Two new releases on Jan. 25 offer top quality entertainment in two very different genres from two different generations:
1.) “Secretariat” (Disney, $39.99) features a supplemental interview with real-life Secretariat owner Penny Chenery in which she says she is proud that her story did not involve any sex or financial scandals — also no elements of crime or cheating. Thus, a dramatization of the story of how Chenery’s tenacity as an unlikely 1970s housewife horse owner led to winning the Triple Crown is the perfect Disney story:
— Pure and wholesome story that still manages to be entertaining and inspiring, in the mold of “Miracle” and “The Rookie.”
— Diane Lane is thoroughly convincing and endearing
— Horse racing footage is dynamic
— Masterful integration of actual TV coverage
— Misses by a nose in inevitable comparison to “Seabiscuit”
— Insightful and initially slightly uncomfortable bonus feature interview of Chenery by director Randall Wallace about Chenery’s view about how she was portrayed and sometimes misrepresented
— Fascinating featurette on production of horse race scenes
— Unique bonus feature reflections on Secretariat’s historic 1973 Preakness race from multiple viewpoints, including current jockey Mike Smith (Zenyatta), who then provides commentary during a digital recreation of the race, and “Historian” Dennis Mills, now vice chairman of the nation’s biggest track owner MI Developments, who describes his own memories of the Preakness track owned by MI, and notes that the archives at MI-owned Pimlico include an expense account for his day at the track filed by none other than George Washington.
“Broadcast News” (Criterion Collection, $39.95) is already 24 years old but the romantic triangle set against the backdrop of a fast-paced TV newsroom still feels vital and relevant, particularly in this new HiDef Blu-ray transfer supervised by director James L. Brooks and editor Richard Marks:
— Bravura performance by Holly Hunter as a control freak producer, William Hurt as a lightweight who continues to get promoted despite his lack of news knowledge, and a brilliant turn by Albert Brooks as an acerbic and cynical reporter.
— Terrific memorable lines of dialogue, including, “I’m in love with you. How do you like that? I buried the lead.”
— Unforgettable scenes and moments, including Holly Hunter taking multiple daily crying breaks, Albert Brooks sweating profusely during his anchor desk debut, and Joan Cusack frantically running with a tape from the editing room to get it on air in time.
— The most untidy yet strangely satisfying ending of a romantic comedy ever.
— fascinating audio commentary on film by Brooks, filled with great anecdotes
— alternate ending set up by Brooks who never watched it until recording the audio commentary for the scene on this Blu-ray — not such a good scene because it required improv by Hurt and Hunter which they did not deliver well, but for which Brooks has a great story of deep disappointment relative to the long-planned surprise that went awry.
— illuminating documentary about Brooks’ career that began with “My Three Sons” and included creating, writing and producing “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi,” “Terms of Endearment,” “As Good As It Gets,” “The Simpsons,” and many others, featuring interviews with Marilu Henner, Julie Kavner, and many others
— interesting interview with veteran CBS news producer Susan Zirinsky, one of the models for actress Holly Hunter’s character who describes the similarities and her close involvement with the production as associate producer.
— By Scott Hettrick