Nine new releases led by two Best Picture nominees (The Big Short and Brooklyn) make themselves available for your viewing pleasure this Tuesday, March 15th:
The Big Short (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: The bursting of the housing bubble and the financial experts who saw it coming.
Why Buy?
You recognize a talented cast, a director with comedic chops and a topic worth the time when you see it.
Why Rent?
You know it’s a good movie but you’re still financially impacted from when the bubble burst and renting instead of buying is a great way to save a few bucks.
Why Stream?
You sold your car to make your last mortgage payment but you can still tap into your neighbor’s WiFi.
Why Skip?
You know I don’t have a good reason to skip but you didn’t have a good reason to invest in that vacation home in Virginia Beach with a subprime mortgage either.
MHT Verdict: Buy It!
The Big Short was a phenomenal film and has incredible “rewatchability” as there are so many elements at work. It deserved the Best Picture nomination and it’s not hard to make a case for why it should have won.
Brooklyn (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: An Irish immigrant moves to Brooklyn but must return to Ireland and then decide whether to stay or return to Brooklyn and the romance she put on hold.
Why Buy?
You’re won over by the words “coming of age” or “period drama”. You know this type of Oscar nominee and you love this type of Oscar nominee.
Why Rent?
You know you want to see it and think you’ll want to spend forever with it but you’re just not sure.
Why Stream?
You figure it’s easier to say goodbye if you don’t have to physically return it.
Why Skip?
You’re out of Kleenex.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
Brooklyn has some great performances (especially Julie Walters who really deserved a Best Supporting Actress nomination) and captures the time period. It’s not a perfect film but it’s an enjoyable one.
Carol (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: Two women find themselves involved in a love affair in 50s New York. One married, one engaged, both fighting the social expectations of the time.
Why Buy?
You hear Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have great chemistry and are intrigued.
Why Rent?
You already bought Brooklyn and only have room for so many period dramas about 50s New York in your collection but still want to see this.
Why Stream?
You want to see it but aren’t always in the mood for a Christmas movie. Wait, this is about a woman named Carol and not Christmas? Hold on, Christmas has something to do with the movie? Okay, now you’re confused and have to see it.
Why Skip?
You already own Bob and Ted and Alice and don’t think Carol will be missed.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
There’s an undeniable chemistry between Blanchett (as Carol) and Mara but the film doesn’t make the radar of films you have to see again unless you’re talking the sex scene but then that’s a whole other discussion.
Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: AAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!
Why Buy?
Your kids are still watching the first two Alvin & the Chipmunks movies on a loop and throwing the third one in the mix will at least give you two different annoying hours to half ignore.
Why Rent?
Your kids have less of an attention span than their kids.
Why Stream?
Your kids hated the second one but you secretly loved it and have to see what happens next. (We won’t tell anyone.)
Why Skip?
You saw the trailer. You have taste… and no kids.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
Even if the other choice is root canal.
Sisters (Check out our Movie Hot Take from last year)
Super Simple Synopsis: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in a Saturday Night Live sketch that goes on way too long.
Why Buy?
You don’t care what anyone says because you’re convinced Fey and Poehler are hilarious.
Why Rent?
You saw the trailer and have heard there’s not much funny beyond it. You still haven’t gotten over Baby Mama.
Why Stream?
You need your John Cena fix, screw Fey and Poehler!
Why Skip?
You refuse to buy a movie called Sisters until there’s as many movies named Sisters as there are movies named Brothers.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
Two words: John Cena!
Band of Robbers (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn reimagined as grown men. Now, Huck’s an ex-con trying to get on the right track and Tom’s a crooked cop who has other plans.
Why Buy?
You think the concept is brilliant. You love fan fiction.
Why Rent?
You know what it means when a movie comes to theaters in January but still have to see grown Tom and Huck.
Why Stream?
You’ve read the description of every movie available to stream and can’t get this one out of your head.
Why Skip?
You’re holding out for a retelling of Pudd’nhead Wilson.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
Sight unseen, this sounds like a phenomenal idea. Why wasn’t this in more theaters? Seriously! We suffered through dreck like Ride Along 2 and Norm of the North this January when something as interesting as Band of Robbers was hiding out in a handful of theaters?
Love (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: An American in Paris with an unstable girlfriend and a pretty neighbor they both fancy… IN 3D!!!
Why Buy?
You own a 3D television and this is exactly the type of film you imagined watching when you made the purchase.
Why Rent?
You own a 3D television and can’t imagine how this film works in the 3D medium and therefore, have to see it for yourself.
Why Stream?
You don’t own a 3D television but are totally into experimental, non-linear movies that push the envelope and the gratuitous sex scenes aren’t a bad consolation prize either.
Why Skip?
You can see through the “arthouse” façade and recognize Love for what it truly is… porn. You don’t own any porn, you swear… and stay out of your closet!
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
It’s got just enough intrigue that we can’t recommend passing on Love. And really, who could ever tell you to not experience Love at least once in your life?
Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine (Did Not Review)
Super Simple Synopsis: The documentary version of Steve Jobs’ life.
Why Buy?
You saw Jobs and Steve Jobs and now you want the real story. You own everything Apple.
Why Rent?
You have already been disappointed by Jobs and Steve Jobs and don’t want to be stuck with a third reminder of your bad decision making if this one disappoints to. (Fourth reminder if you bought an Apple Watch.)
Why Stream?
You love the idea of using iTunes to stream this documentary through your Apple TV.
Why Skip?
You’re waiting for Steve Jobs vs. the Android.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
Only because you already got sucked into Aaron Sorkin’s version of things and need something to set it right regarding the life of Steve Jobs.
I’m only gonna see the one that has that woman in the bubble bath. Now tell me who she is and what movie she is in.