DVD Pick of the Week: World's Greatest Dad

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles, and what follows are not necessarily reviews, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

World's Greatest Dad (also Blu-ray). On the surface, I expected this film to be a typical Robin Williams family style comedy along the lines of RV (another Williams vehicle). Based on that, albeit incorrect, assumption I did not give it much thought. The fact that it did not play near me made it easier to ignore. What got me interested was an interview I heard with Bobcat Goldthwait, the man in the director's chair. I learned some things about this movie and the way he goes about making his films that greatly intrigued me. This movie is not your family comedy, it definitely has a more adult spin and may just dig a little deeper into father/son relationships.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (also Blu-ray). This is sure to be a big hit for the holiday season. This sixth film is actually quite good. Of course, I could never be called the biggest fan of the series, but there is something to be said about the ambitiousness of the undertaking. This movie continues the series two pronged approach of growing Harry's "chosen one" status and his status as a teenager. It works well with character development and spell casting action. If you are a fan, get your hands on it, if you are curious it would be best to start with the first. If the latter is the case, you are in luck as the whole run arrives on Blu-ray this week!

Public Enemies (also Blu-ray). Michael Mann has meticulously crafted this film, showing only what needs to be seen. There are no overtones of niceties: Dillinger is never made out to be a nice guy, or a good guy, and the same goes for Purvis. It is rather refreshing to see a movie portray characters in a way that seems real rather "movie real." This is not necessarily the film that people wanted, but that does not take away from how good it is.

Lost: The Complete Fifth Season (also Blu-ray). Time is running out to prepare for the final season. Be sure to catch up or be ready to be, umm, lost.

Julie & Julia (also Blu-ray). Here is a smile inducing film that tries to take a different approach with the biopic. It is not a great film by any stretch, but it is one that is highly enjoyable. Nora Ephron did a fine job giving the film a light touch; It is very easy to get swept up in the women's journeys. Julie and Julia is fun, funny, sweet, and did I say fun? The movie never slows down, all of the fat has been cut leaving a pure confectionery treat. The only real issue I had was with the ending; it just sort of stops. I am not sure how it should have ended, but it felt a bit sudden. Don't let that stop you from checking it out.

Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (Blu-ray). Here is a fun old-school monster movie. I wonder how the high definition format will expose the practical effects used? This horror comedy, featuring an appearance from Robert Englund, is a blast. There is a good story, some nice gooey monster stuff and a freewheeling attitude that is infectious.

While She Was Out (Blu-ray). Kim Basinger stars in this thriller that I have been wanting to check out. She is wealthy woman who spends all her time caring for the house and her twins. Christmas Eve sees her out for last minute shopping when she is accosted by a group of punks. She takes a toolbox and sets out to survive.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (Blu-ray). What if your favorite film slashers were real? What if others wanted to take up the mantle and become a masked killer? This movie takes a look at that. I have seen this on DVD and it is quite good. It is not as good as I had hoped, but it is definitely a solid horror film that you need to take the time to see.

Red Mist (Blu-ray). This is another film I have been wanting to check out. This one sees a doctor administer an experimental drug cocktail to a coma victim that triggers an out of body experience that the victim uses to exact revenge. Sounds like a good time to me!

Gozu: 2-disk Collector Edition. I have an earlier DVD release of this that I still need to watch. This film is from Japanese wild man Takashi Miike and I have not seen anything from this film, know nothing about the story, but I know it is out there and more than a little bizarre. I would not expect anything less.

Hellsongs - Hymns in the Key of 666

Cover albums run the gamut from fantastic to hideous abominations with most falling somewhere in between. I cannot say that I have ever been able to come up with a formula as to what makes one good and one bad. It is much like movie remakes, on one hand we want the creative team to bring a unique and different vision to the familiar material but at the same time we want them to be slavish to the source with any deviation seen as a great sin. If you can come up with a formula of how to combat this (aside from saying "don't do remakes/covers" as we all know that is not going to happen, ever) let me know.

That brings me to the album at hand. It is a cover album by a group that goes by the name Hellsongs. They have taken some very recognizable metal and rock songs and completely deconstructed them and rebuilt them from the ground up into folky lounge style tunes with acoustic guitar, piano, and strings. Musically most of them are unrecognizable as their original incarnations. A melody here and there is all sometimes all that is kept, in addition to their lyrics. The final result is an album that is a breath of fresh air in the cover market.

It seems every band has a cover album or two floating around, either covers by them or of them by the likes if the ubiquitous Stringed Quartet or some random collection of up and coming taken covering songs of their heroes. How this particular project came about, I am not sure. I am just glad that it did and that I have had the opportunity to experience it.



As I look at the list of songs, I have to wonder how they went about deciding which songs to set there deconstructive sights on. I say this because the album it besides being an out there idea, the songs selected are an eclectic bunch. Covered artists include Iron Maiden, Europe, Slayer, Metallca, Twisted Sister, and Saxon. It is not exactly a line up you would ever expect to see all in one place, not on the same day anyway.

Besides the odd collection of artists, these cover versions are not merely "lounged up" or made comedic like a Richard Cheese track. No, Hellsongs is serious about the music they perform. Well, maybe there is a bit of a wink in it, but their covers are not meant to be laughed at. This is what it is like to let a creative force with a unique vision have its way with an established property. You will not necessarily like the result, but you have to respect them for doing the unexpected.

The tone applied to each song varies from cheery and upbeat ("Symphony of Destruction") to the sad and morose ("Rock the Night") and just about everything in between. Now, this is an album that is like a great mystery, you do not want to give away all of its secrets. You will be shocked to find out how great "Seasons in the Abyss" sounds in this new format. It may turn out to be an acquired taste, but it is one well worth working for.

While the music is good, it is not what makes Hellsongs covers work as well as they do. That would lie more on the shoulders of vocalist Harriet Ohlsson, who I was sad to discover is no longer with the band. In late 2008, after the original release of this album, they separated over creative differences. She was replaced by Siri Bergnéhr, whom I have not heard yet. However, Harriet Ohlsson's work cannot be overlooked here. She gives the song their mood, their feel, their very essence. Her voice is soft and expressive, haunting and intimate, and works perfectly with the material.

Bottomline. Not your typical metal fare, not your typical cover release. This is a breath of fresh air, a unique take on the creation of the cover album. Hellsongs has gone a long way to craft an album that stands out from the crowd, respects the source, and is very easy to listen to over and over again.

Highly Recommended.


Track list:

1. The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
2. Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth)
3. Rock the Night (Europe)
4. Seasons in the Abyss (Slayer)
5. We're Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister)
6. Blackened (Metallica)
7. Thunderstruck (AC/DC)
8. Run to the Hills (Iron Maiden)
9. Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
10. Princess of the Night (Saxon)

Brothers

Didn't this movie come out last year? Or at least earlier this year? I remember seeing trailers for it a long time ago and then they just disappeared. I figured I either missed it or it was going to pop up on DVD at some point from a studio that lost faith in it. I guess I was wrong. It turns out it was just lying low, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting audience. It has now arrived, inflicting its melodrama on the world at large. The question is, does it work? Yes and no.

Brothers is a remake of a 2004 Swedish film called Brødre. I have not seen the film, but I understand it is a lower budget affair that was well received in its native country. Of course, we could not get this on the big screen here, we all know everyones apparent aversion to subtitles and world cinema at large. In order to get people to see this story it had to be adapted to the American experience and shot with recognizable faces (although the Swedish film did feature Connie Nielsen). Still, is it any good?



There are elements to like about this film, but overall I cannot say it is a good one. Some of the performances are eye-catching and very effective, but others are just poor and distracting. On top of that, I feel like I have seen this story, or at least similar stories before. How come it seems that with every film that deals with the conflict in the Middle East are wither lectures (with Lions for Lambs being the worst offender) or about broken relationships? Yes, this is not true across the board, but it seems like a lot of them fall into these two categories. Brothers falls into the latter as it centers on a shifting family dynamic.

The title Brothers refers to the central characters of Sam (Tobey Maguire) and Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal). Sam is a military man, a Marine who has already served a few ours in Afghanistan. He is married to the aptly named Grace (reminds me of another war themed film, Grace is Gone) and the couple have two young daughters. Tommy is Sam's younger brother has followed a different path, one paved with crime and disappointment.

As Brothers begins, Sam is preparing for another tour, much to the chagrin of his wife and children who wish desperately for him to stay. Meanwhile, Tommy has recently been released from prison following a stint for armed robbery. As we move forward, we learn of Sam and Tommy's father's disappointment in the younger sibling and how proud hes of his Marine son, It is a feeling he does not well disguise. However, that is just one small part of the story.



