Dunne, Griffin

Practical Magic

If a broom falls company is due. When a circle rings the moon trouble looms Should you misplace your broom sorry; a hand vac can't be used in an exorcism rite. Fun and excitement abound in the Owens family of wily witches. One problem though: the men the Owens women fall in love with are doomed to an untimely death. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman bring a sparkling screen magic to Practical Magic adapted from Alice Hoffman's bestseller and directed by Griffin Dunne (Addicted to Love). They play Sally and Gillian Owens sisters hexed by a centuries -old curse...and coping with a witches brew of events involving a possible love match (Aidan Quinn) for one a zombie (Goran Visnjic) for the other and a need to resume the age-old witchcraft taught by two doting Owens aunts (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest). Sit for a spell and enjoy.Running Time: 110 min.System Requirements:Starring: Sandra Bullock Nicole Kidman et al. Director: Griffin Dunne Edition Details: Region 1 encoding (for use in US and Canada only) Color Closed-captioned Widescreen Dolby Number of discs: 1 Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 UPC: 085391632221 Manufacturer No: 16322

Actor Griffin Dunne improves a bit on his first film as a director, Addicted to Love, with this drama-comedy about a family of witches. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play spell-casting sisters of different temperaments: the former is a high-living, free-spirited sort, while Bullock's character is a homebody who can't get around a family curse that kills the men in their lives. A widowed single mom, Bullock gets into a jam with an abusive Bulgarian (Goran Visnjic) and is helped out by her sibling, but the result brings a good-looking, warm, inquisitive cop (Aidan Quinn) into their lives. The film has a variety of tonal changes--cute, scary, glum--that Dunne can't always effectively juggle. But the female-centric, celebratory nature of the film (the fantasies, the sharing, the witchy bonds) is infectious, and supporting roles by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as Kidman and Bullock's magical aunts are a lot of fun. --Tom Keogh

Addicted to Love

Actor-director Griffin Dunne made his filmmaking debut with this ethically ambiguous and not-very-funny movie about a pair of jilted lovers (Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick) who conspire to break up a relationship between their ex-sweethearts (Tchéky Karyo and Kelly Preston). Part classic screwball comedy, part nightmare along the lines of Martin Scorsese's After Hours (in which Dunne starred), part tribute to Hitchcock's Rear Window, Addicted to Love is all over the map and seriously hampered by the sheer, unwarranted nastiness aimed at the innocent characters played by Karyo and Preston. The DVD release includes production notes, original theatrical trailer, optional widescreen and standard formats, and optional French and Spanish soundtracks. --Tom Keogh

Fierce People

Taking F. Scott Fitzgerald's adage "The very rich are different from you and me" as his guide, actor-director Griffin Dunne (Practical Magic) paints a poisonous portrait of privilege. When coke-addicted masseuse Liz Earl (Diane Lane) hits rock bottom, she calls in a favor with an affluent client. In exchange for her services, Ogden Osborne (Donald Sutherland in a sly performance) welcomes Liz and her 16-year-old son, Finn (Anton Yelchin), to his East Coast estate. Liz stops drinking and drugging, while Finn bonds with Ogden's grandchildren, Bryce (Chris Evans) and Maya (Kristen Stewart). Though his mother starts dating Ogden's physician, Finn remains convinced her services extend beyond the therapeutic. Nonetheless, he grows fond of the sensitive, if controlling billionaire. Finn's own father, an anthropologist, deserted him years ago to study the Ishkanani, i.e. "the fierce people," of South America. When Finn is attacked by a masked figure, his warm feelings towards the Osbornes turn cold. At this point, the film takes a disappointingly conventional turn as Finn tries to determine who abused him--and to initiate some payback. If the basic premise never quite rings true, the director, son of bestselling author Dominick Dunne, carries on family tradition in trying to understand what makes people like Ogden tick (Dirk Wittenborn adapted the screenplay from his novel). Dunne's sympathies may lie with Liz and Finn, but obvious advantages aside, Ogden runs away with the show. He may indeed be "different," but he's also the most fully rounded character in the entire muddled exercise. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Contrasting the mores of high society with the blunt savagery of primitive tribes FIERCE PEOPLE takes an inside look at the upper classes examining the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of good manners. Sporting a biting wit and featuring charismatic performances from Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland this unflinching drama exposes the trappings of wealth and privilege and their overwhelming power to both seduce and corrupt.Cast: Diane Lane Anton Yelchin Donald Sutherland Kristen Stewart Elizabeth Perkins and Chris EvansDirector: Griffin DunneSpecial Features: "Breaking Down the Tribe" Featurette Director's Commentary Deleted ScenesSystem Requirements:Run Time: 107 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/MELODRAMA Rating: R UPC: 031398196372 Manufacturer No: 19637

