JOHN ADAMS (HBO/Warner) This recreation of revolutionary-era America is much improved by the blustery energy of Paul Giamatti. Though HBO’s seven-part miniseries (released as a three-DVD set) is sometimes too cautiously faithful to its source — David McCullough’s best-selling biography of the most combative of the nation’s founding fathers — Giamatti and his co-stars break from the traditionally starchy manner of thespians in wigs and waistcoats. As the lawyer and farmer who became US President No. 2, Giamatti displays a brusque manner with his adversaries and an appealing softness with his family — the story of Adams’ anachronistically equal partnership with wife Abigail (Laura Linney) is the true heart of the series. The show’s take on other historical heavyweights is refreshingly atypical, too. Tom Wilkinson brings a flinty edge to Benjamin Franklin, while Stephen Dillane’s Thomas Jefferson is so aloof he almost seems autistic. EXTRAS: making-of featurette, doc on McCullough, option of watching the show with pop-up factoids.
HEAVY METAL IN BAGHDAD (VICE) Portraying the hardships of Iraqi metal band Acrassicauda before and after the fall of Baghdad, this full-length doc is a surprisingly subdued and intelligent effort by the hipster yahoos at Vice TV. Released on the heels of a few theatrical runs in the US (but none in Toronto), the DVD includes the original eight-page article that started the saga, plus live performances, outtakes and a new 45-minute doc on the fate of Acrassicauda’s members since the movie was made. As of May, they were stranded in Istanbul but eager to record new demos. Few young men have ever struggled harder for the right to rock. As always, we salute you. EXTRAS: none.
Also this week
FATAL CONTACT (Alliance) The latest in the Weinstein Company’s Dragon Dynasty series of handsomely packaged Asian action moves, this no-nonsense fight flick is a convincing showcase for wushu dynamo Jing Wu. EXTRAS: commentary, interviews, making-of doc.
THE WAYWARD CLOUD (Strand) This uncommonly horny movie from Taiwanese master Tsai Ming-liang was instantly notorious when it surfaced in 2005 for its lurid demonstration of the erotic uses of watermelon. Go get sticky. EXTRAS: none.
THE GRAND (Anchor Bay) Critics were divided on the funny factor of Zak Penn’s poker comedy but I say it’s worth seeing just for the too-long-AWOL Gabe Kaplan. EXTRAS: commentaries, alternate endings, deleted scenes, player profiles.
FUNNY GAMES (Warner) Naomi Watts stars in Michael Haneke’s English-language remake of his gruelling screen polemic against screen violence. Hey, maybe the third version will actually be funny. EXTRAS: none.
Out June 17
Fool’s Gold, Under the Same Moon and Be Kind Rewind — here’s hoping the deleted scenes include Jack Black and Mos Def’s wacky recreations of scenes from I Spit on Your Grave, Ms. 45 and Cannibal Holocaust.