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That Time of The Month: DVD & Blu-ray Reviews From 8/12, 8/19, 8/26 & 9/2!

Locke

Lionsgate / Released 8/12/14

Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy)
is a successful businessman dedicated to his loving wife and children.
But tonight, everything will change, as a series of phone calls triggers
a shocking chain of events – and unravels Ivan’s seemingly perfect life
over the course of a single, unforgettably intense car ride. Extras
include commentary.

Last Word: Locke is a brilliant film.  Shot, for the most part, entirely in a BMW SUV on the M25 motor way in the UK and starring Tom Hardy. Locke
is basically a one-man play about a man who has the life and family.
He is dedicated to the building and construction of grand structures and
has meticulously crafted the world around himself the same way one
would build a skyscraper. After a phone call, on the
night before one of his most important concrete pours for the UK’s
tallest building his world begins to crumble around him. He spends the
entire film on the road trying to get to a fateful destination that will
forever change the direction of his life.

Locke is another in a very long line of films showcasing just how brilliant an actor Tom Hardy really is. From
the very real struggle of spending 8 days, nine hours a night alone in a
car on the highway shooting the film to the filmic struggle of
receiving and making a litany of phone calls from colleagues and loved
ones and having to react to only a voice over a speaker, Hardy, truly
shows you a man who is having one of the most difficult days in his
life. I was riveted for the entire 85 minutes of this
film and not only did I feel for Hardy, but I truly felt sympathy and
anger for his wife, Katrina (played perfectly by Ruth Wilson), his
scatter-brained but loyal colleague Donal (Andrew Scott, known for his
amazing Moriarty in the BBC show Sherlock) and Bethan (beautifully
played by Olivia Colman best known for her roles in Hot Fuzz and Doctor
Who
) as the catalyst for Ivan Locke (Hardy) to make this unfortunately
timed trip to London.  It is a great testament to the
writing of this film that not only do we feel every emotion of Ivan
Locke as his world unravels but that we really feel for these
disembodied voices that we hear over the crappy car speakers on his cell
phone. From the utter disbelief of his boss and colleague to the
upheaval of his wife and children’s world when it is revealed what and
why Locke has seemingly up and abandoned his life and family.

Writer
and director Steven Knight (writer of the visceral and critically
acclaimed Eastern Promises and Dirty Pretty Things) has created a world
and slowly demolishes it around Locke. What makes this hardest to watch
is that, Locke, is ultimately doing the right thing but in doing so he
is sacrificing the family and work he loves more than anything. It is
the struggle of a man faced with a moralistic “rock and a hard place”.  Along
with the terrific writing and acting, the direction and cinematography
are perfectly crafted to make you feel the monotony and sometimes tunnel
vision-esque of a long nights drive, coupled with what is happening to
Locke throughout the film the shallow focus and blurred headlights and
speeding by street lights heighten the disorientation of the viewer
right along with Locke as he makes his journey to London to “right a
wrong”. I love films that take the “one-man-play” or
“two person play” idea and interpret it for film, whether they are
adapted from actual plays or are original ideas. The idea of having an
actor or actress on screen for a whole film and carry the film with just
themselves is just amazing, to me, when it is pulled off well. It shows
me that they are capable of creating and being a believable character
that you sympathize and root for. I knew, from his previous body of
work, that Hardy was capable of this but he really, really blew me away
in ways I didn’t expect. It was refreshing to just watch him act. If you are looking for a brilliant film to go see with phenomenal acting, I can not recommend Locke enough. (– Benn Robbins)

Hercules

Disney / Released 8/12/14

Taken from the gods as a newborn and adopted on Earth, Hercules is just an awkward pillar of strength trying to fit in. What he wants most is to impress his father Zeus. When Hercules discovers Hades’ sinister plot to take over Mount Olympus, he goes from zero to hero and, with the help of his pals Pegasus and Phil, discovers that real strength comes from the heart. Extras include making of, sing-a-long and music video.

Last Word: Disney’s take on the Greek myth reminds plays a bit more like Superman than Edith Hamilton with a generous helping of Vegas Elvis on the side.  It’s one of the rare Disney films in recent memory with a male protagonist and no time is wasted in trying to make it an entertaining romp.  With a light touch, some humor and monsters aplenty, Hercules might be one of the studio’s tertiary properties, but it’s understated charm easily makes it a must see.  On a critical note, supplemental features are disappointing and dated.

Muppets Most Wanted 

Disney / Released 8/12/14

Two frogs! One pig!
Intrigue! Music! Mayhem! Muppets!  There’s plenty of fun for the whole
family as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and the entire Muppets
gang head out on a world tour. But mayhem follows the Muppets, as they
find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper.
Now Kermit is behind bars at the mercy of prison warden Nadya (Tina
Fey), and the World’s Number One Criminal, Constantine – a dead ringer
for Kermit – has taken his place! As Constantine and his dastardly
sidekick Dominic (Ricky Gervais) plot the robbery of the century, they
are pursued by Sam Eagle and Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty
Burrell). Will Constantine get away with his nefarious scheme? Will
Kermit escape in time to save the day? Packed with dozens of guest
cameos and some great new songs, Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted is the most hilarious, most wanted Muppet movie ever. Extras include featurettes, music video and extended blooper reel.

Last Word:  In just one movie, Muppets Most Wanted
returns the iconic characters back to where they were prior to their
2011 reboot; tired and clichéd.  Once again bloated with celebrity
cameos, this emotionless sequel puts the characters second fiddle to
Gervais and the supporting cast.  Ultimately, who cares. The movie isn’t
funny, the gags less so and the meandering plot distances itself from
the Muppets’ greatest attribute: joy.   The Muppeteers themselves
provide disappointing performances; in the past I have been able to
accept the new performers handling the classic characters.  With Muppets Most Wanted I spent much of the film thinking, “that’s not Kermit…” 
The opening musical number about how the sequel is never as good as the
original seems less than a gag and more like a warning shot prior to
the film’s release. 

The Blacklist: Season 1

Sony / Released 8/12/14

For decades, ex-government agent Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) has been one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives. Brokering shadowy deals for criminals across the globe, Red was known by as “The Concierge of Crime.” Now, he’s mysteriously surrendered to the FBI with an explosive offer: he will help catch the world’s most elusive criminals under the condition that he speaks only to Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone), an FBI profiler fresh out of Quantico. For Liz, it’s going to be one hell of a first day on the job. Extras include commentary, behind the scenes and 22 episodes of Beyond the Blacklist.

Last Word:  One of last seasons most addictively entertaining series, The Blacklist succeeds simply because of one thing: James Spader.  After a career of playing swarmy and overconfident narcissists, Spader has found a character that not only indulges those traits, but also truly makes him the smartest man in the room at all times.   The result is a series that plays out like the peeling of an onion, with each episode revealing layer after layer; with a villain in the hero role and a narrative filled with suspense, twists, turns, and sinister agendas, The Blacklist is highly recommended.

Tarzan 

Disney / Released 8/12/14

Disney’s magnificent adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story begins deep within the jungle when baby Tarzan is adopted by a family of gorillas. But his “Two Worlds” collide with the arrival of humans, forcing Tarzan to choose between a “civilized” life with the beautiful Jane and the life he shares with his fun-loving friends and his gorilla family. Extras include deleted scenes, featurettes, and music video.

Last Word:  Disney tarnished this otherwise gem with unnecessary songs and comic relief (from Rosie O’Donnell no less).  For the very first time, Tarzan was realized as only previously imagined; with the physical attributes of an ape and with the dexterity and confidence of moving through the jungle (by vine, tree, etc) as someone intimately familiar with his surroundings.  Animator Glen Keane brings Tarzan truly to life.  The voice cast which includes Tony Goldwyn, Glenn Close, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight, Minne Driver, and the previously mentioned O’Donnell all deliver solid work.  My issues with O’Donnell are with her character, a mowhawked ape who serves as a more of a distraction than as a smart addition to the narrative.  Nevertheless, there’s plenty of action and fun (and some great animation with the title character) and Tarzan is definitely recommended.


Bedknobs & Broomsticks

Disney / Released 8/12/14

Disney legends Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson star in this beloved film about an apprentice witch who reluctantly takes in three orphan children. Though her first spells create more laughs than magic, Miss Price and the children soon find themselves swept away aboard a fantastic flying bed – their ticket to fun-filled excitement and adventure. Extras include featuettes, deleted and extended songs, and deleted and extended scenes.

Last Word:  Combining live action and animation, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a painfully dull Disney feature that feels like the the bastard child of Mary Poppins and Ambien.  It’s not a bad film (and I know several people who adore it), but it’s a tediously watch, especially in this remastered theatrical cut version (a previously released extended cut is available on DVD).  In my opinion, one of Disney’s weaker films and Blu-ray releases.  

The Railway Man

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 8/12/14

Academy Award Winners Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman star in the remarkable autobiography of Eric Lomax (Colin Firth), a British Army officer who is captured by the Japanese during WWII and sent to a POW camp, where he is tormented and forced to work on the Thai-Burma Railway. Decades later, still suffering the trauma of his wartime experiences, Lomax and his wife Patti (Nicole Kidman) discover that the Japanese interpreter responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and set out to confront him, in this powerful and inspiring tale of heroism, humanity and the redeeming power of love. Extras include commentary and making of.

Young Justice: The Complete First Season

Warner Archive / Released 8/12/14

In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over — to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? How much harder will it be to prove yourself in a world of super powers, super villains and super secrets? Are you ready to come of age in such a world? Are you ready for life or death rites of passage? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League? That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice — Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis — will find out … whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero.

Last Word:  The Young Justice team, sidekicks from DC’s pantheon of heroes are
training under the eyes of the Justice League themselves to be used as a
secret weapon if the necessity arises.  One of the truly special things
about this series is the complete and total embrace of the DC
Universe.  The series also successfully maintains a fairly dense
storyline and one of the more fantastic things is how rich the series is with
characters.

