| New Films on DVD |
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| Written by Kevin Filipski | |
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Page 3 of 4  The Orphanage (New Line)A Spanish ghost-story set in an old orphanage that’s now home to a couple and their young son, Juan Antonio Bayona’s thriller obeys the first rule of scary movies: allow the characters to act as stupidly as possible in any situation in order to trigger the necessary “oohs” and “aahs” from the equally benighted audience. Consequently, there are cheap thrills a-plenty: what’s missing is a reason to care about fools who should have left this house immediately. Only actress Belén Rueda’s winning presence makes The Orphanage watchable for those not automatically enamored of trashy thrillers. EXTRAS: Three making-of featurettes.  A Raisin in the Sun (Sony)The most recent Broadway production of Lorraine Hansberry’s potboiler has survived intact in this made-for-TV movie that stars the acclaimed stage cast and is directed by Kenny Leon. “Opened up,” as adaptations usually are, this Raisin makes a more dramatic impression than it did onstage, perhaps because the camera brings us closer to Hansberry’s authentic characters. Sean Combs acquits himself well, Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan are tremendously affecting, and Audra MacDonald gives a phenomenally moving portrayal. Is there a better stage actress, either in plays or musicals, than she? EXTRAS: Leon commentary; behind-the-scenes featurette.  Rambo (LionsGate)For his fourth go-round as renegade John Rambo, Sylvester Stallone has parked his man in Burma, where he goes on a rampage saving a group of liberal do-gooders and the bounty hunters hired to save them. Sly himself must know how foolish this all is, so he goes for the jugular immediately and repeatedly: at 90 minutes, Rambo is over so quickly that it’s hard to believe that dozens of bad guys have been killed by our true American movie hero. At the end, John Rambo returns home–but, as Sly slyly asks in his commentary, “Will he stay there?” Next up: Iraq or Iran, anyone? EXTRAS: Stallone commentary; six featurettes; deleted scenes; digital copy of film to download.  Rescue Me–Season 4 (Sony)Who would have thought Denis Leary, that obnoxious, loud-mouthed mid-'90s comedian, would become one of TV’s best actors? Well, he is, believe it or not. As Tommy Gavin, the ultimate dysfunctional fireman with a broken marriage, an extremely chaotic romantic life, and haunting memories of September 11, Leary is the heart of this series that he and Peter Tolan created, all about a New York City firehouse. As the show has continued, plotting and characterization have gotten more convoluted, but the ensemble cast has gotten better by leaps and bounds, particularly with the fourth season’s new additions Tatum O”Neal, Marisa Tomei, Jennifer Esposito, and Gina Gershon. EXTRAS: 22 deleted scenes; six behind-the-scenes featurettes.  Sick Nurses (Magnolia)This absurdist entry in the horror genre makes no bones about its implausibility as it lets its characters drop like bloodied flies throughout a zippy 80-minute running time. The lamebrained plot centers on a doctor and the sexy nurses he’s shtupping; the newest staff nurse doesn’t want to be part of their harem, so after she dies suspiciously, her spirit returns to wreak vengeance on the rest. If you’re in the right mood for such lunacy, there’s a certain mindless fun to be had, especially in the increasingly ludicrous if admittedly ingenious ways the spectre from beyond offs her victims. EXTRAS: Making-of featurette. |