New on DVD & Blu-ray: 'Thor: The Dark World', 'Gravity', 'Nebraska'

Thor: The Dark World - Thor is back, sans the Avengers, and is trying to stop a new threat that has the ability to overpower and plunge the world into darkness. In between all this, he gets back with Jane, teams up with Loki on purpose, and of course, tries to save the world in all his blonde, hammer-holding, cape-blowing glory. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Jaime Alexander, and Stellan Skarsgard. 

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Gravity - I'm sure everyone had a dream of becoming an astronaut at some point in their lives. Well, Alfonso Cuaron has probably shattered the dreams of many when he made this film, but regardless, Cuaron still makes space that much more beautiful, mysterious, and dark. Ultimately, the movie is the story of survival, perseverance in fear, and humanity, with plenty of suspenseful moments packed throughout. The film stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. 

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Nebraska - The lottery is a big deal for aging and confused Woody. He is set on making the trip from Montana to Nebraska just so he can claim the $1 million mega sweepstakes marketing prize. You know, the ones you usually get in the mail and throw away because you know there's a catch and it's not real. Instead of trying to prevent, because he's tried, David takes his dad to Nebraska, but not before coming to terms with certain things about their lives first. The film stars Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, and Stacy Keach.

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Blue is the Warmest Color - The winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, La vie d'Adele (the title in French) follows Adele as she explores her sexuality and embarks on a relationship with the free-spirited Emma. The relationship changes Adele as she explores and learns and lives. The film stars Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux. 

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Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection (Amazon Exclusive) - This 31-disc collection contains all eight Harry Potter movies on Blu-ray, DVD and UltraViolet and more than 45 hours of special features including the Creating the World of Harry Potter documentary series on Blu-ray. What better way to celebrate your love of all things Harry Potter than with this extra special collection! 

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Mr. Nobody - The movie is about life's choices. How one different decision can alter an entire lifetime as told by 118-year old Nemo, who recounts his tale to a reporter at the three most important stages in his life and possible alterations to his life. The film stars Diane Kruger, Jared Leto, and Sarah Polley.

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Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale - The Forbidden Arts entered Earth from the underworld, intent on destroying all of its rivals for power. It learned of a legend that the Swan Princess will bring an age of goodness and evil will lose its power in her presence, but she can be defeated by a magical stone. Princess Odette and Prince Derek adopt a young girl named Alise and must save her when she's kidnapped. 

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Twice Born - A single mother brings her son to Sarajevo years after his father died in the Bosnian war. The film is shrouded in mystery and tragedy in the wake of some unanswered questions of paternity. The film stars Penelope Cruz, Emile Hirsch, and Jane Birkin.

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"For Your Consideration" Trailer for Adele Exarchopoulos of 'Blue is the Warmest Color'

While it's still pretty ridiculous that Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color is ineligible for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, it can certainly be nominated in other categories. And if there's one thing about it that has blown people away, besides the controversial sex scene or the heated exchanges that followed the film's victory, it's the performance by young star Adele Exarchopoulos. Certainly she caught my attention, and if there's anybody deserving of a little recognition by the Oscars, it's her.

Sundance Selects thinks so too, and have released a red band "For Your Consideration" trailer designed to earn Exarchopoulos a few votes. It's a perfect reminder not only of the enthusiastic reception the film received, but of Exarchopoulos' unforgettable performance.

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Review: 'Blue is the Warmest Color' Starring Adèle Exarchopolous and Léa Seydoux

In the days following its Cannes premiere, where it also took home the prestigious Palm d'Or, Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue is the Warmest Colorwas unjustly labeled the "3-hour lesbian sex film". It was an unfair reduction of an emotional tale of love and heartbreak, just as similar turns of phrase were used to diminish Brokeback Mountain into the "gay cowboy movie". But at the same time, Kechiche invites such simple criticisms and undermines two magnetic lead performances by being obvious and even reductive when it comes to fleshing out the details of a very complicated relationship.

Very loosely based on the French graphic novel Blue Angel, the film is mostly seen through the eyes of 15-year-old Adèle (Adèle Exarchopolous) as she's on the cusp of realizing her sexual identity. This isn't one of those movies where homosexuality is something to be contended with; actually Adele doesn't struggle with it much at all. She's a bright girl who adores books and hangs out with her friends, who speak frankly and openly about sex, like most teens tend to do. She's also quite heterosexual, at least initially, and develops a crush on a boy in her grade. After a literature class on fate, love at first sight, and fulfilling what the heart requires, Adèle catches only the slightest glimpse of the blue-haired Emma (Lea Seydoux), and with an audible gasp her life is altered forever. That guy she was with becomes a distant memory as she can't get Emma out of her mind. The film doesn't dwell too long on the usual struggles of "coming out" or the realization that one is gay. In the case of the former we don't really see it at all, while the latter is a brief obstacle at best. Other than some teasing by her friends, which is admittedly quite cruel, Adèle seems to know what her heart truly wants.

A twist of fate brings the two girls together again, and soon they are inseparable. Emma is older, more experienced and confident in a way Adèle has yet to grow into, and initially it's very clear who holds the power in this relationship. Adèle is more than just smitten, she's hopelessly in love, and the way she navigates what turns out to be a roller coaster of emotions is the film's driving force. While the two are obviously lesbians, one of the best things about the movie is that neither is defined by their sexuality. This is about one girl's cautious steps into first love, and how she deals with the joys, pains, comforts, and insecurities that come with being in an adult relationship. At the same time, Adèle is very much still a girl; let's not forget that she's only meant to be around 15 in the beginning; and it takes some time getting over the age difference. Sure, the French may be a little more lenient on these things but here it still looks a tad creepy.

And speaking of creepy, let's just go ahead and talk about what most people are really interested in anyway: the sex. Let's just say there is a very good reason the film was saddled with an NC-17 rating. There are three notable sexual encounters, and all are quite explicit and extremely graphic. That's not the issue, really, as frank portrayals of sex have their place, especially in a film that is as open and emotionally raw as this one is. The problem, besides the fact that the scenes are uncomfortably long, is that you can almost feel Kechiche's lecherous eye leering over every shot. Make no mistake; this was a movie you can tell was shot by a man.  The first time Adèle and Emma make love it should be about the experience of it, the passion of losing oneself in the moment; especially for Adèle who has been dreaming of this encounter with this particular partner. But Kechiche shoots the sex like he was stringing together porn clips, focusing on how many positions he can get these women in rather than on the emotions behind the acts. They're intense, absolutely, but passionate and revelatory they are not.

While Kekiche's script occasionally stumbles to sound natural, such as when it indulges in weak double entendres about clams (really dude?), at others it's strikingly personal and startlingly powerful. Following them over the course of years, we're given the sort of insightful, in-depth look at an evolving relationship that it's almost like you're eavesdropping. There are ups and downs, of course, as their careers, personal viewpoints, and complacency complicate matters. Yet throughout it all we see how Adèle and Emma complement one another, fulfilling that need they've both been searching for. We're thrust so deep into their lives that the things we don't see are distracting. Other than a couple of dinner scenes we don't learn much about Adèle's family. Nor do we know if she's come out to them or if they know about how close she is with Emma. It's suggested that Adèle has kept her sexuality to herself, as she does in the novel, but as more characters emerge one can't help but wonder where she stands. The film treads much of the same emotional territory as last year's terrific gay drama Keep the Lights On (review here), really digging into the desperate lengths people will go to hold on to love.

Cannes may have felt the need to give the Palm d'Or to both actresses but this is truly Exarchopolous's film. Her Adèle is such a fully-realized creation that it's impossible to tell there's any acting going on. She's practically in every scene, commanding them all with her innocence that grows naturally into maturity and self-assuredness. Seydoux sheds much of the supermodel look we're accustomed to, donning a tough exterior as Emma, whose harsh features and attitude mask her true kindness. Together the two make a combustible pair, and it's because of them that Blue is the Warmest Color is such a vivid experience despite Kekiche's missteps.

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'Blue is the Warmest Color' Advance Screening

The winner of this year's Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the acclaimed drama Blue is the Warmest Color tells an intense love story between 15-year-old Adèle(Adèle Exarchopoulo) and the confident, blue-haired Emma (Léa Seydoux). We're pleased to offer you a chance to attend a free advance screening of the film held on Thursday October 24th at 7:00pm at Landmark E Street Cinema in Washington, DC.

To qualify, you MUST be a fan of Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook,so if you haven't "Liked" us yet please go there and do so now. Simply post a comment here with your first name and a method of contact, whether it's email, Facebook, or direct message via Twitter. If we can't reach you we'll move on to the next reader. Those selected will be notified on Monday October 21st and sent a downloadable E-pass good for you and one guest to attend.

Good luck, and we'll see you at the screening! Blue is the Warmest Color opens in DC on November1st.


LFF (2013) Blue Is The Warmest Color Trailer #1 - Lesbian Drama HD by UltraCinema

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New U.S. Trailer and Posters for Palm d'Or Winner 'Blue is the Warmest Color'

Marketing Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color to an international audience is one thing, but trying to do the same for its domestic release is quite another. Merely checking off its festival acclaim won't do the job, and it's generally a tough sell to push a 3-hour lesbian romance with no recognizable stars and a troublesome NC-17 rating. Not an enviable task for distributor Sundance Selects, but they're smart enough to know that when Steven Spielberg talks people listen, and his extraordinary praise for the film are the centerpiece of the first U.S. trailer: "Magnificent...we were under the spell of the film and its wonderful actresses."

Starring Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos with direction by Abdellatif Kechiche, the film explores the highs and lows of a romantic relationship between two women, and yes it contains some graphic sex. But as this wordless, purely emotional trailer suggests this is about a lot more than just their physical connection.

Blue is the Warmest Color opens on October 25th. Check out the trailer below, and feast on a pair of new posters, too.

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Palm d'Or Winner 'Blue Is The Warmest Color' Slapped with NC-17 Rating

"This is a landmark film with two of the best female performances we have ever see on screen.  The film is first and foremost a film about love, coming of age and passion. We refuse to compromise Kechiche's vision by trimming the film for an R rating, and we have every confidence that BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR will play in theaters around the country regardless. An NC-17 rating no longer holds the stigma it once did, and we look forward to bringing this unforgettable film to audiences nationwide. We believe this film will leave a lasting imprint as the LAST TANGO IN PARIS for a whole new generation."

So says Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films about his Palm d'Or-winning romance Blue is the Warmest Color, which just got slapped with a restrictive NC-17 rating by the MPAA for “explicit sexual content.” They might as well have said "because girls having sex is kind of icky and junk". Ironically, in France the film has a rating of '12' which basically means it's only restricted from kids below that age. It'll be nice when we stop letting the sexual prudes run the show around here.To the studio's credit they aren't going to try and appeal the ruling, deciding to release it on October 25th in its full 3-hour capacity.

The film stars Adele Exarchopoulos as a young woman who experiences a sexual awakening when she meets and falls for a blue-haired student played by Lea Seydoux. There's no doubt it's not exactly a story for the kiddies anyway as it's said to have a large amount of sex that wasn't simulated. The NC-17 rating does seem a little harsh, though, and is just another hurdle for the film which has faced other troublesome rulings against it. While it would seem to be an obvious favorite for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award, it won't qualify due to arbitrary rules concerning overseas dates. An Oscar run would have bumped up its marketability considerably, and now with this latest judgement by the MPAA the deck does seem stacked against Blue Is the Warmest Color having any box office success in America.

Personally I find this whole thing silly as shit, but "sex vs. violence" argument against the MPAA has been made ad nauseum. No need to go through it again. I'll be happy when movie studios do what the comic book publishers did when they wanted to escape the clutches of the Comics Code Authority, which is create their own rating system. Maybe as comics and film become more intertwined than ever, the likelihood of that happening will increase.

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First Trailer For Palm d'Or Winner 'Blue Is The Warmest Color'

Already one of the most buzzed about and acclaimed films of the year after sharing the Cannes Palm d'Or between director Abdellatif Kechiche and stars Léa Seydoux and Adele Exarchopolous, Blue Is the Warmest Color would seem to be a shoe-in favorite for Oscar gold. But alas it's not meant to be as it will miss the release date window, meaning it can only qualify next year. While that's disappointing, and certainly lessens the Best Foreign Language, the praise being heaped on the film is extraordinary, and so is the power in the first trailer.

