Bank on Oscar-nominated 'River' as a stirring drama
"Frozen River" - "Frozen River" had me hooked from its great first shot, a moving piece of acting and direction. The camera slowly pans up on a woman, first showing her tattered bathrobe, then her hands (one of which clutches a cigarette) and finally her face - a mask of worry and despair punctuated by a single tear running down her cheek.
That's our introduction to Ray Edde (Melissa Leo), a single mother trying to make it in a bleak, barren small town in upstate New York. Desperate for money, Ray agrees to assist Lila (Misty Upham), a young Mohawk Indian with a tragic past, in a smuggling operation that brings illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Canada via Mohawk-occupied land. The smuggling soon draws the attention of the law, forcing both Ray and Lila to make heartbreaking decisions about their own children.
Both Leo (Best Actress) and writer-director Courtney Hunt (Best Original Screenplay) have received Oscar nominations for this gritty, haunting drama, and I hope awards-season hype will inspire people to seek it out. The DVD, a great showcase for the film's somber, snow-covered beauty, includes the film's trailer and a commentary from Hunt. (R; Sony Classics, $28.96)
"W." - Oliver Stone's surprisingly empathetic biopic about George W. Bush is an entertaining look at how a rich playboy with serious daddy issues rose to the highest office in the land. Stone treats our 43rd president with a light touch, depicting him as a well-meaning but directionless man who enters politics primarily as a response to the subtle humiliations heaped on him for years by his father, former President George H. W. Bush. "W." isn't an exhaustive examination of Bush or his policies, and its low-key portrayal of the man will likely annoy both pro- and anti-Bush zealots. But I think the movie works as a gently satirical look at presidential power and politics. The DVD comes with an energetic Stone commentary and a featurette about the Iraq war that's more scathing than the film. (PG-13; Lionsgate, $29.95)
"My Name is Bruce" - If you're not aware of the unique charms of B-movie actor Bruce Campbell (star of, among other classics, the three "Evil Dead" films), this movie is not for you. For the rest of us, this flick is groovy, baby! Campbell, who also directs, pokes fun at his own image by playing a B-movie actor (named, um, Bruce Campbell) who's recruited to destroy an ancient Chinese demon terrorizing a small Oregon town. Campbell is in great smarmy form here, and the script is funny from start to finish. Just as good as the movie are the extras on this DVD, which include a featurette titled "Heart of Darkness: The Making of 'My Name is Bruce'" and a typically hilarious Campbell commentary. (R; Image Entertainment, $27.98)
"His Name Was Jason" - This 90-minute documentary takes a fun, breezy look at the entire "Friday the 13th" franchise, from the original 1980 film to the remake out this week. Hosted by effects guru Tom Savini, the doc includes interviews from nearly every "Friday" director and many of the actors who have been sliced and diced by masked killer Jason over the years, along with a healthy supply of film clips. The second disc in the two-disc "Splatter Edition" includes plenty of goodies, including tours of some of the locations from the flicks. "Friday" fans, don't be afraid of this one. (NR; Anchor Bay, $19.97)