Bleiler - TLA film video & dvd guide: the discerning film lovers guide 2002-03

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C ONTENTS

I NTRODUCTION

Theres a wonderful new trend happening in Hollywood; hopefully moviegoers and videophiles from across the country will benefit from the fallout. Its the acknowledgment and surge in popularity of independent and foreign films on the mainstream landscape. Independent gems such as Being John Malkovich, Traffic and Requiem for a Dream are being recognized by traditional institutions like the Academy Awards while finding success at the box office. The same is happening to foreign films, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Life Is Beautiful, both of which set box-office records.

In the dawn of the new millennium, there await exciting, new formats in the entertainment field that will bring a greater variety of choices to the public. Theaters, TV, VHS, DVD all compete for our attention in an ever crowded and sometimes confusing market. That is why it is my hope that the TLA Film, Video & DVD Guide can offer a clear voice in helping to sift through the myriad of films, and help guide the viewer to the eclectic tableau of not only mainstream films, but the wide assortment of independent and foreign titles that are now enjoying such recognition.

It is our goal to offer the reader insightful, intelligent and opinionated reviews that can assist in either choosing or avoiding films to watch at home. Since we dont attempt to review every film ever released, we are able to be more comprehensive in critical analysis, thus enabling us to pay attention to the rewarding and possibly unknown films that may have bypassed your local 24-plex.

Presented in an easy-to-read A-Z listing, the TLA Film, Video & DVD Guide includes over 9,500 reviews, hundreds of photos, and exhaustive index and cross-reference system. Be aware that we only include in director and star bibliographies titles that are available on VHS or DVD. We should also note that our listing is quite selective. Its not our goal to include everyone, but those who we feel have made a great impact on film past, present, and if we are intuitive at all future.

The history of TLA is important in understanding our commitment to film. TLA Video was established in 1985 as a subsidiary of the Theater of the Living Arts, one of the countrys leading repertory cinemas. With the advent of video and the unfortunate demise of rep (which hopefully will make a welcome comeback), we concentrated our energies on home video with the same vigor as we did our theater. TLA Video is now one of the most recognized and respected video businesses in the country.

This enthusiasm also went into the production of this film guide. It is my hope that our love, regard and knowledge of film can be found on every page, and that the TLA Film, Video & DVD Guide will help in removing some of the promotional hype and its ensuing guesswork out of your viewing decisions without eliminating the exhilaration of the moviegoing experience.

David Bleiler

A BOUT THE E DITOR :

David Bleiler has been involved in the film and video industry since the 1970s. He has worked in theatrical exhibition as manager and programmer for the Philadelphia art cinema Roxy Screening Rooms; in publishing as Senior Editor of Home Viewer Magazine and Video Extra, Managing Editor of the New York Metro Herald, Editor of Images in the Dark, and has worked as a freelance film reviewer; and on radio (as a guest host on numerous film shows). He is currently the video columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News.

E XPLANATION OF T EXT

Alphabetization:

The guide is alphabetized in word order, not letter order, therefore All That Jazz would come before Alligator. Also, foreign titles adhere to the English rule concerning A, An and The beginning a sentence: whereas The Godfather would be listed under G; La Cage aux Folks would be listed under G; Das Boot under B, etc.

Foreign articles include:

French: La, Le, Les, Un, Une

German: Das, Die

Italian: I, Il, La, Le

Spanish: El, La

(American films beginning with El are listed under E)

With the exception of Mrs., abbreviations are alphabetized under the words full spelling:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is under Mister,

Dr. Strangelove is under Doctor,

The St. Valentines Day Massacre is under Saint.

Pricing:

Prices listed are as of publication date. Many full price videos (in the $79.99-$99.99 range) are reduced six to nine months after their initial video release, so please call for updated information.

Certain titles are listed even though they were not available or announced as of publication date. In these instances, they were assumed to be full price.

In a case when a title has no price, that video was unavailable for sale at publication date; but its possible it could be reissued later. Please call for updated information.

Index Listings:

There are several instances in which a film can be found in the indexes but lacks a corresponding review. This is to make the indexes more complete and therefore more useful. However, only films on video have been mentioned.

Ordering:

To order any title listed in the TLA Film, Video & DVD Guide, use the handy order form located in the back of the book, or call the TLA Video 800 number listed on the form. TLA offers special rates to institutions and individuals placing large orders.

A

la Mode

(1994, 90 min, France, Rmy Duchemin) Jean Yanne, Ken Higelin, Francois Hautesserre. Can you say French fluff? In some regards, this is too soft a term for this mildly enjoyable but ultimately wispy comedy. In keeping with the genre of Sex and the French Teenager, la Mode follows the ever eventful life of young Fausto from the bicycle accident that leaves him orphaned to his apprenticeship with a Jewish tailor in Paris. The standard stuff is on display here: the coy redhead with whom he gets his first lay, the good-hearted best friend with a talent for farting the tunes of Beethoven beginning to get the picture? Still, the film is amiable, gooey fun and for those in search of hollow entertainment, this will be just the ticket. (aka: Fausto ) (French with English subtitles) ** VHS: $19.99

Nos Amours (To Our Loves)

(1983, 102 min, France, Maurice Pialat) Sandrine Bonnaire, Evelyne Ker, Dominique Besnehard, Maurice Pialat. A beautifully rendered portrait of a sexually explosive young girl and her tumultuous home life. Sixteen-year-old Suzanne faces the wrath of a neurotic mother, a withdrawn father and an abusive brother because of her casually nubile air and promiscuous wanderings. In this fascinating study of a smoldering family climate, Bonnaire charges the role of the troubled teenager with a powerfully erotic presence. (French with English subtitles) ***

Nous la Libert

(1931, 97 min, France, Ren Clair) Henri Marchand, Raymond Corby, Rolla France. A surreal and satirical attack on automation and industrialization, this intoxicating, brilliantly executed romp follows the exploits of a bum who becomes a millionaire only to realize that he was happier poor. The central character and many comic scenes provided the inspiration for Charlie Chaplins Modern Times. (French with English subtitles) **** VHS: $19.99