| | W. DVD
| Category | Dramas DVDs, George W. Bush Movies | | Starring | Josh Brolin, Stacy Keach, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Jeffrey Wright, Scott Glenn, Bruce McGill, Elizabeth Banks, Ioan Gruffudd, Thandie Newton, Toby Jones | | Director | Oliver Stone | | Composer | Paul Cantelon | | Director of Photography | Phedon Papamichael | | Editor | Julie Monroe | | Executive Producer | Jon Kilik, Eric Kopeloff, Paul Hanson | | Producer | Moritz Borman, Bill Block | | Screenwriter | Stanley Weiser |
Closed Captioned; Standard Screen; Additional Footage; Soundtrack English; English Subtitles; Director's Comments; Dolby Digital 5.1 Re One might expect sparks to fly when one of America's most controversial filmmakers decides to take on America's most controversial president. Oliver Stone's biopic of George W. Bush, however, is rather gentle on the president; and, while the film clearly paints Dubya as a fool and makes no excuses for the debacle that has been his presidency, it does offer a surprisingly sympathetic character study of the man behind the chaos.
Told in a series of flashbacks that play as his greatest hits, W. portrays Bush (Josh Brolin) as a privileged yet decidedly lost soul. Stone makes light humor of the president's frequent malapropisms and complete lack of intellectual curiosity, but he places the dramatic focus on Bush's desperate attempts to get respect and acceptance from his father. While Bush's backstory and psychology make for relatively interesting drama, his place in history has nonetheless been formed entirely by his eight years as president. In this area, Stone's film offers almost nothing new; however, what W. lacks in revelations and insight, it makes up for with some wonderful performances. The supporting cast--which includes Ellen Burstyn (as Barbara Bush), Richard Dreyfuss (as Dick Cheney), James Cromwell (George H. W. Bush), and Jeffery Wright (as Colin Powell)--all offer nuanced performances that perfectly balance impersonation with genuinely evocative acting. Elizabeth Banks is both sympathetic and understandable as Laura Bush, presenting a woman who stands by her man not simply out of loyalty but also out of love. Brolin must also be given credit for a performance that deftly avoids parody in favor of something born from a true actor. In the end W. is a somewhat unremarkable film, yet its very existence is shocking; in that respect, it almost perfectly mirrors George W. Bush and his rise to power. W. Reviews: 3 stars out of 5 -- "Josh Brolin excels, bristling with energy....Brolin does an excellent job inhabiting without impersonating..."-- Tony Horkins, Total Film "Brolin and Cromwell go at it with vigor, giving the film the psychological resonance it needs."-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone "Brolin is clearly party leader -- nailing Bush's posture and gestures without stooping to easy mannerism, conveying the contradictions of a polarizing president with real generosity..."-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly "The performances are good (some scarily realistic), and the movie is enjoyable....W. is absorbing and amusing to ruminate over."-- Claudia Puig, USA Today "W. is not a dispassionate biography; it is an interpretation of personality intersecting with history, and as a piece of drama it is persuasive and perfectly creditable."-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times "[I]t does something most journalism and even documentaries can't or won't do: it reminds us what a long strange trip it's been to the Bush White House."-- Manohla Dargis, New York Times W. | List Price | $19.98 (You save $5.39) | | Studio | Lions Gate Home Entertainment | | Orig Year | 2008 | | All Time Sales Rank |  62792  | | CD Universe Part number | 7812688 | | Catalog number | 24858 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Feb 10, 2009 | | Rating | PG-13 (MPAA) | | Rating Reason | for language including sexual references, some alcohol abuse, smoking and brief disturbing war images | | Running Time | 129 Minutes | | Additional Info | Full Frame; Subtitled | | Movie Details | Color; Full Frame; Subtitled; Full Screen Version |
W. DVD Keep Case
Full Frame -
1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary: Oliver Stone - Director
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Featurette:
1. Dangerous Dynasty: The Bush Presidency
2. No Stranger to Controversy: Oliver Stone's George W. Bush
DVD-ROM Features:
W. Research and Annotations Guide
Purchase W. Movie To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Miles Davis Bitches Brew CDs (1970) Remastered
W. film
 $15.95    
Among the most controversial recordings in the history of jazz, BITCHES BREW was Miles Davis' shot across the bow of jazz insularity, a bold statement about jazz's ability to draw upon elements of popular culture, without mitigating its spirit of spontaneous invention. Much as Ornette Coleman's THE SHAPE OF JAZZ TO COME set a new standard for harmonic and melodic freedom a decade before, BITCHES BREW signaled a sea change in jazz.
