DVD Releases for Week of 7/10/2012
Sorry for the delay! I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday (and somewhat today) - it was another slow week for releases, but again, there is a hidden gem!
'American Reunion' - The 'American Pie' characters that were introduced nearly a decade ago are back home for their first high school reunion. If you are a fan of the 'American Pie' series, this will be a welcome bit of nostalgia I am sure. But if you are looking for anything that is remotely funny or original, you will not find it here. it's the same tired, worn out jokes that have been there since the first film - only everyone looks a little older (too old for some of the jokes). worth the $1.20 at Redbox IF you are a fan. If you are not - save you rental fee for one of the better DVDs in this review!
'Margaret' - With a stellar cast; Ana Paquin, Matt Daman, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Reno and Matthew Broderick; 'Margaret tells the tale of a 17 year old girl (Panquin) dealing with the emotional stress of a traffic accident death that she feels she may have caused. Margaret is a privileged New York teenager struggling to make things right while along the way emotionally brutalizing her family and friends. Passionately filmed, this haunting piece is ambitious in it's undertaking and deserves to be see. Skip 'American Reunion' and treat yourself to brilliant film.
'The Flowers of War' - In 1937, an invading Japanese army lays waste to the Chinese capital of Nanking, committing what was arguably some of the most horrific war crimes in history. Brutally told and staged, one must wonder why the brutality was staged in the first place. It seems almost as if the director was so focused on the brutality that he lost the idea of telling a compelling story. Even the great talent of Christian Bale is lost among the blasts of explosions and the screams of women. Not for the squeamish and really not worthy of viewing.
'Being Flynn' - Nick Flynn (Paul Dano), a struggling writer, is shocked when his long absent father (Robert De Niro) suddenly reaches out to him for help. A bland, dark and somewhat morose piece of filmmaking, it is another considerable bad choice for De Niro, seemingly sullied by the 'Focker' movies. For a tale centered around suicide, drug addiction and depression one would have hoped for more insight and heart.
'Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog' - Based on a true story, 'Quill' is a sweet and inspiring tale of a yellow lab who becomes a guide dog for the blind. It is also the tale of one man's effort to not only accept his blindness, but accept the assistance of Quill as well as his love. It is a surprisingly unsentimental look at disabilities, instead allowing the depiction of the guide dog and his master push the emotion forward. Watch the trailer and tell me you didn't cry. Well worth the purchase of the DVD!
'The Last Ride' - Henry Thomas is Hank Williams in this biopic of the country singer. Poor scripting, even worse acting and awful direction makes it no wonder why this mess went straight to DVD. Even if you are a country music fan, skip this mess.