Video Reviews, January 2011
Jan 15, 2011FICTION
Criminal Justice 2. 2 discs. color. 5 hrs. Yann Demange & Marc Jobst, Portman Film & Television, BBC Prods., dist. by BFS Entertainment, www.bfsent.com. 2010. DVD UPC 066805310188. $39.98. F/TV
Spousal abuse comes in many forms, and in the second installment of this award-winning BBC television series the consequences of mental and emotional intimidation are examined. Juliet Miller (Maxine Peake) is the fragile and nervous wife of a successful London barrister. One night, she brutally stabs her husband with a kitchen knife, then flees the scene, leaving their 13-year-old daughter, Ella, with the mortally wounded Joe. As the many layers of the story unfold, the reasons for Juliet’s actions and the resultant trauma are slowly and skillfully revealed. First broadcast on British television in 2009, this police and courtroom drama features top-notch writing, acting, and production values. The character development and pacing are masterly, with suspense building from the outset and carried with the help of a plaintive musical background through to the end. This view of the criminal justice system from a British perspective will be both fascinating and informative to American viewers. Recommended.—Linda Frederiksen, Washington State Univ. Lib., Vancouver
The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set 2. 3 discs. color. 604+ min. BBC, dist. by Acorn Media, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781598284355. $49.99. SDH subtitles. F
These original BBC adaptations of Dorothy L. Sayers’s crime dramas are just as entertaining now as they were over 30 years ago when they were first released. In this set, actor Ian Carmichael captures the charm of the debonair Lord Peter, who lives the good life in pre– and post–World War I Britain while stumbling onto one crime after another with his trusty manservant, Bunter. Included in this series are adaptations of Murder Must Advertise (1933), Five Red Herrings (1931), and The Nine Tailors (1934). (Set 1, previously released, includes Clouds of Witness and The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club.) The productions are first-rate, filled with a colorful cast of supporting characters and capturing the flavor of the period. Each story is developed in four parts (about 45 min. each), immersing the viewer in place and time. If British drama of the Masterpiece variety is popular in your library, this is an essential purchase.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
ARTS & HUMANITIES
Innovative Crochet: Motifs with Kristin Omdahl. color. 64 min. Interweave, www.interweavestore.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781596682535. $19.95. CRAFTS
Crochet designer Kristin Omdahl regularly appears on Knitting Daily TV. Here, she explains how to read a chart (including an explanation of the symbols) and discusses color, design elements, and more. Her step-by-step instructions to motif design are clear and easy to follow; viewers will benefit from the close-ups as Omdahl demonstrates the various stitches. This disc would be a nice companion to Omdahl’s books Wrapped in Crochet (2008) and Crochet So Fine (2010). Included with the DVD is a link to a free pattern for her Farrah Wrap. Recommended for public libraries.—Michele Lauer-Bader, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY
Comrades in Dreams. color. 90+ min. Uli Gaulke, Flying Moon Filmproduktion, dist. by Pathfinder Home Entertainment, www.pathfinderpictures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 825307922899. $24.98. FILM
This casually paced and affectionately crafted documentary by a former film projectionist warmly illustrates how the devotion to cinema transcends geographic, cultural, and political boundaries. Dividing itself among passionate movie exhibitors in four different countries, the film captures both striking differences among their respective circumstances and the unifying passion they share for the public exhibition of movies. We are introduced to a twentysomething movie enthusiast known as “the king of the Travelling Cinema” who shows films before audiences packed in circus tents in the Indian village of Shingnapur; an ambitious trio of West African men who run an open-air cinema in poverty-stricken Burkina Faso; a dedicated servant to her small community of Big Piney, WY, who screens movies in a theater converted from a barn; and a middle-aged female projectionist in North Korea, who enjoys this film’s most attention and interest. Further affinities among them, beyond their shared enthusiasm for film, gradually emerge but remain undeveloped. Extras include outtakes and scene selection. A worthwhile purchase for general public and academic collections.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond
Tales from the Script. color. 105+ min. Peter Hanson, dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 720229914222 $24.95; public performance $195. FILM
This documentary presents interviews with a dozen or so Hollywood screenwriters, ranging from the celebrated—e.g., John Carpenter (Halloween), William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver)—to the obscure. It explores the tenuous status of screenwriters in the moviemaking process and the conflict built into their relationships with studio execs, producers, directors, and stars. The writers bemoan the rise of the focus group and “development hell” that have steadily dumbed down movies over the past few decades. Briefly explored but deserving of further discussion are the issues of why the profession is so male-dominated and the nature of the writing process itself. These folks are self-proclaimed narcissists (“egomaniacs with low self-esteem,” as one of them quips) and born gripers, so it’s refreshing to hear them admit that their problems really merit little sympathy. As one of them says, it’s a “hard way to make an easy living.” Movie scenes that satirize the screenwriting process are interspersed throughout. Extras include additional stories and tips for novices. Of interest to anyone who aspires to work in Hollywood, or who is just curious about how the business works.—David Gibbs, Georgetown Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
Blacking Up: Hip-Hop’s Remix of Race and Identity. color. 56 min. Robert A. Clift, Limbic Prods. & WTIU, dist. by California Newsreel, 415-284-7800; www.newsreel.org. 2010. DVD $49.95; public performance $89. Closed-captioned. MUSIC
Since the days of minstrel shows, white performers have made a livelihood imitating black musical contributions, learning from and, many would argue, usurping the success of black performers along the way. Others would claim that dividing music and art among racial lines is itself a form of racism. Yet hip-hop is more than music; it is culture, and although the blending of races musically is perhaps inevitable, the attempts by affluent suburban whites to speak of their lives on the streets with the attitude, language, clothing, and posturing of black urbanites can seem laughable and insulting. Director Clift’s excellent documentary contains interviews with, among others, Amiri Baraka, Nelson George, Chuck D., Russell Simmons, and the father of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc. Performance footage from Al Jolson to Vanilla Ice is included, providing a broad historical perspective. Viewers are left to draw their own conclusions; most effectively, Clift shows the hip-hop issues of black and white as a gray area. Excellent production values, valuable interviews, and balanced reporting suggest that this will be a useful film for both musical and cultural studies, now and into the future. Recommended for libraries serving music-savvy and socially conscious patrons.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
LENNONYC. color. 115 min. Michael Epstein, Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right & Dakota Group, WNET.org American Masters, dist. by A&E Television Networks, 800-933-6249; shopAETV.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422998977. $24.95. MUSIC
John Lennon’s post-Beatles decade in his adoptive hometown of New York City has been covered extensively in both film and print, but what sets this documentary apart is its broad appeal, offering a comprehensive overview for newcomers as it unearths rare footage for aficionados. Rather than predictably trite talking-head sound bites from scholars and stars, viewers instead hear from those who knew Lennon intimately and worked with him in the studio. They tell his story, and they tell it very well. Close friend Bob Gruen, widow Yoko Ono, and “personal assistant” May Pang are among those who share details of Lennon’s life and character. His studio cohorts provide wonderful insight into Lennon’s songwriting and guitar-playing techniques and studio behavior. Other topics covered in depth are fatherhood, Lennon’s struggles with fame and sobriety, his antiwar efforts, his troubles with the FBI, and the infamous alcohol-drenched “Lost Weekend.” What is not covered to any degree is his 1980 murder. This film is about Lennon’s life, not his death. Longtime fans already familiar with Lennon’s story will savor the rare film footage and studio outtakes, while anyone interested in learning about Lennon’s final decade will appreciate the cohesive and well-rounded narrative and surprising richness of detail. This film is highly recommended, as well you might “Imagine.”— Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Nighthawks and Irises: Poetry Video on Paintings and Short Subjects. color. 40 min. Robert Kirschten, Old Family Movies, www.oldfamilymovies.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9780979840135. $12.88. POETRY
This inventive “poetry video” is, per the creator, “the art of matching spoken-word performance with visual images from the poem’s subject.” An interesting experience is ensured as Kirschten combines high-quality video, really gorgeous photographs, and words to produce an intense visual and aural experience. Visual items selected include the famous—e.g., Vincent van Gogh’s Irises—and the less well known—e.g., Ming Dynasty silk tapestry Swallows and Apricot Blossoms. The short subjects include such things as famed clown Emmett Kelly, the Weather Channel, and a rodeo poster. The production quality and effects are excellent, well planned, and well executed. The editing of the photographs and poetry presentations is skillful and effective. The total effect is engaging, emotional, and entertaining. Suitable for high school and college students as well as adult viewers.—Susan C. Awe, Univ. of New Mexico Lib., Albuquerque
Pulling John. color. 72+ min. Vassiliki Khonsari & Sevan Mattossian, Khonsari Film in assoc. with Grekian Prod., dist. by IndiePix, www.indiepixfilms.com. 2010. DVD UPC 845637001019. $24.95. SPORTS
