What to Watch This Weekend: September 20, 2013

Sadly, we missed Battle of the Year 3D and can't make it this week's theater pick.

In Theaters: Prisoners

When the missing child's father feels let down by the law, he uses very disturbing methods to pursue his own investigation. See this dark, twisty mystery for its great acting, twisted morality, and constant suspense.

On DVD: Disconnect

Each of Disconnect's three seemingly unrelated stories explore a different aspect of the dangers of social media. It may sound preachy, but the cast and plots keep you invested in the characters. Unfortunately, the characters' intelligence seems to drop when the stories begin to come together.

Streaming (HBO Go): Argo

Are you one of those people that whined and complained when Ben Affleck was announced as Batman? If so, stop complaining and watch his latest acting and directorial movie, Argo. It had the right combination of comedy and tense drama, and is even more powerful because it is based on actual events. 

Streaming (Amazon): The Source Family

This documentary follows restaurant owner, commune founder, and psychedelic rock band leader Father Yod and his group of 100+ devoted young followers around 1970's Los Angeles. Some admired their strange lifestyle, but the local authorities weren't so appreciative. Learn the history of the family and see interviews with former members.

Review: Disconnect

Release Date:  April 12, 2013

Running Time: 115 minutes
Starring: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Jonah Bobo

Who to see it with: An online addict

David: 

Disconnect follows three separate story lines dealing with some of the darker aspects of the Internet.  One thread deals with social networking, another deals with online sex, and the last deals with identity theft.  The three seemingly unrelated stories end up interacting in interesting ways throughout the movie and ultimately come to a climactic conclusion.  If this sounds familiar, it's because the movie feels similar to Crash.  But, that was a good movie and this one is also.  Similar to Crash, there is some really great acting which causes you to empathize with the characters as the movie progresses (even some of the less likable ones).  The movie also has a great way of representing the online conversations by overlaying them in the scenes.  It shows a close up of one character with the online conversation next to them and lets you closely follow their reactions as it progresses.  This does a great job of showing how online conversations can be both unnerving because you can't see the other side, but for the same reason equalizing.  Some of the scenes were over the top and some of the characters made some stupid decisions.  But like Crash, this was a good movie that touches on a controversial modern subject.  

See it.