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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
May 23:
I Am Heath Ledger: New documentary provides an intimate look at the performer's life and personal journey.
All Governments Lie
(2016) Independent journalists like Amy Goodman, Glenn Greenwald,
Jeremy Scahill, and Matt Taibbi are changing the face of journalism,
providing investigative, adversarial alternatives to mainstream,
corporate news outlets. This documentary follows them as they expose
government and corporate deception -- just as the ground-breaking
independent journalist I.F. Stone did decades ago.
Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Extended Interviews.
(First Run Features).
American Wrestler: The Wizard
(2016) Jon Voight, William Fichtner, Ali Afshar, George Kosturos. In
this inspiring tale, based on true events, 17-year-old Ali Jahani
comes to live with his cynical uncle in a California town. Because Ali
is different, he’s met by a very unwelcoming community, and faces a
mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. Spurned by everybody and
determined to fit in, Ali signs up for his high school’s losing
wrestling team. With the hope of changing the way people perceive him,
Ali must meet a number of challenges, not the least of which is to
become a hero.
Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Revisiting the Past" in which
the filmmakers and cast share the experience of returning to Petaluma,
CA to bring Ali Afshar’s inspiring story to life; "Script to Screen"
featurette; "Behind the Scenes" featurette; "American Wrestler:
American Dream" cast featurette; “Rise” music video by Andy Madadian
and Shani Rigsbee.
(Warner).
DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games
(2017) Class is back in session at Super Hero High in the second
feature in the new, animated universe celebrating young girls. Wonder
Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Bumblebee and
Katana square off against Korugar Academy in the Intergalactic Games,
but trouble is in the air as Lena Luthor takes advantage of the
gathering of the Supers to enact her villainous plan. It’s up to the
DC Super Hero Girls to fight the forces of evil and protect their
school. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: “That’s My Girl” by Fifth
Harmony music video, seven animated shorts. (Warner).
The Future of Work and Death
(2016) In this provocative documentary, worldwide experts in the fields of
futurology, anthropology, neuroscience and philosophy consider the
impact of technological advances on the two certainties of human life:
work and death. Charting human developments from early man, past the
Industrial Revolution, to the digital age and beyond, this documentary
looks at the astonishing exponential rate at which mankind creates
technologies to ease the process of living. As we embark on the next
phase of our "advancement," with automation and artificial
intelligence driving the transformation from man to machine, the film
gives a shockingly realistic look into the future of human life.
Formats: DVD, Digital. (First Run Features).
Get Out
(2016) Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Keith Stanfield, Betty Gabriel, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson. A young African-American man visits his white girlfriend's family estate and is introduced to her parents -- and their friends -- and discovers a disturbing truth about the family. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Alternate ending with commentary by writer-director Jordan Peele, deleted scenes with commentary by Peele, "Unveiling the Horror of Get Out" behind-the-scenes featurette, Q&A discussion with Peele and the cast hosted by Chance the Rapper, commentary with Peele. (Universal).
The Great Wall
(2017) Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau. European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, "Matt Damon in China," "Working With Director Chang Yimou," "The Great Wall Visual Effects," "Man vs. Monster," "Weapons of War," "Designing a Spectacular World." (Universal).
Illicit
(2017) David Ramsey, Vivica A. Fox, McKinley Freeman, Dean Cain. A well-liked parole officer and a beautiful former model enjoy a successful marriage until she gets the itch to go back to work. As the wife forms an “unlikely friendship” with an emerging photographer, the husband is dealing with a parolee who proves to be more than he
bargained for. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Breaking Glass Pictures).
Logan
(2017) Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant, Boyd Holbrook, Dafne Keen. In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray extras: "Logan Noir," a black and white version of the film that gives the acclaimed story an all-new look; audio commentary by director James Mangold; deleted scenes; "Making Logan" behind-the-scenes documentary. (Fox).
Max 2: White House Hero
(2017) Zane Austin, Francesca Capaldi, Carrie Genzel, Lochlyn Munro.
Duty calls again, and hero dog Max returns to action. His new
assignment brings him to Washington, D.C. to serve on the U.S.
president's Secret Service detail. When a foreign leader arrives with
his precocious daughter Alex, tensions arise between both countries.
First Son TJ, along with Max and Alex, uncover a dangerous plot that
puts both kids and both nations in jeopardy. Formats: DVD,
Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: "Kids on the Case: Making of Max
2," "Max 2: A Ruff Life" canine blooper reel. (Warner).
On the Road, Somewhere (Algun Lugar)
(2015 -- Dominican Republic) Follows three high-school best friends, Oliver (Arnold Martínez), Moises (Javier Grullón), and Hemingway (Victor Alfonso), on a summer road-trip through the Dominican Republic -- their last together before college. Along the way, the car breaks down frequently, leaving the three boys stranded with nearly every character under the Dominican sun: a Haitian hitchhiker, a famous photographer and an intriguing artist. And when these strangers trigger a series of adventures unexpectedly changing their travel plans, their celebratory journey may well become a final farewell.
Formats: DVD. (IndiePix Films).
Outsiders: Seasons One and Two
(2016-17) Eight-disc set with all 26 episodes. Formats: DVD. Extras: Two behind-the-scenes featurettes from Season One; 47 deleted scenes from both seasons. (Sony).
Shaquille O’Neal Presents All-Star Comedy Jam: Live from Sin City
(2017) Hosted by stand-up entertainer Lavell Crawford, this live recording presents some of the hottest comedians around, including K-Dubb, Cocoa Brown, Donnell Rawlings and Earthquake. Formats: DVD. (Codeblack Films/Lionsgate).
Unlocking the Cage
(2016) This documentary by Chris Hegedus and DA Pennebaker follows animal rights lawyer Steven Wise as he tries to break down the legal
wall that separates animals from humans. Arguing that cognitively
complex animals such as chimpanzees, whales, dolphins and elephants
deserve to be treated as sentient, self-aware and autonomous beings,
Steve and his legal team are making history by fighting to transform a
chimpanzee from a "thing" with no rights to a "person" with limited
legal protections. This riveting film captures a monumental shift in
our culture as the public and judicial system show increasing
receptiveness to Steve's impassioned arguments.
Formats: DVD, Digital.
(First Run Features).
VIXEN: The Movie
(2017) Animated feature combines the first two seasons of the CW Seed
digital series into a single uniform story. Originally from Africa,
Mari McCabe grew up an orphan after her parents were killed by local
greed, corruption and wanton violence. But Mari refuses to succumb to
the terrors surrounding her. Inheriting her family's Tantu Totem, Mari
can access the powers of animals – anything from the strength of a
gorilla to the speed of a cheetah. As Vixen, she fights valiantly to
protect the world from threats like those that claimed her family.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital,
UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Vixen: Spirit Animal"
featurette, two Vixen-focused episodes of Justice League Unlimited
handpicked by Bruce Timm. (Warner).
Voodoo Black Exorcist
(1974 - Spain) Aldo Sambrell, Fernando Sanchez, Eva León. New 2K scan from a rare 35mm archival print. The mummy of a Caribbean voodoo priest stalks the passengers of a South Seas ocean liner in this sexy, quirky, ’70s Euro horror-thriller from director Manuel Caño. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (The Film Detective).
Welcome to the Loud House: Season 1, Volume 1
(2016) Two-disc set contains the first 13 episodes of the first season of the Nickelodeon series that introduces Lincoln Loud, an 11-year old boy who is the middle child of 10 sisters. The series follows Lincoln and his sisters for an inside look at what it takes to survive growing up in a huge family. Lincoln remains the man with the plan to stay one step ahead of the chaos, but whether or not it works is where the adventures begin. Inspired by creator and executive producer Chris Savino's ("Rocko's Modern Life," "The Powerpuff Girls") life growing up in a family of 10 kids. Formats: DVD. (Paramount).
XX
(2017) A new all-female helmed horror anthology featuring four dark tales written and
directed by fiercely talented women: Annie Clark ("St. Vincent") rocks her directorial
debut with "The Birthday Party"; Karyn Kusama ("The Invitation," "Girl Fight") exorcises "Her Only Living Son"; Roxanne Benjamin ("Southbound" screams "Don't Fall"; and Jovanka Vuckovic ("The Captured Bird") dares to open "The Box." Award-winning animator Sofia Carrillo ("La Casa Triste") wraps together four suspenseful stories of terror featuring a cast including Natalie Brown, Melanie Lynskey, Breeda Wool and Christina Kirk.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label).
Get Out
A sophisticated, culturally aware horror thriller that takes race relations to a new level. Director Jordan Peele (half of "Key and Peele") takes a normal, white upper-class family and turns them into monsters in the most unexpected way. Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway in the country with parents Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean (Bradley Whitford). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. Without spoiling any of the amazing revelations of the film, suffice it to say that "Get Out" (which doubles as the "Get Out" of slang for astonishment and the "Get Out" command to head for safety) is kinda like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" meets "White Zombie" (1932). Just remember that the monsters are us.
Vitals: Director: Jordan Peele. Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Keith Stanfield, Betty Gabriel, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson.
2016, CC, MPAA rating: R, 104 min., Horror, Box office gross: $157.845 million, Universal.
Extras: Alternate ending with commentary by writer-director Jordan Peele, deleted scenes with commentary by Peele, "Unveiling the Horror of Get Out" behind-the-scenes featurette, Q&A discussion with Peele and the cast hosted by Chance the Rapper, commentary with Peele.
Logan
Touting an R-rating, allowing fans to finally see Logan’s legendary berserk rage unleashed, director James Mangold brings a visceral and gritty realism to the story, based on one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters. In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant (Dafne Keen) arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Vitals: Director: James Mangold. Stars: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant, Boyd Holbrook, Dafne Keen.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 137 min., Action, Box office gross: $224.649 million, Fox.
4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray extras: "Logan Noir," a black and white version of the film that gives the acclaimed story an all-new look; audio commentary by director James Mangold; deleted scenes; "Making Logan" behind-the-scenes documentary.
The Great Wall
European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures. The first English-language production for Chang Yimou ("Hero," "House of Flying Daggers") is the largest film ever shot entirely in China.
Vitals: Director: Chang Yimou. Stars: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau.
2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 103 min., Action Adventure, Box office gross: $43.836 million, Universal.
Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, "Matt Damon in China," "Working With Director Chang Yimou," "The Great Wall Visual Effects," "Man vs. Monster," "Weapons of War," "Designing a Spectacular World."
John Wick: Chapter Two: After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life. Sequel to the 2014 surprise hit. (DVD, Blu-ray release: June 12)
The Sense of an Ending: A man becomes haunted by his past and is presented with a mysterious legacy that causes him to re-think his current situation in life. (DVD, Blu-ray release: June 6)
A United Kingdom: The inspiring true story of the forbidden love between the king of Botswana and a white English woman in the 1940s. (DVD, Blu-ray release: June 6)
Cops vs Thugs
(1975) Considered by many to be director Kinji Fukasaku's greatest single-film achievement in the yakuza genre, "Cops vs Thugs" was made at the height of popularity of Toei Studios' jitsuroku boom: realistic, modern crime movies based on true stories taken from contemporary headlines. Returning to the screen after completing their "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" series together, Fukasaku joined forces once again with screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara, composer Toshiaki Tsushima and star Bunta Sugawara to create one of the crowning achievements of his career, and a hard-boiled classic which is still ranked as one of the best Japanese films of the 1970s. It's 1963 in the southern Japanese city of Kurashima, and tough-as-nails detective Kuno (Sugawara) oversees a detente between the warring Kawade and Ohara gangs. Best friends with Ohara lieutenant Hirotani (Hiroki Matsukata), he understands that there are no clear lines in the underworld, and that everything is colored a different shade of gray. But when random violence interrupts the peace and an ambitious, by-the-books lieutenant (Tatsuo Umemiya) comes to town, Kuno's fragile alliance begins to crumble. Greedy bosses and politicians alike seize the opportunity to wipe out their enemies, and Kuno faces the painful choice of pledging allegiance to his badge and keeping a promise to his brother. Echoing the great crime films of Sidney Lumet and Jean-Pierre Melville, in Fukasaku's world, there's no honor among thieves or lawmen alike, and the only thing that matters is personal honor and duty among friends. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo with a high definition digital transfer and original uncompressed mono audio. Extras: "Beyond the Film: Cops vs Thugs," a new video appreciation by Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane; new visual essay on cops and criminals in Fukasaku's works by film scholar Tom Mes; theatrical trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
Dheepan
(2015) With this Palme d'Or-winning drama, which deftly combines seemingly disparate genres, French filmmaker Jacques Audiard cemented his status as one of the titans of contemporary world cinema. In an arresting performance, the nonprofessional actor Antonythasan Jesuthasan (himself a former child soldier) stars as a Tamil fighter who, along with a woman and child posing as his wife and daughter, flees war-torn Sri Lanka only to land in a Paris suburb riddled with drugs. As the makeshift family embarks on a new life, Dheepan settles into an intimate social-realist mode, before tightening, gradually and organically, into a dynamic turf-war thriller, as well as an unsettling study of the psychological aftereffects of combat. Searing and sensitive, Audiard's film is a unique depiction of the refugee experience as a continuous crisis of identity. High-definition digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary from 2015 featuring director Jacques Audiard and coscreenwriter Noé Debré, new interview with Audiard, new interview with actor Antonythasan Jesuthasan, deleted scenes with audio commentary by Audiard and Debré, trailer, an essay by critic Michael Atkinson. (The Criterion Collection).
The High Schooler's Guide to College Parties
(2015) Nate Rubin, Kris Kiley, Brina Palencia, Rebekah Kennedy, Juan Felipe Barrientos. High schooler Shaquille has grown up below the radar and believes that his ticket to a better life lies in throwing a college party -- he wants to raise himself up from "loser" status so he can get into a good college and fraternity. But all hell breaks loose as Shaq tries to fix the party -- and his future. Formats: DVD. (FilmRise/MVD Visual).
Jacques Rivette Collection Limited Edition
In 1975, Jacques Rivette reunited with "Out" 1 producer Stéphane Tchal Gadjieff with the idea of a four-film cycle. He would create a quartet of interconnected films, each in a different genre. One was to be a love story, another a Western, and there was to be a fantastical thriller and a musical comedy starring Anna Karina and Jean Marais too. Ill health intervened, and only two of the films were completed. "Duelle (une quarantine)" (1976) sees Rivette in fantasy territory, cross-pollinating Val Lewton, Jean Cocteau and film noir as the Queen of the Sun (Bulle Ogier) and the Queen of the Night (Juliet Berto) search for a magical diamond in present day. Its parallel film, "Noroît (une vengeance)" (1976), is a pirate tale -- and a loose adaptation of "The Revenger's Tragedy" -- starring Geraldine Chaplin ("Nashville"). A third film began production -- "Marie et Julien" starring Albert Finney and Leslie Caron -- but Rivette succumbed to nervous exhaustion and shooting was abandoned. When he did return to filmmaking, Rivette borrowed some of the elements of "Duelle" and "Noroît" and came up with" Merry-Go-Round" (1981). Joe Dallesandro ("Trash," "Flesh for Frankenstein") and Maria Schneider ("Last Tango in Paris," "The Passenger") are summoned to Paris, which leads to one of the most surreal and mysterious tales in a career that was dominated by surrealism and mystery. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo with High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations of all three films from brand new 2K restorations, with original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays). Extras: "Scenes from a Parallel Life: Jacques Rivette Remembers" archive interview with the director, in which he discusses "Duelle (une quarantaine)," "Noroît (une vengeance)" and "Merry-Go-Round"; "Remembering Duelle": Bulle Ogier and Hermine Karagheuz recollect their work on the 1976 feature; interview with critic Jonathan Rosenbaum, who reported from the sets of both "Duelle" and "Noroît"; exclusive perfect-bound book containing writing on the films by Mary M. Wiles, Brad Stevens and Nick Pinkerton plus a reprint of four on-set reports from "Duelle" and "Noroît"; reversible sleeves with original and newly commissioned artwork by Ignatius Fitzpatrick. (Arrow Academy/MVD Entertainment).
My Life as a Zucchini
(2016 -- French) Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, this is a delightful and touching tale about the uplifting power of friendship in the face of adversity. After losing his mother, a young boy is sent to a foster home with other orphans his age where he begins to learn the meaning of trust and true love. Though he struggles to find his place at first, with the help of his new friends, Zucchini learns to trust and love again as he searches for a new family of his own. With a band of unforgettable characters, "My Life as a Zucchini" stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Making of My Life as a Zucchini," "The Genie in a Tin of Ravioli" short film by "Zucchini" director Claude Barras. (Universal).
Outsiders: Season Two
(2017) Four-disc set with 13 episodes. A struggle for power and control continues in the rugged hills of Appalachia as the battle between the clan and the town escalates with the Farrells becoming more isolated than ever before. The uneasy truce that had previously existed between the townspeople and the family tribe came to an abrupt end when Big Coal headed up the mountain and the standoff continues to have repercussions. Formats: DVD. Extras: Twenty-nine deleted scenes. (Sony).
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Finding the Fire: The Making of Rock Dog," "Mic Check: Casting the Voices” featurette, "A Rockin’ New World: Animating Rock Dog" featurette, "Rock Dog and Roll: Exploring the Music" featurette, “Glorious” music video. (Lionsgate).
Wolf Guy
(1975 - Japan) Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba is a martial arts "manimal" in the ultra-70's, 100% bizarre mixture of horror, action and sci-fi that is "Wolf Guy," one of the rarest and most sought-after cult films produced by Japan's Toei Studio. Based on a manga by Kazumasa Hirai (creator of "8 Man"), and never before released outside of Japan, it's a genre film classic waiting to be discovered and a completely unclassifiable trip into phantasmagoric funk. Chiba stars as Akira Inugami, the only survivor of a clan of ancient werewolves who relies on his supernatural powers to solve mysterious crimes. After a series of bloody killings perpetrated by an unseen force, Inugami uncovers a conspiracy involving a murdered cabaret singer, corrupt politicians, and a plot by the J-CIA to harvest his blood in order to steal his lycanthropic powers. At the same time, Inugami also discovers the truth behind his family heritage, and that he may not be the last of his kind. Directed by B-movie genius Kazuhiko Yamaguchi ("Sister Streetfighter," "Wandering Ginza Butterfly," "Karate Bear Fighter"), "Wolf Guy" truly is one-of-a-kind, with Chiba in full effect as the part-man, part-wolf, all-karate action hero. Violence, action, nudity, real surgical footage, and a psychedelic musical score all work together to create an unforgettable trip to the heights of Japanese cinematic weirdness. High Definition digital transfer with original uncompressed mono audio. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: New video interview with actor Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba; new video interview with director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi; new video interview with producer Tatsu Yoshida; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
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May 22, 2017
(ISSN 1094-3676).
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