Fans of the DC Universe have plenty to celebrate with such characters as Robin, Miss Martian, Superboy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Desaad, Batman, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Red Arrow, Marvin White, Wendy Harris, Mal Duncan, Captain Marvel, Snapper Carr, Zatanna, Zatara, Felix Faust, Commissoner Gordon, Klarion the Witch Boy, Cat Grant, Dr. Fate, Garfield Logan, Paul Sloane, Psimon, Brain, Green Arrow, Count Vertigo, Vandal Savage, Iris Allen, Hugo Strange, Superman, Wade Eiling, Jason Bard, John Steward,  T. O. Morrow, Red Tornado, Black Manta, Professor Ivo, Speedy, Mr. Twister, Blockbuster, Sportsmaster, Cheshire, Monsieur Mallah, Ra’s al Ghul, The Riddler, King Faraday, Parasite, Mr. Tawny, Bane, Kobra, Amazo, Cheshire, Artemis, Madame Xanadu, Clayface, Lagoon Boy, Lori Lemaris, Queen Mera, Lucas Carr, Amanda Waller, Bette Kane, Barbara Gordon, Tula, Uncle Dudley, The Joker, Poison Ivy, Killer Frost, Ultra-Humanite, Mr. Freeze, Lex Luthor, Dubbilex, Aquaman, Flash, Guardian and Wonder Woman all making appearances.

Young Justice: The Complete First Season features the best and most dense take on the DC Universe ever produced for television and the vision of the writers and creative team delivers far beyond my wildest expectations.  Voicework is phenomenal and although it might have originally been intended for kids, the sharp writing and characterization resonates better for much older
viewers.  Highly recommended.

Swelter

Well Go USA / Released 8/12/14

Ten years ago, a bank-robbing team stole $100 million from a Vegas casino. Not all of them got away. Now, Bishop (Lennie James) is a small-town sheriff, making an honest living… with no memory of his criminal past. But when his old crew rolls into looking for the buried cash, the perfect getaway threatens to turn into a nightmare of greed, revenge, and retribution. Extras include interviews and trailer.

William Shatner’s Get a Life!

E1 Entertainment / Released 8/12/14

Based on William Shatner’s hugely popular book (in response to his now infamous skit on SNL), Get A Life! examines the mystery, longevity and the cultural phenomena of Star Trek and its long-obsessed fans known as “Trekkers.” Join Shatner on this first-person journey of discovery – told with humor, honesty and his trademark enthusiasm – as the legendary actor finally comes to grips with his past, his fans, their love, and his own intergalactic legacy. Extras include featurettes.

Last Word: Shatner continues his examination of all things Trek (after his documentary The Captains) and his place within it.  It’s entertaining, self-absorbed and not nearly as clever as it thinks it is (much like Shatner himself).  Apparently it’s been financially more successful and commercial to examine his life and legacy publicly (and for profit) rather than therapy.  But regardless of his psychological analysis, Shatner is ridiculously entertaining and charming and well aware of the reaction that he invokes from generations of fans.  Get A Life! looks at the icon and his relationship with those people with sensitivity and humor.  Recommended.

Low Winter Sun

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 8/12/14

Set in Detroit, AMC’s drama series Low Winter Sun, starring Mark Strong and executive produced by showrunner and writer Chris Mundy, is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. This gritty, edgy and provocative crime drama begins with an act of retribution – the murder of a dirty cop by two fellow Detroit detectives, Frank Agnew (Strong) and Joe Geddes (Lennie James). Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality the murder activates forces that will forever alter Agnew’s life, and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld. Extras include featurettes and deleted scenes.

Kilimanjaro

Virgil Films / Released 8/12/14

Nearing 30, New Yorker Doug Collins (Brian Geraghty) is stuck in a rut. He works for a domineering boss (Jim Gaffigan) at a soul-sucking publishing job and comes home to an increasingly miserable relationship with Clare (Alexia Rasmussen), the longtime girlfriend he no longer loves. He’s getting the feeling the best years of his life are flying by. But when Clare decides to leaves him, Doug is suddenly excited that new possibilities await. A visit to his ailing grandfather (John Cullum) further convinces him that life is short and he must make every day count starting right now.  First thing on his new to-do list? Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Doug, who has zero experience as a rugged outdoorsman, recruits his hard-partying friend Mitch (Chris Marquette) to join him on the trek. But while training for the climb, Doug meets the lively and alluring Yvonne (Abigail Spencer), who stirs him to perhaps strive for more down-to-earth, romantic goals. Ultimately, Doug faces a difficult decision: set his daring mission aside – maybe forever – or push ahead to the mountaintop.

Out Of The Past

Warner Archive / Released 8/12/14

A
tenacious detective (Robert Mitchum) spinning his wheels to make good. A
drop-dead beauty (Jane Greer) up to no good. A moneyed mobster (Kirk
Douglas) with a shark’s grin. Plus double-crosses and fall guys. Shadowy
rooms and bleak souls. Mitchum solidified his tough-guy persona in
this archetypal film noir directed with memorable style by Jacques
Tourneur (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie). He plays Jeff Bailey, a
one-time private investigator walking the straight and narrow of
small-town life…until an acquaintance from his past pulls him back
into the troubles he’d left behind. “Build my gallows high, baby,”
Bailey sneers as events stack up against him. With dialogue like that
and much more, Out of the Past builds its reputation high.  Extras include commentary.

Last Word: One of the most iconic films in the history of film noir, Out of the Past arrives on Blu-ray in a stunning presentation.  The story, full of twists and turns is told through a cloud of cigarette smoke and requires a sharp eye from the viewer to fully appreciate it’s depth and level of detail.  Mitchum anchors the film in a star making performance as the man trying to escape his past.  There’s a level of glib, sarcasm with the dialogue; not quite snappy as other film noir, but certainly more memorable.  In addition, there’s a fistfight that several decades later is incredibly well executed.  The generous use of flashbacks and the tight writing often feels more like a pulpy paperback rather than a screenplay, but make no mistake, Out of the Past is one of the genres most iconic films and is essential for every cinegeek’s library.  Highest recommendation.

Frankie & Alice

Lionsgate / Released 8/12/14

The
remarkable true story of an African-American go-go dancer named Frankie
(Academy Award winner Halle Berry) who has dissociative identity
disorder (DID). Frankie struggles to retain her true self while fighting
against two very unique alter egos: a seven-year-old named “Genius” and
a Southern white racist woman named “Alice.” In order to stop the
multiple voices in her head, Frankie works with a psychotherapist
(Stellan Skarsgard) to uncover and overcome the mystery of the inner
ghosts that haunt her, and the truth that is locked inside her mind.
Extras include making of.

The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad / Fun & Fancy Free 

Disney / Released 8/12/14

Experience
Walt Disney’s timeless classic. The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad.
Disney animation’s humorous retelling of two unforgettable classics,
The Wind In The Willows, wonderfully narrated by Basil Rathbone and Bing
Crosby, brings them together in one magnificent adventure. First,
hang on for a wild ride with the fun-loving Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad. When
his passion for motorcars lands him in hot water, he must rely on his
faithful friends to clear his name. The meet the celebrated Ichabod
Crane, whose comic rivalry for the affections of the town beauty leads
to a heart-pounding race with the legendary Headless Horseman.   Then have some fun with Mickey, Donald and Goofy in Fun & Fancy Free, as Jiminy Cricket brings to life the timeless tales of Bongo and Mickey & The Beanstalk. This was the last animated feature starring Walt Disney as the voice of Mickey Mouse. These classic films follow Disney’s tradition of combining great storytelling, unforgettable characters, music and adventure to create fun you can share with the whole family. Includes Disney bonus cartoon classic, The Reluctant Dragon.

Last Word: One of my favorite Disney releases in recent memory, Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad / Fun & Fancy Free includes something for everyone.  My favorite piece in the set is Bongo, a release that I have fond memories of watching in school as a kid about a circus bear who escapes to live in the forest. There’s a lot of fun stuff, especially if you grew up with these films. Mickey & The Beanstalk features Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy in a retelling of the classic tale with appearances by Jiminy Cricket and Edgar Bergen.   Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is an energetic retelling of the classic The Wind and The Willows and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow adaptation, features truly creepy animation, with fantastic narration and voice work by Bing Crosby.  In addition, the release also includes the feature The Reluctant Dragon, a behind the scenes look of the Disney Studios hosted by Robert Benchley and featuring animated shorts and vignettes.  This release truly is a must own for any Disney fan and comes highly recommended.

Rage

Image Entertainment / Released 8/12/14

You
have no idea what he’s capable of Paul Maguire (Academy Award winner
Nicolas Cage) is a respectable businessman and loving
father living a peaceful life… until his violent past comes back to
haunt him. When his teenage daughter is taken from their home, Paul
rounds up his old crew to help him find her.. by any means necessary.
His search for justice leads Paul down a dark and bloody path of
revenge, betrayal and long buried secrets. Danny Glover, Rachel Nichols and Peter
Stormare co-star in this heart-stopping thrill ride that shows
no mercy. Extras include making of, deleted scenes and alternate
ending.

Bitten: Complete First Season

E1 Entertainment / Released 8/12/14

Elena
Michaels (Laura Vandervoort), the lone female werewolf in existence, is
torn between two worlds – the one she was born into and the one she was
bitten into… Desperate to start a new life in the city, Elena instead
finds herself summoned back to Stonehaven, the werewolves’ ancestral
home, when a string of mysterious murders threatens the survival of her
Pack. Extras include commentary, behind the scenes, deleted scenes and
stunt choreography featurette.

Last Word:  When it comes to monsters, I’m a werewolf guy, so I was intrigued immediately about the concept of Bitten.   That intrigue disappeared minutes into the pilot.  Bitten is just plain silly (so silly, in fact, that it often takes itself too seriously).  Vandervoort is excellent as “the lone female werewolf” who happens to look like a supermodel and the supporting cast are fairly unmemorable.  But, the series is fun.  It’s got gratuitous sex and violence with pretty people worrying about their lycanthropic curses.  Fortunately for the series, it’s based on a series of novels, so there is a defined mythology; which comes in handy among the ridiculousness.  Bitten is a definite guilty pleasure and an easy recommendation.

Turtle Power: Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Paramount / Released 8/12/14

In
the spring of 1984, a different new comic book sat beside cash
registers in select shops, too big to fit in the racks, and too weird to
ignore. Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles presented a
completely original breed of superhero. Four of them, to be exact –
Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael,. It broke all the rules
and should never have worked. Until it sold out. For thirty years. Now,
for the first time, you can peek under the shell and see how this
so-called “happy accident” defied every naysayer to becomes one of the
most popular and beloved comic, toy, cartoon, live show and movie
franchises in the world.

Last Word:  Not really a puff piece, but the documentary overall feels like a bonus feature on a Blu-ray.  There’s plenty of historical footage and new and old interviews, but there’s really little else.  Eastman and Laird both appear, but their estrangement is glossed over and there are some major time jumps regarding the history of the franchise. It’s less a definitive history and more of a look at the origins of the comic, television and toy line.  Look for FOG!’s Charles Knauf as a talking head in the interviews.  Overall, it feels light.  As a minor fan I’m well aware of lots of missed bits of information that was likely edited out.  The lack of deleted scenes, etc. doesn’t help.  For the diehard or new fan, Turtle Power might not be what you’re looking for, but for those nostalgiac for the heroes in a halfshell, grab a pizza and enjoy.  Cowabunga!

A Haunted House 2

Universal Studios / Released 8/12/14

Marlon
Wayans returns in this outrageous and wickedly funny sequel as Malcolm
who, after exorcising the demons of his ex, is starting fresh with his
new girlfriend (Jaime Pressly) and her two children. But after moving
into their dream home, he’s once again plagued by bizarre paranormal
events. Co-starring Gabriel Iglesias and Cedric the Entertainer, it’s
the ultimate laugh-out-loud scary comedy that critics call “over the top
hilarious!” Extras include commentary and deleted and extended scenes.

Motel Hell 

Shout! Factory / Released 8/12/14

You
really are what you eat with Farmer Vincent’s smoked meat in this
creepy horror yearn which “packs a punch that goes way beyond mere
terror” (Boxoffice). Vincent’s popular products contain a special
ingredient that the psychotic farmer and his sister would literally kill
to keep a secret~ Starring Rory Calhoun, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod and John Ratzenberger, and directed by Kevin Connor (From Beyond The Grave, At The
Earth’s Core
), this darkly funny flick “just might be your cup of meat”
(L.A. Herald Examiner)! Extras include commentary, featurettes and
trailer.

Last Word:  Probably the most fun movie about cannibalism ever, Motel Hell is one of those “I can’t believe they made this movie” that’s a wonderful throwback to the days of browsing a video store and unearthing a previously unseen gem like this.  There are plenty of dark themes within, but it’s presented in such a loving and entertaining way that you often find yourself grinning like an idiot while watching.  For genre fans, Motel Hell, a pizza (no meat) and a group of friends might be the best way to spend an evening.  Recommended.

The Marx Brothers TV Collection

Shout! Factory / Released 8/12/14

The
Marx Brothers TV Collection
, the first set of its kind dedicated to the
comedic trio. The set features more than 50 performances on TV programs
including The GE Theater, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, The Jack
Benny Program, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Dick Cavett Show, All Star Revue, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Kraft
Music Hall, The Red Skelton Hour, The RCA Victor Show, The Perry Como
Show, The Arthur Murray Party, Championship Bridge, Celebrity Golf,
Celebrity Billiards
and many, many more, all here on DVD – with many not
seen anywhere in decades. The collection also features a 40-page book
with rare photos from the Marx Brothers family archive, program notes
and an essay by Marx Brothers historian Robert S. Bader.

Last Word:  It saddens me that with more media available to the public than ever before, modern audiences seem less and less interested in the past.  Which is why Shout! Factory should be lauded for their continuing focus on preserving popular culture.  This set, for fans of the Marx Brothers is a revelation, containing over four dozen obscure performances, preserved forever on DVD.  A smattering of ephemeral clips also included are commercials, home movies, trailers, shorts and more.  This set is a must have for classic film fans and film scholars.  It’s amazing.

Hateship Lovership

MPI / Released 8/12/14

In
her first dramatic role, Kristen Wiig portrays Johanna, a profoundly shy,
shabby housekeeper hired to care for Mr. McCauley (Nick Nolte) and his
granddaughter Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld). Despite her outgoing nature,
Sabitha carries wounds from the death of her mother years before, while
her father (Guy Pearce) is a hapless recovering drug addict with a
certain ragged charm. In an act of mean-spirited rebellion, Sabitha
fosters a pseudo-relationship between Johanna and her father through a
series of forged emails, never dreaming of the potential harm. However,
Johanna is not a demure cut-out, but rather a woman for whom the phrase
“still water run deep” could have been coined, and the young girl’s
cruel prank provokes Johanna to indulge in something long missing from
her life: the dream of a future and a home of her own. Extras include
trailer.

Without Warning

Shout! Factory / Released 8/5/14

The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar winners Jack Palance and Martin Landau, Tarah Nutter, Christopher S. Nelson, Cameron Mitchell, Neville Brand, Sue Ane Langdon, Ralph Meeker, Larry Storch and featuring David Caruso in an early role and Kevin Peter Hall as the alien.

Last Word: Two Hollywood icons, Palance and Landau deliver over the top performances in this Predator-esque alien invader movie.  There’s lots to like in this low budget exploitation project including the cast, DP Dean Cundey and makeup effects by Greg Cannom and the sheer fun of it.  It’s not a good film by any indication and it’s overall cheesy, but that doesn’t stop everyone from trying.  There’s a charm and likeability to Without Warning that is only enhanced by the top notch release from Shout! Factory.

Boardwalk Empire: Season 4

HBO Home Video / Released 8/19/14

Season Four traces the continuing rise of organized crime and the expansion of Nucky’s (Steve Buscemi) empire into far-flung territories, while also taking a closer look at the rapidly expanding role that African Americans played in U.S. culture throughout the 1920s, with the addition of Chalky White’s (Michael K. Williams) Onyx Club and a new gangster from Harlem (Jeffrey Wright). It’s a season filled with music and dancing, but not everyone has reason to rejoice.

Atlantic
City, February 1924: Picking up 8 months after the events of Season 3,
Nucky Thompson is laying low at the end of the Boardwalk after barely
surviving an overthrow by gangster Gyp Rossetti. But the calm will be
short-lived, as Nucky faces new challenges, including a clash with a
violent Harlem power-broker, a battle with his brother Eli over Eli’s
college-age son, and the irresistible lure of lucrative – and perilous –
opportunities in Florida. Extras include interactive guide,
featurettes, PaleyFest and commentaries.

Breathe In

Cohen Media Group / Released 8/12/14

 Father
Keith (Guy Pearce), mother Megan (Amy Ryan) and 17-year-old daughter
Lauren (Mackenzie Davis), live a comfortable life but there is something
missing. Megan is never quite satisfied with the ways things are. Keith
has given up his dreams of being a musician for the steady paycheck of a
music teacher. When a beautiful foreign exchange student, Sophie
(Felicity Jones), comes into their lives, Keith is soon drawn to her.  She’s
mature beyond her years, and yearns for someone to make her feel safe
and loved. Their feelings build for each other, they share deep looks,
and the occasional touching of hands, which only increases the intensity
of their bond. When they finally decide to run away together, they set
into motion a series of events that lead to an almost inevitable tragic
conclusion.

Last Word:  A fairly standard take on a familiar subject, Breathe In features solid performances in an otherwise forgettable film.  It’s frustrating because with the talent involved, I expected more, but instead we’re presented with a story we’ve seen again and again (and done better), which ultimately asks, “what’s the point?”  The film apparently used a lot of improvisation for the dialogue, which was the only thing original in this otherwise soap operatic exercise.

Proxy

MPI / Released 8/12/14

In
the last month of her pregnancy, Esther Woodhouse is savagely beaten in
an alleyway by an unknown assailant and loses her baby. To aid in her
recovery, she attends a support group for grieving parents where she
meets Melanie, who claims her son and husband were killed by a drunk
driver. Esther Melanie develop a friendship, but soon it becomes clear
that both are harboring much darker secrets than they initially let on.
And when both their lives are transformed by another shocking act of
violence, they find that recovery may be impossible. Proxy is a
psychological thriller with wildly unpredictable twists and turns.
Extras include behind the scenes, featurettes, extended interviews and
trailer.

Last Word:  Proxy is such a delicately constructed film that any discussion might lead into spoiler territory.  It is a well constructed thriller, but I’m not quite sure it’s a good film.  The performances are somewhat stale and the film running just over two hours is too long.  But, there is enough there to warrant a watch.  It’s unpredictable, intense and at times extreme.  How many thrillers can justify that?  There’s a rawness and intensity to the filmmaking that seems to be missing from most genre films in recent memory.  For genre fans, that accomplishment alone is worth taking the time to watch.

Toy Story Of Terror!

Disney / Buena Vista / Released 8/19/14

Disney-Pixar
proudly presents a wacky new tale featuring all your favorite
characters from the Toy Story films. Join Woody, Buzz, Jessie and their
pals in a frighteningly fun animated adventure. What starts out as an
exciting road trip for the Toy Story gang takes an unexpected turn for
the worse following a detour to a roadside motel. After Mr. Potato Head
suddenly disappears, his friends find themselves caught up in a
hilarious mystery that must be solved before they suffer the same fate
in this thrilling Toy Story Of Terror! Extras include commentary,
featurettes, deleted scenes and vintage toy commercials.

