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.
Feburary 12, 2013
by Biggie Josh Ellinger,posted Feb 12 2013 8:00AM
In Theaters
Identity Thief
Melissa McCarthy, who played the ever-reliable Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls, is finally getting her due. In Identity Thief she stars alongside Jason Bateman as “Sandy Bigelow Patterson”. The only problem is, that’s his identity, not hers: she’s managed to rack up tens of thousands of dollars in debt in his name, plus an assault charge, so Sandy (“it’s not a girl’s name, it’s unisex!”) decides that the best way to clear his name is track her down in Florida and drive her across the country back to Colorado so that she can ‘fess up. In pursuit are a bounty hunter and two drug-dealers, totally redundant to the plot and just there to add to the car-chases and gunplay. This is a very basic movie, saved single-handedly by McCarthy, who goes from moments of slapstick physical comedy and pratfalls to a scene where she completely breaks down, proving that she can really act in addition to playing the funny fat girl.
DVDs
Skyfall
Just when you thought they couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks, Sam Mendes came out with a fresh Bond just in time for the 50th anniversary of the franchise. Mendes played with the advancing age of Bond (Daniel Craig), M (Judi Dench) and all those spy gadgets with jokes and jabs aplenty about “the golden age of intrigue.” But we were introduced to new characters introduced, a longtime staple of the films left us, we got a great villain in Javier Bardem, and just the right amount of Bond’s history is explicated for those of us who need to know more about the man holding the signature martini. Remember all that fuss about a blond Bond? Once and for all Daniel Craig puts those doubts – along with a Bond girl or two – to bed. If you are a Bond fan you will love the special features: commentaries, extras on Bond women, on that iconic car DB5, one on the music, a bit on the premiere… Too many to list.
Silent Hill: Revelation
The first Silent Hill film was released in 2006 and based on a popular survivalist video game. It adds greatly to Revelation’s story to have seen the original. In the sequel, Michelle Williams-lookalike Sharon (Adelaide Clemens) and her father (Sean Bean) are moving from town to town, avoiding the cult members from Silent Hill who want Sharon back to complete their prophecy. When dad goes missing, Sharon and a local boy go to find him, and instead are transported to a horrific world of demons, deformed half-humans/half-machines, and scarier still: clowns. There are several films going on at the same time here: a thriller with a pretty convincing and detailed plot is punctuated by jarring “Saw”-like scenes. Some great visuals (the mannequins sequence was awesome) but too many to appreciate. No clear direction and some pretty grim dialogue further bog down the film, which is guaranteed to spawn another sequel.
Just one making-of extra on the blu-ray disc.
The Sessions
In time for Oscar viewing is The Sessions, based on the real-life story of polio victim Mark O’Brien, who is almost completely immobile. After much soul-searching 38-year-old Mark (John Hawkes) decides that he finally wants to lose his virginity, and after consulting with his priest (William H. Macy) and with the help of his therapist he hires a sexual surrogate to make it happen. Cheryl (Helen Hunt) explains that she is not a prostitute, because a prostitute wants repeat business, but they can only get together for a limited number of sessions. This is the story of how the relationship between Mark and Cheryl changes them both forever. Helen Hunt is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in what is an interesting character study, but ultimately is a film with limited appeal.
Deleted scenes, an interview with the writer/director, how Hawkes became O’Brien and more extras on the blu-ray disc.
