Here are some recent DVD releases you might not hear about in your local movie review blog.
Missing (1982)
Criterion’s “digitally restored” release of Costa Gavra’s English-language debut stars Jack Lemmon as a father whose son goes, well, missing during the U.S.-backed coup of Salvador Allende. It’s based on the true story of Charles Horvak, a leftist journalist who disappeared during the coup, and follows his father and wife (Sissy Spacek) as they search fruitlessly for him. Controversial at the time for exposing the seamy underbelly of American foreign policy in Latin America, it prompted the State Department to issue a statement in response. Criterion Collection, $39.95.
Touch Of Evil (50th Anniversary Edition) (1958)
Orson Welles’ 1958 masterpiece officially ended the classic period of film noir. It is as well-known for it’s problematic history as for its accomplishments: it was taken away from Welles, re-edited and then released as the bottom half of a double feature. In the 1970s, a longer cut was discovered in Universal film vaults; it is now called the Preview Version. Finally, in 1998, a new, “restored” version was produced using footage from the theatrical and preview versions, following a detailed memo written by Welles; it is considered the closest possible to the director’s original vision. This “50th Anniversary Edition,” listing at $26.98 from Universal, has all three versions, plus assorted goodies.
Sunset Boulevard (The Centennial Collection)
The classic Billy Wilder noir with Gloria Swanson as silent film star Norma Desmond and William Holden as Joe Gillis, her kept man. Considered <i>the</i> most trenchant treatment of Hollywood and it’s ways, it veers in tone from cynicism to humor to grand guignol. I don’t know how many sketch-comedy routines have parodied Swanson’s “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” performance, which in itself is a parody, but I bet just showing the goofs on that one line would fill a reel or two. Paramount’s excuse for re-issuing this, other than trying to wring some more cash out of the cow, is the centennial of the studio. Paramount, 2 discs, $24.99 list.
The Sopranos: The Complete Series
Ok, so it’s not a movie. But it is Monumental, huge, humongous. Thirty-three discs long with every episode in the 6-year history of Tony and gang, it includes 3-and-a-half hours of brand new extras. It costs $400 list, but you can get it on Amazon as we speak for $254.99. And, as an extra, added bonus, it’s reignited the whining by series afficionados about That Ending. David Chase has come out with a new interview shilling the product, in which he ever-so-reluctantly discusses the controversy. He won’t set the record straight, so I will: THEY’RE ALL DEAD. ALL OF THEM: MEADOW, CARMELA, TONY, A.J., THEY’RE ALL DEAD. You’re welcome.
RSS 2.0
I am not a fan of THE SOPRANOS, but being Italian-American, it’s a miracle I am still here and not lying horizontal in a slab of cement after having made these sentiments public in the past. But the vast majority of my friends and associates are in full agreement with Coosa Creek Cinema and will rightly celebrate this release, even at $255.
The other three I have picked up, and rightly applaud, although I never thought the previous Paramount DVD release of SUNSET BOULEVARD was all that bad. Wonderful and super-attractively laid-out thread.
Hi! Rick,
I must throw Welles’ boxsets in the (my) cart….
Rick said. “Orson Welles’ 1958 masterpiece (A Touch of Evil) officially ended the classic period of film noir.” This is true, (I must admit a consensus has been reached among noirheads that ToE is the film that “officially” ended the classic noir period.) but some “noirheads” think “Kiss Me Deadly” or “Odds Against Tomorrow” officially ended the classic noir period.
Personally, I am in agreement with author Eddie Muller and think that Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film “Psycho” help “ushered” in the “transitional” period from “noir” to “neo-noir.”
[See: Muller's book Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir...pg. 190-191]
Rick said, “Paramount’s excuse for re-issuing this,(Billy Wilder’s Sunset Blvd.,) other than trying to wring some more cash out of the cow, is the centennial of the studio. Paramount, 2 discs, $24.99 list.”
When it come to this boxset, my pocketbook is going to be “closed-up”…Mr. Demille…Ohh!
Rick, thanks, for the heads-up!
dcd
There’s a place near my apartment that is selling that Touch of Evil set for $19.99, and I still haven’t picked it up. I’m a moron.
Sam, I like the Sopranos well enough but would never spend $255 on videos of any kind. If I want to watch all the episodes, there’s always Netflix!!
I think you’re right: Sunset Blvd looks fine in the 2002 release. the only reason Paramount would release this is to make a little more money.
dcd,
Well, you’re the noir expert. in actuality, it makes little difference to me which is the final, classic noir, I think Touch works well on a number of levels.
bill, Amazon’s got it for $19.99 as well, but you may still be a moron: as always, your mileage may vary.
Dammit Rick. You make me want to buy more DVDs, and I can’t, I’m supposed to be using that disposable income for cds!
Missing is an interesting film in that I like the way Costa-Gavras handled his leftist-politics compared to the inept filmmakers we have today. I’m surprised it’s a Criterion release however, b/c I think it’s pretty hoakey… or as hoakey a film can get about idealogical killings. There is a scene were two American lefties are using kindergarten logic to argue in favor of communism which is pretty hilarious (it’s blind idealism at its worst), and I find the whole come-to-Jesus revelations of Jack Lemmon’s character to be pretty hilarious. It’s like a leftist fantasy of turning a rightie into a leftie by escorting him through a exhibition of American imperialism gone wrong.
But Sissy Spacek is really good!
$26.98 = the amount of money I’d be willing to pay for just the opening shot of TOUCH OF EVIL on a loop for 2 hours.
Fox, I think you’re a cynical, cynical man … Missing is a masterpiece of agitprop, and Lemmon’s conversion is touching to say the least . . . it puts all his tendency toward treacle to good use.
Plus Sissy Spacek is hot
Joe, there are serious sales going on at the moment over at DVDPlanet and DeepdiscountDVD … just enter the special codes for DVDPlanet (one is “save” the other “25offsale”) and at DeepDiscount (the code is (DVDTalk). Last time I checked, “Touch of Evil” was out of stock.
“hot”??
Really?? I mean… I’ll give you cute… but hot?
You must really get a boner when you watch Badlands then, huh?
Am I allowed to say “boner”?
Joe, there are serious sales going on at the moment over at DVDPlanet and DeepdiscountDVD … just enter the special codes for DVDPlanet (one is “save” the other “25offsale”)
“And if you’re ready to order folks, just mention my name Rick Olson… that’s RICK OLSON… and you’ll get a 10% discount on your final purchase”.
I meant hot in a spiritual way, Fox, in a way that transcends boners and all that is worldly.
Boner, boner, boner.
And your crass suggestion that I profit from these comments doesn’t deserve comment, except to say that “Hurry … supplies are limited.”
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
FEBRUARY CRITERIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY AT WEBSITE!!!!
Bunuel’s THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL
Bunuel’s SIMON OF THE DESERT
Lean’s HOBSON’S CHOICE
As Coosa Creek Cinema is a major-proponent of Bunuel, I know this knews will be celebratory. Personally I am in seventh-heaven after seeing this. While is nooffocial release of SIMON, there is adequate Region 4 of ANGEL, which Criterion will no doubt improve upon.
Thanks Sam, I’m really looking foward to the Bunuels, especiailly “Simon of the Desert,” which is Marilyn’s (over at Ferdy on Film) favorite Bunuel.
This is good news, indeed!
Marilyn has exquisite taste!