Imperial Valley News

WHITEOUT
(2009)
* *1/2 (B-)
Directed by Dominic Sena
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short, Alex O'Loughlin, Shawn Doyle
Warner//Rated R//Thriller//106 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
A Russian cargo plane crashes into the ice of the Antarctic's desolate landscape. Fifty years later, in the present day at the McMurdo Research Station, U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko (Kate Beckinsale) walks a maze of corridors, passing dozens of researchers at work. A voyeuristic camera -- shamelessly peering at Beckinsale's backside -- and confusion concerning her close connection to the station's Dr. John Fury (Tom Skerritt), make us uncomfortable long before murder rears its ugly head. Based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, the forced psychodrama doesn't feel organic, but the claustrophobic mood is well-established when Stetko elects to stay at the evacuated station -- where she'll be stuck during six months of darkness -- to investigate the death. Her clear-thinking abilities are contrasted with flash backs to the emotions that landed Stetko in trouble during her U.S. Marshal stint in Miami. Tension mounts when just five people remain in the evacuated station -- and one of them is the killer. As seen in several outdoor jaw clenching sequences, the shivery landscape is Stetko's most formidable opponent. "Whiteout" remains an engaging thriller despite numerous missteps and a near advertising blackout by Warner Studios.
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OUT ON HOME VIDEO Shorts - By Lisa Miller (edit for space)

 

ACCORDING TO GRETA
(2009)
*1/2 (C-)
Directed by Nancy Bardawil
Starring Ellen Burstyn, Michael Murphy, Hilary Duff, Melissa Chessington Leo, Evan Ross, John Rothman, Maury Ginsberg
Starz / Anchor Bay//Rated PG-13//Drama//90 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
The predictable, presumably heartwarming story of depressed teen Greta (Duff), sent to live with her grandparents (Burstyn and Murphy) so Greta's mom can be alone with her new hubby. Greta's narrative is fleshed out by her self-illustrated journal, containing a bucket list she hopes to fulfill before doing herself in at summer's end. We never believe the chirpy Greta's suicide plan is serious, especially once she finds love while waiting tables at the local diner. Too simplistic for adults and inappropriate for the tweens propelling Duff to fame, the actress desperately needs better roles and soon.

 

GAMER
(2009)
*1/2 (C-)
Directed by Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Starring Gerard Butler, John Leguizamo, Kyra Sedgwick, Alison Lohman, Michael C. Hall, Amber Valletta, Terry Crews, Aaron Yoo, Zoe Bell, Logan Lerman, John De Lancie, Ludacris
Lionsgate//Rated R//Sci-Fi, Action//95 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
This ambitious story casts Butler as Kable, controlled by a nanochip in his brain and forced to fight combatants -- gladiator style -- in the video game "Slayer." Kable desperately wants the freedom promised for winning 30 games so that he can rescue his wife from her role as a prostitute in the video game, "Society." The storyline struggles to move the action past bloody confrontations, while frequent jump-cuts further confuse the chaotic scripting. Michael C. Hall appears briefly as the game's cruel inventor, but despite a good cast, "Gamer" hasn't got game. Various DVD and Blu-Ray features include: making-of documentary, commentary with Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor and cast members.

 

ACROSS THE HALL
(2009)
*1/2 (C-)
Directed by Alex Merkin
Starring Brittany Murphy, Mike Vogel, Danny Pino, Guillermo Diaz, Brad Greenquist, Dov Davidoff
Image//Rated R//Thriller//93 min
Available on DVD
Merkin's 2005 short is expanded, showcasing Brittany Murphy who appears hopelessly zoned out in one of the actress's final performances. Shortly after June (Murphy) checks into a dilapidated hotel, we learn that angry fiance Terry (Danny Pino), has brought a gun and rented the room across the hall. Terry confides his suspicions of June's infidelity during a phone call to best bud Julian (Mike Vogel), who implores Terry to wait until Julian arrives to help out. Though the twists aren't half bad, the film's ponderous dialog and loads of filler impede its momentum, turning tension into frustration. DVD features: featurettes: Making of, Working with Director Alex Merkin, The Call, Working with Friends.

 

THE INVENTION OF LYING
(2009)
* *1/2 (B-)
Directed by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Starring Rob Lowe, Jennifer Garner, Jeffrey Tambor, Stephanie March, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais, John Hodgman, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Stephen Merchant, Louis C.K.
Warner//Rated PG-13//Comedy//99 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
Pudgy Brit comedian, Ricky Gervais, shows us an alternate reality through the eyes of historical writer Mark Bellison (Gervais). Anna (Garner), the willowy beauty Mark covets, is incapable of treating him respectfully. Then Bellison is fired from his job and subsequently evicted from his apartment. The devastation leads to Mark's big break, when under great duress, he develops the surprising ability to lie and single-handedly invents religion. Funny in an off-kilter way, "The Invention of Lying" points out that a day without lies really is like a day without sunshine. Various DVD and Blu-Ray features include: More Laughter: Corpsing and Outtakes, Prequel: The Dawn of Lying, Meet Karl Pilkington, Making of Featurette with Ricky Gervais, Ricky and Matt's Video Podcasts, Deleted Scenes, Digital Copy on Disc.

 

PANDORUM
(2009)
* * (C)
Directed by Christian Alvart
Starring Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Norman Reedus, Cam Gigandet, Andre Hennicke, Eddie Rouse, Cung Le, Antje Traue
Starz / Anchor Bay//Rated R//Sci-Fi, Fantasy//108 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
Two lone crewmen awaken alone from hyper-sleep aboard a spacecraft meant to transport tens of thousands. With incomplete memories and malfunctioning equipment, they search for the source of strange sounds from the ship's interior that proves to be a band of survivors hiding from warriors intent on killing everyone aboard. As for the cause of this calamity? Take a hint from the involvement of zombie king, Paul W.S. Anderson, acting as a producer. DVD and Blu-Ray features include: Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, What Happened to Nadia's Team, Flight Team Training Video, Commentary with Director Christian Alvart and Producer Jeremy Bolt, Deleted & Alternate Scenes.

 

WHITEOUT
(2009)
* *1/2 (B-)
Directed by Dominic Sena
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short, Alex O'Loughlin, Shawn Doyle
Warner//Rated R//Thriller//106 min
Available on DVD or Blu-Ray
Assigned to investigate a murder at the McMurdo research Station in Antarctica, U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko (Beckinsale) attempts to catch a killer before six months of darkness descends on the Pole. Raging winds and plummeting temperatures conspire to make the search difficult when a whiteout reduces visibility to a few yards and traps Carrie like a rat in a maze. Beckinsale has finally landed the sort of legit role that could widen her audience. Though flawed, it's an engaging thriller. Various DVD and Blu-Ray features include: The Coldest Thriller Ever Story, Freeze Frame: From Page to Screen, Additional Scenes in Hi-Def, Digital Copy on disc.

 

THE PHILANTHROPIST: THE COMPLETE SERIES
(2009)
* (D)
Created by Charlie Corwin, Tom Fontana, Jim Juvonen
Starring James Purefoy, Neve Campbell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lindy Booth
Universal//Not Rated//Drama//300 min
There's little at stake in "The Philanthropist," a dull show cancelled following a mere eight episodes. James Purefoy plays Teddy Rist, a billionaire playboy transformed into a philanthropist by personal tragedy. Teddy travels the globe to human rights "hot spots," leaving running his company to Teddy's ex-girlfriend (Neve Campbell), now married to Teddy's partner (Jesse L. Martin). Slick and detached, Teddy's philanthropic efforts are a yawnfest.

 

AUGUST RUSH
(2007)
* * (C)
Directed by Kirsten Sheridan
Starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams
Warner//Rated PG//Drama//113 min
Available on Blu-Ray
Believing her infant died at birth, unmarried Lyla (Russell), a promising cellist, subsequently lost her musical muse. However, her son, August Rush (Highmore) survived to become a talented NYC street performer searching for his biological parents. He's mentored and nurtured by Maxwell (Williams) who prepares August to perform at a Washington Square concert. Recalling themes visited in "Oliver Twist," this film ratchets up the sentimentality, yet earns a measure of respect for the incredible musical performances of rising young talents. Blu-Ray features: Additional Scenes, Valentine's Day Movie Cash.