Couch Potato’s DVD Recomendations

February 6, 2007 by leora

Couch Potato's rentals of the week

If you live anywhere near me you’ll notice that it’s snowing pretty heavily outside, so it’s the perfect time to run to the video store to rent some great DVDs! Here are Couch Potato’s pics of the DVDs released today:

Flags of Our Fathers

Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford Director: Clint Eastwood

In February, 1945, one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific theater of World War II occurs on the tiny island of Iwo Jima. Thousands of Marines attack the stronghold maintained by thousands of Japanese, and the slaughter on both sides is horrific. Early in the battle, an American flag is raised atop the high point, Mount Suribachi, and a photograph of the raising becomes an American cause celebre. As a powerful inspiration to war-sick Americans, the photo becomes a symbol of the Allied cause. The three surviving flag raisers, Rene Gagnon, John Bradley, and Ira Hayes, are whisked back to civilization to help raise funds for the war effort. But the accolades for heroism heaped upon the three men are at odds with their own personal realizations that thousands of real heroes lie dead on Iwo Jima, and that their own contributions to the fight are only symbolic and not deserving of the singling out they are experiencing. Each of the three must come to terms with the honors, exploitation, and grief that they face simply for being in a photograph.

Hollywoodland

Starring: Adrien Brody, Diane Lane Director: Allen Coulter

Hollywoodland is a uniquely compelling exploration of fame and identity, inspired by one of Hollywood’s most infamous real-life mysteries. The film is the feature directorial debut for Allen Coulter (Emmy and DGA Award nominee for his work on The Sopranos and Sex and the City). June 16, 1959. The glamour of Tinseltown permanently fades for actor George Reeves, the heroic Man of Steel on TV’s Adventures of Superman, as the actor dies in his Hollywood Hills home. Felled by a single gunshot wound, Reeves (portrayed in Hollywoodland by Academy Award winner Ben Affleck) leaves behind a fiancée – aspiring starlet Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) – and millions of fans who are shocked by his death. But it is his grieving mother, Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), who will not let the questionable circumstances surrounding his demise go unaddressed. Helen seeks justice, or at least answers. The Los Angeles Police Department closes the case, but Helen hires – for $50 a day – private detective Louis Simo (Academy Award winner Adrien Brody). Simo soon ascertains that the torrid affair Reeves had with Toni Mannix (Academy Award nominee Diane Lane), the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins), might hold the key to the truth. But truth and justice are not so easily found in Hollywood. Simo pursues dangerous and elusive leads in both high and low places and, in trying to turn up the heat, risks getting burned. The detective also uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as the case turns more personal and he learns more about Reeves himself. Behind the icon was a complex man who gave his life to Hollywood in more ways than one.

Running With Scissors

Starring: Annette Bening, Brian Cox Director: Ryan Murphy

Young Augusten Burroughs (Cross) absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father (Baldwin) and an unstable mother (Bening), he’s handed off to his mother’s therapist, Dr. Finch (Cox), and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch’s bizarre extended family.

The Science of Sleep

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg Director: Michel Gondry

Following the death of his father in Mexico, Stéphane Miroux, a shy insecure young man, agrees to come to Paris to draw closer to his widowed mother Christine. He lands a boring job at a calendar-making firm and falls in love with his charming neighbor Stéphanie. But conquering her is no bed of roses for the young man and the only solution he finds to put up with the difficulties he is going through is escape into a dream world…

Trust the Man

Starring: David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Billy Crudup Director: Bart Freundlich

After all the drama, cheating, and trial separations, two men (Crudup, Duchovny) fight to save their respective relationships

The Grudge 2

Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn Director: Takashi Shimizu

In Tokyo, a young woman (Tamblyn) is exposed to the same mysterious curse that afflicted her sister (Gellar). The supernatural force, which fills a person with rage before spreading to its next victim, brings together a group of previously unrelated people who attempt to unlock its secret to save their lives.

Also out today:

Flicka

Starring: Tim McGraw, Maria Bello Director: Michael Mayer

Young Katie (Lohman) claims a wild horse as her own — an effort to prove to her father (McGraw) that she is capable of one day taking over the family ranch.

Cinderella III – A Twist in Time

Starring: Christopher Daniel Barnes, Susan Blakeslee Director: Frank Nissen

The evil stepmother conjures up a spell that reverses all of which the fairy godmother did. Everything that she had made (the dress, the horses and the carriage) which were the reasons why and how Cinderella went to "The Ball". So when all the magic is gone will there be a happily ever after all? What will Cinderella do? Find out in Cinderella III.

TV shows new to DVD: