Check Out the Trailer

A film starring John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill about a mother who has an unusually close relationship with her son could have been vulgar. In the hands of writers/directors Jay and Mark Duplass, the story turns into a quirky mix between drama and comedy. Reilly shows why he’s an Oscar nominee and not just Will Ferrell’s sidekick and Hill has a chance to prove that he’s more than a cog in the Judd Apatow comedy machine. Oh, and Marisa Tomei gets to extend her current winning streak.

John (Reilly, CHICAGO) is a lonely guy. Since getting divorced from Jamie (Catherine Keener, CAPOTE) seven years ago, he hasn’t had a date. Now she’s getting remarried. They have remained good friends and colleagues and she forces him to go to a party. Awkward moments abound for the sad sack until to says something that attracts the beautiful Molly (Tomei, MY COUSIN VINNY). John goes all out to impress this new woman. But she’s keeping secrets. Turns out she lives with her 21-year-old son Cyrus (Hill, SUPERBAD). John thinks she’s a MILF, but the problem is Cyrus thinks so too.
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Chan-wook Park’s must see trilogy

This is a week to seek vengeance. On Blu-ray that is. Chan-wook Park’s seminal modern classic trilogy is in the spotlight this week. There are also four new releases that are piquing my interest as well.
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Check Out the Trailers & Clips

The original TV series was one of my favorites growing up as a kid. I eagerly tuned in each week to watch what new adventure these soldiers of fortune got themselves wrapped up in. You knew they’d get themselves in deep and need to use whatever they had to get out of a pickle. And who could forget that badass theme song? As the feature began and team leader Hannibal Smith was introduced, I thought I might be getting a cool iconic soldier of fortune flick. Then I got past the first five minutes.

This origin story of sorts begins with Hannibal (Liam Neeson, TAKEN) freeing himself from corrupt Mexican cops who have taken his partner Face (Bradley Cooper, THE HANGOVER) hostage. Apparently Hannibal’s master plan to save his friend is to walk across the desert and hope someone drives by. Luckily the person who drives by is B.A. Baracus (UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson), who has just retrieved his beloved van from some thugs. Hannibal shoots B.A. in the arm and then convinces him that he needs to go on a mission to save a fellow ranger. Arriving just in time to save Face from being burned to death, the trio races across Mexico to an insane asylum where they have lined-up patient Murdock (Sharlto Copley, DISTRICT 9) to fly them to safety. If you think that is preposterous, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
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Buy It Now!

Read my original SHUTTER ISLAND review.

Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller comes to Blu-ray in a rich transfer. The color range is quite impressive as muted dank colors mix with vibrant flashes. This is never more evident then when Leonardo DiCaprio’s Teddy Daniels first arrives at the prison where the grays of the patients’ uniforms are in stark contrast to the lush greens of the yard and deep purples of the flowers. Likewise, in the dream sequences, the bright colors of Michele Williams’ dress radiate off the screen, spotlighted by the dark ash raining down. The blacks are crisp especially in the scenes in Ward C where Robert Richardson’s shadowy cinematography meets its peak. The clarity of the picture brings out the lines on DiCaprio’s face more fully as he sinks deeper into the labyrinth of the story.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack shows off Scorsese’s mastery of sound and music. The LFE track vibrates as ominous tones set the stage as the marshals arrive at the institution. As the storm descends on the island, the audience is enveloped in the torrential rain. Good use of directionality comes into play during the Ward C moments as well. What violent patient might be lurking in shadows? The dialogue is clear throughout, which is absolutely essential for the closing scenes.
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Scorsese chills with Shutter Island

It’s another light week for good new releases, but again the trio of films in this week’s column is really worthy of attention. Martin Scorsese, Wong Kar Wai and Oscar-winning animation make for a great week on DVD and Blu-ray.
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Check Out the Trailers & Clips

This horror film is about scientists who take risks, much like its director Vincenzo Natali does with the story. The problem is these are bad scientists. I mean that in what they do and how they do it. They fool around with experiments they shouldn’t… or should they. The film likes to put out these kinds of ideas, but isn’t really interested in developing them. It’s interested in getting to its Freudian nightmare of an ending.

Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody, THE PIANIST) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley, DAWN OF THE DEAD) are famed biogeneticists. The couple and partners have successfully combined the DNA of various creatures to create a new life form. The giant maggot-looking creatures are named Fred and Ginger. The pharmaceutical company they work for will make millions on the animal disease cures the creations will create. While the company wants them to synthesize proteins for the next five years, the duo want to take their experiments to the next level by including human DNA into the mix. Of course company crony William Barlow (David Hewlett, TV’s STARGATE: ATLANTIS) won’t allow it, not because the firm has moral objections, but because it would be a marketing disaster.
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Check Out the Trailer

Arriving in 2008, Nicholas Stoller’s FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL was a surprise comic gem. Now Stoller brings back the sexually charged rocker, Aldous Snow, in his own movie. Going into this spin-off, I was leery of how it would work bringing the broadest character in the previous film to the forefront. Plus you don’t have the charm of Jason Segel or Mila Kunis in this movie either. But GREEK avoids all the potential problems by simply making Snow a real character.

Snow (Russell Brand, BEDTIME STORIES) is now on a professional and personal free fall. His latest album “African Child” was named not only the worst album of the decade, but the worst thing to happen to Africa since apartheid. He’s in a long-term relationship with pop star Jackie Q (Rose Byrne, TV’s DAMAGES), think of a less subtle version of Lady Gaga, which blows up in his face in a very embarrassing televised interview. And after what she said about him, he falls off the wagon big time. Meanwhile, record exec Sergio Roma (Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, MONSTER’S BALL) is looking for the next big thing. Intern Aaron Green (Jonah Hill, playing a different character than he did in SARAH MARSHALL) suggests having an anniversary concert to celebrate Snow’s legendary performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Roma warms to the idea and tasks Green to go to London and retrieve Snow and bring him to the concert.
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