It’s that time of the week when we all head to our local stores to spend money on silly circular thingies that put moving pictures on our televisions whenever we don’t want to watch the news. Here’s what I’d buy, rent and ignore.
Grab ‘Em Right Away:
Up In The Air
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Written by: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga & Anna Kendrick.
Why should you buy this? Jason Reitman is able to somehow bring together the romantic comedy in a true to life tale about a man who doesn’t believe in the importance of human connections and the reality of our current economic trouble. On first viewing I found this film more depressing than anything else, moving from business to business laying off employee after employee and switching from actors playing an employee being sacked to montages of non-actors responding to the bad news just struck me as sad. However, on repeat viewings (and I promise you I’ve seen this movie about five times already) I’ve come to enjoy getting to know each of these characters and want to see more of them. I feel like I learn something new with each viewing of this film when it comes to these characters. With some performances from each and every member of the cast that wont be forgot soon. Let’s just say I love you Ms. Keener and Mr. Bingham. I even love Alex a bit too.
Give it a Chance:
Precious
Directed by: Lee Daniels
Written by: Geoffrey Fletcher & Saphire
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz & Mariah Carey
Why should you rent this? This is one of those films that is a once view in my opinion. It’s a very good film with a lot of talking points. Where this film fails for me is that it’s very brutal in it’s message and how it hammers it home. I can’t manage a second viewing and I don’t know many others who could either. The film gives us some of the best female performances of the year. I know when all is said and done people will be talking about Mo’Nique‘s Oscar winning performance but I still believe that the highlight of the film came from Paula Patton and Gabourey Sidibe in the film. The character of Ms. Rain was just so well handled in the film and it’s beautiful. Lee Daniels was perfect to direct this film because I don’t know who else would’ve handled that character so well. It is a brilliant film, but it is a very rough watch. However, Oprah likes it so we all must follow suit or she’s going to take over the world.
Avoid it like the Plague (Unless you love horrible movies):
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Directed by:Troy Duffy
Written by: Troy Duffy
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Clifton Collins Jr., Billy Connolly & Julie Benz
Why should you not take revenge no this sequel? Because it’s a useless sequel. I remember watching the original to this film almost a decade ago when it had first come to my attention and thinking it was the greatest thing I had ever seen (until I saw The Matrix of course). Now however I watch this sort of straight-to-video sequel and wonder if Young Andrew has led me astray. The first question I asked myself when the movie was over was “was the first movie this bad?“. Now, let me not completely dismiss this movie. It had a few moments that definitely had me laughing, in a horrible B-Movie sense, that you can only enjoy knowing that you’re watching a bad movie. If not the movie will be laughing at you soon enough. Julie Benz comes in as the cheaper replacement to Willem Dafoe‘s role from the first film, and it shows. Clifton Collins Jr. however shines as the crazy Mexican who joins the Saint’s ranks. It’s a horrible mess that you will hate, but may just like if you like horrible movies. So this is me not recommending the movie and recommending it in the same vain (WTF???). DING DONG M*********S!!!!
The Rest
Old Dogs
Planet 51
Capitalism: A Love Story
Evangellion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone
What are you getting this week?