Bird the “Girl” and the late great Warren Oates, in one of his most unforgettable roles, is “GTO.” The stoic Taylor and Wilson work a seriously souped-up '55 Chevy that's all muscle and speed, no frills, while a garrulous Oates rolls a yellow 1970 Pontiac GTO -- something Taylor scorns as right off the lot. All players endlessly drive, seemingly to challenge other cars and race cross country, but who knows what they’re really seeking. When somewhat challenged on the matter – that all the speed will burn him up– the Driver replies “You can never go fast enough.” And the picture doesn’t spare this feeling on the viewer as the continual purr and hum of the engine places you at one with the car – a oneness that has become the character’s very identities.

"Two-Lane Blacktop" was probably supposed to be a youth movie, but there’s nothing young about it.

Read the rest of my piece here.

--posted by Kim

DVD Holiday Gift Guide

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:38:33 GMT

Sean Axmaker's DVD holiday gift guide for MSN includes a lot of box sets that I want this year (as in to buy, for myself, though a gift would certainly be nice, but I'm not holding my breath). Anyway, here's one that brought me to attention:

INSTANT COLLECTIONS
"Ford at Fox"
For the die-hard cinephile on your list, there is no more impressive 2007 release than this sprawling 24-film collection. Collected in an album-sized case of trays holding four discs per page, the 21-disc set includes five silent films (including two versions of director John Ford's first epic "The Iron Horse"), all three of Ford's Will Rogers collaborations, the debuts of the classic "The Prisoner of Shark Island" (1936) and "Tobacco Road" (1941), rarities such as the lively prison-break comedy "Up the River" (1930, with Spencer Tracy and a very young Humphrey Bogart), and the exclusive 2007 documentary "Becoming John Ford." With 18 Ford classics debuting on DVD plus an accompanying hardcover tome, this is the gold standard for DVD director tributes.

And there's more. Read all of his picks here.

--posted by Kim

DVD Tuesday

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:27:30 GMT

I love a good DVD week. And some great discs were released today, including Werner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn" (with the always impressive Christian Bale), "Hairspray" which was surprisingly great, Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes," a special edition of "I Am Cuba," a special edition of "Hearts of Darkness," "Nosferatu" and more.

Here's MSN's DVD columnist Sean Axmaker on "Nosferatu," directed by F.W. Murnau:

"The first great vampire film, F.W. Murnau's silent classic is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' (it was tied up by the Stoker estate for years) that recreates the famous bloodsucker as a feral ghoul: bald, fanged, clawed, a batlike creature whose bloodlust battles his sexual lust for the virginal Ellen. Count Orlok (played by the spindly, skull-headed Max Schreck) is a veritable force of evil, carrying disease and destruction with him, and Murnau shoots him as an eerie creature of the night, rising like a corpse from his coffin when the sun goes down and skulking in shadow. This early expressionistic masterpiece remains one of the greatest horror films ever made. The two-disc set features separate versions of the film, with newly translated English intertitles or original German intertitles, both newly restored from a 1922 nitrate original and accompanied by Hans Erdmann's original 1922 score. Also features the 52-minute documentary 'The Language of Shadows: The Early Years and Nosferatu,' a three-minute featurette on the digital restoration, lengthy excerpts from eight other Murnau films, a stills gallery, and scene comparisons."

Read Sean's entire, informative column here.

--posted by Kim

Barbara In 'Jeopardy'

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:24:05 GMT

You must rent or buy the Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection DVD Box set but make sure to see "Jeopardy."

The John Sturges directed daylight noir thriller is not only a tense, daring ride, but a deliciously good time. Here's the predicament: While vacationing in Mexico with hubby Barry Sullivan and their young son, Stanywck is put to the test after Sullivan is trapped in the surf and she must find anyone (anyone) to help her. Aid arrives in smarmy Ralph Meeker (read more on Meeker here) a fugitive who has a few other things on his mind. And off it goes.

The repartee between Stanwyck and Meeker is absolutely priceless with standouts involving the triple slap Meeker lays on tough Babs, or Meeker’s proud preference for cheap perfume: “it doesn’t last as long,” or my favorite moment – when Stanwyck realizes she must make the ultimate sacrifice. She faces Meeker all hard and seductive to say, “I’ll do anything for my husband. ANYTHING.” And she does. Hardcore Babs. Don't miss it.

For a more in depth review, check out the always insightful Noir of the Week.

