Scant moments in ‘Taking Lives’

Taking Lives

Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke

Warner Home Video, $28

The director’s cut of the thriller has its moments, but it’s pretty grisly going. Based on the novel by Michael Pye, the film focuses on a serial killer who steals the identities of his victims. Jolie plays a supposedly crackerjack FBI agent brought into the case; Hawke portrays an art dealer who may be the new victim; and Kiefer Sutherland is the red herring.

A glitzy behind-the-scenes documentary and a gag reel are the only extras.

*

Mayor of the Sunset Strip

Rodney Bingenheimer

First Look, $25

George Hickenlooper directed this fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking rockumentary about longtime KROQ-FM (106.7) DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, a veritable Zelig of the L.A. rock scene. Quiet, unassuming and pixieish, Bingenheimer has mingled with the famous and not-so-famous of the music world for the last 40 years, working as a double for Davy Jones of the Monkees, operating his own club in Los Angeles and championing groups such as X, Blondie and Coldplay on his Sunday night radio show.

Despite hobnobbing with the rich and ultra-rich, the lovelorn Bingenheimer has never made a fortune; he lives in a small, memorabilia-filled apartment, drives a beat-up old car and has just a handful of really good friends.

The digital edition has some terrific deleted sequences and extra interview footage with the likes of David Bowie, Courtney Love, Cher and Pamela and Michael Des Barres. Hickenlooper supplies commentary, as do Bingenheimer and his friend, DJ Chris Carter.

*

Bon Voyage

Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu

Columbia TriStar, $30

“Bon Voyage,” set in 1940 France, is a romantic comedy with thriller overtones. As the Nazis approach Paris, people flee the City of Light for safety in Bordeaux. Among the refugees is a haughty diva of an actress (Adjani), the government official (Depardieu) smitten with her and a young writer (Gregori Derangere) who also is in love with her. Cowritten and directed with flair by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, “Bon Voyage” is uneven but worth the journey.

The digital edition includes commentary in French with subtitles by the effusive Rappeneau.

*

Duel

Dennis Weaver

Universal, $20

After directing episodes of “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “The Name of the Game” and “Columbo,” a young Steven Spielberg was given the opportunity to helm his first movie-of-the-week, “Duel,” in 1971 for ABC. A critical and audience favorite when it premiered, “Duel” is considered one of the best television movies ever made. Weaver plays a salesman driving to a meeting who accidentally angers the driver of an old semi-truck on a deserted highway. The mild-mannered Weaver soon realizes that the driver is out to kill him.

Adapted by Richard Matheson from his short story, “Duel” is a bravura piece of filmmaking. The DVD includes an informative interview with Spielberg, who talks about the experience (he shot the film near Palmdale in 12 days), why he cast Weaver (he loved him in “Touch of Evil”) and even why he cast the Peterbilt truck used in the film. There is also an interview with Richard Matheson, whose short story was used for the movie, and a look at Spielberg’s TV career.