It's been a sad goodbye to our Potrero shop manager and good friend Bobby. Our farewell party included a gracious speech from Bobby that brought tears to the eyes. Bobby expressed how much he'll miss all you customers. On the plus side, we're psyched to see him assemble The Glass Harmonica, his forthcoming vintage clothing shop. If you know Bobby's idiosynchratic style (think Yohji Yamamoto meets Peanuts), you know this shop is going to be a special place. It's still in the making, but sign up for updates at the temporary web page (linked above).
As for new folks, say hello to Davey (18th St.) and Rhodes (Cortland Ave). Davey is a graduate of Brown University and he's currently pursuing film studies at the San Francisco Art Institute. He likes Yasujiro Ozu and Tsai-Ming Liang films. He's a giggle fest. Rhodes, along with Erin and Dana, is another Oberlin alumnus. He resembles the director Wes Anderson and also works for clever literary publication The Believer. Both guys are sweet as pie.
If last week's theme was art, this week's theme is even better: Nature. Our staff has totally been digging the episodes of David Attenborough's LIFE OF MAMMALS ever since the DVD set arrived. Shila loves the platypus. There are also more vintage Jacques Cousteau episodes, to appease Adrianna's oceanographic interests. And of course there's OVER THE HEDGE, the animated release of the week.
hug a tree,
4star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
OVER THE HEDGE.
Animation/Comedy/Family.
Voices by Bruce Willis, Gary Shandling, Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, William Shatner.
Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick.
* Pretty interesting: A kids-oriented animation flick about the evils of suburbia encroaching upon wilderness. One of the little critters even has the line: "That's an SUV. Humans ride around in them because they are slowly losing their ability to walk." Most critics thought it was a pretty good show. The Onion: "stands out as genuinely witty and even a little barbed. Its chipper, sneering outsider's look at suburban sprawl and conformity isn't going to change the world, but it's still self-aware enough to be reasonably smart." The worst reviews the film received lament the loss of artful animation. The New York Times: "There is no poetry here and little thought." The Village Voice likens the new generation of popcorn cartoons as "crude commodities, plush toys and product placements in search of a story from which to hang their price tags." Youch. Still worth it for Wanda Sykes?
see also: HOOT, FINDING NEMO.
see instead: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO.
............//NEW TITLES//............
AMERICAN DREAMZ.
Comedy.
Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Jennifer Coolidge, Martha Gay Harden, Chris Klein.
Directed by Paul Weitz.
BILLY WILDER SPEAKS.
Documentary.
Directed by Gisela Grischow and Volker Schlondorff.
THE BREAK-UP.
Romantic Comedy/Drama.
Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Farvreau, Jason Bateman, Judy Davis, Justin Long.
Directed by Peyton Reed.
EDGAR G. ULMER: THE MAN OFF-SCREEN.
Documentary.
Directed by Michael Palm.
GLOOMY SUNDAY.
Drama. Germany/Hungary.
Directed by Rolf Schubel.
INNOCENT.
Drama. Hong Kong.
Directed by Simon Chung.
THE OMEN.
Horror.
Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, David Thewlis, Mia Farrow.
Directed by John Moore.
OVER THE HEDGE.
see above: "release of the week."
SAY UNCLE.
Comedy/Gay Interest.
Peter Paige, Kathy Najimy.
Directed by Peter Paige.
WHEN THE SEA RISES.
Comedy. Belgium.
Directed by Yolande Moreau and Gilles Porte.
............//SERIES//............
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, SERIES 2.
Vintage Mystery Series.
BIG LOVE, Series 1.
HBO Drama Series.
Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Seyfried.
BIT OF FRY & LAURIE, SERIES 1 & SERIES 2.
British Retro Comedy Series.
Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie.
THE COMEBACK, SERIES 1.
HBO Comedy Series.
Lisa Kudrow.
FOOTBALLER'S WIVES, SERIES 3.
British Melodrama/Satire.
JACQUES COUSTEAU: RIVER EXPLORATIONS.
Vintage Nature Documentaray Mini-Series.
THE LIFE OF MAMMALS.
BBC Nature Documentary Mini-Series.
Written and hosted by David Attenborough.
* As with the David Attenborough series THE LIFE OF BIRDS, this was specially requested by a keen customer. And ever since we popped the episodes onto our TV, our staff has been enthralled, and customers are stopping in their tracks. Sand-swimming moles, pikes, giraffes, extraordinarily evolved bats. Big cats and crocodiles. A family of elephants who walk through a narrow cave in the pitch dark to find salt. A platypus and her newborn cuddle in their tiny cave home. All this and so much more, filmed with astonishing technology and cinematic grace. The creatures range from irresistably cute to totally ruthless, with all sorts of variations and combinations in-between. Ultimately, the subjects are presented as determined and noble... You'll be proud to be amongst the family of warm-blooded beasts. If you are getting sick of the Hollywood movies coming out these days, even burning out on the HBO series, here is a new and worthwhile addiction for you: Astonishing stuff and, contrary to what your might think, totally entertaining.
see also: THE LIFE OF BIRDS.
A PERFECT SPY.
BBC Crime Drama Mini-Series.
Directed by Peter Smith. Adapted from John Le Carre.
PROJECT RUNWAY, SERIES 2.
Reality TV Series.
THREE'S COMPANY, SERIES 8.
Retro Comedy Series.
............//FAMILY//............
BOB THE BUILDER: GETTING THE JOB DONE.
BOB THE BUILDER: HELP IS ON THE WAY.
BOB THE BUILDER: SNOWED UNDER.
LITTLE ROBOTS: BIG ADVENTURE.
WIGGLES: WIGGLE DAY.
WIGGLES: WIGGLY SAFARI.
WIGGLES: WIGGLY WIGGLY WORLDS.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
CATCH 22.
Comedy/War. 1970.
Alan Arkin, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles.
Directed by Mike Nichols.
CLEAN, SHAVEN. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Crime Drama. 1994.
Peter Greene, Jennifer MacDonald.
Directed by Lodge Kerrigan.
THE CONSEQUENCE.
Drama/Gay Interest. West Germany. 1977.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
DEADFALL.
Crime Drama. England. 1968.
Michael Caine.
Directed by Bryan Forbes.
THE MAGUS.
Fantasy. 1968.
Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn, Candice Bergen.
Directed by Guy Green. Written by John Fowles.
NORMAN MCLAREN: MASTER'S EDITION BOX SET.
Experimental Shorts. Scotland/Canada. 1933-1983.
Directed by Norman McLaren.
PEEPER.
Comedy/Mystery. 1975.
Michael Caine, Natalie Wood.
Directed by Peter Hyams.
SOLO CON TU PAREJA. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Romantic Comedy. Mexico. 1991.
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.
****
****new release list no. 85
This is a really artsy week.
First off, we received a new shipment of Taylormade handprinted t-shirts and hoodies. Taylor's designs have been getting a lot of wear out on the streets, and some pretty great press: Even San Francisco Chronicle fashion editor Sylvia Rubin singled out Taylor's clothes as "a steal."
And of course don't forget this Friday the 13th is the opening of OCTOBER COUNTRY, the exhibit of Halloween photographs by the fantastic Donal Mosher. Swing by The Attic in our 18th street shop from 7-10 pm, we'll be serving up some ghost stories and spirits. Well, wine and beer.
Also, certain Bernal Heights customers will be treated to a special subterfuge by East Bay artist Kara Hearn. Kara faithfully reinacts scenes from various movies (and we're talking epics like HARRY POTTER, LORD OF THE RINGS, E.T., SOPHIE'S CHOICE, MOULIN ROUGE...) When you rent one of these movies, you'll also get a bonus disc featuring Kara's reinactment scene. In these cleverly edited videos, Kara plays all the parts in her modest apartment. The results can be funny and poignant and sometimes quite astonishing (like when she plays every choir solist, orchestra member, dancer and audience member in her rousing version of the "I Sing the Body Electric" finale from FAME.) Lucky for those who don't feel like renting FAME yet again, you can visit Kara's website to view this and other whimsical video art projects.
As for the good old fashioned video store rentals, read on. (The list starts with ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, geesh!)
yours
team four star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL.
Comedy.
Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Angelica Huston.
Directed by Terry Zwigoff.
* This is the release of the week because it's got hype, and it fits our "art" theme. But the truth is, it can't be recommended without a caveat or two. Director Zwigoff and writer Daniel Clowes were on point with their suburban satire GHOST WORLD, one of the most consistent renters in our shops. So what went wrong here? Zwigoff and Clowes showed a sensitive side through the young female protagonists of GHOST WORLD. Now they seem to have gone all "dude" on us (lots of skirt-chasing jokes), and it's kind of gross. Zwigoff and Clowes seem intent on sending up the art school experience by exploiting its clichés. But clichés, even when they're being expolited, are never very fun. We know from recent films like ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW that it is actually when you focus on something unique and idiosyncratic that you touch on something truthful, and thus universal. Instead, here we get a figure drawing class with the angry lesbian, the back-to-school mom, the emo girl with dyed black hair, the annoying white dude with dreads and the washed up and slightly lascivious teacher (played wonderfully, however, by John Malkovich). The main character seems more concerned with making out than making art. And the whole thing dissolves into a ridiculous serial killer subplot — which gets even more ridiculous by the end. Some funny moments along the way, but the overarching cynicism (clashing with moments of lazy sentimentality) just makes for a mess.
see instead: GHOST WORLD.
............//NEW TITLES//............
CARLOS MENCIA: NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
Stand-Up Comedy.
CLICK.
Comedy.
Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, Chrisopher Walken, David Hasselhoff, Henry Winkler, Julie Kavner, Sean Astin.
Directed by Frank Coraci.
THE KING.
Drama/Independent.
Gael Garcia Bernal, William Hurt, Pell James, Laura Harring, Paul Dano.
Directed by James Marsh.
* From The Onion: "Gael Garcia Bernal seems to be onscreen constantly these days, and no wonder — his nuanced performances are always a pleasure, and he handles difficult material with seeming ease. For instance, in THE KING he pulls off a tricky performance as a seemingly warm, friendly Navy discharge who turns his considerable force of personality inward when the self-righteous pastor father he's never met encounters and instantly rejects him. What follows is creepy and memorable, but constantly understated, and Bernal's quiet, contained performance is more than half the reason the film lingers in the mind."
LAND OF PLENTY.
Drama/Independent.
Michelle Williams, John Diehl, Shaun Toub.
Directed by Wim Wenders.
THE MOSTLY UNFABULOUS SOCIAL LIFE OF ETHAN GREEN.
Comedy/Gay Interest.
Daniel Letterle, David Monahan, Diego Serrano, Meredith Baxter.
Directed by George Bamber.
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.
Comedy/Drama/Musical.
Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Kline, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Virginia Madsen, Tommy Lee Jones.
Directed by Robert Altman.
* We really wanted to like this film, and we're sure that others will enjoy it (particularly fans of the radio show), but all of our staff members who have viewed it so far have been disappointed. Despite some rousing musical numbers that harken back to NASHVILLE, Altman often seems to be going through the motions of doing "an Altman film." Garrison Keillor, the voice of the real NPR radio show of the same name, indulges himself (he also wrote the script) in bouts of prolonged storytelling. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep do their best to act eccentric and step on each other's sentences, just like you should in an Altman movie. Altman particularly misdirects Virginia Madsen as a "beguiling angel-of-death lady." She's there to close down the old school radio show once and for all, as the historic theater where it's recorded gets bought out by a corporate developer. We're supposed to care, but everyone seems so laissez-faire about the whole thing that you're just kind of waiting for it to end. Best in show: Woody Harreslson and John C. Reilly as a redneck duet with a crude joke schtick.
see instead: NASHVILLE.
SIRENS.
Thriller. Made-for-TV. England.
Daniela Nardini, Greg Wise, Robert Glenister, Sarah Parish.
Directed by Nicholas Laughland.
SUSPICION.
Thriller. Made-for-TV. England.
Amanda Redman.
Directed by Jamie Payne.
THE THURSDAY CLUB.
Documentary.
Directed by George Paul Csicsery.
12 AND HOLDING.
Drama/Independent.
Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho, Zoe Weizenbaum, Linus Roache, Annabella Sciorra, Jeremy Renner.
Directed by Michael Cuesta.
WAIST DEEP.
Action.
Tyrese Gibson, Meagan Good, Larenz Tate, The Game.
Directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall.
............//SERIES//............
THREE'S COMPANY, SERIES 7.
Retro Comedy.
* We love this show! John Ritter as Jack Tripper is a physical comedy genius, almost to the level of John Cleese as Basil Fawlty on FAWLTY TOWERS. Sure, it's dated: Sexist, a little homophobic, unexpectedly puritanical. It's also totally predictable and a little lazy on the plot structures. But it's just funny and makes us feel at home. "Come and knock on our door!" Anyway, by the seventh season, that country bumpkin Cindy got dumped, and all the better because her clutzy act just wouldn't sustain itself for very long. The third and final blonde of the show's history is Terri, the nurse, who is smarter than the previous two blondes, and although she overacts a bit and she ain't no Crissy, she is very likable. Don Knotts as landlord Ralph Furly is given reign to steal a lot of scenes. And the other thing that makes this season thrive is the opening of Jack's Bistro, a locale that lasted through the end of the show and features in the spin-off, THREE'S A CROWD. The restaurant provides a whole new area for mishaps, mistakes and euphemistic misunderstandings. Just wait for the pending arrival of the final season, with more scenes in the kitchen with surly sous chef Felipe!
WONDER SHOWZEN, SERIES 2.
Satire/Animation.
* When you think about it, the classic PBS program SESAME STREET is a truly revered American cultural icon. With its warmly produced sketches espousing the wonders of learning, community-mindedness, patience, tolerance and other vaguely liberal ideologies, SESAME STREET is sort of untouchable in the same way as Christmas. That is, until now. Stealing the SESAME STREET format, but skewering its content to something more politically provocative, freaked out and, let's face it, f***ed up, WONDER SHOWZEN may actually make your jaw drop from shock more than your sides split from laughing. One particularly impressive and disturbing sketch follows a precocious child with a microphone and a list of tactless questions as he attends events like beauty pagents. You can imagine the results. He also asks a businessman on Wall Street, "How does it feel to have blood on your hands?" And, dressed as the rotting corpse of the Pope, he asks churchgoers if they think he's going to hell. Astutely conceived and imaginatively visualized, but also overly aggressive and often flat-out offensive (be prepared for cute little stuffed animal monsters wearing swastikas, et cetera), this show is not for everyone, and definitely not for children.
.............//FAMILY//............
DORA THE EXPLORER: WORLD ADVENTURE!
NIckelodeon Animation.
THE FOX AND THE HOUND.
Classic Disney Animation.
GARFIELD: A TALE OF TWO KITTIES.
Family Comedy/Animation.
Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly and Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield.
Directed by Tim Hill.
HARRY AND HIS BUCKET FULL OF DINOSAURS.
Animation. Canada.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
BLACK RAIN.
Action/Crime Drama. 1989.
Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Kate Capshaw.
Directed by Ridley Scott.
HAIL MARY.
Drama. France. 1985.
Myriem Roussel, Thierry Rode, Philippe Lacoste, Malachai Jara Kohan, Juliette Binoche.
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
REDS.
Drama. 1981.
Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Edward Herrmann, Jerry Kosinski, Jack Nicholson, Paul Sorvino, Maureen Stapleton.
Directed by Warren Beatty.
****
****new release list no. 84
Obviously, we here at Four Star regularly receive a bunch of video industry catalogs and newsletters... Really corporate-looking stuff that don't seem to have anything to do with our way of running shop. Sometimes they're worth it for a laugh, though... Like one of our favorite columns, BRITE IDEAS: INEXPENSIVE PROMOTIONAL IDEAS. Here are just a few of the myriad suggestions published for November. No matter how tempting, we just don't have the energy to act on these BRITE IDEAS.
JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE: "Invite local high school cheerleaders to perform in the store on release day performing cheers promoting JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE." Awesome! Except I don't think there are cheerleaders in San Francisco?
LITTLE MAN: "Have a 'Cutest Little Man' contest. Take and post photographs of adult male customers wearing a bonnet, an oversized diaper and sucking on a pacifier." Whoa... Or, an alternate BRITE IDEA: "On release day, have employees dress like babies." This one was popular with the staff!
SUPERMAN RETURNS: "Hold a drawing for a year's subscription to an identity theft protection service." Imagine explaining that to customers.
ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN: "Give away a bag of ice with each rental." This may be the very finest BRITE IDEA of all time.
Ok, enough of that.
Did you know that October 13 marks the only Friday the 13th of the year? Got plans? Why not join us for a haunted art opening?
The next artist on view in our Attic gallery (at our 18th St. shop) is Donal Mosher. He will be continuing his project OCTOBER COUNTRY, which first exhibited at the famed back room gallery at Adobe Books, and is now expanding through venues in this and other cities. Donal takes pictures of ghosts! Before you get all skeptical, hear this out. It's a fascinating project...
The curators at SF Camerawork, another venue exhibiting pieces from the project, on Donal's work: "OCTOBER COUNTRY is part of an ongoing record of Upstate New York. Shot each Halloween, this record now covers six years and three generations. This latest work is based on the ghost hunting notebooks kept by Denise Brown, Mosher's aunt, as part of her paranormal investigations. Though Donal's idea of the ghostly incorporates the living as well as the dead, these images were shot according to his aunt's rules for 'spirit photography.'"
Jill Dawsey of the Museum of Modern Art wrote this review of Donal's work for ArtForum.com: "In Mosher's stark, grainy images, the flash of his disposable camera imparts a ghostly aura to a forlorn church and an abandoned playground, to moldy tombstones and bare trees. But ultimately this work has more to do with the living than the dead. Mosher photographs a boy living in a group home in his Halloween mask (popularized by the SCREAM movies) so as to protect his identity. His small eyes peer out from behind the sight holes, and the image does not evoke the teen horror flick so much as the existential anguish of Edvard Munch's painting of the same name. Mosher is a compelling writer, and his captions prevent his photographs from veering too close to a well-worn gothic aesthetic or toward the sensationalism that frequently accompanies depictions of rural, working-class America. We learn that that we are looking at "the playground by the Welfare apartments," or the resting ground of a young solider who "never expected to leave the valley, let alone go over there." In this way, Mosher conjures up much larger specters—those that haunt our nation's present."
Part of this project can be viewed online at the Marjorie Wood Gallery.
We are proud to be a part of this expansive art project. The opening night party on the 13th will include some booze, of course, and most likely some ghost stories and folk songs, too. Please join us!
We'll remind you about the invitation next week. In the mean time, you are always invited (noon to 10pm anyway) to stop by our shops for a chat. Usually no ghosts on the premises; never a free bag of ice.
xo, four star.
.............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING.
Comedy.
Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Katie Holmes, Sam Elliott, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Adam Brody, Robert Duvall.
Directed by Jason Reitman.
* It's rare these days to see an American comedy that's neither romantic nor juvenile in nature. Even that 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN movie, which everyone says is so great, is really just barf and chest hair jokes. Refreshingly, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING is a straight-up comedy. Taking a cue from '70s greats like SHAMPOO and NETWORK, and early Alexander Payne films (ELECTION, CITIZEN RUTH), SMOKING is a satire in which politics provide the setting, but not the motivation. Aaron Eckhart plays a tobacco lobbyist, "the sultan of spin" according to his ex-wife, a man who admits, "if I can do tobacco, I can do anything." He is roundly hated by everyone except his adoring young son and his only two friends (lobbyists for alchohol and guns, respectively). What could dissolve into a simplistic cautionary tale remains caustic throughout. Enlivened by strong performances and a few good cameos. Pretty funny stuff.
see also: CITIZEN RUTH, BOB ROBERTS, I HEART HUCKABEES.
............//NEW RELEASES//............
CALVAIRE.
Drama/Horror. Belgium. (French language.)
Directed by Fabrice Du Welz.
CHANGING TIMES.
Drama. France.
Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu.
Directed by André Téchiné.
CHIEFS.
Documentary/Sport.
Directed by Daniel Junge.
CLAIRE.
Experimental/Gay Interest.
Mish P. DeLight, James Ferguson, Toniet Gallego.
Directed by Milford Thomas.
CON MAN.
Documentary.
Directed by Jesse Moss.
EDMOND.
Drama/Thriller.
William H. Macy, Julia Stiles, Joe Mantegna, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bai Ling, Mena Suvari, Denise Richards.
Directed by Stuart Gordon. Written by David Mamet.
FLOORED BY LOVE.
Drama/Lesbian Interest.
Directed by Desiree Lim.
NIGHT SCENE.
Drama/Gay Interest. China.
Directed by Cui Zi'en.
SOME PREFER CAKE.
Comedy/Independent/Lesbian Interest.
Directed by Heidi Arnesen.
TWIST.
Drama/Gay Interest.
Nick Stahl, Joshua Close.
Directed by Jacob Tierney. Reworked from the novel OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens.
X MEN: THE LAST STAND.
Action/Comics.
Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellan, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart.
Directed by Brett Ratner.
ZUREK.
Drama/Comedy. Poland.
Directed by Ryszard Brylski.
............//MUSIC DVD//............
KILL YOUR IDOLS.
Music Documentary.
Sonic Youth, Arto Lindsay, Glenn Branca, Suicide, Swans, Lydia Lunch, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Dice, Gogool Bordello, Liars, A.R.E. Weapons.
Directed by S.A. Crary.
SYD BARRETT: UNDER REVIEW.
Music Documentary.
............//FAMILY//.............
THE LITTLE MERMAID.
Disney Animation. 1989.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
BEAT STREET.
Drama/Hip-Hop. 1984.
Guy Davis, Rae Dawn Chong, Kool Mo Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Roch Steady Crew, Afrika Bambaataa.
Directed by Stan Lathan.
BREAKIN'.
Drama/Hip-Hop. 1984.
Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quinones, Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers.
Directed by Joel Silberg.
BREAKIN' 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO.
Drama/Hip-Hop. 1984.
Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quinones, Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers.
Directed by Sam Firstenberg.
CORPUS CHRISTI.
Documentary Mini-Series. France. 1997.
Directed by Gérard Mordillat & Jérôme Prieur.
* Wow! This French TV series delves into the latest archeological research about the historical Jesus and what separates him from the Jesus evolved by Christianity. This sprawling inquiry also offers a minute examination of the historical evidence of the Crucifixion. 27 leading international experts participated. Way too intense for Ken Burns.
THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE STOLEN PAINTING.
Drama/Mystery. France. 1979.
Directed by Raoul Ruiz.
POINT BREAK.
Action/Surf.
Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL.
Drama/Teen. 1987.
Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thomspon, Craig Sheffer.
Directed by Howard Deutch.
****
****new release list no. 83
What's pops in our shops?
These three art documentaries always seem to have a waiting list going: THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON, a dark and sensitive account of the rock music savant; PIECE BY PIECE, a history of San Francisco graffiti; and SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY, a film about the architect by Sydney Pollack.
A new surge of interest in HBO series THE WIRE has followed several newspaper articles talking about how underrated the show is... We've been telling you all along! For those who are all caught up and still pining for more, may we recommend two other titles that also come from WIRE creator (and former Baltimore Sun crime reporter) David Simon: THE CORNER, an HBO documentary mini-series available at the 18th St shop, and HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, an older network series which will be stocked at the Cortland Ave shop soon. Both titles can be transferred between stores.
Scandalously, THE WIRE has barely been nominated for any Emmy's — although it has won THE BUFFY AWARD, salon.com's prize for underrated television series, named in honor of Joss Whedon's classic BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Other recepients of the award have been VERONICA MARS and the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, both of which are very pops in our shops.
Now there's tons of new titles... This week's a whopper! Please note that a few stragglers may not be ready for rental right away on Tuesday... We've got some late deliveries coming from our distributor over the next couple days. We promise to be pronto!
cheers!
4star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**.............
DOWN IN THE VALLEY.
Drama/Western.
Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, Bruce Dern, Rory Culkin, Artel Kayàru, Ellen Burstyn.
Directed by David Jacobson.
* Surely we have gathered enough titles now to qualify the New Western as a bona-fide film movement. As with Wim Wenders' recent DON'T COME KNOCKING, the protagonist here is more concerned with projecting a cowboy image than actually wrangling livestock. And the mysterious drama from which unravels from this pose is laced with the romance of the mythologized Wild West. The Washington Post: "Exactly what we don't have enough of: It's singular, unusual, unexpected, fresh and familiar at once." Rolling Stone: "A wild thing that sticks with you long after it's over. You know, a real movie."
see also: DON'T COME KNOCKING.
............//NEW TO DV DVD//............
BEOWULF & GRENDEL.
Adventure. Canada/Iceland/UK.
Gerard Butler, Ingvar Eggert Sigurosson, Stellan Skarsgard, Sarah Polley.
Directed by Sturla Gunnarsson.
THE BIG ANIMAL.
Comedy. Poland.
Directed by Jerry Stuhr.
THE CLAY BIRD.
Drama. France/Pakistan/Bangladesh.
Directed by Tareque Masud.
DEAD MAN'S SHOES.
Crime Drama/Thriller. England.
Paddy Considine, Gary Stretch, Toby Kebbell.
Directed by Shane Meadows.
THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX.
Documentary.
Directed by Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt.
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT.
Action.
Lucas Black.
Directed by Justin Lin.
THE GROUND TRUTH.
War Documentary.
Directed by Patricia Foulkro.
IRAQ FOR SALE: THE WAR PROFITEERS.
War Documentary.
Directed by Robert Greenwald.
THE LADY IN QUESTION IS CHARLES BUSCH.
Documentary.
Directed by John Catania & Charles D. Ignacio.
LADY VENGEANCE.
Crime Drama/Thriller. South Korea.
Directed by Chan-wook Park.
THE LAKE HOUSE.
Drama/Romance.
Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock.
Directed by Alejandro Agresti.
THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE.
Drama/Biography.
Gretchen Mol, Chris Bauer, Jared Harris, Sarah Paulson, Lili Taylor, Norman Reedus.
Directed by Mary Harron.
PARALLEL LINES.
Documentary.
Directed by Nina Davenport.
PEEL: THE PERU PROJECT.
Documentary/Surfing.
Directed by T.J. Barrack & Wes Brown.
POWER TRIP.
Documentary. USA/Georgia.
Directed by Paul Devlin.
RUSSIAN DOLLS.
Comedy. France.
Romain Duris, Kelly Reilly, Audrey Tautou, Cécile De France.
Directed by Cedric Klapisch.
* L'AUBERGE ESPANGOLE assembled a group of adorable international students — stoned and horny (but in that European way), naturally attractive and kind of dorky — in a dirty student apartment in Barcelona. The movie perfectly captured the feel of a term abroad, from the messy and reluctant arrivals to the embarassingly sentimental goodbyes in a festive pub. Here, director Cedric Klapisch welcomes Romain Duris and Audrey Tatou back for a charming sequel... What happens to these almost-adults five years later? Okay, so the continental charm may verge on 'tourist trap,' but these films are pretty darn irresistable. Come on: Outdoor cafes, backpacks, and a wistful romance with none other than Amelie? Klapisch should be making a commission from the EU tourist board.
see also: L'AUBERGE ESPANGOLE, AMELIE, BEFORE SUNRISE.
A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER.
Comedy/Mystery. Made-for-TV.
William H. Macy, Alan Arkin, Felicity Huffman.
Directed by Steven Schachter.
STICK IT.
Drama/Sport.
Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym.
Directed by Jessica Bendinger.
THREE TIMES.
Drama. Taiwan.
Chen Chang, Qi Shu.
Directed by Hsiao-hsien Hou.
* An artfully constructed romance told as three stories from different eras, each played out by the same two actors. Roger Ebert: "Three varieties of love: unfulfilled, mercenary, meaningless. All photographed with such visual beauty that watching the movie is like holding your breath so the butterfly won’t stir."
see also: CAFE LUMIERE, MILLENNIUM MAMBO.
TICKETS.
Comedy/Drama/Shorts. Italy/UK/Iran.
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach & Ermanno Olmi.
WAGING A LIVING.
Documentary.
Directed by Roger Weisberg and Pamela Harris.
WINDY CITY HEAT.
Comedy Central Made-for-TV.
Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, Tammy Faye Baker.
Directed by Bob Goldthwait.
............//MUSIC DVD//............
KATE BUSH: UNDER REVIEW.
Music Documentary.
KYLIE MINOGUE: ULTIMATE KYLIE.
Music Videos.
R.E.M.: WHEN THE LIGHT IS MINE (THE BEST OF THE I.R.S. EARS 1982-1987 VIDEO COLLECTION.
Music Videos.
ROXY MUSIC: CRITICAL REVIEW 1972-1974.
Music Documentary.
............//FAMILY//............
CURIOUS GEORGE.
Animation.
Voices by Will Ferrell, Frank Welker, Drew Barrymore, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright, Dick Van Dyke.
Directed by Matthew O'Callaghan.
THE LAND BEFORE TIME: 2 TALES OF DISCOVERY & FRIENDSHIP.
Animation.
SAVANNAH SMILES.
Comedy/Family. 1982.
Directed by Pierre De Moro.
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS.
Animation. England. 1983.
Directed by Mark Hall and Chris Taylor.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
PASSIN' IT ON.
Documentary. 1993.
Directed by Jon Valadez.
THE SHIVITZ.
Documentary. 1993.
Directed by Jonathan Berman.
CLASSIC FILM NOIR:
HANGMEN ALSO DIE. 1943.
Directed by Fritz Lang.
THE LONG NIGHT. 1947.
Directed by Anatole Litvak.
RAILROADED. 1947.
Directed by Anthony Mann.
BEHIND LOCKED DOORS. 1948.
Directed by Budd Boetticher.
SUDDEN FEAR. 1952.
Directed by David Miller.
****
****new release list no. 82
The admirable film programmers at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts have uncovered a series of films by Peter Whitehead, legendary chronicler of the Swinging London scene. Check out the schedule for documentaries featuring Brit pop dieties like Julie Christie, David Hockney, Mick Jagger and Vashti Bunyan.
Music releases of note: The newest album from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, called THE LETTING GO, is out Tuesday. This release promises more of Will Oldham's intimate songwriting, plus lush string orchestration (recorded in Iceland). We've also been listening to the sprawling slow jam that is Brightblack Morning Light, as well as TO FIND ME GONE, the latest from local folk heroes Vetiver. Don't miss the sparkling song about our very own dive nightclub, the El Rio.
Speaking of which, El Rio is one of the venues for the current run of the MadCat International Women's Film Festival... You can watch a cool new film outdoors on the patio. Bring a blanket. You know how San Francisco weather is so fickle.
Last week, the Four Star Gazer took a much-needed vacation. Notable new releases from last week have been integrated into this week's list.
Aloha,
four star video.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
HARD CANDY
Drama/Thriller.
Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh.
Directed by David Slade.
* Intense! HARD CANDY immediately plunges its audience into the ickiest of scenarios: A precocious, charming 14-year-old girl flirts openly with a predatory fashion photographer over the internet, and they swiftly plan to meet in person. From there, the film twists into a sadistic vengeance tale that is sure to leave a lasting scar with viewers, at least those who can't bring themselves to turn the TV set off. Almost across the board, critics praised the writing, directing, photography and acting on view. But opinions diverge when they begin to question: Does the film deserve the rapt attention it so adeptly achieves? The film smacks of exploitation... Is it simply a cheap trick? While sophisticated production values allow HARD CANDY to avoid the camp pitfalls of other psychosexual thrillers (remember when David Lynch's daughter made that movie BOXING HELENA?), the end result may be more nihilistic than it is deep. But for those who don't mind a little relentless nihilism, this is for you. Any way you look at it, it's torture. (Don't let anyone give anything more away before you see it for yourself.)
see also: MISERY, AUDITION, FREEWAY, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS.
............//NEW TITLES//............
BALLET RUSSES.
Documentary.
Directed by Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine.
THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU.
Drama. Romania.
Directed by Cristi Puiu.
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON.
Music/Documentary.
Directed by Jeff Feuerzeig.
FABULOUS! THE STORY OF QUEER CINEMA.
Documentary.
Ang Lee, Gus Van Sant, Todd Haynes, Alan Cumming, John Cameron Mitchell, Jenni Olson, Dan Roos.
Directed by Lisa Ades & Lesli Klainberg.
FUSE.
Comedy/Drama. Bosnia. (Serbo-Croatian language.)
Directed by Pjer Zalica.
GOAL!
Drama/Sport.
Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel.
Directed by Danny Cannon.
THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL.
Comedy/Drama.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tony Shalhoub, Olympia Dukakis, Edie Falco.
Directed by Danny Leiner.
I AM A SEX ADDICT.
Comedy/Independent.
Caveh Zahedi.
Directed by Caveh Zahedi.
* Sites like MySpace and YouTube prove that confessional video diaries are a commodity — when they sit squarely within the context of hotness and youth. Who really wants to watch a funny looking, middle aged straight man contemplate his failed romances and prediliciton for prostitutes? San Francisco filmmaker Caveh Zahedi proves his worth with an autobiographical film that is notable for its honesty and humor. The San Francisco Chronicle: "It's embarrassingly frank and self-revealing, sometimes funny, sometimes creepy, sometimes both." The Onion: "Zahedi isn't afraid to put himself out there, even when his thoughts and actions are profoundly unflattering; his self-effacement makes the film a reflection on narcissism and misogyny rather than an exercise in both." But critic V.A. Musetto at the Village Voice was less than charmed: "Now that even Woody Allen has stopped making 'Woody Allen movies,' you would think that wannabes would move on, too."
see also: THE WORKS OF CAVEH ZAHEDI.
LET'S GET FRANK.
Documentary.
Barney Frank.
Directed by Bart Everly.
LOVERBOY.
Drama.
Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Campbell Scott, Marisa Tomei.
Directed by Kevin Bacon.
LOWER CITY.
Drama. Brazil. (Portuguese language.)
Directed by Sérgio Machado.
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN.
Crime Drama.
Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci.
Directed by Paul McGuigan.
THE PROPOSITION.
Western. Australia.
Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, John Hurt, Emily Watson.
Directed by John Hillcoat.
* When the box compares the movie to Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone, you know: Violent. And also potentially dark and gritty and amazing. Written by musician Nick Cave, this has got to be the first non-gay western in a very long time to get such good reviews. Entertainment Weekly: "A pitiless yet elegiac Australian Western as caked with beauty as it is with blood." The Austin Chronicle: "The Western is alive and well."
see also: THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA.
STAY ALIVE.
Horror.
Frankie Muniz, Samaire Armstrong, Jon Foster, Sophia Bush, Adam Goldberg.
Directed by William Brent Bell.
10TH & WOLF.
Crime Drama.
James Marsden, Giovanni Ribisi, Brad Renfro, Piper Perabo, Dennis Hopper, Lesley Ann Warren, Tommy Lee, Brian Dennehy, Val Kilmer.
Directed by Robert Moresco.
UNIFORM.
Drama. China. (Mandarin language.)
Directed by Yinan Diao.
THE WHORE'S SON.
Drama. Austria. (German language.)
Directed by Michael Sturminger.
............//SERIES//............
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, SERIES 2.5
Sci-Fi Channel Series.
GREY'S ANATOMY, SERIES 2.
ABC Drama Series.
OZ, SERIES 6.
HBO Crime Drama Series.
THE THREE MUSKATEERS, MINI-SERIES.
BBC Mini-Series. 1973.
Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Michael York, Christopher Lee.
Directed by Richard Lester.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
THE GIRLS.
Drama/Mystery. France. 1960.
Directed by Claude Chabrol.
JIGOKU. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Horror/Experimental. Japan. 1960.
Directed by Nobuo Nakagawa.
* From Criterion: "Shocking, outrageous, and poetic, JIGOKU (hell, a.k.a. THE SINNERS OF HELL) is the most innovative creation from Nobuo Nakagawa, the father of the Japanese horror film. After a young theology student flees a hit-and-run accident, he is plagued by both his own guilt-ridden conscience and a mysterious, diabolical doppelganger. But all possible escape routes lead straight to hell— literally. In the gloriously gory final third of the film, Nakagawa offers up his vision of the underworld in a tour de force of torture and degradation. A striking departure from traditional Japanese ghost stories, JIGOKU, with its truly eye-popping (and -gouging) imagery, created aftershocks that are still reverberating in contemporary world horror cinema."
see also: FAUST.
LABYRINTH OF DARKNESS.
Experimental/Horror/Animation/Shorts. Czechoslovakia.
Directed by Jiri Barta.
THE OSSUARY AND OTHER TALES.
Experimental/Horror/Animation/Shorts. Czechoslovakia.
Directed by Jan Svankmajer.
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Drama. Spain. 1973.
Directed by Victor Erice.
* From Criterion: "Criterion is proud to present Víctor Erice’s spellbinding THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE (El espíritu de la colmena), widely regarded as the greatest Spanish film of the 1970s. In a small Castilian village in 1940, in the wake of the country's devastating civil war, six-year-old Ana attends a traveling movie show of Frankenstein and becomes possessed by the memory of it. Produced as Franco’s long regime was nearing its end, THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE is a bewitching portrait of a child’s haunted inner life and one of the most visually arresting movies ever made."
see also: CINEMA PARADISO.
****
****new release list no. 81
Now in its third year, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema has become a neighborhood treasure. Four Star is proud to be a participating sponsor. Be sure to check out the schedule. Makes for a unique experience. Bring out-of-towners!
The Four Star t-shirt continues to sell out of stock, for obvious reasons (ie, they rule!). Just in time for San Francisco's "Indian Summer," new shipments are arriving, including a new variation: Men's sizes in navy. Sharp.
Feeling Hollywoodish and daydreamy? Come join us... We've been wasting time browsing the Chateau Marmont website. Includes an evocative write-up by AM Holmes, and nice pictures of celebrities — Natalie Wood, Led Zepplin — cavorting on the infamous grounds. Unaffordable, though!
This week, the New York band Grizzly Bear releases their second album, YELLOW HOUSE, which supposedly is, like, really good. One of the few 'bands to watch' that we actually care to watch. Especially the drummer! He's hot. Grizzly Bear: Better than the Arctic Monkeys?
This week's new release list is sort of heavy: UNITED 93 marks the first major feature regarding events from 9/11. Then there's lots of political documentaries. But don't worry, there's also British feel-good comedy KINKY BOOTS, and new seasons of TV shows from LOST to FRAGGLE ROCK.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
UNITED 93.
Drama.
JJ Johnson, Polly Adams, Cheyenne Jackson, Opal Alladin, Starla Benford, Trish Gates, Nancy McDoniel, David Alan Basche.
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
* The momentous release of the week, if only because it is the first major feature film to deal with events on 911. Based on careful research, the film achieves an absorbing sense of realism. This is likely to become the prevailing visual record of the passengers who threw terrorists off route from the alleged third target. American critics were very generous. The New Yorker: "Tightly wrapped, minutely drawn, and, no matter how frightening, superbly precise." The Washington Post even compared it to THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS. But the question remains as to whether these accolades are due somewhat to a sense of obligation, and whether the movie itself is simply 'cashing in.' The New York Times: "Its focus is purposely narrow. But that narrow focus, along with the lack of fully realized characters, and the absence of any historical or political context, raises the question of why, notwithstanding the usual (if shaky) commercial imperative, this particular movie was made." Alan P, a user on metacritic.com, posted: "I left with the feeling I had been cheated. There could be no involvement with any character. A film made to cash in on the desire for emotional self flagellation over an event few really understand or comprehend. I was was left with the question why bother making such a film."
see also: MUNICH.
............//NEW TITLES//............
AUGUST IN THE EMPIRE STATE.
Documentary.
Directed by Gabriel Rhodes and Keefe Murren.
COLOSSAL SENSATION.
Comedy. Hungary.
Directed by Róbert Koltai.
DISTRICT B13.
Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi.
Directed by Pierre Morel. Written by Luc Besson and Bibi Naceri.
DUCK SEASON.
Comedy. Mexico.
Directed by Fernando Eimbcke.
KINKY BOOTS.
Comedy. England.
Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah-Jane Potts.
Directed by Julian Jarrold.
LEMMING.
Drama/Thriller. France.
Laurent Lucas, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charlotte Rampling.
Directed by Dominik Moll.
* Pairing our two favorite Charlottes (Rampling and Gainsbourg), this latest from director Dominik Moll (he did the chilling WITH A FRIEND LIKE HARRY) keeps with the tradition of great French thrillers: The plot is inscrutable and the cast great to look at. Early word from customers is extremely positive.
see also: WITH A FRIEND LIKE HARRY, SWIMMING POOL, CACHE.
OUR BRAND IS CRISIS.
Documentary.
Directed by Rachel Boynton.
REVEREND BILLY AND THE CHURCH OF STOP SHOPPING.
Documentary.
Directed by Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios.
RYNA.
Drama. Switzerland/Romania.
Directed by Ruxandra Zenide.
SUMMER STORM.
Comedy/Drama/Gay Interest. Germany.
Directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner.
UNITED 93.
see above: "release of the week."
UNKOWN WHITE MALE.
Documentary.
Directed by Rupert Murray.
* A man — 37 years old, cute, with a British accent and wearing flip flops — wakes up on a subway headed to Coney Island with absolutely no idea who he is. He was subsequently identified as former stockbroker Doug Bruce, and this documentary, made by a buddy of his, follows his attempt to reconnect with friends, family and himself. Many a reviewer scoffed at director Murray's unwillingness to ask tough follow-up questions, thus coming short of the film's tantalizing potential. Moreover, many skeptics have called Bruce's story a hoax, and Murray's lax inquiry seems to only fuel their disbelief at the veracity of this intriguing story.
see also: CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS, TARNATION.
WE ARE FAMILY.
Music/Documentary.
Laurie Anderson, Afrika Bambaataa, Jackson Browne, Roberta Flack, Eartha Kitt, Patti LaBelle, Spike Lee, Nile Rodgers, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick.
Directed by Danny Schechter.
............//SERIES//............
FRAGGLE ROCK, SERIES 2.
Jim Henson Family Animated Series.
LOST, SERIES 2.
ABC Adventure/Drama Series.
MISSING, TV MOVIE.
British Made-for-TV Mystery.
RESCUE ME, SERIES 1 & 2.
FX Adventure/Drama Series.
30 DAYS, SERIES 1.
FX Documentary/Reality Series.
With his well-liked SUPER SIZE ME, Morgan Spurlock (like a younger Michael Moore with rugged sex appeal and a goofy moustache) subjected himself to a month-long diet of strictly fast food. Charting its impact on his physique, mental state and sex drive, he entertained smug Whole Foods shoppers and enlightened a new generation of consumers. This series is a logical extention. In the first episode, Morton and his girlfriend attempt to live off the federal minimum wage for 30 days. The results are bleak, although the show is presented with a light and humorous style. Ensuing episodes include a homophobic young Midwesterner renting a room in the Castro, a Christian living as a Muslim, and so on, each for 30 days. In one episode, the mother of a college party girl goes binge drinking for 30 days! The show is charming, and righteous without being preachy. The experiences here may not rock the world, but they're more depthful than your average reality series.
see also: SUPER SIZE ME.
SHOOTING THE PAST, MINI-SERIES.
BBC Drama Mini-Series.
VERONICA MARS, SERIES 1 & 2.
UPN Teen/Mystery Series.
............//FAMILY//............
CHARLIE AND LOLA, VOLUME 1 & VOLUME 2.
BBC Animated Program.
RUGRATS: TALES FROM THE CRIB: THREE JACKS AND A BEANSTALK.
Nickelodeon Animated Full-Length Movie.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
THE ASSASSINATION OF TROTSKY.
Historical Drama. UK/France/Italy. (English language.) 1972.
Richard Burton, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider.
Directed by Joseph Losey.
CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO.
Animation. Japan. 1979.
Directed by Hayao Miyazake.
* With none of the surrealism of later Miyazake films like SPIRITED AWAY, this is a fun adventure-caper that feels more in line with something directed by Robert Zemeckis in the '80s. The hero is a svelte hipster named Lupin III, grandson to Maurice Leblanc's French literary master thief Arsène Lupin. Lupin III was originally created as a series by the manga artist Monkey Punch. In Miyazake's feature, the character appears a tad more genial and less cynical. Trivia from Wikipedia: "There is a long-standing rumor that Steven Spielberg saw CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO when it was shown at the Cannes film festival and called its car chase one of the greatest chase sequences ever filmed, and/or called CAGLIOSTRO 'one of the greatest adventure movies of all time.' While this rumor has not been specifically verified, Manga Video considered it credible enough to mention on the back cover of its DVD release."
see also: LUPIN III (SERIES).
JAPAN'S LONGEST DAY.
War Drama. Japan. 1967.
Toshirô Mifune, Chishu Ryu.
Directed by Kihachi Okamoto.
THE EARLY FILMS OF PETER GREENAWAY: THE SHORTS.
Experimental/Shorts. England. 1969-1978.
Directed by Peter Greenaway.
* Oddly imaginative in a way that's thoroughly British, Peter Greenaway's early works tend toward the whimsical, rather than the lavish tragedy of later features like THE BELLY OF AN ARCHITECT and THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER. Zeitgeist Films has been kind enough to make a collection of these shorts finally available on DVD. Say the distributors: "All of these quirkily delightful works take great pleasure in outlandish detail, fake erudition and corkscrew narratives."
see also: ROBINSON IN SPACE.
THE SHORT FILMS OF DAVID LYNCH.
Animation/Horror/Shorts. 2002.
Directed by David Lynch.
****
****new release list no. 80
According to the Internet Movie Database, veteran actor William H. Macy "blasted" co-star Lindsay Lohan for bad behavior while filming the movie BOBBY. Macy claims to admire her talent, but not her manners. He said, "You can't show up late. It's very, very disrespectful." Last month, Lohan was chastised in a letter from the CEO of Morgan Creek Productions for her absences on the set of GEORGIA RULE. The CEO called her behavior that of "a spoiled child." Lohan arrived back on set with 500 apology cupcakes for the crew. She appears in that film alongside Macy's wife, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star Felicity Huffman. Macy: "An actor has to realize when you show up an hour late, 150 people have been scrambling to cover for you. It's nothing but disrespect. And Lindsay Lohan is not the only one. A lot of actors show up late as if they're God's gift to the film. It's inexcusable, and they should have their asses kicked."
The industry is smiling more benevolently upon the young actor Ryan Gosling, who stars in HALF NELSON, just out in theaters. His performance — as an inspirational school teacher with a secret crack habit — is said to be the stuff of Oscar nominations. As for his behavior on set, a friend of a friend tells us that Gosling is a consummate professional who amazed everyone with every scene. The film itself has been extremely well-received for its sensitivity and lack of clichés. Ryan's previous films (available for rent at Four Star, of course) include THE SLAUGHTER RULE, THE BELIEVER, THE NOTEBOOK and THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND.
If you're just too cool to care about young Hollywood either way, some quality local cinema events loom ahead — including the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema. and MadCat Women's Intetnational Film Festival. Fun!
Speaking of women, it seems like it's ladies' choice this week, with new stuff including the female-centric comedy FRIENDS WITH MONEY and newest season of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. Girly!
xoxo, four star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK**//............
FRIENDS WITH MONEY.
Comedy/Drama/Independent.
Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener.
Directed by Nicole Holofcener.
* Nicole Holofcener makes really good movies. The dialogue is true-to-life, and the performances feel effortless. When FRIENDS WITH MONEY hit the cinemas, we bestowed Holofcener with the credit: "She takes the 'ick' out of 'chick flick.'" Her films are definitely made by and about women. But not some sappy, helpless construction of women. Rather, these are women as we know and love them: Smart, funny, sometimes impulsive or insecure. With her newest film, Holofcener comes one step closer to her masterpiece. A likeable Jennifer Aniston plays Olivia, a pothead underachiever who quit her job as a teacher because the ridicule of rich students was driving her nuts. She settles for work as a housecleaner, has a thing for free cosmetics samples, stalks a married man and has sex with a dumb personal trainer for, well, the sex. While she admirably resists a life of complacency, she can't help but envy her friends with husbands and money: Jane (Frances McDormand) designs frumpy, hippie-ish clothes that are sold at Barney's. She's losing her cool, can't bring herself to wash her hair and has a gay-acting husband. Christine (Catherine Keener) is an oversensitive scriptwriter who doesn't realize that the home addition she is having constructed is considered grossly intrusive by her neighbors. And Franny (Joan Cusack), the richest of them all, doesn't realize that the things that come out of her mouth are plain awful. There are a lot of realizations made in this movie, but none too pat or contrived. FRIENDS WITH MONEY is a bittersweet slice of life, filled with a lot of cringe-worthy scenarios that may ring all too familiar.
see also: LOVELY AND AMAZING, WALKING AND TALKING.
............//NEW TITLES//............
AKEELAH AND THE BEE.
Drama.
Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett.
Directed by Doug Atchison.
AMERICAN GUN.
Drama.
Donald Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, Linda Cardellini.
Directed by Aric Avelino.
FRIENDS WITH MONEY.
see above: "release of the week."
IRON ISLAND.
Drama. Iran,
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.
LONESOME JIM.
Comedy/Drama/Independent.
Casey Affleck, Liv Tyler, Mary Kay Place, Seymour Cassel.
Directed by Steve Buscemi.
LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD.
Comedy.
Albert Brooks, Fred Dalton Thomspon, Penny Marshall, Victoria Burrows.
Directed by Albert Brooks.
MOUNTAIN PATROL.
Action/Drama. China.
Directed by Chuan Lu.
THE SENTINEL.
Crime Drama/Suspense.
Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Kim Basinger, Eva Longoria.
Directed by Clark Johnson.
STUPIDITY.
Documentary.
George W. Bush, Noam Chomsky, John Cleese, Coolio, Bill Maher, Michael Moore, Salma Hayek, Adam Sandler.
Directed by Albert Nerenberg.
TAKE THE LEAD.
Drama/Music.
Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodward. Ray Liotta.
Directed by Liz Friedlander.
WATER.
Drama. India.
Directed by Deepa Mehta.
............//SERIES//............
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, SERIES 3.
Fox. Comedy.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, SERIES 2.
ABC. Melodrama/Comedy.
* Sure, it's a household name amongst, well, housewives. So who would've thought this mainstream network show would be so daringly satirical and gleefully campy? (The Onion described the titular characters as behaving like a bunch of middle-aged gay men.) Add to that intriguing plot lines with the feel of Hitchcock or at least an old Bette Davis movie, and you've got a very good time. The season starts off gangbusters: Bree is micro-managing her husband's funeral, Edie's on roller skates, Susan's skating on thin ice, and the new neighbor (played by formidable thespian Alfre Woodward) is exhibiting some highly suspicious behavior.
EPITAFIOS, SERIES 1.
HBO. Crime Drama. Argentina.
* How cool that HBO has added a Spanish-language series to their roster of stuff like SOPRANOS and THE WIRE? At press time, none of us had seen this show. It follows a serial killer, and looks very gruesome!
HOUSE, SERIES 2.
Fox. Drama/Comedy.
NIP/TUCK, SERIES 3.
FX. Drama.
SOUTH PARK, SERIES 8.
Comedy Central. Animation/Satire.
............//MUSIC//............
I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE.
Music/War Documentary.
Michael Franti.
Directed by Michael Franti.
RUDE BOY.
Drama/Live Concert. England. 1980.
The Clash.
Directed by Jack Hazan & David Mingay.
* This seminal sort-of-documentary combines a typical coming-of-age story with incredible live footage of said coming-of-ager's favorite band, The Clash. The formula sort-of-works, and the film has gone on to inspire some sort-of-cool music dramas, like Michael Winterbottom's alternative rock concert/sort-of-porno, 9 SONGS. One of the directors Jack Hazan, is also responsible for the dazzling A BIGGER SPLASH, a sort-of-documentary about the artist David Hockney. Recommended, particularly for fans of the early London punk scene.
see also: A BIGGER SPLASH.
UNDER REVIEW: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART.
UNDER REVIEW: THE SMITHS.
UNDER REVIEW: THE VELVET UNDERGROUND.
* A new series that takes a scholarly approach to innovative rock acts. These first three films mark a formidable selection of artists, and there's some amazing archival footage of their early live performances (though it is often compromised by editing techniques required to keep the clips free of copyright infrigement). The pundits offer some good insights, too, although didactic critique and rock music tend to tire of each other's company pretty quickly. Still, it's pretty amusing to hear some guy talk about how Lou Reed conveyed the feeling of heroin through music, and then try to break it down himself with an 'underground rock' guitar lesson.
............//FAMILY//............
BROTHER BEAR 2.
THOMAS & FRIENDS: THOMAS' HALLOWEEN ADVENTURES.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
ANIMAL CHARM: GOLDEN DIGEST.
Experimental. 1996.
Directed by Jim Fetterley & Rich Bott.
* Video collages from all reaches of popular culture. With, presumably, a bit of social commentary or at least some amusing/unsettling visual juxtapositions. You can visit Animal Charm's You Tube station here. They need to update it, though!
THE PEACHES CHRIST SHORT FILM COLLECTION.
Cult/Horror/Short Films.
Hosted by Peaches Christ.
ROMANCING THE STONE.
Adventure/Comedy. 1984.
Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
JEWEL OF THE NILE.
Adventure/Comedy. 1985.
Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito.
Directed by Lewis Teague.
SEDUCED & ABANDONED. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Comedy/Drama. Italy. 1964.
Directed by Pietro Germi.
WHITE NIGHTS.
Drama. 1985.
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Geraldine Page, Isabella Rossellini.
Directed by Taylor Hackford.
****
****new release list no. 79
Considering that our patrons made the low-key indie drama JUNEBUG the most consistent renter of the past year, it should come as no surprise that y'all have scoffed at the empty-headed blockbusters in theaters this summer. Little sleepers like LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE may have slipped through, but mostly it was a bunch of big budget phooey.
The cinemas have a more sophisticated line-up ready for fall, though. Here's some of the movies we're keen to check out...
THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP, the new fantasia from director Michel Gondry (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND). The preview looks whimsical and romantic, designed with a handmade feel and starring two of our favorite working actors, Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg (pictured).
Sofia Coppola's MARIE ANTOINETTE was slammed at Cannes for being all about surfaces. But Sofia's so very good at pretty surfaces. Leading lady Kirsten Dunst told Premiere magazine, "I feel like Sofia wanted us to look like candy — like a box of macaroons." Our friend the filmmaker Matt Wolf enthused, "It's going to be bad... but wonderfully bad!"
Richard Kelly's first feature, DONNIE DARKO, took us by surprise and is already considered a cult classic. But his anticipated follow-up, the apocalyptic sci-fi vision SOUTHLAND TALES, took a beating at Cannes, right alongside Ms. Coppola's entry. And again, that just won't keep our curiosity at bay.
The preview for a muckracking documentary called THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED is irressistable. The filmmakers, along with a private dick straight out of FARGO, infiltrate the secret society of the MPAA — those folks responsible stamping a pair of bare breasts with an R rating, or letting violent mass slaughter slide with a PG-13. Who are these people, and what are they thinking? Intriguing!
Sacha Baron Cohen, better known as Ali G., brings his new comic persona — Borat, the second biggest television star in Kazakhstan — to the big screen. The movie follows Borat's trip across America in search of Pamela Anderson.
We love Pedro Almodovar, and we're glad to see him reunite with the compelling actress Carmen Maura, as well as Penelope Cruz — wearing a prosthetic butt — for the acclaimed new picture VOLVER.
Handsome Hugh Jackman — fresh from playing everything from Wolverine to a campy crooner in THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway — will try to balance out his extremes this fall. He'll be seen in two hotly anticipated new pieces — those from both Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO) and Darren Aronofsky (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM).
Daniel Craig has nothing to lose playing the new Bond (in the CASINO ROYALE remake), what with how everyone was so sure the role should have gone to Clive Owen. We'll give him a chance.
But we're so not stoked about Nicholas Cage appearing in a remake of the inimitable '70s horror classic THE WICKER MAN. Is nothing sacred?
Speaking of casting dilemmas, director Todd Haynes lined up six actors — amongst them Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett — to tackle the role of Bob Dylan in his appropriately surreal biopic, I'M NOT THERE.
And Christopher Guest has reassembled his usual players from WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and BEST IN SHOW — plus Larry David (!) and Ricky Gervais (!) — to star in FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, in which the ensemble of a small independent movie are affected by whispers of Oscar nominations.
Guess even those precious little indie films aren't always so pure in the pursuit of art. That's entertainment.
xx, 4star.
p.s. Did you click on that Hugh Jackman link? If not, you really should go back and do that.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
ELIZABETH I.
HBO Mini-Series. Biography/Romance/Drama.
Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Hugh Dancy.
Directed by Tom Hooper.
* Why revisit the old queen again? Well, mostly for Helen Mirren, about whom Pauline Kael wrote: "Probably no other actress can let you know as fast and as economically as she can that she's playing a distinguished and important woman." This lavish HBO mini-series also stars Jeremy Irons. Next up for Mirren? Playing Elizabeth II, of course, in Stephen Frears' THE QUEEN. Plus: A seventh series of her beloved crime drama series, PRIME SUSPECT.
see also: films starring Helen Mirren.
............//NEW TITLES//............
FILM GEEK.
Comedy/Independent.
Melik Malkasia.
Directed by James Westby.
PHAT GIRLZ.
Comedy.
Mo'Nique.
Directed by Nnegest Likké.
POSEIDON.
Adventure.
Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Jacinda Barrett, Richard Dreyfus.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
* We often complain about the proliferation of new Hollywood movies that speak not to the mind nor the heart, but only to the gut. This is one of those. If you're in the mood for peril and narrow escape, here ya go. For example: They're all stuck in a vent. Will the little kid be able to slip his hand through the grate, and loosen the screws — using a crucifix ripped from a pretty lady's neck — before the vent fills with water, drowning them all? That kind of thing. Speaking of vent, can we just go ahead? It's a real shame, this remake thing. Certain stories, told in certain ways, had a certain charm at a certain place in time, and that just can't be re-created. In 1972, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE featured Ernest Borgnine and Shelly Winters. It came with an Oscar-winning tune called "The Morning After," and it was directed by Ronald Neame, who also did fun capers like HOPSCOTCH and GAMBIT. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE was totally cheesy and totally over-the-top. But it had style, you know? It just had a little something extra.
see instead: THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE.
REAL: THE MOVIE.
Sports. Spain.
Directed by Borja Manso.
* In 2005, the Real Madrid soccer club boasted some of the sport's most charismatic players — including Ronaldo, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. Incidentally, the latter two could vie for biggest disappointment at this year's World Cup, what with Beckham's lack of control over his players and Zidane unable to cool his temper. All of which may pique interest in this 90 minute Spanish sort-of-documentary. Too bad that the filmmakers don't offer any insight into the men or their game, let alone the economics or other behind-the-scenes aspects of the sport. Rather, this reads like a slick commercial commissioned by the club itself. There is plenty of crisp footage of the hunky players in training and competition. But it is edited more for hype than insight, and woven through with fictional story strands — syncophantic anecdotes from New York, Tokyo, even Senegal — that are plain imbecilic.
see instead: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM.
SILENT HILL.
Horror.
Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger.
Directed by Christophe Gans.
SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY.
Documentary.
Directed by Sydney Pollack.
............//SERIES//............
ELIZABETH I.
see above: "release of the week."
............//NEW TO DVD//............
DOUBLE INDEMNITY.
Classic Mystery/Noir. 1944.
Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson.
Directed by Billy Wilder.
* At long last, the quintessential film noir re-released on double disc DVD! Everything about this movie is just classic: Its nouveau Los Angeles locales, its shadowy lighting and shady morality, Barbara Stanwyck as the femme fatale. IMDB outlines the plot succinctly: "An insurance rep lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions." An IMDB user reviews the film simply: "Timeless classic. This film is great fun. Sixty years later, it's as taut and engaging and beautiful as any contemporary story. It simmers, it sizzles, the tension is positively palpable. It's as pure a sample of classic film noir as there is, and it does it with unparalleled style. This is what movie-making is all about."
see also: SUNSET BOULEVARD, THE LOST WEEKEND, CHINATOWN, MULLHOLLAND DR.
ETERNITY AND A DAY.
Drama. Greece. 1998.
Directed by Theo Angelopoulos.
HUNGER.
Drama. Norway. 1966.
Directed by Henning Carlsen.
A MODEL FOR MATISSE.
Art Documentary. 2003.
Directed by Barbara Freed.
****
****new release list no. 78
The opening night of the new group show at our Attic gallery was intimate and cozy and nerdy. A drunk dude interrupted Jamie and Jeremy while they were reading from a Dylan Thomas play. At least it was during the bar scene! Other than that, it was without major incident. Here are a few snapshots from the party. The Guardian's preview of the exhibition can be read here.
One of our beloved Four Star artists, Todd Bura, will be opening a short-run solo exhibit at Triple Base Gallery this Friday the 17th (8pm reception). Our friends at Triple Base are doing a great job representing cool new artists. This is definitely one of the most exciting spaces in the city to watch. They recently hosted a 'Cosmic Satellite' exhibit in conjunction with Cosmic Wonder, the current show at Yerba Buena Center.
This week's new release list includes some awesome Hong Kong action flicks — a little late to our shelves, but better than never. Also some music videos from around the world, and a sprinkling of '90s independent cinema re-released on DVD. The '90s are so in style, dontcha think?
your team four star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
L'ENFANT.
Drama. Belgium.
Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois.
Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne.
* With nary a note of music, let alone a single special effect, L'ENFANT imparts a raw intimacy and disarming immediacy. Widely regarded as the reigning masters of movie naturalism, Belgium's Dardenne brothers have perfected the task of totally hiding the presence of the camera and cutting through any cinematic pretention. This deft touch raises their work to the level of poetry, and they are often compared to the medium's most revered transcendentalists, such as Robert Bresson. Be forewarned that L'ENFANT is emotionally relentless: It follows the pathos and regret of a compulsive young street hustler who sells his newborn baby on the black market. As he scrambles to reassure the child's mother and rectify his unthinkable deed, this plotline could be considered to be a suspense thriller. But the suspense is slowly — nearly invisibly — built, and the thrill is more like a firm, silent grip. Winner of the Palme D'Or at Cannes, meaning the Dardenne brothers have now joined the ranks of the elite few (the others are Bille August, Shohei Imamura, Francis Ford Coppola and Emir Kusturica) to win the coveted award twice.
see also: RATCATCHER, ELEPHANT, GEORGE WASHINGTON, ROSETTA, LA PROMESSE.
............//NEW RELEASES//............
BREAKING NEWS.
Action. China.
Directed by Johnny To.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Comedy/Drama. South Africa.
Directed by Mark Bamford.
L'ENFANT.
see above: "release of the week."
FULLTIME KILLER.
Action. China.
Directed by Johnny To & Ka-Fai Wai.
HENRI LANGLOIS: THE PHANTOM OF THE CINEMATHEQUE.
Documentary. France.
Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Agnes Varda, Eric Rohmer.
Directed by Jacques Richard.
J.S.A.
Thriller. South Korea.
Directed by Chan-Wook Park.
LAND OF THE BLIND.
Drama.
Ralph Fiennes, Donald Sutherland, Lara Flynn Boyle.
Diected by Robert Edwards.
THE LAST MINUTE.
Thriller/Independent.
Max Beesley, Emily Corrie, Kate Ashfield, Udo Kier, Stephen Dorff.
Directed by Stephen Norrington.
MANDELA.
Documentary. South Africa.
Directed by Angus Gibson & Jo Menell.
RV.
Comedy/Adventure/Family.
Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels.
Directed by Barry Sonnefeld.
SCARY MOVIE 4.
Comedy/Horror.
Anthony Anderson, Craig Bierko, Carmen Electra, Chris Elliott, Anna Farris.
Directed by David Zucker.
............//SERIES//...........
ROME, SERIES 1.
HBO Historical Drama.
THE SIMPSONS, SERIES 8.
Animation/Satire.
............//FAMILY//............
DORA THE EXPLORER: WE'RE A TEAM.
Nickolodean Animation.
HOOT.
Comedy/Adventure.
Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Cody Linley, Luke Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson.
Directed by Wil Shriner.
............//MUSIC//............
FEMI KUTI: LIVE AT THE SHRINE.
Concert.
FREE TIBET.
Concert/Documentary.
Beck, Bjork, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.
Directed by Sarah Pirozek.
REBEL MUSIC: THE BOB MARLEY STORY.
Music Documentary.
Directed by Jeremy Marre.
STOP MAKING SENSE.
Concert/Documentary.
The Talking Heads.
Directed by Jonathan Demme.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
THE BASKETBALL DIARIES.
Drama 1995.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Brasco, Mark Wahlberg.
Directed by Scott Kalvert.
KICKING AND SCREAMING. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Comedy/Independent. 1995.
Josh Hamilton, Olivia D'Abo, Chris Eigeman, Parker Posey, Elliott Gould, Eric Stoltz.
Written and Directed by Noah Baumbach.
* Not the 2005 Will Ferrell soccer movie of the same name — wherein the phrase KICKING AND SCREAMING is meant literally. Here, the term is used as a hyberolic idiom describing the inability of a group of recent grads to move past their university life, to even move out of their college town. Noah Baumbach has a knack for snappy dialogue, though — much like Whit Stillman — it rings with the unsympathetic whine of priviledge white people. One could get the impression that Baumbach is a sharp but rather charmless guy. His vernacular worked to better effect with the recent release THE SQUID IN THE WHALE, a story of an academic family's vitrolic divorce. KICKING AND SCREAMING is a strong, if not exceptional, example of '90s independent filmmaking. The references — so au courant a decade ago — now seem sweetly nostalgic (eg, debating whether to move to Park Slope or Prague). With its very similar storyline, the Ben Stiller/Winona Ryder movie REALITY BITES has been a more popular rental over the years. With the help of this new Criterion release, will KICKING AND SCREAMING ultimately prove more enduring?
see also: METROPOLITAN, BOTTLE ROCKET, REALITY BITES.
THE ORDER: FROM MATTHEW BARNEY'S CREMASTER 5.
Experimental/Fantasy. 1997.
Ursula Andress.
Directed by Matthew Barney.
SIX MORAL TALES. (Criterion Collection edition.)
France.
