A 7-pack of films hits DVD this week. The best of the week is Fences featuring great performances by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. The rest could be alternatively titled “The Not Too Spectacular Now Playing” although Elle (Best Actress) and Passengers (Best Original Score, Best Production Design) also received Oscar nominations. Here’s what you should be buying, renting, streaming (Legally! Drop the Fire Stick now!) and skipping for the week of March 14th:
Buy It!
Fences —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: August Wilson’s great play adapted for the big screen.
Why Buy?
Fences is a tour de force of acting as Viola Davis gives one of the best performances in some time and Denzel Washington is, well, Denzel Washington. Jovan Adepo, Stephen Henderson and Mykelti Williamson also turn in strong supporting performances as well.
Rent It!
Elle –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: That movie that Isabelle Huppert was nominated for Best Actress that no one had seen probably because it has subtitles.
Why Rent?
Because everyone talked about how great Huppert was in the movie yet I still don’t think I know anyone who has seen it yet. So, I’m asking you to rent it and get back to me and let me know how it was. I know I’m the reviewer here but I really don’t feel like updating my 2016 list so just drop me a line and let me know how it was and we can all move on from here.
Passengers —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Stockholm Syndrome. (In Space.)
Why Rent?
The movie is garbage but it’s impressively shiny garbage with a really good score.
Stream It!
American Violence –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: One of those “Should he be or shouldn’t he be?” Death Row execution movies.
Why Stream?
Denise Richards is the psychologist in charge of determining whether the Death Row inmate is capable of rehabilitation. That’s the same Denise Richards of Wild Things fame who is now 46.
Collateral Beauty —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: What happens when a cast of great actors and actresses are kidnapped and forced to make a movie, apparently.
Why Stream?
There’s so much star power in this film, when you finally settle in and watch it you’ll be blown away… by how shitty this movie is. You could never imagine Will Smith, Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Kiera Knightley, Naomie Harris, Kate Winslet and Michael Pena could collectively turn in the dud of a film that this ends up being. It’s actually kind of impressive in how shitty it is in some weird, convoluted way.
Stray Bullets –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Two teenage boys are sent to clean out their father’s old mobile home but encounter three crooks hiding out from the law. Things don’t go well from there.
Why Stream?
Director Jack Fessenden’s directorial début began working on the film when he was 14 and this is his finished work: At age 16! Come on! We bitch about the youth of today not being more motivated because, well, that’s what older people always do about the youth of today, so, we should give this a shot.
Skip It!
Solace –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: When an FBI agent can’t solve a series of homicides, he enlists the help of his former partner — a retired physician with psychic powers.
Why Skip?
When an FBI agent can’t solve a series of homicides, he enlists the help of his former partner — a retired physician with psychic powers. Just let it sink in. Anthony Hopkins plays the physician with psychic powers… Chew away, Mr. Hopkins. Chew away!