We are at the point in the year where the major studios rush their summer releases to DVD and Blu-ray just in time for the holiday shopping season to begin. Thus, this week’s titles are dominated by films that reached for blockbuster glory…with various results. Here’s the best of what movies are now available.
It’s been two decades since humanity defended itself against a devastating alien attack on July 4th–and now they’ll have to do it again. This time, scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and a group of gung-ho space pilots must defeat the extraterrestrial invaders, who’ve returned under the command of one of their queens with a plan to harvest fuel by drilling into the planet’s core. Liam Hemsworth, Jesse Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Judd Hirsch, and Bill Pullman co-star in this exciting sci-fi sequel. 120 min.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
After three years’ absence, Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) ventures back into the miraculous realm of Underland, only to find the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) despondent over a tragedy that took his family. Determined to set things right, she sets off on a quest to confront the living embodiment of Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) himself, but can she really undo the past without sacrificing Underland’s future? Fantastic follow-up to the 2010 favorite also stars Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhys Ifans, Matt Lucas. 113 min.
With few prospects in the Bronx of the Depression era, young Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) sojourns across the country to take a position with his well-connected Hollywood agent uncle Paul (Steve Carell). As he gets caught up in the glitz of this new atmosphere–and in the charms of Paul’s savvy assistant Vonnie (Kristen Stewart)–he may not be braced for the harsh truths of their working relationship. Woody Allen’s wistful, detail-rich rumination also stars Blake Lively, Corey Stoll, Parker Posey, Sheryl Lee. 96 min.
On a Moroccan getaway to repair their troubled marriage, Britishers Perry (Ewan McGregor) and Gail (Naomie Harris) made the charmed acquaintance of the charismatic Soviet Dima (Stellan Skarsgård). When it turns out he’s a money launderer fleeing the Russian Mob–and wants their help in swapping intel to MI-6 in exchange for sanctuary–the couple find themselves in more than just figurative crossfire. Gripping take on the John le Carré novel co-stars Damian Lewis, Jeremy Northam, Alicia von Rittberg.