Top DVD Picks
Holiday DVDs: 5 Classics
See all Holiday picks here or read a sample below.
When Harry Met Sally
This love story makes me cry every time - it's hard not to watch such a great romantic comedy and not feel anything for its characters, so honestly portrayed by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. They are both Chicago natives who move to New York and become friends, then they separate, then they are friends, then they are apart again, then they are friends, apart again, then they are more than friends.
It takes them almost a decade to realize they are made for each other. A few of the events, including the big final scene, happen around New Year's Eve parties, so it's a real holiday classic.
Top DVDs: Fall 2008
See all Fall 2008 picks here or read a sample below.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
In a rarely serious tone of her comedic touch, Frances McDormand plays a middle-aged governess, Miss Pettigrew, who is hard-working and honest but is unable to keep a job in 1939 London. She tries to take advantage of a nice opportunity to get new employment and ends up changing her life.
Miss Pettigrew is a sad woman, following the loss of a loved one in the 1st World War; she stopped caring for how she looks, she is just trying to survive. On the other hand, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) is a charming and social club singer, playing with three men's hearts at the same time - her club owner who is giving her the gorgeous West End apartment, her theater producer, and her piano player, who is truly in love with her.
Their paths collide as Delysia is looking for a social secretary to keep up with the Joneses, and Miss Pettigrew has just the right amount of cool, common sense and imagination to keep Delysia's life running smoothly. She helps push Delysia toward the true love, piano-player Michael (Lee Pace) and finds romance herself with Joe (Ciaran Hinds), an older lingerie designer, who finds a soulmate in her.
It's a movie of transformations and it's a beautiful story told well. Frances McDormand is perfect in this part and she gets every nuance just right and Amy Adams is so bubbly and alive. This film is an instant classic.
Top DVDs: Spring 2008
See all Spring 2008 picks here or read a sample below.
King of California
Michael Douglas is known as a great dramatic actor. His ability to portray a mentally ill yet very talented and deeply soulful character with humor is just so genuine. In ″King of California″ he becomes a quirky jazz musician, Charlie, with a mental illness, a teenage daughter and a dream to find gold.
Evan Rachel Wood playing his daughter Miranda gets her role just like it was her. She is more than believable as a teen that lost her mother, dropped out of school to support herself and later her father Charlie. She is deeply sad about her plight, yet has that same glimmer of hope as her dad who sets foot to discover the buried treasure of California.
They do find the treasure in the most unexpected place (hint: it′s a big store), Charlie finding what he was looking for and Miranda finding hope again. The ending is a bit ambiguous but you go with it. Dark, funny, and a million times worth seeing.