Welcome back to another look at highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. There are plenty of options arriving in a wide variety of genres. As always, if you see any links, clicking on them will lead you to a full review of the title in question. 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!
Alex & Me – Timed to coincide with the big World Cup tournament, this direct-to-DVD family film involves a young girl who wants to play soccer and idolizes her hero, US National Team star Alex Morgan. When she’s cut from her local team, the youngster attempts to find the inspiration to prove to others (and herself) that she has both the talent and belief to compete. This is debuting on disc, so there aren’t any reviews available for the feature as of yet. The cast includes Alex Morgan, Andrew Rush, Siena Nicole Agudong, Ava Acres and James Moses Black.
The Death of Stalin – This black comedy from the UK is premiering on DVD only this week, but one hopes that a Blu-ray will follow shortly. The movie explores and satirizes a particular period in Russian history. After Stalin suffers a debilitating brain hemorrhage, high-ranking underlings and officials in the cabinet shuffle and backstab one another for positioning and control of the nation. Reaction to the film was exceptional. While one or two didn’t find the material funny, almost all others called it a hilarious, sharp and unflinching comedy that feels timely and relevant in the midst today’s political turmoil. It stars Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, Paddy Considine and Olga Kurylenko.
Double Lover – In this French thriller, a young Parisian model unhappy with the business begins to suffer from psychosomatic conditions and seeks treatment from a therapist. She fall in love with her doctor and soon moves in with him. However, the lead soon begins to suspect that her new boyfriend may be hiding issues of his own. The press weren’t ecstatic about the film, but gave it more positive write-ups than negative ones. Some thought it came across as a bit over-the-top and could have explored its themes in a deeper manner. Still, more thought that events were well-staged and intriguing enough to earn it a pass. Marine Vacth, Jeremie Renier and Jacqueline Bisset headline the film.
Flower – A rebellious teenager living with her single mom is forced to undergo a change when her parent decides to move in with her new boyfriend. As she struggles to make the transition, the youth is also forced to deal with the mentally unbalanced son of her new step dad. Yearning for an outlet for her many frustrations, she decides to unveil a dark secret about one of her teachers. This independent effort split critics. Half appreciated the movie’s attempts to shock with its lead’s extreme behavior, but just as many felt that its bluntness hid the fact that there wasn’t much else compelling about the story. It features Zoey Deutch, Kathryn Hahn, Tim Heidecker and Adam Scott.
Frat Pack – In this slapstick independent comedy, a reserved British student travels to America to meet his new stepbrothers and extended family after his mom remarries. Of course, his new siblings are wild and crazy, and the group drag the protagonist out to attend a big frat party. Naturally, the new arrival gets himself into all sorts of precarious situations. The title is debuting on disc, which means that no one has seen it as of yet. However, after watching the trailer on line, I would keep my expectations in check. The cast includes Richard Alan Reid, Rachel Risen, Lochlyn Munro, Danny Trejo and Beverly D/Angelo.
Furious – Set in the 13th century, this Russian fantasy epic involves a village that is about to be attacked and raided by a Mongolian army. A solider (said to be suffering from amnesia) and his small group of one hundred or so cohorts suddenly appear. The strange new arrivals seem to be looking for revenge and promise to fight the invaders to the death. Together, they stage a vast, epic battle against the oncoming army. There aren’t any reviews for this feature in this part of the world; online reviews have suggested that it’s a decent enough action picture that is a little stronger than other Russian titles with similar subject matter. Ilya Malakov and Aleksey Serebryakov headline the film.
Keep the Change – An aspiring filmmaker gets in trouble with the law and is forced to attend a support group program as part of his probation. He isn’t pleased with the situation, but his feelings change after being introduced to another attendee. Sparks fly as the pair try to get through the course and navigate their feelings towards each other. This independent romantic comedy earned very strong notices. In fact, as of right now there are no negatives write-ups out there. It has been called a funny, sweet and honest look at characters with social difficulties trying to find common ground. It stars Brandon Polansky, Samantha Elisofon and Jessica Walter.
Midnight Sun – This romantic drama involves a teenager with a severe allergy to sunlight. Even a small amount of sun will kill her, leading the girl to live a solitary existence at home and only leave at night. A glimmer of hope appears when a curious neighbor decides to make contact and ask her out. The two fall for one another, but can their love survive the youngster’s severe condition. Critics didn’t care, panning the movie. They thought it was completely absurd and felt the material was so heavy-handed that it made the works of Nicholas Sparks look low-key and subtle in comparison. The movie features Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle and Quinn Shephard.
Pacific Rim: Uprising – Giant creatures from another dimension return to cause havoc in this sequel to the 2013 monster movie mash-up. This time out, the son of one of the characters from the original film helps build an all new team of robot pilot/monster-fighting kids to save the world. Not nearly as many members of the press responded favorably to this follow-up. Some thought it would appeal to kids, but most complained that it didn’t generate as much excitement the second time around and lacked the visual panache of the previous movie. The cast includes John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, Burn Gorman and Charlie Day. To read this site’s review, click here.
Paul, Apostle of Christ – As the title suggests, this biblical, faith-based film follows the struggles of one of Christ’s apostles. After being arrested, separated from friends and enduring all kinds of beatings and floggings, he struggles with feelings of guilt over past actions and decisions. Facing death, he contemplates how to end his life in an honorable fashion. The movie earned mixed notices. Almost all were impressed by the lead performance and complimented the production value, but the majority thought it was a bit too ponderous and lacked tension. It features Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner, Olivier Martinez and Joanne Whalley.
Unsane – The latest from director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 11, Side Effects, Logan Lucky) is a thriller shot entirely on a cell phone about a woman who is wrongfully incarcerated in a mental institution. Locked up against her will and unable to convince authorities that she is sane, the woman begins to suffer from paranoia as she begins to wonder who would do this to her and what else they are planning. Reviews were generally positive, with almost all complimenting the lead performance. There was a minority who didn’t care for the photography and didn’t buy in to the drama, but most called it a disturbing and creepy thriller. It stars Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Juno Temple, Amy Irving and Jay Pharoah. To read a full review, click here.
Blasts from the Past!
A short time ago, I wrote about Arrow Academy’s Blu-ray release of Vigil (1984), as well as MVD’s Lionheart (1990). As it so happens, both were delayed a week at the last minute and are arriving now instead. Sorry for the confusion, but these things occasionally happen. If you’d like to read about them, check out previous DVD/Blu-ray columns.
Shout Factory! have a couple of B-movies hitting shelves. Alien Predators (1985) is a horror flick about three American students touring Europe. They find themselves trapped in a small Spanish village that has been infected by a alien virus that turns the townspeople into mutants. The movie is hitting Blu-ray with a trailer and a commentary track from director Deran Sarafian (who later helmed the much-more-entertaining-than-you’d-expect-it-to-be action/comedy, Terminal Velocity).
They also have a Blu-ray of the giant killer bunny flick, Night of the Lepus (1972). Yep, you read that right. Mutated rabbits go on the rampage, leaving death and destruction in their wake. This release includes a new 2K scan from the original elements and two audio commentaries from a pop culture expert and a nature-on-the-rampage film aficionado. Additionally, the disc comes with publicity materials.
Kino have a series of interesting Blu-rays arriving as well. They include the war drama I, Jane Doe (1948) and the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Under Capricorn (1949), as well as the Fritz Lang film noir, The Woman in the Window (1945). Their Kino classics line are releasing the French films Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1975) and The Maids (1975).
Criterion are giving the elaborate treatment to the Michael Moore documentary Bowling for Columbine (2002). This Oscar-winner investigates the rise of gun violence and the efforts of political and corporate entities to create a culture of fear and proliferate shootings. This Blu-ray includes a new digital restoration of the film, a new documentary from Moore, a 2002 programs covering the director as he returns to the scene of his film, a related segment of his TV-show The Awful Truth II and a lengthy discussion from 2002 with interviewer Charlie Rose.
They also have the Spanish drama, El Sur (1983). This Blu-ray includes a 2K restoration and new subtitles, a 2003 interview with the director, a new documentary on the making of the film and an hour long critic discussion of the movie recorded in 1996.
And Warner Archive are releasing a Blu-ray of the Kirk Douglas drama, Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) along with a DVD of the Ginger Rogers drama, Tender Comrade (1943).
You Know, For Kids!
It’s a slow week for kids stuff, but here is what is coming your way.
The Swap (2016 Disney TV-movie)
On the Tube!
And these are some highlights of TV-themed releases.
Africa’s Deadliest: Season 4 (National Geographic)
The Chinese Exclusion Act (PBS)
Dark Matter: Season 3
Doctor Who: Tom Baker: Complete 1st Season
In the Dark (BBC)
The Jazz Ambassadors (PBS)
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 2008 (BBC)
Masterpiece: Man in an Orange Suit (PBS)
Perfect Strangers: Season 4 (Warner Archive)
Secrets of the Dead: Hannibal in the Alps (PBS)
The Swap (2016 Disney TV-movie)