Set to make its North American debut in Toronto next, Blue is the Warmest Color chronicles the passionate and turbulent relationship between 15-year old Adele and the blue-haired Emma. It's a love that will change them both in profound ways, exploring the sadness, happiness, and anger that are a part of every relationship, same-sex or not. The film drew some criticism for its long, extremely graphic sex scenes but that was secondary to the rave reviews earned for its dramatic intensity and lead performances.

Blue Is the Warmest Color hits TIFF next month, then opens on October 25th.

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'Blue is the Warmest Color' takes Cannes' top prize; check out two clips now

The doors have closed on the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and now that all is said and done, this will go down as one of the strongest years for American filmmakers and American movies.  Films like Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station, the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis, Alexander Payne's Nebraska, and Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive all performed well and were greeted warmly by the picky crowd on the Croisette, but when all was said and done it was the French romance Blue is the Warmest Color that took home the festival's top prize.

Steven Spielberg and his jury have selected the French drama Blue is the Warmest Color as the Palm d'Or winner, taking the extraordinary step to grant it not only to Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche, but also to the two lead actresses Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. It was a historic decision for a couple of reasons, none of which have to do with the lesbian romance at the heart of the story, although the steamy sex scenes are what has garnered the most attention. The win marks the first time that a movie based on a comic book has ever taken the Palm d'Or, as it's based on Julie Maroh's graphic novel Le Bleu est Une Couleur Chaude. The unique circumstances also mean that Jane Campion, who won in 1993 for The Piano, is no longer the only female Palm d'Or winner.

Bruce Dern, who was nominated for an Oscar 35 years ago for Coming Home, took the Best Actor prize for Nebraska, while Berenice Bejo won Best Actress for Asghar Farhadi's Iranian family drama, The Past.  Below you'll find the complete list of honors from the Un Certain Regard, FIPRESCI, and Ecumenical Jury categories, followed by two clips from Blue is the Warmest Color. 

PALME D’OR:
LA VIE D’ADÈLE - CHAPITRE 1 & 2 (Blue Is The Warmest Color) by Abdellatif KECHICHE

GRAND PRIX:
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS by Ethan COEN, Joel COEN

PRIX DE LA MISE EN SCEN (BEST DIRECTOR):
Amat ESCALANTE for "HELI"

PRIX DU SCENARIO (BEST SCREENPLAY):
JIA Zhangke for "TIAN ZHU DING" ("A Touch Of Sin")

CAMERA D’OR (BEST FIRST FEATURE): 
"ILO ILO," Director: Anthony CHEN

PRIX DU JURY (JURY PRIZE):
"LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON" by KORE-EDA Hirokazu


PRIX D’INTERPRETATION FEMININE (BEST ACTRESS):
Berenice Bejo, "THE PAST"

PRIX D’INTERPRETATION MASCULINE (BEST ACTOR): Bruce Dern, "NEBRASKA"

PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD
THE MISSING PICTURE by Rithy PANH
 
JURY PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
OMAR by Hany ABU-ASSAD

DIRECTING PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARDAlain GUIRAUDIE for STRANGER BY THE LAKE

A CERTAIN TALENT PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
For the ensemble cast of LA JAULA DE ORO by Diego QUEMADA-DIEZ

AVENIR PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD
FRUITVALE STATION by Ryan COOGLER

FIPRESCI PRIZE - COMPETITION PRIZE
Blue Is The Warmest Color (La vie d'Adèle — Chapitre 1 & 2) by Abdellatif Kechiche (France, 2013)

FIPRESCI PRIZE - UN CERTAIN REGARD PRIZE
Manuscripts Don't Burn (Dast-Neveshtehaa Nemisvosand) by Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, 2013)

FIPRESCI PRIZE - PARALLEL SECTION
Blue Ruin by Jeremy Saulnier (USA, 2013), shown in the Directors' Fortnight.

ECUMENICAL JURY PRIZE
LE PASSÉ/The Past de Asghar Farhadi (Compétition Officielle)

ECUMENICAL JURY PRIZE - SPECIAL MENTION
SOSHITE CHICHI NI NARU (TEL PÈRE, TEL FILS)/Like Father Like Son de Hirokazu Kore-eda (Compétition officielle)
MIELE de Valeria Golino (Un Certain Regard)

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