Welcome back to another look at highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. A few more interesting releases are being offered up, including a couple of titles from the past that were delayed by a week or two at the last minute (one assumes that things have been just as chaotic out in the manufacturing world). So, since you likely can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
And Then We Danced – This title was supposed to have arrived a couple of weeks ago, but was delayed and is now arriving. In the city of Tbilisi, a young and talented dancer works hard to impress his instructors and make it into the National Georgian Ensemble. He’s suddenly put off his game by the arrival of a new and rebellious student. The two not only become competitive, but develop an attraction to one another, which also causes conflict between the lead and his own dance partner. This foreign-language coming-of-age tale was well-received by the press. A small contingent found it overly melodramatic. Still, almost all others stated that it was an effective feature with excellent dancing sequences and great performances, perfectly capturing the confusion and awkwardness many feel during their formative years. Levan Gelbakhiani and Bachi Valishvili headline the feature.
Burden – Based on a true story, this tale is set in a small South Carolina town. When a Ku Klux Klan museum opens, a local African-American reverend and social activist anticipates trouble. In order to keep the peace, he contacts and begins talking with the young leader of the local Klan group. Remarkably, the priest eventually forms a relationship that inspires the head member to leave the racist group, make amends and start life anew. The independent feature received split notices. Half thought it repeated elements of better, similarly-themed movies with less effectiveness. Still, just as many stated that while it wasn’t subtle in its approach, the film did make it points effectively and featured strong performances. This title is being released this week exclusively on DVD (presumably a Blu-ray will follow at a later date). It stars Garett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Tom Wilkinson, Andrea Riseborough, Tess Harper and Usher Raymond.
Corpus Christi – Here is the other title that was unexpectedly held back. Also known as Boze Cialo, this foreign-language drama from Poland follows a young man serving time in a youth detention center. After experiencing a spiritual awakening, he decides to take steps to become a priest, but finds his efforts denied once he is released due to his criminal past. The protagonist decides instead to impersonate a member of the cloth at a local parish to attain his ambitions and bring his community together. Critics were very taken with this effort and the movie was nominated for an Oscar at last year’s Academy Awards. Currently, there are only a couple of negative write-ups for the movie, stating that the film was a bit too drawn out for its own good. Everyone else praised it as an effective and gritty slow-burn of a movie that packs a big emotional wallop at the close. The cast includes Bartosz Bielenia, Eliza Rycembel and Aleksandra Konieczna.
Daddy Issues – A young, aspiring London-based stand-up comic in her 20s living receives word that her estranged father has passed away… and left her the family business in Los Angeles. Forced to return home in order to take care of final arrangements and figure out her next move, she finds herself reunited with family members and friends whom she left behind. As the lead tries to keep the business afloat, she also uses the experience to come to terms with past relationships… and perhaps use it for a new comedy routine. This indie flick has played at a few film festivals, but will otherwise be premiering on disc. So far, reaction towards the movie has been a bit muted. The write-ups that have appeared online say that while there is a laugh or two, the characters are too simply written and that the movie is a bit formless. It features Kimberly Datnow and Tanner Rittenhouse.
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy – Documentary fans may be curious about this non-fiction feature that focuses on the life of master chef, teacher and environmental activist Diana Kennedy. The movie includes new interviews with the 90-something figure at her impressive, eco-sustainable home. They talk about her incredible experiences and legendary food creations. This is intercut with archival materials like television appearances and encounters with figures in her field of study. Response was unanimously positive towards this picture. While the press thought the movie might have been a little too fawning of its subject at times, they still called the woman incredibly charismatic and thought the movie did a great deal to bring her work and accomplishments to light. For the time being, this title is available exclusively on DVD.
A Good Woman is Hard to Find – Here’s another feature that is debuting exclusively on DVD. In this horror film, a recently widowed woman struggles to cope with the unsolved murder of her husband. Her child has also become mute after witnessing the brutal attack. When an acquaintance arrives on the run from drug dealers, the frightened woman takes the person in, hoping that she can to acquire more information about what happened to her spouse. Critics were very upbeat about this genre picture. A couple of them did complain that the movie was slow-going and could have developed its characters with more detail in order to deliver a bigger emotional impact. However, almost all others wrote that the film’s lead was excellent and that the story gained momentum and provided an impressive finale. Sarah Bolger, Edward Hogg and Andrew Simpson headline the film. Like the previous title, it’s arriving on DVD only this week.
