Welcome to one of the busiest editions of Blu-ray and DVD highlights we’ve had in some time. It’s full of both Hollywood blockbusters and small independent features that you’ve likely never heard of. All in all, a lot of interesting stuff is arriving for your perusal (and as always, you can click on any links you see in this article to read full 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!
American Hangman – A judge who presided over a botched criminal case finds himself kidnapped in this independent thriller. With cameras all around, he’s put on trial for his part in the trial, with viewers watching the streaming video on multiple social networks. As the details unfold, those watching are told that they are the jury and are left to decide the fate of the official. This picture earned split notices. About half thought that the cast was good, but that the screenplay was obvious in its attempts to criticize media as well as corruption within the court system. The rest suggested that the lead was so good that he made up for the story hiccups. It features Donald Sutherland, Vincent Kartheiser and Lucia Walters.
Attrition – Another week, another Steven Seagal direct-to-disc action flick. However, this effort was actually written and produced by Seagal himself, suggesting that he may have put more attention into this particular feature. The martial arts hero stars as a ex-military man determined to save a young Thai girl with mythical powers from a nasty gang of human traffickers. This title has appeared rather suddenly with little fanfare and is making its debut on disc. That means that there are absolutely no reviews for it just yet. As always, one would be wise to have a little trepidation going in. The cast also includes Rudy Youngblood, Siu-Wong Fan and Kat Ingkarat.
Batman: Hush – This direct-to-disc animated feature follows the titular DC superhero as he faces off against a new foe. Adapted directly from a comic book storyline, it involves a secretive villain plotting against Batman from afar, manipulating foes such as the Joker, the Riddler and Ra’s al Ghul into doing his bidding and taking down Batman. Notices were generally positive towards this title. While a few did complain about alterations to the original story, most complimented this effort as being quickly paced, tense and having an interesting mystery at its center. The voice talent includes Jason O’Mara, Jennifer Morrison, Peyton List, Jerry O’Connell, Rebecca Romijn and Rainn Wilson.
Changeland – A man decides to spring a surprise Thailand vacation on his wife, only to discover that she’s having an affair. Instead, the protagonist calls up his best friend and the two head out themselves, attending the events he had planned with his significant other. Although they bicker at first, the two travelers are soon changed by this impromptu trip to another part of the world. Generally, reviewers were slightly more positive about this comedy/drama than they were negative. Some stated that while it was a pretty trip to watch, the revelations weren’t as deep or meaningful as hoped for. However, most stated that the movie was sweet and worked thanks to the likeability of the two protagonists. It stars Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Brenda Song, Rachel Bloom, Breckin Meyer, Rob Paulsen and Macauley Culkin.
Charlie Says – This biopic drama focuses on the infamous Manson family and the crimes committed in 1969. Specifically, three All-American woman who were transformed by the figure into cold-blooded killers. The story follows a graduate student who visits them after their incarceration and attempts to make them come to terms with the severity of their crimes. Notices towards this picture were generally mixed. A group thought that the movie was well-intentioned but played it safe and didn’t do enough to explain just how these ladies were brainwashed. Others thought it was uneven but appreciated the focus on these women and how they were unwittingly victimized. The cast includes Chance Crawford, Suki Waterhouse, Merritt Wever, Annabeth Gish, Hannah Murray, Susie Bacon and Matt Smith.
The Command – Anyone out there remember the 2002 Harrison Ford picture, film K-19: The Widowmaker? This movie, which was released in some markets as Kursk, tells a very similar story about a real-life incident that occurred aboard another Russian craft. After a series of accidental explosions starts to sink a submarine, the crew of the vessel struggles to survive as the boat falls further into the depths. Their plight is complicated when the Russian government refuses help from other countries in rescuing the sailors. Overall, the press didn’t mind this biopic. While a percentage did critique some of the visual effects as being sub-par and thought the script used too many disaster picture clichés, the consensus was that the able cast helped sell this tragic and unfortunate tale. It features Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux, Max von Sydow and Colin Firth.
