DVDs Even George Clooneys Flops Are Cool

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Michael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM] APRIL 5, 2009 HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY 23/6 VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE Make HuffPost Your HomePage Get Email Alerts Twitter: Follow Us BIG NEWS : Angelina Jolie | Madonna | Chris Brown & Rihanna | Paul McCartney | More... LOG IN | SIGN UP Michael Giltz Posted September 30, 2008 | 04:41 PM (EST) BIO Become a Fan Get EmailAlerts Bloggers'Index DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool Read More: Dvds, George Clooney , Movies, Robert Downey Jr., TV Shows , Entertainment News George Clooney is such a savvy, old school Hollywood star that even the movies he makesthat don't quite work just seem to add to hisstature. The Good German was a fascinating exercise in classic Hollywood movie-making.Burn After Reading and Intolerable Cruelty might not be consistent, but they do let Clooneygoof around with aplomb, so no one thinks hetakes himself too seriously. Heck, even Batman &Robin let Clooney mock himself with charm. His most recent directorial effort is no different:Leatherheads ($29.98; Universal) barely opened at the box office (grossing $12 million its opening weekend and dropping fifty percent on the next).People might have questioned his drawing power. Instead, the movie shows Clooney rescuing ascript that had bounced around Hollywood for years, making a period romantic comedy, tellingabout the early days of football and namechecking Preston Sturges. Of course, Man -- even a manlike Clooney -- can't live on noble failures alone. Among these interesting flops are some terrificmovies: Michael Clayton, Good Night and Good Luck, O Brother Where Art Thou, Ocean's Eleven (though not Twelve or Thrteen ), Syriana, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Out Of Sight, The Thin Red Line and Three Kings. On top of it all, he even weighs in on politics just like Humphrey Bogart did -- like a man who knows what's important and won't be quieted just because he'sfamous. There may be bigger stars (Will Smith is pretty unbeatable at the box office). But there's nobetter one right now. Even when he stumbles. An Offer I Should Have Refused...Seven Years Ago -- The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration ($69.99; Paramount) is as essential a DVD release as they come. (The Blu-Ray is reportedly even better, but I didn't receive that one.) You know how brilliant the first two are and no one ever has to watch The Godfather Part III (and if you haven't -- don't). Just comparing the first scene is exciting. On my previous DVD, the undertaker looms out of the murky shadows. Inthe new one, every detail is clear and precise -- his clothing, the furniture in the background,everything is beautifully lit. It's not an inky blackness; the scene and the movie are more subtlethan that. And the real revelation is the sound -- on the older DVD, Brando sounds raspy and Be the First to Submit This Story to Digg Get Breaking News Alerts Share Print Comments never spam Popular Stories on HuffPost Fashion Face-Off! Michelle Obama And Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Finally Meet In France (VIDEO, PHOTOS, POLL) *Video, poll and slideshow Levi Johnston TalksSafe Sex With Tyra Banks (VIDEO) ***UPDATE*** 8:30pm: People.com is reporting that Sarah Palin has issued... Oscar de la Renta Slams Michelle Obama's Buckingham Outfit As Major Designers FeelIgnored While Michelle Obamahas made lesser... Verena von Pfetten 7 Lessons To BeLearned From Carla Bruni So here's the thing.There's no shortage of articles dedicated to thatcertain je ne... Huff TV Arianna Discusses MichelleObama's "Fantastic" Style On CBS' Farrah Fawcett Is Hospitalized Madonna Tot's Dad Found: 'At Last I Can Be Part Of Mercy's Life' Reality Show Choreographer Accused Of Raping 4 Michael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM]unclear; on the new one, his every grunt is precise and nuanced. So why am I angry? Because in 2001, they released The Godfather Collection with tremendous fanfare. Francis Ford Coppola was all over that boxed set with loads of extras. It was presented as definitive but in fact when you compare it to the new release, it was simply unacceptable. (Indeed, when it was released there were many complaints about the picture quality and especially the poor sound.) I understand that the