Welcome to another examination of highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s an extremely busy week, filled with award nominees, as well as studio pictures and international fare. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
ALICE, DARLING: In this thriller, a woman goes on vacation with friends and opens up about her psychologically abusive boyfriend. They encourage the lead to stand up for herself and end the relationship. She does, but the nastiness she previously endured from the man becomes more threatening and physical. She must find the courage and use her wits to get the better of him.
Reaction towards this feature was strong overall. A small contingent of critics didn’t care for any of the characters and commented that the story lacked thrills and was predictable. Still, the vast majority thought the cast were excellent and that the movie delivered plenty of tension. They also appreciated how it depicted warning signs of potential abuse.
It stars Anna Kendrick, Tiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, Wummi Mosaku and Farah Merani.
ANYTHING GOES: THE MUSICAL: This feature captures the London stage production of the Tony Award winning musical/comedy Anything Goes, with hit tunes from Cole Porter like “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and the title track. The story involves two couples who embark on a cruise across the Atlantic. After they set sail, wackiness ensues and relationships are tested between the leads as well as crew members while they’re all isolated on the ship.
The show originally came to Broadway in 1934 and is still regularly performed on stage. While there aren’t many movie reviews for the title, this particular production has aired on PBS and it received plenty of acclaim. Seems like if you enjoy musicals, this is a good disc to pick up. Kathleen Marshall is credited as the director and choreographer.
THE APOLOGY: An alcoholic struggling with the disappearance of her daughter some 20 years ago decides to host a family Christmas dinner. Her best friend volunteers to assist and help make the evening go as smoothly as possible. The duo is surprised when the lead’s ex-brother-in-law arrives unexpectedly during a storm on Christmas Eve. He reveals a nasty secret that pushes the protagonist to the brink of rage and violence.
The press was split on the results, with the picture earning a few more pans than recommendations. Those who appreciated the title wrote that it was engaging and claustrophobic, with several suspenseful sequences. Slightly more called the film cliched and contrived, calling it an ineffective mystery/thriller.
It features Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, Janeane Garofalo and Holland Bailey.
ESCAPE THROUGH AFRICA: Set In 1914, this feature is set at a British outpost in Africa. After her husband is sent to another locale, a British nurse must contend with a violent attack by a German-led war party. With help from local warriors, she heads out into the wild to avoid capture and warn a neighboring station that they will be raided next. As this is occurring, the woman’s uncle tries to identify a traitor who may have helped the enemy.
This very low-budget independent adventure film hasn’t been seen by many and looks to have been filmed entirely in Los Angeles. There have only been a couple of online reviews, and they all note that the writing is poor and that the limited production funds means that the action scenes aren’t very elaborate or exciting. This is currently a DVD-only release.
It features Eric Roberts, Linn Bjornland, Justin Gordon, Robert Okumu and Jeff Berg.
GLORIOUS: This indie horror/thriller/comedy was scheduled for release on disc in January but encountered a delay and is now finally arriving.
A man upset about a nasty break-up decides to drive to the country and regroup. Or, at least, he attempts to head out of town, but ultimately stops at a roadside restroom. After entering, a strange voice from an adjacent stall begins talking to him. It tells the lead that it is a demon about to cause terror and bloodshed throughout the world… unless the man performs a sexual act that will satiate the monster. Horrified, the lead tries to figure out what he should do.
Critics were entertained by this feature, which first debuted on the Shudder streaming service. A small number didn’t think the jokes landed and felt the story was padded out to an excessive length. Everyone else was amused, calling the performers excellent, the visuals stylish and the story unpredictable from start to finish.
It stars Ryan Kwanten, J.K. Simmons and Sylvia Grace Crim.
A MAN CALLED OTTO: This remake of the 2015 Swedish feature A Man Called Ove follows a grumpy old man who has seemingly given up on life after experiencing a personal tragedy. While he is planning to commit suicide, a new family move in across the street. They frustrate and annoy him, but the new arrival’s quick-witted wife begins to engage and form a friendship that slowly changes his attitude.
Response towards the finished product was more positive than negative. About one-third of critics found it difficult to buy into star Tom Hanks as a miserable grouch and called the movie predictable, overly sentimental and weaker than its source material. The rest appreciated the actor’s work and wrote that while the film lacked subtlety, it provided plenty of feel-good moments and a positive message.
