Oscar-nominated films on the way to DVD, from left: "City of God" (due June 8), "House of Sand and Fog" (March 30) and "Something's Gotta Give" (March 30).
Feb. 24, 2004
Oscar DVD roundup
By Glenn Abel
Bottom line: "City of God's" audacious visual style demands a big screen, but the DVD offers first-rate images and audio that capably delivers the big-beat soundtrack.
The church-and-state separation of theatrical and home video becomes a bit of a mess once the Academy Awards nominations surface. Key films in the Oscar race return to cinemas even though they're available down at Blockbuster. Marketing and distribution plans for videos can change dramatically, as in the case of Miramax's "City of God." Here's an Oscar-week sneak peek at DVDs for three nominated films. They're mixed in with reviews of the four top contenders already out on DVD, for those needing some quick remedial Oscar viewing.
CITY OF GOD Nominations:Best directing, cinematography, editing, adapted screenplay The DVD: "I resisted video," Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein said. "I just believed in this movie." As usual, he got his way. The DVD release date for this stunning film about young hoodlums living and dying in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been pushed back four months, until June 8. Weinstein can't be blamed for wanting Fernando Meirelles' film to find its audience in theaters: "City of God" is one of the year's best, with an audacious visual style that demands a big screen. Those who must wait for the DVD will find first-rate images and audio that capably delivers the big-beat soundtrack. Best supporting feature:A test copy of the DVD included only one extra, but it's outstanding. The hourlong Brazilian TV documentary "News From a Personal War" surveys the real "City of God" turf, interviewing gangsters, police and innocents about civil warfare in the favelas. "There is no solution," the police chief says "The war will never end," a young gangster vows. Documentary footage of slum shootouts will make believers of those unconvinced by "City of God's" nonstop violence. (Miramax/$29.99 retail)
LOST IN TRANSLATION Nominations:Best picture, directing, actor, original screenplay The DVD: The location, mysterious mood and lack of strong narrative make "Lost in Translation" a natural for repeated viewings. The bright lights of Tokyo look great -- how could they not? -- but overall the visuals are soft, reflecting the low lighting and low budget for Sofia Coppola's sophomore effort. Audio is in DTS and Dolby Digital; go with the DTS for better-sounding dialog ... but you still won't be able to hear what Bill Murray whispers in her ear. Alas, the DVD for one of the year's classiest films opens with six minutes of ads that can't be chapter-skipped. Best supporting features: "This is my favorite movie -- that I've ever been in," Bill Murray says to Coppola. "That's nice," the young director replies, a bit startled by the revelation. It's one of several honest, revealing moments in a casual interview with the duo shot on a Roman rooftop. Also showing: "Lost on Location," a half-hour camcorder docu that shows Coppola and her small band of guerrilla filmmakers trying to shoot on the cheap in Tokyo, often without permits. They sneak a camera into a Starbucks to get a long shot out a window and get thrown out of a shabu-shabu joint in the middle of a take. (Universal/$26.98)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL Nominations:Best actor, sound editing, sound mixing, makeup, visual effects The DVD:State-of-the-art images and sound propel the video of this unexpectedly fine adventure. The DTS track does justice to the Oscar-nominated audio, pounding away at unwary soundstages. As usual, Disney goes delightfully overboard with the extras, packing in 10 hours of featurettes, extra scenes and games. (Disney has a similar, equally outstanding DVD set out on animation nominee "Finding Nemo.") Best supporting feature:Johnny Depp, the people's nominee as best actor, shares a commentary with director Gore Verbinski. The men whisper their way through the talk, sounding as if they're on the wrong side of a grog-filled night. "I imagined Captain Jack would be sort of like Ali," Depp says of his pirate's loopy sword-fighting techniques. After one savory scene, Verbinski notes, "You have to pervert this genre at every opportunity." "Yeah," Depp replies. "One must be a pirate." (Buena Vista/$29.99)
AMERICAN SPLENDOR Nomination:Best adapted screenplay The DVD: This vibrant film about the drab life of underground cartoonist Harvey Pekar plays just fine on disc. At times, the gumbo of fact, fiction, live action and animation seems to pop out of the smaller screen, breaking any remaining walls. The soundtrack's eclectic mix of blues, pop and jazz sounds warm and distinct in Dolby Digital -- don't even think about missing the downhome take on "Ain't That Peculiar" that plays over the credits. Or the title song, packaged as an extra. Best supporting feature:Enquiring minds want to know: What did Hollywood fame do to Pekar and his family? The answers come two ways: Pekar's 12-page cartoon booklet "My Movie Year" is packed inside the DVD package. And there's "The Road to Splendor," a snappy Sundance Channel featurette that follows Pekar and family to Sundance, Cannes and the Hollywood premiere. Harvey was having fun, his wife assures us. (HBO Video/$27.95)
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE Nomination:Best actress The DVD:Nancy Meyers' crowd-pleasing romantic comedy won't be out on DVD until March 30. Oscar nominee Diane Keaton stars with her old friend Jack Nicholson in the film about learning to play with kids your own age. A test disc looked fine despite speckles here and there. Audio was just OK. Best supporting features:Director Meyers does separate commentary tracks with her two stars. Keaton doesn't start talking until 40 minutes into the movie (until her brief nude scene has safely passed). "That's a fiction!" Keaton says at one point, as her character walks toward the camera, gorgeous and dressed to kill. "It is you ... there are no special effects," Meyers assures the famously shy actress. Fans of Keaton and Nicholson will get a kick out of comparing the actors' comments about their extended lovemaking scene. Keaton talks mostly about how embarrassed she was; Nicholson is so precise about the acting techniques he used in the scene it seems as if he's pulling our legs. (Columbia TriStar/$28.95)
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG Nominations:Best actor, supporting actress, score The DVD:Beautiful and almost unbearable, "House of Sand and Fog" goes to the Oscars on the strengths of Ben Kingsley's and Shohreh Aghdashloo's performances as an exiled Iranian couple. The DVD, due March 30, ably conveys the visual evocation of claustrophobia and dread against which the actors perform their magic. The Dolby Digital audio is just good enough, based on a test disc. Best supporting feature: Aghdashloo's audition tape, which indicates that her performance arrived fully formed. The tape covers her key scenes in a wrenching six minutes. (DreamWorks/$26.99)
SEABISCUIT Nominations:Best picture, cinematography, adapted screenplay, sound, sound mixing, editing, art direction, costumes The DVD:Admirers of this dark-horse tale marveled at its rich traditional look, beautifully rendered on this disc. Amazing sharpness and detail, vivid colors and no significant grain even in the darkest passages. The Dolby Digital audio pumps up the rear soundstage during big race scenes. Best supporting feature:At last, someone figured out a way to make DVD photo galleries interesting. "Photo Finish: Jeff Bridges' On-the-Set Photographs" flips through the actor's artful shots while candid on-set audio of the actors and filmmakers plays. The technique makes the photos come alive while retaining their integrity as stills. (Universal/$26.98)
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