30 Minutes or Less, Our Idiot Brother, and More on DVD Tomorrow

The boys from The Town laugh at you.

It's been a long while since I've done one of these. I'd apologize, but I don't feel like it. 

Here goes! 

Hitting DVD shelves tomorrow, five releases that will most certainly not define the year as we know it. 30 Minutes or Less, One Day, Another Earth, Our Idiot Brother, and Tucker & Dale vs Evil. How many of these did you see? Really, me either.


30 Minutes or Less 

I wasn't too inclined to view it at first, but my interest has been piqued. The trailer is amusing enough, and as it's from the creative team behind the ferociously funny Zombieland, I'm sure I'll be amused. That, and Danny McBride gets my money, always. Will it be another Zombieland? Reviews have indicated a resounding "nope", but even the negative reviews had positive things to say. Check back here for my own thoughts on it soon.


Our Idiot Brother

There's a certain "wtf" that usually goes along with releases like this. Nobody really bothers to say anything about them, no one will claim it's their favorite movie of the year, but not one soul will hate it. It's there, it's got Paul Rudd in it, so we live with it, because we love him. And, from what I can tell by the trailer, the film itself actually has a fair bit of heart. Will it be the kind of film to make you go "Aw!"? Probably not. But, it might be worth checking out simply for the Rudd factor.


One Day

You ever watch a trailer that doesn't seem to have much to it, but you know that when you see the film, your reaction will be solidified on either end of the spectrum? You'll either love it, or hate it. You'll probably cry if you love it, or you'll spend the whole film plotting your own suicide. This is one of those trailers. Check for a review soon, and find out whether I've plotted my suicide or wept openly. I have a deep love for Anne Hathaway, balanced with a deep regret for Jim Sturgess' career. So, honestly, it could go either way.


Another Earth 

And then there are trailers where you feel like jumping out of your skin for joy. Like this one. Imagine what your reaction would be if you walked outside one morning to enjoy your coffee, and saw an image of the planet Earth in the sky. Hovering right above your house. Only to find out that it's not just a mirror... but another Earth, with another you, in another life. Imagine the walking dream (or nightmare) that would induce. And there you have this film, centered around a young woman who made a terrible mistake and has the chance to help herself, or someone else, start over. And all I can say is... wow.


Tucker & Dale vs Evil

Ahahahahaha yesssss. Yes! My first time seeing this trailer was right before embedding it into this blog post. And I can't stop laughing. Much like Another Earth, I'm so thankful that there are two startlingly clever and original ideas coming to DVD tomorrow. I don't care if this flops on sales, I'm picking it up. And cheers to Alan Tudyk for holding on strong to his career. Firefly did him well.


Enjoy your week, filmgoers! Go pick up a movie. Let me know below what you're looking forward to!

Limitless, Take Me Home Tonight, and Others on DVD Tomorrow

"Wait. We're not 'rotten' on the TomatoMeter?"

Did anyone here know that there was a Tekken movie? In the same vein as Mortal Kombat, Dead or Alive, and Street Fighter? And... maybe in the same vein as the first half of Uwe Boll's career? Think back to Alone in the Dark, or In the Name of the King whatever. It's been a while since a video game-to-screen adaptation has worked solely on merit, and it'll probably be a while before it does again. I'm also fairly certain it's a Direct-to-DVD release, which means it's pretty much a "0" on the importance scale. Still, though, it'll be on Encore or Starz before any of us realize its existence, and we'll watch it there on a hungover Saturday afternoon. And we'll still feel like we were mislead. That's my take on it. 

But, for now! The other DVD releases this week. They are, as follows - Limitless, Take Me Home Tonight, Peep World, and Cracks. Haven't heard of the last two? Well, you're in for a treat, dear reader. 

Limitless - It's funny that a film with this title is as limited as it is. You'd think that a film taking such strong cues from Flowers for Algernon (and most crime movies ever made) would be able to do three things: a) tell a coherent story, b) have a sympathetic lead character, c) engage its audience. But, Limitless finds itself unable to do either. The story is about a writer named Eddie who discovers a miracle, and highly illegal, drug called NZT - it gives you the ability to use all of your brain rather than the average percentage. He's suddenly smarter than everyone, more fashionable, stylish, desirable... he finishes his overdue book assignment in about three days and gets a job trading stock on Wall Street. And then, of course, the drug starts to run out. What do we learn from this movie? Assuming that this, like other films in its genre is a "message film"? Absolutely nothing. Except that Bradley Cooper isn't ready to headline a major motion picture. And that Robert De Niro is officially lazy. 

Take Me Home Tonight - It's also funny that a film like this one, so racked with nostalgia and full of love for the 80's, would seem straight out of a "John Hughes via Judd Apatow" generator. But, it is and this is what we must live with. There's a reason they don't make movies like this anymore - it's because they rarely ever work. I mean, kudos are in order for giving it a fair try, but realistically, if you look at the film from a critical stand point and take certain things into consideration, it's a failure. The screenplay is self-serving and completely one-dimensional, it's impossible to get behind any of the characters, and the villain... not that bad of a guy. Yeah, he's a tool, but... so is everyone else in the movie. There isn't anything that separates him from the main character except a few pay grades. Of course, there are moments in the film that are enjoyable, as there always are. Most bad movies usually have something decent about them, if even just for a moment. 

Also on DVD tomorrow - 

Peep World - I haven't been fortunate enough to see this one yet, though I want to badly. It's on my list. With Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman in the cast, as leads, how could it not be? I can't truly recommend it, or tell you it's terrible, because I haven't seen it. But, I can tell you that it's worth a look either way, despite its poor critical reception. Its plot is a recycled idea - a writer, from a rich family, writes a tell-all book and then everyone deals with the book's release. Woody Allen did that in the late 90's with Deconstructing Harry. And other films have done that before, too; it's nothing new. But, there's something about the cast that makes me want to see it. And really, it's almost solely for that reason. Give it a look. I will be. 

Cracks - Looking for a stirring indie period-piece drama? Here's one. There are several released throughout every year, but none usually hold buzz for two years since their conception. Cracks was conceived and filmed in 2009, and finally saw an American-made theatrical run this year, to... mixed reception. It's part uplifting-teacher drama in the same vein as Dead Poets Society, and part child-abuse thriller by way of Atonement. I haven't seen this one yet, either, but... again, it's on my list. I love Eva Green, and she needs a bigger career. Hell of an actress. 

Have at it! Leave a comment, tell me what you're getting, or what you want to see. Any releases that I missed?

Go get a movie. You've a long week ahead of you. Escape a little.

The Lincoln Lawyer and Others on DVD Tomorrow

"Outta my way, pointless supporting character."

Finally, a group of DVD's worth spending some money on! It's been a while since a stock of good films was put out on shelves at the same time as one another, so tomorrow is a day in which we can rejoice. A Grisham novel on steroids in The Lincoln Lawyer, a haunted house thriller in the same vein as Poltergeist in Insidious, and the foreign drama that stirred up emotions all over the country - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.  

So, let's take a look at each, shall we? I don't have to tell you which is worth your money. They all are. 

More after the cut--

Of Gods and Men and Others on DVD This Week

Survivor Man can suck it.

On DVD this week, three movies you might not have seen or heard of, but that you definitely should. An exploitative (in all the right ways) B-movie Grindhouse urban adventurer epic - Hobo With a Shotgun. A French drama about monks massacred in North Africa in the 90's, partly inspired by a true story - Of Gods and Men. And a film about immigration, specifically how far a woman will go to protect her son - Illegal. 

This is my first post in about a week, so I won't bog you down with any sort of prolific piece about each film. Let's cut straight to the chase. You want to know which one to see, right? Of course. The correct answer to that question is all three. I always urge my readers to see anything they can get their hands on. But, sometimes money is tight and you can't rent everything in sight. Well, this is where we help you make a decision. 

And as long as that decision is Hobo With a Shotgun, you're on the right track. 

More after the cut--

The Adjustment Bureau, Unknown, and Others on DVD This Week

Mad Men returns 2012. Without Anthony Mackie.

On DVD this week, five films that require a little bit of an introduction. Only because they've seem to slip from the forefront of interest. The Adjustment Bureau, still one of the year's best films, almost seven months in; Cedar Rapids, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules, Unknown,  and The Eagle. Remember those?

No? Okay, well, don't feel bad. I do, and I'm here to help. Hell, I've reviewed two of them. And they're my recommendations for the week. Let's get down to brass tacks, shall we?

More after the cut--

True Grit, The Company Men, and Others on DVD This Week

They're on their way to buy The Company Men, too. 

It's 9:37, on a beautiful Tuesday evening in San Francisco. I'm listening to Bill Hicks bits on YouTube, and looking up this week's DVD releases. Coincidentally, one of them happens to be a documentary about Bill Hicks and the celebrity achieved after his death, not even 15 years later. It's also about the censorship struggles he faced during his career peak. It's called American: The Bill Hicks Story, and is available today. If you aren't familiar with Hicks' stand-up, do yourself a favor and watch this before you watch anything. His work was a game changer, and the template for less daring comedians like the Blue Collar Comedy Tour fellas to follow. 

Also released on DVD/Blu-Ray today - True Grit, the Coen Brothers ode to the old west and the film that made America collectively give up about $100 million; Rubber, the independent phenomenon about a tire with psychotic and psychic powers, and the mind of a serial killer; Sanctum, the one movie about the cave diving that nobody remembers seeing; Another Year, that Mike Leigh film that you might have heard about; Just Go With It, that Adam Sandler movie you won't admit to having seen; and The Company Men, the first "best movie" of 2011.

More after the cut--

On DVD Today

A new breed of action zero

This will be a uniquely short article, as the two major releases on DVD aren't of any specific consequence. I Am Number Four (remember that bright yellow poster on all the buses and port-a-potties? the one with the Android QR?) and Gnomeo and Juliet come out to own on Blu-ray or DVD today. Which is more worth it?

Well, I haven't seen I Am Number Four, yet. And I probably won't for a while. There will be a review, for those of you who are aching for one for some reason, but not today. And probably not tomorrow. But, soon, and for the rest of our lives.

Gnomeo and Juliet, however, I have suffered through. Let's take a closer look at each DVD release, though, and you can decide for yourself which you might prefer.


More after the cut --

The Roommate and Others on DVD This Week

Literally, this is as exciting as it gets.

Coming to DVD this week, we have The Roommate, an abysmal rip off of Single White Female; The Mechanic, an excellent remake of a Charles Bronson movie; and The Rite, a surprisingly effective exorcism-chiller from the director of 1408. Which is more worth your money, though? 

Well, I'm going out on a limb and saying that it'll be The Mechanic. Why? We'll get into each release after the jump. Starting with The Roommate.

More after the cut--

The Green Hornet, The Dilemma, and Others on DVD This Week

Shown running from the critics

Yesterday, four major DVD releases found their way onto shelves - The Green Hornet, The Dilemma, A Somewhat Gentle Man, and From Prada to Nada. Now... generally, I try to recommend a viewing for the week, based on the releases. But, this is a total grab bag here. I can recommend The Dilemma, but it won't be something everyone will enjoy (as reviews and box office returns proved); I can recommend A Somewhat Gentle Man, but that's purely based on a general perception of the film - I haven't seen it yet (I'm a terrible critic, I know). I've managed to avoid From Prada to Nada, though it's something I'll have to endure by the end of the year, regardless. And The Green Hornet is... a waste of time. 

So, yeah - there you have it. However, let's look at each release closer, just to see what might be worth your hard earned money, and valuable time. 

More after the cut--

3 Idiots, Jolene, and Others on DVD This Week

3 Idiots Knuckle Up

This is an odd week for DVD releases... usually, lately, we've had three or four recognizable films that have either won awards, or critical praise, or have been revered in their own way for being terrible so we can lament the fact that they're now available in yet another format. This week, of course to break the trend we're so used to, are three releases I can safely say I've never heard of. But, in all fairness, I'm looking forward to them. Some what. A Bollywood-ish farce called 3 Idiots, a walk across the country with an orphaned girl Jolene, and a walk from one end of the room to the other in Bunny and the Bull. 

Which is more worth your time and money, however? Probably all of them. But, I'm guessing that Bunny and the Bull might be the best bet. 

