“New Releases This Week” Archive
Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
From recent theatrical hits (Tooth Fairy) to fondly remembered TV favorites (The Facts of Life anyone?), this week's numerous new DVD and Blu-ray releases offer up plenty of choices to please even the most cynical of viewers (i.e. me). With that in mind, let's break down the latest titles jockeying to be a part of your home-viewing experience. Here we go!
Tooth Fairy
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in this lightweight family comedy as a tough minor league hockey player whose obnoxious behavior earns him an unusual punishment: He must spend one week as a Tooth Fairy. Under the tutelage of silver-winged superiors Julie Andrews and Billy Crystal, Johnson learns the tricks of his forced trade while also beginning to bond with his girlfriend's two kids. With Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Destiny Whitlock.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
This is a great week to be a classic film fan, with new releases showcasing the works of Barbara Stanwyck and Deanna Durbin. Other notable titles making their DVD and Blu-ray debuts include Heath Ledger's final film, a romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, the rare I Love Lucy movie and the first season of a cult TV classic. There's a lot of information to get to, so let's begin.
The Barbara Stanwyck Collection
This three-disc set features 8 1/2 hours worth of classic performances from Babara Stanwyck. Includes the first film to feature Dr. Kildare, Internes Can't Take Money (1937) which finds ex-convict Stanwyck seeking help from the caring medico (Joel McCrea) to save her kidnapped daughter from a gangster. With Lloyd Nolan. Then, an elderly Stanwyck looks back on her romance with frontiersman and eventual U.S. senator McCrea in the sweeping drama The Great Man's Lady (1942), co-starring Brian Donlevy. Next, horse breeder Stanwyck's marriage to author/Civil War buff Robert Cummings is endangered thanks to neighbor Diana Lynn in the comedy The Bride Wore Boots (1946).
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
This week's notable new releases include an Oscar-winning performance from one of Hollywood's most talented actors, Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's enthralling novel, the first season of a TV soap opera classic set in the heart of California's wine country, a British drama that makes me sleepy just watching the trailer, and the latest volume of Perry Mason episodes. Oh yeah, there's also the biggest money maker in motion picture history: Avatar. There's a lot of worthwhile choices this week, so let's take a look at what DVDs you can now add to your collection.
Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges took home a Best Actor Academy Award for his superb performance as a down-and-out country music singer struggling to hang on to what little fame he's achieved. With several failed marriages under his belt, a son he hasn't seen in years, and rapidly declining health, Bridges finds his dreary life unexpectedly rejuvenated through his relationship with a small-town reporter (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her 4-year-old son (Jack Nation). Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell also star in this compelling drama. It was great to see the Dude finally get his Oscar, wasn't it?
Please check-out the article "The Lost Films of Jeff Bridges"
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
Remember last week when I mentioned how all the big releases (Avatar, Crazy Heart, It's Complicated, The Lovely Bones, etc.) would be coming out on DVD soon? Well, they are...just not this week. So while your patience will be rewarded soon, you might be able to find something to hold your interest until April's big DVD and Blu-ray titles start to roll out next Tuesday. Here's a look at the several notable offerings you can check out this week -- including a smart British comedy with a stellar cast, an offbeat superhero flick, the latest seasons of two TV classics and an under-appreciated Disney gem.
Pirate Radio
Released in the UK as The Boat that Rocked, this ensemble comedy (inspired by actual events) from Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually writer/director Richard Curtis chronicles the exploits of renegade British DJs in 1966. Defying the rock music-hating BBC
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
Maybe the movie studios thought everybody would be on spring break this week or something, because it's slim pickings for new releases. The more eagerly awaited recent films won't be making their DVD and Blu-ray debuts until later in the month. Fear not though film fans, there are still a few worthwhile things coming out this week.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Inspired by Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant, this strange crime drama from Werner Herzog stars Nicolas Cage as a police detective in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orlenas whose investigation of the killing of five Senegalese immingrants is complicated by his out-of-control gambling and drug problems. Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk co-star.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
March may be coming to an end, but there's still plenty of great DVD and Blu-ray picks to usher in April with. This week's new releases include Robert Downey Jr.'s action-packed take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famed crime fighter, a critically acclaimed (not to mention Oscar-nominated) drama set in 1960s England, the DVD debut of Steven Seagal's compelling reality series, the second season of a 1970s TV classic, and a portrait of one of history's most notorious terrorist outfits. Without further adieu, let's begin!
Sherlock Holmes
The world's most famous detective gets a stylish and action-filled reinvention, courtesy of director Guy Ritchie and title star When an occult-obsessed nobleman (Mark Strong) captured by Holmes appears to have returned from the dead, the sleuth and his often-exasperated colleague Dr. Watson (Jude Law) must stop the villain's plan to topple the British government. Rachel McAdams also stars as seductive adventuress Irene Adler, who may or may not be on Holmes' side. This one probably isn't for fans of Jeremy Brett's take on the character, but if you are open to the idea of a different kind of Holmes, there's much that will please you here.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
This week's new releases include such diverse offerings as Sandra Bullock's Academy Award-winning performance, a timely drama featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman, Wes Anderson's wonderful adaptation of a Roald Dahl favorite, a comedy featuring telepathic soldiers who use their mind to murder goats, a completely unneccessary remake of a TV classic, and the DVD/Blu-ray debut of one of the greatest films ever made. Let's take a look, shall we?
