7/03/08

Bob's Big Screen

Real American hero joins two not-so-real characters on DVD

by Bob Connally

In case it wasn’t already obvious, I love a lot of movies and TV shows for very different reasons. But going from “John Adams” to “Psych” to “Freakazoid” is about as wide a range as I can imagine. There’s something for everyone here.

John Adams

(Now Available) – This 4th of July we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our independence and we remember those who gave it to us. The names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin come up a lot. But what of John Adams? It seems that Adams has been lost in the historical shuffle. But thanks to David McCullough’s book and this incredible mini-series from HBO, Adams may get his due at last.

HBO’s seven-part historical epic follows Adams from the day of the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the end of his life. In Part One we see Adams (Paul Giamatti) go from defending the five British soldiers accused of murder to becoming one of the leading voices in the independence movement. Part Two, in which Adams joins the rest of the soon-to-be “Founding Fathers” in Philadelphia, is where this series really takes off. Throughout we share his triumphs and frustrations. It is a fascinating examination of one of the most important people in all of American history.

Writer Kirk Ellis and director Tom Hooper pull us in through writing and camera work that is at once classy and alive. They avoid the pitfall of presenting history in a stuffy way, acknowledging that these were people who lived and breathed. Ellis and Hooper are aided tremendously by one of the finest casts ever assembled. This is the best Giamatti’s ever been. He shows us an incredibly intelligent man of deep convictions, with many flaws and many virtues. Laura Linney, meanwhile, brings the necessary strength to the role of his wife, Abigail. Throughout this series we see it is she that keeps him going, even through his eight-year absence in France.

Every supporting role is cast just right. We see sides of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton that we’ve never seen before. David Morse gives Washington a touch of a mean streak while Tom Wilkinson, in an often hilarious performance, presents Franklin as a fun-loving rascal. Stephen Dillane’s work as Jefferson is nothing short of brilliant.

Whether it’s poetic or eerie coincidence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died the same day, July 4, 1826--the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the declaration which Adams himself tasked Jefferson to write. Adams’ final words were recorded as, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” This series suggests the possibility that the true history of the founding of our nation may have been lost that very day. There is no way to really know. As long as we have the words they wrote however, something truly does survive, and it’s something that must never be forgotten.

“John Adams” is a stunning achievement and far better than anything to hit theaters so far in 2008. Watching this mini-series is a great way to spend part of your Fourth of July weekend.

Psych: Season 2

(Avail. 7/8) – There will come a day in the not too distant future when the name James Roday is as synonymous with funny as Bill Murray. Week after week on USA Network’s “Psych,” Roday proves he is the funniest man on television. His performance as Shawn Spencer, fake psychic detective, is comic gold.

There’s no sophomore slump for this very funny series about an ultra observant slacker who has convinced the Santa Barbara police that he is a psychic. With his level-headed best friend Gus (Dulé Hill) by his side, Shawn solves murders the real cops can’t. Much like “House,” we know that Shawn will solve the case by the end of the hour. The fun of this show is seeing how Shawn pieces it all together between razor sharp quips.

Roday and Hill play off of each other brilliantly. We really believe these guys have been best friends since childhood and Corbin Bernsen is terrific as Shawn’s disapproving dad.

“Psych” is a sharply written and expertly performed show. Season 3 starts on USA July 18.

Freakazoid: Season 1

(Avail. 7/29) - I have always loved Loony Toons and Daffy Duck has always been my favorite character. No other persona has ever attained the heights of insanity, ridiculousness, and sheer…looniness of the “little black duck.”  But Freakazoid comes mighty close.

“Freakazoid” is the story of teenage geek Dexter Douglas who gets sucked into the Internet after typing a random sequence of keys. This turns Dexter into Freakazoid, a blue super hero in a red onesy who can’t fly, but makes whooshing noises as he runs around with his arms extended in the air. As far as plot is concerned, this is all you need know. When a madman holds his loved ones or the world at large hostage, he has his priorities in order.

“Hey Freakazoid, wanna go see a bear ride a motorcycle?”

“DO I!”

Still Freakazoid manages to outwit, outplay, and just generally annoy his foes into submission. He did this from 1995-‘97 (two seasons was not nearly enough) on the WB in what may have been the last great Saturday morning cartoon. It was the perfect show for a kid who’d been raised on a steady diet of Bugs and Daffy, eighties Saturday morning cartoons, and who was just discovering Monty Python. In other words it was the perfect show for Bob. It was inane and stupid in the best possible way and caused what I like to call “uncontrollable hyena laughter.”  

If, like me, you remember this amazingly funny show or if you want to discover arguably the funniest animated show ever made (yes, I’m saying THAT!) then pick up the first season of “Freakazoid,” coming for the first time to DVD.

Also coming to DVD:

7/8: Batman Begins (Blu-Ray)

Monk: Season 6

The Ruins (R)

7/15: The Bank Job (R)- 7.5/10

Penelope (PG)

Reno 911: Season 5

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Blu-Ray)

7/22: Spaced: The Complete Series

Robot Chicken: Star Wars

21 (PG-13)

High and Low: Criterion Collection

Long Way Round

7/29: Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (R)- 7/10

The Band’s Visit (PG-13)

Top Gun (Blu-Ray)

The Hunt For Red October (Blu-Ray)

War Games (25th Anniversary Edition)