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Every week, I search through movie release schedules to find movie rentals that I would have otherwise missed for lack of TV advertising. I'll watch the big name releases along with everyone else, but I know from experience that sometimes the box office failures, critically panned, straight-to-DVD, and independently financed movies that nobody's heard of can offer some real hidden gems. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. This column is dedicated to bringing awareness to those potential treasures. Listed alphabetically, each movie includes a list of notable cast members, a basic plot summary, its DVD and/or cloud release date (based on Netflix - other services may have the movie earlier), and the basic reason why the movie caught my attention. With any luck, one or more of these will catch your attention, too. My picks of the week are listed at the end of the column.

Here's my watchlist of DVD and cloud releases for the weeks of
June 4th (click the movie title to see the trailer)

Deep in the Heart
Who: Jon Gries, Elaine Hendrix, Val Kilmer, DB Sweeney
What: A spiritual-based drama about an alcoholic father (Gries) who tries to make things right by his young adult son and daughter. In taking on a steady job selling windows he becomes an inspiration to others. He receives guidance from a spiritual figure called "The Bearded Man" (Kilmer).
When: June 7th - DVD and online on demand
Why: Jon Gries and Val Kilmer back together again! If only it were Real Genius 2. Back in the day, director Christopher Cain directed Young Guns, The Next Karate Kid, and Pure Country.

Escape From Planet Earth
Who: (voices:) Brendan Fraser, Rob Corddry, Ricky Gervais, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Shatner, Steve Zahn, Chris Parnell, George Lopez, Craig Robinson, Jane Lynch
What: A 3D animated sci-fi adventure, about an alien astronaut (Fraser) named Scorch Supernova who gets an SOS signal to go to Earth. Scorch is captured by humans and taken to Area 51 to join other captured "aliens", and it's up to Scorch's brother to save them.
When: June 4th - DVD and online on demand
Why: This family-friendly animated comedy comes from The Weinstein Company, and looks fairly similar to DreamWorks' Monsters vs. Aliens from a few years ago. The movie didn't open well either financially or critically. Still, it would be easy viewing for a family with kids.

It's a Disaster
Who: Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Erinn Hayes
What: An end-of-the-world comedy about a group of friends who meet for a regular brunch but suddenly have to deal with a poison gas attack on the city. The comedy is in watching each character react in panic, revealing their own personal tales of doom.
When: June 4th - DVD and online on demand
Why: I'm a long time Stiles fan, but dark comedy isn't her usual bit, so this will be interesting. Fans of Arrested Development probably have a sense of the kind of comedy David Cross will bring to the movie. Think of this not as a horror movie but a chance to eavesdrop into the scandalous private conversations of others, sort of a gun-to-your-head game of truth or dare.

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