DVD reviews

'Cinderella Man' doesn't work magic

Thursday, January 05, 2006

'Cinderella Man'

(MCA Home Video, $29.98)

Movie:

DVD format and extras:

The worst movies are not the unquestionably god-awful, but the "blew its," the movies like "Casino" and "Saving Private Ryan" that should've been great, and in the case of "Private Ryan," almost were, except that somewhere along the line they went mushy or numb.

Put "Cinderella Man" in that weight class. Corny doesn't come close to describing this brilliantly acted, artfully shot hunk o' junk, which runs through every boxing film cliché en route to a guaranteed Oscar nomination for Russell Crowe as James Braddock. Not since "Sid & Nancy" (another "blew it") has a "true" story come off so false.

The sweet science hasn't been this sugarcoated since "The Champ" remake, but what do you expect from Ron Howard, who seems to soak up the worst instincts of Steven Spielberg?

Still, this is not an entire waste of a couple hours. Crowe's performance is as compelling as movie wife Renée Zellweger's isn't. Surrender to the gnawing heart tugs and you just may find yourself cheering Braddock's improbable crowning. But the way this film really blew it was with the dishonest, one-dimensional portrayal of Max Baer — a real person, not Ivan Drago from "Rocky." Baer's clan, including Jethro Bodine himself, was rightfully ticked off with the way Sr. was written as a boorish, savage, clown. Yes, he killed a man in the ring, but was genuinely remorseful and lost four of his next six fights for his reluctance to unleash his wicked right hand.

The DVD extras show some cool behind-the-scenes stuff, such as Crowe training with Ali's former corner man Angelo Dundee (the real reason this project was made?), but all that access would've been more intriguing if the picture was better.

'The Short Films of David Lynch'

(TLA/Subversive Cinema, $29.95)

Movies: to

DVD format and extras:

Some time ago, David Lynch launched a pay-membership Web site (davidlynch.com) stuffed with content that tantalized his more devoted fans. It was the only place to find his legendary "Eraserhead" on disc, which was sold in a pricey special package alongside the filmmaker's more obscure work.

A repackaged version of "Eraserhead" is now available through normal retail channels, along with a challenging animated title called "Dumbland." Of special interest is "Short Films," which stretches from Lynch's birth as a filmmaker nearly to the present.

The films are a mixed bag even for such an idiosyncratic filmmaker, ranging from 1967's "Six Men Getting Sick" — a bracing title in which a sculptural painting (Lynch was in art school at the time) is animated before our eyes — and the truly creepy animation/live action film "The Alphabet" to "The Amputee," which is essentially a camera test that will interest only the most cultish fans. Preceding each film is interview footage in which Lynch puts things in context, giving us an enjoyable glimpse of his life as an emerging artist.

The highlight is a work that wasn't on the old VHS version of "Short Films": the all-too-brief "Lumière," in which Lynch participates in an international filmmaking challenge (other directors' entries can be seen in 1996's "Lumière & Company") and transforms the gimmick into a strange, inexplicable wonder that distills much of Lynch's genius into 55 baffling seconds.

— John DeFore

'Toy Story 2'

(Walt Disney Video, $29.99)

Movie:

DVD format and extras:

It isn't often that a sequel compares favorably to its original, and it's even more rare for an animated film. But Pixar made it happen with 1999's "Toy Story 2," the follow-up to the company's revolutionary "Toy Story."

The newly released DVD retains all the fun and fantasy of the movie, with a cool set of extras. When we left Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and the gang, Buzz had come to terms with the fact that he was a toy, not an actual space ranger. But he gets a chance to use his rescue skills when Woody is toynapped by Al of Al's Toy Barn. Turns out Woody's the leader of a once-popular cartoon show posse, and he's the last piece of a lucrative puzzle for Al, who is planning to sell the full toy set to a Japanese museum. Adventure ensues, and we meet some great new characters along the way.

The enhanced sound is amazing on this DVD, with a crystal-clear quality that was appreciated even by the 5-year-old critic in our house.

As for the extras, there are the requisite making-of and behind-the-scenes stories, both of which are moderately interesting. But the real fun lies in the "toy box" section, with deleted scenes, hilarious bloopers in the style of nonanimated films (some of these were on the original release) and a great, if lengthy, quiz to determine which toy you most resemble.

— Jodi González