Release Dates Oct 06 2008 @ 06:00 am
DVD Releases for October 7th, 2008
Ah, it’s so nice to be done with 13 hour days, although it was a nice switch from the usual occupational humdrum. What’s particularly sad is that I haven’t watched a film (other than spreading Casino Royale out over the course of two nights) in two weeks. I plan to rectify that immediately. If you haven’t seen a film in over two weeks, then you’re in luck! There are some new ones coming out tomorrow! They might even be good! Or at the very least interesting!
Something else that might be interesting (!), Daniel Getahun is running a Movie Mogul Game over at his corner of the internets, so zip that way and join up. Just try and best me and my exhaustive grasp of box office economics. Just try.
Boy A
This one sounds like a downer (young boy is convicted of murder, boy goes to prison, boy gets out anonymously as adult, boy tries to experience life, boy’s hopes end horribly, etc.), but I’m still intrigued. As it’s a no-name production team behind a no-name cast, this one is as indie as they come, but I’m intrigued. Consider me a sucker for well-made depression fests (Requiem For a Dream is in my Top 10). See also: Alexander Coleman’s glowing take on the film.
Recommended if you liked I Stand Alone, The Woodsman, or Requiem For a Dream.
The Visitor
I would resolutely ignore this film about a middle aged man “discovering” himself though a relationship with an immigrant couple except that it’s been squarely praised in the critical community. The premise calls to mind images of peeling linoleum, growing grass, and drying paint, but I’m willing to give it a shake (Chuck Bowen gave it a modest 2.5 stars). Richard Jenkins (the sad sack ex-priest in love with Francis McDormand in the Coens’ recent Burn After Reading) stars.
Recommended if you liked In America, Under the Same Moon, or The Toxic Avenger (just seeing if you’re awake).
The Happening - 
You might be wondering why this is higher on the list than Paranoid Park, or even You Don’t Mess With the Zohan for that matter. The answer is that a glorious train wreck is infinitely more interesting to me than a plodding Van Sant film (although I am in excited about Milk) or a mediocre Sandler vehicle. I didn’t bother to see this in the theater, but after all the bile and vomit that spewed forth from critics (and general audiences) after seeing this, I have to confess that the cat is curious and willing to risk death. Could it really even be worse than Lady In the Water? Phillip certainly thought so.
Recommended if a) you have the same screw loose in your head that Shyamalan does or b) you want to see the professional filmmaking equivalent of the Titanic sinking.
| Buy The Happening on Blu-ray
More goodies after the jump.
Paranoid Park - 
Gus Van Sant has his mainstream output (Finding Forrester, the pointless Psycho remake) and his ridiculously niche indie output (Gerry, Elephant), and every once in a while he manages to combine the two aesthetics into a single beautiful package (Good Will Hunting managed this and the upcoming Milk looks to as well). Paranoid Park, however, looks like it falls firmly into the uber-niche indie category - not exactly my fave part of his oeuvre. It stars a cast full of non-actors and deals with the aftermath of an accidental crime and the impact it has on a disenfranchised skater kid. Phillip gave it a glowing 4 star review, and even if the film isn’t your cup of tea, his piece on it is excellent.
Recommended if you dug Wassup Rockers, and if you don’t know what that is then this probably isn’t for you.
You Don’t Mess With the Zohan - 
My favorite line from Luke’s review: “There’s no doubt in my mind that Sandler has a sign hanging above his desk that reads, ‘WHEN IN DOUBT, PENIS’; for this film, he’s at least supplemented it with one that says ‘WHEN IN DOUBT, HUMMUS.’”
That, I believe, speaks for itself.
Recommended if Goatboy and the Hanukkah Song represent the apex of American comedy for you.
| Buy You Don’t Mess With the Zohan on Blu-ray
Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
I know nothing about this, but I do know that if I don’t mention it Haiku Girl will jump all over me again. So to prevent that from happening, I’m including it here. This has gotten a little buzz of the bargain basement variety and features (I’m just guessing here) a guy named Jack Brook who…. wait for it… wait for it…. slays monsters. Robert Englund also stars (you know, the dude who’s managed to milk his Freddy Krueger performance for every no-budget horror film it’s worth).
