More Articles By Mekado Murphy

• Wondrous Oblivion
  Story Line: In '60s London, 11-year-old David (Sam Smith) dreams of being a great cricket player. When a Jamaican family moves in next door, David receives encouragement and cricket lessons from patriarch Dennis (Delroy Lindo). But mounting tension from unfriendly neighbors threatens to derail the friendship David and Dennis have built. More
  
• Urban genre casts wider net
  The urban DVD market has seen significant growth over the past decade. With new distribution companies continuing to emerge to cater to the urban DVD audience and with major studios partnering with small companies to find urban titles to distribute, the market is as active as ever. However, defining the urban market is a tricky task. More
  
• The Couple
  Story Line: During the 1944 German occupation of Hungary, wealthy businessman Josef Krauzenberg (Martin Landau) agrees to trade his empire for his and his family's safe passage into Palestine. Left behind are two servants (Kenny Doughty, Caroline Carver), a Jewish couple working for the Resistance who are passing themselves off as Aryans. More
  
• Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren
  Director Christman rips a page out of the Michael Moore documentary handbook with this didactic offering about the ways many Americans equate patriotism with consumerism. The movie mixes footage of America's leaders with TV ads, news pieces and stats to criticize what it sees as misguided attempts to fight terrorism through consumption. More
  
• A Star Is Born
  Warner, color, 140 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital 5.1, widescreen, Street: Nov. 28, $19.97; First Run: W, Dec. 1976, $37 mil. This year, Barbra Streisand fans will get a double dose of the diva as she wraps up a rare national tour and releases this 30th anniversary DVD debut. Star's love story and its emotions still hold up, and the remastered Dolby Digital soundtrack works wonders in ca... More
  
• This Revolution
  Story Line: For the 2004 Republican national convention in New York City, reporter Jake Cassavetes (Nathan Crooker) is assigned to obtain footage of young militants protesting the event. During this time, he befriends an activist (Rosario Dawson), whose husband was recently killed in Iraq. Bottom Line: Many will recognize This Revolution as the film that got Dawson and director Marshall arrest... More
  
• The Celestine Prophecy
  Story Line: A teacher (Matthew Settle) who has recently been laid off from his job makes a trip to Peru to research a collection of nine ancient scrolls. Each scroll is said to contain insights into the universe and a pathway to spiritual enlightenment. Bottom Line: Based on the wildly popular New Age novel from the '90s, The Celestine Prophecy is likely arriving at this time to capitalize on t... More
  
• Time to Leave
  Story Line: Romain (Melvil Poupaud), a young gay fashion photographer, discovers he has cancer and only a short time to live. He uses his remaining days to restore relationships and make peace with himself. Bottom Line: Although director Ozon isn't the first filmmaker to tackle a drama about terminal illness, this elegant, meditative piece brings something fresh to the genre. More
  
• After the Rain
  Story Line: In apartheid-torn '80s South Africa, a white soldier (Paul Bettany) arrives home to find his wife (Louise Lombard) in bed with a black friend (Ariyon Bakare). A standoff ensues and changes the trio's lives permanently. Bottom Line: A reflection on the political and racial unrest of the period, 1999's After the Rain doesn't deal lightly with its themes. More
  
• Greg the Bunny: Best of the Film Parodies
  Shout! Factory, color, two discs, NR, 200 min. plus supplements, stereo, fullscreen, Street: Oct. 24, $24.98; First Run: IFC, 2002 Greg the Bunny ain't your typical puppet show. The characters from this IFC series love to booze it up, use crass language and engage in raunchy puppet sex. Fozzie Bear would be mortified, but this irreverent series has gathered quite a cult following. More
  
• Wassup Rockers
  Story Line: A group of Latin teenagers (Jonathan Velasquez, Francisco Pedrasa, Milton Velasquez, Yunior Usualdo Panameno, Eddie Velasquez, Luis Rojas-Salgado) from South Central Los Angeles spend their free time skateboarding and playing in a punk band. They find a great skate area and some wealthy female admirers in Beverly Hills, Calif. More
  
• Big Love: The Complete First Season
  HBO/Warner, five discs, color, NR, 693 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital 5.1, widescreen, Street: Oct. 17, $99.98; First Run: HBO, March 2006 HBO's latest series concoction expertly and uniquely illustrates the concept of multitasking. As it follows the life trials of a polygamist (Bill Paxton) and his three wives, Big Love weaves a tale that will be familiar to all who have had to appease ... More
  
• The Little Mermaid: Platinum Edition
  Buena Vista, two discs, color, G, 83 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital, widescreen, Street: Oct. 3, $29.99; First Run: W, Nov. 1989, $109 mil. The film that revitalized Disney's floundering animation department and set off a string of 2D animation hits is making a spirited return to DVD, and the studio has pulled out all the stops in the special features department. More
  
• Charlie and Lola, Vol. 1
  BBC/Warner, color, NR, 84 min. plus supplements, stereo, widescreen, Street: Sept. 5, $14.98; First Run: BBC, 2005 Based on author Lauren Child's collection of children's books, this charming British series brings to animated life the brother/sister team of Charlie and Lola. Each of the disc's six episodes bustles with creativity and imagination, using rich colors to tell its stories. More
  
• Ballets Russes
  Zeitgeist, color, NR, 118 min. plus supplements, stereo, widescreen, Street: Sept. 12, $29.99; First Run: L, Oct 2005, <$1 mil. A celebration of the roots of modern ballet, this passionate film tells the story of two early 20th century dance troupes that helped introduce the art form to the masses. More
  
• Beowulf & Grendel
  Union Station/Anchor Bay, two discs, color, 103 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital 5.1, widescreen, Street: Sept. 26, $29.98; First Run: L, June 2006, <$1 mil. Grit and gore meet lush wonder in this large-scale adaptation of the popular eighth century poem, which has become a staple on every freshman's syllabus. More
  
• La Tragedia de Macario
  Story Line: Mexican worker Macario (Rogelio T. Ramos) loses his low-paying manual labor job and seeks a better life for his family by attempting to cross the border into the U.S. But the journey of hope turns into a nightmare. Bottom Line: Although this film has a simple narrative and is technically sparse, La Tragedia de Macario makes one heck of an impact. More
  
• The Worst Week of My Life: The Complete First Season
  BBC/Warner, NR, 199 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital, widescreen, Street: Aug. 22, $24.98; First Run: BBC, 2004 BBC's latest series takes a chip off the block of such recent physical comedies as There's Something About Mary and Meet the Parents. Even the actor who stars in The Worst Week of My Life is named Ben Miller, a striking similarity to Ben Stiller, the American star who has become t... More
  
• EZ Money
  Story Line: An 11-year-old girl (Moli Hall) discovers an e-mail scam that promises $3 million. With a little technical wizardry aided by a power surge, the girl and her younger brother end up getting millions transferred into their bank account and ticking off the mobsters behind the scam. More
  
• Akeelah and the Bee
  Story Line: Eleven-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) takes very little interest in her inner-city school and homework, but she has a secret passion for words. With encouragement from her mentor, Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), she enters the school spelling bee, proves her intelligence and skill and becomes an inspiration for the community. More