How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
April 21, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who didn't know they'd ever be rooting for Mickey Rourke again: The Wrestler
I. Loved. This movie. On the surface, it's a study of a down-and-out pro wrestler trying to steer his career back to stardom. In actuality, The Wrestler is much, much more than that. It's about a lover who resorts to romancing a showgirl, because no other women will give him a chance. It's about a father who's desperate to iron out the mess with his estranged daughter. It's about the dude who can't make ends meet so he ends up with some shitty job with an even shittier boss. There's much at stake here. And then there's the story of Mickey Rourke, whose own life acts as a pseudo stand-in for what this film is trying to do. The Wrestler was my favorite movie of 2008.
Terrific acting, impressive storytelling and a master behind the lens: Darren Aronofsky.
Disc includes: With the Ring: A No-Holds-Barred One-on-One with Wrestlers and Filmmakers featurette, "The Wrestler" music video (Bruce Springsteen)
For people who think Ron Howard made a good life choice by taking a break from Tom Hanks' bad Robert Langdon hair to helm this Oscar-nominated flick: Frost/Nixon
I hadn't the chance to see Frost/Nixon when it ran for a limited engagement on Broadway, so I can't be sure what kind of intensity Frank Langella and Michael Sheen would have brought with them on stage. And even though the adapted Frost/Nixon makes for a fine movie, I've reason to believe that the drama level attained by the movie – though quite high in and of itself – pales in comparison to the intimacy that only live theater can bring.
Even so, Frost/Nixon is worth your time. In a way, it's a modern day take on the classic David vs. Goliath story. In this case, it's British TV personality David Frost going toe-to-toe with former U.S. President Richard Nixon in a series of interviews circa 1977.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, The Making of Frost/Nixon featurette, The Real Interview featurette, The Nixon Library featurette, audio commentary
For people who haven't known what to do with themselves on Friday nights since Battlestar Galactica's series finale last month: Caprica
I didn't make the mistake of merely watching the Battlestar Galactica finale. Claiming anything of that nature would surely have me hunted down by the diehards real quick. Instead, I went into the finale completely blind. As such, I had no idea what was going on at any time, and basically wasted two hours that I'll never, ever be getting back.
Because what I was watching that one Friday night in late March looked like it could be pretty fraking good television, I feel like I should give the re-imagining a chance by watching the unrated and extended pilot of the spinoff's spinoff – Caprica. Though the show doesn't kick off until sometime next year, Universal released the first episode today, in hopes of generating some rockin' buzz by its 2010 premiere date.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted scenes, video blogs
For people who like it when you call me Big Poppa: Notorious (Collector's Edition)
The week's most pimped out DVD has to be Notorious, the Fox Searchlight biopic of famed hip hop star Biggie Smalls – aka Big Poppa, aka The Notorious B.I.G. (What can I say? He was the Diddy of his day). The collector's edition comes packed with two versions of the film, seven featurettes, some deleted scenes and a digital copy of the film.
The flick was a surprise winner for Fox Searchlight. In just 1,600 screens over its opening weekend, Notorious managed to earn upwards of $20 million at the box office. In a typical January, that kind of number would put you at or near the top. But since it was released on the same weekend as Paul Blart, My Bloody Valentine 3D and Gran Torino (in its second wide release weekend), the biopic managed a fourth place finish.
Disc includes: Theatrical version and unrated director's cut, audio commentary, Behind-the-Scenes: Making of Notorious featurette, Notorious Thugs: Casting the Film featurette, Biggie Boot Camp featurette, Anatomy of a B.I.G. Performance featurette, The B.I.G. Three-Sixty featurette, Never-Before-Seen Concert Footage of the Real B.I.G. featurette, I Got a Story to Tell: The Lyrics of Biggie Smalls featurette, deleted scenes, digital copy of the film
For people who wonder how low NBC can go: My Own Worst Enemy: The Complete Series
For fun, I'll include this one in the lineup. Not enough people watched My Own Worst Enemy. And that's probably a good thing. With NBC sacrificing five primetime hours to the honorable Jay Leno next season - combined with My Own Worst Enemy's bitterly low ratings - there wasn't a chance in hell this one was going to get called back for a sophomore season. Time to look for work again, Christian!
Disc includes: Bare bones
April 21, 2009
Blu-ray
Arctic Tale
The Arrival
Frost/Nixon
Gary Moore & Friends: One Night in Dublin
Genghis Khan: To The Ends Of The Earth & Sea
Hellraiser
The Last Word
Notorious (Collector's Edition)
Sin City
Styx & Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland
The Wages Of Fear (Criterion Collection)
The Wrestler
X-Men
X-Men Trilogy
X-Men: The Last Stand
X2: X-Men United
DVD
Arctic Tale
The Arrival
Britney Spears: The Return of an Angel
Dallas: The Complete Eleventh Season
Finding Me (Widescreen)
Gary Moore & Friends: One Night in Dublin
Genghis Khan: To The Ends Of The Earth & Sea (Special Edition)
Hawaii Five-O: The Sixth Season
Honey We Shrunk Ourselves / Honey I Blew Up... (Double Feature)
Into the Blue 2: The Reef (Widescreen)
The Last Word
Life of Ryan: The Complete Series
Muddy Waters: Live at Chicagofest
Rhoda: Season One
Ron White: Behavioral Problems
Top Gear: The Complete Season 10 (Widescreen)
Tribute to Heath Ledger: Unauthorized Story
Wyatt Earp: Season 1
X-Men Trilogy