Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s another busy edition with plenty of titles arriving in a wide variety of genres. 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!
CHESS STORY: Set in 1938 on the cusp of World War II, this drama follows a notary serving the Austrian aristocracy. After Nazis take control of the country and Vienna, the Gestapo arrests the man. They demand that he reveal various local bank accounts to them, so that they can take the funds and pay for their war effort. He refuses and is locked in solitary confinement. With nothing else to do, the man begins to study chess. He uses his skills to challenge and fight back against his captors. This co-production between Austria and Germany earned solid reviews. A small number stated the written story that the movie was based on was far superior to the film. However, the vast majority complimented the performances and production design, calling it an unpredictable and effective character study that detailed the trauma that prisoners of war experience. For now, this is a DVD-only release. It stars Oliver Masucci, Birgit Minichmayr and Albrecht Schuch. DEVIL’S PEAK: A manipulative meth-dealer in the Appalachian Mountains rules his business and family with an iron fist. When his son meets a girl and wants to run away with her instead of taking over the operation, it creates violent conflict in the household. The young man decides that the only way to be free of his father’s control is to square-off against him. This drama didn’t fare well with critics. About one-third of them enjoyed the work of the cast and thought they elevated the material enough to earn the movie a modest recommendation. Sadly, the consensus was that the talented performers were saddled with a weak and very predictable script, featuring thinly-drawn characters and little that was memorable. Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright, Jackie Earle Haley, Hopper Penn, Katelyn Nacon and Emma Booth headline the film.
iMORDECAI: Based on a true story, this tale involves an 80-year-old Holocaust survivor living in Miami. After being given a new iPhone, he finds himself discovering the internet and social groups. After befriending a young woman, he is encouraged to get out, take part in activities and repair a strained relationship with his son. This movie split the press right down the middle. Half thought everything about the film was overplayed and commented that it actually felt like a sit-com. Others thought that the sketches presented were dull and uneventful. The same number felt that while less-than-subtle, this was a sweet story about using new technology to meet new people and create tighter family bonds. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. It stars Judd Hirsch, Carol Kane, Sean Astin, Stephanie J. Block, Azia Dinea Hale and Nick Puga. INFINITY POOL: The latest chiller from Brandon Cronenberg (director of Possessor and son of filmmaker David Cronenberg) is set at an isolated, all-inclusive resort. A wealthy couple are befriended by a woman who convinces them to leave the property and venture off grounds. They discover a site that indulges in hedonism, violence and untold horror. After a nasty incident, the couple are arrested for a crime and given two options – either face execution or pay to experience something that is even more disturbing. This movie appears to have pushed buttons and gotten a largely positive response from reviewers. A few did comment that the movie was confusing, ponderous and didn’t appear to resolve the issues it addressed. Still, most wrote that it was gripping and unsettling, also calling the film a sharp and cutting commentary on the influence of the rich and their ability to avoid repercussions. It features Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman and Thomas Kretschmann.
LIVING: This remake of the 1952 Japanese Akira Kurosawa film Ikiru is also set in the 50s era and tells the story of an aging, humorless bureaucrat who works for the city of London. His job seems to exist only to stop public requests from being processed and he is less than friendly to co-workers around him. When the lead receives a terminal diagnosis from his doctor, he is faced with a dilemma. He attempts to determine how to spend his final days and leave a mark on the world before he passes away. This feature earned raves and was nominated for two Academy Awards (one for Best Actor and a second for Best Adapted Screenplay). One or two preferred the original version and thought this effort was maudlin. However, everyone else stated that the movie was a quiet but powerful remake that benefitted from a wonderful lead performance. They also claimed that it was impossible not to be moved and heartbroken by the main character and story. Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood and Alex Sharp headline the film. A LOT OF NOTHING: A happily married and successful couple decide to relax in their home one evening and watch the news. They see a tragedy play out during the broadcast and immediately recognize that their neighbor may have been responsible. Stunned, the pair discuss what to do next. They are surprised to find that they both have completely opposing viewpoints and how to proceed. This thriller divided reviewers almost down the middle. Almost half thought it was tense throughout and brought up important themes, while also noting that life isn’t always as clear-cut as it might initially appear. The same number (and one or two more) believed that the movie was unfocused, stumbled around clumsily and didn’t seem sure of even the point it was trying to make. It features Shamier Anderson, Cleopatra Coleman, Sheila Carrasco and Justin Hartley.
OINK!: Released in its homeland under the title “Knor,” this stop-motion animated feature from the Netherlands tells the story of a nine-year-old girl who wants a pet against the wishes of her parents. When her grandfather from America arrives, he gives her a baby pig. The family resists, but the youngster does everything she can to train the animal and have it accepted in the household. Things go surprisingly well, but after she learns that her grandpa has a connection to a pig meat products firm, it becomes clear that he may have nefarious motives for the gift. This picture won the award for Best Picture in its homeland and just missed out on being nominated for an Academy Award. Reviews that have appeared have been uniformly positive. They all say that the film is beautifully animated, adorable, funny and will certainly pull on the heartstrings. This is a DVD-only release at present. It seems as though it has been dubbed into English, but it isn’t clear if the original language version (with English subtitles) is available. ONE FINE MORNING: In this romance, a young woman juggles a busy career and raising an eight-year-old daughter while caring for her father, who is suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. Overwhelmed, she encounters an old friend while searching for a nursing home. Despite him being married, the two begin an affair and must deal with the complications that follow. This foreign-language feature from France received plenty of praise from critics. A handful of them didn’t find that the situations presented to them seemed realistic and thought the story wasn’t fully developed and even a bit dull. Regardless, all others raved about the lead performance and called the movie a low-key but believable and humanistic look at real issues and problems that many encounter in life. It stars Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory and Melvil Poupaud.
SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBOWL BOWL-O-RAMA 2: – Way back in 1988, Full Moon pictures released Sorority Babes in the Slimebowl Bowl-O-Rama, an effort about a group of sorority sisters tasked with stealing a trophy from a bowling alley. They get more than they bargained for when they discover a sinister imp in the item. Some 35 years later, a sequel has arrived directed by Brinke Stevens, the star of the original film. The plot synopsis states that the gremlin is back and the story follows the same sorority as it tries to recruit new members. After a break-in at the same site, the imp is released and decides to attack the students. But one mysterious lady may hold the answer to stopping the creature. The original B-movie is well-liked, but there are currently no reviews for this title, so interested parties will just have to take a chance on it. The cast includes Kelli Maroney, Michelle Bauer, Brinke Stevens, Audrey Neal and Jessie Gill. SWIM:It looks like the B-movie studio Asylum is back making original movies for the Tubi steaming service. This particular title was released in late 2021 and is now arriving as a DVD-only release. It’s about massive flooding on the California coast. A father attempts to reach his family who are trapped in a house on the coast. They all find themselves being attacked by a shark that finds its way into the residence as it sinks underwater. Word on the picture was pretty terrible, stating that the effects were poor, the story was utterly ridiculous and that there wasn’t much tension or excitement. They complained that while it delivered a few cheesy laughs, it grew tiresome very quickly. It features Joey Lawrence, Jennifer Field, Andy Lauer, Brett Hargrove, Daniel Grogan and Addison Bowman.
TURN EVERY PAGE - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT CARO AND ROBERT GOTTLIEB: Looking for a documentary? This well-received film tells the tale of the incredible 50-year relationship between writer Robert Caro and his editor, Robert Gottlieb. At age 86, the writer works to complete the final volume of what he believes is his masterwork, and his 90-year-old friend insists on editing it. The feature details their collaborative relationship and how the pair have helped each other succeed over half a century. Reviewers adored the film. One or two thought it lacked a big surprise and that the pair were so friendly that it wasn’t gripping. However, everyone else commented that the film intimately chronicled an incredible relationship and showed the remarkable influence and help that these two men provided for each other. This is a DVD- only release for the time being. Ethan Hawke, Conan O’Brien, David Remick and Bill Clinton appear in the film. WOMAN OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS: A fearful and extremely shy photographer encounters a beautiful woman suffering from body dysmorphia. The man sees an opportunity to help the model and begins a twisted romance with her. It soon seems as if he is taking advantage of her and may be treating the lady in a misogynistic manner, adding greater confusion and uncomfortableness to the relationship. This foreign-language title from Japan was released in its homeland back in 2020 and is now arriving on disc. The press gave the film uniformly upbeat reviews. They all believed that the movie was a little confounding, but compelling and noted that it interestingly dealt with issues like social media and mental illness. The group stated that they had never seen anything like it before and said it would stay in the minds of viewers long after the credits rolled. It stars Hideki Nagai, Itsuki Otaki and Toki Koinuma. BLASTS FROM THE PAST! If that wasn’t enough, there are plenty of old titles to choose from as well.
88 Films is releasing a Special Edition Blu-ray of the Jackie Chan martial arts flick, Gorgeous (1999). It’s about a woman who finds a romantic message in a bottle and travels from Taiwan to Hong Kong. After a series of misunderstandings, she encounters a wealthy man being targeted by a lifelong enemy who wants to break them apart. It has been described as an action movie with romantic comedy elements. The disc includes a 2K transfer of the Hong Kong and International versions of the movie, two film historian commentaries, another audio commentary with Jackie Chan, featurettes and a making-of, music videos and plenty of trailers for the movie.
Criterion is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the Academy Award-winning drama, The Fisher King (1991) from Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). This excellent feature details a popular but suicidal “shock jock” who meets a homeless man and former college professor searching for the Holy Grail. The movie stars Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Amanda Plummer and Mercedes Ruehl (who won an Oscar). It arrives with a new restoration as well as all previously included extras like a director commentary, cast and crew interviews and more.
Film Movement is presenting a double-feature of The Naked Fog (1966) and Moonlighting Wives (1966). These are independent movies from director Joseph W. Sarno and the first is about a female writer trying to navigate the swinging sixties. The second is a lost film involving a housewife who starts a prostitution ring. The movies have been remastered and feature movie historian commentaries, an interview with the director and another with the cinematographer.
It really doesn’t seem like that long ago, but it has been some 20 years since musician Rob Zombie released his debut horror feature, House of 1000 Corpses (2003). The story follows a group of young travelers who end up off the beaten path and get targeted by a psychotic family and a roadside attraction owner. Lionsgate is now delivering an anniversary edition Blu-ray in a two-disc set that comes with an illustrated outer box, a poster, a 10-page photo book, illustrated art cards. The first disc has all previously released extras including a director commentary, while the second contains a new bonus disc of never-before-seen bonuses from Rob Zombie, including cast and crew interviews, behind-the scenes footage, 5 on-set segments, screen tests, electronic press kits and more! Metro-Goldwyn Mayer is releasing Terror In a Texas Town (1958) on Blu-ray. Sterling Hayden plays a Swedish man who arrives in the U.S. to seek revenge on the greedy oil man who murdered his father. This title was previously released by Arrow Academy but has since gone out of print.
Paramount is giving the 80s hit Flashdance (1983) the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment in multiple editions, including a Steelbook. This tale of a woman striving to make her mark in the dance world is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The disc features a 4K restoration supervised by director Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction, Jacob’s Ladder, Indecent Proposal), a filmmaker focus on the director, a study of the phenomenon and a trailer. The studio is also rereleasing some titles on Blu-ray. You can pick up G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), A Quiet Place (2018), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) and True Grit (2010).
Shout! Factory is delivering the Kim Basinger thriller Bless the Child (2000) on Blu-ray. The story involves a girl with supernatural abilities and the attempts made by a nurse to protect her from sinister forces that want to harness her power. It includes a director and visual effects supervisor commentary, a look inside the cast and crew and a trailer. They are also putting out a Blu-ray of the comedy, Flashback (1990). It stars Dennis Hopper and Kiefer Sutherland as a 60s radical who is arrested by a young and uptight Federal agent and escorted cross country. It doesn’t look like this disc comes with any extras.
Umbrella is an Australian Blu-ray outlet, but it looks like they’re starting to release more titles worldwide. This week, you can pick up a double feature of Young Guns (1988) and Young Guns II (1990) on Blu-ray starring Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips and many others. It generally follows the tale of Billy the Kid. And, a pair of great DVD sets containing plenty of family entertainment from Warner Bros. Entertainment. The first is the Best of WB 100th: Scooby-Doo 10-Film Collection, while the second is Best of WB 100th: The Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection Volumes 1-3 which collects some of the greatest animated shorts from the studio. YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! Here’s a look at some of the kid-friendly entertainment arriving on store shelves. Best of WB 100th: The Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection Volumes 1-3 (Warner Bros.) DVD Best of WB 100th: Scooby-Doo 10-Film Collection (Warner Bros.) DVD Oink! (2022 film) (Synergetic Distribution) DVD The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (Paramount) Blu-ray ON THE TUBE! And here are the week’s TV-themed releases. Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: A Splash of Love & High Flying Romance (Hallmark) DVD Love, Fall & Order (Hallmark) DVD The Suspect Series 1 (Sundance) DVD VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
