Now that the holiday is over, things are beginning to get back to normal with a decent variety of titles in various genres (unless you’re looking for kid’s flicks – then you’re out of luck). As always, the highlights are summarized below. Some of the films were previously reviewed in detail on the site. Those who want to read more about them are advised to click on the links. 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!
Bad Words – Jason Bateman stars and makes his directorial debut in this foul-mouthed comedy about a misanthrope who enters a national spelling bee competition. It didn’t get a big push upon its release (likely due to its politically incorrect humor), but it’s likely to find an audience at home. Critics were generally positive about the effort. Some were taken aback by the off color language, but the majority found it to be a well acted and executed effort that earns plenty of laughs. The film also stars Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand, Allison Janney, Ben Falcone and Philip Baker Hall. Read the site’s full length review right here.
Jodorowski’s Dune – It isn’t unusual for movie screenplays to languish in development hell and never get made. However, this documentary chronicles one of the most fascinating ones of all time that came oh-so-close to becoming reality – a big budget, psychedelic adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel Dune from cult movie director Alejandro Jodorowski (El Topo). Interviews and production art illustrate how both how the film almost came to be and how many of the scenes would have played out. It received unanimous praise from the press, who called the doc fascinating and its subject matter gripping. Read our original review here.
Kid Cannabis – Based on a true story, this independent drama tells the story of Nate Norman, an Idaho teen who starts a marijuana operation. He initially meets with success, but the entrepreneur eventually gets in over his head with underworld figures. Critics gave it decent reviews, stating that the film possesses a high energy level that carries viewers through its weaker sections. It features Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kenny Wormald, Ron Perlman and John C. McGinley.
Le Week-End – This tale follows an English couple who have begun to drift apart after decades of marriage. In an attempt to work things out, they take a trip to Paris where they spent their honeymoon. However, the two find reconciliation much more difficult than anticipated. Reviewers were very positive about this drama, so much so that it was awarded Best British Independent Film last year. They reported that the film was stark, bittersweet, and much darker than advertised, with excellent performances from its cast. Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan and Jeff Goldblum star.
Nymphomaniac Vol. 1 & 2 – The latest from Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier (Melancholia, Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves) is, as expected, another polarizing effort. After a woman is found beaten, she is taken in by her rescuer and recounts her sexual experiences. More critics were positive than negative about the film, but it seemed to garner extreme reactions. Some found it pretentious, others praised the brave performances and called it brilliant, while a few more criticized it as an exercise designed merely to shock rather than illuminate. However, all seemed to suggest that the first half is stronger than the second. The amazing cast includes Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Udo Kier, Jamie Bell and Willem Dafoe, among others. Interested viewers can pick up each volume separately, or get both films in one four hour package.
The Raid 2 – Fight fans will likely enjoy this Indonesian martial arts epic about a police officer who goes undercover to infiltrate a Jakarta crime syndicate. Reviews were solid for this sequel, with a few even suggesting that this follow-up outdoes the original. Those who didn’t care for it criticized its length and the repetitive brutal violence, but couldn’t deny the incredible choreography and stunt work featured in the fight sequences. Iko Uwais returns as the hero who takes a licking but keeps on ticking. To find out more about the movie, read our full length review here.
Rigor Mortis – Those who enjoy horror may get a kick out of this update of old fashioned hopping vampire flicks from Hong Kong. It features an unemployed actor who moves into a haunted house and is forced to fend off zombies, vampires and other spirits. There were more members of the press who enjoyed it than did not. While they all agreed that the storytelling was flawed, many raved about the visuals and found that it successfully provided creepy B-movie thrills.
Stage Fright – This Canadian musical-horror-comedy certainly has a unique premise – a group of snobby theater camp attendees come under attack by a heavy-metal loving slasher who does not appreciate their efforts to sing show tunes. Unfortunately, critics couldn’t seem to get on its wavelength, with the film getting more negative notices than positive ones. They complained that while it had its moments, the film was too violent and failed to land enough jokes to really work. Horror fans may want to give it a look-see regardless. After all, the cast does include Minnie Driver and Meatloaf.
Blasts From the Past!
The sheer volume of reissues this week is simply exhausting. Here goes:
Of course, for genre fans, the highlights come from Shout! Factory. They’re got a couple of interesting Blu-ray titles coming your way, including a personal favorite – the 1981 Walter Hill backwoods action flick, Southern Comfort. Director Hill was really hitting his stride at this point in his career – this effort came around the time of other classic Hill titles that include The Warriors, The Long Riders and 48 Hrs.. This film follows a group of National Guard reservists on a weekend training exercise who find themselves lost in the swamps and being hunted down by Cajun locals. It’s an extremely tense and well-produced tough guy action flick that isn’t as well remembered as it should be. It stars Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Peter Coyote and Brion James. The disc reportedly features a fantastic new transfer and a documentary with recent interviews with the cast and crew. For old school action fans, the movie comes highly recommended.
Also from Shout! Factory’s Scream line is the cult killer crocodile flick Lake Placid. This 1999 feature contains some intentionally corny gags from a great cast including Bridget Fonda, Betty White, Bill Pullman, Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Platt. The Blu-ray includes a new making of documentary as well as featurettes, croc test footage and the film itself in high definition. Frankly, I can’t remember it all that well, but there’s definitely an audience for it and they will be more than happy with this package.
Distributor Severin has a specific theme this week – movies from 1981 with the word “bloody” in the title. Most notable is Bloody Birthday, a movie about a trio of psychotic 10-year-olds who go on a murder rampage in their quiet neighborhood (even taking aim at teenage siblings). It didn’t get much of a release back in the day, but has remained a cult oddity. The Blu-ray features a couple of interviews and retrospective documentary on the “slasher” film. If it looks intriguing, one can preview it before making a purchase – the film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Also carrying quite a reputation is Bloody Moon. Directed by trash auteur Jess Franco (Oasis of the Zombies), the tale follows a killer hacking up young women at a Spanish boarding school. It was banned in England as a “video nasty” for its gratuitous nudity and graphic violence (including a particularly notorious power saw sequence). Now, it’s being presented uncut on Blu-ray.
Coming exclusively to DVD is a new release from Vinegar Syndrome – the long lost 1982 horror/action/black comedy Runaway Nightmare. It features a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, a commentary track and some alternate version of scenes. Even as a genre film buff, I missed this title and don’t know much about it. The plot involves a couple of worm farmers who are kidnapped by a female cult and forced to help them retrieve a platinum filled suitcase.
Olive is releasing three classic titles on Blu-ray. This includes the 1947 Susan Hayward romance flick The Lost Moment, and the 1948 romantic comedy Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid. Finally, there’s the 1949 film noir Caught starring James Mason, which also involves a passionate affair. There don’t appear to be any special features, but all three titles are very well regarded and should please classic film fans.
Finally, Warner Bros. is putting a couple of classic titles out on Blu-ray as well. There’s the cool-beans, 1967 existential crime thriller Point Blank. It stars Lee Marvin and Angie Dickenson and follows a vicious crook out to retrieve a sum of money from a crime syndicate after being double-crossed and left for dead. It’s a big cult item among movie fans – Marvin’s performance is memorably icy and in this stark and brutal flick. The movie was later remade as Payback, featuring Mel Gibson. This disc features an old but entertaining commentary recorded years ago with director John Boorman and fan Steven Soderbergh.
The same studio are also putting out the Oscar-winning 1960 science-fiction classic, The Time Machine. Based on the H.G. Wells book of the same name, it follow a protagonist who travels to the past and future, where he attempts to help humanity fend off monstrous foes. This Blu-ray features a behind-the-scenes documentary and theatrical trailer.
You Know, For Kids!
Sorry kids, it doesn’t look like there’s anything specific right now. But there are a few television nature documentaries in the next section – you may want to give one of those a try.
On the Tube!
There’s a lot of nature TV on DVD this week along with one classic series for western fans called The Big Valley. It ran in the late 60’s and starred Lee Majors, Linda Evans and Barbara Stanwyck. I’ve never seen it, but based on the opening titles the show features loads of stock footage of photogenic valleys and a bunch of characters smiling awkwardly. Do they just find nature amusing? What exactly are they looking at off camera? Guess you’ll have to pick it up to find out. In the meantime, read below to see the complete listings.
The Big Valley: Season 3
D-Day 360 (PBS)
Hidden Kingdoms (BBC Earth) Blu-ray
Nature: The Gathering Swarms (PBS)
Nature: Leave it to Beavers (PBS)
Nova: D-Day’s Sunken Secrets
Doctor Who: Series 3, Part 2
Too Cute Puppies and More: Season 2, Volume 1 (Animal Planet)