--posted by Kim

What Mr. Jones Is Watching

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:04:08 GMT

What's in Tommy Lee Jones' DVD player? Sean Axmaker found out:

MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

Tommy Lee Jones: "Pierrot le fou." Jean-Luc Godard, [1965]. It was two nights ago.

MSN Movies: Sam Fuller has that great answer to the question "What is cinema?" "Film is a battleground. Love, hate, violence, action, death ... In a word, emotion." I always wondered whether Fuller wrote that line himself or whether Godard wrote it?

Tommy Lee Jones: It would surprise me if anyone other than Sam wrote it. I imagine Godard telling him: "Belmondo's going to come in and ask you what cinema is and you tell him, and that's the setup. OK? Action."

MSN Movies: What do you think of Fuller's answer?

Tommy Lee Jones: It's about as deep as a coat of paint. But it's fun.

MSN Movies: Do you have an answer to that question?

Tommy Lee Jones: No.

Read more with Mr. Jones here. And go see "No Country For Old Men" -- now!

--posted by Kim

Eyes Even Wider Shut

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:30:21 GMT

In Stanley Kubrick's cinematic universe reality, dreams, order and insanity progress on distinct, intersecting planes. Whether he was depicting an absurd, chillingly real war room in"Dr. Strangelove," the disturbing but oddly sexy ultra violence of an Orwellian future in "A Clockwork Orange," the siren call of insanity in "The Shining," or the hyper fantastical yet authentic Vietnam War in "Full Metal Jacket," life was a surreal work in progress – nearly an ambiguous joke that veered from hilarious to sexy to terrifying, sometimes within seconds.

And attempting to understand order, or how any system designed to make our universe more rational or safe seems fruitless. I love how Sterling Hayden approaches this predicament at the end of "The Killing." He watches his life literally fly away on an airport tarmac and bitterly spits one of cinema’s greatest last lines: “Eh, what’s the difference?”

Which brings me to the final line of Kubrick’s frequently misunderstood "Eyes Wide Shut" in which Nicole Kidman states rather flatly...

Read the rest of my piece on "Eyes Wide Shut" which comes out today in a special edition on DVD within the new Kubrick Box Set.

--posted by Kim

What Ben Kingsley's Watching

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:14:21 GMT

I love that Ben Kingsley literally looks at what's inside his DVD player.

From Sean Axmaker's column:

"MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

"Ben Kingsley: I'm literally having a look now. What have I got? 'La Captive.' I really loved it. It's by Chantal Akerman and it's based on a Proust novel. Oh dear, I'm not being very popular here, am I? I'm sorry. It's absolutely beautiful. The way the French keep the camera on something and don't move it for a very, very, very long time, I find absolutely enthralling."

Read the rest of this terrific interview here.

--posted by Kim

Douglas On DVD

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:08:17 GMT

Michael Douglas on DVD, "Dinosaur Life" and "The Streets of San Francisco" -- from Sean Axmaker's What's In Your DVD Player column:

MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

Michael Douglas: The last thing I saw on DVD was called "Dinosaur Life," which was a film that I narrated for the Natural History Museum in New York, because it's the first movie that my son can see that I've done. So even though I'm not in the movie, he hears my voice and he finally understands what I do for a living. And I got a great review. He said, "Daddy, that's the best movie I've ever seen you do."

Do your kids pretty much define what you watch at home now?

Oh yeah. He's into "Blue Planet" and he loves his documentaries, and the computer graphics on these dinosaur pictures is amazing. It's almost like learning Latin. He knows the names of all these deceased dinosaurs. It's just fantastic.

Have you revisited "The Streets of San Francisco" since it came out on DVD?

I haven't. But I have the best memories of my life. That show really defined me, both as an actor and as a producer. I had tremendous stage fright, and simply doing 104 hours in front of the camera did a lot to help. Also, in terms of script, of story, of making a 52-minute film in seven shooting days, I learned an incredible amount about production. And when I left the show in the fifth year to produce "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," I was shocked how much I knew as a producer. And, finally, Karl Malden. Karl Malden is my mentor. He has a work ethic bar none and really was the person who shaped me as an actor and gave me the stamina and the tenacity to go on.

Read the rest of the interview here.

--posted by Kim

Mortensen's 'Passion'

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:48:01 GMT

Viggo Mortensen, Dreyer fan.

