DVD Spotlight

By Joe Galm

Recount

Premiering on HBO last May, Recount is now available to the masses by means of a DVD release. Upon viewing the film, it's hard not to wonder how it would have performed if it was given a theatrical release and the answer is far from a simple one. While the ensemble cast would have provided enough populist backing, the material itself is not only bland but spread thin as well. Republican figureheads are treated as almost comically evil and one-dimensional, which is an interesting thematic movement considering how levelheaded Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Democratic lawyer Ron Klain is.

Despite an otherwise solid output from the veteran cast, which includes Dennis Leary, Bob Balaban and Tom Wilkinson, the usually versatile Laura Dern comes off as a stark, slow-witted caricature of Florida’s Secretary of State Katherine Harris. The faults in her performance are made even more apparent by those of the screenplay and vice-versa. As a whole, while providing a fairly factual account of 2000’s electoral debacle, Recount plays it too safe and too flat to leave any lasting impact on, or provide insight to, its audience.

Distributor: HBO
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, Tom Wilkinson, Laura Dern, Bob Balaban, John Hurt, Ed Begley Jr.
Director: Jay Roach
Screenwriter: Danny Strong
Producer: Jim Denault
Genre: Political Drama
Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 116 min.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Despite boasting high-profile female stars such as Oscar winner Frances McDormand and nominee Amy Adams as firepower, Pettigrew’s popularity barely outlived the aforementioned “day” in the title by peaking at a mere 539 theaters nationwide and grossing only $12.3 million domestically.

The story itself blends familiar themes of class struggle and identity confusion in a light, breezy way that emphasizes slapstick fun over actual content. Still, the film, set just before the Second World War, makes use of the unique atmosphere of the era and interjects some sincere dramatic characterizations based on how they relate to the news of the ever-impending war. Said moments may be too sparse to be entirely emotionally resonant but still offer a unique feel to an otherwise conventional genre piece.

Distributor: Focus
Cast: Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong and Tom Payne
Director: Bharat Nalluri
Screenwriters: David Magee and Simon Beaufoy
Producers: Nellie Bellflower and Stephen Garrett
Genre: Romantic comedy
Rating: PG-13 for some partial nudity and innuendo
Running Time: 92 min.

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert

In a brief reprieve that we are given from concert footage, a vignette plays showcasing the antics of Montana fans’ fathers sprinting against each other (in high heels mind you) in order to win ever-coveted tickets for the sold-out, titular concert. It is here that we are given the purpose of this film: to afford those who cannot put up ludicrous amounts of money to see a 15 year old sing, the chance to give their daughters a comparable concert experience nonetheless. This would explain how the film banked $65.3 million domestically while only gracing 685 screens at its peak.

While the legions of screaming, prepubescent fans of Cyrus will likely find this concert DVD worth owning, I extend my pity to parents out there who will be forced to listen to the same 16 songs ad nauseam. This, of course, is without the mention that DVDs are still not technologically fit for solid 3D transfers, leaving the picture muddled and unimpressive despite the inclusion of 3D glasses. Still, director Bruce Hendricks is already working towards a Jonas Brothers event that is sure to be more of the same. I’m sure that parents everywhere are thrilled.

Distributor: Disney
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, Kenny Ortega and Billy Ray Cyrus
Director: Bruce Hendricks
Producer: Art Repola
Genre: Musical documentary
Rating: G
Running time: 74 min.