Happy holidays! As you might expect, it’s a quiet time for new releases, but there still a couple of notable discs coming your way. Remember to click on any links and read the full-length reviews to find out more. 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!
1,000 Times Good Night – This Norwegian drama features a war photographer at a crossroads. When she to work, she leaves a concerned family behind. After making her choice, she takes her daughter to Kenya on a routine assignment. However, it soon turns into a volatile and dangerous situation. Reviews were strong for this effort, calling it a well-acted tale that doesn’t conform to dramatic stereotypes. It stars Juliette Binoche, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Larry Mullen Jr. (of U2 fame). The movie is listed as being in both English and Norwegian, so subtitles may be involved.
The Good Lie – Reese Witherspoon was heavily marketed as the star this feel-good drama, but she’s really only a supporting character in this tale of refugees from war torn Sudan who attempt to reunite after starting a new life in America. Reaction to the film was largely positive. While there are some brutal moments early on, most called it a moving examination of a horrible situation and praised the authenticity of the immigrant characters. It also features Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal and Corey Stoll.
Pride – Also receiving praise was this UK comedy/drama true story that chronicles a series of protests during the Thatcher-era. In it, Welsh mineworkers join with gay/lesbian activists to fight against government injustice. The film got excellent notices (and even received a Golden Globe nomination), with critics calling it an effective feel-good flick that deftly mixes important themes with big laughs. Sounds like a winner. It also features an impressive 80s dance soundtrack. Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy, Domenic West, Andrew Scott and Paddy Considine headline the cast.
Traffickers – This foreign title is a South Korean effort about an organ trafficker who targets a woman on a cruise. After enacting his plan, the crook finds himself having to deal with the very determined husband of the kidnapped lady. This 2012 flick was nominated for some awards in its homeland. While it hasn’t been reviewed yet in North America, it got a lot of attention during its original release. It seemed to split audiences. While many thought the plot twists strained credibility, many still found it an unpredictable and gripping thriller.
The Trip to Italy – Originally conceived and aired as a TV series in its native Britain, this film cuts together the best bits of the program into a feature. It follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalized versions of themselves on a culinary journey through the country. In truth, the cinematic cut is less about food and more an excuse for the pair to riff on everything from Batman and James Bond to relationships. It received excellent reviews – while all admitted that your enjoyment would depend on how much you liked their brand of comedy, almost all called it a funny flick with a few interesting insights into middle age. Read the site’s full-length review here.
Blasts From the Past!
If you like classic noir thrillers and suspense, this is your week. Olive is set to release a huge number of titles on Blu-ray.
The Burt Lancaster thriller Rope of Sand (1949) tells the tale of a hunting guide who locates a diamond deposit in the South African desert. When he’s threatened by the authorities, he decides to steal it for himself. Back in the day, it received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Screenplay. Dark City (1950) features Charlton Heston in the story of a gambler who take a sucker for all he’s worth, only to find themselves the target of a revenge plot. Union Station (1950) stars William Holden and Nancy Olsen – it’s about a train passenger who attempts to thwart the kidnapping plot of an armed thug, Appointment With Danger (1951) features Alan Ladd as a postal service worker who investigates the murder of a friend at the office and comes under fire from the killer.
Also coming from Olive are a trio of more recent titles. Two land owners come under legal assault from a cannery attempting to buy their land in the Michael Caine/Jane Fonda drama Hurry Sundown (1967). They are also putting out a couple of Otto Preminger features. In Skidoo (1968), a gangster is called out of retirement for one last hit. When he refuses, he becomes the target. This comedy stars Jackie Gleeson and Carol Channing. Finally, Dyan Cannon plays a wife who finds out that her husband has been less than faithful while he’s in surgery for a touch-and-go procedure in the comedy/drama Such Good Friends (1971).
Warner Bros. are also double-dipping once more with their Enter the Dragon: Two Disc Special Edition. This is a DVD only release. Reportedly, it contains all of the same features that have come out previously, with one exception. There is a second disc that contains a feature length Bruce Lee documentary, narrated by George Takei. The doc sounds interesting enough, but most would be wiser to pick up the sharp Blu-ray previously put on the market or just wait for another hi-def version that will feature the new bonus. Even Lee doesn’t look too happy about this release.
You Know, For Kids!
There are only two choices this week for the small fry. Here they are…
Peg & Cat: Pirates Ahoy! and Other Really Big Problems!
Wings: Skyforce Heroes
On the Tube!
As expected, it’s a quiet week on the television front as well. So what clip to show, then? Well, with a newfangled Star Wars flick getting a whole lot of press over the past couple of weeks, here’s the opening to the infamous 1978 TV variety show called The Star Wars Holiday Special.
And as a holiday bonus, further down are a bunch of Christmas-themed commercials circa 1982 (for those who might remember ). If you let advertisements inform your purchases, you would’ve celebrated with a lot of M&Ms, an E.T. game from Atari, plenty of Big Macs, a long distance gift certificate, some Indiana Jones figures, a checkbook calculator, perfume and maybe even a stick of butter. The moral – think twice before you buy. And if anyone can explain to me what the heck was going on in The Gary Coleman Show, I’d very much like to hear about it.
Happy Life Day, Lumpy… and best wishes to all of you!
American Experience: Cold War Roadshow (PBS)
Continuum: Season 3
Dominion: Season 1
Frontline: The Rise of Isis (PBS)
Intruders: Season 1 (BBC)
My Favorite Martian: Season 2
Richard Pryor: Icon (PBS)
Why Planes Vanish (PBS)