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ONVIDEO E-MAIL NEWS
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1/9/07 V11.2
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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR Tuesday, January 9 -- MONDAY, January 15
CRANK
Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is about to begin his morning with
an unexpected wake-up call. Groggy, practically unable to move
and with a heart that's barely beating, he hears the voice of
thug Ricky Verona, who reveals Chev has been poisoned in his
sleep and only has an hour to live. Chev is a hit man who
freelances for a major West Coast syndicate. A run of the mill
job the night before instead went awry: he let his target slip
away in an effort to quit professional killing and start a new
life with his girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart). Now, Chev must keep
moving to stay alive: the only way to prolong the poison from
stopping his heart is to keep his adrenaline flowing. As the
clock ticks, Chelios cuts a swath through the streets of Los
Angeles, wreaking havoc on those who dare stand in his way. He
must rescue Eve from danger, stay two steps ahead of his nemeses
and search for an antidote to save his own life. Vitals:
Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor. Stars: Jason Statham, Amy
Smart, Efren Ramirez, Jose Cantillo, Jay Xcala, Carlos Sanz,
Keone Young. 2006, CC, MPAA rating: R, 87 min., Action, Box
office gross: $27.829 million, Lionsgate.
IDIOCRACY
An average guy volunteers to be the subject of a hibernation
experiment that goes awry. He wakes up 500 years in the future,
discovering that he's the smartest guy on the planet. Film
lampoons everything from mass media and the justice system to
politics and the American shopping compulsion. Vitals: Director:
Mike Judge. Stars: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, David
Herman, Sara Rue, Stephen Root, Justin Long. 2006, CC, MPAA
rating: R, 84 min., Satire, Box office gross: $.438 million, Fox.
ILLUSIONIST, THE
In a world where nothing is as it appears, an illusionist and a
police inspector face off turn-of-the-century Vienna in a
challenge of wills that attempts to determine where reality ends
and magic begins ... all the while blurring the line between
power and corruption, love and devotion, vigilance and mania and
ultimately, life and death. A mystery that combines romance,
politics and magic, "The Illusionist" stars Edward Norton as a
mysterious stage magician, Eisenheim, who bends nature's laws to
his will in front of awestruck crowds. Paul Giamatti co-stars as
Vienna's shrewd Chief Inspector Uhl, a man committed to uphold
the law and for whom magic holds no place in his ordered world.
When Eisenheim begins to perform his astounding illusions in
Vienna, word quickly spreads of his otherworldly powers ... even
reaching the ears of one of Europe's most powerful and pragmatic
men, Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). Certain that the
illusionist is nothing more than an accomplished fraud, Leopold
attends one of Eisenheim's shows, convinced that he can debunk
him during the performance. But when the Prince's beautiful
fiance and companion, Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel), assists
the magician onstage, Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other
from their childhoods -- and a dormant love affair is rekindled.
With Eisenheim and Leopold vying for Sophie's affection, it
quickly becomes apparent that both will go to any length to claim
and keep her love. As the clandestine romance continues, Uhl is
charged by Leopold to intensify his efforts to expose Eisenheim,
even while the magician gains a devoted and vocal public
following. With Uhl doggedly searching for the reasons and the
man behind the trickery, Eisenheim prepares to execute his
greatest illusion yet. Vitals: Director: Neil Burger. Stars:
Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie
Marsan, James Babson, Brian Caspe, Tom Fisher, Aaron Johnson,
Erich Redman, Ellen Savaria, Jake Wood. 2006, CC, MPAA rating:
PG-13, 109 min., Drama, Box office gross: $39.071 million, Fox.
NIGHT LISTENER, THE
Suspense-filled mystery about truth, lies and storytelling.
Follows the disturbingly eerie twists and turns that unfold in
the relationship between a popular late-night radio host and a
devoted young fan who claims to have survived a terrifying,
secret past. Robin Williams stars as Gabriel Noone, a colorful
public radio storyteller who, in the throes of his own emotional
crisis, begins talking on the phone with a precocious, 14 year-
old listener named Pete (Rory Culkin), a boy with his own
incredible story to tell about a nightmare childhood. Still
reeling from a devastating breakup with his lover of 10 years
(Bobby Cannavale), Gabriel finds unexpected comfort in his long-
distance conversations with Pete and begins to support him in the
publishing of his memoirs. But as Gabriel draws closer to Pete
and his adopted mother (Toni Collette) -- becoming a kind of
surrogate father -- he also grows more and more filled with
doubts about the boy's tales and macabre suspicions over who he
really is -- sparking a desperate quest to uncover the elusive
truth. Based on the novel by Armistead Maupin. Vitals: Director:
Patrick Stettner. Stars: Toni Collette, Robin Williams, Joe
Morton, Bobby Cannavale, Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh. 2006, CC, MPAA
rating: R, 81 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $7.825 million,
Miramax.
QUINCEANERA
After attending the lavish Quinceanera (a traditional rite of
passage for Mexican girls celebrating their 15th birthday) for
her cousin, Mexican-American 14-year-old Magdalena (Emily Rios),
whose parents run a storefront church in Echo Park (a Latino Los
Angeles neighborhood in transition) has unrealistic expectations
- stunning gown, Hummer limousine, fancy party - for her own
imminent ceremony. But her family's struggling financial
situation isn't the only obstacle: Months before her own party,
Magdalena discovers that she is pregnant by her boyfriend. Forced
out of the house by her religious father, she moves in with her
great-granduncle Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez), who makes a living in
the streets of Echo Park selling champurrado (a Mexican hot
drink). As Magdalena struggles to redefine her notions of family
and the future, Tomas battles with his new landlords, an affluent
white gay couple at the forefront of the neighborhood's
gentrification movement. Everyone's lives change when the
landlords take a keen interest in Tomas's other houseguest,
Magdalena's young handsome gay cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia),
forced out of his own home after his father discovers he's gay.
An exploration of urban racial, class, and sexual tensions.
Vitals: Director: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Stars:
Emily Rios, Chalo Gonzalez, Jesse Garcia. 2006, CC, MPAA rating:
R, 90 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.676 million, Sony.
For more release info, check out our calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar.htm>
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NEWS
COMING SOON:
Due February 27 is the wonderfully oddball comedy "Stranger Than
Fiction," starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin
Hoffman, Queen Latifah and Emma Thompson, from Sony ... and look
out: "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit
Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" invades home video on March 6,
from Fox.
FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Due this week: "Broken Bridges," a 2006 telefilm starring Toby
Keith, Kelly Preston, Tess Harper, Willie Nelson, Lindsey Haun
and Burt Reynolds, about a pair of high school sweethearts who
return home after the deaths of their brothers, forcing them to
deal with ghosts from the past, from Paramount ... "Extras: The
Complete First Season" is a two-disc set with six episodes,
$29.98 from HBO Video.
BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
"Bandidas" (2006) stars Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn,
Dwight Yoakam and Sam Shepard in a comic Western about two women
who become outlaws to avenge the deaths of their fathers at the
hands of a robber baron, from Fox ... In "The Veteran" (2006), a
vet returns to Vietnam to face his past and his demons; stars
Ally Sheedy, Bobby Hosea and Michael Ironside, from Union Station
Media ... "Shadow Run" is a 1998 caper thriller about a master
thief who assembles an expert team to hijack an armored truck in
broad daylight, starring Michael Caine and James Fox, from BFS
Entertainment & Multimedia Limited ... In "Final Move" (2006), a
cop comes out of retirement to hunt down the "Chess Piece
Murderer," starring Matt Schulze, Lochlyn Munro, Daniel Baldwin,
David Carradine and Amanda Detmer, from MTI Home Video ... From
the mind of Stan Lee comes "Lightspeed," a 2006 Sci Fi channel
telefilm about an agent who discovers that, as a result of a near
lethal mishap, he has developed the ability to run at the speed
of light; without warning, he acquires a dangerous nemesis in the
form of "The Python," a man transformed into part man, part snake
after a botched experiment; stars Jason Connery, Nicole Eggert,
Daniel Goddard and Lee Majors, from Starz Home Entertainment ...
"Murder Set Pieces" is a 2004 thriller about a fashion
photographer who exposes his demented childhood and zooms his
evil lens on the oldest profession under the moon, starring Sven
Garrett, Tony Todd, Cerina Vincent and Gunnar Hansen, from
Lionsgate.
FOREIGN:
"Van Gogh" (1991 -- French) traces the final months of Vincent
Van Gogh's life, starring Jacques Dutronc, Alexandra London and
Bernard Le Coq, from Sony ... In Everybody Says I'm Fine" (2001 -
- India), a telepathic hairdresser hears his clients' inner
turmoil and while he tries to help them with their desperate
lives he ironically can't help himself in his solitary, lonely
life, starring Rehaan Engineer, Koel Purie and Rahul Bose, from
BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited.
FOR THE KIDS:
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Volume 5" (2006) features four episodes
from the pre-school TV series, $14.97 from Warner ... The "Jolly
Bean Kids Mystery" is an animated adventure about five jelly
beans who try to find out who's trying to sabotage Candy Land,
from the creators of Nick's "Romeo," featuring the voice of Lil'
Romeo; $14.99 from First Look Home Entertainment.
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THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:
Weekly listings of DVD releases can now be viewed on mobile
devices at www.tagtag.com/onvideo
** Bandidas (2006) Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn,
Dwight Yoakam, Sam Shepard. Comic Western about two women who
become outlaws to avenge the deaths of their fathers at the hands
of a robber baron. Extras: Commentary by Cruz and hayek, "Burning
Up the Set With Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz" featurette. (Fox).
** Broken Bridges (2006 -- TV) Toby Keith, Kelly Preston, Tess
Harper, Willie Nelson, Lindsey Haun, Burt Reynolds. CMT telefilm
about pair of high school sweethearts who return home after the
deaths of their brothers, forcing them to deal with ghosts from
the past. Extras: Four featurettes, Toby Keith "Alien" music
video. (Paramount).
** Color of the Cross (2006) Jean Claude LaMarre, Debbi
Morgan. Controversial look at the last 48 hours of Jesus Christ,
depicting him as black and the Crucifixion as being racially
motivated. (Fox).
** Crank (2006) Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, Jose
Cantillo, Jay Xcala, Carlos Sanz, Keone Young. Extras: Crank'd
Out Mode: Context-sensitive behind-the-scenes footage, making-of
insights, interviews, running commentary and more; family
friendly audio (without the usual expletives). Also available on
Blue-ray. (Lionsgate).
** Everybody Says I'm Fine (2001 -- India) Rehaan Engineer,
Koel Purie, Rahul Bose. Telepathic hairdresser hears his clients'
inner turmoil and while he tries to help them with their
desperate lives he ironically can't help himself in his solitary,
lonely life. (BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited).
** Extras: The Complete First Season. Two-disc set with six
episodes, $29.98. Extras: Outtakes, deleted scenes. (HBO Video).
** Final Move (2006) Matt Schulze, Lochlyn Munro, Daniel
Baldwin, David Carradine, Amanda Detmer. Cop comes out of
retirement to hunt down the "Chess Piece Murderer." (MTI Home
Video).
** Idiocracy (2006) Dir.: Mike Judge; Luke Wilson, Maya
Rudolph, Dax Shepard, David Herman, Sara Rue, Stephen Root,
Justin Long. Extras: Theatrical and unrated versions, deleted
scenes. (Fox).
** The Illusionist (2006) Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica
Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, James Babson, Brian Caspe, Tom
Fisher, Aaron Johnson, Erich Redman, Ellen Savaria, Jake Wood.
Extras: Commentary by writer-director Neil Burger, two
featurettes. (Fox).
** Lightspeed (2006 -- TV) Jason Connery, Nicole Eggert,
Daniel Goddard, Lee Majors. Sci Fi channel telefilm from the mind
of Stan Lee: An agent discovers that, as a result of a near
lethal mishap, he has developed the ability to run at the speed
of light; without warning, he acquires a dangerous nemesis in the
form of "The Python," a man transformed into part man -- part
snake after a botched experiment. (Starz Home Entertainment).
** Murder Set Pieces (2004) Sven Garrett, Tony Todd, Cerina
Vincent, Gunnar Hansen. A fashion photographer exposes his
demented childhood and zooms his evil lens on the oldest
profession under the moon. (Lionsgate).
** The Night Listener (2006) Toni Collette, Robin Williams,
Joe Morton, Bobby Cannavale, Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh. (Miramax).
** A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Volume 5 (2006) Four episodes from
the pre-school TV series, $14.97.
** Quinceanera (2006) Emily Rios, Chalo Gonzalez, Jesse
Garcia. Extras: Commentary by directors Richard Glatzer and Wash
Westmoreland; commentary by Emily Rios, Jesse Garcia and Chalo
Gonzalez; behind-the-scenes featurette; "On the Red Carpet"
featurette. (Sony).
** Shadow Run (1998) Michael Caine, James Fox. A master thief
assembles an expert team to hijack an armored truck in broad
daylight. (BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited).
** Street Fight (2005) Documentary chronicles the bare-knuckles
race for Mayor of Newark, N.J., between Cory Booker, a 32-year-
old Rhodes Scholar/Yale Law School grad, and Sharpe James, the
four-term incumbent and undisputed champion of New Jersey
politics. (Genius Products).
** Van Gogh (1991 -- French) Jacques Dutronc, Alexandra
London, Bernard Le Coq. (Sony).
** The Veteran (2006) Dir.: Sidney J. Furie; Ally Sheedy, Bobby
Hosea, Michael Ironside. A vet returns to Vietnam to face his
past and his demons. (Union Station Media).
For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>
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Copyright 2007 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
ISSN 1094-3676
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