The Beaver, Win Win, TrollHunter, and Others on DVD Tomorrow

"What're you looking at, Sugar Tits?"

By Josh Amato

One day, our children will take off their Netflix Instant Viewing Googles and ask "Mommy . . . Daddy . . . what's a DVD?" It's the kind of question that you cringe upon hearing, hoping it was going to come when the kid was older. Your mind will scramble as you figure out where to start. VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-Ray . . . it's all so confusing. So first, you think of some examples of which films were on DVD.

You probably won't be using the following DVD releases as examples, but I just needed a segue that wasn't 100% crap (I usually settle for 90%).

The Beaver - Directed by Jodie Foster, this film was supposed to be Mel Gibson's street cred comeback, complete with a hot script and a humble, but showy, performance from Mad Max himself. Then some audio tapes were released with Mel ranting about blowjobs and burning down houses. Oh, and toss a handful of racial slurs in. This pretty much killed the film's chances in theaters, so here it is on DVD.

I haven't seen it yet, but I hear Gibson gives a FANTASTIC performance. So if you're a fan of the man and can put aside his personal life from his art, I'd say give it a chance. For FREEEEEEEDOMMMMMMM!!!!!!

(Also available on Blu-ray)

Win Win - Next up is the feel good indie of the year starring Paul Blart, sorry, Giamatti as a part-time wrestling coach. I haven't seen the film yet but it comes across as a white version of The Blind Side. Well, that film was pretty white, actually. Just take the big black guy everyone is using to excuse their white guilt and replace him with a troubled young teen. I only understand commentary that is in my face, so this is beyond me.

Anyway, haven't seen it but the reviews are great and writer/director Thomas McCarthy has an excellent track record so far.

(Also available on Blu-ray)

Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold - Oh, man! Look out Corporate America, Morgan Spurlock is at it again! This time he's taking on brand names, advertising, and product placement. All while getting all of these companies to actually FUND the film by having it advertise for them. See what Spurlock did there? Shit's crazy.

(Also available on Blu-ray)

TrollHunter - The last good Troll movie was probably Troll 2. And given the massive critical and box-office success that film was, it's hard to see why they wouldn't have made Trolls 3-7. But we're just talking fiction with those films. TrollHunter is a real-life documentary, following a crew of filmmakers as they are investigating bear attacks. Things take a turn for the worst when they come across a real life giant troll. What? You didn't know trolls existed? Idiot.

(Also available on Blu-Ray)

So what say you, loyal readers? Have you seen any of these films? If not, are you considering renting any of them? All these answers and more can be posted in the comment section. And if you just feel like saying hi, well go ahead! Don't be shy. We won't bite (we're gentle nibblers).

Win Win

Rating: ★★★

He's still shocked he did Shoot 'Em Up.

Movies like Win Win don't really have a purpose. Movies don't need a purpose, in general, but Win Win also doesn't have a point. It is what it is, and it's there, so we have to accept that. Thomas McCarthy usually makes films with points; strong character pieces like The Station Agent and The Visitor. I think the point here might have been about winning, but... maybe I'm just over-thinking everything. Win Win is more of a loss/profit. Really, there isn't anything wrong with the film Sure, some of the performances are a bit... loose,  but mainly everything falls in to place. The problem with the film is that everything falls into place too neatly toward the end. For such a weird story, it needn't be this straightforward. 

More after the cut--

In theaters this weekend, and "The Lamest Weekend Ever"

*beep*

The first weekend of January is commonly referred to as the worst weekend for film all year. Delayed releases are pushed out of the shelves and into theaters, and the films that no one really had hope for are silently cast out. It's a dead pool of cinema. For a fair example, our only wide release so far this year has been a Nicolas Cage medieval science fiction thriller about a witch whose powers come from the Black Plague. Really? But, don't fret - the review for that is coming soon.

Yahoo! Movie News - Lamest Movie Weekend of the Year

Click above for the full article. But, most worthy of mention are the inclusions of Bride Wars, Leap Year, and Supernova. Now you know that with which we contend. January is, usually, the dead pool for filmgoers.


Last weekend, Season of the Witch was the only wide release we were given. The second weekend in, we're getting Ron Howard's lastest The Dilemma, and the Seth Rogen update of The Green Hornet. Those, and some smaller limited releases. Here's a closer look at each -