From Sean Axmaker's What's In Your DVD Player column:

"MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

Viggo Mortensen: The last thing I saw was a movie I've seen many, many times: The Criterion version of 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' by Carl Dreyer. If you've ever seen that movie, it's beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. That actress [Renée Maria Falconetti], it's the only movie she did, is in close-up so much. When you compare her performance to the performances of other movie stars of the silent era, it's just in another league; it's way out there in terms of believability.

"Do you have a favorite DVD?

I like a lot of movies; I like a lot of DVDs. I couldn't pick one. But 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' I had watched many times and I'm a big fan of Dreyer's work. There are very few directors that I would say I like everything he's done -- he's definitely at the top of the list. He was so ahead of his time in a way and he was so subtle in a lot of ways. He broke rules in obvious and not so obvious ways and he had such a searing realism to his work."

Read the entire interview with Mortensen here.

--posted by Kim

The Super Mother 'Bug' On DVD

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:09:38 GMT

When William Friedkin's "Bug" hit theaters, the movie left many viewers confused, even angry. Based on the picture's previews and poster art, audience's unfamiliar with the Tracy Letts play it was adapted from, thought they were going to see another "Saw" or "Hostel" or whatever Lions Gate horror film was currently released. But, nope. They saw something far superior. Too bad so many didn't appreciate it.

As I sat in the theater (I saw the movie alone, on my birthday, which was an oddly perfect personal present) I heard jeers, witnessed walk-outs and when the credits rolled, grumblings of "wanting my money back." I however, couldn't wait for the fascinating freak-out to come out on DVD. Happily, since yesterday, it has done just that, and after watching the picture for the second time, I’m re-running my review. If you missed it on the big screen, now’s your chance to catch up on one of this year's best movies. Or rather, catch this "Bug."

“Guess I’d rather talk with you about bugs than nothing with nobody.”

There’s a moment in "Bug" during which I was so significantly moved, I almost crumbled in my theater seat. It comes when Agnes (Ashley Judd), the worn out, drug abusing, but still beautiful (in that way only certain kinds of damaged women can be) realizes she might be a alone again. As her newfound future partner in psychosis, Peter (Michael Shannon) leaves her; she closes herself in her seedy motel bathroom and sobs. In spite of presenting herself as a tough cookie -- she needs this guy. He’s a lot smarter and sensitive than her ex-husband (a bullying, abusive Harry Connick Jr.) and in spite of some of his crazy rants, she likes the way he talks.

And then…he returns and reveals his distinctly special problem. The reunion of these lovers is so weirdly romantic and such a relief, that you almost forget it will be poor Agnes’ undoing. If love is mad, if love is crazy, then Agnes and Peter are, as Laura Dern stated, “wild at heart and weird on top.”

So begins their folie à deux but one that moves beyond these lost soul’s tortured union and into modern ideas of conspiracies, post war insanity, disease, infected blood and the kind of paranoia that can spread like wildfire once the flame is (quite literally) ignited. And of course, it’s also about bugs, aphids to be specific, though they’re not swooping down on the pair a la "Mimic" -- they’re horrifyingly in their blood, brain, skin, teeth and, even more terrifying, we can’t see them. We simply have to believe. Or rather, we have to want to believe. I certainly wanted to believe, just so these people’s lives would make the labyrinthian sense they so desire.

Directed by William Friedkin and adapted from Tracy Letts’s stage play, "Bug" is a movie that will baffle, excite, horrify and anger those who can’t stay with its unwavering intensity. It will even in moments provoke titters, purposefully so, which should be honored rather than mocked -- obsession can be very, very funny. "Bug" is a rare picture that balances realistic, literal psychological horror with metaphorical meaning with small punches of satirical wit. It’s nothing like you’ve ever seen and so skillfully, artfully executed and so brilliantly acted (especially by Judd ) that the result is less movie and more wide awake fever dream. If you can relate to paranoia and desperate love in any way, you will meld into this movie -- and that only lends to its horror. It is (I’m not going to mince words here), a masterpiece.

Read the rest of my "Bug" review here.

--posted by Kim

DVD Delirium

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:47:11 GMT

Since I'm missing the latest episode of "Damages" (note to self: Get over your fear of cable. Come to terms with just how many TV shows you buy online. Realize you are spending more money than a monthly cable bill. See that your friend Brian can't record every John Garfield movie that pops up on TCM. Embrace the idea of wasting the day watching Court TV and "What Not To Wear." And...this isn't a note, this is a list...)

