This week we welcome in 2012 here at the column by highlighting a solid crop of new DVD releases for your purchasing pleasure. Last year ended on a low note, but a trio of recommended titles make sure that this year gets off right. Here’s to a great year of Blu-Ray and DVD releases! Anyway, back to the column. For my first 2012 PICK OF THE WEEK, I went with a darling little comedy that very few people bothered to see last year. It did get noticed at the Golden Globes, but a wider audience would have been great for this flick. It’s:
The Guard
Brendan Gleeson gives a comedic tour de force in John Michael McDonagh’s action comedy debut. It doesn’t have as much to it as his brother’s film In Bruges in terms of depth, but for my money this is the funnier flick by far. Gleeson’s chemistry with Don Cheadle is excellent, making for a fantastic time. It’s a bit on the silly side, but I can’t imagine anyone not getting a kick out of this movie. Gleeson received a well deserved Globe nod, but he’s a long shot to win in the Comedy category. Still, it’s nice to see the film recognized, no matter what. Now that it’s on DVD, you all can get a chance to watch this movie, since many missed it in theaters. So far, it’s the best release of the year. Not much to choose from, but still…
-Also getting recommendations from me are the end of the world ensemble Contagion and the legal drama Puncture. The former I didn’t quite like as much as some, but it’s still a great paranoid thriller of sorts with solid direction by Steven Soderbergh, and the latter is a quality tiny flick with a phenomenal turn by Chris Evans based on a fascinating true story. One was widely seen, and the other was not, but both are equally worthy of your attention this week. Grab them both and enjoy!
-The rest of the releases this week include the decent but disappointing fright flick Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, the crummy comedy I Don’t Know How She Does It, the atrocious horror movie Shark Night, and the documentary The Last Lions, which I haven’t seen and can’t comment on. The first one mentioned is the only one worth even considering, but if you must pick these up, you can’t say that I didn’t warn you.
-My Vintage pick, in honor of this week’s release of The Devil Inside, is my favorite found footage flick to date. It’s Cloverfield, and while I know it’s taken a beating since it came out, I still love it (especially considering this isn’t the first time I’ve cited it in this section). It’s incredibly tense and the build-up to the film is paralleled only by The Dark Knight. I consider this movie a little roller coaster in my own home. If you want a bizarre alternate choice, go for Cannibal Holocaust, but that’s not for everyone…to say the least. I’d stick with Cloverfield if I were you…
-What will you be watching on DVD this week? Discuss on the Forum!
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2012 is going to be a good one for Blu-Ray and DVD…I have a feeling.
I also loved The Guard! It was really damn funny and Gleeson was almost an Inspector Clouseau of sorts. He was phenomenal. And also since your review of Puncture I’ve been trying to find it and now that it is out on dvd I’ll have to check it out. Chris Evans really can be a great actor when he wants to be.
Agreed. Glad you’re giving Puncture a shot!
I adored The Guard with all my heart.
Same here…