Video Reviews | October 15, 2012

Red Dog. color. 92+ min. Kriv Stenders, ARC Entertainment, dist. by Baker & Taylor. 2012. DVD UPC 796019825474. $20.99; Blu-ray/DVD combo UPC 796019825511. $24.99. Rated: PG. F

Intrepid sheepdog Red Dog became a legend in Australia and the subject of many books, one of which is British author Louis de Bernières’s novel Red Dog (2001), which is the basis for this film. The story chronicles the strong bond that develops between John Grant (played by Josh Lucas) and Red Dog and between the two of them and the community. Through multiple lenses we come to enjoy and appreciate the local color of the outback, and as Red Dog teaches John the meaning of friendship, so, too, the audience discovers it as well. When tragedy strikes, Red Dog is left to his own devices, endlessly searching for his friend John. The highest-grossing Australian film after its 2011 release, Red Dog is the third-highest-selling DVD of all time in Australia, behind Avatar and Finding Nemo. VERDICT Exceptional cinematography, acting, and directing come together to give us a truly heartwarming dog story. Expect it to be as popular here as it is in Australia, especially with families and dog lovers. Highly recommended. [See Trailers, LJ 10/1/12.]—Edell Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

Eames: The Architect and the Painter. color & b/w. 84+ min. Jason Cohn & Bill Jersey, Quest Prods., Bread & Butter Films in assoc. with American Masters, dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2012. DVD UPC 720229914925. $29.95. ARTS-GENERAL

Eames: The Architect and the Painter begins with a shot of one of the famous “Eames chairs” designed by husband and wife Charles (1907–78) and Ray (1912–88) Eames, accompanied by a voice-over of Charles explaining that he’s embarrassed when people describe themselves as artists because “artist is a title that you earn.” This opening perfectly sets the tone for everything that follows: the Eameses are best known as furniture designers, but the hundreds of photographs, film clips, and testimonials from friends, contemporaries, and former employees brought forth over the subsequent hour and a half make it clear that this represented only one part of their contribution to American art and culture. By the time the credits roll, there’s no doubt that the Eameses deserve to be called artists; the only question is where to rank them in the pantheon. VERDICT As one interview subject puts it, Charles and Ray Eames “gave shape to America’s 20th century.” This celebration of their legacy in terms that contemporary audiences will easily understand (“the era of Mad Men”) is recommended for all library collections.—Andrew Horbal, McDaniel Coll. Lib., Westminster, MD

Marley. color. 145+ min. Kevin Macdonald, Tuff Gong Pictures in assoc. with Cowboy Films, dist. by Magnolia Home Entertainment, www.magpictures.com. 2012. DVD UPC 876964004756. $26.98; Blu-ray UPC 876964004763. $29.98. Rated: PG-13. MUSIC

Oscar-winning director Macdonald (Touching the Void; One Day in September) covers every aspect of the brief but remarkably accomplished life of reggae superstar Bob Marley (1945–81) in this intimate and unflinching biopic. By blending performance footage, new interviews with family members and bandmates, and old interviews with the musician himself, Macdonald provides an exhaustive but leisurely paced portrait of a still-revered music giant who rose from the Trenchtown slums of Kingston, Jamaica, to become a wildly successful and influential reggae icon. Candid conversations with Marley’s children and widow help the film explore the little-known side of his life story, including marital and family problems. Marley’s role in popularizing Rastafari music and culture in the United States, the botched assassination attempt that nearly killed him, and his death from melanoma at age 36 are just some of the many fascinating topics covered here. The film is also a visual and musical treat, with a slew of entertaining and well-recorded live performances of Marley classics. Generous extras include extended interviews, commentary track by Marley’s director son Ziggy, and two ­featurettes. VERDICT Informative and engaging, this exhaustive exploration of Marley the man and the musician is highly recommended for any music fan’s video collection.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

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The following titles are reviewed in the October 15 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

FICTION

The Divide. color. 121+ min. Xavier Gens, dist. by Anchor Bay Entertainment, www.anchorbayentertainment.com. 2012. DVD UPC 013132381299. $26.98; Blu-ray/DVD combo UPC 013132381794. $29.99. HORROR

For Greater Glory. color. 150+ min. Dean Wright, NewLand Films, ARC Entertainment, dist. by Baker & Taylor. 2012. DVD UPC 796019824996. $26.99; Blu-ray UPC 796019825528. $32.99; Blu-ray/DVD combo UPC 796019825542. $32.99. Rated: R. F/WESTERN

Sanctuary: The Complete Fourth Season. 4 discs. color. 585+ min. Sanctuary 4 Prods. & Tricon, dist. by Entertainment One, www.eonehomevideo.com. 2012. DVD UPC 741952710097. $44.98; Blu-ray UPC 741952710196. $49.98. Rated: TV-14. SF/tv

ARTS & HUMANITIES

Beatles Stories: A Fab Four Fan’s Ultimate Road Trip. color. 85+ min. Seth Swirsky, Juluksey Films, dist. by Cinema Libre Studio, www.cinemalibrestudio.com. Oct. 2012. DVD UPC 884501726078. $19.95. MUSIC/MEMOIR

German Lineage in Modern Dance. DVD UPC 880104004094. Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet. DVD UPC 880104004292.

ea. vol: color. 58 min. Dancetime Pubns., 888-854-5602; www.dancetimepublications.com. 2012. DVD $49.95. DANCE

Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words. color & b/w. 56 min. Yunah Hong, dist. by Women Make Movies, 212-925-0606; www.wmm.com. 2012. DVD $89; acad. libs. $295. Public performance. FILM

Gilles Deleuze: From A to Z. 3 discs. color & b/w. 7+ hrs. tr. from French by Charles J. Stivale. Pierre-André Boutang, Semiotext(e) Foreign Agents, dist. by MIT. 2012. DVD ISBN 9781584351016. $39.95. PHIL

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Bullying: True Stories. color. 20 min. Blake Works Inc., www.wordscanwork.com. 2011. DVD $99.99 + $12 s/h. Public performance. ED/SOC SCI

Bill Moyers Capitol Crimes. 2 vols. color 117+ min. WNET, dist. by Athena Learning, 888-870-8047; www.acornonline.com. 2012. DVD ISBN 9781598287479. $49.99. SDH subtitles. POLITICS

Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia. color. 85+ min. Scott Glosserman & Nic Hill, Glen Echo Entertainment. in assoc. with Underdog Pictures, dist. by Creative Commons, www.truthinnumbersthemovie.com. 2012. DVD UPC 885444949494. $19.99. Closed-captioned. SOC SCI

New Orleans Jazz & Acadian Culture: Jean Lafitte, Creole Nature Trail, Natchitoches & Rural Mardi Gras. (Discoveries…America National Parks). color. 60 min. Bennett-Watt Entertainment, 800-327-2893; www.bennett-watt.com. 2012. DVD ISBN 9781604901627; Blu-ray ISBN 9781604901856. $24.95. TRAV

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class DVD: Santorino, Greece. color. 70+ min. CelebrateGreece.com. 2011. DVD ISBN 9780981571409. $24.95. Public performance available. COOKING

Code of the West. color. 71 min. Rebecca Richman Cohen, Racing Horse Prods., dist. by New Day Films, 888-367-9154; www.newday.com. 2012. DVD $150; acad. libs. $349 (Rental: $200). Public performance. HEALTH

Pink Ribbons, Inc.: It’s Time To Take Our Ribbons Back! color. 98 min. Lea Pool, dist. by First Run Features, 800-229-8575; www.firstrunfeatures.com. 2012. DVD UPC 720229915113. $27.95; public performance $295. HEALTH

Bees and Wasps: An Appreciation. color. 67 min. with tchr’s. guide. Warren A. Hatch, dist. by AV Café, 877-228-2233; www.theavcafe.com. 2012. DVD ISBN 9781884195594. $20. NATURE

Darwin’s Lost Paradise. color. 104 min. Hannes Schuler & others, Monaco Film & Chapman Pictures, dist. by Kultur, 732-229-2343; www.kultur.com. 2012. DVD ISBN 9780769790664. $19.99. SCI/HIST