The Informant Matt Damon knocks it out of the park as a hilariously annoying corporate whistleblower who wants to be the big hero of the situation but actually wasting people’s time and screwing things up for investigators. Steven Soderbergh’s film, based on a true story, walks a fine line between dry comedy and straight drama as Damon’s character Mark Whitacre goes from merely strange to completely unhinged as he goes from simple informant to imagining himself a full-on international spy.
Damon is a joy to watch as he completely carries this movie; he reportedly gained 30 pounds to portray Whitacre, and he does a complete 180 from the smooth, classy action hero he plays in the Bourne movies. Scott Bakula also stars as the exasperated lead FBI investigator dealing with him. Extras: Kinda skimpy. Deleted scenes (DVD); director commentary and digital copy (BD)
Everybody's Fine After his grown kids back out of a family reunion, widower Frank Goode (Robert DeNiro) embarks on a cross-country trip to pay each of them a surprise visit to find out why, and reconnect with them at the same time. This bittersweet dramedy about the little secrets families keep to preserve one another's happiness is a remake of a 1991 Italian film, Stanno Tutti Bene. Extras: Deleted/extended scenes, the making of Paul McCartney's song "(I Want To) Come Home." Available on DVD only.
The Box Based on a Twilight Zone-ish story by Richard Matheson, pic stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as a married couple handed a box with a button on it that if pushed, would cause some person’s death whom they don’t know and award them $1 million. Do they do it? Extras: Interview with the author (DVD); director commentary, behind-the-scenes, visual effects featurette (BD)
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant John C. Reilly stars as the vampire ringleader of a traveling sideshow who takes 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia), who wants to become a vampire, under his wing and show him what life as an immortal is really like. Based on the best-selling young adult book series. Extras: Deleted scenes, “Guide to Becoming a Vampire,” behind-the-scenes (DVD); BD Live, more deleted scenes (BD)
Sorority Row It’s all fun and games until someone gets stabbed by a tire iron! Cheesy, bitchy and sexy, this remake stars Briana Evigan and Rumer Willis as sisters in the school’s hottest sorority who find out the hard way that a prank gone wrong has set a killer on the loose. Extras: “Killer 101,” “Secrets from the Set,” deleted scenes and outtakes (DVD/BD)
The Damned United Story of the legendarily difficult manager of England’s Leeds United football champs and his disastrous 44-day tenure with the team.
The September Issue (DVD only) Strangely riveting doc follows Vogue editrix and diva Anna Wintour and her staff as they create fashion’s must-have Bible.
Dead Snow Take some pretty Norwegians, an isolated hillside in winter, some undead Nazis and Tchaikovsky and there you have this indie horror comedy that's definitely worth a look if you're into that genre.
Tags: The Informant, The Box, Everybody's Fine, Sorority Row, The Damned United, Dead Snow
Categories: DVD News
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