The Curse of La Llorona – This spin-off of The Conjuring involves a sinister spirit who takes children. When a social worker investigates a child abuse case, she inadvertently comes into contact with La Llorona, who targets her own kids. To fight the supernatural force, she enlists the assistance of an eccentric priest to help protect them. Reviews for this picture weren’t nearly as strong as others in the franchise. While a few suggested that the movie provided enough jump scares to satisfy horror fans, others thought that the screenplay didn’t do the mythic figure justice and griped that the movie resorted to the same old formula. Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez and Tony Amendola headline the feature. To read a full review of the flick, click here.
Donnybrook – An ex-marine struggling to make ends meets decides to take extreme measures to provide for his children. He enters the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing and tries to enter a competition for a $100,000 prize. Along the way he encounters equally desperate individuals, including a merciless drug-dealer, as well as a troubled woman trying to escape her past. Critics weren’t overly taken with this dark and gritty action/drama. Some complimented the performances and found the battles wince-inducing in their effectiveness. Unfortunately, more thought that the picture struggled to overcome a predictable plot and were worn down by the omscreen violence. The movie stars Jamie Bell, Frank Grillo, James Badge Dale and Margaret Qualley.
Do Something, Jake – This dark comedy from the UK features a lead who is seen by others as introverted, illiterate and having no job prospects. But as events progress, it is discovered that he is intelligent, spending most of his time looking out for the woman he loves from afar. He attempts to save his crush’s future by pulling off an elaborate scheme that will remove her from the clutches of her dangerous criminal boyfriend. Of course, things don’t end up going exactly to plan. This independent feature has made the rounds at film festivals, even winning Best Feature at a couple of them. Still, it has yet to be seen in these parts and is making its debut on disc, so interested parties will have to go in cold. Jamie Alderson, Mia Mills, Tom Loone and Ed Bergfold take on the lead roles.
Double Eagle Ranch – Attempting to poke fun at various rom-com tropes, this feature tells the story of a narcissistic man whose grandmother dies. The deceased woman requests that the protagonist spread her ashes with his ex-girlfriend. Remarkably, the ex agrees and the pair head off, bickering and arguing to their destination. Things get more complicated when they realize they’ve been double-booked at their accommodations with a free-spirited couple who challenge the lead’s negativity. For most, this release will be their first introduction to this title. Internet reviews suggest that the performers are very good, but that viewers will have to prepare themselves to endure the hero’s awful behavior. It features Kyle Cooper, Lyndsey Doolen, Joe Hartzler and Melissa Hunter.
Girls of the Sun – This multinational arthouse war film is inspired by the true story of a Kurdish battalion composed entirely of female resistance fighters. A French journalist decides to make her way to Kurdistan and eventually tags along with the warriors, covering a three day offensive in which they attempt to take the city of Corduene back from extremist invaders. Alas, the assault didn’t win many accolades from the press. While a small contingent admired the film for recognizing the struggles of these women, more found the end results well-meaning but awkwardly put together, veering into corny melodrama to make its points. The cast includes Golshifteh Farahani, Emmanuelle Bercot and Zübeyde Bulut
The Iron Orchard – Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, a young man in Texas decides to make his mark in the oilfields. The movie follows his progression as he rises to a prominent position as a wildcatter, exploring and searching for his fortune. His stakes cause great consternation and even violence as he expands in the region. Reaction towards this independently produced drama was not as positive as might have been hoped for. A limited selection of reviews praised the cinematography and enjoyed the work of the main actor. Still, almost all others called it dramatically flat, stated that it failed to generate much tension and summed that it felt too soapy for its own good. Lane Garrison, Ali Cobrin, Austin Niclos and Lew Temple are prominently featured.
Penguin Highway – Anime fans may be interested in this Japanese production. It’s about a fourth-grader with an interest in science who discovers penguins suddenly appearing all over his little village. Determined to understand the reasons why, he investigates and determines that it may have to do with the strange abilities of a woman working at a nearby dental clinic. Based on a popular coming-of-age novel, this effort earned raves from the press. In fact, I have yet to find a negative review. They called it an incredibly sweet narrative that also delivered potent emotional beats. They remarked that the movie resonated long after the finale and some even stated that the film marks the debut of a compelling new voice in the animation world.
