Welcome to the new year, as well as a look at some of the latest 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray and DVD highlights. This edition features a number of notable releases, including a handful of interesting older pictures receiving major upgrades. 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!
AFTERBURN – After a solar flare causes widespread destruction and loss of power, dictators and warlords take over many parts of the world. A thief is contacted by a wealthy King now presiding over England who wants to reclaim lost and important pieces of civilization’s history in the hopes of saving his nation from a “world of chaos”. The lead is hired specifically to locate and retrieve the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. To do so, he and a partner enter a dangerous area ruled by a brutal dictator. This action/science-fiction/dark comedy has only been seen by a handful of critics, and they all were disappointed with the end results. Most complained that the writing was lazy and the story didn’t deliver anything but cliches. The group also complained that the film wasted an impressive cast. It stars Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson, Olga Kurylenko and Kristofer Hivju.
AMERICAN CLOWN – While professional clowns used to serve as entertainment at many birthday parties, it recently has become rare to see one make an appearance at a celebration. This documentary chronicles the history of the profession and how its popularity among kids and adults has waned. Naturally, horror movies are partly to blame, with many now associating Pennywise from It and the Terrifier series as the primary examples of the entertainer. The movie interviews a clown who once worked steadily as an assistant to Ronald McDonald before the entire program was shuttered. Celebrities also share their insights into the profession. The film is debuting as a DVD-only release and so only a handful of reviewers have seen it. They do note that it is an interesting feature that includes incredible clips of entertainers as well as fascinating insight into the dying career. Interviewees include Bill Irwin, John C. Reilly, David Arquette and Steve-O.
EXIT PROTOCOL – This independent action film involves a hired hit man whose specialty is taking down other assassins. When the lead is asked if he ever tires of his job, he protests that those whom he hunts essentially have it coming. His views begin to change after his latest target, a retired killer who just wants a quiet life, outmaneuvers the professional. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the hit man discovers that his own boss has put out a contract on him. The protagonist has to team with his original target to survive the ordeal. So far, only a handful of online reviewers have seen this title, which arrived on digital platforms a month or so ago and is now appearing on disc. Notices are mixed at best. Most suggest that the cast are decent and some of the action is impressive, but take issue with the story, stating there are many plot holes, and note that the overall picture isn’t memorable. The cast includes Scott Martin, Dolph Lundgren and Michael Jai White.
ICEFALL – Here is another indie action picture vying for your attention. A sinister team of thieves take hold of $20 million dollars in stolen cash, but their plane crashes in the wilds of Montana. A widower living in isolation finds the money, and takes the cash to a Native American game warden. The two are immediately attacked by criminals, who will do anything to get the loot back. A long and violent chase follows through the snowy wilderness. Very few members of the press saw this picture, and most shrugged at what they witnessed. One or two thought it was slightly better than most direct-to-streaming and disc efforts thanks to a good cast and scenic setting. Still, the majority found that the plot became increasingly ridiculous and that nothing in the film made a lasting impression. They also suggested that the moviemakers had likely never experienced real winter conditions, based on some of the silliness taking place outdoors. Joel Kinnaman, Cara Jade Myers, Danny Huston and Graham Greene headline the film.
IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY – The young life and tragic end of musician Jeff Buckley is captured in this documentary. Using previously unseen footage and voice recordings of the artist, as well as interviews with family, friends, ex-girlfriends, musicians and others who knew him, we get the story of what the artist wanted to accomplish with his compositions. The doc also explains how he created his incredible 1994 debut record, Grace, and what plans he was making for the future before his untimely death at the age of 30 (he drowned while swimming in Wolf River Harbor, Tennessee). Almost everyone who saw the picture admired it. One or two thought the film focused too much on his death instead of his contributions to music. However, all others called the movie a touching and powerful documentary that gives more insight into the figure and effectively displayed the lasting effect he had on those around him.
