Welcome to a look at the latest highlights coming your way on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This is a very slim edition, but there are a couple of independent gems that appear to be worth checking out. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a bit, be sure to give one of these films a try.
BIG NEW RELEASES!
EAST BAY – This independent comedy/drama follows an unmarried middle-aged man in San Francisco who is disappointed in his life and career. And it isn’t just him, the lead’s professional friends feel they have failed and have not measured up in the eyes of their parents and friends. The man and his pals attempt various pursuits from hobbies to spirituality in order to find meaning and purpose. The picture has played at film festivals over the past couple of years and earned more positive reviews than negative ones. A few claimed that the picture was well-intentioned but didn’t effectively answer the questions raised or make a lasting impression. Still, the majority called the movie a sweet and original take on middle-age that has strong performances and dealt effectively with the theme of finding new inspiration. This is currently a DVD-only release. It stars Constance Wu, Kavi Ramachandran Ladnier, Daniel Yoon and Edmund Sim.
GIDDY STRATOSPHERES – Released on streaming platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic but only now arriving on disc, this independent film from the UK is set in London in the year 2007. The story involves a young woman and her best friend enjoying the indie-rock scene night after night and partying in various venues. Eventually, their pleasure-seeking lifestyles begin to catch up with them. After one wild evening, the lead has a breakdown and her pal becomes insistent that she remember something about what she did the night before. As mentioned, this is a very low-budget drama, but one that features a killer soundtrack with tons of music from notable indie bands of the era. Critics in North America who saw the film were iffy about it. One enjoyed watching the relationship between the leads and liked the backdrop. Others felt that, at 67 minutes, it needed more character development and felt slight. The film features Jamal Franklin and Laura Jean Marsh.
THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY – A traveling salesman stops at a remote diner/gas station for food and petrol, only to learn the fuel pumps are empty and the refill tanker hasn’t yet arrived. Locals and others soon appear and end up waiting there too. A news broadcast reports that a bank robbery has occurred nearby and it soon becomes clear that the criminals are present. Soon, everyone is fighting for their lives and trying to get their hands on the stolen loot. Members of the press greatly enjoyed this independent crime/thriller. One or two suggested that the plot was thin and these reviewers didn’t appreciate the movie’s throwback vibe. Everyone else stated that the film managed to overcome its limited budget with its fast pace, clever plot twists, fantastic characters and wonderful performances, as well as a darkly humorous and memorable climax. Jim Cummings, Faizon Love, Jocelin Donahue, Michael Abbott Jr., Robert Broski, Nicholas Logan, Richard Brake, Barbara Crampton and Gene Jones headline the picture.
PERFECT DAYS – Set in Tokyo, Japan, this drama involves a quiet, unassuming, single 60-something toilet cleaner who follows his daily routine to the letter. After work, he returns home and engages in his hobbies, which include photography and listening to old cassettes. As the story progresses, people like his niece appear unexpectedly and viewers learn more details about the protagonist and his past. This foreign-language feature from renowned director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Until the End of the World, Buena Vista Social Club) earned almost all raves from reviewers and was nominated for Best International Film at the Academy Awards. One or two had difficulty getting onto the film’s wavelength and found the feature dull and unmoving. Everyone else stated that the film was brilliant, calling the lead performance phenomenal. They also noted that the movie’s quiet observations about finding peace of mind and serenity in a small corner of the city were moving. The movie stars Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto and Arisa Nakano.
WATER HORSE – A paranormal investigator looks into a series of strange events. As she gets more and more involved in the case, she is shocked to discover that the bizarre happenings may be related to the disappearance of her mother many years earlier. This Australian indie horror/thriller has not been seen by any critics in this part of the world and it is difficult to find any more details on it anywhere. Even the Screen Australia website doesn’t offer much in the way of insight on this production, other than it may have been completed a few years ago before recently finding a North American distributor. If you’re curious about genre films from this part of the world, give it a shot, although you’ll have to go in without any knowledge of what you’re in for. The cast includes Lauren Grimson, Dean Kyrwood and Jessica Towey.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking for some classic titles, this edition does offer some titles. Criterion is releasing a Blu-ray of Black God, White Devil (1964). This Brazilian effort is an adventure picture about a ranch hand who is cheated out of his land by an employer. When he takes revenge, he becomes an outlaw and ends up joining a violent religious cult. This film tackled socio-political issues in the country during this time period and is extremely well-regarded. The disc features a new 4K picture restoration, an audio commentary with the restoration producer, a discussion of the movie with a film scholar, documentaries on the director, the Brazilian film movement, and the social banditry that was common in Brazil during the era, as well as a trailer.
Kino is giving the Academy Award-winning drama Brokeback Mountain (2005) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo package (the title is also available in a Blu-ray package). Set in 1963, the story involves a rodeo cowboy who falls for a ranch hand. The picture stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and it won Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Life of Pi) Best Director and also took home Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. Besides the upgraded picture, it comes with a new film historian commentary, as well as all featurettes and publicity materials from previous Blu-ray editions
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) is also getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package treatment, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. This is the original film adaptation from Don Siegel (The Killers, The Beguiled, Dirty Harry, The Shootist, Escape from Alcatraz) about a man who discovers that his town is quietly being invaded by aliens who use pods to create perfect replacements of its citizens. This is a science-fiction classic well worth picking up. The release offers a wonderful, clean new picture and two new film historian commentary tracks, in addition to an archived movie expert commentary and another featuring stars Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter (moderated by director Joe Dante). There are also featurettes on the production and trailers.
Paternity (1981) is a comedy with Burt Reynolds playing a bachelor who wants to be a father via a surrogate mother. It also features Beverly D’Angelo, Norman Fell, Paul Dooley, Laurent Hutton and Peter Billingsley. This effort is debuting on Blu-ray with a 4K picture restoration, an entertainment journalist commentary and TV spots.
You can also pick up a “Special Edition” Blu-ray for When Eight Bells Toll (1971), based on the book by Alistair MacLean. Anthony Hopkins plays a naval secret-service agent trying to locate millions of pounds of gold bullion in the Irish Sea. The film’s screenwriter/producer has recorded a commentary for this release and it also comes with a trailer.
Yvonne’s Perfume (1994) is a period French romance set in Switzerland about the troubled relationship between an expat and an actress. No word on if any bonus features are included.
The distributor also has a line called Kino Cult that specializes in genre films. This week, you can pick up the Italian effort, Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) aka Cannibals in the Streets in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. John Saxon plays a Vietnam veteran whose friends succumb to a deadly contagion and become flesh-eaters. He tries to help them out, but things quickly go south. Besides the 4K image, the release includes a film historian commentary, a featurette with cast and crew interviews, a video tour of filming locations, an alternate US opening sequence and international trailers.
Nightmare Beach (1989) is a gory, Italian-made tale of a motorcycle enthusiast/psychopathic killer slaying co-eds in south Florida. A detective, played by John Saxon, tries to hunt the maniac down. This picture is also arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo presenting a 4K scan of the original negative, an interview with the score composer and trailer.
If you’re looking for something more family-friendly, Paramount is delivering The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. It contains a new 4K edition of the animated effort and a Blu-ray with previously released special features, all to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.
After the massive success of the horror film Scream in 1996, production company/distributor Dimension Pictures created several genre titles featuring mainly young, charismatic performers. One of those was an adaptation of the Dean Koontz novel Phantoms (1998) with Rose McGowan, Joanna Going, Ben Affleck, Liev Schreiber, Nicky Katt and Peter O’Toole. It wasn’t a big hit and has been unavailable in North America for some time. Shout! Factory is now releasing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack of the film. The story involves two visitors to a small town who find that the residents have completely vanished. They team up with the local police to find out who, or what, is responsible. The set contains a 4K scan from the original camera negative approved by the director. You’ll also get an interview with the producer, a talk with the cinematographer and publicity materials.
Sony is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Steelbook of the Tom Hanks picture, Captain Phillips (2013). Based on the 2009 story of a cargo ship captain whose barge is raided by Somali pirates, the disc also contains a making-of and a filmmaker commentary.
If you’re a fan of the Rocky series, you’ll know that Warner Bros. is slowly releasing all of the titles as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. This week sees Rocky V (1990) and Rocky Balboa (2006) coming out on the format. Previously released extras should be included, and the latter title also contains the theatrical and director’s cut with improved picture quality.
And if you’ve been waiting patiently, you can now purchase the Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection, which is a 6-film box set with all of the titles presented together in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Listed below is the best family-oriented release this week.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-related titles can be found below.
Blue Lights: Year 1 (BBC) DVD
A Brief History of the Future (PBS) DVD
Columbo: The Return: Season 1 (1989 series) (Kino) Blu-ray
Grantchester: Season 9 (Masterpiece Mystery!) (PBS) DVD
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Perfect Harmony, Mid-Love Crisis (Hallmark) DVD
Monk: Season 8 (Kino) Blu-ray