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You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for April 17, 2020

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for April 17, 2020

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Welcome back to another look at highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. Looks like a wide variety of choices that include everything from dramas to documentaries this week. So, since you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

Big New Releases!

The Cat and the Moon - A teenager is forced into dealing with several family-related problems after his father dies and his mother decides to go into rehab. With no support system, he accepts an invitation to stay with his dad’s old friend, a jazz musician in New York. The experience is an eye-opening one for the young man as he makes new friends and finds a way to endure a difficult period in his life. Reaction towards this independent drama was generally positive.

A small group did complain that the pacing was off and it took a long time for the movie to find its footing. However, most complimented the lead performance and stated that while the story was unfocused, it actually made the tale more unpredictable and interesting. It features Alex Wolff, Skyler Gisondo, Stefania LaVie Owen and Mike Epps.

A Dog’s Courage - Also known in some parts of the world as The Underdog, this animated feature from South Korea tells the story of a dog that is abandoned by its owner and forced to scrape by living on the streets. The lead finds a pack of stray pooches and joins them in their attempts to redefine themselves without humans and make their own new and loving home. This movie played at several festivals in various countries including South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where it appeared to earn a positive response. However, there are currently no detailed reviews available in this part of the world, so interested parties will have to throw caution to the wind and go into it cold. The disc itself presents both the original Korean-language version with English subtitles as well as an English-language dub.

Grass - Shot entirely in black and white, this unique little comedy/drama from South Korea is set in a café and follows a writer typing on her computer and watching various conflicts among several groups seated around her. There’s an older man trying to rekindle a frayed relationship, a young couple who is accusing each other of various crimes, and a filmmaker struggling to realize his next project. Viewers must ascertain whether these stressed people are inspiration for what the lead is writing, or if they are performers acting out the words and thoughts written on the page. Critics were very taken with this little film, calling it a fascinating, fun and cutting movie that harbors deeper ruminations on people-watching and the art of creation. The cast includes Kim Min-hee, Key Joobong and Ahn Jae-hong.

Just Mercy - He is introduced to Walter McMillian, an innocent man on death row convicted of murdering an 18-year-old girl. After looking into the case, the lawyer discovers the series of lies and horrendous acts undertaken by authorities to imprison the man. The press gave this drama very high marks.

There were a few who found the storytelling predictable, eliminating tension from some of the events depicted. However, almost all reviewers found the case itself compelling and complimented the exceptional work of the cast members. It stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan. O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Tim Blake Nelson.

Pigeon Kings - Did you know that pigeons can be trained? This documentary takes viewers to South Central Los Angeles and introduces a number of men who breed and teach these birds for competition in the Birmingham Roller Pigeon World Cup. The event requires trainers to encourage a flock of pigeons to fly in unison and perform a series of elaborate maneuvers. This feature follows one particular enthusiast who is attempting to make a comeback after being shamed for past failures by others in his field.

The picture has played at several film festivals over the past year and has been nominated for awards in non-fiction filmmaking. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else known about the movie, so bird enthusiasts will have to simply wing it and watch the movie without any prior knowledge.

Blasts from the Past!

It’s a busy week for older films receiving Blu-ray upgrades.

Stray Cat Rock: The Collection (1970 - 1971) is a Blu-ray set of five Japanese movies detailing the members of a female gang and their various crime sprees. The flicks included in this Special Edition set are Delinquent Girl Boss, Wild Jumbo, Sex Hunter, Machine Animal and Beat ’71. Those who pick it up will also receive interviews with the star of all five films, the man who directed three of the features and other cast members, too. Looks like a lot of B-movie fun.

Homeboy (1988) is a gritty and well-regarded boxing movie about an aging pugilist struggling for one last chance in the ring. The cast includes Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken. The Blu-ray comes with a trailer and a featurette on the production.

Kino has the silent horror classic, The Golem (1920) aka The Golem: How He Came into the World. It’s a German production that adapts the Hebrew myth of a giant clay warrior created to protect the people. Of course, its greedy creator decides to misuse the figure and the monster ends up going on a rampage. This Blu-ray contains a 4K restoration of the German release version, which includes a commentary from a film historian and a comparison between this cut and the U.S. version.

The disc also provides the shorter American cut for those interested.

It comes with interviews and a radio play version of the title also featuring Stewart.

You Know, For Kids!

This week’s child-friendly options are listed below.

A Dog’s Courage

On the Tube!

And here are this edition’s TV-themed highlights.

Balthazar: Series 1

Bottled with Love (Hallmark TV-movie)

Earth’s Sacred Wonders (PBS)

East Lake Meadows (PBS)

The Heart Guy: Series 4

Niall Ferguson’s Networld (PBS)

Police Squad: The Complete Series (1982)

V: The Final Battle (1984)

Witness to Murder: A Darrow Mystery (Hallmark TV-movie)

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun