Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s a great mix of Hollywood fare and exciting independent features this time out, meaning that there will be something for just about everyone. 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!
The Assent – This low-budget horror picture follows a priest who performed an exorcism that resulted in a child’s death. After serving a 3-year-sentence, the protagonist is released and tries to quietly restart his life. It isn’t long before another desperate family arrive on his doorstep and ask for his assistance, saying that their own boy is suffering from the same affliction. The priest must decide whether or not to continue his practice. There haven’t been many reviews yet for this little independent flick, but the ones that have popped up have been complimentary. One called it decent but unmemorable, but others recommended it for its performances and the story’s attempts to focus on its characters. It features Robert Kazinsky, Peter Jason and Florence Faivre.
Bombshell – Fox News is the setting for this biopic that details the indignities placed upon Fox journalists Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and Kayla Pospisil after they each separately contact human resources, stating that Fox President Roger Ailes sexually harassed them. With their jobs at risk, the women are pressured by internal forces to keep quiet about their boss. Notices were very good for this drama. A percentage did complain that the movie felt a bit by-the-numbers in its storytelling and could have done with a deeper analysis of sexism at the company. However, the majority stated that the cast were exceptional and the make-up (which won an Academy Award) made the leads look identical to the real-life figures being portrayed. It stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon and Connie Britton.
Charlie’s Angels – Inspired by the 70s TV-show about female private investigators (and also taking some pointers from the 2000 and 2003 movies that were also based on the property), the latest redux involves a new set of women. They are called into action after an employee at a private company blows the whistle on new technology being developed at the firm that could put the world in danger. Unfortunately, the press was fairly muted and split over the latest edition. About half thought that it was fun entertainment and genuine in its efforts to empower the film’s protagonists. Unfortunately, just as many complained that the story was predictable and blandly presented, and that the film had some contradictory messages. The cast includes Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks, Djimon Hounsou, Sam Claflin and Patrick Stewart.
Inherit the Viper – Three siblings struggling to make ends meet decide that becoming opioid dealers is the best shot they have at making some cash. They try to avoid the violence that comes with their illegal profession, but find the work environment difficult to manage after one deal goes south. When one of the three suddenly decides to leave the business, it creates even more danger as the family debates what to do about it. This crime/drama received mixed reviews. A group thought that it was an effective feature, noting that the performances elevated the familiar material. Still, slightly more wrote that the cast couldn’t quite overcome the routine script and thought that it wouldn’t make a lasting impression. Josh Harnett, Bruce Dern, Margarita Levieva, Chandler Riggs and Brad William Henke headline the feature.
Little Joe – This English-language European co-production combines elements of mystery, horror and science-fiction. It follows a woman who develops new plant species. She thinks she has found something truly remarkable after creating a crimson flower that, if properly cared for, will actually make its owner happy. The lead sneaks one out of the lab to give to her son, but soon learns that the plant may not be as benign as initially thought. Overall, critics responded favorably to this picture. A small percentage did find the film too low-key and slow-moving for their tastes and felt that it could have done with more excitement. Still, most appreciated the icy approach to the story, thought that it brought up some interesting points and found its oddness compelling. It features Emily Beecham, Ben Whishaw and Kerry Fox.
Luz – On a dark and stormy night, a cabdriver stops her vehicle and enters a police station. She claims that she is being followed. As it turns out, there are other persons in this story who are after the driver. In fact, it is soon revealed that a demon is obsessed with the cabbie, possessing people as it hunts her down. Investigators try to figure out exactly what is going on and protect the woman from the evil force. This German, foreign-language horror flick received positive write-ups. There were a few who found it all a bit tiring and noted that the movie didn’t do much more than provide a chill or two. Still, the general consensus was that this creeper was stylish, atmospheric, and would appeal to genre fans. Luana Velis, Johannes Benecke and Jan Bluthardt headline the feature.
My Best Friend’s Famous – It’s tough being an actor in Los Angeles. Especially when those around you appear to be more successful. This independent comedy follows one such thespian who moves to LA from New York, hoping to break into show business. He becomes increasingly distressed and infuriated after his slothful and less talented best friend lands a starring role on a hit TV show. The lead is forced into figuring out how to deal with his envious feelings. This small film hasn’t been seen by very many people yet and so there are very few reviews for it. Looks like those who are interested will have to give the film itself a big break and watch it with little to no information. The cast includes Nick Psinakis, Anne Akhila, Mindy Sterling and Ryan O’Neal.
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project – Ever feel like you can’t possibly keep up with all of the media being broadcast? One woman decided to record every newscast being broadcast on TV. For 30 years, she recorded news programming 24 hours a day, filling some 70,000 VHS tapes. Her belief was that down the road, it would be important for future generations to see how events were reported. Apparently, her obsession drove her family absolutely crazy. This documentary details her life and displays some of the stories she recorded over the years. Critics greatly enjoyed the film. While some admitted that the story itself might have been more interesting than what she recorded, almost everyone was fascinated by her efforts and were quite taken by some of the more unusual events that would have been lost forever had they not been taped.
Shepard – This independent horror picture follows a teen who is having trouble fitting in with his foster family and others kids his age. He crosses paths and befriends a charismatic but dangerous stranger. The new arrival encourages the youngsters to act out and get revenge on his tormentors. Yet as the two become closer, the teen’s actions begin to spin out of control. This is another one of those little films that is debuting on disc with little to no advance word. Sounds like an interesting concept, but it is one that curious parties will have to simply take a chance on without knowing anything beforehand about what they might be experiencing. Kareem J. Grimes, Ashley Nicole Williams, Will Beinbrink, Thea Gill and Greg Proops headline the feature.
Spies in Disguise – It’s tough being the scientific brain behind a suave superspy. At least, it is for one particularly awkward mind who teams up with the world’s most sophisticated secret agent. However, things take an unexpected turn when the pair head out to thwart an evil mastermind, and the heroic spy is turned into a pigeon. It seems that the scientist is suddenly forced to take on a social more in the proceedings, with the agent-turned-bird now acting as his advisor. Reviews for this family animated comedy were good. About a quarter of write-ups commented that the movie was a safe and generic animated film that didn’t make the most of the concept. Still, most thought it was bright, cute and amusing enough to recommend, stating that most kids would be impressed with it. The voice cast includes Will Smith, Tom Holland, Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire and Rachel Brosnahan.
There Are No Fakes – This Canadian documentary details art forgeries and the surprising schemes uncovered by a musician (who is a member of the band, Barenaked Ladies). He attempted to buy a painting by indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau from a reputable gallery. As you might have guessed, after some investigating, the buyer begins to suspect that the work is a fake and attempts to bring it to the attention of the gallery owner and Morrisseau family. According to the press up north, what follows is an incredible story filled with plenty of shocks. Reviewers called it very surprising, with more twists and turns than a Hollywood narrative. They also said that the film highlights how unregulated the art market is and exposes some the horrible actions taken by powerful and greedy profiteers in the art world.
Uncut Gems – A New York jeweler with a gambling habit thinks he’s onto a big score with a rare black opal and decides to bet his entire fortune that it will sell for even more money if he purchases it and puts it up for bids at an upcoming auction. As deadlines with a loan shark approach and dangerous parties get involved, his life is put at risk. Naturally, this bet sets off a series of horrible and disturbing complications. Critics were very impressed by what they saw. A small selection of them were so repelled by the decision-making and downward spiral of the central character that they had a hard time getting invested in the story. However, the majority admired the lead performance and praised the film for being incredibly unsettling and tense from beginning to end. It stars Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel, LaKeith Stanfield, Kevin Garnett, Eric Bogosian and Judd Hirsch.
The Witch: Subversion – Also knowns as The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, this picture is a South Korean action film about a high school student who has suffered from amnesia and can’t remember the early parts of her life. However, after appearing on a local TV broadcast, strange figures start appearing and her history is slowly revealed. This foreign-language effort was a big box office success in its homeland and it has been reported that sequels will be following in the near future. The movie also made an impression with reviewers. While one or two thought it started so slowly that it ultimately lost them, everyone else called it a blast and suggested that the wild and frenetic final act was filled with incredible action. Da-mi Kim, Hee-soon Park, Min-soo Cho and Woo-sik Choi headline the feature.
Blasts from the Past!
There’s plenty of fun older titles getting upgraded to Blu-ray as well. Shout Factory! have the cheesy monster movie, Bug (1975). It was directed by Jeannot Szwarc (Jaws 2, Supergirl, Santa Claus: The Movie) and is about an earthquake that releases giant flying killer cockroaches. Naturally, they start attacking, causing plenty of death and destruction. If memory serves, it’s an amusing little B-movie featuring some goofily entertaining bug attacks. Besides the high definition picture upgrade, the disc arrives with a film historian audio commentary. You’ll also get the trailer for the flick.
Inseminoid (1981) is another horror effort from 40 years ago. It’s about a space crew who land on a faraway world and discover remnants of a civilization. The also accidentally awaken a grotesque alien that wants to propagate its kind and attempts to impregnate a female crew member. During its original release, many criticized the movie for being in highly questionable taste. I never saw it and can’t comment on it. The new Blu-ray comes with a good supply of bonuses features. There’s a documentary on director Norman Warren (who also made the horror B-movies Prey and Bloody New Year), as well as an interview with the filmmaker. A cast member and the producer also sit down for a discussion and there are Q & As with Warren from film festivals. It also comes with all kinds of publicity materials.
The Shout! Select line are delivering Masked and Anonymous (2003), a comedy from Larry Charles (who would go on to make Borat, Bruno and The Dictator) that was co-written by and stars Bob Dylan. He plays a singer whose career has faded and attempts to make a comeback by playing a hastily arranged benefit concert. As the film progresses, numerous issues arise as he tries to pull everything together for the show. The movie boasts an incredible supporting cast that features the likes of Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Luke Wilson, Angela Bassett, Steven Bauer, Bruce Dern, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Cheech Marin, Chris Penn, Giovanni Ribisi, Mickey Rourke, Christian Slater and Fred Ward. It’s almost worth seeing just for the cast. The Blu-ray arrives with a new interview with Charles, a commentary track with the director, deleted scenes, a making-of and theatrical trailers.
Kino are presenting a series of westerns for fans of classic cinema. The titles include Canyon Passage (1946) starring Dana Andrews, about a man who tries to make a new start in Oregon but gets on the bad side of some nasty locals. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for the original song, Ole Buttermilk Sky. It comes with a movie expert commentary track. You can also pick up Night Passage (1957), which features Jimmy Stewart as a man assigned to protect a train from being robbed… by his own brother. This one also includes an audio track featuring analysis, history and trivia about the film. And they have another Stewart effort in the form of The Rare Breed (1966) about cattle herders fighting off bandits as they attempt to get a prized bull to its destination. This Blu-ray comes with another historian commentary.
Criterion are presenting the critically praised documentary Salesman (1969) on Blu-ray. Made by the Maysles Brothers (Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens), this excellent picture attacks consumerism by capturing the life of a door-to-door bible salesman. It contrasts his slick and polished sales approach as he ropes in strangers. Viewers also get an inside look at the man’s own personal troubles and disillusionment with his job. It arrives with a new 4K high definition digital transfer with restored picture and sound from the Academy Film Archive. Those who pick it up will also enjoy a 2001 commentary from the directors, a television interview with them from 1968, a new appreciation of the film from actor Bill Hader, Hader’s own 2016 parody of the title featured in his television series Documentary Now!, a 2000 audio except from a NPR interview with the salesman featured in the movie, behind-the-scenes stills and a trailer.
If you’re a fan of Disney, then you’ll likely be happy to hear that the studio is releasing a 4K upgraded Blu-ray of the classic animated film, Beauty and the Beast (1991), as well as its 2017 live-action remake. One can assume that all of the previously released extras will be ported over, along with improved resolution and image on the movie itself.
Flicker Alley are releasing a Blu-ray set called The Bolshevik Trilogy – Three Films by Vsevolod Pudovkin. The titles in question are Mother (1926), The End of St. Petersburg (1927) and Storm Over Asia (1928). These Russian-made narratives helped the filmmaker further develop and revolutionize editing techniques. It looks like the discs include 2K remasters taken from 35mm preservation elements. Great stuff it you’re a fan of early cinema.
There’s also a Blu-ray double feature coming your way from Film Movement called Whisky Galore! (1949) & The Maggie (1954): Two Films by Alexander McKendrick. These are Ealing Studio comedies made in the UK from one of their most prized filmmakers, who not only wrote and directed one of my personal favorite films, The Man in the White Suit, but also served behind the camera for The Ladykillers and Sweet Smell of Success. The first movie in the set takes place on an island in the Hebrides and deals with a horrific situation in which locals when they discover that they’ve run out of whiskey and the ship bringing more is stuck offshore. The second flick follows a captain whose transport ship is falling apart as he tries to make an important cargo run. Both features were nominated for BAFTA awards. The release includes a British film expert commentary track and a documentary about the productions.
Finally, Warner Archive have the historical epic Beau Brummell (1954) arriving on Blu-ray. Set in 1796, it follows the Prince of Wales who, fearing that no one will be honest with him, hires a difficult and outspoken captain as his chief advisor. The cast includes Stewart Granger, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Ustinov.
You Know, For Kids!
Here is a listing of titles that youngsters, and the young at heart, may appreciate.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) 4K
Beauty and the Beast (2017) 4K
Spies in Disguise
On the Tube!
And these are the week’s TV-themed releases.
The Affair: The Complete Series
Chesapeake Shores: Season 4 (Hallmark)
Jamestown: The Complete Collection (PBS)
NATURE: The Whale Detective (PBS)
Seven Worlds, One Planet (BBC)
True Love Blooms (Hallmark TV-Movie)