Anyway, while waiting for "Damages" to pop up on download, I realized that I hadn't discussed DVD's released today. There's some great ones. Here's a list: Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" -- the director's cut, Sarah Polley's "Away From Her," 35th Anniversary Edition of "Deliverance," a special edition of "Saturday Night Fever," The Roger Corman Collection, Special Edition of John Woo's "Face/Off," "From Beyond" -- Unrated, "The Graduate" 40th Anniversary Edition, Robinson Devor's "Zoo" and the deluxe edition of William Friedkin's "Cruising."

Alright. Now I remember why I don't have cable.

--posted by Kim

Buñuel, She And Others On DVD

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:54:25 GMT

I think Sean Axmaker and I have a similar DVD collection. I could be wrong but, based on the pictures he chooses to cover in his terrific DVD column, I can easily envision us being the two people in Amoeba Records fighting over the last used Criterion edition of "Straw Dogs" which is out of print. But then, I'm sure he already has that one (I still have a foreign disc, which is fine, but not Criterion).

Anyway...here's Sean's look at Luis Buñuel's "The Milky Way," a movie I'll be running out to purchase (at yes, Amoeba). Writes Sean:

"A pair of shaggy modern day pilgrims (Paul Frankeur and Laurent Terzieff, with the fitting names Peter and John) follow the traditional route (the Milky Way) from Paris to the ancient Santiago de Compostela in Spain in Luis Buñuel's surreal road movie. Along the way they wander through a series of religious debates and, briefly, back into medieval times. Think of them as passive hosts of an ecclesiastic skit comedy: theological follies with a surreal slant, where defiantly religious men might die for their beliefs before offering food or shelter to a pair of poor travelers.

"The first film in what Buñuel later proclaimed a trilogy of comically surreal satires (along with 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' and 'The Phantom of Liberty') is a cheeky return to some of his favorite themes -- religion and hypocrisy -- but the first film where he really dismantled the conventions of storytelling and rebuilt them in a playfully fractured form: jumping to unrelated flashbacks for a punch line, wandering off with a side character for a spell, dissolving the distance between the past and the present without a comment."

Read the rest of his review here.

And read all of his DVD pieces, including "She" Deluxe Edition, the 20th anniversary edition "RoboCop," "The Lives of Others" and more here.

--posted by Kim

David Lynch On DVD

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:52:49 GMT

He may not do DVD commentary tracks (for reasons I love him for) but he will talk about what's in his DVD player.

That's director/artist/genius David Lynch who was interviewed by MSN's Sean Axmaker for his current DVD column:

"David Lynch can be a tough interview. He refuses to explain his movies, discuss his imagery, dissect his style or even offer an opinion on your own interpretation. 'I think every interpretation is valid,' he maintains, and he doesn't want to impose his ideas on the audience.

But get him talking about the DVD of his newest film, 'Empire,' and he's a man inspired. He personally produced '2-Disk' [sic] DVD release of the film, overseeing everything from mastering the film to producing his own slate of supplements, through his company Absurda.

"He's happy to talk about the technology and the supplements, as well as the growth of home theater, his idea of ideal viewing conditions and why watching movies on phones is just plain wrong. And he even explains why he loves digital video, which he's only recently embraced: 'It's its own look and feel; it's not film. I think I like it with less detail; it kind of gives more room to dream.'

"MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

"David Lynch: I saw 'The Hustler' last week, with Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott. It's a great film. It's black and white, and it really sets a place and a time and a world, and I really enjoyed watching it again.

"Do you have a favorite DVD?

'Sunset Boulevard.' Billy Wilder's 'Sunset Boulevard' is maybe my favorite world to go into."

Read the rest of Axmaker's terrific interview with Lynch here.

And check out more new DVD releases including Lynch's "Inland Empire," a special edition of "Taxi Driver," the Criterion release of Samuel Fuller's first films, Takashi Miike's "Graveyard of Honor" and, uh, "Wild Hogs" here.

--posted by Kim

Big E And BB On DVD

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:33:22 GMT

William Powell and Myrna Loy, Brigitte Bardot, Luis Bunuel, Flash Gordon and Elvis? All of them? This is my kind of Tuesday.

All of these talents get their own DVD box set or special edition released today.

