The 2016 Oscars Winner List will be updated LIVE as they are presented and announced tonight from Dolby Theatre, hosted by Chris Rock. Continue reading
Complete 2016 Oscars Winner List [Live Updates]
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2016 Oscars Winner Predictions
The 2016 Academy Award winners will be announced tonight, February 28, but here are Tyler’s predictions as to who will walk away with Oscar gold. Continue reading
Evaluating the 2016 Oscar Nominees
The 2016 Academy Award nominees have been announced with 12 nods given to The Revenant and zero to anyone of color for the acting categories again. Continue reading
2016 Academy Award Nominees Predictions
The 2016 Academy Award nominees will be announced on Thursday, January 14, and we have our own predictions of who will earn a nomination for the Oscars Continue reading
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 21st Critics’ Choice Awards Nominees
After last week’s nominations were revealed for the 22nd Annual SAG Awards and 73rd Golden Globes, it feels like it could be anyone’s game at this point. This morning the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced their 21st Critics’ Choice Awards nominees with George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road leading the charge with 13 nods. Hosted by T.J. Miller, the winners will be revealed during a live broadcast from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on A&E, Lifetime, and LMN on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST.
Mad Max: Fury Road has undoubtedly become the underdog favorite of this awards season, as it has become one of the most revered features of the year by critics, myself included – my review. The big topic of conversation, aside from gaining Best Picture recognition, is Charlize Theron’s nods for both Best Actress and Best Actress In An Action Movie. Tom Hardy, of course, is nominated for Best Actor In An Action Movie, but it’s George Miller for Best Director that has really invested my interest into whether he could be a contender come Oscars. The film has also garnered nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Visual Effects, Best Action Movie, and Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie.
Trailing behind the whirlwind, critically acclaimed hit is Carol, The Martian, and The Revenant with nine nominations each. While this year’s big favorite, Spotlight, has earned itself eight nominations from critics, followed by The Big Short and The Hateful Eight with six each. Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, The Danish Girl, Jurassic World, and Sicario each earned five nominations and Room obtained four. Charlize Theron isn’t the only actress up for multiple Best Actress categories, as Jennifer Lawrence is up for three for her work in Joy and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, while Rachel McAdams is up for two awards for Spotlight and True Detective.
And while the film categories are all up in the air, the television categories prove that the increasing output of excellent programming continued this year with FX, ABC, and HBO both gaining 14 nominations each; FOX is close on their heels with 12 nods. The big standout series this year, as determined by critics, is FX’s Fargo with eight nominations. The Leftovers (HBO) and Transparent (Amazon) are not far behind with five nominations each; Black-ish (ABC), Mr. Robot (USA), and Penny Dreadful (Showtime) each earned four.
So what can we takeaway from this year’s 21st Critics’ Choice Awards nominees? For starters, no other awards group has seen more movies this year than the critics, assumably. It’s their jobs to assess the year in film. Who better has a sound voice of reasoning than those who sit in dark rooms and watch movies multiple times per week? In the long run, sure, all awards are practically meaningless gold statues, and the varying award categories the BFCA and BTJA have set have little influence when it comes to the Oscars, but if these voices of reason can help sway voters to at least make an earnest decision at the polls we can be safe in knowing we won’t have another year where a Shakespeare in Love wins against a Saving Private Ryan.
21st CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEES – THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
BEST PICTURE
- The Big Short
- Bridge of Spies
- Brooklyn
- Carol
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
- The Revenant
- Room
- Sicario
- Spotlight
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
BEST ACTOR
- Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
- Matt Damon – The Martian
- Johnny Depp – Black Mass
- Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
- Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
- Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl
BEST ACTRESS
- Cate Blanchett – Carol
- Brie Larson – Room
- Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
- Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years
- Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
- Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- Paul Dano – Love & Mercy
- Tom Hardy – The Revenant
- Mark Ruffalo – Spotlight
- Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
- Michael Shannon – 99 Homes
- Sylvester Stallone – Creed
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
- Rooney Mara – Carol
- Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
- Helen Mirren – Trumbo
- Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
- Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
- Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation
- RJ Cyler – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
- Shameik Moore – Dope
- Milo Parker – Mr. Holmes
- Jacob Tremblay – Room
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
- The Big Short
- The Hateful Eight
- Spotlight
- Straight Outta Compton
- Trumbo
BEST DIRECTOR
- Todd Haynes – Carol
- Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant
- Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
- George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
- Ridley Scott – The Martian
- Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
- Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – Bridge of Spies
- Alex Garland – Ex Machina
- Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
- Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – Inside Out
- Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
- Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short
- Nick Hornby – Brooklyn
- Drew Goddard – The Martian
- Emma Donoghue – Room
- Aaron Sorkin – Steve Jobs
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Carol – Ed Lachman
- The Hateful Eight – Robert Richardson
- Mad Max: Fury Road – John Seale
- The Martian – Dariusz Wolski
- The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki
- Sicario – Roger Deakins
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
- Bridge of Spies – Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo
- Brooklyn – François Séguin, Jennifer Oman and Louise Tremblay
- Carol – Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
- The Danish Girl – Eve Stewart, Michael Standish
- Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson
- The Martian – Arthur Max, Celia Bobak
BEST EDITING
- The Big Short – Hank Corwin
- Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel
- The Martian – Pietro Scalia
- The Revenant – Stephen Mirrione
- Spotlight – Tom McArdle
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
- Brooklyn – Odile Dicks-Mireaux
- Carol – Sandy Powell
- Cinderella – Sandy Powell
- The Danish Girl – Paco Delgado
- Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan
BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
- Black Mass
- Carol
- The Danish Girl
- The Hateful Eight
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Revenant
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Ex Machina
- Jurassic World
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
- The Revenant
- The Walk
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
- Anomalisa
- The Good Dinosaur
- Inside Out
- The Peanuts Movie
- Shaun the Sheep Movie
BEST ACTION MOVIE
- Furious 7
- Jurassic World
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
- Sicario
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
- Daniel Craig – Spectre
- Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
- Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road
- Chris Pratt – Jurassic World
- Paul Rudd – Ant-Man
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
- Emily Blunt – Sicario
- Rebecca Ferguson – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
- Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World
- Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
- Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
BEST COMEDY
- The Big Short
- Inside Out
- Joy
- Sisters
- Spy
- Trainwreck
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
- Christian Bale – The Big Short
- Steve Carell – The Big Short
- Robert De Niro – The Intern
- Bill Hader – Trainwreck
- Jason Statham – Spy
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
- Tina Fey – Sisters
- Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
- Melissa McCarthy – Spy
- Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
- Lily Tomlin – Grandma
BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
- Ex Machina
- It Follows
- Jurassic World
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- The Assassin
- Goodnight Mommy
- Mustang
- The Second Mother
- Son of Saul
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
- Amy
- Cartel Land
- Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
- He Named Me Malala
- The Look of Silence
- Where to Invade Next
BEST SONG
- Fifty Shades of Grey – Love Me Like You Do
- Furious 7 – See You Again
- The Hunting Ground – Til It Happens To You
- Love & Mercy – One Kind of Love
- Spectre – Writing’s on the Wall
- Youth – Simple Song #3
BEST SCORE
- Carol – Carter Burwell
- The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
- The Revenant – Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto
- Sicario – Johann Johannsson
- Spotlight – Howard Shore
Continue Reading to see the the Television Category Nominees–>>
73rd Golden Globes Nominations Favor CAROL
Following the unpredictable 22nd Annual SAG Awards nominees yesterday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has now revealed their nominees for the Golden Globes. HFPA president Lorenzo Soria was joined by actors America Ferrera, Angela Bassett, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Dennis Quaid this morning to announce the 73rd Golden Globes nominations for both film and television categories. The Golden Globes will be presented live on NBC with host Ricky Gervais on January 10, 2016.
