Micah’s April DVD Picks

1. Hotel Rwanda
2. Criminal
3. DIG!
4. House of Flying Daggers
5. Meet the Fockers
6. Primer

Hotel Rwanda
Release Date: 4/12/05
One of the best movies I saw last year. Don Cheadle just does an amazing job in this movie. Really incredible story that reminds you how good we have things in the US. Not much else I can say about it…

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Criminal
Release Date: 4/12/05
Worthwhile caper/conman movie that kinda slipped in under the radar last year. It is an American remake of an Argentinean movie called Nine Queens. I would actually suggest you see Nine Queens first if you have the chance. However, if you can't find that movie, this one is pretty good. The cast is full of 'Oh-Yeah-I-Recognize-That-Guy' actors. Definately worth a rental.

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DIG!
Release Date: 4/12/05
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time. It follows the friendship and rivalry of two indie rock bands, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, over a period of seven years. I knew nothing about either one of these bands before the movie, but it didn't matter. The filmmakers do a great job editing a reported 2000 hours of footage to tell a compelling story. Even if you don't think you like documentaries, give this one a chance.

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House of Flying Daggers
Release Date: 4/19/05
2004 brought us 2 high profile Asian wire-fu movies, House of Flying Daggers & Hero. Hero is definitely a movie worth checking out, but I liked House of Flying Daggers better. It's just a cool movie that is amazing to watch. The story is pretty interesting, but the real reason to watch this movie is the fights... grab it and get ready to drool.

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Meet the Fockers
Release Date: 4/19/05
Here's a sequel that really surprised me by being almost as funny as the original. DeNiro and Hoffman have some great scenes together. Stiller continues to get himself into impossible situations. Even Babs (who I normally can't stand) came across really funny. Now I just hope they make another sequel... Baby Focker anyone?

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Primer
Release Date: 4/19/05
Two inventor friends unexpectedly invent something that is too good to be true and have to decide what to do with it. I'm not going to spoil anything, but this movie takes a concept that has been done literally thousands of times and presents it in a completely new way. This movie was made by a first time director for $7,000(!) but you'd never know it by looking at it.

Warning... this movie is VERY complicated... maybe more so than any other movie I've seen. Momento has nothing on this movie. That being said, I didn't feel frustrated by the movie. I always felt like I was just on the edge of figuring out what was going on, which is much better than having absolutely no idea what was going on. I've been waiting for this movie to hit DVD so I can go through it slowly and try to get my mind around it. When I saw this movie, writer/director/star Shane Carruth was in attendance and did a Q&A after the film. He declined to explain the movie to us, but did promise that it was possible to figure it out. This movie is my top pick of the month.

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