More after the cut--

The King's Speech, Gulliver's Travels, and Others on DVD This Week

Fuckin' ass and blap blap

Yes, that's the "f" word above. It's okay, though - the Weinstein brothers will edit this post down after its release. 

If you're confused by the joke above, The Weinstein Company, who produced The King's Speech, had the film edited down from an R rating, taking out the scene where Bertie swears comfortably, and several times, in front of his speech therapist. The film is now available as a PG-13 release and an R release, but only one of them is actually worth money. It's the R one. That scene is a key scene, and there was no reason for it to be cut out. Especially after so few people gave a damn about it in the first place. It isn't the movie that's offensive, not by a long shot, but the MPAA's rating system. 

But, a bitter rant on the MPAA isn't what this post is about. It's about the DVD releases for the week. So I'll stay on topic. The King's Speech, Gulliver's Travels, Rabbit Hole, and Somewhere. I've seen all four. So I can give a fair assessment. Let's get down to it. 

More after the cut--

Country Strong, White Material, and Others on DVD This Week

Proving there's no "O" in "country"...

This week on DVD, four releases that no one saw. Country Strong, White Material, Heartless, and Farewell (L'affaire Farewell). A melodrama, a bare knuckle drama, a Brit thriller, and a French thriller. Which is most worth your time and money? 

Let's do this. 

More after the cut --

Little Fockers, Tron: Legacy, and Others on DVD This Week

Looking at their 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes... 

On DVD this week, an almost unanimous group of disappointing films. Little Fockers, Tron: Legacy, Casino Jack, and I Love You, Phillip Morris. Each film manages to destroy the hype that surrounded them for months, and leave very little for the viewer to walk out of the theater and praise. Of course, Tron: Legacy is almost immune to any sort of criticism being that it's strictly a film for the fan of the original (which is a masterpiece). But, being that Legacy is also a film that can be seen without seeing the original, that sort of evens the playing field. 

More after the cut --

Black Swan, Tangled, and Others on DVD This Week

One Grecian urn! Two Grecian urns!

Dancing out onto DVD shelves yesterday, six major releases from last year. Black Swan, Tangled, Made in Dagenham, All Good Things, Fair Game, and Mesrine: Public Enemy #1. 

Let's take a brief look at each, and determine which is most worth your money! 

I'll tell you right now, though - it's Black Swan. 

More after the cut --

The Tourist, Skyline, and Others on DVD This Week

Man, oh *beep* man. These are the weeks I dread - the weeks when everything popping out onto DVD shelves is crap. We have, unfortunately, received The Tourist, Skyline, Yogi Bear, and How Do You Know? as our choices for the next few days. At least until Sucker Punch comes out on Friday. Then everything is forgiven. But, for now, as always, let's take a look at each of these releases and see which will be worth the money you're forking over for them.

Personally, having seen them, I'll let you in on this early on - each of these is going to get a negative write-up. Forgive me if I go overboard, but... I swear, I really hated The Tourist. I'll post a review up of that soon. I have to edit it down from the four-letter word riffing session that I did for an IMDb message board. I want something a bit classier for this site, and others.

*sigh*

More after the cut--

Hereafter, and Others on DVD This Week

Weeks like this, for DVD releases, fascinate me. Three DVDs that match the spectrum of viewership - excellent, middling, and awful. The Fighter, Hereafter, and The Switch. The real question, however, is which is worth the twenty you'll have to shell out to pick one up. Or... the four or five you'll have to toss down to rent one from Blockbuster. Or get for free from Netflix. Or a buck at RedBox.  That in mind, the more important question, which is worth the time?

So, time and money in mind, let's take a look at each release.





In this corner, we have David O Russell's boxing autobiography The Fighter. I remember when the trailer hit the web, and people were immediately divided between love and hate for what Christian Bale's performance promised to be. It was an exercise in pure method gain (and weight loss?). Personally, and the Academy agreed, I found it to be intoxicating and brutal, with moments of hilarity that the actor hasn't had a chance to stretch in years. The performance is legend, and for my money, with the price of admission and certainly worth the time. For a full review, click here.

More after the cut --

Inside Job, Jackass 3D, and Others on DVD this week

Apologies for the late posting. Life has been hectic, and my finger is still... incapacitated. But, such is blogging, no?

On DVD this week, five films are being released. A few promising films that turned flop, and a couple of surprises that wound up highlighting the year all the way from left field. Morning Glory, Jackass 3D, Four Lions, Inside Job, and The Next Three Days. The most important thing, however, is which one is worth your money! Let's take a closer look, yeah?

I'd like to start with one of the biggest surprises of last year, for me - Jackass. Admittedly, I'm a fairly big Johnny Knoxville fan. His screen presence is huge, and he's a decently talented actor. I find him compulsively watchable. Even if he's electrocuting his friends, or getting hit in the balls, or vomiting, or getting hit in the balls, or getting hit in the balls. He's just... fun to watch. So, as a fan of the show, and of the last couple of films, I was surprised even at myself at how much I enjoyed this outing of violent and stupid behavior - please note, I'm not one of those guys who tried to perform these stunts when growing up (except for the grocery store jousting. I did that one.) But, I enjoyed it from this perspective: it wasn't made to please anyone but the people involved, and eventually, it became what will surely be a staple in the 3D discussion. Live action 3D is something that isn't used fairly well. And without the over-abundance of computer effects, the 3D in this film is... mind-blowingly impressive. I'll be around for the fourth one. If indeed there is a fourth one.



The special features are as follows, from the film's Amazon page -

MTV Making Of Special
Outtakes
Deleted Scenes
Time Magazine Trailer


The film is on all DVD formats (as well as Blu-Ray), and maintains its 3D structure. So, you went to see a 3D film, you will be buying a 3D film. 


More after the cut --

127 Hours, Love and Other Drugs, and Others on DVD This Week

Let the Oscar films begin to roll out! They might have lacked serious chemistry hosting the Oscars together, but James Franco and Anne Hathaway each offer one of their best performances separately onto DVD shelves today. Also, Christina Aguilera and Cher in Burlesque and Dwayne Johnson in Faster. I've seen the first two, but haven't gotten around to the last two yet. But, honestly, my hopes aren't high.


127 Hours wasn't an Oscar winner, but it should have been. Franco gives the performance of his career, and one of the best I've seen in years, as Aron Ralston - the modern adventurer who gets his arm caught underneath a boulder during a canyon exploration. His performance puts us right underneath that boulder with him, but Danny Boyle's loving direction lets us feel as the raven that passes overhead of Ralston every morning. It's a touching, inspirational, and divinely made film. For the full review, click here.

Danny Boyle brings his Slumdog Millionaire team back to the table, with a beautiful musical score by A R Rahman, a delicate and tense screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, and meticulous editing from Jon Harris.

The balance and urgency of that balance between living and dying have rarely felt more tangible in any film that I've seen - and I'm still amazed by how fluid and affable Boyle got the film to feel. It's about a man stuck under a rock, and it's one of the most free movie-going experiences of last year.

More after the cut --

Megamind

One of the best posters ever.

The anti-superhero film of last year blasted onto DVD yesterday, so I sat down and took another look at what made me enjoy it so much. And while it winds up being Dreamworks' answer to Pixar's The Incredibles, the film stands on its own as a sharp-witted and fully realized, not to mention wildly funny, piece of escapism. 

More after the cut --

Due Date, Get Low, and Others on DVD This Week

This week, we seem to be at each end of the spectrum with our major DVD releases - first, the decidedly, and surprisingly, unfunny Due Date comes to shelves, and secondly, so does the tender and heartwarming Get Low. Other releases include Mesrine: Killer Instinct and Leaving (Partir)

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about a week like this on DVD is that it follows a week of spectacular releases, and also contains a separate singular release for a title on the 25th. Megamind comes out that day, and I'll be posting a full review for its release. I saw it quite a while ago, thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't have the opportunity to review it. This week gives me that opportunity. So, look for that.

The saddest thing about a film like Due Date is that it ignores an eerily similar film that came out before it, much like The Roommate (I swear, I should get a dime for every time I mention that film this year) after Single White Female. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles did it first, and it remains uncredited as inspiration for this slacker comedy. Note - this isn't a comedy about slackers, mind you; it's a comedy about very hard workers caught in a dire situation, but... the people involved are slacking on the comedy part. Thus, it's a slacker comedy.

More after the cut --