While the spotlight may have been stolen by Tuesday’s DVD premiere of Oscar darling Slumdog Millionaire, two other films also debuted on home video that day, both of which are worth noting, and certainly worth checking out.
Timecrimes is an intense, fascinating thriller from director Nacho Vigalando that tells the story of a man named Hector who takes an unexpected leap backwards in time. Karra Elejalde is effective as Hector, gathering up our sympathies for his plight even when his character has crossed the line of acceptable behavior, but what I found most appealing about Timecrimes was its pacing. The film is in no hurry to get from point A to point B; it reveals itself slowly, layer by layer, taking the viewer down one path, then another, then another, and each more intriguing than the last. Aside from effectively building tension, this pacing also helps us to keep up with what’s going on, which in turn magnifies the numerous surprises lurking around each and every corner. Timecrimes is shocking, exciting, and entirely satisfying.
In Special (a film both Andrew and Kurt have also offered their opinions on), Michael Rapaport stars as Les, a man who signs on as a test subject for a new medication and, as a result, starts to believe he’s developed super powers. At times, Special is a very funny film, especially early on when Les is demonstrating his ‘powers’ to those around him. But Special is more than just a comedy; it’s the portrait of a man whose lifetime of disappointment has suddenly been filled with hope and purpose, a storyline that supplies the film with a very real dramatic layer. Rapaport, whom I had only seen in supporting roles prior to Special, is superb, and the combined direction of Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore is near flawless. Made on a budget of just around a million dollars, Special may have the look and feel of a small film, but it delivers in a big, big way.
Both Timecrimes and Special are available for purchase at Amazon, and were released by Magnolia Home Entertainment.
If you missed it in the theatres, I give a hearty shout out to TELL NO ONE, which also came out on DVD.
Likewise (And I’ve not seen it yet), Sean Ellis’ THE BROKEN (much coverage in the R3 archives and also here) debuted direct to DVD.
Furthther more, a sort of “A MIGHTY HEART” meets “WHO CAN KILL A CHILD?” Fabrice du Welz’s excellent VINYAN (my review is here: http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/tiff-review-vinyan1/ ) also went straight to DVD.
the pacing of Time Crimes slogs, really I am surprised that there is this piqued interest in this film. It is also fairly predictable, it doesn’t try much new with the genre, and like I said in another thread, logically it doesn’t make any sense, not even nitpicking details I mean the whole conceit (I will say no more).
Technically TimeCrimes and Special were released by Magnet.
Not much of a fan of Tell No One or TimeCrimes, but I watched Special earlier this week and really enjoyed. Anna in particular went ga-ga over it and she hates “superhero films”.
Special is indeed well named. What a great little film, that has gone under the radar to many of the folks that dutifully go to the theatre for the latest men-in-tights movie.
Enjoyed the hell out of Tell No One and Special is exactly that. Saw it in the theater like 30 months ago and it is finally getting a DVD release. nice.
Also, Vinyan is at the top of my queue. Should get it a couple days after release.
Ha! just noticed you linked to my review in which I said:
“[Special is] destined to hit the states in a big way in 2007.”
Oops.
Wow. It’s a good week for good films going direct to DVD. Will have to hit the video store this weekend and perhaps even HMV.
Particularly looking forward to The Broken.
Martyrs also came out on DVD, not that I’m recommending it. But it certainly does aim to be transgressive.
Timecrimes is one of the few time travel movies that actually makes sense and doesn’t break the time travel logic it has chosen. I love it! At first I thought it was pretty predictable, but that was sort of the point. But then it managed to surprise me by the end anyway.
And special, ah, that’s a great movie. One of the more interesting superhero movies, if you can call it that.
I can’t wait to own these two movies.
Highly recomended both of them.
I got Timecrimes from Netflix yesterday, so hopefully will be popping that in soon. Haven’t even heard of Special, but I’ll have to throw that in the queue as well – sounds really good.
you will hear of Special, Jandy, its one of the Magnet trailers before Time Crimes.
I take back the illogical claim to Time Crimes, I figured it out, for the most part and it works.
Rot: You above comment is way too mature and forthright for the internet, I suggest you take it back.
@ I take back the illogical claim to Time Crimes, I figured it out, for the most part and it works. And ur a fag!
fixed it.
ha!
Finally saw TimeCrimes today, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I mean sure some of it is just going through the motions/predictable, but overall its a pretty tightly constructed little story that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Not ridiculously ambitious but not mindless either, just 90 minutes of solid, easily recommendible entertainment.
Well said Goon, this is exactly how I feel about the film, and I recommend it to just about anyone without reservation because, simply, it hits the spot.