DVD Reviews: Brolin, Winslet waste talents in belabored ‘Labor Day’
This week’s new DVD releases are as American as apple pie, Disneyland and street crime.
• “Labor Day,” C-minus: An escaped convict comes into the life of a 13-year-old boy and his mother. It’s based on the book of the same name by Joyce Maynard.
A key moment in “Labor Day” has escaped convict Frank (Josh Brolin) demonstrating the proper way to make a pie. His point is that it’s not the ingredients that make a pie good but how they are put together. Director/writer Jason Reitman should have followed that recipe in putting together the movie.
The film has wonderful performances by Brolin and Kate Winslet, who plays emotionally broken single mom Adele. The problem is its tempo (it would have to double in speed to reach a snail’s pace), a script full of contrivances and the most ominous musical soundtrack since “Halloween.”
• “Hill Street Blues: The Complete Collection,” A: There’s a reason this series won 26 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series four years running.
The NBC cop drama from Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll redefined the TV police series format by introducing a group of flawed characters who worked in a world of criminal and personal chaos. The show embraced a gritty realism that many TV series have copied but none been able to match.
The amazing cast includes Daniel J. Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Bruce Weitz, James B. Sikking and Betty Thomas.
When you go looking for a TV cop series to buy on DVD, “be careful out there” and pick up this set. It includes all 144 episodes. It’s one of TV’s finest.
• “Escape from Tomorrow,” D-minus: The horror film has garnered a lot of attention for the guerrilla filmmaking writer/director Randy Moore used to make it. The majority of the movie was shot at Disneyland and Disney World without permission of the entertainment giant.
Once that initial novelty wears off, “Escape from Tomorrow” becomes a slowly paced, badly acted horror movie that will take its place among cult favorites.
Also new on DVD:
“Locker 13”: Theme park janitor looks into the mysteries surrounding an old locker.
“Gimme Shelter”: Teen (Vanessa Hudgens) fights for redemption on the streets.
“The Legend of Hercules”: The original story of the mythical Greek hero.
“You, Me & Them, Series 1”: British sitcom about a May-December romance.
“The Devil’s Due”: A couple deal with a devilish pregnancy.
“Prince Killian and The Holy Grail”: Tale of swords and sorcery set in the 12th century.
“SpongeBob, You’re Fired!”: SpongeBob must learn to find a life outside of Mr. Krab’s watchful eyes.
“Sophie’s Choice”: The Meryl Streep film is available on Blu-ray for the first time.
“The Rise & Fall of The Clash”: Documentary about the final chapter of the juggernaut band.
“Dark Hearts”: Struggling artist finds his muse in a singer.
“Civil War: The Untold Story”: Elizabeth McGovern narrates the documentary that provides new insights into the causes of the war.
“Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed”: The fourth comedy special from the “King of Clean Comedy.”
“Bad Country”: Detective (Willem Dafoe) teams with a contract killer-turned-informant (Matt Dillon) to take a powerful criminal.
“Mr. Selfridge Season 2”: Jeremy Piven plays the man who brought seductive shopping to early 20th-century London.
“Dead Shadows”: Young man’s parents were brutally killed the last time Halley’s Comet could be seen.
“The Strange Woman”: The 1946 film starring Hedy Lamarr is being re-released.
“Approved for Adoption”: Animated documentary tracing the unconventional upbringing of the filmmaker Jung Henin.
“Father Brown: The Complete Collection”: First complete collection of the series seen on “Mystery!” in the mid-1970s.
“Gloria”: An older woman rediscovers life, love and heartbreak.
“Star Trek: Enterprise – Season Four”: The space travel TV series is available on Blu-ray for the first time.
“Lady Peacock”: Man realizes the only way to compete with a drag queen is to become a drag queen.
“Dynasty: Season Eight”: Volumes one and two of the series starring Linda Evans.