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New in Home Entertainment

March 27, 2012

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Many critics dismissed this very moving tribute to 9/11 but even so it still managed to squeak out an Oscar nod for both best picture and best supporting actor for 82-year-old Max von Sydow.  Extremely Loud follows the story of a high-functioning autistic boy whose father (played by Tom Hanks) dies when the towers collapse.  When the boy finds a key hidden in a vase in his father’s closet, he sets off to discover what the key unlocks in order to experience one last adventure with his father.  If you are anything like me, you could care less what the other critics think.  This is an exceptional movie full of an amazing variety of emotions and intense complexity.  It is well-written, terrifically acted, and the overall production is top-notch.  It also possesses the best and most under-appreciated score of the year composed by Alexandre Desplat with piano by Jean-Yves Thibaudet.  And while you will need some major tissue, the sadness does not bring you down or make you wish you hadn’t watched it.  A

In the Land of Blood and Honey
Rated R for war violence and atrocities including rape, sexuality, nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Written and directed by Angelina Jolie, Land of Blood and Honey tells the story of a man and woman during the Bosnian War whose allegiances to their countries and religions keep them from furthering their relationship.  One can’t help but be impressed with the ambition of such a project.  There is no doubt that the atrocities that occurred during this time were truly horrible and worth showing to the world.  While the production is good and the setting is well-handled, the overall story is not the greatest.  The characters fall flat and you get the sense that Jolie could have used a bit more experience before tackling such heavy material.  C+

The Sitter
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material and some violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Jonah Hill plays a suspended college student who is talked into babysitting the kids next door in this latest comedy from Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green.  There are some pretty funny laughs to be had in this comedy, but just like Green’s last film, Your Highness, the drug and sex jokes get a little stale.  Hill is an interesting actor to watch at times, but he is much better suited for films like 21 Jump Street and Moneyball than he is for this kind of movie.  The whole thing feels like two guys were watching the 1987 film Adventures in Babysitting while high and started asking dumb “what if?” questions and wallah – a movie was formed.  It’s not horrible, but not good either.  C

Casablanca: 70th Anniversary Edition
Available on Blu-ray
For the 70th anniversary of what many consider to be the greatest romantic film of all time, Warner Brothers is releasing this beautiful limited edition box set which contains an all-new 4K scan of the film (not sure what that means but it sure is pretty) with tons of featurettes and documentaries as well as a 60 page photo book, French mini-poster and coaster set.  It’s not a bad deal for a relatively low cost and the film has never looked or sounded better.  I know if I hadn’t gotten one from Warner Brothers recently, I would have had it on my Birthday wish list with constant reminders for my wife.  A+

New in Home Entertainment

March 20, 2012

The Descendants
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
George Clooney is a father of two girls and husband to a woman lying in a coma in the hospital.  When he finds out that his wife was cheating on him before her accident, he struggles with his strained relationship and seeks to discover more about his wife’s secret.  Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt, Election) has always focused on cheating spouses in a way that shows the pain the other party goes through without putting the audience through the same torture.  While the situation itself might not be funny, he manages to put a comedic spin on the actions in order to lighten up the mood and not drag the viewer into depression.  This is a very real, very serious movie that will have you laughing constantly.  The Oscar-winning script here, like all of his other scripts, is genius.  The man has a wonderful talent for showing the tragedies of real life while always pointing out the positives as well.  This is an engrossing film that will more than likely leave you both entertained and touched.  A

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Rated R for violence, some sexuality/nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on the infamous John le Carre spy novel, Tinker Tailor focuses on a British Intelligence agent (Gary Oldman) who is asked to uncover the identity of a mole in the top ranks of the agency.  Swedish director Tomas Alfredson certainly has the ability for visual storytelling as is evidenced by his masterful vampire film Let the Right One In and even moments throughout this newest thriller.  The problem is that here the thriller doesn’t thrill.  I actually watched the film twice to see what I could be missing since the buzz was so hot.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure it out.  The story is very complex and yet so incredibly boring that by the end you might understand the whodunit aspects of the picture but you could hardly care.  I know there are some folks who really loved this movie, but I can’t possible understand why and I’m not willing to sit through a third time to try to better understand their rationale.  C-

My Week with Marilyn
Rated R for some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh both deservedly scored Oscar nods for their roles as Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier in this picture which follows the on and off-set struggles of the making of The Prince and the Showgirl.  While Meryl Streep went home with the trophy, Williams was my first choice for this year’s award.  Her turn as Monroe seemed to possess every subtlety of her iconic look and personality.  With acting this strong and a good story to boot, you get a sense of realism like you are almost watching a documentary.  A-

The Muppets
Rated PG for some mild rude humor
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
It’s been years since The Muppets have had a decent showing in pop culture but they have come on again strong in this latest outing.  In their newest tale, The Muppets biggest fan, Walter, heads to Los Angeles with his brother, played by Jason Segel, in order to see Muppet Studios.  When he discovers an evil oil baron’s plan to destroy the studio in order to drill for oil, he works with Kermit and the rest of The Muppets to put on a show to save their property.  The whole thing is just pure fun from start to finish.  It’s wonderfully written and cleverly acted with some terrific songs sprinkled throughout.  They even won an Oscar this year for their song Man or Muppet.  Whether adult or child, it’s hard to imagine someone not liking this very entertaining movie.  B+ 

The War Room: The Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When I first saw that this 1993 drama about Bill Clinton’s run for office was getting the Criterion treatment, I was a bit surprised.  I never thought of it as great film making but rather just a well-made documentary.  That being said, there is something special about the style used by directors Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker.  And looking back at this very recent history, it’s also incredibly powerful to see the now famous political personalities James Carville and George Stephanopoulos as they pull off a major upset to get Clinton elected.  If you do pick up this film, you must check out the special features that go even more in depth to the famous campaign and how it changed the way campaigns are run today.  B+

New in Home Entertainment

March 13, 2012

The Adventures of Tintin
Rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Spielberg’s first feature-length animated film follows the adventures of a young detective who is incredibly well-known in Europe but relatively unknown in the States.  Needless to say, a little character development would have gone a long way here as we try to get to know the hero attempting to discover the secret of a ship called “The Unicorn.”  But if you can get past this lack of a normal story-telling device, the film is full of adrenaline and is absolutely beautiful to boot.  Should it have been nominated for an Oscar this year in the animated category?  Absolutely.  Especially since it is a far superior film to Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots.  But at least it was recognized for the outstanding score by John Williams.  B+

The Three Musketeers
Rated PG-13 for sequences of adventure action violence
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
All it takes is one look at the leading actor’s ridiculous hair worn by the young actor Logan Leman (Percy Jackson) to come to the realization that this film is not a well-thought-out creation.  Taking the original book by Alexandre Dumas and turning it into a big special effects extravaganza is an interesting concept but ultimately fails under the heavy hands of director Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil).  While the production is itself (aside from Leman’s hair) is lush and lovely, the dialog is horrific and the actors look tired rather than lively and charismatic.  This project is ultimately a huge waste of a talented cast and a timeless tale.  D+

Melancholia
Rated R for some graphic nudity, sexual content and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After hearing the seemingly unbelievable news that Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman) had just won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, I couldn’t wait to see her in Danish director Lars von Trier’s (Dancer in the Dark) latest opus.  Set at the end of the world as a mysterious planet comes hurdling towards the Earth, two sisters, played by Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, find themselves struggling in their relationship and their impending doom.  I have to admit that I haven’t completely wrapped my head around this one yet.  This an extremely complex and ambitious film that will require multiple visits, much thought, and probably some outside reading to fully appreciate.  That being said, I thought the production was stunning (and cheated out of an art design Oscar nom this year) and the acting powerful, although a bit melodramatic.  If you are into challenging films, this should be right up your alley.  A-

Jack and Jill
Rated PG for crude material including suggestive references, language and comic violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While this is traditionally the exact kind of film that ends up being on every critic’s worst film of the year list and an obvious Razzie candidate, I found this Adam Sandler pic to be rather interesting.  After all, this film about fighting male and female twins (both played by Sandler) is exactly the kind of film Sandler made fun of himself for in his last serious role in Funny People.  Between Funny People and the truly excellent Punch Drunk Love, Sandler has proven he has chops but these crappy little films he makes are geared by the studios to steal money from who they consider to be their large and unsophisticated audience.  It’s pandering at its very worst, which while I can’t claim it possesses any sort of merit, I find myself fascinated by the sheer audacity of the lack of respect for the movie-going public.  C+

Tennessee Tuxedo: The Complete Collection
Available on DVD
The classic 1960’s television toon featuring Don Adams as the voice of penguin Tennessee Tuxedo who wanders the zoo with his walrus pal Chumley, getting into all kinds of trouble, all the while educating the audience and making them laugh.  This new set, released by Shout Factory, features all 70 original episodes plus loads of extras.  A-

New in Home Entertainment

February 28, 2012

Hugo
Rated PG for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking
Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD
After sweeping pretty much of all of the technical Oscars this year, I’m sure many of you are wondering what you missed in theaters.  After all, Martin Scorsese’s family masterpiece only brought in a paltry $67 million at the box office which is nowhere near its estimated budget.  Telling the tale of a young boy from the early 1900’s who is forced to live in a Paris train station after the death of his father, Hugo avoids being a depressing film by filling the void with curiosity and imagination.  If you have a 3D television you are in luck as this is a must-own title for that technology, but even without you are in for a terrifically moving picture that you and your family are sure to enjoy.  Also, because there is so much history in the movie that the story couldn’t possibly cover, the documentaries are all a must-see, especially the feature on The Cinemagician, George Melies.  A

Martha Marcy May Marlene
Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, nudity and language
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
So the title is enough to get you a little tongue-tied, but the subject of this film will stick with you in ways you maybe wish it didn’t.   Elizabeth Olsen’s film debut tells the tale of a young girl who joins a cult only to escape the nightmare after she runs away and seeks solace at her sister’s home.  Reliving the events of her recent past, Martha has lost touch of reality and has difficulty distinguishing right from wrong in her new world.  This is one majorly disturbing film with some really good performances throughout.  Olsen’s performance is as solid as you would expect from a seasoned actress, even though she’s a Hollywood newbie.  And John Hawkes, straight off his Oscar nomination for last year’s Winter’s Bone, is horrifying as the cult’s patriarch.  B+

I Melt With You
Rated R for pervasive drug use and language, some violence and sexual content
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
Starting out like a modern day Big Chill, I Melt With You places four great actors: Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe and Thomas McKay as friends who have come together for a wild weekend of drugs, sex and hard partying.  But when they all realize that the lives they are living are not what they had hoped for, a pact they made as young men takes them to a dark place.  This films starts out with some real potential, but when the big plot twist is revealed, it becomes a party that is no longer fun to watch.  I like a good turn, but this plot is ridiculous and the actors treat it as such.  Not every film has to be entertaining, but to purposefully try to depress those watching is unreasonable.  C-

A Tribute to John Williams: An 80th Birthday Celebration
Available on CD
Hollywood’s most famous film composer turned 80 on February 8 and with this momentous occasion Sony has released this wonderful tribute album celebrating his career.  It’s hard to imagine films like Star Wars, Jaws, ET, Schindler’s List and Indiana Jones without the beautiful and powerful music that accompanied them.  Arguably the greatest composer of the twentieth century, this album is a fitting example of some of his greatest works including the before-mentioned titles as wells as themes from 1941, Sabrina, War Horse, Memoirs of a Geisha and Tintin as well as the never before released Happy Birthday Variations.  A

New in Home Entertainment

February 21, 2012

Puss in Boots
Rated PG for some adventure and mild rude humor
Available on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD
There’s no doubt that compared to 2010, 2011 was a lousy year for animated films.  That being said, there were a few high spots along the way and Puss in Boots falls into this category.  While Puss is a spinoff from Shrek, the only thing Shrekish in this film is the tone, which is meant to be humorous for both adults and children.  In this adventure, Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) teams up with Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) to go after the evil Jack and Jill.  The film ends up being very cute and at times downright adorable.  The writing is much stronger than the last Shrek outing and you can tell that there were some inspired artists behind the scenes.  It does drag at times while trying to beat a dead cat with puns and cliches but overall it is an entertaining pic that you and/or your kids will enjoy.  B

Tower Heist
Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Tower Heist follows a group of hotel workers who have been cheated out of their investments by a white collar thief.  In order to get revenge, the group plots to not only get their money back, but do what they can to rub it in his face.  The premise is overall pretty clever and couldn’t be timelier.  The cast is a talented bunch including Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda and many other solid actors and actresses.  Where the film fails is in the over-the-top script that trades big set-pieces and cheap laughs for common sense.  The characters make dumb choices throughout to the point where it’s not only unbelievable but also tedious.  The third act attempts to fool the audience into severe gullibility as it pours on the most ludicrous of endings.  With all of the buzz for this talented cast, one can only be disappointed at the results.  C-

The Son of No One
Rated R violence, pervasive language and brief disturbing sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you’ve never heard of this cop drama starring Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, Ray Liotta, Katie Holmes, Tracy morgan and Juliette Binoche – then you aren’t alone.  Telling the tale of crime and cover-up within the New York Police Department, the film has some decent performances but lacks substance.  And while the ending might catch your attention, you’ll have to wade through a lot of mud to get there.  Overall, it’s a forgettable pic that will have you wishing you spent the last two hours doing something else.  C-

Weeds: Season Seven
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Three years have past since the events of Season Six of Showtime’s hit show about a suburban drug-dealer/mother and now Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) has just been released from prison and unleashed upon New York City.  Determined to gain back custody of her young son from her vindictive sister, Nancy starts a comeback in the drug trade with her sons to help.  Man I really loved this show in the beginning.  It was smart, funny and socially relevant.  While season six wasn’t great, it at least rewarded viewers who stuck through the mediocre middle episodes with a huge climactic prize.  Unfortunately, the show appears to have overstayed its welcome by a year or two and is no longer the high it used to be.  C+

Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition
Rated R for language and violence and for a scene of sexuality
Available on Blu-ray
There’s something great about a Clint Eastwood western.  Now, twenty years after its original release, my favorite western, and one of my favorite movies, is being re-released by Warner Brothers in a beautiful new 54-page book and blu-ray combo.  This classic film tells the story of two retired outlaws (Eastwood and Morgan Freeman) who decide to take on one last job at the end of their lives.  The acting is magnificent, the writing is perfect and the production, including Clint’s directing, is stunning.  While they should have added a few features to the blu-ray, the book makes for a nice touch if you are a collector.  A+
 

New in Home Entertainment

February 14, 2012

Take Shelter
Rated R for some language
Available on DVD
Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and Jessica Chastain (Tree of Life) have to be two of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood right now, but you don’t have to look further than Take Shelter to see that they aren’t trading quantity for quality.  Take Shelter tells the story of a man who has been driven crazy by his apocalyptic visions and his wife who supports him throughout his assumed illness.  This is definitely a film that you have to be patient with but is very rewarding if you stick with it.  Shannon’s performance should have made him an Oscar contender this year and were it not for Chastain’s Oscar nomination for The Help, she might have landed one for this as well (she was also great in Tree of Life and The Debt).  And while the movie looks like a little indie from the outside, it turns out to be one big powerhouse of a film.  A

Three Outlaw Samurai: The Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This 1964 classic Samurai tale by famed Japanese filmmaker Hideo Gosha tells the story of three Samurai warriors who find themselves in the middle of a fight between a dictatorial magistrate and a group of peasants who have kidnapped his daughter in the hopes of coercing him to lower their taxes.  The stunning black and white print has been given the Criterion treatment with a new high-definition restoration.  Also, the blu-ray has been given a new uncompressed monaural track.  If you are a fan of early Japanese cinema, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.  B+

To Kill A Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray Collector’s Series
One of America’s most beloved films, To Kill a Mockingbird turns 50 this year and is getting a spectacular new hi-def facelift as part of Universal’s 100th Anniversary Collector’s Series.  By today’s standards, this film is challenging, telling the story of a lawyer in the Depression-era South who defends a black man from an undeserved rape charge.  While I wasn’t yet around in 1962 when this film came out, I can only imagine the jolt it sent through theaters.  Not only is the story a real doozy, but with this new digital restoration, it looks absolutely pristine.  If you are a fan of the film, you might want to check out the Collector’s Series Edition which comes with a book and a beautiful collector’s case.  Also be sure to watch the special feature: 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics which gives an in depth look at the efforts they are taking to restore and preserve their classic films.  A+