After several slow weeks, the home video field is crowded once again. This week’s hefty slate of new releases includes a star-studded crime film, a lightweight horror spoof and a disaster movie that landed actress Naomi Watts her second Oscar nomination.
Tag Archives: film reviews
Video Verdict: ‘The Impossible,’ ‘Promised Land,’ ‘Gangster Squad,’ ‘A Haunted House’
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Video Verdict: ‘Django Unchained’

Christoph Waltz, left, and Jamie Foxx star in writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s stylized Western, “Django Unchained.” Both Tarantino and Waltz won Oscars for their work in the film: Waltz for best supporting actor and Tarantino for best original screenplay.
An Oscar-winning Western by writer-director Quentin Tarantino is the only major theatrical release making its way to home video this week.
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Video Verdict: ‘Hyde Park on Hudson’
It’s another slow week on home video with a lightweight historical drama being the most noteworthy new title.
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Video Verdict: ‘Hemingway & Gellhorn’

Nicole Kidman, left, plays Martha Gellhorn and Clive Owen plays Ernest Hemingway in the HBO movie based on their relationship, “Hemingway & Gellhorn.”
It’s a slow week for video, with no major theatrical releases making the transition to home viewing formats. Fortunately, an excellent HBO drama is available to fill the void.
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Video Verdict: ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Killing Them Softly,’ ‘Parental Guidance,’ ‘The Collection’

Daniel Day-Lewis won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the title character in director Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln.”
This week’s home video releases are anchored by a terrific historical drama that was nominated for 12 Oscars, including best picture.
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Video Verdict: ‘Life of Pi,’ ‘Rise of the Guardians,’ ‘Hitchcock’

Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) and a fierce Bengal tiger named Richard Parker are forced to share a lifeboat in director Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi.”
This is an excellent week for home video, as the new releases include a top-notch animated movie, a solid biopic about director Alfred Hitchcock and a drama that won four Academy Awards.
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Video Verdict: ‘The Master,’ ‘Chasing Mavericks’

Joaquin Phoenix, left, and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in “The Master,” the latest film from director Paul Thomas Anderson.
This week’s home video releases are anchored by the latest project from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, whose previous films include “There Will Be Blood,” “Punch-Drunk Love” and “Magnolia.”
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Video Verdict: ‘Flight,’ ‘Here Comes the Boom’ and ‘Alex Cross’
This week’s home video releases include a thriller starring Tyler Perry, a family film with Kevin James and a drama that netted Denzel Washington an Oscar nomination.
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Video Verdict: ‘Seven Psycopaths,’ ‘Hotel Transylvania,’ ‘Paranormal Activity 4’

In “Hotel Transylvania,” Dracula isn’t such a bad guy. In fact, he spends much of his time welcoming customers to his upscale guesthouse.
This week’s new home video releases include a supernatural horror film, an animated movie with a supernatural twist and a black comedy that’s just plain super.
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