Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending February 6th

So I was a little right and a little wrong about the pizza shop about to open where the old Alpha Video used to reside. I thought it was some crappy chain but apparently it sounds like it will be quite a good joint. And who doesn’t enjoy a good good joint? Famoso is the name and it sounds like the may be a tasty experience. And with another renowned pizzeria about to open on Victoria and William, the Commercial Drive area has gone from nothing but terrible pizza or terribly over-priced pizza to a mecca for those who enjoy a good pie. Nice to see things changing for the better over on the Drive. For once.

On another note we will be having a bit of a DVD sale over the next few weeks. Once a year we like to comb though the collection and cull the herd so to speak. So check in at the stores later this week to see what fine films can be had for a very reasonable price. Good times.

New Releases for Tuesday January 31st

Big Year – Comedy with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson as competitive bird watchers. Really? A bird watching comedy? With all that funny guy talent you might think that maybe they could have come up with something a little more interesting. Not to say that bird watching isn’t interesting. I guess for some it could be. Me? I hate birds. They’re so loud and always shitting on things, eating in the middle of the street. I guess they’re good to have around to keep cats happy. Also on the Blu Ray.

Breakaway – The IDMB describes this as “An ethnic Canadian hockey player struggles against traditional family values and discrimination from mainstream hockey players.” Ethnic? That’s the best you can come up with? Doesn’t really give you the idea that it’s a comedy now does it. I like hockey. I like ethnic people. Word has it that it’s not half bad.

Cell 211 – Spanish thriller about a prison guard who is having a not-so-great first day on the job as a prison riot breaks out and he must pretend he’s an inmate in order to survive. I’ve always said that the first day on the job is the hardest and lousiest but come on! Word on the street has it that this is quite an swell little number. Also on the Blu Ray (at Commercial, BR coming to Cambie asap.)

The Double – The powerhouse acting tandem of Richard Gere and Topher Grace star in this political thriller about a CIA dude and a FBI dude working together to find out who killed some politician dude. Also on the Blu Ray, dude.

Dream House – Mystery horror thingy starring James Bond, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts. Guy moves his family into some sort of dream house only to find that the previous tenants were horribly butchered. You’d think that when buying a dream house one might find out little details like that before signing the papers. For some reason this flick was directed by Jim Sheridan – In the Name of the Father, My Left Foot, The Boxer – not really someone I’d think would helm such a flick. Also on the Blu Ray.

Drive – This was my pick for best film of 2011 although some would disagree (you know who you are). Ryan Gosling stars as a stunt driver by day and getaway driver by night. Things get complicated when he falls for his cute neighbor. Stylish, tense, violent, fantastic cinematography, great pacing, swell chemistry, OK music, awesome silver jacket, Albert Brooks – all of these things make this film such a sweet treat. Can’t wait to see it again. Also on the Blu Ray.

In Time – Sci-fi number finds the cute one from ‘NSYNC and the gorgeous Amanda Seyfried trying to survive in a world where people only age until they’re 25 and then have one year left until they explode or something like that. Time has become a currency. The rich live forever and the poor, well, kaboom! Sounds a bit Logan’s Runnish (sorry that sounded a bit gross). Looks somewhat intriguing. Also on the Blu Ray.

Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking – Doc featuring “beautiful computer graphics and pleasant ambient music” and also has Mr. Smart Guy, Stephen Hawking going on about the origins of the universe and our tiny insignificant place in it. Want to feel small and useless? Watch this.

Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune – Doc about the famed folk musician/activist kinda guy that follows his career and the tragic end to his life. Sounds like fun.

The Thing – Prequel to John Carpenter’s awesome 1982 flick finds a bunch of folks in Antarctica stumbling across an alien life form that mimics the host it invades and then shreds them apart or something like that. Haven’t heard too many good things about this (well I know one person who liked it) which is too bad as it seems like a perfect film not to fuck up. Also on the Blu Ray.

Coming Next Week

Texas Killing Fields
3
Harold and Kumar: A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
Anonymous
Knuckle
Rebound
Stay Cool
Downton Abbey Season 2
Sunset Limited
Robot Chicken: Star Wars V 3
Assaut
Twilight: Breaking Dawn Pt 1

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Drive
50/50
Buck
The Last Circus
Boardwalk Empire S 1
Redline
The Guard
Tuesday, After Christmas
Ides of March

This may not have anything to do with films but it has a lot to do with the funny. http://www.cracked.com/article_18521_the-19-most-hilariously-failed-attempts-at-sexy-album-covers.html

Have a great week everybody, stay dry, stay drunk, stay entertained.

Black Dog Video