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New in Blu: 'Buried' and 'Takers'
Oof, not a great retail week here in the States. Only a few titles in below's batch rise to the top: one is an Australian crime thriller and the other is a movie where you watch Ryan Reynold's final moments. Can't go wrong either way, really.
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Top Shelf
Buried (Lionsgate) $19.99
The Movie: Buried is a movie I wish I had appreciated more when it hit theaters last September. I liked it well enough at the time, but over the past few months I've thought of it more and more. Had I the foresight at the time to realize that Lionsgate wasn't going to expand (or even market) its release or that 127 Hours would be the single-guy-trapped-in-an-extreme-situation movie that everyone would be talking about, I would have championed the film a hell of a lot harder.
Of course getting a raw deal at the box office or being overshadowed by an inferior film don't actually make Buried a better film in any way, but had I known how few people would find the film back then, I'd have really pushed everyone I know to see it in a theater. Not only is it a phenomenal technical accomplishment (unlike Danny Boyle, Rodrigo Cortes never leaves the confines of the coffin, be it in flashback or dream) and a helluva a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, but it's just a damned effective movie and was one of the most uncomfortable movie-watching experiences I had in 2010 -- and that includes seeing A Serbian Film.
I just hope the same can be said when watching Buried at home for the first time. I fear it'll just seem like such a smaller, more insignificant experience from the comfort of a couch instead of within a darkened room with nothing to do but stare at Ryan Reynolds trapped in a coffin for an hour and a half.
The Features: There's not much here, unfortunately, just some trailers and an "Unearthing Buried" featurette.
Who Should Buy It: Fans of a good thriller who have an excellent sound system. Not only was Buried overlooked for its acting or camera work, but the sound design is suffocating in the best possible way.
Click here to buy 'Buried'
Animal Kingdom (Sony)
The Movie: A good-guy-in-a-bad-situation crime thriller from Australia featuring a handful of ace performances and a memorable script. I'm normally not a fan of crime thrillers where the main character is someone you just feel absolutely terrible for (they often come off as bullying and mean spirited), but it all works in Animal Kingdom's favor.
The Features: A solo commentary track from director David Michod, as well as a filmed Q&A with Michod and stars Jackie Weaver and James Frecheville.
Who Should Buy It: Die hard supporters of Australian cinema; fans of depressing thrillers.
Click here to buy 'Animal Kingdom'
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Middle Shelf
Down Terrace (Magnolia) $21.99
The Movie: I've had a number of opportunities to catch the British crime thriller Down Terrace (whose plot oddly sounds similar to Animal Kingdom's), but I've yet to see it. Don't worry, though, that speaks only to my sloth and not to the merit of the film itself, which I've heard nothing but good things about.
The Features: Only a small amount, I'm afraid. Deleted scenes and a commentary win out, of course.
Who Should Buy It: Brits and those with a good, international sense of humor.
Click here to buy 'Down Terrace'
Takers (Sony) $19.99
The Movie: Upon seeing the trailer for movie Takers, I instantly knew it would wind up on Stephen King's Top 10 of 2010 list. That's not because it has some kind of lunatic genre twist at the end of it, it's because Waist Deep made the author's a few years ago. Apparently Stephen King is a sucker for movies about urban heists. And I get that, because I too am a sucker for movies about urban heists. They're just so cheesy and so over the top that I can't help but like them.
The Features: A making-of; a music video; a commentary from the director and the cast.
Who Should Buy It: People looking for a gift to give to Stephen King.
Click here to buy 'Takers'
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All the Rest
The Army of Crime (Kino)
Click here to buy it for $27.99
Checking Out (Image)
Click here to buy it for $14.99
Cold Dog Soup (Image)
Click here to buy it for $14.99
Fire on the Amazon (Starz/Anchor Bay)
Click here to buy it for $14.99
Jack Goes Boating (Starz/Anchor Bay)
Click here to buy it for $29.99
Lebanon (Sony)
Click here to buy it for $26.99
The Naked Kiss (Criterion Collection)
Click here to buy it for $27.99
Shock Corridor (Criterion)
Click here to buy it for $27.99
Stone (Starz)
Click here to buy it for $23.99