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You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for May 8, 2020

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for May 8, 2020

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Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This week it’s a very busy edition featuring some high-profile films alongside smaller, independent features. 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!

Arkansas - Based on the bestselling book by John Brandon, this dark comedy follows a pair of buddies who are park rangers by day and drug couriers at night. They work for a mysterious criminal kingpin whom they have never met. When one of the pair starts a relationship with a coworker, it sets off alarm bells among those in the illegal organization, leading to imminent danger from their unknown and violent employer. There aren’t many reviews currently available.

One that did pop up suggests that this is a solid little picture that benefits greatly from an excellent cast. This picture was directed by Clark Duke, who co-stars with Liam Hemsworth, Vince Vaughn, John Malkovich, Michael Kenneth Williams and Vivica A. Fox.

Becoming - A recently engaged young couple decides to head out on a road trip. It’s an unfortunate decision, as the man crosses paths with an evil force that chooses to use him as a host by possessing his body. Suddenly, the nice guy begins to change, losing his identity and becoming a threatening and potentially psychotic presence. His significant other is forced into determining what is happening to her partner and how to remove the sinister spirit from his core.

This science-fiction thriller looks to be debuting on disc, so at present there are absolutely no write-ups for it. The cast includes Toby Kebbell, Penelope Mitchell and Jason Patric.

The Jesus Rolls - This spin-off from the fantastic Coen Brothers cult flick The Big Lebowski focuses on Jesus Quintana, one of the earlier film’s memorable supporting characters. After being released from prison, this ex-con joins forces with an old friend and a local hair salon employee. The trio makes a series of bad decisions, taking part in a series of petty crimes (no word on whether he heads back to the bowling alley). Sadly, critics weren’t nearly as receptive to this feature as they were to the film that inspired it.

A few wrote that the story was unpredictable and that they enjoyed watching the character, even if the story rambled. Still, the consensus was that the movie was dramatically flat and awkwardly put together. The cast includes John Turturro, Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Christopher Walken, Jon Hamm, Pete Davidson and Susan Sarandon.

Lancaster Skies - Set during World War II, this UK production follows a Spitfire pilot who discovers his brother has died in battle. Angry and solitary, the lead is then tasked with flying a Lancaster bomber in a dangerous mission over Berlin. The ship’s crew, also smarting over the death of their skipper, clashes at first. However, they are forced to use their common experiences to relate and overcome their differences in order to get the task completed.

It’s a low-budget film that didn’t receive many reviews during its limited engagement in British cinemas. Those who did see it thought that the filmmakers tried to do something a little different and focus on the inner turmoil of the characters, but criticized it for lacking a sense of palpable tension. Jeffrey Mundell, David Dobson, Kris Saddler and Joanne Gale headline the film.

Blasts from the Past!

Kino has plenty of features coming your way. The first Blu-ray is for Brighton Rock (1948), a UK crime flick and thriller about a small-time criminal in over his head. Richard Attenborough takes on the lead role. This disc includes a film historian commentary track and trailers.

Some months ago, the company began releasing sets of films from the 1930s containing social messages about drugs, crimes and other illegal activities. Of course, the movies were exaggerated and are more known for their strange excesses and the odd, out-of-date ideas being delivered. The latest Blu-ray release is Forbidden Fruit Volume 4. It contains two features about illicit drug-use, Marihuana (1936) and Narcotic (1933).

Apparently, just about every vice (and some you probably wouldn’t have even thought of) is depicted by the filmmakers over the course of the story. This disc contains multiple audio commentaries from experts and historians about these weird titles, as well as trailers and short social hygiene films warning the public about various drug-related vices.

The second disc is called Forbidden Fruit Volume 5. This one contains what the distributor claims are two of the strangest and most unsettling efforts from the period…Tomorrow’s Children (1934) and Child Bride (1938). One is an exposé of eugenics, and the second involves a crusading schoolteacher attempting to halt a marriage between two young students. Once again, you’ll get two audio tracks from experts on this genre, as well as a trailer gallery.

Cohen Media Group is delivering Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (2018) on Blu-ray. According to the press release, this is a documentary that spans 13 decades and five continents in order to give a guided tour of the art and craft of movies as told by female filmmakers.

Finally, New Blood Entertainment is putting out an Unrated Director’s Cut of the horror picture, The Expedition (2008). Personally, I’ve never seen the movie and know little about it, but those who enjoy the flick, can now own it in high definition.

You Know, For Kids!

Here are some upcoming DVDs that may appeal to little tykes.

Bee Geniuses: Bee-Volution (arriving May 8th)

Mother Goose World: Sleeping Beauty (arriving May 8th)

 

On the Tube!

And here are the week’s TV-themed releases.

Baptiste: Season 1 (PBS)

Gunsmoke: The Complete Series

Gunsmoke: The Final Season

Home by Spring (Hallmark Channel TV-Movie)

Humans: The Complete Series

NOVA: Polar Extremes (PBS)

Ray Donovan: Season 7

Red vs. Blue: Singularity: Season 17

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun