TV Show Info:
Writer: Catherine Johnson
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Cast: Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Universal Studios

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: July 18, 2008
DVD Release Date: December 16, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

Long has the time passed since musicals were made on a regular basis. In the 1960s and 1970s, many of Broadway’s top shows were converted into film sensations. Some were highly successful, like the beloved classic, The Sound of Music. Others, weren’t quite as successful and were more corn fed than anything. So, in this day in age, it’s rare to see a full fledged musical adapted to movie.

I’d never seen Mamma Mia! on or off Broadway. I used to be in the scene, being a former theatre geek, who also happens to know how to sing. I just never got to see this show. That being said, I was both apprehensive and nervous about seeing this movie. First, most of the cast is made up of actors I respect. C’mon Meryl Streep and Bootstrap Bill in the same movie? How cool! Second, who knew if any of them could sing or not? Singing is kind of important in a musical, after all.

I’ll be honest, the singing is a bit hit or miss. There are a few cringe worthy moments, especially for Pierce Brosnan. No offense to Pierce. I liked him as Sam, but I wish they would have had someone else sing for him. During certain songs when he is singing solo, it sounds like he has a chicken bone stuck in his throat and he’s trying to regurgitate it as he sings.

Seriously, Pierce should have had someone sing for him. I can only blame the director for this one. Of course, while I spent a few moments cringing, it wasn’t so bad it ruined this energetic, fun movie for me. On the contrary, I quite enjoyed it. I just recommend putting on the subtitles while he sings and buying earplugs, just so you don’t get embarrassed (for him) listening to his garbling.

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It’s the holidays again. That means it is time to give you a list of the top items to buy this season. While you may not want to get everything on this list, there should be at least one thing on here to appease the DVD movie fan in your household.

Let’s start with the Top Five DVD Movie Comedies:

#1 - Mamma Mia!

#2 - George Carlin: It’s Bad For Ya

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Movie Info:
Writer: Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran
Director: Jon Cassar
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Cherry Jones, Bob Gunton, Colm Feore, Powers Boothe, Robert Carlyle, Peter MacNicol, Gil Bellows, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Isaach De Bankolé, Eric Lively, James Joseph O’Neil, Carly Pope
Rating:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: November 25, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

Jack Bauer is hands down one of my favorite characters on television. In fact, when it comes to action/adventure Bauer is the best. 24 has held my attention since the beginning. However, as a show continues with multiple seasons, like 24 has, the show runs the risk of becoming repetitive and losing focus. While 24 has always been incredibly interesting, the sixth season had many viewers, including myself, worried. The show wasn’t up to snuff compared to previous seasons and it left me wondering if the show was on a downward spiral or if it would come back to be better than ever.

Unfortunately, none of these answers could be offered until after the writer’s strike was over and the show could finally begin again. In January, season seven will begin. 24: Redemption is a taste of what is to come in that season. Actually, it’s at a time (a two hour span) between the sixth and seventh season. If this movie is any indication of what is to come, I can only say one thing. Jack is back!

24: Redemption includes all of the things that people love about the hit television show. It’s well written, exciting, suspense-filled, and full of danger. Sure, you need to suspend belief a little (or a lot, depending on the scene you’re watching), but it’s all for a good cause. 24 is certainly worth it.

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Movie Info:
Writer: George Schenck
Director: Ron Oliver
Cast: Shannen Doherty, John Rhys-Davies, Robert Gant
Rating: R
Studio: Liberation Entertainment

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.49

here! is known for being the very first GLBT television network. If you’re looking for gay themed movies and shows then you’ve come to the right place. I could say the same if you’re looking for the former girls of Beverly Hills 90210. Shannen Doherty stars in this film and I recently reviewed Kiss the Bride, a movie that Tori Spelling had a starring role in. The good news is that despite being somewhat unoriginal in terms of content, Kiss me Deadly offers some recognizable faces, fairly good acting, and a decent enough story that deserves to be seen at least once.

The reason that I say that the story is unoriginal is because it takes a vein along the same style of movie as your typical Bourne flick. Things are switched around a little, but Kiss Me Deadly is your basic ’someone wants me dead even though I don’t know who they are or why they want to kill me’ film. The difference is that the male lead is not the one with memory issues.

He is still the hero of the film, just not the one with problems remembering things. He knows what’s going on throughout the film. The other difference is that this male lead is very gay. He should be well known for the majority of fans of homosexual films, considering that he had a starring role on Queer as Folk. Robert Gant, who played Professor Ben Bruckner on the hit television show also plays the lead in Kiss Me Deadly, Jacob Keane.

