We Bought a Zoo, the latest movie from Cameron Crowe, had Criticker users split, but the film landed on the positive end of the spectrum. Most appreciated its warm heart and engaging story, with another great performance from Matt Damon. But even better is an intense thriller out of Italy. The Double Hour had viewers on the edge of their seats. It seems to be the kind of intelligent film that keeps you guessing and rewards multiple viewings.
Follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend.
War Horse @ Amazon
Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
We Bought a Zoo @ Amazon
A spark between a newly-met couple is snuffed out tragically
The Double Hour @ Amazon
A look at how a couple’s romance is affected by the Bosnian War. (imdb)
In the Land of Blood and Honey @ Amazon
The disappearance of a 3-year-old boy divides a tightly knit community and culls out its secrets. (imdb)
Angels Crest @ Amazon
With a great cast, featuring Viggo Mortensen, Kiera Knightly and Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method, is the pick of the week. Although, considering the star power and the fact that it’s directed by David Cronenberg, an average tier of just over 5 might be considered a disappointment. At any rate, it’s better than one of the films unbelievably nominated for Best Picture this year: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Criticker users thoroughly rejected this it as manipulative tripe, starring a whimsical child who carries a tambourine and is going to grow into the most obnoxious teenager of all time. But, you can judge for yourself… someone must have liked it.
On the eve of WWI, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, the film takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Mortensen), and Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross (Cassel), a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries. (beyondhollywood.com)
A Dangerous Method @ Amazon
A nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player, and pacifist searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close @ Amazon
Playing around while aboard a cruise ship, the Chipmunks and Chipettes accidentally go overboard and end up marooned in a tropical paradise. They discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked @ Amazon
Independent film maverick. Trailblazing writer/director who takes chances with style and script. Inspirational humanist. Box-office success. Indie filmmaker from the 1970s or 1990s? No: Roger Corman! (mubi.com)
Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel @ Amazon
A couple great new films on DVD this week, including the latest from Spanish madman Pedro Almódovar and the second-best film of 2011, as chosen by users of Criticker. Senna, a documentary about the Brazilian Formula 1 champion, seemed a strange choice to place so high on our year-end list, but users have been almost unanimous in praise of the film.
For his latest project, The Skin I Live In, Antonio Banderas returned to the director who’s always brought out his best work. And once again, the Almódovar/Banderas team-up results in a unique, bizarre and very watchable film. Criticker users loved it enough to land it in 2011′s top twenty.
A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
The Skin I Live In @ Amazon
Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.
Immortals @ Amazon
Senna –
Average Tier 8.28
A documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34.
Senna @ Amazon
A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she’s banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.
Like Crazy @ Amazon
City kid Ren McCormack moves to a small town where rock ‘n’ roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Footloose @ Amazon
The top film new to DVD this week is Hugo, one of 2011′s favorites among Criticker users, and the winner of five Oscars this past weekend, including the awards for cinematography and visual effects. Shockingly, Rowan Atkinson’s latest Johnny English film was completely snubbed! But you can judge its merits for yourself this week.
Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.
Hugo @ Amazon
Johnny English goes up against international assassins hunting down the Chinese premier.
Johnny English Reborn @ Amazon
When four 40-something college friends meet up for their annual reunion, things start to spiral out of control.
I Melt with You @ Amazon
After watching their best friend get murdered, a group of teens struggle to expose a local hero as the vicious killer and keep from becoming his next victims.
Beneath the Darkness @ Amazon
Of all the films new to DVD this week, the most frequently-seen by Criticker users wasn’t one of the mediocre films which did decent box office, such as Puss in Boots, J. Edgar, or Tower Heist. No, instead more users went to the excellent Martha Marcy May Marlene directed and written by debut filmmaker Sean Durkin. Check out this atmospheric, paranoid thriller about a woman who decides to leave a cult if you haven’t already.
Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.
Martha Marcy May Marlene @ Amazon
A story about the events leading up to the sword fighting cat’s meeting with Shrek and his friends.
Puss in Boots @ Amazon
“London Boulevard” is the story of a man newly released from prison who falls in love with a reclusive young movie star and finds himself in a duel with a vicious gangster.
London Boulevard @ Amazon
As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.
J. Edgar @ Amazon
When a group of hard working guys find out they’ve fallen victim to a wealthy business man’s Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence.
Tower Heist @ Amazon
Jeff Nichol’s creeping, ominous Take Shelter wasn’t a huge hit at the box office, but absolutely wowed Criticker users last year, and ended at spot #3 on our year-end countdown. Not bad for a low-budget indie, and since you probably didn’t get a chance to see it in theaters, seek it out now that it’s on DVD.
American journalist Paul Kemp takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the ex-patriots who live there.
The Rum Diary @ Amazon
Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.
Take Shelter @ Amazon
About a recent college grad who returns home while she tries to figure out what to do with her life.
Tiny Furniture @ Amazon
Re-imagined account of the early life of Maria Anna ‘Nannerl’ Mozart (Marie Féret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right.
Mozart’s Sister @ Amazon
Ricardo (Jorge Salinas) is a successful ad man living happily with his beautiful wife, Blanca (Silvia Navarro). However, the strength of their love is put to the test as the couple faces a sudden crisis in their relationship when Ricardo develops an embarrassing little problem: erectile dysfunction. (coveringmedia.com)
Labios rojos @ Amazon
Far and away the best film new to DVD this week is Drive. Two of the best young talents in movies join forces to thrilling effect here, with Denmark’s Nicolas Winding Refn directing and Canada’s Ryan Gosling starring. This was one of the best films of the year, according to Criticker users. The rest of the new films aren’t too inspiring — Justin Timberlake’s In Time could be worth a look, and young horror fans who weren’t alive in 1982 might want to check out the remake of John Carpenter’s classic The Thing.
Drive –
Average Tier 7.89
A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
Drive @ Amazon
In the future people stop aging at 25 and must work to buy themselves more time, but when a young man finds himself with more time than he can imagine he must run from the corrupt police force to save his life.
In Time @ Amazon
At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson.
The Thing @ Amazon
Successful publisher Will Atenton (Craig) quit a job in New York City to relocate his wife, Libby (Weisz), and two girls to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children.
Dream House @ Amazon
A retired CIA operative is paired with a young FBI agent to unravel the mystery of a senator’s murder, with all signs pointing to a Soviet assassin.
The Double @ Amazon
Recent Comments