The Motorcycle Diaries (Widescreen Edition)
The beauty of the South American landscape and of Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Bad Education) gives The Motorcycle Diaries a charisma that is decidedly apolitical. But this portrait of the young Che Guevara (later to become a militant revolutionary) is half buddy-movie, half social commentary–and while that may seem an unholy hybrid, under the guidance of Brazillian director Walter Salles (Central Station) the movie is quietly passionate. Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna, a lusty and engaging actor) set off from Buenos Aires, hoping to circumnavigate the continent on a leaky motorcycle. They end up travelling more by foot, hitchhiking, and raft, but their experience of the land and the people affects them profoundly. No movie could affect an audience the same way, but The Motorcycle Diaries gives a soulful glimpse of an awakening social conscience, and that’s worth experiencing. –Bret Fetzer
Director: Walter Salles
DVD: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Company: Universal Studios (2005-02-15)
ISBN: 1417022043
List Price: $14.98
Amazon Price: $5.73
Used Price: $3.48
Cramer’s Hot For Chile
Investing in Chile, with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.
Chile Volcano
Southern Chile is dealing with the worst volcano eruption in 75 years. Amaro Gomez-Pablo reports from Santiago for CNN.
Broadcast News
Holly Hunter plays a network news producer who, much to her chagrin, finds herself falling for pretty-boy anchorman William Hurt. He is all glamour without substance and represents a hated shift from hard news toward packaged “infotainment,” which Hunter despises. Completing the triangle is Albert Brooks, who provides contrast as the gifted reporter with almost no presence on camera. He carries a torch for Hunter; she sees merely a friend. Written and directed by James L. Brooks, this shows remarkable insight into the people who make television. On the surface it is about that love triangle. If you look a little deeper, however, you will see that this behind-the-scenes comedy is a very revealing look at obsessive behavior and the heightened emotions that accompany adrenaline addiction. It is for good reason this was nominated for seven Academy Awards (though it did not win any). There are scenes in this movie you cannot shake, such as Hunter’s scheduled mini-breakdowns, or Brooks’s furious “flop sweat” during his tryout as a national anchor. Watch for an uncredited Jack Nicholson as a senior newscaster. –Rochelle O’Gorman
Director: James L. Brooks
DVD: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
Company: 20th Century Fox (1999-10-05)
List Price: $9.98
Amazon Price: $4.92
Used Price: $4.39
Volcano Forces Chile to Evacuate Villages
A volcanic eruption in southern Chile has authorities evacuating hundreds of residents in nearby villages. The government has declared a state of emergency. (May 2)
