Hey folks, Harry here with a host of fun titles! The greatest being LA GRANDE BOUFFE and Orson Welles’ DON QUIXOTE – but then there’s the wild insanity of something like the remake of THE WIZARD OF GORE starring Crispin Glover and the Suicide Girls! My brain wasn’t prepared for the fucking joy that brought me! Well let’s get into it. As always – by clicking on the box-art or titles, you will be taken to Amazon, where you can learn more on the title – and/or you could purchase the title, thus contributing a small portion to the continuation of this column, that I so enjoy researching and writing for you. Now – see what a great day it is…

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

HOUSE, M.D. – Season Four

Just to show that I pay attention to talkbackers – I’m adding these first two selections to this week’s column. I’m not a big TV watcher – and I didn’t get sent a screener – but I’ve heard from a whole bunch of HOUSE lovers that this is a very high quality show. That’s not really surprising – the show stars Hugh Laurie – a fantastic actor as Dr. Gregory House and also features Kumar and Olivia Wilde. If you’re a fan of HOUSE, M.D. – I’m sure you’re already on board this.

DEXTER – The Complete Second Season

I have seen a couple of episodes of DEXTER on Showtime – and my general impression was that it was essentially AMERICAN PSYCHO the series. And that’s not a slight, but rather a compliment. I’m not a faithful follower, but as a series – I’m sure that they’ve done a far better job of exploring the mind of a sardonic psychotic than Bale could in the running time of a single feature. You have to applaud the evil intent of the series to have us root and cheer for a serial killer, but that’s what we have here. As I’ve seen by my email and your talkbacks – this is a series you wish had more coverage on AICN and that you’re out there supporting. Obviously this is on many of your lists and consider this title as an AICN reader recommendation!

TERMINATOR – THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES – 1st Season

This is a morbid curiosity for me – Obviously it is nowhere near a level of quality not just with the first two GREAT Terminator films, but it’s also not on par with the 3rd Terminator film. A key reason is budget, but the main reason is talent and a lack of inspiration across the board. That said, in the world of unnecessary Televised continuations of sacred Sci-Fi material… it is a very interesting and sometimes fun train wreck where you can see all the fun in 1080p. Though I would say this is more of a rental than a purchase.

CAMP ROCK – (Extended Rock Star Edition)

The Jonas Brothers are a pox upon the world. I’m not immediately against pre-pubescent training bra-stuffing Boy Band drool-inducers – by law… but these guys and their songs are excruciatingly bad. Their vocals are flat and dead. And the “plot” just isn’t worth mentioning. HOWEVER, if you have a early teener that’s screaming their songs and tacking up their posters in their room with grotesque adulation… you can not get this at your own risk. That said, tell them they can only watch it when you’re not home – or at a friend’s house. Cuz this shit will make your ears bleed. (Yes, I did watch it and Yes, I’m sorry)

HANNAH MONTANA – BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT – THE 3-D MOVIE

Ok – now hold on to your skullcaps – cuz I’m actually recommending this one. WHAT? No, seriously. I know that Miley Cyrus is the spawn of an idiot singer that plagued us in the late Eighties. Sure her songs are empty sugar pop head-bopping songs. But it’s fun stuff. Moreso – Blu-Ray 3D is fucking amazing. On a pure love of the 3D format – watching the anaglyph 1080p was stunning. Disney’s set design and 3D cinematography takes full advantage of the 3D format and if you love 3D – this is the finest quality 3D you’ll ever have seen at home. And the advantage of the Home Version is… You can skip the Jonas Brothers songs – or hit mute.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY

I love Frances McDormand… and I lust after Amy Adams – she’s amazing. This was a surprising winner that Yoko grabbed out of my stack of Screeners and put on a couple weeks back. However, with Frances and Amy on screen for almost every scene – there was constant entertainment – and besides – there’s a very titillating scene of Amy Adams getting out of a shower and exposing just enough skin to make you mentally fill in the rest. It’s so hot. Yet very chaste. The film has a lot going for it, but that’s my favorite scene – other than the song numbers at the end. Very good!

STREET KINGS

There’s a chance that like me, you missed this film. It came from the mind of James Ellroy. And starred such awesome folks as Forest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie – as well as Keanu Reeves and Chris Evans. The film is very solid. The biggest complaint I would have is that everything is so INTENSE that it is a bit like gritting your teeth for 2 hours. This film is something worth checking out, it’s not the best gritty corrupt cop flick by James Ellroy – but it is a solid one.

