Time-Sensitive Movie Night

We don't get out to movies nearly enough anymore. Sometimes it's just as much fun to get some takeout and kick back on the couch to watch a couple of new DVDs. We watched these two over the weekend and enjoyed them both, although they're about polar opposites, visually and thematically:

The Big Year is a sweet-natured comedy about birdwatching featuring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson. I don't think there is an unrecognizable face in it, with a zillion cameos from actors ranging from Anjelica Huston to Anthony Anderson, including the disembodied voice of John Cleese. The travel imagery and wealth of bird knowledge made for an engaging backdrop. (It made me want to see the documentary Winged Migration again, actually.) Jack Black and Rashida Jones' bird calling skills are impeccable.

In Time is a sci-fi thriller set in the not-too-distant future where time is, literally, money and no one visibly ages past 25. Justin Timberlake stars as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who falls for a girl with all the time in the world, played by Amanda Seyfried. It's a super stylish look at class warfare and the price of immortality. Seyfried is almost unrecognizable with a blunt auburn bob in the film, she looks straight out of a Prada ad. In Time is so visually appealing that even the cop cars are cool. If you liked Gattaca, you'll like this, too.

Both of these films will be available on January 31st.
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In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received screening copies of these DVDs to facilitate this review.