In case you came across a show and saw a long-haired lawyer that looks like Zack from Saved By The Bell, then you’ve seen Raising the Bar. This new legal drama is one to keep an eye on. Not since The Practice have I seen a legal drama that caught my attention like this. The acting is great, and the story is smart and fast paced. The mind behind this show is none other than Steven Bochco, who also did such shows as NYPD Blue and L.A. Law. Oh, and about the guy that looks like Zack Morris, that’s Mark-Paul Gosselaar playing the renegade public defender Jerry Kellerman. He’s an idealistic lawyer whose zeal gets him into trouble quite often. Out now on DVD is Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season. This has all 10 episodes on a three-disc set with a running time of about 807 minutes. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t caught on to it yet.
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I’ve been waiting to see this film for a while. Once I saw the previews when it was in the theaters, I knew this is one that I couldn’t miss. Revolutionary Road reunites Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet for the first time since Titanic. Here they play The Wheelers, a married couple in the 1950’s that can’t keep their relationship alive. Let me say up front, this film is a tragedy. If you want to see how NOT to have a married relationship, then this is it. This movie gives you a front row look at a family that looks good on the outside, but has some seriously dark secrets. It makes a very powerful statement about relationships and casts a reflection on our society that some of us would be wise to look at. I disagree with anyone that says this film is a waste of time. In fact, I think anyone thinking of getting married or already married can learn something from watching it. Leo and Kate play this troubled couple so well I honestly think they were Oscar-worthy. There is nothing sugarcoated here, and to be honest it is hard to see their marriage go downhill. But sometimes the truth hurts. I do disagree with the line at the bottom of the DVD case that says it’s a “watch-it-three-times-in-a-row masterpiece”. I agree that it’s a masterpiece, but I don’t think it’s one you’d want to see for a little while. Truthfully, after the first time watching I felt disturbed. It’s hard to see a family’s hopes and dreams turn to shit, even on film. However it is one that I’ll be going back to from time to time to see exactly how I don’t want my own life to turn out. Overall, Sam Mendes adds another powerful film to his resume with Revolutionary Road.
The funniest and nastiest shrink on TV!
No wonder why Hollywood celebrities get so jacked up in the head! When you have a psychiatrist like Dr. Elizabeth Goode, you’d start to lose it too. Head Case is a hilarious comedy where the fictional Dr. Goode treats celeb patients such as Rosanna Arquette, Andy Dick, Ione Skye, Lea Thompson, David Alan Grier, Joel Madden, Christopher Lloyd, Jason Priestley and Jeff Goldblum. However, even though she’s the “doctor”, she is more psychotic than her patients! Anchor Bay has released Season 1 of this raunchy comedy on DVD and it is a riot. I couldn’t stop laughing as I watched the whacked out Dr. Goode conducting her therapy. Surprisingly, this is one show that wound up being one of my recent comedy favorites. Overall, this set rocks!
I remember seeing Kyra Sedgwick back in the 90’s in the relationship flick known as Singles. Who would have thought she’d now be playing a feisty homicide detective? In The Closer, she stars as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a southern girl who goes from Atlanta to Los Angeles to work in the LAPD’s Priority Homicide Division. This show combines the seriousness of a good detective series with a little laughter sprinkled in to balance it out. Not being a fan of Kyra’s work, I admit that I judged The Closer before I ever watched it. To my surprise, I found it to be a smart and entertaining look into the world of homicide detectives. Warner Home Video has released the fourth season in a special four-disc collection containing all 15 episodes. From the first episode on the set, you get to see Brenda and team in action as they try to catch an arsonist that set L.A.’s Griffith Park on fire. Besides the 15 episodes, this set contains the features A “Day in the Life” of a Homicide Detective, Catching a Lie, Gag Reel, and Unaired Scenes. As expected, WHV puts out another fine DVD collection with this fourth season of The Closer.
Naughty, naughty vampires down in Bon Temps...
I have always loved a good vampire story. I'd have to say they are my favorite fictional characters. From The Lost Boys to the Underworld series, there's nothing like a good vampire flick. Lately, vampires have become the “in” thing in books and movies. One of the premier shows involving the bloodsuckers is the HBO original series True Blood. This is not your typical vampire story though. This show takes place at a time when vampires are a part of regular society. With the creation of a synthetic blood, they no longer need to feed on humans. True Blood follows the lives of both humans and vampires in the town of Bon Temps, LA. I really got into the show after checking out the DVD set of The Complete First Season. This is a 5 disc set with 12 episodes of HBO’s highest-rated series of 2008. From the packaging to the content on the discs, this is one impressive DVD collection. The quality of the video and audio is clear and crisp, which makes for an awesome viewing experience. As far as special features go, there are Tru Blood Beverage Ads, Vampire Public Service Announcements, and even a documentary on Vampire life! I had high expectations for this set before it was released. Now that it’s out, I can say that it surpassed any expectations I had. Overall, it’s a high quality set for one of the hottest shows around.
Great acting and a thrilling story make Valkerie one film not to miss.
Ok, so seeing Tom Cruise play a German soldier with no German accent is a little odd. But don’t let that fool you. This is one thrilling movie that’s actually based on a true story. Valkerie shows in detail the German Resistance’s attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler. This film leaves no room to get bored as some movies based on historical facts do. Rather, it is a suspenseful ride from start to finish. Along with Cruise, the film includes some fine acting by Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Terence Stamp. With the DVD out now, there’s no excuse to miss out on the film. If you check out the DVD, you’ll also be treated to commentaries by Tom Cruise and Bryan Singer, along with the featurettes titled The Journey to Valkyrie and The Valkyrie Legacy. Check it out now!
Here are some clips from the upcoming DVD The Best of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which comes out on June 9th. Check it out!
