Sony / 2011 / 92 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: May 17, 2011
Genres: Action packed
Starring: Jason Statham, Ben Foster
Director: Simon West
Plot Synopsis: The 1972 version of The Mechanic is a tough-minded action film that reflects its disillusioned era. While no masterpiece, it does get points for the retro-coolness of prime-era Charles Bronson, cast as an ice-cold hit man who begins teaching the tricks of the trade to a young apprentice. So the prospect of a 2011 remake isn't especially sacrilegious, and handing the central role to 21st-century tough guy Jason Statham is a logical choice; Statham's got the moves, the voice, and the three-day stubble necessary for the role. In some fairly significant ways, though, the remake backs away from the hardness of the original and settles for a less daring approach. Director Simon West (Con Air) manages to make even New Orleans locations seem monotonous, as he covers everything in a baked-butterscotch glaze and surrounds his antihero with the sleekest, most boring kind of modern hardware (the old skool LP turntable is a nice exception). Statham stays in his locked-down key throughout, while, as his student, Ben Foster--somewhat less jittery here than in the likes of 3:10 to Yuma or Alpha Dog--strides into one reckless situation after another. Playing peripheral roles as members of the hit man's shadowy network, Donald Sutherland and Tony Goldwyn successfully read their lines. The actual targets of the hits are creepy enough so that we aren't unduly troubled by Statham's line of work, and the ending falls far short of the memorable original. A take-no-prisoners approach to violence makes this seem even more like an empty exercise.
New Line Cinema / 2011 / 114 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: May 17, 2011
Genres: Suspense, thriller, exorcism
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue
Director: Mikael Håfström
Plot Synopsis: Inspired by true events, this supernatural thriller follows a seminary student (Colin O’Donoghue) sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in spite of his own doubts about the controversial practice and even his own faith. Only when sent to apprentice with legendary Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who has performed thousand of exorcisms, does his armor of skepticism begin to fall. Drawn into a troubling case that seems to transcend even Father Lucas’s skill, the young seminarian glimpses a phenomenon science can’t explain or control – and an evil so violent and terrifying that it forces him to question everything he believes.
Disc Features:
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 13 min.)
- Chilling Alternate Ending (HD, 2 min.)
- The Rite: Solider of God (HD, 7 min.)
MPI / 2009 / 102 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: May 17, 2011
Genres: Drama
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scott Cohen, Lisa Kudrow, Lauren Ambrose, Anthony Rapp
Director: Don Roos
Plot Synopsis: Academy Award winner Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") in an "utterly fearless performance" (Rob Nelson, Variety) stars as a newlywed trying to cope with guilt and loss in this sensitive and compelling modern drama adapted by writer-director Don Roos ("The Opposite of Sex") from the novel by Ayelet Waldman. Portman plays Emilia, a law-school graduate who falls in love with her married boss, Jack (Scott Cohen, "The Understudy"). After Emilia marries Jack, her happiness turns unexpectedly to grief following the death of her infant daughter. Devastated, Emilia nonetheless carries on, attempting to forge a connection with her stepson William (Charlie Tahan, "I Am Legend") and to resist the interference of Jack's jealous ex-wife (Lisa Kudrow, "Easy A," "The Opposite of Sex"). Don Roos ("Happy Endings," "Bounce") demonstrates his keen eye for the nuances of love, loss, and rebuilding life in this heartfelt and touching drama.
Sony / 2011 / 91 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: May 17, 2011
Genres: Thriller, suspense
Starring: Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester
Director: Christian E Christiensen
Plot Synopsis: She's cute. She's loyal. She's psychotic. And, unfortunately for college freshman Sara (Minka Kelly) she's The Roommate. When Sara arrives at school, she finds new romance with Stephen (Cam Gigandet) and forms a fast friendship with her roommate Rebecca (Leighton Meester). What begins as camaraderie soon turns creepy, and Sara comes face-to-face with the terrifying realization that her new best friend is obsessive, unbalanced...and maybe even a killer!
Other releases/ Back catalog releases:
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