Looking for something to rent this week? Here's what we had to say about the films out now on DVD/Blu-ray today:
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"Cave of Forgotten Dreams" - Newly awarded Best Documentary by the New York Film Critics Circle, and fortunately available on 3D Blu-ray for those of you with the necessary equipment, Werner Herzog's documentary exploration of the Chauvet Cave paintings is one of our favorite films of the past two years (I listed it last year in my best to watch for section). Here's what Daniel Walber wrote for us back in April:
The eccentric and visionary director?s new documentary, ?Cave of Forgotten Dreams,? is not just a visually stunning masterpiece of 3D but also a film that turns the third dimension into an artistic necessity. Herzog?s focus is the Chauvet Cave in southern France, an otherworldly place filled with some of the world?s oldest works of art. Yet this ancient masterpiece is not simply the collection of images on stone, but rather the experiential journey through the cave itself as light moves about the various ochre tones. A simple print of a horse or lion from Chauvet would not begin to replicate the effect of its original location. On the contrary, to attain the full artistic impact one needs to walk through the cave itself, watching the paintings seem to shift in the darkness. A few scientists, Herzog and his crew have had this opportunity, but for the rest of us to even come close we need a work of cinema shot in 3D.
"Another Earth" - This film also received some sparks today, as the film was nominated for Spirit Awards for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. I prefer writer/star Britt Marling's other Sundance sci-fi flick, "Sound of My Voice," and I definitely love "Melancholia" more in the competition for best movie about the sudden appearance of another planet, but that doesn't mean I don't still occasionally think about "Another Earth." At Sundance I noted that it was one of the most divisive films of the festival. Here's part of my review from January:
As a moody romance drama, it kind of works, though it?s highly predictable and never feels entirely believable. However, the sci-fi stuff requires much more suspension of disbelief, and any intelligent fan of the genre is going to be counting plot holes and asking questions by the score. Even the last minute, viewed by some as the best or only good part, left me more frustrated in how gimmicky and wannabe-twisty it is.
[...] if anything ?Another Earth? is most like a super low-budget M. Night Shyamalan film without any of the suspenseful moments that have made his films tolerable in the past. The way we learn significant things regarding the discoveries of and communication with the other planet could have been more thrilling (parts of the film had me wanting it to actually be more like "Signs," which should say something), and the address of counter-earth theory and the philosophical ideas associated with it should have been more in-depth.
"The Smurfs" - Even though it's just a big tourism advertisement for New York City, I actually enjoyed this. Interestingly I recommended it to people who like "The Muppets Take Manhattan." I guess I was surprised by this movie and disappointed by the new "Muppets" movie, but I'm not sure I'd say this is better than that. Still, I apparently had positive things to say back in July:
It is true, "The Smurfs" is one of the more tolerable movies to rape your childhood in a long time. The characters are cute and only minimally obnoxious. The scatological and pop culture references are at a minimum (though "Rango" proved that a lot of both doesn't have to be terrible). And it's self-aware in a respectful fashion more reminiscent of "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" than "The Brady Bunch Movie," so the adults who grew up on the little blue creatures have something to appreciate, and not in too campy a way. Sure, it's basically a rehash of "Enchanted," which was itself basically a rehash of "Splash," and I guess I was too hopeful in thinking some of the reflexivity would involve accusations of communism, but I found the movie to be a slight improvement on at least the more recent of those NYC-set fish-out-of-water fantasies.
"Friends With Benefits" - Partly, necessarily, as compared to the similar "No Strings Attached," Daniel Walber pans this rom-com and says the genre itself might just be broken beyond repair. But he does claim it starts out as the best R-rated comedy since "Bridesmaids." From his review back in July:
boy, is that last half-hour terrible. Once they put their clothes on and start acting serious the movie completely loses its gusto and falls back into the rom-com doldrums. To be fair, ?No Strings Attached? falls apart around the same time. That film may not have nearly as much nudity, but Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher have better chemistry outside of the bedroom than these two. Both films chug along relatively effectively for an hour or so.
"One Day" - While we didn't actually review this movie, Daniel Walber saw it, hated it and used it as a bit of comparison in his review of "Like Crazy" at Toronto back in September:
What if ?One Day? had been a good film? Better yet, where are all of the good romance movies? Romcoms included, every love story with big stars on screen seems to turn into a predictable disaster. Even the more interesting ideas and creative scripts seem forced into rote conclusions and overdone plot elements by the time they make it to theaters. What if for every mismanaged romantic movie there were an edgier, more provocative romance that spun from the same original notion? A ?Friends with Benefits? with real danger of heartbreak, for example. For ?One Day,? the alternatively intriguing film is the brutal yet endearing ?Like Crazy.? If only all long-distance relationships on screen looked like this dynamic Sundance hit.
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"30 Minutes or Less" - A fine black comedy that's worth watching as relevant to the current economy, in spite of being based on (and maybe exploits) a tragic story from years ago. Also, anyone who enjoyed "The Social Network" will get a kick out of how it is in complete contrast to that film. Part of my review from August:
To a great extent, "30 Minutes" is an excellent antithesis to "The Social Network," and the movie doesn't shy away from reflexively alluding to the earlier Eisenberg movie. Right away his character, named Nick, actually says he's not on Facebook. A winking joke, sure, but also a good way to get us thinking about the characters at hand. Contrary to Mark Zuckerberg, Nick is entirely lacking in ambition. If he's smart, we don't get wind of it, though his job as a pizza delivery boy seems beneath him, yet also sort of too much of a bother. He means to quit the job in spite of having no other prospects. Somewhat fortuitously, it takes two unemployed idiots (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) with worse cases of arrested development to force some sort of motivation onto him. It's motivation to commit a crime, but along the way he also gets nerve to tell a girl (Dilshad Vadsaria) how he really feels about her. Of course, that's partly motivated by the fact he thinks he might die.
"The Future" - Another film we didn't have a full review of (and which I'm still anticipating watching and not hating), but Daniel Walber made no attempt to hide his dislike for it while discussing Miranda July's early short films back in July:
I don?t entirely understand this new wave of Miranda July enthusiasm. She does have a film coming out this weekend, but that alone can?t fully explain this rush of good will for the director/writer/actress/performance artist. The New York Times Magazine just gave her quite the feature and even Michael Idov has changed his mind after previously dissing her in song. Not that I?m bitter, but I?m not the biggest fan of ?The Future? and as it turns out July?s early short films are mildly stress inducing.
Also on home video this week: "Our Idiot Brother" and documentaries "Becoming Chaz," "Reel Injun" and "Sons of Perdition."
Follow Christopher Campbell on Twitter: @thefilmcynic
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I hope it?s not business and that Brit is happy. She looks happy, albeit not stylish, in those green dress pics. I am a die-hard Brit fan, her music will always be in my exercise rotation. But all I really want for Christmas is the old Brit back. Not the thick, average, dull performer she is now. Although she?s probably on psych meds so who knows if the skinny, bubbly girl will ever emerge again.
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Jason looks really skeevy to me. He has been her ?handler? for quite a while now. He seems highly suspect?of what?I?m not quite sure.
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Watch out he?s a shape shifter.
Sam Merlot doppelganger.
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In a Robert Patrick T-1000 type of way? Yeah, I kinda see it.
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Very hard to believe that this comment stayed up here. When I posted a link about the Illuminati and Britney Spears, namely mind controlled slaves, it was taken down. I 100% agree with you.
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I think he?s kinda cute ? except for the hair, ugh. Why do guys do that? But I also think she?s the absolute worst dresser. And although her hair has gotten better, it?s still gross, as in the picture with the red turtleneck and the ill-fitting polka dot (??) shorts (?? ? whatever they are, they?re horrible).
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Um, how can you have a relationship with someone that has been on the edge of becoming sybil for years? Kinda seems he is using her?and that he is more of a zookeeper than anything.
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Thank you. I too want to know what a normal man would want with a woman who can?t even take care of herself. Pretty sketchy to me.
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I can?t believe this girl is still in her 20s. Anyway, I really applaud Trawick for sticking by her and not using her (from what I know). He?s kind of like her knight in shining armor.
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Who dresses this girl???
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My theory: I would not be surprised if this was a sort of business arrangement between Jamie Spears and Jason. Jason sounds more like a caregiver than a boyfriend. So I am betting the deal is Dad lets her out of the conservatorship if she marries Jason and allows Jason to manage her personal life and keep her out of trouble. The thing is I think Britney actually has more feelings for him than he does for her. I think this will be successful. As long as Jason plays along he has nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Don?t get me wrong, I think he cares for Britney but I think it is in an extremely bonded caregiving kind of way only he can occasionally have sex with his patient.
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Does anybody know if he has a job? I know he used to work for Britney but not anymore.
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I thought he was and still is her Agent from CAA. Perhaps he has stopped being her agent since they started dating. Regardless, he looks pretty gross to me. Quite old and crusty in some pictures and just creepy in the rest.
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she is looking very well in that green dress. I don?t like the dress, but she is definitely shaping up and looks like way less of a hot mess than usual.
