Archive for month: April, 2015

Sigh…

Well, that was short and not particularly sweet. The playoffs are over for the local sporting team. Canucks are done. Time to get back to what is really important (besides actual life stuff) – watching movies! Good selection of films for your lovely eyes to feast upon this week.

New Releases

Almighty Johnsons – No, this is not a TV series from New Zealand about a bunch of large penises solving crimes or something like that. It’s a TV series from New Zealand about four brothers who also happen to be the living incarnations of Norse gods. Drama and comedy, with or without big dicks, ensue.

The Boy Next Door – J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez to you non-internet, non-hip-talking folks) has an affair with her much younger next door neighbor with unsavory results. She also pensively looks out a window. I hear that this is quite a hilarious film. Too bad it’s not a comedy.

Cake – J-An (Jennifer Anniston for all you…) plays a therapy patient who becomes fascinated with the suicide of a woman in her support group. Drama, and all that it entails, ensue.

The Gambler – Marky-Mark, taking time out from pretending he’s a good guy and not a racist thug, plays a fella with a gambling problem. He gambles, loses a bunch of money and, I presume, has one more shot at redemption. Expect some drama and many scenes of card playing and shifty eyes.

Inherent Vice – PTA (Paul Thomas Anderson for those of you…) brings Thomas Pynchon’s novel to life in this fantastic (to some, boring to others) comedy/drama-modern-noir-gumshoe-thriller that finds drug-fueled Joaquin Phoenix on the case of a missing girlfriend. I so wanted to see this on the big screen, but alas…

Paddington – Fine family affair about a bear from Peru (?!) who travels to London for some reason – presumably he’s on vacation as London is a prime destination for bears from all over the world – who gets lost and then meets the Brown family who take him in. Does Paddington slaughter, eat and bury the Brown’s half-devoured remains in a shallow grave or is he the kind of bear who all friendly and cuddly? Only one way to find out!

The Wedding Ringer – Some sort of comedy, that sounds suspiciously like that Adam Sandler film – The Wedding Dinger? Blinger? Zinger? Finger? I can’t remember. So many Adam Sandler movies, so little time. This one doesn’t have Adam Sandler in it but instead stars Kevin Hart as a shy guy that’s getting married who hires a best man from a company that does this sort of thing. At least that what I think it’s about. Don’t really care, to be honest.

Wolf Hall – British costume drama about Henry the VIII. Drama, intrigue, Thomas Cromwell, a Pope, possibly some cross-dressing judging by the photo and, probably, some beheadings all figure into this well-received drama series.

Coming Next Week

Black or White
Black Sea
Broadchurch S2
Halt and Catch Fire
Lost River
Love, Rosie
Masters of Sex S2
Mr. Turner
Playing it Cool
Selma
Fifty Shades of Grey

Recently Watched and Recommended

Inherent Vice
Chef
Adventure Time
The Babadook
Foxcatcher
Whiplash
Banshee

And even more recommendations here!

Keep on keeping on, Vancovuer

Copyright © 2015 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver,

Put us in, coach!

Ah, it’s that time of year again, when a young person’s fancy turns to the violent ballet known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I have a love/hate relationship with the playoffs. I’m a hockey fan and a fan of the Canucks so I’d like to see them do well. But I also own a business (Black Dog Video) that is adversely effected by all of this. I’m happy when the team doesn’t make the playoffs but am also happy when they win. Here’s hoping that they sweep every series and win the cup in as few games as possible! Enjoy the games, or you can just rent Slap Shot.

New Releases

Antarctica: A Year on the Ice – Doc about folks living for a year in Antarctica. I think that I’ll pass on doing that. I’m not a penguin.

The Babadook – Much ballyhooed horror number (William Friedkin calls it the scariest film he’s ever seen! That’s a bold statement coming from the guy who made THE scariest film ever – The Exorcist). It follows the tale of a troubled boy and his mom who are haunted by a dark spectre from a mysterious book that shows up at their house one day. You’ll be walking around for weeks croaking “Ba-ba-dook” I guarantee it! Just ask my family.Highly recommended.

Big Eyes – Amy Adams is a painter who paints famous works of people with large eyes. Christoph Waltz is her scheming husband who steals the credit for her work. Tim Burton is the guy who made this movie.

Escobar: Paradise Lost – Cool drama about a surfer dude who meets the woman of his dreams in Columbia. He then meets her uncle, Pablo Escobar. That must have been an awkward dinner. He’s played by noted VHS tape thief, Benecio De Toro, looking quite terrifying here.

Foyle’s War Season 8 – Foyle continues his wacky adventures in WWII England.

Goodbye to Language – Latest from Jean-Luc Godard (I can’t believe he’s still alive, never mind still making films) about the relationship between a man, a woman and a dog. I’m sure it’s quite French and quite odd.

I Am Steve McQueen – Shit. I wish. Although he’s dead, so maybe not. I guess I’ll just have to settle for this documentary.

Looking Season 1 – Excellent HBO series about a bunch of gay guys living in San Fransisco. San Franscisky? Did you drive or did you flew?

The Missing – Excellent TV series about a couple whose child goes missing while on vacation in France. That will put a damper on the good times.

Shameless Season 4 – What are the Gallagher clan up to these days you ask? Watch and find out! A very fine show that you should watch.

Coming Soon!

Fortitude
Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Little Accidents
Maps to the Stars
Taken 3
Two Days, One Night
You’re Not You

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Adventure Time
Looking Season 1
The Babadook
Mommy
Silicon Valley
Honeymoon
Predestination
Listen Up, Philip
The One I Love
Song of the Sea

Have a great week, folks. Be good and do the right thing.

Copyright © 2015 Black Dog Video, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Black Dog Video
Cambie Street and/or Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC