Welcome to another look at releases arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This is a bit of a quiet edition before things get busy again. But there are still a few interesting independents and great older titles arriving on disc. 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!
BLACK DIAMOND – This independent thriller follows a woman who moves to a remote cabin in the snowy mountains with her hedge fund manager boyfriend. While he is busy with his work, she meets a local handyman and the pair begin a torrid affair. As their relationship develops, more is revealed about the characters and viewers find out that one individual may not be what they seem. This thriller debuted on streaming sites and received a limited release in theaters a few months ago. Very few critics saw the movie and the ones who did were lukewarm about it. The majority suggested that while the locations were impressive and the set-up promising, there were few surprises in the story and that they found it dull and unmemorable. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. It stars Inbar Lavi, Jake McLaughlin and Ray Panthaki.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE – A wealthy businessman wanting to reconnect with his estranged daughter decides to contact her. She agrees to stop by his large, remote estate in order to try and mend fences. But not long after arriving, masked figures arrive carrying shotguns. They insist the pair play a deadly game and the two are hunted across the property as past secrets are revealed. This horror film from the UK received a limited streaming and theatrical release and is now arriving exclusively on DVD. Only genre film reviewers saw the movie, and they were more negative than positive about it. One stated that the film distinguished itself from other home invasion tales by offering stronger performances and twists on the formula. But more said that despite its best attempts, the film mishandled its themes and failed to generate suspense or tension. The cast includes Jaime Winstone, Chiara D’Anna, Lila Lasso, Brad Moore, Richard Cotton and Marina Lazaris.
A LION’S GAME – A business executive in Los Angeles runs into financial trouble and calls a loan shark to help buy her some time. After bad investments, she ends up in debt to hoods for $2.5 million dollars, with no time to pay it back. According to the trailer, the lead announces that she will do, “Whatever it takes to save this company!” Your guess is as good as mine as to what follows from here. This is an independent crime thriller that will only be available only on DVD. There are currently no reviews available for the picture (which is typically not a great sign), but if you’re interested and willing to do “whatever it takes!” to check it out, you can pick it up and watch it cold. Bella Dontine, Kurt Oberhaus, Mohamed Kakeemshady, Gabriela Kostadinova, Michael Joseph Pierce, Sean McHugh and Justin Titus headline the picture.
LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE – “Inspired by a true story” and based on the book of the same name, this drama takes place in the 1930s. A 12-year-old who goes on a strenuous hike up a mountain with his father and sibling. After separating from his dad, a storm rolls in unexpectedly, and the protagonist becomes lost. Suffering from fatigue and hallucinations, he spends the next nine days trying to find his way to safety. The feature split critics, with a few more giving the feature a passing grade. Almost half called the film’s inspirational aspirations corny and ineffective. They wrote that it failed to get into the head of its characters and accurately depict the terror of such a situation. However, the same number plus one or two stated that the movie was well-photographed and would be inspirational to young audiences, with subtle, faith-based story elements that didn’t feel preachy. The cast includes Luke David Blumm, Paul Sparks, Caitlin Fitzgerald and Griffin Wallace Henkel.
TENDABERRY – This drama follows a young woman and recent arrival to New York City. Her life comes apart after her boyfriend announces that he is leaving the country and returning to Ukraine to tend to his dying father. Alone, lacking a support system, and faced with making her own way in the city, the lead must accept her new reality and navigate a new path forward. The movie played well at festivals last year, making its biggest impression at Tribeca. They are now releasing it as a “Limited Edition” Amazon exclusive Blu-ray. Few members of the press have seen the picture, but those who have called it an energetic and compelling tale that authentically captures the uncertainty, as well as bravery, in starting anew. They also stated that it was a nice tribute to the city. It features Jota Johan, Yuri Pleskun, Janice Dias and Mike Donovan.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If there’s nothing above for you, you still have plenty of other options. Several pictures from legendary Japanese filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Battle Royale) have been getting high-definition Blu-ray upgrades recently, and 88 Films is adding another to the list. They are putting out a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of Jakoman and Tetsu (1964). Set in 1947, it follows a young war veteran who returns home to help with the family fishing business, only to come into conflict with an angry man carrying a long-standing grudge against his father. The disc includes a new transfer with improved image quality, a film expert introduction, a movie historian commentary track, a stills gallery, as well as a booklet with writing on the movie and reversible new and original cover art for the release.
Lady with a Sword (1971) is a Hong Kong martial arts film about a woman who finds out her sister has been murdered by a gang. She decides to hunt them down and slay them all, but gets a shock when she discovers one of the crew is her fiancé. This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray arrives with a high-definition picture transfer, film historian commentary, stills gallery, and fold-out poster. It also comes in O-ring packaging.
Yakuza Wives (1986) is a Japanese movie about, you guessed it, the spouses of crime bosses. One takes over a gangster’s operations while he serves a prison sentence. In the meantime, her sister marries the head of a competing organization, leading to violence between the siblings. Like the other titles arriving from 88 Films, this release comes with a high-end image transfer. You’ll also get a film expert commentary and introduction, and still gallery and trailers. Additionally, it arrives with original and newly commissioned artwork for the title.
B.B. King: On the Road (2018) was an impressive documentary on the musical legend that featured interviews with famous musicians detailing their experiences with the man. Cardinal Releasing is now rereleasing a Blu-ray of the film for those who missed it seven years ago.
Criterion is heading to France with their double-feature 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring: Two Films by Claude Berri (1986). They are two film adaptations of a famous pair of novels set in Florence during the 1920s. The story involves a pair of farmers who try to trick a man out his inheritance. The two films star Yves Montand and Gerard Depardieu, and the projects were shot together back-to-back. This set includes new 4K restorations of both titles approved by the director of photography. Bonuses include a documentary on director Berri, a 2017 doc about the making of these pictures and trailers for the films. A Blu-ray only version will also be available for purchase.
If you remember the early 1990s, you’ll recall that, despite westerns not being excessively popular at the time, two movies about Wyatt Earp suddenly arrived in the theaters. The more successful of the two was the highly entertaining Tombstone (1993) with Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley, Stephen Lang, Thomas Haden Church, Dana Delaney, Joanna Pacula, Michael Rooker, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Terry O’Quinn and Robert Mitchum (as narrator).
Disney/Buena Vista is now debuting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the film that comes with a 30-minute making-of, director storyboards for the O.K. Corral sequence, and publicity materials as well. There aren’t much in the way of detailed behind-the-scenes extras for this well-regarded title, likely because there have always been long-standing rumors that the movie was actually directed by star Russell and that credited filmmaker George P. Cosmatos (Cobra, Leviathan) was simply following the actor’s instructions.
Kino is having a busy week. You can pick up a Blu-ray of the UK drama Borderline (1930) with Paul Robeson, which follows an interracial affair that causes residents of a small town to act out in prejudice. The groundbreaking film explores racial and gender politics and could never have been made at the time in the US. 35mm materials were given a 2K scan for this release, and the disc contains a film historian commentary.
You can also purchase a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of Career Opportunities (1991). This is a teen romance with Frank Whaley and Jennifer Connelly about a young man who can’t hold a job. One night, ends up trapped in a department store with the daughter of the town’s wealthiest man. The two form a connection while discussing their troubles. John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club) wrote the screenplay. Besides the 4K restoration from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision, it comes with a director commentary, a second movie expert commentary, cast and crew interviews, and a trailer.
The Cruel Sea (1953) is a British drama about an escort ship setting sail during World War II and traversing dangerous waters. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. It is arriving on Blu-ray with a film critic commentary, an interview with star Sir Donald Sinden and a trailer.
You can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the comedy/neo-noir Foul Play (1978) starring Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. The story follows a shy librarian who goes on a date and later learns that he is an agent who has hidden a roll of film on her. A bumbling cop attempts to help as mysterious villains make various attempts to murder her. The movie, which also features Burgess Meredith and Dudley Moore, was a massive hit and was nominated for Golden Globes and an Oscar. A new 4K restoration of the film was created from the original camera negative. There is also a film historian commentary track, a piece about writer/director Colin Higgins (who also wrote Harold and Maude and Silver Streak, as well as writing and directing 9 to 5), as well as publicity materials. This title is also available as a standalone Blu-ray.
And the all-star crime/comedy Sneakers (1992) is also being made available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, or as a Blu-ray only release. This feature from co-writer/director Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) stars Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley and more as security system specialists who are blackmailed by the US government to recover a secret item. They attempt to pull off the job while also getting the better of their employers. Word is that this film has held up very well and is worth revisiting. This release boasts a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision, an archival director and co-writer/co-producer commentary, a second track with the filmmaker and the cinematographer, as well as a 40-minute making-of, and a theatrical trailer.
And if horror is more to your liking, Shout Factory is presenting The Hunt (2020) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. This effort follows a woman who is kidnapped and hunted by the wealthy elite, only to fight back and turn the tables on those chasing her. The cast includes Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank. The set advertises a 4K presentation of the film from the original elements, a new crew commentary, a new director/executive producer commentary, and a film historian audio track. Additionally, there are recently recorded cast and crew interviews, as well as featurettes on the death scenes and other elements of the film.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Kids, as well as the young-at-heart, can now pick up a popular animated series from the 1990s on Blu-ray.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers: The Complete Franchise (1990 – 1996) (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And below is a list of the week’s TV-themed releases.
The Art of Crime: Seasons 6 and 7 (MHz) DVD
Captain Planet and the Planeteers: The Complete Franchise (1990 – 1996) (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Cheyenne: The Complete Series (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: The Cases of Mystery Lane & The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening (Hallmark) DVD
Hysteria!: Season 1 (Universal) Blu-ray