The Bette Davis Collection A six-disc set with five films honoring the 100th birthday of Hollywood’s first lady of film. “All About Eve,” “Phone Call From a Stranger,” ”The Virgin Queen,” “The Nanny,” and “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” are the titles. “All About Eve,” winner of six Academy Awards, features Davis as the reigning grand dame of theater struggling to keep her crown. Her co-stars include Joan Collins, Olivia de Havilland, Keenan Wynn, Shelly Winters and Marilyn Monroe. Some of the extras include: Cast and crew commentaries, film score tracks, original theatrical trailers, assorted photo galleries, and newsreels. (Fox) ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’
Based on the true story of how a playboy congressman (Tom Hanks), a renegade CIA agent (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and a beautiful Houston socialite (Julia Roberts) joined forces to lead the largest and most successful covert operation in history. Together, the three of them would travel the world to form unlikely alliances among the Pakistanis, Israelis, Egyptians, arms dealers, law makers, and a belly dancer, and their efforts would contribute to the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. (Universal) ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’
A compelling story about the awesome power of imagination and life without boundaries. After a stroke, magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) can only move his left eye — and through that eye he learns to communicate, one letter at a time. With the help of his speech therapist (Marie-Josee Croze,) and a stenographer (Anne Consigny), Bauby writes the stunning memoir “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” (Miramax) ‘Cloverfield’
From the producer of “Lost” comes this tale of five young New Yorkers who throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal horrifying event of their lives. (Paramount) ‘The Game Plan’
Joe Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), a football great with a pronounced ego bigger than his bank account, is getting ready for a run at the big championship game when the 8-year-old daughter (Madison Pettis) he never knew existed shows up at his not-so-family-friendly bachelor pad. As the big game gets closer he begins to realize the most meaningful win he can achieve is the heart of the one little fan who counts the most. (Disney) ‘Resurrecting the Champ’
Even though he’s played downtrodden characters before (”Black Snake Moan,” “Changing Lanes”) Samuel L. Jackson displays his diverse talents again this time transforming into a homeless man, completely changing his voice and carriage to reflect someone who has lived on the street for years. A sports journalist Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett) happens upon a scene and rescues Champ from a brutal beating. Erik sees a Pulitzer-worthy story of a life gone wrong. But it’s Erik’s internal conflict that is at the core of this movie. He is a man forever caught in the shadow of his father, a famed sports broadcaster he never really knew, as he tries to raise his own son. (Fox) RANDY WILLIAMS
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 25, 2008. Read the original PDF.