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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
The Broken Hearts Gallery: A 20-something art gallery assistant living in New York City happens to be an emotional hoarder. After she gets dumped by her latest boyfriend, Lucy is inspired to create The Broken Heart Gallery, a pop-up space for the items love has left behind. Word of the gallery spreads, encouraging a movement and a fresh start for all the romantics out there. (DVD, Blu-ray release: November 17)
Contracts: Jaded assassin Anthony Lo is tapped on the shoulder by fellow hitman Marc Sullivan, who seeks Anthony's help to find and eliminate a rogue assassin who's picking off Sullivan's crew one by one. (VOD only)
Jungleland: Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion (Jack O’Connell) are two brothers struggling to stay relevant in the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. When Stanley fails to pay back a dangerous crime boss, they’re forced to deliver an unexpected traveler as they journey across the country for a high stakes fighting tournament. (Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, FandangoNOW)
Le choc du futur (aka The Shock of the Future): The late 1970s arrival of electronic music to France is dealt with in the story of 24 hours in the life of a young woman composer in Paris. (DVD: Day & date)
Lie Exposed: Based on Jeff Kober's provocative play, "Pornography," this drama follows a happily married woman who’s world spirals out of control when she’s diagnosed with cancer. Instead of confronting her disease, she leaves her husband and heads out for a bender in Los Angeles to search for the meaning of life ... and gets involved in erotica. (VOD only)
Out Stealing Horses: Set in November 1999, the drama follows Trond (Stellan Skarsgård), a 67-year-old man living in self-imposed isolation, who looks forward to welcoming in the new millennium alone. As winter arrives, he meets one of his few neighbors, Lars (Bjørn Floberg), and realizes he knew him back in the summer of 1948, the year Trond turned 15 ... the summer Trond grew up. (VOD only)
A Rainy Day in New York: Woody Allen's latest film follows the romantic exploits of a young college student (Timothee Chalamet) on a weekend trip in his hometown of New York City, trying to further bond with his college girlfriend (Elle Fanning) while she is in the city to interview a famous film director (Liev Schreiber). (DVD, Blu-ray release: Day & date)
The Retreat: Set in the Adirondack High Peaks of Upstate New York, two best friends, Gus and Adam, set out for a winter backpacking trip. After a horrifying encounter with a monster, Gus finds himself alone and lost. Now, he must fight for his life while keeping his grip on reality as he’s tormented both physically and psychologically by the evil Native American legend, The Wendigo (Digital, VOD; DVD release: Day & date)
Sasquatch Among the Wildmen:
Throughout history, ape-like humanoids have appeared in myths and legends of cultures from around the world. The best known wildmen that people still say they see roaming the wilds of North America are known as Sasquatch or Bigfoot. Discover the history of relic hominids (The Russian Almasty, the Chinese The Yeren, the Himalaya's The Yeti and more) from around the world in this documentary. (VOD: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Xbox, Vudu, FandangoNOW; DVD release: Day & date)
Sleepless Beauty: Held captive in a room, a young woman must remain awake at all times while enduring mental and physical abuse. (iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox, YouTube, Amazon, FandangoNOW; Blu-ray release: November 17)
Transference: A Love Story: Katarina, a Norwegian nurse in London, embarks on a passionate affair with a fellow immigrant nurse that suffers the consequences of unresolved mental health issues from his secret past. (Digital, VOD only)
Words on Bathroom Walls : Adam (Charlie Plummer) is a witty, introspective teen pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. When Adam is diagnosed with a mental illness, he lives in fear of being exposed — until he meets Maya (Taylor Russell), an outspoken and fiercely intelligent girl who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition. (DVD, Blu-ray, VOD release: November 17)
Coded Bias: Documentary reveals the groundbreaking research of MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini, proving that facial recognition algorithms have the power to disseminate racial bias at scale. In June 2020, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft said they would pause the sale of facial recognition to police. In a pivotal moment for racial equality, and a decisive moment for how big tech will yield power, "Coded Bias" is a trailblazing film for public understanding and engagement with the algorithms that impact us all. (In Virtual Cinemas beginning November 11)
My Summer as a Goth: After the sudden death of her father, 16-year-old, Joey Javitts is sent to stay with her eccentric grandparents while her author mother promotes her latest novel. Joey promptly falls for the beguiling Goth boy next door, Victor, and is transformed by him and his merry band of misfits in black. (VOD only)
Dead Reckoning: During a picturesque summer on the Nantucket coast, Niko and Tillie are living the dream of a summer romance. However, when Niko's terrorist brother comes to the United States, Niko must pit himself against his own family in order to protect the woman he loves and thousands of innocent people. (Digital, VOD: AppleTV, Amazon, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Hoopla, Sony, Microsoft, GooglePlay)
Amazon Women on the Moon (Special Edition)
(1987) A madcap send-up of late-night TV, low-budget sci-fi films and canned-laughter-filled sitcoms packed with off-the-wall sketches. Centered around a television station that features a 1950s-style sci-fi movie interspersed with a series of wild commercials, wacky shorts and weird specials, this lampoon of contemporary life and pop culture skewers some of the silliest spectacles ever created in the name of entertainment. Co-directed by Joe Dante, John Landis, Carl Gottlieb, Peter Horton and Robert K. Weiss; and written by Michael Barrie and Jim Mulholland. The hilarious cast includes Steve Allen, Rosanna Arquette, Belinda Balaski, Paul Bartel, Ralph Bellamy, Ed Begley Jr., T.K. Carter, Sybil Danning, Griffin Dunne, Carrie Fisher, Steve Forrest, Monique Gabrielle, Donald Gibb, David Alan Grier, Steve Guttenberg, Arsenio Hall, Phil Hartman, Howard Hesseman, Peter Horton, Lou Jacobi, B.B. King, Mike Mazurki, Russ Meyer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joe Pantoliano, Kelly Preston, Henry Silva, Rip Taylor and Henny Youngman.
Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: "Bullshit or Not: The True Story of Amazon Women on the Moon" new featurette with directors John Landis, Joe Dante, co-editor Marshall Harvey, casting director Julie Selzer and others; Audio commentary by film historians Kat Ellinger and Mike McPadden; newly discovered outtakes and dailies from Joe Dante's personal archive; deleted scenes; outtakes; theatrical trailer. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).
Burst City
(1982 -- Japan) "Burst City" is an explosive Molotov cocktail of dystopian sci-fi, Mad Max-style biker wars against yakuza gangsters and the police, and riotous performances from members of the real-life Japanese punk bands The Stalin, The Roosters, The Rockers and INU.
Charlie’s Christmas Wish
(2019) Aiden Turner, Diane Ladd, Toni Hudson, John O'Hurley. In this heartwarming holiday film, a troubled war vet’s family finds new hope from a scrappy little rescue dog. Discharged and sent home for the holidays, John (Turner) tries hard to adapt to civilian life —- and to son Jimmy’s new pet, a feisty terrier named Charlie. As the family meets other struggling local veterans, they know it’ll take a miracle to bring peace to them and to John. Good thing Charlie has a direct line to the Man Upstairs. Awarded the Dove Seal of Approval for All Ages.
Formats: DVD VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).
Hosts
(2020) Neal Ward, Samantha Loxley, Frank Jakeman, Nadia Lamin, Lee Hunter, Jennifer Preston, Buddy Skelton. On Christmas Eve, an innocent couple become hosts to a malicious entity. Throughout the night they proceed to terrorize a family of five in unimaginably violent and disturbing ways. But these demonic possessions won't end with this unfortunate family; they mark just the beginning of a horrific worldwide epidemic. Beneath its nerve-jangling suspense, the film offers a dark and bloody insight into how lying to your loved ones can not only alienate them, it can completely destroy your bonds with them forever. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Dark Sky Films).
Love Express: The Disappearance of Walerian Borowczyk
(2018 -- Poland) How does a filmmaker go from creating cutting-edge work and competing in Cannes to being labelled a failed erotic filmmaker? The debut documentary feature from Polish critic and academic Kuba Mikurda investigates the work of Walerian Borowczyk, a director of unparalleled creativity and sensitivity, revered in the 1970s for creations including "Goto," "Island of Love," "The Beast" and "Immoral Tales." The documentary interviews his closest collaborators, filmmakers, and leading intellectuals who put his work into perspective, including Terry Gilliam, Bertrand Bonello, Neil Jordan, Patrice Leconte, Slavoj Žižek, and the late Andrzej Wajda.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Interview outtakes. (Altered Innocence).
