Speaking of hangovers, I was up waaaay to late watching election coverage last night. I think I was memorized by CNN's giant iPod touch/interactive voting district map.

ANYWAY, since Super Tuesday pre-empted so many things, here's our weekly visit by Videoport Jones on this week's new DVD releases.

The Brave One

Videoport Jones: "Jodie Foster makes a tiny, pixie-ish, and yet oddly-terrifying Charles Bronson in this revenge thriller where her formally-nonviolent lady straps on some iron and goes after the scums who messed with her and her fella. Seems an odd choice for the lovely, talented Ms. Foster, but, then again, her choices since 'Silence of the Lambs' have been less than inspired ('Panic Room'?, 'Flightplan'?), and she does seem to enjoy that 'protecting your loved ones from scums' groove she's gotten into. I dunno, I'm sure Jodie's good as always, but I'm hoping she gets a little more adventurous next time. Oh, and for an 'unlikely, tiny, talented actress goes all vengeancy' double feature, rent this along with last years 'Closure' starring Gillian Anderson, also vs. some scums."

Justin: "Don't forget this one also stars Terrance Howard, an actor who seems to stir up emotions himself. Maybe the point of this flick was to take a different spin on an old theme. Instead of having a dude seek two–fisted justice for those he loves (didn't Kevin Bacon just do that), let's put in a woman. I suppose in some ways it could be seen as a commentary, the idea that no one would suspect a woman of such brutality and violence. Maybe that was the point. Tough to say."

Elizabeth –The Golden Age

VPJ: "Cate Blanchette reprises her Oscar-bait role as that queen...what's her name? Anyway, I'll watch Blanchette do just about anything (and I mean anything), but this one's got some tepid reviews hanging around its neck like a too-starchy ruff. Pretty costumes, though."

JE: "I feel like the costumes are always a barrier to me for movies like this. Also the fact that I feel like these period pieces on royalty always follow the same lines and are hard to swallow if you're not into it. She's the queen, she's conflicted, she has feelings, she's not so removed from her people as you think. I know there is an audience for movies like this, but who is it? It's not the same people who would see a Jane Austen adaptation or Shakespeare remake is it?"

Across the Universe

VPJ: "From director Julie Taymor ('Titus') comes this love story/social drama/musical, all set to varied covers of Beatles songs. Throw in some great reviews, a really interesting soundtrack, and Ms. Taymor's unique brand of cinematic excess, and you've got the makings of a must-see."

JE: "I don't know why this one came and went so quickly from theaters, it feels like it had all the right cues. Beatles music, which has big crossover appeal, a truckload of stars including Bono and my boy Eddie Izzard, and a love story. Maybe it'll pick up strong in rental and sales?"

The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford

VPJ: "What was this movie about again? Wait, let me check the title...oh, oh right. This psychological western follows newly-minted-viable-leading-man Casey Affleck as the once-worshipfull Ford who turns against his outlaw hero (Brad Pitt, anyone?), and decides to hunt him down. Great reviews, great supporting cast (Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider), and oft-repeated comparisons to 'Unforgiven' have bumped this one to near the top of my list. Oh, and Pitt reportedly refused to do the movie unless he was guaranteed that the awesomely-unweildy title was kept in place. Cool move."

JE: "Sign me up as well. Not only for the fact that there's a Mary–Louise Parker sighting and Sam Rockwell sighting, but also because westerns had a strong year in 2007. Between this and '3:10 to Yuma,' people are starting to get into westerns again, which I think is cool. Though I was not the biggest 'Unforgiven' fan, I'll happily reconsider if this movie is as good as it looks."

Weirdsville

VPJ: "Canadian indie dark comedy stars Wes Bentley and Scott Speedman as two slacker stoners dealing (as well as slacker stoners can) with: an OD'ed girlfriend, an angry drug dealer, some young Republican/Satanists, and, oh yeah, a bunch of midget medieval re-enactors. Some surprisingly good reviews for this one, Wes Bentley's due for some sort of career resurgence at some point, and it was directed by Allan Moyle who, at least, has the cool 'Pump Up the Volume' to his credit."

