Ten New Movies on DVD

Eight movies of interest and two in my queue--all out (or nearly so) on DVD:

Beginners--A charming romance/comedy/drama with a sense of style.  Director Mike Mills (he made the Indie Thumbsucker) is also a graphic designer and has both a great WEBSITE about all his work and a BLOG about making and showing Beginners.  The film stars Ewan McGregor as Oliver, the beauteous Melanie Laurent (Shoshanna in Inglorious Basterds), and Christopher Plummer--who deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his incarnation of Oliver's newly out-of-the-closet father.  All this and one of the best dogs in a movie.

Higher Ground--Actress Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) makes her directorial debut and plays the lead role: a woman in a strict religious community who struggles with her faith.  It's refreshing to see women's lives portrayed by women artists.

Drive--Ryan Gosling in an ultra-violent (and 80's-style) sometimes-pretentious allegory that has moments of real moviemaking excitement.  I'd watch it again just for the opening ten minutes.  Though I might close my eyes a lot after that.

Martha Marcy May Marlene--A very non-mainstream Indie about a young woman living in a religious cult.  The breakout role for Olsen Twin sister Elizabeth Olsen, and another creepy rural guy role for John Hawkes--Teardrop in Winter's Bone.  Not for those who demand a standard Hollywood narrative.

Young Adult--Charlize Theron is great in this overlooked offering from the Juno team: director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody.  Funny and sad.

The Skin I Live In--Like many of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's movies, this one is not for the easily offended.  It's a garish and lurid melodrama about a mad scientist and the beautiful woman he holds captive.  Almodovar doesn't expect you to take it all seriously.  But it's pretty serious underneath the surface.  Notice I avoided skin-related puns.

Melancholia--A real European Art Film (notice the capital letters) from Dogme director Lars von Trier. Lots of lush and moody visuals, and a very convincing performance by Kirsten Dunst.  As the title suggests, the film seeks to capture an emotional state in which it can seem as though the world is ending.

The Descendants--I was rooting for this movie and for George Clooney on Oscar night.  I would gladly watch anything made by Alexander Payne (writer/director of Sideways, About Schmidt, Election, and the less-seen Citizen Ruth).  A movie with laughs that's deeply moving--and relatable to anyone who has experienced loss.

And two still to be seen:

A Dangerous Method--David Cronenberg's take on Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.  Cronenberg is best known for dark, psychological works, such as Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Crash (1996), and A History of Violence--an imposing collection of work. 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy--I'm looking forward to seeing Gary Oldman play George Smiley in this adaptation of John LeCarre's Cold War thriller.  It's directed by Tomas Alfredson who made the Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In.  Available from Netflix on April 17.