Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

One of the year's best movies ("A Serious Man") and an irresistible tale of girl-power ("Whip It") hit theater screens, while a couple of documentaries ("Anvil!," "Not Quite Hollywood") and an undeservedly overlooked comedy ("Year One") make for choice DVD viewing.

In Theaters:

A Serious Man (Focus Pictures): Acclaimed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen follow the dark, Oscar-winning drama "No Country for Old Men" and the slapstick comedy "Burn After Reading" with this outstanding film, which combines elements from both their most recent movies. Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a physics professor muddling through life in 1967 Minneapolis. His meek suburban experience takes an unexpected turn as a series of terrible events, ranging from his son being picked on by school bullies to a threatened job, leave him feeling lost. Though a description of the plot suggests a heavy tragedy, the Coens' unique mix of humor and despair instead crafts a brilliant portrait of one man's doubts and fears that's also often uproariously funny. One of the year's best films.

Whip It (Fox Searchlight Pictures): Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with this vivacious comedy-drama set in the rollicking subculture of female roller derby skaters. Ellen Page ("Juno") adds another character to her gallery of spunky outsiders with Bliss Cavendar, a waitress who trades life in a small Texas town for the rough and tumble rush of skating competitions in an all-girl Austin league. Dealing with tough competitors, tomboyish friends, and possible boyfriends, Bliss finds her voice along with her footing in the derby arena. Barrymore (who also co-stars) may still have much to learn about filmmaking, but her affection for her characters and for her cast (which also includes Juliette Lewis and Marcia Gay Harden) make this good-natured tale of girl-power hard to resist.

New on DVD:

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Anvil!: The Story of Anvil (VH-1 Films): For anybody who thought the clueless, aging rockers in "This Is Spinal Tap" were an exaggeration, here comes this funny, sweet, unexpectedly moving documentary to show that there really are folks like that. The film looks back on the early days of Anvil!, a heavy metal band that made a splash in Canada during the early 1980s and was an influence on groups like Metallica. The humor and poignancy of the project, however, lie mostly in its present-day segments, as we catch up with band founders (and school friends) Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner, as they try to work past corporate greed, previous discord, and their own middle-age barriers to make good on their promise to "keep rocking forever."

Not Quite Hollywood (Magnolia): For years, the Australian movie industry was known to the rest of the world as purveyors of tasteful costume dramas like "Picnic on Hanging Rock." Mark Hartley, the director of this breathlessly entertaining documentary, begs to differ. Using lightning-paced clips and interviews, Hartley shows us the vigorous world of Australian B-movies, from risqué comedies to atmospheric horror movies to ferocious action epics, movies which may not have always pleased critics but always dripped with passion for cinema. Standouts among the interviewees are actor Dennis Hopper's recollection of wild times in the outback during the 1970s, "Mad Max" director George Miller's tales of how dangerous many of his car stunts were, and genre fan Quentin Tarantino's feverish enthusiasm for just about everything related to movies.

Year One (Sony): Burly, raucous Jack black and spindly, meek Michael Cera make a fine comic duo in this likable comedy from the experienced yet still underrated Harold Ramis ("Caddyshack," "Groundhog Day"). Ambling satirically through ancient times, the movie follows Zed (Black) and Oh (Cera), a pair of luckless prehistoric hunters who can't seem to keep up with the demands of their village. Sent away because of their slacking, they come across a variety of legendary characters, from Cain and Abel to the dwellers of a certain city known as Sodom. Fast-paced and full of clever gags, the movie may not be raunchy enough for viewers who prefer their comedy R-rated. But everybody else should enjoy the zesty humor and the cameos (including Paul Rudd and Hank Azaria).