Unlike the SAG Awards where Trumbo gained the most nods, the HFPA favored Carol, a top contender among the chatter I’ve been in tune with. Carol has earned itself five nods, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress for Cate Blanchett, Best Actress for Rooney Mara, Best Director for Todd Haynes, and Best Score. The Revenant, Steve Jobs, and The Big Short lead behind Carol with four nods each. The Danish Girl, The Hateful Eight, The Martian, Room, and Spotlight each have three.
Regardless, this year’s Golden Globes nominees seem to be more in line with what has been predicted. There are typically a few oddball choices every year with the Golden Globes – The Tourist for Best Picture – Comedy or Musical, anyone? – but I honestly don’t see any I would strongly disagree with. The Martian, The Big Short, and Joy aren’t really comedies or musicals, but they do have some great humor in them.
What really stands out to me, and what fills me with hope for this awards season, is that Mad Max: Fury Road has earned two nods, including Best Picture – Drama and Best Director for George Miller. These nominations alone are a win in my mind and also well deserved – read my review of Mad Max: Fury Road. Also sticking out to me is the fact that Alicia Vikander, who came out of nowhere this year and starred in five big movies, is nominated in two separate categories: Best Actress in a Drama for The Danish Girl and Best Supporting Actress for Ex Machina. Everyone is saying Brie Larson is the new “It’ girl while Vikander seems to be skating by undetected. This woman is an incredible actress and deserves every bit of attention she is earning for her roles.
As far as television categories go, Netflix is the top dog among networks and streaming platforms with eight nominations – the exact same outcome as yesterday’s SAG Awards nominees announcement. American Crime, Fargo, Mr. Robot, Outlander, Transparent, and Wolf Hall all tied with three nominations each. Like Alicia Vikander, Lily Tomlin also scored two nominations herself, but in two separate mediums: one for Best Actress – Musical/Comedy for Grandma and Best Actress – Comedy for Grace and Frankie.
What scares me the most about this year’s Golden Globe Awards is the fact that I agree with a lot of their choices. Even more so in the television comedy categories. Specifically because The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family were not recognized as Best Series – Comedy and Jim Parsons was not nominated for Best Actor. It’s a Christmas miracle!
Without further ado, here are your nominees:
73rd GOLDEN GLOBES NOMINATIONS THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Carol
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Revenant
- Room
- Spotlight
Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Cate Blanchett – Carol
- Brie Larson – Room
- Rooney Mara – Carol
- Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
- Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
- Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
- Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
- Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl
- Will Smith – Concussion
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- The Big Short
- Joy
- The Martian
- Spy
- Trainwreck
Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
- Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
- Melissa McCarthy – Spy
- Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
- Maggie Smith – Lady in the Van
- Lily Tomlin – Grandma
Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
- Christian Bale – The Big Short
- Steve Carell – The Big Short
- Matt Damon – The Martian
- Al Pacino – Danny Collins
- Mark Ruffalo – Infinitely Polar Bear
Best Animated Feature Film
- Anomalisa
- The Good Dinosaur
- Inside Out
- The Peanuts Movie
- Shaun the Sheep Movie
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
- The Brand New Testament (Belgium / France / Luxembourg)
- The Club (Chile)
- The Fencer (Finland / Germany / Estonia)
- Mustang (France)
- Son of Saul (Hungary)
Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Jane Fonda – Youth
- Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
- Helen Mirren – Trumbo
- Alicia Vikander – Ex Machina
- Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs
Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Paul Dano – Love & Mercy
- Idris Elba – Beasts of No Nation
- Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
- Michael Shannon – 99 Homes
- Sylvester Stallone – Creed
Best Director – Motion Picture
- Todd Haynes – Carol
- Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant
- Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
- George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
- Ridley Scott – The Martian
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
- Emma Donoghue – Room
- Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer – Spotlight
- Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short
- Aaron Sorkin – Steve Jobs
- Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
- Carter Burwell – Carol
- Alexandre Desplat – The Danish Girl
- Ennio Morricone – The Hateful Eight
- Daniel Pemberton – Steve Jobs
- Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto – The Revenant
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
- “Love Me Like You Do” from Fifty Shades of Grey
- “One Kind of Love” from Love & Mercy
- “See You Again” from Furious 7
- “Simple Song #3” from Youth
- “Writing’s On the Wall” from Spectre
Continue Reading to see the the Television Category Nominees–>>
Now Available to Own: American Ultra, Inside Amy Schumer Season 3, and More
Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of November 24, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie and television releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can help save you some coin. New on shelves this week are American Ultra, Inside Amy Schumer Season 3, Ricki and the Flash, and more.
