Welcome to a look at the latest highlights coming your way on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This is a very slim edition, but there are a couple of independent gems that appear to be worth checking out. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a bit, be sure to give one of these films a try.
BIG NEW RELEASES!
EAST BAY: This independent comedy/drama follows an unmarried middle-aged man in San Francisco who is disappointed in his life and career. And it isn’t just him, the lead’s professional friends feel they have failed and have not measured up in the eyes of their parents and friends. The man and his pals attempt various pursuits from hobbies to spirituality in order to find meaning and purpose.
The picture has played at film festivals over the past couple of years and earned more positive reviews than negative ones. A few claimed that the picture was well-intentioned but didn’t effectively answer the questions raised or make a lasting impression. Still, the majority called the movie a sweet and original take on middle-age that has strong performances and dealt effectively with the theme of finding new inspiration.
This is currently a DVD-only release. It stars Constance Wu, Kavi Ramachandran Ladnier, Daniel Yoon and Edmund Sim.
GIDDY STRATOSPHERES: Released on streaming platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic but only now arriving on disc, this independent film from the U.K. is set in London in the year 2007. The story involves a young woman and her best friend enjoying the indie-rock scene night after night and partying in various venues. Eventually, their pleasure-seeking lifestyles begin to catch up with them. After one wild evening, the lead has a breakdown and her pal becomes insistent that she remember something about what she did the night before.
As mentioned, this is a very low-budget drama, but one that features a killer soundtrack with tons of music from notable indie bands of the era. Critics in North America who saw the film were iffy about it. One enjoyed watching the relationship between the leads and liked the backdrop. Others felt that, at 67 minutes, it needed more character development and felt slight.
The film features Jamal Franklin and Laura Jean Marsh.
THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY: A traveling salesman stops at a remote diner/gas station for food and gasl, only to learn the fuel pumps are empty and the refill tanker hasn’t yet arrived. Locals and others soon appear and end up waiting there too. A news broadcast reports that a bank robbery has occurred nearby and it soon becomes clear that the criminals are present. Soon, everyone is fighting for their lives and trying to get their hands on the stolen loot.
Members of the press greatly enjoyed this independent crime/thriller. One or two suggested that the plot was thin and these reviewers didn’t appreciate the movie’s throwback vibe. Everyone else stated that the film managed to overcome its limited budget with its fast pace, clever plot twists, fantastic characters and wonderful performances, as well as a darkly humorous and memorable climax.
Jim Cummings, Faizon Love, Jocelin Donahue, Michael Abbott Jr., Robert Broski, Nicholas Logan, Richard Brake, Barbara Crampton and Gene Jones headline the picture.
PERFECT DAYS: Set in Tokyo, this drama involves a quiet, unassuming, single 60-something toilet cleaner who follows his daily routine to the letter. After work, he returns home and engages in his hobbies, which include photography and listening to old cassettes. As the story progresses, people like his niece appear unexpectedly and viewers learn more details about the protagonist and his past.
This foreign-language feature from renowned director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Until the End of the World, Buena Vista Social Club) earned almost all raves from reviewers and was nominated for Best International Film at the Academy Awards. One or two had difficulty getting onto the film’s wavelength and found the feature dull and unmoving. Everyone else stated that the film was brilliant, calling the lead performance phenomenal. They also noted that the movie’s quiet observations about finding peace of mind and serenity in a small corner of the city were moving.
The movie stars Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto and Arisa Nakano.
WATER HORSE: A paranormal investigator looks into a series of strange events. As she gets more and more involved in the case, she is shocked to discover that the bizarre happenings may be related to the disappearance of her mother many years earlier. This Australian indie horror/thriller has not been seen by any critics in this part of the world and it is difficult to find any more details on it anywhere. Even the Screen Australia website doesn’t offer much in the way of insight on this production, other than it may have been completed a few years ago before recently finding a North American distributor. If you’re curious about genre films from this part of the world, give it a shot, although you’ll have to go in without any knowledge of what you’re in for.
The cast includes Lauren Grimson, Dean Kyrwood and Jessica Towey.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Listed below is the best family-oriented release this week.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-related titles can be found below.
Blue Lights Year 1 (BBC) DVD
A Brief History of the Future (PBS) DVD
Columbo: The Return Season 1 (1989 series) (Kino) Blu-ray
Grantchester Season 9 (Masterpiece Mystery!) (PBS) DVD
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Perfect Harmony, Mid-Love Crisis (Hallmark) DVD
Monk Season 8 (Kino) Blu-ray
VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun
