THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS:
ELEKTRA LUXX
2010; $24.95, R
All we can say is “wow.” Carla Gugina leads the most amazing cast ever assembled for a sleazy pseudo-porn movie, followed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Malin Akerman, Adrianne Palicki and Emmanuelle Chriqui. Carla plays a major porn star who finds herself suddenly pregnant — can’t imagine how that could happen, huh? — so she decides to find a new line of work. What follows is puerile dramedy gold featuring every goofy perversion imaginable — including true love! Seriously warped.
ORGASM INC.
2009; $27.95, UR
A provocative, funny and just-slightly-sleazy doc by Liz Canner, who trails a pack of ravenous pharmaceutical companies, each trying to be the first to get FDA approval on a cure for “female sexual dysfunction.” (We gotcha cure right here, baby ... it’s called “money!”) A fun look at how these firms corrupt every aspect of American government — not to mention our very lives — and reap billions upon billions of dollars in profit. Recommended.
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CEDAR RAPIDS
2011; $29.95-$39.95, R
Meant as a starring vehicle for Ed “The Hangover” Helms, co-stars John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Root and Kurtwood Smith seem to get all the best lines. Ed plays a naive novice insurance man at his first convention, being “guided” by a trio of predatory jokesters while smitten with Heche.
CEREMONY
2011; $26.95-$29.95, R
Uma Thurman, Lee Pace and Michael Angarano star in this indie romantic comedy-drama about a young guy who crashes the wedding of his slightly older former flame. Written and directed by Max Winkler, son of Henry “The Fonz” Winkler, who is making a solid name for himself in Hollywood.
FACE OF THE SCREAMING WEREWOLF
1964; $9.95, UR
Fans of cheezy flicks know this title as one of those great old Mexican cheapies filled with Aztec curses, reincarnated priestesses and the like. But this one really cranks up the gouda by having Lon Chaney Jr. play a revived (and thoroughly inebriated) Aztec mummy … who is also a werewolf! A complete and total POC howler from start to finish. Life is good.
HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE
2010; $29.95-$34.95, R
A popular art-houser in the “group of attractive 20-something NYC-ers exploring life, love and lubrication, blah blah blah” genre. But this one has a hook: It was written, directed by and stars Josh “How I Met Your Mother” Radnor, featuring friends like Malin Akerman and Kate Mara. Worth checking out.
MEDIUM: COMPLETE SERIES PACK
2011; $249.95, UR
This series survived for seven seasons — no small feat — and, while it wasn’t exactly “The X-Files,” it generated a solid and entertaining body of work, right up to the end. Patricia Arquette stars as a suburban mom who talks to dead people in her sleep, reluctantly offering psychic help to the Texas Rangers.
MEGA PYTHON VS. GATOROID
2011; $27.95-29.95, UR
Bloated, over-the-hill former tweeny warblers Debbie Gibson and Tiffany (who have both jumped head first into the SciFi Channel, er, “talent” pool) bitch-slap each other while genetically altered snakes and crocs eat a batch of third-string celebs, including Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. It’s craptacluar.
SPLIT ESTATE
2009; $24.95, UR
One of the best docs we’ve ever seen. Just like in Appalachia several generations ago, homeowners in the Rocky Mountains today find that the government has quietly auctioned off the mineral rights beneath their land, allowing oil companies to dig, drill or assemble any equipment they desire under or near their homes. The result? Constant noise, carcinogenic fumes, poisoned water, blasting and structural damage — none of which the companies are liable for! You will be angry.
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
2011; $29.95-$39.95, PG-13
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are terrific in this Phildickian tale of a man who sees something he shouldn’t — the agents of fate plying their trade, making sure each of us stays on the path we are “supposed” to be on. Problem is, he wasn’t supposed to fall in love with Blunt, and the agents, led by Terence Stamp, are prepared to do whatever it takes to get her out of his life. We enjoyed it.
THE EAGLE
2010; $29.95-$39.95, UR
One of the better historical adventures of late, taking the viewer deep into the world of a lost and fabled culture. Channing Tatum leads his Romans across mysterious northern Scotland to find the 9th Legion Eagle, symbol of a once-great legion, routed and slaughtered by the reportedly “barbarian” Picts. It you liked “Master and Commander,” you will like this.
UNKNOWN
2011; $28.95-$35.95, PG-13
Sometimes-artsy-fartsy actor Liam Neeson proved he can deliver the action-goods as far back as “Darkman” and “Krull.” Here he once again treads hard turf as a doctor who survives a car wreck. Recovering in a hospital, he finds that someone else has taken his identity — and his wife (January Jones) — leaving him confused and angry. Not a sequel to “Taken” as some have claimed, but a more cerebral actioner; dumb but fun, with a terrific cast.
VAN VON HUNTER
2010; $14.95, UR
If you like “Buffy,” “Supernatural” or “The X-Files,” you’ll love this goofy mockumentary on demon-hunters and the pitfalls of celebrity starring Yuri Lowenthal (whose voice graces scores of animes and video games) and gorgeous Heather Marie Marsden (from the “Austin Powers” series).
A More Complete Listing and Free Vids at www.videotapeworm.com.
