10/11/11 Recommended New Releases

A few noteworthy titles make their way to home video today:

The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011) - The official synopsis reads: "From Terrence Malick, the acclaimed director of such classic films as Badlands, Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick's signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life" The Tree of Life won the Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. 

Format: Blu-ray/DVD/DC Combo Pack - It appears that Fox Searchlight releases may be pulling a stunt similar to Sony Pictures Classics, as the combo format is the only option for this release. Unlike the Sony releases, however, Fox has included a Digital Copy in addition to the Blu-ray and DVD discs. Best Buy has it on sale for $22.99 in stores this week; the next best price appears to be Amazon, which has it available for $24.99. 

Beautiful Boy (Shawn Ku, 2010) - The film stars Michael Sheen and Maria Bello as a couple in a faltering marriage whose son commits a mass shooting at his university before taking his own life. Stricken with unimaginable grief, the two struggle to cope and search for answers in the aftermath of the tragedy. Beautiful Boy won the International Critics Award (FIPRESCI) at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.


Format: DVD - An assortment of deleted scenes and an audio commentary track are the only special features you will find on either format. The DVD is available for $12.00 in Walmart stores; the next best option is Best Buy, which has it for $14.99 in stores.

Submarino (Thomas Vinterberg, 2010) - From the director of The Celebration (the first and one of the most noteworthy films from the avant-garde "Dogme 95" movement initiated by Vinterberg and fellow Danish director Lars von Trier), Submarino "tells the unforgettable story of two brothers, long estranged and haunted by a dark secret buried in their past, who live separate lives in modern day Copenhagen. Nick (Jakob Cedergren), a violent ex-con, tries to help out an old friend, but falls quickly into old habits. Meanwhile, his brother (Peter Plaugborg), raises his son, but is unable to escape the spectre of addiction. Each on a path to self-destruction, they must find each other – before it’s too late" (except taken from the official synopsis).


Format: DVD - Only available on DVD; Amazon has it for $14.99.

Leap Year (Michael Rowe, 2010) - Not to be confused with the recent Amy Adams flick, the official synopsis for this Spanish film reads: "Laura, a young journalist living an isolated life in a cramped Mexico City flat, is not lucky in love. The banality of her daily life stands in stark contrast to her nightly pursuit of sex and love. These short-lived affairs barely take the edge off her isolation, but then she meets the brooding, would-be actor Arturo. Their chemistry ignites feelings in Laura that leave her deeply troubled. The two embark on an increasingly dangerous sadomasochistic relationship in which pleasure, pain and love merge. Their physical relationship seems headed for a very dark place as her secret past resurfaces, pushing Arturo to the limit in this intense, powerful and at times deeply unsettling movie." Leap Year won the Caméra d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Format: DVD - Only available on DVD; Amazon has it for $21.49.









Finally, here is the lone recommended video game release this week:

Forza Motorsport 4 (developed by Turn 10 Studios; published by Microsoft Studios) - the latest installment in the acclaimed racing simulator hits shelves today as an exclusive title for the Xbox 360. For this release, developer Turn 10 Studios has partnered with BBC's Top Gear series to provide a slew of content ranging from narration by Jeremy Clarkson to a playable recreation of the Top Gear test track. The game retails for $59.99, though there is a limited edition available for $79.99. The limited edition release includes a Steelbook case, a 96-page artbook written by the editors of Top Gear magazine, and DLC vouchers for various car packs, the details of which can be found here. K-mart is offering a $20 Gaming Coupon* for Shop Your Way Rewards Members (which is free to join) with the purchase of either edition.

Limited Edition

*K-Mart Gaming Coupons are issued with your receipt; those issued this week are valid from October 9th to November 19th. Also, as the name implies, they are only valid on gaming products.