DVD/Videos Reviewed - The Matador

As a fan of the TV show, Remington Steel when I was a kid, I never once thought that Pierce Brosnan could ever play the role of being Broken, Sleazy or Desperate. He plays all of these roles almost a little too well, in a watched-it-through-my-fingers kinda way.

Brosnan plays an assassin who's on the brink of disaster as his cold-hearted nature for his job is coming to an end. He freezes at the moment he’s supposed to take out one of his last marks before his "retirement". Meanwhile, there is a relatable character who Greg Kinnear plays. He is a husband who is worried about his life's future with his wife (Hope Davis), being that he sees his entire career balancing on a business deal where he's not favored.

Brosnan's broken-natured spy & Kinnear's broken-natured business man/husband meet at a bar (no bad jokes inserted here) and their meeting benefits the other in their business and personal lives.In the end, the mild-mannered Kinnear helps empower Brosnan, in an amusing out of character way, with the killing of his final mark. Brosnan helps Kinnear mend his teetering relationship with his wife by assisting in "taking out the competition" of his business dealings.

The two are an unlikely pair who find that their individual business needs bring them together and on accident, they become unlikely friends.I would suggest renting this, especially for the painful moments when Brosnan is either strutting through the hotel lobby in nothing but a speedo and cowboy boots, or him dressed in a cheerleader uniform with pop pops in a slow-mo cheer!

DVD/Videos Reviewed - Dazed and Confused

Today I watched a movie that spawned a few Hollywood careers: Dazed and Confused. Released in 1993, this movie came out when Bennifer hadn't been anywhere near the minds of Movie columnists, Matthew McConaughey wasn't playing a film actor's agent, and Cole Hauser has just severed his "School Ties" a year prior. This movie was written, produced, and directed by Richard Linklater at the start of what would be a very courageous career spanning now 18 years and counting. As a coming of age story, this puts us in the shoes of a late 70's junior high graduate into High School on his last day before summer. The local High School seniors plot an initiation the incoming freshmen will never forget. As the story progresses (all in one day, no less) the young boy goes through an entire plethora of events towards manhood learning how to tell friends from foes really quickly.

The Criterion DVD set includes screen tests, outtakes, commentaries, and much more on the 2 disc set. I enjoy the replay value of this movie a bunch. It's "totally boss" cover art is a tribute to the styles of the era showcased in the movie, complete with macrame designs drawn by bored students on their notebook.

DVD/Videos Reviewed - Severance

*limited release*

I'm going to start this DVD review section with a movie I almost didn't get to see in the theaters at all. The movie is called "Severance" directed by Christopher Smith, written by Mr. Smith and James Moran. When I got the chance to see this movie, it was on the last day of it's limited local release in Berkeley.

From the beginning of the film there is a mysterious feeling of a horror film. Once the credits are over it takes a turn for the comedic side for a while, then for the rest of the film we switch between the two rather nicely (in my opinion). I will do my best to describe the movie without giving it away. There is a group of weapons manufacturers that work together in an office go on a team building weekend and end up having to test their skills outside the office.

DVD extras include behind the scenes, deleted scenes, and some other features on some special, or "Not-so-special" effects. As well as the movie, the special features are pretty good and worth checking out more than once.

Check out the trailer from IMDb.com:  http://pro.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi746717465/

DVD/Videos Reviewed

Okay,

So when we can't make it to the movies, my partner and I will be reviewing the movies that we own as another outlet to demonstrate what tastes we have or what inspires us to do what we are doing.

Also, any movies that are out on DVD that you may want to recommend to us to view, by all means, let us know.