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HDD Study Hall: Clint Eastwoodby Luke Hickman Placing both the known and the secret lives of J. Edgar Hoover on the big screen, opening nationwide tomorrow, is Clint Eastwood's new dramatic bio-pic 'J. Edgar.' [teaser]With Eastwood seemingly always in the running for Academy Awards, I figured he would be a worthy topic for Study Hall, only this time we'll review his past in a different format. Instead of looking at a few of Eastwood's classic titles, we're going to take a look at the many filmmaking roles he's successfully filled over his 56-year career.[/teaser] Acting Eastwood started in the business in front of the camera. Until the last decade, he was known first and foremost as an actor. His first few years in Hollywood were spent playing small roles in television shows and uncredited bit parts in small movies - mostly war flicks and, as you know, westerns. It didn't take long for him to find his niche. After four short years in the business, Eastwood landed the role of Rowdy Yates in the popular television series 'Rawhide,' and the rest is history. After 217 episodes of 'Rawhide,' Eastwood made his way back onto the silver screen in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western 'A Fistful of Dollars.' One year later, he appeared in Leone's 'For a Few Dollars More' and just one year after that, they again reteamed for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' Arguably, this trio of films, known as 'The Man with No Name Trilogy' is the most well-known credit on Eastwood's resume. Personally, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' is not only my favorite western but my favorite of the films in which Eastwood stars. Over the 14 years following his work with Leone, Eastwood appeared in at least one film a year - westerns, war films, and then crime dramas. In 1971, Eastwood kicked off a the five-film 'Dirty Harry' series, where he played a San Francisco cop who didn't play by the rules. Unlike 'The Man with No Name Trilogy,' Eastwood spread his Dirty Harry roles over 17 years, filling the gaps with notable titles 'The Outlaw Josey Wales,' 'Every Which Way But Loose' and 'Escape from Alcatraz.' Alng the way, he's received two nominations for acting in 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Unforgiven,' but hasn't won. The older he's gotten, the less films he's acted in. Eastwood's current focus is placed on producing and directing. Directing Eastwood began directing while shooting his 1971 film 'The Beguiled.' When not in front of the camera, he was behind a camera of his own shooting a making-of documentary about the film's director Don Siegel short called 'The Beguiled: The Storyteller.' He must have caught the directing bug because he stuck to it. His feature directorial debut was 'Play Misty for Me,' after which he directed some of his own westerns and war flicks, as well as one 'Dirty Harry' film. Along the way, he would occasionally direct a film that he would not act in, but after 2004's 'Million Dollar Baby,' he's only returned for one film - 2008's 'Gran Torino.' Eastwood won his first Academy Award for directing 'Unforgiven.' In 2005, he won another Academy Award for directing 'Million Dollar Baby.' He's also have had two other Academy Award directing nominations for 2003's 'Mystic River' and 2006's 'Letters From Iwo Jima.' Along the way he has directed ten actors to Oscar-nominated performances. Producing Since he started directing, Eastwood has produced nearly all of his own films, as well as a few musical and historical documentaries. If you see the Eastwood-produced 'You Must Rememeber This: The Warner Bros. Story' on your TV's listings, be sure to set your DVR to record this fascinating tale of the studio's formation, trials and successes from creation to modern releases. As a producer, Eastwood has won two Best Picture Academy Awards for 'Unforgiven' and 'Million Dollar Baby,' as well as two additional nominations for 'Mystic River' and 'Letters From Iwo Jima.' Composing How many other director/producer/actors out there have also composed their own music? My guess is very few. To date, Eastwood has composed six big screen scores. 'Mystic River,' 'Million Dollar Baby,' 'Flags of our Fathers,' 'Changeling' and 'Hereafter' were all his own films, but 2007's 'Grace is Gone' is the surprise title under his composing credits. Eastwood has no apparent connection to the filmmakers nor the studio that distributed the indie film, yet he composed the simple score. Perhaps he was drawn to the intimate script about a father (John Cusack - who appeared in the Eastwood directed 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil') trying to cope with the death of his wife serving in the Middle East while looking for the right moment to break the news to their daughters. Conclusion Even though I personally view the Eastwood-directed flicks as hit-and-miss, there's no arguing that he's a filmmaking legend. The guy has proven himself in numerous roles within the Hollywood system.