I enjoyed watching this movie. The acting was not bad. Perhaps I can say that because Shannen Doherty never did bother me much and I have always enjoyed watching Robert Gant. The combination of the two actors worked out well, in my opinion. While I was immediately weary of anything made by Liberation Entertainment thanks to the release of Kiss the Bride, I decided to give this one a shot and I am glad that I did. It offers elements of a television feel though it’s one that is more cable worthy as opposed to something offering the cheese factor of say a Lifetime movie.

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Pop Icon Jessica Simpson Enlists In An All-New Comedy Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous

Marching to DVD February 3, 2009

Special Features Include Deleted Scenes and “Making of” Featurette

Culver City, Calif (November 24, 2008): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment salutes America’s Sweetheart with the debut of Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous on DVD, February 3, 2009 for the SRP of $24.96. Sexy Simpson (Blonde Ambition, Dukes of Hazzard) with the girl-next-door smile, stars as Megan Valentine, a spoiled Hollywood actress who suddenly finds herself broke and humiliated in the public eye after one disastrous night out. With no money, no job and no boyfriend, she ends up at an Army recruiting office and decides to trade in her high heels for combat boots in an impulsive effort to turn her life around. Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous is supported by a talented cast that includes: Vivica A. Fox (Ella Enchanted, Kill Bill: Vol 1), Steve Guttenberg (Three Men and a Little Lady), Cheri Oteri (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Olesya Rulin (High School Musical 3: Senior Year) and Jill Marie Jones (TV’s “Girlfriends”). Bonus features on Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous include a “Making-of” Featurette and deleted scenes.

Synopsis
Jessica Simpson is Megan Valentine, a pampered Hollywood starlet whom no one takes seriously. But when she loses her money, her boyfriend, and her home, all in one night disastrous night; she ends up making the snap decision to join the Army. The transition from designer duds to camouflage fatigues isn’t easy, but she’s determined to be all that she can be. With a little help from her fellow recruits, they’ll show each other that they have what it takes to face anything and still be fabulous.

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“… It is superbly crafted. Director Peter Harkle (Emmy-nominated for “Flight 93″) gets rich visuals and perfect performances.” - Mike Hughes, Gannett News Service

Kelly Preston and Ron Eldard Star in the Television Drama The Tenth Circle

TV Movie on DVD February 3 Based on the Best-Selling Novel by Jodi Picoult

Culver City, CA (November 24, 2008) – The Lifetime Television movie The Tenth Circle –starring Kelly Preston (What a Girl Wants), Ron Eldard (House of Sand and Fog), Brittany Robertson (Dan in Real Life), Michael Riley (TV’s “This Is Wonderland”) and Jamie Johnston (Wild Card) — will be released on DVD February 3 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The top-rated drama, based on Jodi Picoult’s popular novel that was on The New York Times Best Seller list, will be available for $24.96 SRP. Emmy® nominee Peter Harkle (TV’s “Flight 93”) directs and the teleplay is written by Maria Nation.

Author of fifteen novels translated into thirty-four languages in thirty-five countries, Picoult received the 2007 Cosmopolitan magazine’s ‘Fearless Fiction’ Award and the 2003 New England Bookseller Award for Fiction.

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Movie Info:
Writer:Tyler Lieberman
Director: C. Jay Cox
Cast: Tori Spelling, Philipp Karner, James O’Shea, Joanna Cassidy, Garrett M. Brown, Tess Harper, Robert Foxworth, E.E. Bell, Amber Benson, Steve Sandvoss
Rating: R
Studio: Liberation Entertainment

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.49

When I was a teenager I loved watching Beverly Hills 90210. There were my favorite characters like Brandon and Dylan, the ones I could tolerate like Steve and Kelli, and the ones that I could laugh at, namely Donna. Ah, Tori Spelling has become quite the talk of the town when it comes to prestigious acting. She has everything anyone could ever want.

Good ol’ Tori has two forms of direction (erratic and one dimensional), she’s untalented, and she’s annoying. Most importantly, no matter what she is in you know that you won’t see the character, but instead, a big ball of Tori. I know whenever I see her in something I will be getting a good dose of her and not much of anything else. I was hoping something good would come of this movie, dubbed the equivalent of a gay My Best Friend’s Wedding. However, deep down I think I knew not to expect too much.

There is plenty of opportunity here. There is potential abounding from all over the place. However, all of the potential that was available was squandered on a terrible cast, which was headed up by Tori Spelling. The setup for a romantic comedy is generally a simple format. Still, the perfect cast must be used otherwise a perfect train wreck will ensue. That’s pretty much what happened here. Things start out okay for a while, but then they become incredibly absurd which is in no way helped by the fabulous acting skills of people not cut out for the roles that they have been given.

