Pads & Panels

Title: Arthur

Format: Blu-ray+DVD+Digial Copy

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Directed by: Jason Winer

Written by: Peter Baynham

Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, Luis Guzman, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Garner

Studio: Warner Bros.

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

It has been a long while since I’ve seen a movie quite as bad as Arthur. Imagine, for a moment, a drunkenly obnoxious friend who for cannot be begged for one moment to stop his antics. Stretch that out to a 110-minute feature film, and give that friend infinite wealth and take away half of his brain and you’ve got Arthur, the latest remake atrocity from Warner Bros.

Based on a 1981 film of the same name, Arthur tells the tale of its titular character (Russell Brand), who is a millionaire playboy, who, much like many of the famous children inheriting wealth nowadays, constantly finds himself in the public eye, embarrassing his family with his antics. And this is not good for business, with investors worried about getting involved with a company that Arthur is anywhere near. (more…)

Title: True Grit

Format: Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Written and Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Hailee Steinfeld

Studio: Paramount

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

True Grit is a solid film, but one I feel did not to be made for a number of reasons. The original was one of the most acclaimed John Wayne films around, and it’s a story that seemingly doesn’t need or warrant the Coen Brothers’ unique brand of humor. And ultimately, while I like the movie, I don’t love it.

Jeff Bridges is an acting force in the movie. Matt Damon does some interesting things with his character. And Hailee Steinfeld is absolutely fantastic as Mattie Ross. But it doesn’t all seem to add up in my book. It just amounts to a lot of entertaining parts that don’t really combine to form a fantastic film. (more…)