Film: DVD Reviews
More 'Friedmans' (and even more disturbing)
By John DeForeJanuary 29, 2004
'Capturing the Friedmans'
($29.98, HBO Video)
(movie) (DVD format and extras)
When Andrew Jarecki's documentary about the Friedman family came out last summer, practically everyone agreed that it was engrossing, upsetting and difficult to forget. But viewers disagreed about other things, important things, such as whether or not Arnold and Jesse Friedman were wrongly convicted of child molestation.
As a film about the fragility of memory and the frightening way emotion threatens the criminal justice process, the murky "Capturing the Friedmans" was a huge success. But since the Friedmans were real people, not fictional characters, the questions remained: Had they been imprisoned on the basis of false accusations? Had police leaped to the wrong conclusions and then bullied children into confirming their worst fantasies?
The ample bonus material on this DVD does much to confirm that yes, the family -- Jesse Friedman especially -- was railroaded. If Jarecki deliberately played up the uncertainty in his film -- sacrificing a clear defense of his subjects in favor of an ambiguity that created controversy and, arguably, sold tickets -- the information he offers here is harder to dispute.
Some of the prosecution's strongest material in the film is weakened substantially when we learn more about it: Jesse Friedman's tearful guilty plea, for instance, was made after six weeks in a jail cell, when he felt that his only chance at minimizing his sentence was to profess contrition for crimes he didn't commit. And the young man who still maintains he was molested is shown here making such extreme claims -- such as descriptions of sadistic "make-up sessions" -- that even the Friedmans' most venomous attackers would have a tough time believing him.
The most fascinating material here is footage shot at the movie's early public screenings, which includes Q&A sessions in auditoriums featuring law-enforcement officials and pro-Friedman activists who have gathered to see themselves onscreen. Many of these people stand up to defend their points of view, but for every impassioned argument made by the police, Jarecki and company provide a compelling rebuttal.
It's possible that a viewer could watch all this extra material and still suspect that Jesse Friedman molested young boys. But the majority will be convinced the opposite is true, and it's hard to imagine somebody saying he's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. (Arnold Friedman's case is more problematic.) As Jesse Friedman continues his effort to overturn his conviction, this deeply troubling DVD will earn him many supporters.
'Alice in Wonderland'
($26.96, Columbia Tristar Home Video)
(movie) (DVD format and extras)
It's easy to be cynical about a Disney DVD -- they're always clogged with commercials, useless bonus games and sing-alongs that even the least ADD-afflicted kid would tire of.
The new edition of "Alice in Wonderland," though, builds on the strengths of the hallucinogenic film itself and its storied history to create a two-disc set that earns all those extras. "Alice" is, along with "Fantasia," the most random and episodic of Walt Disney's big-screen efforts, and viewers are treated to a lovely remastered version of the 1951 film as well as a 1936 Mickey Mouse short, "Thru the Mirror," that was obviously inspired by the Lewis Carroll tale.
The highlight of the set is the bounty of restored material aimed at film buffs -- more than 30 songs were written for the original film and many were cut (including "I'm Odd," a song sung by the Cheshire Cat, shown here and introduced by "Alice" voice star Kathryn Beaumont). One scrapped song was reworked and found its way into "Peter Pan," as revealed in a short documentary that's paired with a deleted storyboard concept and demos of songs that didn't make it into the film. (The highlight: "Beware the Jabberwock," a 1947 recording.
Behind-the-scenes material, including footage of animators sketching as Bill Wynn (the Mad Hatter) and Jerry Colonna (the March Hare) mug it up for the cameras, shows how much energy was expended behind the animation cels. A stunning 1923 silent short mixing live action and animation and several made-for-TV specials show that "Alice in Wonderland" was a project that consumed Disney's imagination for decades.
They also reveal an astonishing level of attention to detail and a multi-front marketing push that doesn't seem far removed from the Disney empire of today. Kids may enjoy the "Virtual Wonderland Party" (loud, rambunctious, with live actors playing up the tea party scene) and a paper card game (of the cardboard, not virtual variety), but grownups won't find reason to be cynical, either.
-- Omar L. Gallaga
Also out on DVD this week: "Thirteen," "Biloxi Blues," "Celia Cruz -- Azucar!" "The Critic -- The Complete Series," "Comic Book -- The Movie," "Dilbert -- The Complete Series," "Friends -- The Complete Sixth Season," "G.I. Joe Season 1, Part 1," "Le Divorce," "One From the Heart," "Radio," "The Secret Lives of Dentists," "Time Bandits (Divimax Special Edition)," "Hoffa," "Simple Men."
