Bet you weren’t expecting another column quite so soon. You’re welcome.
Lots of great stuff in here, so fire up your queues, and fill up your shopping cart. It’s that time of the week!
Let’s go!
Warner Bros. / Released 6/21/16
Midnight Special
In the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, writer/director Jeff Nichols proves again that he is one of the most compelling storytellers of our time, as a father (Michael Shannon), goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers.
What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Ultimately his father risks everything to protect Alton and help fulfill a destiny that could change the world forever, in this genre-defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: There’s a really great movie struggling to get out of Midnight Special, an indie road movie-Close Encounters mash-up from writer-director Jeff Nichols in which a father (Michael Shannon) tries to keep Alton, his son with special powers (Jaeden Lieberher), out of the hands of a religious cult and the FBI.
While Nichols has only previously hinted at supernatural elements in Take Shelter, in which Shannon has a premonition of looming disaster, here he goes the full Spielberg. That worked fine for J.J. Abrams in Super 8, a lovingly crafted homage to Close Encounters that, while derivative, evoked the same sense of wonder and awe we expect from Spielberg.
While Nichols manages to pull off hokier aspects of his story – Alton’s eyes emit a powerful white light so often it becomes tiresome – he’s not able to convey the bone-deep love of the genre and wide-eyed geekiness of a Spielberg or an Abrams.
The characters, despite the actors’ best efforts, remain ciphers: Alton is an odd blank who we never really care about. There’s little mystery that he’s not really human, but, beyond a liking for comic books, we never learn anything about who he is. We see and hear about the strange, otherworldly things he can do but, honestly, the little alien robot in Earth to Echo had more personality.
We don’t learn much about Shannon or Sarah, except that they both used to be members of The Ranch, a religious cult run by Sam Shepard. As the film starts, FBI agents raid The Ranch looking for Alton, who’s somehow hacked some unhackable top-secret NSA info. Turns out the cult has been worshiping Alton, whom they believe will protect them if the end of the world is coming in a few days, as Alton seemed to be prophesying.
The race is on for Roy, Roy’s remarkably devoted childhood friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton), and Sarah to get where Alton is directing them on the chosen date before either the FBI or the cult members can stop them. Since Alton can’t be exposed to daylight, the fugitives (who have made national news) have to travel by night.
There are some good twists and unexpected moments along the way, but there are also huge gaps in logic: Alton’s powers loudly damage a friend’s house in the middle of the night, but no neighbors seem to notice. When an injured Roy tries to drive around a roadblock, soldiers merely order him back onto the road, and miss the chance to capture this fugitive whose face has been all over Nancy Grace.
The best thing about the film is NSA agent Paul Sevier (an homage to French director François Truffaut’s role in Close Encounters?), played to nervous, nerdy perfection by Adam Driver. After being so wildly miscast as villainous Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Driver here becomes the most engaging and sympathetic character, one you wish had more screen time. His scenes with Alton provide some of the film’s funniest scenes.
As a fan of Nichols and Shannon, and certainly of Close Encounters, I was really rooting for this film. But Nichols’ stripped-down indie sensibility and Shannon’s stoic impassivity are at odds with the kind of big, inspiring, epic story they’re trying to tell here. Other critics seem to have embraced the film and perhaps you’ll get swept up in the kind of magic it’s trying to spin as well. It’s, unfortunately, one cinematic ride that never got me on board. (– Sharon Knolle)
Magnolia / Released 6/21/16
The Wave
Geiranger is one the most spectacular tourist draws on the planet, but also a place where disaster could strike at any moment.
After putting in several years at Geiranger’s warning center, geologist Kristian Elkjord is moving on to a prestigious new job with an oil company.
On the very day he’s about to drive his family to their new life in the city he senses something is wrong, the substrata are shifting. When a landslide from the mountain sends tons of rock and earth crashing into the water, every soul in Geiranger has ten minutes to outrace the resulting tsunami and get to higher ground.
Extras include interview, featurettes and trailer.
Oscilloscope / Released 6/21/16
Embrace Of The Serpent
At once blistering and poetic, the ravages of colonialism cast a dark shadow over the South American landscape in Embrace Of The Serpent, the third feature by Ciro Guerra.
Filmed in stunning black-and-white, Serpent centers on Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and the last survivor of his people, and the two scientists who, over the course of 40 years, build a friendship with him.
The film was inspired by the real-life journals of two explorers (Theodor Koch-Grnberg and Richard Evan Schultes) who traveled through the Colombian Amazon during the last century in search of the sacred and difficult-to-find psychedelic Yakruna plant.
Extras include making of, interview and trailer.
Kino Lorber/ Released 6/21/16
99 River Street
In this classic film noir, a down-on-his-luck former boxing contender (John Payne, The Crooked Way, Hidden Fear), turned cab driver has to hide from the police when he’s accused of murdering his badgering wife when her lifeless body turns up in the back of his cab.
On the run and out of time, he needs to bring the real killer to justice before the cops and the thugs responsible for the set-up get their hands on him.
Top-notch direction by the great Phil Karlson (Kansas City Confidential) and featuring a great cast that includes Evelyn Keyes (The Prowler), Brad Dexter (The Magnificent Seven), Frank Faylen (Riot in Cell Block 11), Peggie Castle (I, the Jury) and Jay Adler (The Killing). Extras include commentary.
Kino Lorber/ Released 6/21/16
Shield for Murder
Edmond O’Brien (D.O.A., White Heat) stars in this crime drama about a crooked and brutal police detective who steals $25,000 from a criminal he murders and becomes the target of a colleague’s investigation… more and more he realizes that he must kill again to cover his tracks.
Co-written by noir specialist John C. Higgins (He Walked by Night, T-Men, Raw Deal) and co-directed by Howard W. Koch (Big House, U.S.A.) and the film’s star O’Brien, the first of only two features he ever directed.
The wonderful cast includes John Agar (Journey to the Seventh Planet), Marla English (The She-Creature), Carolyn Jones (The Addams Family), Claude Akins (Rio Bravo) and William Schallert (The Patty Duke Show).
Shout! Factory / Released 6/21/16
Rollercoaster
Thrills abound in this high-speed suspense yarn as a determined terrorist (Timothy Bottoms) begins to turn America’s amusement parks into battlefields. The tension mounts as affable safety inspector Harry Calder (George Segal) attempts to track down the saboteur who as targeted the country’s most popular rollercoaster, and its riders, for senseless destruction.
The edge-of-the-seat excitement mounts as the battle of wits between Calder and the terrorist builds to an explosive climax. Co-starring Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda, the Jennings Lang production takes viewers on an unforgettable trip filled with sense-shattering twists and hairpin turns.
Extras include original SENSURROUND® soundtrack, still gallery, trailer, radio spots and interview with associate producer/writer Tommy Cook.
Acorn Media / Released 7/14/16
Birds of a Feather: Set One
Returning after a 15 year hiatus, the hit British sitcom became ITV’s highest-rated comedy in over a decade.
The lives of sisters Sharon (Pauline Quirke, Broadchurch) and Tracey (Linda Robson, Shine on Harvey Moon) are never the same after their husbands are convicted of armed robbery and sent to prison.
Forced to live together, the sisters become good—if begrudging—friends with their man-eating neighbor Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph, Night & Day).
Together with their families, Sharon and Tracey face the dramas, tragedies, stresses, and strains of keeping up with the world, without their husbands’ support.
Includes the episodes:
Gimme Shelter: Tracey and Sharon haven’t spoken in years, so when they run into each other at a book signing, the meeting is less than amiable. But when Tracey finds out Sharon lives in a run-down flat, she invites her sister to stay with her again.
Slave: With everyone at the house feeling pressed for cash, Tracey and Sharon convince Dorien to sell her designer clothes at a flea market. Although the sale goes well, Tracey is still overwhelmed by the bills, and so Sharon takes Dorien to get a job at World of Quid.
Hot Stuff: Tracey and Sharon end up sleeping in the living room after Marcie complains about the lack of privacy she and Garth have, sharing a room with Poppy. Unable to sleep because of all the noise in the house, Sharon tries the attic, where she makes a spectacular find.
Hearts for Sale: Garth has dreams of opening his own restaurant, but the run-down building he plans to use desperately needs repairs. The plumber takes a liking to Tracey and asks her on a date, and Dorien visits an elderly man she hopes to marry for his money.
Tattoo You: Sharon, Tracey, and Dorien commiserate over the pains of growing older when Sharon fears she is going deaf. Later, Tracey fumes when she finds out Travis got a tattoo to impress a girl.
Blinded by Love: Sharon’s estranged husband, Chris, shows up to ask for a quick divorce so that he can marry his new girlfriend, a blind woman named Angie. When Angie reveals she is a Foxy Cohen fan, Dorien, Sharon, and Tracey are invited to her engagement party.
Back to Zero: Dorien resigns from her position at World of Quid when she finds her novel in the bargain bin. Then Sharon is fired, and Tracey has to quit her job. With no money coming in, the women get into a heated argument, even as they’re freezing cold from turning off the furnace.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want: After meeting two elderly sisters at the supermarket, Sharon and Tracey wonder what they will be like in the future. Dorien goes to court to defend Sixty Shades of Green against the plagiarism charge.
Universal/ Released 6/21/16
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
The family you love is back in the sequel to the biggest romantic comedy of all time!
Written by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos, who stars alongside the entire returning cast, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 brings the beloved family of characters back together.
In the years since we first fell for Toula (Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett), they have raised a headstrong daughter while trying to keep the spark alive. But just as they think they’re balancing an independent teen, aging parents and the rest of the irrepressible clan, the reveal of a shocking secret will bring the three generations of this family closer than ever as they plan a bigger, fatter and Greeker wedding!
Extras include featurettes and gag reel.
Broadgreen Pictures/ Released 6/21/16
Knight of Cups
Knight of Cups follows writer Rick (Christian Bale), on an odyssey through the playgrounds of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he undertakes a search for love and self. Even as he moves through a desire-laden landscape of mansions, resorts, beaches and clubs, Rick grapples over complicated relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy).
His quest to break the spell of his disenchantment takes him on a series of adventures with six alluring women: rebellious Della (Imogen Poots); his physician ex-wife, Nancy (Cate Blanchett); a serene model Helen (Freida Pinto); a woman he wronged in the past Elizabeth (Natalie Portman); a spirited, playful stripper Karen (Theresa Palmer); and an innocent Isabel (Isabel Lucas), who helps him see a way forward.
Rick moves in a daze through a strange and overwhelming dreamscape — but can he wake up to the beauty, humanity and rhythms of life around him? The deeper he searches, the more the journey becomes his destination. Extras include making of.
Last Word: The synopsis for Terrence Malick’s new film (above) has drawn sharp criticism for its description of female characters (“serene model” “playful stripper”) who exist only as reflections of the male character played by Christian Bale.
But that’s hardly the film’s only issue. The truth is that it’s not really a film at all. It’s a series of artfully shot scenes featuring Bale cavorting with beautiful women – among them Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Teresa Palmer and Freida Pinto – in front of photogenic backgrounds. This would have made a beautiful coffee table book or high-end photo shoot for the kind of fashion magazine you flip through while you’re waiting to get your hair cut. The beauty of the film and its cast is undeniable. But having the actors pose in front of a series of beautiful backdrops does not a movie make, even when those backdrops are iconic Hollywood locations.
Without any plot to speak of, Malick’s renowned lyricism is left to run wild here and the result is we never care what happens to any of these people. We admire the actors, including Brian Dennehy as Rick’s father, and it’s fun to see random cameos like Antonio Banderas jumping into a pool at an over-the-top Hollywood party. We learn in throwaway bits that Bale and Wes Bentley had a brother that killed himself. Bale was married to Blanchett and they never had children. There’s an earthquake. Bale is robbed. But don’t mistake any of these blips for an actual plot.
I’m not asking for a generic three-act structure or for the characters to learn Valuable Life Lessons. But throw us a bone with some plot. Malick’s previous collaboration with Bale, 2005’s The New World about Pocahontas and her love for both Captain Smith and John Rolfe, was both unbelievably gorgeous and moving. Malick is certainly capable of telling a compelling story and creating interesting characters, but he simply threw that out the window with this film.
Bale’s character Rick (we’re told he’s a screenwriter) lives on the beach in Santa Monica, which means he’s endlessly playing in the surf with his various lovers. The women also get a ride in his beautiful vintage convertible and inevitably end up chasing each other around an anonymous hotel room. Rinse, repeat. We get it, the women in Rick’s life are interchangeable. He’s not making a real connection with anyone. But while the audience is working overtime to read some sort of meaning into these meaningless scenes, he’s also failing to make a real connection with us.
Just as this is not really a film, it has no real characters, just actors doing bits. Each scenario plays out like an acting exercise. It’s painfully obvious there was no script and that everything was improvised, so clunky lines like “We are not leading the lives we were meant to lead,” and “So this is what we are, a fire,” fall with an audible thud. Bale contributes the most cringe-worthy dialogue, at one point uttering, “I can’t remember the man I wanted to be” and at another “Ahh, life.”
Rick takes on a high-profile, high-paid writing gig, but we never see him writing. He takes a few cryptic meetings at scenic buildings in Century City, aimlessly wanders various studio backlots, and attends a series of decadent parties. We’re supposed to see he’s tempted, he’s struggling, but all we see is that Christian Bale has great cheekbones.
While it seems clear that Malick intends this to be his La Dolce Via, in which reporter Marcello Mastroianni dallies with a series of beautiful women in a commentary on the decadence of modern society, this falls far, far short of Fellini’s masterpiece.
Or maybe Malick wanted this to be his 8 ½, Fellini’s 1963 magnum opus in which a director cannot focus on his new film while juggling his wife, mistress and various actresses. It also has one of the most famous dream sequences in which he talks to his dead father. Fifty years ago, that was revolutionary. Today, it’s a tiresome cliché, especially when your whole film is that unmoored. In one of my favorite sequences in 8 ½, Mastroianni floats high above the earth, then realizes his leg is still tethered below. Does he want to float away from all his responsibilities or is this responsibility the only thing keeping him spinning off into oblivion? It’s a beautifully realized metaphor in Fellini’s film.
Sadly, Knight of Cups has absolutely nothing to tether or ground it. (– Sharon Knolle)
Universal/ Released 6/21/16
The Brothers Grimsby
Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen), a sweet but dimwitted English football hooligan, has everything a man from the poor fishing town of Grimsby could want, including nine children and the most attractive girlfriend in Northern England (Rebel Wilson). There’s only one thing missing: his little brother, Sebastian (Mark Strong), who Nobby has spent 28 years searching for after they were separated as kids. Nobby sets off to reunite with Sebastian, unaware that not only is his brother MI6’s deadliest assassin, but he’s just uncovered plans for an imminent global terrorist attack.
On the run and wrongfully accused, Sebastian realizes that if he is going to save the world, he will need the help of its biggest idiot. Extras include featurettes, deleted and extended scenes.
Last Word: There’s no argument that Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius. He’s sharp, bold and fearless; a keen observed of human behavior and one that’s not afraid to throw it back in someone’s face. Which is a huge reason why The Brother’s Grimsby is such a disappointment.
Keep in mind, I thought the trailers were hysterical, but seeing the finished product, I realize that Baron Cohen’s best work has become a safe exercise in grossing out the audience. One of the things that made his Ali G series and Borat and Bruno films so exciting is that they were dangerous. You honestly didn’t know what was going to happen. His fully scripted efforts have been less successful and with Grimsby, cleverness has been replaced with shock comedy. If you find the image of Baron Cohen and Strong hiding from pursuers in an elephant’s vagina funny, then wait until you see that elephant have sex with the duo inside her. Sacrificing humor, character and story for outrageousness and bodily fluids, The Brothers Grimsby is Baron Cohen’s biggest miss to date.
Cohen Media/ Released 7/21/16
Going Away
Baptiste is a loner. A gifted primary teacher living in the south of France, he knows how to bring their schoolwork alive for his pupils but never remains in the same job for more than a term. His unremarkable appearance masks cracks, even violence…
When he is left unwittingly in charge of Mathias one weekend by the child’s negligent father, the boy takes Baptiste to his mother Sandra, a dazzling but fragile woman who works on the beach near Montpellier. An erratic parent who longs to make amends, she welcomes Baptiste and her son into her bungalow.
For one enchanted day, a powerful spell unites them, the beginnings of a family for those who do not have one. But it won’t last. Sandra owes money and her creditors are moving in. She is forced to flee again.
To help her, Baptiste must return to the roots of his life, and to the darkest, most painful secrets within him…
Olive Films / Released 6/21/16
If It’s Tuesday This Must Be Belgium
In this Mel Stuart (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) directed sex farce, Ian McShane (TV’s Deadwood) stars as roguish Charlie Cartwright, a tour guide with a girl in every port, and Suzanne Pleshette (The Birds) is straight-laced American tourist Samantha Perkins, the would-be object of Charlie’s affection.
Joining in on the fun-filled 18-day London to Rome excursion are Murray Hamilton (Jaws), Mildred Natwick (Barefoot in the Park), Peggy Cass (Auntie Mame), Norman Fell (TV’s Three’s Company) and Vittorio De Sica (The Shoes of the Fisherman).
Based on the story and screenplay by David Shaw, If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium features cameo performances by John Cassavetes (Rosemary’s Baby), Ben Gazzara (Anatomy of a Murder), Joan Collins (TV’s Dynasty), Anita Ekberg (La Dolce Vita), Senta Berger (Major Dundee) and Robert Vaughn (TV’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E.).
Shout! Factory/ Released 6/21/16
The Crush
A man who should know better. A much younger teenager. No way should there be any kind of romance between them. Yet from the moment 14-year-old Adrian met Nick, she was crazy about him. There must be something she can say or do… some way that she can show him this is not just a crush. What can she do? What won’t she do?
Romantic obsession has harrowing consequences in The Crush, a suspense thriller starring Cary Elwes (Saw, The Princess Bride), Jennifer Rubin (Bad Dreams, Screamers) and Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, The Babysitter) in her breakthrough role.
Elwes plays Nick, at first flattered by Adrian’s flirtation, then gripped with outright fear… because what Adrian wants, Adrian gets. If she can’t have her Mr. Right, no one can. Extras include commentary, interviews, tv spot and trailer.
Olive Films/ Released 6/21/16
I’ll Take Sweden
Widower and single dad, oil company executive Bob Holcomb (Bob Hope, The Road to Hong Kong) accepts a transfer to Sweden in hopes of keeping his daughter JoJo (Tuesday Weld, Pretty Poison) far away from her carefree, guitar-playing, marriage-minded boyfriend Kenny (Frankie Avalon, Beach Blanket Bingo).
Little does Bob know that Sweden provides a more liberal view of all things romantic. So, it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire. But JoJo isn’t the only one with romance on her mind when Bob meets attractive interior designer Karin (Dina Merrill, Operation Petticoat).
Plans for a romantic mountain resort weekend will turn into a slapstick roundelay when Kenny turns up with former girlfriend Marti (Rosemarie Frankland, A Hard Day’s Night) and Bob’s assistant Erik (Jeremy Slate, Girls! Girls! Girls!), a wolf in sheep’s clothing, sets his sights on JoJo. The Land of the Midnight Sun will never be the same when Bob Hope and crew land on her shores in the romantic comedy I’ll Take Sweden.
Directed by Frederick De Cordova (Bedtime for Bonzo) from a screenplay by Nat Perrin (based on a story by Perrin, Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx), I’ll Take Sweden co-stars Fay DeWitt (The Shakiest Gun in the West), Walter Sande (To Have and Have Not) and John Qualen (Casablanca).
IFC Films/ Released 6/21/16
King Georges
Philadelphia, circa 2010, is about to lose its culinary treasure: Georges Perrier is preparing, after more than four decades in business, to sell Le Bec-Fin, one of the finest French restaurants in the country.
Perrier, however, decides to withdraw the sale and reinvent Le Bec-Fin by hiring a protégé, Chef Nicholas Elmi of the “Top Chef” TV show. Perrier wants to pass the business to Elmi but has trouble letting go of the spatula.
Over a three-year period, filmmaker Erika Frankel captures this force of nature as he struggles to preserve his sumptuous Gallic dishes in an era of casual attitudes and lighter fare.
Spiced with archival footage and interviews with world-renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Eric Ripert, King Georges is a feast for the eyes as well as a touching portrait of a master artist still hungry for seconds.
Olive Films/ Released 6/21/16
Appointment With Crime
Leo Martin (William Hartnell, TV’s Doctor Who), a “smash & grab” thief working for crime boss Gus Loman (Raymond Lovell, 49th Parallel), is caught by the police during a robbery gone wrong that leaves his wrists broken.
Abandoned by Loman at the scene of the crime, Martin vows revenge against the boss who left him to shoulder the blame in the stylish British noir Appointment with Crime.
Directed and written by John Harlow (Dangerous Cargo), Appointment with Crime co-stars Herbert Lom (A Shot in the Dark) as the reptilian crime lord Gregory Lang and Joyce Howard (Shadow of the Past) as Carol Dane, a woman drawn to the dangerous Leo Martin.
Olive Films / Released 6/21/16
Cornbread Earl and Me
Set against the gritty urban sprawl of Chicago, director Joseph Manduke’s (Vengeance) coming-of-age drama Cornbread, Earl and Me stars Laurence Fishburne (Fled), Tierre Turner (The Crow) and Jamaal Wilkes in a story of adolescent friends who are forced to face adulthood when tragedy strikes.
Cornbread, Earl and Me features supporting performances from an ensemble that includes Moses Gunn (Ragtime), Rosalind Cash (The Omega Man), Madge Sinclair (Coming to America) and Antonio Fargas (Foxy Brown) in a film written for the screen by Leonard Lamensdorf based on the Ronald L. Fair novel Hog Butcher.
Acorn / Released 6/21/16
Janet King, Series 1: The Enemy Within
Beloved Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp (A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish) stars in this gripping, new legal drama as a senior crown prosecutor.
Determined to prove she still has her edge, Janet returns from maternity leave to find her workplace even more demanding than when she left. She quickly becomes involved in a high-profile and controversial case, making several enemies throughout her search for the truth – enemies that will threaten her career, family, and ultimately her life.
Includes the episodes:
A Song of Experience: After returning from maternity leave, Janet King is assigned to prosecute a case involving police commissioner Steven Blakely, who is accused of giving his cancer-stricken wife a fatal dose of morphine.
Every Contact Leaves a Trace: King’s heavy workload forces her to spend more time away from her family. Erin and Owen try to coax a reluctant witness into testifying against a biker accused of murder. Without a body or a strong motive, the Blakely case stagnates until King’s boss, Tony Gillies, pushes it to trial.
Natural Justice: Diane finally breaks down and makes a statement but does not admit guilt. A strange development in the Moreno case intertwines with Diane’s involvement in the Blakely case. Erin deals with traumatic flashbacks and deliberates whether to testify in court, which could put her life in danger.
The Third Man: Andy questions Danny Novak after he is seen on surveillance with Blakely on the day he went missing. Richard takes it upon himself to look out for Danny’s daughter, Tatum. Lina attends compulsory psychological counseling as part of working for the Department of Public Prosecutions.
Lurking Doubt: A media scandal sweeps through the department when King and Erin are accused of having an affair, and the judge from the Moreno case is brought in to investigate. After a terrifying experience, Ash and the babies leave home for their safety.
Overtime: King insists that Moreno is involved in Blakely’s murder, but Andy urges her to be more prudent with charging him. So King hones in on Blakely’s daughter, Maya, to gain more information about Moreno. Lina attempts to resign, but Tony refuses to allow it. With Ash and the kids still in hiding, King misses her family.
An Achilles Heal: A new body is found, adding complexity to the Blakely case. The attorneys try to convince Maya to testify against Nelson again in court. Lina and Andy struggle with fertility issues, and Owen has a suspicious appointment.
The Greatest Good: Andy and Jack confront Blakely’s son, who reveals startling information. Danny Novak is arrested and questioned. A new and volatile suspect materializes as King races to piece together the case and protect her family.
Paramount / Released 6/21/16
Workaholics: Season 6
Adam, Blake and Ders are back with another outrageous season of Workaholics. Head to your cubicle and don’t forget to bring a six-pack for the wildest, boldest episodes yet.
Season Six features guest appearances by Liam Hemsworth, Dane Cook, Whitney Cummings, Andy Dick, Alexandra Daddario, Rob Huebel, and Matt Besser.
Includes deleted Scenes and Bloopers, plus “Drunkmentary” on all episodes.
Includes the episodes:
Wolves of Rancho: The guys transfer to a different branch of TelAmeriCorp to work for a charismatic leader.
Meth Head Actor: Adam, Blake and Ders decide to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
Save the Cat: After Blake and Jillian adopt a cat, things take an unexpected turn.
Death of a Salesdude: TelAmeriCorp begins selling female-friendly products, and the women of the office take over.
Gone Catfishing: Adam and Ders plan a 4/20 party, but Blake’s new girlfriend harshes their buzz.
Going Viral: Adam, Blake and Ders try to become social media stars.
Night at the Dudeseum: On Ders Day, the guys wreak havoc inside a museum.
The Fabulous Murphy Sisters: Alice’s sister visits the TelAmeriCorp office.
Always Bet on Blake: Adam, Blake and Ders open a casino in their house.
The Nuttin’ Professor: The guys go on an epic quest for their favorite porn of all time.
Shout! Factory / Released 6/21/16
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: The Complete Series
Tori, Shane, and Dustin lead typical teenage lives in Blue Bay Harbor but they have one thing in common – they are students at a secret ninja school under the teachings of a wise sensei.
Their world changes when Lothor, a ninja master banished to space for his evil deeds, returns to Earth bent on revenge. Sensei gives “Wind Morphers” to the three kids that will transform them into Power Rangers to compete in this ultimate battle.
Combining humor, drama and martial-arts action, this series revolves around ordinary teens who take on extraordinary powers to defend the world. Includes all 38 episodes.
Universal/ Released 6/28/16
Eye in the Sky
Eye in the Sky follows Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren), a UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya.
Using remote surveillance and on-the-ground intelligence, Powell discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from “capture” to “kill.”
But as American pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) is about to engage, a nine-year-old girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute, reaching the highest levels of American and British government, over the moral, political and personal implications of modern military operations. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: Screen legend Alan Rickman’s final film is not a wasted effort, as Eye in the Sky is a taut, engaging thriller that depicts the modern state of war in the world today. Much of the focus of the film centers on drone warfare, which is becoming more common in military exercises, but without much discussion of the moral and ethical ramifications of “hands off” killing from a remote location. The film’s intensity is earned and should hopefully engage discussion. The ensemble, which includes the late Rickman and Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Jeremy Northam, and Michael O’Keefe, are all excellent. As a country in conflict for over a decade, Eye in the Sky is a much needed reminder of the decisions made in modern warfare. Highly recommended.
Arrow / Released 6/28/16
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
The remarkable career of the movie industry’s most admired and influential special-effects auteur, the legendary Ray Harryhausen, is the subject of Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan.
Leaving no doubt as to Harryhausen’s seminal influence on modern-day special effects, the documentary features enlightening and entertaining interviews with the man himself, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Terry Gilliam, Dennis Muren, John Landis, Guillermo Del Toro, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and many more.
These filmmakers pay tribute to the father of Stop Motion animation and films such as The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, It Came From Beneath The Sea, The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad, Mysterious Island, Jason And The Argonauts and The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad – the films that enthralled them as children and inspired them to become filmmakers in their own right.
Extras include bonus interviews, interview outtakes, featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary and trailers.
Cohen Media / Released 6/28/16
Rams
In a secluded valley in Iceland, Gummi and Kiddi live side by side, tending to their sheep. Their ancestral sheep-stock is considered one of the country’s best and the two brothers are repeatedly awarded for their prized rams who carry an ancient lineage.
Although they share the land and a way of life, Gummi and Kiddi have not spoken to each other in four decades. When a lethal disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, the entire valley comes under threat. The authorities decide to cull all the animals in the area to contain the outbreak. This is a near death sentence for the farmers, whose sheep are their main source of income, and many abandon their land.
But Gummi and Kiddi don’t give up so easily – and each brother tries to stave off the disaster in his own fashion: Kiddi by using his rifle and Gummi by using his wits. As the authorities close in, the brothers will need to come together to save the special breed passed down for generations, and themselves, from extinction. Extras include interview, short film and trailer.
Shout! Factory / Released 7/5/16
Two-Minute Warning
In Just Two Terrifying Minutes, The Lives Of 91,000 People Are Changed Forever! A nightmare of fear and panic unfolds in this chilling tale of a lone gunman who sets his sights on a sellout crowd at a championship football game.
Charlton Heston is the police captain who leads the desperate fight to stop the madman – perched high atop the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – before he sets off widespread devastation in the jam-packed stadium.
John Cassavetes and Martin Balsam are among those risking their lives to thwart the sniper’s attempts, while innocent spectators Gena Rowlands, Jack Klugman, Beau Bridges, Walter Pidgeon, David Janssen and thousands of others try to hide from the fatal gun attack and avoid the deadly ensuing stampede.
Extras include television broadcast version (SD), interview with director Larry Peerce, gallery, radio spots and trailer.
Kino Lorber/ Released 6/28/16
Roland and Rattfink
The timeless melodramatic tradition of duelling polar opposites became the foundation of many an animated conflict, but never were Good and Evil so stylistically rendered as in the Roland and Rattfink cartoons.
Square-jawed Roland and the green-complected Rattfink occupy the roles of yin and yang with hilarious aplomb: peacenik vs. warmonger, stalwart singing cowboy vs. scurrilous cattle rustler, effetely sensitive “flower child” vs. bomb-throwing miscreant. This special edition showcases all seventeen episodes of DePatie-Freleng’s Roland and Rattfink, which rank among Hollywood’s most innovative cartoons of the late ’60s/early ’70s, and continue to inspire laughs in the 21st Century.
Extras include documentaries, and commentaries.
Includes the shorts:
Hawks and Doves: Hard-hitting pacifist” Roland meets “war monger” Rattfink, with the twosome going to battle over a wounded bird.
Hurts and Flowers: “Flower Child” Roland has trouble maintaining serenity with “weed” Rattfink around.
Flying Feet: Roland arrives at college, quickly signing up for a track and field event, competing against chain-smoker Rattfink.
The Deadwood Thunderball: In Dodge City, train engineer Roland sets off on fresh track, only to be chased by Rattfink, hired by a trio of shady stagecoach owners looking to get rid of the locomotive.
Sweet and Sourdough: In Yukon Territory, 1897, outlaw Rattfink is pursued by mounted policeman Roland after a bank robbery.
A Pair of Sneakers: Superspy Roland engages in chases and battles with rival Rattfink over control of a special envelope.
Say Cheese, Please: At the Incredible Movie Studio, matinee star Roland is confronted with industry rivalry when Rattfink demands to be the hero for once.
A Taste of Money: Rattfink makes a play for a woman who’s recently received a massive inheritance, only to end up in marital hell.
The Foul Kin: Serial loafer Rattfink learns of his uncle’s 100th birthday, hoping to cash in on his impending death.
Bridgework: Foreman Roland is in charge of building a massive bridge, only to find Rattfink trying to kill him at every stage of construction.
Robin Goodhood: Roland Hood is a hero to all, soon doing battle with tax collector Rattfink, fighting to return stolen money to the masses.
War and Pieces: Pirate Rattfink, the Scourge of the Seven Seas, is pursued by Roland, who’s been tasked by the King to bring the villain to justice.
Gem Dandy: Roland is a security guard at a museum displaying a massive diamond. Rattfink is a jewel thief determined to steal it.
Trick or Retreat: Sergeant Roland is in charge of guarding a remote fort. Rattfink the Renegade plans his attack.
The Great Continental Overland Cross-Country Race: Engineer Roland and stinker Rattfink compete in a car race, with the scoundrel looking to keep Roland’s girlfriend as a prize.
A Fink in the Rink: At Roller Skating Land, Rattfink has finds it difficult to cause trouble, constantly thwarted by a no-nonsense security guard.
Cattle Battle: Lonesome cowboy Roland oversees a herd of cattle, defending the animals from rustler Rattfink.
Kino Lorber/ Released 6/28/16
Tijuana Toads
Like an amphibian Laurel & Hardy, Tijuana Toads revives the thin guy/fat guy formula for comedy, and endows it with a distinctive south-of-the-border flavor.
Toads “Pancho” and “El Toro” engage in madcap mischief (and even a bit of romance) while seeking to advance themselves within the biological food chain: giving chase to grasshoppers, Japanese beetles, and flies, while evading comic predators like snakes, cats, dogs, and a particularly dopey crane.
This edition includes all seventeen laugh-filled episodes, rendered in the distinctive DePatie-Freleng style of the late ’60s/early ’70s, newly remastered in high definition. Extras include documentaries, commentaries, and alternate soundtrack for Go for Croak.
Includes the shorts:
Tijuana Toads: Tijuana toads Toro and Pancho are in for a world of hurt when they target a particularly brawny grasshopper for dinner.
A Pair of Greenbacks: Toro and Pancho bungle all attempts to capture a tasty cockroach.
Go for Croak: Passing by the area, Crazylegs Crane pays a visit to Toro and Pancho, trying to gobble them up without success.
The Froggy Froggy Duo: Visiting Acapulco, Toro and Pancho wander into a resort restaurant, chased by chef who’s looking to present the perfect set of frog legs for a particularly demanding customer.
Hop and Chop: Toro and Pancho meet a Japanese bug looking for directions.
Never On Thirsty: Trying to survive a drought, Toro and Pancho scheme to secure a drink, coming into contact with a determined guard dog.
A Dopey Hacienda: Relaxing in a fountain, Toro and Pancho are hunted by an accident-prone housecat.
A Snake in the Gracias: After experiencing an accident, Crazylegs Crane believes he’s a frog, coming to help Toto and Pancho when speedy snake The Blue Racer endeavors to devour the local amphibians.
Two Jumps and a Chump: Returning to town, Crazylegs Crane resumes his hunt for Pancho and Toro.
Mud Squad: Chasing a fly, Toro and Pancho discover an alligator nest, trigger the ire of the panicked mother-to-be.
The Egg and Ay-Yi-Yi: Discovering an egg, Pancho and Toro become reluctant parents when a bird hatches.
Fastest Tongue in the West: Coming into contact with The Cactus Kid, Toro and Pancho challenge the outlaw to a tongue duel.
A Leap in the Deep: Toro and Pancho are one the run again once Crazylegs Crane returns to collect his dinner.
Croakus Pocus: A witch is looking to perfect her latest potion, in need of frog hair to complete her recipe.
Serape Happy: As lunchtime arrives, Pancho and Toro chase a grasshopper around the area.
Frog Jog: Rejected by his girlfriend for being too fat, Toro tries an exercise program with Pancho acting as his trainer.
Flight to the Finish: Crazylegs Crane makes a final push to eat Pancho and Toro, chasing them around the desert.
Kino Lorber / Released 6/28/16
Really Weird Tales
Top comedic talent hits new heights of zaniness in this three-episode parody of classic Sci-Fi shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. Joe Flaherty (SCTV, Used Cars) hosts this wonderfully clever, bizarre and delightfully funny Really Weird Tales.