Recommended if that thar poster to the left looks intriguing at all. I have to admit there is a certain charm to it…
on Oct 06 2008 @ 8:30 am 1. Haiku Girl said …
Jack Brooks was great. The audience was howling with laughter throughalot of the film. Starts slow because they need to build the back story. Ends with fire hose of blood like charm. Praying it becomes a franchise.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 8:52 am 2. Joseph said …
I’m definitely interested in Boy A and Paranoid Park (To this day I’m not certain why I loved Gerry)
And The Visitor is highly recommended. Richard Jenkins is great in it.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 9:16 am 3. Evan Derrick said …
Even after Phillip’s review, I just can’t dredge up much interest in Paranoid Park. I dunno. Something about Van Sant’s almost self-consciously indie aesthetic gets to me. Perhaps I’m being needlessly picky, but with so many other things to watch, I can’t generate the excitement needed to acquire it and spend 2 hours viewing it. Am I wrong? Should I make the time?
“Praying it becomes a franchise.” Wow, those are stout words, Miss Haiku. How would you stack it up against Evil Dead?
on Oct 06 2008 @ 11:26 am 4. Daniel said …
Wow, a mention of The Woodsman is certainly a sight for sore eyes. I completely forgot about that movie.
Boy A was a couple scenes from being the best movie of the year, but it should still, at this point, remain comfortable in the top 10.
Thanks for the plug on the fantasy movie league - you have until THIS FRIDAY to sign up!
on Oct 06 2008 @ 11:50 am 5. Fox said …
I tried to see Jack Brooks at a festival recently but it kept getting pushed back and had been on no sleep so I bailed. Anyways, it interested me for it’s throwback to rubbery/synthetic special effects and monster suits. Who knows, though… could very well be a stinker, but I am encouraged by Haiku Girl’s comments.
p.s. I kind of find Robert Englund annoying… sorry.
One time I heard the trailer for Under The Same Moon on the radio, and it came off hilariously fake-sounding with out the visuals… like a parody. In fact, it sounded just like the faux-trailer for The Flower that Drank the Moon that you can hear in the video store in Ghost World.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 12:15 pm 6. Colleeny said …
Jack is no Ash… but who could be stacked up directly to the Chin, and come out the victor.
Jack Brooks is cheesy fun. I would definatly compare it to the Evil Dead. Funny Horror. A Plumber with an Anger management problem… Shiny.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 2:02 pm 7. Evan Derrick said …
Might have to step in and try Jack Brooks on for size then, Colleeny.
And I’d forgotten that you had praised Boy A so strongly, Daniel. I’m definitely catching it sometime soon.
And Fox, I’m with you - Robert Englund is kind of annoying, but I could see how he might fit perfectly with the right role. I know he was in Red, which is certainly headier fare than Jack Brooks. Anyone see that and can they attest to his level of annoyingness/non-annoyingness?
on Oct 06 2008 @ 3:00 pm 8. Alexander Coleman said …
Thank you for the linkage, Evan, I’m glad to see others interested in and excited about Boy A.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 4:13 pm 9. Phillip said …
You’d do good by yourself to forget about The Happening and stick in Paranoid Park. I think you might like it.
on Oct 06 2008 @ 4:19 pm 10. Evan Derrick said …
I dunno, Phillip. You don’t think approaching The Happening with a good bottle of beer, a couple of friends, and healthy dose of the WTF giggles wouldn’t be fun? I’m just sayin…
Ok, ok, so I’ll have to check out Paranoid Park sometime. Did I see you say over at LiC that had grown a bit cold to it after your initial enthusiastic reaction?
on Oct 06 2008 @ 9:35 pm 11. Phillip Johnston said …
Yes, actually. I think it was the mood I was in when I watched it the first time. I kind of watched it passively the second time. It’s one of those films you can only really like if you give it your undivided attention. As pretentious as this sounds, let it envelope you if you watch it — you’ll like it better that way.
Maybe.
on Oct 07 2008 @ 8:10 am 12. Sam Juliano said …
I did not hate THE HAPPENING as much as most. I thought it was passable, but then again I was actually a fan of the director’s THE VILLAGE.
I understand Phillip’s position on PARANOID PARK, but I found it most fascinating.
THE VISITOR is one of the best films of 2008. An emotionally overwhelming experience.
on Oct 12 2008 @ 2:20 am 13. Film-Book dot Com said …
The Woodsman is a great flick. I’ve seen Boy A. Its good. The Happening SUCKS!