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You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for April 2, 2021

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for April 2, 2021

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A new week is here, which means it’s time to look at some of the highlights that are arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This edition features a small but impressive selection of big studio epics and Oscar-nominated fare, which means that there is likely something to appeal to everyone. So, since you can’t, or likely shouldn’t be going out to the movies right now, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

55 STEPS: Eleanor Riese is the subject of this English-language German/Belgian biopic. Set in San Francisco during the 1980s, the story follows her trials as she is involuntarily detained and committed to a mental health facility. She manages to get in contact with a lawyer, who steps in and discovers that the patient is being forced to endure severe and inhumane treatment at the hospital. This feature was made a couple of years ago and has been released everywhere else in the world, but had some difficulty finding a U.S. distributor.

Reaction among critics in this part of the world to the feature was split. About half suggested that it all came across as unexciting and stated that the movie needed more fire and passion. Just as many thought it was powerful and had a great cast and strong performances. They also complimented the performances as being authentic and realistic.

It stars Helena Bonham Carter, Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Tambor.

ANOTHER ROUND: Four high school teachers going through a mid-life crisis in Denmark lament how dull and predictable their lives have become. To combat their malaise, one of them proposes an unusual experiment based on a study suggesting that maintaining a specific blood-alcohol level can bring happiness and creativity. The friends try it out for themselves and find their experiment having unexpected effects. This foreign-language feature received rave reviews and has been nominated for Best International Film and Best Director at this year’s Academy Awards.

A small number of critics didn’t like the characters or the fact that the movie avoided making judgments about their behavior. However, the vast majority called the movie one of the year’s best for that very reason, saying it was brilliantly conceived and well-acted drama that would get viewers thinking and talking long after it ended. The cast includes Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe and Magnus Millang.

HAYMAKER: A retired Thai boxer looking for work decides to take a job as a bouncer at a nightclub. One evening, he rescues a transgender performer from a nasty thug. The two become friends and the fighter becomes the artist’s bodyguard and confidant. In the process, the protagonist also begins to consider returning to the ring despite the potential dangers involved.

This film received mixed reviews from the press, earning a few more negative write-ups than positive ones. Those who liked it said that it was an interesting tale that took viewers in a few unexpected directions. The rest found it forced and dramatically flat, complaining that it didn’t make the most of its unusual characters and situations. It features Nick Sasso, Nomi Ruiz, John Ventimiglia, Zoë Bell and D.B. Sweeney.

THE PROJECTIONIST: Most know filmmaker Abel Ferrara as the writer and director of gritty cult movies like Ms. 45, King of New York, Bad Lieutenant and Body Snatchers. In this documentary, he meets with and talks to the owner of a notable cinema in Queens. They discuss the 1970s and how independent films of that era were made and distributed. The pair also discusses how much edgier and more interesting the old ways of moviemaking were than the current film scene.

This feature received uniformly excellent notices from reviewers. While some of them feared that the two would simply attack recent moviemaking trends, they suggested that the mood was upbeat. In fact, they called it an enjoyable tribute and wrote that the men shared some incredible stories about their experiences working in the movie business in New York.

THE WIDOW: According to this film’s press release, for more than three decades people have been going missing in an isolated forest north of St. Petersburg in Russia. A team of volunteers decides to go into the woods to find one of those who had recently gone missing there. They quickly lose communication with their basecamp and are soon hunted by a dark and violent spirit known as the Limping Widow. There aren’t a lot of reviews for this foreign-language title yet, and the ones that have appeared online have been mixed.

Apparently, most have said that the concept is solid and that there is a lot of style and atmosphere on display. However, they also asserted that the story takes too long to get going and that the climax was something of a letdown. The cast includes Viktoriya Potemina, Anastasiya Gribova and Margarita Bychkova.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!

If this week’s new titles aren’t enough for you, there are also plenty of older flicks getting Blu-ray upgrades. In fact, it’s an embarrassment of riches right now. Last year, Arrow released an amazing new version of the classic horror/comedy, An American Werewolf in London (1981). Now, it’s offering the film in special Limited Edition Steelbook packaging.

It comes with all the same fixings as the previous version, including a sharp new remaster of the movie itself. So, if you haven’t picked up the movie yet, you can now do so and get it in a fancy tin with new artwork.

Perdita Durango (1997) aka Dance with the Devil was Alex de la Igelsia’s follow-up to the previous title. This English-language effort marked his first and only attempt to break into the U.S. market. It was based on a supporting character from the David Lynch 1990 film, Wild at Heart. Viewers follow the character as she heads out on a violent crime spree with her boyfriend.

The movie featured an incredible cast including Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, James Gandolfini and Demian Bichir, but was far too graphic and shocking for North American audiences. It ended up being heavily edited and didn’t get much of a release here. Now you can pick a 4K version of this title completely uncut for the first time ever in this part of the world. In addition to the upgraded presentation, you’ll get an interview with the director, a talk with the screenwriter, discussions with the film’s composer and director of photography, a new scholar reappraisal of the flick, as well as an interview with another movie expert.

 

For years, Kino has been doing an excellent job of finding and distributing studio catalog titles on Blu-ray. This week, they have the Bette Midler/Nathan Lane comedy, Isn’t She Great (2000). The disc includes a film historian commentary and a trailer. Lust, Caution (2007) was an early feature from director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi). It’s getting a new Blu-ray with a movie expert audio track, as well as a making-of featurette.

The big studios also have plenty to choose from. They’re giving the excellent sports comedy The Bad News Bears (1976) its Blu-ray debut. Walter Matthau plays a hard-drinking little league coach who, in his own eccentric way, attempts to inspire his team of misfits into winning their league championship. Writer/director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats) is a fan of the film and offers his thoughts on the movie as a bonus.

 

Sony is presenting a Blu-ray of the Angelina Jolie drama, Girl Interrupted (1999), which also features Winona Ryder and Elizabeth Moss. And if you’re a gamer, then you might be interested in the studio’s 4K release of Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016), an animated feature based on the video game.

Speaking of games, you can also pick up the Mortal Kombat 2-Film Collection Blu-ray from Warner Brothers. The set includes Mortal Kombat (1995) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). This release is obviously arriving to coincide with a new reboot of the franchise that should be arriving in a few weeks.

And finally, the studio’s made-to-order Warner Archive line is also delivering a Blu-ray of the Boris Karloff horror pic, Isle of the Dead (1945). Set on a Greek island, this tale involves a group of people trying to determine if a series of deaths in the area might be the result of an evil spirit rumored to reside nearby.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

If you’re looking for something for younger viewers, here’s what’s available.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series

ON THE TUBE!

And you’ll find all the TV-themed releases arriving on disc listed below.

The Alienist: Angel of Darkness (Season 2)

American Experience: Voice of Freedom (PBS)

Journeys Through French Cinema (2017-2018) mini-series

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series

A Perfect Planet (with David Attenborough) 4K (BBC)

The South Westerlies

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun