So, what is Phase 4? Well, while a lot of us are inclined to instantly recollect Saul Bass’s great ‘70s sci-fi flick about ants, Phase 4 Films is an indie movie distributor (one of many out there) that releases some of the more “artsy” titles on DVD. Their acquisitions range from imported animation to thought-provoking dramas, and to B-movie horrorfests, too. In recent months, Phase 4 has released several titles that you have undoubtedly passed by in the video store. In an effort to clue you in on what you’re missing, I present to you a few mini-reviews for The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh, Valentino: The Last Emperor, Good Dick, and The Poker House.

The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh

Very loosely based on the award-winning book by Michael Chabon, The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh is sort of a phlegmatic coming-of-age drama set in 1983. Unfortunately, the fashions and hairstyles look like they hail from any time period but 1983, but that’s the least of this film’s worries. College graduate Art Bechstein (Jon Foster) is a rather passive, book smart sort of fellow who has lived in the shadow of his mobster father (Nick Nolte) all of his life. A chance encounter with his old college roommate enables Art to meet Jane (Sienna Miller) and her wild boyfriend, Cleveland (Peter Sarsgaard). Among them, an instant friendship is formed — you know, the kind that makes an award-winning novel and a smashing film adaptation.

Sadly, the film adaptation of Michael Chabon’s award-winning The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh doesn’t leave much of a mark on its audience. If you already know the source material, you’ll probably hate this version — but at least you’ll know what sort of point the movie is trying to make, since producer/screenwriter/director Rawson Marshall Thurber seems to have had trouble focusing on that himself. The movie wanders from one moment to the next à la stream of consciousness, without a whole lot of concern as to whether or not it’s keeping the audience entertained. Of course, I’d expect nothing less from the writer/director of Ben Stiller’s Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Article Author: Luigi Bastardo

Luigi Bastardo is the disgruntled alter-ego of Adam Becvar, a thirtysomething lad from Northern California who has watched so many weird movies since the tender age of 3 that a conventional life is out of the question. …

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