Gentlemen Broncos Blu-ray Review
March 7, 2010 by Admin/Neil
Filed under 2010 Blu-ray Reviews
From the creators of Napoleon Dynamite, Gentlemen Broncos is another eccentric comedy movie available on Blu-ray release March 2nd from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Director Jared Hess and the Hess brothers writing duo of Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess show off their ‘out there’ thoughts on comedy film making and character development with the evolution of the Gentlemen Broncos story. The film centers on Benjamin Purvis (Michael Angarano), a loner whose life of poverty and isolation is turned upside down when a pretentious fantasy author steals his story at a writers camp.
The film co-stars Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie) as poor, redneck mother Judith. Mike White (School of Rock) plays Benjamin’s unassuming friend Dusty. Other stars include Jemaine Clement and Hector Jiminez.
Sam Rockwell also stars as Bronco and Brutus, the names of the leads in the two variations of Benjamin’s story – his own and the rip off. The off-beat, off-color and eccentric fantasy story plays out in flashes over the course of the movie as a parallel built into the plot that builds around Benjamin and his key relationships in the movie.
Gentlemen Broncos does follow a similar plot development to the aforementioned Napoleon Dynamite, a cult classic among younger audiences. This is not surprising given the reference to the creators involvement with ND in the packaging and promotion. Each film features an otherwise uninspiring and unnoticed teen who has a unique creative side that eventually wins over peer groups a subtle and slow-building process.
While Gentlemen Broncos does have a nice story, it can easily be described as a “poor man’s Napoleon Dynamite. There are exceptions to this rule (or observation), but often when a follow up film of a similar vein heavily promotes the ties to a previously popular film, it is because the new film may lack some stand alone merits that made the initial movie a success.
Gentlemen Broncos would be most appealing to fans of sci-fi adventure movies who appreciate quirky delivery and also enjoy comedies in the vein of ND. The chances of the film becoming as universally popular and cult-like as its predecessor are limited at best. The telling of the fantasy story based on Benjamin’s script are extremely abstract and definitely out of this world. This is a turn off for more straight-forward comedy fans, but again, would probably add to the enjoyment for sci-fi and fantasy film fanatics.
Michael Angarano does a nice job as the lead character in Gentlemen Broncos and has the qualities you would want in a quiet and plain teen in a story of this nature. The film is rated PG-13 for crude humor. It does not have any extreme issues from a parenting stand point, but there are a wide range of gross out moments, language (including at least one F-word) and thematic concerns to be aware of.
Gentlemen Broncos special features include:
- BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE: 16 mini-documentaries featuring the cast of Gentlemen Broncos
- Outtakes Reel: A Buttload of Keepsakes
- Five deleted scenes
- Feature commentary with Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess
- One Nutty Movie: Behind the Scenes of Gentlemen Broncos
Gentlemen Broncos Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews
Whip It Blu-ray Review
February 13, 2010 by Admin/Neil
Filed under 2010 Blu-ray Reviews
Whip It marks the directorial debut for Golden Globe® nominee Drew Barrymore with its January 26th release from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. It is a coming-of-age comedy about Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page of Juno), a blu-haired misfit stuck in a tiny Texas town.
Tired of following in her family’s footsteps, Bliss discovers a way to put her life on the fast track when she lands a spot on a rough-and-tumble roller derby team. Her journey comes full-circle as she reconnects with her family and finds her own path in the world.
Whip It is a high-speed action film with non-stop fun. The film includes an all-star cast with Golden Globe® nominee Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle), Oscar® winner Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River), Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear), Daniel Stern (City Slickers) and Jimmy Fallon (Fever Pitch). The film also features cameo appearances by real life derby girls Rachel Piplica and Kristen Adolfi, better known as “Iron Maiven” and “Krissy Krash” of the Los Angeles Derby Dolls.
Whip It is a quintessential “girl power” movie that is inspiring not only to young women but more mature women as well. It is unique in that it is not the typical cuties, fluffy teen film focused on a female character who longs for a relationship and the support of a man. Bliss does get a boyfriend who cheats on her causing her to dump him, but his existence in the story is modest.
