Welcome back movie lovers! Let’s take another look at the home video releases for the week.

Two Days, One Night

Who’s in it?
Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée

What’s it about?
“Sandra (Cotillard) has just been released from the hospital to find that she no longer has a job. According to management, the only way Sandra can hope to regain her position at the factory is to convince her co-workers to sacrifice their much-needed yearly bonuses. Now, over the course of one weekend, Sandra must confront each co-worker individually in order to win a majority of their votes before time runs out. With TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT, the Dardennes have turned a relevant social inquiry into a powerful statement on community solidarity, once again delivering a film that is simple on the surface but alive with both compassion and wisdom.” – Sundance Selects

Nate’s Two Cents?
I saw this film earlier this year and absolutely loved it! Marion Cotillard is amazing as always and helps tell the tale of one woman’s struggle to fight for her livelihood. The film debuts on Netflix this month and is getting the Criterion treatment this week. If you don’t mind subtitles, then I highly recommend checking this one out.

Citizenfour

Who’s in it?
Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald

What’s it about?
“In January 2013, Poitras (recipient of the 2012 MacArthur Genius Fellowship and co-recipient of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service) was several years into making a film about surveillance in the post-9/11 era when she started receiving encrypted e-mails from someone identifying himself as “citizen four,” who was ready to blow the whistle on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies. In June 2013, she and Greenwald flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with the man who turned out to be Snowden. She brought her camera with her. The film that resulted from this series of tense encounters is absolutely sui generis in the history of cinema: a 100% real-life thriller unfolding minute by minute before our eyes. Executive Produced by Steven Soderbergh.” – Radius

Nate’s Two Cents?
The HBO documentary about Edward Snowden is a very informative look at the NSA’s surveillance of Americans’ everyday lives. There’s a lot of information presented in the film and at times it can become a bit overwhelming when you don’t quite understand everything Snowden is talking about. I felt it was full of some amazing information and theories, but at times got a bit boring. If you’re into documentaries that expose (alleged) government wrongdoings and such, then for sure give this a watch.

Lila & Eve

“A tense and exciting film, LILA AND EVE is directed by Charles Stone III (DRUMLINE), and tells the story of Lila (Academy Award (R) Nominee Viola Davis), a grief-stricken mother who in the aftermath of her son’s murder in a drive-by shooting attends a support group where she meets Eve (Jennifer Lopez), who has lost her daughter. When Lila hits numerous roadblocks from the police in bringing justice for her son’s slaying, Eve urges Lila to take matters into her own hands to track down her son’s killers. The two women soon embark on a violent pursuit of justice, as they work to the top of the chain of drug dealers to avenge the murder of Lila’s son.” – Samuel Goldwyn

Where Hope Grows

“Calvin Campbell is a former professional baseball player sent to an early retirement due to his panic attacks at the plate. Even though he had all the talent for the big leagues, he struggles with the curveballs life has thrown him. Today, he mindlessly sleepwalks through his days and the challenge of raising his teenager daughter. His life is in a slow downward spiral when it is suddenly awakened and invigorated by the most unlikely person – Produce, a young-man with Down syndrome who works at the local grocery store. Calvin slowly loses the chip on his shoulder as he begins to experience the world through Produce’s eyes. Faith, work, purpose and most importantly family, blossom into Calvin’s life as their friendship develops. The unlikely pair becomes intertwined giving Calvin’s life new meaning and purpose, but unfortunately leads to tragedy due to single decision echoed from Calvin’s past.” – Roadside Attractions

The Walking Dead (Season 5)

““Season Four of The Walking Dead ended with Rick and the group outgunned, outnumbered, and trapped in a train car awaiting a grim fate. Season Five picks up shortly thereafter. What follows is a story that weaves the true motives of the people of Terminus with the hopeful prospect of a cure in Washington, D.C., the fate of the group’s lost comrades, as well as new locales, new conflicts, and new obstacles in keeping the group together and staying alive. Stories will break apart and intersect. The characters will find love and hate. Peace and conflict. Contentment and terror. And, in the quest to find a permanent, safe place to call home, one question will haunt them…After all they’ve seen, all they’ve done, all they’ve sacrificed, lost, and held on to no matter what the cost…Who do they become?” – Amazon

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

Who’s in it?
Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi

What’s this thing about?
“The first Iranian Vampire Western ever made, Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut basks in the sheer pleasure of pulp. A joyful mash-up of genre, archetype, and iconography, its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave.” – Kino

Nate’s Two Cents?
If you’re looking for an interesting new take on the tired genre of vampire flicks available these days, then this film is just for you. It doesn’t have any sparkling, vegetarian vampires Americans have gotten accustomed to after the release of the Twilight saga films over the past couple years. Instead, the viewer is treated to a much different take on the genre, blending various elements of pop culture and the Iranian culture together.