DVD: Starting Out in the Evening

Starting Out in the Evening is the most captivating, intelligent, and romantic movie I have seen since Richard Linklater's Before Sunset. This quietly stunning film stars Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose as Grad student Heather Wolfe, who is writing her thesis on Leonard Schiller (Frank Langella), the reclusive novelist whom she adores.



Being the bookworm that I am, I greatly enjoyed the dialogue revolving around renowned authors and novels. As Langella's character remarks, it's simply refreshing to encounter a young person (even a fictional one) who actually reads. Lauren Ambrose is absolutely charming as the bright and bold Heather, and I believe she may be the most beautiful and talented actress of my generation.

The film also contains a fascinating examination of the painful transition from enthusiast to critic, as well as the tempestuous relationship that exists between critics and artists. The brewing conflict finally comes to the fore during the pivotal scene in which Wolfe voices the unreasonable expectations we as fans often have for the work of our most beloved artists - be they authors, filmmakers, or musicians - and Schiller reacts with the righteous frustration of an artist whose creative freedom and evolving talent has been called into question by a demanding admirer.

The secondary plot involving Schiller's daughter Ariel - played by Lili Taylor of I Shot Andy Warhol and Say Anything - and her rekindled romance with Casey (Adrian Lester of Primary Colors and Love's Labour's Lost) is at first merely a pleasant diversion, as the most mesmeric scenes are those of the two magnificent main characters. But as the central storyline moves painfully toward its conclusion, the dynamic between Ariel and Casey becomes much more compelling.

However, what I love most about this film is the sweet sexual tension that simmers between the brazen young Wolfe and hesitant, weary Schiller. The most sensual scenes possess the subtle artistry of classic films - such as the obvious effect that Wolfe's innocent removal of her boots and subsequent revealing of her ankles has on the aging novelist. I hate to spoil the film for those who haven't seen it yet, but I personally think that the tableau in which Schiller hovers his hand over Wolfe without actually touching her is one of the most erotic and emotional moments in cinematic history. Even the simple act of Schiller taking Heather's hand and touching her hair is full of such graceful passion that the kiss that follows seems anti-climatic.

Buy DVD @ Amazon

Freaks & Geeks DVD Set

Before Shout!Factory gave us My So-Called Life and Punky Brewster, they released the short-lived NBC series Freaks & Geeks. Set in 1980 Michigan, the show centered on aspiring freak Lindsey Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her little geek brother Sam (John Francis Daley) as they traversed the nightmarish landscape of high school, the precarious loyalty of friends in their respective cliques, the anguish of unrequited love, the transitory nature of relationships, the mortifying affection of their parents, and the sheer humiliation of the teen years. Freaks & Geeks was every bit as realistic and magnificent as My So-Called Life, but F&G focused on the awkward humor of adolescence over MSCL's more poignant take.



Though may I prefer My So-Called Life in many other ways, I have to say that Freaks & Geeks has the absolute best opening sequence in television history. I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't watched it yet, but the pilot episode begins as any other teen drama might before shifting suddenly into it's gloriously off-centered self. The show also had the coolest theme song in Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation".

The series served as a launching pad for the acting careers of Linda Cardellini of ER, James Franco of Spiderman, Jason Segel of How I Met Your Mother and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and most notably Seth Rogen of Knocked Up and Superbad. Back then, I though of Seth Rogen simply as "Big Sarcastic Guy" (I could never remember his character Ken's name) and I loved him just as he was. I like to think my recognition of and affection for Seth in that obscure role was what helped make him the star he's become, but I've yet to receive a thank you.

In addition to Segel and Rogen, Freaks & Geeks also had the remarkable casting of 3:10 To Yuma's Ben Foster as a mentally challenged student and Num3ers star David Krumholtz as the older brother of one of the geeks. But the stand out performances were by Martin Starr as geek extraordinaire Bill Haverchuck, Sarah Hagan as Lindsey's nerdy prudish former friend Millie, and Dave Allen as hippie guidance counselor Jeff Russo.

There are far too many memorable and hilarious scenes to recount in one review, but my personal favorites are Nick (Jason Segel) serenading reluctant girlfriend Lindsey with his "Lady L" power ballad, Lindsey dancing alone to Grateful Dead's American Beauty album in the finale, and especially Bill going trick-or-treating as the Bionic Woman in the Halloween episode.

One of the best lines in the series is in the pilot, courtesy of Lindsey's father (shortly after claiming that a girl in his high school died after having sex): "You know who used to cut class? Jimi Hendrix. You know what happened to him? He died. Choking on his own vomit."

Buy DVD set @ Amazon

Buy @ Shout!Factory

Punky Brewster Series DVD Sets

On May 6th, Shout!Factory will release all four seasons of the 1980s television show Punky Brewster on DVD. Before My So-Called Life (also released on DVD by Shout!Factory), Punky Brewster was my favorite series of all time. If you're unfamiliar with this staple of 1980s childhood, Soleil Moon Frye starred as the title character Punky, a colorful (from her bold mismatched clothing to her circus of a bedroom) tomboy orphan in Chicago who - along with her beloved dog Brandon - finds her way into the life and home of curmudgeon photographer Henry Warnimont (George Gaines). Supporting characters included best friend Cherry and her grandmother Betty, rich and snobby sometimes chum Margeaux, and ditsy guy pal Allen. Each DVD set includes cast interviews and bonus episodes of Punky Brewster The Cartoon.




As a child of the '80s, Punky was my hero. So much so that I insisted on wearing my glow-in-the-dark Punky Brewster sneakers (which matched my Punky lunchbox) at all times, even as I slept at night. Watching the series as an adult is obviously more of a nostalgic pleasure than anything else, but I can still see the merits of the series. I recommend it both as a heartwarming souvenir for old fans like me and also to parents who would like to have a decent program for their children to view.

While the content of Punky Brewster is undoubtedly filled with cheesy humor and overt sentimentality, its melodramatic episodes were often more socially relevant than even the adult shows presently on television. In addition to addressing the plight of abandoned children, the series also focused on what were current events of the time (many of which still plague society today). Seasons 1 and 2 mostly centered on the perils of orphans - from the emotional toil that abandonment takes on children to the mess of the foster care system and fright of group homes as well as the many obstacles perspective parents must overcome during the adoption process.

Occasionally, the show - particularly in Season 2 - would branch out into other serious topics such as school bullies, peer pressure (complete with Valley Girls in Madonna-inspired '80s fashions!), drug use (remember "Just Say No"?), missing and kidnapped children, divorce and custody battles, physical abuse, crime and the media's sensationalism of violence, economic struggles, childhood anxiety, gender roles and discrimination, cheating, shoplifting, the harmful effects of gossip and tabloids, childhood obesity and body image, lack of care for the elderly, the importance of community, and the endearingly maudlin Season 2 finale about The Challenger explosion.

The show's creators always seemed to take great care in presenting such disturbing subjects with taste and discretion, tempered with wit so as to be educational without frightening young viewers. And the general theme of kindness, honesty, and acceptance was threaded throughout the series. With such illustrious guests as Andy Gibb, Candace Cameron, Chad Allen, Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from A Christmas Story), Buzz Aldrin, and DeBarge. Yes, DeBarge.

Not to be overlooked are the myriad of lighthearted moments, the comedic talents of Soleil Moon Frye, and the coolest tree house ever.

Buy DVDs @ Amazon

Buy @ Shout!Factory

Ani Difranco: Live In Babeville DVD

Ani Difranco's third concert DVD, Live In Babeville, will be released on April 1st. The performances were recorded live on September 11th and 12th, 2007 for the grand opening of Ani's own Babeville in Buffalo, New York - to coincide with the release of last year's career retrospective Canon. The venue was originally a 19th century Methodist church that Ani and her manager saved from demolition and transformed into an impressive concert hall.



Live In Babeville begins with a loose surveillance of the concert venue, spanning fans waiting in line outside to Righteous Babe employees (and I believe Hamell on Trial) milling around the hallways, and a brief pan of the main concert hall before Ani takes the stage. The audience greets her with loud applause and cheers and Ani briefly acknowledges the cameras before launching into "Napoleon".

If you've only heard Ani in audio, I cannot recommend experiencing her in person enough. I saw her at Mountain Stage a few years back and - as clearly shown on this DVD - she is charmingly down to earth in audience banter and exhilarating in performance. Before "Present/Infant", Ani gives praise to opening act Hamell on Trial, whose apparently amazing set is sadly absent from the film. Hamell played the same Mt. Stage concert that Ani did and he was indeed a stage scorcher.

The prettily funky "Swim" leads into "Not A Pretty Girl", which is here presented in a much calmer manner than the olden days yet is still a striking song. "Fuel" is played a little too jam bandish for my taste, but Ani's vocal poetry is as captivating as ever. Her heart-ripping yet somewhat reserved take on "Independence Day" reminds me that Ani is not only the true heir to the socio-political folk throne, but also a genius in capturing the most raw and personal of human emotions in song.

"Paradigm" is a tad bland in the shadow of the preceding track, but Ani follows it up with a humorous anecdote about natural childbirth. A soulful rendition of "Marrow" is paired with "Sunday Morning", then Ani goes solo for "Unrequited" and my personal favorite "Shy" (one of the most awesome songs ever written, in my not so humble opinion). The band returns for "You Had Time", "Alla This", and "In The Way". Ani chats about plans for the venue before bursting into the crowd (and me) pleasers "Gravel" and "Little Plastic Castle". The encores "Overlap" and the lovely "Hypnotized" finish off the concert.

The bonus features include a short interview with Ani - in which she describes the overwhelming expense and process of renovating the church and converting into a music venue - and subdued performances with the band of "78% H2O", "Shy", and "32 Flavors".

Ani Difranco - Live at Babeville Trailer (video)

Ani Difranco Official Site
Babeville Official Site

Pre-order the DVD

2 Days In Paris

I finally saw 2 Days In Paris and I loved it! The film was written, directed, casted, and starred in by French singer-actress Julie Delpy. The vignette is a somewhat similar Euro-American travel dialogue as Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset (both of which Delpy starred in). However, 2 Days In Paris forgoes dreamily dramatic romance in favor of comically mundane realism. Marion and Jack (Adam Goldberg) are not the endearing lovebirds that Linklater's Celine and Jesse (Ethan Hawk) were, but Delpy's characters are painfully, amusingly authentic and relatable. Especially for those of us that are one half of a transatlantic couple.



French Marion and American Jack spend two anguished days in Paris (hence the name!) visiting her wacky family and enduring awkward encounters with Marion's myriad of ex-lovers. While Goldberg's anxious and sarcastic Jack has garnered comparisons to Woody Allen, it's really Delpy's basket case of a character that more closely resembles the notoriously neurotic director. Though it may be more accurate to say Marion is a modern French version of an Allen character portrayed by Diane Keaton - a composite of Louise Bryant in Reds and the title character from Annie Hall.

I didn't realize while watching it that Delpy's real mother and father play her fictional parents in the film. They are obviously the source of Julie's clever wit. Marie Pillet is charmingly bizarre as her melodramatic mother, who giddily reveals she was once lover to a certain deceased rock icon. Albert Delpy plays Marion's inquisitive and somewhat perverted father who is as susceptible to angry outbursts as he is to maniacal laughter.

Poor Jack is soon subjected to the ridicule of his in-laws over a photograph depicting a certain risqué balloon display. A similar photo and the aforementioned parade of ex-lovers serve as catalyst for the disintegration of Jack and Marion's already strained relationship, as Jack sees Marion in a new, wanton light.

In between the relationship and familial mayhem are several seemingly inconsequential yet extremely hilarious moments. Sexual blunders, personifications of American and European stereotypes, and most entertaining of all is the brief appearance of a very creepy man on a subway platform.

Buy the DVD

Right At Your Door

I had not heard of Right At Your Door until my husband found the DVD in our local library's A/V department. It was surprisingly good given the movie's anonymity and relatively unknown cast. It's the first film directed by Chris Gorak, who worked as art director on The Man Who Wasn't There, Fight Club and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. Rory Cochrane of Empire Records and Mary McCormack of 1408 star as a married couple who face a horrible moral dilemma during a terrorist attack.



