Friday, December 20, 2013

BLACK MARBLE, THE (1979)

The Black Marble (1979)
Movie rating: 7/10
DVD rating: 7/10
Release Date: April 8, 2003
Running Time: 1 hour 53 minutes
Rating: PG
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
List Price: $19.98
Disc Details
Special Features: Widescreen anamorphic format
Chapter selection
Commentary track by director Harold Becker
Original theatrical trailer
Video Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
[SS-DL]
Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0) mono
Subtitles: English for the hearing impared.
Captions: Yes
Casing: 1-Disc Keep Case

Review
As a teenager, I wanted to be a cop. Joseph Wambaugh was a personal hero of mine. I read everything he wrote. I watched every movie and TV series made from his books. Considering I was also a longhaired pot smoking punk in high school made my desire to be a cop a little ironic. I read "The Black Marble" and saw the movie when they came out. It was my least favorite book and movie by Wambaugh. At the time, I was too young to appreciate either. Now that a lot of the tread has been worn off of my tires, I appreciate "The Black Marble" much more.

"The Black Marble" was a change of pace for Wambaugh. It is a love story, a dysfunctional love story, but a love story nonetheless. The movie is rich in character development, with some great performances by the movie's three main stars. Wambaugh put everything he owned up to produce two movies from two of his novels: "The Onion Field" and "The Black Marble." Harold Becker directed both, back-to-back. With the exception of the NBC mini-series "The Blue Knight" starring William Holden, the two Becker films are the best adaptations of Wambaugh's work on the screen.

Sgt. Valnikov (Robert Foxworth) is a burnt out office hiding his pain in a sea of alcohol. He is a gentle spirit being crushed by the pressures of his job. Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman (Paula Prentiss) is a gruff, sexy cop who feels slighted that she has been paired with Valnikov. Zimmerman's tough bark exterior is just her own defense mechanism for dealing with life on the streets. Eventually, these two flawed characters are going to find a safe haven in each other's hearts. That is the main storyline. Of course, you wouldn't have a cop movie without a crime to solve. The quirky back-story provides much of the film's magic.

Philo Skinner (Harry Dean Stanton) is a dog-groomer with a thing for horses. The leisure-suited-lizard is in deep to his bookie. After a midnight visit from an enforcer (Christopher Lloyd), Philo decides he needs a lot of money...fast. Philo decides to kidnap a wealthy client's prize-winning terrier for the ransom that will save his backside.

"The Black Marble" contains the best performances ever by leads Foxworth and Prentiss. Harry Dean Stanton is also excellent, but then again, Stanton is always excellent. In addition to Christopher Lloyd's cameo, James Woods also pops up as a violinist. Both Lloyd and Woods had substantial roles in the Wambaugh/Becker film "The Onion Field." "The Black Marble" is full of humor. The kind of dark humor that folks who see to much tragedy develop. If you are in the mood for an intelligent, well acted and surprisingly warm film, this one is for you.

The Disc
Good movie, picture, sound and extras. Fair price.

Picture Quality: 8/10
There was a slight amount of shimmering in the transfer. I also noticed a small amount of delineation problems during some of the darker scenes. Other than that, the transfer contains rich, well-saturated colors with no bleeding. Sharp images all the way to the edges. The wonderful cinematography by Owne Roizman captures LA in ways you may not have seen before.

Sound Quality: 7/10
The sound is a bit flat at times. There is no loss of dialogue. Maurice Jarre's score is good, but the sound is just a bit flat at times.

Easter Eggs:
None found during review.

Extra Features: 6/10
I was amazed how badly produced the original trailer for "The Black Marble" was. I don't know who would want to see the movie after watching the trailer. It is interesting how movie promotion has changed over the years. Folks interesting in producing movie trailers might want to look at this one as an example of how not to do it!

Mr. Becker provides an insightful commentary track to this movie. I especially enjoyed it having heard his comments on the DVD for the companion film "The Onion Field." Of interest to Wambaugh fans especially.

