Welcome to another edition chronicling the latest releases on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a slower week, but there a couple of notable flicks (click on any links you see to read more about them) and interesting things arriving. 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!
Dark Crimes – In this independent drama, a cop becomes obsessed with solving a murder that bears some resemblance to a book by a successful writer. He trails the author into a strange underground world as he sets out to find the truth. Unfortunately, the project has yet to find a positive review as of this writing. All say that despite the talent in front of and behind the camera, the movie is gritty and ponderous without amounting to much dramatically and that the procedural story format doesn’t help to add suspense. The cast includes Jim Carrey, Marton Csokas, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kati Otinen.
Final Portrait – Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti is the subject of this biopic. It all starts when an American writer and art admirer is asked to sit for a portrait by the fussy artist. The lead agrees, assuming that it will only take a couple of days, but he soon learns that the creative process is far more labored than expected. As time passes, he begins to learn more about the creative figure. Critics generally like the final product. About a quarter of writers found that the movie’s low-key and simple approach left more to be desire, but most complimented the performances and found the slow pace and attempts to capture the frustration of creating art entertaining. It stars Armie Hammer, Geoffrey Rush and Clemence Poesy.
Lou Andreas-Salome, The Audacity to be Free – This German/Austrian/Italian/Swiss biopic studies the life of Russian psychoanalyst Lou Andreas-Salome. The writer, who lived life “free from convention” forwarded controversial (for the time) theories that created scandal but also influenced many contemporaries like Friedrich Nietzsche. This feature split the press, although a few more gave it positive notices than negative ones. Those who disliked it claimed that for a movie about an important feminist, it sure spent a lot more attention on the men in her life than the lead. Others felt that it was beautifully shot and interesting, providing insight into a little known but important figure. It features Katharina Lorenz, Nicole Heesters, Liv Lisa Fries and Alexander Scheer.
The Miracle Season – Another true story gets a big screen adaptation in this tale of a volleyball team overcoming tragedy. When a high school team’s star player dies in a moped accident, the shocked team attempts to process the loss. With the help of their gruff coach, they eventually set out to win the State Championship. Notices were split, with slightly more pans than positives. Almost half called it an inspiring enough family film that moves at a fast-enough clip to overcome its deficiencies, while the remainder stated that became too sentimental and that the obvious attempts to induce tears didn’t have a positive impact on the final feature. The cast includes Helen Hunt, Ellen Moriarty, Danika Yarosh and William Hurt.
Overboard – This remake of the 1987 romantic comedy tries to add a twist to the tale by switching gender roles. In this adaptation, the spoiled rich socialite is a man. As in the original, he falls off of his yacht, hits his head and develops amnesia. His cleaner, a struggling single mom decides to enact revenge for his abuse by convincing him that they are married. Reaction to this redo was even less complimentary than it was towards the original. A handful of reviewers enjoyed the leads enough to give it a pass, but most suggested that it wasn’t funny and didn’t even update its themes very efficiently for modern audiences. It stars Anna Farris, Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez and John Hannah.
Tully – A very stressed out single mom struggles to raise her children in this drama/comedy. When her brother offers to hire a night nanny to help give his sister more free time, she protests, but quickly makes friends with the young employee, opening her up to new experiences and insight about her life. Critics liked the movie overall. A small percentage called it forced, clichéd and only saved by the lead performances, but more admired the film’s endeavors at showing the trials of motherhood and examining the different stages of a person’s life through the two lead characters. Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston and Mark Duplass headline the film. To read this site’s review, click here.
Blasts from the Past!
We all know director James Cameron as the two-time Oscar winning director of Titanic and Avatar (not to mentioned The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, among many others). Well, we all have to start somewhere. For Cameron, that was the cheesy horror sequel. Piranha II: The Spawning (1981) aka Piranha II: Flying Killers. In this follow-up, the genetically mutated killer fish can fly attack vacationers at a Caribbean resort. Shout! Factory are presenting the movie on Blu-ray with some bonuses. It has been given a new 2K scan from the original camera negative and comes with an interview with the movie’s star as well as with the special effects artist. A theatrical trailer is also included. This is a bad movie, but it may provide some fun for horror movie fans.
Kino have two films starring James Belushi that were produced by Touchstore Pictures the same year. Mr. Destiny (1990) is a fantasy inspired by the works of Frank Capra that follows a man’s whose unhappiness stems from not making a big play during a baseball game. A mysterious figure (Michael Caine) gives him the opportunity to see how his life would be different, but finds his newfound success less fulfilling than anticipated. Taking Care of Business (1990) is a comedy about a convict who finds an ad executive’s personal filofax (that’s dating a bit, isn’t it?) and assumes his identity, leading to wackiness. Both releases include a commentary, the first movie with Belushi and on the second feature, the film’s screenwriter.
Pendulum (1969) is a dark crime thriller about a tough cop (George Peppard, long before his days on TV’s The A-Team) who ends up being the prime suspect when his cheating wife is brutally murdered. He goes on the lam to find out who is responsible. Not to be confused with the panned 2001 picture of the same name, this film has its share of fans. Sony is putting the Blu-ray out.
Finally, you can now order a Blu-ray of the British horror classic, Village of the Damned (1960) from Warner Archive as a made-to-order disc. This tale involves a group of odd, children born to mothers in a small town at exactly the same time. They turn out to be aliens with mental powers who set out to take control of the world. This memorable, low-key chillers is a great one and it’s good to finally see the film get high definition treatment.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that may appeal to kids.
LEGO DC Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis
Power Rangers: Mirai Sentai Timeranger: The Complete Series
Rusty Rivets (Nickelodeon)
Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season 4
On the Tube!
And these are some highlights from the week’s TV-themed releases.
Alaska’s Grizzly Gauntlet (National Geographic)
Counterpart: Season 1
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: Season 3
Frontiersmen: The Men Who Built America (History Network)
Frontline: Myanmar’s Killing Fields (PBS)
The Mighty Northwest (National Geographic)
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 11
Nature: Shark Mountain (PBS)
Nature: The World’s Most Wanted Animal (PBS)
Nova – Wonders: Season 1 (PBS)
Power Rangers: Mirai Sentai Timeranger: The Complete Series
Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season 4