Little Screen
Published Friday March 20th, 2009
This week's new releases, available Tuesday, by Jay Bobbin of Zap2it, are rated on a scale of one to four, with * equivalent to a poor rating and **** meaning excellent.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE
***
A sequel to 'Casino Royale' that picks up shortly after the previous film ended, Daniel Craig's second round as James Bond is largely a straight-ahead action machine that puts Agent 007 on the trail of the organization behind his true love's death.
He encounters an ecology-minded villain (Mathieu Amalric), a woman (Olga Kurylenko) with her own score to settle and an untested field agent (Gemma Arterton).
Directed by Marc Forster ('The Kite Runner'), the adventure also brings back Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini and -- as Bond's boss, M -- Judi Dench.
DVD extras: theatrical trailers; seven "making-of" documentaries; music video.
BOLT
***
Even without the 3D aspect that enhanced the film in some theatres, this computer-animated Disney comedy-fantasy is fine family fare.
John Travolta furnishes the voice of the title character, a television star dog who believes he actually has the superpowers his show imbues him with.
That emboldens him to make the long trek back to his owner (voice of Miley Cyrus) when circumstances take him out of his usual environment.
DVD extra: four 'making-of' documentaries; deleted scenes; 'Super Rhino' short subject; digital copy of the movie.
ROOM 222: SEASON ONE
****
Created by James L. Brooks ('The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' 'The Simpsons,' 'Terms of Endearment'), a television classic comes to DVD with this comedy-drama series about a racially integrated Los Angeles high school. That might not seem so unusual now, but in the late 1960s, it was a relatively fresh home-screen subject.
Lloyd Haynes plays a history teacher pivotally involved in many of the stories, with Denise Nicholas and Emmy winners Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine also in the excellent cast.
DVD extra: retrospective documentary.
IN TREATMENT
****
Initially shown every weeknight -- unusual scheduling for an original HBO series -- this intense, excellent drama brought Gabriel Byrne a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of a therapist with two lives.
He's in control when advising others on their problems and anything but while he's in the company of his own counselor (Dianne Wiest, who earned an Emmy for the show, as did veteran actor Glynn Turman). Blair Underwood, Melissa George and Michelle Forbes also appear in this first season of the program, which will have a second round
ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE
***
As unlikely as the title is, it almost seemed doubtful the Fox sitcom starring Conan O'Brien's former late-night sidekick would earn positive reviews ... but it did. Richter's same-named alter ego wants to be a renowned author, but he's stuck working on business manuals instead. Paget Brewster ('Criminal Minds') plays Richter's ex-colleague, now his boss.
MASTER OF THE GAME
***
The creator of television's 'I Dream of Jeannie' and 'Hart to Hart,' Sidney Sheldon also had a long run as one of the most prolific romance novelists in the business.
This 1984 CBS-miniseries adaptation of one of his best sellers casts Dyan Cannon as Kate Blackwell, the central figure in a gem dynasty riddled by larceny and romantic complications -- very familiar territory for Sheldon. David Birney, Harry Hamlin, Maryam d'Abo ("The Living Daylights"), Leslie Caron, Donald Pleasence and David Suchet ("Poirot") also star in the lavish production.
Coming soon:
MARLEY AND ME
March 31
In the adaptation of John Grogan's novel, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston play writers whose relationship is mirrored through their interactions with their dog.
SEVEN POUNDS
March 31
Will Smith stars as an apparent Internal Revenue Service employee who uses what's at his disposal to change the lives of seven people dramatically.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
March 31
The recent winner of eight Academy Awards - including best picture - filmmaker Danny Boyle's popular, India-based drama stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto.
THE DAY THE EARTH
STOOD STILL
April 7
The update of the sci-fi classic stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien who comes to Earth with the fearsome robot Gort to warn humans to protect their race.
n Little Screen appears in Life & Times each Friday.
YES MAN
April 7
In a comedic variation on Danny Wallace's nonfiction book, Jim Carrey plays a man who decides to respond to everything in the affirmative for one year.
THE SPIRIT
April 14
Will Eisner's comic book is brought to life, as Gabriel Macht plays the hero borne from a murdered policeman. Samuel L. Jackson is his main nemesis.
Oldies but goodies -- If your local video store is fresh out of the newest titles, give these attractions a try:
LOVESICK
1983
***
Dudley Moore plays a psychiatrist who pursues a romance with a patient (Elizabeth McGovern), and risks losing his license to practice, in writer-director Marshall Brickman's whimsical comedy.
THE LAST METRO
1981
****
Legendary French filmmaker Francois Truffaut's final masterpiece, this drama of a couple (Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu) acting against the Nazi occupation in their own way gets "Criterion Collection" treatment.
NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
1983
***
Sean Connery reprises the role of James Bond in this loose remake of "Thunderball," now in a new "Collector's Edition." Klaus Maria Brandauer and Barbara Carrera make great foes for Agent 007.
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