New to DVD: 'The Ides of March,' 'Abduction' and 'Mad: Season 1 Part 2'
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George Clooney delivers a noteworthy performance in "The Ides of March."
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George Clooney directs "The Ides of March" and stars as the Pennsylvania governor who may be the next occupant of the White House. Gov. Mike Morris just has to get through the pesky Ohio primary, which proves a minefield littered with ethical challenges, soul-crushing compromises, political brinkmanship, game playing and the potential for career-ending scandals.
"Ides," filmed in and around Cincinnati and Detroit, is based on the play "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon. The stage production took its name from a Washington, D.C., subway stop, and Mr. Willimon took his inspiration from campaigns he worked on, including those of presidential hopeful Howard Dean and Sens. Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton and Bill Bradley.
The characters are fictional amalgamations of hundreds of people, and you can point to any number of real-life pols, from Presidents Kennedy and Clinton to John Edwards, as possible inspiration for the charisma, compromises and weaknesses dramatized here.
As idealistic press spokesman Stephen Meyers, Ryan Gosling is the real star of the film. He may be young, but he's no newbie, and members of the media love him. Marisa Tomei plays a veteran reporter for The New York Times who cozies up to Stephen and the campaign manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and listens as Stephen predicts Morris can make a difference in people's lives.
The idea that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate is, sadly, nothing new to many voters. How that plays out is predictable on one hand and somewhat strains credulity on the other.
Nevertheless, Mr. Clooney directs his fourth feature (after "Leatherheads," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind") with intelligence, assurance and style -- a confrontational scene between the candidate and Stephen is worth the price of admission.
DVD extras include two "making-of" documentaries, an audio commentary by Mr. Clooney and producer and co-screenwriter Grant Heslov.
-- Post-Gazette
In his first starring role, Taylor Lautner does more heavy lifting of the kick-action, than dramatic, variety.
In fact, it's best to put the logical part of one's mind on hold, all the better to enjoy his considerable martial arts skills.
He plays Nathan Harper, a high school kid who has it all: good looks, loving parents, a fabulous house, good friends. A visit to a seemingly random missing children's website turns up a photo that looks suspiciously like Nathan.
Just when Nathan hopes to find some answers, mayhem ensues. The plot involves all sorts of double-cross elements: CIA agents, black ops experts, snipers, an encrypted mobile device and mysterious phone/Internet hackers. This isn't "Inception" -- the details really don't matter as much as enjoying a good car/motorcycle chase and the sight of "Abduction's" attractive young leads outrunning and outwitting the bad guys.
On the down side, the film lacks cohesion. On the plus side, Pittsburgh, where it was filmed, looks great, with locations including Downtown's August Wilson Center, Chatham University, Mt. Lebanon, Greenfield, the South Side and a climactic finish at PNC Park.
It's satisfying as popcorn fare. But if director John Singleton chooses to return to Pittsburgh for the recently announced sequel, perhaps he might pack a better script.
The extras include two behind-the-scenes featurettes, gag reel and Mr. Lautner's production journal.
-- Post-Gazette
This cable series uses a variety of animation styles to create some very funny parodies. It's the perfect combination of the adolescent humor of the magazine and modern technology. The only thing missing is a back page that can be folded to create a new image.
These episodes include a biting look at the "Twilight" phenomenon, a jab at "The Big Bang Theory" and a look at Winnie the Pooh that's quite different.
Don't worry if you didn't watch Part 1, as these comedy spoofs and jokes can be seen in any order. Each is funny on its own.
-- Rick Bentley, McClatchy Newspapers
ALSO THIS WEEK:
• "Courageous": Four police officers have their faith tested after a tragedy.
• "Dirty Girl": A high school girl takes a road trip to find the father she never met.
• "Merlin: The Complete Third Season": Merlin continues his duties of protecting Prince Arthur.
• "Adam-12: Season Six": The Los Angeles-based police officers continue to deal with crime.
• "Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain": Stand-up show featuring the actor/comedian.
• "Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace": The documentary hosted by Bill Moyers traces the history of the hymn.
• "Thurgood": Laurence Fishburne stars in this one-man show based on Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
• "George Gently, Series 1": Detective series based on the novels by Alan Hunter.
• "Alberto Lattuada's The Overcoat": The 1952 release is based on Nikolai Gogol's story about a city-hall clerk whose only desire is a new overcoat.
• "Bombay Beach": Documentary examines the decline of a once-popular tourist spot.
• "The Tuskegee Airmen": The story of the first squadron of African-American pilots in World War II.
• "Age of Heroes": Follows the start of the elite British Armed Forces' 30 Commando Assault Unit.
• "The Josephine Baker Story": Lynn Whitfield plays the exotic dancer.
• "Kickoff": A macho football team faces a team of gay men.
• "Delocated! Seasons 1 & 2": Cable series about a family in witness protection who get a reality show.
• "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star": A nerd's parents were famous porn stars.
• "Sliders: The Fifth and Final Season": The travelers continue to leap between different dimensions.
• "The Last Hard Men"/ "Sky Riders": Double feature starring James Coburn and Robert Culp.
• "The Forgotten Bomb": Documentary focuses on the nuclear weapons debate.
-- Rick Bentley, McClatchy Newspapers
First Published January 19, 2012 12:00 am
