"The Book Thief," a powerful, lyrical novel by Markus Zusak, has been beautifully adapted for the screen by Michael Petroni, and while this production may not be nominated for an Oscar this year, it certainly is one of the most interesting and involving movies of 2013.
"The Book Thief," a powerful, lyrical novel by Markus Zusak, has been beautifully adapted for the screen by Michael Petroni, and while this production may not be nominated for an Oscar this year, it certainly is one of the most interesting and involving movies of 2013.
In the film, as in the book, the story is narrated by Death (voiced by Roger Allam). His soothing tones assures us that we should not fight death because his visit is inevitable. We will all slip into his grasp sooner or later. The voice then talks about one particular life that intrigued him. Her life and the people who are part of her world are the focus of this very poignant story about Germany during the reign of Der Fuhrer, Adolph Hitler.
Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) has been taken from her mother, a Communist, and placed in the care of Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and his wife Rosa (Emily Watson). Rosa is strict, stern and takes no sass from anyone, including her warm-hearted husband. For Hans, however, it is love and first sight when this lovely little child enters his home.
At first Liesel is shy, quiet and aloof, but she soon bonds with her adopted papa. He shares rationed sweet treats with her and teaches her how to read from the first book she ever took—a small black book that was thrown over the grave of her little brother.
As the film progresses we see how Nazi propaganda begins to poison the minds of the Germans living in Stuttgart and throughout the Fatherland. While the majority of the residents in her city are decent family loving folk, they soon realize they must adapt to Hitler's dogma or die.
Liesel, a feisty, spirited child who adores reading and learning new words with the help of her adopted father also finds comfort in her friendship with the blonde haired boy next door, Rudy (Nico Liersch), who is smitten by her. For him, like Hans, it is love at first sight. Their friendship provides some of the most charming segments in "The Book Thief."
Even during hardship, the shadow of a second world war and the arrival of Max (Ben Schnetzer), a Jewish friend sheltered by Hans in his basement, life goes on. The film not only gives us a sense of history it also shows us how words can either empower or destroy. For the book thief in this story, words transform her world and her life forever..
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What’s new on Blu-ray and DVD–”A Single Shot” debuted on Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 14 from Well Go USA Entertainment. It stars Sam Rockwell (“Iron Man 2”), Academy Award nominee William H. Macy (Best Supporting Actor, “Fargo” 1996), Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter” franchise) and Jeffrey Wright (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” TV’s “Boardwalk Empire“).
This intense backwoods thriller’s tagline is “one mistake, one secret, one chance.” When John Moon (Sam Rockwell) accidentally shoots a young woman and discovers a bag full of cash the isolated hunter becomes the hunted. As he struggles to conceal the death and the money events and encounters ultimately escalate into a battle for survival.
There are more than two hours of bonus features, including on-set interviews with the cast and crew and an in-depth featurette, “The Making of A Single Shot” which takes viewers behind the scenes of this gothic drama.
“A Single Shot” has a running time of approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes and is rated R for some strong violence, sexual content, nudity, language and brief drug use.
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On Jan. 28, the political thriller “The Fifth Estate” will be available on Blu-ray and DVD. Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s “Sherlock Holmes,” “War Horse”, “August: Osage County”), stars as Julian Assange, the rebel founder of Wikileaks, whose quest was to expose what he considered fraud and corruption to a world-wide audience via the internet.
In the film you will go behind the headlines to see how Wikileaks began and what the political repercussions were as a result of his actions. Ironically he has been granted asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden, not for espionage but for charges of sexual assault.
Bonus features include “The Submission Platform: Visual Effects” which reveals the on-screen techniques created from conception through on-set photography and post production, which explore the visual effects challenges of bringing the submission platform to life.
Other features include: “In Camera Graphics,” “Scoring Secrets,” a detailed examination of the soundscape created by both the composer Carter Burwell as he records his score and the film’s music supervisor as songs are chosen for the unique soundtrack and trailers & TV spots. “The Fifth Estate” is rated R for language and some violence.
