January 26, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 19 Veteran actress Helen Mirren steals the show in ‘RED’ by Dennis Seuling “RED” (Summit Entertainment) – an acronym for “Retired: Extremely Dangerous” -- is a romp of a movie. The film is highlighted by Helen Mirren wielding a semiautomatic weapon with expertise. That alone is worth the price of admission. When Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), becomes the victim of a high-tech hit squad, he contacts Victoria (Mirren), terminally ill Joe (Morgan Freeman), and Marvin (John Malkovich), the unwitting recipient of 1960s-era LSD experiments. All are retired CIA agents unhappy with the slower pace of civilian life. They join forces to find how and why they have been targeted. “RED” is the kind of action picture viewers have seen a million times before, but never with such a distinguished, big-name cast. Reflecting its graphic novel origins, the movie is long on action with just enough exposition to reveal that the four principals were top field agents in their younger days and still have derring-do to spare. Willis recycles his soft-spoken action hero from the “Die Hard” franchise and Freeman brings his customary class, elevating the film’s stature in the process. For added fun, there is Ernest Borgnine as a CIA clerk not above helping out some old pals. But Mirren steals the show. She does not appear until about a third of the way in, but when she does, the film is hers. She combines her stately, regal quality from “The Queen” with the brazen daredevil tactics of a true action heroine, and appears to be having a ball doing it. Available on Blu-ray and DVD, “RED” contains interviews with cast members, real-life CIA expert commentary, animated documentary shorts on controversial CIA operations, deleted and extended scenes, and audio commentary with a retired CIA field officer. “Secretariat” (Disney Home Entertainment) is about the 1973 Triple Crown winner. No horse had won racing’s trinity of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes in 25 years when Secretariat accomplished this near-impossible feat. The thoroughbred’s combination of speed and endurance made him a once-ina-lifetime champion. Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) returns to her childhood Virginia home when her mother dies. She finds her father (Scott Glenn) in deep depression and his horse ranch in dire financial condition. One of the horses, Big Red, has excellent lineage and looks like he might be a contender for some of the big races. She hires Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) to train him. John Malkovich and Helen Mirren are retired CIA agents who still have some tricks up their sleeves in ‘RED.’ The movie traces the ups and downs of Big Red’s journey from the comfort of his home to his various races. The more he runs, the more his value increases, and Penny is offered millions. Selling him would help considerably with the ranch’s tax burden and other bills, but Penny refuses. She knows he has the makings of a champion and wants to take him all the way to the top. On his rise to fame, his name is changed to Secretariat. “Secretariat” is a film with overreaching aspirations, but is no cinematic champ. Rather than avoid clichés, the movie seems to wallow in them, whether Lucien’s quirky behavior, cloying close-ups of spectators’ awestruck faces, a boorish owner/competitor more suited for a role on “The Sopranos,” a groom who walks onto the Belmont track at dawn to shout out his encouragement to no one in particular and, worst of all, a repeated soundtrack rendition of the gospel hymn “Oh Happy Day,” to pound into viewers’ heads how inspiring the horse is to those around him. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack’s extras include an interview with the real Penny Chenery, a featurette explaining how the races were filmed with innovative technology, deleted scenes, and director’s audio commentary. “Broadcast News” (The Criterion Collection) is an excellent tale of modern journalism complete with an ironic romantic triangle that gives the script by writer/director James L. Brooks a quirky edge. This is not a movie in which human relationships end neatly. Jane Craig (Holly Hunter), an obsessive Lois Lane-style reporter, has high moral and ethical ideals and strives for excellence in her work. 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