The Big Chill – Criterion continues their stellar July run with Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 slice-of-life classic about a group of friends dealing with loss, life and everything in-between. Featuring everyone who was anyone in the 80s (Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and JoBeth Williams), a stellar soundtrack and a script by Kasdan who make Empire Strikes Back what it is. Not a whole lot of negative can be said about this film, it’s certainly a Criterion title.
Cuban Fury – Nick Frost, Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd star in this comedy about a former salsa dance champ (Frost) looking to put the moves on a beautiful lady (Jones) who has to embrace his past and own up to his failures in order to be a winner. Awwwwww.
Lullaby – This flick can just be called Cliché: The Movie and be done. Except it stars a veritable who’s-who: Garrett Hedlund, Richard Jenkins, Amy Adams, Jennifer Hudson and Anne Archer. The film follows a underachiever who has to come home to New York to visit his father in the hospital as he works with his doctor to have his life support turned off and in effect, end his life. The acting is okay, the writing is terrible and the situations are really by-the-book. You won’t remember seeing this film when you’re done.
Noah – You know about this one, so I’ll save you the reading time. Looks awesome though.
On My Way – A French film I know not too much about except it features Catherine Deneuve so count me in as interested in checking it out at least.
The Other Woman – I’m not a fan of Cameron Diaz. But I like Leslie Mann, so... This one follows a cheater whose ladies team up and take him down. Sounds cute, but it’s directed by Nick Cassavetes, so there has to be some darkness there. I dunno – I’ll rent it I’m sure. Just not sure I’ll enjoy a second of it.
The Protector 2 – Tony Jaa and RZA join forces and... sigh. I can’t finish that sentence. I’m sure RZA is an awesome guy, and I love his music and most of the same things he does. I just... I dunno, I don’t look at him and a reason to like a martial arts film now that his Iron Fists thing sucks so bad. I out on this one, let me know if it’s any good.
Curtains – Synapse is back doing super cool 80s flicks! Sweet! This Canadian schlockfest is awesome, so you know the time put in by Don and Jerry making this thing shine is going to push it up even further. An actress goes full method by checking herself into a mental hospital to research a part but gets left in my the director who plans to cast someone else. She escapes and all the back-up actresses start dying 80s horror murder deaths. But who is the killer? Features a classic ice skating murder death. Looking forward to reading Jahnke’s review of this one.
Herzog: The Collection – 16 legendary films across 13 Blus is a no-brainer in my book. And if you were able to get the signed edition from Shout’s website, I hate you.
Legendary – A “good” cryptozoologist tracks down and studies creatures of legend. A “bad” cryptozoologist hunts them down and kills them. Nice. Dolph Lundgren plays the bad one. Nice. A misunderstood monster is killing innocent people and both men join forces to protect/hunt the creature to schlocky effect. Not so nice. Not sure about this one folks.
Marty – Ernest Borgnine has been in some great friggin’ film. But Marty, Marty was the cherry on the sundae of his career. Four Oscars (Picture, Paddy Chayefsky’s script, Director Delbert Mann and Borgnine himself) prove that. It’s a film about love, jealous friends and family and the rush of making a committed choice. It’s an incredible film and one I’m overjoyed is coming to Blu.
How about that, we made it through another month. I’m pretty excited. Really enjoying rapping to you guys about the weekly releases. I hope you’re enjoying the endeavor yourself. I’ll sit here smug, you can just keep spinnin’ those discs.
– Todd Doogan