ability to remaster grows by leaps and bounds all the time, but if a DVD was inferior, Coppola shouldn't have lent his name to it and done all those extras. I didn't have anything to compare those old DVDs to, but looking at them now, I'm shocked he would be associated with it. Coppola should have insisted they do a better job or wait until it could be done right before taking part. Is something better than nothing? Not when it comes to one of the all time greats. If you own thatold boxed set, you might as well give it away. You need to buy it again. The Controversial Smothers Brothers? -- It's hard to picture now, but when the Smothers Brothers were on TV, those clean cut lads who complained about mom liking the other one betterwere radicals. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour -- The Best Of Season 3 ($49.98; Time Life)captures the third and final season when Tommy and Dick wrassled with network censors, spokeout about Vietnam and when skits were censored simply told viewers to change the channel andcheck out what was happening on Bonanaza . (That alone makes them pretty darn remarkable.) If only their material had dated as well as their politics. Most of the "dangerous" material is modestlyin your face by today's standards, though putting it in context helps a little. The best segments byfar are the top-notch musical guests like The Doors, Ike and Tina Turner, Joan Baez and more.Tommy kept his name off the writing staff so they'd have a better chance at winning an Emmy(which they did) and that gesture was repaid this year when he received an honorary one. And theDVD extras, such as hundreds of letters and telegrams between the network and the brothers aswell as Tommy's commentary, prove the behind the scenes fights were more riveting than whatmade it onto the air. The Iron Man Of Actors -- He's only 43 but Robert Downey Jr. has already had more than 25 years of ups and downs in the industry where one thing remained constant: his talent. Iron Man ($39.9; Paramount) works almost solely because of his wit and charm as businessman Tony Stark.(And like so many super hero movies, the scenes away from the suit are far more interesting than the ones in it.) Riding the wave of that success, they've reissued The Singing Detective ($14.95; Legend Films), one of his quirkier films, and Chaplin ($19.98; Lionsgate -- out October 14), in which Downey is just brilliant but director Richard Attenborough proves he hasn't a clue abouthow to direct a movie. Too Much "Sex?" -- I'm sorry, but no romantic comedy should be two hours and 27 minutes long. As if that weren't bad enough, this DVD release of Sex and the City Extended Cut ($34.98; New Line) is padded out even more to two hours and 31 minutes. Quick, Carrie! Get an editor. Horatio Hornblower Collector's Edition ($59.95; A&E) -- This top notch series of TV movies is by far the best adaptation of the classic seafaring novels by CS Forester about the upright, self- lacerating Horatio, embodied to perfection by Ioan Gruffud and an excellent cast. You get all eightadventures in one tight, economical package. Hopefully, there will be more to come: the booksfollow Hornblower through his entire career to old age and I pray that they're just waiting forGruffud to get older before tackling more of the tales. Ideally, this could be a 40 year project withthe actor aging in real time. In any case, the stories they've already told are great fun. Top Notch Movies -- FW Murnau's The Last Laugh ($29.95; Kino) is a devastating silent classic about an old doorman who loses his job and his dignity. Now why aren't I angry about this upgrade in quality from the 2001 release the way I am about The Godfather? Because this film was released in 1924, as opposed to being a recent blockbuster and because Murnau wasn't around to give it thethumbs up the way Coppola did the shoddy earlier edition. Also out is Ozu's final film An AutumnAfternoon ($29.95; Criterion); Aki Kaurismaki's Proletariat Trilogy ($44.95; Eclipse), a fun collection of three deadpan gems; and Beaufort ($29.95; Kino), an Academy Award foreign film nominee about Israel trying to extricate itself from Lebanon after 18 years. Documentaries -- The Rape Of Europa ($29.95; Menemsha) is a fine documentary whose fairly interesting if unremarkable story (the Nazis looted art museums; we got the artwork mostly back) should play much better on TV than in the movies -- it's like a superior episode of Nova; Unforgotten: 25 Years After Willowbrook ($24.98; City Lights) is a follow-up to Geraldo Rivera's worthy claim to fame -- an expose of horrid conditions at a state-run school for people with "Washington Unplugged" Arianna was on CBS' "Washington... Alex Leo The "Real Housewives Of New York City" Flowchart Of Hate I'm a little embarrassed tolove this show as much as... "BRUNO" TRAILER! Calamity, African Babies, ChaseScenes And More (NSFW VIDEO) IT'S HERE! The trailer for this July's Sacha BaronCohen... NATO Leaders Focus On Afghanistan, But Most Reject Obama's Plea For Troops (SLIDESHOW) STRASBOURG, France — On the eve of the NATO... 