On Blu-ray – DVD This Week – Zootopia, 13 Hours, Hail Caesar! and AnomalisaPosted by Wilson Morales
June 7, 2016
ZOOTOPIA
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore and co-directed by Jared Bush, Zootopia takes place in the animal-filled city of the same name, as it follows optimistic Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin). She discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.
Other characters and the actors who will voice them include Shakira as Gazelle, Idris Elba as Chief Bogo (head of the Zootopian Police Department), Octavia Spencer is Mrs. Otterson, J.K. Simmons is Mayor Leodore Lionhearted, Tommy Chong is Yax the Yak (“a most enlightened, laid-back bovine”), Nate Torrence is Benjamin Clawhauser, Jenny Slate is Assistant Mayor Bellwether (“a sweet sheep with a little voice and a lot of wool”), Alan Tudyk is Duke Weaselton (“a small-time weasel crook with a big-time mouth”), Raymond Persi is Flash (“the fastest sloth working at Zootopia’s DMV — the Department of Mammal Vehicles”) and Bonny Hunt and Don Lake are the voices of Judy Hopps’ mother and father, Bonnie and Stu (“a carrot farmer from Bunnyburrow”).
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI tells the incredible true story of six elite ex-military operators who fought to protect the CIA against overwhelming odds when terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound on September 11, 2012. The film stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale and Pablo Schreiber and is based on the nonfiction novel 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff with the members of the Annex Security Team.
On Sept. 11, 2012, Islamic militants attack the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith, an officer for the Foreign Service. Stationed less than one mile away are members (James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini) of the Annex Security Team, former soldiers assigned to protect operatives and diplomats in the city. As the assault rages on, the six men engage the combatants in a fierce firefight to save the lives of the remaining Americans.
HAIL CAESAR!
Written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest feature film, Hail, Caesar!, starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Jonah Hill and Frances McDormand.
In the early 1950s, Eddie Mannix is busy at work trying to solve all the problems of the actors and filmmakers at Capitol Pictures. His latest assignments involve a disgruntled director, a singing cowboy, a beautiful swimmer and a handsome dancer. As if all this wasn’t enough, Mannix faces his biggest challenge when Baird Whitlock gets kidnapped while in costume for the swords-and-sandals epic “Hail, Caesar!” If the studio doesn’t pay $100,000, it’s the end of the line for the movie star.
ANOMALISA
Directed by Charlie Kaufman (SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK) and Duke Johnson, Anomalisa is a stop-motion animation wonder that features the vocal cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis and a stirring strings-based score by Carter Burwell.
Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?” is preparing to promote his latest book at a convention in Cincinatti. While getting ready, he decides to try to reconnect with an old fling, despite being married. This goes poorly and the angry Michael finds himself in an adult toy shop, where he is intrigued by an animatronic voice. When he returns to his hotel, he meets a woman named Lisa, and they fall in love quickly. The discontented Michael is rapidly annoyed by her, though and has a mental breakdown during his speech. He fares no better when he gets home to his wife and son.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2015 for Best Animation.
MR. RIGHT
Recovering from a recent breakup, a heartbroken woman meets the man of her dreams, with one fatal flaw, in Mr. Right is a hilarious hit-man comedy from writer Max Landis (Chronicle) and director Paco Cabezas (Rage). The film stars Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, and RZA.
Hyperactive at the best of times, Martha (Anna Kendrick; Pitch Perfect) has gone full-on manic since her latest breakup. She babbles, parties like a monster, cooks everything in sight – and is looking to do something terrible when she meets Francis (Sam Rockwell; The Way Way Back). To anyone else, Francis’s approach would come across as creepy, but Martha can’t help but be intrigued. They seem a perfect match: she’s bananas, he’s bananas… except he’s a deadly sort of bananas. He’s a professional assassin.
Francis is a hitman with a cause: he unexpectedly kills the people ordering the hits. Just as Martha begins to realize her new beau wasn’t joking when he said he had to step out for a moment to shoot someone, things start heating up for Francis. His services are solicited by a dubious client who’s being sought by an equally dubious FBI agent (Tim Roth; Pulp Fiction,Reservoir Dogs). As the bodies pile up, Martha needs to decide whether to flee or join in the mayhem.
NEVER BACK DOWN 3: NO SURRENDER
Picking up where Never Back Down 2 (2011) left off, in No Surrender, Michael Jai White reprises his role as ex-UFC champion Case Walker on a quest to reclaim his title, and with with Gillian White by his side, the film is a must watch for action, martial arts and movie lovers alike.
The third film in the series is directed by Michael Jai White, who also stars alongside Josh Barnett, Esai Morales and Nathan Jones.
Former Mma champion Case Walker (Michael Jai White) has kept a low profile, winning small-time regional matches after refusing to join the powerful new leagues who push performance-enhancing drugs on their fighters. Walker is convinced by old friend and renowned fighter Brody James (Josh Barnett) to join him in Thailand and train him for a big fight against the undefeated and deadly Caesar Braga (Nathan Jones). During training, Brody is injured. Under pressure from an unscrupulous, high-powered promoter (Esai Morales), Walker agrees to replace James and fight his toughest opponent yet — but only on his own terms.
