Susan Granger’s dvd update for Friday, Jan. 16th:
Hosted by Billy Crystal and narrated by Amy Sedaris, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” is a PBS documentary series chronicling more than a century of funny entertainment moments, featuring Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Woody Allen, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and many more.
With the Inauguration coming up, Kevin Costner’s gently satirical “Swing Vote” shows just how important one vote can be, when a boozing, foul-mouthed single father, at the urging of his conscientious daughter, finds himself determining who will be the next Commander-in-Chief.
As a boozy, troubled former NYC police officer, Kiefer Sutherland is haunted by “Mirrors” in a creepy remake of a far-more subtle Asian horror film. In “Baghead” four self-indulgent, mumblecore actors decide to write a horror/relationship movie in a remote cabin in the woods but not much happens. And “Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys” takes aim at an African-American audience.
Travel the globe with legendary snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White in “Don’t Look Down,” showing out-of-this-world moves that have helped re-shape action sports.
“The Waltons: Complete Eighth Season” includes a two-hour bonus retrospective special, “A Decade of the Waltons,” while “Dallas: The Complete 10th Season” celebrates a decade of backstabbing, lies, greed, intrigue and lust.
For tiny tots, in “Barney: Once Upon a Dino Tale,” Jingles the Jester needs help with a fairy tale and in “Bob the Builder: Race to the Finish,” the community erects a new sports stadium. And when that fire alarm rings, “Fireman Sam: Saves the Day!” demonstrating the bravery and courage needed to get the job done.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Gather the posse and prepare for a shootout in “Appaloosa.” Set in 1882 in the New Mexico territory, the story revolves around Marshal Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his deputy Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) who a hired to bring justice to the crime-ridden town of Appaloosa, fighting a ruthless copper mine owner (Jeremy Irons).