The biggest deal for many is the Elvis set which commemorates the 30 years since Presley's passing (yes, it's been that long). Paramount has released a nifty collection of the big E on the big screen, blue suede box and all.

MSN Movies Sean Axmaker gives us the details:

It's been 30 years since the King left the earthly bounds of his blue suede shoes for his Graceland in the sky. To commemorate the anniversary, Warner Bros. and Paramount have teamed up for a promotion featuring more Elvis than you can shake a hip at. "Jailhouse Rock: Deluxe Edition" (1957) is arguably his definitive screen appearance, playing a working-class kid who lands in stir after a bar fight gone bad and emerges surly, hardened, and with a gift for rocking. He's not much of an actor, but he's dynamic in the film's set piece, where he swivels and shakes through a dance number set to the title song. "It's just the beast in me." MGM musical specialist George Sidney helms "Viva Las Vegas: Deluxe Edition" (1963) and gives the musical numbers a dynamic that no other Elvis film has, while Elvis meets his match in screen spitfire Ann-Margret. Colonel Tom Parker made sure a co-star never again made Elvis work for the spotlight in one of his movies. The featurettes on "Jailhouse" and "Viva" are routine productions with more visual flash than interesting background. The commentary tracks, both delivered by music journalist Steve Pond (author of "Elvis in Hollywood"), are much more interesting and informative.

Read all of Axmaker's DVD column here.

--posted by Kim

Noir Wave

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:57:52 GMT

The long awaited day has finally arrived. The release of Warner's Film Noir Classic Collection: Volume 4 with ten (ten!) movies.

I will get nothing accomplished today. Calling in sick.

And....extra bonus, commentary on "Crime Wave" is with noted noir historian Eddie Muller and one of our greatest living writers, James Ellroy.

The great Muller has given some of the best tracks I've ever listened to (he made me think seriously that "I Wake Up Screaming" might possibly be the first film noir) but paired with James Ellroy is flat out noir heaven. That's the first one going into my DVD player.

Here are the complete set titles: "Act of Violence," "Mystery Street," "Crime Wave," "Decoy," "Illegal," "The Big Steal," "They Live By Night," "Side Street," "Where Danger Lives," and "Tension."

I am off to spend quality time with, among many others, Robert Mitchum, Sterling Hayden, Farley Granger, Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, Edward G. Robinson, Van Heflin, Mary Astor, Jane Greer and Cathy O' Donnell.

--posted by Kim

Watch 'Zodiac'

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:46:04 GMT

MSN's New on DVD gives "Zodiac," one of this year's greatest pictures, the respect it deserves.

I've got it on DVD and have already watched it twice. It's absolutely mesmerizing. And I dare you not to become also obsessed with the unsolved murders. I was online for an entire day reading everything.

But make sure to watch the movie if you missed it in theaters.

From MSN:

"David Fincher creates his most disciplined, focused, and mesmerizing film with his drama about the notorious unsolved Zodiac killings that had San Francisco gripped in fear during the early 1970s. Based on the nonfiction book by Robert Graysmith, a newspaper cartoonist who became obsessed with the investigation, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith, a peripheral figure in the San Francisco Chronicle newsroom as the story breaks. Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards play the investigating officers who pursue leads across county and jurisdictional lines and become devastated by the pressure of the case. And Robert Downey Jr. is the reporter who is called out by the killer in his enigmatic messages. The low-key thriller is as much a study in obsession and detail as it is a murder mystery. And Fincher is appropriately obsessive in his attention to detail, from the complexity of the investigation (Fincher studied the case files firsthand in preparation for the film) to his re-creation of '70s San Francisco and American culture, right down to his filmmaking choices. Fincher, one of the most technically accomplished directors working today, avoids all temptation to impress us stylistically to draw us into a complex story and a complicated investigation that spans years and reverberates through the culture even longer. Brian Cox and John Carroll Lynch co-star, and the expansive supporting cast features such talents as Chloe Sevigny, John Getz, John Terry, Candy Clark, Elias Koteas, Dermot Mulroney, and Donal Logue in small roles. Available in separate wide-screen and full-screen editions. There are no supplements to speak of on this release, so don't be surprised to see a special-edition release come holiday season."

Read the entire look at new DVD's including another one of this year's best, "The Host."

--posted by Kim

What's Michael Moore Watching?

