How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
March 9, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who wisely waited to watch Precious on DVD: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire
Watch any clip from Precious. Hell, simply be familiar with the film's log line and you'll come to understand that Precious is an intense movie. In addition to other issues, our heroine has been raped by her father multiple times and has several children to care for because of it. I'd argue it isn't one to see in theaters. Instead, Precious is better suited for home viewing, when people have the ability to stop, skip over or mute scenes with their TV remotes. Or, even better, to re-watch the minutes at the end of the movie that likely helped Mo'Nique secure her Best Supporting Actress Oscar on Sunday evening in Los Angeles. A bit more elaboration on that incredible scene at the social work office is explained here (third paragraph) in BOP's 2010 Calvin Award for Best Scene.
Having read the novel on which the film is based about a year or so before seeing the movie, I can say Precious is a largely faithful adaptation. The film would have even been called the same thing as Sapphire's book if another similarly titled movie hadn't been released in 2009. (You know, that Dakota Fanning movie. Wait, you've already forgotten about that one, haven't you?).
The film's strongest suit is its cast. Mo'Nique, who by now requires little, if any, introduction, is brilliant as Precious' monster of a mother, Mary Lee. Mariah Carey surprises as Precious' social worker. She's so "undone" – little to no makeup, drab hair, pale complexion – so as to be unrecognizable at first glance. And Gabourey Sidibe, who as Oprah explained during the Oscars skipped school to attend an audition for the titular character, shines in her debut role. I'm anxious to see what she appears in next. The same is true of Mo'Nique and Mariah.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, From Push to Precious featurette, A Precious Ensemble featurette, Oprah and Tyler: A Project of Passion featurette, A Conversation with Author Sapphire and Director Lee Daniels featurette, deleted scenes, Audition: Gabourey Sidibe featurette, Reflections on Precious featurette
For people who like watching George Clooney ride in airplanes (and hear him explain, with a very matter-of-fact ‘tude, why he is the world's most knowledgeable traveler): Up in the Air
I remember being not very fond of Jason Reitman's Up in the Air. It's mostly because of (*spoiler alert!*) what became of George Clooney and Vera Farmiga's relationship. (Or, I guess, what didn't). It was disheartening, cruel and made me wonder aloud, "Well, that was neat. Remind me why I paid money to watch a lead character undergo huge life changes, only to end in the same place he began?" (*end spoiler*) Don't get me wrong; mixing up the Hollywood formula is usually welcomed by me. But, I was left with such a distinctly awful taste in my mouth that it all but ruined my memory of the picture itself.
Like Precious, Up in the Air benefits greatly from his core cast of Clooney, Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, who has grown up nicely from the pair of Twilight movies you may know her from. Clooney, though, arguably puts up one of his best performances to date. It's a shame I didn't like it more.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, audio commentary, music video
For people who wonder whether Robin Williams' career has any chance of rectifying itself again: Old Dogs
I'm pretty sure I'm discussing Old Dogs in this space – instead of another new release like Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story or the little-seen Boondock Saints sequel (which we wanted about as much as we did a Wall Street follow-up) – for one reason: To plug one of the best one-note blogs of all time. In this case, it's Faces of Old Dogs, a Tumblr page created by TV-film director Jason Woliner. Exactly as it sounds, Faces of Old Dogs is no more than extreme close-ups of the cast of Disney's Old Dogs taken from the movie's trailer. The catch? The pictures, like this one or that one, are less than flattering to Robin Williams et al. For instance, there's a disturbing number of photos of John Travolta flailing around in a pool of water, and it's fantastic. Every now and again when I'm feeling down, I'll call up Faces of Old Dogs and return to my chipper self in no time.
In other news, Old Dogs is for sale on DVD and Blu-ray today!
Disc includes: Bloopers, deleted scenes, "Every Little Step" music video by John Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta, audio commentary
For people who think Dwayne Johnson has gotten pretty soft: Planet 51
At about $70 million, Planet 51 is the most expensive movie ever produced in Spain. Too bad it was so poorly received (about 22% of critics compiled on Rotten Tomatoes liked it). Otherwise, the title probably could have made bank instead of fizzing out a smidge under $100 million at the worldwide box office. In hindsight, a 3-D release probably would have been a good idea – Alice in Wonderland... ever heard of it? – as the format is becoming commonplace in CGI animated movies nowadays. An additional dimension would have made that human landing on the alien planet we saw in the trailer even better.
Disc includes: Extended scenes, music video montage, two featurettes, Target 51 game
March 9, 2010
Blu-ray
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Capitalism: A Love Story (Special Edition)
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
Glacier National Park
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
JCVD / Exit Speed
Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock
Midnight Movie / Killer Movie
Old Dogs
Planet 51
Possession
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
The Stoning of Soraya M.
Super Bowl XLIV Champions: New Orleans Saints
UFC Best of 2009
Up in the Air
DVD
Bob Dylan: Weary Blues For Waitin' (Widescreen)
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Capitalism: A Love Story (Special Edition)
Civilisation: The Complete Series (Set)
The Commish: Complete First Season
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (Special Edition)
In Plain Sight: Season Two
Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock
Old Dogs
Planet 51 (Widescreen)
Possession
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
The Stoning of Soraya M.
Super Bowl XLIV Champions: New Orleans Saints
UFC Best of 2009
Up in the Air
Walker, Texas Ranger: The Complete Series (Set)
Walker, Texas Ranger: The Seventh Season