January 25, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • Page 23 ‘Real Steel’ offers look at futuristic fight game by Dennis Seuling “Real Steel” (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) is set in the near future. Life is pretty much as it is today, with one major exception: The new sport of robot boxing has emerged. Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer down on his luck, scrapes together a living by tinkering with junked robots and fighting them against bulls at rodeos and county fairs. Hardly a model of integrity and honesty, he takes bets he can’t cover and hightails it out of town when he loses. Charlie owes money to everyone. Charlie abandoned his son Max at birth. Now 11, Max (Dakota Goyo) has just lost his mother. Charlie allows the boy’s aunt (Hope Davis) and her wealthy husband (James Rebhorn) to raise Max and agrees -for a hefty fee -- to look after the boy for the summer while they vacation in Europe. The movie combines the story of an absentee father reconnecting to his son and a “Rocky”-like feel-good movie but with robots slugging it out in the ring. The problem is that it’s tough to identify with, or root for, a metallic entity. When two human fighters are going at it, those who watch see the struggle, the pain, the bursts of energy, and the will to win. With robots, special effects steal the story. Still, Jackman is great to watch as he ably conveys contempt, anger, frustration, and compassion. His tremendous charisma elevates this action drama several notches. The three-disc Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy edition includes four featurettes, deleted and extended scenes, and bloopers. The movie is also available in two-disc Bluray and single-disc DVD editions. “The Whistleblower” (20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment), based on a true story, is a gritty movie about sexual trafficking in Bosnia. Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), a Nebraska cop, is a divorced mother who takes a job with a security contractor for big pay and a short tour in the Balkans. She discovers that ethnic tensions have caused local cops to refuse to investigate domestic violence cases, particularly those involving Muslims. She is promoted and put in charge of gender affairs by a U.N. official (Vanessa Redgrave), but is increasingly frustrated. After building cases against sexual traffickers, she is told they enjoy diplomatic immunity. Bolkovac is a lone crusader, persuading fearful women to testify against their abusers, bucking diplomatic hypocrisy, and dealing with rampant paranoia. Weisz heads this topical political thriller, turning in a powerful performance, which is one of her best. The movie underscores the collateral damage caused by politics and maintaining the delicate balance of world peace, though it is far more compelling as one strong woman’s efforts to advocate for those without a voice. The sole special feature on this release, available in Blu-ray and DVD editions, is a featurette about real-life whistleblower Kathy Bolkovac. “50/50” (Summit Entertainment) is a delicate balance of comedy, drama, and pathos. Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), only 27, is diagnosed with cancer and given a 50/50 chance of survival. His closest friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), offers encouragement and reassurance in his own offcentered way, making jokes and engaging in over-the-top behavior to keep Adam from falling into deep depression. This small, low-budget picture is perhaps one of the most honest of last year. Director Jonathan Levine has a deft touch Hugh Jackman stars in ‘Real Steel.’ and the leads are so authentic that viewers get to like these guys and root for Adam while chuckling at his pal. Viewers believe these guys have been lifelong friends. There are truisms about relationships, both the durability of friendship and romantic involvement when a serious illness hits. “50/50” was one of 2011’s best films. The Blu-ray edition contains audio commentary by Rogen, the producers and director; deleted scenes; and an audio track chronicling the genesis of “50/50.” The movie is also available in the DVD format. “The Moment of Truth” (The Criterion Collection), new to Blu-ray, is an intriguing look into the life of a famous bullfighter, played by real-life bullfighting legend Miguel Mateo, known as Miguelin. Tracing his career’s rise and decline with an unswerving focus on the dangerous sport, (continued on Crossword page)