Tune to The 2 Guys Named Chris Show every Monday to get the scoop on the latest new films and releases to DVD from a Canadian point of view. Julie Crawford, Film Critic for The Vancouver Courier, gives her two cents worth every Monday morning on Rock 92.
December 17, 2012
by Biggie Josh Ellinger,posted Jan 10 2013 6:19AM
In Theaters
Hitchcock
Director Sacha Gervasi portrays Hitchcock as lech, a drinker, and facing a mid-life crisis at the advanced age of 60. Wanting to tackle something different, “Hitch” (Anthony Hopkins) finances Psycho himself after Paramount refuses to back it. The film was based on the book about killer Ed Gein, who was also the inspiration for the killers in Silence of the Lambs and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The film touches on Hitch’s strained relationship with his wife and collaborator, played by Helen Mirren, and on Hitch’s obsession with pretty blond starlets like Janet Leigh (Scarlett Johannson). The film shouldn’t be considered a definitive biography of Alfred Hitchcock but is fascinating: keep in mind that Psycho was made at a time when it wasn’t even legal to show a toilet onscreen. Despite distracting prosthetics, Hopkins is perfect as Hitchcock.
DVD
Total Recall
Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell, taking over from Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a factory worker in the future, where people from the colony are shipped across the planet daily to do manual labor in the United Federation of Britain. He decides to erase some of his cares away by going to Rekall, which implants your own personal fantasy into your brain. Of course it all goes wrong, and Douglas finds himself on the run from the feds, attacked by the woman he thought was his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and sought out by members of the resistence, including Jessica Biel. The effects and scenery are impressive and action is so persistent that we are numb after a while; a little more emotion in the story would also have been welcome. But overall an enjoyable companion piece for fans of the original and of Philip K. Dick’s work.
Special features include a 20-min longer director’s cut, picture-in-picture feature with interviews with cast and crew and factoids, and more.
Pitch Perfect
Anna Kendrick is Beca, an edgy college freshman who would rather be DJ-ing than going to college. But dad says she has to stick it out for a year before pursuing her dream, so Beca reluctantly gets involved with the Barden Bellas, famous for having a leader who barfed all over the stage during nationals the year previous. There’s some competition with the boys’ singing group, and of course, a love interest for Beca (Skylar Astin). Kendrick was the youngest-ever Tony nominee a few years back and there’s some genuine vocal talent in the supporting cast, so the song mash-ups are good fun. Perfect movie for holiday break.
Extras: deleted and extended scenes, “line-o-rama”, two commentaries, music video and more.
