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New DVD releases include 'Duchess'
The point is subtle, yet it sums up the main theme in "The Duchess," the newest period piece on DVD: "The Duke of Devonshire is the only man in England who doesn't love his wife," one of the key players utters. Surround this simple point with juicy subplots, and a provocative picture emerges. Directed by Saul Dibb and based on the 2001 book "Georgiana: The Duchess of Devonshire" by Amanda Foreman, "The Duchess" touches on the tumultuous marriage between the Duke (Ralph Fiennes) and Duchess (Keira Knightley) of Devonshire, beginning in the late 1700s. More a royalty-based soap opera than a historical work, the feature is a sumptuous blend of bed hopping, beautiful costumes and exquisite locales tied to a story that paints a light picture of a difficult relationship. As she is in most period pieces, Knightley is superb, and this clearly is her film. Fiennes is right there in the running, though. The accomplished actor is wonderfully evil, yet subtle. Although "The Duchess" doesn't provide much depth, it does provide a worthy portrayal of a troubled marriage at the utmost level of high society. For that reason, it's worth a look. A making-of documentary and a costume diary, of course, headline the special features. However, an in-depth look at the historic Duchess through a roundtable discussion featuring Foreman and film producer Gabrielle Tana adds another dimension to the film's main character. PG-13; 2008. Our Take: 3 Stars.
Rent It: Imagine this relationship with today's media coverage.
'Eagle Eye'
Technology can be a beautiful thing, but it gets ugly for Jerry Damon Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan). In a film that stirs memories of flicks such as "Terminator 3" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" -- computers gone wild -- "Eagle Eye" storms onto DVD packed with action and a largely unoriginal plot. The action and chemistry between LaBeouf and Monaghan keeps director D.J. Caruso's pulse-pounding film afloat for a bit, but the adventure goes bust in the final half-hour. Even worse, talented actors Billy Bob Thornton and Rosario Dawson are wasted and seem out of place in their investigative roles. The film finds Jerry and Rachel plucked into action via threatening phone calls. They're lead across the Midwest to D.C. to carry out a mysterious mission. Eventually, they'll have to outsmart a super computer to stop political assassinations. "Eagle Eye" is available in one- and two-disc editions. The one-disc package has little to offer. For a few more bucks, the two-disc special edition has much more. The usuals -- gag reel, commentary, interviews and deleted scenes-- make the cut, but an alternate ending and a special feature taking on technology and privacy reign supreme. PG-13; 2008. Our Take: 2 Stars.
Skip It: Minus the action, this one's been done time and again.
'Ghost Town'
For those unfamiliar with the exceptionally hilarious Rick Gervais -- star of the funnier, international version of "The Office" and HBO's hit show "Extras" -- then "Ghost Town" would make a wonderful introduction. Simply put, "Ghost Town," directed by David Koepp, is the best romantic comedy of the year. It's no stretch, considering what passes for a romantic comedy these days, but this one is superb. Gervais carries the load here, but he has help in the form of Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni. Couple these actors with a cleverly warm script, and a memorable film emerges. The film follows Bertram Pincus (Gervais), a dentist with a personality problem and selfish tendencies. After undergoing a minor surgical procedure in which he dies for seven minutes, Pincus gets "The Sixth Sense" treatment. These aren't your average, everyday ghouls, though. For the most part, the apparitions are nice people who require a favor. The dentist, however, goes out of his way to ignore them. That is, until an annoying ghost, Frank (Kinnear), helps him see that there's more to life than himself. A handful of cool featurettes -- "Some People Can Do It" and "Ghostly Effects" -- give the extras a nice touch. A making-of featurette and entertaining commentary with Gervais and Koepp also are here. PG-13; 2008. Our Take: 3.5 Stars.
Buy It: Gervais and Leoni are a match made in heaven.
'Baghead'
Directed and written by Duplass brothers Mark and Jay, "Baghead" piques curiosity and has the potential to capture cult-classic status on DVD after a limited theatrical run. The low-budget independent film is a winning combination of comedy, drama and horror as it follows four struggling actors into the backwoods of California. While Matt (Ross Patridge), Chad (Steve Zissis), Michelle (Greta Gerwig) and Catherine (Elise Muller) attempt to put together a screenplay that will resurrect their Hollywood careers, a strange man with a sack over his head appears near their cabin. When the foursome finally comes face-to-face with the knife-wielding stranger, an unforgettable chain of events transpire as the group tries to make its way out of the woods. It's a trip no one will soon forget. "Baghead" finds its appeal in the likeability of the characters and a tight story carried out in fine form. It has the feel of a "Blair Witch Project," only with less advertising. Extras include a worthwhile interview with the Duplass brothers, commentary and additional scares from the set. R; 2008. Our Take: 3 Stars.
Rent It: It's a movie that could be made at home, just not this good.
Other new releases
• "Towelhead": Directed by the talented Alan Ball, "Towelhead" is based on Alicia Erian's novel of the same name. The drama touches on a number of controversial topics, but the constant theme is the growth of Jasira (Summer Bishil), a 13-year old Arab-American trying to find her way in Houston. With its terrific cast (Aaron Eckhart and Toni Collette for starters) and a wide-ranging story, "Towelhead" navigates a lot of life's bumps but still manages to venture toward a noteworthy payoff. Extras examine the film's controversial nature through discussion. R; 2008. Our Take: 2.5 Stars.
• "An American Carol": Comedy king David Zucker targets liberals, Michael Moore specifically, in a terrible comedy that brims with American pride. While Zucker deserves credit for taking a different approach than most of his Hollywood counterparts, the finished product offers little humor. Kevin Farley leads a wasted cast. Deleted scenes and interviews with the cast and crew are the lone extras. PG-13; 2008. Our Take: 1 Star.
• "Battle for Haditha": This docu-drama, directed by Nick Broomfield, gives its take on a November 2005 incident in the Iraqi city of Haditha concerning the U.S. Marines and 24 noncombatants. The film is somewhat over the top but deserves high marks for its vivid look at each party -- soldiers, insurgents and innocents -- involved in the war. A making-of featurette and interviews are available. R; 2008. Our Take: 3 Stars.
• More movie releases: "Open Window" (Robin Tunney, R, extras), "Pulse 3" (Rider Strong, unrated, extras) and "Beethoven's Big Break" (Rhea Pearlman, PG, extras).
• TV releases: "Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season -- Revelations" (six discs, 23 episodes, extras), "Greek: Chapter Two" (three discs, 12 episodes, extras), "The Secret Life of the American Teenager: The First Season" (three discs, 11 episodes, extras) and "Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget -- Uncensored" (one disc, extras).
