Robert Altman Masterpieces on DVD

Ladies and Gentlemen I have a very special announcement to make so listen up.

On the 4th February 2008, two very special films will be coming to Region 2 DVD. Two very special films that were previously unavailable on Region 2 DVD.. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present... Robert Altman's Shorts Cuts and Robert Altman's The Player.

Now sadly Robert Altman died a little while back, so these releases may tie in with that somewhat, but what better way to get into his work than with two of his very best films? They're absolutely bare bones releases, but are also very reasonably priced so they could be worth your while..

First up we have The Player


Described as a vicious satire on Hollywood, The Player exposes the Hollywood industry as ridiculous, shallow and weak. It stars Tim Robbins as a seedy movie exec blackmailed by a desperate screenwriter, who becomes involved in a lot of nasty, dark business, and.. does other stuff. It also features countless cameos from A-list celebrities all too eager to join the cause (and all for zero fee too, such is the draw of Altman) I won't pretend to know much more about it than that, because you see I've never actually seen it! You won't have to Google too hard to find out more, but I assume it gets heaped with heavy praise for a reason you know. It actually came on TV about a month ago which I managed to stumble across, but unfortunately it was about 12.30 at night and I was without a video recorder.. Which is why I lit up so much when these releases were announced, as it's a film I've been meaning to track down for some time..

A film I do know a fair amount more about is.. Short Cuts


You see I own the absolutely fantastic Criterion Edition DVD (which I actively seeked out due to my love of Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia). The two films are often compared with each other and PTA is often described as 'Altman-esque' by film critics. The comparison is understandable really, as both films are grand opuses set in LA. They both feature large ensemble casts and both have intertwining stories based around love, life and death. But while Magnolia is much more of a focused (and intense) drama, Short Cuts is really more concerned with the smaller details. It has much more of a loose feel to it, and kind of dips into segments of these people's lives. It moves from fun and happy, to darkly comic, to utterly heartbreaking with ease. And yet with all these different stories intertwining, Altman somehow keeps it all together as one coherent whole, and by the end you feel as if you've really experienced something great. These stories are merely few, and you get the feeling that there are lots more out there waiting to be discovered..

If you sound interested at all then I thoroughly recommend you getting this bare bones edition, but should you be especially interested then it's well worth your while looking to import the Criterion edition. Simply put, it's beautiful.. It has a ridiculous amount of features on it, and is immaculately presented in it's cardboard case. It even features a book of short stories by Raymond Carver (on which this is a loose adaptation).

Funnily enough, the only other Criterion DVD I own is Slacker, which has also just come to bare bones Region 2 DVD..


Now I haven't been too short of praise for all things Richard Linklater as you may well know, but it's for good reason - the man's a genius filmmaker! This is his debut film, and also features lots of intertwining stories based around everyday life. However the connections are more loose, and it's essentially just a lot of disparate scenes, with people walking along musing over philosophy, popular culture and life in general. It sounds like a bit of a tough one to endure based on what I've just said, but give it a chance because it's a real gem. The sorts of observations he brings up are usually thought provoking and hilarious in equal measures, but above all it's real. It's something Linklater really excels at with his films, and it's something he should be applauded for. You can identify with these characters and you feel like these sorts of stories are happening out there somewhere. Chances are you'll know if you like it from the off, as Richard Linklater himself stars in the opening segment, getting in a taxi and basically monologuing for 5 minutes over the nature of dreams and the way in which we perceive them. Like I said.. sounds like a bit of a tough one, but it really is brilliant believe me.

The Criterion edition can be found here, and like the Short Cuts DVD also features an embarrassing amount of special features. It even has Richard Linklaters first ever full length feature on disc 2, which is a largely silent film (though in a similar vein to Slacker). I have to admit this one did defeat me, but it's also one I can see myself going back to when I have more patience.

Cheapest Deals Online..

Ok, so both Short Cuts and The Player cost just £6.99 on all the major online retailers. Well.. Amazon dropped the price by a whole penny as always, but so what right? The other two have free delivery so I'd recommend those. And it's a pretty decent price!

Shorts Cuts - £6.99
Amazon
HMV
Play.com

The Player - £6.99
Amazon
HMV
Play.com

Slacker is cheapest on Play.com at £10.99, which is a good price given how great the film is, but bear in mind this is sans-special features. And yet (laughably) HMV refer to this as the 'Special Edition'. I personally recommend tracking down the criterion, but as that is a bit costly this could be the better option.

Amazon - £17.99
HMV - £13.99
Play.com - £10.99

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So there we have it, I've just gone ahead and ordered my copy of The Player on Play.com. I can't wait! I also took the liberty of going in and snatching up Linklater's equally brilliant Dazed and Confused for a mere fiver.


I also bought the 3-Disc edition of the Shawshank Redemption for £6.99, which may be a bit hypocritical of me given that I recommended the 2 disc-er just a mere two posts ago. Oh well, what can I say? I'm a sucker for content (even if it is recycled). And this marks the third film I've mentioned that features Tim Robbins.. so wahey for Tim Robbins! He must be a sign of quality. Anyway I'm re-reading the Stephen King novella that the Shawshank Redemption is based on, so I'm buying this in anticipation of wanting to see it again upon finishing it. I've only ever had the video before so it'll be nice experiencing it on DVD, and on a nice HD TV.

Valentines DVDs

Whilst I was over at HMV, I thought it was rather interesting that they now have a Valentines DVD Section.. I can't imagine there being massive demand, but be sure to check that out if you're really struggling for ideas! I don't have that problem myself - I forgot to get a girlfriend again!

And just one more thing..

Sorry all, this is becoming quite an epic post! But just to mention that the brilliant No Country for Old Men is in cinemas now. I saw it this afternoon and I can assure you now that it is the Coen Brothers at the very height of their powers, and even slightly more matured. There's not a massive amount of Coen-esque humour in it, but it's most definitely theirs. It echoes some previous films of theirs (namely Fargo) and is utterly intense and compelling. Watch it.. friend-o.

It's up for 8 Oscars this year which I'm absolutely delighted about. Matched only by There Will Be Blood, the latest film by the previously mentioned Paul Thomas Anderson. My absolute favourite filmmakers in the whole world competing for all the biggest gongs at the Oscars..?? Man I can't wait!

And I'm going to end the post there, good night all, and to all a good night!

- Jimmy

Appreciating Hitchcock

As you may recall I once posted a story on the 'Alfred Hitchcock Complete Collection' DVD. (You can find that post here)

Well, now that I've had some time to sit down and digest the various Hitchcock sets that I bought, I thought it might be an idea to write about my experiences. Now I'm a fairly modern guy with modern sensibilities, and yet I've found Hitchcock's films completely accessible. In fact I would even go so far as to call myself a 'convert' now. Not bad for films that were made predominantly in the 30's, 40's and 50's eh? Well with this in mind I'd like to go on to prove that Hitchcock, ultimately, is timeless..

It was a bit strange to all of a sudden decide to 'tackle' someone like Hitchcock, as I'd never really seen any of his films before, or really had the desire to. I had always just assumed that his films would be completely dated now, though at the same time I realised that he was an obvious master. It's one of the great great things about these sorts of box sets.. when they come on sale it's just a perfect opportunity to open yourself up to a filmmakers work and watch new things.

To be honest the films are actually dated, and quite significantly in some cases. But I've found that it doesn't really matter because Hitchcock has such a good grasp of the cinematic language. So you have your damsels in distress and you have your melodrama.. but the films are constructed in such a way as to make it truly gripping despite all that. If you can turn a blind eye to certain aspects then you can see them for the true classics that they are. A good example.. consider the 'reveal' of the mother in Psycho. Show that to someone for the first time these days and they're likely to piss themselves laughing. If you consider it in context then the film is still gripping and even shocking.


The first film I watched in the Hitchcock boxset was Rear Window, which as it turned out was the perfect film to introduce yourself with. If you're still a bit unsure then I urge you to see this film, and you'll immediately realise just how good Hitchcock can be. The entire film is set in one apartment, with one view of the local neighbourhood by one bedridden Jimmy Stewart. Considering the limitations it's amazing how Hitchcock can build and build on the suspense, from simply showing the routines of his neighbours and the reactions of the main character. By the end the levels of paranoia and suspense are massive, and it's resolved in a completely satisfying way. The film also has the stunningly beautiful Grace Kelly, in what I consider to be the best introduction of a leading lady that I've seen..


Since Rear Window I've gone on to watch many more, which have been hit and miss in some respects, though even the 'miss' films I've still found completely watchable. A good example is 'The Wrong Man', which is structured in such as way as to make the conclusion totally underwhelming. Perhaps it's because it's one of the few based on a true story. There aren't any clever little twists or anything like that, and certain story strands are made kind of redundant. Yet overall the film is pretty good.

Other highlights include Vertigo, which easily lived up to its reputation as a classic - thrilling and suspenseful in equal measures. Jimmy Stewart once again shining, and cementing himself as a favourite of mine. Films like Strangers on a Train, Rope and Dial M for Murder deal with the idea of the prefect crime, and have some seriously demented characters in. Dial M for Murder and Rope are both 5 star films as far as I'm concerned, and share parallels in having seemingly ordinary people attempting murder. Rope in particular was quite interesting, as the main characters commit murder for no reason at all - simply for the sport of it. They hold a party with the family and friends of the guy they murdered, stuffing him in a cabinet and laying out the buffet lunch on top of it. It's refreshingly dark, and another brilliant example of Hitchcock building suspense from limited scenery (it's essentially set in one room).

At the time of working my way through these sets, I've actually been reading the fantastic interview book by Francois Truffaut. You can find that on Amazon here. It's an in-depth look at every one of Hitchcock's films, showing his method and looking closely at the structure of his films. It makes for a fascinating companion piece and puts a lot of the films in context too. It also brings up a lot of interesting history on Hitchcock that you might not have realised. I for example didn't realise that so many critics sneered upon him and his style back in the day. One of the arguments levelled at him was that his films were considered too 'simple', showing things visually as opposed to verbally. Really this just shows his inherent understanding of cinema, and the power of the visual image. In fact in the book Hitchcock talks candidly about his start in the movie business, designing the titles for silent films. He mentions how the idea was to have as few titles in the film as possible, showing it visually if at all possible. This could obviously go to show why he seems to have such a grasp for it.

Naturally the rest of the book is thoroughly enjoyable, and Hitch recounts some truly funny stories. It's hard not to like him, and all the while you kind of adopt a jowly tone in your head as you read his answers - which is always fun!

So in conclusion I highly recommend reading the book, but I mainly recommend checking out some of these DVD sets. It looks like HMV is a bit of a rip-off right now, but they're also the shop that had them for the cheapest when I bought them (both in-store and online). So it could be worthwhile keeping an eye on those. The master of suspense boxset at £18 is pretty good, and the complete collection at £33 is too, but bear in mind that I got them for just £10 and £25 respectively just a little while back.

HMV
The Master of Suspense Boxset - £59.99
The Complete Collection - 89.99

Amazon
The Master of Suspense Boxset - £17.98
The Complete Collection - £32.98

Play.com
The Master of Suspense Boxset - £17.99
The Complete Collection - £39.99


Up next in my continuing discovery of Hitchcock is The Man Who Knew Too Much, or possibly North by Northwest. I haven't quite decided which one to watch yet.

And I'll leave you with a nice quote by the man himself, explaining the idea behind his films:

"Some films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake"

Until next time readers!

- Jimmy

Some Seriously Good Deals of the Week

Wow - ok finally I'm starting to see some decent deals come through from these January sales.

I got some notice of the HMV offers of the week - which range from FANTASTIC to mediocre.. but whatever, lets focus on the fantastic ones..

Seinfeld: Series 1 AND 2 Boxset (was £34.99 now only £8.99)

WHAT a bargain - Remember this is 2 entire seasons for that price, and if you've never had the chance to get into this insanely brilliant comedy, then this could be the very opportunity. I urge you to buy it, in fact I'm even going to give this my DVD-Spot "Awesome Offer of the week! tm" (Hey, it could catch on..)

The Godfather Trilogy 4-DVD Boxset (was £24.99 now only £9.99)

It's back on offer again - what a serious bargain! £9.99 for the entire trilogy, all presented in a lovely package. There is actually a 5-disc version but given that it's currently an entire £40 more at this point in time I'm guessing that this other one could be the better option. I mean.. if you don't own this already, I'm guessing that you wouldn't really care that much if you missed out on one more disc of content..

Laurel & Hardy Box Set (was £199.99 now only £49.99)

..or at least it was supposed to be £49.99 - the site is currently showing it as £99.99 which isn't so good.. but keep your eye on this one. I mean just look at it..

I'm seriously tempted, as it does look like such a nice collection. And there's no denying their brilliance. A word of warning though: Being the brilliant DVD correspondent that I am, I did some research on other sites to see what people thought about it. It seems like the good people over at Amazon have been saying how the sale versions of this have been shipping without the booklets included. Hmmm.. what devilry is this? It's put me off a little but again.. definitely one to look out for!

Grease (was £17.99 now only £2.99)
Alternatively you can try out the 2-Disc Special Edition for £7.99.

The Bourne Identity / Bourne Supremacy Boxset (was £7.99 now only £5.99)
Ok fair enough, good price whatever.. but it may seem like more sense to get the actual new trilogy boxset out now.

Reservoir Dogs (Now only £2.99)

YES - This is a brilliant deal. I bought this way back when it first came out, but it's completely definitive. It's a great set, and definitely a keeper - well especially at this price!

Italian Job (Now only £2.99)

Edward Scissorhands (Now only £2.99)

Shawshank Redemption (Now only £2.99)

Hah - this DVD is always on offer. But that doesn't stop it being a fantastic deal! Once again there is actually a more definitive edition, but I'm not sure how worthwhile it is. In fact I've heard the 3-disc edition actually recycles a lot of the content in the documentaries and things, so this 2-disc version could be the one to get.

Sleepy Hollow: Special Edition (Now only £2.99)
Or at least it should be - the site is currently showing £4.99. Keep an eye on this one.

Sister Act (Now only £2.99)
*gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasp!*

Get Carter - the good one (Now only £3.99)

Wild Hogs (was £13.99 now only £6.99)

Stranglehold on the Xbox 360 (was £49.99 now only £17.99)

Ok so this isn't a DVD, but so what? Nothing wrong with a bit of variation. Anyway this is all done with the involvement of John Woo, and is actually really pretty funny and a good laugh. I may have bought this before but didn't really want to pay full price for a game that is essentially just a bit of fun fluff. But now that it's on sale it could be worthwhile!

That's it from me for now guys - check back soon for some awesome previews of upcoming releases!

- Jimmy

January DVD Sales - Happy New Year!

Happy new year one and all, and welcome to a special post in which I search through all the best deals currently available in the January DVD sales!

Well at least that's what I was going to do, but then I realised I couldn't be arsed. It is the first of January though so give me a break - I've spent literally the whole day curled up in a small hungover ball wishing I was dead. I trust everyone else is just as peachy?


Anyway my favourite 3 DVD retailers HAVE got sales on.. and they're all kind of similar, but it's well worth going through them all to spy out some bargains. They range from about 60%-80% off, which probably isn't a completely reliable figure, but there's still loads of brilliant films for under a fiver. Check it out..

Amazon - Up to 70% Off
HMV - Up to 70% Off
Play.com - Up to 80% Off

I had a £70 Amazon voucher that needed spending so I did manage to pick up some choice DVDs, check it out:

24 - Season 3 DVD

Ok I think it's fairly safe to say that I'm a slow starter with 24 - I started to get into it about a year ago or something. In a way that's a good thing though as I can now rip through the entire series at my leisure. I didn't think it would get any better after Season 1, but Season 2 had some of the best writing, characters and all round awesomeness ever! I loved every. single. moment. Brilliant! I can't wait to see what happens next - and don't spoil it for me or I may actually kill you. No really.

Seeing as I've been slowly working through the boxsets I've been fairly receptive to trends in the prices of these sorts of TV sets. Never buy one at full price because it will come down. I always found that HMV were best for these 24 sets, and they had them pretty cheap in store too. However those same sets in store, while on sale, were still much cheaper online - true story, so be sure check around! If I would have had the foresight I might have bought the brand new complete series 1-6 boxset instead. I guess that would make a pretty awesome present, or treat for yourself to work through. I can't praise it highly enough!


Once DVD (Pre-order)

Ah Once, the small indie picture that grabbed huge attention after fantastic receptions at the various film festivals. I've not seen it yet, but it strikes me as being in a similar vein to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset - ie. A romance film that feels real, and isn't contrived and vomit inducing.. I watched the trailer and it seems to confirm that. The songs even sound alright..


Paris, Je T'Aime (Pre-oder)

Another film that I desperately wanted to see in the cinema but never did. It contains something like 18 mini stories all set in the worlds most romantic city. It features lots of top class filmmakers directing their own little segments, from the Coen Brothers to Wes Craven. And.. man, I just love Paris. Er, pardon, I mean Je T'aime!


The Lives of Others DVD

Well.. I've heard that this is a brilliant thriller, YET another film I never got round to seeing in the cinema - God I suck. And it's faaairly cheap, about £8.


Fast Food Nation

I love Richard Linklater. I think the man's brilliant. I really like his style. Which is why I really wanted to see his latest - Fast Food Nation. It's based on a book, which I haven't read. In fact I'll be going into this one fairly blind so have no idea what to expect. He has had a fairly diverse career to date, from small indie flicks (like the previously mentioned Before Sunrise/Before Sunset) to obscure philosophical films (Waking Life) and more mainstream movies (A Scanner Darkly/ Bad News Bears). Lets see what this one brings eh?


And that's that - looking over this post I think it's fairly safe to say that my New Years Resolution should be to go to the cinema more!

Here's to a fantastic 2008 for DVD's and DVD-Spot - and now you can even find us at www.dvd-spot.co.uk so hoo-ray for us eh?

- Jimmy