February 5, 2008 DVD Releases

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Genre: Western, Action/Adventure

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Renner

Synopsis: An action western surrounding the private life and public exploits of America’s most notorious outlaw, Jesse James. As the charismatic and unpredictable outlaw plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money–and the glory–that is riding on his capture. However, the greatest threat to Jesse’s life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.

Across The Universe

Genre: Musical, Politics/Religion, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Evan Rachel Wood, Martin Luther, Dana Fuchs, Jim Sturgess, T.V. Carpio

Synopsis: A romantic musical told mainly through numerous Beatles songs performed by the characters. A young man from Liverpool comes to America during the Vietnam War to find his father. He winds up in Greenwich Village, where he falls in love with an American girl who has grown up sheltered in the suburbs. Together they experience the sweeping changes of America in the late 60’s.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Genre: Biopic, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush, Jordi Molla

Synopsis: Growing keenly aware of the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Queen Elizabeth finds her rule openly challenged by the Spanish King Philip II — with his powerful army and sea-dominating armada — determined to restore England to Catholicism. Preparing to go to war to defend her empire, Elizabeth struggles to balance ancient royal duties with an unexpected vulnerability in her love for Sir Walter Raleigh. But he remains forbidden for a queen who has sworn body and soul to her country. Unable and unwilling to pursue her love, Elizabeth encourages her favorite lady-in-waiting, Bess, to befriend Raleigh to keep him near. But this strategy forces Elizabeth to observe their growing intimacy. As she charts her course abroad, her trusted advisor, Sir Francis Walsingham, continues his masterful puppetry of Elizabeth’s court at home — and her campaign to solidify absolute power. Through an intricate spy network, Walsingham uncovers an assassination plot that could topple the throne. But as he unmasks traitors that may include Elizabeth’s own cousin Mary Stuart, he unknowingly sets England up for destruction.

The Brave One

Genre: Drama, Crime/Gangster, Thriller

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen, Jane Adams

Synopsis: New York radio host Erica Bain has a life that she loves and a fiancee she adores. All of it is taken from her when a brutal attack leaves Erica badly wounded and her fiancee dead. Unable to move past the tragedy, Erica begins prowling the city streets at night to track down the men she holds responsible. Her dark pursuit of justice catches the public’s attention, and the city is riveted by her anonymous exploits. But with the NYPD desperate to find the culprit and a dogged police detective hot on her trail, she must decide whether her quest for revenge is truly the right path, or if she is becoming the very thing she is trying to stop.

Feast of Love

Genre: Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Alexa Davalos

Synopsis: In a coffee shop in a tight-knit Oregon community, local professor Harry Stevenson witnesses love and attraction whipping up mischief among the town’s residents. From the unlucky in love, die-hard romantic coffee shop owner Bradley who has a serial habit of looking for love in all the wrong places; to the edgy real estate agent Diana who is caught up in an affair with a married man; to the beautiful young newcomer Chloe who defies fate in romancing the troubled Oscar; to Harry himself, whose adoring wife is looking to break through his wall of grief after the wrenching loss of a beloved…they all intertwine into one remarkable story in which no one can escape being bent, broken, befuddled, delighted and ultimately redeemed by love’s inescapable spell.

The Jane Austen Book Club

Genre: Romance, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Maria Bello, Jimmy Smits, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman

Synopsis: This story revolves around five women and one man who get together once a month to discuss one of Jane Austens books. Kathy Baker is Bernadette, a strong older woman living life by her own rules, who organizes the club to help her friend, Sylvia (Brennemen) get over a heartbreak. Sylvias lesbian daughter, Allegra (Maggie Grace) joins to support her mom, as does Sylvias friend, Jocelyn (Maria Bello), who brings along a young man she just met (Hugh Dancy), in hopes of playing matchmaker. A fragile, and strange, young married teacher played by Emily Blunt in a performance that still stands out in this very well-acted film, rounds out the group. As the group works its way through the Austen library, their own love lives parallel the classic writers storylines.

The Aristocats (Special Edition)

Genre: Kids, Musical, Comedy

Rating: G

Actors/Actresses: Eva Gabor, Phil Harris, Ruth Buzzi, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers

Synopsis: The Aristocats was the first Disney Studios animated feature to be produced after Walt Disney’s death. A wealthy woman leaves her vast fortune to her four cats: the well-bred Duchess and her kittens Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. Jealous butler Edgar, eager to get his mitts on the cats’ legacy, abandons the felines in the French countryside. The four lost kitties are aided in their efforts to return home by the raffish country pussycats Thomas O’Malley and Scat Cat. In keeping with a tradition launched by The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats is top-heavy with celebrity voices, including Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Scatman Crothers, Hermione Baddeley, and the ineluctable Sterling Holloway. Assembled by the “nine old men” then in charge of animation, The Aristocats was a success, paving the way for future “post-Walt” cartoon features.

Blonde and Blonder

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Pamela Anderson, Denise Richards, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Meghan Ory II, Byron Mann

Synopsis: Two blonde bombshells accidentally witness a mob hit, and are mistaken for assassins by two mafia men working for The Godfather. Thinking the dim-witted duo are the world’s best killers-for-hire, the mobsters offer them a huge payout to “take out” Mr. Wong, the head of the Chinese mafia. The clueless cuties happily accept the assignment, embarking on a wild adventure that takes them on the road, all while trying to dodge assorted federal agents and mafia killers.

Descent

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Rosario Dawson, Chad Faust, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tracie Thoms, Alexie Gilmore
Synopsis: Maya’s life seems blessed–the boys can’t resist her charm and beauty, and she has a promising academic future; yet, somehow, she still feels alone. Jared’s is also blessed with ease. The two begin to flirt and date but on one night things move too far too fast and Maya tries to pull away–but he won’t let go. After this violation, Maya breaks away from everything familiar. She enters the new semester transformed: bold and dynamic, in a world that suddenly seems small and protected to her. She vows vengeance on her attacker. She will be in control.

2 Days In Paris

Genre: Art/Foreign, Comedy

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Bruhl, Albert Delpy, Adan Jodorowsky

Synopsis: New York couple, French photographer Marion and American interior designer Jack, attempt to re-infuse their relationship with romance on a European vacation. Their week in Venice didn’t work out as planned–the food didn’t agree with Jack and, when he was well enough to go out, he was so focused on capturing the trip with his digital camera that he forgot to experience it. They have higher hopes for their last two days in Paris. But the combination of Marion’s offbeat and overbearing non-English speaking parents and flirtatious ex-boyfriends, with Jack’s continuing photography obsession and conviction that French condoms are too small, don’t make for an auspicious beginning. Will they be able to salvage their relationship? Will they ever have sex again? Or will they merely manage to perfect the art of arguing?

Fierce People

Genre: Drama

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Diane Lane, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Perkins, Chris Evans, Kristen Stewart

Synopsis: When 16-year-old Finn is caught buying cocaine for his junkie but well intentioned mother Liz, his plans of spending the summer away from NYC with his anthropologist father studying the Ishkanani in the jungle are abruptly changed. In an attempt to get both of their lives back on track, Liz moves the two of them out to a cottage on the country estate of her sugar daddy, Mr. Osborne. Finn immediately makes his way into the ‘tribe’ of wealthy country clubbers that inhabit his new home. Soon Finn is dating Mr. Osborne’s granddaughter Maya and has found a best friend in her brother Bryce. Finn adjusts quickly to their life of fancy clothes, cars, horses, sex and drugs. Liz begins attending AA meetings and begins to establish herself as a loving mother working to correct her mistakes and win back Finn’s love and trust. Unfortunately things begin to spiral out of control, and he begins to see that the wealth and friendships bestowed upon him come at a price.