Movies On Demand This Week: ‘The Hobbit’ and More

This week is headlined by the release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” on iTunes and other streaming providers. So let’s get our Elf ears and Gollum voice ready for another trip to Middle Earth. There’s also the crime drama “Killing Them Softly” starring Brad Pitt as a different kind of hitman, Marion Cotillard giving a powerful performance in “Rust and Bone” as well as Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the indie gem “Smashed,” while Sean Penn shows us his weirder side in “This Must Be The Place.”

NEW RELEASES

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’
Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth is filled with the usual colorful characters he so perfectly brought to life adapting Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Along with a group of Dwarves on a journey to reclaim what is theirs, Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf as well as Andy Serkis as Gollum.
Why Watch It: Martin Freeman as Bilbo is a perfect choice as his comic timing and sheepish disposition is perfect when playing a Hobbit.
Available On: iTunes, VUDU, Amazon Instant [On Demand 3/19]

‘Killing Them Softly’
Following their teaming in the masterful “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” Brad Pitt and director Andrew Dominik try to make lightning strike twice with this slow-burn thriller of a hitman who his hired to clean up the mess two amateurs left after robbing a Mob-protected card game.
Why Watch It: If you’re tired of the usual crime drama, try this one on.
Available On: iTunes, VUDU [On Demand 3/26]

‘Rust and Bone’
Marion Cotillard gives an Oscar-worthy performance as an amputee who after losing her legs falls in a deep depression and struggles with day-to-day life, though her casual relationship with a man she met before her accident soon builds into something more and causes her to rethink her life.
Why Watch It: Cotillard proves why she should be considered one of the top talents working today.
Available On: iTunes, VUDU [On Demand 3/19]

‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’
This indie comedy follows two friends (Keith Poulson and Nick Offerman) and a woman they both adore (Jess Weixler) as they navigate through unfulfilling relationships and realize that things aren’t getting easier the older they get.
Why Watch It: Offerman give you a different performance that what you’re used to seeing every week on “Parks and Recreation.”
Available On: Cable On Demand

‘Smashed’
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul play a married couple who enjoy the bottle a bit too much. But things change drastically when Kate (Winstead) wants to get sober leading to a disastrous end to their relationship.
Why Watch It: Mixed with hilarious highs and depressing lows, Winstead gives one of the best performances of her career.
Available On: Cable On Demand, iTunes, VUDU, Amazon Instant

‘This Must Be The Place’
In won of his more puzzling performances, Sean Penn plays a retired rock star living in Dublin who returns to the States for his father’s funeral which leads to him going on a manhunt for the Nazi responsible for denigrating him during World War II.
Why Watch It: You’ve never seen Penn in such a vulnerable role.
Available On: Cable On Demand, VUDU, Amazon Instant

‘Wuthering Heights’
After an Oscar win for her short film in 2003, which made her not just another actor turned director, and two successful feature films, Andrea Arnold now is the latest to take on Emily Brontë’s legendary novel. However, taking inspiration from Brontë’s description of Heathcliff, Arnold cast the first back actor every to portray the role.
Why Watch It: A fresh take on an old classic.
Available On: Cable On Demand, iTunes, VUDU

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

‘Manhunter’
One of Michael Mann’s least recognized films from his filmography, before Anthony Hopkins made Hannibal Lecktor a iconic movie character, Brian Cox played the role in this thriller starring William Petersen as Will Graham, an FBI profiler who comes out of retirement to track a serial killer who’s been dubbed the “Tooth Fairy.” Needing help he calls on the psychotic doctor Lecktor for help, whose attack on Graham led to his retirement.
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Instant, YouTube, Google Play

‘Back to School’
Rodney Dangerfield brings his brash, Long Islander no respect shtick to college in this ‘80s classic. In the film he plays an extremely rich businessman who decides to enter the college his son attends and teaches him more about partying than hitting the books (and how to do the “Triple Lindy.”)
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Instant, YouTube

‘Hustle & Flow‘
Recently added to Netflix, Craig Brewer’s breakout film follows a Memphis pimp (Terrence Howard) who uses his struggles to create a demo in his hopes of becoming the next big Southern rap star. The film also earned Howard an Oscar nomination and the group Three 6 Mafia an Oscar win for their song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”
Available On: iTunes, Netflix, VUDU, Amazon Instant, YouTube, Google Play

Categories: Columns, Streaming, Streaming/On Demand

Tags: Amazon Instant, Andy Serkis, Back To School, Brad pitt, Brian Cox, Criag Brewer, Google Play, Hustle & Flow, Ian McKellen, ITunes, Jess Weixler, Keith Poulson, Killing Them Softly, Manhunter, Marion cotillard, Mary elizabeth winstead, Michael mann, Nick Offerman, On demand, Peter jackson, Rodney Dangerfield, Rust and Bone, Sean penn, Smashed, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Streaming, Terrence howard, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, This Must Be The Place, Three 6 Mafia, VUDU, William petersen, Wuthering Heights, YouTube

‘The Hobbit’ Ekes Out Holiday Box Office Win

It was a seesaw battle for the holiday box office title this weekend, as new Christmas releases “Les Misérables” and “Django Unchained” duked it out with returning champion  “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” over the past few days. But now that the dust has settled we can officially declare a winner: “The Hobbit.”

Yes, coming in with an estimated $32.9 million, “The Hobbit” topped the box office for the third weekend in a row, just beating out “Django Unchained” with $30.7 million and “Les Misérables” with $28 million.

Of course, the figures were skewed by the fact that “Les Misérables” in particular burned off much of its pent-up viewer demand during the week; Tom Hooper’s adaptation of the classic Broadway musical easily won the box office on both Tuesday and Wednesday, earning an impressive $18.1 million on Christmas day alone.

Still, once all was said and done, it was “The Hobbit” coming out on top again, thanks in large part to an amazingly strong hold, as Peter Jackson’s latest fantasy epic was down only 11% from last weekend’s $36.9 million. And with only one major new release this coming Friday — the niche horror remake “Texas Chainsaw 3D” — it looks as though “The Hobbit,” “Les Misérables” and “Django Unchained” will likely be battling it out for first place again next weekend.

Oh, and one other note on this week’s box office: With $4.6 million domestically this weekend, good for 11th place on the charts, “Skyfall” became the first James Bond film to break the $1 billion mark worldwide. Not a bad way to celebrate your 50th anniversary.

Here’s a look at the full weekend box office courtesy of Hollywood.com:

1. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – $32.9m (our review)
2. “Django Unchained” – $30.7m (our review)
3. “Les Misérables” – $28m (our review)
4. “Parental Guidance” – $14.8m (our review)
5. “Jack Reacher” – $14.0m
6. “This Is 40? – $13.2m (our review)
7. “Lincoln” – $7.5m (our review)
8. “The Guilt Trip” – $6.7m
9. “Monsters Inc. 3D” – $6.4m
10. “Rise of the Guardians” – $4.9m

Categories: News

Tags: box office, Les Miserables, Django Unchained, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, Parental Guidance, Jack Reacher

Review: ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ Turns Out to Be Unexpectedly Slow

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” starts in the manner of a slapstick comedy. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is rustling up a posse, he’s got oodles of Dwarves in tow, and they are all headed to visit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman). Unfortunately, Bilbo isn’t expecting any of them, but they roll right over his objections on their way to his kitchen stores, gorging themselves on his hard-won Hobbit food. Much merriment is had, beverages consumed, and naturally the singing of soulful songs comes into play.

The Dwarves have lost their home, and for some odd reason they need Bilbo to help them get it back. It’s as if “The Lord of the Rings” has resumed, only substituting Bilbo for Frodo, and a mountain for Mordor. Gandalf believes in Bilbo, even though Bilbo himself can’t emotionally get there, and certain members of the traveling Dwarf party are also dubious about the little Hobbit’s abilities. The leader of this merry band of misfits, numbering 13 souls, is a dour fellow named Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Throw in Gandalf and Bilbo and you’ve got 15 characters to keep track of, which (naturally) is impossible.

