DVD Collectors Online

White Oleander, a review by Rich

Title: White Oleander

Runtime:109
Certificate:PG-13
Year:2002
Genres:Drama

Plot:Oleander can be poisonous. So can a mother's love. Flamboyant, self-centered Ingrid is jailed for the murder of her lover. Yet she still controls the life of her impressionable 15-year-old daughter Astrid.
Based on the popular bestseller by Janet Fitch, White Oleander traces Astrid's remarkable journey to independence. Alison Lohman portrays Astrid, struggling to get a foothold in life as she copes with her manipulative mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and with the challenges of living in a succession of foster homes (Robin Wright Penn and Renée Zellweger play two of the foster mothers). Energized by the real and revealing performances of a stellar cast, White Oleander bewitches – and haunts – from beginning to end.

My Review:
Hard to describe this film, very grim but at the same time compelling, depressing but memorable, agonising but uplifting.
A host of female stars perform throughout the movie, but the star of the film is left to the main lead Alison Lohman, who superbly handles a very difficult and emotional part and never appears overawed in such lofty company. Pfeiffer is unusually gritty and severe as the domineering and at times heartless mother, who the viewer slowly hates more and more through the storytelling.
A steady methodical pace helps a sympathetic direction, and the emotional setbacks through murder, suicide, abuse and foster homes are not overwrung, so you never tire of the material.
A realistically tough tale of a mother/daughter relationship, above average fare.


(From December Marathons - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THREAD on December 9th, 2009)

Knocked Up, a review by Tom

Title: Knocked Up
Year: 2007
Director: Judd Apatow
Rating: NR
Length: 133 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 , French: Dolby Digital Stereo , Spanish: Dolby Digital Stereo , Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Seth Rogen
Katherine Heigl
Paul Rudd
Leslie Mann
Jason Segel

Plot:Extras:
alternate ending
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Outtakes
Scene Access

A fun comedy. Also almost the complete cast consists of actors which appeard in Judd Apatov's earlier works, which makes it a fun "reunion"
If you liked Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared and 40-Year-Old Virgin this is the movie for you.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on April 20th, 2008)

"Due South" marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Diefenbaker's Day Off
Fraser smells a rat when his neighbor Charlie suffers from one too many "accidents." Promising Charlie's daughter Lucy that he'll investigate her dad's streak of bad luck, Fraser discovers that Charlie is the unwilling fall guy for an insurance scam. In his efforts to help Charlie out, Fraser runs afoul of investigative reporter Mackenzie King, who thinks that the displaced Mountie is a part of the scam. Meanwhile, Fraser's still-unlicensed pet wolf Diefenbaker runs afoul of the local dog catcher.

My Thoughts:
Another really fun episode. I got a kick out of the wolf's adventures every time Fraser leaves him alone. And I also really liked this investigative reporter. The very end of this episode suggests she may be back in more episodes... I hope she is.

My Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on June 23rd, 2009)