The story picks up as Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. The news and loss hits Grace and Tommy very hard. Grace sort of retreats into herself while Tommy finds himself stepping up and helping out by being a sort of replacement Sam.

It is no spoiler to know that Sam is still alive, that is in the trailer. While Grace and Tommy attempt to move their lives forward, Sam is struggling to survive in harsh, brutal conditions in Afghanistan. That comprises the first half of the movie. The second half deals with the ramifications of what happens upon his return.

Brothers spins a familiar tale. Interpersonal relationships are tested as the family dynamic is forcibly changed by outside events. It is one that we have seen many times before and does not feel particularly fresh. In fact, the whole thing feels rather tired.



With the familiar story, what is there to hold onto? Director Jim Sheridan is likely hoping that the performances grab your attention. This is only partially successful. Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman both turn in fine performances, doing all that they can to breathe life into the material. They actually do a good job of keeping the characters grounded and believable.

The biggest acting problem is Tobey Maguire, upon whom much of the story rests. He has the biggest emotional swings of anyone in the film and I do not believe one moment of it. His on/off personality is distracting and does not work for me. There is a lack of subtlety as he goes from blank block of wood to wild-eyed maniac in the blink of an eye and I couldn't care less. The same can be said for Sam Shepard who plays the brothers father. He is all one note. Whenever he was onscreen I could not help but think of the father in Walk Hard. You remember, he would pop up and say "The wrong son died." That about says it all.

No, Brothers is not a bad movie. I just did not feel all that connected to the overly melodramatic telling of the tale. It is another movie out to manipulate the heartstrings of the audience while ultimately going nowhere. The best moments of the film involved Portman and Gyllenhaal, but it is not enough that I could recommend this movie on.

Bottomline. You could do worse, but if you are looking for a movie with true emotional resonance, there are better options out there. Brothers wants you to think it is a deep examination of these individuals lives, but in the end all we get is some turned topsoil.

Not Recommended.

Behemoth - Evangelion

Behemoth is an interesting act. The combination of their extreme style, front man and founder Nergal's vocals, and their obvious distaste for organized religion and Christianity in general make my enjoyment of their music something of a challenge. It is not often my faith is challenged up front like this. In any case, while our belief systems are clearly different, we are all free to follow (or not) who we want. It is something I have worked on reconciling over the years as I enjoy music and films that can contain some wild material that is at odds with what I believe. It will not change my faith, so long as that remains true, I feel freed and empowered to like some of the things I like. One of those things is the music of Behemoth and their latest album, Evangelion, is quite the strong work.

I was first introduced to Behemoth in 2006 with a reissue of their 1994 debut, And the Forests Dream Eternally. It was not my favorite, but it did scare me a little as it sounded like a low-fi compression of the voice of Satan. While I was not completely taken with what I heard, I was intrigued enough to see them live on the 2007 Radio Rebellion tour that saw them co-headlining with Job for a Cowboy. That performance along with the album Apostasy began to win me over as a fan. Yes, Nergal's anti-religion act got to me a little, particularly when he ripped up a Bible onstage to the delight of the crowd, but it was the music and not the antics which proved to be the draw.

Throughout Evangelion, this trio push their skills to the edge and deliver an engrossing experience that leaves me in awe of their abilities while simultaneously reinforcing the thought I am listening to the voice of Satan, perhaps not his words, but definitely his voice.



There are elements of black metal mixed with thrash metal and that combination rubs elbows with Gojira-esque sounds of slowed down doom. It is a great sound, one that challenges with deceptive complexity while getting you into a groove that makes you want to jump on the pit.

Evangelion opens with a punch to the face known as "Daimonos," a lyrical ode to Dionysus. It is not the best track on the album, but it does a good job of setting up what to expect as you move forward. That is followed by "Shemaforash," which keeps the pace high but brings a little more atmosphere. Still, while the first track is a punch to the face, this is a repeating kick to the gut.

It almost feels like they front loaded the album with the fast stuff and progressively slowed down as they moved through the album. This would initially sound like a bad thing, but hear me out. Beginning with the third track, the awesome first single "Ov Fire and the Void," the focus seems to shift from primarily speed to more complex arrangements that truly play off of their strengths and mix up the tempos leading to the 8-minute album-ender "Lucifer" and it is significantly slower pace than "Daimonos." Do not get me wrong, the speed is definitely still there throughout, it is just not the entire song. Just look at "He Who Breeds Pestilence" as a good example of mixing the two.

However you want to slice it, this album will drag you kicking and screaming through its 9 songs and 42-minutes of brutality. Their sound is distinctive, the musicians talented, and it is music that you will want to come back to. Nergal is a fascinating personality. I have heard interviews and he comes across as quite intelligent (not that I did not expect it) and a genuinely nice fellow with a deep love for music.

Nerga's dedication to craft shows through in his impressive guitar and vocal work. Having seen him live, it is easy to believe in his growls, as he would lift his head to open his throat to allow those deathly sounds erupt. Inferno is the man behind the drum kit and he basses with furious abandon with some nice double-bass work. Finally, Orion has his hands on the bass and makes sure the low end keeps moving forward. I admit his work did not stand out as much, but there is no doubt the role he plays in the thick wall of sound they create.

Bottomline. At some point I need to check out more of their back catalog. With that said, this is a fantastic album with just the right balance of technical prowess and brutality. Metal fans will want to seek this out.

Highly Recommended.

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: 12/4

This week's wide releases -
Armored
Brothers
Everybody's Fine
Transylmania
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

This week brings an interesting selection of movies to theaters all over the country. With five new movies arriving you would think it would be easy to pick a couple. However, there is only one title I consider a must see with three others as potentials, and the final one definitely avoidable. So, what is it going to be for the rest of you? Anything looking good?

Armored. (2009, 88 minutes, PG-13, action) Director Nimrod Antal follows up the effective horror of Vacancy with a crime/action film, which he is following up with a new Predator movie. This one looks like it could be fun, I hesitate to think it will be good, but I guess there is always hope, right? The movie centers on the drivers and security guards that work for an armored car service. The group has their eyes set on robbing their own truck of millions. The plan should go down without a hitch, but I guess they never do, do they? It looks to be fast paced and energetic. The cast includes Matt Dillon, Lawrence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Fred Ward, Columbus Short, Skeet Ulrich, and Milo Ventimiglia.



Brothers. (2009, 110 minutes, R, comedy). This stars Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal as brothers. They actually look like they could be brothers, which is made funnier still by the fact that Gyllenhaal had been rumored to be replacing Maguire in Spider-Man prior to the third film. As for this one, from director Jim Sheridan, it tells the story of a drifter brother and a military brother. When military brother is believed killed in action, drifter brother moves in to help out his widow (Natalie Portman) and two young children. Things, as they are wont to do, never go according to plan. Military brother turns out to be not dead. Of course, this complicates matters...



Everybody's Fine. (2009, 95 minutes, PG-13, drama) This film is a remake of the Italian film I have never seen Stanno Tutti Bene. Robert Deniro stars as a widow who sets out on a spur of the moment road trip o visit his children and finds their lives are not what he was expecting. His children are played by Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, and Sam Rockwell. This look s pretty good.




Transylmania. (2009, 92 minutes, R, comedy) Speaking of that movie to avoid, here it is. A motley assortment travel abroad for a semester of studies in a different culture. Guess what they find? That's right, a cheap looking comedy. This will die fast with nary a whimper.



Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orlenas. (2009, 121 minutes, R, drama/thriller) Sequel to the Harvey Keitel film? I do not know. What I do know is that this movie looks pretty darn fascinating. I mean the pairing of Nicolas Cage and director Werner Herzog alone is enough to get me in the door. Cage plays a substance abusing cop locked in a downward spiral as he investigates the murders of illegal immigrants. I am looking forward to checking this one out.



Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Serious Moonlight
• Up in the Air

Box Office Predictions
New Moon won its first two weekends. Can it take a third? Something tells me no. My first clue was the close finish it had with The Blind Side in week two. How will this weekend turn out? It does not strike me as a particularly strong one, with everyone waiting for the potential juggernaut Avatar on the horizon. I am going to go out on a limb and say The Blind Side takes number one in it third week of release. I am not sold on the strength of this week's new releases to climb to the top.

Here is how I think it could play out for the 3-day weekend.