Mortal
(2020 -- Norway) Nat Wolff, Priyanka Bose, Iben Akerlie. A fantasy adventure origin story about a young man, Eric, who discovers he has God-like powers based on ancient Norwegian mythology. While hiding in the wilderness of western Norway, Eric, an American, accidentally kills a teenager in an inexplicable way and is subsequently arrested. Before being interrogated, he meets Christine, a young psychologist trying to figure out what really happened. She believes Eric and feels sympathy with him. Soon the American embassy shows up wanting Eric extradited, but he manages to flee with Christine. On the run, with both Norwegian and American authorities after him, Eric finally discovers who, or what, he really is. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Dark Hero: The Making of Mortal.” (Lionsgate).
Mulan
(2020) Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Jason Scott Lee, Li Gong, Rosalind Chao. Live-action remake of Disney's animated adventure. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. (Disney).
The Other Side of Madness
(1971) Available on DVD and Blu-ray or on limited-edition Blu-ray and DVD — marking the 50th anniversary of its original release — "The Other Side of Madness" was the first cinematic depiction of the Manson murders, filmed so astonishingly close to the time of the events that the Manson trial was still in progress. Portrayed as a modern “noir,” it proved so shocking to audiences at the time that the film was banned in Los Angeles. Superbly photographed and directed by award-winning filmmaker Frank Howard and produced by Wade Williams, the film was partially shot in Kansas City with a cast of mostly unknown actors. However, the film transports audiences closer to the real events than most recreations have dared to go, partially filmed at the famed Spahn Ranch before the compound was destroyed by fire in the ‘70s. Selections from the original motion picture soundtrack, including “Mechanical Man” and “Garbage Dump,” written and performed by Charles Manson, will be offered on a limited-release Bonus CD (2,000 copies made) included with the purchase of the collector’s deluxe anniversary edition Blu-ray or DVD. 4K transfer from the original 35mm camera negative. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: original documentary, "The Other Side of Manson: An Interview With Producer Wade Williams"; "Mechanical Man: Wade Williams Meets Manson"; 12-page, Blu-ray exclusive collector's booklet with commentary from award-winning film director Alexander Tuschinski; Original theatrical trailers from both theatrical releases of the film, "The Other Side of Madness" (1971) and "The Helter Skelter Murders" (1976). (The Film Detective).
The Retreat
(2020) Grant Schumacher, Dylan Grunn, Rick Montgomery Jr., Chris Cimperman, Ariella Mastoianni. Set in the Adirondack High Peaks of Upstate New York, two best friends, Gus and Adam, set out for a winter backpacking trip. After a horrifying encounter with a monster, Gus finds himself alone and lost. Now, he must fight for his life while keeping his grip on reality as he’s tormented both physically and psychologically by the evil Native American legend, The Wendigo. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Uncork’d Entertainment)).
Sasquatch Among the Wildmen
(2020) Throughout history, ape-like humanoids have appeared in myths and legends of cultures from around the world. The best known wildmen that people still say they see roaming the wilds of North America are known as Sasquatch or Bigfoot. Discover the history of relic hominids (The Russian Almasty, the Chinese The Yeren, the Himalaya's The Yeti and more) from around the world in this documentary.
Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Uncork’d Entertainment).
Schitt’s Creek: The Complete Collection
(2015 - 2020) Six-disc set with all six seasons. Created by and starring Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy, this irreverent and original character-driven comedy centers on the “reversal of fortune” story of the once filthy-rich Rose family. Suddenly finding themselves broke, the Roses are forced to rebuild their empire in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once purchased as a joke. As the seasons go on, we see the family thrive in a place they begin to call home, ready to take their personal relationships, business pursuits and, for some, exit strategies, to the next level.
Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, outtakes. (Lionsgate).
