Criticize This!

New on DVD - May 13, 2008

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

I'm Not There Criticize This! pick of the week - Any fan of Bob Dylan will find I'm Not There an interesting film. Great performances, direction, and overall look makes it worth owning. The soundtrack is also worth a listen. Starring Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, and Christian Bale.

Youth Without Youth - Francis Ford Coppola returns with a messy romantic mystery. Too long and boring to recommend. Starring Tim Roth. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Untraceable - This movie makes me want to scream! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Almost as bad as the 1995 Sandra Bullock crapfest The Net. Diane Lane has officially killer her career. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Also available this week: Mad Money, The Great Debaters, The Cottage

New on DVD - April 29, 2008

A scene from The Diving Bell & Butterfly

The Diving Bell & Butterfly Criticize This! pick of the week - An amazing film based on the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby after he suffered a stroke and was left trapped inside his body paralyzed. Read the book beforehand (which was written by him blinking his left eye) to get a real sense of what he went through.

The Golden Compass - Creepy, controversial fantasy film based on the book of the same name. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Also available on Blu-Ray.

27 Dresses - Annoying romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl stars as a woman who has been a bridesmaid 27 times (but never a bride). Also available on Blu-Ray.

DVD REVIEW: Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story

"Box Office Smash hit!"  "Two Thumbs Way Up!"  "Prevents diarrhea!"  These phrases (I've got more!) would never be used to describe Walk Hard, but let's not be too harsh.  At one and half hours, The Dewey Cox Story is an entertaining satirical mockumentary of a musician who happens to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Cash with a thumb to his nose.  That's precisely the image I had of the movie going in, and that opinion changed a little.  For the better.

The parallels to Johnny Cash's life are blatant:  A young boy feels responsible for his brothers death and his father (effectively) disowns him.  He turns to music, his only outlet.  Married at an early age, our star has children, but due (probably) to some childhood issues, turns his back away from them and instead to his new duet partner, just to reconcile most of his relationships before the end of the movie.  Mix in some drugs, sex and a tour bus full of fart humour, and you've got yourself a set list from Saturday Night Live.

New on DVD - April 22, 2008

Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Savages

The Savages Criticize This! pick of the week - Great writing, acting, and directing help make The Savages a film worth multiple viewings. Starring Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Charlie Wilson's War - Interesting look at Texas congressman Charlie Wilson and his dealings in Afghanistan. Tom Hanks stars as the title character but Phillip Seymour Hoffman steals the movie as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos.

Cloverfield - Horrible shaky-cam monster movie. Enough said. Also available on Blu-Ray.

DVD REVIEW: Robyn Hitchcock - Sex, Food, Death…and Insects

If Robyn Hitchcock is an unknown entity to you, a title like Sex, Food, Death…and Insects may read like the ramblings of an idiot or LSD casualty - at the very least, a fetishist of some sort. But Hitchcock is no idiot. Rather, much like the film director of the same last name, he is an auteur - albeit a musical one - of sorts. As far back as his days with The Soft Boys, which first hit the scene in the mid-‘70s, Hitchcock has sung about such things as sex and death, and in the most peculiarly way; as though he were some kind of alien that had just encountered such subject matter for the first time. Thus, all self-respecting alternative rock fans need to be aware of Hitchcock. He’s the spiritual link between pre-punk power-pop days and Flaming Lips modern weirdness.

Loosely revolving around the recording of Hitchcock’s Olé! Tarantula CD, this Sundance Channel original primarily focuses on Hitchcock’s songwriting prowess, as it also includes a few of the famous admirers that helped him make the disc. Peter Buck, REM’s guitarist, is perhaps Hitchcock’s highest profile fan. He is seen on screen performing with his friend, as well as attempting to explain the artist’s unique appeal. But understanding Hitchcock’s appeal is a little like explaining why some folks like black licorice. Scott McCaughey (REM, Minus 5), Chris Ballew (Presidents Of The USA), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin – yep, one of those old-sters), Nick Lowe, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings are also along for the quirky ride.

New on DVD - April 15, 2008

Ellen Page and Olivia Thirlby in a scene from Juno

NOTE: All three films are worthy as our pick of the week title.

Juno - You've been living in a hole if you haven't seen this yet. Great cast, script (won the Oscar) and soundtrack. Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Lars and the Real Girl - The best description of Lars and the Real Girl I've seen comes from our very own Cate Jones - introvert orders blow-up doll off the Internet and then parades her around town as though she’s a real person. Give it a chance and you will love it (or at least realize how good an actor Ryan Gosling is). 

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Very good (yet dark) film about two brothers who plan a crime that goes horribly wrong. Starring Ethan Hawke, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Marisa Tomei. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Also available this week: Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

New on DVD - April 8, 2008

Daniel Day-Lewis and Dillon Freasier in a scene from There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood Criticize This! pick of the week - Amazing story of oil, power, and family. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis (in an Oscar winning performance) and Paul Dano.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - A horrible movie that is almost unwatchable. Shame Judd Apatow produced this mess. Starring John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Music Within - Touching true story of Richard Primental - who returned from Vietnam hearing-impaired. Starring Ron Livingston and Melissa George.

Also available this week: P2, Lions for Lambs, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Reservation Road
 

New on DVD - April 1, 2008

Helena Boham Carter and Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Criticize This! pick of the week - Singing, slicing (throats that is), and Johnny Depp! What's not to like? Very enjoyable big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical. Directed by Tim Burton. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Boham Carter, and Alan Rickman.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Horrible live action version of the Alvin and the Chipmunks cartoon from the 80's. Starring Jason Lee in what could be his worst role ever! Also available on Blu-Ray.

Automation Transfusion - Over-the-top zombie flick (that had no budget by the looks of things). Played at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival last year. If you like cheap horror you'll like this.

New on DVD - March 25, 2008

Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada in a scene from The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner Criticize This! pick of the week - Based on the Khaled Hosseini book, The Kite Runner is a great film about friends, family, honour and redemption. Directed by Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, Stranger Than Fiction).

The Mist - Something is in the mist and it's killing people. Pretty decent horror flick from the team of Stephen King and Frank Darabont. Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laurie Holden.

I Could Never Be Your Woman - A mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) falls for a younger man (Paul Rudd) in one of the worst movies of 2007.

Also available this week: April Fool's Day (2008), Wristcutters: A Love Story

New on DVD - March 18, 2008

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in a scene from Atonement

Atonement Criticize This! pick of the week - Beautifully written, shot, and directed film based on the Ian McEwan novel. Starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. Also available on Combo HD-DVD.

I Am Legend - Will Smith is the last man on earth (or so he thinks). The parts that work, work well (unfortunately there are more parts that don't). Read the full Criticize This! DVD review. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Enchanted - It's a Disney musical. Prepare for a lot of singing and dancing in fantasy land.  Starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Also available this week: Southland Tales, Love in the Time of Cholera, Revolver, Battlestar Galactica Season 3