| Top Sellers DVDs: |
| The Wiz |
| In this Sidney Lumet-directed Motown rendition of THE WIZARD OF OZ, Diana Ross plays a soulful Dorothy, accompanied by a cast peppered with R&B stars such as Roberta Flack and Luther Vandross. (2 hrs. 13 min.) |
| The Girl Next Door |
| An ambitious high school senior, Matthew (Hirsch), with dreams of a career in politics is overjoyed to discover that his new neighbor, 19-year-old Danielle (Cuthbert), is absolutely beautiful, and they fall in love quickly, head over heels. Their relationship is put to the test, however when he discovers (along with the rest of the town, eventually) that she used to be a... porn star. (1 hr. 48 min.) |
| The Mohammad Messenger of God |
| THE MESSAGE tells of the beginnings of the Muslem religion. A compelling drama about an ancient and venerable culture. (2 hrs. 59 min.) |
| Alone with Her |
Surveillance is often used by directors who are keen to add a voyeuristic touch to their work, and has been cleverly used as a plot device in classics such as BODY DOUBLE, THE CONVERSATION, and REAR WINDOW. In ALONE WITH HER, director Eric Nicholas (RIVER RATS) takes the theme to its logical conclusion, shooting an entire movie on cameras stashed in ingenious locations by the film's central protagonist, Doug (Colin Hanks). Doug is a dangerous loner who whiles away the hours by filming unsuspecting women on hidden cameras, ultimately developing an infatuation with Amy (Ana Claudia Talancon). But after Doug has wired up her home with cameras and microphones, he takes the ruse one step further, using the information he's garnered to align his tastes with Amy's in order to impress her at a "chance" meeting. Naturally, Amy thinks they have a lot in common after meeting him and they begin dating, which only spurs him on to greater surveillance-related depravity.
It's to Nicholas's inestimable credit that he doesn't fall into the trap of letting his clever point-of-view gimmick transcend the actual content of his movie. In fact, ALONE WITH HER is a fine 21st-century thriller that genre luminaries such as Hitchcock and De Palma would doubtless be proud of, thanks in part to compelling performances from Hanks and Talancon. But the director also manages to conjure up a palpable feeling of unease as Hanks's creepy character goes to extraordinary lengths to win the heart of his obsession, and adds just enough intrigue to keep viewers guessing how this cautionary tale will end up. (1 hr. 18 min.) |
| Bring It On: In It to Win It |
| This spin-off from the teen hit BRING IT ON chronicles another group of fresh-faced cheerleaders who battle it out for pom-pom supremacy. This time, it's an east-west rivalry as bicoastal cheer squads vie for supremacy in the Cheer Champ Nationals. But when life rains on both of their parades, it might force the two competitors to join forces. Thrilling music, energetic dance, and great performances offer a winning blend for this exuberant teen comedy. |
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