NUMBER ONE FAN: DVDebut for Jeanne Herry's dark/funny/oddly real study of obsession

In NUMBER ONE FAN (Elle l'adore), her first full-length film, French writer/directer (sometimes actress, too) Jeanne Herry offers a very interesting and different look at obsession: that of a middle-aged woman fan's adoration of her "hero," a super-popular singer who is equally obsessed with his own career and reputation. What makes the film so unusual is Ms Herry's approach -- which is not from any of the usual angles we might expect.

The filmmaker (shown below) refuses to turn this into a comedy or a tragedy or even the

kind of mystery/police procedural we often see. And yet, as the movie moves along, it becomes, without seeming to even try, all of the above. And it does so while remaining, moment to moment, utterly real without ever resorting to any of the usual "movie" techniques (super-snappy editing and/or pounding music to ramp up the suspense).

Instead things stay relatively quiet and calm, even as they grow increasingly bizarre. This is an unusual "technique," to say the least, but in the end it pays off rather well.

In the starring roles, Ms Herry is fortunate to have two fine (and terrifically appropriate) actors: Sandrine Kiberlain (shown above) and Laurent Lafitte. Ms Kiberlain has always excelled (in literally every role she appears), especially when she plays the oddball outsider, as here. She captures that peculiar obsessive quality that fans bring to their adoration, which allows them to concentrate on their idol to the diminution of all else in their lives -- from their children to their employment.

M. Lafitte (above and below) brings his gorgeous face and physique to the fore, as a top-grade performer so used to the "entitled" spotlight that, when an accident happens that would have any remotely "normal" person calling for an ambulance and/or the police, instead reacts only in his celebrity "career protection" mode. On one level this is beyond crazy; one another, it is simply standard practice for the narcissistic celeb.

How events pile up and go quietly to shit is also somehow expected. But the manner in which Ms Herry handles it all is certainly not. One one level the movie becomes an oddball police procedural involving a pair of romantically involved cops (Pascal Demolon and Olivia Côte, below, respectively, left and right), one of whom is, as her lover describes it, a nymphomaniac. This provides not only some very weird-but-understandable plot points, but a chance for the two actors (below) to strut their stuff, believably and enjoyably.

How the movie winds up (and down) is low-key but effective, turning much of what we've seen on its head. Holding it all together is Ms Kiberlain, who has one scene toward the finale in which she is under questioning in the police station -- and allowing her character to give the performance of her life -- that should offer enormous evidence, were any still needed, of what a supremely expert actress she is.

From Distrib Films US and Icarus Films Home Video, the DVD hits the street this Tuesday, October 2 -- for purchase and/or rental.

Blu-ray/DVDebut: Kendrick and Rockwell rock in Paco Cabezas' delightfully loony MR. RIGHT

Individually Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell are worth seeing in almost any movie they choose to make (it takes a bad director to bleach out either of these talents). Together, however, they seem a perfect match, and under the fine tonal hand of director Paco Cabezas (shown below, clearly getting into the spirit of things), the pair takes the infinitely clever but woefully under-seen MR. RIGHT into the stratosphere.

We've viewed a number of previous comedies in which a killer, instead of being the villain, proves to be the hero. But none, I think, have been quite as much frolicsome fun as this. But before you let your kids view the movie, please note that its "R" rating is thoroughly deserved. There's blood spilled copiously, lots of sexual references, and language that would make your grandmother blush. There is also plenty of terrific action, swell performances, and a wealth of humor that comes from smart characterization, clever dialog (the screenwriter is Max Landis), and crazy situations that may belie reality but make the movie a hilarious treat.

Kendrick (above) and Cabezas introduce our heroine as a gal who consistently gets involved with the wrong man (the opening is funny indeed, and how the filmmaker handles a barely seen bottle of wine proves just right).

Mr. Rockwell is introduced in similarly fine fashion, and what his character does to the woman who has hired him may raise eyebrows, but soon enough we get the explanation, and it's the perfect remedy for anyone worried about the morality at work here.

Once the pair meet, and are of course smitten, the movie takes off and doesn't slow down until the credits roll. Along for the funny, bumpy ride is a great supporting cast, including Tim Roth as Rockwell's bête noire (shown above with Katie Nehra, who play Kendricks best friend);

Anson Mount (above), who plays one of two very angry, very dumb brothers who have foolishly tried to hire Rockwell as assassin; and the versatile James Ransone (below, left, of The Wire and so much other good stuff), who plays the other, even stupider brother.

Very nearly stealing the movie is RZA (above, right), as an also mentally-challenged bad guy who has enough good guy left in him to have us (as well as Rockwell and Kendrick) still rooting for him.

As I say, the "tone" here counts for so very much, and Cabezas keeps it light and airy, despite all the bullets and blood. This is tricky, to say the least, but thanks to his and his cast's light touch -- there's a simply amazing, very nearly classic scene midway along in which Rockwell teaches Kendrick to find her flow while the two toss knives at each other -- the movie never loses its footing and in fact just grows crazier and more enjoyable as it scoots happily along.

After a very limited theatrical release that garnered a mixed bag of reviews 37% critic-positive on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 % from the audience, it's obviously a matter of taste. But those of us who like the film, really like the film. And so, I suspect, since you're reading TrustMovies, might you.

From Focus Features and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and running just 96 magical minutes, Mr. Right, already available On-Demand and via Digital HD, will also be out on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, June 7 -- for purchase or rental.

John Stockwell's CAT RUN: Was Janet McTeer nominated for the WRONG movie?

Yes, yes: Of course, Albert Nobbs was wonderful, and Janet McTeer was expectedly brilliant in her Oscar-nominated role. However, for unexpected brilliance -- I'll bet most of you didn't even know that our Janet graced the likes of this ultra-violent, nasty, gory but oh-my-god, it's so funny, clever, surprising and special movie -- CAT RUN is the film to see. Out now on DVD and Blu-ray -- and with its gorgeous Montenegro/Bosnia/Herzegovina coastal settings, Blu-ray is the one to choose -- the movie is solid enough to bypass any waft of guilty pleasure (thanks to Ms McTeer, there's oodles more pleasure here than guilt).

Directed by John Stockwell, more or less in the fast, smart style of his under-rated Turistas (rather than the sleep-inducing manner of his later Dark Tide), the movie initially has a little trouble joining together its two elements: goofy comedy, essayed by two best friends played by Scott Mechlowicz (above, left) and Alphonso McAuley (above, right), and dark thriller, in which would-be star Paz Vega (below) and real star McTeer do the heavy lifting. (The writers here are  Nick Ball and John Niven.)

Mechlowitz always has an air of sweetness about him that often saves the day, and so it is here. McAuley, initially off-putting, slowly works his way into our good graces. Vega is gorgeous, as ever, but has little to do in the acting department. Also on hand are Christopher McDonald and Karel Roden as the villains -- both are enjoyably reprehensible -- and D.L. Hughley, shown at bottom, as a triple amputee (two legs and one arm) office manager (don't ask -- but he's terrific).

It is Ms McTeer however (above and below), who provides the film's fuel. As as assassin named Helen Bingham who looks like a modern-day Mary Poppins, appears to know every trick in the book, and will stop at nothing to get her job done, she is one ghastly delight: equal parts frightening and funny. She knows her way around, not just one-liners (though she is quite good at these) but around dialog in general, and as much of it as you'd care to throw her way. Her line readings, every last one of them, are impeccable. They keep goosing the movie into some kind of lame-brained art.

McTeer is scary as hell for about half the movie, and then something even more wonderful happens: We begin to learn a little more about her, and then occurs what may be a "first" for films in this thriller/chase genre known for sporting outsize villains like this one. The last half of the film is simply top-notch, and even those two disparate elements mentioned earlier, the humor and the thrills, start working together beautifully -- once again, thanks to this phenomenal actress, who along with everything else she does so well, gets to do a nifty martial arts fight scene and show us some quite appealing cleavage, too. Janet, dear: Is there nothing you can't do?

McTeer is better than any Bond villain so far -- perhaps any villain the movies have yet given us. Which is why members of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences, should they ever deign to view a movie not earmarked as Oscar-bait, might discover and then honor a role and a performance for the ages. I doubt we shall see its like again, this combination of unique character, amazing actress and all-stops-out performance.

So you, dear reader, better get hold of Cat Run before it becomes a collector's item. It's available now for purchase or instant video rental from Amazon, rental from Netflix or Blockbuster, and probably a lot of other smaller venues, too.