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The Man With No Name Trilogy
From the press release: Sergio Leone's trilogy of operatic spaghetti Westerns (so-called because they were made in Italy) with Clint Eastwood made the former television star into an international sensation as the scraggly, silent Man with No Name, a wandering rogue with a scheming mind and a sense of humor drier than the dusty, wind-scoured desert. The first in the collection, "A Fistful of Dollars," a unique take on Kurosawa's cynical samurai hit "Yojimbo," reveals the transformation of the Western hero into a crafty mercenary. The follow-up, "For a Few Dollars More," teams Eastwood up in an uneasy alliance with Lee Van Cleef ("High Noon") in a tale of revenge. But the masterpiece of the set is "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," an epic scramble for buried gold set against the violence of the Civil War. In this film good is a relative term as three criminals make a series of tenuous partnerships broken in double-crosses and betrayals in Leone's epic vision of the American southwest as endless deserts and clapboard towns infested with gunmen.
Dan's Take: These films are classic westerns, and the Blu-ray transfers look phenomenal. Yes they may be too long for their own good, but their style and Eastwood's screen-defining performances make each film a must-see. There's also plenty of special features on each disc, which means you should Buy Them.
Shutter Island
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson. Rated R.
In 1954 off the coast of Boston, two federal marshals (DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) are sent to a hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of Rachel (Emily Mortimer), an inmate who murdered her three children. Director Martin Scorsese (“The Departed” does a great job of creating an eerie mood and atmosphere, but the story is a bit too complex for its own good. Kudos to DiCaprio and the accomplished cast for fine performances all around. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River”). Buy It.
From Paris With Love
Starring: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak. Rated R.
In Paris, an ambassador’s assistant (Meyers) helps an unconventional American spy (Travolta) stop a drug ring, then a terrorist cell. The story is utter nonsense, but the action is good fun and Travolta is a real treat. Rent It.
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