DVD PICKS
The Reader (EIV): This adaptation of the 1995 German novel by Bernhard Schlink follows a complicated love affair in the 1950s between a German teenager named Michael Berg (David Kross) and a woman twice his age called Hannah Schmitz (Kate Winslet). Years later as a law student he discovers a terrible secret about his former lover and struggles to deal with the repercussions of her actions in World War II.
It is directed by Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes plays Berg as an older man struggling to deal with his past. With a script by David Hare (who worked with Daldry on The Hours) this was always going to be an awards season contender, although some mixed reviews in the US and the UK might harm its word of mouth.
It is a well crafted and involving tale with three very solid performances from Winslet, Fiennes and Kross. Daldry and Hare have managed to preserve the knotty moral questions of the book – something which appears to have really riled critics of the film – and the cinematography from Roger Deakins and Chris Menges is first rate.
The extras include:
- The Reader : Music
- The Reader : Makeup
- Theatrical Trailer
- Production Design
- Making the Reader : Adapting a timeless masterpiece
- A conversation with David Kross and Stephen Daltry
- Deleted Scenes
* Listen to our interview with Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes on The Reader *
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30 Rock – Season 2 (Universal Playback): The second season of the award-winning sitcom created by (and starring) Tina Fey takes place behind the scenes of a fictional livesketch comedy series depicted as airing on NBC; the name “30 Rock” refers to the address of the GE Building where NBC Studios is located, 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The ensemble cast includes Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander and Alec Baldwin.
Some of the highlights in this season (which was cut short to 15 episodes because of the WGA strike in 2007) include:
- Jerry Seinfeld appearing to give Liz0 some advice.
- A Broadway show based on Mystic Pizza.
- Tracy havinf marital problems with his wife Angie Jordan (Sherri Shepherd) and they become separated, but later reunite.
- Jack developing a relationship with a Democratic congresswoman named Celeste “C.C.” Cunningham (Edie Falco).
- Jack running for the GE chairmanship against his archnemesis Devon Banks (Will Arnett).
- Kenneth travelling to Beijing to be a page at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Tracy invents a pornographic video game.
The features and extras include:
- 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
- English DD5.1 Surround
- Audio Commentaries by Tina Fey, Jack McBrayer, Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, Producers John Riggi and Robert Carlock, Producer/Composer Jeff Richmond and Guest Stars Tim Conway, Will Arnett and Fred Armisen
- Deleted Scenes
- “Cooter” Table Read
- 30 Rock Live at the UCB Theatre
- Tina Hosts SNL
- The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents: An Evening with 30 Rock
- And More!
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ALSO OUT
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney)
Carrington VC (Network)
Central Bazaar (BFI)
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead (2 Entertain)
Evergreen (Network)
Fifi’s Carnival (2 Entertain)
Il Grido (Eureka/Masters of Cinema)
London in the Raw (BFI)
Magick Lantern Cycle (BFI)
Martyrs (Optimum)
Moonlight Sonata (Network)
My Family Series 9 (2 Entertain)
Ordeal by Innocence (Optimum)
Primitive London (BFI)
Pulling: Series 2 (2 Entertain)
Pumping Iron (Lionsgate)
Pushing Daisies – Season 2 (Warner)
Seven Pounds (Sony)
The Bed Sitting Room (BFI)
The Fear – The Complete Series (Network)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Warner)
There Goes The Bride (Network)
Tokyo! (Optimum)
Yus, My Dear Series 1 (Network)
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