Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on February 7th, 2012
Recent Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain famously appeared in a whopping six movies released in 2011. These include two Best Picture nominees (The Help, The Tree of Life), and two other movies that briefly generated a small measure of Oscar buzz (Take Shelter for Michael Shannon's performance, and Coriolanus for Vanessa Redgrave's work). Unfortunately, when people try to recount Chastain's outstanding breakout year, Texas Killing Fields is destined to become the sixth movie no one can remember. Heck, it's not even her best 2011 movie co-starring Sam Worthington. (That would be The Debt.)
Inspired by true events, the film derives its name from an area just outside Texas City where more than 60 dead bodies have been found since 1971. Worthington (Avatar) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) co-star, respectively, as Texas City homicide detectives Mike Souder and Brian Heigh. Though Souder and Heigh have their hands full trying to solve the Texas City murder of a young girl, Heigh allows himself to be pulled into a case involving another missing girl whose abandoned car was found in the killing fields, despite the fact that it's out of his jurisdiction. Chastain co-stars as a detective from the neighboring county (and Souder's ex-wife) while the gifted Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass, Hugo) plays a troubled Texas City girl who Heigh protects.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on February 6th, 2012
“I was dumb enough to think I'd be joining some elite police officers here. I don't know who these people are.”
Those words come from Kathryn Bolkovac (Oscar winner Rachel Weisz), a Nebraska cop who accepts a high-paying gig as a United Nations peacekeeper. The film, inspired by true events in 1999 post-war Bosnia, follows Bolkovac as she discovers a human trafficking/sexual slavery ring with an insidious connection to International Police Task Force personnel, including some from the United States.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Archive Authors on February 6th, 2012
It would be nice if we were to get films as good as The Graduate from time to time. That’s asking a lot, but it would be nice. Another Happy Day is no The Graduate, but nothing is. Nothing could make such a seismic hit to a generation again. At least, I don’t think so. Another Happy Day did win the Best Screenwriting award at the Sundance film festival, and it seems well deserved. The film has a great cast, and you usually only get that if you have a great script or you spend a billion dollars. This film is clearly a small labor of love that did not set the world on fire. That’s probably because they did not spend a billion dollars to promote it.
It is sharply funny while dealing with painful issues. The family is getting together for a wedding, but it is really just going to cause everyone to pick at old wounds.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on February 6th, 2012
Evidence has revealed the possibility that a Soviet Assassin code-named “Cassius,” thought to be long dead, is still at large after a US Senator is murdered. A veteran CIA operative (played by Richard Gere) is teamed up with an enthusiastic young FBI agent (played by Topher Grace) who has studied and obsessed over Cassius' actions since his days at Harvard.
This is the sort of film that cannot be talked about at great length without revealing the many important secrets it contains. This is especially frustrating because it is those same secrets that only add to my appreciate of the film because it adds layers to all of actor's performances when you know the lies they have been, and continue to have. That being said, multiple viewings could make for some interesting observations for those that enjoy this sort of spy thriller film.
Cold war rivalries and spy games are resurrected for the central plot of this film. The CIA and FBI are forced together to investigate the actions of Russian spies, both new and old. There are conversations outside the White House, War room style meetings, cat-and-mouse games between dangerous men and many other hallmarks of the spy genre.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on February 3rd, 2012
Owl City's popularity was born out of social networking websites such as Myspace. From the days of uploading songs while living in his parent's basement, to going #1 on Charts in an astounding 24 countries, Owl City (aka Adam Young) continues to ride his hysterical success into his inevitable, first concert film.
Young and his band of pretty 20-somethings don't seem to break a sweat while delivering a suspiciously polished sounding hour-and-a-half long performance. I say suspicious because, although the camera shows that everyone is playing these songs accurately (not that they're all that challenging mind you), it just sounds a lot like the studio versions. I'd start making accusations of playing partly to tapes or adding tracks in post-production because the guitar sounds a little too clean, some instruments and voices are mixed in and out mysteriously...but Young is such a polite young man in his in-between song banter that I shall not go into it any further. You're welcome Mr. Young.
Posted in: The Reel World by M. W. Phillips on February 3rd, 2012
“Have you seen her? The Woman in Black? She once lost a boy, and now she’s come back. Our parents all worry, they make such a fuss: For if she can’t find him, she’ll take one of us.”
Now this looks like a Hammer film. A subdued cool color palette, stunning Gothic set pieces, a wonderful location ripe with grieving and decaying symbolism, and genuinely scary ghosts make The Woman in Black an impressive throwback to old fashioned horror. Having been a fan of the original 1983 novella by Susan Hill and the 1989 TV teleplay for Britain’s ITV network, I looked forward to Hammer’s adaptation. I was not disappointed.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2012
"It is generally thought that time travel is impossible. Tonight, however, we ask you to bravely go where no audience has gone before, back in time to the 1970's"
And that's exactly what you'll get to do if you're smart enough to take my advice and pick up Styx: The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight Live on Blu-ray from Eagle Rock Entertainment. It doesn't matter if you're old enough to remember when these albums were first released in 1977 and 1978 or if you've newly discovered the band and the albums. In fact, it doesn't even matter if you're a Styx fan at all....yet.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2012
If your name is John Carter*, Disney and Andrew Stanton invite you to enter The Real John Carter sweepstakes for the chance to find yourself in another world—on an October 2012 Adventures by Disney trip to Peru! In addition, eligible entrants will be invited to attend a special, advanced screening of “John Carter”.
To Enter:
![John Carter [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/john-carter-blu-ray-large.jpg)
Posted in: News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2012
I know that many of you just can't wait for 2K to release the new video game The Darkness II. Wait no longer. We have some trailers to share with you. There will also be a copy on the PS3 up for grabs in the weeks to come right here. Michael Durr will also deliver one of his exceptional takes on the game. Until then, enjoy a few tastes of the upcoming game.
Bang it here to see the "Torn Apart" Trailer: Darkness II: Torn Apart
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on February 3rd, 2012
Forgive the impending fun-with-words but, hot on the TAIL of the theatrical release of Red Tails is the Blu Ray release of this 1995 interpretation of the same story. Based on the actual group of airmen who were the first African-American fighter pilots in the United States Army Air Corps. This film follows the first cadets through their training and onto their various combat and mission in North Africa and Italy during World War II.
The true story that this film is based on is fascinating in its historical context. It is a shame that this film resorts to using overly staged scenes of corny drama to tell it. The lead cast is loaded with great talents, such as Laurence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding Jr, who certainly give good performances, but are stifled by cliched catchphrases instead of being given some deeper, character building, dialogue to perform.
![The Tuskegee Airmen [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/the-tuskegee-airmen-blu-ray-large.jpg)
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