Best DVD's Out Now: Millers Drossing

Only God Forgives
Only God Forgives, the beautiful, bloody, brain-numbing lovechild of Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, is a revenge melodrama set in the seedy underworld of Bangkok. Slow-motion and near-mute, the film is less a cinematic story than pop art performance piece, where beautiful, blank-faced people are choreographed to a killer soundtrack.
It’s gorgeous emptiness, existing in a psychological, ethical and narrative vacuum. Drive star Ryan Gosling plays another silent anti-hero, this time under pressure to avenge his rapist brother (Tom Burke). It’s unclear what will be the end of him. The twisted, samurai sword-wielding police officer? The sharp tongue of his Oedipal-complex-by-numbers-mother (Kristen Scott Thomas)? Or merely that the soulless tedium of his expressionless? The film exhibits no demonstrable emotion and is deeply dreary. Extras include behind-the scenes clips.

The Way Way Back
Focusing on the summer vacation of awkward teen Duncan (Liam James), this coming-of-age film covers well-worn ground. But the sharp writing transcends cliché. Never afraid to let James sit in silence, the directors capture the isolation of an adolescent unable to express himself. But the adults are also portrayed as flawed, emotional messes. Sam Rockwell has never been better as Duncan’s unlikely mentor, the gut-bustingly funny but emotionally-stunted charmer Owen. As Duncan’s meek mother, Toni Colette is gorgeous, a damaged woman who wants a new relationship with Trent (Steve Carrell, brilliantly nasty) to work.
And yet, she knows that her bad judgement may be hurting both she and her son. Great performances compensate for the somewhat predictable story-line. It’s the comic writing that truly dazzles. Rockwell’s teasing, deadpan monologues are hilarious. Allison Janney kills with every shocking non-sequiter and chirpily offensive barb. A nice indie soundtrack rounds out a lovely portrayal of those summers when you finally grow up – no matter what age you are. Includes deleted scenes.

The Lone Ranger
Johnny Depp must be stopped. The once brilliant actor has transmogrified into a costume-wearing monster. As Tonto, his face-painted, pidgin-English-speaking Native American Indian is an indulgence too far. Depp joins Armie Hammer in this punishingly long and complicated odd-couple Western about the iconic gunslinger and his bizarre, maybe-mystical, maybe-mental Indian sidekick.
Perhaps sensing Hammer is not leading man material, director Gore Verbinksi throws so many extraneous subplots, irrelevant supporting characters and needless framing devices at the viewer that it becomes nearly impossible to see the plot for all the racism and misogyny. Farcical comic interludes are just that…farcical while the violence is dark and not at all child appropriate. The cinematography is mostly lovely; but the steam-train action sequences are limited. The anti-American critique is clear – but, then, there’s that redface. Packed extras.

We're the Millers
We’re the Millers sees petty drug dealer (Jason Sudekis) recruit washed-up stripper (Jennifer Aniston, continuing her streak of mediocre comedies) and two pathetic teenagers (Emma Roberts and Will Poulter) as his fake family in order to smuggle drugs out of Mexico. Dodgeball director Rawson Marshall Thurber seems nervous without the brilliant improvisational skills of Ben Stiller or Vince Vaughan, falling back on broad, moronic characters and overtly sexual gags.
As the baby-faced underdog “son”, Son Of Rambow star Will Poulter is brilliant, all nervous stuttering and heartfelt rapping along to TLC. Alas, he is placed at the centre of gross-out sexual gags that feel borderline paedophilic. Close-ups of an 18-year-old’s spider-bitten testicle, anyone? Maternal figure Aniston making out with said 18-year-old? Aren’t there laws against this? Despite a nice turn from Jason Sudekis, pacing issues and an uncertain tone that veers from nasty sitcom material to false sentimentality make for flawed, forgettable viewing. Decent making-of extras.

Music DVD's

ROBBIE WILLIAMS: ONE NIGHT AT THE PALLADIUM
Take That’s sometime bad-boy became an outrageously successful pop star, only for the hits to dry up. Now, Robbie Williams is back. Join the singer as he takes over London Palladium for a spectacular live show, featuring swing classics and originals from new album Swings Both Ways. This one-off performance sees Robbie return to one of his favourite eras in music (he’s been here before, on 2001’s Swing When You’re Winning). Accompanied by a full orchestra and guests including Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen and Muppets Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, Williams’ charm and talents are on full display.

ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US
Morgan Spurlock, director of Super Size Me, oversaw this on-the-road documentary about British-Irish pop group. One Direction: This Is Us is an intimate, all-access look at life inside the goldfish bowl for the global music phenomenon. Featuring live footage, the movie tracks Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis’ as they journey from obscurity to the X Factor to the top of the charts. We also get to see them waggle their quiffs and belt out a few tunes at the O2 Arena in London.

A TRIBUTE TO LES PAUL
Les Paul pioneered the evolution of the electric guitar. He was also extremely influential as a musician. Friend Lou Pallo arranged for acquaintances and collaborators to give homage to their friend and mentor. Guests include Lou Pallo, Les Paul's Trio, José Feliciano, Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Miller, Keith Richards and Slash.