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Tag Archives: DVD
New On DVD: The Social Network
David Fincher has directed such blockbuster films as Fight Club (1999), Se7en (1995) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). The Social Network (2011) was no less of a blockbuster for him, grossing $96 million during its time in theaters. Jesse Eisenberg was expertly cast as Mark Zuckerberg, and the film follows his astounding genius as he created first Face Mash and then Facebook. Zuckerberg is likeable in the film because his genius-level work comes so easily for him, and his motivations seem so relatable. While the story is embellished with falsities and half-truths, it still makes for an entertaining story and provides “Generation Y” with a cast and crew who expertly tell their story.
The character of Zuckerberg creates Face Mash in his dorm room after a painful breakup with his girlfriend. He envies those richer and more suave than him at the same time that he makes fun of them. Because of being socially ostracized, he seeks to connect to others through expert computer code that manifests itself to social networking sites. Andrew Garfield stars as his business partner Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Napster creator Sean Parker, and Armie Hammer as Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss—rowing twins who insist Zuckeberg stole their idea. Max Minghella, Brenda Song, and Rashida Jones also star.
The Social Network may be half truth and half fiction, but the storyline as it is manipulated is highly intriguing. It unsurprisingly won numerous Oscars and Golden Globe awards and will no doubt become a “period piece” as time goes by.
Photo © Thomas Pajot – Fotolia.com
Tagged DVD, Facebook, Jesse Eisenberg, justin timberlake
New On DVD: Midnight in Paris
Midnight is Paris (2011) is a film that even non-Woody Allen fans love. Perhaps it’s that the lead character Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) isn’t quite as neurotic as some of Allen’s other protagonists, and the film was purposefully shot in colorful warm lighting and given a rather standard story arc.
Gil is a successful screenwriter who is vacationing in Paris with his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her family. Inez is interested in Gil as a man of wealth with a lucrative career instead of as the aspiring novelist that he now is interested in becoming. While he broods over his manuscript, Inez runs into her friends Paul and Carol Bates (Michael Sheen and Nina Arianda) and quickly develops an interest the pseudo-intellectual Paul. Inez takes in the literal riches of the city by shopping for overpriced furniture while Gil is more interested in the romance of the city. Gil believes that the best time to have lived was in Paris in the 1920s, and he finds himself at odds with the 21st century.
The present and the past collide in a magical way, and Gil meets his heroes: Cole Porter (Yves Heck), Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston), Ernest Hemingway (Cory Stoll), Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo), and Salvador Dali (Adrien Brody). As he travels back and forth between the magical past and the complicated present, he must decide where his heart truly belongs.
Photo © Marelize Guerin – Fotolia.com
Tagged DVD, Kathy Bates, Owen Wilson, Paris, Woody Allen
New On DVD: The Green Hornet
In this 2011 “buddy film” directed by Michel Gondry, Seth Rogen plays Britt Reid, a spoiled adult who harbors resentment against his unavailable newspaper mogul father (Tom Wilkinson) and misses his long-deceased mother. When his father dies, Britt inherits the newspaper, the house, and the mechanic Kato (Jay Chou) who serves a mean cup of coffee. Kato is a karate- and inventor genius who has built weaponry into one of Reid’s father’s cars. He and Britt form a fast friendship of rebellion and excitement with nowhere to channel their energy. They soon find themselves creating a superhero named “The Green Hornet,” complete with a mask, hat and suit, with Britt as the Hornet and Kato as his sidekick. Just as in many other detective/superhero comedies such as Sherlock Holmes (2009) and the 90s cartoon Inspector Gadget, Kato has all the brains while Britt takes all the credit.
The film also stars Cameron Diaz as the smart and sexy receptionist Lenore Case, Christoph Waltz as crime lord Chudnofsky, and James Franco in a minor role as Danny Crystal Cleer. Former America’s Next Top Model contestant Analeigh Tipton makes her film debut as Ana Lee—Britt’s love interest at the beginning of the film.
While Seth Rogen is adorably awkward and Jay Chou is magnificently talented, the best part of the film is in the first ten minutes when Chudnofsky and Danny Crystal Cleer enter a battle of wits and craziness. Franco makes an entertaining bad guy and his tete-a-tete with Waltz is flawless in its precision and surprise. The Green Hornet provides humor, fun fighting scenes, and a cute story.
Photo © Silvia Ottaviano – Fotolia.com
Tagged Cameron Diaz, DVD, Seth Rogen, The Green Hornet
New On DVD: Crazy, Stupid, Love
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, is a romantic comedy in which all the principle actors play upon their strengths. Just like in The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005), Steve Carell is once again a clueless schmuck in need of a makeover. He also reprises his Date Night (2010) persona as a suburban husband and father who needs to spice up his marriage. There are also numerous similarities to his Michael Scott character in The Office, with inappropriate outbursts of personal information and an overall embarrassing demeanor. However, just as in all the above-mentioned film and TV roles, Carell is completely loveable and we want to see his character succeed.
Julianne Moore’s role as Emily is also similar to those she has played before. She’s unhappy in her marriage to the point of infidelity just like Jules in The Kids are All Right (2010), and on the verge of an emotional breakdown similar to her role in Magnolia (1999). In both films and in this one, her tears seem raw and believable. She’s broody and bored like Charley in A Single Man (2009), and her seemingly perfect married life is on the brink of crumbling just like that of her character Cathy Whitaker in Far From Heaven (2002).
Ryan Gosling plays his usual heartthrob self and Emma Stone’s character is honest and relatable with a comedic flair similar to her role as Olive in Easy A (2010). This movie also welcomes the up and coming star Analeigh Tipton as the teenage babysitter with an unquenchable crush. She will be familiar to anyone who watches America’s Next Top Model, as she made it to the top three of Cycle 11, only to be let go with the advice to become an actress, which this movie proves she has done quite successfully.
While slow in spots, the surprise twist at the end of Crazy, Stupid, Love is well worth the wait. The stars may play up their strengths, but the result of that foresight is a very enjoyable love story.
Photo © vgstudio – Fotolia.com
Tagged Crazy, DVD, Julianne Moore, Love, romantic comedies, romcom, Steve Carell, Stupid
New On DVD: The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer, directed by Brad Furman, is based on Michael Connelly’s novel of the same name which was published in 2005. The film hit theaters last December and was released onDVD last month.
Matthew McConaughey plays Mickey Haller, an attorney who often represents shady clientele. The movie follows Haller’s most recent case—that of wealthy real estate heir Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe)—who is accused of brutally murdering a prostitute inLos Angeles. Will Haller assume Roulet is guilty, as he has with his previous clients, or will Haller believe Roulet’s professed innocence? Is the justice system as pleasantly corrupt as Haller thinks it to be, or can one client harbor actual evil within his soul, making even Haller cringe?
The Lincoln Lawyer as a whole—and McConaughey’s character specifically—is reminiscent of Denzel Washington in American Gangster, Tom Cruise in The Firm, and George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven. Haller is a multi-faceted character who is at once a well-paid criminal, a man set up by one who seems to threaten both Haller’s family and his career, and a smooth-talking con man who hits below the belt in order to acquire justice on both a larger and more personal scale.
While The Lincoln Lawyer is not without its share of predictability, its fast paced action and dialogue will keep the viewer on his or her toes. Marisa Tomei of Only You and The Wrestler, William H. Macy of Fargo and Magnolia, and Josh Lucas of American Psycho costar to give big-name McConaughey an equally strong supporting cast. Josh Lucas stars in an upcoming television spinoff of The Firm, coming to NBC in 2012.
Photo © Aamon – Fotolia.com