May 29: Video View column
When in his prime and at his best, Dustin Hoffman starred in “Straight Time” (1978). Unfortunately, hardly anyone saw the R-rated picture.
“Straight Time” (Warner; $19.99) recently made its awaited DVD debut, and anyone seeking a lean, mean overlooked dramatic gem might want to find it.
Based on the novel “No Beast So Fierce” by ex-convict Edward Bunker, the film follows a career criminal, the ill-fated Max Dembo (Hoffman), who’s just out of prison after a six-year term for armed robbery and heading back to Los Angeles. It’s clear from the start that his path to living a straight life will provide impossible challenges.
Director Ulu Grosbard opens with Dembo spending his time in neon-lit food joints, starkly furnished employment offices and a filthy apartment. Using oppressive dingy green and brown tints, Grosbard creates a depressing environment that offers few joys and even fewer hopes.
Dembo is befriended by a pleasant placement worker (Theresa Russell of “Black Widow”) but any signs of optimism she gives him are crushed by a cruel parole officer (M. Emmett Walsh of “Blood Simple”). Using the slimmest evidence, the parole officer threatens Dembo with another prison sentence, a threat that sends the ex-con into a violent rage and a downward spiral.
In a brave and bold move, Hoffman never softens Dembo and plays him as an unsympathetic character. Top talents in supporting roles include Harry Dean Stanton (HBO’s “Big Love”), Gary Busey (“Big Wednesday”) and Kathy Bates (“Misery”).
The edgy “Straight Time” isn’t for everyone, but those who want to see Hoffman at his best deserve to discover the lost film.
Another film dealing with crime and punishment, “Prince of the City: Two Disc Special Edition” (Warner; $19.99, DVD), has also arrived in stores.
The fact-based tale (1981), directed by Sidney Lumet (“Serpico”), concerns a New York detective (Treat Williams of “Hair”) who agrees to gather evidence on corrupt cops and then becomes caught in an inferno of paranoia, self-loathing and fear.
The dramatically complicated R-rated picture, which runs 157 minutes, features numerous supporting players – including Lindsay Crouse, Bob Balaban and the late Jerry Orbach – and demands strict attention. Williams never received the credit he deserved for his intense performance, though this DVD does the actor, the director and the film justice.
A re-mastered ‘Rush’
Two action-comedy favorites now provide added kick due to digital makeovers.
“Rush Hour” and “Rush Hour 2” (New Line; $14.99, each; now available), both starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, have been released in new re-mastered editions with behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.
The PG-13 titles also include a sneak peek at “Rush Hour 3,” which re-teams Chan and Tucker. The third installment will open in theaters Aug. 10.
A ‘Blu’-tiful ‘Revenge’
Tony Scott, whose credits include “Top Gun,” “Beverly Hills Cop 2,” “True Romance” and “Man on Fire,” had the opportunity to re-master one of his favorite films with “Revenge: Unrated Director’s Cut” (Columbia; $28.99, Blu-ray Disc; now available).
Quentin Tarantino refers to “Revenge,” originally released in 1990, as the British filmmaker’s “masterpiece,” and Scott is brutally honest in a commentary in which the director discusses how old-school producer Ray Stark, best known for broad-based hits such as “Funny Girl,” “The Sunshine Boys” and “Annie,” forced him to delete much of the sex and violence from the tale and turn the original cut into a much longer, much slower traditional thriller.
Kevin Costner stars as a retired naval pilot who visits an old friend in Mexico (Anthony Quinn, who was 79 at the time of filming) and falls in life with the man’s much younger wife (Madeleine Stowe). Sparks fly almost immediately, and Quinn’s character, who’s a proud and powerful mob kingpin, brutally punishes both of them.
Scott, who describes “Revenge” as a story of “forbidden love and betrayal,” complains that Stark forced him to add pages of dialogue to explain the back stories of the characters.
This version runs 30 minutes shorter than the 124-minute original R-rated theatrical release. Scott notes that it was important to quicken the pace to show the intense passion that drives the sexually obsessed main characters.
Scott also calls this cut his “extreme version” of “Revenge,” which he notes is about sex, not love.
The director is known for his attention to visual detail, and the Blu-ray version captures the heated landscapes and situations in “Revenge,” an imperfect but still unforgettable film. (A standard DVD edition of “Revenge: Unrated Director’s Cut” is also available for $19.99.)
Classic collections
“The Sergio Leone Anthology” (MGM; $89.99, DVD; June 5) with double-disc, re-mastered editions of the spaghetti Westerns “A Fistful of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More,” “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (all with Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name) and “Duck, You Sucker” (aka “A Fistful of Dynamite”) with James Coburn (“Our Man Flint”) and Rod Steiger (“In the Heat of the Night”). “Duck, You Sucker” (1972) is making its DVD debut. Each title has been digitally re-mastered in anamorphic wide-screen and is also available individually ($26.99 each).
“World War II: Collection Vol. 2” (Warner; $59.99, DVD; June 5) with “Air Force” (1943) with John Garfield, “Command Decision” (1948) with Clark Gable, “Hell to Eternity” (1960) with Jeffrey Hunter, “The Hill” (1965) with Sean Connery, “36 Hours” (1964) with James Garner and Rod Taylor, and “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” (1944) with Spencer Tracy and Robert Mitchum. Each black-and-white title is making its DVD debut and can be purchased individually ($19.99).
Now Playing!
The following DVD titles either are coming soon or recently landed at a video store near you.
If your local outlet doesn’t stock them, the DVD offerings can be mail ordered by calling (800) 523-0823 or going to the Web site moviesunlimited.com or amazon.com, unless otherwise noted.
Movies
“Above the Law” (Genius; $19.99, DVD; May 29) with Cynthia Rothrock (“China O’Brien”) in an unrated action thriller, directed by Corey Yuen (co-director of “The Transporter”), about a vigilante tracking down those who murdered a family.
“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Extra Frills Edition” (MGM; $19.99, DVD; June 5) with Guy Pearce (“Factory Girl”), Hugo Weaving (“The Matrix”) and Terence Stamp (“The Limey”) in a comedy road picture about three drag queens trying to get along together during a long trip through the Australian outback to perform at a new casino.
“Be My Baby” (Monarch; $26.99, DVD; May 29) with Julia Duffy (“Intolerable Cruelty”) and Brody Hutzler (TV’s “Days of Our Lives”) in a PG-13 chiller about a single woman who seduces a married man and a year later claims to have had his baby and blackmails him for support.
“Fail Safe” (Warner; $19.99, DVD; June 5) with George Clooney (“Syrianna”) and Noah Wyle (TV’s “ER”) in a Cold War thriller about a jet pilot who has been mistakenly ordered to drop nuclear bombs over Russia. The thriller, which was originally performed live on TV in April 2000, co-stars Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”), Harvey Keitel (“Pulp Fiction”) and Sam Elliott (“We Were Soldiers”).
“Hannibal Rising: Unrated” (Genius; $29.99, DVD; May 29) with Gaspard Ulliel (“A Very Long Engagement”) in a prequel to “The Silence of the Lambs” that shows how torture and mistreatment turned Hannibal Lecter into a serial killer with cannibalistic tendencies. The film is adapted from Thomas Harris’ novel. An R-rated version with the theatrical cut will also be available.
“My Brother” (Vivendi; $24.99, DVD; May 29) with Vanessa Williams (TV’s “Ugly Betty”), Fredro Starr (“Save the Last Dance”), Tatum O’Neal (“Basquiat”) and Nashawn Kearse (TV’s “Desperate Housewives”) in a PG-13 drama about a dying mother trying to make sure that her two sons – one of whom is developmentally disabled – are adopted together.
“Rain” (Vivendi; $24.99, DVD; May 29) with Faye Dunaway (“Chinatown”), Khandi Alexander (TV’s “CSI: Miami”) and Robert Loggia (“Jagged Edge”) in an unrated drama about a poor 19-year-old (Brooklyn Sudano) who, through a twist of fate, discovers that she has a wealthy grandmother and is given the resources to hone her skills as a singer-musician. It’s based on the novel by V.C. Andrews.
“Shanghai Express” (Genius; $19.99, DVD; May 29) with Yuen Biao (“Project A”) in a PG-13 martial arts action comedy, directed by Sammo Hung (“Martial Law”), about numerous gangs planning to rob a train carrying rich passengers.
Documentary
“Cannes: All Access” (Genius; $24.99, DVD; now available) with critic Richard Schickel looking at the legendary film festival on its 60th anniversary. Those interviewed include Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone and Robin Williams.
“Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders” (Magnolia; $26.99, DVD; June 5) with filmmaker James D. Scurlock directing a documentary that looks at the modern financial industry and reveals the personal stories behind massive consumer credit-card debt.
“The Prisoner Or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair” (Magnolia; $26.99, DVD; June 5) with Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein co-directing a documentary that follows Iraqi journalist Yunis Khatayer Abbas who is mistakenly identified as an assassin and sent to Abu Ghraib Prison for allegedly plotting the death of the British leader.
“Secrets of the Code” (Sony; $24.99, DVD; June 5) with Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) narrating a documentary on the controversy surrounding writer Dan Brown’s wildly popular book, “The Da Vinci Code,” and its film adaptation.
Television
“The Closer: Season Two” (Warner; $39.99, DVD; May 29) with Kyra Sedgwick in a four-disc set with all 14 episodes from the sophomore season about a no-nonsense, CIA trained detective who uses her interrogation skills to solve cases in Los Angeles’ special unit, the Priority Murder Squad.
“The Henry Rollins Show: Season 1” (Genius; $22.99, DVD; June 5) with Rollins assaulting audiences with his views on art, politics, pop-culture, music and film. The three-disc set includes Rollins interviewing Oliver Stone, Jeff Bridges, Billy Bob Thornton and Kevin Smith. Also available is “Henry Rollins: Uncut From NYC” (Genius; $19.99, DVD; June 5) with Rollins on a visit to Town Hall during his spoken-word tour featuring his uncensored commentary on various subjects.
“Hex: The Complete First Season” (Sony; $49.99, DVD; June 5) with Christina Cole (“Casino Royale”) in a three-disc set with 10 episodes from the BBC America series about a shy schoolgirl who discovers her magical powers and uses them to fight the devil.
n “Seinfeld: Season 8” (Sony; $49.99, DVD; June 5) with Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander in a four-disc set featuring all 22 episodes – including the popular titles “The English Patient,” “The Yada Yada” and “The Muffin Tops” – from the hit sitcom’s eighth year.
Children/Family
Two volumes – “All Revved Up!” and “Fun Around Every Curve” (HBO; $14.99 each, DVD; now available) – with the voices of Hugh Laurie (TV’s “House”) and Kathy Najimy (Sister Act”). Each volume contains three episodes of HBO Family’s “Stuart Little: The Animated Series,” which is based on the hit movies about a resourceful mouse.