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The British rock band is getting ready for a Blu-ray release sometime in the new year. [/teaser] In a recent announcement, the band says 'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' will hit Blu-ray likely sometime in January. The session was recorded in Nigel Godrich's basement and features a pair of unreleased songs (The Daily Mail and Staircase). There's still no word on specs, supplements, suggested list price, or even an exact release date yet, but the Blu-ray will include a 32-page hardback photo book and a digital download. You can find the latest specs for 'Radiohead: The King of Limbs from the Basement' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Killer Elite' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The action-packed thrill-ride will shoot up Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'Killer Elite' will have a Blu-ray release on January 10. Based on a shocking true story, 'Killer Elite' is a gritty battle between guns-for-hire that has been hailed as “one of the best action thrillers of the year!” by Richard Roeper, ReelzChannel. Pitting two of the world’s most elite operatives against the cunning leader of a secret military society, Killer Elite stars Jason Statham ('The Transporter,' 'Death Race'), Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro ('The Godfather Part II,' 'Raging Bull') and Academy Award®-nominee Clive Owen ('Children of Men,' 'Closer'). Featuring unstoppable action and a tremendous cast – including Dominic Purcell (“Prison Break,” 'Straw Dogs'), Yvonne Strahovski (“Chuck”), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (“Lost,” “Oz”), Aden Young ('Sniper,' "The Starter Wife”) and Ben Mendelsohn ('Trespass,' 'Knowing') – 'Killer Elite' is “a classic action thriller that will keep you guessing till the last scene.” (Patrick Carone, MAXIM). The Blu-ray/DVD/UV digital copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include deleted/extended scenes, My Scenes, and Pocket BLU. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Killer Elite' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 10.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Day: 'Stanley Kubrick Limited Edition Collection' Blu-ray $62.99 at Amazon[teaser]Save over fifty percent on the director's limited edition megaset at Amazon![/teaser] The online retailer is now selling 'Stanley Kubrick Limited Edition Collection' on Blu-ray for only $62.99 (58% off suggested retail price). The 10-disc collection contains nine films including: 'Spartacus,' 'Lolita,' 'Dr. Strangelove,' '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'A Clockwork Orange: 40th Anniversary Edition,' 'Barry Lyndon,' 'The Shining,' 'Full Metal Jacket,' and 'Eyes Wide Shut.' Click here to pull the trigger on this amazing today-only deal!Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 08:43 AM PST by: -
'Bettie Page: Dark Angel' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2004 low-budget biography is coming to Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, independent company Cult Epics has revealed 'Bettie Page: Dark Angel' is planned for Blu-ray on February 28. The drama directed by Nico B. stars Paige Richards, Frederick Bald and David Boller and tells the story of the last three years of Bettie Page's brief career. Specs, supplements, and suggested list price have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Bettie Page: Dark Angel' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 28.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'I Don't Know How She Does It' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed[teaser]We don't know either, but Sarah Jessica Parker's latest comedy based on Allison Pearson’s critically acclaimed bestseller is still coming to Blu-ray in the new year. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is working on 'I Don't Know How She Does It' for Blu-ray on January 3. From director Douglas McGrath ('Emma,' 'Infamous') and producer Donna Gigliotti ('The Reader,' 'Let Me In'), Sarah Jessica Parker ('Sex and the City') leads a top-notch ensemble cast that includes Pierce Brosnan ('Die Another Day'), Greg Kinnear ('Little Miss Sunshine'), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Kelsey Grammer (“Boss”), Seth Meyers (“Saturday Night Live”), and Olivia Munn (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”). NBC’s ‘Moms & the City’ call 'I Don’t Know How She Does It' “a hilarious comedy about having it all” and “the perfect film for a girls night out!” The New York Daily News’ Elizabeth Weitzman describes the film as having “plenty of humor and poignancy”, while SHAPE magazine’s Karen Borsari calls it “hilarious!” Finally, New York Magazine’s David Edelstein proclaims, “Sarah Jessica Parker reminds you what an all-in, high-risk comic actress she can be.” The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and the only supplement will be a conversation with Allison Pearson. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'I Don't Know How She Does It' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 3.Posted Thu Nov 10, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Attends: Dolby Presents The Art of Entertainment/FLIGHTby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]On Tuesday, November 1, High-Def Digest was fortunate enough to attend The Art of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco, California. [/teaser] Because the government's always up in my bid'ness, federal law mandates I tell you that Dolby footed the bill for my travels and lodgings, and hosted one heck of a cocktail party and dessert hour. Basically, I need to tell you right now that I will write anything these people tell me to say. Just kidding. I love free stuff as much as the next guy, but getting to talk to the wizards at Dolby and screening films in their laboratory-cinema is a privilege for which I'd actually pay (just don't tell them). So, what was The Art of Entertainment? Like last year's Fidelity Forum, there were Dolby demos on mobile phones and laptop computers. There was even a Dolby PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor on display. This monitor, by the way, was used to color correct 'Apocalypse Now' last year; it purports to be the most accurate monitor available because it can approximate the full gamut of film while being able to emulate the capabilities of LCD, Plasma, and CRT displays. I'm sure its price tag tens of thousands of dollars will prevent most of us from having one in our homes, but it's nice to know the pros will be able to make sure we're not too far behind perfect. Fun toys aside, the real reason we were all up in San Francisco was to screen 'The Art of Flight', a new snowboarding adventure documentary directed by Curt Morgan. Boarders Travis Rice, John Jackson, Mark Landvik, Scotty Lago, Jake Blauvelt, Nicolas Muller, Gigi Ruf, DCP and Pat Moore travel to Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado, British Columbia, Chile, and Patigonia in search of an endless winter… and snow conditions of a non-lethal variety. Click on the film's title to read the full review, but this enthralling movie brims with exotic landscapes, death-defying stunts, crushing avalanches, beautifully photographed slow motion, and a reference quality 7.1 Dolby TrueHD surround track that was mixed in the hallowed halls of Skywalker Sound. Imagine 'Planet Earth' meets 'The X Games' with all the slow motion from 'Braveheart' or the opening scene from 'The Hurt Locker'. Filmmaker Curt Morgan was on hand, along with many others who contributed to the film, to discuss how Curt isn't sure if he made a snowboarding film with some helicopters, or a helicopter film with a bit of snowboarding. Seriously, hats off to the pilots who may be just as crazy as the extreme snowboarders. It's flat out incredible how they plow a chopper's nose into the side of a mountain ledge -- routers inches from ice, rock and snow -- to let out or rescue passengers. For a 40 minute look behind what goes into making an HD extreme sports film on two continents over two and a half years, here's the entire panel: The Art of Flight Panel from Dolby Laboratories on Vimeo. 'The Art of Flight' is available now online and in some snowboarding stores; it will also head to Best Buy as a Blu-ray on November 15. Many thanks to Dolby for inviting us up to see this amazing film in your deafening laboratory-cinema (seriously, you guys could turn it down just a little – my ears are still ringing!), which is one of the two best auditory experiences I've ever head. [PS. Keep your eyes on The Bonus View for an exclusive chance to win a free copy of the film.] Oh, and the government told me I have to thank you for the free t-shirt.Posted Wed Nov 9, 2011 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
'Margin Call' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The acclaimed drama inspired by the riveting true events behind the American financial crisis is coming to Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is preparing 'Margin Call' for Blu-ray on December 20. This "impressively cast" (The New York Times) Wall Street drama stars an A-list ensemble including Oscar® winners Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons, along with Oscar® nominee Stanley Tucci and Golden Globe® nominee Demi Moore. The film also features Mary McDonnell (TV's "The Closer"), Paul Bettany ('The Tourist'), Simon Baker (TV's "The Mentalist"), Zachary Quinto ('Star Trek') and Penn Badgley (TV's "Gossip Girl"). Hailed as "dazzling" (The New York Times) and honored as an official selection of the Sundance and Berlin International film festivals, 'Margin Call' revolves around the key people at an investment bank who are faced with the unimaginable task of navigating the first 12 hours of the financial crisis. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Audio commentary with writer/director J.C. Chandor and producer Neal Dodson, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Margin Call' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 20.Posted Wed Nov 9, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Blue Velvet: 25th Anniversary Edition' Exclusive Blu-ray Clip[teaser]David Lynch's 1986 thriller is now available on Blu-ray and we have an exclusive clip from this release! [/teaser] From the mind of David Lynch ('Mulholland Drive,' “Twin Peaks”) comes a visionary story so startling, so provocative, so mysterious that it will open your eyes to a world you have never seen before. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment celebrates the anniversary of a groundbreaking American cinema classic when the 'Blue Velvet: 25th Anniversary Edition' makes its curtain call on Blu-ray on November 8 . For the first time ever, fans will see over 50 minutes of deleted scenes from the film, thought to have been lost for the past 25 years, with a transfer and color correction supervised by Lynch himself. Beneath the surface of small-town serenity lies a dark domain where innocence dare not tread and unpredictability is the norm. It is the haunting realm of 'Blue Velvet.' In this “shocking, deeply disturbing, startling mixture of the heartfelt and the horrific” (Newsweek), clean-cut Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan, “Twin Peaks”) realizes his Mayberry-like hometown is not-so-normal when he discovers a human ear in a field. His investigation catapults him into an alluring, erotic murder mystery involving a disturbed nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini, 'Death Becomes Her') and a drug-addicted sadist (Dennis Hopper, 'Speed'). Soon, Jeffrey is led deeper into their depraved existence past the point of no return. Nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Directing (Lynch) and a Golden Globe® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Hopper), 'Blue Velvet' features brilliant supporting performances from Laura Dern ('Wild at Heart'), Dean Stockwell (“Quantum Leap”), Hope Lange ('Peyton Place') and David Lynch mainstay Jack Nance ('Eraserhead'). Fans of Lynch’s filmmaking may also enjoy his solo debut as a musical artist, Crazy Clown Time, which is due out November 8 from Sunday Best Recordings / PIAS in America. Lynch produced and wrote the album’s 14 original songs, which spotlight him on guitar and vocals. Critics are already buzzing about the collection of dark and quirky pop, which is available on CD and LP as well as digitally. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include over 50 minutes of never-before-seen lost footage and a few outtakes. Here's an exclusive clip only found on the Blu-ray: Here's a look at the cover art: Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Blue Velvet: 25th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 8.Posted Wed Nov 9, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Digital Playground Brings Porn to Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The first 3D adult Blu-ray is hitting shelves on November 22nd. [/teaser] There's one industry out there that always works hard to push technology forward while maintaining a relatively low budget. It's the business that really helped to put streaming video on the map and the entertainment that represents a large chunk of internet usage. That's right - porn. The adult film industry has made another leap forward thanks to Digital Playground, which will be releasing its first 3D Blu-ray on November 22nd. The movie is called 'Jailhouse Heat 3D' and it's a comedy of sorts. In addition to the flick itself, you'll get 14 different trailers, a behind the scenes featurette and more. No word on whether the bonus features are in 3D. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Nov 9, 2011 at 09:20 AM PST by:
