Welcome to another edition detailing highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s a plentiful mix of studio releases and independent fare, meaning there should be something for 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!
A Breath Away – Also known as Just a Breath Away, this French-language science-fiction thriller involves a Parisian couple balancing their work lives with their daughter’s illness… one that forces the youngster to live in a hermetic glass bubble. When a deadly, poisonous fog cloud covers the city, the parents must find a way to return home and rescue their child. Critics were split on this effort. About half called it an ineffectual disaster picture with underwritten characters, while others liked the unusual concept and suggested that those who appreciate these kinds of movies would get a kick out of it. The cast includes Romain Duris, Olga Kurylenko, Michel Robin and Fantine Harduin.
Bumblebee – This spin-off from the Transformers franchise is set in 1987 and follows the title robotic character as he arrives on Earth and tries to hide from humankind in a large junkyard. When a sullen young girl discovers and befriends Bumblebee, the two attempt to help each other get through some tough chapters in their lives. Surprisingly, the press gave this effort better reviews than all of the other films in the franchise. Some did complain that the script was too childish and focused on its teenaged protagonist, but almost all other called it surprisingly sweet and suggested the focus on relationships over action was a welcome change in focus. It stars Hailee Steinfeld, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and John Cena.
Egg – Two competitive old friends decide to reunite and have dinner along with their spouses. After one announces that she is pregnant, the other declares that she is having a baby via a surrogate. Arguments and discussions about motherhood and their reasons for having a child begin to surface as the evening progresses. Reaction towards this independent comedy was very good. Most stated that the movie was an interesting, low-key character piece with great performances. They also thought that it did an excellent job of discussing and dealing with numerous issues surrounding parenthood. Christina Hendricks, Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche, Gbenga Akinnagbe and Anna Camp headline the film.
The Great Buster: A Celebration – Silent film comedian Buster Keaton is the subject of this documentary. Director Peter Bogdanovich traces the actor’s beginnings in vaudeville and follows his progression into stardom on the silver screen, as well as his influence on today’s filmmakers. The picture also presents restored clips of some of Keaton’s greatest moments in cinema, along with comments from celebrities and fans that include the likes of Mel Brooks, Quintin Tarantino and Werner Herzog. Reviews were positive for this picture. Comments stated that while the movie focused mostly on the cinematic work of the performer, it served as a great introduction and testament to Keaton’s lasting appeal.
In the Intense Now – Using photographs and archival footage, this documentary examines several historical events from the late 60s. They include the French student uprising in May, 1968, the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia from the same year, and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China. The documentary also attempts to get a sense of what happened what happened to the participants after these events. Write-ups were also strong for this Brazilian non-fiction feature, also known under the title No Intenso Agora. A small percentage didn’t think that the movie managed to blend the various events effectively, but far more called the images striking and believed that the evaluations and questions raised were just as relevant today as they might have been some fifty-plus years ago.
The Isle – This period horror film involves sirens and is set, appropriately enough, on an island off the west coast of Scotland. After their boat sinks, three sailors find themselves swimming to a strange, misty, and isolated shoreline. They meet the location’s four very strange residents and as they investigate further, discover that numerous ships have crashed there and that no one survives… perhaps due to a mysterious supernatural force. There aren’t a lot of reviews posted yet for this UK production, but the ones that are available online are equally divided. A few thought it was atmospheric but offered little in the way of thrills, while just as many described it as a beautiful and eerie little picture. The cast includes Conleth Hill, Alex Hassell, Tori Butler-Hart and Fisayo Akinade.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot – Based on the title alone, B-movies fans will likely be very interested in this flick. It details the life of a fictional “American legend” who was secretly responsible for the death of Hitler. Some years later, government forces assign him to task of traveling to the Canadian wilderness and stopping a sasquatch from infecting the population with the plague. This tongue-in-cheek effort earned solid notices. A small percentage said that the movie didn’t live up to its crazy title and that the central joke ran its course quickly, but the majority called it fun and entertaining flick that benefited from a charismatic lead. It stars Sam Elliott, Aidan Turner, Ron Livingston, Larry Miller, Ellar Coltrane and Caitlin FitzGerald.
