Video Reviews, February 15, 2011
Feb 15, 2011FICTION
Lytton’s Diary: Complete Collection. 4 discs. color. 597 min. Herbert Wise & others, Thames Television, dist. by Acorn Media, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781598284256. $59.99. F
Neville Lytton (Peter Bowles) leads a team of young journalists who help him to create his daily gossip column for a London tabloid and are not above paying for leads if they produce a good story. The complete 12-program series is set in the mess of a mid-1980s newsroom, with rotary phones, typewriters, and a lot of bustle. Lytton’s job heads him toward scandals involving politicians, dictators, and the dalliances of the rich and famous. Meanwhile, his marriage is falling apart, he’s struggling to write a novel, and he has an editor (called “God” by the staff) whom he must keep happy while avoiding libel suits. Acorn has added a disclaimer that owing to the age of the programs (1985–86), viewers may “notice occasional flaws in the image and audio” of the DVDs. There are definite issues with the sound, especially in scenes where there is a lot of background noise (the newsroom, the street, etc.), and viewers will likely need to crank up the volume. Even so, a good purchase for public libraries where British drama is popular.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
Prayers for Bobby. color. 91+ min. Russell Mulcachy, Once Upon a Time Films in assoc. with Sladek/Taaffe Prods., dist. by Lifetime c/o New Video, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo. com. 2010. DVD ISBN 9781422910542. $19.95. Closed-captioned. F/GENDER STUDIES
For better or worse, Lifetime movies are a brand, and though they are rarely inventive or subtle, their success in inarguable. Prayers for Bobby is based on Leroy Aarons’s 1995 book of the same name. The focus here is Bobby’s mother, Mary Griffith (a stellar turn by first-rate actress Sigourney Weaver), and how as a devout Christian she deals with the discovery of her son Bobby’s (Ryan Kelley) homosexuality. Bobby moves to the big city (Portland, OR, no less) and immediately encounters drag queens, boogie oogie, gorgeous shirtless men on the dance floor, and, of course, true love. When Bobby’s boyfriend breaks off their relationship, Bobby commits suicide. Mary begins to rethink her hard-line position and the effects it may have had on her son. Her journey to activism in support of gay rights is the true core of the story. Despite the less than potent script, Weaver manages to deliver a believable and compassionate performance. Rebecca Louise Miller, too, plays Bobby’s accepting cousin with exceptional credibility. Though less insightful than it could have been, this award-winning film tells a straightforward story that needs to be told. Recommended for public and school libraries.—Gerald A. Notaro, Univ. of South Florida Lib., St. Petersburg
ARTS & HUMANITIES
The Leach Pottery, 1952. b/w. 32+ min. w/booklet. Marty Gross Film Prods.,416-536-3355; www.martygrossfilms.com. 2010. DVD UPC 089949300595. $100. Public performance.
A Year in the Life. color. 24+ min. Atom Burke Prods., 319-331-6638; www.atomburke.com. 2010. DVD UPC 884501320733. $30. ARTS–GENERAL
Leach Pottery was founded in 1921 by Bernard Leach in St. Ives, Cornwall, England. Using local clays and simple tools, Leach and his associates made functional pottery (bowls, pitchers, etc.) on a production basis, although Leach himself also created one-of-a-kind pieces. In 1952, the operation was filmed by amateur filmmakers. American potter Warren MacKenzie worked and studied at Leach from 1950 to 1952 and provides the commentary here. Shot in black and white, this program has many of the qualities of a home movie. However, thanks to MacKenzie’s narration, it offers a glimpse into the workings of Leach’s studio at a time when his work was internationally known. An additional 17-minute interview with MacKenzie captures the Leach potters at work. An accompanying 14-page booklet includes newspaper accounts about the pottery, its history, and its operation. While not an essential purchase, this film will be of interest to those studying pottery and others who value the craft.
