It’s been a while since there’s been only one part to BuRStS as the home video market has been flooded recently. This week, though, four of the six releases are worth a look. Here’s what MHT recommends to buy, rent, stream or skip for the week of October 25th:
Captain Fantastic —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A father raising his kids in a wooded paradise in the Pacific Northwest with a vigorous physical fitness regimen and challenging intellectual education is forced to confront the outside world when their mother dies.
Why Buy?
Viggo Mortensen gives one of the best performances of the year.
Why Rent?
You probably haven’t seen in it yet and it’s one of the better movies of the year.
Why Stream?
You’re cheap and lazy.
Why Skip?
It’s more fun than walking.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
Captain Fantastic was an excellent movie and Mortensen’s performance was one of the strongest of the non-Awards season.
Lights Out —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Be afraid of the dark.
Why Buy?
Sleep is your enemy.
Why Rent?
Maybe if you watch it at home with the lights on, you’ll make it through?
Why Stream?
If it buffers, you’ll have time to look for your flashlight.
Why Skip?
No one’s home.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
While MHT isn’t your source if you have an affinity for scary movies, there’s a respect for a movie that can give you a good scare. Lights Out can do just that.
Mr. Church –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Eddie Murphy’s attempt to score an Oscar for Best Actor.
Why Buy?
You’ve missed Eddie Murphy.
Why Rent?
A heartfelt drama with comedic overtones sounds about right.
Why Stream?
It only did $600k at the box office so there’s a pretty good chance you haven’t seen it.
Why Skip?
You’re waiting for Mr. State.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
There was some early buzz about Mr. Church but it faded too fast to bank on this being much better than mediocre.
Nerve —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A high school student who plays it safe gets caught up in a high stakes live-or-death game involving big risks and social media.
Why Buy?
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are verbs to you.
Why Rent?
You don’t care if high school students look like they are in their mid 20s.
Why Stream?
The trailer looked good even if the concept sounds far-fetched.
Why Skip?
If this weren’t high schoolers or based on something that is impacted by the internet, wouldn’t we have seen this before.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
Decent movie but nothing to go out of your way for.
Papa: Hemingway in Cuba —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Hemingway, the Cuban days.
Why Buy?
You are a big Hemingway fan.
Why Rent?
It was the first Hollywood movie filmed in Cuba since 1959.
Why Stream?
Movies do not have to be entertaining for you to watch them.
Why Skip?
An 8% Tomatometer is enough to scare you off.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
Unless you need a nap, sit this one out.
Skiptrace –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A by-the-book detective partners with a gambler who is also a fugitive to try to avenge his partner’s murder.
Why Buy?
Jackie Chan on the cover of a movie makes you open your wallet.
Why Rent?
Because you love buddy cop movies.
Why Stream?
The faces look familiar at least and it did $134 million internationally. (It did not receive a U.S. theatrical release.)
Why Skip?
If Jackie Chan or Johnny Knoxville wasn’t enough to scare you off, this should work: Renny Harlan directs.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
That 30% audience score is impressively poor. Plus, it has skip in the damn title.