The Rum Dairy: Johnny Depp once again assumes his third most iconic role as infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson in this sun and pastel drenched film which documents the writer’s early days as a debauched reporter in 1950’s Puerto Rico. Unfortunately this is no Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In fact, it’s barely Pirates of the Caribbean 4. It’s well shot and Depp is dependably solid, balancing his imitation of Thompson’s opiate slur with a less hyperactive and paranoid tone befitting a younger slightly healthier Thompson and it works. Amber Heard, the real gangsta Nancy Sinatra, is also appealing as Depp’s upper crust love interest but everyone else in the cast turns in somnambulistic work and director Bruce Robinson (Jennifer 8) doesn’t have the visual chops to enliven what is essentially a conventional evil businessman versus crusading journalist narrative. The Rum Dairy is a two hour long USA Channel drama. Also starring Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi.
Special Features: Two featurettes.
Take Shelter: The terrifyingly intense Michael Shannon stars as a husband and father who begins to suffer from a series of visions of an apocalyptic storm that will destroy his small Ohio town but as opposed to a Stephen King novel, the film doesn’t ignore the obvious move for the situation and has its protagonist seek out medical attention while also secretly building a finically devastating survival shelter on his property. The slow burn style that director Jeff Nichols (Shotgun Stories) employs grounds what on paper is overheated genre material in a way that stays with you. Nothing in the film is overplayed and even at his most extreme, you never lose sight of Shannon’s basic humanity. Take Shelter is ambiguous and ominous in all the right ways. Also starring Jessica Chastain, Katy Mixon and Shea Whigham.
Special Features: Commentary with Shannon and Nichols and three featurettes.
Tiny Furniture: Writer/director/star Len Dunham’s acclaimed and hated semi-autobiographical story about a young woman coping with her crazy family and life after graduation with was filmed after Dunham’s graduation with her actually crazy family. This Criterion release of Dunham’s 2009 film will certainly look and sound excellent but man, will it be an odd duck under that label. While the Criterion Collection has defined itself by its eclectic nature but a mumblecore styled, hermetically Upper East Side slice of life movie is a strange choice but the movie is undeniably funny and Dunham has a strong authorial voice for a newbie. Hopefully, Dunham’s next work will keep the self-deprecating humor and will either commit to the narcissism completely or dial it back significantly. You have to have some bass in your voice if you want to be the voice of a generation. Also starring Laurie Simmons, Alex Karpovsky and David Call.
Special Features: A new digital transfer of the film, an interview with Dunham, an interview with Paul Schrader, four short films by Dunham, Dunham’s first feature film Creative Nonfiction, and a booklet with an essay by film critic Phillip Lopate.
All of the releases mentioned here have links to their respective Amazon pages but you can also visit Cleveland area Blockbusters, Family Videos, and Red Boxes for these and other new releases.
Mario blogs regularly at A Polemic Killer Room.
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