The Final Word:
A mature love story with a quirky caper back beat. Great performances by the three leads. Wambaugh fans will want to own. Definitely worth a rent for others.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

BILLY JACK: ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Billy Jack: Ultimate Collection (1971)
Director(s): Tom Laughlin
Movie rating: 8/10
DVD rating: 8/10
DVD Release Date: 09/27/2005
Running Time: 556 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Disc Details

Distributor:
Ventura Distribution

List Price: $39.98

Running Time: 556 minutes

Special Features:
Widescreen anamorphic format
Chapter selection
All four Billy Jack films:
The Born Losers (1967)
Billy Jack (1971)
The Trial of Billy Jack (1974)
Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)
Commentary Tracks by Tom Laughlin, Deloris Taylor and Frank Laughlin
Mini documentary: A Very Abridged History of the Making of Billy Jack
Trivia Quiz
Original TV ads
Book excerpt
Cut Your Own Fight
Website info
Photo gallery

Video Format:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Language Tracks:
English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles:
None

Closed Captions:
Yes

Casing:
5-disc Keep Case

Film & Disc Review, Billy Jack: Ultimate Collection
reviewed: 2005-10-22

The Born Losers (1967) (8 out of 10 rating)

Though Tom Laughlin got the idea for the film "Billy Jack" in the early 1950s, he was unable to bring his vision to the screen for nearly 15 years. In the mid 1960s, the drive-ins of America were ripe with Biker films. Laughlin's wife and creative partner Delores Taylor struck upon the idea of placing the Billy Jack character in a Biker film. The project got the green light from indie and B-horror movie producers American International Pictures and the Billy Jack Franchise was born.

Set in Northern California, "The Born Losers" sets Billy Jack against a gang of bikers raping and terrorizing the local teenage girls. Danny (Jeremy Slate) is the head of the gang The Born Losers. Billy Jack is introduced as an e-x Green Beret, half-blood Indian who lives in the woods and breaks horses. Danny and Billy have known each other since childhood. When Billy comes to the rescue of a boy being beaten by Danny's Gang, the childhood rivalry is reborn. The showdown comes when the gang rapes several local teens and a vacationing college girl (Elizabeth James).

In many ways, "The Born Losers" holds up better than the other films in the series. It is pure exploitation, but with something extra. Tom Laughlin had previously directed several indie films as well as having worked for several top directors as an actor. By 1967, Laughlin had developed a story-telling style far superior to many folks who were making Biker films at that time. The seeds of the later Billy jack films are present in the main character, the action sequences and Laughlin's distinct dialogue. Bombshell Jane Russell has a cameo as the mother of one of the raped girls. Laughlin's wife and two children appear as extras in the opening scene. Look for "Billy Jack" actress Susan Foster (Miss Up Yours) as one of the girls raped by the gang.

Billy Jack (1971)(10 out of 10 rating)

The movie "Billy Jack" has had a greater impact on who I am as a person than any movie I have ever seen. In 1971, at the age of 12 I was dealing with the divorce of my parents, the temptation of drugs and life in a violent and spiritually bankrupt home. I saw a trailer for a movie called "Billy Jack." The karate fight appealed to my budding sense of machismo, so I drug my little stepbrother to a matinee. Seeds of a deeper devotion to my Native-American ancestry (1/8 Cherokee), political activism, racial equality and a desire to take up karate (I never did) were planted as Tom Laughlin's independent blockbuster flashed across the screen. My stepbrother and I practiced our newfound, cinematically enhanced Karate skills on trees, fences and mailboxes as we walked home, but inside, I was lost in thought. I've seen the movie over 50 times. I'd like to persuade you to at least see it once.

Set in Arizona, the story revolves around The Freedom School run by Jean Roberts (Delores Taylor, writer/director Laughlin's wife). Jean is a pacifist, whose beliefs are put to the test severely in this film. She is a sensual earth mother who has the gift to keep a level head amid the chaos, which comes her way. She is the mother figure to the kids and the spiritual center of the movie. Jean's school is a haven to kids, troubled or not, who have been rejected by their families or society in general. The only rules are no drugs and each person must create something, preferably something, which makes them proud of their heritage. Even though the school is located on an Indian reservation, it is open to kids of all races, creeds and colors. Needless to say, the school receives a lot of heat from some of the local patriots, most notably, old man Posner (Bert Freed). Posner is the big man in the county. His word is law, and he enforces his mandate with ruthless zeal. The only thing stopping Posner from having free reign in his quest for power is Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin). Billy is a half-breed, Green Beret Vietnam vet who returned to the reservation after the war and acts as the protector of the school and the reservation. Tension between the townfolks and the school comes to a head when Barbara (Julie Webb), the daughter of the town's deputy sheriff, Mike (Kenneth Toby) comes to the school for refuge after a severe beating by her father.

The viewer discovers the magic of the school through the eyes of Barbara, a lost young pregnant girl who compensates for the abuse she has endured with a smart mouth and a cynical outlook on love of any kind, be it platonic or spiritual. She finds herself the object of affection of an Indian youth named Martin (Stan Shaw). Martin teaches her that she can be loved for more than her ability to provide easy sex. Deputy Mike's desire to retrieve his daughter is the plot device, which stokes the fire of conflict between the close-minded townfolks and the enlightened youth of the school. What really makes this movie work is that Laughlin reveals that both sides of this conflict (with a few exceptions) are both closed and open-minded at the same time.

>As the tensions between the town and the school escalate, Laughlin provides an ongoing dialogue about pacifism at any cost versus resorting to violence in defense of good. This old-testament new-testament examination takes place mainly through the interaction of Billy and Jean. The two characters love each other deeply. Billy is a violent man who seeks after a higher plane of existence through his devotion to his Native American spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately he has been scarred by his past and resorts to violence when cornered. There is an old cliche that parents use when they spank their children: "This is going to hurt me a lot more than it will hurt you." I believe this cliche applies each time Billy uses his Hapkido on the rednecks who terrorize the school. The rednecks deserve everything that is coming to them, but Billy is highly conflicted by what he does to them. Leonard Maltin calls Billy Jack "Mr. peace through violence." I think that Mr. Maltin misses the point of the movie. At one time Mr. Maltin gave the movie 3 and 1/2 stars. He later revised his review to give the movie 1/2 of a star. I don't know why his view of the movie changed.

Maltin's later review seems to paint Laughlin as a hypocrite who profits from the very thing he condemns. I have always seen the movie as a condemnation of violence, and an excellent portrayal of how hard it is to change bad habits. I became a Christian at age 34 after many years of self-indulgent promiscuity. Since the change in my life, I can say that old habits die-hard. Billy is a man who killed other human beings in Vietnam and in civilian life (see "Born Losers," the 1967 biker movie which introduced the character of Billy Jack) before the credits even rolled. I'm not such a close-minded fan of the movie that I can't see Mr. Maltin's point as the violence is the film is thrilling. The scene in which Billy takes his right foot and whops Mr. Posner on the side of his face excites the viewer. The karate is a definite selling point to this movie. However, those who condemn the movie on that basis alone remind me of certain members of the religious right who condemned "The Last Temptation of Christ" without even seeing it. "Billy Jack" provokes discussion about hard subjects, just as Scorsese's film did." provokes discussion about hard subjects, just as Scorsese's film did.

"Billy Jack" has a definite political and philosophical point of view, but it does not paint one side as always right and the other as always wrong. This point is illustrated perfectly in the best scene in the movie. In a last ditch effort to stop the juggernaut of violence between the town and the school, both parties agree to address their differences at a city council meeting. Both sides have a strong belief in the democratic way. In this scene, both sides are portrayed warts and all. They are both childish, they are both wise, they are both stubborn, they are both yearning to connect, but not sure how to do it. The movie works because of this scene and other similar ones; Laughlin does not condemn the "everyman" characters who hold political beliefs opposed to him. He nudges the viewer to examine their own beliefs by taking this tact. This is not to say that the movie has no villains. Both Posner and Deputy Mike are villains who have chosen the dark side through their own freewill.

"Billy Jack" took heat and gained credibility for the above mentioned scene and others because Laughlin named names when placing blame for the condition suffered by Native Americans in this country. Laughlin pointed his finger at the Nixon administration and others well before Watergate had been burglarized. Laughlin's courage in pointing fingers almost cost him this movie. An executive at 20th Century Fox took exception to the slur upon Nixon and seized the film. Laughlin's wife, Taylor thought fast and drove to the studio and took the sound track. The Laughlin's threatened to send the studio one reel a week of the sound track (erased!) if their film wasn't returned to them. The studio called their bluff, but backed down after they received the first erased reel from the Laughlin's. All indie filmmakers owe a debt of gratitude to the Laughlin's for their devotion to their vision. Sylvester Stallone's sacrifices to get "Rocky" made pale by comparison to what the Laughlin's went through.

If I have a complaint with the movie, it is the way it deals with the character Bernard Posner (David Roya). Bernard is the twentysomething year-old son of Mr. Posner. He does not have the spine or stomach to be the type of man that his father wants him to be (Evil). Bernard only wants to gain his father's respect, but he must lose his soul to do so. Bernard commits great evil in this movie. I was very disappointed that the viewpoint of Jean's character played less of a role in Billy's dealings with Bernard. I really believe the movie pushes Jean's point of view as the answer to life's difficulties, but the unstoppable force of Billy's personality overwhelms Jean's at times. This fault is understandable because, as in real life, good-intentioned people make mistakes. Billy makes mistakes and pays dearly for doing so. The fact that Billy isn't perfect, nor does the film claim so, is one of the movie's great strengths. There are no supermen or women. Only imperfect people living as best they can. The movie asks the viewer to examine their life and try to do better.

