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 This Weekend: October 11, 2013

There are some great options this week including some really wonderful streaming movies.  At this point, if you haven't seen Starbuck, make some time for it this weekend!

In Theaters: Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips' dramatization of 2009's Maersk Alabama hijacking sails past other thrillers with its strong performances, interesting antagonists, and focused depiction of an intense, unusual crisis. 

On DVD: Much Ado About Nothing

Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing is a fresh take on this Shakespearean classic, keeping the heart of the play while updating the aesthetics to the modern era. 

Streaming (Netflix): Starbuck

Starbuck is one of David's favorite movies of the year and it's now possible to watch it for free on Netflix streaming. Watch it now to prepare yourself for the English remake coming out later this year.  Or just watch it because it's an amazing movie.

Streaming (Netflix): Salinger

Salinger was not well received.  We haven't seen it but it's rare that a movie that came out so recently is available on Netflix Instant so quickly.  The movie is an unprecedented look inside the private world of J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye.

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.

Review: Captain Phillips

Release date: October 11, 2013
Running time: 134 minutes
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Yul Vazquez, Max Martini, Barkhad Abdirahman
Who to see it with: Someone into realistic action involving relatable characters; Paul Greengrass fans

Lee:

Captain Phillips is an action thriller based on the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking by a group of Somali pirates. This true story is a great fit for a action film. I didn't expect much going in, but maybe I should have trusted director Paul Greengrass considering his work on the Bourne sequels and United 93. CP briefly introduces Phillips (Hanks), his wife (Catherine Keener, onscreen for only a couple of minutes) and the Somalis, spending almost its entire running time at sea. Once the captain sees the pirates, the story becomes a long string of suspenseful moments and tense interactions between them and Phillips' crew.  Hanks is great at portraying the captain's multiple states of mind. He's smart and well-prepared but very nervous and edgy, with a tendency to sometimes talk too much. His performance is good throughout the film, but capped by a very emotional final scene. The hijackers' actors, each in their first credited roles according to IMDb, make them threatening while seeming in over their heads (appropriate since they were teenagers). They initially seem like average criminals but become more complex and surprisingly sympathetic during the second half.

CP's grounded in reality action is often more effective than that of most blockbusters because it feels real and involves developed characters. Phillips and the crew's attempts to thwart the hijacking are clever and low-tech, and tension is increased by the claustrophobic ship setting. Those familiar with the incident will know the outcome, but the relationship between Phillips and the pirates should provide a real sense of danger and give CP a strong, dramatic foundation. Phillips feels for them while displaying anger and despair, and they provide a sense of the desperation that would drive them to commit such a dangerous act. Those unfamiliar will find that the story takes unexpected turns that complicate the situation. I like that CP never emphasizes politics and avoids glamorizing the military or anyone else as heroes. Its straightforward narrative maintains interest by focusing on the humanity of the crew and their attackers, along with exploring their reactions when plans go awry. Captain Phillips' dramatization of 2009's Maersk Alabama hijacking sails past other thrillers with its strong performances, interesting antagonists, and focused depiction of an intense, unusual crisis.

See it.