Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.
“Her”
WHAT: Lonely and depressed after splitting with his wife, Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) purchases a new operating system for his computer designed to meet his every need. But as he spends more time chatting with the state-of-the-art OS – which goes by the name Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) – Theodore begins to fall in love, becoming romantically involved with someone he can neither see nor touch.
WHY: Leave it to Spike Jonze to create one of the more unique love stories in cinematic history. Set in a near future that feels remarkably authentic (well, except for the high-waisted pants that dominate the fashion), “Her” is a subtle but effective commentary on the role that technology plays in our increasingly anti-social lives; one where we’re more connected to our gadgets than the people around us. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent as a man so desperate to connect with someone that he doesn’t care that they’re not real, but none of it would work without Scarlett Johansson. While the actress didn’t receive the awards recognition that she deserved, Johansson is the heart of the movie, delivering a sweet, soulful and fully rounded vocal performance that makes it seem like she’s actually there. That’s harder said than done, resulting in a relationship that not only feels more real than most of the films last year, but plays a big part in its success as a romantic dramedy and an enchanting piece of science fiction.
EXTRAS: The Blu-ray release includes a trio of featurettes covering the making of the film, Karen O’s soundtrack, and interviews with various celebrities on the subject of love and relationships in the modern age.
FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“That Awkward Moment”
WHAT: When Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) discovers that his cheating wife wants a divorce, his best friends Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller) make a pact to remain single as a show of support. But that’s easier said than done for the two bachelors when they each get involved with someone that changes their relationship status from “single” to “it’s complicated.”
WHY: Perhaps best described as a male version of “Sex and the City,” “That Awkward Moment” should have been a lot better than it turned out, especially with a cast comprised of some of the best young talent in Hollywood. Instead, it’s an entirely forgettable rom-com that falls prey to the very formula that the movie is trying to subvert. It’s not very funny either, with many of the good laughs already spoiled in the trailer, resulting in an end product that’s more awkward than anything that happens in the film. There’s a general feeling of “why bother?” that runs throughout the story, and that’s mainly due to first-time writer/director Tom Gormican’s clichéd script, which fails to make any of the relationships particularly interesting. “That Awkward Moment” isn’t a complete waste of time thanks to the chemistry between its three leads (who are all capable of much better work than they deliver here), but that charm only takes the film so far before sputtering out.
EXTRAS: There’s a behind-the-scenes featurette, character profiles, an interview with Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan, and an extended gag reel.
FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“I, Frankenstein”
WHAT: Frankenstein’s monster (Aaron Eckhart) gets caught in the middle of a centuries-old war between demons from Hell – whose leader (Bill Nighy) wants to capture the creature to uncover the secret of his reanimation – and the clandestine order of gargoyles created by the Archangel Michael to protect humanity from evil forces.
WHY: “I, Frankenstein” will likely go down as one of the worst movies of 2014, and that’s not an exaggeration by any means. Though it boasts a competent leading man in Aaron Eckhart, the story – based on the graphic novel by co-writer Kevin Grevioux – is so dumb that you have to question why anyone thought it was a good idea to adapt it for the big screen. The intent was obviously to mimic the “Underworld” films, and it shares a lot of the same DNA as the horror/fantasy series, from its gothic visual cues, to the creature effects, to Bill Nighy as the big bad. But what the producers seem to have forgotten is that the last three “Underworld” movies weren’t very good either. It’s nice to see someone utilizing creatures other than vampires, werewolves and zombies for once, and the concept behind the gargoyles is admittedly clever, but the film has absolutely no soul… or a decent story or performances, for that matter. It’s a total bore from start to finish, and no amount of CGI-heavy action scenes can change that.
EXTRAS: In addition to a pair of audio commentaries – one with co-writer/director Stuart Beattie and another with producers Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, James McQuaide and Kevin Grevioux – the Blu-ray includes a making-of featurette and a behind-the-scenes look at designing the creature effects.
FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