Immortality or Bust – This documentary follows the 2016 presidential campaign of Zoltan Istvan. For those who don’t remember the candidate, this entrepreneur/sci-fi author founded the Transhumanist Party. He drove across the US in an “immortality bus”, promising to change humanity emotionally and physically through science, with an emphasis on overcoming aging. His unusual approach did gain attention and plenty of followers. The film captures his life and campaign. It also attempts to get to the root of what inspired him on his journey, with the crew discovering a possible inspiration when they interview and learn about his family. It looks like this picture is debuting on disc, so there currently aren’t any reviews just yet. However, it has played at various film festivals and won a few prizes at these screenings.
Inheritance – When the patriarch of a wealthy and powerful New York-based family passes away, family members arrive with an eye on collecting his inheritance. His daughter receives a particularly strange and unexpected message from the deceased man that divulges an incredible family secret…. one that threatens to tear the entire family apart. This thriller was largely panned by critics. A small percentage enjoyed the work of the cast complimented it as pulpy, over-the-top and outrageous fun for cheesy movie fans. Still, the majority did not think that the film was intended to be silly and suggested viewers would be rolling their eyes at the increasingly ridiculous plot twists. For the time being, this title is arriving exclusively on DVD. It stars Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, Connie Nielsen, Chance Crawford and Patrick Warburton.
Jasper Mall – Truthfully, there isn’t a whole lot of information available about this particular effort, although it does arrive with some impressive credentials. Earlier in the year, the feature was nominated for Best Documentary at the Slamdance Film Festival (one of the bigger independent film festivals in North America). Apparently, the moviemakers decided to follow the slow decline and death of a shopping mall in Jasper, Alabama. It goes behind the scenes to show the business struggles facing the property owners. Tenants and regular shoppers are interviewed, sharing their thoughts about the locale and its imminent demise. As mentioned, general response from festivalgoers has been positive, with a few stating that the movie displays how a popular and beloved social gathering center has faded with the arrival of online shopping.
The Last Supper – Released in its homeland under the title Das Letzte Mahl, this foreign-language drama is set in Germany on the day that Hitler assumes power in the country. An extended German-Jewish family come together for a family dinner and discuss what has occurred. Some members express their admiration for the dictator and a few don’t take the matter seriously, while others detail their concern about it. Over the course of the evening and arguments follows, their relationships come under great strain. This picture is making its debut on disc in this part of the world. As such, there aren’t many reviews available for it. Still, it appears that the feature was well received at various festivals, where it won several awards for its cinematography. So, one can be certain that at the very least it will look great. The cast includes Konstantin Freyer, Bruno Eyron and Sharon Brauner.
The Legion – This action film is set during the Roman reign of Nero and involves the invasion of Parthia. When two Roman legions find themselves trapped in the snowy mountains of Armenia, a half-Roman man possessing great speed is sent to try and find help. The protagonist does his best to avoid enemies, scale cliffs and find assistance in order to save his compatriots from dying in the wilderness. This title is making its debut on disc and so there haven’t been many reviews online so far. However, the few that have popped up have been terrible. They all state that this period epic is a real mess. Apparently, it’s slow-moving and filled with anachronistic dialogue that’s unintentionally ridiculous. At this time, the movie is only being released on DVD. It stars Lee Partridge, Mickey Rourke, Joaquim de Almeida and Bai Ling.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – On an island in Brittany, France during the 18th century, a young woman is hired to create a wedding painting. Her subject is a reluctant young bride who has just left a convent and been forced into marriage. The two spend an extended amount of time together and as work progresses, slowly begin to form a bond that eventually grows more intimate. This French-language picture earned raves from the press. In fact, it was nominated for the Palm d’Or at Cannes and won all sorts of awards from various film groups at the end of 2019. Critics said it was a slow-burn love story, but also an intense one with beautiful photography. They also noted that the movie really makes an impact as it subtly delves into various themes, including the treatment of women during the era. The cast includes Noemie Merlant, Adele Haenel, Lauana Bajrami and Valeria Golino.
Warpath – This western follows a wife whose husband has completely vanished. In order to locate him and find out what happened, she procures the services of a tough bounty hunter. The two head west searching for clues, trying to get past each other’s differences and past histories as they search for her spouse. There is no information whatsoever on this independent title, other than the fact it was shot like an old-fashioned western on 35 mm film. It’s debuting on disc, so naturally that also means that there are currently no write-ups about the picture. As a result, interested parties will just have to ride out into the wilderness without knowing what’s awaiting them. It features Thom Matthews, Andrew Dawe-Collins, Tyler Harding, Sasha Higgins and Matt Fling.
Blasts from the Past!
You’ll find plenty of great older titles arriving this week on Blu-ray as well. Arrow Video have a couple of interesting cult items. The first is a Special Edition Blu-ray of the British horror flick, Dream Demon (1988). Jemma Redgrave stars as a young bride suffering from terrifying dreams which may uncover a strange secret about the large estate she’s living in. Timothy Spall appears as one of the lead’s nightmarish stalkers. This flick pretty much disappeared after being released on VHS decades ago, but is now getting the deluxe treatment. You’ll receive both the director’s cut and theatrical version of the film. Each has been given a new 2K restoration from the original camera negative. It also comes with a scene-select commentary with director Harley Cokeliss (Black Moon Rising) and the feature’s producer. You’ll also get interviews with the two men, as well as with star Redgrave, several other cast members, and the composer of the film’s score. This Blu-ray also features a lengthy documentary on the movie and all sorts of publicity materials.
They also have a Special Edition Blu-ray of The Mad Fox (1962) aka Love, Thy Name Be Sorrow. Set in medieval Japan, this feature follows an astrologer who discovers a strange otherworldly disturbance that could destroy the kingdom if left unchecked. He tries to do something to stop it, facing resistance from others, including his wife. This Japanese cult flick is noted for its stunning production design and cinematography. Remarkably, it has never been officially released in North America. The movie appears on disc with an all new restoration by distributor Toei. It also comes with an audio commentary featuring a Japanese cinema expert, as well as an original trailer and image gallery. Sounds interesting.
Shout! Factory have a couple of intriguing Blu-rays as well. The first is the period comedy The Road to Wellville (1994). It humorously details the efforts of eccentric Dr. John Kellogg (well-known for creating the famous breakfast cereal with his brother) to start a health sanitarium in Michigan. His ideas and teachings turn out to be pretty over-the-top and extreme, leading some of the patients to revolt against their health club leader. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Dana Carvey, Michael Lerner and many others. This flick from director Alan Parker (Midnight Express, Pink Floyd: The Wall, Angel Heart, The Commitments) wasn’t successful during its original run, but I remember finding it underrated and having plenty of amusing moments.
For monster movie fans, you can also pick up The Spider (1958) aka Earth vs the Spider on Blu-ray. This title is about a town falling prey to a giant killer arachnid. The disc includes a new 2K scan of the movie from the negative, a film historian commentary, a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode featuring the movie, an 8mm version of the title, a trailer and a still gallery of rare photos including behind-the-scenes images from the production.
Kino have a few titles coming as well, including a Blu-ray of the Anthony Quinn epic, Caravans (1978). This one is about a diplomat searching for his missing daughter in the deserts of the Middle East. The release includes an audio commentary with a film critic and a trailer. The Last Valley (1971) is an epic set during the Thirty Years’ War in Germany. It stars Michael Caine and the Blu-ray contains a new HD master of the movie, a historian commentary and some trailers.
If mysteries are more to your liking, you can pick up a Special Edition Blu-ray of Murder by Decree (1979). This all-star Canada-UK co-production is set in London and tells a story about the fictional Sherlock Holmes trying to solve the Jack the Ripper killings. Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, John Gielgud, Donald Sutherland and many others appear. This title also comes with a new HD master and includes an archived commentary with director Bob Clark (Black Christmas, Porky’s, A Christmas Story), a second with some movie experts and historians, as well as a trailer.
Criterion is presenting the documentary Tokyo Olympiad (1965) on Blu-ray. Considered one of the greatest sports films ever made, filmmaker Kon Ichikawa managed to capture the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games with unprecedented access, using widescreen photography to photography both the thrill of victory and, well, the agony of defeat. The disc includes a 4K digital restoration, a film historian audio commentary, a new introduction to the movie, archival interviews with Ichikawa, a documentary about the moviemaker and his crew, a discussion with the disc’s restoration producer and trailers.
Finally, Warner Archive have some great made-to-order discs coming your way. You can now pick up the Danny Kaye musical, Hans Christian Anderson (1952). Inspired by the real-life figure, it’s not so much a biopic as a fairy tale spun around the storyteller’s life, featuring a large helping of singing and dancing. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Horror fans will be incredibly excited about the Vincent Price classic House of Wax (1953) hitting Blu-ray. They’ve put it out before, but Warner Archive are repressing the out-of-print film in high definition once again in both 2D and 3D (as it was originally presented in theaters). I actually saw a screening of a 3D print of the film many years ago at a cinema – while the movie doesn’t ram items out of the screen into your face, it has always looked spectacular in 3D… especially with all of the wax dummies and foggy city backdrops. If you have the ability to watch movies with the added dimension, then you’ll certainly want to pick this up.
They also have a Blu-ray of the Oscar-winning, Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musical, Strike Up the Band (1940). It follows the pair competing in a high-school band contest.
You Know, For Kids!
There isn’t much for children this week, with the exception of a couple of straight-to-disc kid’s titles.
Monster Class
Under the Sea
On the Tube!
And here are a couple of TV shows you can now pick up on disc.
Pennyworth: Season 1 (Warner Archive)
South Park: Season 23