| You’d never know it walking around this city, but there are some of us who don’t have Flames fever. Let’s face it, there is no film lover out there who can take a team called the Mighty Ducks seriously. So, while hockey fans dominate the red mile, cinephiles can hole up at home, avoid the insanity and check out these new releases.
· Bettie Page Varietease (1954, dir. Irving Klaw, Something Weird Video) and Bettie Page Teaserama (1955, dir. Irving Klaw, Something Weird Video) – with Mary Harron’s The Notorious Bettie Page in theatres, there’s no better time to check out some classic striptease from the most infamous raven-haired pin-up of all time.
· The Chess Players (1977, dir. Satyajit Ray, Kino) – Sir Richard Attenborough stars in this classic parable – the first historical drama by one of India’s finest filmmakers looks at the impact of the British government on mid-19th century India.
· Cross of Iron (1977, dir. Sam Peckinpah, Henstooth) – the master of ultraviolence serves up a classic war picture with James Coburn and Maximillian Schell. Comes complete with film scholar commentary.
· Elevator to the Gallows (1958, dir. Louis Malle, Criterion) – Malle’s directorial debut gets a deluxe Criterion treatment. This story of mistaken identity stars Jeanne Moreau and features a score by jazz legend Miles Davis.
· Everything is Illuminated (2005, dir. Liev Schreiber, Warner Independent) – a labour of love for Schreiber, this oddball road picture offers stunning performances by Elijah Wood and Eugene Hutz.
· Farewell, Home Sweet Home (1999, dir. Otar Iosseliani, Kino) – told in vignette style, this award-winning comedy of manners was an entry at Cannes in ’99. Kino is also releasing Monday Morning by Iosseliani.
· Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Volume 3 (1974, Ventura) – Hey, hey, hey. More bad hats, hi-jinks and moral lessons with Albert, Mushmouth and Harold in this classic Saturday morning cartoon series.
· Fists in the Pockets (1965, dir. Marco Bellocchio, Criterion) – painstakingly restored, this nightmarish look at internalized rage is a classic and perverse bit of Italian cinema.
· Human Trafficking (2005, dir. Christian Duguay, Echo Bridge) – Mira Sorvino, Donald Sutherland and Robert Carlyle star in this acclaimed made-for-TV movie about the international sex trade.
· The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (2005, dir. Michael Mabbott, Alliance Atlantis) – East Coast indie music wunderkind Matt Murphy stars in this mock rock doc about legendary country singer Guy Terrifico. Watch for cameos by some of Nashville’s finest.
· Magic (1978, dir. Richard Attenborough, Dark Sky) – in one of the oddest thrillers you will ever see, Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins plays a ventriloquist who slowly loses his mind when his dummy starts talking to him.
· Penn and Teller off the Deep End (2005, dir. Star Price, A&E) – The deadpan standup team of Penn and Teller pull back the curtain to offer more deconstructionist magic tricks.
· The Poseidon Adventure (2005, dir. John Putch, Echo Bridge) – not to be confused with the classic Irwin Allen disaster flick of the same name or the big-screen remake Poseidon coming this summer, this is a straight-to-video knock-off with such heavyweights as Adam Baldwin, Rutger Hauer and Steve Guttenberg. Looks like it’s sinking fast.
· Robert Altman Collection (2006, dir. Robert Altman, 20th Century Fox) – After nabbing a lifetime achievement Oscar, this American auteur gets his own box set featuring M.A.S.H., A Perfect Couple, Quintet and A Wedding.
· Spymate (2005, dir. Robert Vince, Buena Vista) – monkeys are funny, especially when they wear tuxedos. |
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