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	The Blindside	$32 million
2	The Twilight Saga: New Moon	$26 million
3	Armored	$21 million
4	Brothers	$18 million
5	Everybody's Fine	$12 million
6	A Christmas Carol 3D	$8.5 million
7	2012	$8 million
8	Old Dogs	$7 million
9	Ninja Assassin	$6.5 million
10	Planet 51	$5.5 million

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Chrstmas! (1966)

I do not recall my first experience with the Grinch. The story and the animated special both existed well before I came into the picture, so I am guessing that I was pretty young when I first witnessed the Grinch scowling from his lair down upon the cheerful inhabitants of Who-ville. Well, whenever that original experience was, it became one of my most anticipated annual Christmas specials alongside Garfield and Charlie Brown. Each one of these shows heralded the arrival of the season and never failed to put a smile on my face. As I have gotten older some of the luster has dulled and I do not always catch them on a year to year basis, but when I do watch them I still get a little giddy. Yes, the child inside is still alive.

Everyone has their favorite Christmas special, perhaps it is one of those I mentioned or maybe something else like the Emmett Otter Jug Band Christmas or Mickey's Christmas Carol. I am not sure I have a favorite. They all deliver a different experience. However, there is something about the Grinch that makes it stand out from the crowd. That something is the incredible imagination of Dr. Seuss. Now, combine his skills with the word and the pen with the talents of animator Chuck Jones, who directed this special and is the man behind a good number of classic Looney Tunes shorts, and you have a magical combination to bring something very special to the screen.



It is undeniable that How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a classic. I also feel fairly certain that you are all familiar with the story, either through the book, this special, or through the Ron Howard/Jim Carrey live action film. Each of them are a little bit different, but the live action film is undeniably the biggest departure. If your sole experience is through the film, allow me to suggest you get your hands on the book and/or this release and get a better look inside Who-ville and their Who's Christmas experience.

Now, since we all know about the Grinch's distaste for Christmas and his attempts to take it away from Who-ville, so I will not go into a recap. Instead, let's take a look at this new home video release and see if it is worth the upgrade. Without even looking I wholeheartedly recommend picking it up if you do not already own it. Don't have Blu-ray yet? Don't fear, like a lot of Disney releases it comes with the DVD version as well.

The video definitely looks better than the last home video release I saw (the 2000 DVD release). There is less evidence of dust and other marks that appeared previously. The high definition transfer is bright, crisp, and speckle free. It is probably the best it has looked since its original broadcast. However, this image comes with a price that may not sit well with everyone.



The Grinch has gone from a pale brownish color to bright lime green. Quite a drastic change, no? The Grinch is not the only big change, a lot of the colors are much brighter and definitely a different shade from what we have grown accustomed to. This is a change that fans may not care for. I was not distracted by the differences, in fact, the improved contrast, brightness, and detail outweighed any sadness I found in the color changes.

A little research reveals that the new look is in line with the artists original intention, shown by the original film negatives. The colors many of us have grown to love have been more a result of aging prints.

While the video received a definite upgrade, the audio did not get the same treatment. There is no HD or lossless audio to be found, instead we are treated to the same stereo track from the DVD. It is not bad, but it does sound like an old track. It does not have a lot of range and is a bit on the muffled side. It still does the job and sounds fine, bu it seems somewhat lacking when you factor in the video upgrade. It brings to mind those television broadcasts, but I would have liked something more.



The release has a host of extras ported over from the DVD release

• Audio Commentary. June Foray(voice of Cindy Lu Who) and Phil Roman (animator) are on this track. They have a nice, easy chemistry. It is not the most informative but it is an enjoyably listen.
• Dr. Seuss and the Grinch: From Whoville to Hollywood (16 minutes). This has some good information regarding Seuss, his inspirations, and his creations, but it is joined by an awful rap song. Who thought that was a good idea?
• Songs in the Key of Grinch (8 minutes). Composer Albert Hague and "Tony the Tiger" vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft talk about working on the show. This is quite interesting as both speak candidly about their involvement.
• Song Selections. Want to listen to the songs without watching? Use this to select a song to listen to: "Opening Song," "Trim Up the Tree," "Welcome, Christmas," and "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch."
• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Special Edition (19 minutes). This originally aired on TNT back in 1994. Hosted by Phil Hartman, the documentary is a little corny looking and feels dated, but it still has some interesting information, particularly with Chuck Jones.
• Who's Who in Whoville. Text-based bios for Chuck Jones, Dr. Seuss, Boris Karloff, and June Foray.
• Grinch Pencil Test. A three storyboards that trace back to the original production. A few more would have been nice.
• Bonus Copies of the Film. A standard DVD version of the film is included and that has a Digital Copy as well. This is nice, but it is not iPod compatible and in order to get it you need to install a proprietary bit of software. What's the point?
• Slipcover. I usually do not mention things like this, but the slip cover is coated in glitter to simulate snow. Before you know it, it is everywhere. This is one cover that will likely find its way to the garbage can soon enough.

