Another Happy Day [Ellen Barkin stars in this dark comedy about a woman who goes to her estranged son's wedding hoping to reconcile with family members but finds a lot of resistance. The all-star cast includes Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyu, Thomas Haden Church, George Kennedy, Ezra Miller and Demi Moore. Written and directed by Sam Levinson. 2011.]
Bombay Beach [Alma Har'el's 2011 documentary shows what happened to the once promising tourist site the Salton Sea in California.]
Essential Killing [Vincent Gallo stars as a Taliban fighter held captive by the U.S. military until his transport is blasted, letting him escape but finding himself hunted by the US and others. Acclaimed thriller that earned Gallo a Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festical. Co-starring Emmanuelle Seigner. Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski in 2010.]
50/50 [In this offbeat dramedy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a moving performance as a young man trying to recover from cancer with the help of his crazy pal (well-played by Seth Rogen). Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston also star. Directed by Jonathan Levine in 2011.]
I'm Glad My Mother Is Alive [Unusual French drama about a young man who becomes obsessed with finding his birth mother and begins an odd, almost incestuous relationship with her after he meets her. Starring Vincent Rottiers, Sophie Cattani, and Christine Citti and directed by Claude and Nathan Miller. 2008.]
Godard: Film Socialisme [One of the last survivors of the French New Wave, Jean-Luc Godard returns with this striking triptych tone poem about the political and personal problems people face today. Starring Jean-Marc Stehle, Agatha Couture, Mathias Domahdy, Quentin Grosset, and singer Patti Smith. 2011.]
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain [Hilarious 2011 comedy performance at L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre.]
Little Mermaid, The: San Francisco Ballet [2011][Beautiful S.F. Ballet version of John Neumeier's ballet of Hans Christian Anderson's fable recorded at the War Memorial Opera House.]
Louie: Season 1 [Comedian Louis C.K. stars in and created this wild sitcom about a newly-divorced man trying to raise two daughters with much difficulty.]
Penguins of Madagascar, The: Operation: Blowhole [The very popular family series returns with two new episodes The Return of the Revenge of Doctor Blowhole Parts 1 and 2 plus the original Dr. Blowhole's Revenge. Neil Patrick Harris is the guest voice. 2011.]
Real Steel [Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo star in this surprisingly good and moving action-sci-fi-family thriller about an ex-fighter who connects with his estranged son while helping him make a broken down robot into a winning fighter in the not too distant future. Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, and Kevin Durand also star. Directed by Shawn Levy. 2011.]
Redline [2010][Offbeat Japanese animation about a deadly car race.]
Revenge of the Electric Car [Effective 2011 follow-up to Who Killed the Electric Car? by the same director Chris Paine detailing how American businesses tried to eliminate the electric car.]
Waking the Dead: Season 6 [Trevor Eve, Wil Johnson, Felicite Du Jeu, Sue Johnston, and Tara Fitzgerald star in this excellent and popular British TV cop noir thriller about cold cases being solved.]
Whistleblower, The [2010] [Rachel Weisz gives a great performance as a US cop turned United Nations peacekeeper who uncovers a human trafficking conspiracy in Bosnia and tries to stop it. Also starring Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Anna Anissimova, Monica Bellucci and Vanessa Redgrave. Directed by Larys Kondracki.]
Blu-ray:
Louie: Season 1
Real Steel
Recent/New Arrivals:
Belle De Jour [The Criterion Collection version of Luis Bunuel's terrific 1967 erotic cult classic starring a stunningly glacial Catherine Deneuve as a bored married socialite who decides to become a high class prostitute in her spare time.]
Complete Jean Vigo, The [The Criterion Collection release containing A Propos de Nice, Taris, Zero de Conduite, and L'Atalante. Back in stock.]
Day for Night [Excellent Francois Truffaut film about the drama behind a film being made in Paris. Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Jean-Piette Aumont, Nathalie Baye and Valentina Cortese star in this 1973 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film.]
Hellstrom Chronicles, The [Spellbinding 1972 Best Documentary Academy Award winner about the hidden agenda of the insects. Directed by Walon Green, who wrote the screenplay for The Wild Bunch. Lawrence Pressman stars.]
How Democrats and Progressives Can Win: Solutions from George Lakoff [Fascinating 2004 political analysis by UC Berkeley linguistics professor Lakoff.]
Last Hard Men, The/Sky Riders [Rousing 1976 James Coburn kidnapping double feature. The first is a brutal western revenge thriller with Charlton Heston, Barbara Hershey, Jorge Rivero, Michael Parks, Larry Wilcox, and Christopher Mitchum and Coburn as the bad guy seeking vengeance against Heston. The latter is an exciting modern day thriller with Coburn trying to rescue Robert Culp's wife and children on a beautiful Greek island. Susannah York and Charles Aznavour also star. 1976.]
Moment of Truth, The [The Criterion Collection release of Francesco Rosi's docudrama-style classic about the rise and fall of a bullfighter starring real-life bullfighting star Miguel Mateo. 1965.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori.
4364 Piedmont Avenue, Suite A, Oakland, CA 94611-4769 -- Phone: (510) 655-6844
VIDEO ROOM
Friday, January 13, 2012
New Releases - January 17, 2012
Abduction [Twilight hearthrob Taylor Lautner gets his first solo starring role in this action-packed if predictable thriller about a young man who goes on the run from assassins and others when he finds out his parents are really spies. Wasn't that the plot of Little Nikita? Also starring Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello, and Sigourney Weaver. Directed by John Singleton. 2011.]
Age of Heroes [Sean Bean stars in a WWII thriller based on Ian Fleming's elite 30 Commando Assault Unit as it tries to outfox the Nazis behind enemy lines. Danny Dyer, Ansel Hennie, Izabella Miko, James D'Arcy, and William Houston co-star. Directed by Adrian Vitoria. 2011.]
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star [Nick Swardson stars in this wacky satire as a goofball who discovers his parents were porn stars and decides to go to L.A. to follow in their footsteps. Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff, and Kevin Nealon co-star in this film produced by Adam Sandler. 2011.]
Courageous [Audience-pleasing inspirational drama about policemen trying to raise their families right while crime encroaches on their neighborhoods. Directed by Alex Kendrick. 2012.]
Fados [Musicians Mariza Camane, Carlos Do Carmo, Chico Buaroue, Lura, Lila Downs, and Caetano Veloso appear in this music documentary about Portugal's fusion of cinema, song and dance made by Famenco director Carlos Saura. 2007.]
Ides of March [George Clooney directed and stars in this excellent 2011 political drama as a Presidentail candidate whose campaign manager (red hot Ryan Gosling) gets caught in a scandal that could derail his run. The terrific supporting cast features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright and Evan Rachel Wood.]
Killing Bono [Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan, Krysten Ritter, Martin McCann, Stanley Townsend, Justine Waddell, and Pete Poslethwaite star in an Irish drama about a young man who was rejected from the group that eventually became U2 and ends up competing against the supergroup and coming up way short much to his frustration. Based on a true story. Directed by Nick Hamm. 2010.]
Portlandia: Season 1 [SNL alumnus Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein star in a hilarious IFC sitcom about a weird, exaggerated and surreal version of Portland, Oregon and its even odder inhabitants. The terrific guests include Kyle MacLachlan, Heather Graham, Selma Blair, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Sudekis, Gus Van Sant, Aimee Mann, and Sarah McLachlan.]
Thurgood [Laurence Fishburne won the Emmy Award for his moving portrayal of the ground-breaking Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in this filmed version of his one man stage show. Written by George Stevens, Jr. and directed by Michael Stevens. 2011.]
Toast [Helena Bonham Carter, Ken Stott and Freddie Highmore star in a tasty dramedy about a young man who develops an obsession for food and cooking and decides to make it his profession despite befuddling his parents. Directed by SJ Carlson. 2010.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori.
Age of Heroes [Sean Bean stars in a WWII thriller based on Ian Fleming's elite 30 Commando Assault Unit as it tries to outfox the Nazis behind enemy lines. Danny Dyer, Ansel Hennie, Izabella Miko, James D'Arcy, and William Houston co-star. Directed by Adrian Vitoria. 2011.]
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star [Nick Swardson stars in this wacky satire as a goofball who discovers his parents were porn stars and decides to go to L.A. to follow in their footsteps. Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff, and Kevin Nealon co-star in this film produced by Adam Sandler. 2011.]
Courageous [Audience-pleasing inspirational drama about policemen trying to raise their families right while crime encroaches on their neighborhoods. Directed by Alex Kendrick. 2012.]
Fados [Musicians Mariza Camane, Carlos Do Carmo, Chico Buaroue, Lura, Lila Downs, and Caetano Veloso appear in this music documentary about Portugal's fusion of cinema, song and dance made by Famenco director Carlos Saura. 2007.]
Ides of March [George Clooney directed and stars in this excellent 2011 political drama as a Presidentail candidate whose campaign manager (red hot Ryan Gosling) gets caught in a scandal that could derail his run. The terrific supporting cast features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright and Evan Rachel Wood.]
Killing Bono [Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan, Krysten Ritter, Martin McCann, Stanley Townsend, Justine Waddell, and Pete Poslethwaite star in an Irish drama about a young man who was rejected from the group that eventually became U2 and ends up competing against the supergroup and coming up way short much to his frustration. Based on a true story. Directed by Nick Hamm. 2010.]
Portlandia: Season 1 [SNL alumnus Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein star in a hilarious IFC sitcom about a weird, exaggerated and surreal version of Portland, Oregon and its even odder inhabitants. The terrific guests include Kyle MacLachlan, Heather Graham, Selma Blair, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Sudekis, Gus Van Sant, Aimee Mann, and Sarah McLachlan.]
Thurgood [Laurence Fishburne won the Emmy Award for his moving portrayal of the ground-breaking Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in this filmed version of his one man stage show. Written by George Stevens, Jr. and directed by Michael Stevens. 2011.]
