CRUNCHONTHIS.COM

New in Home Entertainment

September 8, 2015

The Age of Adaline
Rated PG-13 for a suggestive comment
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Blake Lively stars in this sci-fi-ish romance about a young girl who, after what should have been a tragic car accident, survives with the curse of never growing older. The movie does a very good job at pulling you in to the young Adaline’s tale but the sequence editing is so peculiar that it distracts you from what is most important – the story. But then the meat of the movie hits as Harrison Ford comes into the picture and the dynamic of the film changes entirely, in a very nice way. So while much of the film is poorly put together early on, half-way through it metamorphosizes into a lovely and compelling romantic movie, making the whole journey worth the taking. B

Dressed to Kill: The Criterion Collection
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I’m guessing that with the whole Caitlyn Jenner story eating up the press, Criterion decided it was time to jump in with Brian De Palma’s 1980 sex thriller about a cross-dressing killer starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen. Everything about this film is completely over-the-top including the violence, sex/nudity, music and especially the acting. While the story could have actually made for a decent movie, here we get a huge pile of excess. That being said, Criterion tries to give the film a credible backing with this new 4K digital transfer and a huge body of special features attempting to prove why the film belongs in its library. In my opinion, this “classic” is just 105 minutes of schlock. C-

Supernatural: The Complete 10th Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this newest series about two supernatural crime-fighting brothers, they literally enter a war between heaven and hell. In season one I would have given this series maybe six years before the ideas would dissipate and the quality took a turn south. But that hasn’t happened. Instead, the writing has improved, as has the chemistry between the Winchester brothers, played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. While the storylines here are darker, and that’s saying a lot, the show is still as fun as it was in the beginning. B+

New in Home Entertainment

August 25, 2015

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
There’s a reason why The Walking Dead is still one of the most watched and most talked-about shows on television: it’s really, really good. The only thing that has truly frightened me about The Walking Dead was my fear of how the show would degrade without creator Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) at the reigns, but the quality has only increased with the drama and story keeping everyone glued to their sets. Even the one-hour talk show hosted by Chris Hardwick (The Talking Dead) is getting better ratings than most shows on cable, and rightly so. It’s safe to say the show is phenomenon. This latest season finds the crew of survivors finally living in what appears to be a nice little town. Unlike some of their earlier similar scenarios, they just might be in a welcome spot. But now they have to deal with their own personal psychological damage as well as the fact that the new town is weak and ripe for a takeover if they aren’t made stronger. Overall its a very binge-worthy season of television and I can’t wait to see the next chapter in October. A-

Disney Short Films Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Walt Disney has always been know for its short films, many of which have gone on to great acclaim. In recent years, there has been steep competition, including that from its sister studio Pixar, but Disney takes the art form seriously and keeps coming up with new and interesting stories featuring innovative animation styles and nuances. This latest collection features 12 of Disney’s latest masterpieces. While I’m not the biggest fan of “Frozen Fever,” mostly due to Frozen brain freeze, the Oscar-winning shorts “Feast” and “Paperman” are beautifully unique and 2006’s Oscar-nominated “The Little Matchgirl” is a true testament to Disney’s ability to emotionally attach its audience in only a mere few minutes. Overall this is a wonderful collection of rich and imaginative storytelling. A-

Welcome to New York
Rated R for strong sexuality, graphic nudity, a rape and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Loosely reenacting the recent events of the Dominique Strauss-Kahn controversy, Gerard Depardieu plays Mr Devereaux, a powerful French economist and political figure who rapes a cleaning lady in his hotel and then tries to use his influence and money to escape his charges. The movie definitely has authenticity written all over it. You get the sense that while the filmmakers seem a little overly careful in not using real names and titles, they most surely paint a picture of what the scenario might have been like. This reality though is not pleasant to watch and my discomfort and disgust had me exhausted and feeling pretty sick. I had to take a long, hot shower afterward just to recover. Now if only there was a decent shower for the mind. This film is going to be hard to scrub out. C+

New in Home Entertainment

August 11, 2015

Hot Pursuit
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence, language and some drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Reese Witherspoon plays a by-the-book cop who is tasked with escorting a drug-dealer’s wife (Sofia Vergara) from San Antonio to Dallas where she will be testifying against the leader of a drug cartel. The film starts out cute enough, as you watch Witherspoon’s transformation from little girl to obsessive police officer, but the whole thing becomes stupid quick as the characters make way too many nonsensical decisions in a completely inauthentic manner. The biggest problem with this is that the filmmakers pace the film like this stuff is supposed to get laughter – and none of it is even mildly funny. It surprises me that with such a great duo that such a lousy movie could come of it, but the project was misconceived at every turn. I try very hard to avoid the really bad movies when they come out as they hurt my soul, and this one is so horrible I feel like I’ve met my quota for the year. F

Unfriended
Rated R for violent content, pervasive language, some sexuality, and drug and alcohol use – all involving teens
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
On the one year anniversary of her death, a girl who committed suicide after being cyber-bullied addresses her so-called friends online. While not terribly scary and full of stupid characters making stupid decisions, Unfriended is at least novel. The majority of the film is seen from the point of view of a computer screen as the group of friends use various social media platforms to communicate. Ultimately, its a great idea that could have used a bit more creativity to follow through with its promise. C

A Little Chaos
Rated R for some sexuality and brief nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this romance directed by famed character actor Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet plays a talented landscape designer who is hired to build an outdoor ballroom on the grounds of Versailles. While working there she falls in love with the king’s landscape artist. The movie is interesting and extremely beautiful to look at, as you’d expect from such a project. The acting also is perfect for such a tale. Unfortunately, the script could have used some work as it feels very forced with anything involving the romance and its controversy. Until it happens, you don’t even feel a tinge of attraction between the leads, but from those around them you’d think they were having a scandalous affair when they’ve barely had a discussion of work. While annoying, it is easily overlooked and the finished product is quite lovely. B

I Am Chris Farley
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From the Spike Network comes this loving memoir of the famed SNL actor who died a tragic death at the at the age of 33. Told from the family and friends who knew him best, the film dives mostly into what everyone loved about him rather than what drove him to his final hours. Some critics have dismissed this as being too one-sided but I rather like my memories of the comedy legend as they are and this film does nothing but lock them into place. B+

New in Home Entertainment

August 4, 2015

Adult Beginners
Rated R for language and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When a young hipster (Nick Kroll) falls into severe business troubles, he moves back home with his sister (Rose Byrne) and her husband (Bobby Cannavale) to re-find himself. Without a job or purpose, he takes on the role of nanny with his three-year-old nephew. There’s something about this little indie comedy that is somewhat likable. The characters aren’t particularly interesting but they are well-presented by capable actors. The story isn’t anything special but it is relatable. The comedy isn’t pervasive but there are moments where you get a good laugh. Overall its a harmless enough distraction and I can think of worse ways to spend ninety minutes. B-
Into the Grizzly Maze
Rated R for animal attack/disturbing images, violence, terror, brief sexuality and language
Available on DVD
James Marsden, Thomas Jane and Billy Bob Thornton lead this fairly all-star cast as individuals, all with different motives, who attempt to hunt down a monstrosity of a grizzly bear who is terrorizing the community. It’s fairly obvious from the stale performances that everyone involved was there for a paycheck, but at least the filmmakers keep the movie short and full of fun bear-induced violence. I was actually impressed at the final battle sequence which looked semi-believable. In fact the ending is almost worth having to put up with the rest of the movie. C+

New in Home Entertainment

July 28, 2015

The Water Diviner
Rated R for war violence including some disturbing images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Russell Crowe directs and stars in this drama about an Australian father who travels to Turkey to find his three missing sons after the Battle of Gallipoli. While one of the greatest actors of our time, Crowe is making his directorial debut here and he does a pretty admirable job. The pacing is a bit off at times but his presence on screen carries the film and makes it so you at least care about his plight, no matter what the result. The film does lose its focus a bit in regards to the single mother who works in the inn where he resides, which diverts the story in the direction of being a slow-moving romance. While this subplot isn’t horrible, it is against character as Crowe seems distracted from his honorable cause a little too much. My knowledge of wars in that region of the world is less than adequate, so I’m very thankful there is a special feature about the Battle of Gallipoli to help with context. B

White God
Rated R for violent content including bloody images, and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In Hungarian with English subtitles
When a girl’s mutt is taken away from her and released on the outskirts of the city, she goes on a daring quest to reunite with him. But her dog’s journey creates a scenario where he becomes an alpha of a large and aggressive pack, bent on revenge against mankind. This is definitely a case of a film being impressive in regard to how they made it, but the overall project could have used some help in the story department. I loved the dog’s tale, but the girl’s tale was less than compelling. I have to admit that it’s a truly amazing achievement how the filmmakers were able to make a movie using rescued dogs, turning them into such fantastic characters. The vision is truly extraordinary. As a horror film it’s not particularly scary, but it’s still an adventure worth taking. B-

New in Home Entertainment

July 21, 2015

What We Do In The Shadows
Rated R for bloody violent content, some sexual material and language
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
This comedy from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords) and Funny or Die explores the lives a group of vampires who share a flat as a documentary crew follows their day-to-day existence. From arguing over household chores to discussing fashion to picking fights with a local group of werewolves, their exploits are hilariously crafted and while mostly silly, provide an overall hilarious 86 minutes. The brevity of the film is key as the filmmakers know that the joke will get old fast, so why torture the audience. Instead their mockumentary provides for fresh and memorable entertainment. A-

Tangerines
Unrated
Available on DVD
In Estonian, Russian and Georgian with English subtitles
In this Oscar-nominated foreign film from Estonia, two Estonian immigrants who operate a tangerine farm in Georgia find themselves in the middle of a war when they save the lives of two opposing soldiers who clash and nearly die on their property. While the film is about a poorly understood conflict following the breakup of the Soviet Union, it is ultimately about peace, friendship and saving our humanity in the midst of a mindless crisis. Beautifully shot and impeccably acted, the script is able to deliver not only a wonderful story, but also a hard-hitting message and a better awareness of recent events that most of us know little about. A

New in Home Entertainment

July 14, 2014

Ex Machina
Rated R for graphic nudity, language, sexual references and some violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This frightening yet sophisticated and addictive piece of science fiction follows an eccentric billionaire (Oscar Isaac) who has invented a robot with artificial intelligence in the image of a beautiful young woman (Alicia Vikander). In an attempt to test her level of AI, he hires a young genius (Domhnall Gleeson) to visit his hidden estate and interrogate the new life-form. While very artsy and with a limited cast, the film does an excellent job of taking itself in many different directions. While many movies attempt to put you into the head of the hero, this film excels at placing you in the young visitor’s shoes. The whole thing is treated like a mystery with a naive but brilliant detective guiding the way, helping you to figure out the complicated puzzle presented to him. But once the puzzle is solved, the Pandora’s box opened is unexpected and wonderfully twisted. Smart, dark sci-fi thrillers like this are so rare that I can’t help but relish the chance to enjoy them when they pop up. A

Merchants of Doubt
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From the director of the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc., Robert Kenner, comes this frightening true tale of the spin we’ve been fed for decades by corporations who need us to believe their lies in order for their businesses to succeed. From smoking to global warming, the movie uses magicians and their slight of hand as a metaphor for the lies being told to us on a daily basis and the damage those lies do when they are blindly believed by a gullible public. While many will take the information provided as mere conspiracy theory and essentially the same spin the film accuses others of, the filmmakers go out of their way to show the recent history of propaganda and the dangers it has had on its victims in order to make its very important case. Yes it doses meander in places and there is most certainly a bias towards ideologies belonging mostly to the left and against right wing agendas, but I did feel their case was stated justly and without overt factual error. That being said, I do feel that the movie is preaching to the choir. It’s audience most likely already knows most of the material and I doubt many ditto heads are going to look to the film for a paradigm shift. B+

The Salt of the Earth
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving images of violence and human suffering, and for nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
For forty years, photographer Sebastiao Salgado has traveled the world to capture the struggles of human existence with his camera. This Oscar-nominated documentary from famed German director Wim Wenders and Salgado’s own son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, looks at Salgado’s rich life experience through his photography and his evolution from capturing the despair of man during times of genocide, famine and exodus to the hope of man through his own efforts to regrow a major rainforest in South America. For many, Salgado is a rock star in his field, but for folks like me, who have never heard the name before, there is much to be learned and appreciated. And to elevate the story is the stunningly beautiful photography which has turned me into quite the fan. This documentary does what a great documentary should: takes you to places you never even knew you wanted to go with the end result being a fantastic voyage. A-

New in Home Entertainment

July 7, 2015

Slow West
Rated R for violence and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This unconventional western stars Kodi Smit-McPhee as a love-torn young man who must travel across the country to find his girl and Michael Fassbender as a mysterious traveler who wants to help him get there for his own undeclared reasons. Beautifully shot and superbly paced, this is an easy enough film to watch with lots of shocking moments and a hugely talented cast. While Fassbender always impresses, I love that they threw in my favorite movie villain, Ben Mendelsohn, as a peculiar and unpredictable bounty hunter. This is the kind of western that makes you wish they’d bring the genre back in full force. A-

Maggie
Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including bloody images, and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In this post-apocalyptic world a zombie virus infects Abigail Breslin leaving her father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, only weeks to say goodbye to his dear daughter forever. We’ve had a ton of cross-genre films lately, especially in the zombie realm where zombie rom coms have proved to be a semi-successful stretch. But zombie melodramas? In this case, it just doesn’t work. There’s not nearly enough horror and the long goodbye is just too long. The makeup effects are interesting and the story isn’t a bad idea, but there just seemed to be something missing. That being said, it does feel like there is a real vision here and it was fully realized on screen. Also, the performances are actually pretty good considering what the actors are doing and who they are playing. C+

Woman in Gold
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on a true story, Helen Mirren is a woman who, sixty years after fleeing Vienna for America during World War II, tries to get back her family’s famous Klimt painting “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” after it was stolen by the Nazis and placed in a museum in Vienna. Ryan Reynolds plays her inexperienced lawyer who spends years of his life trying fight for her right to claim what is hers. The story itself is fascinating and the script and cast do a very good job of telling it. It’s not the most exciting film you can spend an evening in front of, but it has its moments. My biggest disappointment was reading about the events that happened after this story ends on film. It just shows that Hollywood can really turn on the spin when it wants to. B-

New in Home Entertainment

June 30, 2015

Get Hard
Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content and language, some graphic nudity, and drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In his latest raunch-com, Will Ferrell is an investment banker who is given a harsh prison sentence and thus hires Kevin Hart, a man who he just assumes has been to prison, to toughen him up for his upcoming years behind bars. From the trailer I was rather excited about the concept and the fact that it looked really, really funny. And there are some big laughs throughout. But there are way too many groans for me to fully recommend. Once Farrell is full into prison training, the movie takes a turn for the worse by going completely over-the-top. The cast was having too much fun and the whole thing looked like a collection of bloopers rather than a narrative. I think had they try to keep a spirit of authenticity, even with such a farcical story such as this, the movie could have been a fantastic comedy. C

While We’re Young
Rated R for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In the latest adult comedy from Noah Bombach (The Squid and the Whale), Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts are a forty-something childless married couple who try to find themselves as a couple by gravitating towards a young twenty-something pair (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried) who they find more interesting and vibrant than their child-rearing friends of the same age. At first this feels like a lovely little story about the differences between generations and the desire for staying young in the face of reality. I rather liked that beginning. But when the narrative kicks in and the film becomes more about motives and conflict, I must admit that I checked out. Still, the performances are all very good. Every time I see Stiller like this it makes me miss him as a serious actor. Like Jim Carey, Adam Sandler and the late Robin Williams, Stiller proves that he is a much better actor in these low-budget indies than he gets credit for in his big-budget stupid comedies. B-

The Gunman
Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Taken director Pierre Morel delivers here a slightly boring action thriller starring Sean Penn as a former mercenary from the Congo who tries to unravel who is trying to have him killed years after a political assassination he carried out. I have very mixed feelings about this latest movie. It is an interesting enough story but the execution (no pun intended) is flawed to say the least. The pacing is too tired for it to be an action thriller and yet it doesn’t seem to want to hang out in the drama category either. And with Penn in the leading role I thought we could at least get a nice political message, maybe more like The Constant Gardener, but instead we get a lot of promises of what could be without much of a delivery. C

I Am Evel Knievel
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of the better movies I saw this year at South By Southwest in Austin was a documentary about the life of Evel Knievel. But not this one. That one, Being Evel, will be released by the History Channel later this year. This one is another polished doc about the daredevil that tells many of the same stories with many of the same people associated with the legend being interviewed. While not as flashy as the other doc, you do still get to really know the man by the end. Until the third act, I was convinced that the other one was stronger, simply because of its style, but then some of Knievel’s most controversial actions were discussed from very differing viewpoints. For example, while Being Evel made Knievel into almost a villain for the events that sent him to prison, this film made his actions seem almost justified. Honestly, I liked seeing both films, especially given their viewpoints from differing angles. B

Into the Grizzly Maze
Rated R for animal attack/disturbing images, violence, terror, brief sexuality and language
In theaters and available on iTunes
James Marsden, Thomas Jane and Billy Bob Thornton lead this fairly all-star cast as individuals, all with different motives, who attempt to hunt down a monstrosity of a grizzly bear who is terrorizing the community. It’s fairly obvious from the stale performances that everyone involved was there for a paycheck, but at least the filmmakers keep the movie short and full of fun bear-induced violence. I was actually impressed at the final battle sequence which looked semi-believable. In fact the ending is almost worth having to put up with the rest of the movie. C+