Those with any doubts about the remarkable range and screen presence of Joseph Gordon-Levitt need only check him out in the oddly toned, aggressive comedy Hesher. He plays a tatted up, long haired, grungy anarchist who invades the home and personal space of a father and son struggling to cope with the mom's recent death. While often very bleak, the film finds blasts of raw humor usually provided by Hesher's grating personality. Natalie Portman gives a weird supporting performance as a supermarket check-out girl who falls for Hesher's attitude.
Hey, even more Natalie Portman for ya. To say she's made some odd choices post-Black Swan is an understatement, and we can argue about her reasoning behind movies like Hesher and Your Highness all day. But there's no doubt she hooked up with Thor because it's the type of summer blockbuster she's never really been a part of, and getting in good with the Marvel cinematic universe is a recipe for a long and profitable career. The star of the show is obviously Chris Hemsworth, carrying the thunder god's arrogance and privelidged charm like a badge of honor. I've long said that Thor would be the hardest Marvel character to pull off right, because of the dense family dynamics he comes burdened with, as well as making an immortal god relatable to audiences. Plus he has to fit in the same world as Iron Man and The Hulk? Seems far out, but director Kenneth Branagh managed to strike the right balance for one of the summer's best popcorn flicks.
Was there really any doubt? Although with George Lucas' incessant tinkering with his unquestioned classic epic, part of me feels like this long awaited box set should be booted out of the top spot if not relegated to a black hole far off the charts. But this is Star Wars. The greatest piece of science fiction ever created. At this point it's so much bigger than anything Lucas could ever do to it that it remains a must buy. And since the price recently dipped down to $79.99 it becomes absolutely essential.
Other Notable Releases
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Citizen Kane(Amazon Exclusive 70th Anniversary + The Magnificent Ambersons)
O Brother Where Art Thou?
, directed by The Coen Brothers(Blu-Ray)Love Wedding Marriage
, starring Mandy Moore and Kellan LutzMystery Science Theater 3000: Manos the Hands of Fate
The Tempest
, staring Helen Mirren and Russell Brand
Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, staring Helen Mirren and Russell Brand
, starring Conan O'Brien and Andy RichterBill Cunningham New York
, with Bill Cunningham and Ana WintourIncendies
, starring Lubna Azabal Meek's Cutoff
, starring Michelle Williams and Bruce GreenwoodTrue Legend
, starring Michelle Yeoh and David Carradine
