6
DVD
The Company You Keep An American anti-war radical, wanted for a bombing and killing way back in the early 1970s, has been posing for many years as a quiet country lawyer. However, when he is exposed by an eager journalist, he must contact his old underground connections and go back into hiding. Robert Redford produces, directs, and stars in this excellent movie, yet, given the fact that Mr. Redford had to go to Italy to raise financing for his movie, seems to suggest that his sympathetic views on left-wing activists is a contentious issue in Hollywood. The Heineken Kidnapping This is also an excellent movie, which comes from Holland, and is written, produced, and directed by Maarten Treurniet. Based on true events, the movie depicts the 1983 kidnapping of beer magnate Freddy Heineken. He was held for several weeks, however, after the ransom was paid, two of the kidnappers escaped to Paris. Due to French extradition laws, the kidnappers were able to live in Paris in relative freedom. Freddy Heineken then goes to extreme lengths to extract his revenge. Rutger Hauer plays the beer magnate. In The House French screenwriter and director Francois Ozon has made some pretty weird movies, which include ‘Sitcom’ (1998), ‘Water Drops on Burning Rocks’ (1999) and ‘8 Women’ (2002). His latest movie, ‘In The House’, is also pretty wacky. A teacher gives his class an assignment to write about what they did over the weekend. One of the students hands in an essay about a visit he made to a classmate’s home. Fascinated by what he has read, the teacher encourages the student to continue visiting the house, and write about what he sees. Ozon’s black comedy becomes a voyage into voyeurism. Phil Spector David Mamet writes and directs this glimpse into the life of legendary music producer Phil Spector, as he stands trial for the murder of a Hollywood starlet. Helen Mirren plays Spector’s lawyer, and she is convinced of his innocence. Dame Helen’s American accent wavers occasionally. The only word to describe Al Pacino’s portrayal of Spector is ‘scary’! Anyway, David Mamet makes a good case that Phil Spector is, perhaps, wrongly imprisoned. Once Upon A Time In The North In the early 1800s, in the wilds of Finland, life was rather tough. Also, there was a custom that the eldest son inherited the family house and land, and any other siblings had to fend for themselves. In this impressive Finnish movie, written and directed by Jukka-Pekka Siili, an aging farmer disinherits his brutal oldest son, and leaves his farm to his gentle younger son. A feud then develops between the brothers. This movie has a great story to tell. It doesn’t waste any time with ‘arty’ pretensions, and, just gets on with telling its tale. The Incredible Wonderstone Okay, this is not the greatest comedy ever made, but, it has its moments. Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi play a pair of magicians who have been performing their act for years. After a falling out, they go their own ways. Steve Buscemi finishes up in the Far East on some sort of humanitarian endeavor, while, Steve Carell finishes up playing old-age retirement homes. Eventually, they get back together for a comeback. Director Don Scardino has lots of fun sending-up the razzle-dazzle of Las Vegas show business.
Bali Advertiser
01 May - 15 May, 2013
Diary by Mr. Robet
‘interested parties’ start to emerge, things get slightly out-of-hand. Tim Lewiston directs this amusing English comedy, as actors Ray Winstone and Colm Meany, who are usually associated with serious crime dramas, have a good time satirizing their screen personas.
C/Ns/G-3 April 13
Safe Haven A beautiful young woman, wanted for questioning in a murder case, hides out in a small coastal town. While in hiding, she meets and falls in love with a handsome widower. Meanwhile, a determined detective is relentlessly pursuing her trail. The problem with Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom’s latest American movie is that he gets bogged down within the love story, instead of staying with the detective, where all of the action is to be found. Where Do We Go Now? This odd Lebanese musical-comedy is about a group of women who try to ease the religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village. The Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, Part 2 Thank god that this very tedious movie franchise, which has been titillating teenage girls for the past several years, is now finally over, once and for all. C/Ns/G-11 July 12
High School Teenage students come up with a devious way to pass a mandatory drug test. Gladiator of Pompeii It takes just on 3 hours to tell this dull tale about the destruction of Pompeii. Elephant Sighs A disparate group of men meet in a church hall to talk about their problems.
Mr. Robet’s Best Buys The Company You Keep A wanted American anti-war radical has been posing as a country lawyer. The Heineken Kidnapping Beer magnate Freddy Heineken is kidnapped, and held for a large ransom. In The House
C/Ns/G-17 April 13
A French teacher gives his class an assignment to write about their weekend. The Other Son During the Gulf War, two babies are switched at birth in an Israeli hospital. The Hypnotist A killer tries to slay an entire Stockholm family, but, a young man survives. Phil Spector Music producer Phil Spector is put on trial for the murder of a young actress. Once Upon A Time In The North In the early 1800s, in rural Finland, a farmer disinherits his brutal oldest son. The Incredible Wonderstone After a falling out a pair of kitschy Las Vegas magicians
Return To Nim’s Island 2 Back on Nim’s Island it is possible that the island could be sold to a large corporation to build a holiday resort on it. However, if Nim can find three endangered species, which may live on the island, it is also possible she can stop this development. Meanwhile, there is a gang of poachers on the island stealing the wildlife. This enjoyable Australian movie is for young children, while, its ‘gentle’ ecological message should be easily understood by them. The Hot Potato A London scrap-metal merchant comes into possession of a large lump of radioactive uranium, which he tries to sell on the European black market. However, as more and more
go their own ways. Return To Nim’s Island 2 Nim’s Island may be sold to a big corporation to build a holiday resort on it. The Hot Potato A scrap-metal merchant comes into possession of a large lump of uranium. E-mail: dvddiary@yahoo.com Copyright © 2013 Mr. Robet You can read all past articles of DVD Diary at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz C/Ns/I-03 April 13