Video Reviews, November 15, 2010
Nov 15, 2010video
FICTION
Rich Man, Poor Man: The Complete Collection. 9 discs. color. 27+ hrs. Boris Sagal & others in assoc. with Harve Bennett Prods., dist. by A&E Home Entertainment c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422981363. $79.95. F/TV
Groundbreaking in 1976, this once-scandalous television adaptation of Irwin Shaw’s 1970 best seller seems rather quaint by today’s standards. Yet it offers lots of entertainment value for couch potatoes patient enough to sit through all 34 episodes of the initial miniseries and its inferior follow-up. Peter Strauss and Nick Nolte star as, respectively, ambitious Rudy and ne'er-do-well Tom Jordache, brothers locked in an incessant rivalry owing in large measure to their bitterly cynical father, Axel (Ed Asner). Free-spirited Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) also figures in this toxic triumvirate. Ray Milland, Fionnula Flanagan, Bill Bixby, Robert Reed, and many other veteran actors memorably fill key supporting roles. Subsequent nighttime soap operas owe a debt of gratitude to this sensational forebear, which is recommended for its baby boomer fan base and time-capsule-worthy niche.—Jeff T. Dick, Davenport, IA
Touching Evil: The Complete Collection. 3 vols. 5 discs. color. 13 hrs. ITV Studios, dist. by Acorn Media, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781598284393. $79.99. SDH subtitles. F/TV
After a year spent recuperating from a head wound, DI David Creegan (Robson Green) returns to active duty a tormented soul with a keen insight into the criminal mind. He’s assigned to the Organized and Serial Crime unit, an elite team that takes on the most dangerous evildoers in Great Britain. A trio of Internet serial killers, an “Angel of Mercy” who executes critically ill patients in hospital, and an international cartel of pedophiles are among the villains facing Creegan and partners Taylor (Nicola Walker) and Rivers (Shaun Dingwell). In one of the most intense episodes, Creegan and company face off against a cherub-faced Irishman (Tony Curran) who emails his intentions to a tabloid reporter before slaying and scalping his victims. Green is superb as Creegan: charismatic, clever, and just a little bit crazy. Part police procedural, part detective drama, entirely cool and creepy crime noir, Touching Evil (which originally aired from 1997 to 2000) adds up to a bloody good time for mystery lovers and horror fans alike. CSI and NCIS buffs are sure to get hooked.—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY
ARTS & HUMANITIES
The Song of the Little Road. color & b/w. 70 min. Priyanka Kumary, dist. By NEHST Studios, 877-286-7610; www.nehst.com. 2009. DVD ISBN 9780982350140. $14.99; public performance $40; download $9.99; streaming $3.99. FILM
Few cinephiles would deny the acclaimed East Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921–92) his place among master motion picture directors. After stunning moviegoers in the 1950s and 1960s, his work (e.g., The Apu Trilogy) faded from view as prints became hard to obtain and the original film elements deteriorated unchecked. Ray’s influence abides in the work of celebrated filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and the late Ismail Merchant, and his praises continue to be sung by critics like the Christian Science Monitor’s Peter Rainer. They are just a few of the interview subjects in The Song of the Little Road, an unabashed hagiography that takes appreciative measure of Ray and his accomplishments while spotlighting the efforts of preservationists to find and protect Ray’s films from the ravages of time and neglect. Song’s sincerity and brevity and the significance of Ray’s oeuvre keep it informative and enlightening rather than insufferable. No special features except chapter selection. Recommended for libraries supporting film schools and film studies programs; all others should stick with Ray’s films.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
Six Centuries of Verse. 3 discs. color. 410+ min. Richard Mervyn, Thames Television, dist. by Athena Learning, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781598283730. $69.99. SDH subtitles. POETRY
Poetry is meant to be enjoyed with the ear as well as the eye. This survey of English-language poetry, hosted by Sir John Guilgud and performed by a distinguished cast of actors (Peggy Ashcroft, Ralph Richardson, Julian Glover, and Anthony Hopkins, among others), provides not only a treat for the listener but also a visual experience, thanks to the numerous extraordinary settings throughout England where the poetry readings were recorded. In 16 episodes, Guilgud presents background on the poets and the times in which they wrote, from Chaucer to figures of the 20th century. Appropriate art and portraits of the poets supply additional illustrations. A 20-page viewer’s guide adds suggestions about what to listen for, questions to consider, and a glossary. Bonus features include biographical information about the actors and a brief summary of each poet’s life, including a “fascinating fact.” Originally broadcast on public television in the 1990s, this ambitious series would provide a stepping-off point for a lively poetry discussion series in any library. Highly recommended for public and college libraries.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
The Priestly Vocation: An Invitation to Life. color. 70 min. Hans Spatzeck-Olsen, Paraclete, 800-451-5006; wwwparacletepress.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781557257000. $49.99. rel
Directed primarily at men who are contemplating a call to the priesthood, this well-produced DVD offers interviews with six priests, both diocesan and religious, who reflect deeply and lovingly on their priestly life. Some are working in parishes, some in education. One is an artist, another is a biblical scholar, yet another is a television personality. All of them come across as very happy in their ministry, and several speak of the special place that hearing confessions plays in their priestly life. They offer insights into how to discern a vocation, usually via their own stories, and what steps to take if “called” to the priesthood. The joy that these men feel and the acknowledgment of the many ways to live out one’s priesthood are forcefully conveyed. This DVD provides a nice counterpoint to God or the Girl (LJ 3/1/07), a portrait of four twentysomethings who discern a call to the priesthood.—Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ
One Chance To Win. color. 127+ min. Charles Bush, Zephyr Film Prod. in assoc. with Mustang Films, dist. by Passion River, 732-321-0711; www.passionriver.com. 2009. DVD UPC 800828269494. $24.95. sports
This long-unreleased gem covers the 1975 U.S. 500cc National Motocross Championship, which marked a time of ascendancy for U.S. riders in a sport historically dominated by European motocrossers. That racing season was also unique in that going into the finale, each of six riders had a legitimate chance at winning, which set up a highly dramatic final race. That race and season are fixtures in the memory and lore of American motocross and have been characterized as the sport at its best. This well-done production effectively mixes racing and off-track footage with extensive rider interviews, ultimately creating a nicely packaged view of motocross and the riders and their supporters. It’s enhanced by an excellent script and narration; the film displays remarkably good quality, given its age. A very nice bonus is a second retrospective in which the filmmaker discusses his motivation behind the original film and in which many of the riders look back at their roles during that classic season. As a record of what some consider to have been a watershed year in U.S. motocross history, this is highly recommended for all motorsports collections.—David Van de Streek, Penn State Libs., York
SOCIAL SCIENCES
…damn bad oyster: The Times of William Goebel, Governor. color & b/w. 59 min. Sean Anderson, 265 Preston Ave., Lexington, KY 40502; 859-268-3971; seanand@iglou.com. 2010. DVD $25. biog/ politics
This well-researched and drolly informative documentary recovers from obscurity the enigmatic personality and richly eventful political career of Kentuckian William Goebel (1856–1900), the only U.S. governor assassinated while in office, which he held for just four days before perishing from a gunshot wound inflicted on the eve of his inauguration. As a state Democratic Senator, Goebel was hailed as a reformer for his advocacy of expanded civil rights for blacks and women, as well as for promoting greater regulation of the railroads and various other checks on corporate power. Yet his aloofness and skill in advancing his own political interests generated a reputation, even among his political allies, for being cold and ruthless. The production evenhandedly explores this fascinating complexity with the help of several regional political historians, mingling archival and period photos with film imagery shot on location throughout Kentucky, where many of the events chronicled actually occurred. Recommended for collections serving interests in Kentucky or regional cultural and political history.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond
No Sweat: What’s Behind the Label of Your T-Shirt? color. 55+ min. Amie Williams, Bal-Maiden Films, dist. by IndiePix, www.indiepixfilms.com. 2010. DVD UPC 845637000975. $24.95. bus
The garment industry in Los Angeles employs many thousands of workers, the majority of whom are undocumented immigrants from Central and South America. They work in abject conditions; have no health care, vacation, or sick time; and almost never make enough to support their families. Not a thorough examination of the sweatshop industry, this film instead focuses on two T-shirt companies—American Apparel and SweatX—that tried to change the work environment and put an end to sweatshops and in so doing shows that even the best intentions can be fraught with difficulties. SweatX, though supported through capital from Ben & Jerry’s Ben Cohen, could not survive with its existing business model and has since folded; Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel, has been the subject of several sexual harassment lawsuits, and the company’s stocks and sales have since plummeted. Yet, there is no question that sweatshops are inhumane, and this is a compelling look at firms that are trying to solve the problem. Bonus features include an interview with the filmmaker and deleted scenes. Libraries serving patrons interested in labor rights will undoubtedly want to purchase this film.—Manya Shorr, Sacramento P.L., CA