Cursed With Charisma: In the failing town of Fitchville, a mysterious stranger (John Candy, Delirious) stirs things up with a no money down real estate boom, but in his wake come two aliens with plans of their own for the place.
I’ll Die Loving: Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone) portrays a woman with a serious problem. Everyone she loves explodes. Will she find a cure, or will all her romances literally go up in smoke?
All’s Well That Ends Strange:A third-rate lounge performer (Martin Short, ¡Three Amigos!) thinks he’s made the big time through his friendship with a girlie magazine publisher, but soon he discovers what’s really behind those buxom bodies and sexy smiles.
Two Guys And A Girl: The Complete Series
Welcome to Beacon Street Pizza, the perfect workplace and hangout for the aimless wise guy Berg (Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool), the neurotic Pete (Richard Ruccolo, Obsessed) and the campus beauty Sharon (Traylor Howard, Monk). Together, these three best friends navigate life and love in Boston with hilarious results.
Two Guys And A Girl (originally called Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place) also starred Nathan Fillion (Castle), Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein), Suzanne Cryer (Silicon Valley) and Jillian Bach (Courting Alex) and ran for four amazing seasons on ABC, thanks, in large part, to its dedicated fan base.
Includes all 81 episodes.Extras include alternate series finale.
Guest stars included David Ogden Stiers, Tiffani Thiessen, Bo Derek, Robert Goulet, Cheryl Ladd, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Macy, Jon Cryer, Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini, Stephen Tobolowsky, James Avery, Mo Gaffney, Carmen Electra, Howard Hesseman , Rena Sofer, Rachael Harris, Ali Landry, and Jason Clarke.
Last Word: A bit of an oddity of a sitcom that basically reinvented itself each season; juggling cast members, locations and at times, logic. The affable cast and their natural chemistry elevated the material that you can literally see the showrunners trying anything to make it work. And for the most part, it does. Baby-faced Reyn olds (who transforms into the more familiar looking actor between seasons 2 & 3) anchors the series, with Howard and Ruccolo delivering solid work. The only real issue I have with the Boston based-series (as would any native New Englander, is the constant mispronunciation of local towns. “Worcester” is pronounced “Woost-ah”, nor “Wor-chester”). The series also benefits from some excellent supporting cast members including Nathan Fillion and Suzanne Cryer, as Howard and Reynolds’ love interests, respectively. Pizza Place or not, 2 Guys and a Girl comes highly recommended.
Kino Lorber / Released 6/28/16
Fastball
In the critically-acclaimed Fastball, Hock dives headfirst into the history of America’s pastime, dissecting the science and emotions behind the game’s most infamous pitch.
Featuring interviews with baseball greats including Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter and narration from Kevin Costner (Field of Dreams, For the Love of the Game), Fastball sets out to answer the questions, who threw the fastest pitch and how?
Extras include extended interviews, outtakes from Hall of Famers George Brett, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Al Kaline, and Tony Gwynn and the extended story of legend and myth, Steve Dalkowski.
Paramount / Released 6/28/16
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Based on real-life reporter Kim Barker’s revealing and funny memoir about covering the war beat in the Middle East, Whisky Tango Foxtrot is a satirical take on combat journalists and an illuminating story of self-discovery, the film follows Kim (Tina Fey) as she decides to shake things up by taking a dangerous assignment in Afghanistan.
There, in the midst of chaos, Kim discovers her true strength as she risks it all to find the next big story.
The film features an all-star ensemble cast including Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), Billy Bob Thornton (“Fargo”), and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2). Extras include featurettes, interview and deleted/extended scenes.
Last Word:Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was literally written for Tina Fey. Based on Kim Barker’s autobiographical book The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF) tells the story, of the desk-jockey Barker, who leaves her job writing news anchor copy for a major news channel, to become a rookie journalist in Kabul during the war in Afghanistan. In a review of the book by the New York Times she is described as, “a sort of Tina Fey character, who unexpectedly finds herself addicted to the adrenaline rush of war.” So it was apropos that Ms. Fey, herself, portray her. And she is perfect.
This “Hollywood-ization” of Barker’s sort of mid-life crisis perfectly balances the drama and hell of war with the absurdity of a woman jumping into the fray of war-torn Middle East all because she was fed up with her job, life and boyfriend even though she has no field reporting background, or war zone experience. As Barker, Fey utilizes her years of comedic experience to give the journalist the nuanced humor and satirical bite she is known for, but also draws from her knowledge of drama and tension to add the realism the role needed to sell the stress and overwhelm the war correspondents felt while there.
I think what I like best about the film was the subtlety and care the filmmakers took in not going too far with making all the characters, especially the secondary and background ones, caricatures. They had depth to them and weren’t just “the jokester”, the douchebag”, “the bad guy”, “the love interest”. Everyone had a dimension to them that you wouldn’t normally expect from a more comedic take on such a serious subject. This film is not a straight up comedy so don’t go in thinking it will be a guffaw a minute. This is a solid satire of a very serious subject focusing on a very sarcastic and driven woman looking to do something with her life. The drama is well thought out and paced and the humor serves as a release to all the uneasiness surrounding the war itself. The crowd I saw it with was expecting a SNL movie and they were all bitterly disappointed.
I got what I expected from a film starring Tina Fey. A smart, funny and sometimes sobering look at the horrors of war and the horrors of life and how both make us do irresponsible and a lot of times rewarding things. People get hurt, people die. People laugh and people shrug off things that would otherwise break another’s spirit. Life is what happens while you are trying to figure out what you are doing with yours. Kim Barker’s was and is extraordinary. The film is a great reminder of it. Overall I would say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would see it again. I am a huge fan of Fey’s but I wouldn’t say that I have loved everything she has done. This, however, is a really good film that I highly recommend.
I would be remiss if i didn’t mention the stellar performances by Billy Bob Thorton as the Colonel Walter Hollanek, USMC. He proves again why he is one of the best actors out there. Margot Robbie is perfect as friend and rival reporter, Tanya Vanderpoel. Martin Freeman is wonderful as Scottish, Iain MacKelpie. Alfred Molina is almost unrecognizable as the possibly corrupt definitely weird as Afghanistan’s up and coming political hopeful, Ali Massoud Sadiq. Christopher Abbott is effortlessly brilliant as Barker’s driver and conscience, Fahim Ahmadzai. The rest of the cast that round out the soldiers, denizens and populace of the area are all well written and acted and help in making this a solid movie experience. I mean WTF, right? (–Benn Robbins)
PBS / Released 6/28/16
NOVA: Can Alzheimer’s Be Stopped
Alzheimer’s disease strikes at the core of what makes us human: our capacity to think, to love and to remember. The cause of Alzheimer’s and whether it can be stopped is one of the greatest medical mysteries of our time.
Alzheimer’s ravages the minds of over 40 million victims worldwide, stripping them of their memories and often their dignity on a poignant march that can lead to death. Join investigators as they gather clues and attempt to reconstruct the molecular chain of events that ultimately leads to dementia, and follow key researchers in the field who have helped to develop the leading theories of the disease.
Along the way, meet individuals from all walks of life who will reveal what it’s like to struggle with Alzheimer’s. Among them, members of a unique Colombian family who have learned that their genetic predisposition all but guarantees early onset Alzheimer’s— but there may be hope.
Join these courageous patients participating in clinical trials, and then go behind the scenes of the major drug trials to see how researchers target and test therapies that may slow and even prevent Alzheimer’s.
MVD/ Released 6/28/16
Elstree 1976
Elstree 1976 explores the lives of the actors and extras behind one of the most celebrated Science Fiction films in cinematic history, Star Wars.
From the man behind film’s most iconic villain, to the actor whose character was completely cut from the final film, the documentary delves into the eccentric community these individuals have formed and how the Star Wars franchise – which spans five decades from A New Hope to The Force Awakens – continues to impact their lives decades later.
Many of the minor characters were merely part of the set design, but eventually gained recognition as the Star Wars universe expanded into books, comics, etc. Fans learned the history of masked characters like Boba Fett and Greedo, but the sci-fi blockbuster also had a lasting impact on the people inside the costumes.
Not all of the interviewees had minor roles in the series however. For example, David Prowse, whose six-foot-eight bulk filled out Darth Vader’s suit and provided the menacing movements of film’s most iconic villain, wouldn’t be recognized on the street by all but the most ardent Star Wars fans. In the final cut of the movie, his face and voice were replaced by Sebastian Shaw and James Earl Jones, respectively. Others got to work on what would become the biggest movie of all time, but saw their characters cut entirely from the finished film.
Mill Creek / Released 5/10/16
Airwolf: The Complete Series
Jan-Michael Vincent stars as Stringfellow Hawke, a reclusive renegade pilot who’s assigned to top-secret missions for the CIA division known as “the Firm”by the mysterious “Archangel” (Alex Cord). Hawke’s weapon of choice is the high-tech battle helicopter of the future, Airwolf.
