New to Blu-Ray/DVD this Week (February 15, 2011)

In addition to the weekly description of the theatrical releases, Chris and I decided that it may beneficial to our readers if we outlined the various releases to DVD/Blu Ray each Tuesday.  We realize through our own experiences that it is much easier to catch a movie through Netflix, rental, or purchase than it is to see in theaters; and like with our theatrical release post we hope this makes your home viewing experience a little more enjoyable.  Check back every Tuesday for the current releases.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Rated: R (language)

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, and Josh Brolin

Director: Woody Allen

Synopsis from IMDB:  Follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Hopkins) and Helena (Gemma Jones), and their daughter Sally (Watts) and husband Roy (Brolin), as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds. After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth and a free-spirited call girl named Charmaine, Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the loopy advice of a charlatan fortune-teller. Unhappy in her marriage, Sally develops a crush on her handsome art gallery owner boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas), while Roy, a novelist nervously awaiting the response to his latest manuscript, becomes moon struck over Dia (Freida Pinto), a mystery woman who catches his gaze through a nearby window.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  With a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 39% user review, this film doesn’t appear to be one of Woody Allen’s better works.  Critics penned the film as underwhelming and formulaic, although I think this adequately describes the RomCom genre in which Allen has made a living.  Caught in the middle of The Wolfman and The Rite, this seems to be another film starring Anthony Hopkins that has missed the mark either because of, or despite his performance.  However, with such a highly regarded cast and an experienced director behind the scenes, I’m sure you could do a lot worse with your rental money.

Unstoppable

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson

Director: Tony Scott

Synopsis from IMDB:  With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against the clock to prevent a catastrophe.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  Unstoppable is the only film on this week’s release schedule that I have seen, and thus have more than just reviews and speculation to comment on.  An early fall release that shockingly received high critical praise, Unstoppable is the second straight train movie on Tony Scott’s filmography.  Unlike The Taking of Pelham 123, no one seemed to phone in their performances.  Light on the story and heavy on the action, this film does not disappoint as a straight adrenaline filled action movie.  It should be noted that this film featured actual trains and real stunts, a welcome substitute to the overabundance of CGI in today’s movies.

Waiting for Superman

Rated: PG

Starring: The Black Family, Geoffrey Canada and The Esparza Family

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Synopsis from IMDB:  Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  This is the film among this week’s releases that I look forward to seeing most.  While many documentaries do not peak my interest, Waiting for Superman takes a look at a worthy topic in the American education system.  Because it is a documentary and because of its content, this is probably not the most enjoyable or lighthearted film to watch among this crop.  However, if you want a more intellectual watch this week, Waiting for Superman appears to be a worthy choice.

Glorious 39

Rated:  R

Starring: Romola Garai, Eddie Redmayne and Juno Temple

Director: Stephen Poliakoff

Synopsis from IMDB:  A mysterious tale set around a traditional British family on the eve of World War Two.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  With only a limited release in the UK, this DVD/Blu Ray release is the first opportunity for U.S. viewers to see this film.  I become hesitant with any film that receives a straight to DVD release, but sometimes these movies can surprise you (i.e. Trick ‘r Treat).  Regardless, with a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Glorious 39 seems to be a long-winded period film disguised a suspense thriller.

Opening This Week (08 – 14 Nov, 2010)

This week offers three wide release films that will most likely all fall into box office oblivion. I mean, last week there were two highly anticipated releases, Due Date and Megamind, and one that has acquired vast amounts of critical acclaim and fainting in the theater, 127 Hours. This week offers almost none of that to compete, and next week these films will definitely fall off the radar after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. But still, let’s take a look at what we’ve got:

Unstoppable (#1 Recommendation for this Weekend) (only for lack of competition)

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

Director: Tony Scott

Synopsis from IMDB: Unstoppable, a 20th Century Fox drama about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. Pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They’re chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: Tony Scott and Denzel, team up for the fourth time in the last six years, to bring their audiences is another movie about….trains. This time the wise old train guy teaches the brash young train guy about the intense life of these speeding steel monsters using cheesy one liners and will no doubt feature Tony Scott’s crazy editing style. I think this will be entertaining, most of Scott’s films are, with the exception of Domino, but about five minutes after you walk out of the theater will leave you going, wait….what? While, the early reviews are decent, well the first five anyways, I still think this will be a mediocre film at best. The sad part about this film is that out of the wide releases, it gets my recommendation out of the three films that are being released.

Skyline (Monday Movie)

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Donald Faison, Eric Balfour, David Zayas, Scottie Thompson

Director: Colin Strause, Greg Strause

Synopsis from IMDB: Strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I don’t know what to think about this film. It looks like it is trying to be Independence Day without Will Smith, or any other big name actor for that matter. It will either be a moderate success or totally suck. I don’t think there is any other way for this to go, but I could be wrong. Another bad sign is that it wasn’t previewed for critics, at least not yet, which means they could be worried about negative critical feedback dissuading moviegoers from seeing it. I recommend that you wait until after we review it as the Monday Movie to make your decision.

Morning Glory

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Patrick Wilson, Diane Keaton

Director: Roger Michell

Synopsis from IMDB:  A hotshot television producer is set the challenge of reviving a struggling morning show program, despite the constant feuding of its high-profile anchors.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: This film is being touted as being written by the same person who penned, The Devil Wears Prada. But, let me also remind you that this is the same person that wrote 27 Dresses. The preview is boring and it looks like it is trying too hard to be like The Devil Wears Prada-esque. Harrison Ford plays a gruff anchor for the morning show, except this time he is going for laughs, much like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I do like Rachel McAdams and Ford, but the preview didn’t grab me and this is getting mixed early reviews. I think, if anything, this can be reserved for DVD viewing.

Limited Releases

Tiny Furniture

Starring: Lena Dunham, Grace Dunham, Rachel Howe, Laurie Simmons

Director: Lena Dunham

Synopsis from IMDB:  About a recent college grad who returns home while she tries to figure out what to do with her life.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: This looks like the female version of Garden State, except a little more dull. It apparently won some awards at the SXSW Film Festival, but it really doesn’t look that engaging.

Helena from the Wedding

Rated: Unrated

Starring: Lee Tergesen, Melanie Lynskey, Paul Fitzgerald, Gillian Jacobs

Director: Joseph Infantolino

Synopsis from IMDB:  Newlyweds Alex and Alice host a New Year’s Eve party for their closest friends at a remote cabin in the mountains. However, when an unexpected guest shows up, the group’s facades begin to crumble.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I think that while this will no doubt be a very slow moving film, that it will provide a thoughtful look at relationships and will be worth viewing at least once for the talking points that it will raise.