Directed by Eric Rohmer.
THE BAKERY GIRL OF MONCEAU. 1962.
SUZANNE'S CAREER. 1963.
MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S. 1969.
LA COLLECTIOUNNEUSE. 1967.
CLAIRE'S KNEE. 1970.
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON. 1972.
* What is it that elevates Eric Rohmer's subtle films from mere tedium to glimpses of some great latent truth? Perhaps it is his knack for the perfect detail: Such as the ripped seams on Chloe's leather jacket in LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON, or a whole film based around an infatuation with CLAIRE'S KNEE. Dealing largely with issues of sexual obsession and infidelity — in other words, skirt-chasing — Rohmer's films float in an esoteric realm nearly beyond criticism. Not as didactic as Godard nor as fanciful as Truffaut, his films appeal to the most sensitive of Francophiles. Stemming from a six-part fiction narrative written by Rohmer himself, this special release of the 'Six Moral Tales' can be appreciated seperately (the arguable classic may be MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S), or viewed in succession as one intoxicating marathon — as heady and sophisticated as a bottle of fine vintage wine.
SIX STRING SAMURAI.
Adventure/Music. 1998.
Directed by Lance Mungia.
SPACEMAN.
Comedy/Sci-Fi. 1997.
Directed by Scott Dikkers.
****
****new release list no. 77
In The Attic, the makeshift little art gallery upstairs in our 18th Street shop, we launch a new exhibition, ANOTHER BEST FRIEND SOMEHOW, this week. The group show features nine young artists responding to the works of Bob Dylan and/or Dylan Thomas. It's a whimsical, smart and somewhat nostalgic show. Contributors are Simon Evans, Jimmy Evans and Lucy Atherton (from London), Andre Razo (from New York), Amy Jo Diaz (from L.A.), and homegrown talents Rebecca Miller, Mat O'Brien, Todd Bura and Jamie Atherton. The opening reception on Thursday, August 10, will feature music by members of the band Sprite Macon, a Dylan Thomas reading, and lots of beer. Please join us on Thursday starting at 7pm. It should be a real good time.
As for movies, this week is a great one. When the box arrived, our staff was like, "whoa!" There's a lot to connect the titles in this batch... Postmodern genre pieces, racism and slavery issues, Willem Dafoe... We'll just let them speak for themselves.
yours,
family four star.
............**//RELEASE OF THE WEEK//**............
INSIDE MAN.
Drama/Thriller.
Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Chrisopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Directed by Spike Lee.
* Fellow New York filmmaker Woody Allen made a comeback last year with MATCH POINT — a murder mystery that masqueraded as a genre piece, but actually served Allen's ongoing exploration of personal ethics. Similarly, Spike Lee has made a pivotal move out of a deceptive genre piece. What starts out as a slick heist thriller reveals itself to be a tool for Lee's own preoccupations — race relations and class warfare. It may remind some viewers of Stephen Frears' DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, the 2002 thriller that carried a potent message about the exploitation of illegal immigrants in London. We won't say much more, lest we give away the plot's major twists and turns, but trust us: This is a very well-done film that operates on many levels beyond a good heist. And that's extremely welcome considering that, heck, we would've settled for a good heist. By the time one of the characters directly references DOG DAY AFTERNOON, we've begun to realize that, with all due respect to that classic film, this is actually aspiring to be something different. INSIDE MAN stands apart not just for its political and ethical content, but for its fine design and keen details. Strewn with the kind of only-in-New-Yorkisms that make us so enamored with the people of the Big Apple, INSIDE MAN also functions as a minor portrait of the city in its post-911 condition.
see also: DIRTY PRETTY THINGS.
............//NEW TITLES//............
ADAM & STEVE.
Romantic Comedy/Gay Interest.
Craig Chester, Malcolm Gets, Parker Posey, Chris Kattan.
Directed by Craig Chester.
BRICK
Mystery.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner.
Directed by Rian Johnson.
* A teen noir film (why didn't someone think of this earlier?) without much of a point (why didn't they do a better job?). As an exercise in style, the film is actually quite formidable. But without a compelling plot or consistently strong acting, there's just not enough to keep your interest. Should it have veered towards satire, like Alan Parker's BUGSY MALONE? By the end, it's just a lost cause. When you consider it as a rip-off of David Lynch's TWIN PEAKS, it's almost an embarrassment.
see instead: DONNIE DARKO, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, TWIN PEAKS.
CAVITE.
Thriller. Philippines.
Directed by Neill Dela Llana and Ian Gamazon.
C.S.A.: THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.
Mockumentary.
Directed by Kevin Willmott.
* An ambitious revision of American history in which slavery was never abolished. Contains some great moments, including some very funny fake commercials hocking the racist products that actually existed in pre-Abolition times. The stagings of imagined films don't fare so well. Often funny and overall quite cleverly done.
see also: AFRO PROMO.
DONALD JUDD'S MARFA TEXAS/TONY CRAGG IN CELEBRATION OF SCULPTURE.
Art Documentaries/Shorts.
DON'T COME KNOCKING.
Drama.
Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, Gabriel Mann, Sarah Polley, Fairuza Balk, Eva Marie Saint.
Directed by Wim Wenders. Written by Sam Shepherd.
* Twenty years after their seminal collaboration PARIS, TEXAS, Sam Shepherd and Wim Wenders have produced another artsy Americana road movie. It contains just the sketch of a story (about an aging Western movie star tentatively seeking out a long lost son). But DON'T COME KNOCKING is pitch-perfect in mood and tone, recalling Stephen Shore's Eastman Kodak landscapes of rural America from the '70s. The performances are wonderful, including the comeback of Eva Marie Saint, still luminous at 81. (Watch for a plot twist that references her role in Hitchock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST.) This is dusty, melancholic, idiosynchratic stuff, and — like all the best Wim Wenders films — set to the beat of a big heart.
see aslo: BROKEN FLOWERS, PARIS, TEXAS, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.
GILLES' WIFE.
Drama. France.
Directed by Frédéric Fonteyne.
THE HIDDEN BLADE.
Samurai Drama. Japan.
Directed by Yoki Yamada.
HOW ART MADE THE WORLD.
Art Documentary.
Directed by Robin Dashwood, Mark Hedgecoe, Nick Murphy, Martin Wilson.
THE LOST CITY.
Drama.
Andy Garcia, Ines Sastre, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray.
Directed by Andy Garcia.
MANDERLAY.
Drama.
Bryce Dallas Howard, Isaach De Bankole, Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, Jeremy Davies, Laurenc Bacall, Chloe Sevigny, Udo Kier.
Directed by Lars Von Trier.
* The second after DOGVILLE in Lars Von Trier's avant-garde 'USA' triology, in which awful things happen in remote places, minimally staged in the manner of OUR TOWN — but one really screwed up production of OUR TOWN. Bryce Dallas Howard takes over the lead role of Grace from Nicole Kidman. And, lo and behold, though our protagonist has escaped from that screwed up town of Dogville, she's managed to find a town where slavery is still enforced. Yikes. Is Lars Von Trier totally sadistic or what? Not for the overly sensitive.
see also: DOGVILLE.
............//SERIES//............
JUDE THE OBSCURE, MINI-SERIES.
BBC Historical Epic.
PRISON BREAK, SERIES 1.
Crime Drama.
THE WIRE, SERIES 3.
HBO Crime Drama.
* Hail the arrival of the third season of HBO's critically trumpeted, under-the-radar cop series. What makes THE WIRE such an exceptional show? The humongous cast of characters, slow-release storylines and heavily researched, jargonistic dialogue will keep you on your toes. It's filmed beautifully. The depictions of violent crime, questionable police work and legal red tape feel more realistic than anything you've ever seen. McNulty: hot Irish-American cop. Kima: hot lesbian cop. Omar, badass gay druglord. The other day in the shop, Ryan asked Jeremy and Adri if they thought Omar was the most badass gay ever to appear on film. They both chimed, "Yes!" "...I mean, he carries a shotgun," Adri pointed out. Gritty, gritty, gritty, and worth it all the way.
............//SERIES//............
BOOHBAH.
Animated Series.
POPULAR MECHANICS FOR KIDS: FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER LIFE-SAVING HEROES.
Educational Series.
POPULAR MECHANICS FOR KIDS: LIGHTNING AND OTHER FORCES OF NATURE.
Educational Series.
............//NEW TO DVD//............
AFRO PROMO.
Film History. 1997.
Directed by Jenni Olson.
* Last week, local director Jenni Olson's newest experimental documentary, THE JOY OF LIFE, arrived in our shops on DVD, and has had a waiting list ever since. This earlier piece from Olson is a composite of trailers for black-themed cinema from 1946 - 1976, ranging from campy and dated to soulful and cool. Also new to our shops this week is Olson's HOMO PROMOS —which, you guessed it, does the same thing for gay-themed cinema. That's two whole movies filled with just trailers! Rad.
see also: HOMO PROMO.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: VH-1 STORYTELLERS.
Music/Live Concert. 2005.
Directed by Dave Diomedi.
CHASING AMY. (Criterion Collection edition.)
Comedy.
Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams, Casey Affleck, Matt Damon.
Directed by Kevin Smith.
HOMO PROMO.
Film History. 1993.
Directed by Jenni Olson.
JAYNE MANSFIELD MOVIES:
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT.
Comedy/Musical. 1956.
Directed by Frank Tashlin.
THE SHERIF OF FRACTURED JAW.
Comedy/Western.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.
WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?
Comedy. 1957.
Directed by Frank Tashlin.
VALLEY OF THE DOLLS.
Drama. 1967.
Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Sharon Tate, Lee Grant.
Directed by Mark Robson.
****
