Hollywood Bowl: Zom-coms, a tree that sounds like Vin Diesel and more

So once upon a time in Mumbai dobaara, no Hollywood film released over the weekend because Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara released last week. While we all wait for regular Hollywood programming to resume next week, here are some goodies from the DVD collections that are worth watching again and again:

DVD Roundup:

If you have seen and survived the heartbreak of Blue Valentine, then you’re probably among those who have been desperately looking forward to director Derek Cianfrance’s new film, The Place Beyond The Pines. It’s about the twists of fate and their consequences when two lives accidentally collide and while it’s not as good as Blue Valentine, it is still a great movie, and surprisingly, for a reason more than the presence of Ryan Godsling (erm, not a typo): the presence of Bradley Cooper.

Yes, I did have mini brain convulsions writing that sentence, but the fact remains that Academy -nominated Cooper (more convulsions happening) can act, and this movie will make you believe it. Cooper steals the show in this crime thriller-drama that deals with the themes of destiny, family and karma in powerful, thought-provoking and unpredictable ways. Watch the film to also find out why Dane DeHaan (from Chronicle) is considered one of the most exciting young actors today.

Watch the trailer of The Place Beyond The Pines here .

For one of the funniest take on zombies since Shaun of the Dead, there’s Matthias Hoene’s Cockneys Vs Zombies and it is exactly as awesome as it sounds. A bunch of lowlife East-Enders, including some hilarious oldies from a retirement home, decide to not die at the hands of those wretched zombies who, in most movies, seem to have a deep-rooted love for eating British brains. The oddball hero of the film is Alan Ford, (Brick Top in Snatch and Alan from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).

And then there’s Warm Bodies, by Jonathan Levine who is one of my favourite contemporary young directors today. Levine has made three movies before this, two of which are among the best films I’ve seen in the last decade: Ben Kingsley-starrer The Wackness and 50/50 with Joseph Gordon Levitt. Those films are reasons enough to never miss a Levine film. Warm Bodies has a quirky plot: a zombie falls in love with a human. Yes, it is a zombie rom-com, and like the meme goes, still a better movie than Twilight!

Trailer Roundup:

Have you seen Don Jon yet? Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut will be out in about six months, but till then, the trailer of this modern day interpretation of Don Juan is a must-see. A Jersey Shore dude (Gordon Levitt) is addicted to porn and falls in love with a hottie (Scarlett Johanssan). It was one of the most talked-about comedies at Sundance this year, so add it to your list of must-watch films.

Watch the trailer of Don Jon here:

Another film that promises to be hilarious is director Ask Hasselbach’s Danish superhero comedy, Antboy. Pelle is a 12-year-old who accidentally becomes a superhero and must rise up to the challenge of saving the world from the supervillain, The Flea. Has Kick-Ass’s Hit Girl met her match? Check the trailer out and let me know in the comments.

The trailer of ACOD (Adult Child of Divorce) is out and with a cast that includes Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Richard Jenkins, Jane Lynch and Catherine O’Hara, it seems to be exactly that kind of movie that you’d watch or not watch, depending on how inclined you are towards indie films. For those of you who don’t think they’re in the indie fanclub, the film’s generated some good buzz, so check it out anyway.

Watch the trailer of the film here:

Another vampire movie set in college is coming soon, but Vampire Academy ( watch the trailer )seems to be the kind of movie that may wash away the sins of Twilight. The good news is that it’s directed by Mark Waters, the director of Mean Girls. The trailer of Blue Caprice , a psychological thriller about the sniper father-son duo that was behind 2002’s Beltway sniper attacks, doesn’t look that good, but apparently the film is way better than the trailer.

Casting roundup:

Vin Diesel is more or less confirmed to join the cast of Marvel’s upcoming superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, about an eclectic bunch of cosmic superheroes, including a tree and a raccoon. Diesel will play the tree. If that doesn’t sound weird enough, here’s a look at what has to be the oddest cast for a superhero film: Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation), Zoe Saldana (Star Trek), Dave Bautista (WWE!), Benicio Del Toro, John C Reilly, Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), Lee Pace (The Hobbit), Karen Gillian (Dr Who) and Djimoun Honsou (Blood Diamond).

Diesel was earlier rumoured to be starring in the Avengers sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and I was more excited about that than I am about him voicing a tree. Which superhero do you think Diesel would be more suited for? Leave your comments below!