Our Picks Reviews - Page 33

Eternally young on these three re-mastered movies, all made in her pre-teen years between 1936 and 1940, America’s favorite child star sings, dances and charms her cute, globetrotting way through Wee Willie Winkle, Stowaway and Young People. Whether playing a Chinese-speaking refugee, preventing a full-scale war in India or transforming a simple school play into a razzle-dazzle vaudeville production in Vermont, little Shirley Temple steals the spotlight from co-stars Robert Wise, Cesar Romero and anyone else who crosses her adorable path.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Mariska Harigtay, Chris Meloni, Ice-T, Richard Belzer and B.D. Wong head the cast of the award-winning TV series about an elite squad of New York City detectives who investigate crimes that can’t be discussed in polite company. Guest stars—including Abigail Breslin from the movie Little Miss Sunshine, Hayden Pannettiere of Heroes and funnyman Martin Short—abound in these 23 episodes from the 2004-2005 season. To lighten the heaviness of the often-stark subject matter, a bonus feature replays a visit from Mariska, Meloni and Beltzer, who plays Det. Munch, to Sesame Street, where they search for the letter “M.”
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Finally making its DVD debut, this sprawling, swaggering, sword-and-sandal classic from 1964 was at the time a high-water mark in big-screen depictions of lavish historical sagas. Starring Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guiness, James Mason and a swarming, seething cast of extras, and filmed on a humongous set that covered nearly 60 acres (including a Roman forum that measured the length of more than four football fields), this newly remastered tale of opulent decadence and decline is a beautiful, masterfully assembled slice of bygone Hollywood. Extras include a 32-page reproduction of the movie’s original souvenir program—from back when movies were events, not just multiplex fodder—commentary, featurettes and other goodies. (Rated PG)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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The Georgia party band that put “Love Shack,” “Rock Lobster” and “Roam” on the charts in the ‘80s returns with its first studio album in 16 years, a hyped-up fusion of hippity-hoppity pop grooves, futuristic fuzz, new-wave quirk and good-time jive juice. If you don’t find yourself moving—or, at the very least, smiling—to “Keep This Party Going,” “Hot Corner,” “Pump” or any of the eight other new original tracks, send me a postcard from Squaresville.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Aired originally in 17 episodes around the world between 1976 and 1981, this scholarly, 15-hour British documentary traces the history of popular music with interviews and rare footage of top performers from rock, pop, jazz, Broadway, country and just about every other conceivable genre of the 20th century. Available on DVD for the first time, it’s the definitive musical history lesson for anyone interested in discovering just how dozens of different threads of sound can come together into one massive, magnificent musical tapestry.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Daniel Day-Lewis received the 2008 Best Actor Oscar for his mesmerizing role in this gritty, gloriously grimy saga of oil, greed and blind ambition in the American West of the early 20th century. To watch and re-watch the many masterful turns of his performance as a corrupt, misogynistic oil baron is one solid reason to own the DVD; the other is its second disc of bonus material, including a vintage documentary about oil in America, a pair of fine scenes that ended up on the cutting-room floor and a collection of archival photos of miners and mining that show just how perfectly the movie nailed it. (Rated R)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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The voices of Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Larry King, Oprah Winfrey, Sting and numerous other cameo-guests give a humorous, real-life hum to this fanciful, family-friendly animated tale of a honeybee that causes widespread havoc before ultimately becoming a hero. Kids will love the cute, clever bee “world,” and grown-ups will enjoy catching the sly nods to Winnie the Pooh, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Graduate and other recognizable pop-cultural predecessors. A buzzing beehive of special features includes commentary, interactive games and an extended spoof in which Seinfeld lampoons the whole movie-making process. (Rated PG)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Plastic Ono Band, the landmark 1970 debut solo album by John Lennon, was a shockingly personal, decidedly stark musical self portrait as he sorted out the traumas of his troubled childhood with “primal scream” therapy and sifted through the emotional rubble of the Beatles. This DVD, from the “Classic Albums” series, takes you behind the music via interviews with Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, his Beatle mate Ringo Starr, musicians and other members of the project’s inner circle. A fascinating 90-minute snapshot that’s not necessarily a pretty one, it parts the curtains for a fascinating backstage tour of a dark masterpiece.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon were terrific in this 2005 biopic as young, wild-buck country superstar Johnny Cash and his soulmate wife June Carter Cash. DVD extras on this double-disc repackaging include 17 minutes originally deleted from the theatrical version, commentary track, numerous featurettes and extended-performance clips of eight songs seen only partially in the movie, among them “That’s Alright Mama” by Elvis Presley (Tyler Hilton) and “Lewis Boogie” by Jerry Lee Lewis (Waylon Payne).
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Dog lovers will find their tails wagging with delight at these 450 vintage photographs of man’s best friend. From formal portraits to backyard snapshots, they present a spectrum of canines and span more than a century, warmly depicting the many ways pooches brighten our lives and make the world a sunnier place. A smattering of well-chosen quotes (“If you want the best seat in the house, move the dog.” “There’s no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy.” “Real men love little dogs too.”) give these anonymous, sometimes amusing, frequently heartwarming and occasionally puzzling frozen-in-time moments the resonance of doggone truth.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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