The week’s DVDs begin with the big fellow:
DVDs for Sept. 16 by Boo Allen
This week we begin with the big fellow:
Godzilla (***)
In the latest fun romp from the monster-that-devoured Japan, the big green mutant actually plays the good guy. Sort of. Gareth Edwards directed from a script by Max Borenstein, and together they have created some flashy new monsters while also paying attention to the film’s real people. Heading an impressive international cast, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Ford Brody, an explosives expert drawn into the coming melee between the recently reemerged Godzilla and some nasty looking giant mutants, known by their acronym, MUTOs. Ford’s father, Joe Brody (Brian Cranston), worked on the team in 1999 that tracked Godzilla, a disaster that doomed his mother, Sandra Brody (Juliette Binoche). Jump ahead to today and Ford joins a Japanese scientist, Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe), his aide,Vivienne Graham (Sally Hawkins), and an army headed by Admiral Stenz (David Straithairn). The film sports a deft mix of well rendered special effects along with an attention to the human element.
Rated PG-13, 123 minutes.
Extras: two “making of” featurettes that break up into seven separate segments. The three part, 15 minute or so “MONARCH: Declassified” examines the so-called cover-up about Godzilla’s existence. The comprehensive, four part, 40 minute or so “The Legendary Godzilla” offers more “behind-the-scenes” footage and looks at the special effects.
Willow Creek (**1/2)
Actor-comedian-director Bobcat Goldthwait explores new territory by writing and directing this passable adventure-horror opus. A young couple (Bryce Johnson and Alexie Gilmore) goes camping in the mountains around Willow Creek, California in an attempt to capture footage of the elusive Bigfoot, once seen in the area. Before long, and as expected in films of this genre, they become lost and find themselves the hunted. Competent genre rendering by the versatile Goldthwait.
Not rated, 80 minutes.
Extras: commentary, a deleted scenes, and a “making of” featurette.
God’s Pocket (**1/2)
Mad Men cast regular John Slattery co-wrote and directed this promising drama that mixes in surprising lumps of black humor and off-the-wall surprises. But the story and Slattery’s direction often change directions without warning or purpose. In the quality cast assembled by Slattery, Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as Mickey Scarpato, a downbeat resident of the title Philadelphia neighborhood. His mentally unbalanced son dies when someone intentionally strikes him on the head at a construction site. A cover-up follows, sending Mickey on a charge to uncover the true story, a quest that brings in local journalist Richard Shellburn (Richard Jenkins). For his part, Shellburn responds by interviewing and then clumsily seducing Mickey’s wife, the not-so-grieving widow Jeanie (Christina Hendricks). Meanwhile, various other dramas play out involving Mickey’s buddy Bird (John Turturro) and his conflict with a local gangster. The strange movie changes tone frequently, a shifting of moods not aided by Lance Acord’s hazy cinematography that resides in the dark gloom of ambient lighting.
Rated R, 89 minutes.
Extras: commentary with Slattery, and four deleted scenes.
The Hunted (**1/2)
Josh Stewart executes a triple play by writing, directing, and then starring in this action-adventure saga about two buddies, Jake and Stevie (Stewart and Ronnie Gene Blevins, respectively), who go on an ill-fated deer hunt in the West Virginia backwoods. They take their equipment, including a camera of course, but before long, in the good tradition of this genre (see: Willow Creek, above), they find themselves becoming the hunted and not the hunters.
Rated PG-13, 88 minutes.
Extras: commentary and the “making of” featurette “The True Story.”
That Girl in Yellow Boots (**1/2)
The sprawling humanity of Mumbai serves as the setting for this story of Ruth (Kalki Koechlin) and her often frightening mission. She travels through the city in search of her missing father, becoming involved with drug-dealers, a sleazy massage parlor, and various other representatives and outcasts of Mumbai’s lowest. Anurag Kashyap wrote and directed.
Not rated, 103 minutes.
Three films with spiritual messages arrive this week:
The Perfect Wave, Born to Race—Fast Track, Rise Up Black Man.
In the fact-based The Perfect Wave (not rated, 91 minutes), Scott Eastwood (son of Clint) stars as surfing minister Ian McCormack as he travels to exotic locales in his existential surfing odyssey. But while on Mauritius, he suffers an accident, but one that brings his life clarity. With Rachel Hendrix, Patrick Lyster, and Cheryl Ladd (step-daughter of Alan). Extras include director interview, a music video, and four other related featurettes.
Born to Race—Fast Track (rated PG, 98 minutes) features plenty of race-car footage to bolster its story of friends and racing rivals Danny and Jake (Brett Davern and Beau Mirchoff, respectively). Danny lands a scholarship at a racing school only to discover he must team up with Jake, not only on the track but for the school’s exceptional student, Michelle (Tiffany Dupont). The sole extra is a “behind-the-scenes” featurette.
In Rise Up Black Man (not rated, 146 minutes), filmed in and around Oklahoma City, two friends take different paths in this exploration of race and other issues written and directed by Kendall Irvin and photographed by Jenna McKee. With Victor Muse, Prince Duren, Dustin Morby.
Also on DVD: Burning Bush, Casting By, The Fault in Our Stars, The German Doctor.