It’s a strange week – while there are a couple of major releases, there’s a very wide assortment of oddball independent movies also being made available. Here are some of the highlights. As always, if you want to read more about some of these films, the links will lead to full length reviews. So if can’t make it out to the movies and are already sick of March Madness, read ahead and give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Beneath – Indie film veteran Larry Fessenden directs this 80’s horror movie throwback that features a group of high school kids relaxing in a rowboat on the lake. They soon come under assault by a malevolent fish and must survive both the creature and their darker instincts for survival. The movies boasts a mechanical creature, avoiding the use of CGI. Critics weren’t impressed with the end result, but fans of old school horror movies may enjoy the homage more than members of the press.
Chinese Zodiac – Kung-fu fans will be both happy and sad to see Jackie Chan appear in this flick that has been reported as his final action picture. Here, he plays an Indiana Jones-style adventurer searching for twelve ancient bronze heads of the Chinese Zodiac and dealing with all sorts of crazy hiccups along the way. Reviewers didn’t care for the silly story and found it poorly paced, but suggested that fans of the actor will still be impressed with the fantastic stunts on display.
Delivery Man – This Hollywood remake of the French-Canadian film Starbuck (also available on Netflix) follows a good-natured but lazy meat delivery man who learns that his anonymous sperm donations have resulted in more than 140 children. The protagonist struggles with how to handle the situation before trying to take on a role of a secret guardian angel in their lives. Vince Vaughn and Chris Pratt star. The movie made a modest sum at the box office, but didn’t impress many critics, who felt it failed to capture the magic of the original film. Read the site’s full length review here.
The Great Beauty – Foreign movie fans will probably enjoy this Italian comedy/drama that took home the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film a few weeks back. It’s about a famed writer who turns 65 and is forced to reexamine his lavish personal and professional life choices. The press was largely positive about the film, complimenting the gorgeous cinematography and whimsical nature of the story, while those who were less enthralled felt the story floundered and couldn’t make a connection with the wealthy lead character.
HairBrained – This independent comedy/drama coming of age tale follows a brilliant but troubled young university student who is an outcast on campus. His life changes when he befriends a 41 year old freshman. While a few positive notices called it charming, in general reviews weren’t kind for this effort, with many calling it formulaic and less than engaging, featuring too many obvious and derivative gags. Alex Wolff, Brendan Fraser and Parker Posey lead the cast.
Odd Thomas – Advertised as a “supernatural thrill ride”, this nearly $30 million dollar flick based upon the book series by Dean Koontz didn’t get much of a release in the US. It tells the tale of a short order cook with supernatural ability to communicate with spirits. When an evil force arrives to take over his home town, the hero must fend heavies off in order to save it from annihilation. Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe, Addison Timlin, Patton Oswalt and 50 Cent lead the cast. Most critics complained that the tone was too schizophrenic to work, veering wildly from drama to comedy, but brave viewers may want to give it a chance.
The Past – This French/Italian co-production wowed the press upon its limited release, who almost uniformly raved calling it a powerful and honest domestic drama. The story follows a long separated husband who returns to France from Iran to finalize his divorce. He finds his soon-to-be ex-wife in a new relationship and her daughter estranged. As he tries to figure out what has transpired in his absence, a shocking secret is revealed. The movie received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
The Truth About Emanuel – This independent suspense flick follows a girl who becomes obsessed with her new neighbor that looks shockingly like the protagonist’s deceased mother. It stars Kaya Scodelario, Jessica Biel and Alfred Molina. This effort was not particularly well received – critics felt that the mystery was given away too early and that the plot headed straight into melodrama, although a few appreciated the weird and bizarre approach to the material.
Walking With Dinosaurs – Available in separate 2D and 3D versions, this animated children’s film is inspired by the popular BBC TV series. The movie adaptation follows a family of dinosaurs and the heroic acts of one little runt to survive attacks from a large predator. It underperformed at the box office and with the press. Writers acknowledged the animation as being stunning, but found fault with everything else, particularly the awful script, odd choice of having the creatures share a telepathic link (to avoid syncing voices to mouths) and overabundance of scatological humor. Looks like it’s for the small fry only. The voice cast includes John Leguizamo and Justin Long.
Welcome to the Jungle – This action comedy flick stars Jean Claude Van Damme as a demented ex-Marine who leads a corporate retreat. Things get out of hand quickly and the attendee must endure their crazed leader and each other to survive. The cast also features Adam Brody, Kristin Schaal and Dennis Haysbert. It mustered a very limited release last month, and those who saw it were not impressed. I can’t help but to quote Ernest Hardy’s Village Voice review which states that the movie is, “Pushed from the bowels of cinema hell.” That almost makes me want to see it. All others be warned.
The Wolf of Wall Street – The Best Picture Oscar nominated flick that apparently uses the f-word 544 times has finally arrived so that we can all keep track of its usage. Martin Scorcese directs this tale set in the 80’s about an arrogant New York stockbroker indulging in just about every vice imaginable. The stellar cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margo Robbie and Matthew McConaughey. Most critics responded favorably, although the minority who disliked it had an extreme reaction. Some have condemned it for promoting a selfish lifestyle, others think it satirically lampoons its subject. Now you can decide for yourself.
Blasts from the Past!
There are a few notable Blu-rays coming out, including previously delayed Aussie exploitation flick Patrick that was written up a few weeks ago. Those interested in catching up with older Martin Scorcese efforts after viewing The Wolf of Wall Street may want to give his darkly humorous, oddball effort The King of Comedy a try. It stars Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis and is being released on Blu-ray.
Drafthouse Films, who brought us the bad movie classic The Visitor a couple of weeks ago (which was reviewed here), have yet another release. It’s a Blu-ray of the 1981 low-budget exploitation cult film Ms. 45. The disc features the uncut version of this disturbing movie from filmmaker Abel Ferrara (Driller Killer, Bad Lieutenant, King of New York) about a fashion seamstress who is raped and goes on a man-killing rampage. The release features a commentary from the director and numerous featurettes. In addition to these titles are the following efforts.
Ed & His Dead Mother – Re-mastered in widescreen for DVD, this forgotten 1993 comedy flick follows the introverted and nebbish Ed, who is forced to cope with the death of his elderly mother. When a door to door salesman offers to resurrect her for a price, Ed agrees, only to learn that she now a very hungry appetite. It’s all played for laughs and there’s little in the way of graphic violence. It’s been 20 year, but if my recollection serves the entire affair is amusing quirky with a couple of big laughs. Steve Buscemi stars as Ed, with Miriam Margolyes, Sam Jenkins (now known as Sam Sorbo), John Glover and Ned Beatty rounding out the cast.
Killing American Style – This one hasn’t been seen by many, although the name of director Amir Shervan may be familiar to bad movie fans. His 1990 low-budget action flick Samurai Cop has amassed a huge underground following, and for good reason – it’s one of the most awkwardly made and unintentionally hilarious efforts of recent memory. Apparently, another one of his films have been discovered and is now being released by Cinema Epoch. Also made in 1990, Killing American Style follows a group of bank robbers who break from prison and find themselves on the run from authorities. Harold Diamond, Jim Brown and Robert Z’Dar star. Let’s all hope that this one is as absurd as his last cult classic.
You Know, For Kids!
And there’s plenty out there for kids as well. Listed below are this week’s highlights.
Avengers Confidential: Black Window & Punisher
The Chipmunk Adventure
Dragons: Defenders of the Berk, Part 1
Monster High: Frights, Camera, Action!
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: A Dash of Awesome
Pokemon: Black and White Rival Destinies – Set 1
Scooby-Doo: Wrestlemania Mystery
Walking With Dinosaurs
On the Tube!
Finally, there’s a good mix of different TV shows available as well. Check them out!
Californication: Season 6
Continuum: Season 2
Key & Peele: Seasons 1 & 2
Little House on the Prairie: Season 1 (Re-mastered)
Mapp & Lucia: The Complete Collection
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XXIX
Nature: Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem
Veep: The Complete 2nd Season
William & Mary: The Complete Collection