Spring is here! Well, you wouldn’t think it, here in Boston, where we are getting–oh, great–four inches of snow tomorrow. Yippie. Well, we have DVDs to keep us entertained, right! Here’s the best new releases for April:
1. The Last King of Scotland — I just talked about Forest Whitaker’s awesome performance in Season Five of The Shield; now, see the movie he won that little golden guy for. Whitaker tears into the role of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, seen through the eyes of a young doctor shanghaied into his service (James MacAvoy). A fearsome, powerful role for one of film’s most underrated actors. April 17th – AMAZON
2. The Queen – Speaking of Oscars. Helen Mirren (still, absolutely beautiful) took home her little golden guy for her own interpretation of a real-life leader–though not a cannibal, like the aforementioned Amin. Mirren is excellent as Queen Elizabeth in this drama depicting life around Buckingham Palace in the days following Princess Diana’s death in Paris. Nuanced and intelligent, The Queen has a great cast (particularly Michael Sheen as Tony Blair and James Cromwell as Elizabeth’s husband) but Mirren, rightly, dominates the film. April 24th – AMAZON
3. Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show — Thank god, it’s finally coming out on DVD. Underexposed through its entire brilliant run on HBO, Garry Shandling’s hilarious inside-look at the life of a late night TV host (Shandling, as Sanders) remains one of the best shows to ever grace the airwaves. There may never be a funnier supporting character ever than Jeffrey Tambor’s brooding, abused hangdog of a sidekick, Hank, matched at every turn by Sanders’ cutthroat boss Artie. Look out for Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe on 24) in a regular role. April 24th – AMAZON
