DVD Review: In The Mood For Love (A)

In The Mood For Love (2000)
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai
Starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung
MPAA: PG
Grade: A

A truly remarkable love story told with sensitivity and grace. Released in Hong Kong under the title "Beijing Summer", this film tells the story of neighbors that start to notice strange behaviors by their spouses. As they are both left alone night after night, a friendship between the two emerges. I won't give alot away in this review, but I can say that the relationship between the two, their spouses, and the manager of the apartments they are in becomes quite complex (yet not draining on the audience).

In the Mood For Love is a masterpiece, one of those rare movies that only comes along every few years. Wong Kar Wai has combined fine acting, dazzling cinematography and most of all - mesmerizing art direction and costume design into a glamorous, elegant film. According to rumor, there was no script used on this film, the characters were given plot outlines and Wai guided them from scene to scene. This "tight but loose" style of directing by Wai is remarkably efffective, the acting in his movies always seems fresh, not rehearsed. Tony Leung Chiu Wai's work in this movie won him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.

When reviewing DVDs, I usually focus 100% on the film itself, avoiding the traps of discussing weird channel setups, extra deleted scenes or other matters of the DVD itself. However, I think that this detail must be pointed out to the potential buyer of renter of this DVD: Criterion (the maker of this DVD) did a remarkable job of transferring this film to digital format. The colors are absolutely breathtaking, the audio is fantastic and for all of you out there afraid to rent foreign films: the subtitles are bright, legible and very easy to follow.

This is a fantastic movie packaged into a stunning DVD presentation from Criterion. On initial release, In The Mood For Love did not get as many U.S. screens as it deserved, but with this DVD, hopefully more people will be able to see this remarkable film.

Buy In The Mood For Love On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: The Cult - Music Without Fear (B+)

The Cult: Live Cult: Music Without Fear (2001)
Directed by Manny Rodriguez
Starring Ian Astbury, Billy Duffy, Matt Sorum
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

I am a huge fan of the Goth rock turned heavy metal group The Cult. These guys combine the best aspects of Love and Rockets, AC/DC and the Doors. Its guitar crunching Zen rock at it's best and I can personally attest that they are fantastic live. Their new concert film captures all of the excitement of their live shows and its highly recommended.

A no-nonsense concert film, Live Cult: Music Without Fear opens as you would expect, scanning the lines of people waiting excitedly to get into the show. As we transition to backstage and hear the crowd, the pre-show music builds tension. The band comes out and rocks and when its all over they roll the credits. Its a no-frills approach to the concert movie, but let me make something clear: this is no cheapie film. The camerawork (there seems to be cameras everywhere) is fantastic and the sound is one of the best I've heard for a concert film.

If you are a fan of the band, you absolutely need to purchase this DVD. It captures the intensity of the band as well as the idiosynchracies of the band's enigmatic lead singer Ian Astbury. If you are looking for a modern hard rock concert movie then give Live Cult: Music Without Fear a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Buy Live Cult: Music Without Fear On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: Piano Teacher, The (A)

The Piano Teacher (2001)
Directed by Michael Haneke
Starring Isabelle Huppert, Benoit Magimel and Annie Girardot
MPAA: UR
Grade: A

Review by Scott Standish

Winner of the best actor, best actress and best film awards at Cannes Film Festival, The Piano Teacher is a shockingly frank glimpse into the mind of a woman with twisted sexual ideas. The acting performance by Isabelle Huppert in the lead role is nothing short of stunning. Mesmerizing yet disturbing, it is truly one of the best movies of the year.

Erika Kohut (Isabelle Huppert) is a respected piano teacher in Vienna and she not only still lives with her mother, she actually sleeps in the same bed with her. Her mother is an obsessive tyrant and her father has been admitted into a mental institution. She is unhappy, dour and deeply serious. Her outward appearance to others is one of strictness, composure and confidence. She needs to lash out against these controlling environments yet instead of directly dealing with the problem (perhaps by moving out?), she starts experimenting with the accepted boundaries of behavior.

Erika's obsessions center around controlling others (her students), controlling herself (via self-mutilation) or being under the control of others sexually. She gets enjoyment out of making her students break down into tears. She visits porn shops and confidently stares down the male patrons as she waits her turn for entrance into a video booth. She even spies on couples as they make love.

The precocious young student Walter Klemmer is smitten with Erika and he boldly makes a play for her affections. She reciprocates - but as you can imagine her ideas on love are quite different than the young school boy's. The chemistry between Isabelle Huppert and Benoit Magimel (playing Klemmer) is fantastic and one of the more explosive pairings you will see on screen.

This is certainly not a film for everyone. More precisely stated, it is probably not a film for most people. The actions of the lead character in this fascinating, yet dark film will definitely disturb many. However, for those not afraid of the subject matter, The Piano Teacher is a powerful film with incredible performances.

Buy The Piano Teacher On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: Attack of the Giant Leeches (C)

Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)
Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski
Starring: Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers, Jan Shepard, Gene Roth, Michael Emmett
MPAA: NR
Grade: C

Review By Ellyn Elm

Hillbillies run amok in this sci-fi classic produced by Roger Corman. Be warned that the DVD transfer of this movie contains one of the worst audio masters ever. The sound quality is so poor I would have turned the movie off if I hadn't been too drunk to get off the couch.

The best part of the movie has to be the adulterous affair between Liz Walker "Miss Baby" (Yvette Vickers) and Cal Moulton (Michael Emmett). Miss Baby, incidentally, is my dog's name so I got a big kick out of the whole thing as I'm sure you can imagine. During all of Miss Baby's parts I had my dog bark over the audio and this turned out to be a huge improvement. I suggest you try this as well.

To summarize, leeches invade a swamp town near Cape Canaveral. Radiation from the rockets induces leech gigantism and they basically eat up the town. A studly environmentalist named Steve (Ken Clark) comes to the rescue with his mousy girlfriend in tow. She whines a lot and is constantly pushing coffee on everyone like some two-bit drug hustler.

The last 10 minutes of the movie are a revelation. Steve's friend Lem Sawyer comes to help him rid the swamp of the leeches and, let me tell you, that girlfriend is barking up the wrong tree! Ha! Suffice it to say Steve and Lem are friends of Dorothy if you know what I mean, and I just bet they were off to see the wizard after they took care of business.

Buy Attack of the Giant Leeches On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: End of Violence, The (C-)

The End of Violence (1997)
Directed by Wim Wenders
Staring Bill Pullman, Andie McDowell and Gabriel Byrne
MPAA: R
Grade: C-

Review by Scott Standish

Its a shame when your heroes falter, and lets face it, they all will as time goes on. Its inevitable but depressing none the less. In the music world, Elton John went from "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" to "That's What Friends Are For". In film, John Badham went from Saturday Night Fever to Short Circuit. Usually, once a talented visionary with credibility falters this bad, they never make it back to form.

Wim Wenders went from the breathtaking Wings of Desire to the rather pointless End of Violence and after watching the latter on DVD, I just felt depressed. I mean here is a filmmaker, a serious film maker, okay an artist, hell, some would even say a visionary- that is way too talented to be turning out an uneven film like End of Violence. Wenders made what many would agree are two of the most remarkable movies of the 1980's in Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas. How could he have stumbled so badly here?

The End Of Violence tells two overlapping stories, one of a Hollywood producer (Bill Pullman) that survives a hit squad, only to go undercover with a group of gardeners, and the other story of a top secret satellite surveillance expert (Gabriel Byrne) that witnessed parts of the event. Tossed into the mix is Pullman's unsatisfied wife (Andie McDowell) and Byrne's elderly father trying to advise his son (played by legendary Samuel Fuller).

The End of Violence is slow moving (as all Wenders films are), and at 122 minutes, it easily could have been edited down. There are some holes in the slow moving plot (the Kinko's scene is downright hilarious for multiple implausible actions) and the dialogue could have been punched up a little. This movie has some interesting ideas on technology, but they are just that, ideas, and despite the best efforts of Pullman and Gabriel Byrne here, the film ends up a meandering but thoughtful waste of two hours.

But here is the good news folks: Wenders didn't pull an Elton John here (John went from "That's What Friends Are For" to multiple renditions of "Candle In The Wind") - instead Wenders rebounded with a vengeance. Wenders moved on to create the absolutely mesmerizing Buena Vista Social Club just one year later. So, I guess its okay for our heroes to stumble now and then, the main thing to watch is how they respond. Wim Wenders remains one of the most interesting artists of our time, not only for his great work in the past, but for his ability to rebound with his credibility intact.

Buy End of Violence On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: Amelie (A)

Amelie (2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau and Maurice Benichou
MPAA: R
Grade: A

Originally to be released in America under the title "The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain", the incredible film Amelie is the work of an artist at top form. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet has to be regarded as one of the most brilliant minds in cinema today. Best known in the U.S. for directing Alien Resurrection (Alien 4), he is also the man behind the wondrous City of Lost Children (1995) and the indie hit Delicatessen (1991).

The title character Amelie Poulain is young woman who has been sheltered most of her life, and yet she has a vivid imagination and a true creative spirit within. When she discovers a long lost box of trinkets and photos, she decides to track down the owner of the box. She returns it anonymously and the owner is overcome with emotion upon receiving this fifty year old time capsule.

The success of her efforts convinces Amelie that she should devote the rest of her life to performing good deeds for others, all the while keeping her identity secret. She embarks on a mission to continually help others but as she does, she learns a little bit about herself as well.

The breathtaking camera work, visual effects and art direction behind Amelie are stunning to say the least. The fairy tale story is told in an intelligent manner and there are numerous spots of comedy and tension to keep the story from ever seeming flat or predictable.

Amelie was nominated for five Academy awards including Best Foreign Language Film, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. The title role was intended for rising film star Emily Watson, but she had contractual obligations to do Gosford Park and had to back out. Audrey Tatou is incredible in the title role however, and its hard to imagine anyone else as Amelie. Her work is that good.

Amelie is certainly one of the best films to come out on DVD this year and it would make a worthy addition to any true film lover's collection.

Buy Amelie On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: Party, The (C-)

The Party (1968)
Directed by Blake Edwards
Starring Peter Sellars
MPAA: PG
Grade: C-

Review by Ellyn Elm

Apparently someone was so amused by Mr. Sellars' ability to mimick a Hindu accent they decided to base a movie on it.

The laughs are few and far between in this one but the discomfort one feels while watching this film makes for an interesting sociological experiment. Sellars plays a bumbling Indian actor who through a series of comical errors ends up hob-nobbing for an evening with the Hollywood elite. While this kind of juxtaposition might set the stage for some gut-busting gaffes all the jokes seem to stem from worn-out stereotypes and oversimplifications.

There are some genuinely funny slapstick moments and a really wacky soundtrack but on the whole I'd say this movie is for Sellars' fans only.

Buy The Party On DVD From Amazon.com

DVD Review: Diary of a Chambermaid (B+)

Diary of a Chambermaid (1964)
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Starring Jeanne Moreau,Georges Géret, Daniel Ivernel and Françoise Lugagne
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

One of Luis Bunuel's lesser known films, Diary of a Chambermaid is among his finest. Remarkably restrained and dryly comic, Diary of a Chambermaid is a fantastic dark comedy with a not so subtle commentary on social climbing.

Celestine is a chambermaid for the Monteils, a rich family in the country. The family is bizarre: the wife is a mean old gal and the husband tries to sleep with any woman he can. The grandfather in the house is actually the strangest, he has a shoe fetish and he enlists Celestine to try on high heeled shoes and walk about the room.

Celestine wisely forms an alliance with the family's crazy neighbors and begins working every angle. The neighbors gleefully toss their trash over the fence and onto the Monteils' lawn. Celestine refuses to take sides in the bizarre conflict and she keeps her eyes and ears open. When a little child is murdered, she uses these alliances to try and bring the killer to justice.

Full of wit and intelligent dialogue, Diary of a Chambermaid is a fantastic film that is beautifully presented here by Criterion. A classic film in almost every sense, this is yet another great motion picture from surrealist director Luis Bunuel.

Buy Diary of a Chambermaid On DVD