Pick of the Week: Bridge of Spies (Touchstone/DreamWorks)
It’s probably the sign of a good movie year when Steven Spielberg can release an excellent Cold War drama starring Tom Hanks and have it fail to be much of a factor in discussions about the year’s best movies. That says more about the quality of the competition than the movie itself, Spielberg’s first since Lincoln in 2012. Co-scripted by Joel and Ethan Coen (with Matt Charman), it retells the true story of James B. Donovan (Hanks), a lawyer who finds himself at the center of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Bridge of Spies is particularly good at conveying how history can sometimes rest on one person’s shoulders, how it can change direction based on the decisions said person makes, and how much chance can play a role. In one scene, Donovan takes a wrong turn in East Berlin and ends up getting harassed by a bunch of young toughs who have no idea how much hangs in the balance with his safe arrival. Spielberg’s in top form here, particularly in an opening sequence that begins with what looks like an ordinary New Yorker’s dull routine before revealing itself as a far more eventful moment. Also making it worth a look: Mark Rylance gets a rare high-profile role (and has earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work).
Also New: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney)
Disney’s first animated feature — and the first ever animated feature, for that matter — has been on Blu-ray before, but it’s been out of circulation for a few years thanks to the company’s policy of putting films in the Disney Vault and pulling them out every seven years. (Psst: The vault is a myth and kind of a silly policy in this day and age.) There’s not that much more to this new edition, but, like its 2009 predecessor, it looks amazing on Blu-ray and the film itself is a marvel. The company not only got it right the first time around, it set a standard that’s been difficult to match ever since.
Comin’ At Ya! (MVD)
Here’s a different sort of innovation: 3-D had been dormant for many years until this 1981 film revived it, leading to a brief 3-D fad in the early ’80s, one that the third entries of ongoing series’ participated in extensively: Jaws 3-D, Friday the 13th: Part 3 (billed as “A New Dimension in Terror…”), Amityville 3-D, etc. The film was restored a few years ago, leading to this nice Blu-ray edition, which features both the 2-D and 3-D versions of the movie. Only trouble: The film itself is kind of awful; an especially nasty spaghetti Western filled with scenes of violence against women (including future Pedro Almodovar star Victoria Abril). Still, even in 2-D, it’s kind of fun to watch director Ferdinando Baldi make shameless use of the form, throwing everything from rubber bats to beans to a baby’s butt at viewers.
The Last Witch Hunter (Lionsgate)
Vin Diesel stars as a witch hunting badass reportedly inspired by his favorite Dungeons and Dragons character. That either sold you on this movie or warned you to stay away.
Suffragette (Universal)
The time certainly seems right for a film that depicts the British suffragette movement of the early 20th century. But, sadly, despite a good lead performance from Carey Mulligan, this one’s a by-the-numbers historical drama.
Man Up (Lionsgate)
This UK romantic comedy starring Lake Bell and Simon Pegg earned nice reviews during its short box office release here. It might find the audience it missed in theaters amongst housebound rom-com fans this Valentine’s Day.
Rock the Kasbah (Universal)
What if Bill Murray starred in a movie and nobody noticed? Directed by Barry Levinson, this Middle East-set comedy earned alarming reviews before disappearing this past fall. There’s a chance Murray fans might embrace it on a second chance, but it already seems like a film everyone would like to forget.
