This film critic does all he can to review as many new DVD and Blu-ray releases as possible.
In addition to titles reviewed here, I also serve as boxofficemagazine.com’s Blu-ray critic. But there are only so many hours in a day, and the Toto clan’s new 2-month old needs to be fed and changed every few hours. What nerve.
So, as part of a continuing series, here’s a snapshot of some recent home video releases which could provide a nice alternative to, say, “Just Go With It.”
Then again, what wouldn’t?
- “Lucky” – Did you ever dream of winning the lottery? Who hasn’t? Director Jeffrey Blitz of “Spellbound” fame tracks a few lottery winners to find out how their lives changed after their bank accounts ballooned from one amazing stroke of luck. The winners hail from all walks of life, but happy endings were not in the cards for some recipients. The DVD comes with deleted scenes as well as a “Filmmaker Biography” of Blitz, who also directed the intriguing “Rocket Science.”
- “Monogamy” – Dana Adam Shapiro, the director of “Murderball,” turns his attentions to another hot-button issue. The film stars Chris Messina as a photographer about to marry his musician girlfriend (Rashida Jones, “Parks and Recreation”). Messina’s character feels trapped by the impending nuptials, so he takes a risky gig snapping voyeuristic photos for new clients. The gig leads him to a mystery woman (Meital Dohan) whose sexual adventures tap into something primal, and revealing, about himself.
- “Passion Play” – Mickey Rourke! Megan Fox! Bill Murray! So why haven’t we heard much about this movie, which slinked onto DVD/Blu-ray May 31 with practically no fanfare? The film follows a jazz musician (Rourke) on the run from a gangster (Murray). The two end up fighting over a woman with wings (Fox) who sets both their hearts a patter. What’s not to love? Ask my fellow critics. They gave the film a 4 percent “fresh” rating over at Rottentomatoes.com. The mercurial Murray may have been coaxed into the project by director Mitch Glazer, who wrote the Murray hit “Scrooged” a while back.
- “American Graffiti” (Blu-ray) – Director George Lucas’ ode to ’50s-era teens, cars and pop music stands as the director’s most personal work, a far cry from those light sabres and Wookies which dominated the second chapter of his illustrious career. The film’s high-def release includes video commentary from Lucas courtesy of Bonus View technology found in some Universal home video titles.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Since I’d imagine most other people wouldn’t be comparing it to an obscure Japanese comic book that also has gangsters and a girl with wings (“Dogs: Bullets and Carnage”), instead, I’m guessing “Passion Play” scored so low because Megan Fox’s only talent is in her bra, and Bill Murray hasn’t done anything good since, uh, “Groundhog Day” or “What About Bob?”, whichever’s later.
“What About Bob” was 1991, “Groundhog Day” was 1993 (I think…)
I did like him (Murray) in “Wild Things” (fun flick) and “Lost in Translation”.
Uh, Zombieland, Tom?