Source: Giphy
Movies on Blu-ray
American Ultra (Nima Nourizadeh) Rated R [95 min] – A stoner – who is in fact a government agent – is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he’s too well-trained and too high for them to handle. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Connie Britton, Topher Grace and John Leguizamo
There’s a lot to like about the concept behind American Ultra, but the execution of the film is pretty lackluster. It’s ugly with very little behind it, and surprisingly Kristen Stewart isn’t to blame. Her and Jesse Eisenberg are actually very good and they have great chemistry together, it’s just a weak, lukewarm narrative that could have used a little more heat before serving up to audiences. The special features are fine, nothing extraordinarily insightful.
Special features include:
- “Activating American Ultra” Documentary
- “Assassinating on a Budget” Featurette
- Gag Reel
- Audio Commentary with Director Nima Nourizadeh
Turkey Hollow (Kirk R .Thatcher) Rated TV-PG [90 min] [DVD Only] – A recently divorced dad and his two kids as they travel to celebrate Thanksgiving with their eccentric Aunt Cly in the rustic town of Turkey Hollow. Exploring the mysterious surrounding woods leads the kids to discover the secret of the legendary Howling Hoodoo. When a scheming neighbor threatens to take Aunt Cly’s farm, the family enlists surprising new friends to help save the farm – and Thanksgiving! Starring Mary Steenburgen, Jay Harrington, and Chris Bridges
This I can’t say I’ve ever taken the time to watch a Lifetime movie in its entirety, but Turkey Hollow is exceptionally bonkers. The acting is egregious to no end with Mary Steenbergen chewing up scenery like she hasn’t had a Thanksgiving meal in ages and Ludicrous making a random appearance as the narrator for the paycheck. The only redeeming factor that Turkey Hollow has is its practical effects and puppetry thanks to Jim Henson, who helped conceived the story too. It’s the kind of movie that’s so bad it’s fun to laugh at.
- No special features included
Source: Buzzfeed
TV Show Releases
Inside Amy Schumer Season 3 (Amy Schumer) [DVD Only] Rated TV-14 [22 min] – Amy Schumer switches from sketches, doing stand up, to interviewing people on the street and people of interest usually following a certain theme. Starring Amy Schumer, Kevin Kane, and Mike Houston
Amy Schumer has had an incredible 2015 with an Emmy to prove it for this series. The laughs are non-stop and hit hard enough you might break a rib. Every sketch from her last Fuckable Day to her 12 Angry Men spoof, Inside Amy Schumer proves to be one of the most progressive variety shows on television.
Special features include:
- Outtakes & Deleted Scenes
- Exclusive Unaired Sketch
- Unaired “Amy Goes Deep” Interviews
Additional Releases this Week
- Shaun the Sheep Movie
- No Escape
- Ricki and the Flash
- Doctor Who: The Christmas Specials Giftset
- George Lopez (Season 6) [DVD Only]
- Hell’s Kitchen (Season 13) [DVD Only]
- Shaun the Sheep (Season 1) [DVD Only]
Blu-Ray Deals and Steals
- I’ll have a Black Friday post up this week. Stay tuned for all the details.
All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.
What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!
