Pick of the Week:
Philomena. When she fell pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee (Judi Dench) was sent to the convent to be looked after as a fallen woman. She cared for her baby for three years until the Church took him from her and sold him, like countless others, to America for adoption. Coerced into signing a document promising never to attempt to see her child again, she nonetheless spent the next fifty years secretly searching for him, unaware that he was searching for her from across the Atlantic.
Other Notable Releases:
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Ben Stiller directs and stars in this classic story of a daydreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a fantasy world filled with heroism, romance and adventure. When his job, along with that of a co-worker (Kristen Wiig), is threatened, Walter takes action in the real world, embarking on a journey more extraordinary than anything he could have imagined.
Ride Along. For the past two years, high school security guard Ben (Kevin Hart) has been trying to show decorated detective James (Ice Cube) that he’s more than just a video game junkie who’s unworthy of James’ sister. When Ben finally gets accepted into the police academy, James invites him on a ride-along designed to scare the hell out of him and ultimately demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to take care of his sister. But when the wild night leads them to the most notorious criminal in the city, James will find that his new partner’s rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the bullets speeding at it. Also starring John Leguizamo and Laurence Fishburne, Ride Along is an action-packed comedy with big thrills and even bigger laughs.
Flowers in the Attic. Based on the bestselling book by V. C. Andrews, the Lifetimer Original Movie, FLOWERS IN THE ATTICE, is a gothic story of four siblings who, after the death of their father, are torn from a peaceful life and subjected to abuse resulting from a dark, family secret. Abandoned by their mother and forced to endure unimaginable treatment living in the attic of their grandparents’ mansion, the children form their own family unit. But as the oldest boy and girl come of age both emotionally and physically while caring for their younger siblings, they are entrapped by their family’s sordid past as they try to survive and escape the harsh living conditions. Heather Graham stars as the mother and Ellen Burstyn as the cruel grandmother.
The Nut Job. It’s time to go nuts for this action-packed comedy featuring the all-star talents of Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Gabriel Iglesias, Jeff Dunham, Liam Neeson, Maya Rudolph and Katherine Heigl. Surly (Arnett) is a mischievous squirrel with a mission: to find the tastiest nuts for winter. When he discovers a whole store filled with his favorite food, he plans a heist of nutrageous proportions. But the place turns out to be owned by ruthless bank robbers, so it’s up to Surly and his furry friends to stop the nearby bank heist and save the town. The fur is sure to fly in this hilarious adventure that critics are calling “Funny and witty! For kids of all ages!” (Jeffrey Lyons, Lyons Den Radio, WCBS). Read our review here.
Ripper Street: Season 2. The job of preventing Whitechapel from descending into hell has never been harder for Inspector Reid and his loyal deputies. As the century enters its final decade, society teeters on the brink of moral collapse and nowhere are the bloated British Empire’s problems felt more keenly than in its dark heart: the East End of London. The memory of Jack the ripper may have faded but the Whitechapel streets he walked are more dangerous than ever.
Black Nativity. Struggling to pay the bills, single mom Naima (Jennifer Hudson) sends her teenage son Langston (Jacob Latimore) to live with his estranged grandparents, Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett) in New York City. At first Langston resents their strict household, but with the help of new friends – and a little divine intervention – he embarks on an inspirational journey of self-discovery that brings the whole family together.
From: http://teamfogreviews.com/2014/04/15/dvd-releases-week-of-41514/
