Micah’s May DVD Picks
1. Be Cool 2. Johnny Cash: Ridin’ the Rails 3. The Machinist 4. Seed of Chucky 5. Swimming with Sharks: Special Edition 6. The Mini-Skirt Mob/ Chrome & Hot Leather 7. Hostage 8. Oz: Seasons 1-5 9. Overnight 10. Nick Frost’s Danger! 50,000 Volts!Hey all, Micah here with my DVD picks for the month of June. There’s some great movies to be had this month, so lets get started.
Be Cool
Release Date: 6/7/05
This movie got a lot of negative reviews, but I liked it. Vince Vaughn & The Rock were both really funny, Travolta was cool, & even Cedric the Entertainer (who usually really bugs me) was pretty entertaining. Add in a lot of great supporting appearances (Harvey Keitel, Steven Tyler, Andre 3000) and you’ve got a movie that is definitely worth checking out.Johnny Cash: Ridin’ the Rails
Release Date: 6/7/05
Ridin’ the Rails is a 1974 TV special where Johnny Cash narrates the history of the American railroad through his classic songs… "Night the Drove of Dixie Down", "John Henry’s Hammer", "The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore"… tell me that doesn’t sound cool. Cash is the man, and this is your chance to watch him in his prime.The Machinist
Release Date: 6/7/05
This is a really great movie. Christian Bale is Trevor Reznik, a factory worker who hasn’t slept in almost a year. His insomnia causes him to start seeing things and people. At the beginning of the movie, its hard to tell what’s real, and what Reznik is imagining. However, as the movie progresses, pieces of the mystery start falling into place. Bale famously lost 60+ pounds for this movie, dropping to a very frail 120… at times in this movie he’s so bony & gaunt it’s hard to watch. Then, shortly after the movie wrapped, he gained it all back for Batman Begins. This movie is my top pick of the month.Seed of Chucky
Release Date: 6/7/05
There’s only one thing you need to know about this movie: Chucky impregnates Jennifer Tilly with a turkey baster. After reading that sentence you should know whether this movie is for you or not. But count me in.Swimming with Sharks: Special Edition
Release Date: 6/7/05
In this great comedy from 1994, Kevin Spacey is Buddy Ackerman, a top Hollywood producer who takes pride in subjecting his assistants to the worst degradation and humiliation you can imagine. However, the job inevitably leads to future Hollywood success, so the assistants figure it’s worth the abuse. The movie follows Buddy’s new assistant, Guy (Frank Whaley) as he deals with Buddy’s insanity. Spacey is hilariously offensive in this movie. Check out this exchange on Guy’s first day:
Buddy: What I am concerned with is detail. I asked you go get me a packet of Sweet-N-Low. You bring me back Equal. That isn't what I asked for. That isn't what I wanted. That isn't what I needed and that shit isn't going to work around here.
Guy: I, I just thought...
Buddy: You thought. Do me a fucking favor. Shut up, listen, and learn. Look, I know that this is your first day and you don't really know how things work around here, so I will tell you. You have no brain. No judgment calls are necessary. What you think means nothing. What you feel means nothing. You are here for me. You are here to protect my interests and to serve my needs. So, while it may look like a little thing to you, when I ask for a packet of Sweet-N-Low, that's what I want. And it's your responsibility to see that I get what I want.
Great stuff… definitely worth checking out. Top movie this month that isn't named The Machinist.The Mini-Skirt Mob / Chrome and Hot Leather
Release Date: 6/7/05
I don’t know much about either of these movies, but it’s cheap, and they sound cool. The Mini-Skirt Mob has the always cool Harry Dean Stanton and involves a bunch of chicks in mini-skirts. Chrome & Hot Leather has one of Marvin Gaye’s few film roles. You probably already know whether this is the kind of DVD for you or not, so I’ll move on.Hostage
Release Date: 6/21/05
Definitely not Bruce’s best movie, but also not his worst. Fairly by-the-book plot that has Bruce as a former hostage negotiator who has taken a quiet desk job in a small city after a high-stakes negotiation goes awry. Unfortunately, Bruce’s family is kidnapped, and he’s forced to help the captors to ensure their release. In all, a worthwhile action flick with an over-the-top crazy performance by newcomer Ben Foster. The movie is also much darker than I expected, which is always appreciated.Oz: Seasons 1-5
Release Date: 6/21/05
Until Deadwood came along, Oz was my favorite HBO original series. Above is Season 5 (of 6). However, if you have a ton of cash burning a hole in your pocket and are in the mood for some great prison violence, click here for Seasons 1-5. Great series with a ton of interesting characters and ongoing storylines.Overnight
Release Date: 6/21/05
Overnight is the true story of bartender Troy Duffy who sold his script, Boondock Saints, to Miramax after getting the attention of head honcho Harvey Weinstein. The deal attracted national attention when Weinstein agreed to buy Duffy the bar he worked at to sweeten the deal. However, it turns out Duffy is a gigantic douche who manages to not just burn, but nuke every bridge with every important person in Hollywood. This guy is unbelievably self-absorbed and deluded. As a result, his dreams of becoming a major Hollywood player get derailed, and Boondock Saints (which is a pretty good movie) gets kicked almost directly to video. Luckily, Duffy’s buddies were around to videotape his rise and fall. What results is one of the best documentaries to come out last year.Nick Frost’s Danger! 50,000 Volts!
Release Date: 6/28/05
Nick Frost is an insanely funny British comedian. You might recognize him as Ed from Shaun of the Dead. This is his BBC series where he tells you how to survive everyday dangers such as hippo attacks and forest fires. I’ve been waiting for this to get a US release for a while, so I’m glad to see it’s finally here.That’s it for June… see you back for July, there’s some good ones coming up!
