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Bergman Island: Criterion Collection
Dominick Dunne: After the Party

The release of the Criterion Collection edition of Bergman Island is as timely as it is welcome. Nearly two years after the great Swedish filmmaker’s death on Faro Island, his secluded seaside home has been put up for sale by his estate. Even as bids were being solicited, the Bergman Center Foundation sought funds to buy the property for the use of filmmakers and other artists.

Bergman had fallen in love with the Baltic Sea island while on location for Hour of the Wolf, The Passion of Anna, Persona and Shame, and it’s here that Swedish TV journalist Marie Nyreröd conducted the extensive series of interviews seen in this DVD. Although Bergman was notoriously reclusive and wary of the press, he had known Nyrerod for 20 years and trusted her enough to invite her to Faro Island to make the documentary.

It was shown in three parts, as intended, on Swedish television. In 2006, international audiences would be shown a truncated version of the film that focused on his films and life on Faro, but eliminated the segment on his work in the theater. This disturbed Bergman and prompted his willingness to collaborate once again with the reporter on a unified documentary.

Bergman Island very much resembles a typical celebrity interview on 60 Minutes, except for its 174-minute length and the reporter’s willingness to sublimate her ego. I’m only guessing here, but it’s likely Bergman appreciated Nyrerod’s beauty as much as her intelligence and familiarity. Aside from some subtle flirting, though, both appear to have taken their duties seriously. At 85, Bergman was remarkably candid in his observations on how his works were influenced by his personal life, childhood memories, demons, disappointments and religious upbringing. His anecdotes are helpful in placing memorable movie moments into the context of his life. The newly restored Criterion edition also includes a selective video filmography, tracing Bergman’s career and a remembrance by Nyreröd.

Dominick Dunne hasn’t always been obsessed with the crimes and punishment – and lack, thereof – of celebrities. A child of privilege, the writer would distinguish himself in World War II, before marrying well and becoming a professional partygoer in New York and Los Angeles. When Dunne wasn’t making the scene with his wealthy wife in Hollywood, he found work as an executive producer. Although he scored some successes with TV’s Playhouse 90 and Adventures in Paradise, and such films as The Boys in the Band, The Panic in Needle Park and Play It as It Lays, Dunne was only two turkeys away from Hollywood oblivion. Also contributing to his ignominious fall from grace and divorce were addictions to alcohol, cocaine and making wiseass remarks about important people.

After a period of self-exile in Oregon, Dunne discovered a talent for reporting that literally would save his life. But, it was his daughter’s death at the hands of a deranged ex-boyfriend – compounded by the slap-on-the-wrist sentence he received – that put the author on the path that he’s followed ever since. In After the Party, Dunne recounts for a team of Australian documentary makers his rise, fall and resurrection as a Vanity Fair columnist and television-news commentator. The filming took place during the first murder trial of Phil Specter, which ended in a mistrial. By then, Dunne had covered such high-profile defendants as O.J. Simpson, Claus von Bulow, Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith, the Menendez brothers and Robert Blake, and he had written books on the murder of Alfred Bloomingdale’s mistress and socialite William Woodward. He was riding pretty high, until he bought a salacious rumor about U.S. Rep. Gary Condit, who was a suspect in the murder of his intern, Chandra Levy. Few American lives have had so many acts as Dunne’s, and, in After the Party, he isn’t afraid to reveal his warts, along with the successes - Gary Dretzka

..MCN Review

Cherry Blossoms

A big hit in Germany, Cherry Blossoms is a strangely uplifting story about death and the ironic twists of fate that sometimes precede it, especially in movies. Trudi and Rudi are elderly Bavarians, who’ve lived unremarkable lives and are looking forward to doing some traveling upon Rudi’s retirement from a thankless, if necessary civil-servant job. Two of their children live in Berlin and another in Japan, a country Trudi has long wanted to visit.

Early in the film, a routine checkup shows that Rudi is suffering from an inoperable form of cancer, a fact the doctors reveal to Trudi first. Because her husband may have a couple of years left in him, Trudi decides to withhold the diagnosis from him. Instead, she hopes to convince the mostly sedentary Rudi to take some trips. It is during a rare visit to the seashore that Trudi’s health gives out on her, first, leaving Rudi none the wiser about his condition. While poring over his wife’s effects, Rudi becomes aware of Trudi’s affection for Japan and the art of Butoh dance. Realizing that his lack of personal ambition stifled her dreams, he uncharacteristically hops a plane for Tokyo.

