By Diana Srougi
MONTREAL (RPRN) 4/30/09-Confrontations, destroyed friendships, organized crime and weddings gone wrong are all on the menu for this week’s DVD releases: “What Doesn’t Kill Youâ€, “Nothing But the Truth†and “Bride Warsâ€.
What doesn’t kill you
This week’s big crime drama is entitled “What Doesn’t Kill Youâ€. Although he has acted in numerous films (“Catch Me If You Canâ€, “Munichâ€) and television shows (“CSIâ€, “Lostâ€), this is Brian Goodman’s first time at writing and directing. Goodman wrote the screenplay, based on events from his own life, alongside actor/writer/director Paul T. Murray (“Boiler Roomâ€) and Donnie Wahlberg (who played in the “Saw†saga and “Righteous Killâ€). “What Doesn’t Kill You†stars Mark Ruffalo (“Reservation Roadâ€, “Blindnessâ€) and two-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawk (for “Training Day†and “Before Sunsetâ€), who play alongside Amanda Peet (“Melinda and Melindaâ€, “Syrianaâ€), as well as the film’s writers Donnie Wahlberg and Brian Goodman. This movie tells the story of two friends who grew up in a rough south Boston neighborhood and who eventually turn to organized crime to survive, which inevitably leads to difficulty in their personal lives and in their long-time friendship. Mark Ruffalo was nominated at the Satellite Awards for his performance, and “What Doesn’t Kill You†screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and at the Boston International Film Festival.
DVD release date: April 28th 2009
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rating: 7.1/10
Nothing but the truth
The director of “Resurrecting the Champâ€, Rod Lurie, brings us “Nothing But the Truthâ€, this week’s thriller. Lurie also wrote the film’s screenplay, starring Kate Beckinsale (“Pearl Harborâ€, “The Aviatorâ€, “Snow Angelsâ€), Vera Farmiga (“Breaking†and Enteringâ€, “The Departedâ€) and Oscar nominees Matt Dillon (“Crashâ€) and Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got To Do With Itâ€). This film is about a young female reporter who writes a story that reveals the identity of a CIA agent. Her refusal to divulge her source leads her in a legal struggle that her surroundings must help her fight. Backinsale and Farminga were both nominated at the Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards for their performances. “Nothing But the Truth†aired at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Boston International Film Festival, the Santa Barbara Film Festival and the Boulder International Film Festival.
DVD release date: April 28th 2009
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rating: 7.7/10
Bride wars
“Bride Wars†is a romantic comedy directed by Gary Winick (“The Tic Codeâ€, “Charlotte’s Webâ€). The screenplay was written by Greg DePaul (“Saving Silvermanâ€), Casey Wilson and June Diane Raphael, and is based on DePaul’s story. Oscar nominees Kate Hudson (“Almost Famousâ€, “You, Me and Dupreeâ€) and Anne Hathaway (“The Devil Wears Pradaâ€, “Rachel Getting Marriedâ€) star in this comical tale about two best friends who try to book their weddings on different days so they can be each other’s maid of honor. When they realize their nuptials were accidentally scheduled on the same day, they turn to rivalry and try to destroy each other’s big day.
DVD release date: April 28th 2009
Distributor: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Rating: 4.9/10