A scene from 'Let Me In'. Courtesy Alliance Films.
New On DVD is sponsored by the Toronto-based video store Eyesore Cinema, located at 801 Queen St. West (above Rotate This!). They specialize in rare, out of print, hard to find, and import titles, and will take special orders if you’re nice. They also sell magazines, posters, books, and more. If you’re in Toronto, pop in and show your support (and make sure to tell them we sent you). You can also visit them online for more info.
Let Me In
Criticize This! Pick of the Week – Don’t write Let Me In off because it’s an American remake of the exceptional 2008 Swedish film Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in). Director Matt Reeves has handled the material with care and retells the young vampire love story with heart, crafting an excellent movie that keeps the good parts from the original and builds on it, in turn making it a better film experience. The film follows a young boy (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) as he befriends his new neighbour (played by Chloe Moretz) before learning she is a vampire. The writing, effects, and acting are all very subtle, and the film is beautifully shot and composed. Even if you’re a hardcore fan of the original, Let Me In is definitely worth watching. Special features on the DVD include audio commentary with Matt Reeves, deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and more. Also available on Blu-ray
. Film **** DVD *** (out of 5 stars).
Conviction (Blu-ray)
– Directed by Tony Goldwyn, Conviction tells the true story of Betty Anne Waters (portrayed by Hillary Swank) and how she enrolled in law school in order to fight for her brother’s innocence after he was sent to prison for murder. Sam Rockwell portrays the brother, Kenneth Waters, and shines in the role. Sadly, I can’t say the same for Swank. She was so terrible and miscast that it brought the entire film down to the level of a made-for-TV movie. This is not required viewing in high-def, and with only one special feature (an interview with the real Betty Anne Waters), it’s a real waste of the Blu-ray technology. Film ** Blu-ray ** (out of 5 stars).
Never Let Me Go (Blu-ray)
– Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go is a dreary drama about a group of kids born with the sole purpose of being organ donors. Although the film has roots in sci-fi, director Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) set it up like a period piece and let it play out as such. With Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly, and Andrew Garfield starring, I really expected it to knock my socks off. Instead, I found recycled performances from the trio, a lengthy running time, and an overall boring and lackluster film. It does have some great cinematography and lighting, as showcased on the Blu-ray release, but that wasn’t enough to save it. Special features on the Blu-ray include a making-of documentary. Film ** Blu-ray ** (out of 5 stars).
Mean Girls 2
– The first Mean Girls was a pleasant surprise. The writing was witty, the acting was decent, and it reminded me of the great 1988 Winona Ryder film Heathers. Mean Girls 2, the straight-to-DVD sequel, is nothing like the first. It’s so shitty it gives shit a bad name. And I wonder who this movie is made for. The cast is mostly crappy Disney Channel actors, but I can’t see their pre-teen fans wanting to rent or buy this trash (and there is just enough questionable material to make it not family-friendly enough for even a parent to consider as a gift). Older teens? Adults? Not likely interested unless they’re in a coma or wanting to be put into a coma. Here’s the quote I’d like to see on the cover: “Mean Girls 2…quite possibly the first true sign the world really is going to end in 2012!” Enough said. Special features include making-of featurettes, on-set video diaries, and more. Film * DVD * (out of 5 stars).
Also available on DVD and Blu-ray this week:
Life as We Know It (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Monsters (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Santa Sangre (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray
)
All About Eve (Blu-ray
)
An Affair to Remember (Blu-ray
)
Welcome to the Rileys (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
The Tillman Story (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Client 9: Rise and Fall of Spitzer (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Freakanomics (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Ray (Blu-ray
)
