“Sideways,”
NewLine, $29.98
WHO’S IN IT: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
RECAP: The best film of last year, “Sideways” works even better on DVD, where one can relish the sharp dialogue and subtle character details.
BEST EXTRA: The commentary with Giamatti and Church is hilarious, full of witty asides, perceptive observations and droll, self-deprecating banter.
SECRETS REVEALED: Church and Giamatti point out a subtle black-and-white motif running through the film, from choices of socks to colors of cake, as well as other tiny, almost invisible character details.
FEATURE TO SKIP: The deleted scenes are fine, but one particular bit about Giamatti’s character running over a dog is pretty depressing.
TRIVIA: Church was almost cast in director Alexander Payne’s previous film “About Schmidt,” but he missed out at the last minute.
IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: “Election,” probably Payne’s smartest film.
RATING: 3 REMOTES
“Elektra,”
Fox, $29.98
WHO’S IN IT: Jennifer Garner, Terrance Stamp
RECAP: From the folks behind the not good “Daredevil” comes this even more turgid, confusing and plot-free spinoff, starring Garner as an assassin with vague supernatural powers.
BEST EXTRA: A charming (if somewhat patronizing) comic book convention presentation starring an eerily enthusiastic and chipmunk-cheeked Garner, designed to make geeks and fans salivate in anticipation of the flick.
SECRETS REVEALED: The token making-of gives away one of the few surprises the film has in store.
FEATURE TO SKIP: “Inside the Editing Room” sounds informative, but it’s just promotional fluff.
TRIVIA: Ben Affleck, star of “Daredevil,” filmed a cameo for “Elektra,” but the scene was deemed unnecessary and cut (it’s here as an “exclusive deleted scene”).
IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: The just released “Sin City” in theaters, the right way to adapt a dark comic book series to the screen.
More Top Picks Sleeping Pad
RATING: 1 REMOTE
COMING SOON
In stores next week:
– “Bad Education”
– “Ocean’s Twelve”
– “The Woodsman”
———-
Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Drew Sottardi ([email protected])