Highlight of the Week
Zabriskie Point (Warner)
One of three English-language films that Michelangelo Antonioni was contracted to direct (the other two being Blowup and The Passenger), Zabriskie Point was both a critical and commercial flop upon its release. Forty years on, what was to be the auteur’s epic portrayal of Western hippie culture remains a relatively unseen artifact. The plot is non-existent and the actors aren’t professionals, but that’s actually half the charm. The other half owes to breathtaking cinematography, a tripped-out Pink Floyd soundtrack and a decade-defining, explosive finale. And also a full-blown desert orgy sequence. (Just saying.) Extras: original trailer.
Also Available
Land of the Lost: The Complete Series (Universal) Rejoin Marshall, Will and Holly on a routine expedition, where they met the greatest earthquake ever known, that plunged them down a thousand feet, yadda yadda yadda… All 43 episodes are included in this complete set of the seminal Sid and Marty Krofft live-action Saturday morning series. Extras: sneak peak of the upcoming movie, also available in a super-sweet limited edition lunchbox.
Killshot (Alliance)
A lot of talent is wasted in this Elmore Leonard adaption, directed by Oscar-nominee John Madden. Diane Lane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a post-Wrestler (though this was actually shot beforehand) Mickey Rourke and familiar Toronto locales also fail to enhance this direct-to-video-grade exercise in mediocrity. Extras: nay.
Falling Down: Special Edition (Warner)
Celebrate the 16 years since Michael Douglas lost his shit in L.A. gridlock and decided to act out his aggressions on any inconvenient injustice that stood in his way. In his defense, all he wanted was to see his damn daughter on her damn birthday. Extras: Douglas and Joel Schumacher commentary, interview with The Douglas.
The Sky Crawlers (Columbia/Tristar)
Based on the popular Japanese novels, this feature-length anime saw its premiere during last year’s TIFF. It’s directed by Mamoru Oshii, but fans should not go in expecting anything remotely as intricate as Ghost in the Shell. Those who enter with lowered expectations should find themselves impressed by the film’s high-caliber videogame-like action sequences and satisfying narrative arc. Extras: over an hour of behind-the-scenes docs.
The Memories of Angels (Mongrel Media)
Featured in this year’s Canada’s Top Ten, the film employs clips from well over 100 NFB films that highlight the exquisite evolution of Montreal throughout the ’50s and ’60s. Participating directors include Denys Arcand, Claude Jutra and Arthur Lipset, among other local legends. Extras: two retro shorts, interviews with the filmmaker, Film Facts.
Addicted to Plastic (Mongrel Media)
The award-winning doc that shows us where all our plastic waste winds-up after we use it. Here’s a hint: Google “plastic soup.” Extras: dude, special features contain way too much plastic.
Lowlight of the Week
New in Town (Lionsgate)
As a big city girl who moves to a hick town in the middle of nowheresville (a.k.a. Manitoba under the guise of Minnesota), the bafflingly over-appreciated Reneé Zellwegger stars in the most predictable, unfunny (see also: predictably unfunny) rom-com of her career. Extras: commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes.
Next Week
We’re just not that into this flick; marriage, Mendes style; still smokin’; blond post-Bond takes on the Nazi regime.