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In The Valley Of Elah [2008]

starring: Charlize Theron, Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin, James Franco
directed by: Paul Haggis

May 26, 2008
Anyone who has seen director Paul Haggis Oscar winning movie Crash [2004] [2005] ( a worthy but heavy handed drama on race relations for those that haven't seen it) would be forgiven for expecting more of the same from In The Valley Of Elah. However writer and director Haggis has delivered a far more subtle examination of war and it's effects on those who have to fight them. In this he is helped considerably by terrific performances from a stellar cast.
Retired army officer Hank Deerfield ( Tommy Lee Jones) receives a phone call to tell him that his son recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq has gone AWOL from his army base. Leaving his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) behind this stoical man sets off in his pick up to see if he can ... Read More:

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Crash [2004] [2005]

starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe
directed by: Paul Haggis

December 05, 2005
That this film won the Oscar for best film is absurd.

Just because it had an allegedly worthy message isn't enough to make it a good film. Besides its message is asanine and its delivery appalling.

First, there is no character differentiation or depth at all. Every single character is shown to be a) completely unhappy, b) mainly due to being subject to racial prejudice, leading to c) them being racist themselves. Just in case you can't see that, every character, often on first appearance, and then again, and again, make explicit statements about being unhappy/racist/victims of racism. That such a complex issue is dealt with so superficiality cannot be excused just by the fact that Hollywood so abjectly fails to address race ... Read More:

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In The Valley Of Elah [Blu-ray] [2007]

starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric
directed by: Paul Haggis

May 26, 2008
That this film won the Oscar for best film is absurd.

Just because it had an allegedly worthy message isn't enough to make it a good film. Besides its message is asanine and its delivery appalling.

First, there is no character differentiation or depth at all. Every single character is shown to be a) completely unhappy, b) mainly due to being subject to racial prejudice, leading to c) them being racist themselves. Just in case you can't see that, every character, often on first appearance, and then again, and again, make explicit statements about being unhappy/racist/victims of racism. That such a complex issue is dealt with so superficiality cannot be excused just by the fact that Hollywood so abjectly fails to address race ... Read More:

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Crash (2 Disc Directors Cut) [2004] [2005]

starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe
directed by: Paul Haggis

August 28, 2006
A very good movie. When I first went to see it, I have to admit I didnt expect much just because the title seemed so bland. However as the story played out you can see how true to life the comments and reactions were. All the scenes were great but the memorable comment for me was the politician who was robbed by two black guys but doesnt want to lose the black vote so wants a photo of him pinning a medal on a black person to go out to show him as anti racist. Then when he suggests someone he is informed that the person is infact Iraqi. "Well he looks black!" is just hilarious. When told the Iraqis name is "Saddam" his reply was hilarious

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The Black Donnellys - Series 1 - Complete [2007]

starring: Jonathan Tucker, Keith Nobbs, Tom Guiry, Olivia Wilde, Peter Greene
directed by: Paul Haggis, Deran Sarafian

January 28, 2008
The New York Irish American organised crime genre should make great subject matter. Westies , TJ Englishs book about the Hells Kitchen Irish mob and State of Grace the fictionalised movie version of that book are both gripping and disturbing accounts of those gangsters lives. With this subject matter , the involvement of Oscar winning writers Haggis and Moresco and a well respected young cast this series should have been guaranteed to be a success.

Unfortunately it doesnt deliver on a number of levels. The acting ranges from passable to extremely wooden and none of the characters managed to engage me on anything more than a superficial level.To my admittedly untrained ears , at points in the episodes the characters Tommy and Jennys accents seem to veer from ... Read More:

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Due South: Season 2 [1995] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Catherine Bruhier
directed by: Richard J. Lewis, George Bloomfield, Jim Kaufman, Paul Haggis, Steve DiMarco

August 30, 2005
Hi everyone! I just wanted to express my thoughts on the TV show "Due South" and this version of it on dvd.

SIDE NOTE: You all will probably need the Region 2 version, and that is coming out January 2006 as I saw on your site. So just in case you somehow are interested in Region 1, here's my input!

First of all, the packaging is very nice. The discs stay inside the package securely, and there's no risk of scratching. That is, if you buy it from a store. (Try Best Buy, Borders and Books, etc). Shipping through mail: I don't know. The sets have just the episodes. I heard the International version is a lot more expensive, and the only extra featres you get are subtitles and a commentary on one episode or something. So this version is more ... Read More:

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Due South: Season 1 [1995] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Catherine Bruhier
directed by: Richard J. Lewis, George Bloomfield, Jim Kaufman, Paul Haggis, Steve DiMarco

November 23, 2005
Hi everyone! I just wanted to express my thoughts on the TV show "Due South" and this version of it on dvd.

SIDE NOTE: You all will probably need the Region 2 version, and that is coming out January 2006 as I saw on your site. So just in case you somehow are interested in Region 1, here's my input!

First of all, the packaging is very nice. The discs stay inside the package securely, and there's no risk of scratching. That is, if you buy it from a store. (Try Best Buy, Borders and Books, etc). Shipping through mail: I don't know. The sets have just the episodes. I heard the International version is a lot more expensive, and the only extra featres you get are subtitles and a commentary on one episode or something. So this version is more ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Crash [Blu-ray] [2005] [US Import]

starring: Karina Arroyave, Dato Bakhtadze, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Art Chudabala
directed by: Paul Haggis

June 27, 2006
An Altmanesque exploration of LA’s clashing sub-cultures that appears to be about race, but is actually much more. People judge each other, live up to their stereotypes (often knowingly), but are occasionally surprised or challenged. Perhaps surprisingly, Crash is never judgemental. It observes rather than lectures.

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In the Valley of Elah [2008] (NTSC)

starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, James Franco
directed by: Paul Haggis

February 19, 2008
The movie centres around Jones as Hank Deerfield, a Vietnam veteran (presented at the outset as something of a patriot) who receives a message from the military that his son has gone "AWOL" on return from Iraq. Deerfield travels to the area in order to conduct his own search however, shortly after his arrival, dismembered and partly burnt human remains are found near the army base which are quickly identified as being his missing son. We also learn that Deerfield's other son joined the military but was killed in a training accident.

Most of the rest of the movie focuses on Deerfield's dogged attempts to get the death properly investigated - Susan Sarandon as his wife is pretty much relegated to an extended cameo role. The military want the affair to go away while ... Read More:

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Due South: Season 2 [1995] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Catherine Bruhier
directed by: Richard J. Lewis, George Bloomfield, Jim Kaufman, Paul Haggis, Steve DiMarco

May 20, 2003
Thankfully lacking the technical problems that make the Season 1 boxset so painful to watch, you can enjoy Season 2 in all its glory. Having switched directions a few times early in Season 1 (from semi-serious in the pilot, to more straight adventure early in season 1, and later more focus on character), by the opening of Season 2 the style is more settled. The interplay between Fraser and Vecchio is now the staple of most stories, but the series had also embraced a surreal quality as well, with Fraser's dead father making regular appearances! We are also treated to more frequent appearances from the wonderful Ramona Milano, which is a bonus. The mixture of humour, warmth and occasional pathos make this a great series at its peak, before season 3 started to wander too much.