Toast [Helena Bonham Carter, Ken Stott and Freddie Highmore star in a tasty dramedy about a young man who develops an obsession for food and cooking and decides to make it his profession despite befuddling his parents. Directed by SJ Carlson. 2010.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
New Releases - January 10, 2012
Boardwalk Empire: Season 1 [Steve Buscemi headlines a great cast (including Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Aleksa Palladino, Gretchen Mol, and Dabney Coleman) as a nasty treasurer in 1920's Atlantic City who decides to take advantage of Prohibition by selling what he peaches against. Martin Scorsese directed the pilot and co-produces this excellent gangster series shown on HBO, which fills the void left by The Sopranos with plenty of stunning violence, corruption and sex.]
Higher Ground [Vera Farmiga's moving directing debut features a story about a woman (played by Farmiga) who lives in a faith-based community and starts to doubt her beliefs. Joshua Leonard, Norbert Leo Butz, Dagmara Dominczyk, John Hawkes, Bill Irwin, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Donna Murphy co-star in this 2011 drama.]
Human Planet [John Hurt narrates this Planet Earth follow-up ahout mankind dealing with hostile surroundings. 2011.]
I Am [Tom Shadyac, the famous director of such hit comedies as Ace Ventura, made this acclaimed 2011 documentary after recovering from a serious head injury. He questions why the world is in such a mess and how people can make it better. ]
Killer Elite [Jason Statham and Robert De Niro star as top echelon killers who run into a lot of difficulty trying to kill the tough leader of a secret military society (Clive Owen). This action-packed 2011 film also stars Dominic Purcell (TV's Prison Break), Aden Young, Yvonne Strahovski (TV's Chuck), and Ben Mendelsohn. Directed by Gary McKendry.]
Life 2.0 [Fascinating Jason Spingarn-Koff CGI documentary about people who are obsessed with a website called Second Life, where people have relationships through avatars. 2012.]
Love Exposure [Takahiro Nishijima and Hikari Mitsushima star in this epic 2008 Japanese cult film about the teenage son of a Catholic priest who starts to defy his upbringing by dressing in drag and shooting pornographic stills, made even more complicated by his finding the girl of his dreams. Directed by Sion Sono.]
Man from London, The [Moody 2007 B/W film noir directed by Bela Tarr about a lonely railway worker with a family who leads a boring, isolated life until he finds a suitcase full of money at work. Tilda Swinton stars as his hyper wife. Hungarian/French/German co-production in Hungarian and French.]
Moneyball [In this true story, Brad Pitt gives one of his best performances as Oakland A's manager Billy Beane, who finds his best players being picked off by bigger budgeted teams. Using computer statistics with the help of Peter Brand (well-played byJonah Hill), he discovers undervalued players and slowly rebuilds a championship team. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Chris Penn also star in this uplifiting drama that appeals to even non-baseball fans. One of the best films of 2011 and nominated for several Golden Globes. Directed by Capote's Bennett Miller. Highly recommended!]
1911 Revolution: Collector's Edition [Jackie Chan starred, produced and co-directed (with Li Zhang) this epic war film that marks his 100th film appearance. Joan Chen co-stars in this recreation of the toppling of the Qing Dynasty, paving the way for China's switch to a Communist regime.]
Sinners and Saints [Johnny Strong, Kevin Phillips, Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flannery, Clifford Method Man Smith, Louis Mandylor, Kim Coates, Bas Rutten, and Tom Berenger star in this tough little action thriller about a New Orleans detective who runs across a military conspiracy while investigating serial torture murders and mourning the death of his young son. Directed by William Kaufman. 2010.]
There Be Dragons [Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields, The Mission) directed this fine but little seen 2011 drama about a writer (Dougray Scott) who discovers dark secrets about his father while writing a book about a candidate for canonization by the Catholic Church who was involved in the Spanish Civil War and was the founder of Opus Dei. Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Geraldine Chaplin, and Olga Kurylenko also star. A USA-Argentina -Spain co-production.]
What's Your Number? [This funny 2011 sex farce stars always charming Anna Faris as a frustrated, romance-challenged young woman who decides to go back to her list of exes to find the man who might have been the right one. Co-starring Chris Evans (Captain America), Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, and Zachary Quinto. Directed by Mark Mylod.]
Blu-rays:
Crazy Stupid Love
Higher Ground
Mildred Pierce [2011]
Moneyball
Recent/New Arrivals:
Chungking Express [Ground-breaking 1994 Wong Kar-Wai cop thriller starring Brigitte Lin and Tony Leung gets a Criterion Collection remaster.]
Sherman's March [Ross McElwhee directed and stars in this terrific and fun documentary about him romancing various an intriguing women across the South while retracing the steps of Gemeral Sherman's march during the Civil War. Back in stock!]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Higher Ground [Vera Farmiga's moving directing debut features a story about a woman (played by Farmiga) who lives in a faith-based community and starts to doubt her beliefs. Joshua Leonard, Norbert Leo Butz, Dagmara Dominczyk, John Hawkes, Bill Irwin, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Donna Murphy co-star in this 2011 drama.]
Human Planet [John Hurt narrates this Planet Earth follow-up ahout mankind dealing with hostile surroundings. 2011.]
I Am [Tom Shadyac, the famous director of such hit comedies as Ace Ventura, made this acclaimed 2011 documentary after recovering from a serious head injury. He questions why the world is in such a mess and how people can make it better. ]
Killer Elite [Jason Statham and Robert De Niro star as top echelon killers who run into a lot of difficulty trying to kill the tough leader of a secret military society (Clive Owen). This action-packed 2011 film also stars Dominic Purcell (TV's Prison Break), Aden Young, Yvonne Strahovski (TV's Chuck), and Ben Mendelsohn. Directed by Gary McKendry.]
Life 2.0 [Fascinating Jason Spingarn-Koff CGI documentary about people who are obsessed with a website called Second Life, where people have relationships through avatars. 2012.]
Love Exposure [Takahiro Nishijima and Hikari Mitsushima star in this epic 2008 Japanese cult film about the teenage son of a Catholic priest who starts to defy his upbringing by dressing in drag and shooting pornographic stills, made even more complicated by his finding the girl of his dreams. Directed by Sion Sono.]
Man from London, The [Moody 2007 B/W film noir directed by Bela Tarr about a lonely railway worker with a family who leads a boring, isolated life until he finds a suitcase full of money at work. Tilda Swinton stars as his hyper wife. Hungarian/French/German co-production in Hungarian and French.]
Moneyball [In this true story, Brad Pitt gives one of his best performances as Oakland A's manager Billy Beane, who finds his best players being picked off by bigger budgeted teams. Using computer statistics with the help of Peter Brand (well-played byJonah Hill), he discovers undervalued players and slowly rebuilds a championship team. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Chris Penn also star in this uplifiting drama that appeals to even non-baseball fans. One of the best films of 2011 and nominated for several Golden Globes. Directed by Capote's Bennett Miller. Highly recommended!]
1911 Revolution: Collector's Edition [Jackie Chan starred, produced and co-directed (with Li Zhang) this epic war film that marks his 100th film appearance. Joan Chen co-stars in this recreation of the toppling of the Qing Dynasty, paving the way for China's switch to a Communist regime.]
Sinners and Saints [Johnny Strong, Kevin Phillips, Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flannery, Clifford Method Man Smith, Louis Mandylor, Kim Coates, Bas Rutten, and Tom Berenger star in this tough little action thriller about a New Orleans detective who runs across a military conspiracy while investigating serial torture murders and mourning the death of his young son. Directed by William Kaufman. 2010.]
There Be Dragons [Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields, The Mission) directed this fine but little seen 2011 drama about a writer (Dougray Scott) who discovers dark secrets about his father while writing a book about a candidate for canonization by the Catholic Church who was involved in the Spanish Civil War and was the founder of Opus Dei. Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Geraldine Chaplin, and Olga Kurylenko also star. A USA-Argentina -Spain co-production.]
What's Your Number? [This funny 2011 sex farce stars always charming Anna Faris as a frustrated, romance-challenged young woman who decides to go back to her list of exes to find the man who might have been the right one. Co-starring Chris Evans (Captain America), Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, and Zachary Quinto. Directed by Mark Mylod.]
Blu-rays:
Crazy Stupid Love
Higher Ground
Mildred Pierce [2011]
Moneyball
Recent/New Arrivals:
Chungking Express [Ground-breaking 1994 Wong Kar-Wai cop thriller starring Brigitte Lin and Tony Leung gets a Criterion Collection remaster.]
Sherman's March [Ross McElwhee directed and stars in this terrific and fun documentary about him romancing various an intriguing women across the South while retracing the steps of Gemeral Sherman's march during the Civil War. Back in stock!]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Releases - January 3, 2012
Another Earth [Brit Marling and William Mapother star in this sci-fi thriller about two people who meet after a tragic accident the same night that another earth is discovered. Directed by Mike Cahill. 2011.]
Circumstance [Offbeat 2011 lesbian romance drama about two Iranian teenage girls who fall in love. Starring Nikohl Bousheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, and Soheil Parsa. Directed by Maryam Keshavarz.]
Contagion [Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's 11) directed this exciting 2011 sci-fi/thriller starring Matt Damon as a man whose wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) suddenly becomes deathly ill, sparking a deadly toxic outbreak that quickly goes global, threatening the end of life as we know it. The amazing cast in addition to Damon and Paltrow includes Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston. The chilling film was partly shot in the San Francisco Bay Area.]
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark [Solid 2011 remake of the underrated 1973 horror TV film. In this version, Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce play a couple who are renovating a gothic mansion, but their young daughter (Bailee Madison) discovers that there are weird monsters literally living inside the walls. Directed by Troy Nixey and co-written and produced by Pan's Labyrinth's Guillermo Del Toro.]
Fat Boy Chronicles, The [Christopher Rivera, Kelly Lynn Washington, Chris Bert, Cole Carson, and Ron Lester star in an inspirational drama about a bullied teen who decides to stand up for himself against his tormentors. Jason Winn directed in 2011.]
