Marquee Mascara:
Super Duper Alice Cooper: Three stars out of five — Vincent Furnier was just the son of a preacher man before he consulted a Ouija board and donned the moniker of Alice Cooper to become the stuff of ’70s-era legend. We know the rock star, but as this new documentary directed by Reginald Harkema and heavy metal experts Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen proves, we don’t really know Vincent. Slightly introverted and desperate for female attention, Vincent and his buddies had no idea they would be inventing glam rock when they bought several pounds of retired Ice Capades costumes and wore them on stage, but that’s just one of many anecdotes that make this non-fiction portrait worthwhile for those who aren’t super-duper fans. Cooper comes across as a man who’s emerged from the rock and roll pyre with scars, but a will to survive, making him the all-American anti-hero. Special features include deleted scenes, extra scenes from Metal Evolution, rare footage.
Curiosity:
Cheap Thrills: Three stars out of five — This dark little thriller captivated festival audiences with its macabre blend of social critique, moral metaphor and Kenny and Spenny-styled stupidity competitions, but the real charm in Cheap Thrills comes through the dissolving friendship between the two leads (Pat Healy and Ethan Embry), as well as David Koechner’s ability to nail the navel-gazing arrogance of a bored rich guy without compassion. Imagine a desperate man playing a game of truth or dare for cash: He may do anything to secure the next month’s rent, even if it means breaking the law — or a few bones. A confident debut from novice director E.L. Katz, Cheap Thrills brings an Everyman touch to gratuitous violence and moral bankruptcy. Special features include digital download, cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage.
Documentary:
Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton: Three stars out of five — If you’ve never heard of Peanut Butter Wolf, don’t go all jelly. The man born Chris Manak Jr. was originally a New Waver, but cuddled up to hip-hop and started mixing his own tracks with his buddy Charizma. When Charizma died in a carjacking incident, Peanut Butter was short on jam and had to experiment. He came up with new forms, a whole new roster of artists for his label Stones Throw, and a claim to the growing club scene. With Common, Questlove and Kanye West sitting down for the camera, the movie has enough celebrity clout to get your attention, and a big enough heart to make it meaningful — even when it feels all too insider. Special features include extended outtakes and interviews.
Tubing:
The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Series: Five stars out of five — When comedy looks this easy, you know everyone involved is a complete pro. Birthed in 1972 by MTM Enterprises, the powerhouse production company once owned by Mary Tyler Moore and former spouse Grant Tinker, the first Bob Newhart series cast the standup comic as Robert Hartley, a clinical psychologist who treats a variety of recurring neurotics. The series played to Newhart’s established charm as a straight man quietly bearing witness to the absurd and the insane facts of life we’ve all learned to take for granted, but co-star Suzanne Pleshette fleshed out the human side of Newhart’s persona, and gave this now-classic series a sexy and sarcastic edge that gave all the psycho-babble and ego insecurity a whole other layer. Special features on this complete set include all 142 episodes, pilot, group- therapy cast reunion, anniversary special, audio commentary, gag reel and booklet.
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