It’s a pretty sad affair, if you ask me. Perhaps I am setting my sights too high for an independent feature. Of course, I am a huge fan of many independent productions and hold them to the same standard as every other film that I review. It’s not the effects or the money that make a film what it should be. The things that really count are the acting quality and the story. If you have both of those, no matter how big your budget is, you will have a hit on your hands. If you need an example look to Clerks. Kevin Smith made it for next to nothing and it is a cult favorite (and overall excellent movie) to this day. It’s an amazing film. Of course, as I recall, it was also a film that lacked Spelling. Whether that is a coincidence or not, I cannot say.

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RICKY GERVAIS, GREG KINNEAR AND TÉA LEONI STAR IN THE MOST SPIRITED ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE SEASON

Debuts on DVD and Blu-ray December 28, 2008 with Exclusive Bonus Features

HOLLYWOD, CALIF. – Ghost Town is a “hilarious romantic comedy” (Time) arriving on DVD and Blu-ray on December 28, 2008 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Emmy® winner Ricky Gervais (“The Office,” Stardust), Oscar® nominee Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine, Baby Mama) and Téa Leoni (Spanglish, Fun with Dick and Jane) star in this “clever, heartfelt and funny” (“Entertainment Tonight”) tale about a man, a woman and a ghost. The feel-good comedy of the season, Ghost Town is a perfect pick-me-up for the post holiday blues.

Ricky Gervais is Bertram Pincus, a New York City dentist with the people skills of a barracuda. When a routine surgery goes awry, Pincus is pronounced dead, but miraculously revived seven minutes later. The ill-mannered Manhattanite suffers only one lasting after-effect: the ability to see and speak with the dead. When word gets out in the spirit community, Pincus is irritated to discover he’s the go-to-guy for every phantom with unfinished business in the city. At the forefront of the ghostly mob is recently deceased Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear), who is determined to stop the remarriage of his widow, Gwen (Téa Leoni). The laughs unfold when the prickly and romantically inexperienced Pincus, smitten with Gwen, tries to woo her away from her betrothed—with hysterically awkward results.

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Behind-the-Scenes Bonus Features and Filmmaker Interviews Reveal the Real Passions and Secrets of the Life of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire Available December 28, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. – A young noblewoman marries into one of Britain’s most powerful families and becomes the toast of London in The Duchess, arriving on DVD and Blu-ray fashionably timed for the new year and holiday entertainment on December 28th from Paramount Home Entertainment. Keira Knightley (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean), Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges, the Harry Potter series, The Constant Gardener) and Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!) star in the true story of the Duchess of Devonshire and “Empress of Fashion” who must face an agonizing choice between responsibility and love. Captivating audiences and critics alike with its gripping and passionate tale of a young woman and direct ancestor to Princess Diana who became a fashion icon, a devoted mother, a voice for the common man and an unforgettable symbol of glamour for the ages, “The Duchess is feisty, cool, and scandalous” (Richard Schickle, Time). Showcasing rich and in-depth special features, The Duchess will be available for the suggested retail priced of $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada on DVD and on Blu-ray for $29.99 U.S./$36.99 Canada.

One of history’s most beguiling leading ladies, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley) was married at 17 to the wealthy and influential William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes), the fifth Duke of Devonshire — and into a lavish world filled with shocking deceptions, decadent scandals and stifling demands of duty. As Duchess of Devonshire, she first indulged her considerable energy in high society — outshining most of the aristocratic men around her with her incredible wit — only to become one of the most impassioned political voices in all of 18th century Britain. Beloved by a nation but betrayed by her husband, Georgiana’s charisma, political savvy and distinct flair for fashion would make her the “It Girl” of her era… but a chance for personal happiness would remain elusive until she dares to discover love on her own terms.

* (2005): Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Pride & Prejudice
** (1996): Best Actor in a Leading Role - The English Patient; (1993): Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Schindler’s List

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Movie Info:
Writers: Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, D.M. Marshman Jr.
Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: August 4, 1950
DVD Release Date: November 11, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $16.99

The first time I ever heard about Sunset Boulevard was about the musical version. Having seen both that and this 1950s, Billy Wilder film, I have to say that you simply cannot beat the classics. While the musical is spectacular, the film puts it to shame. The splendid casting of William Holden and Gloria Swanson just emphasizes the magnificence of this film. When you think classic cinema, this should be on the list,  because they just don’t make these kind of movies anymore.

Sunset Boulevard was nominated for a total of 11 Academy Awards, and it won three for art direction, music and writing. The film noir genre has long since faded into oblivion, sadly, considering how well this film turned out. This is one of the last great film noirs. Billy Wilder hasn’t directed or written another film quite as powerful as Sunset Boulevard. In truth, it is his pièce de résistance.

The cast of Sunset Boulevard is what makes this film so spectacular. Besides Holden and Swanson, two of the best actors of all time, the cast includes Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper and Jack Webb. There are also cameos by popular, silent film stars Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner and Anna Q. Nilsson. With a standout story, memorably spectacular performances, and an undeniably emotional score, all of the elements of perfection come together in Sunset Boulevard.

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