-
Top 5 / Bottom 5: Michelle Williams[teaser]Michelle Williams recently won a Golden Globe for her dead-on portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in 'My Week with Marylin.' In my opinion, her performance was good enough to win her an Oscar. She was beaten by Meryl Streep, but in my mind, Williams delivered the best performance by any actress in 2011.[/teaser] She isn't known as a huge box office draw. Williams has starred in numerous independent and lower budget works. Her highest grossing film was 'Shutter Island,' but that had more to do with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Dicaprio. That's not meant as a dig at her either. Even though she's built her career on relatively small movies, she's still become a recognizable actress in Hollywood because of her great acting. I had a hard time picking out a bottom five for this column, just because you'll notice that even though the movies may be below par, Williams' performance in each of them is usually the movie's strong point. The Best 'Blue Valentine' The moment I saw 'Blue Valentine' at Sundance I fell in love. Here was a movie with two consummate character actors. Ryan Gosling certainly disappears into his role as Dean, an overworked husband who has slowly grown tired of his life. Williams plays the wife, Cindy. She suddenly finds herself in a loveless marriage wondering how she got there in the first place. Flashing back and forth, 'Blue Valentine' pieces together the building up and the slow collapse of a relationship. In my review for High-Def Digest this is how I described the way the movie depicts the devolution of a relationship, "The beauty of 'Blue Valentine' is that it's impossible to pinpoint where the relationship between Dean and Cindy crumbled. Isn't that always the case? Relationships aren't destroyed by one single act. It's the little things that carry a marriage down to destruction." It's simple and profound at the same time, helped in part by two powerful leads giving it their all. 'My Week with Marilyn' I have to admit that I was a little incensed when Streep walked home with the Oscar instead of Williams. What made me even a little more perturbed was the fact that both of these roles required the lead actresses to take on the mantle of well-known historical figures. I felt like Williams embodied the spirit of Marilyn Monroe whereas Streep seemed to be just going through the motions, impersonating Margaret Thatcher. 'Meek's Cutoff' This is another one of Michelle Williams' movies that ran through the festival circuit and went on to gain critical accolades. While I personally felt that 'Meek's Cutoff' moved at a somewhat glacial pace, the highlight of the movie is definitely Williams' acting. As in 'Blue Valentine,' she's almost unrecognizable here. She disappears so fully into her character that it's almost impossible to picture her as an actress who was later cast as Marilyn Monroe. 'Synecdoche, New York' I remember this being a divisive movie. Those who liked it absolutely adored everything about it, and those who weren't fond of it hated it with a passion. Champions of the film heralded it as Fellini-esque. Personally, I think it's a great film. While this will always be Philip Seymour Hoffman's movie, I'll always remember Williams' role as Claire. 'Wendy and Lucy' You don't really hear much about this movie when Michelle Williams is concerned, but would it surprise you that it's definitely one her best starring roles? Director Kelly Reichardt weaves a deeply rich character in Wendy (Williams). A character we can't stop watching and caring about throughout the entire film. It really is a sneakily beautiful character piece if you ever get a chance to watch it. The Worst 'But I'm a Cheerleader' It helps that Williams' part is small in this unfunny comedy, but it still remains one of the worst films she's ever been associated with. I remember the TV spots for this movie and I remember cringing every time they came on. If I never see 'But I'm a Cheerleader' again I'll be happy. 'Species' Did you even remember that Michelle Williams was in 'Species.' Yes, the very same movie that starred a naked Natasha Henstridge as a predatory alien, named Sil, whose primary objective is to breed with Earth males. Williams played the younger version of Sil. Yes, I can admit that even I have a twinge of guilty pleasure whenever I flick on my cable and see this movie running during prime afternoon hours, but I'll never admit to it being a good movie. It's so silly and hokey, but it's good for a few laughs. 'Incendiary' This is one of Michelle Williams' sexiest roles, it's just too bad that the movie around her stinks. Like most of the time Williams is the strong point in this otherwise weak affair story. Much of the film falters due to Ewan McGregor's disappointing acting. It really is sad, because Williams puts in the work here, but her sturdy performance isn't enough to bolster the sagging structure around her. 'Deception' Maybe the rule for Michelle Williams movies should be: If Ewan McGregor is in it, it's probably not one of her better movies. Normally I like McGregor, but apparently when these two get in a movie together it's just bad luck all around. So much was made of 'Deception's depiction of the seedy sexual underbelly that the movie portrayed. It tried desperately to be sexy and edgy and just came off as, well… desperate. 'The United States of Leland' Another Sundance premiere but unfortunately, this one film didn't have the deep characterizations of 'Blue Valentine.' So, it never went on to become anything more. It's a stagnant, cluttered film that should be good on paper – Cast: Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey – but it just isn't. All the star power in the world can't help this mess of a movie. One of those Sundance films that come in with high expectations because of all the famous names attached but leaves the festival without much notoriety at all. I know I skipped out on some notable titles like 'Brokeback Mountain' and 'Shutter Island.' I just don't admire those films as much as the ones I listed in my Top 5. Feel free to use the forums to let me know how you would've ranked her top and bottom films.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 12:55 PM PDT by: -