Loaded with cutting-edge surveillance equipment and unbelievable firepower, Airwolf takes Hawke and his friend Dominic (Ernest Borgnine) around the globe in search of dangerous international spies and criminals in exchange for the agency’s assistance in locating Hawke’s missing brother, who was lost in Vietnam.
The cast also includes Jean Bruce Scott, Barry Van Dyke, Geraint Wyn Davies, Michele Scarabelli and Anthony Sherwood.
Guest stars included David Carradine, Shannen Doherty,Wings Hauser, Larry Linville, Doug McClure, Ray Wise , P.J. Soles, John Aniston, Cesare Danova, Richard Lynch, Bryan Cranston, Leann Hunley, Angela Cartwright, Arte Johnson, James Hong, Clu Gulager, John Vernon, Tracey Walter, G. Gordon Liddy, Summer Phoenix, Gregory Sierra, Chad Allen, Herbert Jefferson Jr., Bob Zmuda, Ian Abercrombie, Tia Carrere, Lindsay Price, and Al Leong.
Influenced and inspired by the film, Blue Thunder (which also ran as a short lived series), Airwolf is very much a definitive example of eighties era action television, with a familiar story structure, solid action and excitement and a rousing theme that matches it’s regular use of the show’s stock footage. Airwolf is a tremendously entertaining and an easy recommendation.
Shout! Factory / Released 7/5/16
Cabin Fever
Executive producer Eli Roth presents this reboot of his instant-classic gorefest, which features all-new characters and all-new kills.
The story is familiar: Fresh out of college, a group of five friends retreat to a remote cabin in the woods for one last week of partying – only to become snacks for a gruesome, flesh-eating virus.
This fresh spin on a horror-comedy milestone stars Gage Golightly (Exeter, Teen Wolf), Nadine Crocker (Deadgirl), Samuel Davis (Machete Kills, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) and Dustin Ingram (Paranormal Activity 3). Extras include making of and trailer.
Shout! Factory / Released 7/5/16
The Pack
Man’s best friend becomes his worst nightmare when a horde of bloodthirsty wild dogs descends upon a family’s farmhouse.
In a remote stretch of the Australian Outback, a sheep rancher (Jack Campbell), his veterinarian wife (Anna Lise Phillips), and their two teenage children live in bucolic isolation — until a horrifying night when a pack of fang-baring, four-legged, rabid beasts besiege their home. With no one around to help them, the family must band together to survive — or else become canine kibble.
Generating a steadily mounting sense of dread, The Pack cleverly toys with genre conventions before it goes in for the kill.
Extras include making of and trailer.
Anchor Bay / Released 7/5/16
The Family Fang
Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman are Annie and Baxter Fang, children of celebrated performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang (Christopher Walken, Maryann Plunkett). When the elder Fangs go missing under mysterious circumstances, the siblings are forced to unpack long-dormant and unresolved issues from their unorthodox childhoods as they search for their parents.
Caustically funny and deeply felt, Bateman’s critically acclaimed sophomore feature directorial effort is based on Kevin Wilson’s bestselling novel.
Last Word: Jason Bateman’s second film as a director is a fairly solid adaptation of the best-selling book by Kevin Wilson about a quirky family of performance artists. The end result is a sort of The Royal Tenenbaums meets Gone Girl as the adult children try to solve the mystery of their stunt-loving parents’ sudden disappearance.
Unlike the first film he directed, the funny spelling-bee comedy Bad Words, Bateman doesn’t take the showy lead role, but plays the subdued younger brother Baxter, who’s content to let out-of-control older sister Annie (Kidman) take center stage.
Bateman, who’s let’s not forget is a former child star himself, seems to have gravitated towards projects that examine what it’s like to be in the public eye as a kid. Is there lasting damage? In his case, there seems to be a greater tendency to black humor.
Back in the ’70s Caleb and Camille Fang (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett) were famed for their outrageous performance art, such as the prank at the film’s beginning in which Camille appears to have been shot dead by her own son as horrified bank patrons look on.
The Fangs’ ill-advised decision to include their children Annie and Baxter – whom they referred to merely as “Child A” and “Child B” – in their stunts means their kids are more than usually screwed-up adults. Annie s now an actress whose notorious Lindsay Lohan-esque antics have made her a tabloid fixture and Baxter is a struggling novelist trying to bounce back from his last failed book.
At the film’s beginning, Baxter has foolishly injured himself while on assignment with some potato-gun-loving hillbillies, which forces an awkward family reunion. Caleb and Camille are eager to start up the stunts again with the kids on board, but Annie is under strict orders from her agent to keep a low profile to save her fading career.
When they refuse to cooperate, their parents take a trip out of town, then disappear. Is it their biggest stunt yet or are they simply the latest victims in a series of violent rest-stop abductions? Cynical Annie is convinced it’s one more prank, while Baxter is certain their parents aren’t faking it this time.
Walken brings his innately weird energy to the role of prank patriarch Caleb, who recalls Royal Tenenbaum, the long-absent father of a highly gifted clan. But unlike Royal, Caleb seeks no forgiveness and offers no apologies. He merely expects obedience from his children, who, after all, he offered the priceless gift of continually waking up society from its daily slumber.
As the ’70s era Caleb, Jason Butler Harner (Non-Stop, Alcatraz) doesn’t try to capture Walken’s oft-imitated stop-start vocal cadence, but makes an otherwise believable younger version of him.
Kathryn Hahn (of Happyish and Transparent) is possibly better known to audiences than the elder Camille, played by stage actress Plunkett as somewhat dithery earth mother torn between honoring her husband’s anti-social agenda and her own commitment to her children.
Even without having read the book (which I didn’t), you may guess the central answer of the story. But the film is still a satisfying take on what we do and don’t owe to our parents, both good and bad. Would Annie and Baxter have followed their individual artistic pursuits if they hadn’t been recruited into fooling the public at a young age? How much should you sacrifice for your art? If it’s your kids, then you’re definitely going too far.
What faults there are in the film are largely due to the plot, which hinges on some fairly long-shot contrivances and a too-tidy ending. And the music of Carter Burwell is as just as distracting and oddly sappy as it was in last year’s Legend. Was this really a story that called for harps?
At the very least, the film will make you thank your parents for not being as wildly screwy as the Fangs. Or it’ll just make you want to watch The Royal Tenenbaums again. (– Sharon Knolle)
Kino Lorber / Released 7/5/16
Absolution
Screen legend Richard Burton (Where Eagles Dare, The Desert Rats, Candy) stars in this suspenseful thriller written by Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth, Frenzy, The Wicker Man) and directed by Anthony Page (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden).
A confession at a Catholic School turns to a real murder mystery! In confession, a student tells Father Goddard (Burton) that he has accidentally murdered his friend and buried him in the forest, when Goddard investigates the matter all he finds is a scarecrow buried in the woods.
Goddard is outraged, but due to the seal of confession he cannot punish the kid and have him expelled.
Shortly after, the boy once again enters the confession booth, telling Godard that the previous confession was a practical joke, but this time he’s really gone and done it.
In disbelief, Goddard once again goes to the forest to investigate the matter, but this time, he discovers a dead body one of the students. The strong cast includes David Bradley (Kes) and Billy Connolly (The Boondock Saints).
Well Go USA / Released 7/5/16
Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe
The Mongolian Border, 1979: Massive fossils of unknown creatures are discovered in the mountains, and the research team assigned to excavate the remains includes acclaimed Professor Yang (Wang Qingxiang), Hu Bayi (Mark Chao), and Ping (Yao Chen), the professor’s beautiful daughter. When a freak explosion triggers a rockslide, only a handful of explorers survive the fall to the mountain’s floor…unearthing an ancient temple and the hideous creatures waiting within.
Present Day: Now living a quiet but tormented life as a librarian, Hu studies demonology manuscripts, seeking answers for that fateful day.
Little does he know Professor Yang has just been found wandering the mountains thousands of miles from where he supposedly died; a young woman with amnesia was just discovered in a recently-uncovered tomb; and a Northern Chinese mining town has just been ravaged by giant, ravenous beasts…Extras include making of.
Universal / Released 7/5/16
Search Party
A pair of friends embark on a rescue mission to save their pal and reunite him with the woman he was set to marry in the hilarious comedy Search Party, starring T.J. Miller and Adam Pally as the groomsmen swept up in south-of-the-border shenanigans to help their buddy, played by Thomas Middleditch.
When the love of his life (Shannon Woodward) jilts Nadro (Middleditch) at the altar thanks to his hard-partying pals Jason (Miller) and Evan (Pally), he follows her down to Mexico – where he’s carjacked and left naked in the middle of nowhere. Reluctantly summoning his friends to help him get back his runaway bride-to-be, Nadro plunges into an escalating series of outrageous misadventures courtesy of the guys who created the mess in the first place. The raucous comedy also stars Alison Brie and Krysten Ritter.
Anchor Bay / Released 7/5/16
Vigilante Diaries
Vigilante Diaries revolves around a team of black-ops agents turned crime-fighters, led by an elusive, brooding anti-hero of near-mythical physical and weapons skills, known only as The Vigilante (Paul Sloan).
