This Week on DVD/Blu-ray (05-15-12)

It may be a short list this week, but there are definitely some films worthy of your time here. There are a couple here that just may surprise you, like the found-footage/super-powered teen thriller  “Chronicle” or the man against nature manly thriller “The Grey”, both offering surprisingly more than one would expect based on their trailers or synopsis. Also out is “Albert Nobbs” the multiple Oscar-nominated film which stars Glenn Close as a woman in 19th Century London who poses as a man and confides in another woman who is doing the same, while trying to pursue a young woman. Got that? Writer/director Oren Moverman reteams with Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster for “Rampart”, their second film together which revolves around a corrupt L.A. cop. As if there is any other kind. Not entirely new ground covered there, but the film boasts a solid cast and has an interesting domestic dynamic for the main character. Also, out this week are two January releases, “One for the Money” yet another box-office flop from Katherine Heigl and “The Devil Inside” one of the first releases of 2012, a documentary-style found footage film about demon possession, not obsession with the great Aussie band, INXS.

 

Two of the most randomly bizarre releases make their Blu-ray debut in special anniversary formats and they happen to be movies with actor Steve Martin. There’s the 10th Anniversary of “Bringing Down the House” (even though it came out in 2003: Breaking News – it’s 2012!) with Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy and the much-beloved 20th Anniversary of “Father of the Bride” starring Diane Keaton and Martin Short (also featuring Levy). But the question is – why did they stop there? There could have easily been a 30th Anniversary edition of the noir homage/parody “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” – I mean, since they were perusing Martin’s filmography. Ah well.

 

The latest Criterion release should get some folks excited, as we see Spike Jonze’s surreal 1999 Oscar-nominated film, “Being John Malkovich” get the deluxe treatment. If you haven’t seen this trippy film in a while or, gasp, never been spit out onto the Jersey Turnpike before – then this is the best way to see it. Loading with all sorts of cool bells and whistles, like a selected-scene audio commentary by filmmaker Michel Gondry, a behind-the-scenes look with filmmaker Lance Bangs, as well as interviews and conversations with actors and the director.

 

Well, that’s enough for this week – again, it’s a small list, but some solid selections here. As always, previous reviews are highlighted below!

 

Enjoy the Rundown….