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Tuesday, 15 April 2014 12:52

Doogan’s Queue for the week of April 15, 2014

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This holy week is rather weak in terms of worthy-of-mentioning new releases. But, my lack of excitement for these titles isn’t going to stop me from letting you all know what’s coming out. Just don’t kill the messenger.

Black Nativity – Langston Hughes’ gospel-themed stage play gets a modern facelift in this musical film by Kasi Lemmons. Not too much praise for this, but it can’t be too bad considering the talent behind it: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Vondie Curtis-Hall  and Nas all lend a face and a voice.  [Read on here…]

Breaking the Waves (Criterion Blu-ray Disc)Breaking The Waves – From Criterion comes one of Lars von Trier’s most accessible and critically acclaimed films starring Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård in breakthrough roles. The fore bearer of von Trier’s Dogme 95 filmmaking movement, it’s also the first of on Trier’s Golden Heart Trilogy (followed by his first Dogme 95 film The Idiots (technically the second Dogme 95 film) and Dancer In The Dark).

Flowers in the Attic – This DVD only release is an update of the cult film and a more accurate adaptation of the famed book series.  The first sequel (Petals On The Wind) should be on TV screens in May.

Möbius – Jean Dujardin, Tim Roth and Cécile de France star in this twisty, turny espionage thriller about international money laundering, FSB vs. CIA hi-jinks and  sex. Maybe a bit more confusing than it needs to be, check it out for the high caliber acting and try and figure out the convoluted plot later.

Philomena (Blu-ray Disc)The Nut Job – For someone who loves animation more than most anything in the world, this movie doesn’t do a thing for me. It’s a heist flick about animals taking nuts from a store in order to redeem a huge mistake made by a squirrel names Buddy (Will Arnett).

Philomena – Stephen Frears returns with a huge award magnet based on the book by Martin Sixsmith about his mother (here played by Judi Dench).

Ride Along – Ice Cube and Kevin Hart join comedic forces about an Atlanta cop hazing his sister’s fiancé. The best thing to come out of this was the Conan O’Brien sketch where he, Cube and Hart got a Lyft ride.


The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
– Ben Stiller fell down, hit his head and woke up thinking he is Spike Jonze is all I can say about this. He was wrong.

Sleep, My LoveTouch of Evil (Blu-ray Disc)Douglas Sirk’s 1948 classic starring Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings and Don Ameche is a well-made criss-cross noir thriller and comes from Olive.

Universal Classic Reissues: Double Indemnity and Touch Of Evil – I’ll leave you with this – if you love film, and you haven’t picked these two films up by next week, I will send Adam to your house to tell you how much he is disappointed in you. It’ll be the most heart-breaking thing you ever hear and I don’t suggest it for anyone. So, go pick these up.

Whatever holiday you celebrate this week, know that we are there with you in spirit. Next week isn’t much better than this week, sadly, but look for another Criterion, Bettie Page and Spider-Man. What? Yes.

Click links above to make your purchases and keep spinning those discs…

– Todd Doogan

 

 

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