How to Spend $20

By Eric Hughes

March 30, 2010

What? He just asked me to hold his tiny gun.

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Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP's look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: Robert Downey Jr. entertains 19th century London, Peter Sarsgaard steals things from houses and the Jersey Shore kids realize they have some stiff competition.

For people who think Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law make a pretty adorable pair: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is without a doubt director Guy Ritchie's biggest feature to date. I mean, to put things in perspective here, Sherlock Holmes made more money in its opening weekend ($62.3 million) than Snatch did in its entire run ($30.1). I know, comparing the two is super silly, so it'll end there. But whoever finalized the decision to hire the filmmaker whose biggest achievement is being married to Madonna as the helmer of a $90 million movie – and potential big budget franchise – took a major gamble. (No offense to The Guy). But for Warner Bros., thankfully, it worked. Sherlock Holmes grossed $208.4 million in the States and another $305.3 million abroad. Preproduction on what will likely be called Sherlock Holmes 2 began earlier this month.

Now, what began as one of those movies I went to because other people were going to see it turned into one of those gems that I'm glad I felt a smidge compelled to see. Sherlock Holmes is a pleasant surprise, and is probably the proud owner of what I think is one of the best scores to come out of Hollywood since at least Atonement. The story is a little kooky for my tastes, but the ways in which Sherlock and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, arrive at their conclusions is fun. At times the movie felt like something Pirates of the Caribbean fans would enjoy. But, as expected, Sherlock Holmes is way darker.

Disc includes: Maximum Movie Mode, Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented featurette

For people who think Peter Sarsgaard should teach the ways of the world to everyone: An Education

This is the movie where we first got acquainted with Carey Mulligan. It's also the movie that had its ending spoiled on national television by co-star Peter Sarsgaard during this year's very strange Oscars ceremony. Unfortunately, I eavesdropped on what was sold to me as mere words of wisdom for the young starlet before the Best Actress prize was awarded. But don't worry, I won't pull a Sarsgaard and likely ruin a major piece of the plot for an otherwise extremely well reviewed movie. Damn you, Sarsgaard!

Based on a short article that Lynn Barber wrote for British literary magazine Granta, An Education: The Movie was penned by Nick Hornby. And you should be well aware by now how most BOPers feel about Nick Hornby...

Disc includes: Deleted scenes, audio commentary, The Making of An Education featurette, Walking The Red Carpet featurette




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For people who like the trashier side of Bravo's programming slate: The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Season 1

I've actually never seen a Real Housewives episode of any variety, which, if I do say so myself, is quite the feat as there have been approximately 27 spinoffs of the ugly monster that started it all: The Real Housewives of Orange County. Chalk it up to the fact that in college my friends and I cured our Saturday morning hangovers with episodes of America's Next Top Model, not marathons of Real Housewives.


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