Right At Your Door begins with Brad (Cochrane) and Lexi (McCormack) going through the motions of a seemingly mundane, routine morning. Unemployed Brad stays home as Lexi leaves for work in nearby Los Angeles. Brad is later shocked to hear an announcement on the radio that explosions thought to be dirty bombs have gone off in the city.

The frantic husband races around town trying to get to his wife, but is prevented from leaving his neighborhood by police barricades. The radio newscaster warns that a toxic cloud of ash is hovering over the city and that a quarantine is being imposed by the authorities.

Eventually Brad reluctantly returns home and is joined by a stranger who was unable to get to back his own house. Urged by the radio's dire warnings, the two men begin sealing the windows and doors with duct tape and plastic and sit in pained silence as the toxic ash falls from the sky.

Cochrane gives a riveting emotional performance as his character struggles between his own instincts for survival and his love for his wife. The internal conflict intensifies dramatically when Brad's wife Lexi finally makes her way back to the house, coughing from obvious exposure to the unknown chemicals.

It is then that the film shifts from the chaotic panic-filled wake of the terrorist attack into a heart wrenching emotional drama, as Brad ultimately chooses self-preservation over his wife. Unfortunately, the intense emotion begins to wane and the story lags as the two characters wait out the aftermath on opposite sides of a plastic barrier.

The final act picks up the dramatic pace again, though, as a lethal form of martial law is imposed on the city. And there is an awesomely unexpected, outrageous twist at the end.

Buy the DVD

Waitress

Waitress is a heartwarming, charming little film starring Keri Russell (Felicity, August Rush), Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Desperate Housewives), Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under), and director Adrienne Shelly, who was tragically murdered shortly before the film's release. Waitress didn't make it to any of my pathetic local cinemas (neither did Once) , so I had to wait until its DVD release this week to see it. I feared the prolonged anticipation would diminish my enjoyment of the movie, but it more than lived up to the hype.



Russell stars as the unhappily pregnant waitress Jenna, who bakes deliciously bizarre pies, dreams of escaping her abusive husband Earl (played by Sisto), and begins a torrid affair with her nervous gynecologist Dr. Pomatter (Fillion). Though there are some dark moments - particularly the scenes with the atrocious Earl - the overall tone is light, hopeful, and very amusing.

The quirky supporting characters are almost as engaging as the delightful banter and romance of Jenna and Dr. Pomatter. There's Andy Griffith as the lovable curmudgeon Joe, Cheryl Hines as the wisecracking blonde waitress Becky, and director Adrienne Shelly as the adorably awkward Dawn. But the real scene stealer is Eddie Jemison as Ogie, the spontaneous poetry spouting "stalker elf".

It was so refreshing to watch this film. Lately, I've become as tired of stereotypically depressing "indie" movies as I have of stereotypically depressing "indie" music. Waitress isn't completely detached from reality, but it possesses the kind of dreamy optimism that so many people loved about Amelie.

Buy the DVD

Camille: La Fille Du Cirque: Live At The Famous Spiegeltent Melbourne DVD

The DVD of Camille's La Fille Du Cirque: Live At The Famous Spiegeltent Melbourne is even more entertaining than the album of the same performance and leaves no question that Camille is indeed an electrifying live performer.



After a dramatic noirish opening sequence showing off the venue, Camille takes the stage in a black velvet trench coat and matching vintage half-veiled hat. Her performance of "God Is In The House" is as striking visually as it was on the CD. Camille stands and flips open the trench to reveal a fire red satin corset as she and her band rip into "Devil's Workshop". Her purrs and roars before "A Good Man" are even more amusing with the cute scenes of her interaction with the audience.

She lets her hair down for her hushed, mesmeric rendition of "Amsterdam", dons a red dress to dance with audience members during "In These Shoes", then temporarily covers back up with the trench coat for "Mercy Seat". The rest of the set plays out much like the album, with the spine-tingling a cappella "Marieke" again stealing the show. Camille hops on a large red swing that hangs from the ceiling for the finale "Is That All There Is?".

