1900 (DVD)

1900 (1977) starring Robert De Niro, Gerard Depardieu, Sterling Hayden, Donald Sutherland, Burt Lancaster. Bernardo Bertolucci directs this epic tale that follows the lives of two Italian men -- a peasant and a landowner -- both born on Jan. 1, 1900. Friends as children, the two become estranged as their differing social status pulls them apart. Their personal conflicts mirror political events in Italy, as both fascism and socialism gain footholds in the country. Sutherland, De Niro and Depardieu look remarkably young. De Niro and Depardieu both appear totally nude in one scene where they attempt to employ a young prostitute. Ultimately, though, this movie is just a five-hour-long mess. Grade: C-

The Butcher Boy (DVD)

The Butcher Boy (1997) starring Eamonn Owens, Stephen Rea. Disturbing and surreal story of Francis Brady (Owens), young bully in Irish village whose horrific home life is eventually acted out in murderous fashion. The film is imaginative in its use of unreal imagery, including space aliens, an atomic bomb attack on the village, and Sinead O'Connor appearing to Francis as the virgin Mary. But on the emotional level it somehow fails to connect, and ends up as just a string of events that, while interesting, doesn't really move us. Directed by Neil Jordan. The English subtitles really helped me, because everyone spoke in an Irish accent and I would not have been able to follow it without the subtitles. Grade: B-

Extras: Season 2 (DVD)

Extras: Season 2 (2006) starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Ashley Jensen. The second season of this HBO comedy series from "Office" genius Gervais is hilarious, at least judging from the first disc. Gervais, as struggling actor Andy Millman, has managed to score the starring role in a sitcom he created for the BBC. But he finds his original vision destroyed by meddling network executives. Guest stars Orlando Bloom, David Bowie and Daniel Radcliffe all add extra pizazz to the mix. The DVD also features backstage commentary by Gervais and writing partner Merchant, plus a short reel of outtakes. Grade: A

After the Wedding (DVD)

After the Wedding (2006) starring a cast of Danish actors who will not be familiar to most Americans. A man who is running an orphanage in India comes home to Denmark on a money-raising trip. The wife of the billionaire from whom he is soliciting funds turns out to be an old flame, and that is only the beginning of the surprises, secrets and lies that soon come to light. The movie takes a marginally soap-opera turn, then the ending seems rushed. But there are extras on the DVD -- a conversation with director Susanne Bier, and a slew of deleted scenes -- that may help the viewer appreciate the experience more. Grade: B

The Last Mimzy (DVD)

The Last Mimzy (2007) starring Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson. Two children discover a magical box of toys that's been sent from the future, and soon start to develop some inexplicable, unearthly abilities. As their mother and teacher delve into the mystery, the adults as well as the children are drawn into a strange and unpredictable world, and Homeland Security even gets involved. There's a lot that's nonsensical here, but also an entertaining story and some good visuals. Grade: B+

Fast Food Nation (DVD)

Fast Food Nation (2006) starring Greg Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Bruce Willis. A corporate executive with a national fast-food chain (Kinnear) follows beef's journey from the corrals to the slaughterhouse and ultimately to our stomachs. Early on, we learn that "there's shit in the meat," and the film slowly narrows in on the part of the butchering process where this takes place. The scenes in the slaughterhouse are progressively more harrowing. This may be a necessary film, if not one to savor. Grade: B

The Perfect Crime (DVD)

The Perfect Crime (Crimen Perfecto) (2004) starring Guillermo Toledo. Spanish-language film with English subtitles has hilarious take on Hitchcockian murder plot. Salesman accidentally kills rival, gets unexpected help covering up his crime from a homely sales girl. But she wants his love in exchange, and it's more than he's willing or able to give. Nevertheless, she blackmails him into sex, then a relationship, then to marriage. Grade: B+

The Holiday (DVD)

The Holiday (2006) starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell. Both seeking to escape their disastrous love lives, two young women (Diaz and Winslet) agree to swap homes for the holidays. One lives lives in England, one in L.A. Each finds that in her new surroundings, there are people worth getting to know. And all turns out well in the end. This disc, from Netflix, started skipping and freezing during the last half-hour. It was very irritating. Grade: B-

Breach (DVD)

Breach (2007) starring Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Caroline Dhavernas. Soon after landing a plum assignment working for FBI operative Robert Hanssen (Cooper), Eric O'Neill (Phillippe) realizes he's been brought in to spy on his boss, who is suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets. Cooper is a great actor, but Phillippe seems weak cast opposite him. Even though we know how the movie will end, there are some genuinely suspenseful moments. Based on a true story, in which the worst known spy in U.S. history was finally caught. Grade: B