The Mule – In the latest from Clint Eastwood, the director/star plays an elderly horticulturist who personal debts are piling up. To pay off some of his bills, he takes a job as a driver for a Mexican drug cartel. When the DEA finds out about the lead’s business sideline, they make their own list of demands, putting this mule in a life-threatening predicament. The press gave this effort reasonable reviews. A group did state that the movie resorted to some very exaggerated scenarios and was very difficult to take seriously. Still, the consensus was that enough story elements worked, resulting in a tense thriller. The cast also includes Laurence Fishburne, Michael Pena, Dianne Wiest, Alison Eastwood and Taissa Farmiga.
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase – Based on one of the famous literary character’s more popular adventures, this family-friendly mystery finds teenage sleuth Nancy Drew moving to a small town where country life is slow and unexciting. When Drew is asked by friend to help investigate a strange haunting in the area, the detective vows to uncover the truth. Critics also generally enjoyed this feature. There were criticisms that the screenplay for this adaptation didn’t do the source material justice and came across as bland and dull. Yet most were very impressed with the lead actress and thought that the film would entertain its target demographic. Sophia Lillis, Laura Wiggins, Sam Trammell, Andrea Anders and Linda Lavin headline the feature.
Patrick – A young woman struggling to get her life together is handed another complication when her late grandmother bequeaths a dog to her. The pug is fussy and difficult, causing more trouble and chaos in the protagonist’s already fractured life. However, as time passes the pair become close and the pooch begins to effect the lead’s life in positive ways. This UK drama/comedy was generally panned by reviewers. Those who stuck up for the film stated that it was cute and that dog lovers would appreciate it. However, it seems that most thought the feature was bland and broadly played. The movie stars Beattie Edmundson, Cherie Lunghi, Emilia Jones, Tom Bennett, Gemma Jones and Jennifer Saunders.
Pledge – In this indie horror film, a trio of freshman fraternity pledges are put through a series of humiliating tasks. After being turned down by every university frat, a strange and mysterious figure offers to accept them if they can survive a 48-hour ritual that will become the most terrifying experience of their lives. Of course, they all agree. Actually, press with a taste for the genre gave the feature decent marks. Some thought that it was only marginally effective and didn’t tear into fraternities as much as it could have. Still, more thought it had some surprises was an interesting attempt to criticize hazing practices. It features Zachery Byrd, Aaron Dalla Villa and Zack Weiner.
Rust Creek – Here’s another effort about a college student that is designed to chill viewers. In this thriller, a young woman heads out from her university for a job interview. Unfortunately, she makes a wrong turn and ends up in the Kentucky wilderness… filled with terrible outlaws. The lead ends up on the run, begging for assistance from a mysterious loner. What could possibly go wrong? Notices were very reasonable for this indie film. One or two found themselves more interested in the workings of the villains than the heroine, but almost all others called the movie tense and enjoyed the well realized characters. The cast includes Hermione Corfield, Denise Dal Vera and Jeremy Glazer.
A Silent Voice: The Movie – This animated film from Japan follows a deaf student who arrives at a new school, only to be bullied by boy in her class. He torments her so much that she eventually leaves school, but the aggressor soon finds out how disapproving others are of his actions when they all shun him in retaliation. A few years later, the bully heads out to find his classmate and try to make amends. The feature appears to be well-liked in its homeland, but has taken a couple of years to make its way to this side of the world. As a result, there aren’t many reviews of it as of yet. This disc includes both and English and Japanese language versions of the film.
Vice – Dick Cheney is the subject of this Academy Award-nominated biopic. The plot follows his life as Cheney progresses from a troubled young man to president of the Halliburton company, and running mate of George W. Bush. After becoming Vice President of the United States, the film depicts the influence he exerted in his position and his efforts to empower the President with new, unchecked authority. The majority of notices were positive. Many suggested that the humor was hit-and-miss and not as cutting as it could have been given the figure’s very dark motivations. Still, most called the leads phenomenal and thought that it brought many sinister aspects of the government to light. It stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry and Alison Pill.
A Violent Man – This independent thriller is an attempt at a modern film-noir. The tale begins with a new and unknown mixed martial arts fighter shocking the world and taking down a champion in the ring. As the new title holder trains for his next opponent, he come into contact with a news reporter. After the journalist is found murdered, the lead becomes a prime suspect in the crime. Critics weren’t enthused by this prize fight. A small group appreciated some of the story twists and liked the cast. Unfortunately, most didn’t find it suspenseful or full of enough intrigue to recommend. The cast includes Thomas Q. Jones, Isaach De Bankole, Chuck Liddell, Bruce Davison, Khalilah Joi and Denise Richards.
Blasts from the Past!
It isn’t quite as busy a week for older titles as in previous editions, but there are a few noteworthy Blu-ray releases. Arrow Video have a curious item that could almost have been featured in the above area as a brand new title. It’s the science-fiction/action/horror flick, Terra Formars (2016). Directed by Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition, 13 Assassins) and based on the manga comic book, the movie is about a group of soldiers on a far-away planet fighting a bug-like alien menace. Actually, the storyline kind of sounds like a Japanese take on the 1997 movie, Starship Troopers… except that the humans start taking on the qualities of their enemies. The Arrow disc includes clearer and newly updated subtitles, a feature-length documentary on the production, extended cast interviews, footage from the 2016 premiere in Japan, outtakes and publicity materials. Keep checking this site, as there will be a Blu-ray review of the release in the very near future. Okay folks, here it is!
Kino have a few notable Blu-rays worth mentioning. This first is the romantic comedy Green Card (1990) with Gerard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell. It’s about a Frenchman who enters into an agreement with an American woman that involves getting married, all so that he can receive the title document. However, as they work together to pull off the ruse, they begin to fall in love. This Special Edition comes with a new interview with co-star MacDowell and a theatrical trailer.
Additionally, the distributor are putting out the Tom Selleck film, An Innocent Man (1989). The actor plays an ordinary man framed for murder by a pair of crooked cops, and follows his time in prison as waits for parole. Changed upon his release, the lead sets out to prove his blamelessness for the crime. This Blu-ray Special Edition comes with a film historian audio commentary, new interviews with some of the cast members and a trailer.
And Kino also have a Special Edition Blu-ray of Unstrung Heroes (1995), about youngster who begins to live with his quirky uncles when his mother takes ill. It stars Andie MacDowell, John Turturro and Michael Richards and extras include a new interview with the lead actress and a trailer.
Flicker Alley are putting out a couple of Blu-rays featuring some impressive Cinerama films shot in 70mm that must have looked phenomenal when they were shown in movie theaters with enormous screens. Flying Clipper (1964) aka Mediterranean Holiday is a documentary that features a boat crew as they travel and take in the sights at various places off of the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Their stops include the pyramids of Egypt, as well as Greece, Italy, Portugal and other exotic locales. The disc has numerous interviews detailing how the incredible footage was restored for high definition, as well as publicity materials and interviews with cast members who talk about the production.
Additionally, you can pick up a Blu-ray of the long-lost Cinerama production, The Golden Head (1964). This one stars Buddy Hackett and George Sanders and, unlike the other Flicker Alley release, is actually a narrative thriller shot using giant-screen technology. It’s about a pair of thieves who travel to Budapest, Hungary and attempt to steal the valuable title object. This release includes a short film originally screened with the movie during its original run, a 70mm cartoon, featurettes about the restorations and other materials. Please note the trailer below attempts to replicate the way the movie would have appeared at the cinema, but I’m not certain how the image will be presented on the disc (those interested will have to check the tech specs themselves). Honestly, it looks like both of these titles are extremely hard to come by and could be a lot of fun for those who fondly remember big screen entertainment. I recall a couple of experiences as a child watching films like these on an IMAX screen and releases like this certainly bring back a flood of memories.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some upcoming releases that may appeal to kids.
Double Dragon: The Animated Series
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Pokemon – Indigo League: Season 1
On the Tube!
And highlight’s from the week’s TV-themed releases appear below.
The Bletchley Circle – San Francisco
The Dictator’s Playbook (PBS)
Double Dragon: The Animated Series
The Heart Guy: Series 3
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 2009
The Last Ship: The Complete Series
The Last Ship: Season 5 (TNT)
My Brilliant Friend (HBO)
NATURE: Attenborough and the Sea Dragon (PBS)
NOVA: Einstein’s Quantum Riddle (PBS)
Rake: Series 5