Review: Repo Man (A-)

Repo Man (Special Edition) (1984)
Directed by Alex Cox
Starring Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton, Sy Richardson, Dick Rude, Olivia Barash and Tracey Walter
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Bobby Nashville

"A repo man is always intense... C'mon let's go get a drink."

I've seen this movie maybe five or six times and honestly, it gets better every time. Repo Man is a sci-fi B movie with some fantastic punk rock attitude mashed in for good measure. It's clever, it's insightful and it's funny as hell. And oh yeah, the music kicks ass.

Repo Man stars Emilio Estevez (his best performance by far) as a punker teen in Los Angeles that is enlisted to work as a repo man. He learns the trade from some cynical, freaky cats, such as Harry Dean Stanton and Sy Richardson. They snort speed, steal cars and live by the "repo code". There is great chemistry between Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton, and the film has wicked dialogue.

Did I mention that Repo Man also has one of the best movie soundtracks of all time? Well, it does, sucker. Repo Man features classic wall to wall punk music by the Circle Jerks, Iggy Pop, Suicidal Tendencies and more. The music rocks. It fits the movie. What more can you ask for in a soundtrack?

Repo Man is one of the most underrated B movie comedies from the 80's. Thank god this hasn't been "updated" with a stupid re-make starring some crappy MTV reality stars. Just about every other classic underground film from the 80's eventually gets massacred, so I guess it's due. Until then, I'll just stick with the original, because it just keeps getting better with age.

2006 Academy Award Nominees

The Academy Award nominees are in, and as expected, Brokeback Mountain tops the list with 8 nominations, including Best Picture. The 78th annual Academy Awards will be held on March 5th.

Two of DVD Confidential's recent favorites received nominations: Crash received several nominations, including Best Picture. We feel that this powerful film about race relations in America could surprise and actually win this category. Also, DVD Confidential favorite Terrence Howard was nominated for his incredible performance in Hustle & Flow. We are rooting for him - his performance in Hustle & Flow (as well as Crash) was amazing.

Two of DVD Confidential's favorite documentaries have been nominated for best documentary of the year: the powerful Murderball and the fascinating Enron: Smartest Guys In The Room. Surprisingly, Batman Begins, one of our favorite films of the year, was only nominated for one Oscar, in the category of Cinematography. We were hoping to see Christopher Nolan sneak out a Best Director nomination. We also were hoping to see Michael Caine garner a Best Supporting nomination for his work in the under-rated film, The Weatherman. Now, on to the list...

2006 Academy Award Nominees:

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- Capote
Terrence Howard -- Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger -- Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix -- Walk the Line
David Strathairn -- Good Night, and Good Luck

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Judi Dench -- Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman -- Transamerica
Keira Knightley -- Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron -- North Country
Reese Witherspoon -- Walk the Line

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
George Clooney -- Syriana
Matt Dillon -- Crash
Paul Giamatti -- Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal -- Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt -- A History of Violence

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams -- Junebug
Catherine Keener -- Capote
Frances McDormand -- North Country
Rachel Weisz -- The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams -- Brokeback Mountain

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
Howl's Moving Castle -- Hayao Miyazaki
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride -- Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit -- Nick Park, Steve Box

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
Good Night, and Good Luck -- Jim Bissell (art direction); Jan Pascale (set decoration)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- Stuart Craig (art direction); Stephenie McMillan (set decoration)
King Kong -- Grant Major (art direction); Dan Hennah and Simon Bright (set decoration)
Memoirs of a Geisha -- John Myhre (art direction); Gretchen Rau (set decoration)
Pride & Prejudice -- Sarah Greenwood (art direction); Katie Spencer (set decoration)

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Batman Begins -- Wally Pfister
Brokeback Mountain -- Rodrigo Prieto
Good Night, and Good Luck -- Robert Elswit
Memoirs of a Geisha -- Dion Beebe
The New World -- Emmanuel Lubezki

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Gabriella Pescucci
Memoirs of a Geisha -- Colleen Atwood
Mrs. Henderson Presents -- Sandy Powell
Pride & Prejudice -- Jacqueline Durran
Walk the Line -- Arianne Phillips

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Brokeback Mountain -- Ang Lee
Capote -- Bennett Miller
Crash -- Paul Haggis
Good Night, and Good Luck -- George Clooney
Munich -- Steven Spielberg

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Darwin's Nightmare -- Hubert Sauper
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room -- Alex Gibney, Jason Kliot
March of the Penguins -- Luc Jacquet, Yves Darondeau
Murderball -- Henry-Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro
Street Fight -- Marshall Curry

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club -- Dan Krauss
God Sleeps in Rwanda -- Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman
The Mushroom Club -- Steven Okazaki
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin -- Corinne Marrinan, Eric Simonson

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING
Cinderella Man -- Mike Hill, Dan Hanley
The Constant Gardener -- Claire Simpson
Crash -- Hughes Winborne
Munich -- Michael Kahn
Walk the Line -- Michael McCusker

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Don't Tell (Italy)
Joyeux Noel (France)
Paradise Now (Palestine)
Sophie Scholl - The Final Days (Germany)
Tsotsi (South Africa)

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- Howard Berger, Tami Lane
Cinderella Man -- David Leroy Anderson, Lance Anderson
Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith -- Dave Elsey, Annette Miles

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES
(ORIGINAL SCORE)
Brokeback Mountain -- Gustavo Santaolalla
The Constant Gardener -- Alberto Iglesias
Memoirs of a Geisha -- John Williams
Munich -- John Williams
Pride & Prejudice -- Dario Marianelli

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES
(ORIGINAL SONG)
"In the Deep" (Crash) -- Music by Kathleen "Bird" York and Michael Becker; lyrics by Kathleen "Bird" York
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" (Hustle & Flow) -- Music and lyrics by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
"Travelin' Thru" (Transamerica) -- Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Badgered
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
9
One Man Band

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Ausreisser (The Runaway)
Cashback
The Last Farm
Our Time is Up
Six Shooter

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
King Kong -- Mike Hopkins, Ethan Van der Ryn
Memoirs of a Geisha -- Wylie Stateman
War Of The Worlds -- Richard King

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- Terry Porter, Dean A. Zupancic, Tony Johnson
King Kong -- Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek
Memoirs of a Geisha -- Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline, John Pritchett
Walk the Line -- Paul Massey, D.M. Hemphill, Peter F. Kurland
War of the Worlds -- Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Ronald Judkins

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- Dean Wright, Bill Westenhofer, Jim Berney, Scott Farrar
King Kong -- Joe Letteri, Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers, Richard Taylor
War of the Worlds -- Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randy Dutra, Daniel Sudick

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Brokeback Mountain -- Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
Capote -- Dan Futterman
The Constant Gardener -- Jeffrey Caine
A History of Violence -- Josh Olson
Munich -- Tony Kushner, Eric Roth

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Crash -- Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Good Night, and Good Luck -- George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Match Point -- Woody Allen
The Squid and the Whale -- Noah Baumbach
Syriana -- Stephen Gaghan

Review: Hustle & Flow (B+)

Hustle & Flow (2005)
Directed by Craig Brewer
Starring Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Isaac Hayes and Ludacris
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

What could have turned out to be just another "rapper with a dream" film was made special by the incredible performance of Terrence Howard. Hustle & Flow is a fantastic film and although it is a bit uneven at times, it retains it's focus and eventually comes across as true.

Terrence Howard stars as D Jay, a Memphis pimp that is going through a mid-life crisis. He has two women working the streets for him, but they both are giving him grief. He hates his profession, the dead end that lies ahead of him and the demons from his past. He realizes that his only way out may be to put the feelings that he has down on paper, and those rhymes down on tape. He enlists friends to help him and he struggles for one last shot at a better life.

The acting job by Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow is Oscar worthy. I sincerely hope he is nominated for this performance. Howard is also incredible in one of the year's best films, Crash. Terrence Howard's rhyming style is excellent and the music in the film is very good. The story is made believable because of the performance by Howard.

The supporting actors in Hustle & Flow also are excellent, especially Anthony Anderson as Keys, a church going man that risks his family to help out D Jay. Ludacris makes a decent cameo appearance here and it's also great to see Isaac Hayes acting in a serious role again. Hustle & Flow is a tremendous film. Don't miss this one.

Sundance Film Festival 2006 Winners Announced

The Sundance Film Festival has announced it's winners for 2006. We here at DVD Confidential will be keeping our eyes and ears peeled for these in the months ahead.

Congratulations to the winners. Keep on rocking!

Grand Jury Prize Documentary
GOD GREW TIRED OF US
Director: Christopher Quinn

Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
QUINCEANERA
Writer/Director: Wash Westmoreland & Richard Glatzer

Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary
IN THE PIT
Writer/Director: Juan Carlos Rulfo

Jury Prize for World Cinema Dramatic
13 TZAMETI
Writer/Director: Gela Babluani

Audience Award American Documentary
GOD GREW TIRED OF US
Directed by Christopher Quinn

Audience Award American Dramatic
QUINCEANERA
Writers/Directors: Wash Westmoreland & Richard Glatzer

Audience Award World Cinema: Documentary
DE NADIE
Directed by Tin Dirdamal

Audience Award World Cinema: Dramatic
NO. 2
Writer/Director: Toa Fraser

Directing Award Documentary
JAMES LONGLEY
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

Directing Award Dramatic
DITO MONTIEL
A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS

Excellence in Cinematography Award Documentary
JAMES LONGLEY
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

Excellence in Cinematography Award Dramatic
TOM RICHMOND
RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR

Documentary Film Editing
BILLY MCMILLIN, FIONA OTWAY AND JAMES LONGLEY
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
HILARY BROUGHER
STEPHANIE DALEY

Special Jury Prize Documentary (SPLIT)
AMERICAN BLACKOUT
Directed by Ian Inaba
TV JUNKIE
Directed by Michael Cain & Matt Radecki

Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS
Directed by Dito Montiel

Special Jury Prize: Dramatic - Independent Vision
IN BETWEEN DAYS
Directed by So Yong Kim, Written by So Yong Kim & Bradley Rust Gray

Special Jury Prize World Documentary (SPLIT)
INTO GREAT SILENCE
Writer/Director: Philip Groening
DEAR PYONGYANG
Writer/Director: Yonghi Yang

Special Jury Prize World Dramatic
EVE & THE FIRE HORSE
Directed by Julia Kwan

Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking (SPLIT)
BUGCRUSH
Directed by Carter Smith
THE WRAITH OF COBBLE HILL
Directed by Adam Parrish King

Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking: International
THE NATURAL ROUTE
Directed by Alex Pastor

Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking (SPLIT)
BEFORE DAWN
Directed by Balint Kenyeres
PREACHER WITH AN UNKNOWN GOD
Directed by Rob VanAlkemade
UNDRESSING MY MOTHER
Directed by Ken Wardrop

Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award (SPLIT)
THE SPRING RITUAL
Directed by Patrice Toy
LAKE TAHOE
Directed by Fernando Eimbcke
DON'T LET ME DROWN
Directed by Cruz Angeles
THE CLONE RETURNS TO THE HOMELAND
Kanji Nakajima

Alfred P. Sloan Prize
THE HOUSE OF SAND
Directed by Andrucha Waddington, Written by Elena Soarez

SAG Award Winners Announced

The Screen Actors Guild chose their winning performances of the year last night. The Awards are viewed as a excellent predictor of Academy Award results. Here are last night's winners. The Acadamy Awards nominees will be announced on Tuesday.

Outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture:
Crash

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role:
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role:
Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line

Outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role:
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man

Outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role:
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener

Review: Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room (A-)

Enron: The Smartest Guy In The Room (A-)
Directed by Alex Gibney
Narrated by Peter Coyote
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

The incredible rise and fall of Enron is clearly documented in Enron: The Smartest Guy In The Room. The film shows not only the greed and corruption of the Enron corporate elite, but also the tight relationship that the company had with the George W Bush administration. Although the complex deals that Enron structured are hard to follow, this documentary does a great job of focusing on the people involved, and not the deals.

The accusations fly in Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room. According to the film, Enron's traders stole from the company and were rewarded for doing so by the head of the company, Kenneth Lay. Lay and future CEO Jeffrey Skilling gave themselves multi-million dollar bonuses while the company was losing money at an alarming rate. The company repeatedly turned off power plants in California to force the state into rolling blackouts. The blackouts made the price of energy skyrocket and Enron profited from it. The company used fake shell corporations to illegally hide losses while they used Arthur Anderson's shaky accounting principles to report "future profits" as current earnings.

Smart, well made and ultimately fascinating, Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room is one of the finest documentaries I have ever seen about corporate greed. Interviews with Enron insiders and ex-Governor Gray Davis bring excellent insights into the house of cards that was Enron, and the criminals that built it. Once you see Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, you may never look at large corporations the same way again.

Review: Cote D'Azur (C+)

Cote D'Azur (2005)
Directed by Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau
Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Gilbert Melki, Jean-Marc Barr and Romain Torres
MPAA: UR
Grade: C+

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Cote D'Azur is a strange film as it is one part comedy, one part drama, and one part musical. Melding the three is a hard thing to do, and I am not so sure that it works completely. However, Cote D'Azur is entertaining and it does have it's moments.

Marc and Béatrix bring their family to a vaction home for the summer. Beatrix is cheating on Marc, and Marc is not what he seems either. Their son and daughter (Charly and Laura) are both exploring their own sexuality and everyone seems pre-occupied with sex, taking long showers and talking about seafood. The parents think that their son is gay, because his best friend is a homosexual. The film's stars break into song several times in the film.

Cote D'Azur is bawdy, raucous and a little bit silly. The acting is solid. The storyline is a little flat, and it takes a while for it to get rolling. However Cote D'Azur is an entertaining French film with a lot of nudity, song and comedy. Strange, yes. But never boring.

Win A Streets Of Legend Movie Poster

We love giving away free movie industry stuff to our newsletter subscribers. But here is the question on our minds. Is it called swag or schwag? We like schwag. Just sounds cooler.

And here's some cool schwag for you - an official Streets of Legend movie poster. If you like fast cars, you'll want this poster. Want to win it? You can!

Here's how:

1) Sign up for the DVD Confidential Monthly newsletter. It's free and you'll get our top DVD movie reviews in one nice little e-mail, once a month. Nice.

2) Email ScottATdvdConfidentialDOTcom with the subject line "Fast Cars".

We'll pick a winner early next week! Sorry, only one poster so only one winner. Good luck!

Review: The War Within (A-)

The War Within (2005)
Directed by Joseph Castelo
Starring Ayad Akhtar, Firdous Bamji, Nandana Sen and Sarita Choudhury
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

One of the most powerful films I have ever seen about terrorism, The War Within is an incredible piece of cinema. The film is controversial, mesmerizing and thought provoking. The War Within is also heartbreaking.

The War Within tells the story of Hassan, a Pakistani student in Paris, who is kidnapped via the US "rendition" program and interrogated. While being held, he transforms from an intellectual sympathizer into a full blown terrorist. After his release, he slips into New York City to join with an underground terrorist cell. The members of the cell are apprehended, except for Hassan and Khalid. The two plan a separate terrorist act and begin preparations.

With the terrorist cell under arrest, Hassan is forced to join up with an old friend Sayeed, who is now living in New Jersey. Sayeed and his family have embraced America and the freedoms afforded them. As Hassan works closer and closer to his terrorist act, he begins to struggle with the demons pushing him towards destruction. Hence, the War Within.

The War Within is a film that bravely shows the people behind the evil force of terrorism, and not just in strokes of black and white. Terrorists are human beings and they have shades of gray, positives and negatives to their personality. They believe in what they are doing, so much so that they are willing to take the lives of innocent people in order to further their goals. Their fanaticism drives them to these horrible deeds. Seeing these forces at work is the genius behind The War Within.

The War Within is a bold, original feature film that deserves to be seen. My only hope is that the film is not politicized, or marginalized due to it's subject matter. See this film on DVD and judge for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

My Bloody Valentine - Saw II Headed For DVD

Saw II is finally coming out on DVD. The release date? Valentine's Day, according to Lionsgate Home Entertainment. And, oh yes… There will be blood!

For those interested (and I know you are), here are the DVD specs... Looking forward to this one.

DVD Specs:
Region 1; Widescreen - 1.85
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 – English; Dolby Digital 6.1 - English
Closed Captioned – English Subtitles - English, Spanish - optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - Darren Lynn Bousman - Director, Donnie Wahlberg, Beverley Mitchell - Stars
Featurettes - 1. The Props of SAW II - 2. Deconstructing Jigsaw's Traps
Deleted Scenes
Production Interviews - Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features: Interactive Menus; Scene Access
Text/Photo Galleries: Storyboards; Concept Art

Review: 40 Year Old Virgin (B+)

40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Directed by Judd Apatow
Starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

The 40 Year Old Virgin is the funniest movie I've seen since Wedding Crashers. Full of wit and unexpected sensitivity, this is an excellent comedy.

By now, you probably know the set up to the 40 Year Old Virgin. Steve Carell from The Office plays Andy, a man that lives alone, works in a stereo store, collects kids toys, listens to Asia and (not surprisingly), is still a virgin. At the age of 40, he has pretty much given up. That is until his friends at work find out and pledge to help him lose his virginity.

Andy's goal is to find someone special, and that is where Trish comes in. Trish is played by the wonderful Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovitch, Full Frontal, Lovely and Amazing, The Interpreter), an actress that seems to get better with every role. Andy's friends just want to get him laid, and of course, some of the situations they put him in make him very uncomfortable.

Sure, the 40 Year Old Virgin is silly. But it is funny, without resorting to vulgarity or humor at the expense of others. Steve Carell is wonderful as the lonely guy that just wants to meet the right girl and Paul Rudd (The Shape of Things)turns in another wonderful performance here. The 40 Year Old Virgin is damn funny and it is highly recommended.

Doom DVD To Contain Game Demo

Universal Pictures has set an official release date for Doom, starring wrestler turned action star, The Rock. The DVD reportedly will include a demo version of the game, playable in any Xbox, a very nice touch if you ask us.

Here is the official synopsis of Doom, direct from the studio.

"A frantic call for help from a remote research station on Mars sends a team of mercenary Marines into action, when Doom comes to DVD on February 7th! Led by The Rock and Karl Urban, the team descends into the Olduvai Research Station, where they find a legion of nightmarish creatures, lurking in the darkness, killing at will. Once there, the Marines must use an arsenal of firepower to carry out their mission: nothing gets out alive. Based on the hugely popular video game, Doom is an explosive action-packed thrill ride."

For more info, check out the official Doom Web Site.

Review: Streets of Legend (C)

Streets of Legend (2003)
Directed by Joey Curtis
Starring Brihanna Hernandez, Victor Larios and Robert Beaumont
MPAA: R
Grade: C

Review by Bobby Nashville

Streets of Legend aspires to be the grandchild of American Graffiti, but let's face it, it's not even close. American Graffiti was tightly woven with a script that focused on the characters and and an impending deadline - the next morning, when everyone would have to go off to college.

In Streets of Legend, everyone seems aimless and there are no real deadlines. The cars are fast, but boring when compared to the 50's muscle cars portrayed in American Graffiti. Sure, comparing the two films isn't right, but hey- the studio behind Streets of Legend brought this comparison up with their promo material, not me. Did I mention that the music in American Graffiti (perhaps the greatest movie soundtrack ever) is ten times what this film brings to the table?

ANYWAY, just to be fair, the acting in Streets of Legend is better than expected and the cinematography is decent. Victor Larios does a good job as Chato, the troubled youth that seems lost no matter where he goes. Brihanna Hernandez is also good as the girl torn between two worlds. Reportedly, all of the racing scenes were shot for real, with no stunt drivers, and for that, they get props from me. The film has a great look and street racing fans might just get something out of this. As for me, I'll stick to American Graffiti.

Review: The N Word (B-)

The N Word (2005)
Directed by Todd Larkins
Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Pryor, Chuck D, Chris Rock, Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones, George Carlin, Ice Cube and Bryant Gumbel
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

The N Word is a powerful documentary about one of the most powerful, destructive, hurtful words in the English language. The director and producer have assembled an impressive cast of celebrities to discuss the word and what it means in today's world. The opinions vary and one is left to decide for themselves whether the word has been co-opted and neutralized by today's hip hop elite, or not.

Everyone has their own opinions on the N word and for most people over the age of 35, they view it as an insult, a degrading term that is a part of our nation's dark past. But for hip hop pioneers such as Ice Cube and Russell Simmons, the word has been co-opted into a non-racial, familial expression that is used as a term of endearment. The N Word is a collection of talking heads giving their viewpoints on what the word means to them. Interesting yes, but not as deep as the subject matter might suggest.

The N Word is a very interesting documentary with an endless array of celebrities. It raises questions about our nation's history and our present need to try and change the past. This is a very strong documentary and it is definitely recommended.

Review: Broken Flowers (A-)

Broken Flowers (2005)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch
Starring Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Lange
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Jim Jarmusch has settled into a groove. He continues to paint these wonderful pictures of strange characters that are human, real and at the same time, almost comical. He tells amazing stories with wonderful dialogue and he keeps the audience on their toes. Broken Flowers, Jarmusch's latest, is quite possibly his best film to date. It is not to be missed.

Bill Murray stars as Don Johnston, an aging Don Juan that has been through a million relationships. His girlfriend of several years has just left him. He has also received a letter, unsigned, from an ex-girlfriend telling him that he has a son. He takes the letter to his neighbor, played by Jeffrey Wright (Basquiat), a self-styled Sherlock Holmes. His neighbor plans out a trip for him. Why not visit your ex-girlfriends and see if any of them are the mother. Murray reluctantly agrees and he ventures across the U.S. meeting up with ex-girlfriends.

Each gal has gone in different directions and it is amazing to watch the laid back Murray react to them. Bill Murray (Royal Tenenbaums, Groundhog Day) has a sensitivity that shines through this character, similar to his character in the wonderful film Lost In Translation. He knows that he has made some good choices and some bad choices along the way. And as he says in Broken Flowers, all we really have is the here and now.

Broken Flowers features wonderful performances from Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone (Casino) and Jessica Lange. The photography by Frederick Elmes is wonderful (as usual) and the pacing is right on. Broken Flowers is a fantastic little film. If you haven't seen it, rent it. If you saw it and liked it, go buy it.

Coming To DVD - The War Within

Magnolia Home Entertainment is proud to present the DVD release of its controversial film, The War Within, on January 31st, 2006. We here at DVD Confidential are hoping to get a review copy of this one and we will pass on our two cents as soon as we can. In the meantime, here is the synopsis of the film, direct from the studio.

"A Pakistani engineering student in Paris is imprisoned and interrogated by Western intelligence services for suspected terrorist activities. Formerly only an intellectual supporter of jihad, Hassan undergoes a radical transformation and embarks upon a terrorist mission, covertly entering the United States to join a cell based in New York City. After meticulous planning for an event of maximum devastation, all the members of the cell are arrested, except for Hassan and one other. With nowhere else to turn, Hassan must rely on the hospitality of his friend Sayeed, who is living the American dream with his family in New Jersey. What unfolds is a profound human and political drama as we tensely observe the state of mind of a suicide bomber as he tried to decide whether or not to carry out his deadly mission."

Also, check out the official War Within Movie Site.

Review: The Aristocrats (B+)

The Aristocrats (2005)
Directed Paul Provenza
Starring Jon Stewart, Gilbert Gottfried, Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, The Smothers Brothers, Richard Lewis, Jason Alexander, Mario Cantone, George Carlin, Steven Wright, David Brenner, Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, Penn & Teller, Joe Franklin, Drew Carey, Paul Reiser, Don Rickles, Bob Saget, Kevin Nealon, Andy Dick and David Brenner
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

It's perhaps the best known joke among comedians. It begins, "An agent walks into a talent agency and says "I've got the act for you!" The comedian improvises from there and although there are a million variations on the joke, they always end with the same punch line. It's a vile joke and you get to see some very straight comedians work dirty (a plus). Another big bonus is that you see a ton of comedians talk about comedy, and how a joke should be told.

The Aristocrats is a hilarious film about one joke. The brightest comedians in the U.S. tell variations on the joke and to be honest, most of them are damn funny. It's amazing to see how every comedian changes the joke to suit their own personality. It's a simple subject with endless complexities. I loved it. Best of all, it has just about every comedian in the business, so you are bound to find your favorite comedian telling the disgusting Aristocrats joke in this wonderful documentary.

Starring a virtual who's who of comedy, The Aristocrats is a very funny documentary. It also is an amazing collection of the best comedians of our time (not too mention the inclusion of the legendary Joe Franklin). The Aristocrats is a funny joke (although very disgusting) and the joke says a lot about the person telling it. An awesome documentary, The Aristocrats is damn funny, a little disturbing, and very revealing about the comedians included.

Keep An Eye Out For Looking Glass Wars

We are not huge comic book fans, but we have to admit that many comic books have translated well to the big screen. Of course Batman Begins and Spiderman come to mind right away. Last year's Sin City was a critic's fave.

That's why it is interesting to report that there is a ton of buzz around a comic book called The Looking Glass Wars. DVD Confidential has learned that all copies of the Image Comics-released title The Looking Glass Wars: Hatter M #1 that the distributor had on hand have been sold. Series creator, Frank Beddor, has given the last of his personal copies to Diamond to fulfill recent reorders so the title has now officially and completely sold out of its print run of 9000. This is a pretty big thing. Could a movie be in the works?

“It’s a good day for a creator when his distributor sends a purchase order to buy up his own personal stash,” commented series writer, Frank Beddor.

“This is the type of problem a publisher hopes to have,” said Desperado Publishing publisher, Joe Pruett. “We believed that this book was really good and we hoped that others would feel the same way. Judging by the response it’s getting both from fans and from critics, I guess they do. And just wait until they see issue #2.”

