| Wow. Pickin’s are getting pretty slim at the video store. Is there anything to rent besides TV shows and stuff that has already been reissued twice already? Thankfully, yes.
· Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert: Extra Frills Edition (1994, dir. Stephan Elliot, MGM) – This classic queer road movie gets decked out with commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes and bloopers.
· Army of Shadows (1969, dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, Criterion) – Melville and screenwriter Joseph Kessel explore 1940s France during the German occupation in this story about the resistance they were both a part of.
· Becket (1964, dir. Peter Glenville, MPI Home video) – The classic play about a king and his confidant was brought to the big screen with an excellent cast that included Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole and John Geilgud.
· Because I Said So (2007, dir. Michael Lehman, Universal) – Diane Keaton gives the worst performance of this or any year as a mom who can’t keep her nose out of her daughter’s love life. Learn from my mistake and avoid at all costs.
· Circle of Iron (1978, dir. Richard Moore, Blue Underground) – Kung Fu expert and Shaolin monk David Carradine takes on the role that was to be Bruce Lee’s career defining moment. This two-disc edition is loaded with features and docs.
· Days of Glory (2006, dir. Rachid Bouchareb, Weinstein Company) – This French production takes a different look at the Second World War with a band of North African soldiers fighting their way across Europe.
· Fay Grim (2007, dir. Hal Hartley, Magnolia) – In this loose sequel to Hartley’s Henry Fool, Parker Posey plays a bumbling woman caught up in international intrigue when her ex-husband goes missing. The always-curious Jeff Goldblum co-stars.
· Harry and the Hendersons: Special Edition (1987, dir. William Dear, Universal) – John Lithgow gets upstaged by a guy in a Bigfoot suit. Kids in the ’80s loved this stuff.
· The Hitcher (2007, dir. Dave Meyers, Universal) – This Michael Bay-produced remake of the ’80s Rutger Hauer cult horror flick is surprisingly good. Sean Bean plays the relentless hitchhiker who torments two travelling teens.
· The Hustler (1961, dir. Robert Rossen, 20th Century Fox) – Paul Newman stars as pool shark Fast Eddie Felson, who may have met his match in Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). This two-disc edition racks up the features with a seven-person commentary track and a bonus DVD loaded with featurettes.
· Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965, dir. Ishro Honda, Classic Media) – Also known as Godzilla vs. Monster Zero, this is one of the best looking films in the series and the only one where the big green guy does an Irish jig. Awesome.
· Linda Linda Linda (2005, dir. Nobuhiro Yamashita, VIZ Pictures) – Four Japanese girls start a band and learn to rock. It’s a simple premise that made it a film fest fave.
· Porky’s: The Ultimate Collection (1983, dir. Bob Clark, 20th Century Fox) – For years it was the most profitable Canadian film ever, and it had the shower scene that launched a million pubescent fantasies.
· Smokin’ Aces (2007, dir Joe Carnahan, Universal) – Narc director Carnahan assembles an all-star ensemble for a bloody hit-man shoot ’em up. It falls apart at the end, but it’s worth it to see Jeremy Piven as a desperate wannabe gangster and Ryan Reynolds as a bitter FBI agent.
· To Catch a Thief: Special Edition (1955, dir. Alfred Hitchcock, Paramount) – Cary Grant stars in this delightful featherweight thriller as a reformed crook who must prove his innocence, find out who is soiling his rep and win the heart of an evening gown-clad Grace Kelly. It’s a classic for a reason.
· Vengeance is Mine (1979, dir Shohei Imamura, Criterion) – One of Japan’s finest filmmakers explores love and violence in this story of a murderer on the lam who finds solace in the arms of a madam.
· Welcome Back Kotter: Season One (1975, Warner) – Go back to the beginning with the ground-breaking comedy about a group of inner city students and their unorthodox teacher. It’s Head of the Class meets The Marx Brothers, only with more ’70s afros.
· WKRP in Cincinnatti: The Complete First Season (1978, 20th Century Fox) – One of the few sit-coms from the ’70s and ’80s that still holds up, this one tells the crazy story of a second-rate rock radio station and the eccentrics that work there. Note: the original music has been replaced in some cases. Damn DVD license fees. |
Copyright ©2007 FFWD. All rights reserved.