Once again, it’s time for another look at highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. There are plenty of interesting releases arriving, including huge big box office hit. And as always, links are available to read some full length feature reviews. 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!
Filmworker – Stanley Kubrick is considered one of cinema’s greatest creators. This documentary goes behind-the-scenes to give credit to the filmmaker’s right-hand man, Leon Vitali. After playing the role of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon, Vitali gave up his acting career to assist the director, working together for decades until Kubrick’s passing. The movie chronicles their relationship. It received a lot of acclaim, with most calling it a fascinating look behind-the-scenes at its subject that captures his devotion and skill in working with an obsessive and reclusive artist.
The Guardians – Set in 1915 during World War I, this French drama follows the lives of the wives, mothers and daughters left behind by soldiers and their attempts to continue operating the family farm. The clan does find help in the form of a young woman who agrees to stay, but trouble arises when the patriarch returns home and takes a liking to the new addition. Critics were very impressed with what they saw, writing that the movie had a low-key tone and deliberate pace, but that the situations, characters and cinematography were excellent. It features Nathalie Baye, Iris Bry, Laura Smet and Cyril Descours.
Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All – Srila Prabhupada is the focus of this documentary. It follows his arrival in the United States in the 1960s and the way that he built up support and developed the Hare Krishna movement. The press weren’t particularly fond of this examination of his life. While a couple of reviewers thought it would appeal to followers, the majority had issues. In fact, they suggested that the movie comes across as little more than a feature-length commercial, doing little more than fawning over its subject without providing much in the way of real information or conflict.
Hearts Beat Loud – In this comedy/drama a widower decides to spend more quality time with his teenage daughter by starting a band with her. It goes well at first, but causes conflicts when the father starts taking the pursuit seriously and focusing on his own dreams, instead of facilitating those of his offspring. Notices were really strong for this independent feature. There were a couple of dissenting voices that felt that the dramatic elements were too soft and the final result didn’t make an impact. Still, far more believed that it was a sweet and charming little picture buoyed by its likable cast. It stars Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner and Toni Collette.
Hope Springs Eternal – This independent production involves a teenage girl who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has completely accepted her fate, enjoying herself while preparing for the inevitable. However, the lead get the shock of her life when the cancer goes into complete remission, leaving the protagonist confused about what to do and how her friends will react to her continued presence at school. Most of those who saw it liked it. There were a few who thought it had difficulty shifting tones, but most enjoyed the lead actress and thought it was an appealing coming-of-age tale. The cast includes Mia Rose Frampton, Stony Blyden and Juliette Angelo.
Ocean’s 8 – This hit spin-off of the Ocean’s Eleven series follows the sister of Danny Ocean. She recruits an all female team to steal valuable jewels during the Met Gala in Manhattan. The movie generally received more positive notices than negative ones. A portion of viewers critiqued the film for being workmanlike and omitting any danger or surprises from the heist itself. However, more called it light and fun entertainment with a cast that appeared to be having a good time together. It stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Rhianna, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage and James Corden. To read this site’s review, click here.
Superfly – The 1972 blaxploitation classic gets a redo in this modern take on the character. In this version, the drug-dealing protagonist yearns to get out of the business, but to do it, he must set up one last score. His plan requires him to double-cross his mentors, deal with cartels and not get caught by the fuzz. Reaction was split for this action redo. Roughly half commented that it a glossy redo that doesn’t add anything to the character or match the original, while the others appreciated the style and energy on display, as well as the work of the lead actor. It features Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis and Jennifer Morrison.
Blasts from the Past!
For the past year, MVD have been putting out some interesting Blu-rays featuring cult genre films in the action and horror genres. Their new line, MVD Marquee, appears to be delivering bigger studio pictures. This week, the distributor have three titles of note. The first is a “Special Edition” of Barbershop (2002). The well-received comedy stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer and many others. It follows the lives of workers and customers at a Chicago barbershop. The disc comes with numerous bonuses, including an audio commentary with the director, producers and writer. It also features deleted scenes, a blooper reel, featurettes on the movie, a music video and numerous publicity materials.
They also have a “Special Edition” Blu-ray of Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004). This follow-up details more comedic hi-jinx with Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer at the titular locale as they fight with the crew at a beauty shop next door operated by a rival (played by Queen Latifah). The release includes a director/producer commentary, a cast commentary led by Cedric the Entertainer, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery and multiple trailers. Finally, you can also pick up the series spin-off, Beauty Shop (2005), starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Alfre Woodard and Mena Suvari as the employees at the competing business. This Blu-ray includes director commentary on selected scenes, featurettes on the production, a gag reel and multiple trailers.
Shout! Factory have a couple of notable horror flicks. The first one, not to be confused with the Peter Jackson film of the same name, is Brain Dead (1990). This Roger Corman production is about a neurosurgeon asked to retrieve information from the brain of an asylum inmate. Along the way, the doctor’s own sanity is called into question. It’s a well-regarded little B-picture and the distributor have given it a new 2K scan and provided a commentary with the movie’s co-writer/director, along with deleted scenes and a trailer.
They also have The Seventh Sign (1988), which has been out-of-print for a long, long time. It’s a supernatural thriller about a housewife (played by Demi Moore) who begins having apocalyptic visions. Soon, she’s joined by a Vatican priest, and the pair try to decipher her visions in order to save the world. Beside finally being able to watch the movie in high definition, this release includes new interviews with the director, writers and supporting cast members.
Criterion are delivering a Blu-ray of the French coming-of-age drama, Cold Water (1994). The film has been given a 4K digital restoration with new subtitles supervised by the filmmaker, new interviews with the director and cinematographer, and a 1994 French television program about the movie.
They are also releasing The Tree of Life (2011) from director Terrence Malick (Badlands, The Thin Red Line, The New World) as a 2-disc Blu-ray set. This meditative drama about the members of a Texas family features an artistic, picturesque depiction of the beginnings of life and the Earth. The disc includes a 4K digital restoration of the feature approved by the filmmaker and director of photography, an extended cut of the movie with 50 minutes of additional material, a 2011 documentary on the flick, new interviews with Jessica Chastain and the visual effects supervisor, an interview with composer Alexandre Desplat on the score and loads more. If you’re a fan of Malick, this sounds like a must buy.
Finally, Mill Creek have been putting out plenty of Benji movies on Blu-ray over the past year, each with various extra features. The latest title to get the treatment is Benji: Off the Leash! (2004), in which the mutt teams up with some outcasts (of both the animal and human variety) to try and stick up for one another. This disc arrives with a director/crew commentary, a behind-the-scenes short and a collection of memorable clips from five Benji flicks.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that may be of interest to kids.
Barbie: Dolphin Magic
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Season 2, Volume 2
Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Legend of Boo-kini Bottom
On the Tube!
And here are the week’s TV-themed releases.
American Masters: Wyeth (PBS)
The Big Bang Theory: Season 11
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Season 2, Volume 2
Chicago P.D.: Season 5
Family Pictures (1993 miniseries)
The Great British Baking Show: Season 5 (UK Season 3)
Law and Order: True Crime: The Menendez Murders
Modern Family: Season 9
NOVA: Animal Mummies (PBS)
Rescue Me: The Complete Series
Rolling Stones: Stories from the Edge (HBO documentary series)
Scorpion: The Final Season
Television’s Lost Classics: Volume 1
Television’s Lost Classics: Volume 2
This Is Us: Season 2