This is not a solid start, so the film doesn’t really get going until a good forty-five minutes into the narrative. This opening gambit was likely meant to help lighten the eventual doldrums that “The Hobbit” falls into, but they would have been better off just getting on with the party already. The film is called “The Hobbit,” and so a conflict where the Hobbit possibly won’t be involved is a stretch to sell an audience. The well-paced action scenes do deliver respite every fifteen minutes, and whenever someone is yelling “Orcs!” it’s impossible not to be engaged. Orcs make for good drama, that’s just screenwriting #101. Action, nostalgia, acting, and lovingly rendered landscapes are the strengths of “The Hobbit,” and they can’t be casually dismissed.

Credit must also be given for the level of ambition, and certain moments play wonderfully in 3-D. Director Peter Jackson has brought back all the classic standards you loved from “The Lord of the Rings” franchise, from Galadriel (Kate Blanchett) to Elrond (Hugo Weaving). “The Hobbit” can’t reference “The Lord of the Rings” early or often enough, clearly hoping for a sympathetic audience, and these beats do find their targets often enough. There are heartbreaking speeches about sacrifice and being homesick, honor and loyalty are routinely pondered. Plus, there’s at least one scene that could leave an audience in tears, and it was nice to see parts of the old gang back together, fighting to save the universe once again.

Still, there’s an awful lot of running around, and against visually ridiculous odds. Yes, “The Lord of the Rings” was fantastical, but “The Hobbit” requires a whole new level of disconnect. There are scenes where the gang fights off hundreds of bad guys at a time, only all of them line up in an orderly manner to be picked off bridges and mountain passes. This made sense in “The Two Towers,” when a siege was being considered, but it comes off as rather silly in “The Hobbit.” Perhaps this is a case of going back to the well too often? Could our affection for “The Lord of the Rings” inform our willingness to enjoy this newer version? Possibly, as the veneration of “The Lord of the Rings” was a transformational event, the final chapter in the “can fantasy ever be accepted by Hollywood?” dilemma. I loved “The Lord of the Rings,” and as such “The Hobbit” is difficult to muster gobs of affection for.

Unfortunately, another ding comes in the form of the motivations considered here, and the main good guy leading them. He’s insufferable, what with his constant undermining of poor Bilbo! The main thrust of the narrative is the band of Dwarves who want to take their home back from an evil dragon. They lost their homes by being too greedy, because dragons love gold. Well, sure, but this is all at once an over-explanation and not nearly explanation enough. “A ring to rule them all” is somewhat obtuse, but it’s symbolically clear, a visual symbol of unchecked power. “Getting our home back from a dragon” isn’t exactly a slogan you can rally around. Various bad guys are thrown in front of the good guys, but it all comes off as too simple, too pat. And what do Orcs or Trolls have to do with anything, anyway? Weirdly, this new “Hobbit” film hints at an Orc society that’s not too shabby, one in which a short-term condo rental would have to at least be considered. These new (well, prequel) Orcs read, send messages, participate in a meritorious leadership system, and create complex hovels for themselves. The “good guys” invade and chop everyone up. Again, a minor item, but you can’t help but think of this as the film slowly moves toward its inevitable conclusion, which of course is no conclusion at all. Three-part films don’t have to make one good film, instead preferring to hint at all the good stuff yet to come! But it’s impossible to give full credit based upon potential, even if the next two films turn out to be great, which I fervently hope they do.

As far as the technical element goes, it’s largely off-putting. 48 frames per second looks sped up, and is definitely disorienting. The special effect gets slightly better as your eyes adjust, but why exactly do the eyes need to adjust in the first place? It’s tough to figure why the frame rate envelope needed to be pushed here, especially with all the advances in CGI – which allowed the action and animals to come off as far more realistic than the last time around. “The Hobbit” would have truly been a technical marvel in 24fps, but sadly the 48fps effect doesn’t work often enough.

What’s all this add up to? Not terribly much. “The Lord of the Rings” franchise is still strong, maintaining a hold on our collective consciousness, but this latest offering prefers to kick the can down the road (instead of exploring new ground). In the end, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is merely one-third of an unrealized story, a carbon copy of something rich, lucid, and authentic.

