A gaggle of DVD releases to tell you about today yesterday (I was busy…doing…stuff). A gaggle, I say, a veritable gaggle.

In the Shadow of the Moon

In the Shadow of the Moon
This one is at the top of my list this week, if only because no one knows it exists. A poignant, effective documentary about the Apollo space missions in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Features restored archival NASA footage of the missions, and interviews with the remaining crew members who flew them. A glimpse into an era most of us never experienced.

Into the Wile

Into the Wild
Christopher McCandless graduated from Emory University at the top of his class, gave up all his possessions, donated his $24,000 in savings to charity, and hitchhiked into the Alaskan wilderness. Alone in a rundown van, he died of starvation (don’t worry, giving that away is like telling you the Titanic sinks). Sean Penn directs this true story based on Jon Krakauer’s book. Watch for the excellent Hal Holbrook, who’s up for a Best Supporting statue for his role.

Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone
Ben Affleck (yes, that Ben Affleck) makes his directorial debut here to almost universal raves. I’m actually really happy for the guy, as I thought he had been reduced to begging his buddy Matt Damon for a sidekick role in the next Bourne movie. A little girl gets kidnapped and Casey Affleck (Ben’s little bro) has to find her amidst a web of lies & corruption. Law & Order: SVU for smart people.

Becoming Jane

Becoming Jane
Jane Austen purists are undoubtedly tearing their hair out and mounting 40 day fasts in protest (you think I’m joking, don’t you?) of this supposedly ‘true’ story of how Jane Austen fell in love, but its really all in good fun. Anne Hathaway dazzles as Jane, and current British-Hearthrob-Go-To-Boy James McAvoy (who’s in Atonement) plays the object of the author’s affection. Its a good idea in theory, even if it falters a bit in application. You could do worse.

And on that note, I bring you the ‘worse’ that you could do after the jump.

We Own the Night

We Own the Night
Ok, I exaggerate. This one probably isn’t that bad (although the title is horrendous – sounds more like a gothic vampire romance than a gritty cop drama). Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlburg play brothers on opposite sides of the law and, surprise surprise, one of them has to choose where his allegiances really lie. I really like Marky Mark, but I just can’t drum up the desire to see this one.

No Reservations

No Reservations
Let me just tell you what the tag lines on the movie poster are. Underneath the title it says, “Life isn’t always made to order,” and near the bottom it reads “Somethings cooking this summer.”Ah. Clever. Stir those witty marketing lines into the bowl with that ‘Ah-gee-shucks’ look on Aaron Eckhart’s face, add a little dash of Catherine Zeta, and top it all off with some sugary romantic sweetness, and you have a tasty cinematic cake! (see what I did there? pretty clever, huh?)

Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?

Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?
I really like what Tyler Perry does from a spiritual point of view. His movies ultimately have hopeful, redemptive endings. But for the life of me I cannot reconcile that with the movie lover in me. It screams bloody murder every time one of these things is released, threatening to gouge my eyes out lest I be forced to look upon the poster. Shudder. This one has Janet Jackson in it, which is why its different. Whatever.