Man With The Screaming Brain

B-movie actor Bruce Campbell ("Bubba Ho-Tep") makes his directorial/writing debut with an eggheaded story, set in Bulgaria, about William Cole a tacky American industrialist who is murdered by a femme fatale hotel maid. Cole’s corpse is soon co-opted by a mad scientist (Stacy Keach) and reanimated with the half-brain of a former KGB operative. Goofy slapstick comic sequences fall flat as William Cole (Campbell) shows off a horrific forehead scar while seeking revenge on the gypsy woman that killed him and his trashy American wife (Antoinette Byron). This low budget comedy is an unsatisfying attempt at bringing together kitchy humor and camp horror. Special features include commentary by Bruce Campbell and producer David M. Goodman, three making-of featurettes, trailer, storyboard gallery and Bruce Campbell bio. Aspect ratio is 1.77:1 anamorphic widescreen, with sound quality presented in choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0 Surround Sound. (Movie – One Star, DVD features – One Star) Not Rated, 90 mins. (Anchor Bay)

24 Hour Party People

A brief history of the earth-shaking Manchester pop music scene developed by visionary TV host Tony Wilson is represented with buzzing energy by Steve Coogan as he starts his own record label in 1976 with Joy Division before adding New Order and The Happy Mondays. Michael Winterbottom’s innovative digital video movie looks great and fluently captures the energy and chaos of the "Mad-chester" music scene from ’76 to ’92 with an irreverent comic tone and pitch-perfect performances by actors filling the shoes of well-known musicians. Coogan’s hilarious direct-to-camera monologues and snarky asides are alone worth the price of the DVD. This is a super fun movie. Special features include optional audio commentary with Steve Coogan and producer Andrew Eaton or with Tony Wilson, 2 making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, photo stills, and choice of English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese subtitles. Aspect ratio is 1.85:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital sound. (Movie – Four Stars, DVD features – Four Stars) Rated R, 117 mins. (MGM Home Entertainment)

Sideways

Best friends Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) share the burden of mid-life ennui on a week long bonding vacation in the wine country of Santa Ynez, California prior to Jack's pending wedding in writer/director Alexander Payne's glorious comeback after his abysmal "About Schmidt." Miles is an unpublished novelist drowning his recent failed relationship in wine, while commercial television actor Jack is determined to fix both of their dispositions with a recreational fling. "Sideways" is an apt title for the subtle ways the movie examines modern adult attitudes toward loyalty, passion and desire as it builds toward an unexpected climax that is profound for its surefooted honesty. It's a rare movie that answers the questions it raises in funny and romantic ways without ever patronizing or preaching to the audience. You don't find this kind of original cinematic charm very often. Special features include witty audio commentary by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, 7 deleted scenes with text commentary by Alexander Payne, a making-of featurette, and choice of English, Spanish, or French language or subtitles. Aspect ratio is 1.85:1 Widescreen with clear sound delivered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. (Movie – Four Stars, DVD features - Three Stars) Rated R, 124 mins. (20^th Century Fox)

White Chicks Unrated & Uncut

Irreverent comedy masters Shawn and Marlon Wayans ply audience laughs as a couple of second-rate FBI agents attempting to prove their crime-stopping abilities by guarding socialite sisters Tiffany (Anne Dudek) and Brittany (Maitland Ward) at a weekend fiesta in the Hamptons. Laughs go over the top when the sibling agents paint their skin and attend the party as imposters of the white heiresses that they've been sent to protect from kidnappers. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed this underrated comedy. The unrated version is minimally different from the theatrical release but includes a slumber party dildo scene that never should've been cut. Extra features include audio commentary by all three Wayans brothers that include a definition of "new mouth," three somewhat redundant behind-the-scenes featurettes, English and French language and subtitles, and filmographies. Aspect ratio is anamorphic widescreen 1.85.1. Dolby Digital 5.1 provides brilliant sound quality. (Movie - Five Stars, DVD Features - Four Stars) Unrated 115 mins. (Columbia Tristar)