This week, one of the better films (if not the most widely admired) of 2011 hits Blu-Ray and DVD, along with a variety of other titles bearing mixed quality. It’s definitely not a release slate to get in a tizzy about, so that’s always a good thing. The slate is top heavy, but then again, most weeks are…so no surprises there. In terms of the top pick, it’s not just the clear best choice this week, but also a PICK OF THE WEEK that I can get behind with no issue in most weeks. It’s got terrific acting, it happens to be a timely hatchet job on politics, and wouldn’t you know that it’s one of the best thrillers of last year. Haven’t guessed what film it is yet? I’d have thought that you’d have already, but no matter, I’ll reveal all now. It’s:
The Ides of March
George Clooney’s latest directorial effort (which he co-wrote, as usual) is a biting satire of the current political climate. A star studded cast is headed by Ryan Gosling as a campaign worker who’s fully drunken the Kool-Aid when it comes to his Presidential candidate, played by Clooney. The look at the primary season is pretty spot on, and even if the thriller aspects of the plot don’t quite mesh as well as they might have (despite being effective on their own terms), the end result is pretty terrific. I know that many people we’re mildly let down by this flick, but it’s one of the 15 best of 2011 for me. Now that it’s available at home, I recommend giving it a second watch. I know I’ll be doing just that!
Read more on Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week (1/17/2012)…
