Dumas, Sandrine

Valmont

Talk about too little, too late. A year after Stephen Frears's marvelous Dangerous Liaisons, Milos Forman released this film, based on the same material: the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Shot at the same time but held so as not to compete, it suffered by comparison. The story--about a pair of aristocrats, former lovers, who wager that the man cannot seduce a particularly chaste woman--is still awash in lust and intrigue. But, while Forman's craft was exceptional, his cast couldn't match the power of its predecessor. In particular, Colin Firth, as the game-playing title character, lacked the snaky charm of John Malkovich, and Meg Tilly couldn't compare to the tragic beauty of Michelle Pfeiffer. Annette Bening, though born to play a vixen, seemed callow and insubstantial next to the sinister depths of Glenn Close. --Marshall Fine

Based on the classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this delectable thriller stars Colin Firth (Bridget Jones's Diary) and Oscars® nominee* Annette Bening (American Beauty) as embittered aristocrats who weave a wicked web of cruel intentions and savage seductions. Directed by Oscar® winner** Milos Forman, Valmont is a darkly amusing period drama that issimply a piece of high entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter). In 18th-century France, a cruel and calculating playboy, Valmont (Firth), makes a malicious wager with the equally wicked Madame de Merteuil (Bening): Valmont must dishonor the married Madame de Tourvel (Meg Tilly) by sleepingwith her. If Valmont succeeds, he gets the privilege of Merteuil's bed as well. But when Valmont sets out on his task, the unexpected happens...he falls in love with Tourvel! And now Merteuil will stop at nothing to destroy Valmont's newfound passion. *1990: Supporting Actress, The Grifters; 1999: Actress, American Beauty *1975: Director, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; 1984: Director, Amadeus

Aria

ARIA is that history-making film. Sexy violent thought-provoking and funny here is the movie critics raved about audiences flocked to see and no one could stop talking about.Running Time: 90 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA UPC: 883929009497 Manufacturer No: 1000037042

The Double Life of Veronique - Criterion Collection

Krzysztof Kieslowski's international breakthrough remains one of his most beloved films a ravishing mysterious rumination on identity love and human intuition. Irene Jacob is incandescent as both Weronika a Polish choir soprano and her double Veronique a French music teacher. Though unknown to each other the two women share an enigmatic purely emotional bond which Kieslowski details in gorgeous reflections colors and movements. Aided by Slawomir Idziak's shimmering cinematography and Zbigniew Preisner's haunting operatic score Kieslowski creates one of cinema's most purely metaphysical works; The Double Life of Veronique is an unforgettable symphony of feeling.Special Features:New restored high-definition digital transferAudio commentary by film scholar Annette InsdorfThree short documentary films by Kieslowski"Kieslowski - Dialogue" documentary with behind-the-scenes footage2005 documentary "1966 -- 1988: Kieslowski Polish Filmmaker"A 2005 interview with actress Irene JacobNew video interview with cinematographer Slawomir IdziakNew video interview with composer Zbigniew Preisner"The Musicians" (1958) a short film by Kieslowski's teacher Kazimierz KarabaszNew and improved English subtitle translationNew essays by Jonathan Romney Slavoj Zizek and Peter CowieSystem Requirements:Running Time: 97 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 715515020725 Manufacturer No: CC1657DDVD

The Double Life of Veronique

Two women...complete strangers but strangely linked to each other... Renowned director Krzysztof Kieslowski (Three Colors: Red White and Blue) confirmed his reputation as one of cinema's visionary filmmakers with this beautifully poetic elegantly mysterious film that ponders the nature of intuition and the metaphysical connections between people. Irene Jacob lights up the screen as both Veronika a deeply spiritual Polish soprano and her double Veronique a more earthy French music teacher. Each senses the other and is affected by each other's experiences though they have no idea of the other's existence. Aided by a haunting operatic score The Double Life of Veronique is a mesmerizing masterpiece of filmmaking. System Requirements:Running Time: 97 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/FRENCH Rating: R UPC: 014381314021 Manufacturer No: HVE3140DVD

Beyond Therapy

Aria

This omnibus directors fest brings together 10 different filmmakers making 10 different films based on operatic arias. Jean-Luc Godard is stylistically the boldest, Robert Altman possibly the most imaginative, Franc Roddam celebrates American glitz, and Bruce Beresford is the most sentimental. Nearly all the other filmmakers involved--including Nicolas Roeg, Ken Russell, Julien Temple, Charles Sturridge, Derek Jarman, and Bill Bryden--are (or were, in the case of the late Jarman) world-class talents, but you wouldn't know that from their murky participation here. --Tom Keogh

Ten great directors, one unforgettable film. Imagine that ten of the world's most well-known, highly regarded filmmakers were given a free hand to make real any vision. "Aria" is that history-making film. Sexy, violent, thought-provoking and funny, here is the movie critics raved about, audiences flocked to see, and no one could stop talking about. Includes Bridget Fonda's electrifyingly erotic film debut and a revealing, breathtaking performance by supermodel Elizabeth Hurley. Segments directed by Robert Altman, Bruce Beresford, Bill Bryden, Jean-Luc Godard, Derek Jarman, Franc Roddam, Nicolas Roeg, Ken Russell, Charles Sturridge, Julien Temple.

Le Thé au harem d'Archimède [Region 2]

Valmont

Talk about too little, too late. A year after Stephen Frears's marvelous Dangerous Liaisons, Milos Forman released this film, based on the same material: the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Shot at the same time but held so as not to compete, it suffered by comparison. The story--about a pair of aristocrats, former lovers, who wager that the man cannot seduce a particularly chaste woman--is still awash in lust and intrigue. But, while Forman's craft was exceptional, his cast couldn't match the power of its predecessor. In particular, Colin Firth, as the game-playing title character, lacked the snaky charm of John Malkovich, and Meg Tilly couldn't compare to the tragic beauty of Michelle Pfeiffer. Annette Bening, though born to play a vixen, seemed callow and insubstantial next to the sinister depths of Glenn Close. --Marshall Fine