Watchlist
Notable DVD releases for February 5th
By Max Braden
February 7, 2013
Side by Side
Who: Keanu Reeves, James Cameron, David Fincher, George Lucas, David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh
What: A documentary featuring the biggest directors in Hollywood, about the impact of digital filmmaking on the industry. Reeves narrates.
When: February 5th
Why: Professional and amateur students of film ought to be interested in this collection of great filmmakers.
So Undercover
Who: Miley Cyrus, Jeremy Piven, Alexis Knapp, Joshua Bowman
What: Miley Cyrus plays a teenage private investigator hired by the FBI to go undercover in college. I couldn't tell from the trailer what she's investigating, so let's assume it's Bowman's abs.
When: February 5th
Why: I wouldn't want to admit to anyone that I watched a Miley Cyrus bubblegum comedy, but dammit, I'm a Piven fan and would consider tolerating Cyrus for his scenes.
The Liquidator
Who: Vinnie Jones
What: Vinnie Jones plays a former special forces soldier who seeks revenge for the death of his journalist brother in this action flick from Eastern Europe.
When: February 5th
Why: It doesn't have to be good - after a long work week, watching Vinnie Jones crack skulls is perfect Friday viewing for me.
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
Who: Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, Jaime Pressly, Cloris Leachman, Chazz Palminteri, Toni Braxton
What: A G-rated live action adventure appropriate for toddlers. Three mascot-like characters who go on a birthday adventure and meet the cast actors in various roles.
When: February 15th - DVD and digital download
Why: I assume these characters are typical of the mid-day material on TV familiar to parents with small children. This movie set the record for the lowest box office opening for a wide release movie. Every instinct tells me to avoid this movie, but I like some of these actors and could imagine watching it to see them be a little more casual than usual.
What I'm watching this week:
Based on a goal of watching 200 movies per year, I try to watch - or limit myself to - four movies per week. I've already seen Flight, which is my top suggestion for anyone renting a movie this week. My other three picks are: Celeste and Jesse Forever because it's a solid, if bittersweet, romance; Hit & Run, not a great movie but worth it for the chemistry between Dax and Bell; and Here Comes the Boom for some light Kevin James buffoonery.
In theaters, if I had to choose one of the movies released on February 1st... that's a tough choice. I really want to see Stallone's action flick Bullet to the Head, but I would have picked Warm Bodies based on its amusing trailer. I skipped the theater this weekend, though, as I tend to do early in the year because I know I can catch these movies on DVD in four months.
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