Abandoned by governments, corporations and his handlers and with a bounty on his head, The Vigilante’s jam-packed missions of rescue and revenge take the audience from the mega-mansions and underbelly of Los Angeles to far-flung locales including Iraq, Armenia, Russia, and the UK. The film introduces a cast of colorful, dangerous, and hilarious characters with each of these missions. Jason Mewes plays Beverly Hills documentary filmmaker Michael Hanover, who records the exploits of The Vigilante and is thrust headfirst into the middle of the story he is documenting—becoming a high-value target himself in the process.
Mix in a trio of Asian femme fatales, a cadre of ruthless Armenian mobsters, and at the top, a pair of deep cover super-spies hell-bent on throwing the world into chaos – it’s no wonder it’s up to The Vigilante, not God, to sort ‘em all out. Also stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Jai White and Michael Madsen. Extras include featurettes.
Arrow / Released 6/21/16
Suture
Inspired by the paranoid visions of John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate and Seconds, the desert noir of Detour and the black and white widescreen beauty of Hiroshi Teshigahara’s The Face of Another and Woman of the Dunes, Suture is one of great feature debuts – by writer-directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee – and a truly unique piece of cinema.
The wealthy and self-assured Vincent (Michael Harris) meets his blue collar half-brother Clay (Dennis Haysbert) at their father’s funeral and is struck by their similarity. He decides to murder Clay and take his identity, only Clay survives the assassination attempt with no memory and is mistaken for Vincent.
The fact that Harris is white and Haysbert is black only complicates a film that probes into the nature of identity.
After viewing an early rough cut, Steven Soderbergh came on board as executive producer and enthusiastic patron. Suture went on to become a hit on the festival circuit, including Sundance where it deservedly won the award for Best Cinematography. Extras include commentary, interviews, deleted scenes, short film, trailers, and reversible sleeve.
Arrow / Released by 6/28/16
Return Of The Killer Tomatoes
The killer tomatoes are back! But this time around, they’re going to have to contend with late ’80s George Clooney and his wicked mullet… Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Nope, it’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
Ten years on from the Great Tomato War, mankind lives in fear of another uprising by the waxy red menace. Meanwhile, Professor Gangreen – played with gusto by John Astin from TV’s The Addams Family – sets out to pursue his own evil ends by creating a burgeoning army of tomato militia men (who, somewhat conveniently, look just like regular men).
Following on from the 1978 cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Return of the Killer Tomatoes came armed with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness and would expand upon a franchise that now comprises four films, two TV series and a video game. So what are you waiting for? Make Return of the Killer Tomatoes one of your five-a-day now! Extras include commentary, interview, trailer, collector’s booklet and reversible sleeve.
PBS / Released 7/8/14
Vicious: Season One
Freddie and Stuart are an old gay couple who have been together for nearly 50 years. Their lives now revolve around entertaining their frequent guests and hurling insults at each other at every opportunity.
Includes the episodes:
Episode 1: Freddie and Stuart host a wake to mark the passing on of a dear friend. Joined by their small circle of elderly friends, the couple manage to create a splendidly awkward evening of very little food and insults that go that bit too far. They are also joined by Freddie and Stuart’s young new neighbour Ash, whose sexuality is a point of great interest. Ash spends the evening attempting to be a good guest while fending off the advances of Freddie and Stuart’s man-eating best friend Violet.
Episode 2: Freddie and Stuart go shopping for a new coat for Freddie to wear to his fan club event. The coat is more expensive than they’d expected, however, so Stuart finds a way of secretly raising some cash. Meanwhile, new neighbour Ash seeks advice from Freddie and Stuart on winning back his ex-girlfriend. Their best friend Violet is more than happy to help, and along with Penelope, Ash and Violet take an eventful trip to the shops where they make a shocking discovery.
Episode 3: Freddie has an important audition coming up and Ash is confused about his career. Freddie suggests that Ash pursue acting and teaches him the tricks of the trade. But, when Ash secures an acting role after just his first audition, Freddie is thrown into a state of depression, and Stuart must come up with a plan to renew his confidence. Meanwhile, Violet seeks advice from Freddie and Stuart on her tumultuous love affair with her Hungarian boyfriend.
Episode 4: Freddie, Stuart and the gang go clubbing after Ash gets a job handing out club fliers. By the end of the night only Freddie is left standing, and Stuart is feeling left out. Overcome by popularity, Freddie heads back to the club the next night with Ash’s trendy friends, but soon realizes clubbing is not quite for him. With Violet off with her new lover in Argentina, Stuart seeks comfort in his dotty friend Penelope who offers him some surprising advice.
Episode 5: Freddie and Stuart invite Ash and his new girlfriend Chloe to dinner. While infrequent acting work has been getting Freddie down, things are looking up for Ash who has fallen in love with what seems to be the perfect woman. Or is she? As the evening progresses, Chloe’s habits stop seeming so sweet and tensions mount over dinner. Violet, meanwhile, is having difficulty with her lover in Buenos Aires.
Episode 6: It’s Freddie and Stuart’s anniversary party, and they’re expecting a long awaited guest. When Ash accidentally lets slip news of the party to Stuart’s mother, Stuart finally decides that he is going to tell her that he and Freddie are a couple. The whole clan are round again to celebrate a typically awkward and eventful evening. Freddie is very excited about the arrival of a celebrity actor guest that he has invited, but Stuart is doubtful that she’ll turn up.
2014 Holiday Special: Freddie and Stuart host a holiday soiree in their small central London flat. Ash, their young upstairs neighbor, has volunteered to cook the meal, their feisty best friend Violet is up to her old tricks and a wicked game of Truth or Dare brings up hidden truths — and surprises as well.
PBS / Released 9/8/15
Vicious: Series Two
Ian McKellen as Freddie and Derek Jacobi as Stuart embark on a new season of humorous mishaps, hideous break-ups and heart-warming make-ups. Also returning are Frances de la Tour as their old friend Violet and Iwan Rheon as their neighbor Ash.
Episodes include:
Episode 1: Violet panics when her wealthy sister Lillian, whom she hasn’t seen in years, announces a visit. Worried that Lillian will discover truths about Violet, she and her friends hatch an elaborate plan. Meanwhile, Ash wants to introduce girlfriend Jess to the group.
Episode 2: Feeling unfit, Freddie and Stuart join Ash at his gym, where a young fitness instructor persuades the pair to sign up for an expensive membership. With Freddie and Stuart spending so much time at the gym, Violet and Penelope discover how pleasant their flat can be without the bickering pair in it.
Episode 3: The gang joins Ash and Jess at a ballroom dancing class. Stuart becomes teacher’s pet, leaving Freddie in a huff, while Violet becomes a hit with the amorous teacher in other ways. Ash decides to take his relationship with Jess to the next level.
Episode 4: Finding themselves both single, Violet and Ash consider dating new people. Violet has already met someone on the internet, while Ash’s ex, Chloe, returns. But things take an unexpected turn. Freddie, meanwhile, feels under pressure from Stuart to land a major new acting role.
Episode 5: After Freddie and Stuart have a falling out, Stuart moves in with Ash and Violet moves in with Freddie. It doesn’t take long, however, before the new flatmates begin to drive each other crazy. Violet and Ash devise a plan to return things to normal.
Episode 6: It’s someone’s big day, but things are far from smooth with the appearance of an unexpected guest. Penelope and Mason are asked to pick up the wedding cake, which doesn’t go as planned. It’s not long before the blissful event becomes a potential disaster.
Vicious: The Finale
Vicious: The Finale charts a year in the lives of the beloved leading partners Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi), and their friends Violet (Frances de la Tour), Ash (Iwan Rheon), Penelope (Marcia Warren) and Mason (Philip Voss).
The program opens in springtime, when Freddie and Stuart attempt to hide their recently gained inheritance, while Violet faces financial troubles after her recent divorce and Ash struggles to meet his rent. Signs of Freddie and Stuart’s expenditures soon threaten the pretense as their home is overrun with guests. In summer, it’s Freddie’s birthday party and an unexpected card arrives. Stuart prepares a very special present, Violet has a surprising announcement, and Ash and Penelope share a secret. Then, in autumn, Ash arrives at Freddie and Stuart’s flat with news. Finally, in winter the gang gathers together at Christmas to experience Freddie’s latest acting job.
Sony /Released 7/5/16
Dear Eleanor
Best friends Max (Isabelle Fuhrman) and Ellie (Liana Liberato) decide to leave their rural hometown on an adventurous, cross-country road trip to meet former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Sneaking away in a bright blue convertible belonging to Ellie’s dad (Luke Wilson), they set out with the wind in their hair and the radio turned up.
While trying to stay a step ahead of Ellie’s father and the police, the girls cross paths with an eclectic mix of people which truly make this an entertaining, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Also stars, Jessica Alba, Josh Lucas, Ione Skye, Joel Courtney and Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Last Word: A completely forgettable film from actor turned director Kevin Connolly (Entourage). A period piece road trip that does little to engage or entertain. It’s a watchable story with some great scenery and little else to recommend.
