Don't miss Walter Salles' inspirational film about young Che Guevara in this week's top DVD release "The Motorcycle Diaries." Also new: Richard Kelly's cult hit "Donnie Darko: The Directors Cut" and Juliette Binoche's film debut in "Rendez-vous."
Based on the actual diaries, Walter Salles' film about young Che Guevara's revolutionary road trip is startling fresh, honest, and beautiful. Mexican movie star Gael Garcia Bernal gives a moving performance as a young doctor whose eyes slowly open to the injustices of the world. Rodrigo de la Serna is equally wonderful as his charming sidekick. The DVD release is loaded with illuminating special features, including a making of featurette and interviews with star Bernal.
Catch the director's cut of the biggest cult hit of this young century. Brooding Jake Gyllenhaal is tormented by visions of a 6-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him that the world is going to end in 26 days. Jake's older sis, indie queen Maggie Gyllenhaal, plays his sister in the film. The cast also includes Jena Malone as the new girl in school and the film's producer, Drew Barrymore, as an optimistic high school teacher. The directors cut offers 20 minutes of additional footage.
A critical darling in 2004, "Last Life In The Universe" marks the emergence of Thai filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and brings him together with Janpanese superstar Asaon Tadanobu (Zatouichi, Ichi The Killer) and cinemotagher Christopher Doyle (In The Mood For Love). The film tells the story of Kenki, a suicidal librarian whose life takes a drastic turn when he meets Noi and regains the urge to live.
Fans of luminous French film star Juliette Binoche take note: Andre Techine's 1985 drama features the actress in her first starring role. A sexual free-spirit who moves to Paris to become an actress, young Nina (Binoche) wrecks havoc in the lives of three men: a timid real estate clerk (Wadeck Stanczak), his roommate (Lambert Wilson), and a stage director (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who casts her in a play. Olivier Assayas co-wrote the screenplay.
World-renowned architect Louis I. Kahn designed some of the most influential buildings of the 20th century, but he died penniless in Pennsylvania Station and left three families behind. Kahn's son Nathaniel tries to trace his father's confounding life in this compelling documentary.
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