Being the small and great (but more importantly, small) country that we are, it is an unfortunate reality that we cannot get all the anticipated US theatrical releases into NZ cinemas. However, it would be a shame if we were to completely neglect their home releases as well.
We’re going to show these releases some love in this monthly post of upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray releases of flicks that skipped our shore. This month, The Collection, Dreams of a Life and Premium Rush.
Dreams of a Life
In a Nutshell: Documentary on Joyce Vincent, the North Londoner who died in her home in 2003 only to be discovered three years later.
The Buzz: 69% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some felt this post-mortem character study was “ultimately more frustrating than rewarding” (New York Times), but the majority of critics found it “riveting” (Variety), “stunningly perplexing” (Movies.com) and “powerful” (Guardian).
Reason to Watch: To discover why someone who was described as “beautiful,” “loving,” and “fun to be around” could end up passing away by herself, with no one realising or seemingly missing her for three whole years. It’s a tough watch, but one that heavily provokes intense self-reflection.
Read more on Dreams of a Life.
The Queen of Versailles
In a Nutshell: Documentary character study of Florida billionaires Jackie and David Siegel whose rags-to-riches story was to culminate with the building of their ‘Versailles’ 100-room mansion – that is, until the economic crisis sent them bag to rags….
The Buzz: 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. From 100 critics, the vast majority recommend the Versailles Queen, calling it “priceless” (Time Out), “fascinating” (Roger Ebert) and “like a champagne bath laced with arsenic” (Entertainment Weekly). It also received the Best Documentary award at Sundance 2012.
Reason to Watch: Almost everyone likes seeing rich snobs get a huge dose of reality – we certainly do – but this is not solely a character study. If the idea of seeing the appeal and raw disdain for American Dream fascinates you, you need to check this film out.
Read more on The Queen of Versailles.
Lay the Favourite
In a Nutshell: Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones star in this high-roller comedy following a Las Vegas cocktail waitress who becomes the lucky charm of a professional sports gambler, much to his wife’s disdain. Directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity).
The Buzz: 19% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the cast and crew involved, the majority of critics were terribly unimpressed with this Vegas comedy. “Best to say as little as possible, cut one’s losses and move on” (New York Times).
Reason to Watch: Well… if you’re a Stephen Frears fan – and we mean a big, cult-leader-worshipping fan – then you should probably check this out.
Read more on Lay the Favourite.
The Collection
In a Nutshell: Sequel to 2009’s The Collector, the new death-trap horror franchise from the minds behind Saw (parts 4 through 7), following a SWAT team who enter the serial sadist’s lair in order to retrieve the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy man.
The Buzz: 36% on Rotten Tomatoes. The low RT score comes as no surprise; this one’s solely for the genre aficionados, who “are likely to revel in every crunched bone, gratuitous decapitation and slow-motion iron-maiden impaling” (NPR).
Reason to Watch: Those with a weak stomach should stay far, far away. But if you’re big on this kind of horror, The Collection will more than satisfy, opening with a gruesome mass murder and finishing on one of the best endings you will ever see in the genre.
It’s also going to be playing at Academy Cinemas’ Monster Festival in June. If you’re interested in seeing this film, you owe it to yourself to see it with a crowd of horror fans.
Premium Rush
In a Nutshell: Action thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a bike courier pursued through the streets of New York by a dirty cop (Michael Shannon) after he is given a suspicious package to deliver. The film’s been available On Demand for a while, but will be hitting retail shelves at the end of the month.
The Buzz: 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics enjoyed it as a basic homage to fast-paced ‘90s thrillers, saying that it’s “a blast” (Time Out), “sizzles with urban aggression” (New Yorker) and “has the kinetic whoosh to keep you spinning” (Rolling Stone).
Reason to Watch: Because our man Matt Glasby said so. “Anyone expecting Inception will be disappointed, but think of it as a candy-coated Crank for kids, and it whizzes giddily by.” You can read his full four-star review here.
