Stocking Stuffers: Vintage reels for your Xmas creel
By Dennis Hartley
It’s that time of year- for the obligatory Top Ten lists. This week, I thought I would take a look back at some of the best “back catalog” DVD reissues of 2007.
We’ve had a fair amount of “wish list” fulfillment this year, with some rarities making their belated debut on DVD, amongst the inevitable “Definitive Remastering of the Previously Ultimate Restored and Remastered” versions (what’s an obsessive-compulsive/completist to do-buy that new box set, or pay the rent? Oh, the humanity!).
Here are my picks for the Top 10 DVD reissues of 2007 (in no particular ranking order):
Stanley Kubrick – Warner Home Video Directors Series: I’ll let the “aspect ratio” geeks fight it out amongst themselves over whether or not the newly matted widescreen versions of “The Shining”, “Full Metal Jacket” and “Eyes Wide Shut” are anathema to purist sensibilities. The best news is the beautifully restored sound, color, and overall picture quality of all five of the theatrical releases contained in this box set, which also includes “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “A Clockwork Orange”. Each feature sports a companion disc of extras. BTW-all the titles are also available separately; the box set is more economical if you are a Kubrick completist. Hopefully, “Lolita”, “Barry Lyndon”, “Paths of Glory”, “The Killing” and “Killer’s Kiss” are next in line (Criterion’s edition of “Spartacus ” and Columbia’s 2004 remastering of “Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” are fairly definitive).
Straight Time: Ulu Grosbard directed Dustin Hoffman in what is arguably one of the actor’s least gimmicky and most underrated performances in this tough-as-nails 1978 character study about an ex-con, fresh out of stir and trying to adjust to the “outside”. Hoffman is so naturalistic and frighteningly believable as born loser Max Dembo, you feel like you’re watching a documentary at times. The incredible supporting cast includes Theresa Russell, M. Emmet Walsh, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton and Kathy Bates. A pristine transfer and good commentary by director and star do this terrific sleeper justice.
Ace in the Hole – Criterion Collection: It’s been a long wait for hardcore film noir devotees-but Criterion has delivered in spades with this release. Billy Wilder’s cynical masterpiece from 1951 will astound first-time viewers with its prescient themes. Kirk Douglas is perfect as Charles Tatum, a washed up, alcoholic former big-city newspaperman yearning for a comeback. He swears off the booze and sweet-talks his way into a job at a small-town newspaper in New Mexico, hoping that a Big Story will somehow fall into his lap. He gets his wish when he happens across a “man trapped in a cave-in” incident. What begins as a “human interest story” turns into a major media circus, with the opportunistic Tatum pulling the strings as the ringmaster. Brilliant. Nice high-def transfer and bountiful extras.
Days of Heaven – Criterion Collection : Like “Lawrence of Arabia”, this is a film that is probably best appreciated on a real movie theater screen, but Criterion’s gorgeous new transfer of Terrence Malick’s highly-lauded period piece is the next best thing. Nestor Almendro’s breathtaking cinematography is finally afforded a decent showcase here. Only disappointment: the ever-elusive Malick ducks commentary chores once again; we have to settle for chat from the art director, costume designer and casting director. There is an interesting (and quite recent) audio-only interview with star Richard Gere, however.
O Lucky Man! (Two-Disc Special Edition): Malcolm McDowell stars in the middle installment of director Lindsay Anderson’s “Mick Travis trilogy” (bracketed by “If….” and “Britannia Hospital”) a sort of “Pilgrim’s Progress” journey through England’s social landscape of the 1970s, set to Alan Price’s absolutely superb soundtrack. Also co-starring a very young Helen Mirren. A cult favorite for years, it has eluded the DVD format until now. Reportedly, McDowell agreed to do the new commentary track for Warner’s remastered “Clockwork Orange” (see above) only on the condition that they finally let “O Lucky Man!” out of their vaults ASAP. This might explain why the print doesn’t appear to be restored; but I’m sure I speak for fellow devotees of this film when I say I’m just grateful it is finally available!
Shoot the Moon: Director Alan Parker squeezed out this underrated 1982 gem about the bitter disintegration of a marriage in between his higher-profile films “Fame” and “Pink Floyd’s The Wall”, but it is only now seeing the light of day on DVD in 2007. The film does have its detractors; some have dismissed it as a somewhat shrill and shallow exercise. Granted, Bo Goldman’s script does scrimp on character’s motivations at times, but the performances, particularly from Albert Finney and Diane Keaton as the sparring couple and the teenaged Dana Hill as their eldest daughter, resonate in a very real and genuinely heartbreaking way. Also with Karen Allen and Peter Weller. The evocative location photography is used to great effect; the fog-laden, verdant Marin County landscape ostensibly becomes a character in the film-appearing lovely and wistful at the same time. Parker and Goldman provide the commentary track. Excellent transfer.
Jean De Florette / Manon of the Spring – 2 DVD Set: These magnificent films, two distinct parts forming a single epic story arc, represent French director Claude Berri’s crowning achievement. The story takes place in the French countryside, with Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil starring as a well-to-do landowner and his son, whose avarice and ill will causes much toil and trouble for an altruistic hunchback (Gerard Depardieu) and his family, city folk who inherit a neighboring farm. A tragic, lyrical fable, with one of the most emotionally shattering final acts that you will likely ever experience at the movies. Adapted from the novels by Marcel Pagnol. Although these two titles were available on DVD previously, they have been out of print for some time, so I was happy with MGM’s wise decision to reissue them as a “two-fer”. Only complaint: the dreaded two-sided disc.
The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol. 2: Depending on whom you ask, the name “Kenneth Anger” conjures up any number of reactions. The author of the notorious “Hollywood Babylon”. A devoted disciple of Aleister Crowley. A man who counts Dennis Hopper, Jimmy Page and former Manson family associate Bobby BeauSoleil amongst his friends. A provocative and influential film director. “Kenneth who!?” This collection covers the latter part (1964-2002) of the underground raconteur’s astounding, nearly 60-year long career in avant-garde filmmaking. You may not know the name, but you’ve likely felt the influence. Watch 1964’s legendary short “Scorpio Rising” back to back with Martin Scorcese’s “Mean Streets” (just for starters) and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Fantoma’s handsome presentation features a nice booklet with essays from admirers Scorcese, Guy Maddin and Gus Van Sant, as well as wonderfully droll and enlightening commentary from the 75 year old (but still sharp as a tack) Anger. Essential viewing.
Hearts of Darkness – A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse: And you thought you had a bad day at the office! Francis Ford Coppola went way up the river (and pretty much around the bend) during the making of “Apocalypse Now”, and his wife Eleanor was there to watch (while shooting some of her own footage, and at times, even secretly recording intimate conversations with her hubby). Writer-directors Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper took this raw material and assembled an amazing, intense documentary that takes the viewer about as uncomfortably close to the utter madness of filmmaking as most of us would care to get. Many feel that this film is even better than “Apocalypse” itself. This long-awaited DVD release includes a new documentary, er, about the documentary. Gluttons for punishment might consider a double-bill with Les Blank’s “Burden of Dreams”.
Next week: My Top 10 picks for best new films of 2007 (put on your boxing gloves!).
Update:My apologies to Dennis Hartley for mistakenly putting my name at the top of this post. I posted for him and added my name out of habit and in a hurry. digby
