Video Reviews, November 1, 2010
Nov 1, 2010video
FICTION
My Necklace, Myself. color. 41+ min. Bryan Caron, Fallbrook Film Factory in assoc. with Divine Trinity Films, dist. by FilmWorks Entertainment, 800-399-9251; www.filmworksent.com. 2010. DVD UPC 897067000124. $14.98. F
This short family-friendly drama tells the story of Lacie, who is given a necklace—a family heirloom—by her mother as she is preparing for a first date. The necklace turns out to have “magical” powers, and when Lacie and her somewhat more sophisticated best friend, Serrin, make a wish about wanting to be something (a singer, a princess, an actress), they are immediately transformed. What they learn—the somewhat heavyhanded message—is that it’s better to be who you are where you are, because other choices aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The cast includes mostly young people whose acting skills leave much to be desired. The pacing is a bit ponderous and the script, contrived. Perhaps preteens will be entertained, but anyone older will likely be bored. Special features include the movie trailer and a music video (“How To Be”). An optional purchase.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
ARTS & HUMANITIES
History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance. color. 43 min. Moncell Durden, DLex Prods., dist. by Dancetime Pubns., 888-854-5602; www.dancetimepublications.com. 2009. DVD UPC 880104455872. $39.95. DANCE/HIP-HOP
Yet another entry in the crowded field of films discussing the historical and global importance of hip-hop culture, Durden’s work purports to tell the story of hip-hop’s background and societal relevance but fails on both counts. Meanwhile, viewers are left with more questions than answers. Is this a dance style or a way of life? Does it remain valid and relevant when co-opted by white culture? Does hip-hop’s international practice enhance or diminish its effectiveness as a tool for expressing ideas and emotions? Although there are some terrific dance scenes, too much of the production comprises rambling and/or repetitive interviews, and the film ultimately fails to answer definitively the questions it proposes. Not recommended.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
George Bernard Shaw on Film. (Eclipse, No. 20). 3 discs. color & b/w. 350 min. Criterion Collection, www.criterion.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781604652505. $44.95. DRAMA
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was very reluctant to have his plays adapted into other formats and frustrated would-be adapters by insisting that they be filmed exactly as written. The resulting “filmed plays” limited profitability. Then along came Hungarian-born expatriate director/producer Gabriel Pascal (1894–1954), who developed an unlikely but successful partnership with Shaw lasting from the 1930s into the 1950s. Their first hit was the highly successful 1938 film Pygmalion, starring Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller. Hiller returned to star in this DVD set’s production of Major Barbara (1941), which was filmed in London during the Blitz. The film addresses controversial themes of religious tolerance and socialism vis-à-vis capitalism. Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) was the most lavish and expensive British film ever produced up to that time. It offers exceptional performances by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra and Claude Rains as Caesar. Androcles and the Lion (1952), directed by Chester Erskine and starring Alan Young, is a comedy set in Rome during the persecution of early Christians. This very entertaining selection of older, rarely seen films will appeal to movie buffs as well as those interested in Shaw’s works. Highly recommend for all collections, particularly those on film and theater.—Tom Budlong, Atlanta
Harold Bloom: Critic in the Active Voice. color. 60 min. Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 800-257-5126; www.films.com. 2009. DVD ISBN 9781608250677. $169.95. Public performance; closed-captioned. LIT
This simple and straightforward documentary on Bloom is the first film solely devoted to arguably the most popular and polemic living figure in literary criticism. It offers scant biographical information on the prolific author and editor and longtime Yale professor, instead focusing on his views on some of his favorite authors, including canonical names like Shakspeare, Dante, and Whitman. The film is divided into 15 short chapters, with Bloom’s thoughtful orations sounding like well-practiced classroom lecture excerpts and serving as useful intros to various topics, highlighted by comments on the dwindling role of humanities in contemporary education and on treating Freud’s writings as literature. An international handful of peers and devotees chime in on what makes Bloom such a revered critic and influential educator. Marring an otherwise impressive film, however, are amateurish enactments and nonsensical interpretive dance snippets of some of the literary passages being discussed. They break up the monotony of talking-head footage but also interrupt diverting insights. Nevertheless, secondary/undergraduate instructors wanting to introduce students to Bloom’s take on literature will find much to savor here; a worthy acquisition for classroom use.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Simon Schama’s John Donne. color. 58 min. BBC, dist. by Films Media Group, 800-257-5126; www.films.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781616166168. $169.95; 3-yr. streaming $169.95; DVD + 3 yr. streaming $254.93. Public performance; closed-captioned. LIT
John Donne (1572–1631), one of the landmark poets of 17th-century Britain, left a legacy of works that personalized the language of love as had never been done previously. He transcended the emotion’s abstractness and (in the words of the program’s producer/narrator) “anatomizes love.” This remarkable BBC production examines the interrelationship between Donne’s often-turbulent personal life and his moving verse; Schama and actress Fiona Shaw present key elements of his work and then offer their own interpretations of the messages and significance. Donne, a vain and personally ambitious Catholic outsider during the Protestant reign of James I, did whatever was necessary to attain social recognition and position, yet he could pen language that is more everlasting than most political accomplishments. The program is nicely paced and supported by pleasant original music. Chapter selection is not an option, but the on-screen English-language subtitles are welcome as the narrators’ British accents are quite pronounced (so to speak). Unfortunately, the costly price will limit the availability of what would otherwise be a valuable addition to secondary school, academic, and public libraries.—Dwain Thomas, William Rainey Harper Coll., Palatine, IL
Archive of American Television Presents Omnibus: Leonard Bernstein. 4 discs. b/w. 449+ min. w/booklet. Robert Saudek Assocs., dist. by Eone Entertainment, www.eonetv.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781417232659. $49.98. SDH subtitles. MUSIC/TV
Revolutionary, masterful, intelligent, and enticing best describe this historic set of television shows that were originally broadcast between 1954 and 1958. The award-winning episodes are a cross between lecture, performance, and master class, presented with thoughtfulness and eloquence by internationally acclaimed and revered conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein and hosted by respected British personality Alistair Cooke, years before he became the icon of Masterpiece Theatre. The seven programs here are Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (Nov. 11, 1954), World of Jazz (Oct. 16, 1955), Art of Conducting (Dec. 4, 1955), American Musical Comedy (Oct. 6, 1956), Introduction to Modern Music (Jan. 13, 1957), Music of J.S. Bach (Mar. 31, 1957), and What Makes Opera Grand? (Mar. 23, 1958). A bonus performance track of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah (Dec. 25, 1955) is also included. The episodes showcase an impeccable group of spirited musicians and the talent of both veteran and emerging artists ranging from Hans Conreid and Jean Marsh to William Warfield and Carol Burnett. A 24-page booklet written by music critic John Rockwell and the Archive of American Television is another bonus. While these programs have been restored and remastered, there are still some visible flaws from time to time on-screen. After a half century, this legacy set highlighting the best of classical, contemporary, and popular music is still effective for training musicians and enthusiasts alike as well as broadening the musical horizons of future generations. Highly recommended.—Stephen Allan Patrick, Jonesborough, TN
Whisper & Shout: The East German Rock Revolution. color. 115+ min. In German w/English subtitles. Dieter Schumann, Icestorm Entertainment, dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 720229914161. $24.95; public performance, contact defaorder@german.umass.edu. MUSIC
This 1988 film profiles six East German underground rock bands and their fans in the era just prior to German reunification. Filmmaker Schumann mixes live footage, interviews with musicians and the impressionable youngsters who idolize them, and cinéma vérité–style footage of life on the bands’ grueling countrywide touring circuits. Sociopolitical themes dominate the lyrics, while the music ranges from synthesizer-drenched New Wave to tuneless punk to bombastic arena rock (minus the arena). The tiresomely lengthy live footage could have easily been trimmed—it doesn’t take long for the artists to demonstrate their unique and usually amateurish spins on the sundry musical styles—but Schumann insists on overlong concert scenes. Far more interesting are the interviews, with the uniformly well-spoken and intelligent musicians and fans offering frank insight into 1980s East German youth culture and the difficulties of being a musician or music fan in a socialist state. Extras include brief textual biographies of the profiled bands that bring their stories up to the present. Recommended for fans and students of European pop culture.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
The Motocross Files. Season One. color. Todd Huffman & Donald P. Hoffman, Pipeline Digital Media, dist. by Passion River, 732-321-0711; www.passionriver.com. 2009. ea. vol: $29.95. Includes: Bob Hannah. 4 hrs. DVD UPC 800828273194; Rick Johnson. 3 hrs. DVD UPC 800828280093. SPORTS/TV
These two DVDs from season one of The Motocross Files examine the lives and careers of California-born champions Bob “Hurricane” Hannah and Ricky “Bad Boy” Johnson. Hannah first achieved success in the 1970s with his (literally) footloose riding style and abrasive personality. Johnson, the youngest professional rider in American Motorcyclist Association history, achieved fame a decade later, ultimately winning seven national titles. Both programs follow the standard biographical format of the series, which starts with the riders’ first inclinations toward the world of motorcycle riding and competition, through to the present day, with tales of great racing (and career-threatening injuries) along the way. The majority of face time is dedicated to the subjects, but the comments of rivals and mechanics add depth. Although the programs themselves are short (22½ minutes each), the discs are long on extras, including additional interviews, outtakes, and deleted scenes. Competition footage and still photos are used throughout. Recommended for enthusiasts of the sport and the show. More at www.motocrossfiles.com.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
