DVD Outlook: October 2016

As the calendar turns to October, generally it represents a packed fall season filled with awards players and top-tier filmmakers (September's suggestions). Therefore, new DVD releases often take a backseat to these in-theater options until the December rush just prior to the lucrative holiday season. However, this October boasts one of the year's finest films and a must-watch that impressed me on all levels. So here's a look at the month's finest offerings:

Captain Fantastic - 3 stars out of 4 - (Read my rapid review here)

The Sundance Film Festival has become a fruitful platform for the year's best independent films. One such under-the-radar selection, Silicon Valley's Matt Ross' directorial effort Captain Fantastic, captures every emotion and proves to be one of the year's finest movies. Viggo Mortensen stars as Ben, an independent father who's become disgusted with the concept of modern society. Along with his wife, the couple ventures deep into the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest and build their own self sufficient community where they raise their six children in isolation from the rest of the world. And when an unfortunate circumstance forces the family to leave their paradise and encounter everyday American society, they all begin to question the effectiveness of their lifestyle. Captain Fantastic blends together laugh out loud humor with genuine dramatics, all of which build up this thought-provoking and engaging story. This is one indie you won't want to miss. (October 25th)

Cafe Society - 2 and a half stars out of 4 - (Read my rapid review here)

Putting aside personal opinions of acclaimed writer and director, Woody Allen, his latest film Cafe Society is actually a notch above his standard entry. The film follows a New Yorker named Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg) who travels to Hollywood and is taken under the wing of his big-shot uncle (Steve Carell). As he begins to adjust to the glamour of Tinseltown, Bobby falls for the lovely Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) and finds himself in the midst of a complicated love triangle. Cafe Society incorporates Allen's trademark qualities, such as fast-paced and witty dialogue and a conflict-filled story. Yet, it's the depth of his characters and the performances of his cast that make Cafe Society one of Allen's most memorable works. (October 18th)

Lights Out - 2 and a half stars out of 4 - (Read my rapid review here)

While many critics have been touting this year's horror entries, I haven't necessarily been blown away by many of the lauded releases. However, I will admit that I've been pleased with the wide-ranging originality that has spearheaded the genre. One such premise resides in David Sandberg's Lights Out. Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) has vivid memories of a psychologically difficult childhood. And when she discovers that her little brother is experiencing the same dark entity that once haunted her youth. Rebecca's forced to confront her mother and put an end to this horror. There are pros and cons splashed all throughout this wildly original thrill ride. The scares are solid and the story is decent, but poor acting and flawed characters keep Lights Out from being a viable horror classic. But if you're looking for a new horror entry to satisfy your Halloween-season cravings, Lights Out is certainly worth a try. (October 25th)

Honorable Mention: A bunch of summer blockbusters find their DVD release this month. The long-awaited sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (10/18), The Legend of Tarzan (10/11) and X-Men: Apocalypse (10/4) are a trio that I haven't had a chance to see. Yet, the re-boot of Ghostbusters (10/11) proved to be a somewhat pleasant surprise, while The Purge: Election Year (10/4) marked a step backwards for the horror franchise. Finally, another pair of films on my radar are the wildly imaginative indie Swiss Army Man (10/4) and the crime-drama The Infiltrator (10/11).

The Glass Castle

Destin Cretton is anything but a household name. Yet, the gifted filmmaker turned heads with his massively overlooked 2013 drama, Short Term 12 . The effort bridged together Cretton's singular story and vision with the remarkable acting talents of Brie Larson. Since then Larson has gone on to win an Academy Award ( Room ), but her career comes full circle in her latest collaboration with Destin Cretton in the adapted film The Glass Castle . Told non-chronologically through various flashbacks, The Glass Castle follows the unconventional childhood of gossip columnist and eventual Best-Selling author Jeannette Walls (Larson). Prior to her career as a writer, Walls grows up under the dysfunctional supervision of her alcoholic father (Woody Harrelson) and her amateur artist mother (Naomi Watts). But as Jeannette and her siblings begin to mature and fully comprehend their squatter-lifestyle and impoverished upbringing, they must work together to escape the clutches of their deadbeat par

FILOSOFI KOPI 2 : BEN & JODY (2017) REVIEW : Revisi Nilai Hidup Untuk Sebuah Kedai Kopi

Kisah pendek yang diambil dari Dewi Lestari ini telah dibudidayakan menjadi sebuah produk yang namanya sudah mahsyur. Selain film, produk dari Filosofi Kopi ini diabadikan menjadi sebuah kedai kopi yang nyata. Dengan adanya konsistensi itu, tak akan kaget apabila film yang diarahkan oleh Angga Dwimas Sasongko ini akan mendapatkan sekuel sebagai perlakuan selanjutnya. Tentu, kekhawatiran akan muncul karena cerita pendek dari Filosofi Kopi pun hanya berhenti di satu sub bab yang telah dibahas di film pertamanya. Sayembara muncul ditujukan kepada semua orang untuk membuat kisah lanjutan dari Ben dan Jody ini. Sayembara ini sekaligus memberikan bukti kepada semua orang bahwa Filosofi Kopi tetap menjadi film yang terkonsentrasi dari penonton seperti film pertamanya. Yang jelas, Angga Dwimas Sasongko tetap mengarahkan Chicco Jericho dan juga Rio Dewanto sebagai Ben dan Jody. Angga Dwimas Sasongko pun berkontribusi dalam pembuatan naskah dari cerita terpilih yang ditulis oleh Jenny Jusuf s

DVD Outlook: August 2017

It appears August is rather barren with new DVD and streaming options ( July's suggestions ). Thankfully, a hot slate of diverse theatrical offerings such as The Big Sick , Dunkirk , War for the Planet of the Apes , Spider-Man: Homecoming and so much more, you can find a worthwhile movie to enjoy no matter what your personal preference may be. Either way, here's a look at what's available on DVD and streaming services this month. Alien: Covenant - 3 stars out of 4 - ( Read my full review here ) Earlier this year Ridley Scott returned to his storied Alien universe once again with the follow-up to 2012's Prometheus . In the latest installment, Scott and company shift their efforts from cryptic to visceral and disturbing with a bloody and twisted affair that feels immensely more horror-based than its predecessor. While on a colonizing mission to jump-start the humanity on a distant planet, crew members of the Covenant are awoken from their hibernation state following

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