Reviews: Don't read to me from 'Inkheart'

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 24, 2009 | by Barry Caine

Caught in the wake of Adam Sandler's "Bedtime Stories," "Inkheart" is another fantasy about story characters coming to life ... literally. This time, it happens when Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) reads out loud. And this time, someone from the real world replaces the character inside the book -- but, apparently, only when it suits the filmmaker.

In other words, don't expect consistency from "Inkheart," in story or in tone. The loosey-goosey film builds momentum, stops, turns light, becomes dark, runs, halts and stutter-steps.

Based on the Cornelia Funke novel, the story keys to Mo's searching for the rare book, "Inkheart," which took away his wife when -- before he became aware of his power -- he was reading it to his young daughter. Now 12, she (standout Eliza Hope Bennett) accompanies her father on his quest to regain his wife, with "Inkheart" villains pursuing him and the book at the same time.

In marked contrast to Mo's seriousness, the villains play like comic-book cutouts. Helen Mirren adds a touch of class as Mo's mother-in-law, but seems out of place in this mishmash. Also on Blu- ray.

Extras: Bennett reads a short passage from the book that didn't make it into the movie; more on Blu-ray.

War residue

A critics' favorite and an Oscar nominee for a best foreign- language film, "Waltz With Bashir" takes a fascinating, albeit uneven, look at one man's search for lost memories. At the same time, the animated picture provides imaginative, viewer-friendly insights into post-traumatic stress disorder.

Israeli writer-director Ari Goldman, a participant in the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, creates a character named Ari Goldman who interviews other veterans of that war with the hope that their stories will rekindle his memories of that encounter. Illustrated versions of their tales, painted with saturated colors, leave haunting afterimages. The movie retains its power despite an episodic feel. The images are stunning on Blu-ray.

Extras: Choice of playing in Hebrew with subtitles or English- language track; making-of documentary covers interview process (winnowing 100 war participants who answered the filmmaker's ad), animating images, recording and animating movement; director's commentary and Q-and-A; more.

Westward ho(-ho)

Back when men were men and women were lusty -- in Westerns from the '60s and '70s -- Yul Brynner often could be found carrying six- guns and smoking a cheroot. Playing the title character in 1971's "Catlow," he's fast on the draw and quick with the quip as a wanted man planning a big robbery. Along the way, he and his ragtag band battle the Mexican army and warring Indians, and he's stalked by a killer (Leonard Nimoy, acting nasty) and an easy-going lawman (Richard Crenna) who's his best friend.

At bizarre blend of comedy and bloodshed, the film's an affable change-of-pace for summer viewing.

Extras: Original trailer.

Also on DVD

"Alice's House": Frustrated, middle-age Brazilian wife and mother is forced to reexamine her life after she bumps into an old flame; with Cara Ribas; in Portuguese.

"Bob Funk": Forced by his mom to see a female psychiatrist, a crude, sexist boozer starts to grow up; romantic comedy with Michael Leydon Campbell, Rachael Leigh Cook, Amy Ryan.

"The Code": Thieves Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman team up for a heist; formerly titled "Thick as Thieves."

"Confessions of a Shopaholic": Likable Isla Fisher ("Wedding Crashers") carries this comedy about a woman who goes into debt because of her shopping addiction, then lands a cush job writing a column about saving money for a business mag; cute fluff for a hot day; also on Blu-ray.

"Dominick Dunne: After the Party": Documentary about the author/ journalist who's covered a variety of high-profile murder trials, including music producer Phil Spector's.

"Dragon Hunters": Animated fantasy about a little girl who gathers heroes to slay a dragon.

"My Dinner With Jimi": Re-enacts the 1967 night when the group the Turtles met their rock heroes (the Beatles, the Stones' Brian Jones, Donovan, Jimi Hendrix) in London; with Jason Boggs, John Corbett.

"Phoebe in Wonderland": Elle Fanning, Dakota's younger sis, shows she also has the right stuff -- as a troubled girl who continually slips into her imagination, becoming an outsider at school, where she yearns to take part in an "Alice in Wonderland" show; with Patricia Clarkson and Felicity Huffman.

"The Pink Panther 2": Steve Martin steps into Peter Sellers' sizable shoes for the second time as bumbling French inspector Jacques Clouseau. In this go-round, he teams with other inept detectives to foil a thief whose haul includes the Pink Panther diamond; cast includes Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin; also on Blu-ray.

"Simon Says": Sadistic twins kill teens in woods for not watching "American Idol" (kidding).

"Table for Three": Comedy about a lonely guy (Brandon Routh) who regrets taking in an intrusive couple (Jesse Bradford, Sophia Bush) as roommates.

Reach Barry Caine at bcaine@bayareanewsgroup.com.