New to DVD This Week
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton stars in the story of how the Boston Globe discovered a conspiracy to cover up clergy sexual abuse of children. On his first day in 2001, editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) orders the staff to look at defrocked priest and accused sexual predator John J. Geoghan and what the archdiocese did or did not know and do about him. The task falls to the four-person Spotlight team — editor Walter “Robby” Robinson (Mr. Keaton) and reporters Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James) — which normally picks its own projects. Mr. Keaton plays a member of the Globe investigative team as though he had been working in newsrooms all his life and reminds us he can shine in an ensemble as well as a leading role. “Spotlight,” which nails the details about how reporters dress, eat and work, treats this investigation as a suspenseful detective story. But it never loses sight of the young people harmed by pedophile priests, the church that figuratively and literally looms large throughout, and the mandate to keep pursuing the story when other editors might have been satisfied with far less much earlier. Director-writer Tom McCarthy and screenwriter Josh Singer celebrate the heart and mission of journalism, and show the presses running in a way that is old-fashioned and thrilling. Rated R for some language, including sexual references. — Post-Gazette ‘Secret in Their Eyes’ 2.5stars “Secret in Their Eyes” — the Hollywood remake of an Oscar-winning Argentinian thriller — features a counterterrorism squad, emigre militants at a radical mosque, a big sports-stadium scene, glossy production values and a trinity of A-list stars who should be able to pull it off. It’s 2002 in post-9/11 Los Angeles, where ace detective Jess Cobb (Julia Roberts), FBI investigator Ray Kasten (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Deputy D.A. Claire Sloan (Nicole Kidman) have been chosen for an elite anti-terrorism joint task force. Minutes into the tale, a horrific crime shatters the team: Jess’ teenage daughter is murdered. The main suspect is an undercover informant at the mosque — a protected federal witness who must be released. Cut to 13 years later, forlorn Jess has been a Dead Woman Walking. Ray, obsessed with the case, discovers a new lead and returns to L.A. to persuade Claire — now the D.A. — to reopen it. Unfortunately, the film is weighed down by backstory baggage, mishandled twists and jarring flashback cuts. PG-13 for thematic material involving disturbing violent content, language and some sexual references. — Post-Gazette ‘The Good Dinosaur’ 3stars An animated apatosaurus makes an unlikely human friend, learns the power of confronting fears and what he is capable of, in this movie that asks, “What if dinosaurs never became extinct?” “The Good Dinosaur” has beautifully detailed, majestic landscapes, a touching scene explaining the loss of parents with bits of driftwood, and other wordless representations of friendship. It also has T. rexes who gallop across the plains as if they were cowboys herding buffalo, with spirited music to match. You may think it skews young, and in some ways it does, but its artistry and heartfelt examination of family, friends and (confronting) fears give it universal appeal. PG for peril, action and thematic elements. — Post-Gazette ALSO NEW ON DVD: “My All American” (2stars): The story of Freddie Steinmark, a University of Texas football player who became a national symbol of courage and determination while battling cancer. Finn Wittrock plays that role, and Aaron Eckhart is a Texas Longhorns coach. “The Irish RM”: Peter Bowles portrays a retired army officer who becomes a resident magistrate. “I Smile Back”: Sarah Silverman stars in this film about how a woman’s past is affecting her current life. “Transformers: Rescue Bots”: First responders are back for more action. “Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Season 1 Part 1”: Gang goes on a road trip to celebrate graduation. “The Curse Curse II”: Meteor and abandoned nuclear test site create problems. “Fargo: Year Two”: Latest crime case investigated in Sioux Falls, S.D. Kirsten Dunst stars. “Jesus of Nazareth: The Complete Miniseries”: Franco Zeffirelli’s sweeping drama of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels. “Shaun the Sheep: Season 2”: Includes 40 episodes of sheepish fun. “Extraction”: Son of retired CIA field operative must save his father. Bruce Willis stars.
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