Nebraska (Blu-ray Review)
Alexander Payne’s Nebraska had been making the rounds in 2013 winning many accolades based on the performance of long time acting veteran Bruce Dern. Come time for the Academy Awards’ picks for the best of 2013, Nebraska proved even moreso winning nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Bruce Dern), Best Actress (June Squibb), Best Director (Alexander Payne) and Best Original Screenplay (Bob Nelson). While it may not be a clear frontrunner for any of these awards, these nominations are recognition enough for this terrific little film. And just in time before the awards are handed out, you can check out the film people have been raving about on glorious Blu-ray as it will be release on February 25th (the Oscars take place on March 2nd). After the review, get you copy in time by pre-ordering using the link below! Continue reading ‘Nebraska (Blu-ray Review)’
It’s always great when you’re called upon to review a former winner of Best Picture. This time I’ve been tapped to look back on 2002’s Chicago. The film was quite the sensation back in 2002, racking up 6 wins on 13 nominations at the Academy Awards (including Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Zeta-Jones). It didn’t stop there, the film was big with movie-going audiences as it lit up the box office with just under 171 million dollars in the US and over 306 million dollars worldwide. It was even such a significant dent that the Academy Awards celebrated its tenth anniversary with a few tributes to it during the 2013 Oscar ceremony. Lionsgate is reissuing it with the “Diamond Edition” that includes a new, almost two and a half hour, documentary taking a look back at the production and sensation of the 2002 Best Picture winner that was Chicago. 
I was able to check this one out this past Saturday night before leaving for Cupertino. Admittedly so, I had a pretty good time with it. I was obviously drawn to it by the flick’s cover art (I’m talking the film’s theatrical poster) and promise of what’s inside, but more so because of my involvement with it at AFM a few years back when I was first introduced to the concept. I thought I could easily get on board with this one and rightfully so I was able to. So check it out. Just in today comes an announcement I’m happy to hit you all with…Nurse is coming home to the Blu-ray format on April 8th courtesy of Lionsgate! Check out the full press release below for more information! 
I know you guys are going to love this announcement that came straight out of Middle-earth today from one of my favorite Blu-ray studios, Warner Bros.! And if you check out the below press announcement, you’ll see that it comes in a number of different flavors too. Nothing like having it your way! Right?! So check out the below press announcement from Warner Bros. and be prepared to go back to Middle-eart on April 8th with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Orlando Bloom as Legolas and so many more in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. 
I love giveaways! Don’t you? Well…you’re in luck! Our friends at Fox are making your wishes come true today with Legit: The Complete First Season! This outrageous new comedy stars Australian Jim Jefferies as an edgy, foul-mouthed stand-up comic living in Los Angeles, struggling to make his life and career more “legit.” But every time Jim tries to do the right thing, his good deeds turn into wildly inappropriate and utterly hilarious escapades. Joined by his neurotic best friend and roommate, Steve, and Steve’s wheelchair-bound brother, Billy, Jim takes comedy to a whole new level, whether it’s visiting a Las Vegas brothel, partying with the mentally-challenged or trying to pick up women at a gay bar. What do you say we take a closer look at the Special Features on this DVD? Cool beans! 
Here’s one of those “Oscar rush” December movies that I missed out on back in December. And as it ended up, this one didn’t quite make the noise some thought it might have come nomination time. So, it looks like I made the right call on waiting for this one. And I won’t have to wait that much longer. Disney has announced that it will be hitting the Blu-ray format on March 18th. If you’re not familiar with Saving Mr. Banks, it stars Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in much praised roles and tells the tale of making Mary Poppins. All the more refined details regarding this release are below as well as some clips. Also, be sure to pre-order your copy today by clicking on the Amazon link provided down there as well. 
When I first saw Gravity, it was extremely difficult to walk into a movie like this when there was so much hype and garnered praise surrounding it. I mean, it has to be good, right? Well, that’s the exact sentiment and question I carried with me when I went into my initial 3-D IMAX theatrical screening of Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity. It just had to be epic! And so what?! Even if it sucked, how could you possibly refuse a screening of this magnitude? It’s an outer space feature presented in 3-D IMAX! You can’t refuse that! No sane person can. It at least has to look breathtaking and gorgeous. With all the positive praise and acclaim this picture had been receiving, I was willing to gamble on the fact that my screening was going to be filled with something very stellar. And to think…this all began with my first introduction to the flick last July at Comic-Con in beautiful San Diego at the “EW – The Visionaries” panel (see my coverage 
When I first got word of this new Blu-ray box set, Rocky Heavyweight Collection, and its eligibility up for review, I thought long and hard to myself. Do I have the strength to endure throughout this review, but not only that, can I do the Blu-ray box set justice? The Rocky franchise contains some of my earliest childhood memories and some very damn fine cinematic moments. Its patriotism alone is as symbolic to America as the flag is. Heck, the franchise may be even more symbolic of America than even apple pie. So being such a huge and passionate fan of the series, the question of whether I can do the set justice in a review is a valid question in my opinion. And not only that, anyone who has ever done a 5 or more disc Blu-ray box set review knows that they can be very cumbersome to not only tackle, but also report thoroughly throughout without risking exhaustion and puttering out near the finish line. Just ask Brandon Peters with his last go around on the Friday the 13th Blu-ray box set over 
Now, this is what you call a fast turnaround. The film with which I’m about to give you a Blu-ray review has had a Surviving Christmas like run. Jamesy Boy debuted on the internet (streaming services, I presume) in early January. The film then had a theatrical run that started January 17th. And now, here on February 25th, it is already coming home to you on Blu-ray. So, if you wanted to see this one and it wasn’t playing near you or you just couldn’t find the time to get to it before it left your local arthouse (I’m guessing), fret not. Here it is already. You didn’t even need to practice any patience to wait on it. So, let’s dig right on in to this little one, shall we? 
Something that I notice does not get enough attention regarding comedies is editing. I am not talking about the pace of a film necessarily, which I see brought up a lot; notably with Judd Apatow-produced comedies lately, which tend to feel a bit shaggy. When I say editing, I am referring more to the structure of scenes and how to create a sense of rhythm that comes from both the delivery of dialogue and actions from the characters involved and the way shots cut back and forth to best achieve a certain level of spark that makes a film click. About Last Night does not rely on much that is new in the realm of romantic comedies, but what it has is great editing that really sells the work done in the script and by the actors to show the chemistry on screen and keep things moving with a near screwball level of zaniness at times and an effectively biting tone at others. As a result, About Last Night has easily earned a high spot for me in terms of mainstream romantic comedies released in recent years.
Believe it or not, I’ve been looking forward to this one, as its been getting some good acclaim and buzz from people I do trust. It’s Jean Claude Van Damme in an adventure comedy, and after that car commercial where he did the splits, what wrong can this man do? It also boasts Adam Brody, Dennis Haysbert and the always great to see in things Rob Huebel (except SHIELD which totally wasted him). Universal is bringing this one to glorious Blu-ray on March 25th. Here’s hoping for some good laughs and kick ass throwback pure action! You can read more about this release below, as well as pre-order it to make sure your JCVD Blu-ray collection is complete and up to date (btw, can we get a US Hard Target release please? Thanks)! 
This week’s entry of my wishlist is definitely inspired by tomorrow’s holiday. And the film is also one I enjoy a lot more than most. It’s got plenty of visible faults, but I don’t think the movie is as vile as some have made its reputation out to be. If anything, it may be one that is benefited by looking at it years removed with maybe more forgiving or understanding eyes. Today’s film bolsters the tremendous scores of 8% (Rotten Tomatoes), 4.6 (IMDB), 18 (Metacritic), made 9 million shy of its low budget at the box office and doesn’t even show up on the pull down when you type it in on the IMDB search bar.
