Angels & Demons Sans the greasy mullet from The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks plunges into another three-quarters-baked adaptation of a Dan Brown conspiracy yarn, this one set in the Vatican amid a papal power struggle. Symbolism that goes down easier in the book seems a little stiff on film, but the drama is still a fast-paced lark.
Video game geeks will probably be all over the Blu-ray version because it includes a digital copy that you can play on PlayStation 3s and PSPs, as well as the iPhone and Windows Media player. Many of the extras, especially on the stuffed-to-the-gills Blu-ray, are more interesting than the movie itself, including extensive making-of featurettes and an interview with the artist who creates ambigram symbols.
Funny People Theres no question this AdamSandler -Seth Rogen team-up is director Judd Apatows least funny and most long-winded effort, but the result is still better than most thinking-fans comedies out there. The Sand-man plays a depressive, slightly over-the-hill comic who faces a terminal illness, and Rogen is his wide-eyed personal assistant/joke writer who goes off with him on adventures that last about a half hour too long. Both the Blu-ray and DVD are stacked with extras, including an alternate version of the film, deleted scenes and even clips of Apatows high school radio show. The Blu-ray has everything the DVD does and more, including footage of castmembers individual stand-up acts.
Leon: The Professional This sleeper 1994 action classic has gradually built up a reputation as one of the best of its decade. Jean Reno stars in the title role as a hard-boiled assassin who takes a 12-year-old orphan (Natalie Portman) under his wing and molds her into a cold-blooded killer. The movie debuts on Blu-ray with a weirdly dated 10-years-later retrospective and an extended version of the movie that adds 23 pulse-pounding minutes.
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia Christmas Special Having not aired on TV and only available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD you cant even rent this sucker for now this is sure to be one of the more pirated releases of the year. The gang is in top form in a riotous and disturbing special that runs about the length of two 22-minute episodes strung together, as they look to rekindle their Christmas spirit and discover the idyllic days of Christmas past may not have been as innocent as they remembered. Even with a making-of doc and deleted scenes, this still feels like a light-on-content cash grab, but if youre as obsessed with this show as I am the special deserves a place on your DVD rack.
Sex, Lies and Videotape Steven Soderberghs joyfully perverse 1989 breakout hit shaped the 1990s indie boom. James Spader stars as a sexually defunct drifter who stays with his old college buddy (Peter Gallagher) and his bored wife (Andie MacDowell). Spaders character is fascinating for the way hes shut himself off from human intimacy and can only be aroused through interviewing women on camera about their sex lives. The Blu-ray debut of the movie includes a brilliant commentary with Soderbergh and fellow indie film king Neil LaBute, as well as a roun-up of bizarre deleted scenes.
Villarreals humorous money-saving book, Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel, is available at bookstores and on Amazon.
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After John Carney issued his annual holiday list of girls to avoid, blogger and editor Melissa Lafsky offered up her response: a catalog of guys that women must avoid at all costs. This originally appeared on her blog Opinionista. Avoid any guy who lists “blogger” on his resume. The reasons to do this are too numerous to list. Avoid any guy who starts a sentence with “If you Google me” Avoid any guy who quotes Judd Apatow and/or refers to his [...]
Today at Gawker.TV,we visit the Jersey Shore, Quentin Tarantino’s new bizarre commercial, car wash revenge, a terrible spoof on Judd Apatow movies, and Obama responds to a call to legalize everything bad for America. Young Ragamuffin Asks Obama to Legalize Drugs and Prostitution In a town hall meeting today, a student asked Obama if legalizing drugs, prostitution, and other awesome things would stimulate the economy. Obama, ever the square, [...]
“I think people look at me and don’t expect much,” Precious star Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe has said, “Even though I expect a whole lot.” Rapturous reviews testify to Sidibe’s prodigious acting skills. But what should we expect from Hollywood? I decided to ask a few professionals. Raves and nominations notwithstanding, as casting director Mark Bennett (The Hurt Locker, Junebug) puts it when asked for his professional opinion, “Unfortunately [...]
“I think people look at me and don’t expect much,” Precious star Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe has said, “Even though I expect a whole lot.” Rapturous reviews testify to Sidibe’s prodigious acting skills. But what should we expect from Hollywood?I decided to ask a few professionals. Raves and nominations notwithstanding, as casting director Mark Bennett (The Hurt Locker, Junebug) puts it when asked for his professional opinion, “Unfortunately [...]
Each winter, with the coming of awards season, the colors of America’s multi-plexes turn from bright pastels to dismal browns and grays as Hollywood strains for gravitas with their takes on the most depressing topics of the day.After a long season of caped-superheroes and cars smashing into things, its probably only fair that we should then eat our vegetables and be forced to sit through a few month of loving portrayals of war, disease, [...]
Each winter, with the coming of awards season, the colors of America’s multi-plexes turn from bright pastels to dismal browns and grays as Hollywood strains for gravitas with their takes on the most depressing topics of the day. After a long season of caped-superheroes and cars smashing into things, its probably only fair that we should then eat our vegetables and be forced to sit through a few month of loving portrayals of war, disease, [...]
Am I asleep, because this sounds like a match made in heaven – Judd Apatow (along with Universal Pictures) has just picked up not one, not two, but three comedies starring Aziz Ansari. The yet-to-be-written ideas were pitched by the Parks and Recreation star as well as Jason Woliner, who is on board to direct. So what kind of hijinks are in store? Here’s the rundown:Project No.1: For now, it’s called Let’s Do This, and it’s about two guys who [...]
Adam Lambert’s crotch-thrusting, face-humping performance did not sit well with many viewers hoping for a staid and wholesome American Music Awards. Unsurprised enough yet? Well here’s another very predictable fact: It was the gay parts that pissed people off. ABC was flooded with more than 1,500 complaints from parents whose kids turned instantly gay at the sight of Lambert kissing his male keyboardist. The very douche-y Parents Television [...]
Adam Lambert’s crotch-thrusting, face-humping performance did not sit well with many viewers hoping for a staid and wholesome American Music Awards. Unsurprised enough yet? Well here’s another very predictable fact: It was the gay parts that pissed people off. ABC was flooded with more than 1,500 complaints from parents whose kids turned instantly gay at the sight of Lambert kissing his male keyboardist. The very douche-y Parents Television [...]
Adam Lambert’s crotch-thrusting, face-humping performance did not sit well with many viewers hoping for a staid and wholesome American Music Awards. Unsurprised enough yet? Well here’s another very predictable fact: It was the gay parts that pissed people off. ABC was flooded with more than 1,500 complaints from parents whose kids turned instantly gay at the sight of Lambert kissing his male keyboardist. The very douche-y Parents Television [...]