Song Lang
(2018 -- Vietnam) Set in 1980’s Saigon, the film is a gritty underworld noir hiding a tender, romantic heart. At the film’s core is the unlikely bond that develops between hunky, brooding Dung (Lien Binh Phat), a tough debt collector for a ruthless loan shark, and Linh Phung (V-pop star Isaac), a charismatic young opera singer for a struggling company that performs Cai-Luong, a modern form of traditional Vietnamese folk opera. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Breaking Glass Pictures).
Tennessee Johnson
(1942) This film provided M-G-M an opportunity to showcase the impressive talents of studio newcomer Van Heflin, who had just earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar(r) for the 1941 crime hit Johnny Eager. The studio found an ideal role for Heflin in Andrew Johnson, the Tennessee tailor-turned-senator who broke with the South, rose to the vice presidency under Abraham Lincoln and soon became - after Lincoln's assassination - the first U.S. president to face impeachment. With inspired direction by William Dieterle. Studio stalwart Lionel Barrymore portrays Johnson's nemesis, Thaddeus Stevens, and Ruth Hussey plays Johnson's devoted wife.
Formats: Blu-ray. (Warner Archive).
© 1996 -- 2020 OnVideo. All rights reserved November 8, 2020 (ISSN 1094-3676). |
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The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Theodore "Ted" Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they're helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends -- to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony to the universe.
Vitals: Director: Dean Parisot. Stars: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Jillian Bell, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Kristen Schaal, William Sadler, Holland Taylor, Kid Cudi.
2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 91 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $3.439 million, Warner.
Extras: The Official Bill & Ted Face The Music Panel at Comic-Con@Home; "Be Excellent to Each Other"; "A Most Triumphant Duo"; "Death’s Crib"; "Social Piece (Excellence)."
Bill & Ted Face the Music
(2020) Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Jillian Bell, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Kristen Schaal, William Sadler, Holland Taylor, Kid Cudi. The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Theodore "Ted" Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they're helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends -- to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony to the universe. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: The Official Bill & Ted Face The Music Panel at Comic-Con@Home; "Be Excellent to Each Other"; "A Most Triumphant Duo"; "Death’s Crib"; "Social Piece (Excellence)." (Warner).
In a derelict industrial wasteland somewhere on the outskirts of Tokyo, two rival punk bands and their unruly mobs of fans gather for a Battle of the Bands-style protest against the construction of a nuclear powerplant, bringing them head to head with the yakuza industrialists behind the development of their turf. This extraordinary celebration of Japan's punk music scene of the early 1980s thrust Sogo Ishii (now known by the name of Gakuryu Ishii), the underground filmmaking wunderkind behind such works as "Half Human: Einstürzende Neubauten" (1986), "Angel Dust" (1994) and "Electric Dragon 80,000V "(2001), to the next level and is regularly cited as an early landmark in Japanese cyberpunk cinema. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Brand new audio commentary by Japanese film expert Tom Mes; "The Punk Spirit of ’82: Sogo Ishii on Burst City," an exclusive new 56-minute interview with the director; "Bursting Out," an exclusive 27-minute interview with the academic and independent filmmaker Yoshiharu Tezuka on jishu eiga and the making of "Burst City": original trailer; image gallery; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mark Player. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
Girlfriends
(1978) When her best friend and roommate abruptly moves out to get married, Susan (Melanie Mayron), trying to become a gallery artist while making ends meet as a bar mitzvah photographer on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, finds herself adrift in both life and love. Could a new job be the answer? What about a fling with a married, older rabbi (Eli Wallach)? A wonder of American independent filmmaking whose remarkably authentic vision of female relationships has become a touchstone for makers of an entire subgenre of films and television shows about young women trying to make it in the big city, this 1970s New York time capsule from Claudia Weill captures the complexities and contradictions of women’s lives and relationships with wry humor and refreshing frankness.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Claudia Weill and director of photography Fred Murphy, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New interview with Weill; new interview with Weill and actors Melanie Mayron, Christopher Guest, and Bob Balaban; new interview with screenwriter Vicki Polon; new interview with Weill and writer and director Joey Soloway; "Joyce at 34," a 1972 short film by Weill and Joyce Chopra; "Commuters," a 1973 short film by Weill; trailer; essays by critic Molly Haskell and scholar Carol Gilligan. (The Criterion Collection).
