As always, it’s another busy week with plenty of intriguing Blu-ray and DVD arrivals. This article promises to go over what is coming your way and even provide a few links to reviews of some of the films in questions. 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!
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot – This biopic tells the story or cartoonist John Callahan, an alcoholic and paraplegic who eventually began finding a creative outlet in his art and whose work became a regular fixture of a Washington newspaper. The drama follows the man before and after his life-altering car accident. Reviews were generally good for the feature. Everyone found the lead performance impressive. A percentage complained that this real-life story had difficultly translating to the big screen and felt a bit forced, although more thought the eccentric artist’s tale was effectively rendered. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black. To read this sites review, click here.
Eighth Grade – The trials and tribulations of an introverted youngster are chronicled in this coming-of-age drama. We follow her progress during the trying final week of her Grade 8 class before moving to high school. It also details how the lead character attempts to use social media to work her way through personal issues. This independent effort earned raves from the press, with few negative reactions at all. Almost all comments suggested that this was a perceptive and compelling little film that expertly incorporates modern and unique touches into what could have been a series of tropes. The cast includes Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton and Emily Robinson.
Gold Star – A troubled young woman wanders aimlessly through life after dropping out of music school. When her father suffers a debilitating stroke, the ex-student returns home to serve as his primary caretaker. Through these strange circumstances, the two are forced to reconnect and deal with the various problems in their life stages. Reaction to this indie drama was also largely positive. There was a small group who didn’t care for the central character or her plight, but the majority commented that the leads were very good and the film presented a likable, affirming tale of redemption. It features Robert Vaughn and Catherine Curtin.
Hotel Artemis – The first hotel-themed release of the week involves a Los Angeles establishment that caters to cold-blooded killers, serving mainly as a hospital for attendees after their violent activities. When a wounded gang of bank-robbers arrive with a mob boss and police in pursuit, tension rises at the location. Notices were fairly mixed on this action/sci-fi entry, with a few more writers recommending the feature than panning it. Those who didn’t like it claimed that there were too many story threads and that it came across as jumbled, while more upbeat articles called it flawed, but nicely stylized with impressive action. Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day and Dave Bautista lead the cast.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – Box-office returns were big for this family-friendly animated feature. It is a sequel involving a family of monsters who are also proprietors of a hotel. This time out, the clan also decide to take their own vacation on a cruise ship that caters to creatures. However, they soon learn that the ship’s captain harbors a dark secret. The movie earned okay notices with slightly more positive reviews than negative ones. Pans called it nice to look at but strictly for kids with bland, juvenile jokes. More upbeat reviews felt that it was pleasant family fare. The voice talent includes Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan Michael Key and Jim Gaffigan.
A Prayer Before Dawn – This multi-national production is loosely based on a true story and involves English boxer William Moore’s incarceration in a brutal Thai prison. He quickly finds life behind bars extraordinarily difficult, having to deal with territorial gangs and a drug trade. However, the lead finds some respite in Muay Thai boxing, participating in penitentiary fighting tournaments in the hopes of earning his way to freedom. Critics were positive about this little picture. A couple reviews found the movie too punishing, but the overwhelming response was that the picture was violent, immersive and gripping to witness. It features Joe Cole, Vithaya Pansringarm and Panya Yimmumphai.
Skyscraper – In the latest action picture featuring Dwayne Johnson, the performer plays a veteran now working as a security expert. When the lead arrives at a massive new skyscraper in Hong Kong hoping to sell his skills, he and his family become trapped after a fire breaks out and the building is engulfed in flames. The protagonist attempts to save them while facing off against the sinister persons who started the blaze. The press were mixed about this title. Nearly half thought the star was fun to watch and that the movie presented a few enjoyable thrills. Slightly more noted that the story was lacking and that there was nothing here that disaster-movie aficionados hadn’t seen dozens of times before. It also stars Neve Campbell, Chin Hahn and Noah Taylor. To read this site’s review, click here.
Blasts from the Past!
It’s once again a busy time for Blu-rays of older titles. The MVD Marquee Collection has an interesting one called Art School Confidential (2006). This dark comedy about students competing to win a prize from their illustrious art school program (and solve a murder) is from director Terry Zwigoff and comic book creator Daniel Clowes, who were also responsible for Ghost World (2001). The film makes its Blu-ray debut with several extras, including a making-of, deleted scenes, a blooper reel, a Sundance featurette as well as a trailer.
They are also putting out the Denzel Washington title, Out of Time (2003). In this thriller, the actor plays a detective investigating a murder in a small Florida town. This Blu-ray includes an audio commentary with the director, numerous featurettes, outtakes, cast screen tests and publicity materials.
