LIFE

Home Video: Recalling a 'giant' of a film

Todd Hill
Reporter

Most weeks, a deluge of more recent arrivals makes it impossible to devote much attention, if any, to older movies arriving for the first time on DVD, or Blu-ray, or returning in one kind of expanded release or another. This, however, is not one of those weeks. A dearth of new product forces a look back in time.

Television

"Children of Giant." New this week is the DVD release of this PBS documentary exploring the making of the classic 1955 western film "Giant," which starred James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie is a must-see for anyone who hasn't, an epic in the grandest sense of the term, and one of the very few westerns to consider the Latino influence on the American West. This doc recounts "Giant's" legacy, but is most fascinating when it details how the film's production transformed the tiny town of Marfa, Texas, where reminders of the shoot remain to this day. Much of Marfa was involved, and the memories there are still fresh 60 years later. 84 min.

Old movies

"The Fisher King." The films of Terry Gilliam have a tendency to be maddeningly infuriating, and this 1991 title is no different. Set in Manhattan, it's a movie about a quest, although it's about a handful of other things as well. Thematically, redemption represents the straightest through line, although the transformative effect of madness also plays a prominent part. Most of all, "The Fisher King" is about the performances of Robin William and Jeff Bridges. It would be inaccurate to say they were never better, because they both have been, but certainly this one-time pairing of the two is very special. They're electric together. Blu-ray debut. Rated R for language and violence. 137 min.

"Me Without You." Anyone struggling to navigate a complicated friendship in this age of distracting technological substitutes for intimacy would do well to track down this 2002 drama, just now arriving on DVD. Michelle Williams (in one of the small films that helped make her a sort-of star) and Anna Friel appear as two close friends who we have the privilege to observe as they grow up and mature together over the course of several decades (from 1973 to 2001). You can dismiss the film as out of date and go looking for newer titles about female friendships, but good luck finding any. Rated R for language, sexual content and drug use. 107 min.

"Roman de gare." If you're the kind of person who turns to books to get your mystery fix, you're probably going to the right place. Movie mysteries are few and far between, and the few that do come along are a very mixed bag. And that's why it's worth checking out this French film from 2007, now out on DVD. Written and directed by Claude Lelouch, this is a movie with a substantial trick up its sleeve, without going into any detail whatsoever. Having sat through the film, anyone moved to pick at the plot's details will find some gaps, but why spoil the fun? And this is plenty of fun. Rated R for brief language and sexual references. In French with English subtitles. 103 min.

New movies

"Survivor." As always, I've tried to save the worst for last. This dirty, little thriller – no, it has nothing to do with CBS reality series – was in theaters (and not a lot of those) just a few weeks ago, and quick turns from the big to small screen are almost always a bad sign. It stars Pierce Brosnan, still drawn to this genre despite moving on from 007 years ago, and Milla Jovovich. She runs around a lot, guns drawn, in sleek outfits, about all this movie has to offer. Its patina of international intrigue goes nowhere, and Jovovich never gets to where she's going either. Rated PG-13 for violence, some action and brief strong language. 96 min.

Top 10

Here are this week's most popular DVD/Blu-ray rentals as compiled by Rotten Tomatoes – "American Sniper," "Jupiter Ascending," "Kingsman: The Secret Service," "Taken 3," "Seventh Son," "Fifty Shades of Grey," "Selma," "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," "Paddington" and "Chappie."

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