April represents another month of big-named DVD releases with Oscar Nominees galore. But before we get to my picks for the best DVD rentals coming out this month, there are a few films that I didn't love, but you'll probably want to know about. Two somewhat anticipated films that never really resonated with me in 2012 were Hyde Park on Hudson (4/9 starring Bill Murray as former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and the mob movie Gangster Squad (4/23 Starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling). Instead of those letdowns, I suggest checking out any or all of the following three films which landed on my Top Ten List of 2012. Make sure you find time to sit back and enjoy some of the marvelous movies that April has to offer.
The Impossible - 4 stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
Coming in a very close second on my Top Ten Films of 2012 is J.A. Bayona's The Impossible. The remarkably moving and undoubtedly sentimental feature received rave reviews from critics all across the globe and landed an Academy Award Nomination in the Best Actress category for its leading lady, Naomi Watts. Centering on a family divided by the horrific tsunami that struck southeast Asia in 2004, The Impossible is an eye-opening and intense piece of filmmaking that will surely win you over. Filled with grand special effects and a healthy blend of suspense and drama, The Impossible is truly one of 2012's most under-seen films. (APRIL 23RD)
Silver Linings Playbook - 3 and a half stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
One of 2012's most lovable films is David O. Russell's romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook. Following a recently released mental patient named Pat (played by Bradley Cooper) and a young depressed widow named Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), Silver Linings Playbook delivers a heartfelt and well-balanced comedy/drama. Focusing on serious issues such as mental illness, David O. Russell gives us a genuine, yet absurdly upbeat, movie experience. Receiving Oscar Nominations in all four of the acting categories, Silver Linings Playbook is one of 2012's most well-rounded features. (APRIL 30TH)
Django Unchained - 3 and a half stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
The highly regarded Quentin Tarantino gives us Django Unchained, his finest directorial effort to date. With an Oscar-winning screenplay and a gold-statue-worthy Best Supporting Actor turn from an immensely talented Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained is clearly an unforgettable experience. Following a bounty hunter (played by Waltz) who needs the aid of a slave named Django (played by Jamie Foxx), their wild journey ultimately brings them to a crazy plantation owner's home (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) in order to free Django's wife. Despite Tarantino's obscene fascination with gore and the film's over-extended ending, Django Unchained still manages to provide a bloody good time. (APRIL 16TH)
Honorable Mention: A few other noteworthy releases this month come in the form of Gus Van Sant's Promised Land (4/23) and famed documentarian Ken Burns' The Central Park Five (4/23). Although both films prove to be overly long, they were still decent enough to warrant a thumbs up from me.
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