Guard, The [Fun 2011 film noir/cop satire starring Brendan Gleeson an an un conventional Irish detective and Don Cheadle as a by the book FBI agent who make an unlikely team to take down a drug syndicate. Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham, and Fionnula Flanagan co-star. Directed by John Michael McDonagh.]
Happiness Is...Peanuts: Friends Forever [DVD premiere of Peanuts episodes.]
I Don't Know How She Does It [Sarah Jessica Parker and Greg Kinnear are featured as a married couple whose idyllic relationship is put to the test when they both get new time-consuming jobs and other temptations. Pierce Brosnan, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Meyers, and Olivia Munn also star in this cute romantic comedy. Directed by Douglas McGrath. 2011.]
Justified: Season 2 [Timothy Olyphant returns as a US marshal trying to wipe out corrupt bad guys in this tough Elmore Leonard adaptation.]
L'Amour Fou [Fashio icon Yves Saint Laurent and business partner Pierre Berge had a devoted decades-long romantic relationship that is explored in this fine documentary directed by Pierre Thoreton. 2010.]
Last Lions, The [Beautiful 2011 Nat Geographic documentary about the lengths a lioness will go to protect her offspring against other predatory animals and nature. Jeremy Irons narrates. Directed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.]
Macbeth [2010] [Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood give memorable performances in this strking and unusual PBS update of the classic Shakespearean tragedy. Directed by Rupert Goold.]
Marley and Me: The Puppy Years [Prequel to the hit dog lovers comedy with a more family oriented flavor. Starring Travis Turner, Donnelly Rhodes and Grayson Russell as the voice of Marley.]
Mildred Pierce [Kate Winslet and Evan Rachel Wood give terrific performances as a Depression-era single mother and the beautiful daughter she goes to extreme lengths to make a society success in this wonderful 2011 HBO miniseries remake of the 1945 Joan Crawford-Ann Blyth ripe melodrama. Guy Pearce, James LeGros, Melissa Leo, and Brian E. O'Byrne also star. Directed by Far from Heaven's Todd Haynes. Winner of Emmys for Kate Winslet for Best Actress in a miniseries and Pearce for Best Supporting Actor.]
Nostalgia for the Light [Patricio Guzman, the director of The Battle of Chile, directed this fascinating 2010 documentary about Chile's Atacama Desert, where astronomers gather to get the best view of the universe from earth.]
Parks and Recreation: Season 3 [Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman return in the 3rd season of this hilarious sitcom about a dysfunctional park and rec department in Indiana. Rob Lowe also joins the regulars this season.]
Point Blank [Gilles Lellouche, Roschdy Zem, Gerard Lanvin, and Elena Anaya star in this intense French thriller about a male nurse who has to do whatever thugs tell him to when they kidnap his pregnant wife from the hospital where he works. 2011.]
Puncture [Chris Evans (Captain America) gives an excellent performance in this drama/thriller about a lawyer who is a controlled addict who accepts a case against a pharmecutical firm that is covering up a huge conspiracy. The fine cast includes Mark Kassen, Brett Cullen, Marshall Bell, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin, Roxanna Hope, Tess Parker, Kate Burton, and Vinessa Shaw. Directed by Adam Kassen and Mark Kassen. 2011.]
Topp Twins, The: Untouchable Girls [Enjoyable documentary about the only yodeling country singing and comedy lesbian sibling duo. 2011.]
Blu-ray:
Another Earth
Contagion
Recent/New Arrivals:
Assignment, The [Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, and Ben Kingsley star in this intense thriller about an investigator who helped catch the infamous killer Carlos and who discovers a similar assassin. Directed by Christian Duguay. 1997.]
Les Miserables [Excellent 1996 version of the Victor Hugo classic starring Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes. Directed by Billie August. Back in stock.]
Svengali [1983 Jodie Foster and Peter O'Toole give excellent performances in this underrated 1983 TV movie update with O'Toole acting as a harsh but loving mentor to young singer Foster. Elizabeth Ashley, Larry Joshua, and Pamela Blair co-star. Foster does her own singing. John Barry composed the beautiful musical score. Directed by Anthony Harvey, who also worked with O'Toole and composer Barry on the superb 1968 The Lion in Winter.]
Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, The [Ray Muller directed this fine 1993 documentary about the talented but Nazi supporting and controversial German filmmaker.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori.
Circumstance [Offbeat 2011 lesbian romance drama about two Iranian teenage girls who fall in love. Starring Nikohl Bousheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, and Soheil Parsa. Directed by Maryam Keshavarz.]
Contagion [Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's 11) directed this exciting 2011 sci-fi/thriller starring Matt Damon as a man whose wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) suddenly becomes deathly ill, sparking a deadly toxic outbreak that quickly goes global, threatening the end of life as we know it. The amazing cast in addition to Damon and Paltrow includes Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston. The chilling film was partly shot in the San Francisco Bay Area.]
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark [Solid 2011 remake of the underrated 1973 horror TV film. In this version, Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce play a couple who are renovating a gothic mansion, but their young daughter (Bailee Madison) discovers that there are weird monsters literally living inside the walls. Directed by Troy Nixey and co-written and produced by Pan's Labyrinth's Guillermo Del Toro.]
Fat Boy Chronicles, The [Christopher Rivera, Kelly Lynn Washington, Chris Bert, Cole Carson, and Ron Lester star in an inspirational drama about a bullied teen who decides to stand up for himself against his tormentors. Jason Winn directed in 2011.]
Guard, The [Fun 2011 film noir/cop satire starring Brendan Gleeson an an un conventional Irish detective and Don Cheadle as a by the book FBI agent who make an unlikely team to take down a drug syndicate. Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham, and Fionnula Flanagan co-star. Directed by John Michael McDonagh.]
Happiness Is...Peanuts: Friends Forever [DVD premiere of Peanuts episodes.]
I Don't Know How She Does It [Sarah Jessica Parker and Greg Kinnear are featured as a married couple whose idyllic relationship is put to the test when they both get new time-consuming jobs and other temptations. Pierce Brosnan, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Meyers, and Olivia Munn also star in this cute romantic comedy. Directed by Douglas McGrath. 2011.]
Justified: Season 2 [Timothy Olyphant returns as a US marshal trying to wipe out corrupt bad guys in this tough Elmore Leonard adaptation.]
L'Amour Fou [Fashio icon Yves Saint Laurent and business partner Pierre Berge had a devoted decades-long romantic relationship that is explored in this fine documentary directed by Pierre Thoreton. 2010.]
Last Lions, The [Beautiful 2011 Nat Geographic documentary about the lengths a lioness will go to protect her offspring against other predatory animals and nature. Jeremy Irons narrates. Directed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.]
Macbeth [2010] [Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood give memorable performances in this strking and unusual PBS update of the classic Shakespearean tragedy. Directed by Rupert Goold.]
Marley and Me: The Puppy Years [Prequel to the hit dog lovers comedy with a more family oriented flavor. Starring Travis Turner, Donnelly Rhodes and Grayson Russell as the voice of Marley.]
Mildred Pierce [Kate Winslet and Evan Rachel Wood give terrific performances as a Depression-era single mother and the beautiful daughter she goes to extreme lengths to make a society success in this wonderful 2011 HBO miniseries remake of the 1945 Joan Crawford-Ann Blyth ripe melodrama. Guy Pearce, James LeGros, Melissa Leo, and Brian E. O'Byrne also star. Directed by Far from Heaven's Todd Haynes. Winner of Emmys for Kate Winslet for Best Actress in a miniseries and Pearce for Best Supporting Actor.]
Nostalgia for the Light [Patricio Guzman, the director of The Battle of Chile, directed this fascinating 2010 documentary about Chile's Atacama Desert, where astronomers gather to get the best view of the universe from earth.]
Parks and Recreation: Season 3 [Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman return in the 3rd season of this hilarious sitcom about a dysfunctional park and rec department in Indiana. Rob Lowe also joins the regulars this season.]
Point Blank [Gilles Lellouche, Roschdy Zem, Gerard Lanvin, and Elena Anaya star in this intense French thriller about a male nurse who has to do whatever thugs tell him to when they kidnap his pregnant wife from the hospital where he works. 2011.]
Puncture [Chris Evans (Captain America) gives an excellent performance in this drama/thriller about a lawyer who is a controlled addict who accepts a case against a pharmecutical firm that is covering up a huge conspiracy. The fine cast includes Mark Kassen, Brett Cullen, Marshall Bell, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin, Roxanna Hope, Tess Parker, Kate Burton, and Vinessa Shaw. Directed by Adam Kassen and Mark Kassen. 2011.]
Topp Twins, The: Untouchable Girls [Enjoyable documentary about the only yodeling country singing and comedy lesbian sibling duo. 2011.]
Blu-ray:
Another Earth
Contagion
Recent/New Arrivals:
Assignment, The [Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, and Ben Kingsley star in this intense thriller about an investigator who helped catch the infamous killer Carlos and who discovers a similar assassin. Directed by Christian Duguay. 1997.]
Les Miserables [Excellent 1996 version of the Victor Hugo classic starring Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes. Directed by Billie August. Back in stock.]
Svengali [1983 Jodie Foster and Peter O'Toole give excellent performances in this underrated 1983 TV movie update with O'Toole acting as a harsh but loving mentor to young singer Foster. Elizabeth Ashley, Larry Joshua, and Pamela Blair co-star. Foster does her own singing. John Barry composed the beautiful musical score. Directed by Anthony Harvey, who also worked with O'Toole and composer Barry on the superb 1968 The Lion in Winter.]
Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, The [Ray Muller directed this fine 1993 documentary about the talented but Nazi supporting and controversial German filmmaker.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
New Releases - December 27, 2011
Beautiful Life, A [Shu Qi and Liu Ye star in a modern day romantic drama about an aggressive real estate businesswoman who moves to Beijing from Hong Kong and falls in love with a conservative policeman. Andrew Lau directed. 2011.]
Beyonce: Live at Roseland
Beyonce: I Am...World Tour
Borgias, The: Season 1 [Jeremy Irons gives a riveting performance as the patriarch of one of the first crime families in this chilling period Showtime TV series co-starring David Oakes, Pasqualino, Ronan Vibert.]
Brighton Rock [Sam Riley, Andrea Risenborough, Andy Serkis, John Hurt, and Helen Mirrenstar star in a dazzling 2011 remake of the Graham Greene crime thriller about a young hood who decides to seduce a waitress who could put him in prison. Directed by Rowan Joffe.]
Curious George: Gets a New Toy [The hit PBS series is back with 8 more episodes.]
Dolphin Tale [Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kridtofferson star in this excellent family friendly adventure hit about a shy boy who finds an injured dolphin he bonds with and changes his life forever. 2011.]
Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition [The uncut extended versions of writer Steig Larsson's immensely popular film noir trilogy are presented here for the first time just as they were shown on Swedish TV. Like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, these longer versions are supposed to be much, much better than the theatrical versions with more character development and improved story flow.]
Family Guy: Volume 9 [All 13 episodes of the 9th season of the rude hit animated sitcom are presented here uncut.]
Final Destination 5 [Along with Scream, this series remains one of the most fun and successful franchise horror series. As with previous entries, the hero sees a premonition of disaster, in this case a horrific bus crash, and saves the day, only to have all of the survivors visited by the Grim Reaper one by one. Of course, the guilty pleasure of these films is to see how many inventive ways the filmmakers can devise to kill off its characters, likeable or not. This edition is no exception and provides lots of ghoulish fun for those who like their gore well done. Emma Bell, Nicholas D'Agosto and series vet Tony Todd star. Steven Quale directed. 2011.]
First Grader, The [The National Geographic produced this moving true story of an 84 year old Kenyan Mau Mau who decides to go to grade school to learn to read and write. Justin Chadwick directed this 2010 film starring new Bond girl Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo.]
Good Old Fashioned Orgy, A [Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Borth, Nick Kroll, Tyler Labine, Angela Sarafyan, Lindsay Sloane, Martin Starr, Lucy Punch and Will Forte star in this unrated throwback to 1980's sex comedies with thirtysomething Sudeikis deciding to throw one last wild party despite objections from now conservative pals. A talented and attractive cast help give this farce its spark. Directed by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck. 2011.]
If You Are the One: Love and Marriage[Chinese romantic comedy starring Ge You and Shu Qi in a story about an older man and an airline hostess who decide to live together in a trial marriage. Directed by Feng Xiaogang in 2010.]
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, The: Series 1 [David Cross stars as the title character in this funny sitcom about a brown-nosing worker who lies his way into a senior sales job at a London office launching an energy drink and creates chaos everywhere he goes. Co-starring Blake Harrison and guest-starring Will Arnett and Amber Tamblyn. An America-UK co-production.]
Law and Order: 9th Year, The [Sam Waterston, Angie Harmon, Benjamin Bratt, Steven Hill, Jerry Orbach and S. Epatha Merkerson return for this great 9th season of the crime and punhisment TV series.]
Love Crime [Sexy Ludivine Sagnier from The Swimming Pool and Kristin Scott Thomas respectively star as a young office worker and seasoned mentor who become involved in a cat and mouse office game of seduction and domination as each wants to win in a power struggle. Co-starring Patrick Mille. Alain Corneau directed this 2010 satiric noir thriller.]
Pete Smalls Is Dead [Peter Dinklage stars as a down and out screenwriter who returns to LA to try to borrow money from his old pal director Pete Smalls so he can buy his dog out of hock. The trouble is Pete Smalls is dead, but that's only the beginning in this satire that brings to mind The Big Lebowski and Weekend at Bernie's. Mark Boone, Jr., Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassell, Rosie Perez and Tim Roth head the great co-star cast. Directed by Alexandre Rockwell.]
Straw Dogs [James Marsden, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard star in this Americanized 2011 version of the Sam Peckinpah classic starring Dustin Hoffman and Susan George. The story is pretty much the same: a bookish young man and his beautiful wife return to her hometown and run afoul of the local townfolk and particularly her ex-boyfriend, who decide to terrorize the transplanted couple. Only the location has been changed from a small British town to the American South. TV The Shield's Rod Lurie directed this ultra-violent thriller.]
Surrogate Valentine [San Francisco musician Goh Nakamura stars as himself and is recruited by a filmmaker to teach his star to play guitar, leading to a close friendship that may help Goh with his romantic interest. Chad Stoops and Lynn Chen co-star. Dave Boyle directed. Shot in San Francisco and Seattle. Part one of a trilogy in progress.]
Tempest, The [2010] [Julie Taymor directed this visually striking but polarizing version of one of Shakespeare's most maligned plays on film. This version gives Prospero a sex change and casts the fascinating Helen Mirren in the role of the exiled hero having a reunion with estranged offspring. The rest of the eclectic cast incvludes Russell Brand, Felicity Jones, Alan Cumming, Djimon Honsou, David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Tom Conti, Ben Whishaw and Alfred Molina. We are still waiting for the definitive version of this particular play although Paul Mazursky's update 1982 update with John Cassavetes is looking better and better. ]
Blu-ray:
Warrior
Recent/New Arrivals:
Love after Love [Diane Kurys romantic drama starring Isabelle Huppert as a novelist who uses her various trysts for inspiration when writing her books. Bernard Giradeau, Hippolyte Girardot, Lio, Yvan Attal, and Judith Reval co-star in this 1992 French film.]
Nickel Ride, The[Jason Miller, Linda Haynes, Victor French, John Hillerman, and Bo Hopkins star in an underrated 1975 film noir character study about a well-meaning warehouse manager for the mob who becomes a target thanks to his paranoid bosses. Robert Mulligan directed.]
99 and 44/100% Dead [Richard Harris. Ann Turkel, Edmond O'Brien, Bradford Dillman, Janice Heiden, Katherine Baumann, David Hall, and Chuck Connors star in this funny, wild and way over the top gangster comedy about hitman Harris hired by one mob boss to hit his rival. John Frankenheimer directed this underrated 1974 action farce with a slight nod to Akira Kurosawa's Sanjuro and Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars. Connors is unforgettable as a one-armed killer who changes hand accessories for pleasure and pain while trying to kill Harris, and Turkel, Baumann and Heiden are super hot as the mob babes.]
Notes by Manager Steven Y. Mori
Beyonce: Live at Roseland
Beyonce: I Am...World Tour
Borgias, The: Season 1 [Jeremy Irons gives a riveting performance as the patriarch of one of the first crime families in this chilling period Showtime TV series co-starring David Oakes, Pasqualino, Ronan Vibert.]
Brighton Rock [Sam Riley, Andrea Risenborough, Andy Serkis, John Hurt, and Helen Mirrenstar star in a dazzling 2011 remake of the Graham Greene crime thriller about a young hood who decides to seduce a waitress who could put him in prison. Directed by Rowan Joffe.]
Curious George: Gets a New Toy [The hit PBS series is back with 8 more episodes.]
Dolphin Tale [Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kridtofferson star in this excellent family friendly adventure hit about a shy boy who finds an injured dolphin he bonds with and changes his life forever. 2011.]
Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition [The uncut extended versions of writer Steig Larsson's immensely popular film noir trilogy are presented here for the first time just as they were shown on Swedish TV. Like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, these longer versions are supposed to be much, much better than the theatrical versions with more character development and improved story flow.]
Family Guy: Volume 9 [All 13 episodes of the 9th season of the rude hit animated sitcom are presented here uncut.]
Final Destination 5 [Along with Scream, this series remains one of the most fun and successful franchise horror series. As with previous entries, the hero sees a premonition of disaster, in this case a horrific bus crash, and saves the day, only to have all of the survivors visited by the Grim Reaper one by one. Of course, the guilty pleasure of these films is to see how many inventive ways the filmmakers can devise to kill off its characters, likeable or not. This edition is no exception and provides lots of ghoulish fun for those who like their gore well done. Emma Bell, Nicholas D'Agosto and series vet Tony Todd star. Steven Quale directed. 2011.]
First Grader, The [The National Geographic produced this moving true story of an 84 year old Kenyan Mau Mau who decides to go to grade school to learn to read and write. Justin Chadwick directed this 2010 film starring new Bond girl Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo.]
Good Old Fashioned Orgy, A [Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Borth, Nick Kroll, Tyler Labine, Angela Sarafyan, Lindsay Sloane, Martin Starr, Lucy Punch and Will Forte star in this unrated throwback to 1980's sex comedies with thirtysomething Sudeikis deciding to throw one last wild party despite objections from now conservative pals. A talented and attractive cast help give this farce its spark. Directed by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck. 2011.]
If You Are the One: Love and Marriage[Chinese romantic comedy starring Ge You and Shu Qi in a story about an older man and an airline hostess who decide to live together in a trial marriage. Directed by Feng Xiaogang in 2010.]
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, The: Series 1 [David Cross stars as the title character in this funny sitcom about a brown-nosing worker who lies his way into a senior sales job at a London office launching an energy drink and creates chaos everywhere he goes. Co-starring Blake Harrison and guest-starring Will Arnett and Amber Tamblyn. An America-UK co-production.]
Law and Order: 9th Year, The [Sam Waterston, Angie Harmon, Benjamin Bratt, Steven Hill, Jerry Orbach and S. Epatha Merkerson return for this great 9th season of the crime and punhisment TV series.]
Love Crime [Sexy Ludivine Sagnier from The Swimming Pool and Kristin Scott Thomas respectively star as a young office worker and seasoned mentor who become involved in a cat and mouse office game of seduction and domination as each wants to win in a power struggle. Co-starring Patrick Mille. Alain Corneau directed this 2010 satiric noir thriller.]
