Highbrow Magazine - judi dench https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/judi-dench en An Eerie Plot and Hyperrealistic Narrative Dominate Thriller ‘Six Minutes to Midnight’ https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12008-eerie-plot-and-hyperrealistic-narrative-dominate-thriller-six-minutes-midnight <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sun, 04/04/2021 - 16:39</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1sixminutes.jpg?itok=Whi-F5bX"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1sixminutes.jpg?itok=Whi-F5bX" width="480" height="289" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>A peculiar, little-known episode that preceded World War II has offered a springboard of sorts for <em>Six Minutes to Midnight</em>, a new film starring and co-written by the legendary comedian Eddie Izzard.</p> <p> </p> <p>For a period in the 1930s, there was a finishing school in South East England for the daughters of high-ranking Nazi officials. The girls were given lessons in English, tennis, customs, and proper behavior and manners. The school ceased operating in September 1939 — days before Hitler invaded Poland. </p> <p> </p> <p>One can understand the appeal of the school’s setting for a film. Izzard, who grew up in the town where the school existed, reportedly spent years researching the school before devising a story with the Welsh actor and writer Celyn Jones. Director Andy Goddard (<em>Downton Abbey, Doctor Who</em>) collaborated with them on the screenplay.</p> <p> </p> <p>This isolated historical event presents a challenge. If one were inclined to take a hyperrealistic approach to the narrative, you wouldn’t have much to work with because it’s essentially a snapshot of a finishing school. The wild twist is the fact that they’re young Nazis in training, poised to join English society and, perhaps, normalize their government-enforced ideology upon the young Englishmen they’re bound to marry. But that would require a “what if…” alternative history scenario, which doesn’t seem aesthetically ideal. The other possibility is simply showing the culture clash in the school: English educators struggling to contend with German teenage girls beholden to the Nazi Party.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2sixminutes.jpg" style="height:444px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>There’s not really a story there. Yet, Izzard and his collaborators seemingly couldn’t shake off the shock of the alliance. How, for a brief period, did there exist a school with an insignia that features the German imperial flag, the UK flag, and a Swastika?</p> <p> </p> <p>Without a conceivable enticing excuse for depicting the world of this bizarre moment in time, the screenwriters opted to wrap a third-rate spy thriller around the main setting. Izzard plays an instructor who’s hired by the headmistress (Judi Dench) for a trial period. Alliances and counteralliances reveal themselves predictably until we arrive at a murky, maybe even implausible, climax that tosses out a few hifalutin CGI fireworks.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is a paint-by-numbers British Spy Thriller, and the setting isn’t enough to make the narrative singular. Dramatically useful information is coyly withheld for the sake of unsurprising reveals. Overall, it’s a strangely mundane movie — stoic, stodgy, straightlaced, and humorless. That’s not to suggest that the film should be a madcap, absurdist laugh riot (like <em>Jojo Rabbit</em> or <em>The Producers</em>). But some sense of originality — beyond that strange albeit authentic setting — is critical.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3sixminutes.jpg" style="height:443px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>It’s worth mentioning that <em>Six Minutes to Midnight</em> (a rather outdated reference to the Doomsday Clock, if today’s moviegoers even know what that is) has a few unintentional laughs. It’s tough not to giggle when Jim Broadbent, when threatened with being scalded by the contents of a squealing tea kettle, says, with the kind of conviction that only a master craftsman can muster, “I’m not a bloody traitor. He’s half German, half English. I helped the English half of ‘im.” Broadbent, bravo. Screenplay, facepalm. Small wonders of ill-conceived dialogue will keep the sleepy viewer alert. Lines like “I believe the word you’re looking for…is ‘danke’” are a highlight amidst the drab color palette and the TV-style efficiency of the cinematography. Judi Dench’s flawless diction is always a treat, even when the lines are flavorless.</p> <p> </p> <p>A final disappointment is the insufficient use of Izzard. He has a unique screen presence that deserves juicer roles. There’s something puckish and imperceptibly playful behind his eyes. His expressions tell a story. He has pathos, and that invaluable quality is hindered in the feeble story of the movie.</p> <p><strong><em>Six Minutes to Midnight was featured as part of the </em></strong><a href="https://www.cinequest.org/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><strong><em>Cinequest Film Festival</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Christopher Karr is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/six-minutes-midnight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Six Minutes to Midnight</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/eddie-izzard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Eddie Izzard</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/judi-dench" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">judi dench</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jim-broadbent" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Jim Broadbent</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cinequest-film-fest" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cinequest film fest</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nazis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">nazis</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/world-war-ii" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">world war II</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/finishing-schools" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">finishing schools</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/wartime" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">wartime</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Christopher Karr</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sun, 04 Apr 2021 20:39:18 +0000 tara 10253 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12008-eerie-plot-and-hyperrealistic-narrative-dominate-thriller-six-minutes-midnight#comments ‘Artemis Fowl’ Is a Streaming Mess https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10692-artemis-fowl-streaming-mess <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 06/15/2020 - 21:06</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1artemisfowl.jpg?itok=eiI7Vz_L"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1artemisfowl.jpg?itok=eiI7Vz_L" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>It’s fair to say Kenneth Branagh is capable of greatness. We know this thanks to memorable acting turns in films ranging from <em>Dunkirk</em> to <em>Othello</em> and because of his equally thrilling work behind the camera.</p> <p> </p> <p>Branagh is the rare screen star who has shown as much talent and breadth as a director as he has when chewing scenery. Although much of his directorial work is centered on Shakespeare adaptations – think <em>Henry V</em> and <em>Much Ado About Nothing</em> – he has proven himself equally capable in the superhero (<em>Thor</em>) and mystery <em>Murder on the Orient Express</em> genres.</p> <p> </p> <p>Branagh is also adept at entertaining the family crowd, as one of his most charming directorial works is Disney’s 2015 live-action reimagining of <em>Cinderella</em>. That fact made his attachment to the <em>Artemis Fowl</em> screen adaptation promising. Originally intended as a May theatrical release, the movie was derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic and shifted to a June 12 debut on the Disney Plus streaming service. Since most of Disney’s high-profile 2020 pictures have been delayed rather than shifted to this platform, one imagines executives knew what they had when Branagh turned it in. It’s not good.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2artemisfowl.jpg" style="height:250px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Although we know Branagh is capable of greatness because of his lengthy body of work, almost everything we know about the title character in <em>Artemis Fowl</em> is a result of voiceover narration or poorly developed plot contrivances that leave too much to the imagination. In fact, <em>Artemis Fowl</em> is so poorly developed – both in terms of characterization and world building – that it’s hard to imagine how Branagh would let it pass.  </p> <p> </p> <p>The same can be said of the admirable cast. Ferdia Shaw, who plays young Artemis, is joined by Colin Farrell (Artemis Fowl Senior), Josh Gad, Judi Dench, Lara McDonnell, and Tamara Smart. There is enough ability in this group for one to expect a serviceable film. Instead, we get a hodgepodge that – although nifty to look at – alternates between confusing, dull, and maddeningly frustrating. The latter is true because there is good material to work with.  </p> <p> </p> <p>The movie is based on the well-received young adult novels by author Eoin Colfer, and the focus is on the title character, a 12-year-old so bright that he has no patience for school. The intolerance stems from the fact that Artemis knows more than virtually everyone, including his teachers and the psychologist who ineffectually attempts to knock him down a peg. Viewers learn these background points through terse narration and a handful of hasty scenes that do nothing to build empathy with Artemis. That’s problematic because the viewer has to care about him to invest in the adventure that follows.</p> <p> </p> <p>Although young Artemis hates school, he dotes on his father (Artemis Senior), a single parent who thrills his son with fanciful stories about fairies, goblins, and other mystical creatures. These seem like fantasy tales until Artemis Senior goes missing, and young Artemis discovers that his father has actually been feeding him the mysteries of a hidden world. What’s more, Artemis must tap into that world to save his father.  </p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3artemisfowl.jpg" style="height:403px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>The movie’s visuals are admirable. In fact, they are quite good for a picture included as part of the base, original content of a streaming service. These are special effects one would expect from a big screen feature … because that’s what was initially intended. It’s not easy to make fantasy material look believable, but Branagh and his crew succeed on that front.