The Blind Side
The fascinating true life story of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is told in this stirring drama that aims to pull on your heartstrings. Lifted out of the poverty of a Memphis ghetto by his talent on the gridiron, the withdrawn teen finds acceptance and a chance to better himself when he's taken in by sassy socialite Leigh Anne Touhy (Best Actress Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock) and her loving family while he attends college. Based on the best-selling Michael Lewis book, the film co-stars country music sensation Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates. Some critics found this movie to be sappy and manipulative, resulting in plenty of "The Bland Side" puns and reviews that condemned the film's melodramatic aspects. If you somehow missed this blockbuster during its theatrical run, here's your chance to judge for yourself for if it was worthy of the acclaim it received.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
This week's notable new releases include the latest Twilight vampire tale, Disney's most recent animated effort, an alien abduction thriller purportedly based on some real-life close encounters, the eighth season of a TV classic and a fish-out-of-water comedy featuring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker and, best of all, Wilford Brimley!
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Whether you are on Team Edward, Team Jacob or Team Enough Already, you have to admit that the sparkly vampires of Twilight are a full-fledged pop culture phenomenon. I'll leave it to you to debate whether or not this is a good thing. For now, let me just say that this blockbuster second film based on Stephanie Meyer's tween book series features a hesitant bloodsucker, a werewolf, an indie rock soundtrack and substantial amounts of pouting. Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and the complicated/brooding Robert Pattinson star; directed by Chris Weitz.
Of course those of you who have had it with all this emo nonsense, can always just check out Near Dark again (directed by The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigelow!) for some old-school vampire thrills.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
This week's new releases include critically acclaimed favories, riveting documentaries on topics ranging from capitalism to the legendary siblings who changed the way movies were made, unoriginal comedic shenanigans from John Travolta and Robin Williams, and a one-season TV wonder finally making its DVD debut.
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Yes, it's common knowledge that Lee Daniels' acclaimed drama is an incredibly well-acted, emotionally involving tour-de-force. But can we all agree that the lengthy title is a bit much? Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey's phony mustache star.
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Chris Cummins | New Releases This Week
New DVD Releases: Amongst this week's new offerings are Spike Jonze's adaptation of a children's classic, the latest disaster epic from the director of Independence Day and John Carpenter's tribute to the King.
Where the Wild Things Are
It was no easy task translating Maurice Sendak’s legendary (and largely dialogue-free) picture book to the big screen, but director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) and screenwriter Dave Eggers were up to the challenge. This visually stunning film somehow manages to capture the exquisite pain, hope, fear and wonder of childhood. Those looking for an Alvin and the Chipmunks-styled kids flick packed with pop culture references were disappointed with the movie’s gentle pacing and ruminations on how it feels to be a child—thus its underwhelming performance at the box office. But for anyone who wants to remember the emotional roller coaster of adolescence, Where the Wild Things Are is essential viewing. Max Records, Catherine Keener star; with the voices of James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Dano, Chris Cooper and Forest Whitaker.
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Jerry Frebowitz | New Releases This Week
New DVD Releases for this week include two very different supernatural thrillers, The Box and Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Also, a very fine remake of an Italian film, Everybody's Fine with a great ensamble cast, and John Hurt is back as Quentin Crisp in An Englishman In New York, a "sort of" sequel to The Naked Civil Servant. There are new TV series, including the complete first season of Nurse Jackie but it's the older entries that take the spotlight: George Bernard Shaw on Film includes three classic masterpieces from Shaw, who was both a Nobel Prize-winner and Oscar-winner. Along with these other older classic films is Make Way For Tomorrow, a highly requested tearjerker from director Leo McCarey.
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Jerry Frebowitz | New Releases This Week
New DVD Releases for this week include Gerard Butler in the riveting crime thriller, Law Abiding Citizen and there's lots of laughs in Black Dynamite, a send-up of the 1970's blaxploitation movies -- and Josh Brolin doesn't know whether to laugh or cry in the comic drama, Women In Trouble. Also truth seems like fiction in the gruesome thriller, Freeway Killer and the life story of fashion icon Coco Chanel is played out by Audrey Tautou and Marie Gillain -- truth be told, it's all been done before but this new French drama, Coco Before Chanel is a crowd pleaser. Clint Eastwood fans will be glad to see Clint get his due in the new Warner Brothers box set, Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years which, as expected, contains lots of "good stuff." TV shows are newly released this week like Buddy Ebson's Barnaby Jones and Chuck Connors' Branded plus a very fine Italian feature film release from 1975, Profumo Di Donna, is sure to please movie enthusiasts who haven't had the pleasure of seeing the original version of Al Pacino's Scent Of A Woman.
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