Tuesday Releases: Hitchcock, Life Of Pi & Rise Of The Guardians

March 12, 2013 / Leave a Comment

MARCH 12TH, 2013

SMASHED // A perfect vehicle to launch Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her future successes as a dramatic actress, “Smashed” proves itself a viable Indie with a close-to-the-chest demeanor and dead-on, ethereal performances, not just from Winstead, but from co-star Aaron Paul as well, who gives a glimpse of the headlining actor he will certainly become. James Ponsoldt is unafraid to delve into the truth of addiction and all that comes with turning your life around, allowing his gorgeous lead actress to be dirtied and without make-up throughout most of the film.

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HITCHCOCK // “Hitchcock” works splendidly, mainly due to the principle cast that makes it so. Anthony Hopkins immerses into the role of Hitchcock, while Helen Mirren creates her own depiction of the great woman behind the man. The biggest surprise for me was a knock-out performance by Scarlett Johansson, as leading lady Janet Leigh, which will not go unnoticed. However, this comedic-drama exists only for the sake of reminiscing about the man we all consider a cinematic genius, Alfred Hitchcock, as the film holds little merit besides taking us on a cinematic journey through what the production of “Psycho” might have been like. And may I emphasize the phrase “might have been” as this film rarely feels authentic or truthful in almost any regard, especially with the odd choice to make Ed Gein a psychological mentor to Hitchcock throughout the film. I wholeheartedly enjoy Hitchcock and his personality and antics, on pure face value, I would have taken any film depicting his life, especially a film with so many well cast performances, but ultimately, there will be future Hitchcock films that will reward light years ahead of this one, containing more heart and more historical merit.

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LIFE OF PI // With some of the best use of visual effects ever witnessed in a film and one of the first films I’ve ever said “perhaps I should see the 3D version”, “Life Of Pi” is a visual masterpiece. Telling the inspirational story of a young Indian man stranded in the Pacific ocean with a Bengal tiger, there’s enough tension between the two character to carry the film through its over two hour run-time. Despite some questionable transition choices and a lagging interview used as a bookmark, Ang Lee proves his vision can break the stigma that the book “Life of Pi” is “unfilmable”.

New Releases
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away
The Flat
Hitchcock
In Their Skin
Life Of Pi
Rise Of The Guardians
Smashed
Sound City: Real to Reel
Spiders 3D
Storage 24
This Must Be The Place