Uplifting 'Slumdog' a rich film experience
"Slumdog Millionaire" If you haven't yet seen this dazzling, intoxicating fairy tale, don't cheat yourself; this is one film that lives up to the acclaim (it won a slew of Oscars in February, including Best Picture). "Slumdog" tells the story of Jamal, a child from a Mumbai slum who wins 10 million rupees on India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" before cops haul him away and accuse him of cheating. As Jamal is interrogated, we flash back to his impoverished childhood, his days on the run with his brother, Salim, and his ever-present love for Latika, the girl who moves in and out of his life like a spirit. Director Danny Boyle handles the fractured narrative beautifully, delivering images that paint India's roiling slums as places of heartbreaking cruelty and indomitable hope. I loved every minute of this movie.
The DVD comes with some excellent extras, including a lively, engaging commentary with Boyle and actor Dev Patel, who plays Jamal. Also on board are a number of deleted scenes and a making-of featurette (rental versions of the DVD won't have the extras). (R; Fox, $29.98)
"The Odd Couple" and "To Catch a Thief" (Paramount Centennial Collection) Paramount continues the celebration of its 100th birthday with classy special editions of two cinematic gems: "The Odd Couple" and "To Catch a Thief." Both belong in any film-lover's library.
Gene Saks directed "The Odd Couple," the hilarious 1968 film adaptation of Neil Simon's legendary stage play. It's still a joy to watch Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon play mismatched roommates Oscar Madison and Felix Unger; rarely have two actors displayed the kind of chemistry and timing that Matthau and Lemmon have here. The movie looks fantastic on this two-disc set, which comes with a nice selection of extras, including interviews with Saks and the sons of Matthau and Lemmon. Another wondrous pairing of actors occurs in 1954's "To Catch a Thief," Alfred Hitchcock's frothy thriller-romance. This time, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly light up the screen in a story about love and a rash of jewelry thefts on the French Riviera. This two-disc set includes a beautiful transfer of the movie, a commentary from Hitchcock scholar Drew Casper and plenty of behind-the-scenes material. If you don't yet own these films, these are the editions to buy. (Paramount, $24.99 each)
"Tell No One"- Speaking of Hitchcock, I'm sure the master would approve of this tense, tricky French thriller. Alexandre Beck is a Paris doctor still wracked with grief over the death of his wife eight years ago. One day, police knock on his door and inform him that a grisly discovery near the spot where his wife was killed has forced them to reopen the case, with Alexandre as the main suspect. Meanwhile, Alexandre receives a strange e-mail that appears to prove that his wife is actually still alive. When the cops close in, Alexandre runs, desperate to prove his innocence and be reunited with his true love. Top-shelf writing, directing and acting make "Tell No One" a thriller to seek out. (An American remake is apparently on the way, but I can't imagine it will top this version.) The DVD is light on extras - just a few outtakes and deleted scenes. (NR; MPI Home Video, $27.98)
"The Real Ghostbusters: Vol. 1" Conceived as a way to cash in on the success of the "Ghostbusters" movies, this late-1980s cartoon became one of the enduring hits of the decade. The producers of the show (including J. Michael Straczynski, who'd later become known as the writer of the Clint Eastwood film "Changeling") combined the comedic hi-jinks of the ghost-hunting main characters with a creepy, imaginative array of bad guys and strange alternate worlds. The animation isn't great, but it's better than most 1980s fare, and the stories are surprisingly good. Included here are the first 30 episodes of the show on five discs housed in a nifty steel case. Extras include visual commentaries on some episodes and a retrospective featurette. Who ya gonna call? (Time Life, $39.95)