CRUNCHONTHIS.COM

New in Home Entertainment

March 19, 2013

Les Miserables
Rated PG-13 for suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
What a great time for home entertainment!  So many of my favorite 2012 films are hitting shelves this week and next.  But I’ll begin with my favorite film of 2012: Les Mis.  It was so important for the filmmakers to create a legacy with this musical turned movie.  After all, you really only get one chance.  Phantom of the Opera was practically ruined by inability but thankfully, director Tom Hooper and his multi-talented production team not only had the desire to do this project but the vision as well.  The story of Jean Valjean, a post-French Revolution ex-convict who escapes his parole only to positively impact every life he comes into contact with, is masterfully recreated here.  Hugh Jackman, Oscar winner Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and many others turn in immensely powerful performances that will leave you emotionally drained by the end of the show.  The set contains some great special features including a look at the unique way in which the performances were captured.  My favorite feature though is the HD digital copy that comes with the blu-ray.  Most digital copy nowadays is standard def or even worse, the useless ultraviolet.  Universal, as far as I know, is the only studio allowing for you to put a 1080p copy on your system for replay on Apple TV or your mobile devices, making this set a must-own for your collection.  A+

Life of Pi
Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
There was little surprise when director Ang Lee won the Oscar this year for Life of Pi.  If you read the book you were probably shocked that it could be translated to film.  Not only did they accomplish this extraordinary feat, but they did it in grand fashion.  And for those of you who ask the question “how can a movie mainly about a boy in a boat with a tiger be any good?”  My answer is I would have thought the same thing until I watched it.  Now I’m a believer.  The special effects are pretty magnificent here, but they are only there to enhance the storytelling.  This is a wonderfully crafted film full of imagination and wonder.  Personally, I’ve seen it four times now and still can’t get enough of it.  Every time I watch it I fall in love with it a little bit more.  A+

Zero Dark Thirty
Rated R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
And yet another great film is the story of the manhunt and assassination of Osama Bin Laden as told by director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal (both of The Hurt Locker).  Jessica Chastain, while not taking home the big trophy, easily put on the best female performance of the year as the young CIA agent whose work was responsible for bringing down the mastermind of Nine-Eleven.  Full of suspense and well-paced from start the finish, Zero Dark Thirty is a hugely important piece of filmmaking.  A

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
I was so underwhelmed by the theatrical release of this highly anticipated prequel to The Lord of the Rings, merely because director Peter Jackson insisted on presenting the film in high frame rate 3D, which completely distracted me from the story.  But now on Blu-ray where I have my smoothing effect turned off on my TV, I was finally able to sit back and enjoy the film the way I prefer to see it, and I must admit that it really is a great movie.  I’m still not sure we need three parts to this somewhat short story, but as for this first leg of the journey – it’s a doozy.  B+

This is 40
Rated R for sexual content, crude humor, pervasive language and some drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Sold as a sort of sequel to Knocked Up, Judd Apatow’s latest dramedy spells out suburban life for a couple in their 40s.  Apatow’s real-life wife Leslie Mann stars opposite Paul Rudd as a couple struggling with reaching their middle ages and all of the drama that comes with it.  Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of laughs to be found here, but it is just as serious as it is funny.  The biggest critique is there is too much going on, causing the film to come in at 134 minutes, way longer than a comedy has the right to be.  Slicing out a few subplots would have helped this project tremendously.  B-

Rust and Bone
Rated R for strong sexual content, brief graphic nudity, some violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
French with English Subtitles
Marion Cotillard (Dark Knight Rises) turns in a Golden Globe nominated performance here as a killer whale trainer who loses her legs in a horrible tragedy, only to then fall in love with a single father/fighter who is unable to meet her emotional needs.  To say this film is depressing is an understatement, but a surprise turn at the end saves it from becoming a dismal fall off the cliff as you might expect it to be.  C+

New in Home Entertainment

March 12, 2013

Rise of the Guardians
Rated PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
While maybe not the best animated film of 2012, Rise of the Guardians was certainly one of the most under-appreciated.  In this universe, Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Jack Frost fight an evil villain named Pitch in order to save children from being infected with nightmares.  While at times its a bit cheesy, the filmmakers take the project so seriously that you have to show appreciation mostly for its earnestness.   But it is also a beautifully animated film with one of the best scores of the year written by Alexandre Desplat.  Some parents might find it to be a bit too scary for small children but older kids will eat it up and have a blast.  B+