RECOUNT

Fantastic film. As someone that feels that this 2000 Election forever fucked America – this film doesn’t overly skew to Democrats – but it does put a magnifying glass on a really fucked up nightmarish clown show of an election procedure in the limp dick of the United States. The film makes me so fucking angry, but I’m giving my copy to someone else, because if you watch this film too many times – you’ll find yourself just a bitter pissy bastard that does nothing but looking back and dreaming of a different world. Would the World Trade Center still be standing with a different President? Would our Economy still be in the shitter? Would we be at War in two countries? All of this might have happened under Al’s watch, but I don’t think so. I think we would be better served to concentrate on the current election and make sure that we don’t get more of the same that we’ve had for the last 8 years. And by the way – this is a fantastic film!

THE SCORPION KING 2: RISE OF A WARRIOR

I agree with everything that VERN said in his review. It is the “not as cool younger brother of THE SCORPION KING.” That about says it all.

PROM NIGHT

This is a piece of shit! Really fucking awful. I know there’s a lot of you that are of Prom age – and that a horror film about Prom Night sounds like a really fun thing. It is. Just not this one. This is a really shitty film. So if you’re aching to buy a film called PROM NIGHT – I can recommend with the utmost buying Jamie Lee Curtis’ original PROM NIGHT and the classic PROM NIGHT II: HELLO MARY LOU. You can buy both of those and have $10 left over to buy condoms, which if you had your date watch these two films, you might actually get to use.

TWENTY-FOUR EYES – Criterion Collection

This isn’t immediately the sexy cool type of Japanese films of Samurais, Geishas and Shoguns. This isn’t a Pinky Violence or Yakuza film. This is an absolutely enthralling elegant story of a teacher that never quits her students. Keisuke Kinoshita’s TWENTY-FOUR EYES is a Japanese classic. Criterion again strives to bring us not just the popular titles, but the best titles whether they’re popularly known in the United States or not. This isn’t a well known Japanese title here on these shores, but it is an extraordinary film. And it has been given the highest quality treatment, as we always expect and receive from Criterion!

THE SMALL BACK ROOM – Criterion Collection

Even if you don’t know the great work of Powell & Pressburger, look at the cover of this DVD. You see the look on David Farrar’s face there? You see the lighting, the composition, the quality of that image. Now imagine a feature film running images that good at 24 frames a second – with acting, writing and direction at that quality. And you’ll have a clue of what to expect with this film about an alcoholic scientist consulting on a new Nazi weapon during World War II. No – not with the Nazis – but with the Allies. And the film feels like the most brilliant film noir, that isn’t a film noir. It just crackles with the look and feel of Noir. BRILLIANT FILM. Absolutely a must see.

AN AMERICAN CRIME

This is one of those films that I had never heard of. It showed up in the mail… I saw the names Catherine Keener and Ellen Page and James Franco and the cover and wondered… “Why haven’t I heard of this?” Then I put it on. WOW. It’s based on a real case of Child Abuse in 1965 in Indiana – and it is harrowing and disturbing. You’ll never leave your kids with anyone while you go off for business for a few months if you see this film. Talk about the shit of nightmares. Keener ranks right with Faye Dunaway as evil fucking women – and Ellen Page does something VERY different from her JUNO & SMART PEOPLE roles. She’s amazing in this film – as is James Franco’s worthless character. You really do need to see this one. Great work all around.

THE PROPOSITION (BluRay)

Did you love THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD? Are you looking forward to Baz Luhrmann’s AUSTRALIA? Well you need to get your ass in front of a high def screen with a copy of THE PROPOSITION directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave and featuring a score by him! This is an extraordinary Western. A film that absolutely will blow you away. Starring Guy Pearce, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Noah Taylor and a bunch of folks that look note perfect in this film. When I held the AICN screening of this film – an audience was STUNNED – and like TAOJJBTCRF – it is a marvel of cinematography. If you haven’t seen this – you must see this. And if you have, you’ve already purchased or clicked above.

