Previews: Quartet, Jack the Giant Slayer – new at Town & Country Video

Blu-Rays $9.99 and $14.99; DVDs $3.99 and $6.99 – at Town & Country Video, Picton.

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New at Town & Country Video, Picton, on Tuesday, June 18:

Synopsis – Quartet
An opera company filled with retired performers reunite once a year to stage a fund-raiser for their theater in Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut. Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, and Billy Connolly star.

Synopsis – Jack the Giant Slayer
The beloved fairy tale JACK AND THE BEANSTALK gets the big-screen treatment courtesy of director Bryan Singer (VALKYRIE) and screenwriters Darren Lemke (SHREK FOREVER AFTER), Christopher McQuarrie (THE USUAL SUSPECTS), and Dan Studney in this fantasy adventure about a naïve farm boy who attempts to rescue a beautiful princess from a race of vengeful giants. When Jack (Nicholas Hoult) inadvertently opens a passageway that allows giants to cross into our reality, the towering titans stake their claim on the world of humans. Should they succeed, Jack’s kingdom will be but the first of many to fall. Now, in order to save his people and rescue a noble princess, Jack must summon every ounce of bravery to drive out the invading giants.
New at Town & Country Video, Picton Tuesday, June 11:

Synopsis – Snitch
A desperate father infiltrates a powerful drug cartel in order to save his son from a 10-year prison sentence in this crime drama based on actual events. Arrested on charges of drug distribution after he’s caught with a package of Ecstasy, 18-year-old Jason Collins (Rafi Gavron) faces a mandatory ten-year sentence in a federal prison. But Jason’s father John (Dwayne Johnson) knows that his son is no drug dealer, and vows to do whatever it takes to win back his freedom. When Jason refuses an offer to reduce his sentence by setting someone up to take a big fall, John pleads with U.S. Attorney Joanne Keeghan (Susan Sarandon) to let him go undercover, and gather enough evidence to convict the real power players. With the help of ex-con-turned-family man Daniel (Jon Bernthal), John is hot on the trail of Malik (Michael Kenneth Williams), a vicious drug dealer and the leader of a notorious street gang. Meanwhile, in his efforts to free his son, John may have inadvertently put Daniel’s family in jeopardy. Later, when the growing trail of clues leads John to ruthless cartel leader Juan Carlos “El Topo” Pintera (Benjamin Bratt), the loyal father vows not to let his fate be dictated by the ambitious powers that be on either side of the law. Barry Pepper also stars.

Synopsis – Oz the Great and Powerful
A mischievous magician gains the wisdom to become a powerful ruler after being swept away to a land of magic and mystery as director Sam Raimi and screenwriters Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire (RABBIT HOLE) explore the genesis of author L. Frank Baum’s enduring tales of Oz. Shady illusionist Oscar Diggs (James Franco) enchants curious audiences at a Kansas circus. A self-professed con man, he’s a fast-talking performer who aspires to follow in the footsteps of inventors like Thomas Edison. Oscar is being chased across the circus grounds by the rampaging Strongman when a tornado blows in and everyone runs for cover. Seeing a hot-air balloon as his only chance for escape, the illusionist jumps in and cuts himself free. Magically transported to the wondrous world of Oz, he soon encounters Theodora (Mila Kunis), a temperamental witch who surmises that he is the wizard named after their land (Oscar’s nickname is Oz), foretold to fall from the sky, defeat a nasty witch, and ascend to the throne. Theodora takes Oscar to the Emerald City to meet her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz), a powerful witch who reveals that he cannot become the rightful ruler of Oz until he’s accomplished his mission. Later, as Oscar and his new flying-monkey companion Finley (voice of Zach Braff) prepare to face their fearsome enemy, they’re joined by the fragile but fearless China Girl (voice of Joey King) and benevolent witch Glinda the Good (Michelle Williams), who help them prepare for the arduous battle ahead. Together with the brave people of Oz, Oscar draws up a plan to rid the land of evil once and for all, and become the great and powerful king who will rule from his throne in the Emerald City.
New at Town & Country Video, Picton Tuesday, June 4:

Synopsis – Identity Thief
An accounts representative embarks on a frantic quest to reclaim his identity from the Orlando thief who stole it and destroyed his credit by embarking on a massive spending spree in this comedy starring Jason Bateman (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, HORRIBLE BOSSES) and Melissa McCarthy (BRIDESMAIDS). Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Bateman) has a problem. A Denver family man who’s always been responsible with his personal finances, he is shocked to learn that his credit score is in shambles. But it gets worse — if he can’t clear his name in a week, the mix-up could very well cost him his job. Fortunately Sandy is in luck; after the unrepentant Florida fraudster (McCarthy) who stole his identity causes a stir in a club and misses her court date, Sandy is arrested and promptly released when detectives request a mug shot, and realize their mistake. When the police refuse to offer any help, Sandy realizes that his only choice is to catch the imposter himself and bring her back to Denver to face justice. Unfortunately, this wily thief isn’t going down without a fight, and with a grizzled skip tracer (Robert Patrick) and a pair of vicious gangsters (Génesis Rodríguez and T.I.) determined to get the fake Sandy first, every step along the way will be a struggle.

Synopsis – A Good Day to Die Hard
John McClane (Bruce Willis) and his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) team up to protect a government informant in Moscow, and thwart a major crime in Chernobyl in this sequel from director John Moore (MAX PAYNE, BEHIND ENEMY LINES). Russian politics are in tatters when veteran detective McClane shows up in the nation’s capital, and learns that his son is working undercover to protect Komarov (Sebastian Koch) — a notorious whistleblower who some powerful people would like to see silenced. Protecting Komarov won’t be easy, even for the cop who’s single-handedly defeated small armies of terrorists, and the sharp-shooting son he’s never known. Meanwhile, when the fearless father and son catch wind of a deadly plot unfolding in Chernobyl, they face the fight of their lives in one of the most hostile landscapes known to man. Cole Hauser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead co-star.

New on Tuesday, May 28:

Synopsis – The Numbers Station
A discredited black-ops agent tasked with protecting a CIA code operator finds his mission in jeopardy when the secluded facility where she works comes under siege in this thriller starring John Cusack and Malin Akerman. Emerson Kent (Cusack) used to be a top operative. But when he bungles his latest mission, his superiors decide to test his mettle. As a result, Emerson is dispatched to the British countryside, where Katherine (Akerman) broadcasts heavily encrypted codes containing assignments for agents in the field. Emerson’s task is to protect Katherine, but he could have never foreseen the struggle that lies ahead. When a mysterious gang launches a vicious assault on the station, Emerson calls for backup and receives an unexpected response that shakes him to the very core. Now, in order to secure the location and survive to tell the story, Emerson and Katherine must solve the riddle of a mysterious message left behind by the previous broadcaster’s protector.

Synopsis – Generation Um…
Writer/director Mark L. Mann makes his feature debut with this drama tracing 24 hours in the lives of three acquaintances (Keanu Reeves, Bojana Novakovic, and Adelaide Clemens) who become swept up in a whirlwind of drugs and debauchery as their future begins to look increasingly uncertain.

New on Tuesday, May 21:

Synopsis – Side Effects
Rooney Mara stars as Emily Taylor; her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is a young businessman who, as the film opens, is soon to be released from prison after serving a few years for financial fraud. Overcome with stress, the mentally fragile Emily performs a quasi-suicide attempt and is put in the care of Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), a workaholic psychiatrist who convinces Emily to see him once a week for therapy. Jonathan is intrigued enough by Emily’s story to seek counsel from her former therapist, Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones). One night Emily commits a horrific act that she claims not to remember because she was taking the medication prescribed to her by Jonathan, leading to a very public legal battle that leads to Jonathan taking a major public blow to his reputation. This turn of events prompts the chastened doctor to look deeper into Emily’s past. Directed by Steven Soderbergh from a script by his regular collaborator Scott Z. Burns.

Synopsis – Parker
A principled thief seeks vengeance against the gang of criminals who left him for dead following a major heist as author Donald E. Westlake’s pulp anti-hero returns to the screen under the assured direction of Hollywood veteran Taylor Hackford (THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, RAY). When veteran thief Hurley (Nick Nolte) assembles a crackerjack crew for a big heist at the Ohio State Fair, his fiercely independent protégé Parker (Jason Statham) is the perfect man to take the lead on the job. Together with Melander (Michael Chiklis), Ross (Clifton Collins Jr.), Hardwicke (Micah Hauptman), and Carlson (Wendell Pierce), Parker successfully pulls off a daring daytime heist that nets the crew more than $1 million. But when Parker respectfully declines Melander’s offer to invest their take in an ambitious diamond heist with a massive potential payday, he is unceremoniously shot and left for dead. Unfortunately for Melander and his gang, Parker is still very much alive, and he’s determined to have his revenge. With the help of Hurley and Hurley’s daughter Claire (Emma Booth), Parker manages to learn that the heist will take place in West Palm Beach, FL, and he travels there to pose as a wealthy Texan seeking to purchase a new home. Meanwhile, astute real-estate agent Leslie Rodgers (Jennifer Lopez) quickly sees through Parker’s game and asks to get a cut of the action. Now a team, Parker and Leslie figure out that the gang is planning to hit a high-profile jewelry auction. All they have to do is wait until Melander and his men have pulled off the heist. Once the jewels are secure and the thieves are lying low at a local house, the stage will be set for Parker to take his revenge and make a small fortune in the process.

New on Tuesday, May 14:

Synopsis – Cloud Atlas
Directors Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski team up to helm this adaptation of David Mitchell’s popular novel CLOUD ATLAS. The trio have put together an all-star cast, including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, and Hugh Grant, to play various characters over the course of several different historical time periods. The various narrative threads weave in and out of each other, painting a portrait of mankind’s quest for tolerance and peace throughout the ages.

Synopsis – Tomorrow You’re Gone
A repentant ex-con is compelled to commit a murder to repay the man who protected him in prison, but experiences an acute crisis of conscience when he falls for a mysterious beauty who recognizes the good buried deep within him. When Charlie (Stephen Dorff) was doing time, The Buddha (Willem Dafoe) kept him safe from harm. Now Charlie is back on the streets, and The Buddha needs a favor. Meanwhile, as Charlie prepares to commit a crime that could land him back behind bars, sympathetic lost soul Florence (Michelle Monaghan) walks into his life. Florence isn’t fooled by Charlie’s macho swagger, but when the job goes awry, he’s the only one who can protect her from the coming storm. Now, with his last chance for redemption finally within reach, Charlie’s shady past returns with a vengeance.

New on Tuesday, May 7:

Synopsis – Jack Reacher
THE USUAL SUSPECTS’ Christopher McQuarrie brings Lee Child’s Jack Reacher character to the big screen with this Paramount Pictures release starring Tom Cruise as the lone-wolf investigator on the hunt for a murderous sniper. Robert Duvall, Richard Jenkins, Rosamund Pike, and director Werner Herzog co-star.