Swimming with Lesbians. color. 67 min. David B. Marshall, dist. by Frameline, 415-703-8650; www.frameline.org. 2010. $250. Public performance. gender studies
No matter where you lived, coming of age as a nonheterosexual in mid-20th-century America was no walk in the park. If you happened to be from a place like Buffalo—“an impoverished, working-class city on the edge of the Midwest”—you faced even more isolation, ostracism, and oppression than, say, Rock Hudson. At best, you lived a double life; at worst, you suffered emotional and physical abuse, rejection by family and friends, and suicide. At the center of this documentary about LGBT seniors in Buffalo (the most interesting of whom is a 94-year-old former Mae West impersonator) is Madeline Davis, a former folk singer and the first openly lesbian delegate to speak at the Democratic National Convention, in 1972. She has dedicated her later years to preserving the history of her community by building an LGBT archives for western New York. Unfortunately, while the stories told here are certainly worthy of being preserved, they lack real drama, and the film is unfocused. An archive to preserve this history, absolutely. A film about the archive, maybe not.—David Gibbs, Georgetown Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
Chevolution: The Story of the World’s Most Reproduced Photograph. color & b/w. 89 min. Trisha Ziff & Luis Lopez, Red Envelope Entertainment, 212Berlin Film, & Faction Films, dist. by Magnolia Home Entertainment, www.magpictures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 876964002721. $26.98. hist/int affairs
A 1960 photograph of Argentine physician–turned–Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara is one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous images of the last century. But who was Guevara, and how did this particular photo become so popular? The filmmakers use interviews and archival footage to introduce viewers to Guevara and explain how a snapshot taken by Cuban fashion photographer Alberto “Korda” Diaz at a Havana memorial service became a generic international symbol for political revolution and youthful rebellion, reproduced on everything from political rally posters to beer cans. A well-balanced mix of positive and negative interpretations of Guevara’s life and legacy, Chevolution could have offered more details of Guevara’s emergence as a political leader, his contributions to Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution, and his travels through Latin America that ended in predictable tragedy. But while this film leaves regrettable biographical gaps, it thoroughly recounts the tale of his iconic photo. Provocative, intelligent, and beautifully rendered, this first-rate film is recommended for academic and lay viewers interested in Latin American history and photographic iconography.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Libs., Columbia
Toyo’s Camera: Japanese American History During WWII. color & b/w. 98+ min. Junichi Suzuki, UTB Pictures & Film Voice, dist. by Passion River, 732-321-0711; www.passionriver.com. 2010. DVD UPC 884501116626. $24.95. hist
The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II remains a neglected aspect of the history of the period. This documentary uses the work of Japanese American photographer Toyo Miyatake (1896–1979)to focus attention on the history of the practice. A noted photographer in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles before the war, Miyatake and his family were interred at Manzanar in California’s Owens Valley. He smuggled in a lens and film holders and was able to construct a wooden box camera that he used to document life in the camp. Miyatake’s experiences and photographs serve as the lens through which this era is examined, but the documentary goes much further. Interviews with detainees and their descendants, including actor George Takei (Star Trek), provide the complete picture of the Japanese American experience in the camps and after the war. Unfortunately, the thoroughness with which filmmaker Suzuki examines the camps diffuses the focus of this film and takes attention away from Miyatake and his work. Bonus features include an original animation, Japanese American History of Racial Discrimination. Recommended for most libraries.—Rosemary Arneson, Univ. of Montevallo Lib., AL
Rebuilding Hope: Sudan’s Lost Boys Return Home. 78+ min. Jen Marlowe. DVD ISBN 9781595871213.
[Small] Voices: The Stories of Cambodia’s Children. 83+ min. In English & Khmer w/English subtitles. Heather E. Connell. DVD ISBN 9781595871206.
ea. vol: color. dist. by Cinema Libre, 818-349-8822; www.cinemalibrestudio.com. 2009. $19.95. int affairs
Both inspiring and grimly sobering, this pair of heartfelt documentaries, aptly released last year shortly before the 61st anniversary of International Human Rights Day, closely and sensitively depict efforts to ameliorate the harrowing plight of victims of civil war in South Sudan and Cambodia, respectively. Rebuilding Hope follows the return, in 2007, to their village homes in Sudan of three young men who were among the several thousand “Lost Boys” resettled in the United States in 2001. The film chronicles the trio as they reunite with surviving family members and employ skills and education acquired here to help their respective home villages by providing mosquito nets and medical supplies, establishing a primary school, and initiating a clean water system. Helpfully filling out the broader context of the main feature, the production is replete with extras devoted to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the connection between Darfur and South Sudan, and the rebuilding of health and education, as well as a 2009 update.
[Small] Voices concentrates on Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh and the lives of six children there, several of whom have been abandoned by their families, who represent the first generation born to survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide. One of the poorest countries in Asia, Cambodia has, according to the film, a population of which half are under the age of 18. Several of the children profiled find refuge from the hazards of indigence (such as sexual exploitation, abuse from family and authorities, and life-threatening work at garbage dumps) at the Cambodian Children’s Fund, a shelter that provides medical care and comprehensive education. Both of these urgent portraits of hope amid shockingly great need are recommended for public and academic libraries.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond
Travel with Kids: Ireland. color. 85+ min. Equator Creative Media LLC, dist. by Janson Media, www.janson.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781568393513. $14.95. trav
The “Travel with Kids” series (e.g., Travel with Kids: Costa Rica, LJ 2/15/10) shows how families with small children can take vacations that will please both adults and their kids. The Ireland trip is divided into three half-hour segments: Killarney & Blarney, Castles & Cliffs of Clare, and Dublin. They blend well to show the breadth of Irish scenery, culture, and history. Oddly, the Dublin segment that is listed last on the DVD menu provides the introduction to the Ireland trip. The segments are particularly good at going beyond tourist highlights by showing street scenes, various means of travel, and accommodations. On-screen hosts Carrie and Jeremy Roberts provide ongoing commentary and occasional quips, while their two boys, aged seven and five, roam castles and generally have fun. Parents with younger children will find solace in the outtakes that show even these well-traveled boys occasionally falling into crankiness. Bonus features cover travel tips, sources for additional information, and ways to experience Ireland at home. Even viewers without kids will find the series informative—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Know Your Mushrooms. color & b/w. Ron Mann, Sphinx Prods. & Ron Mann Film, dist. by Docurama c/o New Video Group, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422949030. $26.95. Closed-captioned. agriculture
If you’re looking for a DVD that explains how to grow mushrooms, this isn’t it. It is, instead, a kind of paean to fungi. From the Amazon to Alaska, we travel along with Larry Evans (“the Indiana Jones of mushrooms”) as he explores the wonders of this amazingly versatile family of plants. Much of the program records activities at Colorado’s annual Telluride Mushroom Festival, which includes lectures by various mycologists and even a costume parade. Viewers will learn about morels, puff balls, truffles, oyster, and other members of the family; mushroom mythology and lore; and the medicinal and hallucinatory value of fungi. “Fun with Fungi” segments test viewers’ knowledge. Spiced with animation, old film clips, pop music, and some incredible time-lapse photography, this is a thoroughly entertaining look not only at fungi but also at the culture that surrounds it. A smart and amusing production suitable for most libraries.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
