Top DVD Picks: Summer 2010
This time we've got quite a variety of flicks for you - from dark comedy to historic drama, documentary to comedic horror - it's a bag full of surprises. Mostly driven by young actors, these movies are different, fun to watch and worth talking about. Read on for our top DVD picks for Summer 2010.
Youth in Revolt
The story is old as day - a teenage boy is anxious to lose his virginity; so when he meets a new girl he immediately falls head over heals in love and will do anything for her. But it works thanks to the absolutely brilliant dialogue. The screenplay is so sharp and witty, you will listen to every word. And it helps that Michael Cera (of the Juno fame) is cast as the main character, Nick Twisp. His alter ego - the suave and dangerous Francois adds a touch of thrill to the story. The girl - Sheeni, played by Portia Doubleday - is perfect too - a little bit sweet, a little bit bad and very smart and understanding. Despite the predictability of the relationship, the story has a great pace and you will often be surprised by the course of events and fun characters that pop up throughout. A few such charaters that stood out for me were Jean Smart as Nick's mom, funny man Zach Galiaflanakis and Ray Liotta as mom's boyfriends and Steve Buschemi as mom's ex-husband. With a brilliant screenplay by Gustin Nash based on C.D. Payne's novel, this film is must-see.
Buy Youth in Revolt
Young Victoria
It's so much more a love story than it is a period drama. As the title suggests, Young Queen Victoria is the focal point of the story. She is raised as the future queen, yet feels like a puppet at the hands of her mother and helpers. Eventually she becomes queen and comes into her own. However, it is the meeting of young Albert (Rupert Friend) that changes her perspective on life. She is already a rebel and only marches to the beat of her own drummer, so when Albert encourages that kind of free will, she runs with it and confidently comes into her own regal role. Albert does have alterior motives in the beginning (what would be the royal world without it?) but he is certainly madly in love with Victoria and, despite many suitors, she can't keep her mind off him either. Eventually they marry. Emily Blunt is magnificent as young Queen Victoria. I couldn't think of anyone better to play this strong, beautiful and powerful character. Victoria marries Albert and you expect paradise, yet there are many challenges, as with other couples where one spouse has a more significant job than the other. This film won an Oscar for best Costume Design and it is absolutely beautiful - from design to decor to sets. You will be pleasantly surprised by this movie.
Buy The Young Victoria
Boogie Woogie
This is supposed to be a comedy about the London art, art dealer and art collector scene. Yet, quite a few dark moments made it more of a dark comedy. A certain mood of gloom was evident in the video art of the wannabe artist and in the really bizarre story of the new receptionist at the art gallery played by Amanda Seyfried. Heather Graham as Beth is somewhat a star of this flick - she works for the gallery owner (Danny Huston as Art Spindle) but secretly wants her own deal, which she eventually gets by bedding and then marrying one of the art collectors, Bob, played by Stellan Skarsgard. Bob is married to Jean (Gillian Anderson, who was perfectly conflicted in this role) who is starting to see the up-and-coming artist, Joe (played by Jack Huston, Danny's nephew). This is quite an incestuous world but everyone is not as upset about the developments of the heart as much as who will get a better deal for a piece of art and who can collect more. At the center of the story is a modern painting known as Boogie Woogie. It belongs to an aging man who may have to sell it due to increasing cost of life; his family is certainly eager to sell. All the above mentioned sharks of the London art world are desperate to get this rare work of art but sadly none of them get to. You will have to see the movie to find out why. Another plotline in this so-called comedy is the story of Dewey, played by Alan Cumming, a sad man who wants to be part of this close-knit art world but instead becomes a joke that turns into tragedy, so, in the end is viewed as an artist. Life does imitate art, but to what extent? Still, this is worth a rental.
it Might Get Loud
Music plays a huge role in my life and my family's life. So no wonder, we were excited to see this documentary, all about the four big guitar players on the music scene - The Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White. What I didn't expect was how serious each one of them was about the music making and how much planning was involved in making their solos unique. Of course, each of them is a huge music fan. Jimmy Page has a room full of records floor to top and Jack White plays in 4 bands. The Edge records each track in his Dublin studio spending hours layering levels with a unique understanding of each song. The moments when they talk about the music and what makes it special, you can definitely see the passion for what they do. I always noticed that the best musicians are not the best players (though these three certainly are) but rather the ones that truly enjoy what they are doing and put that passion into their music. The last jam session was a lot of fun to watch, and so was the time when they all started singing and playing The Weight - my all time favorite by the Band. This documentary was not only revealing about each of these super-talented musicians but was also a lot of fun to just kick back and listen to some good guitar picks.
Buy It Might Get Loud
District 9
Never in a lifetime did I think I would recommend this revolting and horrifying flick. Yet, there are psychological factors at play that made it so compelling to watch. The approach of making it a la documentary made it a little more interesting, as it added a sense of reality. The special effects were amazing and at the same time very subtle - an art to accomplish. I think a lot of the scenes dragged a little too long; I didn't particularly need such a long setting, but it worked out in the end. The added comedy of the main character (Wikus) was a jolt to watch too and Sharlto Copley got this part just right. The story is about an alien ship that sets down over South Africa but can't leave. The humans push the aliens down and set up an alien camp - District 9 - with huts for homes and wire around it. It's basically a slum for aliens and life there is shown as desperate. Humans hate the aliens but aliens can't leave, or so they think. Wikus is the leader of the project to move the district with the aliens deeper toward the desert and away from the big city. As aliens are pushed out, casualties occur, but Wikus is the one that get deep in the middle of it, being sprayed with a mysterious powder that slowly turns him into an alien. Of course, his employers, the military company seeking aliens to operate their unique weapons that can only be operated by aliens, are thrilled about half-human (who can take orders) and half-alien (who can operate the alien laser guns). The story twists further and further as you get along, but there is a lot of heart in the midst of all the craziness. The ending is ambiguous and definitely leaves room for a sequel. Check it out, just watch it on an empty stomach.
Buy District 9 (Two-Disc Edition)