His son doesn’t have much time to serve as tourist guide – none of their kids are practically accommodating in that way – but Rudi eventually ventures out on his own, finding an unlikely friend who will help him honor Trudi’s memory. German filmmaker Doris Dorrie has a special interest in Japanese culture and the beautifully photographed Cherry Blossoms provides a dramatic contrast between the two countries. Rudi’s adventures in Tokyo, which is in the midst of a cherry blossom festival, are often quite funny - Gary Dretzka

My Breakfast with Blassie

One of comedian Andy Kaufman’s less endearing qualities was a refusal to recognize when a gag had gone on too long or a character had overstayed his welcome. Kaufman was at the height of his popularity, playing Latka Gravas on Taxi, when he embarked on a separate career as a professional wrestler. Thin as a rail, but wiry, Kaufman wrestled hundreds of women before engaging Jerry Lawler in a well-publicized feud. The hour-long, mostly improvised My Breakfast With Blassie was a takeoff on the surprise arthouse hit, My Dinner With Andre, albeit one transferred to a Sambo’s restaurant in downtown Los Angeles.

Kaufman and the champion wrestler, Fred Blassie, while away their time together chatting about the wrestling scene, personal hygiene and Asian women, before engaging customers in increasingly nasty conversations. Today, a quarter-century later, the sketch remains far more amusing in concept than in execution. Blassie is an interesting guy, but not much of an improviser. Kaufman is wildly inventive and undeniably funny, but, by staying in character for the full 60 minutes, he demands too much of viewers. The director’s chair was filled by three people, so it’s possible that Kaufman and Blassie were just along for the ride, which would explain the monotony. Even so, it’s great to see Kaufman in action, again. Bonus material includes Lost Footage: Andy in the Raw, a making-of featurette, home movies, a photo gallery and premiere footage. - Gary Dretzka

What Goes Up

Steve Coogan stars in this offbeat drama about an ethically challenged big-city reporter who’s sent to cover the events in a small New Hampshire town, preceding hometown hero Christa McAuliffe ’s space mission as the first civilian astronaut. Coincidentally, a college buddy of Coogan’s Campbell Babbitt teaches at the same school as McAuliffe, so he doesn’t envision the assignment being any more difficult than the average patriotic puff piece. Instead, Babbitt learns that his friend had died hours earlier, apparently a victim of suicide. While trying to make sense of the death, Babbitt becomes acquainted with the motley collection of outcast students who were devoted to his friend. Compared to these kids, the delinquents in “The Breakfast Club” were altar boys (and girls). Needless to say, they suck Babbitt into their highly disturbed world. Written and directed by newcomer Jonathan Glatzer, “What Goes Up” is a bit too ambitious for its own good. It wants to transcend the clichés associated with the high-school-is-hell genre, but ultimately gets bogged down in the individual hang-ups of the kids and faculty. The parallel storyline, involving preparations for shuttle mission, provides some solid laughs, mostly at the expense of Molly Shannon’s frenetic music teacher. As if that weren’t enough to fill a 104-minute movie, Babbitt also learns that he’s about to be honored with a Pulitzer Prize, which he probably doesn’t deserve. Hilary Duff, Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby turn in nice performances as troubled students. - Gary Dretzka

Friday the 13th: Extended Killer Cut and Theatrical Cut
The Cell 2
Killing Ariel
Dough Boys

The 12th edition of New Line’s venerable Friday the 13th series was named after the 1980 original. Why, is anyone’s guess, as it wasn’t a remake and there was no good reason to fool loyal fans. A more appropriate title would have been Friday the 13th: The Next Generation or Friday the 13th: The Franchise Even Jason’s Deaths Can’t Kill.

Here a new group of stupid young adults ignores all sane advice by making the ritual journey to Crystal Lake on Jason Vorhees’ birthday. One of them, Clay Miller (Jared Padalecki), is searching for his missing sister, while the others are desirous of some cheap thrills, which, of course, they get.

Director Marcus Nispel has been down this road before with reheated versions of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Frankenstein. Friday the 13th did very well at the box office, so he’ll be Hollywood’s go-to guy for such projects for the next couple of years. The Blu-ray “Killer Cut” offers several more exclusive bonus features than the DVD, including a separate digital copy and compilation of “best kills.” Also arriving Tuesday are Blu-ray editions of Friday the 13th: Part 2 and Friday the 13th, Part 3 3D, as well as Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: Deluxe Edition, Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning: Deluxe Edition and the theatrical cut of Friday the 13th.

