DVD Releases of the Week: Venezuela's "The Liberator" Joins "Night At the Museum 3" As Major Home Video Releases
This week "Night at the Museum" will be the biggest DVD release of the week while a slew of critically acclaimed Indie films will also be released after somewhat disappointing theatrical runs.
Latin Post.com breaks down the biggest DVD releases coming this week:
"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb"
Fox will try and recover its audience after the latest "Night at the Museum" movie disappointed in theaters. The new installment, starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson and Rebel Wilson tells the story of Larry, who spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. The movie opened back in December and scored mixed reviews. While it was able to make $112 million, it was unable to reach the success of the first two installments. With "Cinderella" coming out in theaters, this could be an alternative for family audiences not interested in the Disney remake.
"The Liberator"
After making the top nine foreign film short list for the Academy Awards, the Venezuelan biopic will hit DVD and on demand. The film tells the story of Simon Bolivar, who fought over 100 battles against the Spanish Empire in South America and rode over 70,000 miles on horseback. His military campaigns covered twice the territory of Alexander the Great and his army never conquered. The feature is the most expensive Latin American film ever produced and it stars renown actor Edgar Ramirez. While it was not received with good reviews, Venezuela chose the film to represent the country at the Academy Awards. While it did not get nominated, it got very close. Having flopped at the box office, Cohen Media Group, hopes to reinvigorate Latin American audiences as well as art house film enthusiasts.
"Listen Up Philip"
The critically-acclaimed Tribeca Film release tells the story of Philip who is enraged as he awaits the publication of his second novel. When he feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his photographer girlfriend Ashley, and his own indifference to promoting the novel, his idol Ike Zimmerman offers his isolated summer home as a refuge. Starring Jason Scwartzman and Elizabeth Moss, the film premiered at Sundance were it scored rave reviews and later went on to play at the New York, Tribeca and Locarno Film Festival. While the film did not score any Indie or Gotham award nominations, it was still a mild hit at the box office and on VOD. Expect the movie to become a cult favorite.
"Low Down"
After a small theatrical release Oscilloscope will release the John Hawkes and Elle Fanning film. The Sundance Film festival selection takes a look at the life of pianist Joe Albany from the perspective of his young daughter, as she watches him contend with his drug addiction during the 1960s and '70s jazz scene. The movie premiered at Sundance where it was in competition and scored an award for Best Cinematography. However, it scored mixed reviews and that limited its audience. Still the film boasts an award winning performance by Elle Fanning, who won Best Actress at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and show also interest fans of the actress.
"Happy Valley"
Music Box will release the daring documentary that observes the year after Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's was arrested on child sex abuse charges. The film premiered at the Sundance Film festival and later went on to win the Best Documentary award at the Sarasota Film Festival. Music Box Films is releasing the critically acclaimed documentary, which should easily obtain a huge audience on DVD and digital platforms.