DVD Pick of the week: Long Pigs (R2 Films)
LONG PIGS (R2 Films): This low-budget mock documentary about the life and times of a modern-day serial killer marks a little triumph for the duo of writer/producer/directors Chris Power and Nathan Hynes (writer/producer/directors), as well as for leading man Anthony Alviano, who gives a memorable performance as the killer in question.
Power and Hynes, using their real names, play documentary filmmakers who chronicle the day-to-day existence of Anthony McAlister (Alviano), a seemingly mild-mannered fellow who spends his days stalking and killing his victims, disposing of the gruesome evidence by eating his victims. (One of his ambitions is to write a cookbook about his unusual culinary habits!) With nary a wink or nod toward the audience, Long Pigs plays it absolutely straight, yet with a subtle sense of the absurd that also pokes fun at the notion of celebrity and the “objectivity” of documentary filmmaking. The scenes of Anthony preparing his meals are enough to turn anyone into a vegetarian, even though it’s obvious he’s eating animal meat. The low-key approach proves a completely effective one, although the squeamish are forewarned.
This is one satire that cuts close to the bone (pun intended), being both outrageous and unsettling in equal measure. There are a few slow moments, but all told this is an auspicious, audacious, sometimes nasty little number that is sure to find cult favor. Also available directly from www.longpigsthefilm.com.
13TEEN (North American Motion Pictures): This serial-killer thriller is essentially a threehander, with Amanda Brown, John lansh and Marc Huvstadt in the leading roles — and one is not who he or she seems. Originally titled For Sale by Owner, this is structured like a play but not bad at all, with neat camera angles adding some expanse. First-time writer/producer/director Pritesh Chheda (who also plays a small role) may be a talent to watch. Rated R.BLIND DATE (e1 entertainment): Not to be confused with the Blake edwards comedy, this American remake of a film by Theo van Gogh (to whom the film is dedicated) stars Patricia Clarkson and stanley Tucci as a couple who pretend that each date they have is their first, due to a prior tragedy. Tucci (who also directed) and Clarkson are the whole show, but too often this smacks of an experimental theater piece, and the morbid ending leaves a bad aftertaste.
“DOG: THE BOUNTY HUNTER — CRIME IS ON THE RUN” (A&e Home entertainment): A selection of eight episodes ($19.95 retail) from the 2009-’10 season of the popular A&e reality series tracing the cases tackled by reallife bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman, previously unreleased on DVD.
“HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE”: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO (A&e Home entertainment): A four-DVD boxed set ($39.95 retail) that includes all 13 episodes from the 2009-’10 season of the self-explanatory A&e documentary series that visits such relevant locales as Mount everest, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and others.
IT CAME FROM KUCHAR (IndiePix): Jennifer M kroot directed this wildly entertaining documentary about twin brothers George and Mike kuchar, pioneers of New York City’s underground film movement, whose work has influenced such cinematic successors as John Waters, Atom egoyam, Wayne Wang and others. sweetly awe inspiring and jaw-droppingly funny in equal measure.
“LIFE AFTER PEOPLE”: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO (A&e Home entertainment): All 10 episodes from the 2010 season of the History Channel series that examines various theories regarding what earth would be like without people. (less noisy, I would think.) The DVD boxed set retails for $29.95, the Blu-ray boxed set for $39.95.
LIFETIME ORIGINAL MOVIES (A&e Home entertainment): A selection of films originally broadcast on the lifetime cable network: Molly shannon and steven Weber in the romantic comedy More of Me (2007); Jennie Garth and Andrea Bowen in the award-winning AIDs drama Girl, Positive (also ’07); kaley Cuoco in To Be Fat Like Me (also ’07); Charles s Dutton directs and stars in the 2008 biographical drama Racing for Time; and the award-winning true-crime drama The Two Mrs. Kissels (also ’08) starring Robin Tunney, John stamos and Anson Mount. each DVD retails for $14.95.
MOTHERHOOD (National entertainment Media): A day in the life of Uma Thurman, as a successful but perennially harried blogger who tries to remain sane while taking care of her children. More irritating than ingratiating; screwball comedy is not Thurman’s forte. As her husband and best friend, Anthony edwards and Minnie Driver are wasted. Jodie Foster drops by in a quick cameo as herself. Rated PG-13. *
“PARANORMAL COPS”: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE (A&e Home entertainment): “Who ya gonna call?” This two-DVD boxed set ($19.95) retail includes all six episodes from the 2010 season of the A&e Television Network reality series following the members of the CPD (Chicago Paranormal Detectives) as they bust ghosts in the Windy City.
PRODIGY: AN UNAUTHORIZED STORY ON TIGER WOODS (Infinity entertainment Group): The title tells all in this documentary tracing the meteoric career of professional golfer eldrick “Tiger” Woods, up to and including the recent charges of adultery, which ended his marriage. less salacious than one might expect and pretty by-the-numbers, but not bad. **
“RED VS. BLUE: THE BLOOD GULCH CHRONICLES” (Flatiron Film Company/New Video): A six-DVD boxed set ($59.95 retail) of all 100 episodes from the first five seasons of the popular, award-winning internet comedy series about two hapless armies who continually fight a war they don’t understand in the distant future. Also available is “Red vs. Blue season 7: Recreation,” which retails for $19.95.
THE ROSEMARY WELLS COLLECTION (scholastic storybook Treasures): A two-DVD boxed set ($19.95) retail featuring eight stories by acclaimed children’s author Rosemary Wells, including “Max’s Christmas,” narrated by Jenny Agutter and Rex Robbins; “Noisy Nora,” narrated by Mary Beth Hurt; and “Voyage to the Bunny Planet,” narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal. each DVD (four stories each) also retails separately for $14.95.
RUNAWAY (e1 entertainment): Aaron stanford (also a producer) headlines this bleak, brooding, award-winning psychological drama as a young man who flees home after a family tragedy with his kid brother (Zack savage) in tow, desperately seeking to avoid confronting his past. But there’s a twist at the end…. A noteworthy supporting cast includes Terry kinney, Melissa leo and adorable Robin Tunney.
SANCTUARY”: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (e1 entertainment): Amanda Tapping and her scientific team return to investigate the strange and mysterious species that secretly live among us, in all 13 episodes from the 2009-’10 season of the award-winning syfy Channel series. The DVD boxed set retails for $44.98, the Blu-ray boxed set for $49.98. In addition, e1 is releasing “sanctuary: The Complete First season” on Bluray ($49.98 retail).
“SECRETS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF” (smithsonian Networks/Infinity entertainment Group): The title tells all in this documentary ($9.98 retail) that explores the natural splendors of the 1,200-mile Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
“THE VIRGINIAN”: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (Timeless Media Group): One of the best-loved prime-time Westerns makes its DVD debut, with all 30 episodes from the 1962-’63 season of the 90-minute NBC-TV series, based on Owen Wister’s classic 1902 novel and starring James Drury as the title character. The regular cast includes Doug McClure, Pippa scott, Gary Clarke and the great lee J Cobb. First-season guest stars include George C scott, Bradford Dillman, Hugh O’Brian, Colleen Dewhurst, edward Asner, Ricardo Montalban, Jack Warden, Aldo Ray, Dolores Hart, Barry sullivan and others. This 10-DVD boxed set retails for $79.98.
