Best DVD Releases for Tuesday, June 2, 2009

This movie or movies did something for me and for many others in theater. They were extraordinary. While other movies were disappointing us, the movie or movies coming out on DVD satisfied, thrilled and entertained audiences. Hopefully, you will agree that the movie(s) listed below are the best DVD releases for the week.

Defiance

Directed by Edward Zwick

Written by Clayton Frohman and Edward Zwick

Starring Daniel Craig in a post-Bond heroic role as Tuvia Bielski. His brothers, Zus and Asael are played by Liev Shreiber and Jamie Bell. In Defiance, these three men save the lives of many Jews and bring them all together in the Belarussian forests. No matter how hard life gets for these survivors, they refuse to give and refuse to let the Nazis get their hands on them. To be honest, for the best story of this kind, I still think Braveheart beats all. For a story about the eradication of the Jews, I would rather recommend Schindler's List or even the more recent, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. However, Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber bring a strength to their roles that should not be missed.

Achievements

Nominated for Best Score, James Newton Howard at the 2009 Academy Awards

Nominated for Best Original Score - Motion Picture at the 2009 Golden Globes

Nominated for Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture at the Visual Effects Society Awards or VES Awards.

Defiance won Best Score at the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

Revolutionary Road

Directed by Sam Mendes

Written by Justin Haythe

Telling the story of a young married couple in the mid-1950s as they struggle to adjust to their conservative suburban surroundings, Revolutionary Road succeeds and fails massively. After they charmed audiences to return for several viewings of Titanic, you would expect stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet could knock our socks off again. But, because their characters in Revolutionary Road are so hard to understand at times, it becomes a challenge to appreciate their chemistry. Then again, you might say, the film is trying to kill the chemistry between them. Leo plays Frank Wheeler and Kate plays April Wheeler. At one time, these two had dreams of living life without reserve. Then, they had kids, dashing their dreams to pieces as they sought to keep their son and daughter happy and healthy. Kate's April resents the children. Leo's Frank can't figure out why. By the end of the film, you can't help but feel disillusioned and depressed. However, Revolutionary Road is worth a look, simply due to the stylistic direction of Sam Mendes (American Beauty).

Achievements

Nominated for 20 awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Supporting Actor, Michael Shannon at the 2009 Academy Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography at the American Society of Cinematographers, Best Costume Design, Best Leading Actress (Kate Winslet), Best Production Design, and Best Screenplay - Adapted at the BAFTA Film Awards, Best Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon) at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, Excellence in Costume Design for Film - Period at the Costume Designers Guild Awards and Best Director, Best Motion Picture - Drama, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (Leonardo DiCaprio) at the Golden Globes.

Revolutionary Road won 6 awards, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Winslet) at the Golden Globes, Best Actress (Kate Winslet) at the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, and Actress of the Year (Winslet) at the London Critics Circle Film Awards

More recommended DVD releases

Valkyrie

Directed by Bryan Singer

Written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander

Starring Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, Kenneth Branagh as Major-General Henning von Tresckow, Bill Nighy as General Friedrich Olbricht, and Tom Wilkinson as General Friedrich Fromm, this is a good movie in spite of the average numbers at the box office. It tells the tale of several passionate men who do not want Germany to be associated with murder in the time of WWII. Cruise's Colonel Stauffenberg is especially adamant in his hatred toward Germany's murder of the Jews. These courageous men band together to bring an end to the reign of Adolf Hitler as played by David Bamber in the film. The audience sees just how far this group will go to accomplish their mission, and the mistakes they made in the process. It's no plea of forgiveness from audiences, but it certainly sheds new light on a culture that has only been exploited as the worst of the worst. This film is certainly worth renting and seeing once.

Achievements

7 Saturn Award nominations, including Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film, Best Actor, Best Costume, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

1 Visual Effects Society Award or VES Award nomination for Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Directed by Steve Carr

Written by Kevin James and Nick Bakay

In previews, this cute tale of a mall cop who is particularly heavyset and clumsy called, Paul Blart (Kevin James) looked extremely silly. After watching the film for the first time on DVD, I can say that it may not have been worth the $10 or more it would've cost to see it in the theater, but Paul Blart: Mall Cop is definitely worth renting. Some jokes work wonderfully. Some jokes don't work at all. But, the story of this average joe who wants to be more than just a mall cop is delightful enough to sit through the worst jokes imaginable. I seriously wouldn't be recommending this DVD if I didn't think it was worth it. Look for the funny references to the Die Hard films.

Taken

Directed by Pierre Morel

Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen

Liam Neeson is Bryan Mills, a former government spy who gave up his risky life to be closer to his daughter, Kim as played by Maggie Grace. His life is not very exciting. His relationship with his daughter is under constant scrutiny from his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen). He takes on a job with his spy buddies, protecting a young diva at a concert. He's still not doing what he does best. Then, Kim gets kidnapped while on a European vacation with her friend, Amanda (Katie Cassidy) and used as fresh meat in the high-class world of prostitution.

Needless to say, this lights a fire on Bryan's behind. He goes in search of his daughter. Anyone who stands in his way or has anything to do with her disappearance are in trouble. Bryan goes so far as to torture someone for information. The audience is not the least bit horrified or uncomfortable, watching this anti-hero do what he does best.

Liam Neeson brings a great and powerful force to the table. His Bryan Mills becomes incredibly believable and threatening. We've seen the plot of Taken a million times. Neeson is somehow able to make this story his own or at least, that's how it feels. By the end of the film, you can't help but say to yourself, "Now that is a father" in response to Neeson's performance.

The action direction in the film is a little too chaotic to be thoroughy enjoyable. The writing is typical for this kind of film. The acting from Liam's co-stars is far from extraordinary. It is really Liam Neeson and his screen presence that carries Taken to glory.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Directed by David Fincher

Written by Eric Roth

Brad Pitt stars as the title character, Benjamin Button. His case is indeed a curious one. He's born into the body of an old man. As he ages, Benjamin's body grows younger. His father's first reaction is to put the baby out of its misery. Instead, he decides to leave the baby boy on the doorstep of a woman by the name of Queenie as played brilliantly by Taraji P. Hansen. She runs a boarding house for the elderly, a perfect setting to raise a boy like Benjamin. Eventually, Benjamin meets a girl, Daisy and immediately falls in love with her. Daisy as later played by Cate Blanchett is aging normally. The two seem like a very mis-matched pair. When Benjamin and Daisy reach 40, they basically look the same age. It is in the this time when their romance flourishes and falls apart. The film is brilliantly told by director, David Fincher and writer, Eric Roth. It's such an unusual story, you would suspect the film to lose the audience. Somehow, Fincher grabs us and holds us in our seats with intrigue.

Achievements

Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Picture and Best Director. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won 3 Oscars, Best Achievement in Art Direction, Makeup and Visual Effects.

Nominated for 5 Golden Globes, including Best Director - Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture - Drama, and Best Original Score - Motion Picture.

Nominated for 9 Saturn Awards, including Best Fantasy Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also won many other prestigous awards, including the SDFCS Award at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, the PFCS Award at the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards, and the NBR Award at the National Board of Review, USA.

Last Chance Harvey

Written and directed by Joel Hopkins

Harvey Shine as played by Dustin Hoffman is a writer of background music for commercials. His life is incredible dull and he doesn't know it yet. His daughter, Susan (Liane Balaban) is getting married in England. Harvey takes a flight to London and gets setup in his hotel room. At the pre-wedding dinner, Susan lets Harvey know that she's asking her stepfather to give her away at the ceremony. By chance, Harvey loses his job and meets a lonely woman, Kate Walker (Emma Thompson). Together, they set off to make the most of their day and get to know each other. In this day, Harvey and Kate fall in love. Hoffman's Harvey is awkward and self-absorbed at times, but even when all of the chips are down, he can be charming and fun. Last Chance Harvey is a look at how life can hurt and how great life can be. By the end, you really get the feeling that life has returned to Harvey Shine. It's a very pleasant movie to sit through, made all the more enjoyable by the charisma of leads, Thompson and Hoffman.

Achievements

Nominated for two Golden Globes, Best Performance by an Actor and Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.

Also

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

The Grudge 3

My Bloody Valentine

He Just Not That Into You