</p> <p> </p> <p>Viewers are legitimately transported to a land where fairies and goblins are real, and it’s all very dazzling and Harry Potter-like. <em>Artemis Fowl</em> would seem, then, to be a perfect film for fans of that series. Alas, the Harry Potter features are painstakingly mapped out so viewers understand the rules of the magical world they enter. This is not the case with <em>Artemis Fowl</em>, which teases viewers without elaborating and leads to a long string of questions that are never adequately answered.</p> <p> </p> <p>Equally annoying is the lack of time given each central character. Artemis Junior is an outline at best. His father gets too little screen time to serve as anything other than a treasure for Artemis to chase, and Holly Short (a fairy who is relevant to the action) makes life-altering decisions with whimsical ease. Even the narrator, a “giant” dwarf named Mulch Diggums, is little more than a sketch. One might chalk this up to too many cuts if the film was longer, but at 93 minutes, the film could have added plentiful background without overstaying its welcome. </p> <p> </p> <p>Every writing coach tells students to “show” -- rather than “tell” -- readers what’s happening. The same advice is crucial with film, but <em>Artemis Fowl</em> is invested only in telling. Viewers never see the souls of the characters, and therefore, they’re never allowed to feel much of anything.  A movie without feeling is a movie that fails.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>AT A GLANCE                                               </strong></p> <p><strong><em>Artemis Fowl</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Directed by: Kenneth Branagh</strong></p> <p><strong>Starring: Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, Colin Farrell and Judi Dench</strong></p> <p><strong>Rated: PG                                                                                      </strong></p> <p><strong>Critical rating: 1½ stars out of 4</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Forrest Hartman, a </em></strong><strong>Highbrow Magazine<em> contributor, is a longtime entertainment journalist who teaches in the Department of </em></strong><a href="https://www.csuchico.edu/jour/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><strong><em>Journalism &amp; Public Relations at California State University, Chico</em></strong></a><strong><em>. </em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Image Sources:</em></strong></p> <p><em>--Disney</em></p> <p><em>--Georgia Meschini (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenneth_Branagh_at_the_Roma_Fiction_Fest_2009_by_Giorgia_Meschini.jpg" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Wikimedia.org</a>, Creative Commons)</em></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/artemis-fowl" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Artemis Fowl</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/disney-plus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">disney plus</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kenneth-branagh" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kenneth branagh</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/disney-movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">disney movies</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kids-movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kids movies</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/harry-potter-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Harry Potter</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/colin-farrell" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">colin farrell</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/judi-dench" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">judi dench</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ferdia-shaw" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ferdia Shaw</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/eoin-colfer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Eoin Colfer</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 16 Jun 2020 01:06:25 +0000 tara 9620 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/10692-artemis-fowl-streaming-mess#comments ‘Philomena,’ ‘Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ Arrive on Home Video https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3910-philomena-secret-life-walter-mitty-arrive-home-video <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 04/15/2014 - 09:40</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/Philomena%20-%20Horizontal.jpg?itok=BKU7hZyb"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/Philomena%20-%20Horizontal.jpg?itok=BKU7hZyb" width="480" height="319" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>This week’s home video releases include comedies starring Ben Stiller and Ice Cube, as well as an excellent drama featuring Dame Judi Dench. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Philomena</strong></p> <p><strong>3½ stars (out of four)<br /> Rated PG-13 for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references<br /> Anchor Bay<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Judi Dench received her fifth best actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the title character in director Stephen Frears’ “Philomena.” The movie was inspired by Martin Sixsmith’s nonfiction book “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee,” and it tells the true story of the Irish woman’s quest to find the child taken from her when she was a teen.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the early 1950s, Philomena became pregnant and was sent to live in a Catholic convent. While she was there, her young son was given to adoptive parents from America.</p> <p> </p> <p>Frears’ movie departs substantially from the book while telling a fascinating tale of motherly love and indicting the Catholic Church’s operation of Magdalene laundries. These facilities, which were designed as rehabilitation centers for unwed mothers, often operated like prisons, and Philomena’s story puts a face to the tragedy many young women endured.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the film, Sixmith (portrayed winningly by Steve Coogan), a journalist, learns that the now elderly Philomena wants to find her lost son. He decides this will make a compelling human-interest story, so he accompanies her as she attempts to track the child.    </p> <p> </p> <p>Dench is best known for playing steely, in-charge women, but Philomena is different. Although determined to find her son, she continues to harbor guilt about her pregnancy and remains devoted to the Catholic Church. Sixmith doesn’t understand this, and he is sometimes confrontational with both Philomena and the nuns who refuse to help. This adds dramatic tension to the story and makes it easy for viewers of varied backgrounds to relate to the characters.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Frears has made a number of fine movies, including “The Queen,” “Dirty Pretty Things” and “High Fidelity.” “Philomena” can stand proudly alongside each of these.      </p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include an audio commentary and featurettes about Dench, Coogan and the real Philomena Lee.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/1mitty.jpg" style="height:428px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</strong></p> <p><strong>3½ stars<br /> Rated PG for some crude comments, language and action violence<br /> 20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD and digital download</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is a showcase for Ben Stiller, the movie’s producer, director and star. It’s also one of the finest films of his career.</p> <p> </p> <p>Based loosely on James Thurber’s 1939 short story and an earlier, 1947 movie version, “Mitty” focuses on Walter (Stiller), a mild-mannered <em>Life</em> magazine employee with a tendency to daydream. The film is set during <em>Life’s</em> transition from a print publication to an online presence, and Walter faces chaos through much of the picture.</p> <p> </p> <p>Life employees are in danger of losing their jobs due to the digital transition, and Walter feels like a particular target because a new executive (Adam Scott) is amused by his tendency to zone out. Things get worse when Walter realizes he’s lost the negative to a cover shot by famous photographer Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn).</p> <p> </p> <p>Because O’Connell is always travelling and doesn’t carry a cellular phone, Walter is forced to track him like a detective, a process that makes the man embrace the real world rather than living in his dreams. The movie also contains a nice romantic subplot involving Walter and a coworker (Kristen Wiig).</p> <p> </p> <p>Stiller is always a winning presence, but subpar scripts plague him.  With “Mitty,” everything comes together. The story is funny and engaging, Stiller’s direction is tight and competent and his performance is terrific. The movie is also unique – particularly among Stiller’s work – in that it rarely gets crude while hunting for laughs. Movies that are adult enough for parents, yet tame enough for young ones, are a rarity, but “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” fits the bill.</p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include a photo gallery and several behind-the-scenes features.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/nutjob.jpg" style="height:352px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Nut Job</strong></p> <p><strong>2½ stars<br /> Rated PG for mild action and rude humor<br /> Universal<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>“The Nut Job” has a lot going for it in terms of voice acting and animation. Unfortunately, the film is saddled with an inconsequential and predictable script that places it in the second tier of animated movies.  </p> <p> </p> <p>The story focuses on a squirrel named Surly who likes to do things his own way. Although he is extremely clever, most fellow animals view him as a dangerous maverick, and he is ultimately banned from the park where they live. The tide turns when Surly discovers an inner-city nut store that a group of bank robbers are using as a front.</p> <p> </p> <p>Convinced that the store can eliminate their food concerns, the park animals agree to work with Surly in an effort to steal nuts. In the meantime, the human robbers plan a bank heist.</p> <p> </p> <p>It’s clever that co-writer and director Peter Lepeniotis decided to set the nut theft against a robbery by human beings, but little else is novel. Avid animation fans have seen countless characters with Surly’s traits, and the story plays out exactly as one would predict.</p> <p> </p> <p>For kids, this may be OK. The colorful animation and high-energy voice work by Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl and Maya Rudolph should maintain their attention. What’s missing is complexity.</p> <p> </p> <p>Today’s better, animated movies have layers and layers of material to unearth, but “The Nut Job” is as basic as a picture gets.</p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include two short, animated films.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/ridealong.jpg" style="height:469px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ride Along</strong></p> <p><strong>1 star<br /> Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content and brief strong language<br /> Universal<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>If you need proof that a movie needn’t be good to land a sequel, look no further than “Ride Along.” The comedy was a success at the box office, grossing about $135 million on a $25 million budget. It is not, however, an artistic winner. </p> <p> </p> <p>The film centers on Ben Barber (Kevin Hart), a loud-mouthed, video game aficionado who wants to become a police officer and marry his beautiful girlfriend, Angela (Tika Sumpter). The only trouble is, she wants him to get the blessing of her hard-edged brother, James (Ice Cube).</p> <p> </p> <p>James is already an Atlanta Police detective, and he doesn’t think Ben has what it takes to become a cop or keep his sister happy. So, James proposes that Ben accompany him on a ride along in order to prove that he has the right stuff. Of course, James also stacks the deck against his potential brother-in-law.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Ride Along” is another tired variation on the buddy cop formula, and about the only thing it has going for it is casting. Ice Cube and Hart are charismatic performers, and their fans may find enjoyment watching them riff off one another. Unfortunately, the premise is so lightweight and the script so bland that there’s little else to like. </p> <p> </p> <p>As for the comedy, there isn’t much. Director Tim Story (“Fantastic Four,” “Barbershop”) takes a straightforward approach to the material, and neither the gags nor the plotting draw many laughs. Maybe producers are saving the good stuff for the sequel.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include a gag reel, behind-the-scenes features and an audio commentary by Story.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/breakingthewaves.jpg" style="height:329px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>ALSO OUT THIS WEEK</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Breaking the Waves”:</strong> Fresh, digital restoration of director Lars Von Trier’s 1996 movie about a troubled woman (Emily Watson) whose paralyzed husband (Stellan Skarsgård) encourages her to have sex with other men. Watson received an Oscar nomination for her work.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Better Living Through Chemistry”:</strong> Sam Rockwell plays a small-town pharmacist whose wild affair threatens to ruin his life. Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Jane Fonda and Ray Liotta also star. Directed by Geoff Moore and David Posamentier.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“The Carol Burnett Show – Carol’s Crack Ups”:</strong> Seventeen uncut episodes of Carol Burnett’s 1960s and ’70s TV show. The six-DVD set includes performances by show regulars Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Dick Van Dyke, as well as numerous guest stars.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Anger Management” – Volume Three:</strong> Twenty-four episodes of the FX TV series starring Charlie Sheen as a therapist who has issues of his own. Selma Blair, Shawnee Smith and Martin Sheen also star.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Flowers in the Attic”:</strong> TV-movie adaptation of the V.C. Andrews novel. The story centers on four children who are abused by their grandmother after their father dies. Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn star.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Date and Switch”:</strong> Comedy about longtime friends who have their relationship tested when one of them comes out as gay. Nicholas Braun, Hunter Cope, Dakota Johnson and Zach Gregger star. Directed by Chris Nelson.  </p> <p> </p> <p><strong> Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><em>Forrest Hartman, a</em> Highbrow Magazine <em>contributor, is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation's largest publications. For more of his work visit <a href="http://www.ForrestHartman.com">www.ForrestHartman.com</a>. </em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/philomena" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">philomena</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/steve-coogan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">steve coogan</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/judi-dench" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">judi dench</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/secret-life-walter-mitty" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the secret life of walter mitty</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ben-stiller" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ben Stiller</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kirsten-wiig" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kirsten wiig</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/long-ride" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">long ride</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kevin-hart" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kevin hart</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ride-along" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ride along</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nut-job" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the nut job</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:40:04 +0000 tara 4594 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3910-philomena-secret-life-walter-mitty-arrive-home-video#comments