All right, I’m going to be straight with you here. I haven’t seen a single one of the films being released on Blu-ray this week. This is rare. Either I went out of my way to avoid these movies when they were in theatres (The Bounty Hunter) or was just too swamped to make it out to a screening (Chloe, In Bruges, Greenberg, etc…) Also unusual is that I wasn’t sent a single review copy for films out on Blu this week. So, in honour of my ignorance, I’ll list the films in order of my desire to see them, whether they’re actually worth watching or not.
I’m a big fan of the original 1997 Norwegian film Insomnia, starring the fantastic Stellan Skarsgård and directed with a bold, fearless hand by then-newcomer Erik Skjoldbjærg. I still own the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. I hate to say it, but I kind of avoided this American remake back in 2002 when it hit theatres and never bothered to check it out on DVD. To me, there was just no way in hell it could live up to the original film.
That was then. Before The Dark Knight and The Prestige. Before I had the kind of faith I now have in the abilities of director Christopher Nolan. Now I’m really curious to know what he was able to make of one of my favourite films.
The disc features a whole smorgasbord of bonus content, including one of the best director commentary tracks you’re bound to hear on any Blu-ray this side of heaven. Boy, that Nolan gives good film chat! But just in case that’s not enough for you, there’s an additional commentary track with the cast and crew as well as a couple of deleted scenes and some documentary featurettes.
2. GREENBERG
I think Greenberg writer/director Noah Baumbach might secretly be a genius. I just need to finally get a chance to see all of his films to prove my theory true. I truly enjoy his work with Wes Anderson (as co-writer of Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) and think he might be fashioning himself into a decent director. Despite not being terribly excited about the prospect of suffering through another Ben Stiller film, I’m excited to check out Greenberg.
3. THE GREATEST
This film is only on the list because I’ve got a huge crush on Carey Mulligan. And I used to have a huge man-crush on Pierce Brosnan, back in the old Remington Steele days (I didn’t think it was possible for James Bond to make an actor lose his luster but…) Crushes aside, this looks like a great little film and has been getting decent reviews. The cast is phenomenal and enough reason to check out the film alone, despite the potentially melodramatic premise (Parents of dead boy suddenly confronted by girl bearing said deceased-boy’s child…urgh.)
4. IN BRUGES
I’m so over Colin Farrell. Somehow, I don’t think I’m the only one. However, Brendan Gleeson kicks my ass and can lure me to watch any film merely by virtue of being a part of it. I understand that In Bruges is all kinds of awesome – a black comedy about a couple of screw-up hitmen in the Belgian capital. Sounds pretty good to me! Sold!
5. CHLOE
Chloe looks like crap to me. It’s the kind of film that will usually star Michael Douglas and an ice pick. Exactly the kind of film that I have no interest in watching. That said, it’s directed by Atom Egoyan. And I’m a sucker for Atom Egoyan. I’ll watch any film he directs. Including this one. Better not let me down, A.E.! This better be vastly superior to Fatal Attraction, or else! I’m looking at your bunnies!!
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
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