Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The last edition was incredibly busy, so this is a slower one. However, there are a few acclaimed pictures arriving on disc and plenty of interesting fare that should tide viewers over. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AMERICAN DELIVERY – For a significant period of time, the U.S. has held a rather troubling record. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate among the industrialized world, and the difference between this country and other nations on the list is considerable. This documentary examines the problem in detail. A film crew travels to birthing centers and Interviews are conducted with mothers, nurses and midwives to identify the major issues and make suggestions on how to fix them. The film hasn’t been seen by many reviewers yet, but it has played at film festivals and won awards at some of them. One write-up that has appeared online calls the picture incredibly important, stating that it is informative and gets specific about the flawed healthcare system of the United States and the need for change. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release.
THE EMPIRE – Looking for a quirky, independent effort? This French science-fiction feature is described as a parody of alien invasion movies. A spacecraft lands in a small village in Northern France. Aliens who look just like humans exit the ship and assess the locals as being simple-minded and easy to conquer. But as they begin their efforts to take over the world, unexpected complications arise. This feature earned slightly more positive notices than negative responses from the press. Very close to half commented that while the film was goofy and had a few fun moments, it was slight and didn’t have a clear or memorable message. However, slightly more were amused, calling the film wild and adventures, possessing an oddball tone quite unlike anything else out there, while also offering a gentle critique of the sci-fi genre. It stars Lyna Khoudri, Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin and Fabrice Luchini.
FISH WAR – This documentary examines a series of protests in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tribes in the Pacific Northwest, who had been forced to cede lands to the U.S. government and were not allowed to fish for salmon outside of their reservations, began returning to their ancestral areas anyway. Their public demonstrations gained attention and, after the 1974 Boldt court case, a ruling re-affirming their rights was granted. They were allowed to co-manage the property, but the state refused to enforce the judgment, causing more conflict. Using archival material, the complete story is retold, as well as the troubling aftermath. There aren’t many reviews for this picture yet, but it has played at and earned acclaim at various festivals. One written review has appeared online, stating that the film retells events effectively and reminds one that things haven’t improved as much as one would have expected over the past 50-plus years. This is currently a DVD-only release.
THE LAST SHOWGIRL – At the beginning of this drama, a 57-year-old showgirl in Las Vegas gets disappointing news. Her show is being shuttered for a more contemporary production. Out of work and low on funds, the performer attempts to audition at other venues on the Las Vegas Strip. She also reaches out to her estranged daughter, trying to repair their relationship. Sadly, the stress of the situation causes even more friction between them. This picture earned a lot of positive press and awards buzz (it was nominated for some Golden Globes, but failed to earn any Oscar nominations). A small number complained that while the performances were excellent, the narrative was weak and that the story finished on a false and ineffective note. However, the consensus was that the movie boasted wonderful characters and aptly depicted the joy and desperation of a working performer in Las Vegas. The movie will officially be released on disc May 9th. The cast includes Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song, Billie Lourd, Dave Bautista and Jamie Lee Curtis.
MCVEIGH – “Based on real events,” this independent drama tells the story of army veteran and domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Viewers witness his personal rage against the federal government grow as he takes on extremist views, visits a white supremacist, and ultimately plots a deadly bombing. It also deals with his relationships with co-conspirators, as well as a brief fling with a local waitress. The final product received more positive reviews than negative ones. About one-third wrote that while the movie was well-produced, it didn’t have anything meaningful to say about its subject and felt like a bit of a slog to endure. Regardless, more were impressed by the performances and found it to be a chilling examination of individuals who get caught up in conspiracy theories and become sociopathic. For now, the film is only available on DVD. It features Alfie Allen, Brett Gelman, Ashley Benson, Anthony Carrigan and Tracy Letts.
NO ADDRESS – Here’s another drama that is, “Inspired by true events.” It follows a young woman thrown out of her home. With nowhere to go, she takes to the streets and meets others who have lost their residences. The group struggle to survive, enduring encounters with a violent gang and unforgiving locals, in addition to equally unsympathetic police forces. Only a handful of critics have seen it, and reaction towards the picture has been tepid. A few have called the film endearing and inspiring as it presents relatable characters falling on hard times. Unfortunately, the majority noted that while the movie was well-intentioned, it felt clumsily presented. They stated that it doesn’t deal with its themes on more than a surface level and ends up pushing a religious message. This is another DVD-exclusive release. Beverly D’Angelo, Xander Berkeley, William Baldwin, Kristanna Loken, Patricia Velasquez and Isabella Ferreira headline the picture.
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG – An Iranian man is promoted to the position of an investigative judge in this crime thriller. He is assigned a case involving the death of a young woman. It soon becomes clear that his job is fraught with danger and he begins fearing for his wife and family. When the judge’s gun disappears, he suspects his concerned spouse and daughters, imposing strict rules that begin to sever bonds. This picture earned raves from the press and was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. A very small number of reviewers critiqued the movie as being too obvious in making its points and also noted that it was so long (nearly three hours) that it ran out of steam before its climax. However, everyone else thought the film was powerful, daring and unpredictable. They found the transition of the judge disturbingly fascinating and believed this chilling picture would make a lasting impression on viewers. It stars Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Setareh Maleki and Mahsa Rostami.
