Tuesday, June 3, 2008

New on DVD: The Eye, Semi-Pro, Flawless

... plus classic Dirty Harry re-issues.

By John P. Meyer

Appearing June 3 on DVD are a couple of films we reviewed during their theatrical release and another that made an appearance at the AFI Dallas Film Fest.

I found the Jessica Alba starrer The Eye to be a fully-functional (though essentially unnecessary) reworking for American audiences of the original Chinese language horror show, in which Ms. Alba displays considerable acting prowess (to the extent demanded by the role).

Semi-Pro brought Will Farrell another $20 million and his avid fans another chance to guffaw at his broad and profane humor stylings. We can conclude that all parties attending the gig got what they were looking for, and now so can you: in regular or two-disc unrated "Let's Get Sweaty" edition. (I'll pass. Or maybe dribble.)

I managed to miss Flawless when it played at the AFI Dallas Film Festival back in March-April, but of course I also missed dozens of other outstanding movies - that's the nature of the film fest beast: one is forced to pick and choose, and some choices are more-or-less made for us.

In any case, I had access to a screener of the film and finally watched it just last week during a break from the designated film guy action, and it turned out to be a very entertaining inside-job diamond heist thriller starring two Hollywood greats (depending upon how you define the term): Michael Caine and Demi Moore. The Michael Radford-directed cinematic story is told in flashback as the aged Laura Quinn (Ms. Moore in heavy wrinkle-producing makeup) relates to a young reporter the amazing tale of her association with a disgruntled janitor and their joint plan to snatch a vault full of diamonds from the impregnable (?) vault of the exchange where they both work. Recommended viewing, both for the lead performances and the intriguing caper details.

WHOA, there, big guy!

In film news of more classic vintage, Warner Bros. brings us a special edition of Dirty Harry ('71), the Don Siegel crime thriller that changed the face of cop films forever, installing the most anti- of anti-heroes in the guise of Detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood in his sneering prime). The two-disk DVD set includes more featurettes than you can shake a S&W Model 29 at, including discussions with Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Urich. (Robert Urich?!!?).

True Harry aficionados will want to spring for the Blu-ray Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition, containing not only the original flick but the four remastered follow-ups as well (Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, The Dead Pool). For the mayhem-deprived youngsters in the family (or just the young and violent at heart), the package includes a 40 page hardcover book, a replica Det. Callahan wallet and inspector's badge (with removable laminated I.D.!), reproduction lobby poster cards, and a poster-sized map of San Fran detailing Harry's hunt for the Scorpio killer. Sadly, no .44 magnum is included, but you can buy one separately at your nearest gun store.

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