Running the Sahara. color. 102+ min. James Moll, Nehst Out, dist. by AV Café, 877-228-2233; www.theavcafe.com. 2009. DVD ISBN 9780982350102. $59.95. Public performance. SPORTS
Imagine running two marathons a day for 111 days. Now envision doing that across the Sahara desert. This video recounts the story of three elite runners who, in 2006-07, did just that. Starting at the Atlantic Ocean and ending at the Red Sea, the 4300-mile-long expedition follows American Charlie Engle, Canadian Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin of Taiwan through Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. Enduring extremes of temperature and terrain, as well as intense physical pain and mental struggle, the athletes push through numerous obstacles and just keep going. Along the way, they experience the beauty, poverty, and political turmoil of life in Africa while also calling international attention to the continuing water crisis throughout the region. Narrated by executive producer Matt Damon, this feature-length documentary is expertly photographed, edited, and scored. Noteworthy extras include info on the science of ultrarunning and profiles of H2OAfrica and other partners that are working to provide safe drinking water to the world’s developing nations. Runners and general audiences will enjoy this unique man-against-nature narrative. Highly recommended.—Linda Frederiksen, Washington State Univ. Lib., Vancouver
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Big River. color. 79 min. Curt Ellis, Mosaic Films, dist. by Bullfrog Films, 800-543-3764; www.bullfrogfilms.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781594589300. $295 (Rental: $95). Public performance. Public library discounts available. BUS
Big River is not really a stand-alone documentary but rather a short companion piece to King Corn (LJ 9/15/08). In the latter film, friends Ellis and Ian Cheney planted an acre of corn in Iowa and showed the viewer exactly what goes into producing the American food chain. Here, they return to Iowa and follow the nearby water supply to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, they learn about the effect their pesticide use may have had on the environment, from fertilizer runoff in rivers to a cancer cluster in Iowa to a sea life “dead zone” in the Gulf. Big River is only 29 minutes long, and while it can be appreciated on its own, a “classroom version” of King Corn (50 min.) is included here. A film such as A River of Waste: The Hazardous Truth About Factory Farms (LJ 10/1/10) is better produced and more substantial. If King Corn is already in your collection, it should suffice; optional. More at www.bigriverfilm.com.—Manya Shorr, Sacramento P.L., CA
A Sentence for Two. color & b/w. 58 min. Randi Jacobs, Angels Flight Prods., dist. by Fanlight Prods., 800-937-4113; www.fanlight.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781572955127. $89; acad. libs. $249. Public performance; closed-captioned. CRIMINOLOGY
At Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Oregon, pregnant inmates must make arrangements with family members, foster care services, or adoptive families to care for babies born while they are incarcerated. Filmmaker Jacobs focuses on four women who share their stories, including how they came to be in prison, how they cope with the experience of giving birth there, and the difficulties in making care arrangements and handing their babies over to others soon after birth. In addition to their gripping testimony, there are interviews with prison officials, a judge, and mental health professionals. The Coffee Creek system is then compared to a rare program in New York in which babies stay with their mothers, and child psychologist Mary Byrne (Columbia Univ.) shares research on the benefits to mother and child of such a practice. Jacobs’s technique of going to close-up and black-and-white when the women describe their plight is sensitive and compelling. Recommended for women’s studies, criminal justice, and social services collections; also prison libraries serving female inmates.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY
Fish Out of Water. color. 60+ min. Ky Dickens, Yellow Wing Prods., dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 720229914239. $24.95. GENDER STUDIES
The genesis of this film was the coming out of director/producer Dickens to her sorority sisters. Instead of the acceptance of loving friends, she found scorn and Bible quotations used to condemn her. Her documentary examines those oft-used biblical quotes that made her feel like a “fish out of water.” Theologians, pastors, and gays and lesbians discuss the seven quotes that supposedly outlaw homosexuality. Even the notorious Fred Phelps, recently embroiled with picketing dead soldiers’ funerals, chimes in with his vitriol. Most comments focus on the suspect selectivity of evangelical believers who somehow ignore the other 6000 Bible verses. Sadly, you always know where Fish Out of Water is headed and never wonder about its conclusions, making it almost as preachy and predictable as you would have liked it not to be. Nonetheless, it debunks the quotes that have long been the source of legitimizing hatred and discrimination of the GLBT community; recommended.—Gerald A. Notaro, Univ. of South Florida Lib., St. Petersburg
