Once again it’s time to check out what hit shelves at your local DVD store:
Grab ‘Em Right Away:
Tetro
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Written by: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich & Maribel Verdu
Why should you buy this? It’s Francis Ford Coppola‘s return to valid filmmaking for the first time since The Rainmaker in my opinion. I fell in love with the dynamics between Tetro and Bennie immediately. Tetro left the family so as to be by himself and far away from all his problems with the family. Then eventually the younger brother, Bennie, finds his older brother and has this desire to reconnect with him and figure out exactly what he’s doing with his life now. It’s always refreshing to see films presented in black and white (B&W) instead of colour. Not that I’m an old fogey who can’t stand technological change, but when I go back to films from the ’50s I actually think that some look more beautiful than films made today, with the best cameras and all the vivid colours that we think we need. The film looks gorgeous and Coppola‘s use of the memory and flashbacks is brilliant.
Saving Private Ryan (Blu-ray)
Directed by: Steven Speilberg
Written by: Robert Rodat
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi & Matt Damon
Why should you buy this? Now I generally don’t like to highlight Blu-ray upgrades (i.e. older films being re-released on the new format), however when one of my favourite war films comes out in brilliant 1080p I have to take notice. If you haven’t seen this movie then you’re missing out. It has been the template that all war films have been using ever since it was made. Spielberg knows how to make a film entertaining and at the same time not make it feel like he’s losing the importance of the event. Tom Hanks and Tom Sizemore lead a cast filled with names that you would never imagine would make up one of the best company’s on film that would take on the Nazis in a great rescue mission.
Avoid like the Plague:
Nine
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: Michael Tolkin & Anthony Minghella
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Fergie, Kate Hudson & Judi Dench
Why should you not fund this film? It’s a musical remake to the classic 8 1/2 that doesn’t have that much inspiring music. There are about three songs in this entire film that I actually enjoyed. As a lover of the musical genre in film I tend to defend a lot of musicals. However, I really can’t argue at all for this one. Other than Be Italian, My Husband Makes Movies and Cinema Italiano the rest of the songs felt uninspired to me. It also didn’t help that certain characters stuck me as horribly miscast: Judi Dench and Penelope Cruz didn’t need to be in this movie at all. However, the most useless character/actress award must go to Nicole Kidman. Truly don’t watch this movie.
Jordan’s Blu-Ray Pick of the Week
Trick ‘r Treat [$9.99]
The Rest
Leap Year
Tooth Fairy
Invader Zim Season One & Two
Hamlet (2009)
No Time for Sergeants (1958)
Doctor Zhivago (45th Anniversary Edition)
Penn & Teller Bullshi*t: The Seventh Season
Blu-ray
Seven Swords
The Notebook
Escape from L.A.
Dirty Dancing: Limited Keepsake Edition
K-19: The Widowmaker
Elektra
What are you watching this week?