Last Word:  I’ve always found the Toy Story sequels to be a bit manipulative toward it’s audience, pulling at the nostalgiac heartstrings of the parents while simultaneously brainwashing the kids.  Which makes Toy Story Of Terror! a winning release.  Instead of focusing on the “human” drama, the focus is entirely on the toys.  One of the hallmarks of the franchise truly is the wonderful characters and their interaction between one another.  This release features a Halloween special (sure to become part of the annual traditional viewing) and all of the previously related shorts that had appeared attached to other theatrical releases.  Bonus points for Carl Weathers as Combat Carl and the Condorman cameo in the short Small Fry.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 

Sony / Released 8/19/14

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: Oscorp. Extras included commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, featurettes and music video.

Last Word: After watching The new Amazing Spider-Man film by Sony and Marvel Entertainment all I can say is, I really hope they just give back the franchise to Marvel Entertainment as a whole because what I saw was more like the “Eh”-Mazing Spider-Man.  Never did so much action, excitement, and emotion leave me so tremendously underwhelmed and empty as this film did.

Their aim was true but like the drunk spider videos I watch on YouTube, the can never really hit the mark and get it right. Mostly to blame, I feel, are the dynamic writing duo from J.J. Abrams’s bullpen, Alex Kutrzman and Marc Orci, the two responsible for penning such gems as The Island, Transformers, Cowboys & Aliens and the two reboot Star Trek films.

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNNN!!!

These two write like 15 year olds who love the genre of comics but never really get what actually makes comics good, and fun to read.  Yes, they have action.  Yes, they have funny dialogue, but what they always seem to lack is heart and soul. I never really feel anything or anyone these two write about. Like I discussed with my friend, who saw the film with me, I never feel any emotional connection with any of the characters. And that is the one thing, probably the only thing, that is important in a Marvel comic/film.Stan Lee prides himself on writing emotional characters with real world problems and issues that audiences feel a connection with. The everyday person who just happens to have superpowers. Ask him, he will be glad to tell you all about it.

Trust me.

Look, I am not looking for Citizen Kane here.What I am looking for is what Marvel is doing right and Sony just keeps missing, the emotional core. When Peter is discussing missing his parents, I feel nothing.When he and Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) are on their “emotional roller coaster” of a relationship, nothing.When Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan, Lawless) speaks with his dying father, Norman (Academy Award winner, Chris Cooper, in a surprise cameo), nada. I just don’t care. I felt one time, in this film, they got it right and that is when… oops. I don’t want to spoil THAT part for you, you will know it when you see it. Right down to the Blue Jacket.

Even the exciting flashback sequence featuring Peter’s parents made me feel nothing except, thank god, now we can finally move past this. What this film really gets right is the action, the adventure of it, and mostly the humor. One of the funniest parts and the one that I think they nail perfectly is with Peter’s interaction with J. Jonah Jameson. Spidey and actor Andrew Garfield really finally start to gel with the body language and the quips while fighting. I attribute that more to the actors doing a really great job with garbage dialogue than the writing of the film. The greatest example of this is the phenomenal actor Jamie Foxx as Electro, who takes utter rubbish and dialogue that would make Anakin Skywalker wince at saying and making it really work; turning what could have been a wasted character into a really cool and relatively sympathetic one. In the end, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was fun summer entertainment with a few nuggets in there for the comic-reading crowd and the web-slinging initiated. It has really great action and they finally got the hang of the “flying spider” cam. The effects are well done and the level of action should satiate all who see it. If you are hoping for The Avengers or Captain America quality storytelling then you may be very disappointed as they still just can’t get that right.  Hell, it isn’t even on Iron Man 3 ground. But go, check your brain, and laugh your ass of at the ridiculous Rhino armor and weep at the wasted talent of Paul Giamatti.  Just remember, this isn’t an actual Marvel Universe film. (– Benn Robbins)

Only Lovers Left Alive

Sony / Released 8/19/14

The tale of two fragile and sensitive vampires, Adam (Tom Hiddleston) and Eve (Tilda Swinton), who have been lovers for centuries. Both are cultured intellectuals with an all-embracing passion for music, literature and science, who have evolved to a level where they no longer kill for sustenance, but still retain their innate wildness. Their love story has endured several centuries but their debauched idyll is threatened by the uninvited arrival of Eve’s carefree little sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) who hasn’t yet learned to tame her wilder instincts. Driven by sensual photography, trance-like music, and droll humor, Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive is a meditation on art, science, and the mysteries of everlasting love. Extras include music video, featurettes, and deleted and extended scenes.

Last Word: Jim Jarmusch might be the only director left alive that could make vampires cool again, and in his latest film, Only Lovers Left Alive, he resurrects and recreates their mythos with giddy delight.  The story revolves around a married undead couple known as Adam and Eve. In fact the film brilliantly establishes a world that, quite literally, revolves around them. Eve, inspired by the universe’s endless beauty watches the stars turn to a circular blur, while Adam, inspired by music, is represented by a classic Rock 45.  You couldn’t come up with a better opening to this poetic, beautiful, lonely, ironic and often comical achievement.  Like any of Jarmusch’s films, it’s a work unclassifiable by genre, featuring characters and situations that defy previous depictions on camera. It is a vampire film without the horror, and a zombie film with true impending apocalypse by man’s inevitable doing.

In another brilliantly cast role completely devoured by Tilda Swinton, Eve is the wiser, more romantic of the two. She’s several thousand years older than Adam, but also older in appearance, having been “turned” most likely in her late 40s. She has also evolved into a higher realm of consciousness, able identify an items origin in time and space simply by touch.  Since opposites attract, Adam (Tom Hiddleston in a mesmerizingly hip performance) is the true Goth–brooding and suicidal (wooden bullet ready to launch). He’s clearly been inspired by rock stars long before there was rock music, adorning his reclusive Detroit mansion with portraits of scientists, leaders and poets of past centuries. He is bored by everything, and quickly losing inspiration from anything.

Although they are completely in love with one another, the film finds them during a long-distance relationship in both location and maturity. It’s no mistake that Eve resides in the romantically old-world Tangier, and Adam in the desolate ghost town of today’s Detroit. They can’t live apart for long (relatively speaking, of course), and the FaceTime chats are becoming a poor substitute for companionship.  Interestingly, Jarmusch uses the psychological and emotional effects of immortality as his “garlic.” Vampires in Only Lovers Left Alive are more fragile than their lore in literature. Since they are, technically, part human, they have weaknesses both external and internal. A wooden bullet will kill if shot to the heart, but too long a stretch of time without feeding on blood is just as fatal. The modern world has put these vampires more at risk as well. Contaminated blood supplies, global warming, and worst of all, 21st century forensics that makes dumping a drained body virtually impossible to get away with. But this isn’t a film devoid of humor. It’s packed with a lot of the keen irony Jarmusch is known for. He’s written the vampires themselves as having a sense of humor, often peppering the dialogue with stories from major world events they’ve lived through as pun over plot.

Rounding out the vampire cast is John Hurt’s performance as the couple’s good friend Christopher Marlowe. Yes, that Christopher Marlowe. It turns out secretly penning the worlds of Shakespeare was only one of the best tricks played upon the public by the man. The vampire poet represents the fragility of a vampire turned in his later years.  Turned in her younger, and clearly less mature years is Eve’s younger “sister” Ava, played by a hysterical Mia Wasikowska. We get the impression she is younger in actual age than Eve and Adam, but still centuries old. Her antics, both past and in the present film, indicate Jarmusch’s theory of vampire relativity.

There are other surprises, many of them pop-culture, that Jarmusch has loaded the film with. It turns out these vampires are hoarders, Eve collecting and rereading books and Adam collecting rare guitars. They literally surround themselves with stuff that gives them happiness, knowing at any moment they may be forced to leave behind material possessions. You can’t get more human than that. I’ve always been a fan of Tony Scott’s early 80s romantic vampire film The Hunger, but with the caveat that it’s style over substance. Only Lovers Left Alive is a triumphant one-up of Scott’s movie because it has both style and substance. Bauhaus may have declared “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” but Jarmusch has slayed the sparkling vampires that have occupied our bookstores and movie houses for too long. Vampires are, finally, cool again. (– Todd Sokolove)

The Quiet Ones

Lionsgate / Released 8/19/14

When a crazed university professor and his team of students set out to cure a disturbed patient, the unthinkable happens. Trusting in their leader and his motives, Brian (Sam Claflin) and his fellow students find themselves far from help… and all too close to a sinister force they never suspected. Extras include commentary, documentary, featurette, deleted scenes and outtakes.

Revolution: Season 2

Warner Home Video / Released 8/19/14

In this epic adventure thriller, a family struggles to survive in a world where all technology – computers, planes, cars, phones, lights – has suddenly and mysteriously blacked out. What’s left is a post-apocalyptic landscape inhabited by ruthless paramilitary groups and heroic freedom fighters. Charlie Matheson, a fiercely determined young woman who lost family members in the blackout’s tragic aftermath, manages to form a new family and find a new purpose amidst the chaos. Season Two of Revolution follows Charlie and a rogue band of survivors—including her secretive mother Rachel and formerly estranged uncle Miles, an ex-marine and militia leader—as they continue their heroic mission to return the power to the people and ultimately reestablish the United States of America. Extras include featurettes, PSA, Comic-Con panel, gag reel and deleted scenes.

Fading Gigolo 

First Look / Released 8/19/14

Murray (Woody Allen) talks his friend Fioravante (John Turturro) into becoming a gigolo as a way of making some much needed cash after an out-of-the-blue request from his dermatologist (Sharon Stone). With Murray acting as Fioravante’s “manager,” the duo quickly finds themselves caught up in the crosscurrents of love and money. Also stars Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber and Sofia Vergara. Extras include commentary and deleted scenes.

Last Word: Fading Gigolo is a very refreshing film about connection and the basic human need: Love.  It is the fifth film by actor/director John Turturro and it is one of his finest.  Told against the backdrop of New York City, Fading Gigolo begins as Turturro’s character, Fioravante, a quiet florist and his good friend, Murray, perfectly played by Woody Allen are packing up the last of Murray’s antique books store as it closes forever.