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Least Wasteful Cities In America (SLIDESHOW) It's great to love the cityyou live in, and better toMichael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM]developmental disabilities (his original report is included as a bonus); Bigger Stronger Faster ($26.98; Magnolia) is a documentary about steroids that wonders if it's still cheating when seemingly everyone does it; The Mindscape of Alan Moore ($29.95; Disinformation), which takes a look at the graphic trailblazer on the eve of the long-gestating film version of Watchmen ; and Larry Flynt -- The Right To Be Left Alone ($19.97; Anchor Bay) focuses heavily on the sleaze merchant's necessary First Amendment battles. TV on DVD -- I have an unreasonable dislike of actor Ron Perlman -- he's been in good movies and has quirky good taste and a lot of directors clearly like him. But even fans might have been surprised when he turned into a swooning romantic lead thanks to Beauty and the Beast -- TheComplete Series ($89.98; Paramount), a truly unusual romantic fantasy unlike anything else in primetime before or since. Loads of extras, including a run-down of the Beast's romantic letters toLinda Hamilton. Also out: the surprisingly successful This American Life Season One ($19.99; Showtime), which transferred the Ira Glass radio show to TV; the even more unlikely (and far lesssuccessful) Click & Clack's As The Wrench Turns ($29.98; PBS) which bizarrely turned NPR's "Car Talk" radio show into an animated series; a typically star-studded British miniseries about royalty,Edward The King ($59.99; Acorn), including John Gielgud and Charles Dance; Samantha WhoFirst Season ($29.99; ABC), which like so many sitcoms these days has a cast -- Christina Applegate and especially Jean Smart -- far superior to the material; the late, unlamented soapCashmere Mafia -- The Complete Series ($29.95; Sony); the under-appreciated crime drama Numb3rs Fourth Season ($59.98; Paramount), which benefits greatly from Judd Hirsch, Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz, who add up to a lot more together than they would on their own --and even make a convincing family; Inside The Actors Studio: Robin Williams ($14.99; Shout) is reportedly the most requested episode of all, which just goes to show how much good will thosereruns of Mork & Mindy can get you -- includes 40 minutes of extra footage; Rob & Big 3rd Season ($39.98; MTV) is a harmless odd couple type sitcom that proves how little MTV has to do with music anymore; Gangland Complete Season One ($39.95; History) is a run-down of all the gangs and how they rose to power, a good primer for those who want to know the differencebetween the Crips and the Bloods and the Almighty Black P Stone (no, I hadn't heard of themeither); Lynda La Plante, the creator of Prime Suspect, proves how crucial Helen Mirren was to that show with Trial and Retribution Set 1 ($59.99; Acorn), a standard policer that has none of herclassic work's distinctiveness; Friday The 13th The Series 1st Season ($54.99; Paramount) comes to DVD and what's really scary is that I never even knew it had been a series; Ken Russell at theBBC ($59.98; BBC Video), shows the flamboyant director delivering six ground-breaking arts documentaries in the 1960s; Brothers & Sisters Second Season ($59.99; ABC) is the steadily improving soaper giving Sally Fields her best work in years. And finally no one -- I mean NO ONE - has ever said, "Gee, I'd love to buy HALF a season of my favorite TV show," so why do they keep putting out sets like My Three Sons The First Season Volume One ($39.98; Paramount). As if that's not bad enough, these are "edited" versions from the original broadcast episodes (maybe they're the shorter syndicated editions) and they didn't get the music rights to all the original cues. So that's going to be $80 for one full season of a 48 year old sitcom in truncated form without the original music. To get all 12 seasons would apparently cost $960. Nearly $1000 for My ThreeSons? Have they lost their minds? Odds & Ends -- The umpteenth repackaging of Grease: Rockin' Rydell Edition ($19.99; Paramount); New York Yankees: The Essential Games Of Yankee Stadium ($59.95; A&E) has six complete games from the 70s and on, plus extras, which might take a little sting out of the closingof the venue, not to mention a season that has ended in (gulp) September; Jewel: The EssentialLive Songbook ($29.99; Koch), a performer still overshadowed by her massive debut album who is captured here in two concerts, one of which includes a chamber orchestra; School House RockElection Collection ($19.99; Disney) includes 15 videos, highlighted by the all-time classic "I'm JustA Bill;" Forgetting Sarah Marshall ($34.98; Universal), is a so-so comedy that had a great ad campaign and is well-presented on DVD since this edition includes the theatrical version, anunrated version most people will only want to watch once and a digital copy for watching on yourcomputer and portable devices; CSNY/Deja Vu ($14.98; Lionsgate) is an OK look at the gangtouring with their in-your-face political songs condemning Bush that didn't always get a rousingwelcome from people just there to hear "Our House" -- the highlight is definitely Neil Young havinga local TV reporter reference the song ""Let's Impeach The President" and then ask, "What's thatsong about?"; Travel With Kids London and Travel Wth Kids England ($14.98 each; Porchlight) are just under one hour visits to the top sites with some tips for parents traveling with children,though I can't decide whether they're better as previews to show kids what they'll see or as Cars Women's Rights Michelle Obama Europe Newspapers Bank Of America War Wire Video Financial Crisis MORE BIG NEWS PAGES » Books by this author A cabin of one's own: New England's MacDowellColony celebrates 100years of artistic utopia.And the gay and lesbianartists who prosperedthere celebrate ... (Thenational gay & lesbiannewsmagazine) by Michael Giltz Affairs to remember:Farley Granger beddedAva Gardner, ShelleyWinters, and LeonardBernstein. In hisautobiography, IncludeMe Out, Hitchcock's muse... (The national gay &lesbian newsmagazine) by Michael Giltzlove it for a reason like being green! FastCompany... HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES This Blogger's Books from Michael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM] Michelle Obama's Clothing Has Sean Hannity All Out OfSorts RICHARD POPLAWSKI,Pittsburgh Gunman, Kills 3Police Officers Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld: DoesIran Harbor Osama binLaden? John Demjanjuk, Ohio ManAccused Of Being NaziGuard, Avoids Deportation Comments 7 Pending Comments 0 See Michael Giltz's Profile Reality Star Jade Goody Buried In Lavish... Robert De Niro Nanny Sues For $40,000 Demi Moore's Twitter-Based Suicide Intervention "HGTV's $250,000 Challenge": Families Vie For Mortgage... souveniers afterwards for kids to remember what they did. More in Entertainment... HuffPost Stories Surging Right Now Ads by Google The Godfather II from EA Call the shots, manage the empire. Be a true Don, like in the movies. EA.com/Godfather2 Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to View Comments: Newest First Expand All mediamarv See Profile I'm a Fan of mediamarv permalink Leatherheads was quite funny, has a sparkling script and is a textbook on comic timing. Not sure why it did not fare better in the theaters, it deserved to be. Might have been scheduling. anyway, he's honinghis chops as a comedy director, and those are far and few between. Michael Giltz - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink I'm sure it will find fans on DVD who will agree with you and ultimatelyprove profitable. With three movies, I certainly think Clooney willeventually be -- like Eastwood -- a director of note. 3fingerbrown See Profile I'm a Fan of 3fingerbrown permalink Love these DVD roundups. My two cents' worth: Yeah, "Godfather III" is a letdown, to say the least, but not without its charms. I like the scenes with Pacino and Andy Garcia; Joe Montegna is a such a perfect fit for the "Godfather" franchise that you Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:29 PM on 10/01/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:41 PM on 10/01/2008Michael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM] See Michael Giltz's Profile See Michael Giltz's Profile Comments are closed for this entrywish there was a better "Godfather" movie to put him in; and Connie's emergence as a scheming mafia dragon lady is a clever turn, and well played by Talia Shire. "The Last Laugh" is a beautiful film, with a memorable performance by Emil Jannings, a world-class actor ruined by his Nazi affiliations. Downey had many fine moments as Chaplin, and you have to admire that he managed to capture the great man's grace and dexterity while carrying a major coke monkey on his back, but like DustinHoffman as Lenny Bruce, or Rod Steiger as W.C. Fields, or Streisand as Fanny Brice, when it came tore-creating the comedy routines he was curiously unfunny. Not sure I've ever seen a film actor playing a famous comedian who was able to convey the unique funniness that made the comedian famous in the first place. If you really must spring for "My Three Sons," stick with the early seasons, the William Frawley/early Bill Demerest period. Bail at the first sight of Beverly Garland and that snot-nosed kid. Michael Giltz - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink Thanks for reading; send your friends to here! The Godfather III isn'tcompletely worthless but compared to the first two? I'd rather I hadnever seen it at all and kept those two pristine. Whatever minorcharms can be eked out of it, wouldn't you tell people to not bother?There's no point in watching Star Wars: The Phantom Menace either. No real good can come of it. You're right; it's VERY hard to be funny when recreating classiccomedy sketches by masters Another good/bad example was the Peter Sellers HBO movie. rini See Profile I'm a Fan of rini permalink Robert Downey Jr. I always find his quick mind and quicker mouth to be extremely entertaining. I loved Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, despite the fact that it got mixed reviews. The "chemistry" between RD Jr and Val Kilmer was great. "You're an idiot. You know that. You know if you looked in the dictionary next to the word "idiot" you know what you'll find? ... A picture of me?No! The definition of the word "idiot". Which you are. Michael Giltz - Huffpost Blogger I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink "Jack." Lord, I've tried to block that out. I have no problem with putitng out a DVD of the movies. But why not save the massively expensive deluxe editionuntil you can do it right? And I know real fans of TV shows end up buyingevery season and then buying the complete boxed set all over again to get afew new extras. But that's a bummer and most people feel a little ripped off. Now when is "Fish" gonna come out on DVD? Nunziato See Profile I'm a Fan of Nunziato permalink Yes, something is better than nothing when The Godfather is involved. The greatest American film?Absolutely. If Paramount released a "Super-Duper Special Edition" next week that included anextended interview with Abe Vigoda, I would have to buy it. (Ok maybe not) But, I can't imagine whatany fans of this movie would have done if we had still been waiting for a definitive DVD release in2008, when we are up to Season Three of "Family Affair." Coppola gets a pass on this one, but he stillhas "Jack" to answer for. You must be logged in to reply to this comment. Log in or Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:01 PM on 10/01/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:44 PM on 10/01/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 PM on 10/01/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:00 AM on 10/01/2008 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:15 PM on 09/30/2008Michael Giltz: DVDs -- Even George Clooney's Flops Are Cool http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/dvds-even-george-clooneys_b_130662.html [4/5/2009 1:27:08 PM] HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE ARCHIVE Advertise | Login | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Jobs | FAQ: Comments & Moderation | FAQ: Huffpost Accounts | Contact Us Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | Archive | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type Ads by Google The Godfather II from EA Call the shots, manage the empire. Be a true Don, like in the movies. EA.com/Godfather2

DVDs Even George Clooneys Flops Are Cool

📄 DVDs Even George Clooneys Flops Are Cool

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