NIXON (BluRay)

This is a great film. Nixon is a very complicated character and historic personality. There’s the media impression, the political impression and somewhere in there was a man with a whole lot of issues at play. Oliver Stone set out to make a film that set out to present the argument that is NIXON. A man that did GREAT THINGS, PETTY THINGS, ILLEGAL THINGS and just plum STUPID THINGS. Is it a coincidence that this film comes out while the Olympics are taking place in China? There’s no doubt that without Nixon and Kissinger – there would be no Olympics in China. I would also say without Nixon – a lot of the cynicism and distrust of our leaders wouldn’t be as prevalent. Nor would the partisan politics be as rigid as they are today. That said – Anthony Hopkins is riveting as Richard Milhouse Nixon. He never entirely looks like Nixon, nor does he entirely look like Anthony Hopkins. He’s a hybrid of the two. However, if you’re a leftie – you’ll probably be surprised how sympathetic Stone paints Nixon – and if you’re a Righty – you’ll probably just hate Stone all the more. However, I feel it is an excellent portrayal of a flawed man that was so almost great that it hurt. Sadly, as painted here – we’ll never see what might have been, had he not been such a tricky Dick.

THE WIZARD OF GORE

I’m watching this film right now. It’s about halfway through – and I’m hypnotized by Crispin Glover’s performance as THE WIZARD OF GORE…. I’m also hypnotized by the exquisite nudity of THE SUICIDE GIRLS that star in the film. I also can’t stop watching the gore. And the general lunacy of Bijou Phillips. The film had me at Crispin Glover as THE WIZARD OF GORE. I wish to god that this movie had distribution. It’s so fucking awesome. Crispin was born for roles exactly like this. Mad genius. The Suicide Girls were born to be in movies like this! And god dammit – I was born to compel you to watch this – and I fucking loved it! This is so much more fun than any horror film that Dimension has actually released in years. And wait till you see Brad Dourif in this!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA – Season One (Blu-Ray)

Oh hell yeah! The entire first season of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA at 1080p! And yes, it looks great! I know you’re probably a geek like me that loved this series – well sure – it isn’t lush animation, it’s very stylized and graphic animation – and all those angles won’t artifact during the up-res process. I love this set – probably my favorite series to get the Blu-Ray treatment thus far.

THE FLETCH COLLECTION

1 great FLETCH movie and one not as good FLETCH movie. I miss Chevy Chase. I wish somebody brilliant would get their hands of Chevy Chase – like a Wes Anderson – and make him great again. I’m like the AB KING of Chevy Chase – only… I realize just how much he sucked at the end of his media time. This is just a cheaper packaging of pre-existing material – but ya know… I can’t help but let folks know when they can get quality awesome Chevy Chase material!

DON QUIXOTE

About 9 years ago, I got a Spanish DVD of this film – and thanks to the blessings of All-Region players – I watched this film and fell utterly in love. Orson Welles never finished his DON QUIXOTE – apparently a cursed title, but back in 1992 – Jess Franco “finished” it for him – and the results are MAD GENIUS. Orson Welles breaks every sort of wall that film has. Sometimes he’s looped the voice of Don Quixote – at other points it is Jess Franco – at other times the actual Actor. The film is more than just a telling of the myth of Don Quixote, but what the myth means to Spain and Spanish culture. I can’t possibly state how this film is pure genius and pure crap mixed to be a humbling work of pungent brilliance. I actually dream of what this might have been had Welles finished it, but at the same time… that he didn’t is another level of genius to it all. For Welles is every bit the myth that Don Quixote is. He’s a man with his own Windmills and insanity and fame and heroism. Orson Welles is a noble knight of cinema and sadly he didn’t finish enough movies for all of us. But he was so great that even sketches of movies like this are so much more compelling than most of what we see today. That this has come to our shores is something to celebrate. Behold a dream of a film, a mess of a film and a master of film at work. My highest recommendation for any serious movie geek!

THE UNSEEN

I love & hate Ringo Starr. I love Ringo for everything he has done in his life – and I hate Ringo Starr for marrying the exquisite Barbara Bach. You may know her as Agent Triple X from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, or as Lana from CAVEMAN or as Maritza Petrovich from FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE – but if you were a youngster in the 70s and 80s – you lusted after Barbara Bach – she was one of the most beautiful wet dreams of 70s and 80s Cinema Babes. This is her very fun Horror film. It isn’t great, but man – I could watch Barbara Bach sitting on a couch reading the Bible to herself. And this is much better than that. Besides – wait till you see who the bad person is! You won’t believe it!

ADVENTURES OF THE GALAXY RANGERS, Collection Vol. 2

The second part of that mid-eighties funkily animated space western. And damn do they pull the stops out for this series. There’s Commentary on this. There’s weird cool extras on this – and ya know what? THANK YOU! There are some of us out there that are so happy that Koch put this out at the quality they have. Here’s over 18 hours of your childhood.

TELEVISION UNDER THE SWASTIKA

This is what the Product Description reads at AMAZON:

“Legend has it that the triumphant march of television began in the United States in the 1950's, but in reality its origins hark back much further. Nazi leaders, determined to beat Great Britain and the U.S. to be the world's first television broadcaster, began Greater German Television in March 1935. German viewers enjoyed their TV broadcasts until September 1944, as Allied troops closed in. Making use of 285 reels of film discovered in the catacombs of the Berlin Federal Film Archive, "Television Under the Swastika" is a fascinating look at the world's first television broadcast network. It explores both the technology behind this new medium and the programming the Nazis chose to put on it. "Television Under the Swastika" is required viewing for anyone interested in the history of television, the intersection of media and propaganda, and the inside story of Nazi Germany.”

Holy shit – what the fuck is this shit? I’m morbidly curious. What was the Nazi Network shows like? I can’t imagine – and I might just have to find out. What about you? Is it more evil than Disney TV?

NEVER LOVE A STRANGER

Here’s a Steve McQueen film I never heard of – He plays a DA and a friend of the lead of the film, played by John Drew Barrymore. It’s essentially a story of youthful friends that wind up on opposite sides of the law as adults. And well then there’s decisions to make. The film is electric. So much better than I was expecting. This was McQueen’s first real movie role – right before THE BLOB. And he’s great in it. So young. SO impossibly young here. The same year as THE BLOB – and while I love that film, this is even better!

MARCO FERRERI: The Collection ( LA GRANDE BOUFFE, EL COCHECITO, THE SEED OF MAN, DON’T TOUCH THE WHITE WOMAN, BYE BYE MONKEY, SEEKING ASYLUM, TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS, THE HOUSE OF SMILES )

Marco Ferreri will always be a genius in my book – mainly because of my absolute love for LA GRANDE BOUFFE – a film starring Marcello Mastroianni – about a group of men that hire a group of prostitutes for group sex – and commit to suicide by eating themselves to death. Not via cannibalism, but via awesome foods. It won the FIPRESCI prize at Cannes in 1973 and is an NC-17 (aka X rated film). And it happens to be fucking brilliant. His other films are equally and not quite as brilliant as LA GRANDE BOUFFE – but they are challenging intellectual and compelling films all. This is a GREAT collection. And a filmmaker that we should all discover. I can’t wait to discover THE HOUSE OF SMILES and TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS… I’ve seen and loved the others. But to me, the jewel here is LA GRANDE BOUFFE. It’s a must own!

THE BUCCANEERS

Holy Shit! There was a 30 Episode Series starring Robert “QUINT” Shaw as a Pirate? Using the same ship used in TREASURE ISLAND (the Robert Newton one) and MOBY DICK (the Gregory Peck / John Huston one)!!! I’m so goddamn there! This is something I’m dying to see! And I bet Quint is too!

That’s it for this week, but next week will be looking at Season 2 of HEROES, 4th season of ENTOURAGE, THE SECRET, THE LITTLE MERMAID – ARIEL’S BEGINNING, 6th Season of THE SHIELD, 3 STOOGES Collection 1940-42, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Blu-Ray), SALO or THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM Criterion, WARNER HOME VIDEO WESTERN CLASSICS COLLECTION, ERROL FLYNN WESTERNS COLLECTION, THE STALKING MOON, U-571 BluRay, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD BluRay, AFRO SAMURAI – Season One BluRay, MIAMI VICE BluRay, PALE RIDER BluRay, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?, BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF – Director’s Cut, CHICAGO 10, THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER, VIRGIN TERRITORY, DELICATESSEN (Special Edition), PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION, A/K/A TOMMY CHONG, FAT ALBERT’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, DEVIL HUNTER, CLOAK AND DAGGER / THE WIZARD Double Feature!, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, CANNIBAL TERROR, THE TAKASHI MIIKE OMNIBUS and much more!!! See you next Wednes… I mean Tuesday!