Besides Hanks, the cast includes Mariana Treviño, Mack Bayda, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Juanita Jennings, Mike Birbiglia, Rachel Keller and Truman Hanks.
SADNESS AND JOY IN THE LIFE OF GIRAFFES: Those with an interest in international cinema may be intrigued by this award-winning title from Portugal. A lonely, 10-year-old Lisbon girl spends most of her days talking to an imaginary friend who looks like a bear. When she is told to take on a school project explaining how the adult world works, she and her pal get into a series of escapades (including trying to track down and question the Prime Minister of Portugal). It results in a striking report for her class.
This film earned plenty of praise in its homeland at the end of 2019, but has only recently found a North American distributor. Reviewers in Portugal called it a sharp and funny satire that pulls no punches in criticizing how governments and societies operate. They also complimented the stunning photography and strong performances. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. Maria Abreu, Tónan Quito and Miguel Borges headline the film.
THE WHALE: This Oscar-nominee for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Makeup and Hairstyling involves a morbidly obese man who teaches online and lives as a recluse. With his condition worsening, the lead is visited at his apartment by various figures, including his estranged daughter, a nurse and friend, as well as a young man from a local church group. Over the course of the story, viewers learn about his past.
Based on a stage play, the film divided critics, although more appreciated it than disliked it. One-third of reviewers thought it was cruel towards its lead character and his condition, also writing that the presentation was overly theatrical. However, the majority called it convincing and honest, praising the performances and the way it managed to keep audiences in its grip despite never leaving one single, tiny location.
It features Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for something older?
Cohen Media Group is putting out Secret Defense (1998). It’s a French drama about a 30-year-old scientist investigating the death of her father. The Blu-ray includes a 4K restoration of the film, a director commentary and a re-release trailer.
Criterion is presenting Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) on Blu-ray. This is a period action movie that follows a son trying to avenge the death of his father. The Hong Kong flick was an early effort from director John Woo that was produced a decade before he helmed notable action titles like The Killer, Hard Boiled, Broken Arrow, Face/Off and many others. The disc contains a 2K picture restoration, new subtitles, alternate English-dubbed tracks, an audio interview with Woo, a discussion about the movie with a film historian and a trailer.
MGM is deciding to put out some Blu-ray of catalog titles. You can now pick up Hour of the Gun (1967), a reworking of the Wyatt Earp/Doc Holliday legend with James Garner and Jason Robards. Kings Go Forth (1958) is set during WWII and features Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis as two American soldiers who fall for the same woman (played by Natalie Wood).
The Man Without a World (1992) is arriving on Blu-ray from Milestone. This film’s history is actually quite amusing. It was advertised as a newly discovered silent film about Jewish villagers made by a Russian director. This was all a ruse and the feature is actually a homage to titles from that period. The disc comes with a couple of other, similarly-themed shorts from the filmmaker, Eleanor Antin. Extras include an interview with the moviemaker, trailers and more.
The studio is also reissuing a Blu-ray of the Kate Winslett/Josh Brolin drama, Labor Day (2013).
Wild Orchid 2: Blue Movie (1991) is arriving on Blu-ray from Scorpion Releasing. While also directed by Zalman King (who helmed the original Mickey Rourke feature), the story for this follow-up doesn’t have anything to do with the first picture. It instead focuses on a young woman who is taken and trained by a high-class brothel madam. She regrets her decision after falling in love with a regular guy whom she meets off the job. This disc comes with deleted scenes and a trailer. Nina Siemaszko, Tom Skerrit and Robert Davi headline the film.
Universal is presenting the animated Biblical tale The Prince of Egypt (1998) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It won an Oscar for Best Original Song and the voice talent includes Val Kilmer as Moses, and Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Steve Martin and Martin Short.
And remember how Warner Bros. has been steadily putting out individual Rocky films in 4K Ultra HD? This week, Rocky III (1982) is being released as a Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook with 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Just one picture this week for kids, but it was a big release back in its day.
The Prince of Egypt (1998) (Universal) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the TV-themed titles arriving on disc.
All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 (PBS) Blu-ray
Highway to Heaven The Complete Series (Visual Entertainment Group) Blu-ray – may be delayed
The Letter: A Message for Our Earth (PBS) DVD
The Lost Symbol The Complete Series (Paramount) Blu-ray
The Snowball Effect (Filmrise) Blu-ray
The Walking Dead Season 11 (Lionsgate) Blu-ray
VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun
