| New Video and DVD Releases | |
| Part 1: This Week's New Releases on Video/DVD |
by Ivana Redwine
There are some interesting video/DVD releases slated for February 18, 2003, including "City by the Sea," "The Four Feathers," "Mostly Martha," "One Hour Photo," "The Rules of Attraction," "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams," and "Stealing Harvard." There are additional releases of interest, such as a restored version of Fritz Lang's classic 1927 film "Metropolis." In addition, we'll take a sneak peek at next week's movies on video/DVD.
February
18
-
Video and DVD Releases
Tagline:
"When you're searching for a killer ... the last suspect you want to see
is your son."
Length:
108 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
for language, drug use and some violence
Robert De Niro stars in this police drama. De Niro plays Vincent LaMarca, a man who lived for years on Long Island in Long Beach, the decaying city referred to in this film's title. There his father committed a sensational murder and Vincent got into a marriage that ended in a bitter divorce. Now things are going better for Vincent. He lives in Manhattan and has a romantic relationship with a neighbor (Frances McDormand). But he works as a New York City homicide detective and is assigned to investigate the murder of a drug dealer. His investigation takes him back to Long Beach, and his son (James Franco), now a father himself, turns out to be the main suspect in the case. With law enforcement and a drug lord pursuing his son, Vincent is forced to confront his past and make some difficult decisions.
Selected Special DVD Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"The
Four Feathers" (2002)
Tagline:
"Freedom. Country. Honor. Passion. To save his best friend, one man
must risk everything he loves."
Length:
125 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for intense battle sequences, disturbing images, violence and some
sensuality
This period drama is a remake of a tale that has been made into a movie several times, notably in a 1939 version. Set in the 1880s, the story centers around a group of British army officers that includes Harry Faversham (Heath Ledger) and Jack Durrance (Wes Bentley). The soldiers learn they'll be sent to fight at Khartoum, and Faversham, who is engaged to Ethne (Kate Hudson), elects not to go. It's the custom that when an officer shows cowardice, others indicate their disapproval by sending him a white feather, and Faversham receives four feathers. But later when the other soldiers are involved in protracted combat, Faversham changes his mind. He travels to northeastern Africa, disguises himself as an Arab, and teams up with an African man (Djimon Hounsou) in a heroic attempt to rescue his friends.
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"Mostly
Martha" (2001)
Length:
105 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG for thematic material and mild language
This German-language comedy-drama was a favorite of critics and art house audiences during its theatrical release. Martha Klein (Martina Gedeck) takes great pride in the job she does as a chef at an upscale restaurant. However, she's a rather prickly single woman who doesn't have much of a personal life. But things change drastically for Martha when her sister is killed in an accident and her sister's eight-year-old daughter Lina (Maxime Foerste) comes to live with her. Martha's relationship with Lina turns out to be difficult, and then something happens at the restaurant that makes Martha feel threatened: a personable man named Mario (Sergio Castellitto) is hired as an additional chef. But as Martha grapples with these changes, she gradually comes to a better understanding of what she wants out of life.
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"One
Hour Photo"
(2002)
Tagline:
"There's nothing more dangerous than a familiar face."
Length:
96 minutes
MPAA Rating:
R for sexual content and language
Robin Williams stars in this unsettling suspense movie. Williams portrays Sy Parrish, the man people go to when they get their photos developed at SavMart, a large discount department store. Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen) has been bringing family photos of herself, her husband (Michael Vartan), and their young son (Dylan Smith) to Sy for years. To the Yorkins, Sy is just the friendly Sav-Mart photo guy. But to Sy, the Yorkins are the perfect family, and he's filled a wall in his apartment with photos of them. In fact, Sy is a lonely, warped man who thinks of himself as part of the Yorkin family. Eventually, Sy can't resist involving himself in the Yorkins' lives. Then he discovers they're not so perfect and takes it upon himself to set things right. But how far will this creepy, deranged man go?
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"The
Rules of Attraction" (2002)
Tagline:
"There are no rules."
Length:
110 minutes
MPAA Rating:
R for strong sexual content, drug use, language and violent images
Based on the Bret Easton Ellis novel, this offbeat film centers around undergraduates at an elite New England college where life revolves around parties, sex, and drugs. The movie employs a highly nonlinear narrative structure that plays around with time, sometimes even running backwards. Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek) is a drug dealer who has no trouble finding willing female sexual partners. Sean is attracted to Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), but she's trying to wait for her boyfriend Victor (Kip Pardue) to come back from Europe. Paul (Ian Somerhalder) used to date Lauren, but he is sexually attracted to Sean. All the students are self-absorbed and apathetic, but the film is innovative and has a lot of restless energy, and most viewers have not found the movie boring.
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"Spy
Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" (2002)
Tagline: "Huge
new adventure. Slightly larger spies."
Length:
99 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG for action sequences and brief rude humor
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
"Stealing
Harvard" (2002)
Tagline:
"Their intentions were honorable. Their methods were criminal."
Length:
82 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and drug references
Jason Lee and Tom Green star in this caper comedy. John Plummer (Lee) is engaged to Elaine Warner (Leslie Mann), and he also works for her overly possessive father (Dennis Farina). John has finally saved up the $30,000 needed for a down payment on a house, which means Elaine will marry him. But John promised he would pay for the college education of the daughter of his trashy sister (Megan Mullally), and his niece now needs $30,000 to go to Harvard. John consults his friend Duff (Green) about his problem, and they unsuccessfully pursue a series of idiotic schemes, including burglary and armed robbery, to come up with the money. Along the way, John and Duff encounter some quirky characters, including those played by Seymour Cassel, Chris Penn, Richard Jenkins, and John C. McGinley.
Selected DVD Special Features:
Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.
Next Page - Additional Video/DVD Releases of Interest This Week
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