New DVD releases this week include ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ and ‘The Book Thief’
In case you missed it, I just blogged about some of the biggest potential blockbusters that will hit theaters between now and May. But really, let’s be honest: Most of us are opting out of the theater experience in favor of renting and/or streaming movies these days. And fortunately, we’ve got some really nice new DVD choices at the moment – certainly enough to please most. Last week was a bonanza of excellent DVD releases, and this week is...just okay. It's not an awful week (we've certainly endured worse), and we do have at least two really noteworthy choices. I'm thinking that with all the good ones out right now, we're all just a tad behind in our viewing, anyway. No need to rush: We've got months to go until the summer blockbuster season starts.
The biggest major DVD release this week is the Coen brothers drama Inside Llewyn Davis. This is most definitely not a typical Coen brothers release, but so many of my fellow movie-loving friends have raved about it, I've got to see it this weekend. Inside Llewyn Davis follows a young folk singer as he struggles to find his footing in New York City in the early 1960s (right when the Greenwich Village folk scene was exploding). I've heard a lot of griping about the fact that Oscar Isaac didn't get an Academy Award nomination for his performance in this movie, so I'm eager to see for myself whether he got robbed. Reviews for Inside Llewyn Davis, by the way, are outstanding.
The other big new DVD release that has my attention is the film adaptation of one of my favorite books ever, The Book Thief. Now this is one of those films that, even without seeing it, I can tell you to read the book first. Just do it. It is poignant, beautiful and powerful. If you've already read the book and are now contemplating rending The Book Thief DVD, do so with great caution: Reviews for this movie were not great. Know this going in and you'll probably be in good shape.
Finally, the gritty drama Out of the Furnace is new this week on DVD and Blu-ray. I have to say, this was one of those films I'd hoped to catch in theaters, just based on the ridiculously talented cast. Then, when reviews were just lukewarm (at best), I decided to wait for the rental. It's not tops on my must-see list, but I'll get to it soon, I'm sure.
What looks good to you guys? Anyone rent anything recently that you loved? Hated?
Photo courtesy of The Guardian