June 16
R, 124 minutes, Sony
This ball of contradiction from South African director Neill Blomkamp takes the concept of “Transcendence,” crosses it with the storyline of “RoboCop” and delivers it to the target demographic of “Short Circuit.” It is, in other words, simultaneously dumb, hyperviolent and cutesy. The titular hero (South African slang for “young man”) is a rabbit-eared police droid that develops artificial intelligence and a streetwise swagger after being adopted by a gang of Johannesburg thugs. As voiced by Blomkamp regular Sharlto Copley, Chappie is far more human than his human nemesis Vincent (Hugh Jackman), a muscle-bound soldier-turned-robot-designer who stomps through every scene like one of his automated combat troops. The antiheroic characters played by non-actors Yolandi Visser and Ninja, of the South African rap duo Die Antwoord, are the best thing about the movie, exuding a raw appeal that, if not quite charm, is nonetheless highly watchable. Contains violence, obscenity, drug content and brief nudity. Extras include a “We Are Tetravaal” featurette in which Jackman and co-stars Dev Patel and Sigourney Weaver discuss their characters and on-set experiences. Also, on Blu-ray: alternate ending, extended scene and featurettes on modern robotics, visual and special effects, the scriptwriting process, weapons tech and robot design, “Jozi: Real City and a Sci-Fi Setting” and “Chappie: The Streetwise Professor,” an inside look at casting Copley to play Chappie and his performance via motion capture.
“Run All Night”
R, 114 minutes, Warner
Liam Neeson’s antihero Jimmy Conlon is hard to like, even with the reservoir of goodwill that the actor’s fans bring with them to his films, more and more of which feature some version of this damaged soul. It’s no wonder that Jimmy’s grown son Michael (Joel Kinnaman) hasn’t spoken to his father in five years. Just about the only one left with any feeling for Jimmy is Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris), the mob boss for whom Jimmy once worked, and whose affection for his former triggerman seems closer to pity. But even that pity dries up when Jimmy kills Shawn’s son, an unpleasant cokehead who was about to shoot Michael. Shawn vows vengeance on his former employee, mustering his goons – and a coolly methodical hit man played by the rapper Common – to kill Michael as son-for-a-son payback. In a bid for the kind of phony redemption that movies of this ilk typically traffic in, Jimmy resolves to save Michael, at all costs. Contains violence, drug use, obscenity and sexual dialogue. The film plays out with the stylish if numbingly schematic brutality of an artsy action flick. Extras include deleted scenes. Also, on Blu-ray: “Shoot All Night” behind-the-scenes short and a featurette on Neeson.
R, 122 minutes, in Spanish with subtitles, Sony
This Oscar-nominated Argentine quirky comedy by writer-director Damián Szifrón is an anthology of six unrelated vignettes, mostly on the theme of vengeance. The opening scene is a darkly comic revenge fantasy and Szifrón handles the tone and presentation masterfully. This wild tale, like the rest of them, is slick, satisfying and slyly subversive. Whether it’s a story about a man who snaps after his car is towed for a parking infraction (the always excellent Ricardo DarÃn); a waitress who discovers that her customer is the loan shark who drove her father to suicide; two drivers caught in an escalating case of road rage; or a bride who becomes a bridezilla upon learning that her groom has been unfaithful, each of the bits is a sharply observed case study in human nature. Contains violence, obscenity and sensuality. Extras include a “Wild Shooting: Creating the Film” behind-the-scenes look and the featurette “An Evening at the Toronto International Film Festival With Damian Szifron.”
“Unfinished Business”
R, 91 minutes, Fox
While by no means a masterpiece, this comedy by Canadian director Ken Scott is a careful calibration of crass gags and genuine sentiment that succeeds more often than it fails. It’s hard to imagine a movie that combines an explicit scene set in a gay sex club with a subplot about parenting, but somehow, it works. The film centers on Dan Trunkman (Vince Vaughn), a businessman struggling to get his small start-up off the ground. Dan’s company employs a morose 67-year-old (Tom Wilkinson) and a borderline developmentally disabled kid (Dave Franco) and, when the opportunity to close a big deal presents itself, these three misfits set out on a business trip to Berlin. There, they encounter Dan’s former boss (Sienna Miller), who is competing for the same contract. High jinks, as they say, ensue. Contains a lot of nudity and sexual humor, drug use and obscenity. Extras include a “Show Me Your Business” behind-the-scenes featurette. Also, on Blu-ray: deleted and alternate scenes.
Also: “The Lazarus Effect” (well-acted sci-fi horror with Olivia Wilde and Mark Duplass, Fox), “The Wrecking Crew” (documentary on the backing musicians responsible for the influential West Coast sound, from the Beach Boys to the Sinatras to the Byrds, Magnolia), “Andre Gregory &Wallace Shawn: 3 Films” (multi-disc set includes 1981’s “My Dinner With Andre,” 1994’s “Vanya on 42nd Street” and 2014’s “A Master Builder,” The Criterion Collection; “A Master Builder” available separately), “Beyond the Reach” (murder thriller with Michael Douglas and Jeremy Irvine, Lionsgate), “Time Lapse” (sci-fi time-travel adventure), “Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist” (documentary), “Frontline: The Vaccine War” (PBS) and “20 Back-To-School Tales: Scholastic Storybook” (animated).
Television series: “Two and a Half Men: Final Season,” “The Newsroom: Third Season,” “Laverne &Shirley: The Complete Series” (1976-1983, 28 disc set), “The Odd Couple: Complete Series” (28-disc set), “The Driver” (BBC thriller starring David Morrissey, Acorn), “Survivor’s Remorse: First Season” (Starz) and “Lovejoy: Complete Collection” (BBC series starring Ian McShane; Season 6 available separately, Acorn).
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