New Happiness DVD

On June 3rd, Lions Gate is due to be releasing a new DVD of Happiness as part of their "signature series." A special edition is surely too much to hope for, but it does look like this disc will be anamorphic (which the Trimark/ Vidmark disc wasn't). Most sites don't have any specs listed, yet, but I found the following on dvdplanet.com:

Retail Price: $19.99
Release Date: (6/3/2003)
Studio: Lions Gate
Year: 1998
Runtime: 140 minutes
MPAARating: Unrated
UPC: 031398826620
Languages/Subtitles:
Original Language: English
Subtitles Available: English, French, Spanish
Audio/Video Features:
Anamorphic16x9, Widescreen
Color
2.0 Dolby Surround
Audio/Video Features English Dubbed:
Product Features:
Cast/Crew Biographies

So, nothing to blow any socks off, but a welcome improvement none the less. Thanks, Lions Gate; and thanks also to "bisbeefilms" for pointing this upcoming release out to me. Here's a look at the cover:

Also, if you haven't already got Storytelling on DVD (perhaps you've been trapped underneath a giant boulder, or spent the last several years orbiting the Earth on a Russian space-station), you might want to pick up this rather spiffy two-disc set from France:

Both films are anamorphic, widescreen, and include the original English audio, along with optional (removable) French subtitles. This release is Region 2, PAL. Coolio.

Word On Solondz's Fifth Picture!

According to an article on Filmjerk.com, Todd Solondz is set to begin shooting his fifth film, Palindromes, for Extra Large Pictures on July 7 in the New York/ New Jersey/ Connecticut tri-state area, with Lisa Muskat and Mike Ryan to produce. While there's no word on the plot, yet, casting director Ann Goulder (who also cast Solondz's last three pictures) has cast her net for children aged seven to seventeen with disabilities of all kind, and preferably some kind of musical ability. If that's you, you can contact the production by way of:

Ann Goulder, c/o Palindromes
43-01 21st Street - Suite 330A
Long Island City, NY 11101-5001

...with photos and resumes.

Filmjerk.com also had some information on the characters, which I'll quote for you here: "'Palindromes' seems to revolve around the [sic.] Aviva Victor, her family and their friends and neighbors. Aviva is thirteen, awkward and sensitive. Her mother Joyce is warm and loving, as is her father, Steve, a regular guy who does have a fierce temper from time to time. ...In addition to casting a vision-impaired actress to play the seventeen-year-old Barbara... [a]dditional characters include Mama Sunshine, a mid-western lady, warm, emotional, maternal and big-hearted, real salt of the earth type, Bo, Mama Sunshine's husband, mid western, the head of the family, rugged but kind-hearted, Judah, sixteen year old friend of Aviva’s, luggish and serious, and Doctor Dan, another Midwesterner, a friendly family doctor who loves children and they love him, especially when he clowns around with them, very respected by his community."

I dunno. Sounds goofy, and Killer Films' non involvement may be a bad sign (though, I suppose that's due to Storytelling's final cut issues); but we'll see, 'ey? I'm optimistic!

Storytelling DVD out now!

As of today, Storytelling is out to own on DVD and VHS from New Line Home Entertainment. The DVD features both the R & unrated versions, while the VHS only features the R (the only distinction being that the unrated version doesn't have the "big, red box" during the Wise/ Blair sex scene). For more information on these releases and the film itself, see my new Storytelling page.

R2 Storytelling DVD Released This Week

Here in the States, Storytelling won't be hitting DVD and VHS for a couple more weeks, yet (July 16th); but those of us with Region 2, PAL set-ups can already pick it up. It came out on Tuesday, the 24th. Here's the cover art and specs:

Features: Trailer
Duration: 87 mins
Format: Region 2 Digital Versatile Disc
Cat. No.: EDV9168 (ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO)
Soundtrack Languages: English
Subtitles: none
Retail Price: £19.99