Hello and welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This edition is jam-packed with discs both new and old, meaning that there’s something for everyone arriving on store shelves. 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!
Beyond the Law – In this low-budget action/thriller, a retired detective receives word that his estranged son has been murdered. With nothing left to lose, the protagonist decides to seek out the responsible party and deliver justice. The trail ultimately leads to a local mob syndicate, suggesting that revenge may be a little more complicated than initially anticipated. This Steven Seagal flick was made specifically for the DVD market and so there aren’t a lot of reviews as of yet. The few that have popped up aren’t complimentary, with one stating that most of the movie involves the star delivering exposition along with one short action scene at the end. It also features DMX and Johnny Messner.
The Birdcatcher – A teenage Jewish girl in Norway attempts to evade capture by German forces during WWII. Her home is raided and the youth is left to fend for herself. In order to survive, she takes the identity of a Gentile boy and begins working and living at a Nazi occupied farm. Every day brings new challenges as she attempts to hide her ancestry. This feature is reportedly based on a true story. It hasn’t received many notices yet and unfortunately the ones that have appeared haven’t been very positive. All of the write-ups state that the movie looks beautiful, but feel that the film needed a more subtle hand and comes across as melodramatic and exaggerated. August Diehl and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina headline the feature.
Britt-Marie Was Here – Based on a hit novel by Fredrik Backman (whose A Man CalledOve was adapted into a film a few years back to great critical and commercial success), this Swedish foreign-language film is a comedy about a 63-year-old who decides to leave her husband. She attempts to make a new start by gaining employment at a local rec center and coaching a soccer team. In fact, she does everything she can to avoid the same old routine and finds unexpected and life-changing surprises coming her way. Critics were generally positive about the effort, although not as impressed as they were for the other movie based on the author’s work. A few wrote that it was an unmemorable and clumsy adaptation, but the majority called it a simple and enjoyable feel-good flick. The cast includes Permilla August and Peter Haber.
Eaten by Lions – This small, UK production involves two half-brothers who are raised by their grandmother. After she passes away, they decide to track down and confront one of their biological dads. They eventually find their pop in Blackpool and are introduced to his family as they interrupt the engagement party of their parent’s daughter. Together, they all attempt to figure out if they want to be a part of each other’s lives and what their next step might be. The press enjoyed this comedy/drama and gave it decent marks. It has been described as a sweet film with an amusing cast that delivers a warm message promoting multiculturalism. If features Antonia Aakeel, Jack Carroll, Asim Chaudrey, Johnny Vegas and Vicki Pepperdine.
Gemini Man – An elite assassin decides to quit the business and enjoy his retirement. However, it’s all very short-lived when a hit man appears who is an exact duplicate of the protagonist. The two men take aim at each other, accurately guessing one another’s every move as they try to finish the job. As the older version of hero learns more, he attempts to determine who copied him and why. Despite the high pedigree in front of and behind the camera, this action picture didn’t hit the target with reviewers or the public. A small group of critics noted that it looked good and provided a few thrills, but the consensus was that the story that felt cloned from other films and everything about the picture seemed muted and mundane. It stars Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. It stars Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. To read this site’s review, click here.
Give Me Liberty – A sweet young man of Russian heritage lives in Milwaukee working as a medical transport driver. Unable to say no to friends and close associates, he ends up being encouraged to steal his work vehicle in order to take a group of rowdy seniors and a gruff Russian boxer to an important funeral. Naturally, as the travelers progress and people cross their paths, events get more and more out of hand. This independent comedy earned excellent notices. They complimented the first-time filmmaker on using fresh and charismatic talent, calling the movie a wonderfully chaotic and unpredictable farce that also serves as an inspiring immigrant story. Chris Galust, Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer, Maxim Stoyanov and Darya Ekamasova headline the movie.
Iron Sky: The Coming Race – This sequel to the 2012 sci-fi/horror cult film Iron Sky keeps up with the sinister Nazis after their attempts to destroy the world from their secret moon base. The film takes place nearly 30 years after the Earth has been ravaged by nuclear war. Those who have survived and made it to the moon struggle with overpopulation. However, when evidence suggests that a reptile species in a city beneath the Earth’s crust could solve their problems, they set out on a special mission to locate them. Reaction was quite poor towards this follow-up. One or two admired its strangeness and stated that at least it was, well, better than the Sharknado flicks. Still, it appears that many thought the script was nonsensical and the dialogue terrible, making for an unfunny and ineffective film. It features Lara Rossi, Vladimir Burlakov, Kit Dale, Tom Green and Udo Kier.
Jexi – A lonely man suffering from a serious addiction to his phone thinks he has gotten exactly what his life needs after upgrading his cell and receiving an AI life coach application named Jexi. While the suggestions given by Jexi initially improve his life and make him less reliant on technology, the program begins developing feelings for its owner and causes problem in order to drive him back to his phone. This title wasn’t screened for the press during its theatrical release earlier in the year, but some write-ups have popped up since then… and they haven’t been good. One of two suggested the concept was interesting enough to keep interest, but all others stated that this was a complete misfire that told the wrong jokes and descended into rom-com clichés. It stars Adam DeVine, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Pena, Rose Byrne and Wanda Sykes.
Line of Duty – After killing a child kidnapper, a police officer searches for some way to redeem himself in the eyes of the public and his own squad. When his commanding officer’s 11-year-old daughter is taken hostage, the lead sees it as an opportunity, going rogue to recover the kid. A web streaming service picks up on his pursuit and streams it, putting the protagonist in more danger as officials and enemies witness his progress. Overall, notices were upbeat for this low-budget thriller. A few thought it pushed suspension of disbelief too far for its own good, but more complimented what they saw as an entertaining throwback to action pictures of the 80s and early 90s. The cast includes Aaron Eckhart, Courtney Eaton, Jessica Lu, Dina Meyer and Giancarlo Esposito.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – This sequel to the 2014 live-action Disney take on the Sleeping Beauty villain follows tension that arises between the title character and her goddaughter after the young woman accepts a marriage proposal. When Maleficent is blamed for a sinister act she did not commit, the sorceress ponders what to do next as nasty forces manipulate her family. Critics gave this effort a mixed-negative response. A percentage remarked that they liked the eye-popping visuals and enjoyed the cast. Still, most summarized that the sequel itself doesn’t do much to justify its existence, merely repeating the same story beats as in the previous chapter. It stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sam Riley, Imedla Staunton, Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor. To read this site’s review, click here.
Piranhas – Set in Naples, Italy, this foreign-language drama follows a 14-year-old living with his poor family. Dreaming of a life of vast wealth and riches, he and his friends become entangled with the local mafia. Working for the crime bosses selling drugs and finding their way into the organization results in grave danger the kids are woefully unprepared for as well as a loss of innocence. The press was split on this feature. Almost half thought it was incredibly stylish but cold, empty and uninvolving. Those who were excited about the film commented that while the emotional drama didn’t hit home, the chilling nature of the story and events presented would still make a big impact. Di Napoli and Viviana Aprea headline the film.
Running with the Devil – A Mexican drug cartel discovers that his shipments to Canada are disappearing somewhere along the way during transport through the US. He sends two of his most trusted henchmen to figure out what’s happening and stop the goods from being stolen. The leads must interrogate dangerous men and avoid federal agents to complete their task. Notices for this action/thriller weren’t particularly strong. A small contingent stated that it tried to tell a new story within its genre by focusing on the details of trafficking from the perspective of the criminals. Yet most complained that a great cast were wasted on an ordinary script with logistical problems. The cast includes Nicholas Cage, Lawrence Fishburne, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Leslie Bibb and Clifton Collins, Jr.
Thrasher Road – After failing to make it big in Los Angeles, a pregnant woman is forced into accepting a cross-country ride home from California to Vermont with her estranged father and his geriatric dog. The lengthy journey allows the two to come to terms with some of the disagreements and issues they’ve had over the years and perhaps find a second opportunity to reconnect and accomplish their personal goals. This independent title has played some film festival and received a lot of praise and a few awards. The reviews that have popped up for the title suggest that it was a well-acted and sincere little movie. It features Allison Brown and Christian Kohn.
Blasts from the Past!
Shout! Factory have a trio of titles that may be of interest. While director Walter Hill is known for hard-boiled, tough-guy movies like The Warriors, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire, Red Heat, Trespass and Last Man Standing, he also made the Richard Pryor comedy, Brewster’s Millions (1985). Adapted from a 1902 novel, the film is about a man who learns he will inherit a vast fortune, but only if he can spend $30 million in 30 days (and not break any specified stipulations along the way). If memory serves, it provides a few chuckles for those who remember life in the 80s, and has a supporting turn from John Candy. This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the movie includes a new film critic audio commentary and interview with the screenwriter, as well as a previous film adaptation made in 1945. In addition, it comes with a trailer and still gallery.
They also have a Blu-ray of the British gothic horror film, Demons of the Mind (1971). This one is about a pair of kids who are locked away into their home by their father (this all bears a bit of similarity plot-wise to the book and movie, Flowers in the Attic). The release comes with a new film historian audio commentary and an older track with the director and screenwriter. You’ll also receive a recent interview with the camera operator, a documentary featurette and a trailer.
The Mummy’s Shroud (1967) is a Hammer effort about a group of archeologists who accidently read a shroud aloud and raise a mummy. The Blu-ray for this creeper includes a new film historian audio commentary, a special on Hammer movies about the Mummy, Wolfman and Living Dead, as well as publicity materials.
The following Blu-ray box set has been a long time coming. Finally, Paramount Picture are releasing the Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy (1984 – 1994) box set, which contains all three Eddie Murphy action/comedies. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) is one of the best of its era, following Detroit cop Axel Foley as he investigates a murder in Beverly Hills. The follow-ups are not in the same league, but they still have individual moments that will please fans… and have never been released on Blu-ray. That makes this a must own for many Murphy enthusiasts. All three films have been remastered in 4K and the first movie arrives with all of the extras included on the DVD. It also comes with two never before seen deleted scenes, some lost behind-the-scenes interviews, an isolated audio track of the famous score as well as many other plusses. This reviewer is looking forward to revisiting the series.
Kino have several classic titles hitting Blu-ray as well. This week’s list includes The Good Fairy (1935), The Great McGinty (1940), House by the River (1950) and Room at the Top (1959). The first two titles have been given new 4K masters, while the other two arrive with a 2K restorations. And they all come with film historian commentaries. They also have a Special Edition Blu-ray of the Oscar-nominated drama, The Whisperers (1967), about an elderly lady falling prey to her own delusions. This release includes a new 2K master, a film critic commentary and a trailer.
Criterion are delivering the Marlon Brando drama, The Fugitive Kind (1960) on Blu-ray. It’s about a drifter attempting to go straight. He takes a job in a variety store and finds the wife of the owner making advances on him. The Blu-ray includes a high definition digital restoration of the feature approved by director Sidney Lumet, as well as a 2009 interview with the filmmaker, an hour-long TV show presenting the plays of Tennessee Williams that was also made by Lumet, and a 2010 program discussing the movie.
On a completely different note, Scorpion are releasing a Blu-ray of the crass and crude comedy, Night Patrol (1984). The story follows a cop demoted to working the night-shift along with some other odd officers and also introduces viewers to the eccentric people they encounter on the job. The lead also tries to make a name for himself as a comedian, performing with a bag over his head and calling himself “The Unknown Comic”. The cast includes Murray Langston, Linda Blair, Pat Paulsen, Billy Barty, Pat Morita and Andrew Dice Clay. It’s probably in horribly poor taste, but may stay be of interest to those who remember it.
Mill Creek are flooding the market this week with numerous Blu-rays at economical prices. The first is for a double feature of some TV mini-series based on the work of author Terry Pratchett. The two included are The Color of Magic (2006) and The Hogfather (2008). If dramas are more to your liking, you can get a Blu-ray containing Dad (1989) and I’m Not Rappaport (1996). You can also buy a double-feature disc with the well-regarded Henry Winkler drama Heroes (1977), alongside the chase-picture, Eddie Macon’s Run (1983) starring John Schneider and Kirk Douglas.
Here’s an unusual comedy that kind of fell off of the radar after being released nearly 20 years ago. Just Visiting (2001) was co-written by John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) and stars Jean Reno as a knight who accidentally travels through time to present day Chicago. He meets and befriends a local (played by Christina Applegate) who attempts to help him find a wizard and send him back 900 years to his home. I saw this movie back in the day and remember absolutely nothing about it, but would be curious to see how it plays now.
Romantic comedy fans may be happy to hear that they can now pick up a Blu-ray of the Jennifer Lopez flick, Maid in Manhattan (2002). And Mill Creek’s final release of the week is a double feature of the star-studded drama, Reservation Road (1998) (featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly and Elle Fanning) along with Return to Paradise (2007), which teams Phoenix with Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche.
And finally, Warner Archive are making a made-to-order Blu-ray available of Penelope (1966), a comedy caper film with Natalie Wood.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that might appeal to the kids.
Butterbean’s Café: Let’s Get Cooking! (Nickelodeon)
On the Tube!
And these are the week’s TV-themed releases.
FRONTLINE: In the Age of AI (PBS)
Krypton: The Complete Series
Krypton: Season 2
MacGyver: Season 3
The Mindy Project: The Complete Series
NATURE: Nature’s Biggest Beasts (PBS)
No Passport Required: Season 2 (PBS)
NOVA: Look Who’s Driving (PBS)
Veep: The Final Season