This Week in DVD Releases: Can George Clooney's 'Monuments Men' Become Big Hit on Home Video?
On May 20, a number of movies hit the Blu-Ray and DVD marketplace. Here is a rundown of what film you and your family can enjoy this week at home.
"The Monuments Men" - George Clooney's latest film was a huge hit in February. The movie, which stars Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Jean DuJardin and John Goodman, tells the story of a World War II platoon that is tasked with rescuing art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their owners. While the movie scored terrible reviews, it was able to make $78 million at the box office. "The Monuments Men" was originally supposed to be released in November and was slated to be a huge Oscar contender. However, Sony delayed the war drama. The success of the film was most likely due to the delay and the buzz surrounding it; the lack of films geared toward adults during the early months of the year was also a big part of its success.
"3 Days to Kill" - Kevin Costner has had an off year with his first action film, which tells the story of a dying CIA agent who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The film made a disappointing $30 million at the box office, becoming the fourth Luc Besson film to bomb. The overabundance of action films has tired audiences and with terrible reviews it is unlikely that "3 Days to Kill" will garner a big audience on home video. Additionally, audiences are likely to prefer to see the blockbuster films currently in theaters.
"Pompeii" - Paul W.S. Anderson's latest picture was one of the biggest failures of year. The movie tells the story of a slave-turned-gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman senator. When Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him. The movie marks the third high-budget 3-D epic to bomb at the box office following "I, Frankenstein" and "Hercules." The $100 million budgeted film made $23 million in theaters and closed its theatrical run after nine weeks. Like those other films, "Pompeii" scored terrible reviews and is unlikely to find an audience especially with better epics out in the market and blockbuster movies in theaters.
"About Last Night" - Back in February, Steve Pink's movie garnered rave reviews and was able to be a huge success. The movie follows two couples that journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world. "About Last Night" is likely to continue its success on home video especially after the good word of mouth it obtained during its theatrical run and will continue to be one of the surprise hits of the year.
"Grand Piano" - Last year Spanish director Eugenio Mira scored a hit with his festival favorite "Grand Piano." The movie, starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack, tells the story of a concert pianist who suffers from stage fright when he discovers a note written on his music sheet moments before his comeback performance. The film was a critical hit and scored nominations at the Goya awards for Best Makeup. However, the film bombed when Magnet released it in theaters and VOD. With the upcoming home video release, the movie is likely to become a cult classic and gain more exposure especially since it will be streaming on Netflix and all the other major platforms.
"In Secret" - In February, "In Secret" was released by Roadside Attractions. The period drama had an interesting premise, which included a repressed woman who falls in love with her husband's best friend. It also included a promising cast with the likes of Oscar Isaacs, Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Felton. However, it failed to catch on with audiences. The movie was hurt by negative reviews and an unoriginal plot that was derivative of many period pieces. It was also strained by a lack of marketing and its release during a time when filmgoers are not interested in dark and dramatic movies. "In Secret" could gain a following and could be an alternative to filmgoers who decide not to spend money on "Belle."