By Rick Bentley, McClatchy Newspapers –
This week’s DVD selections include a look at a historical feud and a tale of financial terror.
“Hatfields & McCoys,” Grade B-plus: This first scripted series from the History Channel has picked up 16 Emmy nominations, including nods for stars Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton and Mare Winningham.
Costner plays Anse, patriarch of the Hatfields, who is better known as Devil. Hatfield and Randall McCoy, played by Bill Paxton, lived only a few miles from each other on either side of the Kentucky-West Virginia border. They served together during the Civil War and that’s where the first seeds of the long-running feud were sewn.
Although they don’t have a lot of scenes together, some of the best moments are when Costner and Paxton share the screen. The two veteran actors show a deep understanding of their roles as men who both hate and admire each other.
The miniseries has a few slow moments, but it is a compelling story of how hatred can grow over generations.
The DVD includes the original version before it was cut for television.
“ATM,” Grade C: This film shows that there are scarier things than a low bank balance.
In what is essentially a four-person play, three young executives — played by Alice Eve, Josh Peck and Brian Geraghty — find themselves trapped at an isolated ATM on a sub-zero night. They can’t leave because there’s an ominous figure lurking outside the door.
Director David Brooks does his best to build and sustain the terror but the chills fade near the halfway point. He does get a lot of mileage out of Peck’s character, who is so obnoxious that you wish the other two would toss him out into the cold.
The film is saved in the end by a clever bit of writing by Chris Sparling that offers a couple of interesting twists on the story.
———
Also new on DVD this week:
“Transformers Prime — One Shall Stand”: The story behind Optimus Prime.
“Detention”: High school seniors must avoid becoming the victims of a slasher-movie villain.
“LOL”: Miley Cyrus plays a teen dealing with high school romance and friendship.
“Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Fantastic Gymnastics Adventure”: Dora and Boots practice for the Fantastic Gymnastics Show.
“4.3.2.1”: Four thrill-seeking friends face danger in this crime drama. Emma Roberts stars
“The Kent Chronicles”: Includes three miniseries based on John Jakes novels.
“Marilyn in Manhattan”: Documentary about Marilyn Monroe’s secret move to New York.
“Alice: The Complete First Season”: Linda Lavin stars in the TV comedy set in a diner.
“Cole Younger and the Black Train”: Country music singer Cody McCarver stars.
“Marvel Blade: The Complete Series”: Animated series featuring Harold Perrineau as the voice of Blade.
“Marvel Wolverine: The Complete Series”: Milo Ventimiglia voices Wolverine.
“Mystery Science Theater 3000 XXIV”: It includes “Fugitive Alien,” “Star Force: Fugitive Alien II,” “The Sword and the Dragon” and “Samson vs. the Vampire Women.”
“La Grande Illusion”: A trio planning to escape from a POW camp are moved to an impenetrable fortress.
“Twinkle Toes: The Movie”: Twinkle Toes overcomes her biggest fears.
“Scalene”: Director Zack Parker asks viewers to decide the truth for themselves in this thriller.
“Hindsight”: A former crime boss wants to lead a normal life.
“No Mercy”: Father discovers there’s a fine line between justice and vengeance.
“The Story of the Costume Drama”: Documentary looks at behind-the-scenes productions of TV shows such as “Brideshead Revisited,” “I, Claudius” and “Upstairs, Downstairs.”
“Total Recall: Mind-Bending Edition”: Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a man who faces an identity crisis.
“Going For Gold — The ‘48 Games”: An unlikely pair become sculling partners six weeks before the 1948 Summer Olympics.
“Misfits: Season One”: Five teens must do community service.
“We the Party:” A look at contemporary youth culture.
“Federal Men”: ABC-TV series from the ‘50s that features true government stories of fraud and deception.
“Last Days Here”: Chronicle of cult rock legend Bobby Liebling.
“The Deep Blue Sea”: A British woman’s (Rachel Weisz) passions may be her downfall.
“The Weight of the Nation”: Documentary on the obesity problem in America.
