New on DVD this week:
ù Fireflies in the Garden is a dysfunctional family drama rooted in reality, and for that reason many will find the ending insincere. But the fact of the matter is, in real life, people don't really change that much, grand sweeping gestures are rare, and a-ha moments are most frequently found in the movies. Ryan Reynolds turns in a very nice performance as Michael, an emotionally damaged writer who has made his living writing fluff, and is now poised to spill all the family secrets in a serious novel. "Because of that book, everyone is going to know." We see, in flashbacks, where he gets his material: dad (Willem Dafoe) is an verbally abusive tyrant, mom (Julia Roberts) is left to pick up the pieces. Michael's very young aunt Jane moves in with the family (Hayden Panettiere, then grown as Emily Watson), providing friendship and respite from the gloom. The stage is set for all sorts of family drama, and while it may all be a little excessive, the pacing, look and feel of the movie is not. Written and directed by Dennis Lee (with a nod to Robert Frost, who wrote the title's poem) the film is a true reflection of how our childhood haunts into adulthood. No special features on the standard disc.
ù New on Blu-ray is Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief, the 1955 film starring Cary Grant as former cat burglar John Robie, and Grace Kelly as the lovely heiress who falls for him. Robie claims to have been clean for 15 years and sets out to catch his imposter; Francie is merely enjoying the excitement of palling around with a felon. The lively, lush thriller comes to life on Blu-ray, especially the famous smooching-fireworks scene. Blu-ray features will delight fans, and include an extra on the costumes by Edith Head, commentary by a Hitchcock film historian, an interactive travelogue, a making-of featurette, A Night With the Hitchcocks at the University of Southern California, bits on the writing and casting of the film and of censorship in Hollywood, and much more.
ù In The Rebound, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a 40-year-old who leaves her tony life and her philandering husband back in Connecticut and heads to the scary big city with her two children. Sandy promptly starts dating again, but prefers to spend her time hanging out with the nanny, Aram (Justin Bartha). A few ridiculous scenes later, and Aram and Sandy are an item, with all the ageist problems that accompany such an arrangement. A promising rom-com premise watered down by unlikely scenarios, dull dialogue and a daft ending. Interviews with stars and director Bart Freundlich accompany the Blu-ray disc.
ù Those of us familiar with British actor Rowan Atkinson know that he is a walking, breathing sight gag and can do more with his body language and facial tics than any other actor out there. We also know he's capable of more than Johnny English Reborn, a James Bond parody that lacks punch. Atkinson plays a bumbling secret agent pursuing a trio of international bad-guys (including The Wire's Dominic West) hell-bent on using mind control serum to get people to commit murder, and the like. Along the way Agent English finds love (with Rosamund Pike), mentors a rookie agent (Daniel Kaluuya) and fends off a murderous Asian granny. Newcomers to the actor's work will find his brand of physical comedy amusing; the rest of us have seen him better. A highlight: a high-speed wheelchair chase through the streets of London.
Tons of special features on the Blu-ray disc including gag reel, director commentary, deleted and extended scenes, the gadgets of Johnny English Reborn, a making-of featurette, and more.
