Articles by Meredith Ennis

On Demand DVD New Releases April 6-12 A Most Violent Year (above) Set in NYC during 1981, this thriller follows the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business as the rampant violence, decay and corruption throughout the city threaten to destroy them. Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain (R, 2:05) 4/7 Jessica Chastain was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role. 5 To 7 A young Manhattan writer (Anton Yelchin) starts a passionate love affair with a glamorous French woman, the wife of a diplomat, in this sexy romance. Also stars Glenn Close, Frank Langella, Olivia […]

On Demand DVD New Releases March 30-April 5 Cut Bank A small town murder caught on camera thrusts a man and his girlfriend into the high stakes game of cat and mouse. Liam Hemsworth, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern and Oliver Platt (R, 1:32) 4/3 Same day as theatrical release IMAX Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D  IMAX Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar. Lemurs were castaways in Madagascar millions of years ago but are now endangered. Morgan Freeman, Patricia Wright (G, 0:39) 3/3; 2 Day Rental/New HDMI-connected 3DTV & associated 3D glasses required. The Imitation Game (pictured) Alan Turing leads a code-breaking […]

The film Unbroken follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini (pictured below), who survived on a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash during World War II — only to be caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a series of prisoner-of-war camps. Author Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 book (also called Unbroken) is the basis for the film, directed by Angelina Jolie. When Zamperini found out that a well-known actress was going to direct the film, it required some getting used to. It wasn’t long, however, before he embraced Jolie and welcomed her […]

On Demand DVD New Releases March 23-29 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (pictured below) After Smaug decimates the countryside, Bilbo and company set off to finish the quest. Only they are about to engage armies in some of the most intense warfare of the series. And what of Gandalf? He who was left in a precarious situation is there to help everyone survive. Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage (PG-13, 2:24) 3/24 Into The Woods Director Rob Marshall brings a talented cast of actors together in this reimagined compilation of classic fairy tales. Take Little Red Riding […]

On Demand DVD New Releases March 16-23 Annie A kid living with her mean foster mom and a variety of other young girls gets thrust into the middle of the New York mayoral race. Business tycoon Will Stacks is the candidate who sees opportunity in Annie and uses her to help his campaign. Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, Cameron Diaz (PG, 1:58) 3/17 Top Five Long a comedian and star of blockbuster crowd-pleasing fare, Andre Allen is setting out on a new path in a serious role. After spending an extended period with a reporter, Andre realizes that there might be other […]

On Demand DVD New Releases March 9-15 Cymbeline Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Dakota Johnson and Milla Jovovich star in this gritty story of an all-out war between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang. (R, 1:38) 3/13 Available same day as theatrical release The Cobbler (pictured above) Max Simkin repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations. When he stumbles upon a magical heirloom, he steps into the lives of his customers. Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi (PG-13, 1:38) 3/13 Available same day as theatrical release. Availability dates subject to change. Check with […]

On Demand DVD New Releases March 2-8 Faults To help their daughter escape an evil cult, two parents recruit an expert to kidnap and deprogram her. In a shocking twist, he learns the cult is more powerful than could be imagined. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Leland Orser  3/6 Same day as theatrical release Foxcatcher (pictured above) John du Pont (played by an almost unrecognizable Steve Carell) is craving the chance to craft his legacy. He creates an amazing wrestling facility and recruits Mark Schultz to move to his ranch. Soon after, Mark’s brother Dave joins him to help lead the Olympic […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Feb. 23-March 1 Beyond the Lights This is the story of Noni, the music world’s latest superstar. The pressures of fame have Noni on the edge — until she meets Kaz Nicol, a young cop who has been assigned to her detail. Gugu Mbatha-raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver  (PG-13, 1:56) Oscar nominee for Best Original Song. 2/24 Big Hero 6 When a tragic accident fells Hiro’s big brother Tadashi, he finds himself searching for answers. It will take joining forces with Tadashi’s friends and his creation, the lovable inflatable robot Baymax, to restore peace. Voices of Ryan Potter, […]

“For any actor, playing Stephen Hawking was going to be intimidating,” admits The Theory of Everything screenwriter and producer Anthony McCarten. “My script called for an actor who could show the audience a man evolving over 25 years, going from being fully functional to having the use of only a few muscles — mainly one hand and some limited facial movement — and having his voice be superseded by a machine’s.” The challenge of the physical demands required to play Stephen Hawking loomed large for Eddie Redmayne, who was cast in the role.  Accordingly, Redmayne parsed even the smallest details […]

Before there was Dumb and Dumber To, there was Dumb and Dumber. The 1994 release of Dumb and Dumber is unique in movie history: Having earned almost $250 million worldwide, it is a bona fide box-office hit; yet, it is still often referred to as a “cult classic.” As the comedy became a staple of home entertainment collections and a weekly presence on cable television, it retained fans from its original theatrical release while simultaneously garnering another generation of fans who couldn’t get enough of the quotable lines and best friendship they found within the story of two simpletons on a […]