Action, tension drive Neeson flick
New DVD picks include loads of action, a sweet love story and some amazing music history.
• “Run All Night” • • • : Former hit man (Liam Neeson) must go to extreme measures to protect his son. Director Jaume Collet-Serra (who helmed Neeson’s “Non-Stop”) shows great skill at staging both eye-bending action sequences and heart-tugging emotional moments.
From a very realistic-looking car chase to a fog-covered showdown in the woods, Collet-Serra keeps layering on the tension. He loses a few points for a scene at the start of the film that eliminates some of the tautness from the story. But it’s only a cinematic version of a flesh wound.
• “The Wrecking Crew” • • • 1/2: The documentary is an informative tale of the session musicians who performed on almost every top record produced in Los Angeles in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
These journeyman players went to recording sessions (sometimes three and four a day) to create memorable sounds without getting any recognition. It’s a beautiful nostalgic trek.
• “Old Fashioned” • • 1/2: This low-budget, faith-based film – with a cast of mostly unknowns – is little more than a made-for-cable movie. But it offers an endearing look at what it’s like to fall in love – not lust.
“Old Fashioned” lives up to its name. It approaches the story of a man and a woman falling in love with respect, honesty and a spiritual element that never gets too preachy.
• “Lazarus Effect ” • 1/2: Efforts to bring back the dead lead to an evil result. Mark Duplass stars.
First-time feature director David Gelb tries to create lively scares out of the bringing-back-the-dead film genre. The best he gets are a few nervous twitches.
Also new on DVD
“Chappie”: Robot with artificial intelligence becomes a new life form.
“The Newsroom: Season 3”: Final season of the cable series about the workings at a cable news channel.
“Lovejoy: The Complete Collection”: Includes all 72 episodes of the TV mystery series.
“Wild Tales”: People cross the line into madness when faced with perceived injustice.
“Inside the Court of Henry VIII”: Peter Chinn film about the intrigue and politics of the royal court.
“Beyond the Reach”: Hunter (Michael Douglas) chases a different prey after an accident.
“The Driver”: David Morrissey plays a middle-aged man who drives a taxi for a criminal gang.
“Littlest Pet Shop: Paws for Applause”: Blythe Baxter and her furry friends face more adventures.
“Odd Couple: The Complete Series”: Tony Randall, Jack Klugman comedy about two mismatched friends sharing an apartment.
“Pandas: The Journey Home”: A look at efforts by organizations to save the bears.
“Unfinished Business”: Routine business trip goes comically bad. Vince Vaughn stars.
“La Gata”: Telenovela starring Maite Perroni.
“Two and a Half Men: The Complete Twelfth Season”: Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher star in this final season of the TV comedy.
“Tentacles” and “Reptilicus”: Two underwater creatures in this double feature.
“Nature: Animal Homes”: Examination of different homes in the animal world.
“Time Lapse”: Camera takes pictures 24 hours into the future.
“Amour Fou”: Young poet searches for someone to end their life with him.
“Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Series”: Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams comedy about best friends living together in the late ’50s and early ’60s.
“20 Back-To-School Tales: Scholastic Storybook”: Collection of stories suited for young viewers.
“Survivors Remorse 2015”: Comedy series that follows a young basketball player who is pushed into the spotlight.
“Leading Lady”: Cross-cultural romantic comedy starring Gil Bellows.