DVD Releases for Week of 7/02/2012

Well - it's a light week on the DVD releases! Only a few direct to DVD releases, but the are gems!

'God Bless America' - From Writer/Director Bobcat Goldthwait (former, very insane, stand-up comedian) comes a sick and twisted social satire about a terminally ill man (Joel Murray, little brother to Bill Murray) who decides he has nothing to live for. In the process of taking his own life, he realizes that it is society that has nothing to live for and proceeds on one of the strangest, entertaining and often darkly funny killing sprees ever filmed. The film shoots (no pun intended) squarely on our obsession and tolerance of the reality TV culture and the lack of common decency it has bought to our society. It is a shame that this did not make wide release - it is very much worth the $1.20 at Redbox!

 'The Hunter' - Willem Dafoe is martin, a skilled mercenary hunter who is contracted to to hunt a Tasmanian Tiger believed to be extinct. Although a bit longer than it should be, the film benefits from beautiful visuals and the always powerful acting of Dafoe. While it may sound like an action film, be warned, it is not; this is more abou8t the journey of Martin and his reconnection to humanity. An Arthouse gem worthy of your $1.20 at Redbox.

'Jesus Henry Christ' - Well, this was supposed to be a heart warming, eccentric modern family comedy. Skip this and watch any episode of  'Modern Family' instead. Most of the eccentric behavior seems to be forced as is the dialogue. Trying a little too hard to be another Wes Anderson, director Dennis Lee fails to let the actors act. Instead, he plays to the material which only serves to confuse and slow down the storyline. Maybe save this one for a cable night (if it makes it that far).