Bliss discovers herself and her passions during the course of Whip It. While the roller derby theme is trendy and fun and does present some of the lighter moments in the movie, it is the self-discovery of interests and passions for Bliss that drive the story.
Another key plot theme is the transition from prescribed expectations to openness and support that takes place with Bliss’ parents. They are initially concerned at the alternative lifestyle choice they think Bliss makes when she picks up roller derby. However, they soon learn to accept that she has found something to identify with, one of the key struggles of adolescence.
Whip It is not an overly deep-thinking movie, which is part of its strength as a coming-of-age girl story. There are some nice lighter, humorous moments that help keep Bliss’ real life journey more entertaining and less intense. Whip It is PG-13 so perhaps be somewhat guarded with younger viewers.
Whip It Blu-ray special features include:
- Alternate Opening
Razor Quits (Long Version)
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Bliss and Oliver Kiss
Bliss Listens to CD
Bliss Gets Out of Brooke’s Truck
Bliss Asks Razor to Come Back (Raw Cut)
No Tip
Maggie and Riley Wake Up Bliss
Bliss, Pash and Bird Man on Oink Joint Roof
Writers Draft with Shauna Cross
Celebrity
Digital Copy
- Actors: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Sarah Habel, Shannon Eagen
- Director: Drew Barrymore
- Writers: Shauna Cross
- Producers: Drew Barrymore, Barry Mendel, Chris Miller, Jason Lust, Joseph Drake
- Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English, Spanish, French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
- Number of discs: 2
- Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Release Date: January 26, 2010
- Run Time: 111 minutes
Whip It Blu-ray Review a guest contribution from Tracy of Book Room Reviews with editorial support by Neil of Movie Room Reviews
Amelia Blu-ray Review
February 7, 2010 by Admin/Neil
Filed under 2010 Blu-ray Reviews
Amelia is the romantic, dramatic and heroic biopic story of Amelia Earhart. Available for the first time on Blu-ray February 2nd from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, the movie tells the legendary story of “The Queen of the Air” and her bold efforts to make history for solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way through her strange disappearance on July 2nd, 1937.
Amelia Earhart (2 Time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby and Boys Don’t Cry) was so committed to her flying ambitions that she initially spurned the romantic overtures from business partner George Putnam (Golden Globe winner Richard Gere for Chicago and Pretty Woman). However, after deciding she could balance marriage and flying, Amelia agreed and the two became the power couple of flight in the first half of the 20th century. George provided financial backing and moral support while Amelia logged countless miles in pursuit of history.
It was not just flying and marriage that dominated Amelia’s time. Soon after she became the first lady of flying, Amelia took on a new role as a celebrity, often requested for events as prominent as those hosted by the president and other political representatives. She took on the exhausting task of not only being its main act, but also the lead promoter of the women in flight movement.
The film shows that Amelia Earhart was far from a perfect individual. She hada passionate affair with Gene Vidal (Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor for Moulin Rouge). But her husband’s enduring love and commitment helped sway Amelia to realize he was the only man for her. Their ability to maintain their marriage bond, helped them remain strong partners in business.
Directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair and Moonsoon Wedding) Amelia is an interesting biography about one of the most historical women of the 20th century. The film is more valuable as a historical depiction of Amelia’s story than it is a classic drama built to last as an entertainment product.
Swank, Gere and McGregor are certainly a top flight trio in terms of acting talent. Swank is brilliant in her lead role, as usual, but her on screen chemistry with Gere is not quite as believable as romances either have had with other lead partners. The movie tries to balance the romance and flying that were pervasive in Earhart’s life. This is a difficult balance to manage and appease audiences who want either a romance story or an biographical action flick.
Still, the Amelia Blu-ray is a nice adventure with high quality Blu-ray graphics technology.
Amelia Blu-ray Disc Special Features include:
Disc One
● Theatrical version
● Deleted scenes
● Making Amelia
● The Power of Amelia Earhart
● The Plane Behind the Legend
● Re-constructing the Planes of Amelia
● Movietone News
Disc Two
● Digital Copy
- Actors: Scott Anderson, Richard Donat, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Gere, Thomas Hauff
- Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 2
- Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Release Date: February 2, 2010
- Run Time: 111 minutes
Amelia Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews
