This Week in DVD & Bluray (02-09-10)

It looks like this is going to become a regular thing every week.   I am going to throw out recommendations for films that arrive on DVD and Bluray this week.  In addition, I will add a list to the end that rounds off the remainder of the week’s list.  This week’s list is a little funny because there are so many horrifically bad movies on this list, but our recommended releases are AWESOME.

Anyway, here it goes:

A Serious Man (2009) ***1/2 – (DVD / Bluray)

This Coen brothers film landed in the top ten lists of 2009 for both David and myself.  Michael Stuhlbarg shines in this drama about a seemingly cursed college professor living in a 1960s Minnesota town.  If you have a Netflix membership, don’t immediately seal the package when you’re done… you may want to watch this one again.

Bronson (2009) *** — (DVD / Bluray)

Director Nicolas Winding Refn brings up a super-stylish story of Britain’s most violent prison inmate, Michael Peterson (Tom Hardy).  After being sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbing a bank, Peterson’s violent alter ego, Charlie Bronson, comes out to play.  Refn tells this story in a rather jumpy chronology with Bronson himself narrating his own tale.  Whether or not this style of film is your cup of tea, Tom Hardy’s fantastic performance is undeniable and award worthy.  Look for Hardy in Christopher Nolan’s (director of “Dark Knight”) new summer film, “Inception”.

Other DVD/Bluray releases for 2/9/10:

–          Couples Retreat (2009) – Total flop of a “romantic comedy” with a somewhat packed cast.  Rent this at some point if this is your kind of thing.  If you’re planning for a Valentine’s Day inside with your significant other, be wise and don’t watch this one.

–          The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) – cheesy box office bomb starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana.  Go crazy, people.

–          The Stepfather (2009) – B-rate horror film that was never even shown to the critics.  Take that for what it is worth.

–          Dare (2009) – straight-to-DVD drama that requires no attention at all.

–          I Hate Valentine’s Day (2009) – Nia Vardalos and John Corbett team up again in this IFC romantic comedy.  It had very limited release and only made around $10,000 at the box office.  Could be good, given the success these two had in the past, but I will make no promises.

–          A Dangerous Man (2009) – it’s a Steven Seagal movie – enough said.

Go forth and conquer the video stores, Netflix queues, and Redboxes near you!