POINT BLANK

1967, Not Rated

I vividly recall the first time I saw Point Blank. It was the middle of the night in the late-'80s, and I was lost amid the nonlinear plot line that emanated from my TV. Didn't matter. Lee Marvin's stoic yet thoroughly brutal Walker was a riveting creature (I later learned it was largely the actor playing himself). Now, with the first-ever DVD release of director John Boorman's atmospheric, New Wave-informed, neo-noir classic, I finally get a proper second viewing. And not much has changed. The narrative still perplexes, but wonderfully so. Walker, who spends the movie searching for the $93,000 his double-crossing buddy stole during a heist on Alcatraz, makes waste of several characters in the pursuit of his real motivation: revenge. While Point Blank's obtuse, envelope-pushing nature was something of shock in 1967, what sticks today is Marvin's tightlipped portrayal of hopeless desire. The fascinating audio commentary features Boorman and fellow filmmaker Steven Soderbergh's discussion of a blooming late-'60s film culture, a time when director was king and unique stories took precedence over marketing techniques. It's an era that now seems as if it barely existed. (Jason Gargano) Grade: A-

UP AND DOWN

UP AND DOWN (SONY)

2004, Rated R

In his smart, funny and emotionally moving drama Up and Down, Czech filmmaker Jan Hrebejk brings a valuable outsider's view to the type of sprawling ensemble drama favored by American veteran Robert Altman (think Short Cuts). Two families crisscross in present-day Prague with life-changing results. Mila (Natasa Burger) uses all her savings to buy a baby from a pawnshop operated by thieves who accidentally took the baby while smuggling refugees. After an unexpected illness, university professor Otto (Jan Triska) reunites with his ex-wife (Emilia Vásáryová) and adult son (Petr Forman). With Up and Down, Hrebejk mixes the satirical spirit of 1960s Czech New Wave films with the multiethnic, post-capitalist culture of contemporary Prague. Bonus features include a making-of feature with Hrebejk and a music video of the opening song "Hello America," but the little-seen film is the main reason to seek out this DVD. By confidently wrapping a thick layer of heartache around the laughs, Hrebejk creates a unique adult story that's worlds apart from the typical Hollywood comedy. (Steve Ramos) Grade: B

ALL OVER ME

ALL OVER ME (IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT)

1997, Rated R

Girl loves girl. Other girl loves guy. But gender isn't really the issue. After years of neglect, All Over Me finally gets the DVD release it deserves and, fittingly, there are no "special features" to get in the way of its unique spell. Director Alex Sichel's setup (the screenplay was written by her sister, Sylvia) is simple: It's summer in New York City's Hell's Kitchen, where Claude (Allison Folland) and Ellen (Tara Subkoff) are teenage best friends who spend their days dreaming of starting a Rock band -- that is until Ellen's new brute of a boyfriend (a creepy Cole Hauser) threatens their intense bond. Folland, who's graced the screen sparingly in recent years, delivers a performance of tender, understated heartache. Sichel's claustrophobic use of the gritty urban cityscape melds perfectly with All Over Me's penetrating tale of two girls dealing with unstable families and burgeoning sexuality. Few films use music as genuinely, and fewer still are as convincing in their portrayal of unrequited love. (JG) Grade: A-

THE UPSIDE OF ANGER

THE UPSIDE OF ANGER (NEW LINE)

2005, Rated R

The storytelling is razor sharp and sometimes hurtful in standup comic-turned filmmaker Mike Binder's family-in-crisis comedy, The Upside of Anger. A suburban Detroit family of four daughters and their homemaker mom (Joan Allen) face chaos when their father mysteriously disappears. As Terry, who turns drunk and bitter to escape her heartbreak, Allen mixes heartache and sarcastic wit flawlessly, delivering another standout performance, sustaining her reputation as American film's great actress. Young actresses Keri Russell, Alicia Witt, Evan Rachel Wood and Erika Christensen play the pretty daughters who watch their mother cope with varying degrees of sympathy. Together, they match Allen with spark and verbal zest. As Denny, a former Major League Baseball player and neighbor, Kevin Costner settles comfortably into a role that perfectly suits his aw-shucks personality. It's as if Binder wrote the part with Costner in mind. In addition to the typical "making-of" feature and director's commentary, DVD bonuses include eight additional scenes left out of the theatrical release. The scenes, while solid, don't raise questions about the finished film, which is fantastic as it stands. (SR) Grade: A