New DVD: Is this unofficial costume drama week or something?
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 8:09AM Question: Do you ever look to the left sidebar to see "new on dvd"? That's our handy way of referencing older articles once a movie reemerges in its new format. Release dates used to be so much simpler. Now in addition to tortured theatrical patterns, it's super complicated afterwards, too: rental before or during theatrical, streaming only, digital release, cable release, exclusive rental windows at one place before it's available elsewhere, blu-Ray/DVD editions (sometimes on separate dates), etc. It's all so exhausting. Movies are meant to be seen; they shouldn't be playing hide & seek or 'Where am I now?' games. This is why we gave up trying to have a devoted DVD column.
This is all a long way to say that a weird coincidence prompted this post. This week's DVD releases are heavy on the actressy costume dramas. Unofficial Corset Convention! So, naturally our eyes here at TFE flashed a little. You've got Kate Winslet in A Little Chaos, Carey Mulligan in Far From The Madding Crowd, and Mia Wasikowska in Madame Bovary all at once.
It's like a spontaneous Who Wore It Best party.
Also on DVD this week and with links if we've written something about them: The Affair S1, Child 44, Chocolate City - the no-budget urban response to Magic Mike but with even less nudity (it's like they don't even know why people watch cheapie ripoffs), The Divergent Series: Insurgent (the first was too boring to bother with the second), Every Secret Thing an actressy mystery with Diane Lane, Dakota Fanning, and Elizabeth Banks, How to Get Away With Murder S1 - which I gave up on early, True Story, and something called The Salvation which I'll admit I've never heard of but it stars two creepy great actors Mads Mikkelsen and Eva Green so for a moment visions of gonzo supernatural fantasy loomed but it turns out it's just a bloody western (sigh). On the other hand the director Kristian Levring did that Dogme 95 movie The King is Alive (2001) back in the day and that was heavy on the ALL CAPS ACTING so maybe we should check this one out? [UPDATE: EEEeeek. We reviewed it right here a full year ago from a festival. Thanks David!]
Reader Comments (9)
Diane Lane, Dakota Fanning, and Elizabeth Banks ?! YES PLEASE! Did this go straight to dvd? Never heard of this
Dave -- if you click on the link, i reviewed it. It's not great but some of the acting is interesting
I'm big physical media advocate/addict so I definitely noticed that those three were coming out at the same time and it struck me as a weird coincidence as well. Maybe it was a sly marketing ploy by their respective distribution companies? I watched FFTMC last night and enjoyed it, I'll get to Madame Bovary soon, but A Little Chaos will have to wait - it seems like the least interesting of the three.
Finally caught up with Far From the Madding Crowd at a dollar theatre last week actually! While the pacing was a little overwhelming in the beginning, with plot point to plot point, years passing too quickly, etc, I loved it by the time the third act came along and had time to flesh itself out! These mood piece movies need to take their time and be thoughtful instead of constantly having four lines of dialogue before a scene change and musical transition. But the pacing aside, I thought it was really nicely done! Definitely pleasantly surprised. I think Michael Sheen was probably best in show. Mathias Schoenaerts, while I loved him in Bullhead and Rust and Bone, seemed really stilted. Possibly the language issue?
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... did this Madame Bovary even open theatrically??? I remember seeing trailers in the theater but nothing after that.
"Mathias Schoenaerts, while I loved him in Bullhead and Rust and Bone, seemed really stilted. Possibly the language issue?"
I liked his performance but there was some moments when he seemed to struggle with the english accent. I think he does better with American accents.
"mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... did this Madame Bovary even open theatrically??? I remember seeing trailers in the theater but nothing after that.
I didn't see any ads for it either.I was surprised to find out it was coming to DVD.
I've seen The Salvation which disappointed me as it's a very by-the-numbers revenge western, but Mads and Eva are as always immensely watchable. Eva plays a mute and does all her emoting through scorching stares ;)
Madame Bovary did play here in Montréal; in fact, it's still on one screen through Thursday. I found it surprisingly passionless, but lovely to look at, especially the costumes.
I *always* look at the links on the side of the page - love them. They are so convenient! I'm not a big costume drama person, though, so this week's new DVD releases don't excite me. I'm waiting for the Big Bird documentary, out next week.