Sony / Released 7/5/16
Electra Woman & Dyna Girl
YouTube phenomenons Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart star in an updated version of Sid & Marty Krofft’s classic ’70s TV series Electra Woman & Dyna Girl, bringing the property to a new generation of viewers.
Electra Woman & Dyna Girl follows two superheroes Electra Woman (Helbig) and Dyna Girl (Hart) as they move from Akron to Los Angeles in hopes of making it big in the crime fighting world, only to find competition with other vigilantes and infighting amongst themselves.
Extras include commentary, and featurettes.
Last Word: Despite my love for pop culture, I’m not of the generation who know who Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart are. Which is ironic, because based on this film, they don’t have much of an idea who Electra Woman & Dyna Girl are.
Whereas original superheroines Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis played the characters straight, Helbig and Hart play the characters with that hipster sense of irony, smugness and entitlement that drives this millennial generation interpretation of the Krofft IP. The new Electra Woman & Dyna Girl is far from super.
Lionsgate/ Released 7/5/16
The Levenger Tapes
Johanna Braddy, Lili Mirojnick, Morgan Krantz, and Chris Mulkey star in the terrifying found-footage thriller.
Detectives in a remote town pore through every frame of a troubling tape to find the whereabouts of three missing college students.
The chilling footage becomes more and more disturbing when the students come upon the bloody dress of an 8-year-old girl in the secluded wilderness and take it upon themselves to find her.
Linking the case of the missing girl and the missing students together, the detectives race to piece enough information together to find them alive.
Lionsgate / Released 7/5/16
600 Miles
A documentary-style thriller that draws pointed connections between America’s permissive gun laws and firearms smugglers, 600 Miles follows a US federal agent (Oscar nominee Tim Roth) as Hank Harris, a U.S. agent out to bust an international arms-smuggling racket.
While attempting an arrest, Hank is overpowered by a young Mexican gunrunner (Kristyan Ferrer), who makes a fateful decision to smuggle Hank into Mexico and deliver him to his crime bosses.
As the two enemies begin a tense journey into the heart of deadly cartel country, they are suddenly bound in a desperate fight for survival in this taut, suspense-charged thriller.
Lionsgate/ Released 7/5/16
Precious Cargo
Adrenaline-pumping chases and deadly double crosses electrify this twist-filled thriller.
After a botched heist, thieves and ex-lovers Jack and Karen (Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Claire Forlani) are targeted by Eddie (Bruce Willis), a murderous crime boss.
To escape with their lives, Jack and Karen must steal a cargo of precious gems.
But when the job goes down, allegiances are betrayed and lines are crossed as Jack, Karen, and Eddie face off in a fateful showdown.
Extras include featurettes and interviews.
Sony / Released 7/5/16
House of Cards: Season 4
The critically acclaimed Emmy-nominated drama has its Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning star Kevin Spacey (as Francis Underwood) and Golden Globe-winner Robin Wright (as Claire Underwood), whose characters have always been each other’s strongest allies, showing cracks in their relationship.
In an election year, the stakes are now higher than ever, and the biggest threat they face is contending with each other.
Includes the episodes:
Chapter 40: Claire’s absence causes problems for Frank on the campaign trail amid rumors of a marital rift. Claire tries to strike out on her own.
Chapter 41: As Claire begins exploring a campaign of her own, she and Frank engage in backdoor political maneurvering. But this time they’re not on the same side.
Chapter 42: Claire joins Frank as he stumps in South Carolina, but he doesn’t trust her. A disastrous scandal blindsides Frank’s campaign on primary day.
Chapter 43: Claire threatens Frank. Frank makes a politically bold move that may provoke Russia. An event at a campaign stop changes everything.
Chapter 44: Claire advises Donald Blythe on dealing with Petrov. Further investigation of Lucas Goodwin dredges up his accusations against Frank.
Chapter 45: Claire clashes with the Secretary of State over her involvement in negotiations with Russia. Dunbar must choose between her campaign and her ethics.
Chapter 46: Frank and Claire adjust to their new reality. The search for Frank’s running mate begins. Frank starts a campaign to weaken Conway’s strong support.
Chapter 47: Formidable as ever, both Underwoods have their eyes on the big picture as they manipulate a potential running mate and push the gun bill.
Chapter 48: At the convention, Frank and his team publicly push for Catherine Durant to be chosen as his running mate, but privately pursue a different agenda.
Chapter 49: As Frank deals with a new threat to his candidacy, Claire has doubts about their plan. Claire faces a difficult decision concerning her mother.
Chapter 50: Frank ups the ante on the war on terror to counter Conway’s public show of strength. Hammerschmidt joins Claire on the campaign trail.
Chapter 51: Frank asks Conway to help deal with extremists threatening to murder hostages. Hammerschmidt digs deeper into the allegations against Frank.
Chapter 52: As the hostage situation continues, Claire secretly negotiates with Yusef al Ahmadi. Frank confronts Hammerschmidt.
Sony / Released 7/5/16
The Mermaid
From Stephen Chow, director of Kung Fu Hustle, comes The Mermaid: the comedic action-filled phenomenon that has become China’s biggest film of all time!
When greedy real estate tycoon, Liu Xian (Deng Chao), buys up a pristine coastal enclave known as Green Gulf, he plans to turn it into the hottest property on the market. But Green Gulf harbors a secret: it’s home to the last surviving mermaids, and they are done playing nice.
Their plan: send the beautiful Shan (Jelly Lin) to seduce Liu and stop the destruction of their beloved oceans. But when their plan goes belly-up, neither humans nor mermaids are willing to back down, and a final, fatal frenzy becomes inevitable.
Extras include featurettes and music video.
Last Word: There are very few filmmakers whose work demonstrates unapologetic, pure joy. Stephen Chow is one such director. With a filmography that includes CJ7, Shaolin Soccer, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, God of Cookery and Kung Fu Hustle, Chow’s films delight audiences and critics alike. They’re charming, look fantastic and are made in such a way that allows Chow to make the films the way that he wants them to be, rather than any other cookie cutter release. And believe it or not, it works. The Mermaid, eleven days after it’s release, became the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time.
And, it should be. Chow is heavily influenced by silent film and uses the camera as the secret weapon in his toolbox. He uses digital effects, but with an awareness that he’s not looking to recreate reality; and uses them for an almost cartoonish effect. Chow’s movies (and The Mermaid in particular) often have a message, but they are never distracting. The Mermaid is not only an enchanting fairy tale, but also an incredibly entertaining romp. Highly recommended.
Kino Lorber / Released 7/5/16
Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Screen legends Walter Matthau (The Laughing Policeman) and Robert Shaw (Figures in a Landscape) team up with Martin Balsam (After the Fox) and Hector Elizondo (Cuba) to deliver a sure-fire entertainment that’s gripping and exciting from beginning to end and is guaranteed to give you the ride of your life.
A gang of armed professionals hijack a New York subway train somewhere outside the Pelham station threatening to kill one hostage per minute unless their demands are met. Forced to stall these unknown assailants until a ransom is delivered or a rescue is made, transit chief Lt. Garber (Matthau) must shrewdly outmaneuver one of the craftiest and cruelest villains (Shaw) in a battle of wits that will either end heroically or tragically.
Featuring masterful direction by Joseph Sargent (White Lightning), gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Owen Roizman (The French Connection), a classic rousing score by David Shire (The Conversation) and top-notch editing by Jerry Greenberg (Apocalypse Now) and Robert Q. Lovett (Cotton Comes to Harlem).
Extras include interviews, commentaries, “Trailers From Hell” with Josh Olson, animated montage of stills and posters and trailer.
Well Go USA / Digital Release 7/5/16
Saving Mr. Wu
Four devious criminals, one chilling scam: pose as cops, kidnap a victim, and if no ransom comes in 24 hours, the target dies.
Tonight they caught a movie star (Andy Lau) and the countdown begins.
Based on actual events.
Saving Mr. Wu also stars Liu Ye, Wu Ruofu, and Wang Qianyuan, with special appearances by Lam Suet, Zhao Xiaorui and Li Meng.
Bonus materials include deleted scenes and the 4-part behind-the-scenes documentary “Making Mr. Wu.”
Shout! Factory / Released 7/5/16
Endgame
Based On the inspirational true story. Since he was 5 years old, Jose (Rico Rodriguez, Modern Family) has learned from his abuelita (Ivonne Coll, Jane The Virgin) how to play chess like his grandfather, who was a champion in Mexico.
Now as part of the Brownsville school team, Jose has the chance to use his skills and, for once in his life, find himself in the spotlight, as he tries to help his team make it to the Texas state finals.
As their coach, Mr. Alvarado (Efren Ramirez, Napoleon Dynamite), teaches his students the meaning of perseverance and team effort in the face of adversity, Jose discovers his own strengths and uses them to bring his broken family together. Extras include commentary, deleted scenes, interviews and trailer.
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