Davis became a lightning rod for jazz's transformation, by mixing the best elements of '60s free jazz with dancing funk rhythms, electric rock textures, blues phrasing and his own breakthroughs in harmony and modality. Davis employed the Electric Flag's Harvey Brooks to double up with upright bassist Dave Holland on the Fender bass, and he is the modal heartbeat of every tune, freeing up the multiple drummers and keyboardists to weave a complex polytonal/polyrhythmic web of volatile chords and colliding rhythms.
Joe Zawinul's "Pharaoh's Dance" and Davis' "Bitches Brew" treat their multiple themes in a ritualistic manner, as several strata of voices engage the lead melody in exciting exchanges. "Spanish Key" offers a thrilling sense of tension and release, as the trumpeter navigates a "Sex Machine"-styled vamp with a terse, brilliantly constructed solo, revelling in his new guitar-like phrasing. "John McLaughlin" is Davis' tribute to the innovative ...
| | Fisher King DVD (1991) Widescreen
W. review
 $9.79 
Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges), a self-obsessed shock jock who thinks he has it all, is about to hit rock bottom. The cult personality spends his time on the radio insulting and berating his listeners, but when one caller takes Jack's advice literally and shoots up a New York City hotspot, Jack is sent swirling down into a depression that has him suicidal three years later. However, he is rescued out of the night by a different kind of knight in shining armor--a homeless man named Parry, played fabulously by Robin Williams, who thinks he's on a quest for the Holy Grail, which he believes to be in a Fifth Avenue town house. Parry serves as the living embodiment of Jack's guilt--Parry's beloved wife was killed in the nightclub massacre. Jack soon becomes conviced that by helping Parry he will also wind up helping himself, so he tries to help Parry win his lady love (Amanda Plummer), at the expense of risking his own relationship with Anne (Mercedes Ruehl, in an Academy Award-winning role), who has stood by his side during his downward spiral.
Terry Gilliam's romantic parable THE FISHER KING is yet another visually stunning work from a master filmmaker, ...
| | Good Night, And Good Luck DVD (2005) Widescreen; Subtitled
W. DVD
$14.45
With GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, George Clooney delivers a riveting account of a crucial chapter in 20th-century American history and, in the process, firmly establishes himself as a major force behind the camera as well. The crisply paced, tautly scripted docudrama recounts the events of the mid-1950s leading up to acclaimed CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow's (David Strathairn) decision to stand up against fiery Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was out to rid the country of communism. McCarthy's seemingly reckless behavior, in which he condemned individuals without giving them a fair trial, angered Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) into action. The resulting few episodes of Murrow's show, SEE IT NOW, found Murrow on a personal, patriotic crusade to challenge McCarthy and rid America of his callous persecution.
Set almost entirely inside the smoke-filled, pressurized newsrooms at CBS, Clooney's assured picture moves at a breakneck pace. Cinematographer Robert Elswit miraculously recreates the black-and-white look of that era, giving the film an added air of legitimacy. And while Clooney and co-screenwriter/producer Grant Heslov wisely chose to use stock footage of McCarthy instead of finding an actor to fill his shoes, they couldn't have found a better Murrow than Strathairn, who delivers his lines with heroic conviction. Clooney's stellar ensemble cast also includes Ray ...
| | American Gangster DVDs (2007) 2-Disc Widescreen Unrated
W. movie DVD
$11.29
British director Ridley Scott may not seem a logical choice for this truly American crime drama, but the filmmaker does an excellent job. The film is based on a true story and set in 1968 Harlem, where Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is a driver for Bumpy Johnson, one of the top figures in the city's criminal world. When Bumpy dies, Lucas swoops in, taking over his predecessor's empire and expanding it over the next few years with his sale of a particularly potent brand of heroin. Meanwhile, New Jersey cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) begins to investigate the New York drug world and discovers that there's a new power in town.
Thanks to screenwriter Steve Zallian, as well as Washington and Crowe, AMERICAN GANGSTER creates a convincing portrait of two men who are neither entirely good nor entirely bad. Washington plays Lucas as a man who buys his mother a palatial home but doesn't hesitate to beat his brother's head against a window. Crowe's Roberts may turn in a million-dollar find, but he cheats on his wife. Sadly, they only meet onscreen toward the end of the film, but the minimal interaction between the two Oscar winners is fascinating. Even though the focus is on Lucas and Roberts, AMERICAN GANGSTER is filled with a wealth of strong characters played by talented actors. It seems everyone with a SAG card turns up for the film, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, John Hawkes, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Carla Gugino, Ruby Dee, ...
| | Frost/Nixon DVD (2008)
W. video
$13.59 
The power of television, and one man's drive to achieve what seems like, at times, an impossible dream, are the two central themes explored in Ron Howard's enthralling drama FROST/NIXON. The impossible dream belongs to David Frost (Michael Sheen), a moderately successful English talk show host who set out to interview disgraced former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) following his resignation in 1974. Howard examines how Frost pulled off such an audacious achievement, and also looks at how both sides prepared for the series of interviews, which eventually transpired in 1977. The confrontation between the two is laced with tension, and the director makes it clear that both men had plenty to lose and a lot to gain, depending on who the public perceived to be in control.
Langella gives a supreme performance as Nixon, easily matching Anthony Hopkins's turn as the former president in Oliver Stone's NIXON (1995). Howard's film, which is based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan, expertly pits the two men against one another by highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses. Frost was a consummate TV host but was out of his depth in political commentary; Nixon was highly adept at avoiding direct answers to Frost's questions, but couldn't mask his sullen facial expressions from the camera. Sheen and Langella are supported by a resolutely excellent cast, and the tension builds to almost unbearable levels as the two finally sit down and discuss Nixon's career. The ...
| | Slumdog Millionaire DVD (2008) Widescreen; Dubbed; Subtitled
W. film
$23.99 
British director Danny Boyle takes another intriguing career turn with this heartfelt underdog tale. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a street kid (or "slumdog") who has landed an appearance on India's version of the hit TV game show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Jamal exceeds expectations on the show, and the producers alert the police after they become suspicious of his methods. The young contestant is subsequently arrested and is interrogated at the hands of a nameless police inspector (played by Bollywood star Irfan Khan). As the interrogation proceeds, Boyle tells Jamal's story through harrowing flashbacks that both show the terrible poverty of Mumbai and help explain how he knew the answers to the MILLIONAIRE questions.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is a tightly woven story that has been expertly edited into shape. The contrast between Jamal's upbringing and his chance of escaping it on the show are adeptly juxtaposed. Mumbai is portrayed as a place of terrifying poverty and unforgettable brutality, and Jamal and his brother get into a never-ending succession of challenging situations. But the way Boyle ties together Jamal's life experiences with his answers on the show is quite brilliant, and the film really does run the full gamut of emotions as we see him growing up, falling in love, coming close to death, and teetering on the brink of escaping from ...
| | 2006 Women's NCAA Final Four DVD (2007)
W. review
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| | Kingdom Of The Vampire - Double Feature DVD (1991)
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| | Icon Sport 5 Event Set - Fire In The Cage DVDs (2009)
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| | Felicity - Season 1 DVDs (1998) Full Frame
W. film
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This popular WB melodrama followed the trials and tribulations of Felicity Porter (Russell), a young woman who ditches her plan to become a doctor when she decides to follow the boy she's had a crush on for four years to NYU. Though her parents had other plans for her, Felicity decided to follow Ben when, after never having spoken to him all through high school, she asked him to sign her yearbook and found herself startled by what he had written. Upon arriving at school, Felicity's world immediately changes and she begins to question and reevaluate her entire life as her relationship with Ben turns out far differently than she expected ...
| | Seven Servants DVD (1996)
W. review
$16.79
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