Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • November 25, 2009
DVDs
(continued from Restaurant page) and a critical essay. “Toi et Moi” (Koch Lorber Films) is a romantic comedy starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as Lena, a demure cellist whose sister, Ariane (Julie Depardieu), uses her love life for inspiration for the photo-novels she writes. The European equivalent of Harlequin Romances, photo-novels use a comic book format with photographs rather than drawings to tell melodramatic love stories. Ariane’s stories feature women who find love in the arms of warmhearted, wealthy strangers. Regrettably for both sisters, their harsh realities with commitmentphobic boyfriends Farid (Tomer Sisley) and Francois (Eric Berger) are completely opposite from the dream world of the photo-novels. However, when Ariane and Lena’s love lives are thrown into turmoil by the charms of Pablo, a handsome Spanish construction worker (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), and fiery violin soloist Mark (Jonathan Zaccai), their fantasies and realities converge more than either suspected. Director Julie Lopes-Curval intersperses still photo sequences that represent the characters’ romantic dreams, though they are not any more far-fetched than the main storyline. The principals are very pretty to look at, but the characters lack sufficient depth to engage the viewer. The film is in French with English subtitles. There are no extras. “I Can See You” (Kino On Video) is a fascinating low-budget horror film by Graham Reznick. Three men from a boutique ad firm leave their Brooklyn home base and head to a rural campsite to toss around ideas for a new campaign for a household cleaning product. What begins as a low-pressure brainstorming session becomes a horrifying nightmare where the borders between reality and imagination, sanity and madness, are re-drawn or erased completely. Director Reznick moves things along slowly at first, with few traditional moments of terror. He backloads the horror and makes the viewer wait for it by creating a feeling of unease, laying the groundwork for the fire-
works in the final reel. I was reminded of several films -- “The Hills Have Eyes,” “The Evil Dead,” and “Un Chien Andalou” -- though “I Can See You” has a unique quirkiness all its own. Special features include a behindthe-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and commentary from cast and crew. Also included is the 3-D short (yes, those glasses are included) “The Viewer,” shot entirely from the perspective of an accused killer facing interrogation. Like “I Can See You,” “The Viewer” evokes genre clichés only to subvert them. “Funny People” (Universal Home Entertainment), starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, is a big-budget misfire. George Simmons (Sandler) is a hedonistic famous comedian who has been told he has terminal cancer. In despair and moping around for most of the film, George is losing his on-stage snap and hires aspiring comedian Ira (Rogen) to write material for him. Ira soon becomes a full-time companion for George, holding his hand and listening to his whining. For a film about comedians, “Funny People” is remarkably devoid of laughs. Sandler’s box-office appeal continues to perplex me. He is hardly versatile, always playing some version of the boy-man coming to terms with adult problems. A mediocre actor at best, he is showcased poorly in a weak role in “Funny People.” The two-disc DVDs extras include a gag reel and commentary by director Judd Apatow, Sandler, and Rogen. Blu-ray extras include extended and alternate scenes, one hour of standup performances by the film’s cast, a Sandler appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and Apatow performing on “The Dennis Miller Show.” “Madeleine Peyroux: Somethin’ Grand” (Rounder Video) is a live concert DVD made after the success of the singer’s 2009 album, “Bare Bones.” Peyroux was born in Georgia, but grew up in Brooklyn, Southern California, and Paris, where she became a street singer and joined a group of buskers in 1989. Her style is a combination of jazz, traditional pop, and folk. She sings her own songs and those by other composers. The hour-long documentary covers her life and career and contains five never-before-seen acoustic performances. The concert “Live in Los Angeles” was filmed at a small jazz venue and showcases her intimate cabaret style.
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 20 A A “can-do” attitude gets you far this “can-do” attitude gets you far this week, Aries. You’ll able to make week, Aries. You’ll be be able to make your way through a mound tasks your way through a mound of of tasks in in record time. Those around you are record time. Those around you are envious. envious. TAURUS - Apr 21/May TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 21 Lately, you’ve been auto pilot and Lately, you’ve been on on auto pilot and haven’t had much downtime. It’s time haven’t had much downtime. It’s time to to put aside few quiet moments forfor put aside a a few quiet moments you to rest and recharge, Taurus. you to rest and recharge, Taurus. GEMINI - May 22/Jun GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 21 Special moments with romantic Special moments with a a romantic partner in store for you this week, partner areare in store for you this week, Gemini. The stars point to sizzling love Gemini. The stars point to sizzling love matches and rekindling old flames. matches and rekindling of of old flames. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 22 New financial opportunities come New financial opportunities come your way, Cancer. Although this week your way, Cancer. Although this week already proves be a a busy one, these already proves to to bebusy one, these new events will make your workload new events will make your workload even larger. even larger. LEO - Jul 23/Aug LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 23 Some surprise good news completely Some surprise good news completely changes your plans this week, Leo. changes your plans this week, Leo. Luckily, you able to change gears Luckily, you areare able to change gears on on the fly and take advantage of this the fly and take advantage of this special opportunity. special opportunity. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 22 You have your eyes a a new love ... You have your eyes on onnew love ... of of thethe furry variety. petpet will come into furry variety. A A will come into your life this week even you hadn’t your life this week even if if you hadn’t been considering buying adopting been considering buying or or adopting one previously. one previously. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 23 You’re starting think your life is is You’re starting to to think your life thethe subject one of those hidden-video subject of of one of those hidden-video shows. Too many outlandish things shows. Too many outlandish things areare happening, and this week proves be happening, and this week proves to to be no no different. different. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 22 Your to-do is a a mile long. FortuYour to-do listlist is mile long. Fortunately, you have collective ennately, you have thethe collective energy 10 people these days to weed ergy of of 10 people these days to weed through of the tasks at at hand. Friday through all all of the tasks hand. Friday proves to a a slow-down day. proves to be beslow-down day. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 21 When you’re right, you’re right, SagWhen you’re right, you’re right, Sagittarius. This week you’re fire and ittarius. This week you’re on on fire and right target concerning an important right on on target concerning an important matter work. Naysayers are wrong matter at at work. Naysayers are wrong to doubt you. to doubt you. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 20 A couple setbacks early in in week A couple of of setbacks early thethe week areare eclipsed by the good fortune that eclipsed by the good fortune that arrives Friday. This mood enhancer arrives on on Friday. This mood enhancer comes just in time to provide boost comes just in time to provide thethe boost you need. you need. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 18 Stopping smell the roses is an exStopping to to smell the roses is an expression you should take seriously, pression you should take seriously, Aquarius. Slow down this week. RunAquarius. Slow down this week. Running through life at breakneck speed ning through life at breakneck speed is is not productive. not productive. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 20 Tuesday becomes “Twosday” when Tuesday becomes “Twosday” when you share entire day with someone you share thethe entire day with someone special. The rest the week is busispecial. The rest of of the week is business usual. ness as as usual.
Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle