Recent DVD Releases

All of the following were reviewed by my collaborators during their theatrical run.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Two brothers (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) decide to rob their parents’ jewelry store, leading to disastrous results. Hoffman, Hawke, and Marisa Tomei (their love interest) turn in career-best performances and legendary director Sidney Lumet moves the camera gracefully and sets the action in perfect locations. The flash editing for the time juxtapositions don’t appear to serve any real purpose (it worked better in Easy Rider) and Tomei’s character is inconsistent. Still though, powerhouse performances (including Albert Finney, their father) and strong direction make this one unforgettable. A-
(Click below for Lars and the Real Girl and Dan in Real Life)

Dan in Real Life
Steve Carell is fine as the widower and father of 3 and Juliette Binoche shines as his love interest. There are great supporting turns by Diane Wiest and John Mahoney. But Dane Cook is terrible and the plot takes Carell into ridiculous situations that only exist in Hollywood. The kids-know-best mentality (that Priest mentioned in his review) is absurd and the ending is as contrived as it gets. The uninspired music selections hurt. Lots of fine moments add up to less than their sum. B-

Lars and the Real Girl
When his brother’s wife becomes pregnant, a young man (Ryan Gosling) has his past trauma (his mother died during his birth) bubble to the surface. He buys a sex-doll online and tells everyone it’s his new girlfriend. Instead of being treated with scorn, the small town community shows understanding. It’s surprising how well it all works, never descending into parody or losing its tone. Gosling is nearly unrecognizable as the troubled Lars and there are great supporting turns, but the visuals are flat. And wouldn’t one or two of the townsfolk have called BS on the whole scheme? (Lawyer’s spot-on review) B