Joey's DVD Picks of the Week (6/28/2011)

This week, one of the most underrated films of last year hits DVD, alongside some other flicks, although those are less than stellar. The underrated film in question is so good that, had I seen it before completing my Top 10 of 2010 list, it would have very likely cracked the list (perhaps going as high as #7 or 8) and pushed some films down a level. As it stands, it will have to settle for being my PICK OF THE WEEK now that it's available for home viewing. Curious what it is? Well, it's:

Barney's Version

A Canadian dramedy with a Golden Globe winning performance by Paul Giamatti (doing career best work in my eyes), the film follows 30 years in the life of the title character, as he lives and loves. It's very clever, and the entire cast is terrific (including Minni Driver and Scott Speedman), but Rosamund Pike is phenomenal as the most substantial love of Barney's life and Dustin Hoffman steals the show as Barney's randy father. Pike and Hoffman deserved Oscar nods, and in a less competitive Best Actor field, Giamatti would have been in play too. As it stands, this is an excellent film that very much deserves to be seen. It's a funny, touching movie that's really something special. I can't recommend it enough, so go out and get it!

-Also out this week of note is a well regarded indie called Lebanon, Pa. The drama has occasionally been called the "anti-Juno", but since I haven't seen it, I can't comment. That being said, I think it could be a strong little flick, and if anyone ends up seeing it, let me know what you think. If I check it out, I'll throw up a belated review for you all...

-The rest of the releases this week is the decent action fantasy Sucker Punch, the mediocre flick The Warrior's Way (also an action fantasy of sorts, but less overt), the terrible adventure film Season of the Witch, and the terrible looking (since I didn't see it) remake of Beauty and the Beast, known as Beastly. If any of those appeal to you, as always...don't let me get in the way. Pick them up and enjoy them.

-My Vintage pick, in honor of this week's release of Larry Crowne, is another Capra-like Tom Hanks film. It's The Terminal, and I consider it not only one of Hanks' most underrated movies, but one of director Steven Spielberg's as well. I found it incredibly charming and hope that his new film is as well. If you didn't see this when it came out, or didn't like it, give it a shot this week...it should make you smile!

-What will you be watching on DVD this week?