Shortbus (DVD)

Shortbus (2006). An unknown group of actors combines to present this unrated, rather kinky view into the fringe world of sexuality in New York City. Lots of sex and nudity, but strangely unappealing; mostly homoerotic action, not my thing. Sincere, but amateurish. Grade: C-

Bridge to Terabithia (DVD)

Bridge to Terabithia (2007) starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Robert Patrick, Zooey Deschanel. Two fifth-grade outcasts become friends and create the make-believe kingdom of Terabithia, where they reign supreme and plot revenge against the school bullies. But the film is not, as Disney might want us to believe, a fantasy wonderland with happy ending. Well into the story, it takes a tragic turn, and becomes a rather serious movie about loss and transcendence. Grade: B+

Maxed Out (DVD)

Maxed Out (2006). Somewhat depressing documentary about the load of debt, both personal and national, being carried by Americans. Ringing indictment of the credit card industry and the major banks. Subtitles are not available in English, so some of the dialogue is hard to understand. Grade: B

The Painted Veil (DVD)

The Painted Veil (2006) starring Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Diana Rigg. Kitty (Watts) marries Dr. Walter Fane (Norton) to escape her parents' home, and ends up traveling with him to China, where he is fighting a cholera epidemic. Although she didn't marry him for love, she finds herself admiring his dedication to the cause. This understated period drama (it takes place in the 1920s) will reward the thoughtful movie viewer. Grade: B+

Children of Men (DVD)

Children of Men (2006) starring Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore. Dystopian drama set in 2027, in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce. When a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, a conflicted government bureaucrat (Owen) tries to protect her. Based on the novel by P.D. James, directed by Alfonso Cuaron. If this relentlessly downbeat movie has a point, it escaped me. Grade: C

The Italian (DVD)

The Italian (2007). Six-year-old Vanya is about to be handed every Russian orphan's dream: A loving Italian family wants to adopt him and take him away from the run-down orphanage where he lives. But he can't get the thought of his birth mother out of his mind, and runs away to find her. This film, with an apparent happy ending, seems chiefly designed to reveal the plight of orphans in Russia today. The young actor who plays Vanya is not especially good. Grade: C+

Letters from Iwo Jima

Letters from Iwo Jima (2007) starring Ken Watanabe and a large cast of Japanese actors who will be unfamiliar to American viewers. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Excellent companion piece to Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," this Oscar-nominated movie tells the story of the World War II battle for Iwo Jima from the Japanese point of view. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Japanese defenders of the island do not think of surrender, but of dying honorably -- even if this means suicide in the face of defeat. Eastwood does a good job of humanizing our former enemies, and even shows American soldiers being brutal in one memorable scene. Grade: A-

Venus (DVD)

Venus (2006) starring Peter O'Toole, Jodie Whittaker. Slightly creepy story of veteran actor, played by O'Toole, who falls for the niece of the daughter of a friend. He's in his seventies, she's in her twenties. It's rather entertaining to see how far they'll go (hint: not very); and O'Toole's character shows great insight into the female mind and heart. But even though it's handled with delicacy, the story of a March-December romance has a high "ewww" factor. Grade: B-

Apocalypto (DVD)

Apocalypto (2006) directed by Mel Gibson. In a time long ago, primitive natives live and hunt in the jungle, only to have their existence disrupted when a gang of slave-hunters from the great Mayan civilization which dominated Mexico sneaks up on their village and takes most of them captive, killing the rest. It's a fascinating and disturbing portrait of what life might have been like in the Mayan Empire before Europeans came on the scene. There's a lot of violence and bloodshed, but it's done as tastefully as can be expected. There's also a powerful twist at the end of the movie which, if you become as absorbed in the story as I did, you may not see coming. Also available on the DVD are a short on how the convincing look of Mayan civilization was created, and a commentary track by Mel Gibson and his co-producer. Grade: B+

The Good German (DVD)

The Good German (2006) starring George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire. Uninspiring tale of intrigue in post-World War II Berlin, not terribly well made. Army correspondent Clooney gets involved in intrigue with his prewar mistress Blanchett. Clooney gets beaten up several times and Blanchett gets her wish to escape Berlin; but her movie husband Emil Brandt, the "good German" of the title, ends up dead. Grade: B

The Dead Girl (DVD)

The Dead Girl (2006) starring Toni Collette, James Franco, Giovanni Ribisi, Mary Beth Hurt, Mary Steenburgen, Brittany Murphy. A series of vignettes shows how the body of a girl is found in a field, how those who knew her are affected, and ultimately who did the crime. Absorbing and, taken as a whole, very sad. Grade: B