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I do wonder about the nature of their relationship. If he was/is a talent agent ? well, he probably has his act together. How did he fall for Britney? She seems like a tranqued up mess.
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When I see these two I cannot help but wonder what the attraction is. Yes, he probably smells like rope but how can he live with that poor, poor little nutcase? You know his time is spent following her with a swifter, sucking up cheeto dust. Trying to corral her into the tub so he can clean her hooves. Deciphering hill billy baby-talk and picking up starbucks on the hour. Watching her pick her underwear out of her ass publicly whilst maintaining a perfectly straight face?.
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Strange, isn?t it? I don?t think we will ever find an explanation.
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yeah, agreed that there?s something off-putting about their relationship. I just can?t quite wrap my head around a mature adult relationship being truly possible for a woman who, to this day, is legally deemed incapable of making her own choices. hopefully she?s a lot healthier than her continued conservatorship would imply and has been for a long time.
on a different note, the fact that she admires and respects J.Lo for not ageing is a bit unfortunate. no mention whatsoever of her career or talent? i mean, i don?t personally think she has much of either, but still?
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I agree on both points.
It is revealing and saddening that she admires Jennifer?s appearance; Britney hasn?t grown beyond the teen poptart phase, seemingly.
I would guess that their relationship is a business deal (unbeknownst to her) with Jason pulling an impressive salary for keeping her on her meds and out of trouble.
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No idea what the deal on their relationship is, but I wouldn?t be surprised if it?s skeevy. Also I really think alot of her troubles may be eased once her father is slightly more out of her life, I suspect he?s always been a VERY heavy weight on her shoulders since he borrowed money off her when she was young. Major Britney fan, wish her all the best
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Wow. People are really hard on these two. What gives? I think they have genuine chemistry, and he is obviously protective of her, as evidenced through alot of body language in all the pics they?re in.
I think he sees the person inside all this mess, and I mean, come on. So she?s not the brightest, but she is a sweet girl, and probably funny in her own way. She?s trying to live with a mental illness that?s being maintained with meds, and she?s doing a good job at it.
Her crap music aside, she?s still a human being, a woman, a mom with kids, and she?s not perfect, but she?s allowed to have love in her life. Right??
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I don?t understand it. She?s rallied back from what appeared to be a crippling mental illness and is doing well now, so I?m really happy for her. I don?t know why people think this guy is so awful. He doesn?t appear to be a leech like Federline.
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I must be in the minority, but I really like this couple and have since they got together. Just because she has had problems doesn?t mean she is unlovable, even to a stable guy! They are really cute and he seems like a stabilizing influence. It?s funny that people think he is a minder because I feel like he is authentic and in love with her for HER! I guess perception is in the eye of the beholder. I hope you guys keep covering them, I quite like reading about them whenever small tidbits come in.
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I think he?s hot. Good for her.
I?m really not too sure about what exactly their relationship is, but I do think Jason is a calming presence for Britney and he does care for her.
He?s probably seen all her ups and downs, and still has stuck through. Whether Jason?s stayed because of money or because he really cares is the real question. Personally, I think it?s a little of both.
But Britney deserves to be happy after all she?s been through, so I hope this works out.
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I think that the conservatorship may remain in place until the Sam Lufti suit is dismissed or settled. As long as she is under this, she can?t be deposed. But that?s just my theory, and I?m rooting for her either way.
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Refresh my memory, please. Who is suing who? Sam Lufti suing Brit or vice versa?
What is the lawsuit about?
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I believe that Sam Lufti is suing Brit?s parents for defamation. He?s requested all kinds of info for his case, including a deposition from Brit, but the judge denied his request because she?s under conservatorship.
I think that?s the jist of it, but I may be off since my info comes from my memory of what was written in blogs.
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If that?s true, then good thing Britney has a smart lawyer who thought up that strategy.
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Something about this just seems so odd to me. They won?t let her manage her own money because she?s too mentally unstable but allow her to get married?
Weird.
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Nothing odd-she?s been sued since like 5 minutes after she got out of the hospital by creepy, Svengali former manager and pill pusher. One way to keep her away from ex-manger creep and kill off the lawsuit is to keep the conservatorship protection.
You know, she?s seems like a sweet person, not tremendously bright and clearly unaware of how to care for herself-she never had to until she got rid of K-Fed and we all know what happened then. If she needs that and the guy makes her happy,why not?
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Why in the world are his eyes popped out of his head? Hitting the glass d**k are we?
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Meth-faced. She was better off with stoner K-Fed.
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