As they pack up the books Murray tells Fioravante of a strange happening at his dermatologist’s office.  Murray’s doctor, Dr. Parker, played by Sharon Stone, mentions to him that she and her beautiful girlfriend might be interested in a menage a trios and did he know anyone who might be interested.  To which Murray turns to his friend and says, “I was thinking of you.”  Seeing the potential of financial gain and with his failed bookstore gone, Murray begins to convince Fioravante, who is also in need of money, that he should go ahead with it. Thus a very strange, sometimes awkward and usually funny partnership is born with Murray, now dubbing himself Don Bongo and Fioravante, now calling himself, Virgil as his “ho”.

Unlike most films of this nature, this film really focuses on the women and how Fioravante can fulfill needs in their life, not just sexual, that are missing.  This is most demonstrated with the interaction of him with one of the more unusual “clients” Murray comes across. Avigal, played wonderfully by Vanessa Paradis in her first English language film) is the widow of a well loved and respected Chasidic Rabbi. She married very young and now has six children and lives a very solitary life within her Hasidic community. Longing for something more she accepts Murray’s proposal to meet with Fiorevante and what she experiences with him is the one thing she has been desperate for: affection and companionship. This film truly gets right, the interactions of people.

People who really aren’t looking for anything other than to have someone be present and experience life with them. Wealthy socialites, widows, single moms, long time friends or someone you just meet on the street, It is all about connections and companionship, whatever that word means to you.  I would be remiss not to mention the stellar supporting cast. Sofia Vergara as Dr. Parker’s (Stone) sexy fiery girlfriend is so good and not just a gorgeous face.

Liev Schreiber is amazing and totally not in the film enough as Avigal’s guardian and brawny Shomrim (Orthodox community policeman), Dovi. He has secretly loved Avigal his whole life, from afar. His jealousy and actions that set off the third act are amazing and hilarious. Which brings me to the awesome casting of Bob Balaban as Murray’s lawyer who sort of helps Murray out when he gets in heat with the Hasidic community.  This film is a quintessential New York film.  It is sweet, touching and very funny and highly recommended. (– Benn Robbins)

The Sacrament

Magnolia Home Entertainment / Released 8/19/14

Two journalists set out to document their friend’s journey to reunite with his estranged sister. They track her to an undisclosed location where they are welcomed into the remote world of “Eden Parish,” a self-sustained rural utopia composed of nearly two hundred members and overseen by a mysterious leader known only as “Father.” It quickly becomes evident to the newcomers that this paradise may not be as it seems. Eden Parish harbors a twisted secret. What started as just another documentary shoot soon becomes a fight for survival. Extras include featurettes and commentary.

Three’s Company: The Complete Series

Anchor Bay / Released 8/19/14

Three’s Company was a groundbreaking comedy series that tripped and jiggled through a world of slapstick pratfalls and some of the most scandalously titillating comedy America had ever seen, and hasn’t seen since. Racy and daring for its time, this breakthrough bedroom farce ran for 8 seasons on ABC. Thirty years after it came to an end, it remains one of the best-loved TV series of all time. This complete series set is a celebration of the exploits of Jack, Janet, Chrissy, Larry, Terri, The Ropers, and Mr. Furley and offers fans a chance to relive every episode and continue to laugh for years to come. Extras include two alternate pilots with different cast, bloopers, John Ritter tribute, commentaries, cast and crew interviews, featurettes and photo galleries.


Last Word: For 174 episodes, Three’s Company centered around the concept of a straight male who was studying to be a chef, pretend to be homosexual to legitimize his situation of living with two female roommates to his landlord.  Not so funny to read, is it?  Yet, John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Summers (and later, Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes) managed to spin that concept into comedy gold.  With comedy veterans Norman Fell and Audra Lindley (and then, Don Knotts) as series regulars, Three’s Company spent 8 seasons racking up Emmys and Golden Globe awards. Although there were some familiar guest stars during it’s run, it’s strength is the small and tight ensemble work of the main cast (including Richard Kline as Jack’s friend, Larry).  The only disappointment is that the set didn’t include the short lived spin-offs The Ropers and Three’s a Crowd.  For nostalgia buffs who grew up watching the series, this would be a welcome addition to any DVD collection.

The Walking Dead: Season 4

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 8/26/14

In the fourth season, we see Rick and the group of survivors fostering a thriving community in the safe haven of the prison only to have it short-lived as the group loses everything, their home, family, and friends to the threat of the walkers, outside threats and the hidden dangers brewing inside the fences. The group of survivors are broken apart and sent on divergent paths, unsure of everyone else’s fate as they are exposed to new dangers, new enemies, and heartbreaking choices. They will have their faith thoroughly tested – a faith that breaks some of them and redeems others. Extras include featurettes, commentary, extended episodes and deleted scenes.

Last Word: For the first time in the series, there seems to be a lack of overall direction resulting in the most frustrating and disappointing season to date.  The evolution of the characters overall often seems out of character for the first half of the season, which results in the division of the cast for the second half of the season where the splintered groups try to reconnect, ultimately leading toward a season ending cliffhanger.  At this point, the audience understands that no character is above death, but the decision to kill the only strong moral compass only convolutes the rest of the characters.  A two part episode during the first half of the season are two of the weakest episodes to date.  Ultimately, the Fourth Season feels a bit voyeuristic, as you watch the characters be exploited and abused.  The direction of this season was disappointing, but fans of The Walking Dead will have a hard time not experiencing it for themselves.

Elementary: The Second Season

Paramount / Released 8/26/14

Jonny Lee Miller returns in this modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes, the dangerously eccentric consulting detective who’s addicted to impossible cases. Lucy Liu stars as Dr. Joan Watson, his “sober companion” turned partner in detection. Together, they take on some of the strangest crimes New York has ever seen as they assist the police in uncovering clues that unlock the city’s sinister secrets. Only to the very sharpest minds do the incredible solutions seem elementary. Extras include featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary and gag reel.

Last Word: Criminally overshadowed by the other modern Holmes series, Sherlock, Elementary provides an alternate procedural set in New York.  The series includes many familiar tropes including Sherlock’s brother Mycroft and a gender reversed nemesis in Jamie Moriarty.  The second season includes a visit to London and a number of guest stars including Rhys Ifans, Sean Pertwee, Lynn Collins, Mike Starr, Sarah Wynter, Olivia d’Abo, William Sadler, Margaret Colin, Troy Garity,  Frankie Faison, Richard Masur, Faran Tahir, Natalie Dormer, Paul Sorvino, Roger Rees, Garret Dillahunt, Shiri Appleby, Sean Nelson.  Rounding out the regular cast are Aidan Quinn as Captain Thomas Gregson and Jon Michael Hill as Detective Marcus Bell.  Fans of the iconic detective and that other television series (who might have previously dismissed this) are missing out.  Highly recommended.

Love Punch

Ketchup Entertainment / Released 8/26/14

Kate (Emma Thompson) and Richard (Pierce Brosnan) are a divorced couple content to live their lives far apart as long as their retirement is comfortable. But when a sleazy French businessman, Vincent, bankrupts their company, they’re ready to put aside their differences and get their money back. Trouble is, there’s no legal way to retrieve the finds, and when Vincent literally throws them out of his office, they vow revenge. With the help of their obliging neighbors, Jerry (Timothy Spall) and Penelope (Celia Imrie), they hatch a madcap plot to steal a $10 million diamond the crooked Vincent has bought for his gorgeous fiance. All they have to do is crash a wedding on an isolated island, sneak past armed security, and smuggle the diamond out without getting caught… if it works, it will be the ultimate payback.

Haven: Complete Fourth Season

E1 Entertainment / Released 8/26/14

When FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) arrived in Haven, Maine, she quickly found herself involved in the return of “the Troubles,” a series of supernatural afflictions that have plagued the seaside village for generations. Partnered with local residents Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and Duke Crocked (Eric Balfour), Audrey began to realize that Haven’s fate was linked to her own, and only she can save the town and the people she loves from the weight of their curses. Extras include featurettes, convention highlights, interviews, commentaries, webseries, deleted scenes and behind the scenes and blooper reel.

The Musketeers: Season One

BBC Home Video / Released 8/26/14

Welcome to 17th-century Paris, where the royal bodyguards of King Louis XIII fight for love, for honor, and just for the thrill of it. Strap on your sword and d’Artagnan (Luke Pasqualino), Athos (Tom Burke), Porthos (Howard Charles) and Aramis (Santiago Cabrera) for action-packed adventure in ten lavishly produced episodes from the BBC. Witty, smart, charming and inseparable, the four Musketeers fight to maintain order and protect their King and Queen against the worst intentions of ruthless Cardinal Richelieu (Peter Capaldi) and his beautiful hired assassin. A fresh, contemporary series that brings much-loved, classic characters and stories to life! Extras include featurettes.

Last Word:   is a fun, albeit uneven series that take a modern philosophical approach to Dumas’ classic tale.  Fortunately, time isn’t wasted with the all too familiar tale of d’Artagnan joining the team and instead, dives right into their missions and action (on a side note, all of the Musketeers get some real focus, including d’Artagnan, of course).  Guest stars include Jason Fleming, James Callis, Annabelle Wallis and Vinnie Jones. The series succeeds with an evident amount of swashbuckling which contributes to the overall entertainment value of the series; it’s fun and the characters and their repartee is well written and delivered.  While not groundbreaking television, The Musketeers is smart enough to be self aware to allow itself to embrace it’s inner cheese. Recommended.

Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series

Shout! Factory / Released 8/26/14

Meet the Sweathogs. They’re the rowdiest, goofiest bunch of students to ever step foot inside a high school. But if they think they’re too unruly for a good teacher to handle, they’re in for a rude awakening when they meet Mr. Kotter – a former Sweathog who’s returned to his alma mater to shape the minds of these remedial students as their new teacher!

