Tuesdays mean one thing around here (other than we're four days closer to the weekend) - a visit from Videoport Jones to talk about this week's new DVD releases and generally crack wise on society.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Videoport Jones: "I think we can all agree that John C. Reilly is a gift from the movie gods, right? As comedy sidekick, dramatic second banana, and now, hey, howsabout comedic, musical, romantic lead? Yeah! Cowritten by Judd Apatow, this biopic of the fictitious Cox, a hard-rockin' parallel to Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Brian Wilson, and pretty much every famous rock 'n' roll pioneer who ever married a twelve-year-old, slept with approximately ten thousand groupies, went crazy, and/or became addicted to, literally, every drug known to man, is a genuine hoot. Not quite in the same class, belly-laugh-wise, as Apatow's solo efforts, this one makes up ground with really funny songs, a great supporting cast (Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Paul Rudd, Jack Black, the 'Upright Citizens Brigade''s Matt Besser, David Krumholtz, Chris Parnell), just a pinch of genuine sentiment, and, of course, the gods' gift, John C. Whether doing his own singing, engaging in wacky physical comedy, or just doing that perfectly-timed underplaying that he pulls off so effortlessly, Reilly elevates this ramshackle farce to must-see status. So you must see it. That's the law, baby."

Justin: "At first glance it's hard to believe John C is the type of cat to carry a movie by himeself, let alone a movie where he, a comedic sidekick, is surrounded by a cast of comedic sidekicks. But his dedication to the character - from the singing to all the pratfalls and other shtick, makes it work. I think the recent swing John C has made from drama to comedy has proven what an incredible range this guy has. I think the word effortless is right. You are right to say this is not on par with other Apatow movies, and this certainly isn't a classic like "Anchorman," but it's hilarious in it's own right. Watch it. Watch it now."

The Eleventh Hour

VPJ: "Go ahead and scoff all you want about well-heeled Hollywood stars speaking out about issues they care about, but, hey, if Leonardo DiCaprio wants to utilize his notoriety and money to fund this documentary about the coming (or horrifyingly here, if you live in the exploited third world) environmental crisis and some practical ways in which that crisis can be averted, or at least mitigated rather than snorting cocaine off of useless pseudo-celebrity heiress-turned-reality-show-dingbats, then, well, I genuinely do not see that that's anything but noble. So, FOX news minions, make fun of 'activist-actors' all you like, while lukewarm glacier water pools around your ankles, kick the drowned polar bear cubs out of your way as you wade to your hideous SUVs, and breathe deep of that sepia-colored air."

JE: "You have absolutely no problem unloading on people do you Jonesy? While I may have missed this one you do bring up an excellent point. Whether it's on environmental crises, poverty at home or abroad, workers rights, womens rights or health care, I think you have to give credit to celebrities who put their money where their mouth is on these issues. The question always comes, "who do these people think they are," and "what right do they have to tell us what to do." If you want to view it that way, that's fine. But think if you had money, access and the ability to shed light on something you were passionate about. Wouldn't you?"

Music Within

VPJ: "And, while I'm pissing off all the right people, here's the real-life tale of a returning, wounded Vietnam vet who had to fight, for decades, to get better treatment for his fellow soldiers. Yeah, remember that other criminal, cynical war that shredded America's soul, killed thousands, and left a hundred thousand others with physical and psychological wounds that their own government was to cheap and too uncaring to deal with? I guess recruiters still leave the 'sweeping budget cuts to the V.A. budget' facts out of the standard recruitment speech when they play up the 'money for college, travel, and respect' propaganda. Ron Livingston ('Office Space') stars in a change-of-pace role."

JE: "It pretty much seems week after week now we're getting more movies about the effects of war and the long shadow these conflicts cast on the people who were involved. I know we get pretty cynical around here about Hollywood sometimes, but you gotta give them credit when it's do. I guess it takes a balance in Hollywood, for every five "Saw" films or Lindsay Lohan vehicle they get to make movies like this or 'Stop Loss.' We'll have to wait and see."

The Water Horse- Legend of the Deep

VPJ: "Lonely little Scottish lad goes a-wandrin' by the local swimmin' hole a-lookin' fer a friend and finds one...at LOCH NESS! Dum-dum-dummmm! Some above-average talent (Emily Watson, Brian Cox) no doubt helps raise the bar on this boy-and-his-fishy-pal tale."

JE: "I remember this flick...it was called 'Puff the Magic Dragon.' Am I missing something here? Sorry, just thinking about that flick bought back some weird childhood memories. Seriously Disney, what were you thinking? ANYWAY, I'm sure this is much less traumatizing."

There Will Be Blood

VPJ: "Yeah! Director Paul Thomas Anderson has never made anything but a great movie as far as I'm concerned. (See 'Hard Eight', 'Boogie Nights', 'Magnolia', and 'Punch Drunk Love' for proof, and to make your life better.) Seriously, in time, people are going to look back on his career with the same reverence they have for Scorsese, or Altman, and this latest epic tale of Daniel Day Lewis' oil baron just adds to his growing legend. Come and get it folks- it really doesn't get much better than this, film fans."

JE: "I gotta say I went into this movie not really wanting to see it or knowing what it was about. And honestly about a third of a way through I was on track to keep thinking that. This isn't your typical PT Anderson movie, it's very slow developing, methodical and at times feels like it's wandering. Not in a bad way, but just in a long walk sort of way. It's not a typical story that you can map out in your mind with the typical themes, plot and character arch. You've really gotta sit back and let it happen, this sprawling tale of a ruthless, cunning (and many would say despicable) Texas oil man's rise to wealth. The strangest thing is I was not completely sold on this flick until the last scene, which is one of the most brutal in the film. All I can say is it made me enjoy Daniel Day Lewis that much more."

Lions for Lambs

VPJ: "Well, it's got star power, I'll give it that. You've got your Meryl Streep, your Robert Redford, and even your Tom Cruise, if you're into that sort of thing, in this drama about two disappeared soldiers in Afghanistan and the high-powered pretty people back home who try to figure out what's happened. Hollywood's sluggish, timid, unfocused response to the ongoing (read: endless) criminal, cynical, corporate-sponsored, underclass-chewing war continues."

JE: "And yet more evidence. It's like I don't have to make my case anymore, these movies just keep coming out. Still, for what it's worth I don't think this one lasted long in the theaters. That's either an indication of the story, the reality or the actors. (A lot of Tom Cruise can go a long way towards hurting you.)"

P2:A New Level In Terror

VPJ: "A woman gets terrorized in a parking garage on the titular level by the continuingly-bafflingly-underemployed Wes Bentley. Ohh, wait...a new 'level' in terror! I get it! Kill them!"

JE: "Let's just move on."

Resurrecting the Champ

VPJ: "Fledgling sportswriter Josh Hartnett decides to help out an old homeless guy who turns out to be both a retired former heavyweight champ AND Samuel L. Jackson in this uplifting-seeming drama. I dunno, I love Sam, of course, am utterly indifferent to Joshy, and, well, I think that makes this one a wash for me."

JE: "Seemed like a great idea for a movie, but something didn't develop here. Maybe it is Mr. Pearl Harbor (another Minneapolis native, ahem.), maybe it's Samuel L. fatigue. (Though not likely) Maybe people wanted a better depiction of the world of journalism. (Least likely.)"

Reservation Road

VPJ: "Two really good actors, Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo play two dads who meet under, shall we say, unfortunate circumstances when one, driving his son back from a Red Sox game, accidentally runs over the son of the other and then runs away. The effects on both men are unbelievably, g-d wrenching, as one might expect, and, if you can steel yourself against the pain, you'll get to see some great acting along the way. Jennifer Connelly is also along to weep gorgeously."

JE: "I read a lot about this one and feel like it didn't get as big a release as it should have - which is to say any. Still, I'm sure this flick provided the studio with the same dilemma as the studio: how do you deal with a film like this. Sure people like to go see dramas, and downers. But this is a tough pitch no matter how you sell it. You look at it on the surface and say 'yeah, this is a movie I know is good and should see' but then can't bring yourself to do it. Gotta toughen up for films like this."

'John From Cincinnati' - The complete series

VPJ:"The complete series meaning that this was a rare HBO series that didn't catch on and was canceled after one largely-unwatched season. About a dysfunctional, yet gorgeous-in-wetsuits surfing family who take in a weird, yet gorgeous-in-wetsuit surfer who may or may not be all spooky and mystical. Good cast and I've heard pretty good things, and not everything HBO touches has to be pure gold I guess."

JE: "And that is the lesson isn't it. HBO can strike out too. But some would say HBO has been teetering for a while now and 'John' was just the beginning of a downturn for them. We'll see. I'll take a pass on this one.

Innocent Voices

VPJ:"And speaking of criminal US foreign policy disasters, this drama follows the tortuous life of a young boy trying to survive in the horrifying slaughterhouse that was El Salvador in the 80's. Send all hate mail to me care of 'actualamericanhistoryyou'dratherforget.com'. Or just yell at Justin."

JE: "You're just wearing me down today Jonesy. Sweet merciful Bogart, you just don't stop do you man? I'll give you points for consistency and conviction. But please, please don't line me up for any more weird e-mails than I already get. Only at Videoport people, only at Videoport."

Finally, new arrivals to Videoport this week:

The Comedians of Comedy: "A gaggle of sharp, literate, weird, and genuinely funny people (Brian Posehn, David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswald, and others) make with the funny in this special Comedy Tour."

Before you go, consider the following:

- John C. Reilly, better dramatic or comedic actor?
- Celebrity-activist: Annoying or admirable?
- Give your 10 cent review of "There Will Be Blood"

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