‘New York’ in two gangs, two discs
Gangs of New York
Daniel Day-Lewis,
Leonardo DiCaprio
Miramax, $30
Martin Scorsese’s grand and grandiose epic about New York City’s violent street warfare in the 1860s between Irish immigrants and Nativists comes alive every time Day-Lewis appears on screen as the head of the Nativists, the ruthless, colorful Bill “The Butcher.”
Though director Scorsese has been conspicuously absent from the commentary tracks for his films on DVD -- save for “The Last Waltz” -- he is very much in evidence on the two-disc set of “Gangs of New York,” more than likely because this was a film he had wanted to make for 30 years. His commentary is intelligent, inspired and intense.
There’s also a better-than-average feature on the “History of Five Points” in New York City; an interview with Dante Ferretti, the award-winning production designer who re-created 19th century New York; an exploration of the sets with Ferretti and Scorsese; a study guide on Five Points; an explanation of the slang; and a Discovery Channel documentary, “Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York.”
*
Wings of Desire
Bruno Ganz, Peter Falk
MGM, $25
After spending several years in America, German director Wim Wenders returned to his favorite city of Berlin to make this hauntingly romantic 1988 fantasy about an angel watching over the denizens of the then-divided German city who falls in love with a lonely trapeze artist (Solveig Dommartin) and decides to become a human being.
Ganz gives a remarkable performance as the sensitive angel, Daniel, and Falk offers up a humorous performance as himself. But the twist is that Falk himself was a former angel.
The great French cinematographer Henri Alekan was in his early 80s when Wenders hired him to work his magic on “Wings of Desire.” The scenes in which Daniel is an angel are shot in luminous, atmospheric black and white; when he becomes human the film transforms into color.
The DVD features a thoughtful documentary on the making of the film, an interactive map of Berlin then and now, deleted scenes and inspired commentary from director Wenders and Falk.
*
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Kate Hudson,
Matthew McConaughey
Paramount, $30
This romantic comedy is also set in New York, but the New York of 2003. And the Big Apple depicted in this light souffle is bright, bouncing and colorful. Hudson plays an ambitious magazine writer who comes up with an idea to write an article about all the silly things women do that drive men away. She picks a handsome advertising exec (McConaughey) who, unbeknownst to her, has made a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in just 10 days.
The pleasant DVD features glossy cast and crew interviews, five deleted scenes, a map of the locations used in the film, and interviews with the production and costume designers and location manager.
Rounding out the disc is genial commentary from the director, Donald Petrie.
*
King of the Hill -- Season I
Fox, $40
Co-created by Mike Judge of “Beavis & Butt-head” fame and Greg Daniels of “The Simpsons,” this wacky Fox animated series has been a mainstay on the network since its premiere as a midseason replacement in 1997.
Judge is the voice of Hank Hill, a bespectacled Texan who sells propane and lives with his wife, Peggy, a substitute teacher; their oddball, pudgy son, Bobby; and Peggy’s dumb blond niece, Luanne.
The three-disc set of the first season is a definite must for the series’ fans. There’s an informative documentary on the genesis of the project, deleted scenes and commentary on several episodes. Though Judge is absent from the commentary, Daniels is there along with some of the characters, including Peggy (voiced by Kathy Najimy) and Bobby (Pamela Segall).
*
Also this week
MTV’s “Real World” Take 2 in Cancun, with a set of twins paying homage to the “Girls Gone Wild” videos in “Real Cancun” (Warner: $26.97)
Top VHS rentals
1. Just Married
2. Old School
3. Tears of the Sun
4. The Recruit
5. Die Another Day
Top DVD rentals
1. Just Married
2. Old School
3. Tears of the Sun
4. Die Another Day
5. The Recruit
What’s coming
Tuesday: “Phone Booth” and “Basic”
July 15: “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Laurel Canyon,” “Gods and Generals” and “Pinocchio”
July 22: “Shanghai Knights,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “Final Destination 2,” “The Life of David Gale,” “Spun” and “Ararat”
Only good movies
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