What to Watch This Weekend: June 12, 2020

Redbox: The Hunt

Aside from the controversy, the Hunt's over-the-top violence, exaggerated performances, and laugh-out-loud moments make for an enjoyably different experience.  For more information, check out our review!

Home Rental: The King of Staten Island
Pete Davidson's spirited performance makes this extra-long dramedy an enjoyable film.  If the two plus hour length is concerning, then perhaps wait for it to be cheaper but for those that are fans of Apetow's work, this will be an enjoyable film.  

Streaming (Netflix): Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee's new film is up and ready to stream on Netflix.  The story of four Vietnam war vets who return to Vietnam is an energy filled and impactful film that should not be missed!

Streaming (Amazon): Knives Out

Knives Out assembles a killer cast of characters and pairs it with Rian Johnson's amazing style and wonderful, witty writing to create an amazingly entertaining whodunit. For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Hulu): Into the Dark: Good Boy
Into the Dark: Good Boy has a fantastic cast, terror and suspense, and Blumhouse's trademark camp that will please any animal lover. For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Hulu): A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood shows that the ideas of kindness, friendship, and understanding are just as relevant now as they have ever been.  Tom Hanks's perfect portrayal of Mister Rogers is a treat to watch and will help the iconic man touch a new generation of people.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Disney+): Artemis Fowl

Although the film itself is not great, it has good special effects and an imaginative story.  Disney should also be rewarded for releasing their theatrical film on home so that consumers can enjoy it, rather than delaying the theatrical release.

Deal: Rent The Invisible Man, The Hunt, or Emma; free if you have Sprint Rewards!

Today is the day that Universal and Focus Feature's theatrical movies are available for digital rental.  And if you have Disney Movie Insider points, you can get a deal on renting these movies through FandangoNOW.  The rentals normally are $20, but if you have Sprint Rewards and have FandangoNOW rentals in your account, you can use them for a free SD rental!  This works on the SD rentals of The Invisible Man, The Hunt, or Emma!

Follow these steps to take advantage:

1. Make sure to check your Sprint Rewards app on your phone for FandangoNOW rentals. 
2. Redeem your FandangoNOW rental codes on FandangoNOW before going to checkout.  Redeem here.
3. You can check your rental promotions by going to FandangoNOW and clicking rewards.
4. Pick which movie you would like to see:
1. The Invisible Man
2. The Hunt
3. Emma  
5. Select the SD $19.99 rent option
6. The promo should automatically apply if you have selected SD.
7. Price becomes $0.00
8. Enjoy your movie tonight!

This is a glitch in FandangoNOW so it might be fixed at any time.  If you want to watch these movies, I suggest you rent quickly!

News: Universal Theatrical Movies to be Available to Stream on March 20

As everyone adjusts to the new Quarantine world, Universal Pictures has made the stunning move of offering some of their theatrical movies available to stream as soon as this Friday, March 20, including The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Focus Feature's Emma.  Today, NBCUniversal announced that movies under the Universal Pictures banner will be available on-demand on the date of the theatrical release, including the upcoming Trolls: World Tour on April 10.

This should not change the delays of some prominent films such as No Time to Die, A Quiet Place 2, Mulan, and Universal's own Fast 9, but it should provide another avenue for those looking to avoid theaters but still wanting to see the newest movies.  This should also provide a boost for the box office, which saw its worst weekend since 1995 as consumers stayed home rather than head to the theaters.

Although details are still being worked out, it looks like these new theatrical movies will be $20 for a 48-hour rental period, which is about in line with how film rentals work on streaming services.  The first movies to be available will be The Invisible Man, the Hunt, and Emma on March 20.

"Given the rapidly evolving and unprecedented changes to consumers’ daily lives during this difficult time, the company felt that now was the right time to provide this option in the home as well as in theaters. NBCUniversal will continue to evaluate the environment as conditions evolve and will determine the best distribution strategy in each market when the current unique situation changes," read the company's release.

“Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception. Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell in the same statement. “We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible.”

Expect more details as this evolves!

Review: The Hunt

Release date: March 13, 2020
Running time: 89 minutes
Starring: Ike Barinholtz, Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, and Hilary Swank

The most controversial film of last year is finally getting a release in early 2020.  The movie was originally set to release in September 2019, but following the shooting at Walmart in El Paso, the film was delayed due to its depiction of violence and its controversial subject matter.  The Hunt is a satirical movie where politically correct liberal elites kidnap and hunt regular individuals plucked from conservative America, whom the elites often refer to as "deplorables." 

One of the reasons the movie was pulled was because of its gruesome depiction of violence, and this is definitely true.  The film has some gory deaths, however, the depiction is over the top and at times can border on ridiculous with the level that is shown.  However, the film is also satirical, so a lot of the violence does have a comical aspect to it: the violence often does have a humorous aspect or a funny comment made before it happens.  The film's depiction of the liberal elites is likewise over the top, but it has some very funny aspects.  Some of the comments they make to be politically correct hit at just the right time, and some of their statements as they are participating in the hunt elicit chuckles.  Likewise, the conservatives are caricatures of many of the common conservative stereotypes, however, their depiction is more level than the more extreme liberals.  

However, although the film definitely has some laugh out loud moments and cringeworthy violence and dialogue, the movie doesn't seem to have much to say.  Satire generally tries to comment on the world, and although this movie depicts the extremes of both sides of America, it doesn't have much to say on top of that.  It feels like it switched these roles simply to have a comic vehicle for the movie.  And sometimes, it does feel like writing is trying too hard to take a jab at one group or another, but honestly this happened less than I expected it to.  But don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy the film.  It has a decent amount of action, some suspense, and a really funny performance by Betty Gilpin.  Her performance really drives a lot of the movie, and her character is quirky but fun enough to keep the audience entertained.  And, what has become a rarity in many action movies, the final fight in this film is appropriately epic and entertaining.  It builds up and then lives up to that billing.  

Aside from the controversy, the Hunt's over-the-top violence, exaggerated performances, and laugh-out-loud moments make for an enjoyably different experience.

Rent it

What to Watch This Weekend: January 10, 2014

Instead of going out and enjoying the warmer weather, you can watch some movies! There is also a pair of interesting, new to DVD documentaries: Inequality for All and Linsanity.

In Theaters: August: Osage County

When their patriarch disappears, the large Weston family comes home to assist his sick wife Violet (Meryl Streep). Unfortunately, Violet's incredibly toxic personality makes her reunion with her daughters (Julia Roberts, Julianne Nicholson, Juliette Lewis) and their dysfunctional families a very stressful event. This incredibly uncomfortable family reunion is sad but often bitterly funny and the relationships between Violet and her daughters feel authentic, but some may be overwhelmed by the continual entrance of subplots that are sure to go south and the sometimes overly loud acting and dialogue, likely related to its origin as a play.

On DVD: Runner Runner

Richie (Justin Timberlake) is not only a financial genius who left Wall Street to pursue a master's at Princeton, he's also a poker expert. When he loses to a cheater in an online game, he decides to confront the guy (Ben Affleck) and gets drawn into some kind of online gambling criminal underworld. It's kind of slow and not very thrilling for a crime thriller, but Timberlake and Affleck are fun to watch.

Streaming (Amazon Instant, Netflix): Amélie

In the wake of tragic news, waitress Amélie (Audrey Tautou) decides to make an effort to bring happiness into the lives of others, often utilizing fairly complex schemes. This French romantic comedy is known for its charming lead actress, colorful and imaginative visuals, and greater intelligence than the average feel-good movie. Fans of short-lived Pushing Daisies may appreciate this film; it seems that ABC and creator Bryan Fuller's appreciation of the film inspired some aspects of the show's production.

Amazon link
Netflix link

Streaming (Netflix): The Hunt

Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) works in a small town's kindergarten.and is liked by much of the community aside from the divorced wife with whom he fathered a teenage son. His reputation takes a beating when a seemingly innocent kindergarten girl ignorantly makes very damaging statements about him. The Danish film is a well-acted, maddening look at the dangers of hysteria.

Netflix 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: July 26, 2013

We've got a couple of foreign film recommendations this week that definitely should not be missed.  And David finds out that one of his favorite movies is available for free streaming.

In Theaters: The Hunt

The Hunt is a gripping drama about a man battling the dark side of society's natural, but sometimes misguided, tendency to condemn the accused.  It's only playing in a few theaters but it's definitely worth the effort to see it.

On DVD: Starbuck

Although they're remaking the movie in English, the French version is phenomenal and definitely worth watching.  It tells the a touching and funny story about a man who finds out that he is the father of 500 kids and tries to secretly meet them.  

Streaming (Netflix and Amazon): Equilibrium

Sure, the reviews don't like this one, but it's one of my favorite movies.  It's an older movie, but Christian Bale puts on a great performance.  It came out around the same time as the Matrix with a similar feel, but I definitely think it is the better of the two movies. 

Streaming (HBO Go): Ruby Sparks

Ruby Sparks is worth the watch for Paul Dano's performance alone.  He is just stellar in this slightly dark romantic comedy.  I saw it in theaters and loved it so make sure to take advantage and see it free on HBO Go while you can.

Review: The Hunt (a.k.a. Jagten)

Release date: July 12, 2013 (July 26 in the DC area)
Running time: 106 minutes
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrøm
Who to see it with: Someone examining the dangers of misguided, but somewhat rational, panic

Lee:

The Hunt (originally titled Jagten, which Google translates as "search") is a Danish film about a man struggling to survive a community's hysterical reaction to a terrible accusation. Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a divorcee who works in his small village's kindergarten. A few villagers think that Lucas's work there is a bit odd, but both he and the children seem to greatly enjoy each other's company. Kindergartner Karla seems particularly taken with him, but Lucas's rejection of an inappropriate gesture leads her to retaliate by making disturbing claims to an authority figure. She thinks her comments are mean but silly, unknowingly beginning a dangerous chain reaction that has harsh consequences for her once honorable caretaker. This couldn't come at a worse time considering his new romance and an ongoing fight for custody of his teenage son.

Stories involving such dark themes often unfold like mysteries or focus on the victims, making The Hunt unique in its straightforward focus on a clearly innocent man's living nightmare following his wrongful defamation. Mikkelsen is great as Lucas who attempts, but sometimes fails, to remain calm and stoic in the face of allegations that he finds ridiculous. In America, he is probably best known for his villainous roles in Casino Royale and NBC's Hannibal, but his imposing presence fits the kind but increasingly troubled Lucas well. There's a moment where Lucas reacts unusually harshly toward a loved one, and a few times where his choices of words seem a bit unwise, but his actions generally fit his disbelief that those closest to him can turn against him so easily.

The story mostly avoids melodrama, instead depicting relations between Lucas and the others in a very tense, quietly angry manner. It does a great job of humanizing the village, with much of the first act being a warm, lightly comedic introduction to the town. Watching Lucas's reputation fall due to the villagers' leading questions and assumptions is maddening, but it's understandable that people feel the need to take the side of a seemingly innocent, impressionable child rather than that of a longtime friend and neighbor. It feels like a realistic exploration of the emotions and behavior exhibited by adults after a shocking discovery, and accurately portrays the ways in which adults can wrongly, if justifiably, project their own negative intuitions and experiences onto children. The Hunt is a gripping drama about a man battling the dark side of society's natural, but sometimes misguided, tendency to condemn the accused.

See it.