Movies and TV on DVD (mostly from Zip): February - April 2013
February
The Help
Herb & Dorothy (documentary)
Adventureland
March
The Pillars of the Earth (mini-series)
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (documentary)
Holy Motors
Muppet Treasure Island
April
Midnight in Paris
21 Jump Street
The Hour Series 1
Inside Job (documentary)
The Special Relationship
Magic Mike
The Help (2011)
I had read the book, and wasn't blown away, but I wanted to see this mostly-female story and I like a lot of the actresses in it. (Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, etc.) It was OK. My issues with the film are the same as my issues with the book, so I guess I can't blame the film for that.
Herb & Dorothy (2009) (documentary)
This is a documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a postal worker and a librarian who spent 50+ collecting minimal and conceptual art. (Her salary was for rent and food - his was for art.) This was an interesting film, and they seem a sweet couple, though I must admit most of the art did nothing for me. (But that's OK, I don't have to own or even see any of it! You can if you want to, though, there's a bunch you can look at here: .) Part art history lesson, part biography. (Here's an article about the film, kind of a profile of Dorothy since Herb's passing: New Yorker profile, and here is a 2009 piece from the Washington Post about them as well here.
Adventureland (2009)
Jesse Eisenberg stars in this movie about a guy who works at an amusement park for the summer (instead of going to Europe like he thought he was going to), and his relationship with Emily (Kristen Stewart). I like Jesse Eisenberg, and Kristen Stewart wasn't bad. I wasn't really into this movie (SFD picked it) but it wasn't bad. I wasn't in a great mood the day we watched this so that may have affected my judgement and review.
The Pillars of the Earth (2010) (mini-series) *not from Zip*
I love this book and it was a transformative read for me as a teenager. This mini-series was very well-made and I really enjoyed it until the very end when it just got ridiculous. But other than that it was well done, and I thought, well cast! I'd just seen Les Miserables so it entertained me that Marius was Jack!
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (1999) (documentary)
Not the best documentary I've seen but that could be because I know the ending of the story - or at least part of it. (Note: I'm NEVER going to Arkansas!!)
Holy Motors (2012)
I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaated this movie. Written and directed by Leos Carax, and starring Denis Lavant as a guy who is driven around Paris in a white stretch limo (which seems to be even bigger on the inside) to a series of 'appointments' where he changes costume and character to do all kinds of bizarre things that are never explained. Half of the reviews I read of this film thought it was brilliant, and that if you didn't love it you were a moron. The other half said that this film is terrible, and if you love it you are a pretensious ass. I don't think I'm either, but this (like the conceptual art in Herb and Dorothy) did nothing for me.
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
This was fun! (How could it not be? Pirates and treasure and ships and Tim Curry and muppets and singing! (And Billy Connolly!) The kid playing Jim leaves a bit to be desired but he wasn't BAD, but the muppets get all the good lines. The "Sailing for Adventure" song was great! (You can watch it here: on YouTube.) (And here's Tim Curry's "Professional Pirate" number: hilarious.)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
I usually don't like Owen Wilson, but he wasn't terrible in this movie. He's playing a Woody Allen-esque character, which may not go over well if you don't really like Woody Allen! Interesting idea (writer in Paris ends up back in the 1920s, hanging out with Hemingway et al.) and I just loved the Paris location. I was disappointed in Rachel McAdams's fiancee character, though. Pretty flat. (The writing, not the acting.)
21 Jump Street (2012)
This was better than I expected, but to be honest I expected it to be Total Crap. Jonah Hill was annoying in parts but Channing Tatum surprised me with some good comic timing. The script is pretty self-aware, which was nice.
The Hour Series 1 (2011) *not from Zip*
I loved this right up until the last episode, then it kind of lost me. I was on board with the cast (Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Dominic West are the three mains, with Anna Chancellor and Oona Chaplin) and the story (starting an investigative news program in the Cold War of the 1950s) but as I said, the last episode of Series 1 was too over the top for me. (Trying to avoid spoilers.) Great acting, good writing, great costumes and sets. I want to watch the second series!
Inside Job (2010) (documentary)
Narrated by Matt Damon, this documentary does a pretty good job of explaining the global financial crisis of 2008, how it happened and the problems with deregulation. There's a lot of material and the film does go on a bit long, but it's worth it. I felt like I learned a lot. (And like I wanted to punch a lot of people in the face.)
The Special Relationship (2010)
Michael Sheen plays Tony Blair (again) in this movie about Blair and Clinton through the Lewinsky scandal and the Kosovo/Serbian civil war and uprising. Good casting, I didn't think Dennis Quaid looked like Clinton, but he had the voice really well. Hope Davis was excellent as Hillary, and Helen McCrory (who played Cherie Blair to Michael Sheen's Tony Blair in The Queen) is back again and excellent.
Magic Mike (2012)
This was a part of our inadvertent Channing Tatum Film Festival, seeing as we've watched three movies with him in as many months (The Eagle, 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike). This was funny, the stripping costumes were entertaining, I enjoyed the soundtrack. I'm not sure the story really came together well - but does it matter? I thought Matthew McConaughey was funny, and as over-the-top as he needed to be.
Currently out from Zip:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011) (documentary)
Limitless (2011)
Vanity Fair (2004)
What about YOU? Seen anything good lately? Anything you recommend?
2013: Homicide, The American, The Adventures of Tintin, Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Eagle, Over the Hedge, 36 quai des orfevres, The Help, Herb & Dorothy, Adventureland, The Pillars of the Earth, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, Holy Motors, Muppet Treasure Island, Midnight in Paris, 21 Jump Street, The Hour Series 1, Inside Job, The Special Relationship, Magic Mike
The Help
Herb & Dorothy (documentary)
Adventureland
March
The Pillars of the Earth (mini-series)
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (documentary)
Holy Motors
Muppet Treasure Island
April
Midnight in Paris
21 Jump Street
The Hour Series 1
Inside Job (documentary)
The Special Relationship
Magic Mike
The Help (2011)
I had read the book, and wasn't blown away, but I wanted to see this mostly-female story and I like a lot of the actresses in it. (Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, etc.) It was OK. My issues with the film are the same as my issues with the book, so I guess I can't blame the film for that.
Herb & Dorothy (2009) (documentary)
This is a documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a postal worker and a librarian who spent 50+ collecting minimal and conceptual art. (Her salary was for rent and food - his was for art.) This was an interesting film, and they seem a sweet couple, though I must admit most of the art did nothing for me. (But that's OK, I don't have to own or even see any of it! You can if you want to, though, there's a bunch you can look at here: .) Part art history lesson, part biography. (Here's an article about the film, kind of a profile of Dorothy since Herb's passing: New Yorker profile, and here is a 2009 piece from the Washington Post about them as well here.
Adventureland (2009)
Jesse Eisenberg stars in this movie about a guy who works at an amusement park for the summer (instead of going to Europe like he thought he was going to), and his relationship with Emily (Kristen Stewart). I like Jesse Eisenberg, and Kristen Stewart wasn't bad. I wasn't really into this movie (SFD picked it) but it wasn't bad. I wasn't in a great mood the day we watched this so that may have affected my judgement and review.
The Pillars of the Earth (2010) (mini-series) *not from Zip*
I love this book and it was a transformative read for me as a teenager. This mini-series was very well-made and I really enjoyed it until the very end when it just got ridiculous. But other than that it was well done, and I thought, well cast! I'd just seen Les Miserables so it entertained me that Marius was Jack!
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (1999) (documentary)
Not the best documentary I've seen but that could be because I know the ending of the story - or at least part of it. (Note: I'm NEVER going to Arkansas!!)
Holy Motors (2012)
I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaated this movie. Written and directed by Leos Carax, and starring Denis Lavant as a guy who is driven around Paris in a white stretch limo (which seems to be even bigger on the inside) to a series of 'appointments' where he changes costume and character to do all kinds of bizarre things that are never explained. Half of the reviews I read of this film thought it was brilliant, and that if you didn't love it you were a moron. The other half said that this film is terrible, and if you love it you are a pretensious ass. I don't think I'm either, but this (like the conceptual art in Herb and Dorothy) did nothing for me.
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
This was fun! (How could it not be? Pirates and treasure and ships and Tim Curry and muppets and singing! (And Billy Connolly!) The kid playing Jim leaves a bit to be desired but he wasn't BAD, but the muppets get all the good lines. The "Sailing for Adventure" song was great! (You can watch it here: on YouTube.) (And here's Tim Curry's "Professional Pirate" number: hilarious.)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
I usually don't like Owen Wilson, but he wasn't terrible in this movie. He's playing a Woody Allen-esque character, which may not go over well if you don't really like Woody Allen! Interesting idea (writer in Paris ends up back in the 1920s, hanging out with Hemingway et al.) and I just loved the Paris location. I was disappointed in Rachel McAdams's fiancee character, though. Pretty flat. (The writing, not the acting.)
21 Jump Street (2012)
This was better than I expected, but to be honest I expected it to be Total Crap. Jonah Hill was annoying in parts but Channing Tatum surprised me with some good comic timing. The script is pretty self-aware, which was nice.
The Hour Series 1 (2011) *not from Zip*
I loved this right up until the last episode, then it kind of lost me. I was on board with the cast (Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Dominic West are the three mains, with Anna Chancellor and Oona Chaplin) and the story (starting an investigative news program in the Cold War of the 1950s) but as I said, the last episode of Series 1 was too over the top for me. (Trying to avoid spoilers.) Great acting, good writing, great costumes and sets. I want to watch the second series!
Inside Job (2010) (documentary)
Narrated by Matt Damon, this documentary does a pretty good job of explaining the global financial crisis of 2008, how it happened and the problems with deregulation. There's a lot of material and the film does go on a bit long, but it's worth it. I felt like I learned a lot. (And like I wanted to punch a lot of people in the face.)
The Special Relationship (2010)
Michael Sheen plays Tony Blair (again) in this movie about Blair and Clinton through the Lewinsky scandal and the Kosovo/Serbian civil war and uprising. Good casting, I didn't think Dennis Quaid looked like Clinton, but he had the voice really well. Hope Davis was excellent as Hillary, and Helen McCrory (who played Cherie Blair to Michael Sheen's Tony Blair in The Queen) is back again and excellent.
Magic Mike (2012)
This was a part of our inadvertent Channing Tatum Film Festival, seeing as we've watched three movies with him in as many months (The Eagle, 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike). This was funny, the stripping costumes were entertaining, I enjoyed the soundtrack. I'm not sure the story really came together well - but does it matter? I thought Matthew McConaughey was funny, and as over-the-top as he needed to be.
Currently out from Zip:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011) (documentary)
Limitless (2011)
Vanity Fair (2004)
What about YOU? Seen anything good lately? Anything you recommend?
2013: Homicide, The American, The Adventures of Tintin, Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Eagle, Over the Hedge, 36 quai des orfevres, The Help, Herb & Dorothy, Adventureland, The Pillars of the Earth, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, Holy Motors, Muppet Treasure Island, Midnight in Paris, 21 Jump Street, The Hour Series 1, Inside Job, The Special Relationship, Magic Mike