New on DVD: Oscar nominee, flops, and Faster

One Oscar nominee, two flops, and one shoot-em-up. Choose wisely.

127 Hours

Drama

The Gist: An outdoorsy guy sets out for a simple hike. He’s by himself, but that shouldn’t be a problem. He's experienced. It only takes a minute for things to go horribly wrong. Trapped under a boulder, he reviews his life and faces a horrific option to free himself.

The Ups: An amazing performance by James Franco earned him an Academy Award nomination. The movie itself was nominated for best picture. Although the film seems dark and depressing, it is amazingly life-affirming at times. Turns out, life is worth living and fighting for.

The Downs: The only option for him to save himself involves self-mutilation. It’s gruesome and very hard to watch. Did I mention it’s horrific?

The Verdict: Watch it if you have a strong stomach.

Be Aware: Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content and bloody images. Not one for the kids.

Love and Other Drugs

Romantic Comedy

The Gist: Anne Hathaway is a commitment phobic free spirit with a serious illness. Jake Gyllenhaal is a free-wheeling Viagra salesman. They start an “adult” relationship (read: casually sexual) but find it turns into something more.

The Ups: Of all the free-love, casual sex romantic comedies this year, this one tries to be the most artsy and profound.

The Downs: It’s smart and funny at times, but also very sexual. The plot becomes confused and sidetracked. However, mainly, it’s another film all about chasing whatever urges come along with no consequences. The redemption element falls flat.

The Verdict: Skip it.

Be Aware: Rated R. Hard R.

Burlesque

Musical

The Gist: Christina Aguilera stars in this film about a simple Midwestern beauty who has a pair of pipes and knows how to shake her groove thing. She moves to LA with a simple dream: to dance for men in her skivvies. It’s not exactly stripping, because she never goes all the way, but it’s close. It’s Burlesque.

The Ups: That Christina sure can belt it out. As can Cher.

The Downs: The story is a mess. What’s more, it’s unbelievably corny. She’s just a girl following her dreams. The burlesque club is a family, and everyone is good-hearted. Plus, Christina may sing and she may dance, but she acts about as well as most burlesque singers sing.

The Verdict: Skip it. Don’t do this to yourself.

Be Aware: Don’t let the PG-13 rating fool you. This film is extremely sensual, the way a musical performance by Lady Gaga is sensual. It teases, but never does the naughty bits that would give it an R. Still, it’s not something you’d want your kids watching.

Faster

Action flick

The Gist: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a burning need to drive cars fast and shoot people. The set-up - as if explanation is necessary - is something about being released from prison with one goal: making a gang pay for murdering his brother. A conflicted cop and metrosexual hit man both pursue him.

The Ups: The fun of this movie is in the title. It goes faster and faster and faster and the bullets go bam bam bam and nobody stops to think about anything, only to occasionally emote enough to keep us interested.

The Downs: It ain’t great acting. It ain’t cuddly. It is violent and bloody.

The Verdict: Sometimes you need a fast shoot-em-up. This is that movie.

Be Aware: Rated R for strong violence, some drug use, and language. Did we mention strong violence?