Disc of the Week
The GoodTimesKid (DVD only)
Azazel Jacobs' The GoodTimesKid is a minimalist film accurately described on its DVD sleeve as in the vein of films from Jim Jarmusch and Jacques Tati. In stark opposition to the other new releases of the week, GoodTimesKid offers something that one doesn't really get to see with the majority of new releases. The movie is and feels distinctively handmade. There's a URL in the credits for the lead actress' clothesmaking business. I'm reasonably certain that there isn't a single cell phone seen or heard throughout the running time.
The movie is about two men named Rodolfo (director Jacobs and Gerardo Naranjo) and the woman (one-named Diaz) on the rocks with one of them. Kid's 77 minutes concern the wanderings of the three of them over the course of a single day. The youthful vigor and sense of abandon in the filmmaking and acting is extremely refreshing. Anyone accusing the filmmakers or their characters of "hipster" pretension really means to use the word "aimless." The Rodolfos and the girl all lead dirty, unkempt lives, but not as a means of expressing their style. The movie was completed in 2005 and has only now found a DVD release.
The effort and boutique treatment that Benten Films has given to the DVD is equally impressive as the movie itself. Supplements include a Director's Commentary that also features both costars; Deleted Scenes; a Photo Gallery; the Original Trailer (not your standard trailer); Let's Get Started, the short that led to the making of GoodTimesKid; and The Whirled (1956-63), a short by the director's father Ken Jacobs that helped inspire the movie.
There's an insert book with an essay by Glenn Kenny, and there's a cardboard slipcase that features different art than the disc case. If I didn't know better, I'd think that Criterion had started an ultra-low-budget indie label. This is not just the best disc released this week, but one of my favorite discoveries of the year so far. The GoodTimesKid is more than a breath of fresh air, it's an afternoon where you never look at your watch and throw your phone in the lake.
New Releases
The Class (Blu-ray & DVD)
The Class is a really solid movie that won the Palme D'Or at Cannes last year and was deservingly nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. Those who think public education must be so much more easy-going in other countries should give this one a look in particular. Based on an autobiographical novel, it follows Mr. Marin (Francois Begaudeau), a teacher at an inner-city school in Paris trying to negotiate the challenges of his individual students and the cultural cocktail they represent. The Class does much more than work off of the existing template for inspirational teacher movies, and deserves consideration if only for that. If not for The GoodTimesKid, this would be the Disc of the week, far and away.
Even those given to watching French films like this one that play almost non-existent theatrical runs missed this movie. High-profile arthouse films like this one are picking up more viewers as the expanded choice of Netflix queues take over from blockbuster-flooded local video stores. My hope is this will only get better with the proliferation of set-top VOD. Extras on both formats include a Making-Of featurette and Select Scene Commentary. The Blu-ray adds an Actors' Workshop and Actors' Self-Portraits.
The Tiger's Tail (DVD only)
MGM released this 2006 John Boorman film straight to DVD in the US. Aside from being an extremely insipid doppelganger story, the worst thing about it is Kim Cattrall's "Irish" accent. Since her presence is probably part of why the film got made, I tolerated it. Tail is a Prince & Pauper-styled moral drama crossed with some thriller elements and some minor comic tinges. The whole movie is saved by paying attention only to Brendan Gleeson's masterful performance and not the blunt, overly-simplistic plot.
Gleeson plays Liam O'Leary, an arch-businessman made rich by the "Celtic Tiger" boom of the late 20th-Century irish economy. Liam pays very little attention to his wife Jane (Cattrall) or his son Connor (Gleeson's son Briain). I was also glad to see Ciaran Hinds in a supporting part as a priest pal of Liam's. A vengeful, separated-at-birth twin enters Liam's life in the opening minutes of the film and sends his world into upheaval, oh my stars and garters! Life lessons are learned, a twist pops up here and there, and the movie is only a great excuse to watch Brendan Gleeson act opposite one of my favorite Irish actors (Brendan Gleeson). There are no extras, just the movie.
17 Again (Blu-ray & DVD)
The best explanation I have for why this movie works reasonably well is that Thomas Lennon is one of the most talented comedians living or dead, and they kept the plot relatively simple. More fleshed-out thoughts on this one after I take a look at the extras: a couple featurettes and some trivia track stuff along with BD-Live features I hope I can make work.
I Love You, Man (Blu-ray & DVD)
In my review back at SXSW in March, I referred to this movie as akin to a really good cheeseburger. That isn't to say it's cheesy and full of bad nutrition, but that sometimes this is just the thing that hits the spot.
"Like I did, a lot of people will look at promos for I Love You, Man determined to be a neg-head on it. "Oh great, one of these," many will say. I came out thinking it's a perfect "watch anytime" kind of thing. When I'm done with the latest depressing "end of the world"-tinged doc and want to watch something that grabs me by the gut and makes me chuckle, this is it."
I've found in the months since then that it's gotten me re-addicted to Baja-style fish tacos. The Blu-ray includes 3 Deleted Scenes [HD 3:48], a few Extended Scenes [HD 12:39], a so-so Gag Reel [HD 11:25], and a Making-Of [HD 17:29]. The Feature Commentary includes director John Hamburg, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segal, and it's really laid back. There's a set of Extras [22:24] which are better described as "Extra Takes" or alternate riffs from different parts of the movie dominated by Jon Favreau. Rounding things out is the movie's Red Band Trailer in HD.
Paris 36 (DVD only)
I almost drove to Dallas to see this at AFI Fest. I still haven't seen it, but want to very much.
Alien Trespass (Blu-ray & DVD)
Allegedly fun and campy. I'll catch up to it.
Gigantic (DVD only)
Goodman, Asner, Dano, and Deschanel (in that order)? I'll give it a look down the road.
The Wild Man of the Navidad (DVD only)
It kills me that I missed this one at Fantastic Fest last year.
New to Blu
Starman
Blue Thunder
St. Elmo's Fire
About Last Night...
Cutthroat Island
TMNT Collection (3 live-action & recent CG toon)
The Ninth Gate
This week was good to catalog titles filling in gaps on Blu-ray, particularly with another John Carpenter movie (Starman), a couple 80's movies, and a schlocky action movie. I can't speak for any of the transfers on these, but will write something up as soon as I do.
Imported TV
Pulling Season 2
The second and final season of Pulling is now available. As i said when I reviewed the first season, toss all Sex & The City comparisons out the window and enjoy it on its own terms.
TV New Release
90210 Season 1
Apparently, this show has done so well that they're reviving Melrose Place as well. I caught part of a single episode in which a High School was putting on a production of Spring Awakening: A New Musical. I like the score to Awakening a great deal. 90210 I don't