Some Academy Award nominees (both old and new) headline February 23rd’s DVD releases:
Spotlight (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: A Boston newspaper exposes a cover up of deviant behavior in the Catholic church.
Why Buy?
You love great movies. You want to be emotionally moved and have one more reason to doubt organized religion.
Why Rent?
You heard from a friend it was good but you’re not always into movies with great scripts, great acting and a gripping, emotional story so you may want to rent it first.
Why Stream?
You bought it and have downloaded the free digital version to stream at a moment’s notice.
Why Skip?
You don’t own a TV.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
Spotlight was one of the best films of 2015 and features a gripping plot and phenomenal performances from pretty much the entire cast. You might want to buy some tissues in case your allergies start acting up, too.
The Good Dinosaur (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: If Simba was a dinosaur and Timon & Pumba were a caveboy.
Why Buy?
You have kids. You need a cheap babysitter.
Why Rent?
You have kids but prefer to have a reason to say no when they scream, “Again!” You are a big fan of eye pleasing animation.
Why Stream?
You have seen every other Pixar movie and don’t want to ruin your streak.
Why Skip?
You own The Lion King and, frankly, you’re insulted any time someone rips off a classic. Wait! The Lion King was ripped off of Hamlet and Bambi? Nevermind.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
The Good Dinosaur wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive but it wasn’t bad. It didn’t help that Pixar fans were treated to something as excellent as Inside Out earlier in the year so The Good Dinosaur‘s mediocrity stood out even more.
Secret In Their Eyes (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: A remake of a Best Foreign Language Film winning, Argentine crime thriller about the mysterious murder of an investigator’s daughter.
Why Buy?
You wanted to see the original (from 2009) but don’t do subtitles. You are a huge fan of Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman.
Why Rent?
You watch a lot of Law & Order. You can’t get enough of crime thrillers.
Why Stream?
You heard this movie might have a few surprising twists and really want to know what they are.
Why Skip?
You saw the original and would rather skip an inferior remake.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
Secret In Their Eyes isn’t going to make any top 10 lists but it’s a competent thriller and has some decent performances.
Extraction (Did not review)
Super Simple Synopsis: A son must ignore the fact his government bosses say he’s not ready for the field to rescue his father (a former CIA operative) from terrorists.
Why Buy?
You can time travel to the future when this movie will be found in a $5 bin at Wal-Mart. You have to own everything Bruce Willis is in, no matter how bad it is.
Why Rent?
You don’t value your time. You heard Gina Carano will kick your ass if you don’t watch it.
Why Stream?
You value your time a little more than the person renting it because at least you don’t have to return it.
Why Skip?
You do value your time.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
With a 0% Tomatometer and only 16% of audiences liking Extraction, this is an easy one to pass on.
I Smile Back (Did not review)
Super Simple Synopsis: Sarah Silverman in a serious role as a woman with depression and unresolved childhood issues.
Why Buy?
You love movies featuring comedians who take a shot at being serious.
Why Rent?
You find it hard to believe Silverman can pull this off so you’re taking the wait and see approach before adding it to your collection.
Why Stream?
You like films that do well at Sundance but still remember the time you watched Happy Texas and were completely disillusioned in the Sundance stamp of approval.
Why Skip?
MHT Verdict: Rent with the intent to buy!
This might be worth purchasing but since we haven’t reviewed it yet. It’s hard to recommend purchasing sight unseen.
The Graduate (Criterion Collection)
Super Simple Synopsis: Mrs. Robinson is trying to seduce him.
Why Buy?
You’ve been meaning to buy this classic for some time but keep skipping it for some unknown reason. You need it now that it has been digitally restored into 4k and has a boatload of features added.
Why Skip?
You saw it before and wasn’t moved enough to buy it in the first place.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
A great movie with one of the best soundtracks in film history. Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson!
I heard I Smile Back is fabulous. From? James Corden, Stephen Clobert and Jimmy Fallon. And Fallon loved it, of course.