Home Media Magazine - September 30 - October 6, 2007 - (Page 25)

www.homemediamagazine.com PIPELINE The Dudes Abide Fox and MGM are releasing a five-film boxed set of Coen Brothers classics By Billy Gil ew modern filmmakers match the voice of the Coen Brothers. Their black comedies stretch from settings as diverse as the 1930s Deep South (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) to snowy, smalltown Minnesota (Fargo). But a line of insidiousness lurking just under the floorboards permeates nearly all of the writer-directors’ films. MGM and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Nov. 20 (prebook Oct. 10) will release The Coen Brothers Gift Set, featuring five of the brothers’ films, at $49.98. The set features Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink and Fargo. Blood Simple, released in 1984, was the Coens’ first film, and their first time working with future Oscar winner Frances McDormand (who gave her winning performance in Fargo). The plot reads like the lyrics to a country-Western classic: A bar owner suspects his wife of cheating on him and hires a private investigator Four Sheets to the Wind F Riding the ‘Wind’ Tamara Podemski stars in a Native American drama from First Look By Billy Gil Podemski said. I N D I E It’s not news that minority talent has a tough time As for DVD, she’s excited the film will soon be available in Hollywood. Just ask Tamara Podemski, star of Four to an audience hungry for innovative storytelling. Sheets to the Wind and recent winner of Sundance’s spe“It makes it a little more meaningful that you get to be cial jury prize for dramatic acting. there with audiences that like films that fall through the First Look Home Entertainment Nov. 6 (prebook Oct. 2) cracks,” she said of traveling with the film. “We have to will release Four Sheets to the Wind on DVD, at $26.98. target that audience that’s on the hunt for the newest, The DVD release coincides with National American Indi- coolest underground thing that’s come out.” an Heritage Month. Four Sheets stars Cody Lightning of Smoke Signals, the The 29-year-old actress, singer and 1998 film that helped put Native dancer recently moved from Toronto, I What’s on Tamara American filmmakers on the map. Canada, to Hollywood, Calif., to be clos- Podemski’s DVD shelf: Lightning plays Cufe Smallhill, a er to an industry that tends to pigeonyoung Native American man living in I Coffee & Cigarettes – Fox/MGM hole actors such as Podemski, who is Oklahoma who discovers his father’s I Virgin – Arts Alliance America half Native American (Saulteaux), half body after he commits suicide. I The Motorcycle Diaries – Universal Israeli. Podemski says even the roles Podemski stars as Cufe’s rebellious offered to Native Americans tend to go to the same few sister, who resorts to drinking and meaningless sexual enactors, once casting agents have a cadre to choose from. counters to cope. Although she’d only starred in two previous films, Although Podemski doesn’t own nearly as much screen Podemski was chosen for Four Sheets after Sundance pro- time as Lightning in the film, hers ends up being the grammer Bird Runningwater saw her on Broadway and film’s most memorable role. recommended her to director Sterlin Harjo, who pro“I actively seek good stories and multidimensional charduced the film over four years with assistance through the acters, not just Native American roles,” she said. Sundance Screenwriters Lab. “I guess that gave [acting] more meaning than just a su“Sometimes I don’t look native enough, or sometimes perficial way to make income. I am reminded of who the too different that I can’t look ‘normal’ or Caucasian,” first storytellers were.” to kill her, starting off a chain of complications and deceit. Raising Arizona (1987) stars Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, McDormand and John Goodman (another Coen Brothers favorite) and follows a couple who kidnap a baby from a set of quintuplets. Miller’s Crossing (1990), a 1930s gangster noir, stars Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden and John Turturro, and the DVD includes interview clips with the three stars. Barton Fink (1991), starring Turturro, Goodman and Judy Davis, was nominated for three Oscars and swept the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, winning the Palme d’Or for best director and best actor (Turturro). The DVD includes eight deleted scenes. Fargo (1996) is perhaps the Coens’ most successful film, with two Oscar wins out of seven nominations. The DVD has a “Minnesota Nice” documentary, an interview with the Coens and McDormand, a photo gallery, a trivia track, hidden menus and more. Anchor Bay Partners With Amy’s for Fitness Promo By Angelique Flores FITNESS Anchor Bay Entertainment has teamed with Amy’s Kitchen for a promotion intended for the busy but still healthconscious consumer. From Jan. 1 through April 30, 2008, consumers can go to Amys.com to download a free 10-minute workout segment from 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates. Visitors to the site also can download an instant-rebate coupon valued at $2 for the purchase of any DVD from the “10 Minute Solution” series. The series has 15 titles, including the upcoming 10 Minute Solution: Dance It Off & Tone It Up, starring Jennifer Galardi. The DVD arrives Oct. 16 at $16.98 and comes with a toning band. The workout has three dance segments: “Sexy Slim Down,” “High Energy Fat Burner” and “Dancer’s Abs.” Rapid Results Pilates, starring Lara Hudson, was named one of the year’s 10 Best Workout DVDs by Fitness magazine for 2006, and Health magazine named it their favorite Pilates video. The title also has been among the Top 10 sellers on VideoScan’s fitness charts, according to Anchor Bay. Partnering with Amy’s Kitchen, the nation’s top-selling natural and organic convenience foods, was a natural fit. Amy’s Kitchen online and retail stores provide convenient, healthy food and diet plans for busy people. “It’s the perfect partnership,” said Julie Cartwright, VP of brand marketing for Starz Home Entertainment. The goal of the “10 Minute Solution” videos is to create a fitness solution for busy consumers, by breaking up workouts into 10-minute increments. Each DVD has five complete programs, with its own warm up and cool down so users can choose the length and order of the workout. Beginning in November, Dance It Off, Slim & Sculpt Pilates and other select titles in the series will be packaged with an instant-rebate coupon for $1 off the purchase of any two items from Amy’s Kitchen. September 30–October 6, 2007 Home Media Magazine 25 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://Amys.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - September 30 - October 6, 2007

Contents News Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - September 30 - October 6, 2007

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