Time for another article displaying the highlights of what’s arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. Once again, it looks like a lot of unusual and interesting releases will be out on Tuesday. 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!
Addicted to Fresno – This independent comedy follows two co-dependent sisters working as hotel maids. When one of the ladies believes she may be responsible for the death of a guest, the other does her best to help get rid of the body. Reviews were mixed for this effort, with a few more falling on the negative side. While the majority complimented the lead performances and suggested it provided a few laughs, most called it an uneven affair, with some inappropriate jokes that came off as too mean-spirited. It stars Judy Greer, Natasha Lyonne, Aubrey Plaza, Clea DuVall, Fred Armisen, Jennifer St. Clair, Molly Shannon and Ron Livingston.
Baskin – Five cops are called in as back up to a remote location in a small town. They enter a large building to discover that it is filled with human remains. Even worse, they’re separated and start being attacked themselves; guess they’re just being added to the bones. This Turkish arthouse horror picture garnered strong notices overall. The popular consensus was that while it may be slow moving, the feature was memorably engaging, twisting scare film conventions and giving viewers something a little out of the ordinary. The cast includes Mehmet Cerrahoglu, Gorkem Kasal and Ergun Kuyucu.
Dukhtar (Daughter) – After she is arranged to be married to a tribe leader, a prepubescent girl and her mother go on the run in an attempt to escape the ceremony. This drama from Pakistan follows the pair as they are hunted by the groom and his band of followers. The press loved the feature, believing that it deftly mixed heart-pounding thrills with serious issues like woman’s rights, all in a captivating and dynamic manner. Sounds like a great little flick for foreign-film fans. Samiya Mumtaz and Saleha Aref play the mother and daughter on the move.
Fathers and Daughters – A Pulitzer Prize-winning writer finds himself suffering from mental issues after the death of his wife. Years later, he attempts to reconnect with his daughter, who is also having intimacy issues (having lost a loved one at such a young age). This flashback-filled tear-jerker boasted a stunning roster of talent but didn’t receive much of a release and was panned by critics as well. A few found it touching, but most stated that the by-the-numbers story resulted in a film that was too syrupy and obvious in its manipulations. It features Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Paul, Diane Kruger, Quvenzhane Wallis, Bruce Greenwood, Octavia Spencer and Jane Fonda.
A Hologram For the King – The most notable film of the week is this multi-national effort from director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, The International). The plot involves a struggling American businessman who is sent to Saudi Arabia to sell a holographic conferencing system to the country’s King. The press generally seemed to enjoy this eccentric and low-key comedy. While they admitted its tone and muted approach wouldn’t be for everyone, many enjoyed the film’s unpredictable meanderings that capture the lead character out of his element in the desert landscape. It stars Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Tom Skerritt and Ben Whishaw.
The Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale – Also known as Daeho, this grim and downbeat Korean adventure comes from the filmmaker behind 2010’s cult hit I Saw the Devil. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, an aged hunter and an enemy army search the snowy wilderness for the region’s last living tiger. There are no reviews as of yet, but the movie seemed to receive positive reaction back home. Several have complimented it as tense and visually striking, also noting the deeper themes of conflict between man and nature. The movie’s cast includes Min-sik Choi, Man-sik Jeong and Hong-pa Kim.
Blasts From the Past!
Lots to pick from on the classic movie front. First off, Warner Archives are releasing a Blu-ray of the drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). A family are reunited when the patriarch becomes convinced that he’s dying of cancer. The estranged family tries to deal with their various personal issues. It stars Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives. There aren’t any details currently listed about the product, so interested parties should check the official site to see if it carries over any the bonuses from the old DVD.
And while Warner Archive have a Blu-ray coming, they also have several of their catalog titles coming to DVD as well. This includes Blackmail (1939), Cabin in the Sky (1943), Dark Victory (1939), Dead Ringer (1964), Fury (1936), The Glass Bottom Boat (1966), The Good Earth (1937), Unholy Partners (1941) and The Widow From Chicago (1930).
On a completely different tangent, Synapse have a couple of strange horror flick sequels to the cult classic Basket Case (previously released a few years back on Blu-ray by Image Entertainment/Something Weird) that are arriving in high definition. Basket Case 2 (1990) picks up where the original left off, with the lead and his murderous, basket-residing brother escaping to the country. Once there, they hook up with an eccentric millionaire who houses them with other unique individuals. It features an interview with the man who plays the title character as well as a segment on the make-up artist.
They’ve also got Basket Case 3: The Progeny (1991), the final feature in the trilogy. This time out, the two brothers come into conflict when one of them finds a mate and fathers an offspring. Features are a bit slim on this one, with a trailer being the only thing listed. However, if you’ve got the other two you’re probably going to want to see this series out to its conclusion.
Kino have a couple of Randolph Scott westerns arriving on Blu-ray. One is Canadian Pacific (1949) and the other is The Cariboo Trail (1950).
In the mood for something that will likely be awkward and very politically incorrect? Scorpion are putting out a DVD of Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). It’s actually a spoof of the famous detective, but all notices for the title were abysmal during its original run. At least one can look out for all the famous faces onscreen, like Peter Ustinov, Lee Grant, Angie Dickinson, Richard Hatch, Brian Keith, Roddy McDowall and a very young Michelle Pfeiffer.
Additionally, Arrow are releasing several of their titles in The Yakuza Papers series as separate Blu-rays. Alphabetically, they include Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973), Final Episode (1974), Hiroshima Death Match (1973) and Police Tactics (1974). These titles originally came with plenty of extras so there’s no reason not to assume that they will individually as well.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s some material that the kids might enjoy!
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Spots On!
Scooby-Doo and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
The Wiggles: Wiggletown
On the Tube!
And here’s a look at what TV programs are coming your way! Apparently, the Stephen King time-travel saga 11.22.63 is quite good as is Supergirl; readers might want to catch up with them. You can also catch some funky old trailers below!
11.22.63 (Mini-series)
2015-16 NBA Champions Cleveland Cavaliers
Code Black: Season 1
Halt and Catch Fire: Season 2
Line of Duty: Season 3
Maude: Season 6
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Spots On!
NCIS: New Orleans: Season 2
Perry Mason: The Complete Movie Collection
Supergirl: Season 1
The Tunnel: Season 1