What to Watch This Weekend: January 24, 2013

It's another weak theater release week so we recommend catching up on some hits from last year or catching some recently added streaming movies.

DVD: Captain Phillips

Based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, this movie stood out because of Tom Hanks's sensational acting and the amazing sense of tension the film creates.

DVD: Blue Jasmine

The story of a deeply troubled New York socialite who, in denial of her current fortunes, is forced to impose on her sister in San Francisco. Cate Blanchett won audiences over with an Oscar-worthy performance (nominated for Best Actress) and Sally Hawkins, who plays her sister, also got the nod for Best Supporting Actress.

Streaming (Netflix): Unfinished Song

Grumpy pensioner Arthur honors his recently deceased wife's passion for performing by joining the unconventional local choir to which she used to belong, a process that helps him build bridges with his estranged son, James. Critics forgave the movie's weak points because of the touching story and tear-jerking moments.

Netflix Link

Streaming (Amazon): The Bling Ring

The Bling Ring tells the story, inspired by actual events, of a group of fame-obsessed teenagers who use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts and burglarize their homes. The story is an interesting one and it's surprising how easily the group of teens can gain access to the celebrities' homes and the brash nature in which they do it.

Amazon Link

What to Watch: Lee's top 5 movies so far

These are some of my favorite 2013 movies. Like David, I'm including a 2012 foreign film that did not reach American theaters until this year. The top five are in no particular order and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

Lee:

Blue Jasmine – I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan, but his writing and Cate Blanchett's performance made this story of an uppity socialite's fall into a surprisingly effective tragicomedy. Despite her unsympathetic behavior, I pitied the increasingly unhinged Jasmine while enjoying her darkly comical struggle to adjust to lower-class life.

Captain Phillips – Paul Greengrass made his depiction of the well-known 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking a tense thriller by focusing on the humanity of the victims and attackers. CP shows that the key to effective tension isn't spectacle (not that I don't appreciate a well-done blockbuster); more important are character development and depth that make you invested in the situation and its outcome.

Short Term 12 – This story about a teen group home and its workers is full of great characters and moments. It feels like a real glimpse into the troubled lives of these youths, one that doesn't sugarcoat their lives but also doesn't try to make them seem overly depressing. Brie Larson is great as the caring lead worker struggling to help them while dealing with her own issues.

The Hunt – Stories of wrongful accusations are often told as mysteries, but The Hunt instead focuses on a clearly innocent man's fight for his reputation. It hurt to watch an upstanding member of a community be seen as a monster due to the disturbing words spoken by a seemingly innocent child.

The Place Beyond the Pines – I expected a crime film but got an ambitious triptych about troubled fathers and the effects they have upon their sons. It was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed watching the story's three distinct sections play out, the woodsy upstate New York setting and the performances of everyone involved.

Honorable mention:

Before Midnight – Before Sunrise and Sunset were sweet glimpses of brief, ill-timed romantic connections. BM brings the romance trilogy's fleeting lovers down to earth by examining the challenges and shifting relationship dynamics that arise during long-term commitments.

Don Jon – I enjoyed Joseph Gordon-Levitt's mocking homage to romantic comedies and his ability to make the somewhat asinine lead character into a likable womanizer.

The Way, Way Back – Some of the family drama feels familiar, but it's very fun to watch the awkward main character interact with his wacky water park coworkers and possible love interest. His development and interactions feel real and hilarious, largely thanks to Sam Rockwell as his man-child boss.

What to Watch This Weekend: August 2, 2013

It's a light theater and DVD week, so either use these recommendations or check back on some previous What to Watches and catch something you might have missed!

In Theaters: Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine is Woody Allen's newest movie, which skillfully balances comedy and drama better than the average dramedy. It will make you both laugh at and pity its very well-acted, incredibly flawed protagonist.

On DVD: G.I. Joe: Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a summer movie through and through, with a slightly nonsensical plot and lots of over the top action. But, the Rock is great as always and the addition of Bruce Willis feels just right in this universe. We thought it was worth a rental so now's your chance.

Streaming (Netflix and Amazon): Adventureland

Haven't seen this personally, but there are slim pickings on newly released streaming movies, it's fairly recent and has relatively good reviews. It's a comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park. Plus, it has Ryan Reynolds and I'm a huge Reynolds fan.

Streaming (HBO Go): Beasts of the Southern Wild

The critically acclaimed Beasts of the Southern Wild is now available for streaming. This movie was nominated for four academy awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress. 

Review: Blue Jasmine

Release date: July 26, 2013 (August 2 in the DC area)
Running time: 98 minutes
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Louis C.K.
Who to see it with: Someone drawn toward unlikable, but well-acted, protagonists

Lee:

Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine skillfully balances comedy and drama better than the average dramedy. Left poor following the Bernie Madoff-like fall of her husband Hal (Baldwin), Jasmine (Blanchett) moves in with her lower class sister (Hawkins). Predictably, Jasmine does not readily accept her lowered status, barely concealing (and often readily displaying) her contempt for her new, poorer acquaintances and their meager surroundings. She's one of the most unlikable protagonists I've seen in some time, feeling no shame for being a mean, conceited, critical snob.

Somehow, Blanchett's performance and the script manage to make Jasmine somewhat sympathetic. As the film alternates between times before and after her husband's arrest, it becomes clear that she is also a victim of his actions in several ways, though her possible complicity in his crimes makes her less than innocent. She's clearly a bit unhinged, and her worsening mental state evokes both schadenfreude and tragedy. It's understandable that a dramatic change in lifestyle is traumatic, but that doesn't absolve her awful treatment of others. Most comedies about someone so troubled adopt an apparent lighthearted tone, but BJ's seriousness, understated humor and abrupt ending make the funny moments more unsettling, in retrospect. Blue Jasmine will make you both laugh at and pity its very well-acted, incredibly flawed protagonist.

See it.