DVD Picks

Pick of the Week

That Evening Sun

Drama; rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some violence, sexual content and thematic elements; also available on Blu-ray

The Gist: Eighty-something Tennessee farmer Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) busts out of the retirement home and heads back to reclaim his family homestead. Trouble is, his lawyer son has already rented the place to a down-and-out Choat family, who have problems of their own.

The Lowdown: Based on a short story by William Gay, "That Evening Sun" is stripped-down Southern Gothic drama in the Tennessee Williams vein, updated to a contemporary setting and populated with fascinating characters.

This is above all a showcase for Holbrook, who gives us in Abner Meechum a proud and stubborn man unwilling to go gently into that good night. As the ostensible villain, Ray McKinnon plays Lonzo Choat as a damaged and, sometimes, dangerous man. But both Abner and Lonzo have their shades of gray, and the film's best scenes drill deep into the conflict between these two men. Each has a claim to the land, and no one here is particularly heroic.

Also look for supporting turns from Holbrook's late wife Dixie Carter, veteran character actor Barry Corbin ("Northern Exposure") and Mia Wasikowska ("Alice in Wonderland").

The Extras: Two production docs, cast and crew interviews, and an "anti-commentary" track from director Scott Teems.

The Bottom Line: A thoughtful and rewarding indie drama with one of the year's best leading performances.

Double Secret Bonus Tip: "That Evening Sun" won the Audience Award at the 2010 SXSW film festival.

MacGruber

Comedy; rated R for strong crude and sexual content, violence, language and some nudity; also available on Blu-ray

The Gist: Based on the 1980s TV character MacGyver, resourceful superspy MacGruber (Will Forte) headlines 90 or so minutes of attempted comedy to justify yet another "Saturday Night Live" spinoff movie.

The Lowdown: It's easy to make fun of a movie like MacGruber, a cheap and cynical SNL spinoff in the manner of "Superstar," "A Night at the Roxbury," etc. And that's what I like about it. It's easy! Just sitting back, cracking wise, wondering how Will Forte has a career ...

Unfortunately for my filing system, "MacGruber" has a potent secret weapon in the person of actress Kristen Wiig, who once again displays funniness above and beyond the call of duty. Wiig plays MacGruber's sidekick/love interest and steals every scene she's in with an assortment of subtle asides and gestures.

The rest of the movie is a procession of breathtakingly lame jokes and desperate attempts to cover the lack of actual comedy with relentless crudity. OK, there's one good bit early on where MacGruber assembles his team in typical montage fashion, then accidentally renders the whole point moot with a critical error.

But other than that, "MacGruber" qualifies as a DVD Pick only to the extent that you get to watch Kristen Wiig at work.

The Extras: Commentary track with Forte and director Jorma Taccone, a deleted scene and a pretty good gag reel.

The Bottom Line: Gosh, this is a bad movie.

Double Secret Bonus Tip: For your records, you can also watch Wiig be quietly excellent in "Date Night," "Whip It," "Extract," "Adventureland," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Knocked Up."