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:31:22 GMT

What is Michael Moore currently watching? MSN's Sean Axmaker asked the director what's in his DVD player and the answer is kind of perfect:

"It's hard to imagine Michael Moore as a revolutionary filmmaker, but his record is difficult to deny. His 1989 documentary 'Roger & Me,' directed with what is now his trademark mix of satirical comedy and political theatrics, turned documentary filmmaking into an act of cinematic activism. 'Warner Bros. told me that they never had booked a documentary in a multiplex or a shopping mall before 'Roger & Me,'' recalls the director. With 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' the filmmaking rabble-rouser mined both Oscar and box-office gold with the first documentary blockbuster. Now he's taking on the broken health care system in America with 'Sicko' [opening Friday]. In the midst of a barnstorming promotional tour for a film sure to stir up political debate (and inspire a whole new wave of personal attacks upon the director himself), he took time out to talk to us about his films, his DVD plans and the documentaries he's watching."

"MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

"Michael Moore: I carry with me on this tour a portable DVD player and my laptop computer, and I'm in the process of watching a number of films for Traverse City Film Festival that I set up where I live up in northern Michigan. And tonight I want to watch this Mike Judge film that never got released, called 'Idiocracy,' because I really love his work."

Well, it did get released (in about seven cities and for about seven hours) but he's about correct. And, I'm thinking he'll like the movie.

Read more of Moore here. And read my review of the highly underrated "Idiocracy" (which made my honorable mention of one of last year's best pictures) here.

--posted by Kim

'Cruising' To A DVD Release

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 06:31:19 GMT

It took nearly three decades but it looks like people are finally able to watch William Friedkin's misunderstood "Cruising" without accusing it of all the things it wasn't. Showing at Cannes this year, the tough (like, really tough), subversive and in some moments, brilliant picture has finally gotten a DVD release date:

"Warner Home Video has announced a deluxe edition of 'Cruising' which stars Al Pacino. This William Friedkin directed thriller will be available to own from the 18th September, and should retail at around $19.97. The film itself will be presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, along with a remastered English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track. Extras will include an audio commentary with the director, two new featurettes (The History of Cruising and Exorcising Cruising), and the original theatrical trailer. English, French and Spanish subtitles will also be provided. Warner hasn't revealed the art yet, but we'll bring you that soon."

--posted by Kim

Criterion Triple Treat

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:41:42 GMT

This week's DVD releases are a Criterion delight (sounds like a dish).

There's the brilliant "Brute Force," there's "La Haine" (which my friend and colleague DK Holm claims is a movie tailor made for me) and there's "Overlord" all getting the special Criterion treatment. Other notable discs are Mike Hodges' "Pulp," Robert Altman's "Thieves Like Us" and last year's "Notes on a Scandal," a movie I love in spite of its weak ending that rejects the novel's darker bite. But no matter, I have a thing for Judi Dench as the cynical spinster and find value in some of what she says--no matter how deranged. But I need to get out of my apartment more.

Read the rest of my obsessions here.

--posted by Kim

No Pity In The Naked City

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:07:22 GMT

"This week's DVD releases are a little sparse in the must have department. There's 'Rocky Balboa,' a movie I'm not ashamed to say I loved, 'The W.C. Fields Comedy Collection' (which is essential) and most thrilling, the Criterion Edition of Jules Dassin's great 1948 noir, 'The Naked City.'"

Read more from my Sunset Gun blog wherein I discuss what I'm obsessed with this week.

And read much, much more about "The Naked City" (and other releases) from D.K. Holm over at GreenCine.

--posted by Kim

More Mitchum

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:35:51 GMT

"He's one of my all time favorite actors, so of the DVD's released yesterday, none get me more excited than the Robert Mitchum Signature Collection Box Set. In it you will find Sydney Pollack's 'The Yakuza,' Otto Preminger's terrific noir 'Angel Face' (which has a great car crash scene), Joseph von Sternberg's sultry 'Macao,' Vincent Minelli's 'Home From the Hill,' Fred Zinneman's 'The Sundowners' and Burt Kennedy's 'The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.'

"Sure, there's other stuff being released, but it's all about Mitchum for me."

And buy that box set. And while watching, men, take notes. --posted by Kim

Are We Not Men? 'Idiocracy'

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:41:58 GMT

Mike Judge’s "Idiocracy" was one of the greatest films of last year. And not just one the greatest films barely anyone saw, but one of the greatest satires to hit screens in a long time.

