Usually the video store is awash in low-grade studio dreck. However, in these heady days following awards season, there’s quite a bit to check out.
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Unrated) (2007, dir. The Brothers Strauss, 20th Century Fox): If you thought the battle between alien and predator was over, think again. This abominable sequel is even less impressive than the original, and that’s saying something.
Cloverfield (2007, dir. Matt Reeves, Paramount): Under the watchful eye of J.J. Abrams, Godzilla gets an interesting and intimate post-millennial update. The DVD is loaded with behind-the-scenes features.
Gattaca: Special Edition (1997, dir. Andrew Nicol, Sony): This underrated sci-fi thriller starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law tells the story of a future in which genetics reign supreme.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985, dir. Alan Metter, Anchor Bay): This ’80s sleepover classic features performances by then-unknowns Helen Hunt, Sarah Jessica Parker and Shannen Doherty.
Hell’s Kitchen: Season One (2005, Universal): Take Survivor, set it in a kitchen, replace Jeff Probst with one of the world’s most talented and acid-tongued chefs (Gordon Ramsay) and you have one hell of a cooking show.
The Ice Storm (1997, dir. Ang Lee, Criterion): Years before Brokeback Mountain, Lee wowed audiences with his adaptation of Rick Moody’s fantastic coming of age novel. Kevin Kline, Joan Allen and Sigourney Weaver all turn in fantastic performances.
Juno (2007, dir. Jason Reitman, 20th Century Fox): Teen pregnancy has never been more hip than it was in this Oscar-winner. Ellen Page turns in a star-making performance in the title role, but the whole film works as a heartfelt and hopeful dramedy.
King Corn (2007, dir. Aaron Woolf, Docurama): Forget about war in the Middle East and the commoditization of water — according to Woolf’s documentary, the real conspiracy concerns North America’s dependency on corn and its government subsidization.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007, dir. Craig Gillespie, MGM): Ryan Gosling is stunning as Lars, a man whose new girlfriend is a mail-order sex doll. Don’t let the premise fool you. The script is touching and unexpected, and Gillespie imbues this film with a heart of gold
Lions for Lambs (2007, dir. Robert Redford, United Artists): Heavyweights Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Redford all turn in strong performances, but this split-narrative take on U.S. foreign policy suffers from a slightly heavy-handed left-leaning MO.
Lost Highway (1997, dir. David Lynch, Focus): Finally, after almost a decade, Lynch’s sexy and convoluted thriller is released in widescreen format. Even years later, it’s still a great mindbender.
The Mist (2007, dir. Frank Darabont, Sony): Based on the novella by horror meister Steven King, The Mist is a creepy monster movie with a heavy moral message. Gore hounds will dig the special effects, bookworms will like the subtext and nihilists will love the ending.
The Orphanage (2008, dir. Juan Antonio Bayona, New Line): Nothing is creepier than a kid with a burlap sack on his head, and The Orphanage has this in spades. This Spanish ghost story is reminiscent of The Others and is just as creepy.
Resurrecting the Champ (2007, dir. Rod Lurie, 20th Century Fox): Sam Jackson steals the show as a has-been boxer who takes a young journalist (Josh Hartnett) for a ride. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning magazine article.
The Savages (2007, dir. 20th Century Fox): Powerhouse performers Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play siblings who have to deal with their aging, senile father. Darkly funny and brilliantly edited, The Savages is smart without being cynical.
Sharkwater (2007, dir. Rob Stewart, Alliance): This exquisitely photographed labour of love from Stewart sets out to dispel the myth that sharks are dangerous, and in doing so, opens eyes to the fact that they are being mercilessly hunted to extinction. A touch heavy-handed, but worthwhile.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007, dir. Tim Burton, Dreamworks): Musicals don’t get any darker than this classic about a barber with a vendetta who kills his clients and turns them into pies. It’s tough to tell which is better, Steven Sondheim’s music, Burton’s vision or Johnny Depp’s performance.
There Will Be Blood (2007, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson, Paramount): This tale of greed and self-loathing, anchored by an Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day Lewis, was an understated departure for Anderson. The two-disc edition comes with some bonus docs, but the real star of this show is the film itself.
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job: Season One (Warner): If you haven’t checked out these guys and their outrageous sketches on the Internet, this is the perfect opportunity to meet Tim and Eric. Tasteless? Sometimes. Irreverent? Certainly. Awesome? Definitely.
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2007, dir. Goran Dukic, Lionsgate): In this charming little dreamlike film, suicide victims find themselves falling in love while they are trapped in purgatory. Luckily Tom Waits is there, too.
