What to Watch: Nov. 10-16, 2013

CHICAGO – It’s kind of a light week at the Blu-ray and DVD store (do they still have those now that Blockbuster has closed?). As studios prep a lot of major releases for holiday season, a few titles have been released on Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming services this week that we wanted to highlight, including a decent animated flick, a great foreign one, and a bunch of movies that may interest you but that you should probably avoid.

The Attack
Photo credit: Cohen Media Group

“The Attack”

The best new release of the week is this moving foreign film about a man shattered by the realization that his wife may not be who he’s always thought she was. The revelation brings to the surface the man’s own history and the piece becomes a moving meditation on the crisis in the Middle East and how the past and hidden conflicts are always there, waiting to cause turmoil.

From a theatrical review [22]: “A melancholy, mournful piece about an unimaginable tragedy and a man faced with the realization that he may not know the truth about the woman he loved. It’s an accomplished drama anchored by an understated, captivating performance from an actor who fills nearly every frame of every scene. It is about an attack not just on innocent lives but a man’s very understanding of his family. It’s a strong alternative to blockbuster fare this weekend.

Synopsis:
Amin Jaafari (Ali Suliman) is an Israeli Palestinian surgeon, fully assimilated into Tel Aviv society. He has a loving wife, an exemplary career, and many Jewish friends. But his picture-perfect life is turned upside down when a suicide bombing in a restaurant leaves nineteen dead, and the Israeli police inform him that his wife Sihem, who also died in the explosion, was responsible. Convinced of her innocence, Amin abandons the relative security of his adopted homeland and searches for the truth about her life and death, uncovering a startling secret.

Special Features:
o Interview With Director Ziad Doueiri
o Photo Gallery
o Theatrical Trailer

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, iTunes

Turbo
Photo credit: Fox

“Turbo”

It’s undeniably familiar and generic in the way it reminds viewers of films like “Cars” and “Happy Feet” (and a dozen or so others) but there’s a cute, clever charm to this piece that I wasn’t expecting. I think my standards have been significantly lowered by recent 3D animated disasters but “Turbo” features strong voice work, a good pace, and a rewarding story about never giving up on your dreams, even if they’re as ridiculous as Turbo’s.

From Patrick McDonald’s theatrical review [23]: “There is nothing deep here, except maybe a slight satire regarding sports bureaucracy in bringing Turbo into the race. That took some serious story gymnastics. This is a lighter movie to take the family to, and can be enjoyed in both the two and three dimensional versions. It’s the 27th animated epic from DreamWorks Animation, and they are closing in on taking the cartoon reins from Disney, as their studio seems to best understand this new golden age.”

Synopsis:
From the creators of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda comes the biggest - and funniest - animated adventure of the year! Along with his streetwise snail crew and new human friends, Turbo, an underdog snail, takes on the biggest challenge ever to make their dreams come true.

Special Features:
o Champion’s Corner
o Smoove Move’s Music Maker
o Team Turbo: Tricked Out
o Meet Tito Deleted Scene
o The Race Storyboard Sequence
o Be An Artist!
o Shell Creator Game
o World Of DreamWorks Animation
o Digital Copy Included

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, Amazon Instant Streaming, iTunes

2 Guns
Photo credit: Universal

“2 Guns”

This Wahlberg-Washington collaboration is available a little early On Demand and so we’ve included it a week early, even though the DVD and Blu-ray special features are also included below. As some studios have done lately, you can pay extra and rent this box office hit earlier than it’s available on disc. Should you? Only if you love the two stars, who, I’ll admit, are hard not love, even if the script is way below their talents. Washington and Wahlberg do their best here to elevate a piece of generic buddy comedy action that gets weighed down by a plot which is impossible to care about. They’re always clever and fun, even if the movie is ultimately disappointing in the way it fails to live up to their talents.

From Adam Fendelman’s theatrical review [24]: “Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington are the two guns who make this film worthwhile. A saving grace is still a saving grace no matter how much you criticize and blow holes in it. Instead of knocking the film for relying too heavily on its two co-stars, realize instead that it’s leading with its strength and that strength works.”

Synopsis:
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg lead an all-star cast in the explosive action hit 2 Guns. When an attempt to take down a drug cartel blows up in their faces, two undercover operatives are forced to go on the run together, though neither knows that the other is a federal agent. Suddenly, everyone on both sides of the law wants them dead, and their only hope is to trust each other. Filled with non-stop action and suspense, critics are raving “Washington and Wahlberg are at their very best.” - Pete Hammond, Movieline

Special Features:
o The Good, The Bad, and the Sexy
o Finding the Vibe
o Living Dangerously
o Deleted and Extended Scenes
o Undercover and Into Action
o Feature Commentary with Director Baltasar Kormakur and Producer Adam Siegel

Where to Watch Now: On Demand, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon Instant Streaming

Where to Watch After 10/19: Blu-ray, DVD

More on page 2…

Dexter: The Final Season
Photo credit: Showtime

“Dexter: The Final Season”

Showtime’s hit show may have peaked after the fourth season but there was still enough interest to make it a ratings success all the way up to the bitter end, a series finale that people have already used as a cautionary tale as to how NOT to end a show. The fact is that “Dexter” lost its way long before the finale, even if it showe signs of life all the way up to the start of this final season, especially in the casting of the brilliant Charlotte Rampling as the woman who helped create Dexter. I wanted more but that was true for at least the last three years (I’ll still defend season five) and it’s nice that fans can finally have it all. (Showtime/Paramount have also released a full series set.)

Synopsis:
It’s the beginning of the end for charming Miami forensics expert Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe Winner Michael C. Hall) as all 12 season eight episodes bring to rest the critically acclaimed hit series. He’s spent his days solving crimes and his nights committing them, but never before has Dexter had to deal with a more abhorrent and deranged enemy than he does now: himself. Six months after the stunning murder of Lt. LaGuerta, Dexter’s estranged sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) tries to cope with her guilt in her brother’s crimes, while an emotionally vulnerable Dexter comes face to face with a psychopathologist who knows the code that has motivated his ever murder. Filled with the dark twists and revelations that Dexter fans relish, season eight finishes Dexter’s twisted journey with a blood amazing send-off that will haunt fans forever.

Special Features:
o From Cop To Killer Featurette
o Dexter Season 8: Behind The Scenes
o Season 8: Episode 1 - With The Creators, Episode 2 - Directed By Michael C. Hall, Episode 3 - Dissecting A Scene, Episode 4 - With The Creators
o Ray Donovan: Season 1 - Episodes 1&2

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, Amazon Instant Streaming, iTunes

Last Days on Mars
Photo credit: Magnolia

“Last Days on Mars”

This week’s On-Demand-Only entry (we try to do one in every What to Watch) is another disappointment, a sci-fi/horror flick that starts with an amazing amount or promise but turns into just another monster movie. A great cast — Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Olivia Williams — is wasted on a movie about a mission to Mars that ends in space zombies. The first half-hour is wonderful. And then it quickly crashes to Earth.

Synopsis:
Scientists on a manned research mission to Mars make an incredible discovery, but in doing so unleash a terrifying virus that threatens the lives of the entire crew in this pulse-pounding, sci-fi thriller.

Where to Watch: On Demand, Vudu, Amazon Instant Streaming, iTunes

White House Down
Photo credit: Sony

“White House Down”

I’ll leave it at this…

From my theatrical review [25]: “I’ll just leave it at this – the worst thing that a B-movie summer blockbuster can be is boring. Other than that car chase scene, I was numbingly bored. There aren’t enough twists (the big twist in the final act is one everyone who has seen a movie before will see coming), the action scenes aren’t memorable, and the dialogue is dull. “White House Down” is the thing that Emmerich films want to be least of all – forgettable.”

Synopsis:
Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, during which the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country. Co-starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins and James Woods.

Special Features:
o A Dynamic Duo: Channing Tatum & Jamie Foxx
o Men Of Action: Stunt Training
o Meet The Insiders: Supporting Cast
o Roland Emmerich: Upping The Ante

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Vudu, Amazon Instant Streaming, iTunes

[26]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [27] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [26]