Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • August 11, 2010 DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) and several featurettes. “Crumb” (The Criterion Collection) is a fascinating 1995 documentary about underground cartoonist R. Crumb. Director Terry Zwigoff provides a disturbing portrait of a dysfunctional 1950s family. The Crumb brothers were brought up in the “Father Knows Best” era, when the mass media provided picture-perfect versions of family, home, and togetherness. Crumb’s father was a white-collar salesman who died early, disappointed in his “wimpy” sons. His abusiveness impelled his wife to turn to amphetamines. The boys withdrew from society. One of R’s brothers lives in a darkened household as a recluse with his mother in an atmosphere that would be right at home in a gothic horror story. R’s other brother, Maxon, a former molester, lives in a skid row apartment, goes out begging, and sleeps on a bed of nails. Not the typical biographical documentary, “Crumb” actually focuses on all the brothers, pointing up the effects of childhood on the adult. R turned to art as an internal way of dealing with the world. It could be practiced alone, social interaction wasn’t required, and it provided an outlet for his psychological issues. His best-known creations are “Fritz the Cat,” “Mr. Natural,” and the catchphrase “Keep on truckin’.” The Blu-ray disc has been restored in a high-definition digital transfer. Picture quality is exceptional, something viewers have come to take for granted with Criterion Collection releases. Extras include two audio commentaries with director Zwigoff (one with critic Roger Ebert), over 50 minutes of unused footage, and a booklet with an essay by film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum and artwork by the Crumb brothers. “What’s up, Doc? (Warner Home Video), new on Blu-ray, is one of the funniest comedies of the 1970s. An homage to 1930s screwball comedy, it stars Ryan O’Neal as a professor of musicology in Ames, Iowa. With his prim and proper fiancée, Eunice Burns (Mad- eline Kahn), Howard is in San Francisco to attend an important musicology convention. When he meets kooky Judy Maxwell (Barbra Streisand), a free spirit who studies at various educational institutions until she’s kicked out, Howard’s life is turned topsy-turvy as Judy attempts to insinuate herself in every facet of his life. Director Peter Bogdanovich beautifully captures the style and tone of such classic screwball comedies as “Bringing up Baby” and “The Awful Truth.” There is a cool, ditzy leading lady, an exasperated male lead, assorted pompous characters, and contrived situations that lead from one silly moment to the next. The two leads have solid chemistry. Streisand is very funny as fast-talking Judy, and Madeline Kahn steals every scene she is in as the gal who tries to maintain sobriety when the world around her is dissolving into chaos. Special features include scene-specific commentary by Streisand, full-movie commentary by Bogdanovich, and the vintage featurette “Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?” “Multiple Sarcasms” (Image Entertainment) stars Timothy Hutton as Gabriel, an architect wallowing in malaise in late 1970s New York City. A dreary companion to his wife and annoyance to his friends, he believes he can write a successful play though he has never shown any talent for drama except his own selfpity. He spends hours tapping away at a typewriter in the bathroom. It’s tough to make writing look interesting on screen, and this film is a textbook case of what not to do. First of all, Gabriel is a self-deluded malcontent surrounded by rather nice folks. They deserve better. Gabriel is remote and unappreciative of what he has, and the whiny quality of Hutton’s performance further alienates the viewer. Co-writer/director Brooks Branch makes his debut with this picture, which shows too many flaws. The best thing about “Multiple Sarcasms” is the cast, including Mira Sorvino, Dana Delaney, Laila Robins, and Mario Van Peebles, all of whom deserve a better script. At an hour and a half, the film seems endless. Bonuses include a making-of featurette and interviews with director and cast. ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES --Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, now is the time to get serious Aries, now is the time to get serious about new career or move. And about aa new career or aa move. And if you haven’t been thinking about if you haven’t been thinking about aa change, then maybe you should be. change, then maybe you should be. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS --Apr 21/May 21 Your thoughts and deeds are yours Your thoughts and deeds are yours alone this week, Taurus. Don’t let othalone this week, Taurus. Don’t let others intimidate you into changing your ers intimidate you into changing your mind about anything. Confidence is mind about anything. Confidence is key. key. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI --May 22/Jun 21 Stick to what you’re good at this week, Stick to what you’re good at this week, Gemini. This can be great time to get Gemini. This can be aagreat time to get ahead in your career. Use your charms ahead in your career. Use your charms to impress the higher-ups. to impress the higher-ups. CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER --Jun 22/Jul 22 You’ll enjoy success, accomplishing You’ll enjoy success, accomplishing something that will amaze even you, something that will amaze even you, Cancer. Just go your own way and do Cancer. Just go your own way and do your own thing to realize all that you your own thing to realize all that you want to achieve. want to achieve. LEO Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO --Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, whether you’re off climbLeo, whether you’re off climbing mountains or hacking your way ing mountains or hacking your way through the corporate jungle, stamina through the corporate jungle, stamina is the name of the game this week. is the name of the game this week. VIRGO Aug 24/Sep 22 VIRGO --Aug 24/Sep 22 Virgo, wherever you go and whatever Virgo, wherever you go and whatever you do this week, just about everyone you do this week, just about everyone will be watching -- so behave yourwill be watching -- so behave yourself. Rein in your impulse to go little self. Rein in your impulse to go aalittle crazy. crazy. LIBRA Sep 23/Oct 23 LIBRA --Sep 23/Oct 23 It’s up to you to make the most of the It’s up to you to make the most of the opportunities coming your way, Libra. opportunities coming your way, Libra. You’ll have to realize just how much You’ll have to realize just how much is possible before you can achieve is possible before you can achieve great things. great things. SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO --Oct 24/Nov 22 No matter how self-confident you No matter how self-confident you think you are, your faith in yourself think you are, your faith in yourself will reach new zenith this week, will reach aa new zenith this week, Scorpio. Even the most minor self Scorpio. Even the most minor self doubts will disappear. doubts will disappear. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS --Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, this is the week that you’ll Sagittarius, this is the week that you’ll be able to get across to loved ones be able to get across to loved ones what you’ve been trying to say the what you’ve been trying to say the past few weeks. It will be refreshing past few weeks. It will be refreshing not to be misunderstood. not to be misunderstood. CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN --Dec 22/Jan 20 You’ll have the confidence and the You’ll have the confidence and the courage to do the right thing, Capricourage to do the right thing, Capricorn. No matter the obstacles in your corn. No matter the obstacles in your path, with right and might on your path, with right and might on your side you can’t fail. side you can’t fail. AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS --Jan 21/Feb 18 Don’t assume that others know how Don’t assume that others know how you feel, Aquarius. Reach out to those you feel, Aquarius. Reach out to those you love while you still have the you love while you still have the chance. Say “I love you” to those who chance. Say “I love you” to those who matter. matter. PISCES Feb 19/Mar 20 PISCES --Feb 19/Mar 20 It may seem to others that you’re the It may seem to others that you’re the beneficiary of good luck, but you beneficiary of good luck, but you know that luck has nothing to do with know that luck has nothing to do with it, Pisces. it, Pisces. Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle