Tag: DVD

GOD’S OWN COUNTRY – Review

 

 

GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is award-winning British independent film, a romantic drama set in a windswept rural landscape of northern England, where a young gay man struggles with working the family farm and angrily drifts through life, until an immigrant arrives as a temporary hired hand and changes the young farmer’s view on life. In this contemporary film set in the sheep farming area of rural northern England, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is a tale of self-discovery and unexpected love.

The film, the first from writer/director Francis Lee, debuted at Sundance in 2017 and was well received at other film festivals, winning awards for the film, its script and lead actor Josh O’Connor. It is being released in theaters in Britain on Jan. 29 but it is available in the U.S. on Blu-ray, DVD and digitally starting the same day from Lionsgate and Picturehouse Entertainment.

Johnny Saxby (Josh O’Connor from THE DURRELLS) resents his life of constant routine, tending to the family farm on his own since his father Martin became disabled while his grandmother Deidre cares for him. At night, Johnny gets drunk at the local pub and engages in casual sex. It is hard to tell if Johnny is a teen or young adult in his hoodie, driving a 4-wheeler to care for the cows, and getting drunk in town every night. Johnny gets the work done, but his grandmother scolds him in the morning about the drinking and his partly disabled dad criticizes him about how he does the chores. There is a sense of anger and resentment among all the family members who nonetheless know they need each other to run the farm.

When dad tells Johnny he has hired an immigrant as a temporary worker during lambing season. it is one more thing for Johnny to resent. When he picks up the hired hand, Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu), at the bus station, Johnny is surly and he quizzes him about where he’s from. When the polite newcomer says Romania, Johnny promptly calls him a Gypsy, not a promising start. Later, when the two men are sent off a remote part of the farm to work with the lambs being born, things change.

The immigrant changes the life of young Johnny but not because he discovers he is gay – he already knows that, as well as some friends in the village, and no one seems to pay much attention to that. The casual sex he has is with other young men, but he makes no emotional connection with them. He really connects emotionally with no one. When he runs into an old school friend outside the pub where he gets drunk nightly, a woman who has left for college but is back on break, he resists her friendly invitation to join her and friends, a conversation indicates she knows he’s gay. When he refused, she says he used to be fun but Johnny snarls that was before he had to deal with the real world.

No, it is not his sexuality that Johnny discovers but love and a grown-up perspective. What the newcomer changes for Johnny is his view of his life, breaking him out of prolonged adolescence and letting him grow up and take charge of his life as adult, one who can meet responsibilities as well as have control of his life’s direction. It is the kind of life-changing experience that finding love can be for anyone, gay or straight.

 

GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is two films, in a way. On one hand, this film is a beautiful romance, full of sweeping vistas and two attractive people falling in love, like any love story, just that this couple happen to be gay. On the other hand, it is a voyage of self-discovery, a kind of coming-of-age story, in which a young man helping his aging family begins to see what he is doing from an adult’s rather than child’s viewpoint, seeing his situation with new eyes. The way that story is resolved is refreshing, because it has Johnny taking on a new role rather than just leaving and running away to a new life, as many films do. Instead, the immigrant helps him see what he already has and changes the whole picture for everyone.

Beautiful photography of a brooding, windswept landscape, which is showcased in several scenes. The gorgeous scenery is one reason to see this film. An attractive cast is another reason, and there are a few gay sex scenes and frontal male nudity.

The acting is strong. Josh O’Connor is the main focus but all four primary cast members creating rounded and ultimately sympathetic characters. We learn less about Gheorghe than Johnny but we do sense a gentleness and a sadness in him. He also grew up on a farm, and enjoys the work but something changed that forced him to leave. Gheorghe treats the animals with an affection and concern Johnny does not always show towards them, at least at first. Asked if he will go back home, Gheorghe says no, and adds “My country’s dead. You can’t throw a rock in most towns without hitting an old lady crying for her children who have gone.” It is a poignant moment.

One difficulty some American audiences might have is understanding the thick northern English accents, but generally the meaning of scenes comes through, even if you do not catch every word. The DVD and Blu-ray include some extras, deleted scenes or extended scenes from the film as well as the trailer.

GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is a film that exceeds the expectations of just a gay romance in a windswept, ruggedly romantic location, by offering fine performances and a touching tale of self-discovery.

RATING: 3 out of 5 stars

THE AMBASSADOR – The Blu Review

The Movie –

Watch any number of political thrillers or espionage films and you’ve undoubtedly seen more than a few ambassadors portrayed on screen, but when it comes to real life, how much do we really know about these appointed figures who seem to be untouchable? I can imagine at some point, this very same thought went through the head of Danish journalist Mads Brugger. Whatever his motivation, the journalist turned filmmaker turned his investigative eyes and ears toward the connection between ambassadorship to the Central African Republic (CAR) and the lucrative smuggling of blood diamonds out of the country.

The term “blood diamonds” refers to diamonds that have been illegally exported from war-torn countries without authorization. If you’ve seen Edward Zwick’s 2006 film BLOOD DIAMOND, then you may have a sensationalized idea of what goes on in this region of Africa. What Brugger does is to take the viewer into the heart of the CAR first-hand, to witness for themselves what Hollywood can only dramatize for entertainment. Here’s the catch… Mads Brugger is a tall, lanky, pale-skinned, red-haired, white European voluntarily entering into one of the most dangerous regions of Africa, posing as the Liberian ambassador to CAR and a businessman seeking to open a match factory in the country. This, of course, is all 100% false and by doing so puts his life in great peril… all for the purpose of hopefully constructing a documentary that reveals the darker side of the diamond trade and it’s affiliation to European ambassadors.

The $64,000 question: Does Mads pull it off? Let’s break this down into two categories; the entertainment factor and the informational/educational factor. Imagine, if you will, you look like Conan O’Brien shaved bald and you’re in the heart of “blood diamond” territory pretending to be a wealthy businessman seeking ambassadorship. Where do you start? Mads takes the viewer on the jaw-dropping, often awkwardly humorous five-cent tour of this process of enlisting an “agent” to acquire for you a position as ambassador with the necessary paperwork by way of bribes to government officials. Hilarious, right? In fact, it is, but its also incredibly frustrating. The film is entertaining, yes, but more importantly, the film opens the flood gates of exposure to a world we’ve only been able to speculate on, until now.

THE AMBASSADOR is like watching Sacha Baron Cohen’s BRUNO (minus the sexual references) and THE DICTATOR mashed up into one movie that tells a true story. At times, the film is almost difficult to believe, but the remainder of the film is proof unto its own validity. Apparently, some have questioned whether THE AMBASSADOR is staged, but after seeing the film twice now, I’ve concluded for myself that Brugger’s film is sincere. Each viewer will have to make this call on their own, as I cannot expect you to take my word on the matter. Another element of the film viewers may find oddly alluring is the uncanny similarity Brugger’s narration has to the like of Werner Herzog’s documentaries.

How did he do it? Brugger — the businessman — employs a “press photographer” to follow and record his business dealings for the benefit of his investors. This, of course, is actually Johan Stahl Winthereik, his cinematographer. The third member of Brugger’s tiny entourage is a woman he passes off as his executive assistant. For the more volatile scenes requiring creative recording, Brugger’s team uses pinhole cameras hidden in his clothes or in wall fixtures, whatever it takes to capture the kind of audio/video footage that makes this film so damning for those involved. I know that fear can make a person do things previously unfathomable, but how Brugger is able to keep his cool so convincingly throughout the film is amazing. Even the moments when he seems nervous or uncomfortable, he comes off as just another businessman upset about a deal possibly going south. I would love to have Brugger’s constitution.

THE AMBASSADOR will have viewers wondering many things, but at the top of that list is the question, “How can this happen, and how does it continue to happen?” Hopefully, Brugger’s documentary will be the catalyst for change, the tipping point at which progress in the region is made toward peace and an end to corruption inflicted by African leaders and backed by certain European governments.

The Extras –

THE AMBASSADOR blu-ray includes the theatrical trailer for the film, as well as a 16-page booklet. The cherry on top, however, is the audio commentary by director Mads Brugger. In his own words, this is Brugger’s first audio commentary and this shows. His delivery is dry, but highly informative. Once you’ve seen the film, I adamantly express the necessity to re-watch the film — immediately, if possible — with the audio commentary engaged.

This is essential because Brugger gives so much more information than is available through the film on its own. Even the tiniest of details about his experience and the process of making the film offer a deeper insight into the experiment as a whole. I say experiment, because this gonzo-style of journalistic documentary filmmaking has never really been done on this level. While the audio commentary lacks the usual supply of humorous anecdotes, it offers an impeccable supply of first-hand knowledge that adds priceless value to the viewing experience.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Video Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English – Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)
Subtitles: English

  • Single 25GB Blu-ray Disc
  • Digital copy (as download)
  • 16-Page Booklet

Image Entertainment and Drafthouse Films bring THE AMBASSADOR to DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012.

DOCTOR BLOOD’S COFFIN – The DVD Review

The fine folks at the MGM Limited Edition DVD-R dove deep into their vaults to present a groovy sixties ghoulfest on DVD for all you fear fans. DOCTOR BLOOD’S COFFIN was a staple of late night TV and horror hosts for several decades ( Chicago’s Svengoolie featured it 1998 ). It’s bright color photography made it a valuable asset to stations wanting a break from the black and white classics. Of course COFFIN may owe its existence to the success of Hammer Films’ color fright fests of the late 1950’s. After the box office numbers generated by these new takes on Frankenstein and Dracula, many other British studios wanted a piece of the growing thriller audience. Caralan Productions even went as far as hiring the beautiful ( and buxom ) Hazel Court ( Peter Cushing’s doomed love from Hammer’s hit THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN ) as the leading lady. Perhaps due to budgetary constraints, COFFIN is set in the modern world of 1961 and not the late 1800’s of the Baron and the Count.

The pre-title sequence is set in an operating chamber where a man ( identity hidden by surgical garb ) works feverishly on his subject. Suddenly someone barges in and berates the medical student ( turns out that this is a college ) for his unauthorized experiments. After the credits we cut to a sleepy seaside Cornish village where several local men have gone missing. The town’s physician, kindly old Doc Robert Blood ( Ian Hunter ), assists the local constable, with the help of his loyal, lovely nurse, Linda Parker ( Court ). To everyone’s surprise the old doc’s son Peter ( Kieron Moore ) returns from his medical studies ( Hmmm…. ) to help Pop with his practice ( and romance the lovely Nurse Parker ). The prodigal’s arrival adds to the mystery which involves the use of the poison curare and live organ transplants!

COFFIN has a couple interesting names behind the camera. Another Hammer regular, Phillip Martell was the musical director. Future film director Nicholas Roeg ( DON’T LOOK NOW ) gained some film credits as a camera operator. Screenwriter Nathan Juran toiled behind the scenes on several 1950’s SF epics along with penning the script to cult fantasy film fave JACK THE GIANT KILLER. The COFFIN alum with the longest lasting future film career may be director Sidney J. Furie who continues working to this day. Later in the decade he made the spy classic THE IPCRESS FILE with Michael Caine. The 70’s brought LADY SINGS THE BLUES and GABLE AND LOMBARD, while the 80’s had the IRON EAGLE films and the notorious SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE. For the last few years Furie has balanced feature films with work for the small screen ( ” VIP ” and ” Lonesome Dove: The Series” ).

The disc is bare bones without any of the bonus features bells and whistles, but it is a sharp clear picture transfer with excellent audio. The color really pops particularly the reds,  from the crimson covered scalpels to Ms. Court’s fiery locks. The film itself may seem a tad stodgy to modern horror audiences with a fairly awkward climax ( perhaps the budget had been spent by the time they shot it ). You do get a lumbering monster in gruesome make-up played by Paul Stockman ( now there’s a last name to send chills down the spine ) appearing in the final moments. So, if you’re in the mood for some old-fashioned frights whip up some popcorn, and drop in DOCTOR BLOOD’S COFFIN.  As Joe Flaherty’s immortal SCTV character Count Floyd would say, ” Ooooo scary, kids! “.

 

 

 

 

THE GREY – The Blu Review

The Movie: From the very first moments of THE GREY, there is a stark realization that the stark bleakness of the film’s setting is directly complimentary to the story being told. The cold, harsh, brutal weather of the northernmost wilderness sets the stage for a tragic journey of survival. Co-written and directed by Joe Carnahan (SMOKIN’ ACES, THE A-TEAM) and written by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, the film is adapted from Jeffers’ short story entitled “Ghost Walker.”

THE GREY, at it’s most primal, is a story of man versus nature, but more specifically man versus beast, as a handful of oil workers who survive a place crash must battle the bitter cold and a relentless and hungry pack of wolves for survival. Led by Ottway, the group of men must comes to terms with each other and their own demons as they witness their own numbers gradually decline by the fangs of their canine counterparts. On this level, THE GREY is a terrifyingly horrific tale of a scenario far too easy to imagine in real life. On the other hand, THE GREY is a curiously uplifting human saga that carries with it a certain amount of triumph and epiphanal

Liam Neeson (TAKEN, UNKNOWN) plays Ottway, a poacher with a guilty conscience working security for an oil company in the great white north, tasked with keeping the savage wild wolves from making the workers their lunch. Ottway is an intelligent, tough and resourceful man. He is a peaceful man by nature, but not a man you’d want to make angry. Neeson gives Ottway a quiet intensity that defines the role, creating a character that an audience admires and cares about, despite his gruff demeanor. Neeson is an actor that can say as much with his face as he can with words and this role is no exception.

The group of survivors led by Ottway includes Diaz (Frank Grillo), Hendrick (Dallas Roberts), Flannery (Joe Anderson), Burke (Nonso Anozie), Hernandez (Ben Bray), Lewenden (James Badge Dale), and Talget (Dermot Mulroney). This small group of hardened men, some weak and some strong, clash as often as they unite in their combines struggle. Each of them have something to lose, something they long to return to, except for Ottway who seems resigned to imminent death, willing to let that fate overcome him if not for his ingrained sense of duty to ensuring the survival of the other men.

THE GREY is an extremely well written, well directed and well acted film, but a great injustice would be done if I were not to apply due emphasis on the look and sound of this fantastic film. Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi (WARRIOR) captures the Alaskan wild with unflinching realism, setting aside the more serene, peacefully dangerous depiction of films like INTO THE WILD for a barren, unruly landscape brutalized by blistering winds and blinding horizontal snowfall. Much of the most brutal weather depicted in THE GREY was captured on locations without the assistance of fans or special effects, a frightening thought in and of itself. The landscape becomes a character, another antagonist through the lens of a master cinematographer. Composer Marc Steitenfeld, whose work will soon be featured in Ridley Scott’s upcoming PROMETHEUS, indulges the audience with a score so fittingly bleak while also subtly emotional that it’s presence is as equally easy to overlook as it is significant to the film’s success. However, Carnahan understands the appropriate use of this tool when he chose to leave the music out of the mix during what is perhaps the best scene in the entire film.

While there is plenty of wilderness action, suspense and beastly terror, THE GREY shines most vividly in it’s most human moments. One of these moments is during Ottway’s reflection on his relationship with his father and a simple but powerful poem his father wrote for him as a boy. This poem carries a great deal of weight throughout the film. The other is perhaps one of the best, most realistic and thoughtful depictions of death as it occurs I have seen in many years on film. This moment takes place shortly after the plane crash occurs and offers a fascinating insight into Ottway and his perspective on life. Overall, THE GREY is as touching as it is frightening, it is as much a sad film as it is a testament to hope and personal strength. It is a film about the human will.

The Extras: THE GREY blu-ray doesn’t have a ton of special features, but what it does have proves to be worth watching. Hey, it’s better than nothing, which is hos far too many films gets packaged to blu-ray in a rush to capture home viewing sales. Start out your blu-ray experience by watching the film (of course) unless you saw THE GREY in the theater. If so, jump directly to the deleted scenes — six in total — where you’ll get a healthy serving of scenes cut from the finished film. These deleted scenes do not come with an optional commentary, however some of these scenes are actually addressed in the feature-length audio commentary.

The feature-length audio commentary for THE GREY is a good time, recorded with co-writer/director Joe Carnahan and editors Roger Barton and Jason Hellmann. From the very beginning, it’s clear that you’ll have a good time listening to these laid back filmmakers. Joe Carnahan shakes his glass of ice, pointing out that they’re enjoying some Scotch while recording the commentary and what follows is a string of interesting, often humorous, anecdotes and off-the-cuff remarks about the filmmaking process and those involved.

>>>>>>> MINOR SPOILERS BELOW <<<<<<<

One of the most interesting things gleaned from the audio commentary comes from Joe Carnahan, when he explains how after seeing the film, his wife suggests that Ottway (Liam Neeson) is the only survivor of the plane crash and the other survivors are merely facets of his own mind, projections of different aspects of his personality, whereas as not only is Ottway in a struggle against nature — the cold/the wolves — but, that he is also in a struggle with himself. Carnahan goes on to explain how he had never thought of this prior to his wife pointing this out, but that it had a significant affect on how he viewed his own film afterward. I have to agree, as I watched the film again after enjoying the commentary. Viewing the film with this concept in mind changes the experience and gives the film a noticeably different appeal, less focused on the action and suspense and allows the viewer to delve deeper into the philosophical implications of the story.

Finally, THE GREY blu-ray also touts the following “bonus features” as described by Universal:

  • UltraViolet
  • Digital Copy
  • U-Control w/ Picture-in-Picture
  • pocket BLU App
  • BD-Live

THE GREY 2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack hits store shelves on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

37 Reasons (in a row) Why Kevin Smith Should Present STUCK LIKE CHUCK

In 2005 I waited over 5 hours on line in Red Bank, NJ to meet Kevin Smith. Not only did he sign my merch but he also spent a good 30 seconds trying to carefully remove a price sticker from my DVD slipcover. It amazed me that he cared about something so insignificant but it also perfectly illustrated just how much he cares about his fans. This actually calmed my nerves enough to work up the courage to ask Kevin for advice. He offered up a nugget of wisdom that changed my life forever.

“Write about stuff that matters to you because it always winds up mattering to someone else. And write cheap.”

Those words have been firmly planted in the back of my head ever since. A few years later I began working on my first feature, a no-budget rom-com about college life called STUCK LIKE CHUCK. It played a few festivals, won some awards and received some rave reviews but never saw an official release. When Phase 4 Films & SModcast Pictures announced the creation of a “Kevin Smith Presents…” distribution label, I knew this was the opportunity I have been waiting for. I submitted SLC the day I read the announcement but with thousands of submissions to sift through, it couldn’t hurt to stand out. So without further ado, I give you the official trailer for STUCK LIKE CHUCK, followed by 37 reasons why Kevin Smith & Phase 4 should release it!

http://vimeo.com/37945194

1. Simply put, SLC wouldn’t exist without Kevin Smith. That is not to say that I wouldn’t still be making movies but my first effort probably would have been much different.

2. While heavily influenced by Kevin Smith, SLC is not some second-rate CLERKS. ripoff. It is also not a film just for fans of Kevin Smith. It stands on its own.

3. That being said, there are enough View Askew references in the film to make a drinking game out of it.

4. $2,500. That was our total production cost and we proudly wear that budget on our sleeve. In a world of million-dollar “indies” we truly are the underdog.

5. I hope to inspire people to get off their ass and make a movie much like Kevin Smith has done for me. This would be a pretty damn good way to start.

6. My favorite part of screening SLC is the Q & A that follows. I am not quite the public speaker that Kevin is but I did get an A in Basic Speech Communications in college.

7. B-movie icon Lloyd Kaufman called SLC “The best two person conversation since Louis Malle’s MY DINNER WITH ANDRE.” This is probably because he has a hilarious cameo in the film but it just may be that this film is actually a modern masterpiece.

8. Speaking of cameos, I cannot officially confirm that Chris Elliott has a brilliant surprise cameo as the world’s worst film professor but why would I even bring it up if it wasn’t true?

9. SLC premiered at the 2009 SINY Film Festival & took home Audience Choice Comedy. Later that year, SLC inspired the creation of the Indie Spirit Award at the Orlando Film Festival. In 2010, the award was renamed the Jerry Cavallaro Indie Spirit Award.

10. I am an open book. I’m willing to reveal anything about myself, especially if it is informative or at least makes for a funny anecdote. My two specialties are stories about how to fail in the industry and how my own insecurity sabotages every chance I get of having sex.

11. Related to #10, I am in fact a virgin and this could possibly get me laid. But probably not.

12. Extremely rare for an indie film with such a low budget, SLC features 3 lead actors who can actually act. Our very own Jocelyn DeBoer has even gone on to become a rising star at UCB & CollegeHumor.

13. Similarly, we have a pretty damn good soundtrack featuring bands like Army of Freshman, Alex Goot, Sail By The Stars and the comedy stylings of Stuckey & Murray. All of the music is cleared & used with full permission of the owners.

14. Close to 8 hours of bonus material already exist for the film including 33 minutes of deleted scenes, a Christmas special & a very unique behind the scenes doc that actually runs longer than the film.

15. In addition to our badass trailer above, a series of promo videos also exist including this infomercial-style teaser:

http://vimeo.com/36677247

16. I’m 23 years old. The same age Kevin Smith broke onto the scene with CLERKS. Coincidence?

17. While the film’s target audience is the 18-35 demographic, the film has done surprisingly well with older crowds. After one particularly strange screening, an elderly woman told me the film was reminiscent of when her husband was “courting” her. In case you were wondering, it never gets less weird watching old people laugh at blowjob jokes.

18. The flick is gender neutral. It has traditional rom-com elements but also a lot of raunchy & geeky humor, which makes for a perfect date movie. I like to refer to it as a chick flick for guys.

19. I am a press whore with a degree in shameless self-promotion and no discernible social life.

20. As much as I love press, the press seems to love SLC a little more. Sites like Latino Review, Hollywood.com, Twitch, Cinematical, FilmSnobbery, Movie Cynics & more have all praised the film

21. SLC nametag stickers & “jackoff sock” door hangers are a huge hit at film festivals and colleges. I also have a custom nametag costume to wear outside of screenings. EVERYONE loves taking pictures with a guy in a dumb costume

22. Unlike most indie comedies, this one is actually funny. No pretentiousness or self-indulgence. The goal is for the audience just to have fun with it.