Perception – This title follows two parties who meet under unusual circumstances. A real estate developer still reeling over the death of this wife encounters a mysterious small-time psychic. The mystic asserts that she can reconnect the man and his late spouse if he takes her guidance. Desperate to see his partner again, the lead agrees, only to uncover secrets about his new acquaintance that make him believe that she may actually be after his fortune. There aren’t a great many notices for this indie feature as of yet, but the ones that have appeared haven’t been overly complimentary. One or two call it an effective little thriller, but most suggest that the script doesn’t take full advantage of its interesting concept. Wes Ramsey, Meera Rohit Kumbhani and Caitlin Mehner headline the film.
Plus One – Here’s another little romantic comedy hitting shelves this week. Two longtime single college friends decide to help each other out when they both get invited to numerous nuptials. They decide to be each other’s plus one at every event in order help each other with speeches and various awkward and uncomfortable encounters. But over the course of the summer, the pair begin to develop their own chemistry. Critics were quite kind to this indie effort. While one or two called it too forgettable to recommend, the majority thought it was a very charming and funny little film. They mentioned that the picture was better than many other titles of its ilk and noted that sparks really flew between the two leads. The cast includes Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid and Ed Begley Jr.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu – The hugely popular Japanese multi-media phenomenon involving cute little creatures gets a film adaptation in this live-action adaptation. When a youth learns that his private investigator father has gone missing, he heads out to the big city to find out what happened. He soon encounters his father’s Pokémon and the two decide to team up to solve the disappearance. The press gave this unusual flick decent marks. A smaller group couldn’t get on its wavelength and didn’t find the story or characters interesting. Still, most admitted that the unusual buddy picture set-up worked and found that there were enough laughs and impressive visuals to grant it a pass. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, Ken Watanabe and Suki Waterhouse. To read this site’s review of the picture, click here.
Project Ithaca – This independent sci-fi thriller has a very short and direct synopsis…. a group of strangers awaken aboard a strange alien spacecraft. Divided they will die. Together, they can find a way home. Other than that, little else is known about the movie. Only a couple of reviews have popped up online so far and they aren’t overly complimentary. They all assert that the concept for the feature is nifty and remark favorably on the efforts of the cast. However, they warn potential viewers that the movie is very low-budget and in the end can’t quite overcome its budgetary limitations and screenplay issues. It features James Gallanders, Deragh Campbell, Daniel Fathers and Caroline Raynaud.
Saving Flora – An aging circus elephant is deemed unfit to perform by its owners. When it is decided to put the animal down, the owner’s teenage daughter decides to rescue the animal. They sneak away and the two try to navigate the backcountry as they head for an elephant sanctuary with many in pursuit. This title has played at a few film festivals, but is debuting on disc in North America, which means that there are no write-ups for it. At least it has a few familiar faces in it, which means that it may make for decent family fare. The cast includes Jenna Ortega, Martin Martinez, David Arquette, Leonor Varela, Tom Arnold and Rhea Perlman.
The Souvenir – A shy film student begins to find her creative voice as she begins dating a charming but untrustworthy man. Before long, she’s fighting with her parents and dealing with some incredible highs and lows in her emotionally fraught relationship. The lead must ultimately decide whether or not to continue on her wild romantic journey. Reaction towards this small British drama was very positive. A tiny percentage couldn’t quite relate to the tumultuous romance and felt distanced from the events presented. However, the vast majority were impressed by the acting and thought it a fascinating personal drama that really captured the thoughts and experiences of youth. It stars Honor Swinton Byrne, Jack McMullen, Richard Ayoade, Tilda Swinton and Neil Young.
Tiger Milk – Known as Tigermilch in its home country, this foreign-language German title is a coming-of-age tale capturing the experiences of two young women. Together, they head out into the streets of Berlin in the hopes of finding a better life. In doing so, they experiment with drinking and dugs. Complications arise when they witness a murder. This film was released a couple of years back in Germany and is now premiering in this part of the world. It has been described as something akin to movies like Thirteen, but with a slightly lighter tone. No reviews are available as of yet. The cast includes Flora Thiemann and Emily Kusche.
Tolkien – Author J.R.R Tolkien is the subject of this biopic, which depicts the early years of his life prior to writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. At an early age, the boy was orphaned, but eventually befriended a group of students who supported each other and encouraged his creative pursuits, along with a girlfriend also staying at his place of residence. The story also details the figure’s time in World War I and how it all influenced his writing. Critics were split on this drama. Roughly half said that it was well-polished but generic and didn’t really delve deeply enough into the man’s inner-world. Others thought that there was some interesting commentary and stated that while it took its time to develop, it ended strongly. It features Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney and Derek Jacobi. To read this site’s review, click here.
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – This documentary has a very specific focus. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the science-fiction TV series and Star Trek spin-off, it goes into great detail about the show’s creation and how it was originally received by the public. The makers go into the growing popularity of the show and new fans that have found it on various media platforms. Reviews for the picture have been quite good. While reviews state that it is really only of interest to those who are already fans of the series, they also suggest that it is quite detailed and offers an honest and interesting look at the making-of and impact of the cult program. Most of the original cast return to share their thoughts, experiences and insight.
Blasts from the Past!
As if that wasn’t plenty to choose from, there are also numerous classic flicks getting a high definition upgrade. Film Movement are releasing a Blu-ray of the eerie film, The Reflecting Skin (1990). Set in the 1950s. it’s about a young boy in an Idaho farming town who becomes convinced that his neighbor is a vampire and attempts to decide what action to take to solve the problem. This cult movie features Viggo Mortensen in one of his first roles and has been described as a surreal blend of horror and humor. The disc presents a 2K restoration of the title, along with an audio commentary, a making-of featurette and an essay on the flick. We’re hoping to review the title very soon, so keep checking for our Blu-ray review over the next week.
Arrow are delivering a Special Edition of the horror picture, Alice, Sweet Alice (1976), featuring Brooke Shields. Also known as Holy Terror, it’s about a knife-wielding killer in a yellow raincoat who terrorizes a family. As more bodies pile up, the parents begin to wonder if the culprit isn’t the naughty and presumably psychotic sister of the clan. The Blu-ray release includes a new 2K restoration of the theatrical version from the original camera negative and comes with a TV cut of the feature. You’ll also get a recently recorded commentary, an archival commentary with the director and editor, an interview with the filmmaker, a new talk with one of the cast members, another featuring the cousin of the director on his involvement in the production, a tour of the shooting locations, a deleted scene, alternate opening titles, and publicity materials.
Kino have some interesting Blu-rays as well. They include the Penelope Ann Miller comedy, The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag (1992), which features a librarian who enjoys the attention she gets after confessing to a crime she didn’t commit. This release includes the film’s trailer. They also have a Blu-ray of the Billy Wilder classic, A Foreign Affair (1948). This disc arrives with a film historian audio commentary and a theatrical trailer. And they are also releasing another later Wilder flick in the form of the Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau comedy, The Front Page (1974). This Special Edition comes with a film historian audio track, an interview with the first assistant director and assistant to Wilder, another talk with a cast member and the trailer.
Criterion have An Angel at my Table (1990) arriving on Blu-ray. It’s an award-winning biopic from filmmaker Jane Campion about New Zealand author Janet Frame. This director approved Blu-ray Special Edition includes a high definition digital restoration of the film supervised by the cinematographer and approved by Campion. You’ll also get a director commentary, a 2002 documentary about the making-of the feature, six deleted scene, an interview with the lead from 1983 and numerous trailers and stills.
Finally, Raro Video are putting out a Blu-ray of the Lucio Fulci horror picture, Touch of Death (1988). It’s a creepy-sounding effort about a gigolo who murders and eats clients after he tires of them. Word on the street is it isn’t one of Fulci’s best flicks, but at least fans can now pick it up and decide for themselves. It comes with a 20 minute documentary chronicling the production.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some releases that might appeal to kids.
Batman: Hush (PG-13 animated film)
LEGO DC: Batman
Penguin Highway (Japanese animated film)
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Saving Flora
On the Tube!
And here are the week’s TV-themed highlights.
Strike Back: Season 6
Wynonna Earp: Season 2