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Pretty people plotting
Owen, Roberts spar to nice effect in ‘Duplicity’12:19 AM CDT on Sunday, August 23, 2009
This week, we start with the Beautiful People:
Duplicity
***1/2
Rated PG-13, 125 minutes. Coming Tuesday to DVD.
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) wrote and directed this pleasing mix of caper, comedy and romance. Julia Roberts plays Claire, a CIA agent who, in the opening scene in Dubai, sleeps with MI6 agent Ray (Clive Owen) before easily duping him. Five years pass, and Ray and Claire are civilians, using their skills for industrial espionage. They find themselves across the street from each other, working in similar positions. But one might be a mole — information is not always available to both. Fast-paced yet sometimes overly plotted, Gilroy’s engaging creation offers an entertaining blend of various diversions.
The DVD offers commentary from Tony Gilroy and editor and co-producer John Gilroy. The Blu-ray version contains “BD-Live,” an Internet access supplement.
Goodbye Solo (***1/2) Charming and friendly, Solo (Souleymane Sy Savane), a Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, N.C., works hard and chases the American dream.
In the first scene, William (Red West) climbs inside the cab. The old white Southerner offers Solo a large sum to take him on a long drive through mountainous terrain. But Solo seems suspicious of William. And because the film finds ground in developing and examining the two characters’ distinct personalities, director Ramin Bahrani’s other motives never become transparent. But he displays a healthy curiosity about his characters, as the two men’s journey takes some unexpected but believable detours, resulting in a rewarding film.
Cinematographer Michael Simmonds finds beauty in the Winston-Salem locales, even rendering the city’s nighttime melancholy, which seems to complement the often-mysterious William.
Rated R, 91 minutes.
The DVD includes commentary by Bahrani and the theatrical trailer.
Pete’s Dragon — High Flying Edition Disney reissues its popular 1977 feature mixing animation and live action. Sean Marshall stars as Pete, whose only friend in his small Maine town is Elliott, a giant dragon who makes himself invisible at awkward times. Helen Reddy plays a local woman who befriends Pete and helps him navigate his tricky relationship with his father (Mickey Rooney). Oscar-nominated for best music and best song.
Rated G, 129 minutes.
The DVD offers many supplements, including several featurettes on the film’s music, a featurette examining the special effects, the “Where’s Elliot” Dragon game, a storyboard sequence, original demo recordings and more.
Smithsonian Networks releases three of its informative, engaging programs. All are rated TV-G or TV-PG.
The Da Vinci Detective (114 minutes) The focus is on Maurizio Seracini, world-famous art detective, as he searches for a lost Leonardo da Vinci mural. He may not find the lost treasure, but he uncovers something almost as impressive.
War Stories (161 minutes) Three narratives concentrate on military subjects, including a look at the eponymous aircraft carrier in Carrier at War: USS Enterprise; The Men Who Brought the Dawn, about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings; and Arlington: Call to Honor, highlighting the national cemetery.
America Wild and Wacky: Sturgis (67 minutes) Once a year, the South Dakota town of Sturgis plays host to half a million bikers. The local population and the participants discuss the phenomenon.
The onslaught of TV series to DVD begins as the fall season approaches.
Greek — Chapter Three In this third season of the ABC Family series, Rusty moves into the Kappa Tau house and Casey and Frannie reveal a few too many secrets.
Rated TV-14, 440 minutes.
Bonus features includes commentary, “20 Questions with the Cast” and bloopers.
Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up — Season 3 Martin Lawrence presents this regular roundup of irreverent funnymen delivering their stand-up acts. This go-’round features such performers as Lavell Crawford, Don Curry, Roz G, Bruce Bruce, Rickey Smiley and others. The two-disc set includes 10 episodes and two bonus segments.
Not rated, 324 minutes.
One Tree Hill — The Complete Sixth Season In 24 episodes of this drama about the inhabitants of Tree Hill, N.C., Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) falls in love, Nathan (James Lafferty) concentrates on basketball and Brooke (Sophia Bush) continues to battle with her mother (Daphne Zuniga). Oh, and Skills (Antwon Tanner) and Deb (Barbara Alyn Woods) may split. The generous three-plus hours of bonus materials include commentary, a gag reel, unaired scenes, a featurette on re-creating the 1940s and a segment on the new Tree Hill sport SlamBall. Another featurette spotlights Murray, Lafferty and Bethany Joy Galeotti as they each direct their first episodes of the series.
Not rated, 1102 minutes.
Crime Scene University This unusual Discovery Channel program looks at Penn State University students learning various forensic techniques. This latest offering includes six episodes on two discs.
Not rated, 264 minutes.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations — Collection 4 The fourth season featuring the exploits of peripatetic gourmet Anthony Bourdain arrives, with 16 episodes set in a variety of international locations. In his Travel Channel program, the “culinary adventurer” travels the globe, sampling local cuisine and reporting on his discoveries.
Not rated, 697 minutes.
House, M.D. — Season Five Hugh Laurie’s acerbic Dr. Gregory House returns in the fifth season of this multiple Emmy-nominated series. This season sees the accomplished diagnostician suffering with his personal ailments.
Not rated, 1,105 minutes. The five discs contain 24 episodes.
The collection offers commentary from cast and crew, along with a half-dozen featurettes. Covered herein are the series’ 100th episode, how the crew checks for medical accuracy, profiles of various guest stars, and a segment with actress Lisa Edelstein discussing the ramifications of her storyline of becoming a mother.
Also this week: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles; Kagemusha; Playtime; Criterion Collection Eclipse Series 17 — Nikkatsu Noir.
DR. BOO ALLEN is an award-winning film critic for the Denton Record-Chronicle.
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