This Week: Chasing the Bronco again with The People v. O.J. Simpson, Star Trek turns 50, and the Horsemen re-appear for Now You See Me 2.
► If Sarah Paulson doesn’t go home with an Emmy next Sunday for AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE v. O.J. SIMPSON, it’ll be an upset of Tyson/Douglas proportions. She is that brilliant in this 10-part FX series that brought our national obsession of ’94 back in brilliant fashion. As Marcia Clark, Paulson perfectly captures the confusion, pain and ultimate heartbreak of a trial that crossed over into garish entertainment at the expense of the actual people who were murdered. And she isn’t the only one: Lost in the Paulson hoopla was Courtney B. Vance, who’s nearly as good as Johnnie Cochran and Sterling K. Brown as Chris Darden. All and all, 22 Emmy nominations, and a great companion to ESPN’s five-part documentary ‘O.J.: Made in America.’
► In a year full of despised sequels, has any been as beleaguered as NOW YOU SEE ME 2? It certainly isn’t the first pointless follow-up to a movie that didn’t warrant one, but few seemed this yawn-inducing from the moment it was announced. Sure enough, it made about half as the first in North America, though it held its own worldwide…how’s that for an illusion? Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman and the rest of the gang – minus Isla Fisher this time – start out in hiding before taking on another ‘long game’ heist in which, once again, nothing is as it seems. Michael Caine, Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe hop aboard.
► George Clooney and Julia Roberts are together again for MONEY MONSTER, Jodie Foster’s thriller about a boorish financial TV host (Clooney) whose bad advice costs an investor (Jack O’Connell) his life savings, so he takes over the studio. Roberts is the producer trying to contain the situation while probing deeper into the deal that cost the man $60,000. Foster’s first film as director since ‘The Beaver’ five years ago. Extras included deleted scenes, an analysis of the showdown scene, and feature on Clooney ‘The Money Man.’
► Star Trek fans will line up at the trough for anything Paramount pimps, but this time there’s good reason: The 50th ANNIVERSARY TV AND MOVIE COLLECTION. Crammed into a nifty looking box are 30 blu-ray discs with the original three seasons, all six movies with the original cast (including the recent Director’s Cut of ‘Wrath of Khan’), the remastered Animated Series on blu-ray for the first time, the new documentary ‘Star Trek: The Journey to the Silver Screen,’ 20 hours of previously released extras, and six Juan Ortiz mini posters. Released two days before the first episode aired in 1966.
► SOUTH PARK seasons may be getting shorter, but the show’s brilliant satire is as sharp and relevant as ever. Haven’t watched in awhile? Season 19 is a great reminder of how deep Trey Parker and Matt Stone can still cut, sticking to a serialized story over its 10 episodes that pretty much captures modern culture in all its angry, politically correct glory. The gang must confront their past when the school gets a new principal (PC Principal), Mr. Garrison proposes a wall to keep illegal Canadian immigrants out, and Jimmy’s role as school newspaper editor clashes with his school’s uptight policies. Further proof Stone and Parker are the greatest satirists of our time.
► By this point, Sam and Dean have pretty much faced everything on SUPERNATURAL, including Lucifer himself. For Season 11, the boys deal with a new pain in the ass called The Darkness, turning to fallen angel Castiel, the demon Crowley and perhaps God himself. Final season for showrunner Jeremy Carver held steady in the ratings. With its vast mythology and massive fanbase, this show could go on forever – Season 12 starts Oct. 13.
► Possibly the last great traditional animated movie before CGI took over, THE IRON GIANT has entered ‘Old Yeller’ status for most guys: It may be a kid’s movie, but we leak like wet sponges when we watch it. And we’ll do it again for this Signature Edition blu-ray, which has an all new documentary on the film’s creation, commentary from director Brad Bird, and the original opening sequence. Also available is the (deep breath) ‘Signature Edition Ultimate Collector’s Edition’ which includes a letter to fans from Bird, five Mondo art cards, a 32-page book and an Iron Giant figurine. A movie I still can’t believe they haven’t made a live action version of, but then again, no one saw it in theatres the first time.
► In URGE, Pearce Brosnan is a pill pusher who gives some partiers at a bar a new designer drug which lets them indulge their wild side. Unfortunately, it also reveals their true selves worse than any drunken binge you’ve ever been on, which tends to make friends turn on each other. Thriller from the producers of ‘Crank’ co-stars Ashley Greene, Justin Chatwin and Alexis Knapp.
Also out this week:
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SO WHAT DVD/BLU-RAYS ARE YOU GUYS STOKED ABOUT THIS WEEK?!