Red Dawn
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense war violence and action, and for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This remake of the 1984 cult classic pits the US vs North Korea (instead of the Russians) when the North Koreans find a way to invade Spokane, Washington, leaving a small group of teenage rebels, led by Chris Hemsworth (Thor), to protect their town.  The movie starts out interesting but quickly fizzles once it slows down enough for you to actually think it through.  As stupid as this plot is, there is a large minority of Americans who see this scenario as the inevitable future, thus making this movie into more of an NRA training video than a piece of poorly-crafted fiction.  That being said, the movie is only slightly better than the horrible original, and not good enough to be found enjoyable by most.  C-

Smashed
Rated R for alcohol abuse, language, some sexual content and brief drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Smashed tells the story of an alcoholic couple torn apart when the wife (Scott Pilgrim vs the World’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead) makes the decision to quit drinking and the husband (Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul) doesn’t want to take the journey with her.  The film itself is well-enough acted and has a very personal feel to it, but neither of the characters earn empathy until Paul’s heartbreaking performance in the last minutes of the film.  Personally, I found Flight to be a much more touching and interesting tale of drug and alcohol abuse but I have no doubt that both films will have a large audience to connect with.  C+

Jay and Silent Bob Get Irish!
Available on DVD
The famous indie filmmaker writer/director Kevin Smith and his best friend Jason Mewes recently went on a world tour performing by simply sitting on stage and talking off-the-cuff with their audience.  This new DVD release shows off their Dublin sets as well as a bonus disc with their stop in Vegas.  While completely vulgar and certainly not for everyone, the concerts are funny and surprisingly entertaining and even more surprisingly, each show is different, showcasing that these two have a crazy talent for making people laugh.  B-

New in Home Entertainment

March 5, 2013

Wreck-It Ralph
Rated PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
If you are like me and have actually seen all of the Oscar-nominated animated films this year, you are probably also deeply disappointed that Brave won out.  It was suggested to me that most of the voters probably didn’t actually see them all and simply guessed that Pixar should win.  That is the only thing that makes sense.  Oh well.  Being released this week having only won every other award given this year is Wreck-It Ralph, a novel and extremely fun Disney film about a video game villain who deeply wants to be loved and respected rather than despised and feared.  The movie is very well-written and even better acted.  John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and many other talented actors lend their unique voices to make this a very entertaining film for both kids and adults.  And not only do you get the best animated film of 2013 but the set also comes with the Oscar-winning short Paperman which is a thoroughly enjoyable mini romance.  A-

The Intouchables
Rated R for language and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
French with English Subtitles
I was as surprised as anyone to see that this French crowd pleaser about a young hoodlum from the projects in Paris who becomes the caretaker for a wealthy quadriplegic is actually ranked #62 in the IMDB Top 250 films of all time.  But maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.  The film is so darn likable that it becomes incredibly easy to forgive and even ignore its mistakes.  The performances by Francois Cluzet (Tell No One) and Omar Sy (Micmacs) are an experience to behold and the chemistry between the two makes the film that much more endearing.  It’s hard to imagine someone sitting through this movie without a constant smile on their face and holding back a little tear in their eye.  B+

Schindler’s List: 20th Anniversary Limited Edition
Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I honestly haven’t seen this legendary film since it was in theaters back in 1993.  Now, 20 years later, it is just as powerful, just as beautiful and just as difficult to watch.  But man is this a fantastic story, perfectly directed by Spielberg with a production to match.  The story of Oskar Schindler, a manipulative German businessman who begins the tale by taking advantage of Jews during WWII and ends up risking all to save them is so memorable that I feel like it was completely familiar and part of me, even though I hadn’t seen the movie in two decades.  This new version has been restored in high definition and looks and sounds amazing on a big screen television with blu-ray.  The only disappointing aspect is that the new special features are all on the DVD portion of the film, but then again, most people would hardly care about that. Being that this is Spielberg’s most important film, I do wish he’d have put up a commentary, but I guess he didn’t feel compelled.  A+

