Mat Brewster

Cinema Sentries

Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (Deluxe Edition) DVD Review: Star-studded, Jam-packed, Mid-career Celebration of One of Rock’s Greats

Only Dylan could get so many talented artists to come together and create such incredible music together.

Read More »

12 Years a Slave Is the Pick of the Week

It’s the kind of thing Academy voters eat up as they obviously did last night.

Read More »

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor Blu-ray Review: An Overstuffed, but Still Yummy Christmas Turkey

A nice send-off to the Eleventh Doctor, just not a great one.

Read More »

Gravity Is the Pick of the Week

The trailers look stunning.

Read More »

Beware the Batman: Shadows of Gotham, Season 1 Part 1 DVD Review: A New Take On An Old Character

They decided to make some pretty big changes in order to set themselves apart.

Read More »

Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season Is the Pick of the Week

They do an amazing job of bringing these characters and the huge scope of their stories to the screen.

Read More »

Fantastic Mr. Fox Criterion Collection Review:  It is Quote-Unquote Fantastic

It’s absolutely worth upgrading to this Criterion disk.

Read More »

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness Blu-ray Review: Ingrid Bergman Saves China

A lovely film though overly long and slightly racist to modern eyes.

Read More »

Ender’s Game Is the Pick of the Week

The Internet has got me excited about something and that excitement gets passed around and shared.

Read More »

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Blu-ray Review: The Adaptations Keep Ringing and Ringing

The Blu-ray has its flaws, but this is likely the best version we’re ever going to see of it.

Read More »

Vera: Set 3 DVD Review: Great Scenery, Plenty of Murders

Vera: Set 3 is a well-made, well-drawn series that would make an excellent part of anyone’s mystery set.

Read More »

Dallas Buyers Club Is the Pick of the Week

A recipe for my Pick of the Week.

Read More »

Top of the Lake DVD Review: Top of My Best of 2014 List

A well-made, atmospheric, beautiful series from Jane Campion.

Read More »

Blue Jasmine Is the Pick of the Week

I pretty much make all of his new releases my Pick of the Week.

Read More »

Enough Said Blu-ray Review: A Sweet, Realistic Romantic Comedy

A lovely portrait of real characters with real problems played realistically.

Read More »

Sesame Street: Be a Good Sport DVD Review: Fun and Education for Babies (and Adults Too)

Over two hours worth of sketches that are sure to keep any ankle biter enthralled.

Read More »

Rififi Is the Pick of the Week

Because it features one of the most tense, carefully crafted scenes in all of cinema.

Read More »

Top of the Lake Is the Pick of the Week

Apologies for those who love their rednecked water-fowl, and foul-mouthed animated spies.

Read More »

Don Jon Blu-ray Review: How Porn is Better Than Scarlett Johansson

Joseph Gordon-Levitt attempts to deal with how fantasy worlds collide with our real ones, causing untold problems and unhappiness.

Read More »

Don Jon Is the Pick of the Week

I like Gordon-Levitt a good deal, and it’s impossible not to watch Scarlett Johansson in anything she does.

Read More »

Call of the Wild (1935) Blu-ray Review: A Fun but Forgettable Adventure

The movie is good and representative of this classic period of Hollywood filmmaking.

Read More »

Prisoners Is the Pick of the Week

It looks to be an intense, violent, really good bit of cinema.

Read More »

East West 101: Seasons Two & Three DVD Review: An Exciting Australian Crime Drama with a Social Message

It’s compelling stuff that’s both fun thrilling and meaningful.

Read More »

Jesse James (1939) Blu-ray Review: History Be Damned, This Is Too Much Fun

Though a bit dated and terribly inaccurate, it is a joy to watch and is immensely entertaining.

Read More »

Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project Is the Pick of the Week

A recommendation from Scorsese and the Criterion people makes this collection an easy choice.

Read More »

Blood on the Docks, Volume 1 DVD Review: Murders and Mysteries in Northern France

What makes it watchable, even rather enjoyable, is the two main actors.

Read More »

Dead Like Me: The Complete Series Is the Pick of the Week

A very nicely priced set of a really wonderful show.

Read More »

Breaking Bad: The Complete Series Is the Pick of the Week

A pick to be thankful for.

Read More »

Poirot: Series 9 Blu-ray Review: Well-made Mysteries

A pretty grand thing when you get down to it.

Read More »

The World’s End Is the Pick of the Week

To say that when it came out on DVD it would be my Pick of the Week would be putting it exactly.

Read More »

Line of Duty: Series 1 DVD Review: The Thin Gray Line

A terrific bit of television.

Read More »

Nosferatu (1922): Deluxe Remastered Edition Is the Pick of the Week

It stands right up there with my all-time favorites.

Read More »

The Three Faces of Eve Blu-ray Review: Dated, but Fun

Quite charming in its own way.

Read More »

Spiral: Season 2 DVD Review: A Superb, Layered French Crime Drama

Spiral Season 2 is fantastic television.

Read More »

The Right Stuff: 30th Anniversary Edition Is the Pick of the Week

A classic American film about classic Americans gets the nod.

Read More »

The Johan Falk Trilogy DVD Review: Flawed but Fun

Despite quite a few flaws, The Johan Falk Trilogy creates some rather enjoyable popcorn viewing.

Read More »

Monsters University Is the Pick of the Week

This is certainly not my most glowing Pick ever.

Read More »

Aftershock (2012) Blu-ray Review: A Disaster / Horror Film that Wants to Be More, but Fails Miserably

Unfortunately, the filmmakers decided to go for carnage and gore, and the results are as dull as can be.

Read More »

Embrace of the Vampire (2013) Blu-ray Review: Better Than the Original, Which Isn’t Saying Much

If you like b-grade vampire movies, this one’s pretty well done.

Read More »

Embrace of the Vampire (1995) Blu-ray Review: Would Be Forgotten Were It Not for Alyssa Milano’s Assets

This isn’t a show-off disk, unless by showing off one means presenting high-definition celebrity nudity.

Read More »

Love Actually: Tenth Anniversary Edition Is the Pick of the Week

It’s probably my favorite Christmas movie ever.

Read More »

Eyes Without a Face Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Mesmerizing, Poetic Film

While it embraces the horror genre, it manages to rise above it as well and present itself as a masterful work of art.

Read More »

Much Ado About Nothing (2012) Is the Pick of the Week

Despite my inability to fall in love with all things Joss, I’m very excited about his take on this Shakespearian comedy.

Read More »