DVD Picks For March 15, 2011

Best Choice

Waste Land

Starring Vic Muniz

Located outside Rio de Janero, Brazil, Jardim Gramacho is the largest landfill in the world.  Called Pickers, thousands of workers live and work in the massive piles of trash pulling out items that can be recycled.  When artist Vic Muniz decides to showcase these worker in an art exhibit, even he is surprised by the spirit and pride these people have.  From a Machiavelli quoting leader of an picker's alliance to a woman who works to support her family back home and is proud of what she's doing because so many others have turned to prostitution, Waste Land is an inspiring story of human perseverance and a testament to how art can change the world.  What struck me most as I watched the movie, though, is the overwhelming sense of community these people have - one man tells the story of being crushed by a steel garbage truck door and how the community supported him; another has started a library out of his home from discarded books.  Waste Land is a must-see film, in my opinion, especially in our "throw-away" society.

I had never heard of this film before it's release, but I cannot recommend it highly enough.  A bullied young orphan is adopted by a bright young woman and her stern husband and taken to live on Corrie Island off the coast of Ireland.  Here she teaches him about the land and the local folklore.  He is just starting to come out of his shell when tragedy strikes the new family.  Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielsen are phenomenal in their roles as is newcomer John Bell.  This is absolutely one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen; the life and local stories of Ireland are so prominent that they really almost become a character in the film.  Between this film and Waste Land, I was ready to give up modern conveniences and head to the Emerald Isle for a simpler life.  With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, do yourself a favor and check out this gem of a film.  You won't be disappointed.

Worth a Rental

Hereafter (Rated PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Cecile de France, Bryce Dallas Howard

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Hereafter follows a three main characters as they struggle with what happens after we die.  Damon plays a psychic (John Edwards style - only legitimate) who has tried to get get away from readings in an attempt to have a normal life.  De France is French reporter who after having a near death experience is driven to find out what happened to her.  Frankie and George McLaren play a set of twin boys from London.  When one of them is killed, the other becomes obsessed with contacting his brother beyond the grave.  The movie tells each of their stories eventually bringing them together.  Unfortunately, this film's ending left me completely unsatisfied and ultimately changed this from a must-see film to a take-it-or-leave-it movie for me.  Eastwood's direction is strong and the performances are good, particularly De France (will definitely be scouting IMDB to see what else she's done).  One word of warning though - this movie was recently pulled from theaters in Japan because it has a scene involving a tsunami.  This scene is extremely powerful, especially in light of the recent events in Japan.  I found it difficult to watch.

The Fighter (Rated R)

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams

A bio-pic following the early years of professional boxer, Mickey Ward.  The Fighter is a decent boxing movie made almost unwatchable by the casting of Mark Wahlberg in the title role.  However, Bale's Oscar winning performance as his brother, and Adams Oscar nominated performance as his girlfriend as well as several other strong supporting roles (skipped over Leo on purpose - still don't understand how she won an Oscar for her performance) more than make this movie worth checking out.  Given my personal preference though, I'd much rather watch Raging Bull or Rocky.

The Switch (Rated PG-13)

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman

After everything I had read about this movie, I watched it fully expecting it to be this week's stinker.  Maybe it was my low expectations, but the movie isn't half bad.  Aniston plays a New York woman frustrated by relationships who decides to have a baby through artificial insemination.  After choosing a donor, her best friend, played by Bateman) switches that donation with his own.  Aniston moves away, returning seven years later with a son in tow, who is obviously (to everyone but the cast) Bateman's.  The movie is one contrivance after another, but the movie works based on the performances by Bateman and Aniston.  Jeff Goldblum and Patrick Wilson give strong supporting performances, and young Thomas Robinson is perfect as the son.  This is definitely not a great romantic comedy, but it is a decent movie that is better than it deserves to be.

Stinker of the Week

Sharktopus

Starring Eric Roberts

Half-shark, half octopus - all cheesy special effects.  Sharktopus has a lot of problems.  For starters, the thing should be dead in the water.  A shark uses its tail fin to propel itself and a squid has a siphon under its head that it pumps water through to move itself.  With the head of a shark and the tentacles of a squid, Sharkopus has neither.  Created for the military, it escapes and begins to terrorize Mexico.  Eric Roberts plays its creator who is also tasked with destroying it.  The effects are beyond bad - even worse than the acting and that's saying something.  SyFy is known for this kind of movie, but this one even sinks to a new level of bad.