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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
MAY 2008 DVD Selections
The Bridges of Madison County – Deluxe Edition
Once in awhile a story comes along that takes your breath away. It doesn’t have to be filled with a lot of effects or fancy scenes. It just has to have a story filled with emotion and heart. This is one of those stories. The movie stars two of the best actors in Hollywood today – Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. Eastwood plays a different character than what people are used to seeing him portray. He plays a soft-spoken, kind hearted photographer who happens to fall in love with a simple farmer’s wife. Together they share one of the screen’s most significant love stories. Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) is a photographer in the 1960s whose subject is the covered bridges in Iowa. He meets Francesca Johnson (Streep) whose husband and children are off to the fair for a few days. The two strike up a romance that, although they were only together for four days, lasted in their hearts the rest of their lives. She, however, knows that her place is with her family, even though she wants to run away with him. The story is told through the eyes of Francesca in a letter she wrote for her kids who read it after her death. It is only then they discover their mother’s past relationship. The special DVD contains a “making of” feature as well as a music video with the sentimental theme song playing while video captures the relationship between the two characters.
Grace is Gone
John Cusack stars in this emotionally gripping story of a father of two young girls who learns his wife was killed in Iraq and does not know how to tell his daughters that their mother is not coming home. His solution? To take them on a trip to an amusement park and let them have a good time before giving them the bad news. The trip brings the three of them closer together, but also wrenches his guts whenever he thinks of his children never seeing their mother again. Grab some Kleenex and sit down. This is a heart warming and wonderfully rich story.
The Great Debaters
Based on a true story, this is a powerful film filled with plenty of ups and downs. The Jim Crow South was a land of segregation – and violence. One man, Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington) changed one part of that. A teacher at Wiley College in 1935 Texas, Tolson formed a debate team that changed the thinking of the “separate but equal” status quo. The four debaters went on to ultimately debate the Harvard team, taking their stories of the South with them. This was a time when black people were lynched and killed for the color of their skin, yet the four debaters were strong in the face of their situation. The bonus features contain deleted scenes and some looks at the past and the time, as well as the real people who inspired this movie. There are also features on the music, the wardrobe, and how the young actors prepared for their roles. There is a feature with Forest Whitaker who played a preacher/teacher and the father of one of the debaters. Also included are several music videos. This is one inspirational movie and the additional features add to the impact of the film.
Kukahi: Keali`i Reichel Live In Concert
So you want to go to Hawaii but just can’t make it this year. This is the best way to experience Hawaii at home. Keali’i is well known in the islands and this concert celebrates the uniqueness and heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. Through his songs and hulas, the heritage of Hawaii, old and new, comes alive. He is one of Hawaii’s best known singers as well as a master Hula instructor, and he is also funny. This concert is filled with the warmth and charm that is Hawaii. Listening to the wonderful songs and watching the hulas is enchanting, but if you really must know what they are singing about, you can always engage your subtitles on your DVD machine. Hawaii State Film Commissioner, Donne Dawson, says, “For those beyond our shores, Keali’i provides an amazing window for the world to see why Hawaii is a place like no other.” So, pour yourself a Mai Tai or a glass of pineapple juice, sit back, relax, and enjoy this delightful piece of Hawaii, without going to the airport, waiting in line, sitting on a crowded plane for several hours, then getting to your hotel, unpacking, and finding a special concert or luau. This is a great way to experience Hawaii through music and dance with 26 songs and a lot of spirit. Aloha.
Love’s Unfolding Dream
This film in the saga centers on Missy's adopted daughter Belinda Tyler (Scout Taylor-Compton) as she follows her dream. This young woman wants to be a doctor, but these times don't look kindly on women with careers, especially one in the medical field. But Belinda is a strong-minded woman and deeply wants a career as a doctor. She manages to prove her abilities while assisting the local doctor and caring for an old woman who recently experienced a stroke. Belinda nurses her back to health and helps her regain the use of her arm again. But in the meantime, she meets the nephew of their deceased neighbor. Drew (Patrick Levis) comes to town to get his uncle's farm in shape to sell. After that he intends on returning to New York to join his father's law practice. He has no desire to stay in this small, unsophisticated town. But after meeting Belinda he has second thoughts. Belinda is conflicted about whether to pursue her dream or follow her feelings for Drew? Can she find a way to have both Drew and her dream? This entire series is filled with warmth and charm.
Minutemen
When three school geeks create a time machine, they first decide to use it for financial gain, however that doesn’t turn out very well. So they put their invention to better use – righting the wrongs done to the other geeks and outcasts of the school. They can only go back in time 48 hours, so when they see some injustice done (like someone’s clothes being stolen while he is in the shower), they go back to that time and change the situation. The geeks are getting even, but things are not as great as they seem to be. Remember the time continuum problem everyone faces when dealing with time travel? Well, that happens here too. It’s a cute little story and one where the geeks do manage to get even.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
This sequel to the successful National Treasure film reunites the original cast of Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight and brings in Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren as well! Talk about a fabulous ensemble. The movie begins with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Apparently Gates’ great grandfather’s name is on a page of John Wilkes Booth’s diary that has been missing until now. This newly discovered page implicates the man in the assassination of Lincoln. This infuriates both Ben and his father Patrick who then set out on a mission to prove that their ancestor was not a traitor but a hero and was responsible for keeping secret the ancient City of Gold, something the Confederates wanted desperately to find. The clues lead them to Paris, London, Washington, D.C. and South Dakota and the audience goes along for this e-ticket ride. The 2-disc DVD edition contains a ton of bonus features: a blooper reel, deleted scenes, several behind the scenes features, and a look inside the Library of Congress (one of my favorite buildings in D.C.). The bonus features on this DVD are just as interesting as the movie.