KÖLN 75 – Speaking of musicians, this biopic drama tells the true story of Vera Brandes, a teenager and aspiring concert promoter from Cologne, Germany. In 1975 at the age of 18, she set out to organize a Keith Jarrett concert all by herself. The drama details her attempts to contract and book noted American jazz pianist and composer Jarrett for a performance. The musician is not an easy figure to book for a performance, but she ultimately convinces him, resulting in a stunning concert. It also presents a dramatization of the vinyl release of the show, called The Köln Concert, which still stands as the best-selling piano record of all time. This German feature earned excellent reviews. A small number thought the story could have been told in a looser, more dynamic manner instead of following a traditional biopic formula. But the vast majority wrote that the performances were strong and that patient viewers would be blown away by the second half of the title. It stars Mala Emde, John Magaro, Michael Chernus and Alexander Scheer.
PLAINCLOTHES – Set in 1997, this tale follows a promising young undercover officer working the beat in Syracuse, New York. After losing his dad and his girlfriend, he buries himself in work to try and bury the pain. He is soon given orders by superiors to lure and arrest gay men in a local mall bathroom. However, the lead discovers an unexpected connection between himself and one of his targets. The cop must decide whether or not to defy his orders. Notices were very good for this independent drama. A small number thought the picture attempted to tackle too many themes and ideas, eventually succumbing to over-the-top melodrama. Still, the consensus was that the picture benefitted from a great lead performance and was a fascinating slow-burn psychodrama that delivered a memorable finale. The cast includes Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Maria Dizzia and Christian Cooke.
THE SENIOR – This picture has a long history. Shot and completed back in 2023, this film switched distributors a couple of times before being picked up and released by faith-based distributor Angel Studios. It’s a true story about a middle-aged man living with regret over a fight that occurred during his final year of college. The linebacker got into an altercation with a teammate and was expelled. Nearly 40 years later, he decides to finish his degree and play on the college team once again, hoping to make amends for his past. Critics were more positive than negative about this sports drama. One-fifth did complain that the story was predictable and that the film felt more like a TV-movie than a big screen feature. Still, most did find the movie earnest in its attempts to offer inspiration to viewers. They thought that it generally worked and would entertain its target audience. The movie features Michael Chiclis, Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn and Rob Corddry.
SHELBY OAKS – While making a documentary on a supposed “ghost town” prison, a group of paranormal investigators vanish. The bodies of all but one are found, with snippets of footage featuring the team in complete and utter terror. 12 years later, the sister of the still-missing researcher decides to make her own documentary on what occurred. Naturally, the project results in the sister and her crew meeting strange people with connections to what occurred. The trail leads them to the prison with horrifying results. Or, well, disturbing results to just over half of the reviewers who saw the picture. Almost fifty percent thought the concept was good, but that the characters weren’t well developed, and the story lost steam and atmosphere by its final act. The same number and a few more felt that there were enough variations on the found-footage genre to keep things entertaining, and found the movie consistently tense. Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Bendan Sexton III and Robin Bartlet headline the film.
THE SMASHING MACHINE – Marc Kerr was a former wrestler and one of the first major mixed martial arts pioneers competing in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). This biopic tells Kerr’s story as he begins competing in the league. Between brutal contests, he bickers with his girlfriend and struggles with addiction to body-enhancing drugs, as well as painkillers. After hitting rock bottom, the protagonist attempts to rebuild his professional career at a major tournament in Japan. But can he cut off all ties to his troubled past? In general, write-ups for this picture were strong. Slightly more than one-quarter of notices did comment that while the performances were remarkable, the narrative wasn’t as exciting and that they failed to connect with the characters. Still, most asserted that the actors really stretched themselves here playing against type, and that the move accurately presented the impressive but troubled career of a notable athlete. The picture is available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD only or on Blu-ray only. It stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten.
TRON: ARES – The third film in the Tron series forgoes the sequel premise set up at the end of the previous follow-up and instead focuses on two company executives attempting to bring digital constructs into the real world. One wants to use emerging technology to potentially end world hunger. The other is determined to create a super-soldier and find other military applications for the AI. When the more altruistic executive discovers the all-important code to make digital items survive in the real world, the other attempts to use his weapons to kill her and steal the data. This science-fiction fantasy split the press. Almost half stated that while the movie looked and sounded great, the story was a mess and the plight of the characters wasn’t gripping. The same number and a few more were dazzled, writing that the wild visual effects and incredible score kept them engaged in the narrative. They called the feature enjoyable escapism. The movie can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook combo, or as a Blu-ray-only release. It features Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Casto, Gillian Anderson and Jeff Bridges.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking for something older, there are a few great options coming your way. Arrow Video is delivering the Steven Seagal action picture Under Siege (1992) as both a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray. The movie marks one of the star’s best titles. The star plays a cook on a Navy Battleship with nuclear-tipped missiles that is about to be decommissioned. While sailing across the Pacific, a group of mercenaries take over the ship. Of course, the heroic cook steps up to take down the threat. This film benefits greatly from its villains (played by Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey) who are in the picture almost as much as the lead.
The original 35mm camera negative was scanned at Warner Bros. and is presented in Dolby Vision. A new audio commentary with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive) and writer J.F. Lawton (Pretty Woman, The Hunted). There is also a new interview with Davis, recently recorded conversations with co-stars Erika Eleniak and Damian Chapa and a lengthy discussion about the Introvision effects work on the film with supervisor William Mesa. A trailer is also included, along with a reversible sleeve with two original artwork options and a booklet with new writing on the movie. Read a full review of the release right here.
Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the Jim Jarmusch feature, Dead Man (1995). This title is an existential western with Johnny Depp as a man who walks in on a violent situation and ends up as an outlaw. The film has been given a 4K restoration approved by Jarmusch, a Q&A with Jarmusch, footage of Neil Young performing the score, a discussion with co-star Gary Farmer, readings of William Blake poems by members of the cast including Alfred Molina and Iggy Pop, scene select commentary with the production designer and sound mixer, deleted scenes and a trailer. Color photos from the production are also included.
Kino is delivering a Blu-ray of the Jeff Bridges/Kim Basinger drama, The Door in the Floor (2004). Based on the novel A Widow for One Year by John Irving (The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules), the tale involves a couple who lose their adolescent sons in a car crash. The couple deal with their grief in very different ways, separating and embarking on affairs. The disc contains a director commentary, a featurette on the production, another on author Irving, and a third detailing the creation of an important scene in the film. A trailer is also featured.
K-PAX (2001) is another title starring Jeff Bridges. He plays a jaded psychiatrist assigned to treat a man who claims to be from another galaxy and has plenty of facts to back it up. The lead slowly begins to wonder if his new, strange patient might actually be telling the truth. Kevin Spacey co-stars in the film. This Blu-ray arrives with a director commentary, a making-of featurette, storyboards, deleted scenes, an alternate ending (which was the first one shot for the film), a detailed set of photographs chronicling the production, and a trailer.
Finally, Shout Factory is delivering another John Woo classic in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. Bullet in the Head (1990). The story follows three childhood friends who grow up in poverty in Hong Kong. As adults, they try to escape their situation by joining a prominent gang. But the trio soon get in over their heads and end up turning on one another. This effort came between The Killer and Hard Boiled and is considered another essential title in the director’s filmography. The release contains a 4K scan of the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision. The feature is presented on a 4K disc and a Blu-ray, with a movie historian commentary. A Blu-ray of extras contains an alternate ending, an interview with Woo, a discussion with cast member Waise Lee, a talk with the producer, an interview with the editor, and yet another talk with the production planner. A film historian also appears to discuss the film. Promo materials like trailers and an image gallery are also listed as bonuses.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Alas, there isn’t anything for little ones this week, but that should all change next time out.
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a list of the week’s TV-related releases.
The Christmas Quest (also includes The Sweetest Christmas) (Hallmark) DVD
Falling Skies: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Following Yonder Star (also includes The Gift of Peace) (Hallmark) DVD
Lynley: Season 1 (BBC) DVD
Private Princess Christmas (also includes My Grown-Up Christmas Wish) (Hallmark) DVD
Roots: The Complete Original Series (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Royal Flying Doctor Service: Season 3 (PBS) DVD
Santa Tell Me (also includes Finding Santa) (Hallmark) DVD
Shameless: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Shameless: Season 10 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Shameless: Season 11 (The Final Season) (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