All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com
Image source: flickeringmyth
Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Game of Thrones Season 5, Fear the Walking Dead, and More
While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of October 10, 2015 we have Game of Thrones Season 5, Fear the Walking Dead, Mistress America, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD March 15
Game of Thrones Season 5 (David Benioff and D. B. Weiss) Rated TV-MA [55 min] – The War of the Five Kings, once thought to be drawing to a close, is instead entering a new and more chaotic phase. Westeros is on the brink of collapse, and many are seizing what they can while the realm implodes, like a corpse making a feast for crows. Starring Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillen, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Sophie Turner, Jack Gleeson, Alfie Allen, Rory McCann, Charles Dance, Jerome Flynn, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Gwendoline Christie, Stephen Dillane, Carice van Houten, Liam Cunningham, Sibel Kekilli, Rose Leslie, Natalie Dormer, Michael McElhatton, Iwan Rheon, and Pedro Pascal
Special features include:
- Audio Commentaries – Twelve audio commentaries with cast and crew including David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Iain Glen, Maisie Williams, Natalie Dormer, Gwendoline Christie and more.
- Anatomy of an Episode: Mother’s Mercy – Details about the creation of “Mother’s Mercy,” from the writing table all the way through to visual effects
- The Real History Behind Game of Thrones – In a two-part series, historians and George R.R. Martin discuss the era known as “The Wars of the Roses” and other historical events that served as inspiration for his novels
- Deleted Scenes – 4 deleted scenes
- A Day in the Life – Inside look at the production process of Season 5
- New Characters/New Locations – Explore the new societies, cultures and locations from Season 5
- The Dance of Dragons – An in-depth look at the story behind the Targaryen civil war (BD exclusive)
- In-Episode Guide – Provides background information about on-screen characters, locations, and relevant histories (BD exclusive)
- Histories and Lore – Explore the mythology of Westeros and Essos from character perspectives in 14 history pieces with feature illustrations (BD exclusive)
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 1
Fear the Walking Dead (Dave Erickson and Robert Kirkman) Rated TV-MA [43 min] – What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in “The Walking Dead”? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question. Starring Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Mercedes Mason, Lorenzo James Henrie, and Rubén Blades
Special features include:
- A Look at the Series
- Character Bios
Available on DVD and Digital HD October 27
We Are Your Friends (Max Joseph) Rated R [96 min] – Caught between a forbidden romance and the expectations of his friends, aspiring DJ Cole Carter attempts to find the path in life that leads to fame and fortune.Starring Zac Efron, Wes Bentley, Emily Ratajkowski, and Jonny Weston
Special features include:
- How Zac Efron Learned to DJ
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 8
Minions (Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin) Rated PG [91 min] – Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlett Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world. Starring Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, and Michael Keaton
Special features include:
- Three All New Original Mini-Movies:
- Cro Minion
- Competition
- Binky Nelson Unpacified
- Deleted Scene – Me, Myself, and Stuart
- Around the World Interactive Map – Explore the world of the Minions with this interactive map featuring a collection of games, trivia, featurettes, storyboards, and more all themed to movie locations.
- Behind the Goggles – The Illumination Story of the Minions – Get a “behind the googles” look at the history and evolution of everyone’s favorite yellow henchmen.
- Illumination MacGuff Animation – Go behind the scenes and hear about the challenges and excitement behind the Minion characters and bringing them alive through animation in the movie
- Lighting, Layout, and Effects – A look at the ways in which layout and lighting plays a big role in the emotion and motivation in the movie. Also see the ways in which they try to keep the 60’s vintage look and the challenges they face with very technical shots, where one shot can take weeks.
- Jingle Bells Minion Style – This holiday favorite is brought to life in a merry-Minion way. Now you get to sing along to the beloved video that was the most shared piece of content on Facebook in 2014.
