This week, a couple of actors-turned-directors show their wares.
Letters From Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The better of the two Iwo Jima flicks Eastwood made last year (not that Flags is weak in any regard) and stands on its own, so don't feel you need to wait to watch one to see the other. A towering achievement, and a fine example of Eastwood's ability to find no easy answers and yet still ask uncomfortable questions in a satisfying way. Amazing (and largely unheralded) performances all around and a fantastic, soulful screenplay by Iris Yamashita. Of the final five, this should have won Best Picture. Extras include a couple of featurettes.
Apocalypto
Probably the ballsiest thing about this flick, besides trying to make a profit on a film with no stars spoken in the dialect of a lost civilization - again - is leaving Mel Gibson's name on it after the, uh, troubles. But, in the end, all the controversy has really nothing to do with this action tale which is essentially one long, and compelling, chase scene. Not for the squeamish, but you'll figure that out in the first five minutes, what with the testicle munching. Extras include commentary by the Melster (no word on if he says "sugartits").
Venus
Peter O'Toole was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of a guy whose life becomes revitalized by his friend's grand-niece. Never having seen the film, I can still guess, based on just how damn good he is, he probably earned the nod. Extras include commentary from the director and the producer.
The Good German
Steven Soderbergh's take on the Casablanca aesthetic was met with less than enthusiastic response by critics and audiences in spite of the George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Tobey Maguire triple-threat. DVD appears to have no extras whatsoever.
Epic Movie (Unrated Edition)
From the makers (some of them, anyway) of Date Movie and the latter Scary Movies. We're probably going to be stuck with these for a while, folks. Please stop going. I will give them credit, however, for having many more extras on their DVD than any of the other releases this week.
In this week's long list: One of the best movies ever made gets the Criterion treatment. Again.
20 Years a Warrior Soul - Doro
2007 March Madness: Men
2007 March Madness: Women
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