KANSAS CITY, Mo — FOX 4’s Shawn Edwards and Russ Simmons reviewed some of the latest films to come out on home video. Find out how they ranked this week’s releases.
1. INTERSTELLAR (PG-13)
Paramount
RUSS
After making modern mind-twisters like “Memento” and “Inception” as well as the “Dark Knight Trilogy,” it’s easy to see why movie buffs have eagerly awaited Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller, “Interstellar.” While the talented filmmaker may have bitten off a bit more than he can chew this time around, “Interstellar” is still a visually arresting and thoughtful film.
SHAWN
Lets stop pretending. “Interstellar” was the most ambitious movie released in 2014. And by far the most sophisticated. It’s flat-out a masterpiece. Now why all of it doesn;t make complete sense and there are several illogical moments you have to salute Christopher Nolan for being unafraid to explore this unexplored territory and deliver such an imaginative film that completely challenged conventional wisdom and delivered a new and fresh cinematic experience.
RUSS
In the near future, mankind is starving due to climate change. Astronaut Matthew McConaughey is sent on a mission through a wormhole in space to find a suitable planet for mankind’s migration. It’s overlong and occasionally nonsensical, but “Interstellar” is the kind of cinematic mishmash that most movie buffs will love.
SHAWN
“Interstellar” is the type of movie you have to watch multiple times to appreciate its full genius. And there are a ton of extras mostly created for film geeks and sci-fi freaks.
RUSS: 4 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN 5 Popcorn Bags
- THE IMITATION GAME (R)
The Weinstein Company
RUSS
Benedict Cumberbatch is terrific in “The Imitation Game,” a beautifully written drama that deservedly won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. It’s an engaging drama about the British man who broke the Nazi’s unbreakable Enigma code only to be persecuted for his homosexuality.
SHAWN
Yes, Benedict Cumberbatch did his thing. Dude is an acting god. But unfortunately “The Imitation Game” is a dreadful bore. While very interesting it’s cinematically challenged. And the filmmakers left the juicier parts of the story on the table afraid to fully explore the storyline that delt with the lead character’s persecution for being gay. What a cop out. Standard issue bonus material which is surprising considering the subject matter.
RUSS: 4 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags
3. WILD (R)
Fox Searchlight
RUSS:
Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon stars in “Wild,” the adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir. After experiencing a divorce, the death of her mother and a string of one-night stands, the troubled Strayed goes on a journey of self-discovery by taking an excruciating 1100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.
SHAWN
Reese Witherspoon is fine in “Wild” but she plays a character so dislikable it was tough to buy into her plight and search for inner peace.
RUSS:
While well acted and lovingly filmed, “Wild” simply isn’t as illuminating as it should be. What was apparently riveting on the page achieves modest success on the big screen.
SHAWN
Much like the journey the story sort of awkwardly sprawls out of control and waste what could have been powerful testimony by going for too much shock and awe. However, the bonus material is great and loaded including a conversation with “The Real Cheryl Strayed.”
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 2 Popcorn Bags
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