New in Home Entertainment

February 26, 2013

The Master
Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I really did all I could do to help myself better appreciate Paul Thomas Anderson’s (Boogie Nights) new film about a disturbed young WWII veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who befriends the charismatic leader of a cult (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in the late 1940s.  After seeing the film in theaters and not really getting it, I read the book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright in order to gain a better understanding of Scientology and the themes Anderson was going for in the movie.  Then I watched it again.  I really feel there is something here and that I will gain better appreciation over time, just like I did with his last film, There Will Be Blood.  For now I can tell you there are some excellent performances by a truly talented cast and the film itself is stunning to look at.  My biggest problem with this home video release is the lack of a much-needed commentary to add some clarity and perspective.  B+

How to Survive a Plague
Not Rated
Available on DVD
This Oscar-nominated documentary tells the story of the early fight against HIV when the disease was a death sentence rather than a manageable condition.  Following the activist groups ACT UP and TAG, the film shows what it took to get not only research for the disease, but also the perseverance needed to get the drugs released for usage.  This is a powerful piece of filmmaking that will show you a side of American history that many of you, including myself, were unaware was going on during that tumultuous time.  A

Chicken with Plums
Rated PG-13 for some drug content, violent images, sensuality and smoking
French with English Subtitles
Available on DVD
From Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, the writing/directing team of the Oscar-nominated animated film Persepolis, comes this beautiful yet confusing fable about an Iranian violinist who loses his will to live when his violin is destroyed.  Because the film is told in a non-linear fashion that is hard to follow, you get swept away by the beautiful imagery but get a headache trying to piece it all together.  While I have not tested this theory, I’m making a big assumption that the film is a much better experience once you’ve already seen it once or twice. I just wish they could have found a way to tweak it for better understanding.  Had they done that, this film might have  been a beloved foreign classic rather than a head-scratcher.  C+

Holy Motors
Not Rated
French with English Subtitles
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I had so many colleagues giving praise to this French export that I just had to check it out.  The movie follows a man in the back of a limo as he transforms himself into multiple characters for a series of strange appointments.  It’s an extremely quirky yet fun romp through the streets of Paris.  Personally, I don’t think many will like it but if you enjoy experimental movies that take you to weird and unusual places, you can’t beat this experience.  As for me, it was a trip worth taking.  B

Escape Fire
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material
Available on DVD
Regardless of your political affiliation, I think most Americans can agree on the fact that our health care system is far from healthy.  Escape Fire takes a serious look at how broken it is and what can be done, if anything, to fix it.  Unfortunately there are more problems than solutions, but I feel that this is a movie that a lot of folks who have no interest in watching films like this should see.  While the needed audience might miss it, at least those of us who do check it out get to see a well-made doc about a subject that is close to all of our hearts, literally.  A-

New in Home Entertainment

February 19, 2013

Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you thought the first season of HBO’s hit show was big bad and bold, you ain’t seen nothing yet.  The second season sees the world in complete chaos with a seven-way game of deadly chess that is too close to call on after any turn.  HBO upped the ante with even bigger special effects and a huge battle scene.  Once again, the acting is as strong as the great writing and George R.R. Martin’s epic second book has created a season that has done nothing but make fans happy.  The set of discs itself is huge, especially with blu-ray which includes the series on DVD and digital copy as well as tons of special features sure to satisfy loyalists until March 31st when season three starts up.  A

Argo
Rated R for language and some violent images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
A little more than a month ago, Ben Affleck’s exciting thriller about a group of Americans trying to escape from Iran during the hostage crisis was considered by most to be lucky to be nominated for the various best picture awards.  But then it won the Houston Film Critics best picture, followed by the Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe and now it is the front runner for the Oscar, in spite of not getting a best director nod for Affleck.  Is it really that good?  I’m not sure if its worthy of all the attention or if the buzz is just in its favor in an extreme fashion.  Overall, the film is well-acted, well-directed and well-written.  The tension is over-the-top but always fun and you even walk away feeling like you learned something important about our country’s history.  A-

Anna Karenina
Rated R for some sexuality and violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel about a royal affair between an aristocrat and a young handsome count is one of the most depressing stories in literature but here, thanks to the brilliant Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice) the story gets a fresh look that is still depressing, but beautifully produced.  Starring Keira Knightly, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the film has a strong enough cast but what most folks will take away from this movie is the lavish production.  Earning four Oscar nominations in cinematography, costume, score, and production design, the film is a spectacle of sight and sound.  Set in a theater instead of the real world, though, it is unusual and aesthetically pleasing, but also sometimes distracting.  If it weren’t for the ridiculously difficult-to-watch third act, the movie might have been a much more lucrative offering, but then it wouldn’t be Tolstoy would it?  B

Sinister
Rated R for disturbing violent images and some terror
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Giving a great bit of creditability to a genre that usually lacks it, Ethan Hawke stars as true crime writer who moves his family into a house where the previous owners were murdered so that he can be closer to the crime he’s writing his next book about.  I have to admit that throughout much of the film I was pretty horrified – almost to the point where I felt I shouldn’t be watching such a movie if I ever wanted to sleep again.  But then by the close of the second act it gets a little silly and by the end I wasn’t even remotely scared.  The villain himself was terrifying but the big twist is kind of laughable.  To be honest, this caused a bit of relief since I didn’t want to have to take sleeping pills to knock me out for the next week.  C

On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Criterion is known to release many foreign and modern classics, but rarely do we get a true Hollywood classic from them.  In this case we have On the Waterfront, widely thought to be one of the greatest movies of all time.  Marlon Brando’s performance as a prizefighter turned longshoreman earned him a much-deserved Oscar and the film won seven others as well, including director Elia Kazan and Supporting Actress Eva Marie Saint.  This new edition includes a brand-new 4K digital restoration which is absolutely magnificent, as well as more features than I’ve ever seen from a Criterion release.  I particularly loved the visual essay on Leonard Bernstein’s terrific score.  A+

New in Home Entertainment

February 12, 2013

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight – all involving teens
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Stephen Chbosky writes and directs this adaptation of his 1999 novel about a young teen starting his high school years.  While most high school movies pander to their audiences and thus turn out to be lousy movies, this story is extremely fresh and refreshingly challenging. Logan Lerman is excellent as the troubled teen while Ezra Miller and Emma Watson are perfection as his best friends.  What makes the film truly special, though, is the disturbing twist at the end that throws you for a huge loop.  I was engaged throughout the movie but was blown away by the third act.  High school films aren’t often done right, but when they are they are a highly rewarding experience.  A

Bully
Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, disturbing content, and some strong language – all involving kids
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Bullying in schools has always been an issue, but until recently it has been the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.  In this new documentary bullying is exposed and discussed in detail.  The filmmakers were able to observe some horrific moments that many kids across the country are forced to deal with and come away with some shocking situations that will have you in tears.  Originally rated R for language used, the film has been edited to get a PG-13 in order to obtain the much needed wider audience.  The movie does a good job of pushing emotional buttons and is ultimately a must watch for parents and students both.  A-

Skyfall
Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In Bond’s latest adventure, Daniel Craig in his third outing as Bond finds himself paring up against an evil ex-agent (Javier Bardem) who is determined to seek his revenge against M (Judi Dench).  Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and photographed by the legendary Roger Deakins (The Shawshank Redemption) , the film, for the most part is expertly crafted with some very good performances.  In fact, it really feels like the best Bond yet until the very faulty third act which is full of errors and story problems.  My biggest issue is that from the moment you meet Bardem’s evil villain, he is dead set on a very intimate deadly encounter with M, but his penultimate attack comes from two waves of henchmen before he jumps in at the end.  I’m not trying to spoil anything, but if the story was consistent, we shouldn’t have even seen the henchman.  It’s stereotypical and a rather lazy way to end what should have been an awesome movie.  B-

The Sessions
Rated R for strong sexuality including graphic nudity and frank dialogue
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This very funny and very touching adult dramedy stars John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) as a paralyzed man who wants to experience intimacy with a woman.  When he hires a sex therapist (Helen Hunt) to help him lose his virginity, both parties experience a lasting change.  While Hunt received an Oscar nom for her excellent performance, Hawkes was unfortunately ignored.  His performance here is exceptional and he pulls you through a wide range of emotions, making you extremely sympathetic and empathetic for his character.  The most amazing part is that he is acting.  I’ve talked to so many people that just assumed he was actually paraplegic, not recognizing the famous character at all.  A-

Weeds: Season Eight
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After Mary Louise Parker and family left the west coast, this Showtime centerpiece about a house mom selling pot went down hill fast.  This final season, while meandering and pointless for much of it, provides a very fun last episode that advances years in the future, providing many laughs and a nice conclusion to a series that stayed around well past its welcome.  C+