Digital Divide: February 2010

Hey, look! The column’s called something different now. Why? Well, we decided it was time to begin a serious relationship with the 21st century, thanks for asking.

Seems the kids are all up in the air about this whole Blu-Ray thing, and who are we to ignore the will of the people? So reviews of Blu-Ray discs and their myriad additional features, as well as standard DVD write-ups, will be on the menu.

Plus, we’ll keep an open mind about other forms of digital delivery aside from the current norms. After all, you never know when the next big thing will come along and make you buy Blade Runner all over again. Truth be told, we still have our fingers crossed for direct input into the cerebral cortex, but that could just be us.

Whip It
Fox Home Entertainment

Hollywood has never been shy about pumping out films where a spunky underdog, unsatisfied with their homelife and surroundings, strike-out to make it in the sports world. You may have even seen one or two of them, and if so, you’ve seen Whip It.

Yet just because a film’s been made a hundred times before doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. Any film with a good story, good acting, and good direction will always be worthy.

In her first lead role since Juno, Ellen Page plays Bliss, a Texas beauty-pageant regular who ditches it all when she becomes enamored with the local roller-derby team. Of course her mother, a former pageant queen herself, doesn’t approve, but in films like this “no” is not an option.

Whip It provides strong performances by everyone involved, especially Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live”) as the roller girl who takes Bliss under her wing while trying to balance her derby world and single-mother duties, and Alia Shawkat (“Arrested Development”) as Bliss’ best friend.

Drew Barrymore scores in her directoral debut by avoiding the trap many actors-turned-directors fall into. Instead of trying to show off with flashy camera moves and “Hey look, I’m directing!” shots, Barrymore relies on the talents she has on hand to do the heavy lifting for her.

The Blu-Ray set includes an alternate opening scene, eight deleted scenes, as well as a draft from writer Shauna Cross and a digital copy not included on the standard DVD release.

Film: *** Features: ***

The Invention Of Lying
Warner Bros.

Ricky Gervais is brilliant. Let’s get that out of the way. As the creator of “The Office” and HBO’s “Extras,” there aren’t many working today with a keener comic mind.

Perhaps it’s because of his proven track record that The Invention Of Lying is such a disappointment.

Set in a world where people have never developed the ability to lie, Gervais finds himself as the only one who can. Of course, he uses this ability to score women, money, and fame.

The problem with Lying, however, is it’s a one-joke idea that’s dragged out over a two-hour film. It’s a good joke, but not enough to sustain a feature. In fact, all the good ideas get beaten around for too long. The thread in which Gervais creates religion through his lies works the first time, but the film takes it and runs with it, making it the main theme. By the time you get pounded over the head with the sight gag of Gervais as Christ, even militant atheists will roll their eyes and say, “O.K., I get it already!”

The cast is serviceable, but no one really seems to be working above the material. Rob Lowe, as Gervais’ scheming co-worker, scores a couple of laughs, but Jennifer Garner as the love interest just makes you wish she’d go away.

Co-directed by Gervais and Matthew Robinson, the Blu-Ray set contains extra scenes, a gag reel, podcasts from Gervais and Robinson, as well as a surprisingly funny little film about the first lie created by cavemen, also starring Gervais and Lowe.

Film: *1/2 Features: **1/2

— Timothy Hiatt

Category: Columns, Digital Divide, Monthly