June 25, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 21 ‘Winter’s Tale’ incorporates time travel and destiny by Dennis Seuling “Winter’s Tale” (Warner Home Video) marked the directorial debut of Akiva Goldsman, the screen writer of “A Beauti- ful Mind” and “The da Vinci Code.” Based on a best-seller by Mark Helprin, “Winter’s Tale” was a natural for film adaptation because of its heavy reliance on fantasy. Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) is a thief who falls in love with Beverly Penn (Jes- sica Brown Findlay). In a nod to “Camille,” Beverly is afflicted with a deadly form of consumption. Peter has been targeted for a much more violent death by his one-time mentor, the demonic Pearly Soames (Rus- sell Crowe). Peter’s attempts to save his one true love take him across time and against the forces of evil. The story takes place in three different years: 1895, 1916, and 2014. Though the period detail is impressive, the script is mawkish. The unimaginative score by Hans Zimmer is mushy romantic music intended to nudge the viewer into the right spirit. Instead, it is an annoying ingredient in an ill-conceived movie. Goldsman has assembled a fine cast including Eva Marie Saint, Will Smith, Jen- nifer Connelly, and William Hurt, but they cannot extricate the film from its script issues. The movie is a fairy tale, but wants to be grounded in reality. This is its pri- mary flaw. The elements of earthiness and whimsy never blend smoothly, making it tough for viewers to buy into the movie and empathize with its characters. It attempts to capture the style of “The Princess Bride,” but fails to deliver a similarly clever, magi- cal tone. Extras on the two-disc Blu-ray/ DVD combo pack include a digital copy and featurettes on the movie’s characters of Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay in ‘Winter’s Tale.’ good and evil and its love story. “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” (IFC) is a documentary about the legendary Broad- way, cabaret, and TV performer as she approaches her 87th birthday. Viewers see her rehearsing for a performance of her one-woman show — a grueling process as she becomes frustrated when she forgets lyrics. There are excerpts from past per- formances including her one-woman hit “Elaine Stritch at Liberty” and a one-night show at New York City’s Town Hall. The latter is especially amazing. Stritch strug- gles in rehearsal with song lyrics, but in the actual performance she is letter-perfect, not only nailing the lyrics, but also delivering them with gestures, comic emphasis, and authority. Many celebrities sing her praises. James Gandolfini, Tina Fey, Cherry Jones, Nathan Lane, Tracy Morgan, and John Turturro speak of her fondly, even reverentially, and comment on her straightforwardness and brutal honesty. Her vulnerability sur- faces when she speaks about her husband, John Bay, whom she lost to cancer in 1982. Director Chiemi Karasawa shows the real, unadulterated woman rather than a pol- ished, edited version with defects elimi- nated. Bonus features on the DVD release include deleted scenes, interview outtakes, and a poster photo shoot. “Hearts and Minds” (The Criterion Col- lection) is the Academy Award-winning 1974 documentary by Peter Davis concern- ing the United States’ involvement in Viet- nam. Davis combines stock footage, news reports, and color footage shot in war-rav- aged Vietnam. The film’s original distribu- tor considered it too controversial. Instead, it was released independently to box office and critical acclaim. The title comes from a phrase coined by President Lyndon John- son, “The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people.” Presi- dents from Truman to Nixon are seen com- menting on Vietnam. The images are unforgettable. There (continued on Crossword page)