Knight at HOME at the Movies
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Assortment Pack
A little bit of everything - all worth checking out - in this edition of DVD Recommendations.
A little bit of everything - all worth checking out - in this edition of DVD Recommendations.
A Very Serious Person – From Wolfe Video. Gay actor-writer and now director Charles
Busch (making his feature debut here) takes the reigns for this bittersweet story involving
a terminally ill grandma (Polly Bergen), her precocious grandson and the stern caretaker
(Busch) who enters their lives one fateful summer. Busch co-wrote the script and is
memorable in a rare outing role away from his usual female impersonator creations. The
movie, though it works the Lifetime Television route at times, isn't nearly as cloying as
the set up would suggest, thanks to Busch's sure touch with his actors and the heartfelt
performances from he and his cast. This was obviously a labor of love from all
concerned. Busch discussed the film at length with KATM. Read the interview HERE.
Sunshine – From 20th Century Fox comes this offbeat sci-fi effort from Trainspotting
director Danny Boyle and 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland. Dreamy blue-eyed
Cillian Murphy, who starred in the little seen but wonderful Breakfast on Pluto and a raft of
other indie favorites, is part of a group heading to the slowly dying sun in a last ditch
effort to reignite it and save the earth from freezing over (the ironic opposite of Global
Warming). Naturally, during the journey, major conflict ensues but it's not as typical as
the normal sci-fi saving humanity flick. The group's given to more introspection (unlike,
say the sexed up astronauts in Supernova, one of my favorite guilty pleasures in the
genre) but the musings over the fate of the individual vs. all mankind eventually give way
to the standard action stuff. I called this a good example of the "thinking man's sci-fi"
and a second trip has confirmed that. Read the rest of my review HERE. The disc has a
director's commentary, 12 deleted scenes of varying interest, production diaries that are
very detailed, and an alternate ending that pointed the film in a somewhat different
direction (don't expect spoilers from me!). This is a sci-fi trip worth taking.
Scenes of a Sexual Nature – From Velocity/Think Film. This British romantic indie
focuses on seven couples (including a gay one) that each has typical relationship joys and
sorrows to contend with during a lazy afternoon of picnicking and lounging about in
Hampstead Heath in London. The dialogue is front and center here, no surprise, and with
Ewan McGregor and Eileen Atkins aboard the studied pace doesn't seem so, well, studied.
The comedy is of the gentle nature and some of the relationship foibles will be more
intriguing than others but again, the cast makes the movie work. The gay couple (a cute
little twosome) are thinking of adopting a baby and that gives the screenwriter plenty of
time to delve into the issue. With McGregor as one half of the couple, the film will appeal
to Our People from the get go but I was also charmed by the relationship between Atkins
and an old beau who are reuniting decades after their first go round. Special features
include a making of documentary and director's commentary.
3:10 to Yuma – From Lions Gate Home Entertainment. Walk the Line director James
Mangold remakes the 1957 Glenn Ford-Van Heflin western and in the process adds some
nice twists and turns. While highly improbable (and more than a tad on the theatrical
side), these new elements increase the love/hate relationship between outlaw Russell
Crowe and earnest do gooder Christian Bale. The shifting loyalties of the two leading
players (and the supporting cast) are mirrored by the audience. This is a terrific western
with plenty of action interspersed amongst the drama. Dallas Roberts, who I loved in A
Home at the End of the World, is among the expert supporting cast. The disc includes
Mangold's commentary and a raft of special features - everything from the usual making
of featurettes to a couple that focus on real life Wild West outlaws and what life was really
like on the frontier. A great flick to watch with your dad.
Busch (making his feature debut here) takes the reigns for this bittersweet story involving
a terminally ill grandma (Polly Bergen), her precocious grandson and the stern caretaker
(Busch) who enters their lives one fateful summer. Busch co-wrote the script and is
memorable in a rare outing role away from his usual female impersonator creations. The
movie, though it works the Lifetime Television route at times, isn't nearly as cloying as
the set up would suggest, thanks to Busch's sure touch with his actors and the heartfelt
performances from he and his cast. This was obviously a labor of love from all
concerned. Busch discussed the film at length with KATM. Read the interview HERE.
Sunshine – From 20th Century Fox comes this offbeat sci-fi effort from Trainspotting
director Danny Boyle and 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland. Dreamy blue-eyed
Cillian Murphy, who starred in the little seen but wonderful Breakfast on Pluto and a raft of
other indie favorites, is part of a group heading to the slowly dying sun in a last ditch
effort to reignite it and save the earth from freezing over (the ironic opposite of Global
Warming). Naturally, during the journey, major conflict ensues but it's not as typical as
the normal sci-fi saving humanity flick. The group's given to more introspection (unlike,
say the sexed up astronauts in Supernova, one of my favorite guilty pleasures in the
genre) but the musings over the fate of the individual vs. all mankind eventually give way
to the standard action stuff. I called this a good example of the "thinking man's sci-fi"
and a second trip has confirmed that. Read the rest of my review HERE. The disc has a
director's commentary, 12 deleted scenes of varying interest, production diaries that are
very detailed, and an alternate ending that pointed the film in a somewhat different
direction (don't expect spoilers from me!). This is a sci-fi trip worth taking.
Scenes of a Sexual Nature – From Velocity/Think Film. This British romantic indie
focuses on seven couples (including a gay one) that each has typical relationship joys and
sorrows to contend with during a lazy afternoon of picnicking and lounging about in
Hampstead Heath in London. The dialogue is front and center here, no surprise, and with
Ewan McGregor and Eileen Atkins aboard the studied pace doesn't seem so, well, studied.
The comedy is of the gentle nature and some of the relationship foibles will be more
intriguing than others but again, the cast makes the movie work. The gay couple (a cute
little twosome) are thinking of adopting a baby and that gives the screenwriter plenty of
time to delve into the issue. With McGregor as one half of the couple, the film will appeal
to Our People from the get go but I was also charmed by the relationship between Atkins
and an old beau who are reuniting decades after their first go round. Special features
include a making of documentary and director's commentary.
3:10 to Yuma – From Lions Gate Home Entertainment. Walk the Line director James
Mangold remakes the 1957 Glenn Ford-Van Heflin western and in the process adds some
nice twists and turns. While highly improbable (and more than a tad on the theatrical
side), these new elements increase the love/hate relationship between outlaw Russell
Crowe and earnest do gooder Christian Bale. The shifting loyalties of the two leading
players (and the supporting cast) are mirrored by the audience. This is a terrific western
with plenty of action interspersed amongst the drama. Dallas Roberts, who I loved in A
Home at the End of the World, is among the expert supporting cast. The disc includes
Mangold's commentary and a raft of special features - everything from the usual making
of featurettes to a couple that focus on real life Wild West outlaws and what life was really
like on the frontier. A great flick to watch with your dad.
