DVD REVIEWS OF NEW RELEASES.Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor `Casino' replays author's winning hand As Nicholas Pileggi tells it, ``You got to remember one thing when you're dealing with these guys. The only reason they're talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to you is they think they're going to earn off of you. ... It's that cold, that deadly.'' ``These guys'' refers to mob types that the author met over the years as a reporter or while researching his books. Pileggi went on to co-write the screenplays with Martin Scorsese Noun 1. Martin Scorsese - United States filmmaker (born in 1942) Scorsese based on his books for the films ``GoodFellas'' and ``Casino,'' the 10th-anniversary edition of which is out today. The 1995 mob film starred Robert De Niro Noun 1. Robert De Niro - United States film actor who frequently plays tough characters (born 1943) De Niro as Ace Rothstein, the manager of a Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. casino in the 1960s and '70s. The 72-year-old author spent a lot of time interviewing mobsters Mobsters is a 1991 crime drama detailing the creation of the National Crime Syndicate/The Commission. Set in New York City during the Prohibition era, it's a somewhat fictionalized account of rise of Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, and Benjamin "Bugsy" for both the stories and the dialogue - ``Casino's'' Rothstein was based on a real-life character - and would often ask the same question four or five times. ``The first time they answer it, the first sentence is sensational. The second time you ask, the third sentence of their answer is the good one. Or you'll ask it again and they'll remember the color of the car that was shooting at them. It was a yellow Bonneville convertible. I'll try to get the best quotes for a scene and that will wind up in the dialogue." Pileggi, who heard a lot of these guys talk while growing up in Brooklyn's Bensonherst area, notes that many of these guys are good storytellers. ``They're really raconteurs, and they really love to have a good time and go to the bars ... buy each other drinks and tell stories in which, for the most part, they're the hero.'' But they're not heroes in ``GoodFellas'' and ``Casino,'' which graphically shows the violence of their world. Pileggi gives Scorsese credit for being able to take the material and create a spectacular scene. `` 'Casino' could have been a lot less inspired. It could have had a lot less genius. Marty took it and made it his vision. The book is fine. Nobody can take the book away from me. But he took that book and made it quite amazing. I would have never thought of having the guy blow up to the 'St. Matthew's Passion' at the beginning of the movie - and you know you're in that kind of movie from then on. ... And looking at it again, I am just amazed at just how much better it was that I had even remembered it.'' Interestingly, Pileggi isn't alone in that assessment; the film is gaining a cult status. Coming out only five years after ``GoodFellas,'' ``Casino'' seemed a bit like Scorsese was going over the same ground. But now, with a bit more distance, the film can stand on its own merits, which are many. And for a nearly three-hour film, it's never boring. ``Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)'' (Universal; $22.98) includes deleted scenes, featurettes, interviews and a documentary. `Heaven Can Wait,' `Jules and Jim' Two sublime films are out on special-edition DVDs - Ernst Lubitsch's ``Heaven Can Wait'' and Francois Truffaut's ``Jules and Jim.'' The 1962 ``Jules and Jim'' is one of the greatest films about love ever made. Truffaut's third film involved two young writers in 1912 Paris - Jules (Oskar Wermer) and Jim (Henri Serre Henri Serre (born February 26, 1931) is a French actor who is best known as Jim in Jules and Jim. Other appearances include The Fire Within, Section spéciale and Mister Frost. ) - who become obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with the ancient figurine of woman, who becomes personified in the form of the seductively alluring Catherine (Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (French IPA: [ʒan mɔ'ʁo]; born 23 January, 1928) is a BAFTA Awards-winning French actress, screenwriter and director. ). The pair mutually agree to both court her, and through the years Catherine has affairs with each. The film was based on the splendid first novel by Henri Roche, who wrote it at the age of nearly 70. Somewhat autobiographical, the novel has wisdom distilled from being able to look back and see clearly through the complications of romance. The late Truffaut, who discusses Roche in an interview on the DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. , brought the same clarity to the screen. Like the novel, there's no excess - it seems almost too simple but it's so profound. The 1943 ``Heaven Can Wait'' has a dead Casanova-type (Henry Van Cleve played by Don Ameche Not to be confused with former NBA player John Amaechi. Dominic Felix Ameche (May 31 1908 – December 6 1993) was an Academy Award-winning American actor and director. ) standing before the devil and asking for passage to hell because of his sins. But before his wish is granted, they review Henry's 70 years on Earth, discovering that despite his failings, his charms were not entirely without their worth. Here is another example of the Lubitsch touch - a combination of light wit and moral sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. by the director of ``Ninotchka'' and ``The Shop Around the Corner.'' ``Jules and Jim'' (Criterion; $39.95) includes New, restored high-definition transfer, two audio commentaries - featuring Moreau, plus featurettes and an interview with Truffaut. ``Heaven Can Wait'' (Criterion; $29.95) includes a new video conversation between film critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris, a documentary and a new essay by film scholar William Paul William Paul is the name of:
`Bette Davis Collection,' `Joan Crawford Collection,' `The Driver,' `Prime Cut,' `Jaws' Bette Davis and Joan Crawford go head to head again with five-film box sets. Crawford's set includes her Oscar-winning performance in ``Mildred Pierce'' along with her star turn in George Cukor's classic ``The Women.'' Davis' set includes ``Dark Victory ,'' ``Now,Voyager'' and ``The Letter,'' which show off the intensity of the actress. The 1973 film ``The Driver'' - a taut film-noir thriller directed by Walter Hill and starring Ryan O'Neal - has great kinetic energy kinetic energy: see energy. kinetic energy Form of energy that an object has by reason of its motion. The kind of motion may be translation (motion along a path from one place to another), rotation about an axis, vibration, or any combination of and actually makes car chases seem interesting. Michael Ritchie's 1972 ``Prime Cut'' finds Gene Hackman as a low-life A low-life is an Americanism for a person who is considered sub-standard by their community in general. Examples of people who are usually called "lowlifes" are drug addicts, drug dealers,pimps, slumlords and corrupt officials or authority figures. cattleman and Lee Marvin as a Chicago gangster squaring off in this offbeat off·beat n. Music An unaccented beat in a measure. adj. Slang Not conforming to an ordinary type or pattern; unconventional: offbeat humor. action flix. The 30th-anniversary edition of ``Jaws'' is out. Look for our feature on it in Friday's U. ``The Bette Davis Collection'' (Warner; $49.92). includes ``The Star,'' ``Mr. Skeffington,'' ``Dark Victory,'' ``Now, Voyager,'' ``The Letter.'' ``The Joan Crawford Collection'' (Warner; $49.92). includes ``Humoresque hu·mor·esque n. Music A whimsical or fanciful composition. [German Humoreske, from Humor, humor, from Englishhumor.] ,'' ``Possessed'' (1947), ``The Damned Don't Cry,'' ``The Women,'' ``Mildred Pierce.'' ``The Driver'' (Fox, $9.98). ``Prime Cut,'' (Paramount, $14.98). ``Jaws (Widescreen 30th Anniversary Edition)'' (Universal; $22.98). `Hitch,' `A Dirty Shame,' `John Waters Collection' Will Smith and Eve Mendes have the charm and Kevin James Kevin James (born April 26, 1965) is an American comedian and Emmy Award-nominated actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of lead character Doug Heffernan on the television sitcom The King of Queens. the comedy chops that make ``Hitch'' one of the better romantic comedies to come along in a while. Smith plays the title character - a love doctor who helps clueless clue·less adj. Lacking understanding or knowledge. clueless Adjective Slang helpless or stupid Adj. 1. men attain their dreams. Hitch, of course, has his own problems when he meets Mendes' gossip columnist character. You know where it will end up, but it's an amusingly lightweight trip. If you watch John Waters' films, you get the feeling that he believes that beneath every upstanding citizen there is a bit of a sex fiend hiding. ``A Dirty Shame'' - starring Tracey Ullman, Chris Isaak, Selma Blair and Johnny Knoxville - takes that premise to the extreme, with a whole area in Baltimore battling about sexual freedom. On one hand, you're thankful for Waters' irreverence and satirical sense, but that doesn't always translate to enough laughs over even a 90-minute movie. But there are always a few zingers For other uses, see . Zingers are an American snack cake made by both Dolly Madison and Hostess, two iconic American snack food brands owned by Interstate Bakeries Corporation. , which is why fans of the director will enjoy ``The John Waters Collection,'' which includes his best - ``Hairspray'' and ``Polyester.'' ``Hitch'' (Columbia; $28.95). ``A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Theatrical Version)'' (New Line; $27.95). The R-rated version of the film is included plus commentary from Waters. ``John Waters Collection'' (New Line; $102.98) includes ``A Dirty Shame NC-17 Version,'' ``Desperate Living,'' ``Female Trouble,'' ``Hairspray,'' ``Pecker,'' ``Pink Flamingos'' and ``Polyester.'' TV shows on DVD The high-concept ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. series ``Gun'' didn't get a real shot at staying on the air, but its six episodes, which followed the path of a pearl-handled Colt revolver, produced some intense television. The first episode, directed by Robert Altman and starring James Gandolfini, is the best, but the others - which show off Kirsten Dunst and Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated American actor and director. Some of his most memorable roles were Lt. Martin Castillo in Miami Vice, Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver and Admiral William Adama in the , among other actors - often hit their mark. The U.S. version of the British crime series ``Cracker'' also didn't last long. Starring the late Robert Pastorelli as the rumpled criminal psychologist, it didn't measure up to the original, but Pastorelli's performance made it credible. Other TV-related releases are listed below. ``Gun - The Complete Six Film Anthology'' (Goldhil Home Media, $39.98). ``Cracker - The Complete US Series'' (Goldhil Home Media, $39.98). ``Northern Exposure - The Complete Third Season'' (Universal, $59.98). ``Little House on the Prairie - The Complete Season 8'' (Goldhil Home Media, $49.95). ``The King of Queens - The Complete Fourth Season'' (Columbia, $39.95). Rob Lowman, (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: SHARON STONE and ROBERT DE NIRO in ``Casino'' |
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