- The Secret Life of Pets Theatrical Trailer
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 1
Mistress America (Noah Baumbach) [Limited] Rated R [84 min] – A lonely college freshman’s life is turned upside down by her impetuous, adventurous soon-to-be stepsister. Starring Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Seth Barrish, and Juliet Brett
Special features include:
- Featurettes
- Story
- Brooke
- Tracy
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 24
Shaun the Sheep Movie (Mark Burton and Richard Starzak) Rated PG [85 min] – When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home. Starring Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, and Richard Webber
Special features include:
- Making the Shaun Movie” Featurette
- “Meet the Characters” Featurette
- “Join Shaun Behind the Scenes” Featurette
- “Meet the Crew” Featurette
- Parody Poster Gallery
Available on DVD and Digital HD November 10
Shaun the Sheep (Nick Park) [7 min] – Shaun is a sheep who doesn’t follow the flock – in fact, he leads them into all sorts of scrapes and scraps, turning peace in the valley into mayhem in the meadow. Shaun and his pals run rings around their poor sheepdog Bitzer, as he tries to stop the Farmer finding out what’s going on behind his back. Every day brings a new adventure for Shaun. Starring John Sparkes, Justin Fletcher, and Richard Webber
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 29
Ray Donovan Season 3 (Ann Biderman) Rated TV-MA [60 min] – Ray Donovan, a professional “fixer” for the rich and famous in LA, can make anyone’s problems disappear except those created by his own family. Starring Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcomson, and Devon Bagby
Special features include:
- “The Affair” Season One, Episodes 1 & 2
- “Billions” Season One, Episode 1
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD December 8
The X-Files (Chris Carter) Rated TV-MA [44 min] – Two FBI agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained while hidden forces work to impede their efforts. Starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Mitch Pileggi
Special features include:
- Season One
- Series Intro by Frank Spotnitz
- Chris Carter Talks About Season 1
- Deleted Scenes
- International Clips
- Deep Throat: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
- Erlenmeyer Flask: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin
- Special Effects Clip From Fallen Angel
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season 1”
- Season Two
- Deleted Scenes
- Chris Carter Talks About Season 2
- Humbug
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Two”
- Duane Barry: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
- End Games: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
- Anasazi: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin
- Season Three
- Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
- Chris Carter Talks About Season 3
- International Clips
- Special Effects with Commentary by Mat Beck
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Three”
- Threads of Mythology: Abduction
- Talitha Cuma: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin
- Season Four
- Deleted Scenes
- Extended Scenes
- Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
- Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
- Tunguska – Interview With Chris Carter
- Paper Hearts – Interview with Vince Gilligan
- Memento Mori: Audio Commentary by Rob Bowman
- Introduction to Memento Mori by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
- Max: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Four”
- Season Five
- International Clips
- Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
- Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Five”
- Threads of Mythology: Black Oil
- FX Featurette
- Introduction to The Post-Modern Prometheus by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
- Patient X: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
- The Red and the Black: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
- The Post Modern Prometheus: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
- The Pine Bluff Variant: Audio Commentary by John Shiban
- Season Six
- Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
- Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
- International Clips
- Two Fathers: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
- One Son: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
- Triangle: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
- Introduction to Milagro by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
- X–Files Profiles: Cigarette-Smoking Man
- Featurette on Season Six
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Six”
- Season Seven
- Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
- Special effects sequences with commentary by Paul Rabwin
- International Clips
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Seven” Behind-the-Scenes featurette
- X–Files Profiles: A.D. Skinner and Samantha Mulder
- Closure: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Seven”
- Season Eight
- Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
- International Clips
- Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz and John Shiban)
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Eight”
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Chris Carter
- Threads of Mythology: Colonization
- X–Files Profiles
- Within: Commentary by Kim Manners and Robert Patrick
- Deadalive: Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
- Vienen: Commentary by Rod Hardy
- Season Nine
- Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
- Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
- International Clips
- Audio Commentary by Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, Frank Spotnitz, Kim Manners
- Documentary: “The Truth About Season Nine”
- “The Making of ‘The Truth’”
- “Secrets of The X–Files”
- “Tribute to The X–Files”
- Threads of Mythology: Super Soldiers
- X–Files Profiles
- Reflections on the Truth Featurette
- Wonder Con Panel
And that’s it for this week. What are you looking forward to picking up when they release?
Stay tuned for more Blu-Ray and DVD announcements every Saturday.
All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com
Click here for more home video announcements
Box Office Battlefield: Fantastic Four, The Gift, Ricki and the Flash, and Shaun the Sheep
Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of August 7, 2015 includes Fantastic Four, The Gift, Ricki and the Flash, and Shaun the Sheep. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em? Find out below!