Bottomline. Like I said, if you do not have this, get it. If you have the DVD and are happy with it, you may wish to think about the upgrade. This is the only one I own and I am glad that I do. This is a delightful Christmas special that should be seen every year. It is sweet and inventive and just a lot of fun.

Recommended.

The Road

Over the years, there have been countless films that deal with post-apocalyptic settings. I know I have seen my share. There are good ones and bad ones, and ones that there for no particular reason than someone thought they would be good. Most of them have some sort of gimmick or higher concept that pushes them forward. I Am Legend has the zombie things, The Postman has the mailman, Mad Max has its cars, and Cyborg has, well, a cyborg. It seems that all of them have something that pushes them away from reality. They all strive for realism, but that is very different than being real. I believe this is because you want to be entertaining, being real in a post-apocalyptic setting is a disturbing concept that runs the risk of sucking the escape out of the experience and that is not good business for the suits with the funds.

Enter director John Hillcoat (The Proposition) and screenwriter Joe Penhall (Enduring Love). This duo set their eyes on Cormac McCarthy's novel, The Road. McCarthy also wrote the novel that became the Oscar winning No Country for Old Men. I have not read any of his books, but they seem to be complex works that cannot be easy to adapt to the big screen, although given the right creative team can be terribly effective.



The Road is the story of an unnamed father and son traveling along the road in a post-apocalyptic landscape attempting to survive by any means necessary. It is a film of uncompromising vision. It goes for the jugular and does not let go. This is not to say it is a thrill a minute rollercoaster ride, but it is one that engages the viewer on an emotional level from the start. It is a slow burn from start to finish with moments of genuine emotion, fear, love, anger, sympathy, the whole range of human feeling is contained within.

The film takes place in the near future after some unspecified disaster (war? meteor? global warming?) leaves the nation (world?) a wasteland. It does not matter what happened, all we need to know is that something does. It takes the wildlife, plants, animals, everything. Gone. Food is scarce and the people that are left wander, scavenging for food, or join roving gangs, or take to cannibalism, or some combination of the above. Father and son are two of the good guys, they struggle to retain what it is that makes them people, carrying the fire that keeps that human part of themselves alive.

Yes, I said cannibalism. No, it is not what you are thinking. We have all seen the pot-apocalyptic movies that have a gang of wild-eyed survivors with their charismatically evil leader and outfits made of animal furs and leather go about leading their troops to a potential human snack. Here it is more of a mention, an allusion, dealt with in a manner that makes all the more real.



Therein lies the thing that make The Road so effective. This is an endlessly bleak and depressing film that brings real to its reality. It not only creates its own cinematic reality to exist in, it brings the real world with it. As I left, silently, I could not help but feel that I saw a potential future for our world. The vision that played across the screen felt so genuine. I feel pretty safe in saying that this could be the most realistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world ever brought to the screen.

The look is authentic. The sky no longer offers any sunlight, perpetually overcast. Whatever happened also brought the demise of flora and fauna. The trees are dead and there are no animals to be found. Cities and towns are burned out husks, roads and highways are crumbling, and when you hear someone else coming, your first thought better be about hiding. You never know who may be coming around the corner.

Aside from the look and the authenticity of the production, it tells an amazing story about father and son trying to survive these harsh conditions. Viggo Mortensen plays the man and Kodi Smitt-McPhee is the boy. He is stubborn, wary, and protective while the boy (who did not know the world before the apocalypse) is innocent, trusting, and honest. Together they grow, change, and react with and to each other. The relationship is heartbreaking. He so wants to protect his son from the harsh world while preparing him for when he is alone while the boy wants nothing more than to be with his father.

On top of them being the only company they have, we learn a little more via flashbacks where meet mother and wife (Charlize Theron). It is clear something happens to her, which I will not spoil here, suffice to say there is a moment when they must choose to cling to the past overcome to grips with it that plays in an achingly quiet fashion that cannot be ignored.



And the performances? Wow. Viggo Mortensen brings such resolute sadness to the nameless man. He is determined to keep moving, keep surviving. However, he recognizes there is no hope, yet still moves forward for the sake of his son who is everything to him. Kodi Smitt-McPhee captures an amazing amount of innocence as he latches onto every piece of hope he can find. The two have such great chemistry that it is easy to believe their relationship and the hard things they have to go through.

One of the things that really cements their relationship is voice over early on where the man says that he believes his son to be the voice of God, and if he isn't then God has never spoken to us at all. I cannot recall the exact line, but the moment and the way it relates to their arc affected me. You will see it when see the movie.

I sat in the theater transfixed by what was unfolding in front of me. My emotions were destroyed by what did unfold. It is a film that demands to be seen. While it has that demand, it is not an easy view. This is entertainment, yes, but it is also a character study. It is impossible not to be affected.

Bottomline. This movie gets a little higher in my estimation the more I think about it. It is the sort of movie that has many layers to it. There is always something more to see. It also does not go so far as to tell you everything. You can fill in the blanks of the world around them (similar to Children of Men). John Hillcoat is to be commended for tackling such difficult material and delivering it in such a powerful manner.

Highly Recommended.

Box Office Update 11/27-11/29: New Moon Nearly Blind Sided

This weekend turned out to be a little different than I was expecting. Film's dropping more than I expected, new films opening below expectations, and one movie making a surprise appearance in the top ten. On one hand some of my faith in the film going public has been restored, just a little bit. On the other hand I am rather surprised at how some of these films fared, both good and bad.

At the top of the pile, as expected, The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The juggernaut has cruised past the double century mark and seems to have a good chance to at least come close to $300 million. That said, it did suffer a 70% drop from its debut weekend, finishing near the $43 million mark. I have not seen the film and therefore cannot comment on its quality, but I an say that I am surprised that the drop was quite this steep. Considering how huge it opened, a big drop was to be expected, but I still expected it to top the $50 million mark. I am curious to see if this sequel's success carries over to the third film, Eclipse, slated to open in June.

Coming in a close second is the inspirational drama The Blind Side. I must say that this one is a big surprise. Who would have thought this movie would increase its take in its second weekend and challenge for the top spot? Certainly not I. I have heard good things about the film and about Sandra Bullock's performance. Still, I cannot say that I have a lot of interest in seeing it. Perhaps one day I will catch up with it.

Roland Emmerich's latest disaster epic keeps chugging along with another $17 million and a third place finish. It is nearing $140 million domestically. Doesn't sound like much for a film with a $200 million budget, does it? Well, consider that it has taken in more than $450 million internationally. Now that is insane!

Fourth place features one of the week's new releases. Old Dogs limped to a $16 million take. I say limped as I was expecting it to pull in double that. I am happy to see that it did not do as well as I expected. The movie just looks bad and most of the reviews seem to confirm that sentiment.

Skipping down a space we come to another new release, Ninja Assassin. This one finished up about where I expected it to. Despite how much fun I had with it or how good I think it is, it is still a movie with limited appeal. That said, if you like fast paced bloody action in a B-movie setting, Ninja Assassin delivers.

Move all the way down to the bottom portion of the list you will find the two best films of the top ten. In ninth place is Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox, a delightful stop-motion animated take on the Roald Dahl story of the same name. There is something about this movie that is absolutely captivating. Following behind it is a movie that can suck the joy out of just about anything. The Road is an amazing film that left me emotionally destroyed. It is possibly the most accurate look at a post apocalyptic world yet seen on the screen. These are two films well worth your attention.

As for next week? Nimrod Antal's new film, Armored, takes a bow and it looks like fun if not all that special. Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhall play brothers with Natalie Portman in the middle in the Jim Sheridan directed drama Brothers. Thirdly is the Robert Deniro holiday movie Everybody's Fine. This one looks pretty good, hopefully it will deliver.

Four movies dropped off the list this week: The Men Who Star at Goats (11), Couples Retreat (14), Michael Jackson's This Is It (16), and The Fourth Kind (19).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	1	The Twilight Saga: New Moon	$42,870,031	$230,947,696	2
2	2	The Blind Side	$40,111,364	$100,238,841	2
3	3	2012	$17,651,729	$138,451,427	3
4	N	Old Dogs	$16,894,511	$24,228,546	1
5	4	A Christmas Carol 3D	$15,758,273	$104,927,816	4
6	N	Ninja Assassin	$13,135,000	$21,193,565	1
7	4	Planet 51	$10,218,641	$28,487,409	2
8	6	Precious	$7,081,032	$32,433,482	4
9	24	Fantastic Mr. Fox	$6,965,267	$10,024,072	3
10	N	The Road	$1,502,231	$1,977,453	1

Box Office Predictions Recap
What an interesting weekend. I did not do particularly well. I am guessing it had to do with the long weekend and my inability to predict what people are going to go see. Still, I am surprised at how the weekend played out, with New Moon slipping more than I expected, Old Dogs arriving DOA, and The Blind Side taking a step up and nearly taking down the teen vampire romance. Fascinating.

Here is how the field matched up:

Actual	Prediction	Title	Wknd Gross	Prediction
1	1	The Twilight Saga: New Moon	$42,870,031	$51 million
4	2	Old Dogs	$16,894,511	$32 million
2	3	The Blindside	$40,111,364	$21 million
3	4	2012	$17,651,729	$14 million
6	5	Ninja Assassin	$13,135,000	$12.5 million
8	6	Precious	$7,081,032	$11.75 million
5	7	A Christmas Carol 3D	$15,758,273	$10 million
9	8	Fantastic Mr. Fox	$6,965,267	$9.5 million
7	9	Planet 51	$10,218,641	$8 million
11	10	The Men Who Stare at Goats	$1,501,837	$2 million

DVD Pick of the Week: Better Off Ted

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles, and what follows are not necessarily reviews, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

Better Off Ted: The Complete First Season. This is a fun series that I look forward to returning. It centers on a fictional (duh) research and development company and gives us an inside look at the various projects that go wrong and the variety of characters that inhabit the office. In a way it is like The Office, but in a slightly more standard sitcom format. Where it really wins is in the clever and humorous writing that captures a sort of heightened reality. Definitely worth checking out.

Terminator: Salvation (also Blu-ray). I was really looking forward to this movie, although it was not without some trepidation, I mean McG was directing it after all. The film is an interesting new chapter in the franchise, despite it not being exactly what we wanted. It is a movie that has a good dose of action and a few good ideas adrift in a sea of poor execution. It does have John Conner and a host of Terminator bad guys, but this future is not all its cracked up to be. It is worth checking out, just try not to get your hopes up.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (also Blu-ray). I enjoyed the first film, it is not the greatest thing in the world, but it was fun and had a certain magical whimsy to it. The sequel feels tired and overstuffed. The new locale finds familiar characters doing familiar things while the rules got left behind in New York. Ben Stiller looks like he doesn't want to be there and that sense of magic is lost. The one bright point is Amy Adams who brings an enjoyable sight to the screen as Amelia Earhart.

Snatch (Blu-ray). One of Guy Ritchie's better efforts finds British gangsters, boxing promoters, Russians, Jewish jewelers and a diamond fighting for attention. It arrives on high definition and hopefully will look pretty good.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (Blu-ray). Step back a bit farther and we get to Guy Ritchie's auspicious debut, which also introduced the world to Jason Statham. It centers on four guys who put all their money into a high stakes poker game, lose, and find themselves deep in debt to mobsters who are not all that friendly. It is here in time to help us get ready for Ritchie's next film, Sherlock Holmes.

The Green Mile (Blu-ray). I have not seen this movie in such a long time. Never would have guessed this was a Stephen King adaptation. It tells the story of death row guards and their lives leading up to the execution of an inmate accused of child murder who is capable of faith healing. Sounds like a perfect holiday gift!

Paper Heart (also Blu-ray). I missed this when it was in theaters, hopefully I can now catch it on home video. It is a mockumentary centering on Charlyne Yi's search for the meaning of love. Along the way she meets Michael Cera and the unexpected happens. That is an awful description, but the movie still looks pretty good!