With the hilarious talents of comedian Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Travolta in the role that made him a star, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes and Ron Palillo, the Emmy-Award nominated Welcome Back, Kotter will have you rolling with laughter and maybe even a little nostalgia from your own days as a Sweathog! Extras include screen tests and featurette.

Last Word:  Welcome Back, Kotter is a case study of the phenomenon of the rise and fall of a sitcom.  The first season explodes, with the comedy antics of James Buchanan High School’s Sweathogs (Travolta, Jacobs, Hegeyes and Palillo), actors in their late twenties unconvincingly playing high school students.  With sharp writing and precision timing, the Sweathogs are a comedy team straight out of vaudeville.  Co-creator and star Gabe Kaplan anchors the series, but his work even at the time seems out of touch, delivering an onslaught of Groucho Marx and W.C. Fields impressions to a bored Marcia Strassman.  By the second season, Travolta had became a star and the Sweathogs became cliched characters, repeating catch phrases with rapid succession which really didn’t doom the series until the third and fourth seasons, with several major changes.  Creative differences removed Kaplan from the show, leaving his wife, Julie, at home alone raising twins; Travolta found himself recurring as a “Special Guest Star” so he could concentrate on his growing film career and the series found itself without a focus and plenty of distractions (new Sweathogs, weak writing and did I mention twins?).  Regardless of the criticisms, Welcome Back, Kotter aged pretty well; it’s weaknesses now are the same as they are when it aired.  Having grown up with the show, nostalgia wins this round, as it’s been a really nice experience revisiting even mediocre episodes.  If you have fond memories of the series it delivers.  Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series is recommended.

Murder in Suburbia Complete Collection

Acorn / Released 8/26/14

Meet Kate Ashurst (Caroline Catz) and Emma Scribbins (Lisa Faulkner), the sassiest, sexiest investigative team in the Middleford Criminal Investigative Department. Better known as Ash and Scribbs, the two are an unlikely pair: Ash, a graduate of a posh girls’ academy, has an analytical mind that serves her well when solving murders. Scribbs, who grew up in the working class, relies more on her instincts than what the facts seem to tell her. When these two come together, along with their handsome, bemused boss (Jeremy Sheffield), they are an unstoppable duo in the seemingly perfect suburbs of Middleford.  In this complete collection, which includes the both series of the hit mystery, Catz and Faulkner sparkle as the bickering, bantering crime-solvers. Filled with a blend of ironic humor and chutzpah, this light-hearted crime drama will have you cheering as Ash and Scribbs face up against political corruption, secretive millionaires, salsa dancers, and real estate agents to catch the killer.

Blended

Warner Bros. Home Video / Released 8/26/14

Blended marks the third comedy pairing of stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, following 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer. After a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren (Barrymore) and Jim (Sandler) agree only one thing: They never want to see each other again. But when they each separately sign up for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week. Extras include featurettes, gag reel and deleted scenes.

Last Word: I want to believe in Adam Sandler. He’s made comedies that truly cracked me up back in the day, which are obviously his first three films. Then he turned in a truly memorable performance in one of my all-time favorite romantic films, Punch-Drunk Love. Strange as it seems, I also want to believe in Drew Barrymore’s charisma, childlike gaze, and goofy playful smile. In fact, both Sandler and Barrymore remind me of kids trapped in adult bodies, and not always in an annoying way. I happen to adore The Wedding Singer, but 50 First Dates left a lot to be desired due to its questionable storyline. That one made me feel completely uneasy despite its good intentions. I think they make a great comedy team, but they are often marred by Sandler’s penchant for pop culture in-joke references, potty humor, slapstick and raunch. Just about every review for his latest film seems to proclaim that “well, it’s not as bad as a lot of other Sandler movies he’s put out recently.” I personally can’t make that statement since I will likely never bother with the likes of Jack and Jill or Grown-Ups 2.

Blended is a slight step-up from their last outing together, but not by much. It’s painfully long, just like the majority of comedies that come out these days. The huge upside to the surprisingly divisive Neighbors is that it did not overstay its welcome with a 90 minute running time. But I will say, at least this one coasts on the charming personalities of the two leads of which I’ve been fans since I became familiar with them. I happen to like them both and find them amusing, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. Sandler plays Jim, a recent widow who goes on a blind date with Lauren (Barrymore), who recently split from her self-centered husband (Joel McHale, with absolutely nothing to do).

The date goes horribly and, although they resolve never to see each other again, they keep bumping into each other: long, preposterous story short, they independently lie their way into a fancy, all-expenses-paid family vacation in South Africa. Neither knew the other was coming, and so they have to put up with each other long enough to realize they’re in love. The screenplay is by-the-numbers, but what else would you expect at this point? Simply just watch the trailer, and if you even crack a smile, consider going on a date for this. Just don’t expect anything other than what it is. It will leave your mind as soon as it’s over, and I know there’s a place for these types of comedies in the world. Yet watching Blended feels like posting a status update on MySpace instead of Facebook. This brand of humor has grown stale and unappealing. I can’t imagine this becoming a cult classic or even a box office hit. Despite the punishing length, I will admit it was pleasant to look at.

Shot on location, Blended is filled with shots of safaris and wildlife, which sometimes makes the characters’ ugly-American-narrow-mindedness all the more tacky and obvious. (This is the sort of film that highlights African drummers so that Jim’s and Lauren’s kids can bust all their funky-fresh dance moves. Ick.) But while director Frank Coraci mostly points the camera at the funny people and lets them do their thing, he’s fortunate to be working with a ho-hum story that has just barely enough resonance to make the predictable setup and tired clichés tolerable enough to keep you from walking out of the theater. Have a heart and shut off your brain; you may smile if you’re in the right mood. Again, the only reason you might be slightly amused is whether or not you enjoy seeing Barrymore and Sandler essentially rehash their chemistry from The Wedding Singer, which is a far superior romantic comedy despite being ridiculous on occasion. 50 First Dates had the unfortunate spin of using a memory disorder as a way for Sandler to woo her, which was borderline creepy.

In Blended, it’s simplified to a cliché romantic comedy for better or worse, mostly for worse. Part of me wanted to follow the Kevin Nealon character, just because he stands out and plays an outlandish role the only way that Nealon can. But at this point, it all comes down to Sandler disappointing time and time again. Almost every cinephile has pointed out that he’s essentially devolved into the jaded character he played in Funny People, only without the cancer, starring in movies akin to playing a CGI baby which is brilliantly lampooned in Funny People. He’s capable of so much more, both from a comedic standpoint and a dramatic one. He’s got two movies coming out soon that are from independent filmmakers, which gives me a glimmer of hope.  

Blended is not terrible as I smiled and laughed a bit more than expected. But like all Sandler comedies, it is too afraid to use real emotion or accept that its audience is smart enough to read between the lines to even muster up any modicum of emotional response to the plights of these parents. The chemistry is still there for sure, the kids are cute enough, but it’s all in service of very little which continues to disappoint from such a gifted comedian like Sandler. For some reason, I still want to believe he’ll redeem himself again. (– James Laczkowski)

The Double

Magnolia / Released 8/26/14

Simon is a timid man, scratching out an isolated existence in an indifferent world. He is overlooked at work, scorned by his mother, and ignored by the woman of his dreams. He feels powerless to change any of these things. The arrival of a new co-worker, James, serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon’s exact physical double and his opposite – confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon’s horror, James slowly starts taking over his life. Extras include interview and featurettes.

Last Word: Avid readers might find it interesting that the film is based on the novel The Double by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky.  The film promises to be ambitious- an intellectual treat, if you will. However, unfortunately, it could leave the average viewer rather confused and somewhat disappointed.  Simon James (Eisenberg) is a timid man working many hours as a clerk. Even though his intelligence is above average, he is constantly overlooked and unappreciated by his boss (Wallace Shawn). He has some ideas on how to improve the company’s performance, however lacks the backbone and confidence to be vocal about them.

In fact, he is literally invisible to most people. To others, he seems like a burden and a pushover. Simon develops strong feelings for coworker- Hannah, however his social anxiety prevents him from approaching the woman. Instead, he spends his evenings observing her through a telescope, as she lives diagonally from him.

Hannah does not lack social skills and seems rather direct and confident. Despite this, there are many similarities between the two. She is an artist and is constantly unsatisfied with her work. She destroys her paintings and pictures, and Simon retrieves them from the trash, puts them back together and treasures in a little scrap book.

Simon and Hannah are both stuck living monotonous lives, painfully lonely and isolated but dreaming about bigger and better things.  Mundane is a real understatement for the lives they live. The setting of the film is reminiscent of the communist era in Eastern Europe (perhaps a distant reference to Dostoyevsky): mind numbing and lacking esthetic value. Both Simon and Hannah live in a Panelak- a concrete block of tiny, identical apartments. The bizarre picture is accompanied by a medley of Japanese songs, which not only numbs ones mind but also the ears. This adds to the overall darkness and absurdity the story is drenched in.

One day Simon’s life takes a sudden turn for the worst when he meets his doppelganger- James Simon. Despite the same look, the man is Simon’s opposite: confident, brazen and a casanova. Initially, James seems to want to help Simon become more confident and comfortable with himself but ultimately he is shown as a spiteful, malicious man whose goal is to destroy Simon both professionally and emotionally. When Simon discovers his ‘twin’ has left Hannah high and dry, something in him breaks and for the first time in his life he decides to break through his fears and live up to who he really is.


The Double is an overall interesting and clever film, full of symbolism and darkness. It is not an easy watch and definitely not Saturday night entertainment. The concept of this production is intriguing and debatable. Surely, some viewers will argue that Simon and James are actually the same person. Perhaps developing a split personality is a way for Simon to cope with his loneliness, alienation and lack of recognition. What is sad is that ultimately his alter ego becomes the reason for his downfall. If anyone has seen Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, they will definitely find some similarities between Simon and Nina (played beautifully by Natalie Portman).

Despite being rich in symbols, what the film lacks is emotional depth. There are moments when it becomes a dull experience and you wish you could fast forward and cut to the chase. The only truly touching moment seems to be when Simon talks openly to James about his feelings for Hannah and the violin music in the background toward the end of the story. However most of the time the film is more like the aforementioned Panelak- bizarre and mind-numbing.

The film’s strong point is Jesse Eisenberg’s performance. It feels like he is more cut out to play Simon but is just as good playing the cold and cruel James. He makes the viewer go back and forth between empathy and disgust, which is an indication of superb acting. Mia Wasikowska’s performance deserves recognition as well. Not to mention her statuesque beauty and Slavic features which blend very well with the film’s setting. When still on “good terms”, James tells Simon he needs to go after what he wants. This could be considered one of the main themes of this story. Simon continuously lets life pass him by. He is stuck living a less than mediocre life, being miserable but refusing to change it. It seems as if he is blocking his inner self until it rages upon him like a tidal waive, destroying everything on its path, including him.

The lesson here could be that of letting go of outdated attitudes and belief systems that no longer serve us, or in fact never have. The sooner we do, the better. Otherwise, they will come crushing down upon us like a tower. Or the infamous Panelak. (– Michele Pukaluk)

Now & Again: The Complete Series

Paramount / Released 8/26/14

Now And Again: What happens when the U.S. government builds a man with “the speed of Michael Jordan,” the strength of Superman and the grace of Fred Astaire?” Insurance salesman Michael Wiseman (John Goodman) started his day off like any other. He kissed his wife Lisa (Margaret Colin), argued with his daughter Heather (Heather Matarazzo), and went out for a drink with his best friend Roger (Gerrit Graham). But when he’s tragically killed in a subway accident, everything changed… Michael is faced with an ultimatum: he can die or start a new life as a top-secret weapon in a genetically bio-engineered body (now, Eric Close) – but he can never see his wife of daughter again. With the brilliant but extremely strict Dr. Morris (Dennis Haysbert) as his mentor, Michael starts his new life battling rogue agents, killer insects, and a global terrorist known simply as “the Egg Man.” Intelligent, funny, and featuring an exceptionally talented cast, this 22-episode, 5-disc set is entertainment that lasts forever, now… and again. Extras include documentary, writer’s roundtable and featurette.

Last Word:  Moonlighting‘s Glenn Gordon Cameron returned to television with this mash-up of Damn Yankees with The Six Million Dollar Man.  With engaging performances and smart writing, Now And Again not only holds up over a decade after first airing, but it’s truly one of television’s greatest sleeper series.  At it’s core it’s a love story and, despite having a science fiction bent, at no point does the series delve to the completely unbelievable.  Eric Close anchors the show and his chemistry with the entire ensemble shines.  The only disappointing aspect of the set is that the series ends on a forever unanswered cliffhanger (though some ideas for season two are discussed in the supplementary material).  Now And Again is magical television and comes with my highest recommendation.

Portlandia: Season 4 

Broadway Video/IFC / Released 8/26/14

Created, written by and starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, the Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning series returns with a new season of character-driven sketches taking place in the affable and absurd land of Portlandia.

Among the Armisen and Brownstein characters returning for the latest installment of this surreal yet affectionate portrait of Portland, Oregon are Dave and Kath, two of the town’s most uptight residents who decide to give relaxing a try; Spyke and his girlfriend, Iris, who struggle through a hard time at a bad Thai restaurant; and Nina and Lance, who recover from the trauma of a deceased pet.

An eclectic collection of talented guests visit Portlandia on this season: Tunde Adebimpe, Jello Biafra, Vanessa Bayer, Kirsten Dunst, Joshua Homme, singer-songwriter k.d. lang, Duff McKagan, Silas Weir Mitchell, Michael Nesmith, Mark Proksch, Maya Rudolph, columnist Dan Savage, Nick Swardson, jazz duo Tuck and Patti, Jeff Tweedy and Olivia Wilde!

Fan favorites back from previous seasons include Ed Begley Jr., Annie Clark, Jeff Goldblum, Kumail Nanjiani, Jason Sudeikis and director Gus Van Sant. Kyle MacLachlan also returns as Portlandia’s clueless but lovable Mayor.

Shot entirely on location in Portland, Oregon, the series is co-­created and co-written by Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel, who is also the series director. Portlandia is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video.

Twilight Zone 80s: The Complete Series

Image Entertainment / Released 8/26/14

Travel into the fifth dimension once again with The Twilight Zone, testing the limits of reality and exploring the mysteries of the universe. Airing from 1985 to 1989, this critically acclaimed anthology series carried on the legacy of the original Rod Serling program and attracted a brand new audience of fans. The series features major stars – including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Martin Landau and many more! — in compelling tales of intrigue by such noted writers as Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Arthur C. Clarke and Theodore Sturgeon. This collection contains all three seasons from the classic ’80s TV series. Special features include a photo gallery, an exclusive Wes Craven video interview as well as over a dozen audio commentaries by the creative forces behind the show.

The Stream

Cinedigm / Released 8/26/14

It’s summer 1981, and Ernest Terry – like most boys his age – is obsessing over George Lucas’s Star Wars saga. In the woods outside Ernest’s neighborhood, capture-the-flag contests escalate into sprawling Jedi battles, with bright yellow Wiffle ball bats substituting for lightsabers. But when a bully snaps Ernest’s already-damaged “weapon” in half, our hero and his friends accept a mission: Follow a nearby stream to the town mall, buy a new bat and return home before their parents realize they’re missing. Awkward preteen characters wrestle with small crushes, big imaginations and equivalent coming-of-age obstacles on lazy summer afternoon. Extras include featurettes, music video, PSAs and trailers.

Trust Me

Starz/Anchor Bay/ Released 8/26/14

Clark Gregg leads an all-star cast in this sharp comedy as Howard Holloway, a down-on-his luck agent for child actors and truly one of the last good guys left in Hollywood. After discovering a 13-year-old acting prodigy (newcomer Saxon Sharbino), he is poised to close the deal of a lifetime which would catapult his tween client and, at long last, himself, into the big time. With the support of his gorgeous new neighbor (Amanda Peet), he must wrangle the actress’ volatile, overprotective father (Paul Sparks), dodge a scheming producer (Felicity Huffman), and outwit his uber-slick nemesis (Sam Rockwell). As he arrives on the brink of the Hollywood dream that’s eluded him for a lifetime, he begins to sense that his innocent young starlet may not be quite what she seems. Also featuring Allison Janney, William H. Macy and Molly Shannon.

Fear in the Night

Film Chest Media Group / Released 8/26/14

A meek and mild bank teller awakens one morning from a disturbing dream, in which he has killed a man, only to find that his dream may well have been real. Was he sleepwalking? Was he hypnotized? The suspense never lets up in this film noir original (later remade as Nightmare with Edward G. Robinson) as they story unravels to reveal an eerie tale of murder and mind control. This preferred version stars a young DeForest Kelley (later of Star Trek fame) in his feature film debut.

President Wolfman 

Wild Eye Releasing / Released 8/26/14

Meet John Wolfman – politician, single parent and werewolf. A man whose (hairy) hands are definitely full. Not only is he trying to stop his opponents from selling the US to China (by way of the controversial CHIMERICA Bill), but also solve a series of grizzly murders in the capitol. Add to this a crazed Mad Scientist, Smokey the Bear, a Miss Teen Beauty Pageant and a race against time to save his 8 year old son Bobby Wolfman from a murderous Vice President, and you have a movie that will keep you howling. Made entirely from recycled, stock & public domain footage with a newly scripted, scored & re-voiced soundtrack with enhanced visuals & post production. You’ve simply never seen anything like it before.

Sanctuary: Quite A Conundrum

Midnight Releasing / Released 8/26/14

It should have been just a normal day of sex, fun, alcohol, hormones and debauchery for Tabitha and Mimi, two twenty somethings who care about nothing but themselves and what chaos they can cause. But that so-called normalcy gets tossed out the window when an unexpected and devastating event occurs at a nighttime pool party. As the alcohol begins to wear off and the body count rises, all hell breaks loose and there is no going back. As if the foul mouths, perverted attitudes and devious natures of Tabitha and Mimi were not enough, then just throw in Tabitha’s walking porno of a boyfriend Sean and his new best friend, the sweet Dutch. Then mix in Mimi’s eighteen year old virginal, confused and prudish sister Kylene and her sexually challenged boyfriend Harris, and the events gets even saucier. Then shoot in a splash of the old pervert Marc and his crazy unhinged wife Lola, and then toss in the Bible-thumping Jesus-freak Thelma, and it gets a little more crazy, dangerous, insane and …

Quicksand

Film Chest Media Group / Released 8/26/14

In a complete change of performance style, Mickey Rooney turns to crime in the dramatic film noir movie Quicksand. As an auto mechanic, Dan (Rooney) borrows $20 from his employer’s cash register to go on a date, and as a result, is confronted by a series of disastrous circumstances and mistakes which pushes him deeper into debt and crime, and spirals his life out of control. This is an unusual film noir because it stars an actor that you wouldn’t think would be in a crime film. But seeing Mickey Rooney cast in such a role, and doing it especially well, is one of the best features of the film.

Baby Blues

Well Go USA / Released 9/2/14

A new home brings a fresh start for Hao (Raymond Lam) and Tian Qing (Janelle Sing), a happily married couple who soon discover she’s pregnant with twin boys. But when a difficult delivery leaves the couple with only one son alive, Tian is consumed with grief and postpartum depression. These “Baby Blues” weave an obsessive attachment to a baby doll, presumably abandoned by the previous owner. Before long, mysterious accidents grow into violent episodes that threaten the entire family – and one neighbor’s warnings about a curse on their home becomes terrifyingly real…

Draft Day

Summit Entertainment / Released 9/2/14

On the day of the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) has the opportunity to save football in Cleveland when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL. Extras include documentary, featurette, writer’s commentary, deleted scenes and trailer.

