Now Available to Own: Gone Girl, Jessabelle, Boardwalk Empire, and More

Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of January 13, 2015. Each week we run down new movie, television, and video game releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can save you some coin. On shelves this week you can find Gone Girl, Jessabelle, Boardwalk Empire, and more. Check out the complete list after the jump.

Movies on Blu-Ray

Gone Girl (David Fincher) Rated R [149 min] – With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent. Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tyler Perry

Although it didn’t make my Top 10 list of 2014, Gone Girl most certainly made my honorable mentions. David Fincher never disappoints. The direction is so tight that every moment keeps you on the edge of your seat. Between the performances and the captivating storytelling, it’s hard not to get engulfed by the spectacle of it all. Fincher always has great audio commentaries, which is the only special feature to be found on the disc. However, if you buy the Blu-ray, you get a special copy of an “Amazing Amy” short story – “written by” Amy Elliot’s parents – that is a true keepsake for fans of the film.

Audio Commentary by David Fincher
‘Amazing Amy Tattle Tale’ Paperback Book

A Walk Among the Tombstones (Scott Frank) Rated R [113 min] – Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife. Starring Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, Briana Marin, and Boyd Holbrook

I unfortunately did not catch this movie during its release, but I had heard it was OK. Special features included are:

Matt Sudder: Private Eye
A Look Behind the Tombstones

Jessabelle (Kevin Greutert) [Limited] Rated PG-13 [90 min] – A young woman recuperating at her father’s run-down home after a tragic accident soon encounters a terrifying presence with a connection to her long-deceased mother. Starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, and Joelle Carter

A true reflection of the year in horror, Jessabelle is an utter nightmare of a film. The characters are painstakingly boring and terrible to bear; the plot is uninteresting; there are very few moments of suspense or frights; and the ending is so bad that it makes Jason takes Manhattan look like an Oscar contender. Special features included are:

Audio Commentary with Director Kevin Greutert, Writer Robert Ben Garant and Executive Producer Jerry P. Jacobs
“Jessabelle: Deep in the Bayou” featurette
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Extended Ending

Men, Women & Children (Jason Reitman) Rated R [119 min] – A look at the sexual frustrations that young teenagers and adults face in today’s world. Starring Ansel Elgort, Adam Sandler, and Judy Greer

I don’t know what happened to Jason Reitman, but he has really been off his game lately. Juno, Up in the Air, and Young Adult are fantastic movies, but Labor Day and now Men, Women & Children don’t even come close to the incredible work the director is capable of doing. Granted, MW&C is far and away better than Labor Day, but the tired stereotypes of the connected story genre only holds back the bigger themes of this film. It needed more focus and less jumping around from character to character. Special features included are:

Virtual Intimacy—The cast and director discuss the effects of technology and social media on our lives and relationships
Seamless Interface—Behind-the-scenes look at how the digital world of the film was created
Deleted Scenes—including a never-before-seen storyline

Honeymoon (Leigh Janiak) Rated R [87 min] – A newlywed couple finds their lake-country honeymoon descend into chaos after Paul finds Bea wandering and disoriented in the middle of their first night. Starring Rose Leslie, Harry Treadaway, and Ben Huber

A highly underseen horror movie that flew way under the radar last year. It’s very minimalistic, but for what it tries to accomplish it succeeds valiantly in producing some generally grotesque or chilling moments. It takes a bit to warm up to, but once you start to see the path it’s headed, Honeymoon really opens up and takes shape very nicely. If the script was polished just a little bit more I think Honeymoon could have been a stronger movie. Special features included are:

Making of Honeymoon
Effects
AXS TV: A Look At Honeymoon
Theatrical Trailer

The Two Faces of January (Hossein Amini) Rated PG-13 [96 min] – A thriller centered on a con artist, his wife, and a stranger who flee Athens after one of them is caught up in the death of a private detective. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Oscar Isaac, and Daisy Bevan

Nothing about The Two Faces of January did I find to be entertaining. The best it gives you is a solid performance by Oscar Isaac. There is little intrigue to keep your attention going for more than a handful of scenes. Special features included are:

Behind-the-Scenes
Theatrical Trailer

Love Is Strange (Ira Sachs) Rated R [94 min] – After Ben and George get married, George is fired from his teaching post, forcing them to stay with friends separately while they sell their place and look for cheaper housing — a situation that weighs heavily on all involved. Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, and Marisa Tomei

I unfortunately have not been able to catch this movie yet, but I have heard nothing but good things and have seen it on a lot of “Most Underrated” lists of yesteryear. Special features included are: