TopPicks Index
Top 10 Anime DVDs
The best Japanese Animation on DVD
Top 3 New DVD Releases - May 22, 2007
An overweight shop clerk who goes on the road with two punk lesbians in Argentinean director Diego Lerman's "Suddenly", out on DVD today. Fans of the early black-and-white work of Jim Jarmush and the laconic films of Aki Kaurismäki won't want to miss this treasure.
Also new today: Hal Hartley's "Fay Grim," still out in theaters, and Isabel Coixet's "The Secret Life of Words."
Top 3 New DVD Releases - May 22, 2007
Small treasure alert: Diego Lerman's "Suddenly" (2002), a 94 minute black and white film out of Argentina, has being released on DVD. Fans of Jim Jarmusch and Aki Kaurismäki, make sure to watch this small charmer about an overweight shop clerk who goes on the road with two punk lesbians. Also Hal Hartley's "Fay Grim," out now in theaters, is also available on DVD and Isabel Coixet's "The Secret Life of Words."
Top 3 New DVD Releases - May 15, 2007
Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" is a film to be watched over and over again. That need can be induldged: the grim fairy tale is released today on DVD. Also Karen Moncrief's woefully overlooked drama [I]The Dead Girl[/i] and Darren Aronofsky's spectacle [i]The Fountain[/i].
Top 10 Marcy Dermansky's Favorite Films of 2006
A list of film critic Marcy Dermansky's top ten films of the year 2006.
Top 3 New DVD Releases - May 8, 2007
Two Claude Chabrol movies arrive on DVD today: one old, one new. Isabelle Huppert stars in both, and watching this compelling French actress' range is quite a treat. "Comedy of Power" features Huppert as a tenacious judge; in "Violette," she plays an impetuous youth on the other side of the law. Also on DVD: John Curran's sumptuous adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's "The Painted Veil" with Ed Norton and Naomi Watts.
Top 3 New on DVD: April 10, 2007
Pedro Almodovar's "Volver," out now on DVD, is a joy to behold. Penelope Cruz gives the performance of her career as Raimundo, an embittered woman with a secret. Also Justin Kirk charms in the independent romantic comedy "Flannel Pajamas" and a star studded ensemble cast enlivens Emilio Estevez's directorial debut "Bobby."
Top 10 French Film Essentials
In diversity and accomplishment, the output of French filmmakers rivals that of any country. Here is a list of ten landmark French films that should not be missed by any serious film fan.
Top 3 New on DVD: March 27, 2007
Dumped on an unsuspecting public on Christmas day, Alfonso Cuaron's dystopian thriller Children of Men didn't make megabucks at the box office and was shamefully overlooked by the Academy. Only three months later, here's the DVD. Don't miss it. Also: Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower and Princesas, a drama about Spanish prostitutes.
Top 10 Italian Film 101
Ten of the best Italian movies ever made, as a starting place for exploration.
Top 5 New on DVD: The Bridesmaid, Come Early Morning
Five terrific films that slipped through theaters in 2006 are available on DVD today: The Bridesmaid, the latest chillling thriller from French master Claude Chabrol, Joey Lauren Adam's directorial debut Come Early Morning, the black comedy The Perfect Murder, and My Country, My Country, the Oscar-nominated documentary about an Iraqi doctor...
Top 5 New on DVD: The Bridesmaid, Come Early Morning
Four terrific films that slipped through the theaters in 2006 are all available on DVD: Claude Chabrol's chillling thriller "The Bridemaid", Joey Lauren Adam's directorial debut "Come Early Morning", Alex de Iglesia's black comedy "The Perfect Murder", and Laura Poitras' Oscar nominated documentary about an Iraqi doctor "My Country, My Country."
Top 3 New on DVD: Shortbus
The top DVD releases for the week of March 13, 2007: "Shortbus," "Casino Royale," and "My Sister Maria."
Top 4 New on DVD 3/6/07: Borat, Fast Food Nation
Sacha Baron Cohen’s outrageous Oscar-nominated road trip is out this week on DVD, loaded with special features. Also, Richard Linklater's FAST FOOD NATION, and twisted horror films from Germany and Japan.
Top 3 New DVD Releases - February 27, 2007
Bob Dylan, manipulative writers, and girl's basketball: it's another week of eclectic DVD picks. Don't miss the special features-filled rerelease of D.A. Pennebaker's groundbreaking documentary "Don't Look Back", Marc Forster's "Stranger Than Fiction," and Ward Serrill's unexpectedly moving documentary "The Heart of the Game."
Top 4 New DVD Releases - February 20 2007
Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel and Sofia Coppola's epic failure Marie Antoniette are out on DVD today. We, however, recommend different fare: Bicycle Thieves, Shut Up and Sing, and A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints.
Top 5 New DVD Releases - February 13, 2007
It's an amazing week for DVD releases and we are triumphantly back with recommendations. Two harrowing and thoughtful American independent films make their way to DVD: the Oscar-nominated HALF NELSON and DOWN TO THE BONE, the film that launched the career of Vera Farmiga. Plus a surprisingly moving Mongolian film about a girl and her puppy, a low budget comedy about sleepy-eyed slackers in New York, and an equally worthy Capote biopic.
Top 8 Worst Movies of 2006
Worst Movies of 2006: Some filmmakers want to make you suffer and call it art. If there's no agony in your own hum drum life, turn to the silver screen and experience pain beyond your wildest belief. Leave the theater with a raging headache and anger against your fellow man. Highlights of the worst in foreign and independent film include Mel Gibson's Apocalypo, Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel and the Dardenne Brother's L'Enfant.
Top 10 Documentary Films of 2006
There have been so many intriguing and accomplished documentaries in 2006 that we decided to give them their own list.
Top 10 Jurgen Fauth's Favorite Films of 2006
A list of film critic Jürgen Fauth's top ten films of the year 2006.
Top 7 Best Romances of 2006
Read this list and you might think we are a little twisted. Okay, we are little twisted. But our top romances of 2006 include the moving reunions of old lovers, gay threesomes, two quirky Gael Garcia Bernal films, and old fashioned cowboy and young pretty girl love.
Top 5 Most Talented Newcomers in Film 2006
Maybe you haven't heard these names yet, but take note: the future stars of cinema are making their presences known. Newcomers Ivana Baquero, Abbie Cornish, Paul Dano, Shareeka Epps, and Zoe Weisenbaum all gave unforgettable performances this year.
Top 5 New DVD Releases - November 21, 2006
This week on DVD: Al Gore's must-see climate change presentation, the gayest comedy of the year, a healthy dose of South Korean revenge, Scarlett Johansson's funny side and a Kieslowski classic.
Top 4 New DVD Releases - November 14, 2006
New and recommended this week: the Academy-Award-nominated resistance drama Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, Michael Apted's intimate documentary 49 UP and the conjoined twin rock flick Brothers of the Head.
Top 3 New DVD Releases - November 7, 2006
Icy-cold concert pianists, hard-as-rock drug dealers, and intellectual crossword puzzlers are the subjects of our three favorite DVD releases of the week. Koch Lorber has rereleased French romance Un Couer en Hiver; the dark Dutch crime trilogy Pusher is out in a three disc box set. For lighter fare, try the charming crossword documentary Wordplay.