Daniel Green Slipper

New on DVD this week: Oct. 5

31.12.69

PEOPLE LIKE US (2012, Disney, PG-13, $30) — After his father dies, a fast-talking salesman (Chris Pine) finds himself tasked with delivering $150,000 to the half-sister (Elizabeth Banks) he never knew existed. It's a humdinger of a premise, inspired by true events, that co-writer/director Alex Kurtzman milks for all its worth. Oddly enough, the film is structured like a romance, with Pine befriending Banks and her young son (Michael Hall D'Addario), only to fall out with them after revealing his true identity. As predictable as much of the plot is, the characters, including Pine's steely mom (exceptionally well played by Michelle Pfeiffer), always feel lived-in and authentic. Extras: featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers and commentaries.

RED LIGHTS (2012, Millennium, R, $30) — With "Buried," writer/director Rodrigo Cortes set an entire movie inside a coffin-like box and managed to make it exciting. He's got a lot more space — and money — to work with this time around, but the results aren't nearly as suspenseful. Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy star as skeptical scientists who spend their days debunking claims of supernatural occurrences. After a taut first half, the movie turns its attention to a spoon-bending psychic and faith healer (Robert De Niro) who's an obvious charlatan. Just when the story should get cooking, the plot goes cold, and "Red Lights" begins to feel like a missed opportunity. Extras: featurettes.

Source: NorthJersey.com