First-time filmmakers Khonsari and Mattossian spent four years documenting longtime arm wrestling icon John Brzenk and two young and very different competitors seeking his throne—brash and thoroughly unlikable American Travis Bagent and humble and almost too-earnest Russian Alexey Voevoda. This compelling film’s anchor is Brzenk, an unassuming airplane mechanic from Utah who has dominated this miles-from-the-mainstream sport for over two decades but is contemplating whether to retire on top or wait for someone finally to beat him. What begins as a simple portrait of the subculture of professional arm wrestling becomes a thoughtful and intelligent contemplation on aging, and it is easy to root for Brzenk as he struggles with this very personal but universal issue. The suspense builds as Brzenk, Bagent, and Voevoda arm wrestle their way toward the 2004 world championship tournament in Warsaw, Poland, where Brzenk’s crown and undefeated streak are at stake. Generous extras include four trailers, deleted scenes, and frank and illuminating commentary by Brzenk and the filmmakers. You don’t have to be an arm wrestling fan to enjoy and appreciate this well-crafted documentary, one of the best sports movies of the past few years.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Yiddish Theater: A Love Story. color & b/w. 80 min. In Yiddish w/English subtitles. Dan Katzir, Katzir Prods., dist. by New Love Films, 323-939-3261; www.newlovefilms.com. 2010. DVD UPC 721633103370. $24.99; public performance $350 + $10 s/h. THEATER
The struggle of the late actress Zypora Spaisman—her determination, her resilience, her persistence—equates to the story of Yiddish theater in New York City. This film follows Spaisman (1916–2002), a performer for decades, as she and her company, the Yiddish Public Theater, fight to remain open despite low ticket sales and lack of capital. While we ponder their travails, we discover the rich history of the Yiddish theater—once a rival to Broadway in New York—and its connection to the larger legacy of the present-day diaspora of Jews in America. Spaisman and her contemporaries are funny and sad, powerful and cranky. The film is about her swan song and the dying of a once-vibrant cultural experience, yet it is awash in humor and hope. We are treated to a bittersweet but happy ending with the establishment of the National Yiddish Theatre after Spaisman’s death. With rich, well-documented historical information related in a moving, personal way, this film is one to put on your shelves. More at yiddishtheater.net.—Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Saving Face: Matt Kern’s Journey from Indictment to Redemption. color. 80 min. Blue Planet Films in assoc. with Acadia Pictures, dist. by Vision Video, 800-523-0226; www.visionvideo.com. 2009. DVD UPC 727985013527. $19.99. BIOG/REL
Florida teen Matt Kern’s descent from star student and athlete to car thief and accessory to murder landed him in 1988 in a Florida prison as its youngest inmate. Saving Face documents the events that took Kern to jail, his hard-core life in the prison underworld, and his subsequent spiritual conversion after time in solitary confinement. Kern tells his own story, augmented by extensive interviews with family members. The grim details of prison life and Kern’s role there as a tough bookie and drug dealer make his redemption that much more compelling. There is some reenactment footage that is less than effective, but overall the production serves the story adequately. Extras include an additional interview with Kern and a segment titled “Christian Perspective.” Recommended for church groups.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY
Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives; 30th-Anniversary Edition. color. 132+ min. Peter Adair, Mariposa Film Group & Milliarium Zero, 800-603-1104; www.wordisoutmovie.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781933920184. $29.95; acad. libs. $195. Public performance. GENDER STUDIES
Claiming to be the first feature-length film about gays and lesbians by a gay filmmaker, this 1978 documentary offers interviews with 26 people who talk about their lives. Probably most well known among them is Mattachine Society founder Harry Hay, also the subject of the recent excellent The Temperamentals. It is a tribute to director Adair’s talents that the film’s stark and bare style still mesmerizes as these 26 lives unfold before our eyes. The flawless editing weaves the stories into a single fabric. Younger viewers, especially those who identify as GLBT, may be shocked at the tales of forced marriages, police harassment and beatings, electric shock therapy, and societal exclusion. Older viewers will be reminded of the blatant discrimination of a time not so long ago, some of which still exists. Extras include updates on the participants. A timeless film; highly recommended. [See Video News Briefs, LJ 6/1/10.]—Gerald A. Notaro, Univ. of South Florida Lib., St. Petersburg
Soundtrack for a Revolution: Every Generation Finds Its Voice. color & b/w. Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman, Louverture Films, Freedom Song Prod. in assoc. with Gold Crest Films Intl. & Wild Brunch, dist. by Docurama c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422988275. $29.95. HIST
“Policemen can’t stop you from singing,” states Soundtrack for a Revolution, a recounting of the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement for a new generation, using music as a hook. Powerful period footage is intercut with shots of contemporary singers revisiting songs of that era to elucidate how bad things were and how much has changed since. Performers include The Roots, Richie Havens, Joss Stone, John Legend, and an amazing gospel choir. Civil rights veterans Harry Belafonte, Andrew Young, Julian Bond, and Congressman John Lewis add context, emphasizing the role music played in bonding and inspiring protesters. Bonus material includes complete versions of the songs, outtakes, and a photo gallery. Soundtrack is destined to become a Black History Month classic.—John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.
The Oath. color. 96+ min. In English & Arabic w/English subtitles. Laura Poitras, Praxis Films & Independent Television Svc., dist. by Zeitgeist Films, 212-274-1989; www.zeitgeistfilms.com. 2010. DVD UPC 795975113038. $29.99. INT AFFAIRS
In 1996, Abu Jandal and his brother-in-law Salim Hamdan swore an oath of allegiance to Osama bin Laden. The former became bin Laden’s bodyguard and the latter his personal driver. Jandal was later arrested in Yemen prior to the 9/11 attacks; U.S. troops captured Hamdan and transferred him to Guantánamo Bay. Director Poitras’s (My Country, My Country) gripping tale follows the story of these two men. Jandal went through a pardon program and, with money provided by the Yemeni government, purchased a taxi. Well spoken and charismatic, he addresses young men interested in becoming jihadists and has granted interviews to such outlets as the New York Times and 60 Minutes. By contrast, Hamdan was a plaintiff in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld, which decreed the unconstitutionality of the military commissions established to try terrorists. The first defendant tried and convicted for providing material support to terrorists, Hamdan was sentenced to time served and removed to Yemen. Hamdan never appears on film; his presence is felt through the reading of his letters to Jandal. Poitras’s film powerfully touches on themes of betrayal, guilt, loyalty, family, and absence. Essential viewing for all audiences.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.
Bachelorette, 34. color. 30 min. Kara Herold, dist. by New Day Films, 888-367-9154; www.newday.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781574482485. $89; acad. libs. $195 (Rental: $45). Public performance. SDH subtitles. SOC SCI
Director Herold’s mother has her daughter’s wedding all planned. The only hitch is that Kara hasn’t yet met Mr. Right, Mr. Wrong, or even Mr. Maybe. This examination of the push and pull between traditional values espousing early marriage and children and the more current societal trend of staying single longer, getting married later, if at all, and postponing having children explores the roots of American family culture and women’s roles in a lightly humorous way. Bachelorette, 34 is narrated by the filmmaker (and her mother) over a pastiche of 1950s and 1960s retro-kitschy photos, how-to videos, and home movies depicting marital bliss and domesticity. Herold’s artistic background and independent spirit are reflected in the bold choices in illustration she has assembled to show her mother’s single-minded crusade to get her daughter married. Though viewers may be put off by the slow pace and disjointed visuals, sociology and gender and women’s studies students will find plenty here to discuss.—Charli Osborne, Oxford P.L., MI
The Evolution of Dad. color. 94 min. Dana H. Glazer, Dane-Gramp Prods., www.evolutionofdad.com. 2010. DVD UPC 898681001795. $49.95; acad. libs. $249.95 + $6.99 s/h. Public performance. SOC SCI
Filmmaker Glazer here explores the evolving role of fathers in modern America. He opens with an emotional photo collage featuring fathers, accompanied by voice-overs from their children. He then pieces together on-camera interview excerpts from experts, wives, children, and fathers to explain the dilemma that men face in choosing between working to support or being with their children and how the absence of fathers affects the child. He shows how being a stay-at-home dad conflicts with the male stereotype of providing for one’s family by going to a job. The nontraditional fathers profiled here discuss the problems they have faced, for example, a lack of paid-parental leave and not being taken seriously at work. The fathers, including Glazer himself, are eloquent in voicing what fatherhood means to them. Glazer’s heartfelt effort to illuminate workplace and gender issues relating to fatherhood will prove insightful to academic audiences and resonate with fathers everywhere.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., PA
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Cake Decorating: Fun with Fondant; Basics and Birthdays 1. color. 110+ min. Potter Prods., 503-430-8333; www.potter-productions.com; Midwest Tape, www.midwesttapes.com. 2010. DVD UPC 793573802620. $24.95 + $1 s/h. Public performance. COOKING
Robin Hassett, co-owner of and baker at the Dessert Tray in Portland, OR, shares in this lively and informative DVD her tips and tricks for working with fondant, that mix of sugar, water, and flavoring that is the foundation of many candies and icings. After discussing the basic tools and techniques, Hassett provides a recipe for fondant and then goes through the step-by-step process of decorating two different birthday cakes. Excellent production values and a well-designed menu allow viewers to navigate the DVD with ease. Hassett proves to be an engaging and cheery guide to the world of fondant, making this program the perfect choice for beginning cooks who want to start turning out their own colorful cakes. A useful addition to any public library cooking collection.—John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., AZ
Chefs A’ Field: Culinary Adventures That Begin on the Farm. 2 discs. color. 2+ hrs. Chris Warner, Warner Hanson TV & KCTS Television, dist. by PBS Home Video, shoppbs.org/education. 2010. DVD ISBN 9780793670925. $34.99; public performance $64.95. Closed-captioned. COOKING
Each episode in this captivating PBS series begins with a visit to a farm that specializes in ingredients of interest to a serious local chef who then serves as the viewer’s guide to gourmet dishes that make use of those ingredients. Viewers are treated to facts about the featured foods beyond recipes and cooking methods; an interesting dish or two are highlighted in each episode. Children who helped to gather the ingredients and share in the cooking process—the chefs’ kids, the farmers’ kids, local youth—get face time, too. Unfortunately, precious minutes are spent on hard-sell spiels for the sponsors’ products. Granted, the hyped-up dialog, while irritating, is difficult to eliminate, for example, in the dairy episode, narration lauds the purity and cleanliness of California milk and slyly suggests it is superior to products from the Midwest. Still, the opening and closing promos could easily have been deleted before releasing the videos for sale. Now, they must be endured in order to view this set of otherwise entertaining and educational programs. Extras include special tips and recipes.—Sheila S. Intner, Emerita, Simmons GSLIS at Mt. Holyoke Coll., South Hadley, MA
Crude: The Real Price of Oil. color. 104+ min. In English, Spanish, A’ingae, & Secoya w/English subtitles. Joe Berlinger, Red Envelope Entertainment & Entendre Films, dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 720229913997. $24.99.
Fuel: Change Your Fuel…Change Your World. color. 112+ min. Josh Tickell, dist. by Cinema Libre Studio, 818-349-8822; www.cinemalibrestudio.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781595871305. $24.95. ENVIRONMENT
Both of these affordable films address concerns about U.S. energy consumption. Crude spotlights the environmental price being paid elsewhere for oil exploration, while Fuel examines possible ways to shift the U.S. focus onto sustainable energy sources. Crude lays out the background of a 14-year class-action suit in which Texaco, now owned by Chevron, is accused of contaminating remote swamps and rivers in Ecuador, leading to illness and deaths affecting 30,000 inhabitants. A camera crew follows lawyers Steven Danziger and Pablo Fajaro of the nonprofit Amazon Watch as they battle Chevron’s legal team. Extras include interviews and a resource guide. Spanish subtitles are available. The lawsuit is ongoing.
Fuel recounts director Tickell’s own ecological activities, notably touring the United States in a “veggie van” powered by used grease from fast food outlets. Tickell believes oil companies control the federal government and points to the vast amounts of money spent on military security in the Middle East as evidence. He contends there were huge oil spills in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina that were never reported in the mainstream media. Prominent experts and activists give brief opinions about how the nation can get off its oil addiction. Tickell mainly promotes biodiesel fuel, now with algae as a sustainable source. Mention is made of alternative energy and conservation to reduce U.S. oil use, but mass political engagement is also required. Extras include more information on biodiesel, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and energy efficiency. Both of these productions are packed with information, but Crude is the more focused film. For adults with a strong interest in clean energy.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., BC
