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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 week of
June 18th (click the movie title to see the trailer)


21 and Over
Who: Justin Chon, Skylar Astin, Miles Teller, Sarah Wright
What: An all-nighter comedy about a wild birthday adventure among three friends the night before a big exam. Imagine a younger version of The Hangover, because it was written by the same screenwriters.
When: June 18th - DVD and online on demand
Why: I thought The Hangover was fun the first time, but was bored by the same-old from the sequel. I've also seen Superbad, so something in the middle doesn't feel especially new. But crazy comedies can produce some funny moments, so I'd check it out. Especially for Sarah Wright.

Beautiful Creatures
Who: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Emma Thompson
What: Based on the young-adult novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, this is a supernatural teen romance/thriller apparently about two warring clan forces. Alice Englert stars as a girl, and possibly a witch, who will be chosen by the dark or light side on her 16th birthday. Alden Ehrenreich plays a boy who falls in love with her and is doomed for it. Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson seem to be relatives on the dark side, while Jeremy Irons is on the side of light.
When: June 18th - DVD and online on demand
Why: This looks a little like Twilight, but more confusing and with less angst but more melodrama. I liked the music in the trailer, and the effects looked nifty. I like Emmy Rossum, but her character seems to be a little over the top nutso, which seems to be the norm for young adult novel-based villains (thinking of Helena Bonham Carter in the Harry Potter movies). I'm also not sure I can cope with Emma Thompson using a South Carolina accent.

The Brass Teapot
Who: Juno Temple, Michael Angarano, Alexis Bledel, Alia Shawkat, Bobby Moynihan, Jack McBrayer
What: A comedy about a young couple, struggling for money, who find an antique teapot that spews money when they hurt themselves. The question is how far they'll go with the pain in order to get money.
When: June 18th - DVD and online on demand
Why: The description of this movie made me first think of a dark thriller, like The Box, and I imagined lots of blood and betrayal. As it turns out, this is a fun comedy about consumerism and what we'll do when we get dollar signs in our eyes. The pain is far less gory, with S&M fun and vanity medical procedures without anesthesia. This looks like a lot of fun.

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