Stunning Beatles musical looks fab on DVD
A veritable truckload of DVDs hits store shelves today. Let's take a look at some of the highlights.
"Across the Universe" (two-disc deluxe edition: Like any good Gen X'er, I am sick of baby-boomer nostalgia for the '60s. Minnesota rockers The Replacements summed up my feelings perfectly with the mocking title of their 1984 album -- "Let It Be." Yet, I absolutely loved "Across the Universe," Julie Taymor's bold, visually sumptuous musical set during the Vietnam era to a soundtrack of Beatles songs.
The story is pretty standard boy-meets-girl stuff, and all the usual '60s moments are there -- anti-war marches, university sit-ins and explosions in the jungles of Vietnam. But Taymor, a gifted filmmaker, elevates the material into a joyous celebration of youth and love and rock 'n' roll. The movie follows Jude (Jim Sturgess), a working-class boy from Liverpool, as he makes his way to America during the late 1960s and falls for Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood, and, yes, every character's name comes from a Beatles song), the daughter in a privileged East Coast family. Taymor punctuates the story with reworked versions of Beatles classics like "Girl," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Come Together," all of them performed by the cast. It's uncanny how well Taymor uses this music. The new arrangements might bother Beatles purists, but, come on, we've all heard these songs a billion times already. The retooled music and vocals make the lyrics stand out, and Taymor is brilliant at linking them to the emotions in the story. (For example, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" becomes a heart-breaking plea when sung by a girl who knows the object of her affection is out of reach.) Taymor also displays her trademark gift for dynamic visuals; some left me stunned by their beauty. The two-disc edition of "Across the Universe" comes with a Taymor commentary and a slew of in-depth features about the making of this daring film. (PG-13; Sony, $28.96)
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford": The title should clue you in to the fact that this offbeat but compelling Western is long. Director Andrew Dominik takes his time with everything; where one shot would work, he uses two (sometimes three or four). For most of its 160-minute run time, though, the film is riveting (I did start to lose patience near the end). Dominik infuses each scene with an undercurrent of dread, and he's assisted by beautiful, Oscar-nominated cinematography from Roger Deakins. Casey Affleck plays Robert Ford, a petty thief whose admiration for famed outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) borders on love. Ford works with James for a while, but soon their friendship turns into rivalry. Affleck, who has earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the role, brings a touching humanity to Ford, and Pitt is a time bomb of menace as James. The film looks fantastic on DVD, but the disc contains not one extra feature. (R; Warner Home Video, $27.95)
"Tootsie" (25th anniversary edition): I saw this movie when it came out in 1982, and I haven't heard such laughter in a theater since. Dustin Hoffman is priceless as Michael Dorsey, a down-on-his-luck New York actor who dresses as a woman in a desperate attempt to land a job on a soap opera. He gets the role, but then his alter-ego Dorothy Michaels becomes one of the most popular soap stars in the country, and he falls in love with one of the show's leading ladies. It sounds like a bad "Three's Company" episode, except that the script is a masterpiece of wit, insight and emotion. Hoffman's tour de force performance is nearly matched by hilarious supporting turns from Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Bill Murray and the director, Sydney Pollack. Also wonderful is Jessica Lange, who plays the woman Michael loves. "Tootsie" is, quite simply, one of the funniest and most touching comedies ever made. This DVD release includes a revealing new making-of documentary with comments from Pollack, Hoffman, Lange and Coleman. A commentary would have made this a perfect release, but it's still a must-buy. (PG; Sony, $19.94)
"2 Days in Paris": Here's another smart, talky romance with Julie Delpy, who starred opposite Ethan Hawke in "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset." She's joined here by the underrated character actor Adam Goldberg in a story about a couple who learn a lot about themselves and each other during a two-day holiday in Paris. Strong performances and smart writing make "2 Days in Paris" a charming and funny gem, perfect Valentine's Day viewing. The DVD comes with extended scenes and an interview with Delpy, who wrote and directed the film. (R; Fox, $27.98)
"Midnight Express" (30th anniversary edition): Considered the godfather of all prison films, "Midnight Express" is based on the true story of Billy Hayes, who was sentenced to 30 years in a nightmarish Turkish prison after being caught trying to smuggle drugs out of the country. I think the movie has lost a bit of its power over the years; nothing in the film scared me as much as what I saw on the recent HBO prison drama "Oz," for example. Still, the prison scenes are undeniably gripping, and the performances are excellent, particularly Brad Davis' heart-wrenching portrayal of Hayes. Fans of the film will love this anniversary set, which includes excellent picture and sound, a commentary from director Alan Parker and a new making-of documentary. Also on board is a booklet containing photos from the production and an essay from Parker about the making of the film. (R; Sony, $19.94)