Last Word: Draft Day starts thirteen hours before the much anticipated NFL Draft, Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) is the general manager of a pathetic Cleveland Browns. Sonny is under extreme pressure to utilize the draft to make some magic happen for the Browns. This is made perfectly clear by team owner Anthony Molina (Frank Langella) who brilliantly plays the role of a combination of Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones.

More pressure is added by the Brown’s die-hard, rabid fans who are raging for a Messiah to be drafted that will save their team. But that’s still not enough, Sonny’s recently deceased and legendary father was the Brown’s most awe-inspiring coach ever and Sonny’s mother (Ellen Burstyn) isn’t doing well with his death. To top it all off, Sonny’s not so down low girlfriend, team lawyer Ali (Jennifer Garner) has just announced her pregnancy to Sonny.

Sorry, but classic Hollywood sexism is on full display in this May-December romance. Costner is 60 years old and Garner is 42 in real life, and how about actors like Michelle Pfeiffer (55), Julianne Moore (52), Emma Thompson (54), and Glenn Close (66) to name a few. Oh no, can’t be too realistic. It might hurt the box office receipts to use a mature woman; after all nobody wants to think of them as being pregnant.

So Sonny has to juggle all these balls and make a critical selection of a baby baller for his team. Molina wants to make a huge splash during the Draft Day ceremonies so he can be a “big deal” and make the story about him. Denis Leary plays the new kick ass head coach “Penn” and is totally wasted. Why hire a notorious comedic actor and then waste his talent? Leary is more of a bitter, whiny prick than a foil to Weaver. Then there are all the college prospects looking for a job. Likely top pick Bo Callahan (Josh Pence), who has every team wanting to get their hands on him, the desperate Vontae Mack (Chadwick Boseman), and finally Ray Jennings (Arian Foster) whose father is a Browns legend – think hall of famer Jim Brown.

Since Sonny is his own man he is going to do it his way – damn the consequences – but we know somehow he’s going to come out a smelling like a smoke stack of Cleveland past. Screenwriters Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph do a fair job of trying to pump some “red zone’ tension into this yawner. The two had never written a script together and neither had ever had a screenplay produced, so congratulations on getting one made and better luck next time. Maybe in the future they will put away the formula book and write something less predictable.

The second frame is a slow paced muddled mess as Sonny is besieged on all fronts. His team of coaches and scouts want to not only know what Sonny’s plan is, but they all want to influence his direction and choice. Coach Penn is dead set on his pick and might be ready to walk if he doesn’t get his way as the new coach. Sonny has to shake off the demon of his dead father, his suffering mother, and his caring girlfriend who so sweetly timed the announcement of her pregnancy on Draft Day. It’s bad she’s young enough to be his daughter but as a plot device to heap stress on Sonny is just excessive and convenient for the writers. Why not give someone else cancer and let Sonny have a much deserved heart attack? Or maybe an earthquake could hit Cleveland.

Director Ivan Reitmen hasn’t delivered a solid hit since the 90’s and his real successes have been in comedy. Draft Day once again proves that Reitmen should perhaps stay in that genre or at least add some of that magic to his drama pieces; after all you had Dennis Leary just standing around waiting for something to do.

The third frame does pick up the pace trying to pull off a two minute drill on the audience, unfortunately by then the viewers have gone into a prevent defense unwilling to give up an easy score. Draft Day misses the chance to cross pollinate two distinct set of fans. One, the men who love their football which the NFL gave up amazing access for this film, and two, the poor women that are dragged along to sports movies by the men who love football. Both are left unsatisfied and unfulfilled by this mixed metaphor of a movie about embracing the new and at that same time not bowing to pressure to change. So ultimately there isn’t enough football or enough loving going around. Draft Day left me wanting. Wanting either a super cool look inside the NFL draft and all its mysteries or a good ole Kevin Costner chick flick and I got neither. (– Tim Casey)

The Originals: The Complete First Season

Warner Home Video / Released 9/2/14

This sexy and thrilling new series centers on the Original vampire family and the dangerous vampire/werewolf hybrid, Niklaus “Klaus” Mikaelson, who, along with his siblings Elijah and Rebekah, helped build New Orleans’ French Quarter, only to be exiled a century ago. But a coven of witches desperate to reclaim its power lures the Mikaelsons back to their ancestral home, where the charismatic and diabolical vampire Marcel – Klaus’ former Protege – rules with his vampire army. The Originals bring along caskets full of revenge, unrequited love and not-so-secret plans to reclaim the heart and soul of this thriving city, and a long-smoldering war between vampires, witches, wolves and humans soon erupts. Blood ties are strong, but the lust for power – and revenge – may prove stronger. Extras include commentary, featurettes, and unaired scenes.

Person of Interest: The Complete Third Season

Warner Home Video / Released 9/2/14

The Person of Interest team suffers a devastating loss and confronts staggering challenges in the hit series’ most explosive season yet. Adapting to the evolution of The Machine, now completely self-governed and hidden from all, technical wizard Finch (Michael Emerson) and ex-CIA operative Reese (Jim Caviezel) team with rogue agent Samantha Shaw (Sarah Shahi) to save lives and seek justice, but their missions now threaten to tear them apart. NYPD Detectives Carter (Taraji P. Henson) and Fusco (Kevin Chapman) finally unravel the criminal police conspiracy “HR” – but at a tragic cost. And former enemy – and now highly-tuned confederate of The Machine – Root (Amy Acker) becomes an uneasy ally when the team learns a second surveillance apparatus to rival The Machine is on the verge of activation. Extras include featurettes, commentary, 2013 SDCC Panel, Digital Comics, and gag reel.

Line of Duty, Series 2

Acorn Media / Released 9/2/14

Like other police units, AC-12 catches criminals-but the offenders it investigates are fellow officers. When a police convoy is ambushed, leaving three cops dead and a protected witness seriously injured, AC-12 focuses its attention on the one officer who managed to escape the attack unscathed: Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes).  Under the direction of Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), partners Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and Detective Constable Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) begin to put the pieces of the case together. Their investigation takes them ever higher up the police hierarchy. Extras include interviews, deleted & extended scenes, and behind the scenes footage.

Night Moves

Cinedigm / Released 9/2/14

Kelly Reichardt’s suspense-thriller Night Moves is the story of three radical environmentalists coming together to execute the most intense protest of their lives: the explosion of a hydroelectric dam. Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard) is a former Marine, radicalized by tours of duty overseas. His life in the military is behind him, but at heart he remains excited by the prospect of mayhem and destruction. Dena (Dakota Fanning) is a high-society dropout who’s moved west and cut ties with her family, edging ever deeper into radical politics. And Josh (Jesse Eisenberg), their leader, is a self-made militant, devoted to the protection of the earth by any means necessary. As the three plan, carry out and then witness the fallout of their attention-grabbing act of sabotage, they find their own personal limits tested on a journey of doubt, paranoia and unintended consequences.

14 Blades

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 9/2/14

Qinglong (action icon Donnie Yen) is a legendary royal guard – trained in clandestine form of combat from childhood in order to devote his life and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor. When the Imperial Court is taken over by an evil traitor, Jia (Law Kar-Ying), and betrayal lurks at every corner, Qinglong finds himself hunted by those he once trusted. Now as the most wanted man in the land, he must seek out and rally the loyalists to rise against Jia – and restore the Emperor to his rightful place!

Richard Lewis: Bundle of Nerves

VSC / Released 9/2/14

Richard Lewis: Bundle of Nerves contains three distinct phases in Richard Lewis’s career. Magical Misery Tour is the “Prince of Pain” doing what he does best in his fourth cable special, working live in front of an audience, baring his soul and getting non-stop laughs. This 1997 stand-up special, filmed at the once historic Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, features the comedian in top form, and shows why he is one of the few performers who can go to many dark places, fearlessly, without losing the audience or his mind.

Diary of a Young Comic is the 1979 cult classic that stars Lewis as aspiring comedian who agonizes over every detail of life and never seems satisfied with his work or himself. While meeting some interesting LA show biz folks along the way, he eventually converts his fears and worries into a hip and hysterical nightclub act. Directed by Gary Weis of Saturday Night Live fame, this TV movie originally aired in the SNL time slot during its classic early days and is now an important piece of comedy history. With a terrific performance by Lewis and some odd comedic cameos, the film has a real feel for Los Angeles and comedy club life in the late ‘70’s.

Drunks, based on a hit off-Broadway play, is the groundbreaking 1995 film that uses an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as the backdrop for a dark tapestry of stories about addiction and survival. Lewis received great reviews and shows a dramatic depth that had only been hinted at in previous work. Directed by Peter Cohn, the film features memorable performances by Faye Dunaway, Dianne Wiest, Spalding Gray, Parker Posey, Amanda Plummer, Calista Flockhart, Sam Rockwell and Howard E. Rollins Jr.

In House of a Lifetime, we get an intimate peek at where Richard has lived, nearly overdosed, and created his work for almost 25 years. His house is nestled in the rustic Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles. This is where rock icons also lived and wrote some of the greatest songs of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. From CSN to Hendrix and Morrison – all called the Canyon home. Amazingly, it’s just a few miles away from where his heroes Keaton and Chaplin made their movie magic. Richard has made his version of a home movie as a special treat just for this collection that documents life inside his house of a lifetime.

Whitewash

Oscillioscope / Released 9/2/14

In the harsh, wintry woods of rural Quebec, Bruce (Academy Award-nominee Thomas Haden Church), a down-on-his-luck snowplow operator, accidentally kills a man during a drunken night joyride. Stricken with panic, he hides the body and escapes to the deep wilderness in hopes of outrunning both the authorities and his own conscience.  But as both begin to close in, Bruce falls apart mentally and morally and mysteries unravel to reveal the man he was before the accident, the truth behind his victim, and the circumstances that brought them together in a single moment. A darkly comic noir in the vein of the Coen Brothers, Whitewash is a gripping exploration of a well-meaning everyman at the end of his rope.

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