Issue link: https://canadawidemedia.uberflip.com/i/468229
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING STARRING: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, Sophie Perry A young Stephen Hawking (Oscar nom Redmayne) fell for Jane Wilde (Oscar nom Jones) while at university. Diagnosed with ALS at 21, he rallied with the support of his new wife, as the illness broke down his body but never his mind or spirit. LIFE ITSELF STARRING: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert's memoir, this documentary opens up the personal side of Ebert's life. It encompasses his childhood, time at the Chicago Sun-Times, the groundbreaking TV show with Gene Siskel, and his long battle with cancer, which he lost in 2013, at age 70. ST. VINCENT STARRING: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Jaeden Lieberher With his parents divorcing, 12-year-old Oliver (Lieberher) has trouble coping with the changes. Settling in Brooklyn with his mother Maggie (McCarthy), who works long hours, Oliver is left in the care of their neighbour, a surly war veteran named Vincent (Murray), who terrifies most children. Oliver warms to the man and his friend Daka (Watts), a pregnant stripper, and is soon accompanying Vincent to the track, strip clubs and bars. The unlikely friendship proves enlightening for both boy and man. BIRDMAN STARRING: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone Oscar-nominee Keaton stars as Riggan Thomson, an actor famous 20 years earlier for playing superhero Birdman in a string of films. With the character more famous than him, he attempts to rebuild his reputation by staking all his money on a Broadway production starring himself. More importantly, he must repair damaged relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Ultimately, however, he must come to terms with himself as a man, a task demanding greater work than any role he has played. THE INTERVIEW STARRING: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park A lready a pop-culture phenomenon thanks to the supposed terrorist threats and the hacking of film studio Sony's emails — allegedly by North Korean nasties —The Interview had its wide theatrical release cancelled in December before a patriotic public uproar led to a limited theatrical run and various VOD platform releases. Now, at last, the film makes it to your DVD player. Another middling bromance comedy, Franco stars as Dave Skylark, a celebrity interviewer who pines for meatier material. His producer Aaron Rapoport (Rogen) concurs and wrangles an interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un (Park), who happens to be a fan of their show Skylark Tonight. The CIA catches wind of their plans and recruits the pair to assassinate the ruler. They accept the assignment but prove utterly useless at following through. NEW ON DVD TV WEEK 61