Articles by Meredith Ennis

On Demand DVD New Releases For Feb. 3-9 If the weather has you stuck inside, why not check out one of these titles? Once again, we welcome Channel Guide movie critic Paul Hall, who offers some thoughts on a few of this week’s new releases. A Case of You A young writer tries to impress a girl he meets online with an embellished profile, but he finds himself in a real mess when she falls for him and he has to keep up the act. Peter Dinklage, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood (R, 1:29) 2/3 About Time When he reaches age 21, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he […]

In Rush, Daniel Brühl plays Niki Lauda, an Austrian Formula One racecar driver who was severely injured in a 1976 crash at the Nürburgring during the German Grand Prix. The film focuses on the story of the rivalry between Lauda and another driver, English playboy James Hunt. Hunt is portrayed in the film by Chris Hemsworth. The portrayal of Lauda’s post-Nürburgring disfigurement required much time in makeup with Academy Award-winning prosthetic makeup designer Mark Coulier. “Of course, we needed prosthetics and that made me nervous at first,” Brühl says. “The funny thing was that after the first test, Mark’s assistants […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Jan. 27-Feb. 3 New this week: Channel Guide movie critic Paul Hall weighs in with his thoughts on some of this week’s top releases! Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs 2 In this tasty animated sequel, inventor Flint Lockwood must again save civilization from culinary-inspired disaster, this time in the form of “foodimals” — half-food, half-animals. Voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris (PG, 1:35) 1/28 Paul says: Fun and funny — if you liked the first film, this is more of the same.  Enough Said  Eva’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) romance with Albert (James Gandolfini, in one […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Jan. 20-26: Here’s your chance to catch a couple of Oscar-nominated films you may have missed (and one that didn’t, but possibly should have gotten a nomination, All Is Lost).  All Is Lost Robert Redford goes it alone — literally, there is no one else in the cast — in this survival tale about a man trying to keep his damaged boat afloat amid a stormy sea. Directed by J.C. Chandor (Margin Call). (PG-13, 1:47) 1/21 Blue Jasmine Woody Allen directs this story about a troubled New York socialite whose husband is sent to prison, a development that forces her […]

Vin Diesel returns for his third go-round as the antihero Riddick, a dangerous escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy. The film picks up some years after the events of the previous film, The Chronicles of Riddick, with Riddick left for dead on a sun-scorched planet and forced to defend himself from an alien race of predators. Though Riddick required many visual effects, it was important to the production team to not have the entire film shot on green screen. Indeed, they wanted sets that could anchor the actors in their environment. Production designer Joseph Nemec designed the […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Jan. 13-19 Here are some of the highlights of this week’s DVD/On Demand new releases: Lee Daniels’ The Butler (pictured) The director of Precious helms this inspirational drama about a black man who served seven presidents during his tenure as a butler in the White House, giving him a rare viewpoint of some seminal events in U.S. history. Based on a true story. Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack (PG-13, 2:12) 1/14 Fruitvale Station Based on the tragic true story of Oscar Grant III (Michael B. Jordan), this moving drama focuses on the last day of […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Jan. 6-12 The Act of Killing Indonesian, subtitled in English. This documentary examines a country where death squad leaders are celebrated, challenging them to reenact their mass-killings in the style of movies they love. Anwar Congo (TV-MA, 2:02) 1/7 Back in the Day Unsatisfied with his career, Jim Owens heads home for his high school reunion. Jim tries to rally his friends for some good old-fashioned partying, but finds himself falling for the girl who got away. Available On Demand before DVD. Michael Rosenbaum, Nick Swardson (R, 1:34) 1/7 Closed Circuit In this international suspense thriller, a […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Dec. 30-Jan. 5 A quiet start to the new year. Winnie Mandela is a timely option, in light of Nelson Mandela’s recent death. Other titles may be unfamiliar, but if you check the lists of cast members below, you’re sure to see some familiar names … Attila When American soldiers inadvertently steal Attila the Hun’s secret riches, the wrath of the barbarian is awakened. The mummified warrior will stop at nothing to kill the intruders. Chris Conrad, Anthony C. Ferrante, Tiffany Adams (1:30) 1/1 The Best Offer Geoffrey Rush is an eccentric art auctioneer obsessed with an heiress/collector. […]

Did You Know … “Despicable Me 2″ Trivia The Minions are back! In Despicable Me 2, Gru (voice of Steve Carell), having retired from crime to raise his daughters, is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a new foe, one that turns the lovable little Minions into wild creatures. Here are some fun facts about the sequel: • In the first movie, Kevin the Minion has one eye, in the sequel another Minion named Kevin has two eyes and is taller. • Kristen Wiig is also back for Despicable Me 2, but she voices a different character […]