The original 2000 version of The Cell starred Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D'Onofrio and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. It was directed by Tarsem Singh, whose wildly imaginative music videos and commercials were widely admired. As such, the sci-fi thriller opened to much anticipation and some excellent reviews, including a four-star rave by Roger Ebert. The direct-to-video Cell 2 is billed as a sequel to that movie, but, otherwise, bears little resemblance to it. Like Lopez’ character, Tessie Santiago’s psychic investigator is able to insinuate herself into the minds of serial killers and, in fact, was locked into the brain of a particularly dangerous one, while her body was in a coma. Sounds OK, so far, but producer-director Tim Iacofano (24 and other TV series) isn’t playing in the same league as Singh, a master of fantastical visual effects. The DVD and Blu-ray editions come with a making-of doc.

Ever have a boyfriend or girlfriend who simply wouldn’t take the hint and go away? That’s more or less the premise of Killing Ariel, in which a married man falls under the spell of a demon. While under the rascal’s power, the man convinces a beautiful young woman to join him in a weekend fling in an isolated, which also appears to be haunted. At one point, the adulterer accidently kills his lover, Ariel. To his surprise, Ariel doesn’t stay dead … and not for lack of repeated trying, either. Killing Ariel is quite a bit sexier than the usual horror/slasher product, but this didn’t stop it from going straight to DVD.

Actor-turned-director Nicholas Harvell mounted Dough Boys, an urban thrilla about four pals whose ability to survive on the streets of L.A. – while maintaining their friendship -- is severely tested by far more savvy denizens of the criminal underworld. There’s not much that’s new here, but the movie provides a nice showcase for actors scratching to get beyond “background minority” roles. In addition to the familiar face of Richard Brooks (Law & Order), the cast includes Wood Harris, Sticky Fingaz, Reagan Gomez-Preston and Arlen Escarpeta. - Gary Dretzka

Gavin and Stacey: Season One
The Cleaner: First Season
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 1
Love Takes Wing
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice

Cable’s BBC America has a way of introducing sitcoms and dramas with little or no fanfare, hoping buzz will accomplish what expensive publicity campaigns often don’t. Sometimes the strategy works and, of course, sometimes it fails. Sometimes, too, just when American audiences begin to fall in love with a particular series, television executives in England have already pulled the plug on it.

Fortunately, the delightful relationship sitcom, Gavin and Stacey, has been renewed and the second season already is being shown on BBC Three. Gavin is a typical young Brit, who meets and romances the typical Welsh lassie, Stacey, via the Internet. Eventually, they decide to meet in neutral setting and accompanied by a pair of chubby friends who take an instant dislike to each other, yet elect to hop into bed together, anyway. For Gavin and Stacey, it’s love at first sight … in and out of the sack. Against all sane advice, they decide to get married and move into the home of one of the in-laws. Most of the fun comes in meeting the couple’s friends and relatives, all of whom are lovably wacky in their own way.

Unlike most American sitcoms, Gavin & Stacey doesn’t require a laugh track to alert viewers as to what’s funny. The writers and their characters do a good of that on their own. Yanks won’t need much coaching to fully appreciate the humor. Apparently, residents of England and Wales enjoy taking pot shots at each other’s customs and idiosyncrasies, but, otherwise, everyone exists on the same television planet. Bonus material includes outtakes, a making-of documentary and episode commentary.

It’s a sure bet that Benjamin Bratt didn’t walk away from a high-profile role on Law & Order to star in such cable series as The Cleaner and the euthanized NBC series E-Ring. The handsome Peruvian actor probably envisioned the same bright future as such post-TV flameouts as David Caruso, who, after leaving NYPD Blue, quickly discovered that achieving stardom on the big screen was no sure thing. In The Cleaner, Bratt plays a recovering addict who takes it upon himself to help people struggling with similar vices. As an “extreme interventionist,” Bratt’s William Banks is enlisted when all other 12-step programs and patron saints of the doomed have failed. Each week, there’s a new addict for Banks to steer in the right direction, while also maintaining his own tenuous hold on sobriety. Somehow, Bratt makes it work. The show’s second season has just launched on A&E.

Imagine a Victorian-era CSI and you’ll get a pretty good picture of what Murdoch’s Mysteries is all about. Set in Toronto in the 1890s, the show follows Detective William Murdoch as he invents forensics methodology on the fly and as dictated by individual cases. His boss is skeptical, of course, but he finds allies in the department willing to experiment. In the tradition of Wild Wild West, too, Murdoch exchanges ideas with such historical figures as Nikola Tesla, Arthur Conan Doyle and Prince Alfred. The set also features commentary by stars Yannick Bisson and Jonny Harris, production designer Sandra Kybartas; interviews with the author and cast; photo gallery; filmographies; and character bios.

TV-movie franchises aren’t all that different than movie franchises. They’ll keep coming until someone puts a stake in the hearts. Love Takes Wing is the seventh in a series of Hallmark Channel movies based on the faith-based novels of Janette Oke. The period stories describe the struggles and triumphs of women professionals on the prairie. This edition stars Sarah Jones (as Belinda), Annalise Basso, Haylie Duff, Patrick Duffy, Cloris Leachman and Lou Diamond Phillips, who also directed.

CBS’ Jesse Stone series has drawn a winning hand, thanks mostly to the presence of Tom Selleck and outlines provided by the novels of Robert B. Parker. Here, the small-town police chief gets in trouble in Paradise after he becomes involved in a shootout in Boston. And, as if that weren’t enough to keep him busy, Stone also agrees to investigate the disappearance of a child. Also new on the TV-to-DVD front: Everwood: The Complete Second Season; The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season Two; Saving Grace: Season Two; Burn Notice: Season Two; Perry Mason: Season 4, Vol. 1; The Shield: The Complete Seventh Season; and Blu-ray editions of HBO’s Generation Kill and John Adams. - Gary Dretzka

The Jack Lemmon Film Collection
Dr. Strangelove: Blu-ray

In the eight years since Jack Lemmon died, no actor has come along to fill his shoes as an unassuming leading man, as adept in comedies as dramas. He was an Everyman for every occasion … an actor who worked from a script, not a pre-determined persona. It was easy to empathize with his characters, no matter how complicated things got for them. Men saw themselves reflected in Lemmon’s mirror, just as women saw their husbands in his characters.

Today, screenwriters simply aren’t required to create characters like the ones Lemmon mastered. More often than not, fathers and husbands are depicted as buffoons or deadbeats, not flesh-and-blood adults. Included in this collection of Columbia comedies are Phffft!, Operation Mad Ball, The Notorious Landlady, Under the Yum Yum Tree and Good Neighbor Sam, all available for the first time on DVD. In Phffft! and The Notorious Landlady, he played opposite Kim Novak, a duty any red-blooded American male would have envied. These same men winced as they watched Lemmon attempt to wiggle out of a sticky situation with a sexy neighbor in Good Neighbor Sam. A bonus disc, hosted by Lemmon’s son and biographer, Chris, features interviews with friends and colleagues, as well as personal photos.

Stanley Kubrick's ever-timely black comedy, Dr. Strangelove, arrives in Blu-ray with an impressive collection of new and old bonus features. Besides an usually informative picture-in-picture trivia track, the extras includes the making-of featurette, Inside Dr. Strangelove; the analytical, No Fighting in the War Room; an interview with former defense secretary Robert McNamara; a profile of Peter Sellers; The Art of Stanley Kubrick; split-screen interviews with Sellers and George C. Scott; and BD-Live functionality. The movie, itself, looks and sounds great, as well.

Also new to Blu-ray are Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal, Predator 2 and The Siege. - Gary Dretzka

Morning Light
The Greatest Game Ever Played/Miracle: Blu-ray

The intentionally inspirational Disney documentary, Morning Light, takes us on a journey by sea from California to Hawaii, alongside a team of 15 young adults who survived an intensive training course in oceanic sailing. They were hand-picked to compete in the 2006 TransPac race against far more veteran sailors. The more one enjoys sailing, the more enjoyable Morning Light will be. Others may want to stick with Billy Budd. Among the extras are the hi-def featurettes, Stories From the Sea, hosted by Jason Earles, and the ESPN special, Making the Cut.

New to Blu-ray, as well, are Disney’s Miracle, in which Kurt Russell portrayed Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 United States Olympic ice-hockey team that upset the mighty Soviet side; and The Greatest Game Ever Played, which dramatized the 1913 U.S. Open, when 20-year-old Francis Ouimet defeated his idol, 1900 US Open champion, Harry Vardon. – Gary Dretzka

Depeche Mode: The Dark Progression Unauthorized

This feature-length documentary examines the long journey of Depeche Mode, one of the most popular rock ensembles of the last 30 years, through various personnel changes and thematic transformations. It does so without the official participation of the band itself, but through archived interviews with musicians and the observations of such friends and colleagues as Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby and band biographer Jonathan Miller. Also included are video clips, location shots and news reports. Among the songs sampled are "Just Can't Get Enough," "People Are People," "Stripped," "Never Let Me Down Again," "Strangelove," "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence." - Gary Dretzka

Gavin and Stacey: Season One The Cleaner: First Season Murdoch Mysteries: Series 1 Love Takes Wing Jesse Stone: Thin Ice

Gavin and Stacey: Season One
The Cleaner: First Season
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 1
Love Takes Wing
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice