Category: DVD Review

 

New in Home Entertainment

January 27, 2015

The Interview
Rated R for pervasive language, crude and sexual humor, nudity, some drug use and bloody violence
Available on Netflix and VOD. DVD and Blu-ray coming February 17
I’m so relieved. I finally got to watch The Interview last night on Netflix and I’m still alive. I’m even more relieved that I liked the movie. This raunchy comedy follows James Franco and Seth Rogen as they attempt to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. A month ago the film got more press, good and bad, than perhaps any other holiday project in history. But when theater chains across the country decided to chicken out of showing the movie, Sony was forced to exhibit in smaller chains and VOD only. As of this week, the film is available for Netflix subscribers. While its not the most hilarious thing you’ll see this year, it does have some very big laughs. Sure Franco is a little miscast and many of the jokes aren’t particularly funny, but overall the movie is entertaining and politically savvy. B

The Judge
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this newest courtroom drama, Robert Downey Jr plays a big city attorney who upon returning home for his mother’s funeral, is forced to defend his father (Robert Duvall), who happens to be the town’s judge, for killing a local man. Wanting so hard to play like a Grisham movie, Judge might overreach at times, but the acting is excellent from the talented cast, and any misgivings of the script or story are ultimately forgivable. If it weren’t for the 141 minute running time, the film might have been a bigger hit than it ended up being. B

Coherence
Unrated
Available on DVD
This warped little ensemble piece follows a group of dinner guests who, on the night of a comet passing, discover that their neighborhood is full of houses full of the same exact guests, having the same dinner party. It is an unusually complex film that you just kind of try to forgo logic and just sit back, hoping you are still sort of with them at the end of the ride. At ninety minutes, the weirdness doesn’t rot your brain and honestly, its pretty fun. It might be even more fun with a couple glasses of wine on board. B+

Kill the Messenger
Rated R for language and drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on a true story, Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) stars as Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Gary Webb, who upon uncovering CIA secrets about drugs in South America and the U.S., puts his career, himself and his family in danger for messing with the wrong people. I really loved the first half of the movie. Watching the little guy go against the powers that be and win is a rush. But then the powers that be make their move and the rest of the film gets long and absolutely depressing. It becomes such a challenge to watch that you just want to give up. While the truth can make for great stories, it can also be quite miserable as well. While I feel this story does need to be told, I have to think there is a better way to tell it. C

New in Home Entertainment

January 20, 2015

Lucy
Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This unexpected box office hit from Fifth Element writer/director Luc Besson follows Scarlett Johansson as an unfortunate young woman who is accidentally given an overdose of a powerful drug which allows her to go from using 10% of her brain to 100%. As you’d expect from the visionary French director, the film is highly stylized and full of fun action. But also as expected, the film is full of scratch your head moments that could have been easily fixed had Besson just done some simple research or had a better advisory team. I don’t mind a filmmaker using a little creative license here and there, but there are way too many moments that have the ability to take you out of the film, which I personally find inexcusable. If you find yourself saying too many times, “that wouldn’t happen like that” or “why would she possibly do that?” then there is too much distraction to make this a solid piece of entertainment. C+

Annabelle
Rated R for intense sequences of disturbing violence and terror
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of the side stories of the wonderfully frightening 2013 horror film The Conjuring was that of a doll named Annabelle, which is based on a real doll, still located in the Warren’s home today. Here the story goes back to the early seventies where a young couple are haunted by a doll after a cultist bleeds her soul into her. While a bit hair raising at times, Annabelle remains largely unscary and unfortunately a bit dull. Unlike The Conjuring, the film lacks the authenticity it needs to make it a horrifying experience. Whereas a lot of these types of films just make poor decisions which lead to failure, the poor decision here is making the movie. I really don’t think there’s a story worth telling and that the whole project is a desperate attempt to capitalize on the success of its predecessor. D

The Boxtrolls
Rated PG for action, some peril and mild rude humor
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
This stop motion animated gem follows a group of trolls who wear boxes (thus the name) and the little boy they adopt when his life was in danger. It’s a nonsensical adventure set in a crazy universe, and it absolutely works. Sure it’s ugly to look at, but it’s a marvelous ugly that you can’t take your eyes off of. It might be a little much for the young kids, but for older children and adults it is terrific little fantasy. While it didn’t get much love at the box office, it did latch onto an Oscar nomination – something The Lego Movie could not accomplish. A-

Jimi: All is By My Side
Rated R for language including sexual references, sand some drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I’m not sure what exactly happened to the theatrical release of this biopic following the life of famed rocker Jimi Hendrix, but after watching this blu-ray, I was quite confused about the its lack of traction. So many biopics have been released throughout the last few years, and yet so many of them miss the boat. Not this one. Writer/Director John Ridley creates here a terrifically entertaining flick that really spells out what it must have been like to have been around Jimi in the early days of his career. It is thrilling, funny, touching and completely engaging. OutKast’s Andre Benjamin is amazing as the rock god and he should have gotten a lot more love for this role than he did. My only gripe is that the movie cuts off before Jimi heads to America to become the legend we know today. A

Rudderless
Rated R for language
Available on DVD
William H. Macy directs this Once-like musical about a man whose life is torn apart after a tragedy involving his son. Years after going off of the grid, he discovers a box of demo tapes his son made and attempts to get to know him better through his music. Overall, I really like the idea of the film. The music is really good, and the story is touching. The story could have been so much better though had it just been tweaked in a few areas. Also, while Billy Crudup and Anton Yelchin do a great job, Felicity Huffman phones it in and Selena Gomez’s character should have been cut entirely. B-

New in Home Entertainment

January 13, 2014

Gone Girl
Rated R for a scene of bloody violence, some strong sexual content, nudity, and language
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
Based on the best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl follows the world of a husband (Ben Affleck) who is under suspicion for killing his wife (Rosamund Pike) when she goes missing. Twisted and sadistically funny, Gone Girl is masterfully directed by David Fincher and written for the screen by Flynn herself. What I loved most about Gone Girl is that I KNEW which direction the film was going in, until I discovered how wrong I really was. When a film takes you completely by surprise and then blows you away, its hard not to fall in love with it, even when the material is this dark. A

The Two Faces of January
Rated PG-13 for some violence, language and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst are a couple traveling through Greece in the 60’s when they run across a young, semi-distrustful tour guide played by Oscar Isaac. When Mortensen gets in trouble at his hotel, Isaac comes to the rescue to help them try to escape Greece. While I enjoyed the production, or rather their reproduction of 1960’s Greece, the film is one of the least thrilling thrillers I’ve seen this year. One of the biggest problems is that its hard to feel empathy for any of the characters, so when bad things happen, who cares? It’s a shame too, because all three of the actors are fantastic and worthy of much greater material. C-

Men, Women & Children
Rated R for strong sexual content including graphic dialogue throughout – some involving teens, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of my favorite writers/directors in recent years is Jason Reitman, who has come on the scene strong with Juno and Up in the Air. This time around he takes on relationships between a host of deeply flawed characters living in a world of social media. Starring an impressive ensemble cast, the movie ultimately fails due to their not being a likable character in the entire script. While some are better than others, pretty much everyone is a turd in the punchbowl, and I for one quickly grew thirsty for something else. D

Black Sails: The Complete First Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Some of my favorite guilty pleasures from recent years have come from television shows based on historical bad guys like gladiators, vikings and now pirates. This ambitious and well-crafted show from Starz creates a fun world based on pirates of old that is as naughty as it is violent. While I’m assuming its not in the least bit realistic, it is a lot of fun watching the action-packed drama unfold. And it doesn’t hurt that the production values are first rate. I can’t wait to see how they continue things in season 2, starting January 24. B+

New in Home Entertainment

January 6, 2014

Boyhood
Rated R for language including sexual references, and for teen drug and alcohol use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
For twelve years, Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater filmed a fictional movie about the life a young boy (played by newcomer Ellar Coltrane) who we get to watch as he grows up to be a man. Not only is the movie a brilliant portrayal of a life’s journey, but it also serves as a wonderful vision of growing up in Texas. Filmed around Houston, Austin, San Marcos, Big Bend and other familiar spots to most of us, the film serves as great nostalgia both for our childhoods and our state as we are given points of reference most of us will easily recognize. While it was probably the most talked-about movie in Hollywood in 2014, it is surprising that it took in only about 24 million at the box office. Then again, its disc and streaming take should be a significant improvement, especially after it brings home a bucketful of awards this coming season. A+

Get on Up
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In his followup to his multiple Oscar-nominated film The Help, Tate Taylor tells the story of the notorious R&B artist James Brown. Zipping back and forth around time periods in Brown’s life, the film is easy enough to follow, but tends to meander quite a bit and fails to make interesting any character besides Brown himself. That being said, Chadwick Boseman is dynamite as Brown and its hard to imagine a better performance of the iconic figure. It’s a performance worth watching, even if the rest of the film is not. B-

The Trip to Italy
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This sequel to 2010’s The Trip once again follows actors Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan as two friends, this time traveling around Italy discussing its unbelievable cuisine. Three of my favorite things in the world are travel, good food and laughter and this film makes for the perfect combination. It is a joy to watch the extremely cynical and sarcastic duo let loose, although some of the drama I found extremely distracting. For example, while probably realistic, the infidelity introduced into the script makes the characters, who are playing themselves mind you, almost too fallible. I wish they had toned much of drama from the scripted portions of the movie and just left us with more Italy, food and laughter. A-

The Guest
Rated R for strong violence, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While highly praised by critics and audiences, this indie slipped into and out of theaters with little fanfare. Unfortunately the poster only shows a good-looking actor (Dan Stevens) wearing a backpack and holding a gun, and doesn’t give a clue about what the audience should expect. Once you get watching you discover that this is a demented Bourne Identity-like tale with a twisted edge and a lot of bad behavior. Sure it’s a total B movie with good production values, but it’s also well-crafted and a lot of fun, in spite of its story-telling flaws. And Stevens is terrific as the good guy/bad guy houseguest with questionable intentions. B

Dinosaur 13
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, language and brief smoking
Available eon DVD and Blu-ray
I have been extremely impressed with CNN’s launch into the feature documentary market over the last couple of years and this newest entry, while not perfect, is unforgettable. Exploring the discovery of Sue the dinosaur and the controversial events following her excavation, Dinosaur 13 is an upsetting yet enlightening view of modern paleontology and the U.S. government’s overreach and abuse. While it does have a made-for-tv feel to it, that doesn’t make it any less powerful. B+

 

New in Home Entertainment

 

December 16, 2014

 

The Skeleton Twins
Rated R for language, some sexuality and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Saturday Night Live alums Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader star in this dark comedy about estranged twins whose lives are brought back together after a suicide attempt. While the drama is well crafted and the actors are more than capable, the film unfortunately is so full of poison that it is not an entertaining watch. It’s hard to go for a movie like this when you just can’t like any of the characters, even if you love the actors who play them. C+

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
In an attempt to make a better-looking CG-driven Ninja Turtles movie, Battle Los Angeles director Jonathan Liebsman and producer Michael Bay deliver this pseudo-genesis story about the vigilante mutants and their fight against the evil Shredder. I can admit that the look of the film is a nice touch and at about 100 minutes, its a fast-paced mindless action flick that doesn’t have you constantly looking at your watch. For adults, the film is a bit of a letdown and honestly a waste of time. Children though will enjoy it and even though it is PG-13, it is still pretty kid-friendly. C+

This is Where I Leave You
Rated R for language, sexual content and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This is Where I Leave You is yet another dark comedy starring a bunch of folks we love. In this case, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda and a largely talented ensemble head home after the passing of their father, only to be forced to live under one roof and suffer each others’ company for a few days. While there are some somewhat funny moments, most of the film is just a drag to watch. The script is well-acted, but not well-written and the attempt to recreate a familial Big Chill fizzles quickly. C

 

New in Home Entertainment

 

December 9, 2014

 

Guardians of the Galaxy
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
This summer was a bit of a disappointment until this unexpected gem of a sci-fi/superhero film popped out its head. Taken from the pages of a relatively little-known Marvel comic, Guardians tells the genesis story of how a rag-tag group of galactic misfits join together to, well, guard the galaxy. Chris Pratt plays the leader of the gang Peter Quill, who wishes to be known as Starlord, and together with a green princess named Gamora (Zoe Saldana), muscle-bound brute Drax (Dave Bautista), a talking raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and a walking tree (Vin Diesel), surprised the planet as it has become one of the biggest moneymakers in recent years. While it is most definitely an epic science fiction film, what wins audiences over is the playfulness it exudes. While it starts out a bit on the sad side, it lets on immediately that we are here to have fun and it is truly one of the best times I have had in a theater all year. A

Dolphin Tale 2
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this second installment of the Dolphin Tale saga, Winter, the dolphin who lost her tail, has lost her tank partner due to old age and is now depressed and in need of a new pool mate. Compared to the first film, this one is far cheesier, but it still manages to throw in a decent amount of magic as well. Honestly, I’m glad they are making these films, even if the quality of the writing and acting isn’t always up to snuff. To have positive live-action family films again is a good thing to add to the mix, considering the large amount of family-unfriendly films we see too much of in theaters. This is a decent enough film to entertain adults while at the same time inspiring children. B

Frank
Rated R for language and some sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Let me tell you upfront – Frank is weird. Really weird. Frank tells the story of an eclectic alt band led by Frank (Michael Fassbender), a man who goes through life wearing a giant mask like you might see at a creepy amusement park. Told through the eyes of a new bandmate (played by Domhnall Gleeson) who quits his day job to play keyboards for the band, the story meanders through rehearsals to recordings to performances culminating in a crazy pinnacle at SXSW in Austin, TX. While it might seem like experimental filmmaking, and it kind of is, it also turns out to be a fascinating fantasy about mental illness, creativity and art. Let me reiterate, Frank is very weird, but it is definitely never boring and most thoroughly interesting. B+

The Jeffersons: The Complete Series
Available on DVD
Finally getting a nice DVD release is this classic television show that ran from 1975-1985 about a black couple who upon starting a successful business, move into a fancy white apartment in New York City. For much of white America, and I’m included in this group, this was a first exposure to modern black culture. Looking back it at now, it is relevant and still very funny. I’ll admit, I only made a small dent in the 74 hours of content on the 33 DVDs, but I am looking forward to enjoying more over the holidays. A-

 

New in Home Entertainment

 

November 25, 2014

 

The Expendables 3
Rated PG-13 for violence including intense sustained gun battles and fight scenes, and for language. Also includes unrated edition.
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Sylvester Stallone’s third soiree into the 80’s action memory lane arena brings back most of the cast from the first two films and adds in Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas. You cannot argue that the casting on this thing is tremendously impressive. While the story isn’t nearly as good as the second outing, there is still a lot of fun to be had. Throwing a young and unknown team of actors into the mix might not have been the best idea (honestly – there is such thing as too much), but one of the biggest mistakes was a PG-13 rating that really feels out of place for such a project. This home release includes the “unrated” edition, but a few more F-bombs and blood splatters isn’t the remedy for what ails it. If you are in the need for a truly mindless action film with a lot of familiar faces, and you can manage to put down a couple of drinks while watching, it might be an entertaining experience for you. B-

What If
Rated PG-13 for sexual content including references throughout, partial nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Daniel and Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan star in this sweet, innocent, and unnecessary romantic comedy that plays Radcliffe as a bloke who is in love with a girl with a boyfriend and is willing to become friends with her in the hope of something more. It’s not a horrible film, but the dialog isn’t as clever as it thinks it is and the whole thing is quite boring. One of the things that probably didn’t help the project is that many of the beats felt completely contrived. I got the feeling that writer Elan Mastai found a theme and then tried so hard to revolve everything around it that he forgot to create a credible and natural story. But while the story doesn’t really work that well, I really like Radcliffe and Kazan and would love to see them in a better rom com. Both have a wonderful comic sensibility and a more than decent chemistry is seen regardless of the words coming out of their mouths. C+

 

New in Home Entertainment

 

November 18, 2014

 

22 Jump Street
Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, drug material, brief nudity and some violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Beginning where 21 Jump Street left off, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum move onto college to solve another drug investigation. I have to admit that I loved 21 Jump Street. I found it to be fresh, wildly creative and extremely funny. That being said, I liked this adventure even more. The comedy is pretty broad here and really anyone can enjoy the hijinx, but for those that understand screenwriting and movie formulas, the film is extended to new heights. Here they essentially take the Romantic Comedy handbook and attempt to recreate the beats, all the while telling you they are doing it. Personally I found this to be both clever and intellectually stimulating, neither of which is a word I would have ever thought could describe a Jump Street film. It knows it is stupid, and revels in it. It parodies not only other buddy, college and rom com films, but finds a way to parody itself at the same time. This makes for one heck of an entertaining farce. A-

Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For
Rated R for strong brutal stylized violence throughout, sexual content, nudity, and brief drug use
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s second outing into the Sin City universe follows heroes both old and new in violent and somewhat filthy adventures about the mythical city’s underworld. Out of place is the title character, played by Jessica Alba, who is just not sordid enough to be playing this kind of depraved character. On the other hand, Eva Green is perfection as the conniving and manipulating witch that takes on more than she can handle. I really liked the first Sin City but honestly, this one just feels like more of the same. What I did really love here was the 3D which looked amazing in the theater and pops even better at home. Visually, this movie has got it going on. C+

The Dark Half
Rated R for violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Twenty-one years ago Night of the Living Dead director George Romero took on Stephen King’s twisted book The Dark Half and it is finally making its blu-ray debut this week. Timothy Hutton is Thad Beaumont, best selling author of horror books he has written under the name George Stark. When he decides to kill off Stark as a publicity stunt, Stark literally comes to life in an attempt to take over his own fate. To this day this is still one of the scariest books I’ve ever read and although I haven’t revisited the movie since it was in theaters a half of my lifetime ago, I still find it a chillingly good time. A-

It Happened One Night: Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Only three films in history have won the top five Oscars (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay): 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs, and this little gem from 1934 directed by Frank Capra starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in one of the first and still one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. While it’s nice to have some of the new special features you would expect from a Criterion release, what matters most is the beautiful 4K digital restoration. The loving spit and polish applied here gives a magnificent version of the film like you’ve never seen it before. It almost makes it hard to believe that the movie is eighty years old. A+

 

New in Home Entertainment

 

November 11, 2014

 

Jersey Boys
Rated R for language throughout
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Since Rob Marshall took home the Oscar for Chicago a decade ago, we’ve seen many of our favorite Broadway musicals hit the big screen. Continuing with that trend is this Tony-winning musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom in the ‘60s. Directed by the iconic Clint Eastwood, you would think that this was a home run waiting to happen, but unfortunately something just feels flat throughout. On stage this musical is pure dynamite, not at all similar to many of the juke box musicals we’ve seen staged recently. But that magic proves difficult to bottle here as the movie lacks energy and power and ultimately bogs down under its own weight. Perhaps Eastwood was the wrong choice for such a high profile project or maybe it is just entirely miscast, but something just doesn’t feel right when watching. C

Tammy
Rated R for language including sexual references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Melissa McCarthy headlines this wannabe comedy about a loser who goes on a road trip with her grandma, played by Susan Sarandon. Directed by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone, the movie sells itself as a comedy but there is little laughter to be had. The characters are so desperate and sad that the film actually comes off as more pathetic than anything. Tammy is like a SNL character that might be interesting in a five-minute sketch, but this ninety-six minute movie is a miserable experience. D

True Blood: The Complete Seventh Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
For the first five seasons of this naughty Lousiana vampire saga, I was quite taken. Then came the less than stellar season six and now the deplorable seventh and final season. Packing 4 episodes worth of material into 10 episodes was such a bad idea for HBO as each hour passed in misery. First a major character would die, then we would spend the next episode talking about it. I almost stopped watching but I wanted to see how painful it would get, and boy did it hurt. If you are new to true blood, stop with season five and you’ll be in much better shape. F

UHF: 25th Anniversary Edition
Rated PG-13
Available on Blu-ray
Now that “Weird Al” Yankovic has finally scored his first number one album, its time to celebrate his storied career as a master of parody. This movie from 1989 tells the story of a weirdly creative and lovable loser who takes over a small UHF station in town. Creating original and whacky programming, he quickly becomes a target for the big networks. While extremely dated, I still laugh at the same jokes I laughed out when I was watching back in High School. And for you Seinfeld fans out there, this film practically launched the career of Michael “Kramer” Richards who turns in an absolutely brilliant physical comedy performance here as the lovable janitor Stanley Spadowski. A-

The Bruce Lee Premiere Collection
Rated R
Available on Blu-ray
While this collection of martial arts masterpieces starring the legendary Bruce Lee is getting a blu-ray release here, there is a lot to be desired. Containing The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Game of Death, the set is a nice cross-section of Lee’s work, but the films are in desperate need of remastering. They don’t look much different from their DVD counterparts and the language tracks need some extreme re-working. If you’ve never seen, it might be good enough, but if you are a big fan, get ready to be disappointed. C+

New in Home Entertainment

 

November 4, 2014

 

Maleficent
Rated PG for sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
I expected the worst when seeing this new Disney spinoff starring Angelina Jolie as the popular Sleeping Beauty villain. To me the idea felt more like a gimmick then a story I wanted to see. Once again, I love being wrong. Turning Maleficent into a hero turned out to be a fantastic idea for Disney and Jolie is perfect in the starring role. Sure the king comes off as a tad too evil and young Aurora as almost a simpleton, but the story is interesting and the special effects and overall pacing add to the enjoyment. I especially loved the lush score from James Newton Howard. B+

Planes: Fire and Rescue
Rated PG for action and some peril
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Another Disney film that I had the lowest of expectations for is the newest pic from the Planes franchise. Unfortunately, the film met them. I’ll admit that this is a better project than their initial outing, which just seemed like the same old race picture we’ve gotten too much of. But even though the setting is different and the story is somewhat novel, the jokes are still stale and the whole project seems like more of a money grab than the typical Disney storytelling we know and love. C-

Hercules: Extended Cut
Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and partial nudity
Available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D
This Hercules for the next generation stars Dwayne Johnson as the legendary hero who is more of a smart salesman than a supernatural demigod. Selling his services to whoever can pay for them, he and his crew must fight their way out of cruel trap. The plot is interesting at least and has its fun moments throughout. Johnson is at his charismatic best and even his henchmen (and woman) are entertaining. Unfortunately the script is weak and the dialog is laborious when it shouldn’t be. Had the adventure been better written, this could have been a much better film than what is seen here. C

A Most Wanted Man
Rated R for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In one of the final projects we’ll get to see from him, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a German secret service agent who tries to thwart an attack from a potential Islamist threat that has just entered Hamburg. Based on the John Le Carre novel, the film is intricate in plot and extremely well written. It’s also incredibly relevant and even eye-opening. Hoffman’s performance is brilliant and the rest of the talented cast follow suit just fine. It never pretends to be a Bond film, but rather it’s more of a thinking man’s spy thriller. A-

The Dog
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This fantastic new documentary from Drafthouse Films follows the life of John Wojtowicz, the real-life inspiration for Al Pacino’s character in Dog Day Afternoon. When you hear the phrase “it takes all kinds” this guy now comes to mind for me. While I would never want to meet him, he certainly is an interesting and peculiar little dude who comes off here as more of a freak show than the anti-hero Pacino portrayed in the 1975 Sidney Lumet classic. And while I was deeply disturbed by most of this guy’s life, I also couldn’t stop watching it. Almost like a perverted and criminal version of Honey Boo Boo. A-