What to Watch: Sept. 17-23, 2013 – Film Edition

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CHICAGO – We hit your calendar and your wallet earlier this week with a special TV-only edition of What to Watch and now we’re back to fill in the films that were released this week on DVD, Blu-ray, and streamimg services that may catch your attention. Want to watch a movie this weekend? Why not make it one of these five? If I had to rank them in order of preference, here’s how it would go…

Gimme the Loot
Photo credit: IFC Films

“Gimme the Loot”

Adam Leon’s debut comedy captures a certain we-can-do-anything attitude that’s not only common to youth but has a unique flavor in New York City. Presented by Jonathan Demme, this festival hit (and Independent Spirit Award winner) has an energy that can best be described as infectious. The loose style of narrative and approach to character can be a bit frustrating but as Malcolm (Ty Hickson) and Sofia (Tashiana Washington) bounce around the Big Apple looking for enough money to pull off what would be one of the greatest pranks in MLB history, it’s hard not to bounce with them. There’s a funky energy here that feels like we’re at the beginning of a notable career.

From Patrick McDonald’s film review: “The world of the movies is also a world of discovery. Like new, hot authors, the breakthrough directors emerge with an original first work that generates deserved attention. Writer/director Adam Leon has created that freshness in the his debut feature, “Gimme the Loot.”

Special Features:
o Commentary with Writer/Director Adam Leon, Actor/Producer Sam Soghor, Producer Natalie Difford, and Composer Nicholas Britell
o Gimme the Loot on All City Hour
o Short Film
o Deleted Scene
o Trailer

Where to Watch: DVD, Netflix, Amazon Instant, iTunes

All is Bright
Photo credit: Anchor Bay

“All is Bright”

Every week, we include at least one On Demand, pre-theatrical entry in What to Watch (past films include “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” and “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane”). This week’s is pretty good, coming from “Junebug” director Phil Morrison. The great Paul Giamatti stars as Dennis, an ex-con trying to get back into the good graces of a family so busted that his wife told their daughter that dad was dead. She also hooked up with Rene (Paul Rudd), who Dennis ends up forced to work with selling Christmas trees. The always-awesome Sally Hawkins co-stars in this relatively slight but consistently engaging dramedy. I love the new indie evolution of Rudd and Giamatti rarely falters. He certainly doesn’t do so here.

Where to Watch: On Demand, Amazon Instant, iTunes, Vudu

Simon Killer
Photo credit: IFC Films

“Simon Killer”

The adventures of a sociopath in Paris stars Brady Corbet (“Martha Marcy May Marlene”) as the title character, an American transplant living in the city of lights who strikes up an unusual relationship with an escort. From the beginning, something’s not quite right with Simon. He seems to be running from something and more than a little unsettled by life. And yet he’s also a relatively smooth character, able to pick up beautiful women at clubs and able to convince people, including himself, that he’s keeping it together. Naturally, he doesn’t for long and “Simon Killer” has a bit of a problem in that I grew weary of its title character long before the end. To be blunt, I never cared about his arc. I will say that writer/director Antonio Campos has an amazing visual sensibility, creating a film that sometimes approaches surreal nightmare in its long takes, unusual pans, and the way Campos plays with music and sound. He’s a talented filmmaker even if this one is a near-miss for me.

Special Features:
o Antonio Campos and the Case of the Conscious Camera
o Behind the Scenes
o Conversations with Moms
o Poster Gallery
o Trailer

Where to Watch: DVD, Netflix, Amazon Instant, iTunes

World War Z
Photo credit: Paramount

“World War Z”

After months of reports of trouble behind-the-scenes, most people expected “World War Z” to fall on its face, as movies that get this much bad pre-release buzz usually do. Who would have guessed that it would be the highest grossing film of Brad Pitt’s career? I have some issues with “WWZ,” especially the first half, but there is enough to like here to warrant a rental and seven minutes of unrated footage only sweetens the deal for the MANY people who have already seen the flick. If “World War Z” proves anything it’s that our international obsession with the undead is far from over. I do wish we could one day see the full, unedited original version of the film (the final act was rewritten and reshot almost entirely, explaining Matthew Fox’s much-smaller part in the final version) but that could still happen in a “Special Edition” somewhere down the road. Maybe when they release “World War Y”.

From Patrick McDonald’s film review: “This story plops us right into the middle of the action, and it’s summer-movie intense. Brad Pitt, in essence, is playing the same character as in “Moneyball” – a save-the-day professional who is also a gooey eyed family man. Is this his new character fate? “World War Z” is a decent “PG-13” night at the movies, perfect for a group scare and a couple of follow-up nervous laughs.”

Special Features:
o Unrated Feature Film
o Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes
o UltraViolet Version

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Amazon Instant, iTunes, Vudu

The East
Photo credit: Fox Searchlight

“The East”

I find Brit Marling an interesting, engaging actress and wish there were more women in creative positions of power like the one she’s taken with her work on “Another Earth,” “Sound of My Voice,” and, now, “The East,” but I find this work her least interesting venture. The story of how personal interest and moral righteousness intersect has so many interesting ideas in its narrative that I find it frustrating when it becomes too much of a soap opera between its two beautiful leads. There’s still enough to like here to warrant a rental, especially in the performances, but I don’t find the characters truthful. Interesting ideas, frustrating execution.

From my film review: “Why was the opportunity for true commentary or even character development within this fascinating world discarded in favor of an awkwardly-staged and poorly-written love story laden with genre tropes? I so wanted to like “The East,” but it never pointed me in the direction where I could do so.”

Special Features:
o Examinining the Moral Gray
o Cause and Effect: The Movement of The East
o Two Brothers: Collaboration
o The East Exposed: The Story
o Off the Grid: Creating The East
o Casting The East
o Deleted Scenes

Where to Watch: Blu-ray, DVD, Amazon Instant, iTunes, Vudu

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com