Real women have curves
When it’s not wallowing in hormonal melodrama, “Real Women Have Curves” is a sweet, honest, and enjoyable comedy-drama about a young woman who wants many things in life, but fears she’ll become her mother before she gets to fulfill her dreams. America Ferrera, making her debut, is heartfelt as Ana Garcia, a recent high school graduate who has the talent but lacks the ambition to attend college.
Trapped between a father who doesn’t want his daughter to leave the nest, and a mother who wants her to lose weight, get married and have children, it’s no wonder Ana is indecisive. Click on title for complete review. (HBO)
RIP IT OFF (R)
(Lion’s Gate)
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN (PG)
You may not be familiar with the Funk Brothers, but if you’re a fan of Motown music, you’re familiar with their signature sound. As the studio musicians behind the hits, the Funk Brothers have played on more number one records than The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley, combined. This fascinating documentary, presented as an exhaustive 2-disc DVD collection, is filled with memorable musical performances, both old and new, detailed interviews, and enough trivia and nostalgia to satisfy any Motown fan. The emphasis is on the music, but director Paul Justman goes behind the sound to give us a clear picture of who the Funk Brothers were, and how they earned their place in music history.
Justman and producer Allan Slutsky provide an in-depth commentary track, which almost seems redundant for a documentary. There’s also a trivia track that is just as fun as it is informative, and a short documentary called “How It All Began.” The film and it’s many classics are presented in deliriously delightful DTS 6.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtracks, sporting an authentic digital transfer that retains the grainy look of the documentary. Disc two is packed with numerous extras, including a multi-angle jam session, deleted scenes (a whopping 28 minutes worth), featurettes like “Dinner with the Funk Brothers,” a music video montage, a tribute to the musicians who have passed away, and a discography.
Pop the DVD into your computer for a Hi-Resolution copy of the film, those BMW made-for-the-Internet commercials, and an outstanding virtual recording studio feature that allows you to mix different Funk Brother tracks together for your own amusement. An outstanding DVD of an outstanding documentary, with enough music and extras to keep you rocking and rolling for hours and hours. (Artisan)
100 WOMEN (R)
(Lion’s Gate)
BELIEVER (R)
(Lion’s Gate)
BLOODY SUNDAY (R)
(Paramount)
IGNITION (R)
(Columbia-TriStar)
LIVIN’ THA LIFE (NR)
(Artisan)