At Home in Utopia. color & b/w. 75+ min. Michal Goldman, Independent TV Svc. in assoc. with WGBH-Boston, dist. by New Day Films, 888-367-9154; www.newday.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781574482478. $195 (Rental: $80) + $8 s/h. Public performance; closed-captioned. HIST
Through a combination of interviews, historic footage, and on-location scenery, this film traces the history of the Jewish garment workers’ apartment complex in the Bronx, NY, the United Workers Cooperative Colony (affectionately known as “the Coops”), and profiles generations of New York Jewish radicals from the 1920s to the present. A few well-spoken seniors—descendants of the Coop founders—visit the building where they grew up and offer poignant and moving memories of the zeal that was once felt in producing a new heaven on Earth. Times were often hard, especially during the Depression, when many garment workers were unemployed and couldn’t pay their rent. Some of the children of the founders attended college on the G.I. bill after World War II and became union organizers and community and civil rights leaders, leading the charge to have African Americans as Coop residents. Ultimately, during the 1950s, with the advent of automobiles, many of the younger residents moved away. Concurrently, political disillusionment with communism set in for some residents. This disc is an excellent vehicle for learning about how radicalism functioned in America in the 20th century through the microcosm of one particular community. College history students studying political movements in 20th-century America will find this useful.—Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
The Forgotten: A Journey Deep into the Villages and Rural Areas of Southwestern Iran. color. 40 min. Sarem Yadegari, Pictographix Pictures, dist. by National Film Network, 877-888-4395; www.nationalfilmnetwork.com. 2009. DVD ISBN 9780802611192. $26.95; public performance. ISBN 9780802611208. $249.95.
The Glass House. color. 92 min. In Persian w/English, French, Arabic, German, & Spanish subtitles. Hamid Rahmanian, Fictionville, 718-852-7815; www.fictionvillestudio.com. 2010. DVD $295.95 (Rental: $90). Public performance; home use $29.95. INT AFFAIRS
These two documentaries portray people in isolation and on the fringes of society in Iran. About young women who cannot quite fit the mold, The Glass House follows four girls struggling with what life has dealt them—forced drug addiction, abandonment, sexual abuse, and a repressive government. They come together in a school/rehabilitation center in urban Teheran, and we follow their separate stories of tepid successes and depressing failures. The similarities between these girls and teenagers in trouble anywhere are striking, but added to their misery is the ultraconservative Muslim world where women have little room to dream beyond a domestic, servile life. The Forgotten is a travelog through the remotest parts of Iran. Carrying a small, portable camera, Yadegari drives out of the big city and into the southwest mountains of Iran, where the most rural of communities survive in mud-and-rock buildings with only the basic necessities. The immediacy of the handheld technique with sotto voce narration makes watching this film about families impoverished and lost by geography like viewing someone’s personal travel footage. Both films offer a view of Iran far beyond what we get from the nightly news.—Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY
Copyright Criminals. color. 53+ min. Benjamin Franzen, IndiePix Films & Cactus Three, dist. by IndiePix Films, 212-684-2333; www.indiepix.com. 2010. DVD UPC 845637000968. $24.95. LAW
Originally broadcast as part of the PBS Independent Lens series, Copyright Criminals poses the question, “Can you own a sound?” The film explores the evolution of hip-hop as a musical form and the important role that sampling plays in it. Featuring interviews and music video clips of noted artists, including De La Soul, George Clinton, and Clyde Stubblefield, the film presents a thorough examination of the tension between the rights of artists to sample music created by others as a way to create a new composition and the rights of the creators of that music. Director Franzen has produced a lively, watchable, and objective film that engages the viewer in consideration of a complex issue, including voices from all sides. Bonus features include extended interviews and four short films on fair use in documentary filmmaking. The PBS site (to.pbs.org/7Cxmge) has discussion guides, behind-the-scenes info, and links to more material on hip-hop, sampling, copyright, and fair use. An excellent resource for courses in music production, music history, entertainment law, and mass media.—Rosemary Arneson, Univ. of Montevallo Lib., AL
Something Unknown Is Doing We Don’t Know What.... color. 105 min. Renée Scheltema, dist. by Beyond Words, 503-531-8700; www.beyondword.com. 2010. DVD UPC 724868026674. $99.95; acad. libs. $250; home use $19.95. PARAPSYCH
Even if one doesn’t believe in psychic phenomena, it is still natural to wonder if there are things going on in the world that may never be fully explained by science. Something Unknown examines in good faith the gap between the known and the unknown; filmmaker Scheltema is genuinely curious about whether there is something to precognition, clairvoyance, psychic healing, and the like, approaching them with no particular bias and inspired by some odd incidents in her own life. The experts surveyed are mostly credible scientists who have put their own resources and reputations on the line to conduct their research, but Scheltema tries so hard to give them a fair shake that her film’s lack of skeptics is conspicuous. Anyone looking for authoritative conclusions on psychic matters had best look elsewhere, as this documentary’s title is essentially its thesis. While Something Unknown is well made, there are more enriching means of reminding us that the more we know, the more we know we don’t know. No bonus features. Suitable for general audiences, this film is an optional purchase for inclusive collections.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists. color. Letitia Schwartz & Judith Vogelsang, dist. by Humble Prods., www.humblebeauty.com. 2009. DVD ISBN 9780615329437. $19.95; public performance $125. SOC SCI
With great warmth and dedication, this modest production, four years in the making, profiles a community of artists and social workers on downtown L.A.’s Skid Row, one of the largest homeless populations in the country. The film focuses on two social workers who also serve as art mentors and the homeless (or formerly homeless) artists whose work they encourage and support, one employed at the SRO Housing Corporation, the other at the Lamp Community. It blends probing interviews, vividly affecting personal testimonies, and informative narration to cast a moving and revelatory light on the lives of all involved—the social networks based on a shared faith in the transformative and therapeutic power of art. The artists featured work primarily in fine arts media, including watercolor, charcoal, acrylics, crayon, and collage; several have had gallery showings. One of the most poignant figures profiled is prevented by his immigration status from attending a prestigious art school to which he was awarded a scholarship. Recommended for large public libraries and academic collections serving interests in social work and art therapy.—Robert A. Sica, Eastern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Richmond
GlobeRiders® BMW F800GS Adventure Touring Instructional DVD. 2 discs. 4 hrs. DVD ISBN 9780975315668. $34.95.
GlobeRiders® Eurasian Odyssey: Riding with the Sun from China to Germany. color. 90 min. DVD ISBN 9780975315675. $24.95. ea. vol: color. Helge Pedersen & Sterling Noren, GlobeRiders, LLC, dist. by Touratech-USA, 206-323-2349; www.touratech-usa.com; Victory Multimedia, 310-590-1388; sales@victorymultimedia.com. 2009. TRAV
GlobeRiders is a company that organizes long-distance adventure motorcycle tours throughout the world. One of these discs documents a tour, and the other offers maintenance instruction for a motorcycle that is particularly well suited for these rugged travels. BMW F800GS guides viewers through a series of upkeep and repair activities essential to long, sustained riding under arduous conditions, for example, puncture repair and tire changes, chain maintenance, and other services to stay self-sufficient in sometimes remote locales or difficult situations. Procedures are gone through in detail and are augmented by very solid close-up visuals. A concluding segment covers aftermarket accessories that one might typically add to equip a motorcycle better for extended touring. Eurasian Odyssey records an 11,000-mile, 65-day motorcycle excursion undertaken by 12 riders, beginning in Shanghai China, winding through Mongolia, Russia, and Eastern Europe, and ending in Munich, Germany. It is a sampling of the journey but credibly captures the flavor, the discovery, and the gamut of experiences that composed what might easily have been a lifetime experience for these riders, including horrendous traffic, personal injuries, and mechanical difficulties but also travels down scenic byways, the cultural richness and indigenous food of many regions, and the hospitality and warmth that transcended language barriers. Both videos are well done and recommended for general collections. Eurasian Odyssey would fit nicely into a travel collection. Because of its focus on one particular model, BMW F800GS would likely have a narrow audience, although the machine was named by Rider magazine as its 2009 bike of the year. Buy where demand warrants.—David Van de Streek, Penn State Univ. Libs., York
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story. color. 50+ min. Mark St. Germain, dist. by Docurama c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422978672. $26.95. PETS
Featuring celebrities from many walks of life, including actors Christopher Meloni, Lynn Redgrave, and Glenn Close, Olympian Greg Louganis, playwright Edward Albee, poet Billy Collins, and over a dozen more, this film serves as a tribute to the comfort and healing powers of the human-animal bond. Viewers will easily recognize both themselves and their pets in these vignettes. Regrettably, there is nothing new or unusually revealing here, just an affirmation of what researchers, and pet owners, have documented and known intuitively for decades. With the exception of a handful of stories, most notably those of Redgrave, Louganis, and Didi Conn and David Shire’s handicapped son, Danny, these pedestrian tales won’t hold viewer interest. At least one of them is downright ridiculous. It falls far short of the mark in terms of content and appeal; not recommended.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI
