The PhilmGuy's DVD Review: 'Deadwood'; 'The Expendables'

Deadwood: The Complete Series Blu-ray – David Milch’s gritty, hilariously foul-mouthed masterwork shimmers in HD. Like a famous gunslinger in the Old West, the show lived hard and died before its time.

The series lasted only three seasons, and season one is the finest TV drama I’ve ever seen. Timothy Olyphant plays a reluctant former lawman turned shop owner who’s forced to keep the peace when he settles in a dangerous town run by barkeeper, whoremaster Al Swearengen (Ian McShane). Four hours of bonus features fill out the set. My favorite is an interview with Milch in which he reveals how the series might have ended had HBO not pulled the rug out from under it.

I’m Still Here – In case you’d forgotten Joaquin Phoenix flipped out two years ago, retired from acting and tried to become a hip-hop musician. His brother-in-law Casey Affleck followed him around with a camera, recording the meltdown for posterity. Affleck has come forward to reveal that much, if not all of the film is a hoax, but Phoenix’s hiatus from acting seems to have proven legitimate. Whether fake or not, the movie provides a fascinating peak into the life of a celebrity who’s lost his sense of direction. If Phoenix is indeed acting, this is probably his finest performance to date. Affleck, Phoenix and others provide a bizarre commentary, and Affleck has his own additional track. There are also deleted scenes with commentary from – guess who? – Affleck.

The Winning Season – If you’re missing the days when a Mighty Ducks movie came out every other year, this inspirational tale of a girls high school basketball coach (Sam Rockwell) who cobbles together a team of misfits and turns them into a contender. Rockwell’s character is a sexist cutup who changes his ways. Rob Corddry, Rooney Mara and Emma Roberts fill out the supporting cast of the harmless, forgettable flick, which includes director commentary.