Truly, the movie could be paired as a double feature with Alfonso Cuarón’s "Children of Men." Only, unlike the lack of children of Cuarón’s tale, there’s too many kids in the dystopian future of "Idiocracy"—kids and adults who are dumb— really dumb. And yet, for anyone who’s walked among the masses in a strip mall, they’re all believably dumb.

You might have heard the story behind Judge's comedy (released today on DVD)— it was shelved a few years after completion and released by Twentieth Century Fox as a throw-away, a let’s-forget-this-movie-was-ever-made dump. No advance word, no posters, no trailers, nothing. Why? No one knows for sure, but I’m thinking that attacking Starbucks, Fuddruckers, Carl’s Jr. and Costco had something to do with it.

Read the rest of my review here. And watch the movie. Make it the hit it should have been.

--posted by Kim

Even More 'Staunch Character'

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:59:35 GMT

I honestly don't care how many critics are disapointed--I'm buying the new Criterion DVD "The Beales of Grey Gardens" (released today) as soon as I get dressed and make my way to the video store.

Because, as I've written before, I'm a little more than obsessed with "Grey Gardens," which makes any companion piece absolutely essential.

So, I'm off--to find the movie and to find that "Libra Man"--if you've seen "Grey Gardens" you'll know what I'm talking about.

--posted by Kim

To Do: Rent 'Brick'

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:38:04 GMT

At Salon, Andrew O'Hehir offers his "completely subjective list of the best, and least appreciated, independent films of 2006 that are already available on video (or will be released by Christmas)."

His list includes “Brick,” an excellent hard-boiled detective drama set in a contemporary high school. From the Movies Filter archives – don’t get to use that phrase very often – here’s our interview with “Brick” director Rian Johnson.
--posted by Kevin

Sleeping, Melting, (Not) Ogling

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:03:36 GMT

Out on DVD today:

“You, Me and Dupree,” in which Owen Wilson sleeps on couches.

“An Inconvenient Truth,” in which Al Gore talks about things (polar ice caps, for instance) that are melting.

“Scoop,” in which Woody Allen tries very hard not to ogle Scarlett Johansson.

Get more titles here.
--posted by Kevin

Falling For 'Fallen'

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:35:09 GMT

Over at the always insightful and never ad-blaring DVD Journal, Damon Houx writes a thoughtful and just downright nice review of Carol Reed's masterpiece, "The Fallen Idol" (adapted from Graham Greene's wonderful novel).

Out now in a much deserved Criterion Edition, Houx makes a lot of potent points about Reed's genius and the importance of this release. Carol Reed should never be forgotten. Says Houx:

"Told from a third person point of view near the eyes of a child, 'The Fallen Idol' is a sneaky, great film. The plot is modest, but every performance is outstanding and Reed's control of both the child actor (which the supplements describe as being hard to wrangle) and framing is never less than outstanding. Much of this is due to the material, and yet Greene has always complemented Reed for his touch (the duo worked together three times, most famously with 'The Third Man'), which is brilliant throughout. Like a number of masterpieces from that era (including 'Bicycle Thieves' and 'Germany Year Zero') that frame a great story of a child growing up though witnessing the folly and despair of adults, 'The Fallen Idol' is able to use that child perspective to illuminate greater human truths. And hopefully the rediscovery of this masterwork will help restore in some small part Reed's reputation."

I'm with you Damon. And readers, rent or buy this movie. --posted by Kim

Bargain Hunting

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:16:12 GMT

Today's new DVD releases include "Nacho Libre," a film that managed to nab a PG rating despite a topless Jack Black; “An American Haunting,” in which Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland play second fiddle to something known as the “Bell Witch”; and “The Road to Guantanamo,” the very good quasi-documentary about the Bush Administration’s terrorist detention policies. See a more complete list at VideoETA.

Or if you’re in the market for something a little more ambitious, have a look at this AP story about Janus Films' new 50-DVD set of movies by giants like Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Renoir, Akira Kurosawa and Sergei Eisenstein. All yours for only $850 ($600 on sale).
--posted by Kevin

Since You Asked...

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:51:58 GMT

“The Break-Up,” the romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, comes out on DVD today. To mark the occasion, we present you with this story, from CBS, about Aniston’s recent comments on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Evidently a member of Oprah’s audience felt it was important to find out if Aniston’s breasts were really her own. To which Aniston replied, “No boob job!” (In her defense, how else are you supposed to reply to such a stupid question?)

And they say you can't find intelligent discourse on TV.
--posted by Kevin

Poison So Pretty

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:33:01 GMT

I wrote this for my blog Sunset Gun but I'm such a fan of this movie and actress, I wanted to spread the love.

What movie? "Pretty Poison," finally released to DVD. The picture has never even seen a VHS release.

God I love Tuesday Weld. I love her so much it almost hurts. "Lord Love a Duck," "Wild in the Country," "The Cincinnati Kid," "Play it as it Lays," "Thief" and on and on... But my favorite Weld performance? As Sue Ann Stepanek in "Pretty Poison." Finally released on DVD, Pretty Poison is the definitive Tuesday Weld movie. Playing the beautiful but deadly high-school majorette to Anthony Perkins twitchy, creepy fire-starter, she is the deliciously deviant underbelly of America's heartland. Where blondes are supposed to be good girls but, in her case, are most definitely not.

Made in 1968 and directed by Noel Black, the picture was something of a dud upon release (too sexually disturbing? too strange?) and has achieved cult status ever since. And deservedly so. With it's violence, pitch black comedy and sexy viciousness (watch Tuesday commit murder and immediately want to have sex after) the picture is wonderfully subversive and deeply strange. And Weld...she is charming, scary, beautiful and sickly erotic. Need I explain the plot? The manipulation of Perkins (who thought he was doing the manipulating)? The killing of her mother? The crazy, beautiful, psycho intensity of Weld? No. You really should watch it for yourself. And again, Tuesday... as Tiny Tim sang, "If only Tuesday Weld would be my wife." --posted by Kim

His Friends And Neighbors

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:53:50 GMT

Writing in Slate, Sam Anderson explains the strange things you might learn about your friends if you inspect their Netflix queues.

Writes Anderson, "(O)ne of my smartest, most sophisticated friends had rated Lindsay Lohan's Mean Girls as highly as he'd rated Woody Allen's Annie Hall. Other friends had given perfect ratings to productions as various as Deliverance, Pretty in Pink, Edward Scissorhands, Madonna: Truth or Dare, and Xena: Warrior Princess (Season 3). Who were these people, I wondered, and what kinds of unholy amalgamations were their movie tastes?"

I tend not to look at my friends' rental activity and ratings. Maybe I should. Or maybe it’d be more interesting to get to know some of Anderson’s friends.--posted by Kevin

Another Day, Another 'Lord Of The Rings' Box Set

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:45:43 GMT

Could we please stop flogging this dead hobbit?

I mean, really. How many DVD editions of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy are necessary? And for heaven's sake, who, at this point, friggin cares?

Well, O.K. someone cares. And, not to backtrack, but this limited edition set does boast three feature length documentaries for each of the films. According to Comingsoon.net:

"Each film has a new behind-the-scenes documentary created by filmmaker Costa Botes. Botes was personally selected by Peter Jackson to capture every moment during production of the trilogy. He had unprecedented access to the cast and crew during staff meetings and down time, training and rehearsals, laughter and arguments. Botes created 3 feature-length documentaries using a raw editing style that gives the viewer a complete fly-on-the-wall experience."

If you're a fan, knock yourself out. The edition will hit retailers August 29. --posted by Kim

Hitch and Giallo

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 20:20:14 GMT

Do You Like Hitchcock?

That's the titular question Italian filmmaker Dario Argento asks in his newest film released to DVD. Film critic Jerry Renshaw offers a terrific look at both the picture and the giallo master himself:

"'The Italian Hitchcock' is a tag that has been hung on director Dario Argento practically since day one. It's a stale trope that's lazy, simplistic, and reductive to the point of being almost silly. There's no doubt that Argento has studied up on his Hitchcock and draws on the master's techniques to build tension. (What horror or suspense director hasn't?) Still, Hitchcock's airtight stories and taut direction would never allow for the surreal scenarios, over-the-top gore, and lavish visual style of Argento's 1970s classics 'Suspiria' or 'Deep Red.' Argento has always admitted that his storylines are spongy (often taken from his own dreams) and that performances are secondary to style; though he may love Hitchcock, he never wears Hitch's influence on his sleeve in the manner of, say, Brian DePalma. That being said, 'Do You Like Hitchcock?' finds Argento writing a lengthy love letter to Hitchcock in a sly return to form that may be the best thing he's done in years."

Great, great stuff. --posted by Kim