Watchlist
Notable DVD releases for May 7th
By Max Braden
May 9, 2013
BoxOfficeProphets.com

The script said nothing about nude scenes!
Every week, I search through movie release schedules to find movie rentals that I would have otherwise missed for lack of TV advertising. I'll watch the big name releases along with everyone else, but I know from experience that sometimes the box office failures, critically panned, straight-to-DVD, and independently financed movies that nobody's heard of can offer some real hidden gems. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. This column is dedicated to bringing awareness to those potential treasures. Listed alphabetically, each movie includes a list of notable cast members, a basic plot summary, its DVD and/or cloud release date (based on Netflix - other services may have the movie earlier), and the basic reason why the movie caught my attention. With any luck, one or more of these will catch your attention, too. My picks of the week are listed at the end of the column.

Here's my watchlist of DVD and cloud releases for the week of
May 7th (click the movie title to see the trailer)

Barrymore
Who: Christopher Plummer, John Plumpis
What: A filmed version of the one-man stage play by William Luce about an aged John Barrymore and his (fictional) efforts to revive his 1920 Broadway performance of Richard III.
When: May 7th - DVD
Why: Plummer played Barrymore in the 1997 stage version and won a Tony Award for his performance, which leads one to assume that this filmed version of the same man in the same role will be impressive. I don't know much about John Barrymore, so maybe this movie would inspire some background research into his life.

Hyde Park on Hudson
Who: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West, Olivia Colman
What: Based on the private writings of Margaret Suckley (who is portrayed here by Laura Linney), distant cousin and love interest of President Franklin Roosevelt, this light comedy takes place over a weekend in 1939 at Roosevelt's Hyde Park, New York estate when he and Eleanor hosted a visit by the Kind and Queen of England.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: The tone of this movie looks light and enjoyable, perfect for a relaxing evening. I'm a big fan of Bill Murray's, and I'd be interested in the history lesson. Murray received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, but most critics did not like the movie itself.

If I Were You
Who: Marcia Gay Harden, Aidan Quinn, Leonor Watling, Joseph Kell
What: A modern comedy of errors (with more than one Shakespearean reference), Marcia Gay Harden plays a woman who finds out about her husband's young hot mistress (Leonor Watling) but accidentally becomes her best friend with an agreement that they'll make all of each other's life decisions.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: Marcia Gay Harden has her fans (I'm not one of them), and an Academy Award. This looks like it could be funny. You could probably call this a chick flick, but to tell the truth I'm interested in it because Leonor Watling looks sexy and I'd like to see how well she can act.


Jack Reacher
Who: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Werner Herzog
What: Based on the ongoing book series, Cruise plays a drifter ex-Army-MP who is called upon to investigate a brutal mass shooting, and finds a much deeper conspiracy at work.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: This movie was at the top of my must-see list last holiday season because the trailer made it look like a high-octane action flick. I was seriously disappointed when I saw it in the theater, though, because there's very little music to support what's happening on screen, which makes the action sequences feel few and far between. That's not to say it's a bad movie - Cruise is a good fit in the role (which might have gone to Dolph Lundgren if they'd stuck with the book character description) and has some fun dialogue scenes.

Mighty Fine
Who: Chazz Palminteri, Andie MacDowell, Jodelle Ferland, Rainey Qualley
What: Set in the 1970s, a businessman moves his wife and two daughters from Brooklyn to New Orleans with dreams of a better life. But his his business plans fall apart and his stress extends to the family.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: I'm not big on movies set in the '70s. This movie interests me as a marker in the potential careers of Jodelle Ferland and Rainey Qualley (Andie MacDowell's real life daughter).

Norman
Who: Dan Byrd, Emily VanCamp, Richard Jenkins, Adam Goldberg
What: Dan Byrd plays an oddball high school kid manages to land a great girl, improving his life. But his father's terminal cancer throws his life into turmoil.
When: May 7th - DVD
Why: I'm a big fan of the humor in the TV series Cougar Town, in which Byrd plays the son of Courtney Cox. It doesn't surprise me that he might be good in a dramatic role as well. I've liked VanCamp since first noticing her in Brothers & Sisters (currently starring in the TV series Revenge). Plus, Richard Jenkins is always good.

The Oranges
Who: Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Alia Shawkat, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester
What: A pair of families in suburban New Jersey go from friends to enemies when the father of one has an affair with the daughter of another, in this R-rated comedy.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: I'm a big fan of Laurie, Keener, and Platt - Platt especially. This looks like it could be a fun, absurd comedy-drama.

Revenge for Jolly!
Who: Brian Petsos, Oscar Isaac, Elijah Wood, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, Adam Brody, Gillian Jacobs, Bobby Moynihan, Garret Dillahunt
What: A dark action comedy starring the movie's screenwriter Brian Petsos who is out to avenge the death of his pet dog.
When: May 7th - DVD
Why: I don't know what this is, but anything with Kristen Wiig automatically gets my attention. It sounds a little similar to Seven Psychopaths, which was good crazy fun.

Safe Haven
Who: Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons, Cobie Smulders
What: A romantic thriller based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, an aloof young woman moves to a small town to escape her past and begins a relationship with a widower (Duhamel), but the past comes back to haunt her.
When: May 7th - DVD and Online On Demand
Why: I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed The Notebook, but I also don't have to hide my lack of interest in Sparks's chick flicks since then. Therefore this movie wouldn't normally interest me, but... I kind of like Duhamel, Hough is easy on the eyes, and I mostly tune in to How I Met Your Mother because of Smulders. I'm saying if this was one of only four movies released this week, I might actually watch it.

What I'm watching this week:
I've already seen Jack Reacher, and despite my complaints about the movie I would still recommend it to most Cruise and action fans. I haven't seen the rest of these movies yet, and a bunch have some equal appeal. I guess the one I want to see most is The Oranges for its comedic potential. Platt is the draw there for me. Close behind, I want to check out what Revenge for Jolly! is about and see how dark the comedy is. Hyde Park on the Hudsoninterests me as a Bill Murray completionist, and I feel compelled to watch Barrymore for both the award pedigree of the performance as well as just a general interest in all of Plummer's work. The others I would consider watching if I had more time.

Coming next week:
A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, Texas Chainsaw 3D