Iowa potter Clary Illian (A Potter’s Workbook) is a student of Bernard Leach. The “year” of the title is 2008, when Illian fell and broke her wrist, a disaster for a potter. Adapting to the limitations of her accident, Illian goes back to the studio with a renewed sense of what she wants from her life and work, which includes downsizing her operations. The DVD includes two programs featuring Illian (one focusing on her injury) and two interviews with former students. It’s puzzling as to why these four parts weren’t edited into one film, which would have provided a more coherent picture of the artist. Bonus features include a slide show of Illian’s pieces, proving her a master of technique and imagination. The audience for this film will likely be limited to other craftspersons, so purchase accordingly.—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA
Surviving the Holidays with Lewis Black. color. 94+ min. Adam Dubin, Black Humor, Inc. & Triage, dist. by History Channel, 800-933-6249; shopaetv.com. 2010. ISBN 9781422992531. $19.95. Closed-captioned. HUMOR
Comedian Lewis Black’s brusque, apoplectic style is a novel contribution to the discourse of complaint, albeit as irritating as fingernails scraping against a chalkboard. In this 2009 History Channel special, a shrill indulgence unburdened by humor or useful insights, he and a variety of comics—e.g., Bob Saget, Joy Behar, and David Alan Grier—and commentators hold forth on the subject of the holidays. Its few worthwhile minutes occur when token experts discuss the historical and cultural roots of various seasonal traditions, such as the genesis of Chanukah and why Christmas is celebrated on December 25. Otherwise, it’s a parade of allegedly funny people spewing cynicism and the occasional cheap sentiment while trying to maintain straight faces, which only makes them seem smug. The production values are adequate, as the program is merely a mix of talking heads and stock footage, but the antsy editing is irritating. The infrequent profanity is censored, but the overall irreverence may bother some. Not recommended unless the viewer absolutely needs to see Black dressed as Santa Claus; extra footage is included, but life’s too short.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
GV9: Soulful Ways: The DJ. 45 min. DVD UPC 6624250011834.
GV11: Don’t Believe Da Noize! Voices from Hip-Hop Undaground. Pt. 1. 55 min. DVD UPC 662425011827.
ea. vol: Bob Bryan, Bryan World Prods., www.graffitiverite.com. 2010. $19.95; public performance $34.50. MUSIC
These two DVDs from the “Graffiti Verité” series examine the creative process behind hip-hop music. While not strictly instructional or historical, they take a broader look at the daily lives and methods of aspiring artists while focusing on their struggles to succeed in a competitive business. Hip-hop is a musical genre that films well, and within this crowded field viewers should look elsewhere for a deeper examination of its musical and cultural history. While Doug Pray’s Scratch (2001) remains the preeminent introduction to the turntable lifestyle, the GV productions do provide solid interviews with burgeoning artists. Aspiring musicians will find much of interest here. Purchase as demand warrants.—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story. color & b/w. 91+ min. Peter Miller, dist. by 7th Art Releasing, 323-259-8259; www.7thart.com. DVD $129; acad. libs. $350. Public performance. SPORTS
Baseball historically has provided a way for Jews to acculturate into American life. As well as being avid fans, they have played professional baseball since the origins of the sport, though there was a tendency to Anglicize their names. The film revolves around two of the game’s greatest players: slugger Hank Greenberg (1930s–40s), who almost broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record, and the completely dominating and masterly pitcher Sandy Koufax (1950s–60s). Surely the highlight here for some viewers will be the smoothly presented and edited interview with the notoriously reticent Koufax. Lesser-known players are mentioned, too, and the narrative sweep even includes Jewish ballplayers of the present day, such as former Met Shawn Green and the Red Sox Kevin Youkilis. Some may find fault with the lack of emphasis on how Jews were part of every aspect of the game, from journalism to selling hot dogs. Their wider involvement is touched upon, however (e.g., in the discussion of the origins of the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” a Jewish-Episcopalian collaboration). This engaging and well-paced overview of Jewish participation in baseball is loaded with action clips. Baseball experts provide historical insight, while rabbinic figures address Jews and American culture. Ably narrated by Dustin Hoffman, this film is a visual delight; a winner that baseball fans especially will enjoy.—Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
SOCIAL SCIENCES
The Queen & I. color. 90+ min. In English & Farsi w/English subtitles. Nahid Persson Sarvestani, Real Reel Doc, dist. by Walking Shadows, www.walking-shadows.com. 2010. DVD UPC 798304090383. $24.95. BIOG
Empress Farah Pahlavi, exiled from Iran, allows fellow Iranian Saravestani to make a film about her. The queen believes that Saravestani, who is also living as an exile, will create something that tells the true story of the revolution in Iran 30 years ago. The two women are worlds apart in many ways, but they share a common desire for their home country to be liberated from its current religious dictatorship. The film portrays the uncomfortable partnership between this celebrity queen living as a millionaire in Paris surrounded by sycophants and a working woman filmmaker who lived through extreme poverty under the Shah’s rule, joined the revolution to overthrow the Shah, then saw her brother murdered by the government that followed and had to flee to safety. The film presents an interesting point of view about the queen, but, ultimately, we never get too far behind the royal façade. Extras include the short film Liberation, about the Shah and the Iranian revolution. A good choice for libraries serving a Middle Eastern population.—Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY
Freakonomics: The Movie. color. 93 min. Alex Gibney, Chad Troutwine Presentation in assoc. with Gold Fusion Media & Green Film Co., dist. by Magnolia Home Entertainment, www.magpictures.com. 2011. DVD UPC 876964003564. $26.98; Blu-ray UPC 876964003582. $29.98. Rated: PG-13. ECON
Based on Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner’s best-selling Freakonomics (2005), this documentary gives their text visual life. Levitt and Dubner use the analytical tools of economics to reveal new truths in four segments: Does the choice of a baby’s name define the person? Is there corruption in Sumo wrestling? Did legalizing abortion reduce the crime rate? Can schools bribe ninth graders to get good grades? The film extends the book’s levity by adding sprightly animation, graphics, dramatizations, and interviews. The authors introduce and comment on each segment. While the film’s overall mood is one of witty inquiry, there are dark moments and scenes depicting graphic violence, such as the battered body of a murdered Sumo wrestler. The English subtitles translating extended Japanese dialog during the Sumo segment are small and often obscured by the background. These minor quibbles aside, the film overall is a delight. Essential viewing for fans of the book and highly recommended to anyone interested in looking at questions in new ways.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA
More Time To Teach: Working with Challenging Parents. color. 23 min. w/tchr’s. guide. ChildSense, LLC, 651-353-4959; www.childsense.net. 2010. DVD ISBN 9780984179817. $79.95. Public performance. ED
One might believe that a mill exists that produces challenging parents, as they appear to be everywhere in contemporary schools. Learning how to deal with them is necessary for student, teacher, and school success. Jeff Fink and Jon Halpern, experienced Minnesota educators, offer this guide for teachers working with challenging parents, showing them how to defuse difficult situations. Fink and Halpern present parent/teacher meetings and talk about ways to make them productive. The video is interactive and allows time for teachers to respond to the scenarios. A brief study guide is included. This reviewer wishes the production values were stronger and more professional actors had been employed. Fink and Halpern’s ideas are solid; their approach is methodical, practical, and realistic. The video should work best with small groups of teachers with time for discussion. Perhaps Fink and Halpern will next work on a production in their “More Time To Teach” series for parents on how to approach their children’s teachers. Recommended for professional development and teacher-training collections.—Ernest Jaeger, formerly with North Plainfield Schs., NJ
Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi. color. 84 min. Ian Olds, HBO Documentary Films, dist. by Passion River, 732-321-0711; www.passionriver.com. 2010. DVD UPC 728028033199. $24.98. INT AFFAIRS
Ajmal Naqshbandi was working for an Italian journalist as a “fixer”—an interpreter and cultural facilitator—when both were kidnapped in 2007 by the Taliban. The Italian was eventually released in exchange for five Taliban prisoners and received a hero’s welcome back home, while Naqshbandi became the victim of a political game of chicken between the Taliban and the corrupt, ineffective Karzai government. This film blends footage of Naqshbandi six months before the kidnapping, when he was working for American journalist Christian Parenti, and interviews with his family and friends after his execution. Interspersed is footage of and by the Taliban, much of it graphic (including a mostly obscured scene of a beheading). There is some background on how the American government radicalized the Afghani people during the Soviet war of the 1980s, helping to create the Taliban. Naqshbandi is seen as sensitive, intelligent, and likable, making his senseless death all the more tragic. This moving documentary gives viewers a visceral sense of the randomness, barbarity, and ultimate futility of the Afghan war.—David Gibbs, Georgetown Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
The Age of Stupid. 2 discs. color. 89+ min. Franny Armstrong, Spanner Films, dist. by Docurama c/o New Video Group, 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2010. ISBN 9781422987674. $29.95. ENVIRONMENT
One hopes that another documentary about the dire state of the environment and the coming consequences can do more than preach to the converted; The Age of Stupid earns points for trying. It strings together the stories of disparate individuals from around the world, framed by scenes with a fictional archivist of the future (the late Pete Postlethwaite) surveying the damage done by devastating climate change and what could have prevented it. The stories coalesce powerfully, and each makes its own impression, notably those of Piers Guy, a wind-turbine developer whose family is on a quest to reduce its carbon footprint; the ambitious yet short-sighted businessman Jehangir Wadia; and Layefa Malemi, who yearns to become a doctor and struggles daily with the fallout from exploitative oil industry practices in Nigeria. Some profanity and disturbing content make it suitable for teens and older; extras include a no-profanity version of the film, a crew commentary track, and deleted and extended scenes, with subtitles in 11 languages. Highly recommended for all collections.—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW. color. 35+ min. David Donnenfield & Kevin White, Video Project, Filmmakers Collaborative Inc., 415-546-0155; www.filmmakerscollaborative.org. 2010. DVD. $29.95; acad. libs. $74.95. Public performance.
Watershed Revolution. color. 30+ min. Rich Reid, Planet Earth Films, dist. Green Planet Films, 415-377-5471; www.greenplanetfilms.org. 2010. DVD $20; public performance $70. ENVIRONMENT
Both of these documentaries deal with coastal watershed issues in California. The titular “simple question” was one asked by fourth grade students at Brookside Elementary School, San Anselmo, in 1992: “What can we do to help endangered species?” Over the years, students and teachers from there have done plenty. They adopted the threatened California freshwater shrimp and worked with landowners to improve the banks of Stemple Creek, running through Sonoma and Marin counties. They have now restored 20 miles of stream habitat to benefit the shrimp and other species. This inspiring report includes clips of former students and their determined teacher, Laurette Rogers. Extended interviews as extras.
Watershed Revolution focuses on the Ventura River near Los Angeles, which offers a valuable local water supply for Ventura County but is being degraded by human activities. Volunteers from regional organizations are shown working to protect and restore the river system as a source of clean drinking water, irrigation, fish stocks, and recreation. Time-lapse clips emphasize the dynamic qualities of the area. Viewers are urged to get involved, to help monitor and conserve their own watersheds. Bonus features include a Spanish-language sound track and other short productions on this topic. Both films are recommended for students and adults seeking ways actively to make a difference in their local environments.—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., BC
French Polish Like a Pro! with Vijay Velji. color. 30 min. ShellacFinishes, 858-780-2865; www.shellacfinishes.com. 2009. $24.95 + $5.10 s/h. HOME IMPROVEMENT
French polish is a technique that provides a beautiful, glossy mirror finish using shellac on furniture. Vijay Velji illustrates the application of this technique on a Baltimore card table. He carefully explains each step and defines less common terms such as a cut of shellac. He also illustrates the processes of making the shellac solution, constructing polishing pads, preparing the wood surface, pore filling, bodying, burnishing, and dealing with the effects of moisture on shellac. Anyone should be able to apply a French polish finish after watching this step-by-step video. A good addition for public libraries and technical colleges that offer woodworking programs.—Ravonne Green, Valdosta State Univ. Lib., GA
PAR FOR THE COURSE?
The Back Nine. color. 85+ min. Ron Vignone & Jon Fitzgerald, Right Angle Pictures, dist. by Magnolia Home Entertainment, www.magpictures.com. 2010. DVD UPC 876964003735. $26.98. SPORTS
This is the story of amateur golfer Jon Fitzgerald as he attempts to qualify for the professional tour. What makes his journey unique and worthy of a documentary is that he is a 40-year-old film production company owner and indie film festival director with a wife, a young daughter, and a baby on the way. The simplistic, clichéd story of a grown man chasing his childhood dream grows into a much more satisfying and complex film as Fitzgerald learns how difficult it is to balance the full-time jobs of family, work, and golf while also struggling to come to terms with his relationships with his father and stepfather. It is fascinating to watch Fitzgerald, who narrates his own story with humor and humility, learn about himself and his priorities and eventually understand how his two father figures have shaped him as a man. Extras include deleted scenes, top ten most valuable golf tips, and a brief history of golf. One of the best sports films of the past few years, this is essential for adult golf fans and anyone interested in a well-told story of self-discovery and holding on to one’s dreams while never losing sight of what’s important. —Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Tom Watson Lessons of a Lifetime. 2 discs. 105 min. with book. Tom Watson Prods., dist. by AV Café, 877-228-2233; www.theavcafe.com. 2010. DVD UPC 654367067994. $49.95. SPORTS
Golf legend Tom Watson’s first instructional video is a comprehensive collection of 46 tips and techniques that introduce the basics, reinforce the fundamentals, and offer solutions for overcoming common obstacles of the game. Watson shares what he has learned from his own teachers and other star golfers on a wide array of topics, from using the proper grip to chipping out of the rough to fixing hooks and slices. What separates this video from the myriad other golf resources available is that Watson presents for many of the lessons multiple—and sometimes contradictory—solutions, letting viewers pick their preference. He explains difficult concepts in simple language without being patronizing. An accompanying booklet contains tersely worded summaries of all the lessons and could be used as a handy reference on the course. While experienced players will find Watson’s advice too basic and overly familiar, this program is strongly recommended for new golfers and those looking for either a refresher on the mechanics or quick fixes for routine problems. —Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
