Video Reviews, July 2011
Jul 15, 2011FICTION
Fly Away: When Love Means Letting Go. color. 80+ min. Janet Grillo, Cricket Films, dist. by Flatiron Films c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2011. DVD ISBN 9781422921173. $24.95. F
The life of single mother Jeanne revolves around her 16-year-old autistic daughter, Mandy, yet even she cannot always bring Mandy under control, and both Jeanne’s personal life and career ultimately suffer. Does Mandy belong in a residential facility? Can Jeanne bear to let her go? This exceptionally well-produced film features superb performances by Beth Broderick as Jeanne, Ashley Rickards as Mandy, and Greg Germann as Tom, Jeanne’s possible love interest. One wonders, though, whether the resources that Jeanne has at hand would be so universally available that letting go would be an option for many parents. Bonus features include a list of autism resources. Viewers with an interest in autism spectrum disorders will savor the chance to Fly Away.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH
Garrow’s Law: Series 1. 2 discs. color. 240+ min. Twenty Twenty Prods. & BBC, dist. by Acorn Media, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2011. DVD ISBN 9781598284577. $39.99. SDH subtitles. F
This original BBC drama series is based on the career of William Garrow (1760–1840), a real-life barrister who lived and practiced in London, as well as on court records from the Old Bailey. Americans who think of English law as a majestic forbear of our own system of justice may be appalled at what they see in the opening episode. The judges and barristers here are venal and cruel, ready to lie and cheat and apply the law most rigorously to make a pound. Along comes scrappy young William Garrow (played by Andrew Buchan), champing at the bit to challenge the status quo, find the truth, and gain justice for his downtrodden defendants. Viewers will enjoy watching him make legal history with the help of his mentor (Alun Armstrong), an enlightened solicitor, and love interest Lady Sarah Hill (Lyndsey Marshal), the beautiful, right-thinking wife of a politician accustomed to benefiting from the system. Bonus materials include a featurette and a Garrow biography. Recommended for public libraries. [Series 2 is expected to be released in August.]—Sheila S. Intner, Prof. Emerita, Simmons GSLIS at Mt. Holyoke Coll., South Hadley, MA
ARTS & HUMANITIES
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child. color & b/w. 93+ min. Tamra Davis, Art House Films, Curiously Bright Entertainment, & LM Media, dist. by New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422988220. $29.95. ART-GENERAL
While still a teenager, Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–88) left his Brooklyn, NY, home and moved to Manhattan, intent on winning fame in the art world. This video, directed by friend and filmmaker Davis, is a portrait of Basquiat’s meteoric rise and fall and his prodigious drive and energy. In the early 1980s, Basquiat and a friend attracted notice by tagging buildings with enigmatic sayings and the mysterious moniker “samo” (same old shit). As the video notes, the budding artist was blessed with a knack for being seen in the right places and anticipating trends. Basquiat had a strong, focused work ethic, wanting to be known as an “artist of his time”; he quickly rose to the status of cult figure. Unfortunately, Basquiat became hooked on heroin and overdosed at the age of 27, but he left a formidable legacy of 1000 paintings and almost as many drawings. This film includes those artworks, a rare interview with the artist, and insights from friends, fellow artists, and gallery owners. Highly recommended for college and large public library art collections.—Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA
Fun Ideas for Cardmaking and Scrapbooking. color. 53 min. Memory Lane Videos, 541-688-0298; gmarullo@comcast.net. 2010. DVD ISBN 9780970139368. $19.95 + $5 s/h. CRAFTS
Those who are ready to graduate from simple stamped or handmade cards and scrapbook pages to more elaborate art projects will find ideas galore on this DVD. You’ll also need a roomful of products to execute them. The program starts with a review of four cards that have been decorated, followed by a “how to” segment. Techniques are demonstrated using a variety of commercially available materials, turning plain Jane cards into keepsakes. The production suffers from a shortage of close-ups, but the instructions are reasonably clear. A better purchase might be On Air Video’s exceptionally well-done Scrapbooking: Memories Made Simple (LJ 5/15/09), which can be adapted for greeting cards.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
Breath Made Visible. color. 80 min. Ruedi Gerber, dist. by Argot Pictures, 718-369-1180; www.argotpictures.bigcartel.com. 2011. $150; acad. libs. $250. Public performance; home version $24.95. DANCE
This life of the eccentric and controversial modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin (b.1920) presents its subject not chronologically but rather through segments of well-known and never-before-seen dance pieces inserted into interviews with Halprin and her late husband, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin (1916–2009). Though her move out west from her native New York following World War II afforded her new opportunities to assert her philosophy of dance as an expression of nature, psychology, health, and deep emotion, she was never quite appreciated by the establishment in her younger years, being considered too avant-garde and too California. In 1955, she formed the San Francisco Dancer’s Workshop, the first multiracial dance troupe on the West Coast. Her influence expanded through her emphasis on dance as life-art—something both accessible and personal. Still active in teaching, dancing, and mentoring at age 91, Halprin is a fascinating figure. This program is recommended for dance collections and as an inspirational title on health and aging.—B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara P.L., Goleta Branch, CA
How To Club Dance #1. 63 min. DVD UPC 885007173359.
Old School Hip Hop Dance #1. 76 min. DVD UPC 885007177746.
ea. vol: color. CypherStyles.com, www.cypherstyles.com/category/1.cypherstyles-dvd-series. 2010. $19.95. DANCE INSTRUCTION
These DVDs are just two titles in a vast series of instructional videos that focus on house, rave, breakdancing, and hip-hop. The filmmakers begin the series with the bold claim that “street dance is who you are,” and if you believe that to be true, these films will be a great place to start. The moves are broken down to the fundamentals, and viewers are given ample opportunity to follow Barry “GRIZ” Rabkin as he demonstrates each action. Rabkin includes both slow and fast drills as he leads learners through perennial favorites such as the Apple Jack, the Coffee Grinder, and the Worm. The options for each format are a bit arbitrary as practitioners will want to take something from each and create their own style. Also, there is some repetition, so be sure to check the contents before ordering. The series includes a number of beginning programs, e.g., How To House Dance, How To Rave Dance, Learn To Breakdance, and Popular Hip Hop Dance. The videos are appropriate for all ages and might provide an interesting alternative if your workout routine has been stuck in a rut, or if you want to rock that next wedding party. And who doesn’t want to learn the Jersey Shore Fist Pump?—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary. color. 90+ min. Hilari Scarl, Worldplay, Inc., dist. by Docurama c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2011. DVD ISBN 9781422910474. $29.95. Open-captioned. Rated: PG-13. PERFORMING ARTS
This well-produced documentary profiles four deaf entertainers over the course of a year as they work to become recognized by mainstream audiences. Comic CJ Jones, drummer Bob Hiltermann, actor Robert DeMayo, and singer TL Forsberg are all eloquent and extremely talented. They are proud of their deaf culture and work very hard to prove that their talents are equal to those of hearing entertainers. The film pulls no punches in chronicling these performers’ frustrations and hardships, but it also celebrates their victories, culminating in a performance by Beethoven’s Nightmare, the world’s only deaf rock band. The film is technically superb and includes open-captioning, audio descriptors, and nonspeech information such as [phone rings]. A fascinating look into deaf culture that would be useful in a classroom setting while still appealing to general audiences.—Chris Moesch, formerly with City of Tonawanda P.L., NY
The Modern Horseman’s Countdown to Broke: The Complete Training Program. 4 discs. color. 6+ hrs. Trafalgar Square Bks., 800-423-4525; www.horseandriderbooks.com. 2011.DVD ISBN 9781570764776. $79.95. SPORTS
This set is a follow-up to Sean Patrick’s 2009 book of the same name. Patrick worked with nationally recognized trainer John Lyons and now runs a horse-training business focusing on performance training, colt starting, and horsemanship instruction. The 33 precise and detailed lessons included are aimed at horse owners, not trainers. Eschewing force, Patrick rewards the animal by stopping any pressure on the horse. He performs all moves with the horse on the ground before mounting, well preparing the horse before adding a saddle and rider and ensuring the safety of both the animal and the rider. This reviewer’s only criticism, if you can call it that, is that it all looks almost too easy. The horse featured here displays no negative reactions to any of the steps, though Patrick does mention possible problems and ways to fix them. An excellent basic Western horse training program.—Patsy Gray, formerly with Huntsville P.L., AL
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Famous in 31 Days. color. 77 min. John Gerard, Creative 4orce Films, dist. by Victory Multimedia, 310-590-1388; sales@victorymultimedia.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781981914978. $24.99. BIOG
This muddled and mediocre documentary chronicles 43-year-old unhappy and unsatisfied local television producer Gerard’s month-long road trip from Syracuse, NY, to Los Angeles in search of self-fulfillment and undeserved fame. Both a social experiment on the nature of American celebrity and an honest attempt to achieve celebrity and fill gaping holes in his life, Gerard’s self-imposed challenge is to become famous simply by trying to become famous. Along the way, he tries to stir up media attention and hounds real celebrities. Gerard films every mundane moment of his trip and includes far too much of it here. Gerard is likable enough, but his path to self-discovery does not sustain enough interest to warrant a feature-length film. Bonus features include the trailer and deleted scenes. Not recommended.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
The Secret of Oz: Solutions for a Broken Economy! color. 101 min. Bill Still, Still Prods., dist. by AV Café, 877-228-2233; www.theavcafe.com. 2010. DVD UPC 728028003864. $19.95. Public performance. ECON
Author/filmmaker Still (The Money Masters; Capital Crimes) here combines The Wizard of Oz, populism, and money supply into his latest venture. He appears on-screen from various locations to hammer home his arguments that our current monetary system, based on public borrowing, should be replaced by a system where governments responsibly create fiat money as required. He says this would be no worse than today’s overborrowing and would at least eliminate having to pay interest. Still includes historical quotations and on-screen commentary from experts. He cites precedents from the base metal coins of Ancient Rome to Civil War greenbacks whereby “cheap” and plentiful money spurred economic activity. He spends a good deal of time on the 19th-century populist fight to increase the money supply by basing the dollar on abundant silver instead of gold. The filmmaker goes on somewhat of a tangent to contend that L. Frank Baum (1856–1919), a populist sympathizer, incorporated money supply imagery into his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the form of the yellow brick road and Dorothy’s silver slippers (ruby in the 1939 film). Still’s scheme appears to risk ruinous inflation, but his film will stir healthy debate and is recommended for interested viewers.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA
Sit Down and Fight: Walter Reuther and the Rise of the Auto Workers Union. color & b/w. 60 min. Charlotte Zwerin, American Experience, PBS Home Video, shoppbs.org/education. 2011. DVD ISBN 9781608831807. $44.95; limited public performance. HIST
Among the most successful union organizers in history, Walter Reuther (1907–70) led the United Auto Workers (UAW) to encompass over one million members and contracts with the Big Three automakers between 1935 and 1941. Reuther served as UAW president for 24 years, and through innovative tactics such as the sit-down strike and quick-strike “flying squadrons” to counter Henry Ford’s thuggish private army, he helped bring about an era of unprecedented prosperity for American workers. Still, recommending this DVD, which was originally broadcast in 1992, is a tough call. It’s 19 years old, for one thing, and glosses over the complications of Communist influence in the UAW and Reuther’s resistance to that element. On the other hand, the $44.95 price includes limited public performance rights. With collective bargaining again in the news, the vintage footage here makes clear what is at stake and what it costs; so, on balance, this video is recommended for most libraries.—John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.
Countdown to Zero. color & b/w. 91+ min. Lucy Walker, Lawrence Bender Prod., dist. by Magnolia Pictures & Participant Media, www.magpictures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 876964003544. $26.98; Blu-ray UPC 876964003551. $29.98. Rated: PG. POL SCI
This program from producer Bender (An Inconvenient Truth) and director Walker documents the history of and continuing concerns regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Although the total estimated number of weapons worldwide is down from 60,000 to 23,000, both the United States and Russia have 1500 warheads ready to launch within 15 minutes. The film also covers the acquisition of nuclear weapons by terrorists and basic bomb construction. Once highly enriched uranium is obtained, a bomb could be made easily with materials readily available for purchase. The uranium or a finished bomb could enter American ports without detection inside one of millions of shipping containers. The film closes with recommendations for steps toward worldwide nuclear disarmament. Among those appearing in the film are former President Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Tony Blair. This disturbing film deserves a wide audience.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. color. 88+ min. Julien Nitzberg, Dickhouse Entertainment in assoc. with Transition Prods., dist. by New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422995204. $24.95. SOC SCI
The Whites are West Virginia “royalty”: rebels and outlaws descended from D. Ray White (1927–85), a famous mountain dancer whose murder left the family in chaos. Since then, the vast clan, now in its fourth generation, has become notorious in Boone County for its disorderly ways, chronic drug abuse, and pugilistic lifestyle. And viewers won’t be able to take their eyes off the spectacle. Every scene presents the beaten-down Whites drinking or drugging; in the most shocking instance, a mother postpartum cuts lines of coke on her hospital-room nightstand. Local officials provide commentary, explaining how the Whites are products of a combination of mountain isolation, a culture of entitlement (welfare and disability), and a fatalism bred by the exploitative system of coal mining. Will the youngest generation escape the cycle? It seems unlikely, although the film does end on a hopeful note. Bonus features include an interview with family friend Hank Williams III. For sociology collections and fans who can’t get enough of reality TV.—David Gibbs, Georgetown Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Pet Emergency First Aid: Dogs; Working Dog Edition. color. 103 min. Apogee Communications, www.apogeevideo.com. 2011. DVD UPC 783557044498. $39.95 + $5.95 s/h. PETS
This program seeks to provide the viewer with the skills and awareness to care for a dog until veterinary intervention arrives. The information is well demonstrated with staged scenarios, including two dozen situations that a pet owner might encounter, from spider and snake bites to near drowning, heat stroke, burns, eye or foot injuries, shock, dehydration, and the ingestion of poisons. The need for a well-stocked first aid kit—in the car and at home—is reinforced, as well as the necessity of learning and understanding what is normal for your own dog before an emergency occurs. While the DVD does contain sound basics in a broad variety of emergency situations, the method of presentation is often too quick for people to absorb the information or take notes. Add to that the difficulty of remembering these procedures when emotion and stress interfere with clear thinking, and it is obvious that this information is best provided in print rather than video format. No booklet summarizing key points is provided, a serious flaw given the topic. Three bonus segments of video/photos of dogs set to music could easily have been omitted, with the core presentation slowed down to help viewers absorb more detail. An optional purchase; for a fraction of the cost, a basic canine first aid book would serve most viewers in need.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI
CASH FLOW The price of Papa: “The Man, the Myth, the Legend”; A Tribute to Ernest Hemingway (LJ 5/1/11) has been raised to $29.95.