Walmart Launches Exclusive In-Store Disc-to-Digital VUDU Serviceby Michael S. Palmer[teaser]This morning at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, in the same room where the very first Academy Awards were handed out 83 years prior, Walmart announced an in-store disc-to-digital initiative to help its consumers embrace The Cloud with their existing movie libraries. [/teaser]Partnering with 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros., Walmart's service will be powered by its Vudu streaming movie service, which until now has focused mainly on one-time rentals. Starting on Monday, April 16, that's all going to change. Have you ever looked at your aging DVD collection and wished you could watch some old classic in high definition, but A) the title isn't available yet, or you B) really don't want to spend the money buying the movie again at full price? Well, Walmart has a solution for you, with the ability to upgrade your DVDs and Blu-rays to The Cloud in either standard, or high definition, and later watch them anywhere via VUDU. Here's how it works: 1. Bring in any physical Blu-rays or DVD (from the above studios) into your local Walmart. 2. Choose HD (720p) or SD quality. Blu-ray to HD or DVD to SD "conversion" will cost $2 per title, and DVD to HD "conversion" will cost $5. But the important thing to know is that this isn't really a conversion or a traditional movie 'rip'; Walmart employees will simply verify your movie and authorize that title for your VUDU. Oh, and you get to keep your disc! 3. Log into any Vudu-enabled media player to stream your movies anytime, anywhere (well, as long has you have an Internet connection). There are currently over 300 devices, including Phones, PCs, TVs, Blu-ray players, PlayStation 3s, or XBox 360s. Also, for anyone who has UltraViolet Digital Copies, which are often included in multi-disc Blu-ray releases, you'll be able to watch, and purchase, UltraViolet titles directly from your VUDU account as well. However, for your average HDD reader, there may be a few hiccups. First and formost, while I'm a huge fan of VUDU's HDX 1080p (as well as Dolby Digital Plus in 5.1 or 7.1) format, I confirmed that this disc-to-digital service is only for VUDU "HD", which is 720p. Second, what about all the earlier versions of Digital Copy (the pre-UltraViolet movies), which often cost more than the Blu-ray only copy of the film; will these be ignored? And, as movie collectors, do you really want to haul boxes of movies into a store to have them load your films into your VUDU account? UPDATE: VUDU Customer Care rep Dan H. stated in this forum that the HD upgrade will be for HDX, so hopefully he is correct, rather than the PR rep at the actual event, who hopefully was mistaken. Apologies for any confusion, and thanks to HDD Forum member towergrove for finding. Then again, $2 for a 720p 1080p copy of your Blu-ray, or $5 for a DVD you never watch anymore, that you can access anywhere around the world (as long as you have Internet access) seems like a fair price and something that will work great in most scenarios, leaving the physical Blu-ray as king of the home theatre for the biggest screens and most powerful sound experiences. Also, the Walmart brand brings a lot of weight to the table; I think many are wary of The Cloud because they've been burned by "hot new tech ideas" before, but Walmart's been selling movies for years, and the VUDU experience is already well designed and easy to use, so perhaps consumers will be more confident about embracing digital ownership? Hard to say. What do you think, Dear Readers? Anyone curious about this and willing to try? Is this the right step forward for The Cloud? Hit up the Forum link below and lets see what we all think. Full Press ReleasePosted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Chicago in Chicago' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The band returns to Blu-ray with special guests the Doobie Brothers in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is working on 'Chicago in Chicago' for a Blu-ray release on June 12. The legendary band Chicago triumphantly returns to its namesake town. Set against the stunning background of Lake Michigan, Chicago wows a sold-out crowd at the Charter-One Pavilion with an evening of hits including Saturday in the Park, Make Me Smile and You're the Inspiration. To end the night, the hometown headliners are joined onstage by the Doobie Brothers for an unbelievable music encore, which includes 25 or 6 to 4 and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Song List: Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon (Make Me Smile; So Much to Say, So Much to Give; Anxiety's Moment; West Virginia Fantasies; Colour My World; To Be Free; Now More Than Ever), Dialogue Pt. 2, Beginnings, Hard Habit to Break/You're the Inspiration, If You Leave Me Now, Alive Again, Just You n Me, Saturday in the Park, Call On Me, Old Days, Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Getaway, Feelin Stronger Everyday. Chicago and the Doobie Brother Songs: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Free, 25 or 6 to 4 Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Chicago in Chicago' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 12.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Underworld: Awakening' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Detailed[teaser]The fourth chapter in the war between vampires and werewolves, which is in the works for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D in May, has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Sony is preparing 'Underworld: Awakening' and 'Underworld: Awakening - 3D' for a home video release on May 8. A boxed set including all four films in the franchise will be available on the same date. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. The Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo packs will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Cracking the Underworld picture-in-picture experience, filmmakers' commentary, five behind-the-scenes featurettes, blooper reel, and "Heavy Prey" music video by Lacey Sturm feat. Geno Lenardo. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99 and the Blu-ray 3D is $45.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Underworld: Awakening' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 8.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Midsomer Murders: Set 20' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]John Nettles and Jason Hughes are back on the scene of the crime this July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Acorn Media has just revealed 'Midsomer Murders: Set 20' for Blu-ray on July 3. The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby has policed the murderous county for decades, and now he's ready to retire. In these four episodes, Barnaby investigates his final cases before leaving the denizens of Midsomer in the capable hands of his cousin, DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon, Life of Riley)." Set 20 includes the following four episodes: Master Class, The Noble Art, Not in My Backyard, and Fit for Murder. The release will be a 2-disc set and will have 1080i video, an uncompressed 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include an alternate ending on Fit for Murder, "Barnaby through the Years" photo gallery, and "Saying Goodbye to Barnaby" essay. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $59.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Midsomer Murders: Set 20' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 3.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Vizio Adds YouTube to Internet Apps[teaser]The company hasn't specified whether or not this will be available on all connected Vizio models. [/teaser] Your TV can be so much more than just a screen for watching the local news on - it can be a place for seeing classic comedy bits, listening to endless ukulele covers and watching cute baby animals do cute baby animal things. Now your connected Vizio TV will be able to bring you all of those things thanks to a newly added YouTube app. The update was announced last week via Twitter, though there's been little to no information following it up. So, if you've got a connected Vizio TV, you can swing on over to the YouTube app now to watch your favorite music videos after sitting through 30 second commercials, handheld camera recorded clips of your favorite TV shows and, of course, one movie broken up into 30 5-minute increments. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Evita: 15th Anniversary Edition' In The Works[teaser]The acclaimed 1997 musical looks to be prepping the waterworks for Blu-ray. [/teaser] We don't have exact details yet, but judging from early retail listings, Disney/Buena Vista appears to be working on an 'Evita: 15th Anniversary Edition' starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas for a Blu-ray release.. The hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina. The film was also nominated for five Academy Awards and won for Best Music Original Song (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "You Must Love Me"). Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Evita: 15th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Next Level' Blu-ray $9.99 at Amazon![teaser]Test drive the upcoming series on Blu-ray for only $10 at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon has reduced the price of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Next Level' to $9.99 (57% off suggested list price). This Blu-ray sampler includes the episodes "Encounter at Farpoint," "The Inner Light," and "Sins of the Father." The disc will be followed by a season-one set to be released later on in the year. "Fans have been clamoring for a high-definition release of "Star Trek: The Next Generation,"" Ken Ross, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. "Transferring the series to high-definition presented difficult technical challenges, but our team has come up with a process to create true 1080p HD masters with true HD visual effects. We can’t wait to show fans how pristine the series looks and sounds with our upcoming Blu-ray releases." CBS is, in fact, returning to the original film negatives, a mother lode of material encompassing 25,000-plus reels of footage, and editing the episodes together precisely as they were when they originally aired between 1987 and 1994. Visual effects will not be upconverted from videotape, but instead will be recompositioned. The freshly cut film will ultimately be transferred to high definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. And all of the work is being done in conjunction with respected, longtime Star Trek figures Denise and Michael Okuda, who are on board as consultants." Click here to beam over to Amazon to get your sneak peek at TNG on Blu-ray!Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 05:59 AM PDT by: -
'Men in Black II' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]'Men in Black III' hits theaters at the end of May, just a few weeks after the first sequel arrives on Blu-ray. The film is available for pre-order now! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has slated 'Men in Black II' for Blu-ray on May 1. Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back to take on a rogue alien beastie (Lara Flynn Boyle) plotting to take over the world. The Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: director's commentary, alternate ending, blooper reel, Rick Baker: Alien Maker, Barry Sonnenfeld's Intergalactic Guide to Comedy, Creature featurettes, Serleena animatic sequence, Multi-angle scene deconstructions, and "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)" music video by Will Smith. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Men in Black II' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 1.Posted Mon Mar 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Front Line' Blu-ray Bonus Features Added[teaser]Supplements have been detailed for the Academy Award nominated war film from South Korea planned for Blu-ray in May. It's available for pre-order now. [/teaser] As previously reported, Well Go USA is prepping 'The Front Line' for a Blu-ray release on May 8. In the final battle of the Korean War an uneasy ceasefire is ordered, but out on the Eastern front line of the Aerok Hill fierce fighting continues. A race to capture this strategic point is the ultimate prize and will determine a new border between North and South Korea. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include “The Making of The Front Line” Featurette, Highlights, and Trailers. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Front Line' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 8.Posted Mon Mar 12, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by:
