New on DVD: In stores next week
January 18, 2012 5:38PM
Updated: February 21, 2012 8:12AM
‘50/50’ ★★★1/2
(2011, Summit; R, 100 min.) Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a writer for Seattle public radio whose nagging back pain is diagnosed as a rare form of cancer of the spine. His chances are 50/50. Seth Rogen plays the best pal who tries to cheer him up, Bryce Dallas Howard is the girlfriend scared away by cancer, and Anjelica Huston is the protective mom. Written by Will Reiser, and somewhat autobiographical. (Rogen is his good friend.) Not depressing; more comforting. (Roger Ebert)
‘Happy, Happy’ ★★★
(2011, Magnolia; R, 88 min.) An isolated couple in a snowy Norwegian district get new neighbors, and pent-up problems in both marriages begin to erupt. Agnes Kittelsen is excellent as Kaja, the landlady of the newcomers, whose empty marriage and loneliness express themselves in desperate exhilaration.There are many inexplicable touches, such as the two children playing a game of slave and master, and the periodic appearance of an American singing quartet performing seemingly irrelevant folk songs.(Roger Ebert)
‘Mozart’s Sister’ ★★★1/2
(2011, Music Box Films; NR, 120 min.) It was a hard life for the Mozart family as their carriage bounced along frozen roads from one royal court to another, supporting themselves by the patronage of princes. But Wolfgang and his sister Nannerl truly loved music, their father was a loving taskmaster, their mother was a warm support, and music came easily to them. The film focuses on Nannerl (Marie Feret), who because she was a woman was not encouraged to compose or play violin, but was limited to accompanying her brother on the harpsichord. On a story part fact, past fiction, she finds two friendships in the French royal family. An elegant period piece, rich in music. (Roger Ebert)
‘Restless’ ★★★
(2011, Sony; PG-13, 91 min.) Enoch (Henry Hopper) is obsessed by death. Annabel (Mia Wasikowska) is dying. They start to meet while funeral-crashing and begin a sweet relationship that awakens his interest in life and provides her with her only chance of romance. His best friend is a kamikaze pilot named Hiroshi (Ryo Kase); the nature of his reality goes unexplained. Her confidante is her sister (Schuyler Fisk). By adeptly side-stepping many depressing aspects of terminal illness, director Gus Van Sant creates a consoling fantasy. (Roger Ebert)
‘The Whistleblower’ ★★★1/2
(2011, Fox; R, 112 min.) A film to fill you with rage, based on the true story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a police officer from Lincoln, Neb., who took a job with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. In one of her best performances, Rachel Weisz plays Bolkovac, who got evidence that underage girls were being held captive and bought and sold in a sex-trafficking operation. Her evidence was ignored by a male conspiracy. (Roger Ebert)
Also available
• “Al DiMeola: Morroco Fantasia”
• “Always From Darkness”
• “Ancient Aliens: Season 3”
• “Another Happy Day”
• “Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations: Season 6, Part 2”
• “Beginning of the Great Revival”
• “Beware the Gonzo”
• “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season 1”
• “Cast Me If You Can”
• “The Confession”
• “Custer’s Last Stand”
• “David and Kamal
• “Deadly Spawn: Millennium Edition”
• “Dirty Little Trick”
• “The Doors: Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of LA Woman”
• “Elvis Found Alive”
• “End Call”
• “Essential Killing”
• “Fascination”
• “Few Options”
• “Flash Point”
•“Head Case”
• “Hell and Back Again”
• “Hell on Earth”
• “Katarina’s Nightmare Theater: The House on Sorority Row”
• “Ice”
• “The Iron Rose”
• “Kojak: Movie Collection”
• “LA Is My Home Town”
• “Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2”
• “The Lie”
• “Limelight”
• “Lips of Blood”
• “Mannix: The Sixth Season”
• “Me Again”
• “Meet the Browns: Season 4”
• “Memphis”
• “Motorhead: The World Is Ours, Vol. 1”
• “Punished”
• “Queen of the Sun”
• “Queen: Days of Our Lives”
•“Revenge!”
• “Revenge of the Electric Car”
• “Rough Cut Season 2: Drop-Leaf Table”
• “Rough Cut Season 2: Turned Tall Floor Lamp”
• “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Season 1, Part 2”
• “Shut Up Little Man!”
• “Sister Mary”
• “Tales of an Ancient Empire”
• “There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane”
• “Time Traveller: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”
• “Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath”
• “Today’s Special”
• “Tom Waits: The Complete Review”
• “U2: Achtung Baby”
• “U2: From the Sky Down”
• “UFC 137 & 138”
• “UFOs Have Landed on Planet Earth: Final Countdown to Alien Invasion”
• “Van Halen: Bottoms Up”
• “Woman”
• “The World God Only Knows: Complete Collection”
• “WWII in 3D”
• “Yardbirds: Performances”
• “The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom”
New to Blu-ray
• “The Adventures of Milo and Otis”
• “Annie Hall”
• “Godzilla (1954): Criterion Collection
• “Manhattan”
• “The Moment of Truth (1964): Criterion Collection”
• “Paranormal Activity”
• “Rebecca”
• “See No Evil, Hear No Evil”
• “Spellbound”
• “Stir Crazy”
• “Stripes”
• “The Toy”
• “Wings” (1927)
Comments Click here to view or make a comment