Tuesday’s DVD Column: 02/15/11
Unstoppable — This Denzel Wasahington-Chris Pine action-thriller comes to us thanks to director Tony Scott. Expect the usual requirements for such a movie: runaway train, lots of yelling, some blood and the occasional life hanging in the balance. Though, to be quite honest, Unstoppable was well-reviewed, so perhaps this one is a cut above the rest.
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol — Stop what you’re doing and get yourself into the Doctor Who series. It has only been playing for nearly 50 years — no rush or anything. This well-reviewed TV special from across the pond is a take on the classic Charles Dickens tale. Look for a special cameo from Michael Gambon of the Harry Potter series.
Summer Hours — The Criterion Collection is the best company putting movies on DVDs and Blu-Ray. Period. Exclamation point. No question mark. Their catalog of films is unparalleled, from old foreign films to new art-house flicks. This one is from 2009 and stars Oscar winner Juliette Binoche (The Engilsh Patient), Charles Berling and Jérémie Renier (is this Jeremy Renner’s long-lost French cousin?).
Waiting for Superman — This is the documentary that everyone was talking about, and then the echoes suddenly stopped when the Academy overlooked its merits for a Best Documentary nomination. In some ways, director Davis Guggenheim’s film could have been called An Inconvenient Truth, which he also directed to Oscar gold. Waiting for Superman looks with a chilling at eye at the state of our public education system in the United States, and the results are quite shocking.
William Burroughs: A Man Within — Patti Smith, Iggy Pop and others bring to life a portrait of this legendary product of the Beat generation.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger — The prolific Woody Allen turns in another lovable romantic comedy, this one starring Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Antonio Banderas and Josh Brolin. Unlike Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Dark Stranger won’t win anyone a supporting actor nomination (Penelope Cruz won the Oscar for VCB).
Other DVD releases:
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu — A clever spin on the legacy of horrormeister H.P. Lovecraft. It’s low budget and features no big names. Probably a must for genre fans and a miss for anyone else.
The Rich Little Show: Complete Series — If you know who Rich Little is, then you’re set. If you don’t, rent Unstoppable.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Revised