The Trial of Billy Jack (1974)(5 out of 10 rating)

When debating folks on Internet message boards I've been known to say "Thank God we live in a country where they don't shoot you for voicing your opinion." Of course, there was a time when people were being killed for voicing their thoughts. The opening credits of "The Trial of Billy Jack" contain titles reminding viewers of the number of dead and wounded at several National Guard and police shooting at US college campuses including Kent State and Jackson State. The last title reads "Freedom School: 3 Dead, 39 Wounded." Fans of the 1971 film "Billy Jack" know that the Freedom School is run by Jean Roberts, the character played by Deloris Taylor.

At nearly 3-hours, "The Trial of Billy Jack" is over-long by nearly an hour. I anxiously anticipated the sequel to Laughlin's 1971 hit. I saw it on opening night and enjoyed the film. Upon a second viewing, I felt it missed the magic of the original and did not see it again for many years. This makes the fourth time I've seen the movie. I think my thoughts upon my second viewing back in 1974 are still valid. "The Trial of Billy Jack" could have been much better if an hour was trimmed from the running time. Laughlin takes on very important topics such as the My Lai Massacre and Kent State, but he loses track of the human element that made the youth of 1971 connect with his first film. There are too many characters, not doing enough. There is no Martin (Stan Rice) and Barbara (Julie Webb) type characters to empathize with. While "Billy Jack" contained great memorable villains, "Trial" doesn't.

On the plus side, there are great performances by Laughlin and Taylor. Hapkido master Bong Soo Han, who did the incredible fight stunts in "Billy Jack" steps out from his 'double' role and plays an instructor at the Freedom School. There are two good fight scenes. The final massacre is nearly unwatchable because you hate to see these characters gunned down. It is sad to remember that such things once happened in this country. Sad to remember and dangerous to forget.

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)(4 out of 10 rating)

The final film in the series never received a theatrical release. Director Laughlin claimed that a US Senator became outraged at a private screening and told him that the film would never be released. If that was the real reason the movie was never released, then Mr. Laughlin must have gotten too close to some nasty Nuclear secrets in this remake of Frank Capra's classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

I watched this movie expecting not to like it. After all, it was never released. So what if it had several name actors such as E.G. Marshall, Pat O'Brien and Sam Wanamaker in the cast. Having seen the movie, I can say I liked it much more than I thought I would. There are still problems though. Laughlin's script retains much of the naiveté of Capra's Mr. Smith. Jimmy Stewart played a babe in the woods whose inner goodness helps him overcome the corrupt congressmen he faces in Washington. The problem is that anyone who has seen the previous "Billy Jack" films knows that Billy Jack is no babe in the woods. He fought in Vietnam, killed numerous people, witnessed bigotry, racism and violence by those in authority. If anything, Billy Jack should be jaded and cynical. On the flip side, it doesn't make sense that either political party would appoint a person like Billy jack to take over the remainder of a dead Senator's term. No way could a man of his staunch principles be controlled or be expected to turn a blind eye to corruption.

So, you have to really suspend disbelief to get into this story. Like, "Trial" the film is overlong by 40-minutes. A number of the movie's civics lessons could have been trimmed down or restaged. The basic story is still good. Lucie Arnez, E.G. Marshall and Sam Wanamaker all turn in good performances. I was also surprised to see that there was a fight scene. No, it doesn't take place in the Senate Building, but rather a dark warehouse. This time, Jean Roberts puts her hapkido skills to use as she assists Billy Jack in fighting off a group of paid assassins.

The Disc
One great film, one very good film, two so-so films. Excellent picture. Fair sound. Cool Extras!

Picture Quality: 7/10
The first DVD I owned was the previous Billy Jack Collection, which my wife gave me for Christmas (along with a DVD player). I was disappointed that the movies were in Pan and Scan. Thank goodness they have finally been released in widescreen. The transfers were made from the original negatives. There are a number of artifacts, especially in "The Born Losers." The colors are rich and well saturated. There are a few delineation problems, most notably on the "Trial" DVD. Good flesh tones.

Sound Quality: 6/10
The sound on "Washington" is horrendous at times. In places, the soundtrack appears to have been recorded in a wind tunnel. The "2" rating I give the soundtrack of "Washington" brings down the higher ratings of the other three discs. Both "Billy Jack" and "The Born Losers" earned a "10" while "Trial" had a few problems and received a "7."

Easter Eggs:
No Easter Eggs Found on Disc.

Extra Features: 7/10
This could have really been the Ultimate Collection with better extras. All four films include two commentary tracks. One from the earlier boxed set and new one recorded for this release. This time Tom Laughlin and Deloris Taylor are joined by their son Frank. Fans of the series will enjoy the tracks. I learned a lot about the movies that I didn't know before.