JE: "Wow whatever happened to Wes Bentley? The last time I think I saw him was 'American Beauty.' Scott Speedman, well, can't say I know or cared where he's been. This movie seems like a heavy burden for some stoners. Whatever happened to the days of stoners on wacky adventures, dodging the law and never dealing with consequences. Although I am intrigued by this angle of medieval re–enactors. That combines two things that I have to say I never would have thought of bringing together outside of a bad realty TV show."

Feast of Love

VPJ: "Is Morgan Freeman tired of helping white people yet? I mean, I'd watch him be cool, and wise, and mentor-y in anything and enjoy his work, but can't he just get the chance to play someone sexy, weird, or dangerous at least once before he leaves us? But no, here, he's the wise, helpful black man sorting out the problems of some milky-white mid-level actors (Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Selma Blair) before, presumably, going home alone and giving sage counsel to his cat. Let the man play a serial killer! Or a kooky millionaire! Or even a regular married guy with his own problems for a change! And keep those g-damned penguins away from Mr. Freeman!"

JE: "Look, maybe Morgan Freeman really likes helping people. Maybe it's his quest in life. He goes from town to town helping others, sort of like Bill Bixby in 'The Incredible Hulk,' or Scott Bakula in 'Quantum Leap.' People start thinking of him narrate 'The Shawshank Redemption,' and start to feel fuzzy, yet sad, and then he helps them out. I don't know. This one looks like a pass, especially if the only other selling point is Greg Kinnear. Also, careful what you wish for Mr. Freeman. Ahem, 'The Bucket List.'"

The Jane Austen Book Club

VPJ: "Some advice to the wonderful ladies of Portland: you know what will drive your normally-normal man into a week-long bender? On the second day after the Patriots lose the Super Bowl, innocently suggest, "Hey, honey, let's rent something called 'The Jane Austen Book Club.' SLAM! SCREECHIING TIRES. DON'T WAIT UP. But I kid the most masculine-averse movie title since 'How to Make an American Quilt'... Anyhoo, this filck, about a group of down-on-their-luck gals who form the titular reading group is actually pretty good, according to Videoport's Andy, who calls it 'charming and delightful' and, in spite of that (and a few other things we won't go into), is actually a man."

JE: "Wow. Sorry to hear that man. That's rough, really rough. That's no way to come down from a humiliating and deflating loss. You can count me in the 'hoping over the hood Dukes boys style to get away from this one' category. Also, despite Andy's endorsement, I don't know if I've seen anything I would call 'charming and delightful.' Ugh."

Fierce People

VPJ: "Diane Lane and son end up bunking with Donald Sutherland's uber-rich clan in this indie drama from actor/director Griffin Dunne. The Onion AV club called it 'messy, unpredictable, yet weirdly vital', so that's something, and Sutherland is getting some of the best notices of his storied career, so perhaps it's worth a look."

JE: "'Messy, unpredictable, yet weirdly vital?' What the heck does that mean? How can something be 'weirdly vital? Either it is or it isn't. Is it weird that it's vital, or just weird and vital?"

2 Days In Paris

VPJ: "Written and directed by and starring the lovely Julie Delpy, this is sort of a meaner, more upsetting mirror image of her sublime 'Before Sunrise/Before Sunset'. She and the always-funny Adam Goldberg ('Dazed and Confused') play squabbling marrieds who meet comic misadventure, disillusionment, and a whole mess o' her ex-lovers while vacationing in the city of lights."

JE: "I read about this one, perhaps it came to 'The Movies?' Adam Goldberg is always solid, though he just can't seem to get a break for some reason. He was in 'Saving Private Ryan' and "A Beautiful Mind' for pete's sake! Then again, maybe he's one of those cats that is destined to be a really solid non–leading man? I always enjoy him. ANYWAY, the plot to this one looks solid, not just because the storyline of 'spouse meet's spouse's ex–lovers...hijincks ensue!' Put me on the list."

That's all for today, but in closing, consider the following:

Do you buy Jodie Foster as a gun–toting death dealer?
Do you check out period pieces involving royalty? Explain.
If you had Morgan Freeman to help you out with something in your life, what would it be?

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