New in Home Entertainment
October 11, 2011
The Tree of Life
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The producers and stars of this new Terrence Malick film starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn freely admit that this is a very difficult film to describe and for some it is even harder to understand. The crux of the film revolves around a young Texas family growing up in the 50s. But the scope is much broader as it represents God’s very complex relationship with man as well as the question of who God is, where God is, and what is His plan. It’s an incredibly deep picture that is very rewarding to those that take it in the correct way. Many have dismissed it as merely an ambitious film that has gotten away from itself. I disagree. Malick here is certainly ambitious, but his vision is pulled off in stunning fashion and for those have connected to it, like myself, there is nothing but praise. I cannot recall a film that has ever pulled me in and given me this much pleasure to watch. For me, this was a truly religious and ethereal experience and while yes, it does lack the typical narrative you might expect, it serves as one of the greatest pieces of artistic filmmaking I can imagine on the screen. My one complaint about this new release is the lack of features. While there is a terrific documentary on how they made the film, I really wish Malick would have done a commentary in order to get a deeper insight to his masterpiece. A+
Horrible Bosses
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Most of us have had our share of bad bosses, and while rubbing a boss out isn’t exactly an appropriate response to our work troubles, when a comedy about doing such a deed is released, it sure is fun to fantasize and live vicariously through the protagonists. In Horrible Bosses, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis suffer greatly from the hands of Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Kevin Spacey, so much so that they plot to have them murdered. It’s only logical that chaos would ensue and what transpires provides us with the funniest comedy of the year. Make sure to check out the featurette “My Least Favorite Career” where the cast discusses their worst jobs and bosses from their past. A-
The Trip
Unrated
Available on DVD
Actor Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder), playing himself, is asked by the Observer to travel the British countryside in order to write an article critiquing top restaurants along the way. When his girlfriend can’t make the trip, he invites his actor friend Rob Brydon, also playing himself, to make the journey with him. The two set off on a hilarious trip full of fun, food and tension. In Britain this film existed as a BBC television series, but rather than export the series to America, the producers made the decision to cut the show up and serve it as a two hour narrative. Fortunately, for us, the idea worked and the result is a slow-moving, but charming and funny pic that explores friendship, life, love, career and the concept of success. And while the idea of fine cuisine in Britain sounds like an oxymoron, the British sense of humor is alive and well. B
Green Lantern
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When an evil entity threatens the galaxy, a human (Ryan Reynolds) is recruited to join an elite group of universal super protectors. Armed with a powerful ring that acts upon his imagination, the newly crowned Green Lantern must take on this super baddie before it engulfs the Earth and possibly the rest of the galaxy. As is the case with most Ryan Reynolds films, he far outshines the rest of the movie. He is a fun personality and almost makes the movie watchable. Unfortunately, the script is confounding at too many moments throughout, leaving character choices and plot holes that will keep you scratching your head. If what you need is a good super hero pic at the red box, check out the recent X-Men addition or wait a couple of weeks for Captain America. C+