How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
September 29, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who want to know whether Maggie Gyllenhaal reacts to car seats the same way she does strollers: Away We Go
Away We Go, a small dramedy from distributor Focus Features, marks a sharp departure for director Sam Mendes, who previously helmed more Blockbuster-y type projects – American Beauty, Revolutionary Road – that broke out to big success with American audiences. In the movie, Office star John Krasinski and former SNL player Maya Rudolph play a young couple who take a trip across the United States (and even into Canada) to lock down the best location to raise their unborn child.
While both Krasinski and Rudolph do good work in their respective roles – and in particular Rudolph, who finally lands a co-star part after serving up a considerable amount of screen time in 2006's A Prairie Home Companion – it's the performances of the secondary actors you meet along the journey who steal the spotlight. Highlights include Jeff Daniels and Catherine O'Hara as Krasinski's totally aloof parents, Allison Janney as an obnoxious, yet extremely likeable whack job and Maggie Gyllenhaal as, essentially, the queen of bohemians.
The movie, which previously went under the names This Must Be the Place and Farlanders (yikes), boasts an impressive soundtrack. Nine of the 13 folksy tracks come from Brit singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch. Murdoch's "All My Days", which plays in both the trailer and film and comes recommended by me as a must-listen, is arguably the flick's unofficial anthem.
Disc includes: The Making of Away We Go featurette, Green Filmmaking featurette, audio commentary
For people who can't believe NPH will ever settle for one woman (or any woman for that matter): How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season Four
Fact: I've seen 64 episodes of How I Met Your Mother. However, for the purposes of this column, I'll go ahead and admit that I've yet to see a single episode of season four. Before writing me off as a traitor, I do feel I reserve the right to back up my reasons for boycotting all of last season. (And, so far, the pair of season five episodes that aired this month).
Is it just me or did How I Met Your Mother jump the shark when it became less about the characters (i.e. shortly after Ted and Robin started dating for reals) and more about finding ways to put them in wacky situations? Essentially, HIMYM transitioned from a solid, character-driven comedy (with a ton of heart) to what appears like your everyday laffer, albeit with a stronger eye for episodic continuity and pop culture gags than other modern sitcoms. And, after being blindly dragged around for years without a valuable hint at who the mother of Ted's kids actually is – a yellow umbrella? Really, that's the best you can do? – I just had to put my foot down.
At least a show like The Office had the decency to end its central mystery – that of whether or not Jim and Pam would end up together – before things got dangerously repetitious. The move worked wonders for NBC's comedy, and I feel a similar HIMYM revelation would do about the same.
With that being said, HIMYM: Season Four arrives in stores today! To its credit, the season clocked in as one of the series' most-watched to date (second only to the comedy's debut season, which in my opinion ranks as HIMYM's finest). My guess is the Barney/Robin storyline injected new life into the show – a notion that makes sense, given the writers' superb job in crafting a hesitant relationship between Ted and Robin so many seasons ago.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, gag reel, Barney Stinson: That Guy's Awesome music video, Eriksen's Fight Club featurette, A Night with Your Mother featurette
For people who were wondering who would be duking it out on the big screen after Freddy, Jason, Aliens and Predators settled their scores: Monsters vs. Aliens
Though I see my fair share of animated movies, I'm certainly no fiend like Kim Hollis. So, even though I've yet to see Monsters vs. Aliens, the DreamWorks pic is firmly planted on my radar and will eventually be seen by me before the end of the year. (Actually, I would have already downloaded and watched the thing – shhhhhhh – had my German skills exceeded beyond Guten Tag).
A big win for DreamWorks when its Stateside bow nearly eclipsed $60 million at the tail end of March, Monsters vs. Aliens stars the voice of Reese Witherspoon as Susan Murphy, a young woman who morphs into a giant monster after being struck by a meteorite from space. Following the incident, Susan is transported to a secret compound, where she confronts the government's collection of eclectic group of monsters it has collected over the years.
Typical of Dreamworks, the movie lays claim to an all-star voice cast including Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland and Stephen Colbert.
Disc includes: Modern Monster Movie-Making featurette, deleted scenes, animation video jukebox, audio commentary, The Tech of Monsters vs. Aliens featurette, three sneak peeks of upcoming DreamWorks projects
For people who are in need of a little munchkin pick-me-up this week: The Wizard Of Oz (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
Not really sure how much of an intro The Wizard of Oz needs. (It's comparable to Andy Bernard asking whether or not you've ever heard of Cornell). I, thankfully, have heard of both. Out today is a 70-year anniversary disc (Blu-ray, too!) of the 1939 classic. The movie comes bundled with quality extras, like a documentary on director Victor Fleming, a TV special called The Dreamer of Oz and other featurettes.
No dice for those of you hoping for a gag reel.
Disc includes: The Life and Time of Original Author L. Frank Baum and the Early Screen Adaptations of the Oz Books featurette, Director Victor Fleming documentary, The Dreamer of Oz TV special, 2007
Hollywood Walk of Fame Salute to the Munchkins featurette, When the Lion Roars bonus movie, original 1939 campaign book reproduction, 52-page commemorative book, original movie budget replica, digital copy, 70th anniversary watch, The Patchwork Girl of Oz silent film, the complete The Magic Cloak of Oz
September 29, 2009
Blu-ray
Away We Go
Billy Jack (Remastered)
The Brothers Bloom
Burst Angel Box Set & Ova
The Dark Crystal
Facing the Giants
Fire And Ice
Fireproof
The Girlfriend Experience
Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
Hi Def Moods: HD Moods Trains
How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season Four
Labyrinth
Lies & Illusions
Management
Monsters vs. Aliens
National Geo: Ultimate High-Definition Collection
Secrets of the Cross
Snakes on a Plane
Streets of Blood
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Special Edition)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
UFC: Ultimate Knockouts 7
The Unit: The Final Season
The Universe: Complete Seasons 1-3
The Universe: The Complete Season Three
The Wizard Of Oz (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
Yellowstone: Battle for Life
DVD
Away We Go
Ax Men: The Complete Season Two
The Brothers Bloom
The Chris Rock Show: Seasons 1 & 2 (Set)
CSI NY: Seasons 1-5 (Set)
CSI: New York - The Fifth Season (Widescreen)
Day Break: The Complete Series
Fallen Angels (Director's Cut)
The Girlfriend Experience
How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season Four
Kings: The Complete Series
Life on Mars: The Complete Series (Widescreen)
Madonna: Celebration
Management
Manson: 40 Years Later
Monsters vs. Aliens
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Extended Edition)
New York Ripper (Special Edition)
Rock of Ages: Unauthorized... Rolling Stones
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Special Edition)
Traffik (20th Anniversary Edition)
UFC: Ultimate Knockouts 7
Ultraman: Complete Series
The Unit: The Complete Series (Set)
The Unit: The Final Season
The Universe: Complete Seasons 1-3
The Universe: The Complete Season Three
Wimbledon 2009 Mens Final: Federer vs. Roddick
Wimbledon 2009 Official Film
The Wizard Of Oz (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
WWE: D Generation X