What to Watch: Nov. 3-9, 2013

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Under the Dome
Photo credit: Paramount

“Under the Dome”

Was there a more divisive show this year than the CBS hit? More and more people told me they were frustrated by it every week and yet the ratings stayed strong. Will it continue into a season two for which the writers never really planned? It helps that Paramount has put together a solid Blu-ray set for the show, one that will likely find its way under a few Christmas trees. With strong transfers and interesting special features, this is the best TV-on-DVD release of the week.

From my TV review: “There’s enough to like about the first episode but it was the only one sent for review and this is the kind of production that could fall into goofy plotting and silly dialogue soon. For now, I’m engaged, and more so then I thought I would be given CBS’s recent dramatic track record, but don’t yell at me in a month if it sucks.”

Synopsis:
From Amblin Television and based on the bestselling book by Stephen King, Under the Dome is “classic drama executed well” - NY Daily News. The small town of Chester’s Mill is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by a massive transparent barrier. Staring Mike Vogel, Rachelle Lefevre, Dean Norris, Natalie Martinez, Britt Robertson, Alexander Koch, Colin Ford, Nicholas Strong, Jolene Purdy and Aisha Hinds, the epic story of a town in peril unfolds as the residents struggle to maintain control and ultimately figure out the truth about the dome.

Special Features:
o Under The Dome: Filming The Pilot
o The World Of Under The Dome
o Stephen King And Under The Dome
o Under The Dome: From Novel To Series
o Under The Dome: The First Season
o Joe’s Blog
o Gag Reel
o Deleted Scenes

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

Passion
Photo credit: eOne

“Passion”

Brian De Palma is back! Sorta. Maybe. This remake is a bit inconsistent and ends in a truly unsatisfying way but there’s way more life here than De Palma has shown in recent crap like “Redacted” and “The Black Dahlia.” Maybe he’s still got another masterpiece in him. “Passion” at least gives me a little more hope that such a thing is possible.

From my film review: “It’s certainly not the home run that fans of “Dressed to Kill” or “Blow Out” still hold out hope for the director to deliver but it’s proof that this very stylish filmmaker hasn’t completely thrown in the towel like some of his ‘70s and ‘80s peers. It starts a little slow and ends a little crazy but there’s more to like about “Passion” than I ever would have expected.”

Synopsis:
Brian De Palma returns to the sleek, sly, seductive territory of Dressed To Kill with an erotic corporate thriller fueled by sex, ambition, image, envy and the dark, murderous side of passion. Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace star as two female executives whose fierce competition to rise up the ranks is about to turn literally cut-throat.

Special Features:
o Interviews With Brian De Palma, Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace

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

Best Man Down
Photo credit: Magnolia

“Best Man Down”

This week’s On Demand/Pre-Theatrical offering is a weird hybrid. In one film, Justin Long and Jess Weixler star in a horrendous road movie about a newly-married couple forced to travel after the death of their Best Man. In the other, we flash back to said Best Man’s recent life and there’s a sweet drama about two lost souls coming together. Labine is very good (he always is) and Addison Timlin could be a future star but the writing in the Long-Weixler half is downright unbearable, especially in the unbelievably cruel way her character comes off after the death of her new husband’s close friend. Don’t pay the extra On Demand fee. Wait till cable or streaming for Labine/Timlin and fast forward through the other stuff.

Synopsis:
When their obnoxious and over-served best man, Lumpy (Labine) unexpectedly dies at their destination wedding in Phoenix, bride and groom Kristin (Weixler) and Scott (Long) are forced to cancel their honeymoon and fly home to the snowy Midwest to arrange for his funeral. But when they arrive they realize that there was a lot more to their friend than met the eye.

Where to Watch: On Demand, Vudu, Amazon Instant Streaming, iTunes, In Theaters on 11/8

Lovelace
Photo credit: Anchor Bay

“Lovelace”

Ugh. Another cautionary tale about the porn industry that completely misses the opportunity to comment on the rise of adult films in the ’70s, the true dangers of finding fame in it, or what happened after the spotlight faded. It’s so predictable and stunningly boring, highlighted by some truly horrendous performances, particularly an overcooked Sharon Stone. Go rent “Boogie Nights” again instead.

From Patrick McDonald’s film review (he liked it a lot more than I did…click for the counterpoint): “The final dark comedy joke in “Lovelace” is that “Deep Throat” eventually brought in an estimated 600 million dollars in profit. Shadowy figures and hustlers bought houses, funded retirements and paid off politicians on the back of Linda’s one “performance” – for which she was paid $2500. In essence, “Deep Throat” does represent America, the part that completely gets screwed.”

Synopsis:
In 1972 - before the internet - Deep Throat was a phenomenon: the first scripted pornographic theatrical feature film, featuring a story, some jokes, and an unknown star, Linda Lovelace (Amanda Seyfried). Escaping a strict religious family, Linda discovered freedom and the high-life when she fell for and married charismatic hustler Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard). As Linda Lovelace she became an international sensation, fully inhabiting her new identity, Linda became an enthusiastic spokesperson for sexual freedom. Six years later she presented another, utterly contradictory, narrative to the world… and herself as the survivor of a far darker story.

Special Features:
o Behind Lovelace

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

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com