sign in sign up
<<
Home , Fernwood 2 Night, The Larry Sanders Show, The Strike (Seinfeld)

CYAN MAGENTA E6-BO # YELLOW BLACK

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR E6 SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2008 A&E TV treasures you may have missed NEW ON DVD Oscar BY BRENT LAWSON So your favourite TV show is in hiatus — or cancelled, or out of new episodes, or waiting to be renewed — and you’re coming down with the rerun blues. Well, with a little advance planning you won’t have to fall into the trap of mindlessly watching the Least Objectionable Program. winning Scope out a few DVD collections. It means you don’t have to be held hostage by the TV gods. Here are a few to consider: Coen film Danger Man/Secret Agent Man on DVD (U.S. title) Patrick McGoohan’s cool, urbane take as spy No Country for Old Men John Drake is a treat that holds up well after Joel and Ethan Coen’s crime thriller 40 years. Drake is a low-tech, black and white, dominated with four Oscars at his no frills, no-nonsense spy, the antithesis of year: best picture, directing, adapted gadget-loving James Bond of the movies. screenplay and supporting actor for While Bond had ejector seats in his car and Javier Bardem. Adapted from Cor- exploding suitcases, Drake was more likely to mac McCarthy’s novel, the film fol- employ a few firecrackers, a smoke bomb — lows the aftermath of a drug deal and guile. The series was successful in several gone bloodily bad in the west Texas countries, earning McGoohan the chance to desert as a wily cowboy (Josh Brolin) launch the ambitious series The Prisoner, makes off with a satchel of cash and which vexed some viewers and left others is pursued by both a relentless killer transfixed. It’s also readily available on DVD. (Bardem) and a world-weary sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones). The DVD and Twin Peaks Blu-ray high-definition disc come David Lynch’s series is fascinating, surprising, with three featurettes. (Miramax) inspiring and truly unique. Also, at times annoying, self-indulgent and unfathomable. If you haven’t seen the original British version of The Office, take an extra-long lunch break Bee Movie Spawned several theories about the meaning and track down the on DVD. is perfect as the prince of incompetence. Jerry ’s animated comedy of it all. Still, enough mystery and compelling is sweetened with a huge load of characters to keep you involved and trying extras. Seinfeld served as writer and to unravel the mystery. Just like life, not all voice star in the tale of a bee that stories have neat, happy endings. sues humanity for profiting off the honey his species toils to produce. Fernwood 2 Night comes with a handful of / America 2-Nite featurettes or fully packed two-disc DVD and HD DVD versions whose An engaging pioneer of the “” extras include alternate endings. style, from the (, (Paramount) Maude) stable, with several episodes directed Dive into the world of odd, compelling and truly good TV, with series such as Twin Peaks, by Canadian Alan Thicke. (Barth Foyle’s War, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Secret Agent Man. Gimble), Fred Willard (Jerry Hubbard), Frank De Dan in Real Life Vol (Happy Kyne) are the perfect trio of has- (America 2-Nite) which made more use of The Larry Sanders Show Steve Carell’s a widower doing his beens and want-to-be’s who cobble together a “real” stars, playing along with the gag. best as an advice columnist with nailed the talk show genre with talk show featuring small town talent. Mull Sadly, this series is hard to find on DVD, but three daughters and lousy timing this funny depiction of life in front of and behind and Willard were never better. you can usually find episodes on eBay until when romance comes calling. the camera. Very strong supporting cast (Rip Frankly, many fans prefer the original version they get around to an official release. Attending a family reunion, he falls (Fernwood 2 Night) with its no-name Torn, ) and excellent writing. for a woman (Juliette Binoche) who character actors to the newer reincarnation Foyle’s War Shandling/Sanders has all the foibles and inse- turns out to be the new girlfriend of curities we associate with self-centred show his brother (Dane Cook). (Disney) Quiet and understated, Michael Kitchen is business weasels. The show mocks the indus- subtle but superb as Detective Chief Superin- try and attracted visits from several stars, who Hitman tendent Christopher Foyle of the Hastings appear thrilled to portray themselves as shal- Timothy Olyphant stars in an action police department in this realistic portrayal of low and self-absorbed. Gee, what a stretch. life in England during the Second World War. thriller adapted from the video Automobiles, airplanes, uniforms and settings Sherlock Holmes game, playing a genetically engi- are letter perfect and fans say the show does a neered assassin hired to take out The late Jeremy Brett is exquisite in the role. first-class job in capturing the spirit of the criminal masterminds and ending up His pale, wan face and haughty, impatient times. Foyle’s War is the brainchild of Anthony on the run as an Interpol agent manner bring the required depth to the storied Horowitz, who also created Midsomer (Dougray Scott) and the Russian role. Basil Rathbone was excellent in several Murders. See: foyleswar.com military pursues him throughout movie versions of the Arthur Conan Doyle eastern Europe. (20th Century Fox) The Office (British version) series. But Brett reflects a more troubled, eccentric and darker side of the character. Nancy Drew There’s no question the U.S. version of The Office (starring Steve Carell) has surprised Prime Suspect The queen of teen detectives returns fans by finding its own formula for success, with Hollywood’s latest adventure It’s premise may seem dated today — a and it deserves full credit. But you owe it to inspired by author Carolyn Keene’s woman finally getting a chance to lead a yourself to watch the original British series, mysteries for young readers. Emma high-profile murder investigation. But Mirren starring the perfectly inept Ricky Gervais. He’s Roberts, daughter of Eric and niece is vulnerable but strong as she endures the awkward and unaware he is the crown prince of Julia, stars as the old-fashioned, put-downs and struggles in male-dominated of incompetence. The strained silences, the plaid-skirted Nancy, who clashes police force. She is determined in her resolve embarrassing moments, and when you least with the hip crowd in Hollywood as to survive the harsh environment character- expect it, a tiny sliver of heart from this she adjusts from her small-town life ized by male chauvinism, cronyism and shallow little man who tries to be everyone’s while trying to solve the death of a favouritism. The character was compelling friend and but more often than not just loses legendary screen starlet. (Warner enough to lead to several reprises for Mirren. everyone’s respect. The series was first Bros.) Gary Shandling and a talented supporting broadcast in 2001. cast were superb in lampooning the talk Untouchable. [email protected] August Rush show genre in The Larry Sanders Show. 905-526-2463 Freddie Highmore stars in the title role, playing an orphaned music prodigy on a magical quest to New HAMILTON SPECTATOR FILE PHOTOS York City in search of the parents (Keri Russell as a classically trained cellist and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as an Irish rocker) he senses are still TV: A paradigm shift in program scheduling out there somewhere. Robin Continued from A&E credits should come with an alter- suspense series 24 for a loop. make an omelette from broken Williams co-stars as a street musi- Now, top shows such as Prison nate soundtrack, like the closing Faithful fans of the critically eggs is the tactic employed with Break are escaping from those theme to The Show: acclaimed show, starring Canadi- Lost. Prior to the new show each cian and Terrence Howard plays a narrow confines. Last week’s “Seems we just got started and an actor Kiefer Sutherland, will week, ABC has been running the social worker at the kid’s orphanage. program, for example, ended the before you know it, comes the have to wait until January 2009 to previous week’s episode with (Warner Bros.) show’s third season — in February. time we have to say, ‘So long.’” see Jack Bauer in action. The sev- onscreen explanations, a kind of What’s a loyal viewer to do? Take the latest instalment of The enth season was already shifting Coles Notes rendition that has Daniel Malen, editor of the Terminator franchise, The Sarah time, out of the fall straitjacket, fans divided. Malen says the pop- By David Germain, Canadian website theTVaddict. Connor Chronicles. A handful of and the new season was scheduled up video style commentary is The Associated Press com, understands the frustration. episodes (nine) and whoosh — to première in January 2008. cheesy and insulting to viewers. But he said viewers must recog- gone, season ended. Fans have to Then the “But what nize that the networks face more wait to see if the show will be writers strike most average competition for an audience, and picked up by Fox for Season 2. hit, like a smart What most fans forget fans forget is also have fewer goods on the shelf But “theTVaddict” fans know bomb that left that TV is a because of the lengthy strike by the answer. They maintain the TV sets operable is that TV is a business. business. And the Writers Guild of America. show will be picked up because it but new pro- rerunning an “Viewers can no longer be essentially serves as a glorified grams scarce. And rerunning an episode is just Comedy Bee counted to tune into reruns,” commercial for where the serious “I definitely episode is just another another way Movie has argues Malen. money is made: Foreign sales and agree that it can ABC makes alternate end- “So rather than have a series like DVD box sets. Plus, Terminator is be frustrating, way ABC makes more more money off ings on some Lost or Prison Break play out from much more than a TV series — it is for fans to have what amounts DVD editions. September to May with reruns a brand. And with a fourth film to wait, in 24’s money off what amounts to a very expen- sprinkled in between, networks planned, the TV series is a perfect case until 2009 sive show to are compacting the shows into promotional vehicle. for new to a very expensive show produce.” fall/winter seasons with virtually There is compelling evidence episodes,” So despite the zero reruns.” that sometimes the tail wags the Malen said. to produce. competition It used to be that you’d catch up dog: The animated series Family “But that is just and the strike, with your favourite episodes with Guy was originally cancelled another unfor- Lost is finding reruns. But now thanks to iTunes, because of poor ratings. But after tunate result of the strike.” ways to live, just like the survivors. video on demand, DVD and online strong DVD sales demonstrated Still, Malen said, fans should streaming, it’s up to fans to catch the program had a loyal audience, make the most of a bad situation. Sources: thetvaddict.com; up with their favourite shows the show was put back in produc- “I much prefer 13 weeks of unin- Wikipedia.org; Canadian Press whenever it fits into their life. Or tion. terrupted episodes. It really helps wait, and buy the DVD. The strike really knocked the build up the excitement.” [email protected] In fact, for many shows the nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat Another result of TV trying to 905-526-2463