Two and a Half Men – Season 3
This series continues to be a hit and now the third season is available on DVD. Not only does it contain the very funny episodes starring Charlie Sheen (Charlie) and Jon Cryer (Alan), but there is also a gag reel. If you think the episodes are funny, just watch the gag reel. This season has Charlie finding a woman to settle down with. It also has Martin Sheen guest starring as Rose’s father who has the impression that Charlie and Rose have a serious relationship. And Alan has problems with his girlfriend, a dim witted younger woman. And let’s not forget Alan’s less-than-brilliant son Jake (Angus T. Jones). This kid has the intelligence of a door knob, but he’s much cuter.
 
Westerns from Fox
Round ‘em up. Fox is releasing some classic westerns in special collection boxed sets. The “Fox Western Classics” includes Rawhide, The Gunfighter, and Garden of Evil, each top in their genre. Tyrone Power, Gregory Peck and Gary Cooper were each A-list actors and bring their dramatic talent to these memorable westerns, along with costars Susan Hayward (who appears in two of the three) and Richard Widmark. And “John Wayne: The Fox Westerns” is a remarkable set with four of Wayne’s big Westerns: The Big Trail (which was his first starring role), The Comancheros, North to Alaska, and The Undefeated. And there is also a special 2-disc edition of The Big Trail for the die-hard John Wayne fans. This edition features the 70mm “Fox Grandeur Version.” Did you know that John Wayne’s real name was Marion Morrison? He loved his dog Duke and that’s how he got his nickname “The Duke.” Actually, in retrospect, Duke Morrison sounds like a Western hero, however the powers that be decided John Wayne would be a better film name. These films also include Rock Hudson, Stewart Granger, and Stuart Whitman. Film buffs, and especially fans of westerns, will enjoy all four of these movies. Yee haw. It’s western time!
Sex and the City: The Complete Series
If you’ve recently been watching the reruns on TV, you’re in for a treat with this collection. It contains the “original” episodes as they appeared on HBO, which are not the watered down episodes that are currently airing. This set has the episodes the way they were intended to be seen. 20 discs have every episode as well as a ton of bonus features. There is a guide to some of the restaurants frequented by Carrie and the girls, a feature on some of the guest stars, a retrospective look at the six seasons, some alternate endings, deleted scenes, a look at the fashions, a look at NYC (which was, according to the filmmakers, one of the stars of the show), and interviews with the cast. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon all had acting roles before this series, however it catapulted them into super-stardom. Before you see the movie, get caught up on the girls and their many, many, many romances. These four women take on life, love, and New York City. For those moviegoers who are new to Sex and the City (if there are any out there), you’ll most likely want to purchase this DVD set after you walk out of the theater. These are four delightful characters, each with their own problems, outlooks, and neuroses. This is a “must have” for fans – new and old.
Frank Sinatra: The Golden Years
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the death of old blue eyes and Warner Bros. has combined several of Sinatra’s films into different boxed collections. The Golden Years includes his Oscar-nominated role as a heroine-addicted man in The Man with the Golden Arm. This is a very dramatic film about the dark side of life, and Sinatra proves his acting ability as he suffers through the addiction and withdrawal. The Tender Trap costars Debbie Reynolds as a young woman with her whole life planned out. The only thing she doesn’t know is the name of the man she is going to marry. Then she meets Charlie Reader (Sinatra), a talent agent who signs the young girl. This is a humorous look at life, dating, marriage and love. After all, love is the tender trap. Marriage on the Rocks costars Dean Martin and Deborah Kerr in a strange story of a long-married couple and their confirmed bachelor friend. This is not the best film made by these three actors! Some Came Running also costars Martin along with Shirley MacLaine in a dramatic story of a veteran who returns home to confront his life – past, present and future. And None but the Brave is the story of Japanese and American soldiers stranded together during World War II. This is also Sinatra’s only time as a film director. Bonus features in this collection include a look at Otto Preminger and the story behind The Man with the Golden Arm, a “making of” feature of Some Came Running, a look at how Sinatra worked (he always wanted to use a first or second take because he didn’t want his performance to be stale. This is just one of four new collections marking the anniversary of the death of The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Frank Sinatra.
The Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly Collection
Three musicals starring the legendary singer and the lighter-than-air dancer combine to make this a fun set. Take Me Out to the Ball Game, On the Town, and Anchors Aweigh are delightful films filled with fun, fancy, and yes, plenty of music. Whether they’re sailors on leave or entertainers, the two are fun to watch. And the historic scene where Kelly dances with an animated character is part of the set. This was the first time live action was combined with an animated character in a dance and the filmmakers worked hard to get this scene to look as realistic as they could. These days CGI does all the work, but back in 1945 it was all up to the artists. These three musical comedies stand the test of time and are still fun to watch.
The Walker
Woody Harrelson stars in this story of a man who is a companion to the rich and powerful women in Washington, D.C. The entire city knows he is gay, however he is the most popular confidant for these woman, and also their canasta partner. But when someone turns up dead, he finds himself embroiled in the slick political world of politics, and has to face the people who turn against him. How fickle people are. When you’re up, they’re with you, but when you’re down, they are against you. This is Washington, according to this film.
© 2008 Francine Brokaw
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