Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

I’ve got nothing, but I’m planning to see Shame tomorrow and Coriolanus during its one-week Academy run later this week.

New to DVD

5 Days of War (highly recommended): This film about the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia is a strong, harrowing war film which shines in its depiction of the horrors of war and doesn’t let up on its intensity all throughout.

Friends with Benefits (recommended): This hook-up buddies comedy is far superior to “No Strings Attached,” featuring fun performances from Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake in a film that is often hilarious and entirely enjoyable.

The Future (mixed bag): Miranda July’s oddball follow-up to “Me and You and Everyone We Know” is more of a narrative, less of an ensemble, and ultimately an unsatisfying second film from this creative filmmaker.

One Day (recommended): This romantic drama follows one couple for one day a year over the course of twenty years. That novel approach presents its advantages and its complications. The movie features great performances from Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, and ultimately proves to be quite moving.

Our Idiot Brother (recommended): This ensemble comedy boasts a terrific cast, led by Paul Rudd as the dim-witted Ned, and it’s definitely a lot of fun, even if it’s not as funny as it could have been given the talent involved.

Seven Days in Utopia (mixed bag): This G-rated golf movie is very determined to be inspirational, and in that pursuit, it skips over any sort of conflict that might arise for its main character. Even though it doesn’t offer much intrigue, it’s a perfectly pleasant and enjoyable film.

30 Minutes or Less (mixed bag): This comedy is a disappointment, considering how funny Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, and Danny McBride have all proven they can be. There are certainly hilarious moments, but overall, this film just doesn’t cut it.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (recommended): This horror comedy is extremely funny, featuring Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk as best friends who end up with a slew of college kids determined to put themselves in danger thinking that they’re deranged murderers. It’s not for the faint of heart in terms of gore, but for everyone else, it’s absolutely hilarious.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

1996 Best Picture winner The English Patient is now up, which if you haven’t seen is a sweeping, often mesmerizing, often boring epic. A recommended film.