Pete Smalls Is Dead [Peter Dinklage stars as a down and out screenwriter who returns to LA to try to borrow money from his old pal director Pete Smalls so he can buy his dog out of hock. The trouble is Pete Smalls is dead, but that's only the beginning in this satire that brings to mind The Big Lebowski and Weekend at Bernie's. Mark Boone, Jr., Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassell, Rosie Perez and Tim Roth head the great co-star cast. Directed by Alexandre Rockwell.]
Straw Dogs [James Marsden, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard star in this Americanized 2011 version of the Sam Peckinpah classic starring Dustin Hoffman and Susan George. The story is pretty much the same: a bookish young man and his beautiful wife return to her hometown and run afoul of the local townfolk and particularly her ex-boyfriend, who decide to terrorize the transplanted couple. Only the location has been changed from a small British town to the American South. TV The Shield's Rod Lurie directed this ultra-violent thriller.]
Surrogate Valentine [San Francisco musician Goh Nakamura stars as himself and is recruited by a filmmaker to teach his star to play guitar, leading to a close friendship that may help Goh with his romantic interest. Chad Stoops and Lynn Chen co-star. Dave Boyle directed. Shot in San Francisco and Seattle. Part one of a trilogy in progress.]
Tempest, The [2010] [Julie Taymor directed this visually striking but polarizing version of one of Shakespeare's most maligned plays on film. This version gives Prospero a sex change and casts the fascinating Helen Mirren in the role of the exiled hero having a reunion with estranged offspring. The rest of the eclectic cast incvludes Russell Brand, Felicity Jones, Alan Cumming, Djimon Honsou, David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Tom Conti, Ben Whishaw and Alfred Molina. We are still waiting for the definitive version of this particular play although Paul Mazursky's update 1982 update with John Cassavetes is looking better and better. ]
Blu-ray:
Warrior
Recent/New Arrivals:
Love after Love [Diane Kurys romantic drama starring Isabelle Huppert as a novelist who uses her various trysts for inspiration when writing her books. Bernard Giradeau, Hippolyte Girardot, Lio, Yvan Attal, and Judith Reval co-star in this 1992 French film.]
Nickel Ride, The[Jason Miller, Linda Haynes, Victor French, John Hillerman, and Bo Hopkins star in an underrated 1975 film noir character study about a well-meaning warehouse manager for the mob who becomes a target thanks to his paranoid bosses. Robert Mulligan directed.]
99 and 44/100% Dead [Richard Harris. Ann Turkel, Edmond O'Brien, Bradford Dillman, Janice Heiden, Katherine Baumann, David Hall, and Chuck Connors star in this funny, wild and way over the top gangster comedy about hitman Harris hired by one mob boss to hit his rival. John Frankenheimer directed this underrated 1974 action farce with a slight nod to Akira Kurosawa's Sanjuro and Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars. Connors is unforgettable as a one-armed killer who changes hand accessories for pleasure and pain while trying to kill Harris, and Turkel, Baumann and Heiden are super hot as the mob babes.]
Notes by Manager Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, December 18, 2011
New Releases - December 20, 2011
Adele: One and Only Unauthorized [Unofficial bio of the hot singer.]
Blackthorn [In this "what if" western, Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard) actually survived the massacre in Bolivia and hid in Mexico. As he nears the end, he decides to go back to the US and meets up with a young criminal (Eduardo Noreiga) who gets him involved in another adventure along the way. Co-starring Stephen Rea, Maga Lynsolier, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Directed by Matteo Gil. 2011.]
Colombiana [Zoe Saldana stars as a sexy, sleek and efficient hitwoman who seeks revenge on the murderers of her parents in this action-packed shoot 'em up. Jordi Molla, Lennie James, Michael Vartan, and Cliff Curtis also star. Directed by Olivier Megaton in 2011. If this film looks familiar, it was co-written and co-produced by Luc Besson who created the similar La Femme Nikita and Leon the Professional.]
Glee: The Concert [Hot Glee stars Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Heather Morris, The Warblers, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera and others sing and dance live in this exciting concert movie doing the great cover songs made famous on the hit Tv musical comedy show. 2011.]
Julia's Eyes [A throwback to 1970's Euroshock Giallos, this Spanish horror film features a heroine with a degenerative eye disease who investigates her sister's death as a murder when everyone else believes it is suicide. Starring Belen Rueda, Lluis Romar, Pablo Deroui, Francesc Orella, Joan Dalmau, and Julia Gutierrez Caba. Produced by Guillermo del Toro. Directed by Guillem Morales.]
King of Devil's Island [Film Movement dramatic thriller with Stellan Skarsgard. 2011.]
Margin Call [A terrific cast, including Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci, shines in this excellent drama/thriller that tackles the financial disaster of 2008 as seen through the eyes of an investment broking firm riddled with corruption. Directed by J.C. Chandor. 2011.]
Midnight in Paris [Arguably one of Woody Allen's best films ever, Owen Wilson gives a career-defining perfomance as an extremely likeable writer who goes on a vacation to a luminous Paris with his self-absorbed fiancee and her insufferable conservative parents and friends. While he and his fiancee grow further apart, Wilson magically discovers he can travel back at midnight to the Paris of Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Luis Bunuel, Salvador Dali and others. During the day, he is back in modern times with his less and less interesting fiancee, but at night, he is whisked away to an exciting artistic world that stimulates his creativity. Stuck between two worlds, he has to decide whether to live in the past or learn from it. All of the performances are amazing, but there are some standouts in addition to Wilson's terrific turn: Law and Order: Los Angeles' Corey Stoll as the charismatic and ballsy Hemingway; Marion Cotillard as the sexy French beauty/muse Wilson falls for, and Kathy Bates as a motherly Gertrude Stein. The stars also include Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Sheen. After a few so-so films, Woody has once agaiu regained his magic touch, and this glistening Valentine to Paris and artistic inspiration ranks as one of his funniest, wittiest and most romantic films ever. Part of the fun is catching all of his references to art, film and literature that may have you running to Wikipedia or the nearest encyclopedia. Sure to be an Oscar contender this year. Highly recommended!!! ]
Warrior [Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton play brothers at odds with each other in this acclaimed 2011 boxing drama in which the brothers have to face off against each other in the ring while dealing with their own checkered past and relationship. Nick Nolte is superb as their father, an ex-alcoholic who coaches Hardy. Jennifer Morrison (from TV's House and Once Upon a Time) and Frank Grillo co-star. Directed by Gavin O'Connor.]
Blu-ray:
Cowboys and Aliens: Extended Edition - Blu-ray exclusive! Contains 16 more minutes than the DVD theatrical version.
Midnight in Paris
Recent/New Arrivals:
Little Fugitive [Morris Engel directed this ground-breaking 1953 indie classic starring Richie Andrusco as a young boy who thinks he killed his brother and runs away to Coney Island. While he lives under the boardwalk, he experiences life and meets all sorts of offbeat people.]
Lovers and Lollipops/Weddings and Babies [This is a fine relationship double feature by Morris Engel. The first is from 1955 with Lori March, Gerald O'Loughlin, and Cathy Dunn. The second feature stars Viveca Lindfors and John Myhers from 1958.]
Notes by Steven Y. Mori
Blackthorn [In this "what if" western, Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard) actually survived the massacre in Bolivia and hid in Mexico. As he nears the end, he decides to go back to the US and meets up with a young criminal (Eduardo Noreiga) who gets him involved in another adventure along the way. Co-starring Stephen Rea, Maga Lynsolier, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Directed by Matteo Gil. 2011.]
Colombiana [Zoe Saldana stars as a sexy, sleek and efficient hitwoman who seeks revenge on the murderers of her parents in this action-packed shoot 'em up. Jordi Molla, Lennie James, Michael Vartan, and Cliff Curtis also star. Directed by Olivier Megaton in 2011. If this film looks familiar, it was co-written and co-produced by Luc Besson who created the similar La Femme Nikita and Leon the Professional.]
Glee: The Concert [Hot Glee stars Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Heather Morris, The Warblers, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera and others sing and dance live in this exciting concert movie doing the great cover songs made famous on the hit Tv musical comedy show. 2011.]
Julia's Eyes [A throwback to 1970's Euroshock Giallos, this Spanish horror film features a heroine with a degenerative eye disease who investigates her sister's death as a murder when everyone else believes it is suicide. Starring Belen Rueda, Lluis Romar, Pablo Deroui, Francesc Orella, Joan Dalmau, and Julia Gutierrez Caba. Produced by Guillermo del Toro. Directed by Guillem Morales.]
King of Devil's Island [Film Movement dramatic thriller with Stellan Skarsgard. 2011.]
Margin Call [A terrific cast, including Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci, shines in this excellent drama/thriller that tackles the financial disaster of 2008 as seen through the eyes of an investment broking firm riddled with corruption. Directed by J.C. Chandor. 2011.]
Midnight in Paris [Arguably one of Woody Allen's best films ever, Owen Wilson gives a career-defining perfomance as an extremely likeable writer who goes on a vacation to a luminous Paris with his self-absorbed fiancee and her insufferable conservative parents and friends. While he and his fiancee grow further apart, Wilson magically discovers he can travel back at midnight to the Paris of Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Luis Bunuel, Salvador Dali and others. During the day, he is back in modern times with his less and less interesting fiancee, but at night, he is whisked away to an exciting artistic world that stimulates his creativity. Stuck between two worlds, he has to decide whether to live in the past or learn from it. All of the performances are amazing, but there are some standouts in addition to Wilson's terrific turn: Law and Order: Los Angeles' Corey Stoll as the charismatic and ballsy Hemingway; Marion Cotillard as the sexy French beauty/muse Wilson falls for, and Kathy Bates as a motherly Gertrude Stein. The stars also include Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Sheen. After a few so-so films, Woody has once agaiu regained his magic touch, and this glistening Valentine to Paris and artistic inspiration ranks as one of his funniest, wittiest and most romantic films ever. Part of the fun is catching all of his references to art, film and literature that may have you running to Wikipedia or the nearest encyclopedia. Sure to be an Oscar contender this year. Highly recommended!!! ]
Warrior [Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton play brothers at odds with each other in this acclaimed 2011 boxing drama in which the brothers have to face off against each other in the ring while dealing with their own checkered past and relationship. Nick Nolte is superb as their father, an ex-alcoholic who coaches Hardy. Jennifer Morrison (from TV's House and Once Upon a Time) and Frank Grillo co-star. Directed by Gavin O'Connor.]
Blu-ray:
Cowboys and Aliens: Extended Edition - Blu-ray exclusive! Contains 16 more minutes than the DVD theatrical version.
Midnight in Paris
Recent/New Arrivals:
Little Fugitive [Morris Engel directed this ground-breaking 1953 indie classic starring Richie Andrusco as a young boy who thinks he killed his brother and runs away to Coney Island. While he lives under the boardwalk, he experiences life and meets all sorts of offbeat people.]
Lovers and Lollipops/Weddings and Babies [This is a fine relationship double feature by Morris Engel. The first is from 1955 with Lori March, Gerald O'Loughlin, and Cathy Dunn. The second feature stars Viveca Lindfors and John Myhers from 1958.]
Notes by Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, December 11, 2011
New Releases - December 13, 2011
Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall [9/22/11 concert from the red hot singer who is up for a slew of Grammys for 2012.]
Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 [Moving Goran Hugo Olsson documentary about the Black Power movement in the 1960's and 1970's with Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, Louis Farrakan, Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Melvin Van Peebles.]
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame [Andy Lau stars as the venerable but exiled detective who must solve a baffling murder that involves the incoming empress of China in the Tang Dynasty. Carina Lau, Tony Leung, Ka Fai, Deng Chao, and Richard Ng co-star in this atmospheric period martial arts thriller directed by famed Tsui Hark. Based on a popular best-selling mystery novel that is part of a series. 2010.]
Fright Night [Much more serious 2011 remake of the 1987 horror satire with Colin Farrell taking top honors as a sexy vampire who happens to move into suburbia. It's up to his teenage neighbor and a magician/vampire slayer to stop the bloodsucker in his serial killing spree. Also starring Anton Yelchin, Christopher Minze-Plasse, David Tennant, Toni Collette, and Imogen Poots. Directed by Craig Gillespie.]
Kung Fu Panda 2 [Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, and Gary Oldman provide the voices in this great animated sequel that was another huge hit and amazingly just as hilarious as the original. This time, Dragon Warrior Po (Black) and the Furious Five must battle the evil Lord Shen (Oldman) who threatens to end kung fu and the world as they know it with a secret weapon. The action is also enhanced by guest voices: Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Haysbert and Victor Garber. 2011.]
Legend Is Born, A: Ip Man [In this third Ip Man film, a prequel, we see how Bruce Lee's mentor began his kung fu mastery. Donnie To, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Dennis To Yue Hong star.]
Monica and David [Alexandra Codina 2010 heart-tugging documentary about two adults with Down syndrome who love each other.]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes [Terrific 2011 prequel/reboot of the Planet of the Apes series starring James Franco as a scientist who heads an experiment that helps advance the intelligence of apes. When he takes the only surviving and successful experiment, Caesar, home, the ape starts out learning innocently enough and even helping, but Caesar soon learns the inhumanity of man and cannot restrain his wild nature, leading to chaos and tragedy. In addition to Franco's and John Lithgow's excellent performance as his Alzheimer's Disease suffering father, Andy Serkis gives a superb CGI captured performance as Caesar, which may create a first if he is nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Freida Pinto, Brian Cox, and Tom Felton co-star. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Recommended, especially if you are a fan of the original series since there are many fun references to the original films. Note: this is also set in the San Francisco Bay Area, but other than some standard scenery shots, most of it was shot in Canada or used CGI replication. 2011.]
Rizzoli and Isles: Season 1 [Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander make a terrific female buddy team in this excellent and fun crime-solving TNT series about a female detective and female coroner who are best friends. Lorraine Bracco, Jordan Bridges, Chazz Palmintieri, and Bruce McGill.]
Blu-rays:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Edition [The now classic three Peter Jackson films, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, are presented here on Blu-ray in their even better extended editions. All are filled with hours of extra material as well! Three separate rentals.]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Recent/New Arrivals:
Branded to Kill [2011 Criterion Collection remaster of the wild Seijun Suzuki cult yakuza noir satire starring Joe Shishido as an inept yakuza hitman who is targeted by his own gang. Co-starring Koji Nanbara, Isao Tamagawa, Annu Mari, Mariko Ogawa, and Hiroshi Minami. 1967. B/W.]
Tokyo Drifter [2011 Criterion Collection remaster of the 1966 Seijun Suzuki gangster noir starring Tetsuya Watari as a yakuza killer who wants to quit but can't because they keep pulling him back in. Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji, Ryuji Kita, Hideaki Nitani, Eiji Go, Tomoko Hamakawa, Takeshi Yoshida and Isao Tamagawa co-star in this enjoyable over the top cult thriller.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 [Moving Goran Hugo Olsson documentary about the Black Power movement in the 1960's and 1970's with Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, Angela Davis, Louis Farrakan, Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Melvin Van Peebles.]
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame [Andy Lau stars as the venerable but exiled detective who must solve a baffling murder that involves the incoming empress of China in the Tang Dynasty. Carina Lau, Tony Leung, Ka Fai, Deng Chao, and Richard Ng co-star in this atmospheric period martial arts thriller directed by famed Tsui Hark. Based on a popular best-selling mystery novel that is part of a series. 2010.]
Fright Night [Much more serious 2011 remake of the 1987 horror satire with Colin Farrell taking top honors as a sexy vampire who happens to move into suburbia. It's up to his teenage neighbor and a magician/vampire slayer to stop the bloodsucker in his serial killing spree. Also starring Anton Yelchin, Christopher Minze-Plasse, David Tennant, Toni Collette, and Imogen Poots. Directed by Craig Gillespie.]
Kung Fu Panda 2 [Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, and Gary Oldman provide the voices in this great animated sequel that was another huge hit and amazingly just as hilarious as the original. This time, Dragon Warrior Po (Black) and the Furious Five must battle the evil Lord Shen (Oldman) who threatens to end kung fu and the world as they know it with a secret weapon. The action is also enhanced by guest voices: Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Haysbert and Victor Garber. 2011.]
Legend Is Born, A: Ip Man [In this third Ip Man film, a prequel, we see how Bruce Lee's mentor began his kung fu mastery. Donnie To, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Dennis To Yue Hong star.]
Monica and David [Alexandra Codina 2010 heart-tugging documentary about two adults with Down syndrome who love each other.]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes [Terrific 2011 prequel/reboot of the Planet of the Apes series starring James Franco as a scientist who heads an experiment that helps advance the intelligence of apes. When he takes the only surviving and successful experiment, Caesar, home, the ape starts out learning innocently enough and even helping, but Caesar soon learns the inhumanity of man and cannot restrain his wild nature, leading to chaos and tragedy. In addition to Franco's and John Lithgow's excellent performance as his Alzheimer's Disease suffering father, Andy Serkis gives a superb CGI captured performance as Caesar, which may create a first if he is nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Freida Pinto, Brian Cox, and Tom Felton co-star. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Recommended, especially if you are a fan of the original series since there are many fun references to the original films. Note: this is also set in the San Francisco Bay Area, but other than some standard scenery shots, most of it was shot in Canada or used CGI replication. 2011.]
Rizzoli and Isles: Season 1 [Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander make a terrific female buddy team in this excellent and fun crime-solving TNT series about a female detective and female coroner who are best friends. Lorraine Bracco, Jordan Bridges, Chazz Palmintieri, and Bruce McGill.]
Blu-rays:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Edition [The now classic three Peter Jackson films, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, are presented here on Blu-ray in their even better extended editions. All are filled with hours of extra material as well! Three separate rentals.]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Recent/New Arrivals:
Branded to Kill [2011 Criterion Collection remaster of the wild Seijun Suzuki cult yakuza noir satire starring Joe Shishido as an inept yakuza hitman who is targeted by his own gang. Co-starring Koji Nanbara, Isao Tamagawa, Annu Mari, Mariko Ogawa, and Hiroshi Minami. 1967. B/W.]
Tokyo Drifter [2011 Criterion Collection remaster of the 1966 Seijun Suzuki gangster noir starring Tetsuya Watari as a yakuza killer who wants to quit but can't because they keep pulling him back in. Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji, Ryuji Kita, Hideaki Nitani, Eiji Go, Tomoko Hamakawa, Takeshi Yoshida and Isao Tamagawa co-star in this enjoyable over the top cult thriller.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, December 4, 2011
New Releases - December 6, 2011
Adventures of Tin Tin, The: Season 1 [ Season 1 of the 1991-1993 animated TV series based on the popular comic strip created by Belgian artist Herge following the exciting adventures of a boy named Tin Tin and his dog Snowy. This contains two episodes that are the basis for the new Steven Spielberg CGI 3D fantasy epic adventure coming out later this month.]
Big Love: Season 5 [This is the final season for the excellent, controversial HBO series about anti-hero politician Bill Paxton and his multiple wives: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnfer Goodwin.]
Bobby Fischer Against the World [Excellent 2011 Liz Garbus documentary about the controversial chess icon who went from superstardom by beating Russian masters like Boris Spassky to a descent into paranoia.]
Cowboys and Aliens [The title pretty much sums up the plot of this offbeat 2011 sci-fi-western hybrid based on a comic book. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig play the western and future heroes respectively trying to keep the aliens from wiping out the old west. Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Keith Carradine and Paul Dano round out the supporting cast in this action-packed thriller directed by Iron Man's Jon Favreau.]
Debt, The [Helen Mirren stars as an ex-Moussad agent who recalls how she and two other agents killed a Nazi war criminal decades earlier, but discrepancies abound in the other agents' stories leading to the uncovering of the uncomfortable truth behind the mission outcome. Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Martin Csokas, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds also star in this John Madden political thriller from 2010 that uses the Rashomon technique of mixing current interviews with flashbacks of the events from various viewpoints.]
Family Tree, The [2010 all-star black comedy starring Hope Davis as an unhappy housewife who has an affair with neighbor Chi McBride and develops short term memory loss that might help save her flailing marriage and family. Co-starring Dermot Mulroney, Max Thieriot, Brittany Robertson, Selma Blair, Keith Carraddine, Shad "Bow Wow" Moss. Gabrielle Anwar, Madeline Zima, Christina Hendricks, Jane Seymour, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Evan Handler. Vivi Friedman directed.]
Hangover Part II, The [Bad boys Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms return for this megahit sequel in which they travel to Thailand for Helms' wedding to a Thai-American woman, Of course, they run into lots of trouble, involving wacky car chases and a mischievous monkey. Todd Phillips also directs again. 2011.]
Help, The [Although the plot is extremely predictable, excellent acting helps lift this adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best seller about a young white woman who writes a shocking book in the 1960's exposing Southern belles' blatant racism towards their African-American housekeepers. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard all give fine performances in this feel-good dramedy that has generated lots of Oscar buzz. Taylor Tate directed. 2011.]
Mr. Popper's Penguins [Jim Carrey shines in this family comedy hit as a businessman who inherits a flock of penguins, who turn his life upside down and for the better. The always watchable Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury lend support. Directed by Mark Waters in 2011.]
Robber, The [German-Austrian true crime thriller directed by Benjamin Heisenberg about Johann Rettenberger, a championship runner who moonlights as a serial bank robber who uses his sprinting abilities to run from the police. Starring Andreas Lust, Franziska Weisz, Markus Schleinzer and Peter Vilnai. 2009.]
Blu-ray:
Hangover Part II, The
Recent/New Arrivals:
Second Coming of Suzanne, The [Written and directed by Michael Barry, this offbeat 1974 cult flick stars Sondra Locke, Richard Dreyfuss, Jared Martin, Gene Barry and Paul Sand in a story about a filmmaker who is creating a film about a female version of Jesus. Since it was shot entirely in the San Francisco Bay Area, watch for familiar local sites. ]
Notes written by manager Steven Y. Mori
Big Love: Season 5 [This is the final season for the excellent, controversial HBO series about anti-hero politician Bill Paxton and his multiple wives: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnfer Goodwin.]
Bobby Fischer Against the World [Excellent 2011 Liz Garbus documentary about the controversial chess icon who went from superstardom by beating Russian masters like Boris Spassky to a descent into paranoia.]
Cowboys and Aliens [The title pretty much sums up the plot of this offbeat 2011 sci-fi-western hybrid based on a comic book. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig play the western and future heroes respectively trying to keep the aliens from wiping out the old west. Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Keith Carradine and Paul Dano round out the supporting cast in this action-packed thriller directed by Iron Man's Jon Favreau.]
Debt, The [Helen Mirren stars as an ex-Moussad agent who recalls how she and two other agents killed a Nazi war criminal decades earlier, but discrepancies abound in the other agents' stories leading to the uncovering of the uncomfortable truth behind the mission outcome. Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Martin Csokas, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds also star in this John Madden political thriller from 2010 that uses the Rashomon technique of mixing current interviews with flashbacks of the events from various viewpoints.]
Family Tree, The [2010 all-star black comedy starring Hope Davis as an unhappy housewife who has an affair with neighbor Chi McBride and develops short term memory loss that might help save her flailing marriage and family. Co-starring Dermot Mulroney, Max Thieriot, Brittany Robertson, Selma Blair, Keith Carraddine, Shad "Bow Wow" Moss. Gabrielle Anwar, Madeline Zima, Christina Hendricks, Jane Seymour, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Evan Handler. Vivi Friedman directed.]
Hangover Part II, The [Bad boys Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms return for this megahit sequel in which they travel to Thailand for Helms' wedding to a Thai-American woman, Of course, they run into lots of trouble, involving wacky car chases and a mischievous monkey. Todd Phillips also directs again. 2011.]
Help, The [Although the plot is extremely predictable, excellent acting helps lift this adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best seller about a young white woman who writes a shocking book in the 1960's exposing Southern belles' blatant racism towards their African-American housekeepers. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard all give fine performances in this feel-good dramedy that has generated lots of Oscar buzz. Taylor Tate directed. 2011.]
Mr. Popper's Penguins [Jim Carrey shines in this family comedy hit as a businessman who inherits a flock of penguins, who turn his life upside down and for the better. The always watchable Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury lend support. Directed by Mark Waters in 2011.]
Robber, The [German-Austrian true crime thriller directed by Benjamin Heisenberg about Johann Rettenberger, a championship runner who moonlights as a serial bank robber who uses his sprinting abilities to run from the police. Starring Andreas Lust, Franziska Weisz, Markus Schleinzer and Peter Vilnai. 2009.]
Blu-ray:
Hangover Part II, The
Recent/New Arrivals:
Second Coming of Suzanne, The [Written and directed by Michael Barry, this offbeat 1974 cult flick stars Sondra Locke, Richard Dreyfuss, Jared Martin, Gene Barry and Paul Sand in a story about a filmmaker who is creating a film about a female version of Jesus. Since it was shot entirely in the San Francisco Bay Area, watch for familiar local sites. ]
Notes written by manager Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, November 27, 2011
New Releases - November 29, 2011 and December 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Art of Getting By, The [Freddie Highmore stars as a high schooler who is a major slacker until he meets a beautiful girl, Emma Roberts, who motivates him in this 2011 romantic drama.]
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The [Grizzly Man's Werner Herzog directed this visually stunning documentary about France's Chauvet Cave, which was discovered in 1994 and contains some of the earliest drawings by mankind. Probably one of the most beautiful films of the year and a possible contender for Best Documentary Oscar. 2011.]
Future, The [Miranda July, the director of Me and You and Everyone Else We Know, directs and stars in this incredibly quirky comedy in which a couple want to adopt a cat but decide to spend the one month waiting period as if the wotld were ending to see if they are responsible enough. Hamish Linklater co-stars. 2011.]
One Day [Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway star in this moving romantic drama about a young couple who meet on July 15, 1988, the day they graduated from the University of Edinburgh. For the next two decades, the friends meet on the same day in the same spot. While their personal lives go through many changes, will the couple realize that they really love each other? Consider this an homage to the classic movie Same Time Next Year, except for Gen-Yers. Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whitakker and Tom Mison co-star in this offbeat romance directed by Lone Scherfig. 2011.]
Our Idiot Brother [The always likeable Paul Rudd plays the title role in this wacky comedy about a naive and trusting dufus who has just been released from prison for selling pot to a uniformed policeman. To help him adjust, his 3 sisters invite him into their home, causing chaos but eventually revealing his strengths in addition to his weaknesses. The terrific cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan and Rashida Jones. Directed by Jesse Peretz in 2011.]
Sons of Perdition [Jaw-dropping 2011 documentary about three teen boys who are banished from their southern Utah polygamous community/religion by self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs. Forced out of the community, they have to fend for themselves and learn about a whole new world outside the previous life they knew. Directed by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten.]
30 Minutes or Less [Jesse Eisenberg headlines this hilarious dark action comedy as a pizza delivery guy who is forced by two idiots, Eastbound and Down's Danny McBride and Reno 911's Nick Swardson, to rob a bank to get the 100 grand they need to hire a hitman. Needless to say, things do not go as planned. Fred Ward and Aziz Ansari co-star in this 2011 Ruben Fleischer farce.]
30 Rock: Season 5 [Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski return for yet another hysterical season about the machinations behind the peacock network's scenes.]
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil [This crazy and funny horror satire stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as two backwoods good old boys who turn their house in the country into a vacation home, but when a bunch of teens stay there, they start dying in increasingly bizarre ways. It takes the heroes an incredibly long time to realize that a serial killer is on the loose. Eli Craig directed this 2011 cult farce.]
Wave, The [Visually dazzling 2008 German film about an unorthodox high school teacher who has his students turn to Totalitarism for a week to see what how it works, but things go awry when they take their assignment too seriously. Jurgen Vogel and Frederick Lau star and Dennis Gansel directed.]
Blu-ray:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The
Friday: December 2:
Friends with Benefits [Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis shine in this fun romantic comedy as two platonic friends who decide to have casual sex while waiting to find Mr. and Mrs. Right. As their sexual obsession grows, can feelings be far behind? The terrific supporting cast features Woody Harrelson, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins, and Patricia Clarkson. Will Gluck directed thos 2011 hit.]
Smurfs, The [Got blue? Forget Avatar. Discover the original blue people. The iconic blue animated family characters get a hip CGI and live action update in this wild family farce that was a surprise huge hit. Hank Azaria plays the villain who wants to find out the secret of the Smurfs' happiness, but he accidentally opens up a tear in the vortex that sucks the Smurfs into New York City and the lives of expectant parents Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays. With voices by Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, George Lopez, Frank Welker, Anton Yelchin, Fred Armisen and Alan Cumming and excellent special FX highlighting the fish out of water theme, how can you lose? Raja Gosnell directed. 2011.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Art of Getting By, The [Freddie Highmore stars as a high schooler who is a major slacker until he meets a beautiful girl, Emma Roberts, who motivates him in this 2011 romantic drama.]
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The [Grizzly Man's Werner Herzog directed this visually stunning documentary about France's Chauvet Cave, which was discovered in 1994 and contains some of the earliest drawings by mankind. Probably one of the most beautiful films of the year and a possible contender for Best Documentary Oscar. 2011.]
Future, The [Miranda July, the director of Me and You and Everyone Else We Know, directs and stars in this incredibly quirky comedy in which a couple want to adopt a cat but decide to spend the one month waiting period as if the wotld were ending to see if they are responsible enough. Hamish Linklater co-stars. 2011.]
One Day [Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway star in this moving romantic drama about a young couple who meet on July 15, 1988, the day they graduated from the University of Edinburgh. For the next two decades, the friends meet on the same day in the same spot. While their personal lives go through many changes, will the couple realize that they really love each other? Consider this an homage to the classic movie Same Time Next Year, except for Gen-Yers. Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whitakker and Tom Mison co-star in this offbeat romance directed by Lone Scherfig. 2011.]
Our Idiot Brother [The always likeable Paul Rudd plays the title role in this wacky comedy about a naive and trusting dufus who has just been released from prison for selling pot to a uniformed policeman. To help him adjust, his 3 sisters invite him into their home, causing chaos but eventually revealing his strengths in addition to his weaknesses. The terrific cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan and Rashida Jones. Directed by Jesse Peretz in 2011.]
Sons of Perdition [Jaw-dropping 2011 documentary about three teen boys who are banished from their southern Utah polygamous community/religion by self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs. Forced out of the community, they have to fend for themselves and learn about a whole new world outside the previous life they knew. Directed by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten.]
30 Minutes or Less [Jesse Eisenberg headlines this hilarious dark action comedy as a pizza delivery guy who is forced by two idiots, Eastbound and Down's Danny McBride and Reno 911's Nick Swardson, to rob a bank to get the 100 grand they need to hire a hitman. Needless to say, things do not go as planned. Fred Ward and Aziz Ansari co-star in this 2011 Ruben Fleischer farce.]
30 Rock: Season 5 [Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski return for yet another hysterical season about the machinations behind the peacock network's scenes.]
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil [This crazy and funny horror satire stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as two backwoods good old boys who turn their house in the country into a vacation home, but when a bunch of teens stay there, they start dying in increasingly bizarre ways. It takes the heroes an incredibly long time to realize that a serial killer is on the loose. Eli Craig directed this 2011 cult farce.]
Wave, The [Visually dazzling 2008 German film about an unorthodox high school teacher who has his students turn to Totalitarism for a week to see what how it works, but things go awry when they take their assignment too seriously. Jurgen Vogel and Frederick Lau star and Dennis Gansel directed.]
Blu-ray:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The
Friday: December 2:
Friends with Benefits [Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis shine in this fun romantic comedy as two platonic friends who decide to have casual sex while waiting to find Mr. and Mrs. Right. As their sexual obsession grows, can feelings be far behind? The terrific supporting cast features Woody Harrelson, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins, and Patricia Clarkson. Will Gluck directed thos 2011 hit.]
Smurfs, The [Got blue? Forget Avatar. Discover the original blue people. The iconic blue animated family characters get a hip CGI and live action update in this wild family farce that was a surprise huge hit. Hank Azaria plays the villain who wants to find out the secret of the Smurfs' happiness, but he accidentally opens up a tear in the vortex that sucks the Smurfs into New York City and the lives of expectant parents Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays. With voices by Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, George Lopez, Frank Welker, Anton Yelchin, Fred Armisen and Alan Cumming and excellent special FX highlighting the fish out of water theme, how can you lose? Raja Gosnell directed. 2011.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Sunday, November 20, 2011
New Releases - November 22, 2011
Conan the Barbarian [This 2011 reboot of the popular fantasy/action series stars Jason Momoa, one of the hunks from TV's Stargate Atlantis, as the muscular hero who battles evil rulers and huge creatures alike in an ancient time while romancing the female lead. Although this version won't make you forget the 1982 version with Arnold Schwarzenegger, there is enough action and state of the art special FX creatures to make it an enjoyable remake. Momoa is good and magnetic in a tough role considering he had a big loincloth to fill. Rachel Nichols, from G.I. Joe and TV's Criminal Minds, makes a ballsy and fetching heroine, and Avatar's Stephen Lang is great as always as the main villain. Ron Perlman briefly plays Conan's dad and the main reason Conan seeks vengeance against Lang. Directed by Marcus Nispel.]
Devil's Double, The [Die Another Day's Lee Tamhori directed this underrated, excellent and exciting action thriller about a lookalike recruited to play a dangerous body double for the son of Saddam Hussein in the 1980's. Dominic Copper (An Education, Captain America: The First Avenger) is great in the dual role and is nicely supported by Ludivine Sagnier, Philip Quast, and Raad Rawi. 2011.]
Queen of Hearts [2011 French romantic comedy directed by Valerie Donzelli about a thirtysomething woman who goes through a painful breakup and is advised by her distant cousin to sleep with as many men as she can to get over her loss. As she flits from man to man, she finally finds the man of her dreams.]
Sarah's Key [Kristin Scott Thomas (Tell No One, I've Loved You So Long) gives another fine performance as an American journalist with a French husband who is assigned to write an article about the notorious roundup of Jews in Paris in 1942. As she and her husband plan to move into a Parisian apartment that his family acquired when a Jewish family was forced out, she discovers terrible secrets that his family buried. Directed by Gilles Pacquet-Brenner. 2011.]
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World [Jessica Alba re-teams with director Robert Rodriguez after Sin City and Machete and joins the Spy Kids franchise for the first time as a great and sexy ex-spy turned housewife who has to come out of retirement to save the world from a maniac. Entourage's Jeremy Piven has fun as the villain, and the many co-stars include the original Spy Kids Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, Joel McHale, Antonio Banderas, and Danny Trejo. Another hit sequel for the whole family. 2011.]
Super 8 [Writer-Director J.J. Abrams follows up his excellent reboot of Star Trek with this terrific sci-fi/horror/action/coming of age hybrid, produced with Steven Spielberg, about a group of high schoolers who try to make a horror film on Super 8 film and accidentally uncover a government conspiracy and a monster when they film a train wreck. If you have ever picked up a camera or a camcorder and tried to make a movie with a story, you will love this movie! The kid lead actors are all amazing, especially Joel Courtney as the deputy's son and star of the film and Elle Fanning who plays the film within the film's heroine and Courtney's crush. Among the adult actors, TV's Friday Night Light's Kyle Chandler is excellent as Courtney's grieving and angry father, and Ron Eldard is equally fine as Fanning's father and the man Chandler blames for his wife's death. Ironically, the least effective part of the film is the monster, but you will still be satsified thanks to Abrams' focus on making flesh and blood characters you really care about and filling the film with exciting twists and turns. In addition to the expected chilling monster effects, the train crash is a jaw-dropping cinema moment that is full of "production values!" as the teenage director Riley Griffiths exclaims. This film, more than any other in recent memory, will make you feel like a kid again. Highly recommended!]
Blu-ray:
Super 8
Recent/New Arrivals:
Night Watch [Fun 1973 Brian G. Hutton gothic thriller starring Elizabeth Taylor as a rich shut-in who is terrorized in a mansion during a wicked storm. Laurence Harvey and Billie Whitelaw co-star.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
Devil's Double, The [Die Another Day's Lee Tamhori directed this underrated, excellent and exciting action thriller about a lookalike recruited to play a dangerous body double for the son of Saddam Hussein in the 1980's. Dominic Copper (An Education, Captain America: The First Avenger) is great in the dual role and is nicely supported by Ludivine Sagnier, Philip Quast, and Raad Rawi. 2011.]
Queen of Hearts [2011 French romantic comedy directed by Valerie Donzelli about a thirtysomething woman who goes through a painful breakup and is advised by her distant cousin to sleep with as many men as she can to get over her loss. As she flits from man to man, she finally finds the man of her dreams.]
Sarah's Key [Kristin Scott Thomas (Tell No One, I've Loved You So Long) gives another fine performance as an American journalist with a French husband who is assigned to write an article about the notorious roundup of Jews in Paris in 1942. As she and her husband plan to move into a Parisian apartment that his family acquired when a Jewish family was forced out, she discovers terrible secrets that his family buried. Directed by Gilles Pacquet-Brenner. 2011.]
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World [Jessica Alba re-teams with director Robert Rodriguez after Sin City and Machete and joins the Spy Kids franchise for the first time as a great and sexy ex-spy turned housewife who has to come out of retirement to save the world from a maniac. Entourage's Jeremy Piven has fun as the villain, and the many co-stars include the original Spy Kids Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, Joel McHale, Antonio Banderas, and Danny Trejo. Another hit sequel for the whole family. 2011.]
Super 8 [Writer-Director J.J. Abrams follows up his excellent reboot of Star Trek with this terrific sci-fi/horror/action/coming of age hybrid, produced with Steven Spielberg, about a group of high schoolers who try to make a horror film on Super 8 film and accidentally uncover a government conspiracy and a monster when they film a train wreck. If you have ever picked up a camera or a camcorder and tried to make a movie with a story, you will love this movie! The kid lead actors are all amazing, especially Joel Courtney as the deputy's son and star of the film and Elle Fanning who plays the film within the film's heroine and Courtney's crush. Among the adult actors, TV's Friday Night Light's Kyle Chandler is excellent as Courtney's grieving and angry father, and Ron Eldard is equally fine as Fanning's father and the man Chandler blames for his wife's death. Ironically, the least effective part of the film is the monster, but you will still be satsified thanks to Abrams' focus on making flesh and blood characters you really care about and filling the film with exciting twists and turns. In addition to the expected chilling monster effects, the train crash is a jaw-dropping cinema moment that is full of "production values!" as the teenage director Riley Griffiths exclaims. This film, more than any other in recent memory, will make you feel like a kid again. Highly recommended!]
Blu-ray:
Super 8
Recent/New Arrivals:
Night Watch [Fun 1973 Brian G. Hutton gothic thriller starring Elizabeth Taylor as a rich shut-in who is terrorized in a mansion during a wicked storm. Laurence Harvey and Billie Whitelaw co-star.]
Notes by manager Steven Y. Mori
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