Grade: C

Categories: Reviews

Tags: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

‘The Hobbit’ Makes $13 Million at Midnight, Poised to Set December Box Office Record

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has only been in theaters for a few hours now, but forecasts are already predicting that the latest epic from Peter Jackson will set a new box office record for a December release.

Thanks to the $13 million “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” made in its midnight release last evening, Box Office Mojo is reporting that the film is well on its way to breaking the mark currently held by “I Am Legend.” By comparison, “I Am Legend” brought in $77.2 million in its opening weekend back in 2007, only $1.7 million of which came from its midnight release.

Of course, “The Hobbit’s” earning potential is somewhat curtailed by its 169 minute run time, which limits the number of showings each theater can present. Still, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” should benefit enough from both 3D premiums and inflation to pass “I Am Legend” on the charts, presuming mediocre word of mouth doesn’t keep fans away.

Jackson, of course, is no stranger to December blockbusters; all three installments of “The Lord of the Rings” debuted in December, with 2003's “Return of the King” earning $72.6 million in its first weekend. That number, however, was reduced somewhat thanks to a Wednesday release. His 2005 epic “King Kong,” which like ‘The Hobbit” opening on December 14, debuted with $50.1 million.

“The Hobbit” has already set a December debut record by premiering on 4,045 screens nationwide.

Categories: News

Tags: box office, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson

‘The Hobbit:’ One Film to Rule The Box Office

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” may not be entirely living up to fan expectations, but it is more than living up to box office expectations, as the first installment in Peter Jackson’s latest fantasy trilogy debuted with a truly epic $84.8 million.

That amount easily tops the previous record for a December debut, which had been held by 2007's “I Am Legend.” It also beat out the box office debuts of all three installments of “The Lord of the Rings,” which, like “The Hobbit,” was adapted by Jackson from J.R.R. Tolkien’s series of Middle-Earth novels.

And the news was equally good for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” overseas; through Friday, the film had taken in over $57 million internationally, leading industry insiders to speculate that the film could cross $200 million worldwide by the end of the weekend.

The dominance of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” did mean that there was little meat left on the bone for the rest of Hollywood. With no other major new releases this weekend — who would be foolish enough to open their film opposite “The Hobbit?” — returning favorites “Skyfall” and “Lincoln” stayed strong. “Lincoln” crossed the $100 million mark domestically, while “Skyfall” inched closer to the $1 billion mark worldwide. And “Silver Linings Playbook” crept back into the top ten thanks to strong buzz from its many award season nominations.

Here’s a full list of this weekend’s top ten, courtesy of Hollywood.com:

1. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – $84.8m (our review)
2. “Rise of the Guardians” – $7.4m
3. “Lincoln” – $7.2m (our review)
4. “Skyfall” – $7m (our review)
5. “Life of Pi” – $5.4m (our review)
6. “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2? – $5.2m (our review)
7. “Wreck-It Ralph” – $3.3m (our review)
8. “Playing for Keeps” – $3.2m (our review)
9. “Red Dawn” – $2.4m (our review)
10.“Silver Linings Playbook” – $2.1m (our review)

Categories: News

Tags: box office, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson

‘The Hobbit’ Tops ‘Twilight’ and ‘Skyfall in Online Ticket Sales

James Bond and Bella Swan just got beat up by a bunch of dwarves.

Online tickets are now available for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (in no less than five different screening formats) and so far it looks like pretty much everyone on the planet is getting ready for a return trip to Middle-earth.

Tickets went on sale on Wednesday this week and Bilbo and friends are already shattering records. The film accounted for 33% of the day’s sales on Fandango, knocking “Breaking Dawn – Part 2? off the top spot, which had been at No. 1 since Oct. 1.

“The Hobbit” also beat advance ticket sales for “Skyfall,” which accounted for 31% of the day’s take on Fandango.

There’s no doubt that “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is going to be a box office hit. What remains to be seen is if the film has as much repeat business as its predecessors — without the “We need to do this or the world will die” stakes of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” could come across as unwarranted (and unearned) sound and fury … especially spread out over three installments. Let’s face it — Peter Jackson’s not the most subtle director on the block.

All will be revealed as we make our way to Lonely Mountain. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opens Dec. 14.

Categories: News

Tags: Featured, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey