The subtitle for Casey Affleck's documentary on his misguided brother-in-law is "The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix". Lost is a bit of an understatement. When Phoenix abruptly quit acting to make an aimless grab at hip hop success, nobody could have predicted just how neurotic the journey would make the once promising actor. The question is whether or not any of it is legit, or if they're pulling a Borat on us, jabbing a middle finger at the celebrity obsessed.
2. Animal Kingdom
Family loyalty gets pushed to a murderous degree in David Michaud's menacing crime flick. Guy Pearce is probably the only recognizable face, starring as the only honest cop in a corrupt force trying to bring down the infamous Cody clan.
1. Machete
Makes The Expendables look like Eat Pray Love. Robert Rodriguez's grindhouse revenge flick is a bloody, violent comic mess and it's absolutely perfect. Check out our conversation with it's blade swinging star, Danny Trejo!
DVD Pick of the Week: Solitary Man
Does anyone play morally conflicted mentor types better than Michael Douglas? In Solitary Man, he puts on the best performance his recent career as a former high rolling businessman who's indiscretions have driven his career and personal life into the ground. Estranged from his family and his life's work, an ex-girlfriend looking to drive in the final nail in his career's coffin, he looks to what few friends he has left for support. But can an old leopard like him ever truly change his spots? Mary Louise-Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, Jenna Fischer, and Susan Sarandon round out an amazing supporting cast.
