Susan Granger’s VIDEO UPDATE for week of Friday, May 26th
“American Movie” is a touching documentary about a young slacker in Wisconsin who struggles over three years to make a cheapo horror movie called “Coven.” Mark Borchardt has a knack for talking people into contributing their time, and director Chris Smith spent years following him around from crisis to crisis. It’s the true saga of an independent filmmaker. Another documentary, Chuck Workman’s “The Source” chronicles the Beat writers Jack Kerouac (voiced by Johnny Depp), Allen Ginsberg (John Turturro), and William Burroughs (Dennis Hopper).
“Eye of the Beholder” is a moody, murky, almost incoherent, psychological thriller about a man’s journey into obsession. Ewan McGregor plays a lonely British intelligence agent who becomes fixated on a sexy, slashing serial killer, played by Ashley Judd.
For those who enjoy foreign-language films, “Train of Life” has been called France’s answer to “Life is Beautiful.” A poignant fable set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, it’s the story of how a village fool (Lionel Abelanski) convinces his neighbors to foil the Nazis by faking their own deportation, disguising themselves as German troops. And, for tiny tots, there’s “Barney’s Super Singing Circus,” also available in DVD, and “Play With Maisy,” using classic songs blended with original “Maisy” animation.
PICK OF THE WEEK: “Sleepy Hollow” combines Washington Irving’s supernatural classic with the wildly imaginative direction of Tim Burton, plus the on-screen presence of Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. This horror/fantasy/romance set in the Hudson Valley received three Oscar nominations: Art Direction, Cinematography & Costume Design. But beware: it’s gruesome with violent, brutal beheadings.