Romantic Comedy: 4 Film Favorites

Summer Catch Rock Star Home Fries Addicted to Love

Lisa Picard is Famous

Lisa Picard (Laura Kirk) isn't famous, but she wants to be. She's an aspiring actress who's been chosen by a documentary filmmaker (Griffin Dunne) who wants to record what happens when someone hits it big; does the new star change, or does the surrounding world change? Lisa Picard Is Famous is a brutal satire of actors, as funny and as savage as its sister mockumentary Waiting for Guffman. The movie follows Lisa as she goes from a soft-porn cereal commercial to a bit part in a TV movie with Melissa Gilbert, while her best friend Tate (Nat DeWolf) writes and stars in an off-Broadway hit. Along the way are genuine (maybe) interviews with celebrities like Buck Henry and Carrie Fisher, who have their own mordant perspective. Theater and movie people may find that Lisa Picard Is Famous cuts a little too close for comfort. --Bret Fetzer

Come inside for a look behind-the-scenes at the world of an aspiring actress on the verge of stardom. Lisa Picard is Famous is the hilarious tale of one New Yorker who will do whatever it takes to make it to the big time. Follow her journey from obscurity to fame, with every step captured "mockumentary" style by a director in search of the elusive moment when opportunity finally knocks. Featuring cameos from some of Hollywood's biggest stars, this funny and smart comedy is sure to please anyone with stars in their eyes and a dream in their heart.

Practical Magic/You've Got Mail

Addicted to Love [Region 2]

Actor-director Griffin Dunne made his filmmaking debut with this ethically ambiguous and not-very-funny movie about a pair of jilted lovers (Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick) who conspire to break up a relationship between their ex-sweethearts (Tchéky Karyo and Kelly Preston). Part classic screwball comedy, part nightmare along the lines of Martin Scorsese's After Hours (in which Dunne starred), part tribute to Hitchcock's Rear Window, Addicted to Love is all over the map and seriously hampered by the sheer, unwarranted nastiness aimed at the innocent characters played by Karyo and Preston. The DVD release includes production notes, original theatrical trailer, optional widescreen and standard formats, and optional French and Spanish soundtracks. --Tom Keogh

Practical Magic [Region 2]

Actor Griffin Dunne improves a bit on his first film as a director, Addicted to Love, with this drama-comedy about a family of witches. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play spell-casting sisters of different temperaments: the former is a high-living, free-spirited sort, while Bullock's character is a homebody who can't get around a family curse that kills the men in their lives. A widowed single mom, Bullock gets into a jam with an abusive Bulgarian (Goran Visnjic) and is helped out by her sibling, but the result brings a good-looking, warm, inquisitive cop (Aidan Quinn) into their lives. The film has a variety of tonal changes--cute, scary, glum--that Dunne can't always effectively juggle. But the female-centric, celebratory nature of the film (the fantasies, the sharing, the witchy bonds) is infectious, and supporting roles by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing as Kidman and Bullock's magical aunts are a lot of fun. --Tom Keogh

Addicted to Love [Region 2]

Actor-director Griffin Dunne made his filmmaking debut with this ethically ambiguous and not-very-funny movie about a pair of jilted lovers (Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick) who conspire to break up a relationship between their ex-sweethearts (Tchéky Karyo and Kelly Preston). Part classic screwball comedy, part nightmare along the lines of Martin Scorsese's After Hours (in which Dunne starred), part tribute to Hitchcock's Rear Window, Addicted to Love is all over the map and seriously hampered by the sheer, unwarranted nastiness aimed at the innocent characters played by Karyo and Preston. The DVD release includes production notes, original theatrical trailer, optional widescreen and standard formats, and optional French and Spanish soundtracks. --Tom Keogh

You've Got Mail [Region 2]