This 'Rambow' a sentimental treat
"Son of Rambow" - Sweet, funny and touching, "Son of Rambow" shines a loving light on the friendship between two preadolescent boys growing up in 1980s England. The story feels familiar, but the nicely observed details and strong lead performances help "Rambow" stand out.
Will Proudfoot is a quiet, shy boy whose family belongs to a conservative religious sect called the Plymouth Brethren. Forbidden from watching television or listening to music, Will lets his imagination go by drawing strange creatures and writing stories in his sketchbook.
One day he meets classmate Lee Carter at school. Lee is Will's polar opposite - a brash, conniving bully. He's also a budding filmmaker, trying to complete a movie for an upcoming contest. Will decides to help Lee finish his movie, using concepts from his sketchbook. Their collaboration - a surreal (and hilarious) sequel to "First Blood," the first Rambo adventure - becomes an odyssey of friendship, growth and personal discovery.
The nostalgic tone and basic story arc of "Son of Rambow" recall earlier flicks like "Stand by Me." But the three-dimensional characters and the almost obsessively realized details of this mid-1980s English town make the film unique. Plus, writer-director Garth Jennings exhibits a quirky sense of humor and an endearing visual playfulness in the film, like when Will's daydreams become cartoon adventures on screen. "Son of Rambow" is a modest but well-crafted gem that deserves to find a new audience on DVD. (The '80s soundtrack alone makes this worth a rental!) The DVD comes with a solid set of supplements, including a commentary, a making-of featurette and a short film by Jennings that served as the basis for "Rambow." (PG-13; Paramount, $19.99)
"Boomerang" (Fox Noir Series) - Fox Home Entertainment releases its ninth set of classic films noir this week, highlighted by the 1947 Elia Kazan film "Boomerang," never before available on DVD.
"Boomerang" tells a based-on-fact story about the murder of a beloved priest in the small town of Bridgeport, Conn. As the community grieves, the supporters of a recently ousted political machine use the killing to put pressure on the reform government now in power. The reform leaders, including upstanding District Attorney Henry Harvey, frantically try to solve the crime in time for the upcoming election. Just when it seems like the trail has grown cold, the police nab a suspect, a drifter who'd been in seen in town shortly before the murder. The reform government appears to be safe, but what if their suspect is actually innocent?
Kazan uses the whodunit plot in "Boomerang" as a vehicle for a blistering critique of corruption and the lynch mob mentality in small-town America. A talky courtroom climax deflates the movie a bit, but "Boomerang" still holds up as an entertaining film noir. The 61-year-old film looks good on DVD, and it comes with an informative commentary by noir scholars Alain Silver and James Ursini. (NR; Fox, $14.98; Note: The other two films in this week's film noir set are "Moontide," with Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino, and "Road House," starring Lupino and Richard Widmark.)
"Married Life" - An excellent cast keeps this quirky drama afloat despite a sluggish middle act and an unsatisfying ending. Chris Cooper plays a straight-laced businessman in 1949 who decides he wants to leave his wife for a beautiful young blonde. Pierce Brosnan plays his best friend, a charming playboy who also has eyes for the blonde. The great Patricia Clarkson, one of my favorite actresses, plays the independent-minded wife who has secrets of her own, and Rachel McAdams plays the blonde. All four deliver pitch-perfect performances in this offbeat mix of film noir, romance and dark comedy. I wish the ending packed a stronger punch, but it's an entertaining film nonetheless. The DVD includes a commentary from director Ira Sachs and alternate endings. (PG-13; Sony, $28.96)