Home Screening Room - The X-men team up with Mr. Peabody and Sherman and are Persecuted?

Let's get back at it to see what you can enjoy in your OWN screening room this week.





Pick Of The Week

If you pick one movie this week … this is it.

X-Men: Days of Future Past / Rated PG-13 / Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy

Fifty years after their original release, Sentinels — originally targeting solely mutants — have begun targeting humans as well. The X-Men regroup and Logan goes back in time to convince his future friends of the devastation that needs to be stopped. Can Logan prevent this disastrous result? A visually stunning look at some magnificent action sequences, this film is a delight for fans of the series. (Grade: B)

Also This Week

Mr. Peabody and Sherman / Rated PG / Ty Burrell, Max Charles

The smartest guy in the room is the dog! Mr. Peabody has done it all, including adopting his human son Sherman. But when Sherman messes with Mr. Peabody’s latest invention, the WABAC machine, history will never be the same. See the past as you’ve never seen it before. This is an animated film that is long on the wittiness and puns, making it perfect for all ages to enjoy.

Persecuted / Rated PG-13 / James Remar, Bruce Davison

John Luther is all that stands in the way of sweeping religious reform. To eliminate him as an obstacle, he is framed for the murder of a teenage girl. Can he fight back against the establishment?

Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger / Rated R  

The trial of infamous gangster James “Whitey” Bulger is used as a jumping off point to examine law enforcement and the legal system.

Plus

Beneath The Harvest Sky / Not Rated / Emory Cohen, Callan McAulliffe

Hallows' Eve / Not Rated / Ashley C. Williams, Danielle Harris

TV Seasons NEW to DVD

TV PICK OF THE WEEK

Fargo: The Complete First Season / Not Rated / Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton

Dracula: Season 1 / Not Rated / Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jessica De Gouw

Penny Dreadful: The Complete First Season/ Not Rated / Eva Green, Josh Hartnett

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Eleventh Season / TV-14 / Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer

2 Broke Girls: The Complete Third Season / Not Rated / Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs

Trailers, Trailers, Trailers

Mr. Peabody and Sherman / Rated PG / Ty Burrell, Max Charles

Persecuted / Rated PG-13 / James Remar, Bruce Davison

Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger / Rated R 

Beneath The Harvest Sky / Not Rated / Emory Cohen, Callan McAulliffe

Hallows' Eve / Not Rated / Ashley C. Williams, Danielle Harris

A Really good week on Blu-ray and DVD - Check out X-Men and Mr. Peabody and maybe even Persecuted.  Enjoy your Home Theater!

Pop some Popcorn, Bust Out the Blu, Do the Diet Dew and remember to Save Me A Seat.

Remember – all release dates are subject to change.

Milwaukee Film Festival - It's not over yet!

The 2014 edition of the Milwaukee Film Festival is coming to a close - but it is NOT OVER YET...you still have chances to get out and enjoy a couple days of the fest. and there are some big events for the last 3 nights of the fest!

Tonight - features Point and Shoot a documentary by Marshall Curry (he'll be in attendance too!)

Point and Shoot is a poignant, heartbreaking, yet inspirational tale of Matthew VanDyke. VanDyke was on a journey across Africa on a motorcycle to "find" himself and ...  purpose in general, all under the guise of filming a travel video.

On that journey he met a man in Libya and fell in love with the country and the Libyan people. So when revolution swept the area, he knew there was only one thing to do. Head to Libya with his friend and fight.

This amazing documentary will give you VanDyke's actual war footage. Footage like nothing you have seen before.

You'll hear the bullets. You'll feel the pain. You'll experience a war, close up and unfiltered. You will realize the emotions involved with Matthew, his girlfriend Loren and his many friends on the ground in Libya.

Director Marshall Curry weaves VanDyke's amazing footage together to not only tell the story of the war and the fighting, but to also capture the unique growth of an individual. An individual that struggles with many things in his personal life. An individual that is not perfect, but wants nothing less than to become his own person.

It doesn't matter if you are pro-war or anti-war. It doesn't matter if you believe in the Libyan revolution or can't find Libya on a map. Point and Shoot captures so much more than the war that it is filming. It will make you experience life/growth/death/war/happiness and may just allow you to grow a bit too. A truly special film.

(And if you miss it tonight - catch it on Thursday afternoon before the fest ends ... also at the Oriental.)

After this special film....stick around to check out A Year in Burgundy -- you fans of Somm from last year's fest...a nice relaxing movie featuring wine...tastes great!

Tomorrow features the annual "Secret Screening" for MKE Film members ... I have a sneaking suspsicion I have a hunch what it is...and if I'm right it would be a saintly night at the Oriental on Wednesday.

Finally - Closing night.... Thursday. Director Gil Cates Jr. and Star Sean Astin are in town for the film shot on Lake Michigan (among other locations)....Surface

More on that later...for now...enjoy the festival while you can, you get a chance to still check out films at the Oriental, Downer, Fox Bay and Times Cinema.

Playing Catch Up (Part II) - Milwaukee Film Festival

This is the part I'm most disappointed in being behind on...

The festival has begun it's second week of screenings and boy has it been exciting.

They have had the intriguing documentary 1971 kick off the festival and followed that up with a slew of interesting titles and appearances.

The Opening Saturday featured Stray Dog from the Academy Award-nominated director and
co-writer of the Jennifer Lawrence breakout film, Winter's Bone (also screened earlier the same day) Debra Granik. It didn't hurt that Ron "Stray Dog" Hall (no relation) was a Harley rider in a Harley town. Excellent programming choice if I do say so.

Saturday featured the enormous Sing-A-Long showing of Mary Poppins. Yep ... that was something special to be at, but I ... well I got sick... ARGH and bed/couch had its grip on me.

The weekend featured many appearances by Directors, Writers, Actors and more...this despite the fact that the craziness in Chicago at the air traffic control tower caused many travelers to not make it in for their appearances. The sellouts kept coming though and there are so many films already on rush through the end of the festival, that if you were thinking of going get your tickets now. (Check out what they have on rush AND what's selling quickly and buy your tickets in advance).

But the fun didn't stop for this year's turn with the Milwaukee Film Festival once the new week started.

Monday saw the Patels - the stars of Meet the Patels in town for their film and The Milwaukee Show I (always a crowd favorite with local flavor).

We saw big screenings of Man With a Movie Camera and This Is Spinal Tap on Tuesday.

Wednesday made me jealous of my colleague Gino Salomone as he sat down with Jim Abrahms and Jerry Zucker before that nights' special presentation of Top Secret! Sorry Gino - I stole this photo from your Facebook page...I love it! Catch Gino daily on Studio A on FOX 6 and well...with every celebrity under the sun!

Thursday was a slow night - let's face it...everyone was watching the Packer game - except of course myself who got called to Mayfair for a last minute look at Gone Girl before it's release on Friday.

And then....We get ready for another weekend.

What am I looking forward to as time goes on the next couple days here...

Well tonight ... legend Robert Townsend is in town for a screening of his hit Hollywood Shuffle at the Oriental, John Axford (formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers and now Pittsburgh Pirate) had an opening he'd rather not have with the Pirates elimination from the playoffs but will be doing his second favorite thing...seeing Dr. Strangelove at the Oriental and saying hi to his friends from Milwaukee Film. The Ax man is still a contributing sponsor to the festival and loves movies period! I still think it would be fun to do a review show titled, "Common Guy and The Stache" with him...but I digress.

Saturday features something I would love to see... Jimi: All Is By My Side from Mequon native John
Ridley. Ridley will be in town courtesy of Chris Abele to present the film in front of a hometown crowd that has long been on rush to see this. If you want a chance to get in...get you to that rush line as soon as you can before the 7PM show at the Oriental. And if that's not enough...that night will also feature a screening of the classic music film Stop Making Sense with Jerry Harrison schedule for the house.

Sunday features the film on rush that is truly garnering Oscar Buzz coming out of Toronto - It will take getting in line early on this Packer Free Sunday to get a chance at a seat to The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Toronto film fest going critics LOVED IT and many of the the experts at Goldderby.com have it in their list of possible Top 10 Best Picture candidates - as well as Benedict being at the top of many lists in the Best Actor race.
Click each of the links for the full list - a great chance to see a true favorite EARLY!!!

So that will take you through the weekend, yes there is more...but I have to stop at some point here...

Thanks Milwaukee Film for another Great Run - Folks ... you have one week left (including today) to get out and enjoy some great films! Do it now!!!

My apologies for the less indepth coverage...but now that I'm kicking this illness - we will get in as much as we can before I have to get back to the rest of my life...

Save me a Seat!

Playing Catch Up - September releases to theaters!

Look,

Getting sick at the this time of year happens, but it really hurts when you have a giant...very well done film festival and lots of screenings to get to as we start the rush towards awards season.

But I know, don't lament about being sick...you have a fun time with movies! I absolutely do! BUT...there are other things that are valuable to me too taking some of my time.

I mean there is family, friends, other work, shooting videos, tv, radio, production, fantasy football, raking leaves, fantasy football, the NFL, the MLB Playoffs (did you see that Royals/A's game the other night), fantasy football, screenings, screenings, screenings, and the list goes on...but who am I to complain? I am wonderfully blessed with the opportunities that I have been given.

But now -- let's get on to what I've missed recently....and get back up to speed.

Now I've done reviews on radio and tv but it seems that virtually none of my work has shown up here, hopefully this quick set of snapshots from my other appearances will give you what you are looking for!

September Releases

The Identical -  Seth Green, Ashley Judd (PG)
No review - didn't screen for press and I didn't get back to it, sorry.

Falcon Rising - Michael Jai White, Neal McDonough (R)
I don't know, but call me crazy...I love Michael Jai White in this type of low budget action film. And having the always interesting Neal McDonough onboard didn't hurt (albeit in a small role). For this type of action/martial arts type movie...this worked (C+)

Dolphin Tale 2 - Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr. (PG)
Ok, look... I know we really didn't need a sequel here. I was afraid of the results going in, but it actually works. The characters are likable, Winter is likable, and despite some cheesy sequences, this is the type of film you take a family to. (B-)

The Drop - Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace (R)
Missed the screening (schedule conflict), have yet to get back to this one but will. I want to see this film.

No Good Deed - Idris Elba, Tarji P. Henson (PG-13)
No screening offered. Opened well at the box office, but struggled to maintain. Currently closing in on $50 Million, haven't got back to it, but may.

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby - Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy (R)
Ok, this isn't the happiest of films, but that doesn't matter. Great acting that had me at hello. I really dug this excursion and would love to see the bigger version of this film. (B)

The Maze Runner - Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario (PG-13)
No screening offered of this, but I caught up with it after the fact and found myself enjoying this new entry into the young adult market quite a lot. Fast paced and interesting storyline that will keep you wondering what's next. (B)

This is Where I Leave You - Jason Bateman, Tina Fey (R)
I just love Jason Bateman as much as a man crush can be. I even like the not so good offerings he has had. This film was funny and yet touching at times. May not be one of the best, but I still dug it. (B-)

Tusk - Justin Long, Michael Parks (R)
This new Kevin Smith offering has Kevin loving the critics and critics fawning all over it. I know I saw some good performances in this film but this Horror/Comedy just didn't do it for me. I couldn't really think of anyone to recommend it to. It is definitely like nothing you have seen recently on film. (C-)

A Walk Among the Tombstones - Liam Neeson, Boyd Hollbrook (R)
Not screened locally and I just haven't got back to it. My lovely wife loves Liam, so I'm sure I'll eventually get back to it.

The Boxtrolls - Voices of Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette (PG)
I dug this, once it got going. Found a hard time getting into the story though. The messaging is great and let's face it...we just like saying JELLY!!! (B)

The Equalizer - Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz (R)

Denzel can do whatever he wants in my book! When he gets with Antoine Fuqua they do good work, and this is now exception. Harkens back to old school revenge flicks and I found myself wanting more Denzel. (B)

Believe Me - Alex Russell (PG-13)
Wanted to see this...was offered a screener...but it never came...sigh. (NR)

So there you have it - you are caught up on September ... My favorite from the month...it's close but I'd have to say The Maze Runner.