Well folks! I finally figured out how to work the "Cut Your Own Fight" and "Book Excerpt" extras! They are both excellent. You must place the DVD in your computer. Right Click on My Computer. When that opens up, Right Click on the D-Drive icon. There is a "Book Except" file. Click on that and 30 pages of the "The Untold Story of the Legend of Billy Jack" will open up in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The except is a nice teaser for the full book which can be purchased at BillyJack.com.

I am so glad I figured out how to open the "Cut You Own Fight" extra. The file includes about 20 or so minutes of Quicktime files. You can download them to your computer to then edit your own fight sequence. The file includes all of the surviving raw footage used to cut the famous hapkido fight in "Billy Jack." I'm working on my version now. You can go to BillyJack.com for details about the "Cut Your Own Fight Contest." Mr. Laughlin told me that they are thinking about the grand-prize winner getting to come to the set of the up-coming fifth "Billy Jack" film and getting a walk-on part. That would be very cool.

There is a nice Making of documentary narrated by Frank Laughlin. The entire story for the making of "Billy Jack" would make an excellent feature length documentary. The DVD also includes a photo gallery and the 1973 re-release TV ads. For die hard fans there is a trivia quiz.

The Final Word:

Fans of the series will want this one for the widescreen feature presentations. I am working on my interview with Tom Laughlin. Check back to the EI main page in the next week for so for the link.

ALIVE (1993)

Alive: 30th Anniversary Edition (1993)
Director(s): Frank Marshall
Movie rating: 7/10
DVD rating: 8/10
DVD Release Date: 10/08/2002
Running Time: 126 minutes
Rating: R
Disc Details

Distributor:
Touchstone

List Price: $19.99

Running Time: 126 minutes

Special Features:
Widescreen letterbox format
Chapter selection
Introduction by Director Frank Marshall
Documentary: "Alive: 20 Years Later"
Featurette: "Return to the Andes"

Video Format:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Language Tracks:
English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Subtitles:
English

Closed Captions:
Yes

Casing:
1-disc Keep Case

Film & Disc Review, Alive: 30th Anniversary Edition
reviewed: 2002-10-08

On October 12, 1972, a rugby team from Uruguay flew over the Andes Mountains to play a team in Chile. They never arrived. The plane loaded with 45 passengers and crewmembers crashed into the side of a mountain and crashed. 72 days later, 16 survivors would be rescued. Their lives were changed forever. Stranded on a glacier, the survivors resorted to cannibalism to survive.

Given the subject matter involved, there are two types of films that could be made from this story. Both films have been made. "Survive" was an exploitation film that came out a few years after the actual events. "Survive" focused on the cannibalistic acts. I remember when these events happened. My 14-year-old mind was repulsed and drawn to the story. I have a vague memory of seeing "Survive" at a drive-in theater back in high school. The movie was a Herschel Gordonesque hodgepodge of gore and agony.

"Alive" is the second type of film that could have been made from these events. "Alive" deals with the cannibalism in a straightforward, non-exploitive manner. The focus of this film is spiritual growth, camaraderie and heroism. Ordinary people striving under extraordinary circumstances has always had the making of good drama. "Alive" almost achieves greatness, however, the limitations of the medium prevent the viewer from truly understanding the inner changes these men went through. I enjoyed "Alive" but rather than satisfying my hunger for knowledge about these events, it merely made me want to read a book on the subject.

The film is beautifully photographed, and includes some good performances. The plane crash at the beginning of the movie is one of the scariest scenes ever put on film. I have never been able to shake from my mind the images of people spilling out of the back of the doomed aircraft, still belted into their seats. Ethan Hawke and Vincent Spano are good as are most members of the large ensemble cast.

The Disc
Good movie. Excellent picture and sound. Good extras. Fair price for what you get.

Picture Quality: 8/10
Nice transfer. The blacks and whites are very good. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of shimmering since most of this movie takes place in the snow. A couple of delineation problems during nighttime scenes prevented me from giving the picture a 10 out of 10

Sound Quality: 10/10
Great soundtrack. The harrowing plane crash scene is a fine example of how great the soundtrack is. The engines of the plane struggle to bring the plane up. Once the plane is cut in thirds by the initial impact, the silence, which replaces the motor̢۪s hum, is truly frightening. The whir of the wind rushing through the cabin as the plane plummets to the ground gave me Goosebumps. I watched that scene several times. Proof that sound adds so much to the visuals. Nice balance between the ranges. No distortion in the low ranges. The sub-woofer is integrated very nicely with the rest of the channels.

Easter Eggs:
No Easter Eggs Found on Disc.

Extra Features: 8/10
"'Alive': 20 Years Later" is an hour-long documentary made during the production of the film. The bulk of this documentary deals with the real life survivors of the "miracle of the Andes." Numerous new interviews, archived stills and news film and behind the scenes looks at the making of the movie make this extra feature almost worth the price of the DVD by itself. This documentary adds a layer of depth the movie itself didn't achieve.

"Return to the Andes" is a short, but moving featurette. Nando Parrado, (portrayed by Ethan Hawke) makes a trip back to the crash site via a mule-team expedition. The journey covers, in reverse, Parrado's path to rescue. The 8-minute film is beautiful in both its scenery and spirituality.

The introduction by director Frank Marshall is useless. He talks for two minutes. Why not take the time to do a commentary track?

A simple, but powerful menu design. A red screen with the movie's title on which a rotating menu of words and definitions appear. The words deal with the film's central issues: tragedy, courage, etc... Easy to navigate. Nice use of sound. The lonesome, unrelenting sound of wind through the mountains repeats over and over.

The Final Word:

I liked the movie. I found it inspirational and exhilarating. The extras fill in some of the voids left by the movie itself. Worth the price of admission.

ALL THAT JAZZ (1979)

All That Jazz (1979)
Director(s): Bob Fosse
Movie rating: 9/10
DVD rating: 9/10
DVD Release Date: 08/19/2003
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rating: R
Disc Details

Distributor:
Fox

List Price: $14.98

Running Time: 123 minutes

Special Features:
Widescreen anamorphic format
Chapter selection
Scene specific commentary by Roy Scheider
Interview with Roy Scheider
Bob Fosse on the set
Theatrical trailer
Sneak peeks

Video Format:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Language Tracks:
English (Dolby Digital 2.0) Surround
French (Dolby Digital) mono

Subtitles:
English, Spanish

Closed Captions:
Yes

Casing:
1-disc Keep Case

Film & Disc Review, All That Jazz
reviewed: 2003-08-19

Bob Fosse's semi autobiographical "All That Jazz" is a powerful portrait of obsession and hard living. The movie garnered nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Director and Actor. The film won four Oscars. Roy Scheider delivers the best performance of his film career as Fosse's alter ego, Joe Gideon.

Joe Gideon juggles opening a new play, post production on a "Lenny" type film, an ex-wife (Leland Palmer), current girl friend (Ann Reinking), new lover (Deborah Geffner) and preteen daughter (Erzebet Foldi). Beneath the surface, Gideon masks his fear with dexedrine and promiscuous sex. Throughout it all, Gideon's biggest obsession is with death. Gideon and Death/Angelique (Jessica Lange) flirt with each other in a series of fantasy/flashback sequences throughout the film. What could have been a relentlessly depressing movie is in fact a fascinating, entertaining and emotionally powerful look into the world of Bob Fosse's inner demons. Mr. Fosse was extremely brave to bare his soul in such a way. Roy Scheider has never been better.

In addition to powerful performances all around, "All That Jazz" boasts outstanding photography, sound and editing. There are a number of classic set pieces. The film's opening 'cattle call' set to George Benson's version of "On Broadway" is probably the film's most famous sequence. Another standout is the first script read through. The focus is on Gideon. The only sounds heard come from Gideon as he smokes, taps his fingers and drums a pencil. The scene shows a man on the edge of oblivion. Powerful filmmaking. "All That Jazz" is also a very erotic film. Gideon will sleep with anything that movies. His sexual obsession works its way into the Broadway show he is choreographing. The 'AirRotica' dance number is wild. Sandahl Bergman is a standout in the sweaty number.

A number of great actors appear in supporting roles. John Lithgow, Keith Gordon, Cliff Gorman, Ben Vereen and Max Wright all add that extra punch the film needs.

The Disc
Great movie, picture and sound. Good extras. Lots of stuff at vanilla DVD prices!

Picture Quality: 9/10
I noticed one instance of pixilation. There is a slight shimmering problem during the 'cattle call' sequence. The stage background is very cool, made up of a pattern of pipes against the wall. The design lends itself to the shimmering problem. Otherwise, a wonderful transfer.

Sound Quality: 10/10
Even though the soundtrack isn't done in 5.1, all is fine. The musical score won the Oscar. Both the original songs and found music are perfect. Nice balance between the ranges.

Easter Eggs:
No Easter Eggs Found on Disc.

Extra Features: 8/10
I was amazed at the number of extras found on this DVD, considering the fact that it only cost $14.98. In addition to the original theatrical trailer, the DVD includes a short interview with Mr. Scheider. Mr. Scheider also provides a scene specific commentary track. I really like the fact that Fox included a commentary track menu. You can go directly to eight specific scenes that Mr. Scheider comments on. The DVD also includes five clips shot on the set of the 'cattle call' sequence, which show Mf. Fosse at work setting up the scenes and working with the actors.

The Final Word:

"All That Jazz" is one of my favorites. This is a powerful, artistic and challenging film. A Must Have DVD!

DESPERATE HOURS (1990)

Desperate Hours (1990)
Movie rating: 6/10
DVD rating: 7/10
Release Date: April 16, 2002
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Rating: R
Distributor: MGM
List Price: $14.95
Disc Details
Special Features: Widescreen anamorphic format.
Chapter selection.
Theatrical trailer.
Video Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
[SS-DL]
Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
Captions: Yes
Casing: 1-Disc Keep Case

Review
In 1990, Michael Cimino's "The Desperate Hours" was released to mixed reviews. In hindsight, I believe a lot of the bad reviews were part of the backlash that hit Mr. Cimino after the "Heaven's Gate" debacle. "The Desperate Hours" was based on the play by John Hayes. The best film version was made in the 50s with Humphrey Bogart and Frederick March. All that history aside, Cimino's version doesn't match the punch of William Wyler's earlier version, but it is still a good psychological thriller.

Michael Bosworth (Mickey Rourke, in the Humphrey Bogart role) is a cold-blooded killer who masks his psychotic tendencies with a suave, reptilian charm. During an attorney visit, his foxy blonde attorney Nancy(Kelly Lynch) smuggles him a gun. He escapes from the courthouse and into a car being driven by his brother Wally (Elias Koteas) and their moronic accomplice Albert (David Morse).

For some unknown reason, Michael rips off Nancy's shirt outside the courthouse and leaves her on the sidewalk. He does this supposedly to show she was a hostage rather than an accomplice. The problem with this premise is that there was a witness to the gun-smuggling. I mention all of this because the bulk of the film concerns Michael taking over the home of an average family as he waits for Nancy to join them. In the original movie the reason for the home invasion was much more plausible. Here, we have a master criminal do something stupid because the script writer had to get him into the house. This is a flaw that the film almost doesn't recover from. It is also a flaw that prevents this remake from being a much better film.

Michael and his gang break into the home of Nora Cornell (Mimi Rogers). Nora's husband Tim (Anthony Hopkins) has left the family. He shows up this day to drop off a birthday present for his son Zack (Danny Gerard). Along with Zack, the Cornells have another child, the foul-mouthed teenage daughter May (Shawnee Smith). Once all of the characters are in place the fun begins. Michael and Tim wage a psychological war against each other for the affection of Nora and the kids. Michael must also keep the psychotic Albert in line. All of this as Michael waits for Nancy. The cop on this case is the tough Fed, Chandler (the wonderful and under used Lindsey Crouse). Chandler has more balls than any three of the men she commands. She is a shoot-first kind of cop when it comes to dealing with this dangerous trio.

I've always liked Camino's attention to detail. From his debut in "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" through "The Deer Hunter" and including "Heaven's Gate" and "The Sicilian," Cimino has brought a precision and insight with his filmmaking. There are a multitude who would disagree with me, but I think he makes interesting movies. In addition to the aforementioned plot hole, I felt the film's biggest liability was Anthony Hopkins' cold fish performance. I never believed that he was ever a part of the Cornell family. He seemed to be in this for the money. I've admitted in past reviews that I am a fan of Mickey Rourke. I've liked what he brings to the screen ever since his cameo as the arsonist in "Body Heat." Yes he plays the same character in nearly every movie he makes, but the character he plays is always cool. If you haven't seen "The Pope of Greenwich Village" with Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts you are in for a treat.

The Disc
I liked the movie, but there are many detractors of this film and the director in general. Good picture and sound. No extras except the trailer. Vanilla price for a vanilla DVD.

Picture Quality: 9/10
This is a beautifully shot movie. There are a few outstanding outdoor scenes involving some of the American West's best grandeur. The scene in which Albert is surrounded by the cops at Yosemite is a standout. Excellent rendering of flesh tones. Kelly Lynch has numerous topless scenes. Any thin woman considering breast implants would do well to look at this movie before having the operation. Ms. Lynch running down the street with her silicon flopping up and down is very artificial and unattractive looking. That has got to hurt. That comment is not aimed at Ms. Lynch personally. She is fine in this movie. Mr. Cimino asked her to do some very debasing things to show how much her character was controlled by Michael. However, her grapefruit looking breasts need work.

Sound Quality: 8/10
The soundtrack is good, just nothing special. It sounds a bit flat at times. There is no loss of dialogue though.

Menu: 5/10
So-so menu. Easy to navigate.

Extra Features: 2/10
The only extra is the theatrical trailer. The price reflects the lack of extras.

The Final Word:
Fans of the movie will snatch this one up. It is only $14.98. I think it is worth the price of admission. It is definitely worth the price of a rental.

WONDERLAND (2003)

Wonderland (2003)
Director(s): James Cox
Movie rating: 8/10
DVD rating: 9/10
DVD Release Date: 02/10/2004
Running Time: 99 minutes
Rating: R
Disc Details

Distributor:
Lion's Gate Home Entertainment

List Price: $26.99

Running Time: 99 minutes

Special Features:
Widescreen anamorphic format
Chapter selection
Commentary by writer/director James Cox and Captain Mauzner
Deleted scenes
LAPD crime scene video
Photo gallery
Court TV: "Hollywood at Large"
Interviews
Wadd: The Life and Times of John C. Holmes: R-Rated version of Cass Paley's documentary film about John Holmes
Sneak Peeks

Video Format:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Language Tracks:
English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles:
English, Spanish

Closed Captions:
Yes

Casing:
2-disc Keep Case

Film & Disc Review, Wonderland
reviewed: 2004-02-02

John Curtis Holmes was a skinny guy with a 13 and 1/2-inch penis. He was the first and greatest male porn star. His fall from grace was gradual and horrific. He went from porn superstardom to drug addiction and death by AIDS. "Wonderland" tells the story of Holmes most infamous moment: his involvement in the murder of four people in July 1981.

James Cox's "Wonderland" is the ultimate cautionary tale. Those considering the quick money of the porn industry and cheap thrills cocaine should watch this harrowing character study. Val Kilmer delivers a great performance as the scrungy junkie. The film joins Mr. Holmes life at the precipice of doom. He hasn't performed in a film for two years. He is a junkie who allows others to use and humiliate him for dope. The film utilizes Kurosawa's "Rashoman" story telling technique. We see a couple of versions of how the murders occurred. Whether Holmes took an active part in the murders is irrelevant. The film shows that people were robbed and murdered because they knew the man.

The supporting cast is great. Lisa Kudrow shows once again that she will have no trouble making the transition to the big screen once "Friends" goes the way of the dinosaur. She is wonderful as Holmes long-suffering wife. Likewise Kate Bosworth is great as Dawn Schiller, Holmes teenage mistress/slave. The real Ms. Schiller is one of the film's producers.

The Disc
Harrowing movie. Great picture, sound and extras.

Picture Quality: 10/10
Excellent transfer. No pixilation, delineation problems or artifacts. The movie captures the lurid, putrid world of these people. The colors capture the rot of decay.

Sound Quality: 10/10
Outstanding soundtrack. The period music rocks. The violence during the movie's climax is sickeningly real. You hear bones crunch. Nice balance between the ranges. No loss of dialogue. Great use of the surroundsound features.

Easter Eggs:
No Easter Eggs Found on Disc.

Extra Features: 10/10
The big extra is the feature length documentary "Wadd: The Life and Times of John C. Holmes." This film paints a portrait of an abused child who grew up to be an insecure man looking for love an acceptance. The sad thing is, he found love and acceptance with his first wife and it wasn't enough. At that point he started thinking with his very large penis and entered the world of porn. There are interviews with many of the people he worked with. The picture that emerges is both fascinating and sad. Holmes was a lost soul who made bad decisions and paid the ultimate price for his choices. The documentary is the R-Rated version. It contains a lot of nudity, but none of the sex scenes found in the NC-17 version.

The most disturbing extra is the LAPD crime scene video from the murder site. It is clinical and gruesome. The filmmakers obviously studied the video as the murders are faithfully recreated. Jonathan Hickman had a problem with the murder scenes in the film. I thought they were chilling, but not as bad as many images found in other films. They were necessary to tell this tale.

The photo gallery has no real purpose. There are short on-set interviews with four of the cast members. They discuss their roles. The "Hollywood at Large" segment is a Court TV promo for the movie combining interviews with filmmakers and real life news coverage of the murders. The commentary track will be of interest to true crime buffs as well as movie fans. The director and one of the lead detectives talk about both the movie and the real crime. Nice points of comparison between the two.

The Final Word:

True crime buffs will want this one. Parents wanting to scare the crap out of their older teens may want to share this also. A dark portrait of life on the seedy side of humanity.