It’s of course a somber day today, especially if you’re like me and a New York City resident. September 11th is never going to be a normal day, but keeping some measure of a routine is a solid way to go, so the column is running as usual. Honor the memory of those lost in 9/11 however you see fit, but make sure you spend a moment in reflection. If movies are the way to go for you, I’ll be doing a two part Vintage section today, so besides a traditional choice in relation to a new release, I’ll also be suggesting appropriate movies to mark the occasion. Let’s focus on the new Blu-Ray and DVD slate though, so we don’t get too sad. This week is a good one in terms of volume, though the quality is a little bit so-so. It’s hardly a bad release week, but the slate could obviously be better. My top choice isn’t necessarily the most well loved film of the year, but I like it enough to cite it. Yes, for my PICK OF THE WEEK I’m going to be going with the forgotten Greta Gerwig movie of 2012. Which one is that, you might ask? Well, it’s:

Lola Versus

I was a big fan of Breaking Upwards, so this new film from David Wain and Zoe Lister Jones had me pretty excited. Greta Gerwig, Bill Pullman, and Lister Jones turn in very fine performances, but the movie itself is a bit more uneven. Following a newly single woman picking up the pieces of her life, it’s an above average character study, but one that sometimes thinks that it’s more clever than it really is. I still enjoyed it for the most part though, and in a slightly lesser week like this one, I have no trouble recommending it. If you like indie romantic comedies, and especially Gerwig, you’re likely to find some things to like here.

-Also out today is a weird little film that I missed in theaters but people keep telling me I’d love. It’s The Loved Ones, and while I can’t tell you to go out and get it based on my own opinion, I think it sounds strange enough to warrant a view. Maybe go out on a limb and try this one out? Feel free to report back on it if you do…

-The rest of the releases this week include the decent but flawed Snow White and the Huntsman, the mediocre Girl in Progress, the disappointing Goats, as well as a group of flicks that I’ve yet to see as of writing this article. They include foreign fare like Where Do We Go Now?, We Have a Pope, and the NC-17 rated Elles, the drama For Greater Glory, the sci-fi flick Beyond the Black Rainbow, the purportedly awful family drama October Baby, and the comedy What to Expect When You’re Expecting. None of the ones I saw are especially worthy of your hard earned money, but maybe you feel differently, so give them a shot if that’s the case!

-My Vintage pick, as mentioned above, is going to be split into two sections. First up will be my normal style of selection, but after that I’ll transition to some 9/11 related titles. Before that though, the normal pick, in honor of the release of The Master, is my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film. I could easily city Boogie Nights or Punch Drunk Love, but for me PTA was at his best with Magnolia. One of my 10 favorite films of all time, it’s amazingly ambitious, terrifically acted, and features one of the boldest climaxes to date. I absolutely love this sprawling modern classic, and with Anderson possibly about to wow us again (as you read this I’ll likely be sitting in my screening of The Master, so stay tuned for my take on that flick), now’s a good time to revisit this one. If you’ve never seen it, run and pick this up immediately. If you’ve seen it…watch it again.

Now, in keeping with September 11th, I think everyone should watch one 9/11 themed film, just honor the memory of those lost. You can go with United 93, World Trade Center, Reign Over Me, or even Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close if you so desire, but just do something to keep the fallen in your hearts. They’ll always be remembered.

-What will you be watching on Blu-Ray/DVD this week? Discuss in the comments!

About Joey Magidson

When he’s not obsessing over new Oscar predictions on a weekly basis, Joey is seeing between 200 and 300 movies a year. He views the best in order to properly analyze the awards race/season each year, but he also watches the worst for reasons he mostly sums up as "so you all don't have to". In his spare time, you can usually find him complaining about the Jets or the Mets. Still, he lives and dies by film. Joey's a voting member of the Internet Film Critics Association as well. Today the IFCA, tomorrow the world!

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