“Katy Perry: Part of Me the Movie”
Concert films are normally superficial excuses to promote an artist’s records. Directors Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz do spotlight Perry’s energetic California Dreams Tour, but they never shy away from the dark emotional realities going on behind the scenes.
It would have been easy to strip this movie down to its bubble-gum roots and leave out all of the highs and lows of Perry’s failed marriage to actor Russell Brand. The fact that the directors didn’t try to sanitize the production gives this concert movie some unexpected depth.
Grade: A-
“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
Seven British seniors travel to India to move into a retirement facility. Maggie Smith and Judi Dench star.
Director John Madden blends the multiple plot threads so perfectly that he creates a cinematic tapestry that celebrates life and the wide assortment of those who have lived it.
In addition, Madden shows that Hollywood’s obsession with youth is a smoke screen: It doesn’t matter what the age of the cast is as long as the material is first-rate and you have some of the best actors in the business to breathe life into it.
Grade: A-
Also out
“Steve Martin: Television Stuff”: A wild and crazy collection of Steve Martin’s various TV appearances.
“Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures”: The four films are available on one Blu-ray set.
“Doctor Who: Planet of Giants”: The Doctor (William Hartnell) and his traveling partners are shrunk.
“Modern Family: The Complete Third Season”: ABC comedy about a very funny family.
“Rawhide: The Complete Fifth Season”: Clint Eastwood stars in the Western TV series.
Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)
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