Home of the Week
Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2006 > August > 29 > Entry
Home (Re) Viewing: Don’t ‘Take the Lead’
This week’s video releases make for a mixed bag, with a solid but somewhat disappointing effort from Albert Brooks, and a dance movie that’s not very good at showing dance.
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World: Writer-director-star Brooks came up with a brilliant premise in trying to answer the titular question by playing himself as he tries to put on a comedy show in a very foreign land. Unfortunately, the execution isn’t as inspired as the idea, making the movie milder than it should have been. Still, it’s worth watching for some inspired pieces, particularly the fleeting conversations overheard in an Indian call center that answers questions for everyone from the White House to Wal-Mart. GRADE: B
Take the Lead: Here’s a tip for filmmakers trying to make a dance movie: don’t over-edit the dance scenes so that we can’t actually see the dancers, you know … DANCE. Antonio Banderas and a group of appealing kids gamely try to tell an inspirational story, but this overcooked movie is a poor substitute for the true story this is based on. Rent Mad Hot Ballroom for the real deal instead. GRADE: C
Also out today
Akeelah and the Bee: This spelling drama earned some very positive reviews last spring, so maybe it really is the feel-good film of the year so far
The Sentinel: Most everything I’ve heard about this movie indicates that In the Line of Fire remains the quintessential Secret Service film.
Lord of the Rings: Yes, hobbit-philes, Peter Jackson takes another page from the George Lucas playbook and puts out yet ANOTHER edition of his trilogy. Whereas we had separate sets for the theatrical and expanded versions, these discs offer both, with a whole new set of documentaries. No word yet on whether an “Ultimate Edition� is on the way that features every mile of footage Jackson shot, complete with your very own invisibility ring as a bonus.
Permalink | | Categories: On Video/DVD
