October 13, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & III • Page 25 Ingmar Bergman classic comes to Blu-ray by Dennis Seuling Director Ingmar Bergman is best known for “The Seventh Seal,” “The Virgin Spring,” and “Through a Glass Darkly.” One of his lesser known movies, “The Magician” (also known as “The Face”), has been given a lush Blu-ray release by The Criterion Collection. Bergman’s focus is the real-life Swedish mesmerist, Dr. Albert Emanuel Vogler (Max von Sydow), who performs with his wife, Manda (Ingrid Thulin), disguised as a man. Vogler and his troupe are on a coach fleeing from the authorities because they are in debt and have been accused of fraud. They are stopped at a small town outside Stockholm and brought to the home of town councilman Egarman (Erland Josephson), where they are ordered to put on a show. The councilman and his arrogant police chief (Gunnar Bjornstrand) hope to expose the troupe as fakes, but the show leads to some unexpected results. “The Magician” is reminiscent of “The Rainmaker,” as some of the locals fall under the spell of Volger’s small troupe. The show biz folk represent glamour and excitement to the villagers and they easily are drawn in by these professional con artists. The film grabs the viewer immediately with suspense, impressive production design, and a fair share of comic relief. Bergman’s cinematic style matches the narrative in that everything is not always as it seems. This approach is engaging and offers nice twists along the way. Bergman’s trademark use of symbols is most apparent in the film’s second half and often seems to hit viewers over the head, but the story and characters are strong, with von Sydow, one of Bergman’s favorite actors of the period, turning in a rich, often dark performance as the mysterious Dr. Vogler. Blu-ray bonuses to this newly-restored, high-definition digital transfer include a new visual essay by Bergman scholar Peter Cowie, a brief 1967 video interview with Bergman about this film, a rare 1990 English-language interview with Bergman, an improved English subtitle translation, and a booklet featuring lots of background material on the film and an excerpt from Bergman’s biography, “Images: My Life in Film.” “Jonah Hex” (Warner Home Video), available in Blu-ray and DVD formats, introduces to the screen the DC Comics’ scar-faced Civil War veteran and bounty hunter, played by Josh Brolin. The villain in this quest-for-revenge saga with a supernatural slant -- and the man Jonah is seeking for the death of his family -- is Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), who is plotting to use a super weapon against Washington, D.C. And, oh yes, Jonah can speak to the dead by placing his hands on them. Adapting comic book stories with a fan base into mainstream movies runs is problematic. The issue is how to satisfy fans while simultaneously attracting non-fans. “Jonah Hex” might be a fan boy’s dream, but to the rest of us, it’s a confusing hodgepodge. The best thing is Brolin’s makeup, which gives him an unsettling grimace and is reminiscent of Conrad Veidt’s Gwynplaine in “The Man Who Laughs.” Though the film aspires to mythic proportions, it tosses too many plot elements into the mix. “Astaire & Rogers: The Ultimate Film Collection” (Warner Home Video) contains every movie the dance team made for RK-O and M-G-M. All the titles have been released in earlier editions, but never before as one “mega-set.” If you are a fan of classic musicals, this is a must-have. The beauty of these films is that, though they differ in overall quality, each one contains at least one gem worth seeing. One of the team’s best films is “Top Hat,” set to an amazing score by Irving Berlin (continued on Crossword page) Max von Sydow stars as Swedish mesmerist and charlatan Dr. Albert Vogler in the Ingmar Bergman film, ‘The Magician.’ C • O • R • T• I • N • A Fine Dining For Lunch & Dinner Dine & Dance - Live Entertainment R I S T O R A N T E Lunch Starts at $7.00 • Mon-Fri 11:30AM–2:30PM Dinner Starts at $12 • Mon-Thurs 5PM–9:30PM • Fri & Sat 5PM–10PM Wednesdays: Ray La Rovere-Piano Emil Rizzo-Mandolin Saturdays: Mike Constantino-Piano Al Russo & Garry Colletti October 15 Sounds of Sinatra October 29 Betty Liste Trio Call for Reservations Private Party Room For Up To 60 People • Call for Reservations - 973-942-1750 NOW OPEN AT OUR NEW LOCATION Right Across the Street! 96 W. ALLENDALE AVE, ALLENDALE Newly Remodeled. Beautiful Decor. Same Owners. Same Great Menu! 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