AFGA (American Film Genre Archives) have an interesting little oddity as well arriving exclusively on DVD. It’s Ninja Zombie (1992), a little no-budget feature made many years ago by a youngster on Super 8 film. Apparently, it intersperses zombies, ninjas and other genre tropes in a way only a kid’s mind could imagine. Transferred from his BETA tapes, it arrives with a director commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, a short film from the creator and an interview with the star.
Shout! also have some films of note coming your way. They include a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the remake of House on Haunted Hill (1999). The plot involves a group of visitors challenged with visiting a creepy, old mansion and surviving the night… doing so will net them $1 million dollars. The disc comes with a 2K scan of the film, new interviews with the director, composer and visual effects supervisor. You’ll also get never-before-seen storyboards, a previously released commentary track, featurettes, deleted scenes as well as publicity materials.
The Shout Select line is delivering The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) on Blu-ray in a 20th Anniversary Edition. This well-regarded Three Musketeers tale with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Gerard Depardieu has been given a new 4K scan from the original camera negative, as well as new interviews with the film’s producer and production designer, a director commentary, featurettes and a theatrical trailer.
Perhaps the most anticipated Blu-ray coming this week from Shout! is Trick ‘r Treat (2007). This very effective Halloween-themed anthology has become a real cult item and has developed a huge fan following despite Warner Brothers barely releasing it to theaters a decade ago. This Collector’s Edition is being released with a new, director approved 2K scan of the original film elements. There are so many new features that it’s impossible to list them all here, but some of them include new interviews with crew members discussing the production and the growing fan base, a 2K scan of a short film from the director, publicity materials, a filmmaker commentary track, deleted scenes and many other bonuses. The movie is a lot of fun and if you’re a fan of it, this is a must own.
You can really tell the fall is here, as there seem to be more horror-related releases. This includes a Blu-ray of The Unnamable (1988) from Unearthed Films. Based on an H.P. Lovecraft tale, this film involves a group of college students who retreat to a country house and are attacked by a vicious female beast. This small, independent horror flick has been out-of-print for a long time and arrives in high definition with a cast and crew commentary, interviews with the make-up effects team as well as performers in the movie. Honestly, I saw it on VHS back in the day but have no memory of it at all. Maybe it’s time for another look reevaluation? Those who appreciate low-budget horror may want to give it a try and find out if it’s a lost gem.
Remember the teen comedy, Can’t Hardly Wait (1997)? Well, if you don’t you’ll be forgiven, as it has been some time since this original release of this graduation party feature. Mill Creek are putting out a “20 Year Reunion Special Edition” of the film with some extras included. There’s an original commentary with the filmmakers and cast, a making-of, deleted scenes and other bonuses including a look at all of the famous faces appearing in the movie. It’s kind of crazy… besides stars like Jennifer Love Hewett, Seth Green and Ethan Embry, the cast includes early appearances from Selma Blair, Jason Segel, Jenna Elfman, Freddy Rodriguez, Melissa Joan Hart, Jerry O’Connell, Donald Faison and many others. Guess if you were of an appropriate age at the time this flick was made, you were likely in it.
S’More Entertainment is bringing viewers a couple of obscure little genre films to DVD. They include the Drew Barrymore horror picture. Doppelganger (1993). The plot involves a man who falls for a young woman, only to wonder if he’s dating the same woman that he fell for or a sinister, psychopathic double. They are also putting out a DVD of the zombie-comedy, Ed and His Dead Mother (1993). This small, hard-to-find film is amusingly silly and should provide some entertainment for horror/comedy enthusiasts. It stars Steve Buscemi as a nebbish introvert whose mom passes away. He makes a deal with a traveling salesman who can return her from the dead. However, while she looks normal, her behavior is bizarre and she develops an abhorrent taste for flesh.
Finally, Criterion are distributing a Blu-ray of the well-received but little seen West German family drama TV-miniseries, Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972). It is being released with a 2K digital restoration with updated subtitles, a 2007 documentary on the production and a film scholar interview.
You Know, For Kids!
It’s all about ponies this week in kid-friendly entertainment.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Season 7
On the Tube!
And here are the highlights of TV-themed releases.
The 100: Season 5
America the Beautiful: Complete National Parks Collection – 10 Part Series with Bonus
Constantine: City of Demons: The Movie (animated DC Superhero TV-movie connecting short episodes)
Eight Hours Don’t Make A Day (1972 West German TV-miniseries)
Killing Eve: Season 1 (BBC)
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Season 7
POV: Dark Money (PBS)
Private Eyes: Season 1