New in Home Entertainment
March 1, 2016
Creed
Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Many rolled their eyes at me last year when I told them that one of the films I was most looking forward to seeing at year end was the latest Rocky sequel. But what had me excited wasn’t Rocky, per se, but rather the re-teaming of Fruitvale Station director Ryan Cooler with its star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Rocky nemesis Apollo Creed. Here the young boxer seeks the assistance of Stallone’s Rocky to help him follow in his father’s footsteps. This is the best Rocky film since the 1976 original and while I never thought this statement would come from my mouth, Sylvester Stallone turns in a performance here that is truly worthy of the Oscar he didn’t win this last week. A-
The Danish Girl
Rated R for some sexuality and full nudity
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Eddie Redmayne here plays artist and transgender pioneer Einar Wegener. In her Oscar-winning performance, Alicia Vikander is his wife and fellow artist who must patiently evolve with her husband’s transformation into womanhood. This is a beautiful-looking film, directed by Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) with a lush production, but honestly, it’s just not my thing. I can fully appreciate its artistry but its subject matter to me is not something I would choose to watch if I didn’t feel I had to. And while after watching I did feel empathy for both of its leads, I still have to admit that its just not a picture for me. C+
Paulette
Rated R for drug content and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
In French with English Subtitles
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
On the outskirts of Paris, retired widow and destitute curmudgeon Paulette (Bernadette Lafont) discovers the world of cannabis sales as she creates an empire based on delectable baked goods. While the content is dark, the film is ultimately a light-hearted comedy with a lot of uncomfortable laughs. It is entirely accessible as a foreign film though and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this doesn’t spawn an American remake starring Judy Dench within a few years. B