VIET AND NAM – This Vietnamese drama tells the story of two young miners working in horrible conditions under the ground. One finally sees an opportunity to start a new life elsewhere. However, his best friend suddenly reveals that his soldier father has been declared dead and that he needs assistance finding the parent’s remains in a faraway forest. As the pair head out, the main protagonist thinks about his past and reconsiders his future. Everyone who saw the picture rated it highly. They called it a slow-burn of a movie in which not a lot happens, but that the ideas expressed stayed with them long after the film ended. They also called the cinematography gorgeous and the overall effect of the picture moving and almost transcendent. Alas, for now it will only be available on DVD. Thanh Hai Pham and Duy Bao Dinh Dao play the title characters.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking for something older, there are also a few options. Criterion is releasing In the Heat of the Night (1967) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. This picture stars Sidney Poitier as an African-American cop from Philadelphia who is unjustly arrested by police in the US South after a prominent businessman is murdered. The local chief (Rod Steiger) reluctantly apologizes for the force’s actions and then asks for the lead’s assistance in the case. The detective attempts to find out the responsible party while dealing with horrific racism from the police force and locals. The movie won multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture.
This set includes a 4K restoration of the film, interviews with director Norman Jewison and co-star Lee Grant, a 2006 interview with Poitier, a discussion with a movie expert who wrote a book on Poitier, and an archival commentary track with Jewison, Grant, Steiger and cinematographer Haskell Wexler. There is also a program about the production of the movie and its legacy, a featurette examining Quincy Jones’ soundtrack to the film, as well as a trailer and essay on the feature.
The French musical/romance The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) is also receiving the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment from the distributor. Catherine Deneuve plays the lead in this story about a young woman who must consider her future after her true love is drafted to serve in the Algerian war. This picture has always been well-regarded (it won the Palme d’Or and was nominated for five Academy Awards), but in recent years it has risen even higher in the ranks of many critics.
This edition boasts a new 4K picture restoration approved by the director’s son. You’ll also get a 2008 documentary on the movie, a film scholar discussion about the picture, a 1964 French television interview with the director, archival audio interviews with the filmmaker and Deneuve, a demonstration of a 2013 restoration of the feature, and a trailer.
With the release of a live-action remake only a few weeks away, Disney is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” of the animated feature Lilo & Stitch (2002). The story follows a small, aggressive alien who lands in KauaI and is cared for by a little girl and her older sister. The creature proves difficult to domesticate, but does eventually take a liking to its adopted family and new planetary home. Besides the upgraded image quality, extras include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, a hula lesson, a featurette on animating the hula bits, a look at the islands of Hawaii, two music videos (presumably Elvis Presley tunes), and a look at the alien Stitch through time and its various appearances in other Disney projects.
Fun City Editions is putting out a Blu-ray of the Robert De Niro/Meryl Streep drama Falling in Love (1984). The two actors play married strangers shopping during the Christmas season. They get their packages mixed up and after meeting to correct the error, continue to bump into each other. The pair become close friends, commuting together each day, and consider having an affair. The film is arriving on disc with a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative. It also comes with a film historian commentary, an image gallery, a booklet with an essay on the movie, and everything is packaged in double-sided wrap with legacy artwork.
Massacre Video is delivering a double-feature Blu-ray containing Burrp! (1996) and Mas Carnaza (1997). These are underground Spanish genre films from movie maker Sergio Blasco. Newly remastered for this release, bonuses include a making-of, a short film from the director, trailers, and even more previews for other titles from the distributor.
Girl Hell 1999 (1999) is a Japanese effort about a lonely teenager suffering various forms of abuse from just about everyone in her life. This is a disturbing, shot-on-video title that is being made available on Blu-ray and in general for the first time in North America.
Oscilloscope Pictures is releasing a Blu-ray of the documentary I Like Killing Flies (2004), which captures the quirky, cantankerous, foul-mouthed chef Kenny Shopsin, whose Greenwich Village restaurant is legendary in New York City. It arrives with a short film called Cooking with Kenny, as well as a trailer.
Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator II (2024) is being rereleased by Paramount as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook. You’ll get the highest quality editions of both films and all previously released extras together in fancy Steelbook packaging.
And if you were hoping to pick up a bunch of Star Trek titles in one go, the studio is putting out a Star Trek 10-Movie Collection Blu-ray set, which contains all of the original series films and Next Generation movies made between 1979 and 2002. One imagines that this is simply a repackaging of older releases, but it’s a nice way to pick up all the titles from these eras if you don’t already own them.
Finally, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Shout Factory is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of the thriller What Lies Beneath (2000). This supernatural chiller from Robert Zemekis (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump) stars Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as a married couple. When the wife begins to suspect that a neighbor has murdered his wife, she begins experiencing strange apparitions. After confiding in her husband about the visions, he tries to calm her down, but she pulls him into her own investigation of what happened.
This release contains a new 4K master of the film from the original camera negative, approved by the cinematographer. There is an audio commentary with Zemeckis, a new feature-length retrospective documentary with cast and crew (pretty much everyone except Ford and Pfeiffer), a featurette on the title, and a trailer.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
As mentioned, the big release for kids this week is a new 4K edition of a well-regarded Disney animated film.
Lilo & Stitch (2002 animated film) (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Ultimate Collector’s Edition”
ON THE TUBE!
And below is a list of this week’s TV-related titles.
NOVA: Egypt’s Tombs of Amun (PBS) DVD
Ultraman Trigger: Complete Series and Ultraman Trigger Episode Z (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray