There's No Lack of Choice on DVD This Week

Yes my friends, this week we have a rich assortment of films for just about any mood. A few of the flicks here are really good, but luckily none of them are as abysmally bad as some of the releases in weeks past. Before that though, we must name the PICK OF THE WEEK. It's been referred to as a "return to form" for its director (making it between his 5th or 6th it seems). It's:

Vicky Christina Barcelona

This romantic comedy/drama from Woody Allen is his best since Match Point, and perhaps better than that. It may be light on plot, but it's heavy on charm. It has some of his most beautiful visuals ever, and strong performances across the board from Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, and Oscar nominee Penelope Cruz. It's very good entertainment, and well worth picking up if you're a Woody fan, a fan of any of the cast, Barcelona, or just good film in general.

-Another film of good quality out on DVD this week is the criminally underseen The Lucky Ones. Directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist), it's technically an Iraq film, which contributed to its pitiful box office, but it's more about people coming home and forming an unlikely bond on a road trip. It's a film that blurs the lines between comedy and drama rather well. It's not a masterpiece, but it's pretty good nonetheless and well worth your time.

-Also out are two cop films that take place on opposite coasts, but share one thing in common...terrible endings. Lakeview Terrance has Sam Jackson as a racist cop trying to kick out the interracial couple next door, and Pride and Glory deals with NYPD corruption and betrayals in a family of cops. Both films are above average for the first 90% of their running times, but both suffer greatly with their awful climaxes. If you can put up with a bit of disappointment at the end, both are worth checking out.

-On the side of less quality we have RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie's best crime film in a while, but that's damning with faint praise, the F grade worthy comedy College, Rainn Wilson's generic underdog flick The Rocker, and the "inspirational" film Fireproof, which only inspired me to attempt and forget the movie ever existed.

-My Vintage pick this week is in recognition for Danny Boyle's Oscar nod for Slumdog Millionaire. It's his previous film Sunshine. It's actually an apt pick because like certain other films mentioned here, it has an issue with its ending that keeps it from being a masterpiece, but even so, it still is an incredible sci-fi film based more in reality than most. It even works in a bit of a science vs god aspect, but it overall is just a smart and thrilling piece of cinema.

-What will you guys and girls be watching this week?