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This Week’s DVD Releases Bring You Doubt, Sci-Fi and Jim Carrey

April 9, 2009

By Diana Srougi, staff writer


MONTREAL (RPRN) 04/09/09- This week, another Oscar nominated film is released, as well as a remake of a 1950’s sci-fi classic. However, if you’re in the mood for laughter, say “yes!” to life and watch this week’s romantic comedy.  RushPRNews reviewed for you Doubt, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Yes Man

Doubt

This week’s 2009 Oscar nominated motion picture released on DVD is “Doubt”, John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize winning play which he also wrote and directed for the screen. This is Shanley’s second time at directing a film, but has much more experience in theater and writing, and even won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “Moonstruck” in 1987. This drama stars Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (for his performance in “Capote”), who we also saw in “Synecdoche, New York” which was released on DVD only a few weeks back. It also stars two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep (for “Kramer vs Kramer” and “Sophie’s Choice”). In a 1964 context, a nun suspects a priest of abusing a black child. When she confronts him, he denies everything, driving the nun to prove the authenticity of her accusations at any cost. “Doubt” was nominated for five Oscars: for Streep and Hoffman’s performances, for the two supporting actors Amy Adams and Viola Davis, and for Shanley’s writing. It also won prizes at the Black Reel Awards, the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, the National Board of Review and the Screen Actors Guild Awards among others. Shanley’s film opened the AFI Film Festival and the Dublin International Film Festival, and screened at numerous other film events.

DVD release date: April 7th 2009
Distributor: Miramax Films
Rating: 7.8/10

The Day the Earth Stood Still

We are at a point in cinema where filmmakers believe it necessary to repeat and modernize what has been done in the past. It is especially the case for horror and sci-fi movies. Scott Derrickson, the director of “The Exorcism Of Emily Rose”, brings us “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, a sci-fi thriller written by David Scarpa. However, the original 1951 screenplay, based on Harry Bates’ short story, was written by Edmund H. North and was directed by the renowned Robert Wise. The remake stars Keanu Reeves (“The Matrix” trilogy, “A Scanner Darkly”) and Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (“Requiem for a Dream”, “A Beautiful Mind”). As in the classic black and white sci-fi film from the 50’s, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is about a flying saucer that lands in Washington DC. Klaatu, an indestructible robot, steps out in order to discover Earth and its habitants. If Earth keeps him from maintaining peace in the galaxy, Klaatu could strike back. Although the Red Scare period in which the original film was made is far from today’s political context, the message is still there, however it obliges a new and modern interpretation. Derrickson’s movie won for Best Film for Mature Audience at the MovieGuide Awards. It was also nominated for two Saturn awards at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, two Satellite awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound, and a Visual Effects Society award.

DVD release date: April 7th 2009
Distributor: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Rating: 5.6/10

Yes Man

Hard day? Well if you prefer a good laugh this week, “Yes Man” is your best bet. This week’s romantic comedy, directed by Peyton Reed (“Down with Love”, “The Break-Up”), stars two-time Golden Globe winner for “Man on the Moon” and “The Truman Show”, Jim Carrey (who always delivers a good chuckle), who plays alongside Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”, “The Rocker”) and Zooey Deschanel (“Failure to Launch”, “The Happening”). Writers Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel based their screenplay on Danny Wallace’s somewhat autobiographic book: A man who’s life is in a rut realizes that answering “yes” to every question can change things around for the best. When he decides to apply this theory, he gets a job promotion and meets a wonderful woman. However, being a “yes man” can’t possibly solve everything…

DVD release date: April 7th 2009
Distributor: Warner Bros Pictures
Rating: 7.2/10

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