| April "New" DVD Roundup |
|
|
| Written by Kevin Filipski | |
|
Page 1 of 4 This month’s lineup of new DVD releases includes Hollywood hits and misses, two documentaries about global warming, a couple of opulent opera productions, a French horror movie, a filmed Shakespeare play, and even a Vatican concert for Pope Benedict XVI. (How timely!) Here they are, alphabetically: Aida (Decca)Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of Verdi’s final grand opera became a scandal at Milan’s La Scala Opera House in 2006 when tenor Roberto Alagna was booed by some in the audience early in the second performance, prompting him to walk off stage and cancel his remaining appearances. That’s not in evidence in this video of the opening night performance. Alagna, as the Egyptian commander Radames in love with the slave Aida, sings with poise and acts well. Lithuanian soprano Violeta Urmana admirably handles the taxing lead role, and conductor Riccardo Chailly leads the orchestra and chorus in a fervent account of Verdi’s score. Zeffirelli’s typically lavish staging doesn’t overwhelm the performers or the drama.  Charlie Wilson’s War (Universal)George Crile’s absorbing, thoroughly researched book about how a Texas Congressman became the Afghans’ money man in their fight against the Soviets was made into a slickly entertaining but superficial film by director Mike Nichols and writer Aaron Sorkin. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are lightweight actors, but Nichols obviously wanted Movie Stars in the leads. Philip Seymour Hoffman has fun with the tale’s most colorful character, gruff CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. In turning a 500-page, non-fiction book into a 95-minute movie, Nichols, Sorkin, Hanks, and Roberts have made the film equivalent of a page-turner. It’s no substitute for Crile’s gripping account, but it’ll do for the millions who’ll never go near the book. EXTRAS: Making-of featurettes, including interviews with Nichols, Sorkin, Hanks, Roberts, and Charlie Wilson.  Cloverfield (Paramount)One of the most ludicrous monster movies ever made had a clever ad campaign that promised something the movie never delivers: a startling horror fest that capitalizes on post-9/11 fears by destroying New York City. With wooden acting, tiresomely herky-jerky camcorder visuals, and lackluster effects, Cloverfield fails on all counts, not least its pointless title. EXTRAS: director commentary; deleted scenes; alternate endings; making-of featurettes.  Concert in Honour of Pope Benedict XVI (Opus Arte) Last October, a concert was held in the Vatican’s Audience Hall: The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, led by conductor Mariss Jansons, began with a sacred motet by the 16th-century composer Palestrina, following that with an emotional reading of Beethoven’s great “Choral” Symphony (the Ninth) featuring vocal soloists Krassimira Stoyanova, Lioba Braun, Michael Schade, and Michael Volle. This recording of the historic concert (Pope Benedict hails from Bavaria) includes stunning shots of the fabled hall. EXTRAS: 45-minute, behind-the-scenes documentary; the Pope’s post-concert address to the audience.  Conspiracy (Sony)Val Kilmer is a difficult actor to get a handle on; he’s often extraordinary (as Jim Morrison in The Doors or porn star John Holmes in Wonderland) but just as often phones in his performance (Batman Forever, The Saint). His work in Conspiracy falls somewhere in the middle. Playing a vet who lost his leg in Iraq, he stumbles onto a corrupt small town where he proceeds to exact revenge on the bad guys. It’s foolish, Death Wish stuff, but Kilmer makes it all watchable if not especially memorable. |