Originally released on December 7, The Looking Glass Wars: Hatter M #1 tells the story of Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan, who after being shot through an exit portal into a world far different from his own, finds himself in Paris, France in the year 1859, shockingly separated from Princess Alyss of Wonderland. Pledged to protect the princess after the bloody coup that killed her parents at the start of the Looking Glass Wars, Hatter’s search for Alyss commences immediately and continues incessantly leaving the whispers and totems of myth in his non-stop wake. Put to rest any delusions or disinformation you may have of the tea guzzling madman of faux literary history and prepare to expand your consciousness as the saga of Hatter Madigan and his relentless search for Alyss, Wonderland’s lost princess, unfolds in this upcoming series.

The four issue mini-series features a story by Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier with full color art by Ben Templesmith. Beddor is the author of The Looking Glass Wars novels, currently only available in the UK, but soon to be released in the US through Penguin Young Readers Group, as well as producer of the hugely popular Hollywood film, There’s Something About Mary.

This sell out is due in part to the rave reviews the title has been receiving. Here are just a few of those comments:

“Comic readers are lucky to have this book…” – Brian Truitt, The Washington Examiner

“This is an excellent book filled with action, horror, and humor. Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier wrote a stunning story; Desperado Publishing has a franchise in the making here.” - John L. Daniels Jr., ComicCritique.com

“The story is at times sweet, raw, inventive and hilarious.” – Robert Taylor, HeroRealm.com

“Ben Templesmith rocks the house in Hatter M.” – Dexter K. Flowers, BrokenFrontier.com

“The writer masterfully intertwines pop culture with the macabre.” – Ariel Carmona, Jr., SilverBulletComicbooks.com

“This issue is creativity at its best. It is rare to read a comic like Hatter M. If you are tired of reading the same old superhero comics and want something new to try, then try Hatter M. Originality at its highest.” – Phillip Hayes, PaperbackReader.com

“It's a mad, mad world that everyone should be reading.” – Hilary Goldstein, IGN.com

“Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier make literary magic with the precocious debut of Hatter M.” – Paul Dale Roberts, Jazmaonline.com

If demand warrants, a second printing of the first issue may become available in time for this year’s convention season.

Looking Glass Wars Web Site

Wildfire (Season One) DVD Streets Feb. 7th

The ABC Family show Wildfire was a surprise hit, and now it is coming to DVD. The official Season One DVD of Wildfire hits the shelves on February 7th. Here is the 411, direct from the studio:

"Kris Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) has come a long way from juvenile hall. Hired to work at Raintree Horse Farm, she enters the world of high-stakes horse racing, where people will stop at nothing to beat the competition. She works for the Ritters, a once-powerful family that has fallen on hard times. The only thing Kris and the Ritters have in common is that they have both fallen on hard times.

Their greatest hope is a horse named Wildfire. Like Kris, he comes from the wrong side of the tracks and was written off as “no good”. To Kris, Wildfire is much more than a horse with potential, he’s her best friend. One thing is certain… together they can do the impossible. But nobody said it was going to be easy.

From irresistible romances, unexpected friendships, and shocking betrayals, to first loves, last laughs, and close calls, Kris’ new life is nothing as she had imagined."

Buy Wildfire (Season One) On DVD

Win A Copy Of Two For The Money

Want to win a free copy of Al Pacino's latest film on DVD, Two For The Money? Of course you do.

DVD Confidential will be giving away a copy of Two For The Money this weekend to a lucky DVD Confidential Monthly subscriber. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is sign up! Already subscribed? No worries, you are entered already. Good luck!

Review: Two For The Money (B)

Two For The Money (2005)
Directed by D.J. Caruso
Starring Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante and Jeremy Piven
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

I love fantasy football and there is a not too distant relationship between fantasy football and gambling. Basically, in fantasy football you are gambling on the performance of an individual player, but with straight up gambling, you usually are choosing a team to win. The point here? The point is that I know a little bit about football and I came into Two For The Money expecting to see a film that did not have the "feel" of gambling down right. But I was wrong. Two For The Money captures the excitement of picking winners and losers perfectly. It's not Citizen Kane of course, but it's damn entertaining.

Matthew McConaughey stars as Brandon Lang, a former college football star that takes a job as a football predictor. He joins up with a big time operation run by Walter Abrams, played by Al Pacino (Carlito's Way, Glengarry Glen Ross, Insomnia). He changes his name to John Anthony and starts running the tables with excellent picks. As his career takes off, he starts to change and finds himself crossing the line. The plot is fairly simple, but like I said, it's damn entertaining.

Two For The Money features some great supporting performances here from Rene Russo and Armand Assante. McConaughey has turned in some good acting before, most notably in Thirteen Conversations About One Thing and Frailty. He does another good job here and his performance has some depth. Of course, Al Pacino is excellent (isn't he always?). The character here is a cross between Ricky Roma from Glengarry Glen Ross and his aging, vulnerable character in Donnie Brasco (an underrated film, by the way).

Two For The Money is a good film with solid acting and tight direction. Two For The Money is a pleasant surprise.

Moonlighting Comes To DVD

Yes, it’s true – one of the most popular tv shows of the 80’s is back on DVD – Moonlighting: Season 3 is on DVD February 7, 2006. We always liked that show (I guess that shows our age). If you were a fan, too, then this might be a cool DVD to check out. Here is the official DVD release info, direct from the studio:

"Starring a then-unknown Bruce Willis (Die Hard, Sin City, Whole Nine Yards) and Cybill Shepherd, Moonlighting was one of the highest-rated shows on television during its run on ABC from 1985-89. As the recipient of six Emmy® Awards and two Golden Globe® Awards during its impressive run, this 1980s beloved television series is brought to you now just in time for its 20th anniversary with great special features and packaging..

Golden Globe®-Winner Cybill Shepherd stars as Maddie Hayes, a former high-fashion model who discovers one morning that her business manager has stolen all the money she has in the bank. However, it turns out that she still owns some non-liquid assets – money-losing companies that were maintained as tax write-offs. Planning to shut his detective agency down, Maddie meets with David Addison (Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-Winner Bruce Willis), a fast-talking private eye, who persuades her to keep his business open. Maddie becomes David’s new boss, and while their personalities clash, a sexual tension arises in the time they spend together. But the question always remains… will they or won’t they?

Bonus features on the Season 3 DVD include:
Memories of Moonlighting - A half-hour documentary about the third season, featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew, including new cast member Curtis Armstrong, and the long-awaited reunion of Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis! Memories of Moonlighting goes behind the scenes to look at some of the amazing stories of the people involved with the show in this extraordinary, award-winning season.

Episode Commentaries are with Moonlighting creator Glenn Gordon Caron, Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis and many more!"

Ultimate Avengers Coming To DVD

Comic book fans rejoice! The first ever Marvel animated movie, Ultimate Avengers is releasing on DVD February 24th, 2006. Here is the background information, direct from Lions Gate Home Entertainment and Marvel Enterprises:

"From Marvel Enterprises (NYSE: MVL) and Lions Gate Home Entertainment (LGHE), comes the first-ever Marvel animated feature starring some of the most popular super heroes in the Marvel Universe, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie. Based on the best-selling Marvel Comics series, “The Ultimates” – and with superb animation that stays true to those comic book roots – the feature will cast some of Marvel’s most popular Super Heroes including Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor, as they must learn to work together to save the world.

In 1945, Humanity was on the brink of annihilation as sinister forces pushed to seize control of the free world, and only one man rose up to stop them. When a nuclear missile was fired at the Capitol, Captain America managed to detonate it in the upper atmosphere, but in the process he sacrificed himself, falling miles into the icy depths of the North Atlantic, where he remained lost for over sixty years. Now, with the world facing the very same evil, Captain America must rise once again as the last hope for survival, and lead a strong-willed team of today’s superheroes:

· Iron Man, the billionaire bachelor used to doing things his own way.
· The Hulk, the destructive force Bruce Banner hopes to turn into a useful team member.
· Thor, a hero who has responsibilities to both the world of man and the world of gods.
· Wasp, a petite powerhouse who sees the team as a fresh start for her and her husband.
· Giant Man, sixty feet tall with an equally large chip on his shoulder.
· Captain America, a star-spangled idealist resurrected from a 60 year deep-freeze because this team needs a super-soldier to lead them.

Individually, they are superheroes. United, they are The Avengers. Ultimate Avengers: The Movie is the extraordinary story of six very independent heroes who must – like it or not – fight as one to save the world. Little did they know that their biggest threat would emerge from within their very own ranks – The Incredible Hulk!"

Repo Man Special Edition Coming To DVD

One of our all-time favorite films, Repo Man, is coming to DVD with an all-new Special Edition. We are hoping to lay our hands on a review copy, and as soon as we do, we'll give you the lowdown. The Special Edition DVD of Repo Man hits the stores on January 24th. In the meantime, here is the official studio information:

"The explosive, action-packed cult classic returns in this all-new special edition of Repo Man – coming to DVD on January 24th! Emilio Estevez (Mighty Ducks, Rated X) and Harry Dean Stanton star as “repo men” who get caught up in a series of bizarre adventures involving G-men, a nuclear scientist, UFO cultists and revolutionaries. Put your seat belt on and enjoy the wild ride in this groundbreaking, punk-rock, sci-fi black comedy with all-new bonus materials!"

Sweeeet.

New Laurence Fishburne Project

Lionsgate Films has announced a new film starring Laurence Fishburne (King of New York, Apocalypse Now, Once In The Life) and Angela Bassett, entitled Akeelah and the Bee. The film hits theaters April 28th. Here is the inside scoop, direct from the studio:

"An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl. A Lionsgate Films and 2929 Entertainment production, Akeelah and the Bee was written and directed by Doug Atchison. The film’s producers are Sid Ganis, Nancy Hult Ganis, Michael Romersa, Danny Llewelyn and Laurence Fishburne; executive producers are Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan and Helen Sugland."

Akeelah & The Bee Movie Trailer (Windows Media Player)

Hard Candy Movie Trailer

Lionsgate has released the trailer for the film Hard Candy and it looks promising. Here is the official synopsis of the film, direct from Lionsgate:

"A smart, charming teenage girl, Hayley probably shouldn’t be going to a local coffee shop to meet Jeff, a 30-something fashion photographer she met on the Internet. But Hayley’s ready to have fun, and soon she’s mixing screwdrivers at Jeff’s place and stripping for an impromptu photo shoot. It’s Jeff’s lucky night – until his vision blurs and he passes out.

Turns out Hayley isn’t as innocent as she looks after all. In fact, she has a lot on her mind. Like getting Jeff to confess to his penchant for teenage girls – and to what he did to Donna Mauer, the girl who disappeared from Jeff’s favorite coffee shop. When Jeff awakens, he’s tied to a chair. If he doesn’t cooperate, Hayley has something to help him along--a little surgical procedure she picked up on the Internet. All she needs is an ice pack. And a knife..."

Hard Candy Movie Trailer (Windows Media Player)

Adam Sandler & Grandma's Boy

Check out this rap music video on iFilm from the Grandma’s Boys – in promotion of the film, Grandma's Boy – in theatres now. Grandma's Boy is brought to you by Adam Sandler, by the way.

Grandma's Boy Music Video

Review: Palindromes (B+)

Palindromes (2004)
Directed by Todd Solondz
Starring Ellen Barkin, Emani Sledge, Sharon Wilkins, Richard Masur, Angela Pietropinto, Matthew Faber and Jennifer Jason Leigh
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Todd Solondz continues his envelope pushing with Palindromes, a remarkable film about abortion, religion and the audience's expectations to film casting and structure. Solondz loves to push political "hot buttons" with his films (Happiness, Storytelling, Welcome to the Dollhouse) and Palindromes certainly cements his reputation for audacity. Palindromes is unusual, yet finely crafted. It deserves to be seen and it is a shame that this film has not garnered wider recognition.

Palindromes tells the story of Aviva, a 13 year old girl that wants to have a baby. Her parents, played by Ellen Barkin and Richard Masur, advise their daughter that she is too young. Aviva is talked into having an abortion that she does not want. Aviva's main goal is to create her own family and she leaves home in an act of rebellion. She is taken in by a strange group of fundamentalists that believe that killing doctors that perform abortions is okay.

Of course, the hook to Palindromes is that the main character is played by eight different actors of various races and genders. While this sounds like it may be confusing to the viewer, Solondz takes care to blend this artfully and the effect is mesmerizing. Each actor brings their own interpretation of the Aviva character, and it is a refreshing convention that Solondz has achieved with this style. The most incredible of the Aviva performances is without a doubt by the African American girl (played by Sharon Wilkins) that seems vulnerable, sweet and lost. It is an Oscar worthy performance.

Palindromes is a brilliant film that entertains but also makes the viewer think about issues that are not usually included in the filmgoing experience. Although Palindromes is not for everyone, it is highly recommended for it's subject matter and presentation. This is an excellent film. Look for a small performance by DVD Confidential favorite Jennifer Jason Leigh (Single White Female, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, eXistenZ).

Review: Baadasssss! (B)

Baadasssss!
Directed by Mario Van Peebles
Starring Mario Van Peebles, David Alan Grier, Joy Bryant, Ossie Davis
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

Melvin Van Peebles was TRULY a badass and as the director and producing force behind the 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, he was a revolutionary. Independent film is the name of the game today but in the early 70's, it was completely unheard of.

Baadasssss! is an homage to Melvin (directed by his son Mario) and it tells how one of the nation's most popular indie films was made. Mario stars as his father and Khleo Thomas plays the young Mario. Melvin was a renegade filmmaker, and coming off of the success of Watermelon Man, you would think every studio would have been throwing money at him. But Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was not a comedy. Instead it showed a strong African American that was not afraid to fight back against crooked cops. Needless to say it was controversial. The film went on to be a monster hit and it remains influential to this day.

The love that Mario shows for his father through this film is evident here, and you have to give props to him for this excellent homage. For fans of 70's cinema, Baadasssss! is definitely worth a look. Look for small appearances by Bill Cosby, Sally Struthers, Ossie Davis (Night Gallery Season One) and Adam West.

Hard Candy Generating Buzz

DVD Confidential has been hearing excellent things about the film Hard Candy, an unsual new thriller from Lions Gate. Hard Candy is in theaters everywhere on April 14th 2006. Here is the official info on the film, direct from Lions Gate, along with a link to the trailer. Looks very promising.

"A smart, charming teenage girl, Hayley probably shouldn’t be going to a local coffee shop to meet Jeff, a 30-something fashion photographer she met on the Internet. But Hayley’s ready to have fun, and soon she’s mixing screwdrivers at Jeff’s place and stripping for an impromptu photo shoot. It’s Jeff’s lucky night – until his vision blurs and he passes out.

Turns out Hayley isn’t as innocent as she looks after all. In fact, she has a lot on her mind. Like getting Jeff to confess to his penchant for teenage girls – and to what he did to Donna Mauer, the girl who disappeared from Jeff’s favorite coffee shop.

When Jeff awakens, he’s tied to a chair. If he doesn’t cooperate, Hayley has something to help him along--a little surgical procedure she picked up on the Internet. All she needs is an ice pack. And a knife...

An edge-of-your-seat psychotic thriller, Hard Candy exposes the visceral terror and violence that lie at the heart of the battle of the sexes. Starring Patrick Wilson (Jeff) and Ellen Page (Hayley Stark) and Sandra Oh (Judy Tokuda), Hard Candy is directed by David Slade, written by Brian Nelson, produced by David Higgins, Richard Hutton and Michael Caldwell, and executive produced by Jody Patton, Rosanne Korenberg and Paul G. Allen.

It is the latest film from Vulcan Productions (Far From Heaven, Titus) in association with Launchpad Productions. The director of photography is Jo Willems, the editor is Art Jones, the production designer is Jeremy Reed. The original music is by Harry Esscott and Molly Nyman, and the casting is by Valerie McCaffrey."

Hard Candy Movie Trailer (via iFilm)

Our Top Ten DVDs of 2005

It's that time of year again. Top ten lists are everywhere and believe it or not, Oscar nominations are right around the corner. We here at DVD Confidential love top ten lists (and the Academy Awards) so we've created our own top ten. We tried to limit the list to DVDs that we reviewed in 2005. Although not all of the films were released in 2005, the DVD version reviewed on our site was brought to us in the past year. So, without further delay - enjoy the list!

DVD Confidential's Top Ten DVDs for 2005

1) Jaws - 30th Anniversary Edition (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary
MPAA: PG
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Thirty years after it's release, Jaws continues to amaze. The film that started the whole "blockbuster" film genre is wonderful entertainment.

If you haven't seen Jaws you have either been living on Mars, or are under the age of ten. The story is legend: a monster shark terrorizes the beaches of Amity, New York. Chief Brody (played by Roy Scheider) enlists the help of a scientist named Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and a gruff old shark boat captain named Quint (Robert Shaw). The trio heads out to sea for a battle royale with the greatest screen shark of all time.

What I love about this film is it's simplicity. Spielberg starts the film off with a shark attack, and the attacks never stop coming. The town has to come to grips with it, and solve the problem or lose their summer business revenue. The town moves from denial to panic. The trio of Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss have great chemistry and as they head out to fight the shark, you really can't help but root for them.

Jaws was excellently casted, acted and directed (perhaps Spielberg's best). There is a reason that this is considered by many to be the best thriller of all time - Jaws is a classic.



2) Batman Begins (2005)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Christian Bale, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Tom Wilkinson, Michael Caine, Rutger Hauer & Morgan Freeman
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Dark, brooding and unusually serious, Batman Begins is by far the best of the Batman movies. It may also be director Chris Nolan's (Insomnia, Memento) finest film to date.

Batman Begins is one of those rare Hollywood studio films that gets everything right, especially the casting. Chris Nolan made a perfect choice in casting Christian Bale as Batman. Bale has the looks, the brooding manner and best of all, the strange personality that fits the role to a T. Rutger Hauer and Morgan Freeman are excellent in supporting roles and how can you go wrong with Michael Caine as Alfred?

As most know by now, Batman Begins tells the story of how young millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne came to be Batman. The first half of the story focuses intensely on Bruce's travels and travails to find himself. He is drawn into a mysterious group called the League of Shadows but he soon finds that they are planning to destroy Gotham. With the aid of his butler Alfred and his friend Lucius (Morgan Freeman), Bruce Wayne battles the evil crime boss Carmine Falcone, the Scarecrow and ultimately, Al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows.

Batman Begins deals with some familiar Chris Nolan themes, most notably, the feeling of disorientation. The Scarecrow uses a drug laced spray to make people insane with fear. The League of Shadows also try to add a disorienting drug into the city's water supply. The drug makes the citizens terrified, confused and completely panic stricken. This theme of disorientation has been used by Nolan in the Following, as well as his most well known film, Memento. It's a nice touch and Nolan truly puts his own mark on this popular film series.

Well directed, acted and photographed, Batman Begins is a wonderful film that holds up well to repeated viewings. I can't wait to see the next Batman movie, especially if Chris Nolan is again at the helm.



3) Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (2002)
Directed by Chan-wook Park
Starring Song Kang-Ho, Shin Ha-Kyun, Bae Doo-Na
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Remember the rush that comes from discovering a new favorite director, actor or actress? That's kind of how I feel after watching Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance by director Park Chanwook. His style is bold, his characters have depth, and his stories are unpredictable. That is rare in today's cinema.

Chan-wook Park is the director of Oldboy, another incredible film that explores what lengths of violence people will endure to get what they want. Oldboy and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance are reportedly part of the director's "vengeance trilogy" (the other film is Lady Vengeance) so as you can imagine, the film come with a heavy amount of gruesome violence and adult situations. I guess that comes with the territory when you deal with kidnapping, torture, murder and organ selling.

The story behind Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance is highly original. Ryu needs to buy a kidney for his dying sister, but he is unable to come up with the funds. Ryu decides to sell his own kidney to pay for her transplant, but he is cheated out of his life savings by the shady organ peddlers. In a desperate move, he kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy industrialist to raise the cash. Kidnapping is risky business and Ryu is certainly not helped by his radical, terrorist girlfriend.

Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance is well-paced, very original, and the acting is excellent. Chan-wook Park is a shooting star of a talent and you will certainly be hearing a lot more about this excellent director. One of the best films I have seen in a long time.



4) Crash (2005)
Directed by Paul Haggis
Starring Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe, Brendan Fraser, Ludacris
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

One of the best movies of the year, Crash is a phenomenal character study and much more. Set in Los Angeles, post 9/11, Crash highlights how racism touches everyone. Eight actors of different background and ethnicity see their lives collide over a 36 hour stretch.

Director Paul Haggis deftly weaves the back stories of Crash in a style similar to Robert Altman's best works. There are too many stellar characters here to list them all, but Crash features a fabulous ensemble performance to be certain. Sandra Bullock is an angry woman with racist feelings that explode during the course of the film. Her husband (played surprisingly well by Brendan Fraser) is District Attorney that has just had his car jacked. Terrence Howard stands out here as a successful director that is forced to watch as a racist police officer harasses his wife. Don Cheadle is wonderful as a detective that has seen it all.

Crash is a fantastic debut film from director Paul Haggis and it hits with a powerful emotional punch. Racism is alive and well in the U.S. and it lurks beneath the surface of everyday lives. Crash features some of the best acting performances of the year and I would not be surprised to see this film gain several Academy Award nominations. Highly recommended.



5) The Devil's Rejects (2005)
Directed by Rob Zombie
Starring Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Geoffrey Lewis, William Forsythe, Priscilla Barnes, PJ Soles, Leslie Easterbrook
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

The highly anticipated Devil's Rejects has finally come to DVD and we think that this unrated widescreen version was well worth the wait. Directed by Rob Zombie, this horror film pays homage to horror classics while deftly creating a unique style all it's own. Devils Rejects is certainly not a film suitable for most folks but if you are a fan of horror, this is a very scary film that is highly recommended.

The Devils Rejects are in fact a group of homicidal maniacs that apparently love to torture, rape and kill their victims for kicks. They are about as evil as it gets. Mother Firefly directs the insane posse and she is religiously followed by her kids (played by Sheri Moon Zombie and Bill Mosely), a pair of evil freaks that are sick, sick, sick. They are chased by Sheriff Wydell (William Forsythe), a tough as nails sheriff that has sworn to bring these evil kids down. Unfortunately for sheriff Wydell, the Devils Rejects have an aura around them similar to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, one that screams "You'll never take me alive". They are not heros by any measure but they are certainly the main outlaws and stars of the film (again like Butch and Sundance or Thelma & Louise). They are also evil incarnate. Having the antagonists be the central characters of the movie is a brilliant twist and if you can endure the evil nature of the leads, you will see Devils Rejects for what it is - a chilling, horrific, cinematic work of art that is as disturbing as it is professional.

Coming off of House of 1,00 Corpses, I was not sure what to expect from Rob Zombie. Would it be another tantalzing yet ultimately unfulfilling B movie homage? Thankfully, Devil's Rejects owes more to Texas Chainsaw Massacre than it does House of 1,000 Corpses. Scary, disturbing (did we mention that this film is not for most?) and very well made, the Devil's Rejects is a fantastically creepy horror movie. For horror film buffs, Devils Rejects is a must see.



6) Sin City (2005)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino & Frank Miller
Starring Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Powers Boothe, Benicio Del Toro, Devon Aoki and Rutger Hauer
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Bobby Nashville

I love this movie. It seems like every other movie out today is a retread of an old television show, or a watered down action film with zero originality. Sin City is an over the top, totally original film that has a lot of guts. Thank god.

Based on graphic novels by Frank Miller, the star of this film is the art direction. Sin City looks incredible. Shot in black and white (with spots of color) Sin City is one of the most original looking films I have ever seen. It really is like a comic book brought to life.

Sin City is a wild town where crime, guns and violence run the streets. Vengeance is a dish served cold and every one is hungry for it. Call girls run the streets and tough guys will give their life for just for one more night with the right one. It's like driving a 57 chevy through film noir heaven at 100 miles an hour.

The acting in Sin City is excellent. Mickey Rourke (a personal fave) is once again fantastic and Bruce Willis adds another great role to his career. Rutger Hauer and Benicio Del Toro put in very good performances as well. Sin City is a fast paced, well acted graphic novel come to life. One of the year's best.



7) DiG! (2004)
Directed by Ondi Timoner
Starring The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols, Anton Newcombe and Courtney Taylor- Taylor
MPAA: R
Grade: A

Review by Ellyn Elm

Before sitting down to watch DiG! I vaguely remember listening to and liking the Dandy Warhols and had heard of the Brian Jonestown Massacre in passing. Given my limited knowlege of both bands, I must confess DiG! was a revelation. It is a fascinating, downright compelling look into the indie music scene spanning seven years starting in the mid-nineties.

I won't give too much away by saying that DiG! documents the rise of the Dandy Warhols, fronted by the uber-charismatic Courtney Taylor, and the simultaneous disintegration of the Brian Jonestown Massacre led by the messianic Anton Newcombe. Initially friends, members of both bands meet, share music, lots of drugs and a mutual admiration before going their vastly separate ways. Watching the success of the Dandies and the implosion of the BJM as the story unfolds is not unlike witnessing a train wreck in slow motion. It’s painful and tantalizing and absolutely riveting.

Narrated by Taylor and replete with live footage, interviews and smug character analyses of and by everyone involved, DiG! offers an interesting interpretation of what constitutes success – commercial or otherwise. Required viewing for anyone who wants to be “famous”.



8) Murderball (2005)
Directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro
Starring Mark Zupan, Joe Soares and Keith Cavill
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Documentaries are all the rage these days, and frankly, this reviewer is delighted. Films that would never see distribution back in the eighties are now getting distributed and finding wider audiences. Case in point: Murderball, a wonderful documentary about the tough, inspirational world of quadriplegic rugby.

Murderball focuses on the lives on quadriplegics that play indoor rugby, using their wheelchairs as battering rams. It is a wonderful film. These gentlemen stand up to their disabilities and take their spirits to the next level by working to become the best wheelchair rugby players in the world. Competitions between U.S. and Canadian teams are fierce, and the rivalry is tremendous. Seeing these young men battle to become the best at what they do is an inspiration. As the U.S. team battles their way to Athens Olympic Arena to combat their rivals, we get to know the players, their stories, and why the game is so important.

Murderball was awarded the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and it is garnering high praise throughout the U.S. This is a wonderful documentary and it is highly recom