A DVD that I've been dying for...

A dream come true...Errol Morris's "Vernon, Florida" is out on DVD. It's part of a set with two better known Morris movies, "The Thin Blue Line" and "Gates of Heaven." "Vernon, Florida" makes some people uncomfortable because it's a documentary about eccentrics in a small town. It brings out the same anxieties that a film like "American Movie" brings out: the fear that all you're doing is laughing at the weirdos. I think the film (and Morris) are bigger than that. He has a healthy appreciation for an eccentric that you can see in his later movies such as "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control."

I think of "Gates of Heaven" as a well-known film, but maybe there are a few lucky people out there who haven't seen it. Like "Vernon, Florida," it's about unconventional Americans. These Americans happen to be a family who run a pet cemetery. You don't meet many of the patrons crying over Fluffy's death because the owners are interesting enough to carry the film. One brother sees himself as an uber-achiever businessman; the other is the pot-smoking, guitar-playing groundskeeper. It's a classic documentary that proves you don't need to have an amazing life to make a wonderful subject for a film.

The other release that looks interesting this week is "The Upside of Anger." I didn't actually appreciate the film when I saw it in the theater, but that was before I knew just how bad this movie year was going to be. Now, I think back on it fondly, especially Kevin Costner's return to being an actor with charisma. I've only found him watchable in "The Untouchables" and "Bull Durham." (Can anyone watch "Dances with Wolves" without giggling or groaning?) "The Upside of Anger" might be worth a rent where it wasn't worth a whole night out at the theater.

thanks for the nice review, Stephanie!

so do you giggle during "fields of dreams" as well? there was a big debate over on the bb-blog if that was a good or bad movie.