Last weekend, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation took care of business and easily claimed the top seat at the box office. However, Tom Cruise has four big challengers vying to overthrow the superstar this weekend. Can a superhero reboot, Meryl Streep, an animated movie about sheep, or a creepy Jason Bateman thriller come home with the win? Excelsior! This is the Box Office Battlefield:
Fantastic Four (Josh Trank) Rated PG-13 [100 min] – Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 9% • Audience – 29%
My review:
After Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, I didn’t think I had superhero fatigue, and after seeing the abysmal Fantastic Four reboot, I still don’t believe I do. What the Fantastic Four movie represents is the complete lack of imagination superhero films are capable of. I went in with the lowest expectations possible, and plot holes aside, I was bored to tears. There is nothing interesting or unique that this new iteration of the Fantastic Four is trying ti say or do. The camaraderie amongst the team is lackluster and uninspired; this is suppose to be a family and yet they hardly talk to one another. Doctor Doom, above all, is the flimsiest aspect of the story and one of the worst villains we’ve had in a superhero flick. This movie fails on all levels. SKIP IT!
The Gift (Joel Edgerton) Rated R [108 min] – A young married couple’s lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband’s past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years. Starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton, and Allison Tolman
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 92% • Audience – 85%
My take:
From the trailers, The Gift looked like a terrible straight to home video release. Nothing about the performances stood out, and the plot seemed so one-note that I felt nothing could surprise me. Boy was I wrong. Joel Edgerton has put together a fine little film that is playfully thrilling and keeps you thinking long after you’ve left the theater. All of the performances are pretty standard, but the story is so fresh that it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time. The Gift will definitely be one of the most surprising movies of the year for me. MATINEE IT!
Ricki and the Flash (Jonathan Demme) Rated PG-13 [101 min] – A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family. Starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, and Sebastian Stan
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 59% • Audience – 57%
Their reviews:
“Streep’s latest mom role, as Ricki Rendazzo in Ricki and the Flash, has a light, Mamma Mia! vibe, but it still hits all those hot buttons.” – Susanna Schrobsdorff (TIME Magazine)
“Diablo Cody’s dispiriting screenplay is all about everyone coming to love Ricki, faults and all, and that is just not convincingly done.” – Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times)
My take:
Most of the review headlines I’ve read haven’t been too favorable to Ricki and the Flash, and the trailer paints every beat of the film to the point that you can see the movie without actually seeing it. So I decided to skip this one for the sake of time, and I figured Meryl Streep would obviously be Meryl Streeping. From what I understand, this movie is pretty vanilla and the emotional impact the film is trying to make is on the nose and pandering. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!
Shaun the Sheep Movie (Mark Burton and Richard Starzak) Rated PG [85 min] – When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home. Starring Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, and Richard Webber
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 99% • Audience – 82%
Their reviews:
“Plenty of bigger, more grown-up movies could learn a thing or two from its humanity.” – Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine)
“Grownups will enjoy every delicious irony and twisted sight gag that floats over kids’ heads. If the brats don’t get the shout-outs to The Night of the Hunter, The Silence of the Lambs and Scorsese’s Cape Fear, let them suck on it.” – Peter Travers (Rolling Stone)
My take:
I’ve never been a fan of the Wallace and Gromit films. Not that I hate them or anything, but the storytelling and humor has never appealed to me. Apparently Shaun the Sheep is pretty solid family fun. It looks a little more energetic and mainstream than its predecessors. MATINEE IT!
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Marielle Heller) [Limited] Rated R [102 min] – A teen artist living in 1970s San Francisco enters into an affair with her mother’s boyfriend. Starring Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher Meloni
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 94% • Audience – 85%
Their reviews:
“The novel is life-specific, but what makes Minnie – on the page and now on the screen – greater than any one girl is how she tells her own story in her own soaringly alive voice.” – Manohla Dargis (New York Times)
“For a movie about such fraught topics, sometimes rendered with admirable and non-squeamish explicitness, Diary often eschews melodrama; when the plot turns, it does so abruptly, providing a credible simulation of real-life tumult.” – Jesse Hassenger (AV Club)
My take:
This book adaptation hasn’t been available to me yet, but I really want to see it. I haven’t seen the trailer nor do I know anything about The Diary of a Teenage Girl. All I know is that it’s getting good reviews and that I’m told it’s required 2015 viewing. SEE IT!
Cop Car (Jon Watts) [Limited] Rated R [86 min] – A small town sheriff sets out to find the two kids who have taken his car on a joy ride. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, and Shea Whigham
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 76% • Audience – 80%
Their reviews:
“Cop Car is a movie that prioritizes a child’s-eye view to merciless effect, even as it deals with corruption, drugs, and murder.” – Alison Willmore (BuzzFeed)
“Scenes that should take 30 seconds take three minutes. Writer-director Jon Watts does successfully channel childhood, though: He’s like a kid short of ideas who triple-spaces his book report.” – Kyle Smith (New York Post)
My take:
If you want to see how competent the director of the next Spider-Man movie will be, check out Cop Car. This is a Sundance darling that has received fairly positive reviews. The trailer has pretty wild tones that starts off light and comedic and gets dark very quickly. It reminds me of Mud starring Matthew McConnaughey in a way thanks to its two kid leads and indie sheen. Looks like Cop Car offers a good watch. MATINEE IT!
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (Tadayoshi Yamamuro) [Limited] Not Rated [93 min] – One peaceful day on Earth, two remnants of Frieza’s army named Sorbet and Tagoma arrive searching for the Dragon Balls with the aim of reviving Frieza. They succeed, and Frieza subsequently seeks revenge on the Saiyans. Starring Masako Nozawa, Ryô Horikawa, Hiromi Tsuru, and Masaharu Satô
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 100% • Audience – 86%
Their reviews:
“DBZ: Resurrection ‘F’ is a fast-paced film with tons of action and great animation, but lacks any meaningful punch.” – Shawn Saris (IGN News)
“This slam-bang action-adventure will have “Dragon Ball” fans of all ages cheering with delight.” – Charles Solomon (Los Angeles Times)
My take:
Dragon Ball Z is obviously as niche as it gets. There’s definitely a formula that the DBZ producers stick to that has continued to work well into the present. Bringing back an old big bad is not unfamiliar territory, but it seems fresh enough to enjoy based on the reviews. MATINEE IT!
Dark Places (Gilles Paquet-Brenner) [Limited] Rated R [113 min] – Libby Day was only seven years old when her family was brutally murdered in their rural Kansas farmhouse. Twenty-five years later, she agrees to revisit the crime and uncovers the wrenching truths that led up to that tragic night. Starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, and Chloë Grace Moretz
Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 26% • Audience – 40%
Their reviews:
“A lazy, flat and poorly written thriller that fails at grabbing viewers by the throat or by the heart.” – Rob Hunter (Film School Rejects)
“Dark Places just becomes an overstuffed, low-simmer potboiler with too many improbable detours and overly convenient twists.” – Chris Nashawaty (Entertainment Weekly)
My take:
From watching the trailer, Dark Places looks like a terrible straight to home video story with an A-list cast. I think the concept comes off way too cheesy and heavy handed. I think these actors accidentally signed up for the wrong film when they heard this was adapted from the author of Gone Girl. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!
For some, superhero fatigue may have already set in, but I think folks will be curious about how well 20th Century Fox has rebooted Marvel’s first family. It has terrible reviews, but that hasn’t stopped moviegoers before when it comes to tent pole summer films i.e. Transformers. Ricki and the Flash is in less than 2,000 theaters and Meryl Streep alone cannot gain wide audiences outside adult demographics. While on the other side of the coin, Shaun the Sheep may get families and kids to venture into the movies, but teens may find it too childish to check out. And then there’s The Gift, a thriller that in my mind was marketed poorly but is gaining rave reviews. It’s odd roles for all teh cast involved and should make for an interesting turnout. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:
Winner: Fantastic Four
Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes
Turn The Right Corner 