DVD Releases For Week of 5/21/2013
I am back!!! Back to updating the site and back to helping you with your movie watching decisions! Or at least I can hopefully lend a helping critical eye to your selections! So let's jump right back into it shall we? And in case your forgot, just click on the titles to view the trailer!
'Side Effects' - Steven Soderbergh is probably one of the most versatile directors of this age; from crime caper comedies, to taunt dramas, to thrilling action; Soderbergh has proved himself adept at each. Now with the thrilling, disquieting and almost Hitchcockian 'Side Effects', Soderbergh once again proves that he is the consummate filmmaker and master of all genres. Sadly, Soderbergh has said this is his last film before he retires; I for one am hoping that his alleged demise is greatly exaggerated. My full review can be found here.
'Beautiful Creatures' - While 'Beautiful Creatures' has an interesting enough premise and was obviously made to capitalize on the 'Twilight' series, it struggles from a plodding, confusing plot, stilted and boring dialogue as well as clumsy direction. Which is too bad with a stellar cast that boasts the likes of Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson and Viola Davis it should have been campy fun. My full review can be found here.
'Parker' - I am a big crime caper film fan! I love a good heist flick, especially one that is more of a revenge film because of a heist gone wrong. I was especially excited for 'Parker', based on the popular pulp crime series by Richard Stark, directed by Taylor Hackford, and starring the perfectly cast Jason Statham it seemed to have promise. Unfortunately, Statham doesn't have the acting chops to rise above his usual action persona and even though handled solidly by Taylor Hackford, the film never really quite takes off to anything than, well, it was just ok. My full review can be found here.
'The Last Stand' - Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as a retired LAPD Narcotics detective now a sheriff of a small town. The only problem, he should have stayed retired. Wth nothing realy new here, the best thing that can be said about this film, if you are a Schwarzenegger fan, you will not be disappointed by the standard Arnold action flick.
'Stand Up Guys' - With Alan Arkin, Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in the same film you would think that it would be one of the best films of the year. Instead, we are treated to a mediocre film with phoned in performances, sloppy direction and a script that is barely funny. An utter disappointment.