PLAY BALL
Baseball’s Greatest Games: 1960 World Series Games 7. 2 discs. color & b/w. 244+ min. Major League Baseball Properties, dist. by A&E Television Networks c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422916537. $29.95. SPORTS
If your patrons ever had a hankering to see the 1960 World Series but missed the A&E broadcast in December 2010, here’s your chance to make their day. This package has everything but broadcast host Bob Costas. The showpiece is a colorized restoration of Bing Crosby’s kinescope recording of the game seven TV airing, with play-by-play by Mel Allen and Bob Prince, complete with Prince’s postgame locker room interviews with the victorious Pittsburgh Pirates. Alternatively, viewers can watch the game and listen to the nationwide radio broadcast. But that’s not all! The second disc includes a filmed overview of the full series, two newsreels covering the entire series, interviews with nine Yankee and Pirate players, and 1960 Pirates Season Highlights, a boon to Pirates fans. Overkill perhaps, but highly recommended for sports collections.—Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
It’s Time: The Incredible Season of the 2010 American League Champion Texas Rangers. 2 discs. color. 60+ min. DVD ISBN 9781422916605.
The Magic Inside: The 2010 Season of the World Champion San Francisco Giants. 66+ min. DVD ISBN 9781422916643. ea. vol: color. Major League Baseball Properties, dist. by A&E Television Networks c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. $19.95.SPORTS
Fans of the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants will treasure these well-crafted productions, each of which captures the 2010 game highlights of its pennant-winning team. The personality of the teams comes to life throughout its winning season, particularly as viewed by the fans, managers, coaches, sportswriters, broadcasters, and the players themselves. Though the Giants thrilled their followers by bringing them their first World Championship since moving to San Francisco in 1957, the Rangers’ story seems more compelling to the nonaligned baseball watcher, following the team to its first League Championship and first-ever World Series. Bonus features on both discs include moments of pitching, hitting, walk-off wins (including an incredible called third strike RBI), and fan-team postseason celebrations. Both titles are highly recommended for libraries in, respectively, Rangers or Giants territory, though fans of each team will want copies of their own. What fun!—Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Yankeeography: The Core Four Collection. 2 discs. color. 3½+ hrs. Major League Baseball & YES Network, dist. by A&E Television Networks c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422996102. $19.95. SPORTS
This release by Major League Baseball and YES Network collects one new and three previously aired episodes of the Yankeeography TV series of documentaries praising and profiling New York Yankee star players. The titular “core four” were major participants in the team’s late 1990s renaissance: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada. Narrated by longtime Yankee radio announcer John Sterling, these roughly hour-long minibiographies combine game highlights, interview snippets, and behind-the-scenes footage. Stories focus on the players’ early careers, World Series triumphs, and contributions to the Yankee dynasty. Anything of a controversial nature or that could tarnish the Yankee image is ignored; the players are treated as if they had superhuman talents and hearts of gold. Adult viewers will see through the haze and likely realize that much is omitted from these fawning, superficial profiles, but younger Yankee fans will enjoy the dramatic game footage and entertaining stories of how their favorite players rose to fame. Bonus features include a seemingly random hodgepodge of additional game bits for each player. For comprehensive sports collections, especially those in the New York metropolitan area.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