The DVD also includes a brief interview with Camille.

Camille Official Site
Camille MySpace
Buy the DVD

Johnny Cash: The Best Of The Johnny Cash Show DVD

The new DVD The Best Of The Johnny Cash Show 1969-1971 collects some of the top performances from the man in black's television show. If you're unfamiliar with the show, all you need to know is that the DVD shows Cash, his wife June Carter, and artists like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, George Jones, Neil Young, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Loretta Lynn, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison performing some of their classic hits. Both as individuals and occasionally as duets with their host Cash.



Highlights include Cash's opening "I Walk The Line", young Bob Dylan's "I Threw It All Away", George Jones' "She Thinks I Still Care", Neil Young's "The Needle & The Damage Done", John Fogerty & CCR's "Bad Moon Rising", Loretta Lynn's "I Know How", Ray Charles' soulful cover of "Ring Of Fire", Roy Orbison's "Crying", and Cash's rousing finale of "A Boy Named Sue".

Also of note are Cash's duets with wife June Caster Cash on "Jackson", with George Jones on "White Lightning", and especially the beautiful duet with Joni Mitchell on "The Long Black Veil".

Here's a video of Cash performing "A Boy Named Sue", though it doesn't appear to be the same clip as on the DVD.

Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue (video)

Buy the DVD

The Dresden Dolls: Roundhouse DVD

The DVD of The Dresden Dolls performance at London's Roundhouse theatre on November 3rd and 4th, 2006 features band members Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione, their artistic fan Brigade, comedian Margaret Cho, Luminescent Orchestrii's Sxip Shirey, Jason Webley, Lene Lovich, Reggie Watts, and other singers, musicians, and performance artists. The Roundhouse production was a much larger and more theatrical event than the more intimate Paradise DVD.



The concert begins with an introduction by Margaret Cho, clad only in red burlesque feather fans. Then the Dresden Dolls take the stage to perform "Sex Changes". Amanda was surprisingly covered up in a large tshirt rather than her signature velvet mini dress, but that was the only variant in their presentation. An impressive curtain climbing acrobat and dancers put on a punk-goth Vaudevillian Cirque de Soleilesque show during "Gravity". Amanda and Brian ask the audience to sing along to "Modern Moonlight", then slide into "Mrs. O" to better showcase Amanda's limitless pipes. "Backstabber" is followed by "Coin-Operated Boy", the latter causing the crowd to erupt into cheers and applause.

The Dolls emerge from behind their respective instruments for a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's "Two-Headed Boy", during which Brian plays acoustic guitar. They return to the piano and drum set for "Mandy Goes To Med School". Performance group Zen Zen Zo entertains the audience during "Slide", and a colourful selection from The Brigade sing backup on "The Jeep Song". The Dolls round out the main set with "Dirty Business", the catchy "Shores Of California", and Brian's acoustic guitar as well as The Brigade return for the so-called finale "Sing".

But of course there was more. The three song encore began with a mesmeric performance of "Mein Herr" that finally revealed the cabaret corset that had been hiding beneath Amanda's tshirt. Trash McSweeney of Australian band The Red Paintings and some actual painters joined the duo for "Mad World", which sounded more like a tribute to the Gary Jules cover rather than the Tears For Fears original. The true finale of the evening was my favourite Dolls tune (and second fave song ever) "Girl Anachronism".

The Roundhouse DVD also includes two bonus duets (trios?) - "Missed Me" with Edward Ka-Spel of Legendary Pink Dots and "Delilah" with the magnificent Lene Lovich. There are also interviews with the various performers and extra footage from the concert, during which we finally see clips of Sxip Shirey's noisy circus act and Margaret Cho's bizarre burlesque number with Jason Webley.

One might expect my adoration of the Dolls to fade now that they have gained some relative fame, but I felt just as giddily fangirlish watching the Roundhouse performance as I did when I first heard their music years ago.

The Dresden Dolls Official Site

Buy the DVD

My So-Called Life DVD Set

Yesterday, I received the most awesome DVD set ever - the entire series of My So-Called Life. This may sound cheesy but it's true - this new MSCL DVD set by Shout!Factory is literally so beautiful it hurts to look at it. It was definitely worth the 13-year wait.



The packaging is so lovely and perfect - put together like a gorgeous scrapbook with images of the cast, episode stills, quotes from the show, and letters from writer Winnie Holzman (who goes into more detail about her plans for season 2), Joss Whedon, Janaene Garofalo, and others. The episode summaries include what songs were played in each show, guest stars, and the occasional extra note (Catalano was not the original last name for Jordan).

The DVD discs are in bright colours with smalls sketches that fit particular episodes - a girl with her hair hanging over a sink for "Pilot", an angel for "So-Called Angels" (an episode featuring Juliana Hatfield), etc. So far I've only watched a few of the features on the bonus disc - "Conversation With Claire Danes and Winnie Holzman", "My So-Called Life Story", "The Music" (an interview with composer Snuffy Walden), and the character bio of Angela (which features brief interviews with Claire, Wilson, and Devon Odessa). There are several other featurettes and interviews on the bonus disc, as well as commentaries on individual episodes by the show's creators and cast - including Devon Gummersall on "Life of Brian", Claire Danes on "Self Esteem", and Wilson Cruz on "So-Called Angels".

Though I haven't watched any of the episodes yet, just seeing clips from the show in the bonus features was very powerful. And not just because it's the first time I've seen them without the snowy distortion on my VHS tapes from the original 1994 airing on ABC. There's something about seeing Claire Danes (who is my age) talking about that time in her life, then seeing those clips of her as Angela and remembering being that age myself that was surprisingly emotional.

There are more details and reviews on the set at MSCL.com.

Buy the MSCL DVD Set

The Dresden Dolls in Paradise DVD

Finally! I now have my own personal copies of The Dresden Dolls DVD, Paradise, and their new album, Yes, Virginia. I'm still absorbing the new album and tinkering with my review, so this post will just cover the DVD.

If you're completely unfamiliar with The Dresden Dolls and want to know their history and such, check out their page on Wikipedia or the plethora of links provided below.

I don't usually enjoy music and/or concert DVDs all that much. The only others that I actually own came free with special edition cds, and have been collecting dust since their initial viewings. So despite my somewhat obsessive love of The Dresden Dolls, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Paradise. But enjoy it I did. Very much.

The DVD begins with a mini-documentary titled "A Day in the Life". It was shot Real World style, with handheld cameras following bandmates Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione literally from the time they get out of bed until they take the stage that evening at the Paradise club in Boston.

The beginning of "A Day in the Life" is a bit lackluster as we follow Amanda and Brian through their morning routines. But as showtime nears, it becomes increasing more interesting as Amanda reveals small glimpses into her personality, warms up her singing voice, Brian discovers his drums are missing, we see a dramatic sock-puppet reenactment of the solution, and we're introduced to a few members of The Brigade.

Next up on the DVD is the pre-show, which includes some interpretive dance performances by members of The Brigade and an interview of the band by Christopher Lydon. Lydon was the host of The Connection on NPR and the subject of The Dresden Dolls song "Christopher Lydon". The interview includes some flirtation between Lydon and Amanda, and a q&a session with audience members, during which Amanda reveals that her biggest piano playing inspiration was Thelonious Monk.

Then the concert. Amanda and Brian, clad in their trademark mime makeup and garb, seem to attack their instruments more than actually play them. In a good way. My husband made the comment that he didn't know two people could make so much noise on their own. The Dresen Dolls at their best can make The White Stripes seem like easy listening, somehow transforming a solitary keyboard and drum set into a full punk orchestra. Especially impressive were their thunderously awesome cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" and their charming duet of Carole King's "Pierre", which includes sadly rare vocals from Brian.

The setlist was as follows:

Good Day
Missed Me
War Pigs
Perfect Fit
Christopher Lydon
Bad Habit
Half Jack
Girl Anachronism
Pierre
Truce

DD Official Site
DD MySpace
Amanda's Diary
DD Forum
Automatic Joy (archive of live mp3s)

Buy The Dresden Dolls DVD & CDs