New DVD Releases This Week – 3/17/13

We’ve got a decent number of releases to choose from this week. The choices aren’t all exactly great (that’ll be next week), but there’s a solid number of films that look as if they might be worth a shot. And if you’re feeling nostalgic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is being released on Blu-Ray, as well.

Life of Pi

The big name film for this week is a recent winner at the Academy Awards, snatching up quite a few below-the-line wins, as well as a golden statuette for director Ang Lee. This is a movie that I managed to catch in theaters, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was definitely a film that had to grow on me. If the story had been just a little bit more refined, this would’ve taken home Best Picture by a country mile. Everything else is simply beautiful. The score, the special effects, the cinematography. Just breath-takingly gorgeous. I kick myself for not seeing this in 3-D while at the cinema, an error I hope to correct at home this week. If you have the chance to watch it in the 3-D format, do it. I have yet to read the book, so I’m hoping to hear some comparisons in the comments, but this is definitely a film that you should check out, despite the questionable bookends.

Verdict: Watch It

Smashed

While she’s been in her fair share of hits so far, this will be the movie that turned the corner for Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Playing an alcoholic teacher who hits a new low seemingly every night. With the help of another school official, she tries to become sober, which in turn challenges the relationship with her husband, played by Aaron Paul. The screenplay and directing are both very up front, so it’s not going to be a movie for everybody, but all of the sudden this has me really anticipating the Sundance hit, The Spectacular Now, which sees writer/director James Ponsoldt re-teaming with Winstead for another movie centered on relationships. If anything, check this out for Winstead’s performance, one of my favorites of last year.

Verdict: Watch It

Rise of the Guardians

This was a movie that never really piqued my interest, but it was received fairly well be critics and lauded for it’s superb animation. I was semi-surprised that this wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, although the film did end up receiving a Golden Globe nomination. I do think that if he continued making such films that Chris Pine would have an excellent career in voicing animations, but probably won’t have the time to make such commitments. I was hesitant about watching this in theaters, but word of mouth is too hard to ignore here, and something I will be watching sometime this weekend.

Verdict: Give It A Try

Hitchcock

Anthony Hopkins was a legitimate Oscar contender there for a hot minute, but middling reviews for the film eventually ruined any chances of a nomination happening. While the central performances are usually given their due diligence, the general consensus seems to be that the film is just too erratic, and can never settle down into the right rhythm. And it’s a shame, too, cause Hitchcock was such a fascinating filmmaker. Obligatory mention of Scarlett Johansson playing Janet Leigh.

Verdict: Give It A Try

This Must Be The Place

And here we have another film that was once upon a time a potential awards contender because of a shape-shifting performance by a veteran actor, but ultimately didn’t work out either. Sean Penn plays a Dublin rocker who travels to New York to seek out redemption for his recently deceased father. This wasn’t a movie that critics hated, but just never got the distribution needed to make a difference.

Verdict: Watch It If You Dare

Cirque de Solei: World’s Away

Might be worth a watch at home simply for the eye candy, especially if you have 3-D, but not a movie that I will actively seek out.

Verdict: Watch It If You Dare

What will you be watching this week? What did you think of the movies being released this week?