23. Admit it; STUCK LIKE CHUCK is a damn catchy title.

24. Bobby Bless of MovieCynics.com said, “The film manages to outshine any romantic comedy you’ll see in theaters.” So let’s take it to theaters!

25. I’ve been working the same part time job for over 7 years and this would be a great reason to finally quit.

26. A black and white version exists (and looks pretty damn good) if they decide to push the CLERKS. connection.

27. I had lunch with Bob Hawk once and he said I reminded him of Kevin Smith. He probably doesn’t even remember me but I will never forget that comment.

28. All the money for SLC came out of my own pocket so there are no producers to deal with. I own all the rights.

29. I never expected to make much money on this film. I just want people to see it & this is probably the best chance it has to connect with the right audience.

30. I designed all of the novelty shirts Charlie & Rob wear in the film, which means they can be recreated and sold to adoring fans. Merchandising!

31. Speaking of fans, I have nearly 4,000 loyal Twitter followers and at least 10 of them are not porn spam bots.

32. I finished third at the Netflix Movie Watching World Championship by watching movies for 68 hours 21 minutes 31 seconds straight while in a glass house set up in Times Square. We each got to contribute a movie to the list and my pick was CLERKS.

33. A movie that uses Tina Fey as a metaphor for love & features lines such as “She definitely wants some Charlie inside her brown” deserves to be seen.

34. While the film plays perfectly fine to an audience of one, it is best experienced with a large fun-loving crowd. I’ve always been a proponent of audience interaction. At my favorite screening so far, the audience joked around, yelled at the screen and even sang along to the catchy yet insanely raunchy musical number during the end credits.

35. I’ve been working my whole life for an opportunity like this and you can be damn sure that I will not mess it up.

36. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love JERSEY GIRL. Director’s Cut Blu-Ray please. Yes this is filler but give me a break; how could I end this on 36?

37. Because I’m a filmmaker who still fucks his art in a Denny’s bathroom.

Well there you have it. 37-ish solid reasons why Phase 4 & SModcast Pictures should distribute STUCK LIKE CHUCK. As you can tell from this list, Kevin Smith sort of already presents the film so why not make it official?

Please hit the share buttons below and send this post all over the web. Let’s see if we can get this in front of the right people or even Kevin himself. I promise to keep you all updated every step of the way. And for everyone still reading, thank you greatly for checking out what can only be classified as the most shameless display of self-promotion to ever grace this website. It truly does mean the world to me!

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck –  www.JerryCavallaro.com

DON’T WORRY WE’LL THINK OF A TITLE – The DVD Review

Big kudos to the fine folks at MGM Limited Edition DVD-R! They’ve dug deep in the vaults for a true oddity in the world of cinema and television ( sitcoms, to be more precise ) ! I will tell anyone who asks that my absolute favorite TV situation comedy of all time is that early sixties gem ” The Dick Van Dyke Show” ( desert island, only one TV comedy, no hesitation! ). Well one of the few people with even more admiration and affection for this bit of comic perfection is comedy writer and pop culture master Mark Evanier. One of the sites I’ve bookmarked ( and if you love entertainment  you should too ) is his website/ blog newsfromme.com . In 2007 he alerted his readers to DON”T WORRY WE’LL THINK OF A TITLE was airing on the Turner Classic Movie cable channel. He had seen it with his family while they were vacationing in Pismo Beach in 1966. It was playing on a double bill with WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR, DADDY? He says that unlike that film, TITLE  did not have a professional studio printed poster, but was promoted with a hand lettered sign! That should’ve been a clue to the film’s quality.

This is quite an oddity. I was shocked that Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie had made a feature film toward the end of their time as Buddy Sorrel and Sally Rogers, and I had not heard of it. Well, it’s probably because it’s a tough slog to sit through. What little plot the film has concerns a group of Eastern European spies ( one of those made up, cold war spots ) who believe that Morey’s character is a defecting astronut. The film was shot in 1965 near the end of the Van Dyke series, and dates itself not only with the spy antics, but with a scene set at a college beatnik ( ! ) party. It begins with a caricature of Amsterdam ( maybe drawn by the multi-talented Dick Van Dyke? ) as part of the logo for Courageous Cal Productions ( ? ).The film has the flat look of a one camera sitcom of the era ( the end title says it was shot on the legendary Desilu Studios ) and even employs that wacky sped-up effect that many shows used to balance out some the old, groaner jokes in the script from co-producer/star Amsterdam. The film’s main interest is as a time capsule of TV comics of that era. Morey must have called on many of his pals to stop by for quick cameos, and it’s amazing who he got to show up. We get to see Van Dyke co-stars Richard Deacon ( in a double role as a diner owner and policeman ) and Carl Reiner along with Forrest Tucker, Moe Howard ( solo, sans stooges! ), Cliff Arquette ( as Charley Weaver ), Nick Adams, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, and Irene Ryan ( in her Granny outfit and driving the Clampett truck ). Comic actor Henry Corden ( who soon took over as voice of Fred Flintstone ) shows up as a clumsy spy and an actress named January ( ! ) Jones ( not the “Mad Men ” actress, but perhaps a relative? ) plays Morey and Rose’s diner waitress pal who inherits a bookstore.

The DVD-R is bare bones. Not even a trailer ( was one made?). I was hoping for either a commentary track with the still active Rose Marie, but Evanier reports that she has no fondness for this big screen misfire. Picure and sound quality is sharp and crisp. It’s not a cinema treasure, but if you’re an affeciando of sixties TV ( and of the Van Dyke show ) then you’ll want to add this to your DVD library.

SUPER 8 – “HIDE AND TWEET” Game Launched In Celebratio​n Of Blu-ray & DVD Debut

ENTER THE WORLD OF MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE
CREATED BY DIRECTOR J.J. ABRAMS
IN HIS BREATHTAKING SMASH HIT
SUPER 8 WITH A GAME OF “HIDE AND TWEET”

In Celebration Of Blu-ray™ and DVD Debut, Clues To Locations Of Hidden Prizes In 20 Cities To Begin Appearing On Twitter Today

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) invites fans across the country to enter into the world of mystery and adventure created by director J.J. Abrams in his sensational coming-of-age story SUPER 8 with a unique Twitter promotion. In celebration of the film’s home entertainment debut on November 22, PHE will hide Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs signed by J.J. Abrams in 20 cities across the U.S. and begin offering clues to the locations today via the film’s @Super8Movie Twitter account and Super8Tweet.com. Each day, the clues will get more specific until all of the prizes are found.

Consumers who find the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs will not only receive a copy of the film autographed by the director, but will have a chance to win additional prizes, including tickets to the premiere of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, a collection of Abrams’ films on Blu-ray, additional signed merchandise and more.

“We are all so grateful for the reception Super 8 received, and wanted to give fans of the movie a little real life adventure,” said Abrams. “There are some pretty cool prizes awaiting the winners of Hide and Tweet and we hope people have fun playing.”

Fans can use the Super8Tweet.com microsite to piece together tweeted clues about where to find a copy of the film autographed by the director and additional mystery prizes. Anyone who finds a prize can post photos on Twitter using the hashtag #Super8Movie.

Called “the year’s most thrilling movie” (Richard Corliss, Time), SUPER 8 tells the exhilarating story of a group of friends in a small Ohio town who witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie.  When they realize that it was no accident, they set out to find the truth—something more shocking than any of them could have imagined. The SUPER 8 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack with Digital Copy boasts more than two hours of enthralling special features including eight behind-the-scenes featurettes, an in-depth deconstruction of the breathtaking train crash, interviews with cast and crew including J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg and more.

For more information or to join the search follow @Super8Movie on Twitter!

Win an Autographed DVD of Mike Pecci’s Grindhouse Shorts

Do you like adrenaline-filled, sexy, violent ’70s-style grindhouse cinema? If so, then you’ll definitely enjoy the stylistic films of writer and director Mike Pecci, who has just released his collected short films for the first time on DVD. As pictured below, the DVD has some wicked original cover art, but the real beef is inside. The DVD collection includes the following:

  • COLD HARD CASH (Uncensored)
  • CAPTURE DEVICE (Remastered)
  • STRAY BULLET
  • Violent Interactive Menus
  • Brand New “Mommentaries” (recorded w/ Mike Pecci & his Mom)
  • All New Director’s Commentaries (w/ Special Guests)
  • Revealing “Set Clips”
  • plus loads more!

Sound cool? We have a Grindhouse Shorts DVD, autographed by writer-director Mike Pecci and co-writer David Lynch, to give away to one lucky fan!

OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A U.S. RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO A U.S. ADDRESS.
2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us the title of your favorite grindhouse movie and why.
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
CONTEST WILL END ON FRIDAY, September 30th at 11:59pm CST.

Find Mike Pecci online at www.MikePecci.com

Mike Pecci’s Grindhouse Shorts DVD Available for Pre-Order

Director & photographer Mike Pecci is self releasing all of his violent short films on one loaded DVD.

Mike Pecci’s Grindhouse Shorts!

This is the definitive collection of what Filmthreat magazine called “Grindhouse done right”. It includes the director’s cut of Cold Hard Cash, a re-mastered Capture Device, Stray Bullet, and a new short featuring a chainsaw wielding Evalena Marie (from the upcoming film based on the “Remains” comic written by Steve Niles). Each film is uncensored and loaded with sex, violence, and Suicide Girls! The DVD is jammed to the limit with interactive menus, behind the scenes clips, brand new recorded director’s commentaries and the infamous “Mom-mentaries” (where the director watches the films with his highly opinionated mother) and loads of hidden “Easter eggs.” The disks will be released with 3 limited edition variant covers with artwork from comic book and poster artists as well photography from Pecci.

Mike Pecci’s Grindhouse Shorts Censored from Mike Pecci on Vimeo.

Pre-orders go on sale Monday here.

The first printing of this series will contain a “fan membership card” that will give the owner exclusive access to content and events for the upcoming films.

We love our fans and believe in rewarding their help and loyalty. For a limited time during the pre-sale of the DVD we are running a Promotional Rewards Program.

For every two DVD sales that are made with your name as the referral we will upgrade your DVD to a rare variant cover reserved for this promotional only. Each variant DVD will also come guaranteed with a “fan membership card.” Every 10 DVD’s sold with your name as the referral you will be eligible for a free hoodie! Awesome right?!

The success of independent film depends on word of mouth and we need your support! Thanks guys!

CEDAR RAPIDS on Blu-ray and DVD June 21

HITCH A RIDE WITH ONE HUMBLE SALESMAN AS HE EXPERIENCES THE ULTIMATE INSURANCE CONVENTION!
 CEDAR RAPIDS

Slam Back a Shot of Cream Sherry and Dance with the Tiger when

CEDAR RAPIDS: SUPER AWESOME EDITION

Comes to Blu-ray & DVD June 21

Follow mild-mannered Tim Lippe as he takes off on an epic adventure to CEDAR RAPIDS, coming to Blu-ray and DVD in a SUPER AWESOME EDITION June 21st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. This wildly funny and undeniably infectious comedy will have you wanting more of Lippe and his crew, Deanzie, Joan and Ronald as they cause mayhem at the most unconventional business convention of all-time.

CEDAR RAPIDS features an all-star cast including Ed Helms (The Hangover), John C. Reilly (Step Brothers), Anne Heche (TV’s Hung), and Academy Award® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Sigourney Weaver (Avatar). Find additional chaos and laughs in deleted scenes, gag reel, and other extras in the SUPER AWESOME EDITION Blu-ray disc and DVD!

In CEDAR RAPIDS, a naïve small-town Midwesterner (Helms) is sent to represent his company at a regional insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his mind is blown by the “big city” and he finds himself in the midst of the most unexpected shenanigans.

CEDAR RAPIDS DVD Features:
● Deleted Scenes
○ Dinner With Macy
○ Song Dedication
○ Cart Ride
○ Fire Extinguisher Fight
○ Goodbye to Bree
○ Cabin Extras
● Gag Reel
● Mike O’Malley – Urban Clogger
● Tweaking in the USA
● Wedding Belles – Crashing a Lesbian Wedding
● Top Notch Commercial
CEDAR RAPIDS Blu-ray Disc Features:
All of the DVD features, plus
● Convention Connection
○ Tim Lippe
○ Ronald Wilkes
○ Joan Ostrowski
○ Bill Krogstad
○ Orin Helgesson
○ Bree
● Fox Movie Channel Presents: Direct Effect Miguel Arteta
● Fox Movie Channel Presents: Direct Effect Miguel Arteta
● BD LIVE
○ Exclusive: Ed Helms Mad Chopper Skills
● Digital Copy
Cedar Rapids Blu-Ray: (Catalog # 2270565 U.S. / Canada)
Street Date: June 21, 2011
Pre-book Date: May 25, 2011
Screen Format: Widescreen
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD-MA
Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 98 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes
Cedar Rapids DVD: (Catalog # 2270572 U.S. / Canada)
Street Date: June 21, 2011
Pre-book Date: May 25, 2011
Screen Format: Widescreen
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Spanish 2.0 Surround Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 125 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

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