|
OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
The American Dreamer
(1971) A candid look into the unique mind and strange life of film legend and Hollywood rebel Dennis Hopper. In 1970, actor-director Dennis Hopper, who catapulted into stardom with his 1969 counterculture road movie" Easy Rider," was in the midst of finishing his follow-up work, "The Last Movie," a film that was deeply personal -- but ultimately disastrous. That moment in
American Masters: The Women's List
(2015) Meet 15 women who have created and defined contemporary American culture in the newest chapter of filmmaker-photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' List film series (The Boomer List, The Black List, The Latino List, The Out List). The documentary features intimate interviews with Madeleine Albright, Gloria Allred, Laurie Anderson, Sara Blakely, Margaret Cho, Edie Falco, Elizabeth Holmes, Betsey Johnson, Alicia Keys, Aimee Mullins, Nancy Pelosi, Rosie Perez, Shonda Rhimes, Wendy Williams and Nia Wordlaw. All trailblazers in their respective fields, these women share their experiences struggling against discrimination and overcoming challenges to make their voices heard and their influence felt. Toni Morrison opens the film with a reading of an introduction she wrote specifically for the film. Premieres nationwide Friday, September 25 on PBS (check local listings) and available the same day on DVD. Formats: DVD. (Perfect Day Films). Due September 25.
Arrow: The Complete Third Season
(2014-15) Five-disc DVD and four-disc Blu-ray with all 23 episodes. Formats: DVD: $59.98, Blu-ray Disc: $60.19. Extras: "Second Skins: Creating the Uniforms of Arrow," "Nanda Parbat: Constructing the Villain's Lair," commentaries, "Arrow" at Comic-Con 2014, "The Man Beneath the Suit -- Atom's First Flight," gag reel, deleted scenes. (Warner).
The Beginners Bible, Volume 4
(2014) The latest DVD installment in the acclaimed, family-friendly series based on the best-selling children's book of the same name, features three timeless tales: "The Story of Joseph & His Brothers," "Daniel & the Lion's Den," and "The Battle of Jericho"; and a bonus story "The Story of Jonah & the Whale." Formats: DVD: $9.95. (Time Life).
CPO Sharkey: The Complete Second Season
(1977-78) Three-disc set with 22 episodes, $29.95. For two seasons (1976-1978) and 37 episodes, Don Rickles brought his distinctive brand of comedy to NBC-TV as the star of "CPO Sharkey." As a 24-year naval veteran, Chief Petty Officer Otto Sharkey had seen and heard it all. He was politically incorrect before the term existed, and the recruits he whipped into shape at the San Diego naval training center received most of his shards of wisdom. They may have been hockey pucks, but they were his hockey pucks -- ready, willing, and able to endure one verbal Shark attack after another. Formats: DVD. Extras: "CPO Sharkey" Cast reunion Las Vegas, 2015 with Don Rickles, Harrison Page, David Landsberg, Tom Ruben and Barry Pearl. (Time Life).
Eaten Alive
(1977) Dir.: Tobe Hooper; Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Carolyn Jones, Marilyn Burns, William Finley, Stuart Whitman, Robert Englund. Nearly a decade before he donned Freddy Kruger's famous red and green sweater, horror icon Robert Englund delivered a supremely sleazy performance this Southern terror from Tobe Hooper, director of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." Deep in the Louisiana bayou sits the ramshackle Starlight Hotel, presided over by the bumbling, mumbling Judd, who may seem like a good-natured ol' Southern gent but has a mean temper and a large scythe and loves to feed his guests to his pet croc. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with co-writer and producer Mardi Rustam, make-up artist Craig Reardon and stars Roberta Collins, William Finley and Kyle Richards; new introduction to the film by director Tobe Hooper; new interview with Hooper; "My Name Is Buck": Star Robert Englund discusses his acting career; "The Butcher of Elmendorf: The Legend of Joe Ball," the story of the South Texas bar owner on whom "Eaten Alive" is loosely based; "5ive Minutes With Marilyn Burns," the star of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" talks about working on "Eaten Alive"; "The Gator Creator" archival interview with Hooper; original theatrical trailers for the film under its various titles "Eaten Alive," "Death Trap," "Starlight Slaughter" and "Horror Hotel"; U.S. TV and radio spots; alternate credits sequence; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin; collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film, illustrated with original archive stills and posters. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
The Farewell Party
(2015 -- Israel) A unique, compassionate and surprisingly funny story of a group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home who decide to help their terminally ill friend. When rumors of their assistance begin to spread, more and more people ask for their help, and the friends are faced with a life and death dilemma. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Finding Neighbors
(2013) Michael O'Keefe, Catherine Dent, Blake Bashoff, Julie Mond, Sean Patrick Thomas, Mike Genovese. A successful stay-at-home graphic novelist hits a mid-life and creative crisis when, after the failure of his last work, he develops writers block. Seeking inspiration, he first turns to his provocative next-door female neighbor but, to the surprise of his wife, he actually ends up spending all of his time with the another next-door neighbor, a gay fellow "househusband" with whom he becomes emotionally intimate. Formats: DVD. Extras: Cast interviews, director's breakdown of a scene, director's commentary, animation backstory, "Women on the Set" featurett, theatrical trailer. (Strand Releasing).
Growing Up Trans
(2015) Just a generation ago, it was adults, not kids, who changed genders. But today, many children are transitioning, too -- with new medical options, and at younger and younger ages. In this program, Frontline takes viewers on an intimate and eye-opening journey inside this new frontier — where it's now possible for kids who feel they were born in the wrong body to never have to go through the puberty of their biological sex. Eight transgender kids, ranging in ages from 9 to 19, speak with striking candor and remarkable insight about their deeply personal experiences. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
In the Name of My Daughter
(2015 -- France) Adele Haenel, Catherine Deneuve, Guillaume Canet. Acclaimed director Andre Techine brings a gripping real-life thriller to the screen. When her marriage falls apart in 1976, Agnes Le Roux (Haenel) moves back to the South of France from Africa to live with her mother, Renee (Deneuve), owner of the Palais de La Mediterranee casino in Nice. There, Agnes falls in love with Maurice Agnelet (Canet), a lawyer and Renee's business advisor, who is 10 years her senior. Agnes is madly in love with him and he introduces her to a rival casino owner, Fratoni, who wants to win control of the Palais de la Mediterannee. Fratoni bribes Agnes to vote against her mother at a stockholders' meeting and Renee loses control of the casino. In November 1977, after a failed suicide attempt, Agnes disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years on, Maurice Agnelet remains the prime suspect in a murder case with no body and no proof of his guilt. Convinced of his involvement, Renee is prepared to fight to the bitter end to see him put behind bars. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Cohen Media Group).
The Journey Home (aka Midnight Sun)
(2014) Dakota Goyo, Goran Visnjic, Bridget Moynahan. A young boy attempts to reunite an abandoned polar bear cub with its mother in northern Canada. But when a violent storm closes in, his mother and a family friend frantically search for the daring pair as they defy starvation and below freezing temperatures so both boy and bear can complete their own journeys home. Formats: DVD, Digital. (RLJ Entertainment).
Jumanji: 20th Anniversary Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1995) Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, David Alan Grier, Patricia Clarkson. Extras: New bonus features: From the cast of "Goosebumps" (due Oct. 16): "Goosebumps" sneak peek, "Reflection on Jumanji"; new animated storybook excerpts from Jumanji (the book), narrated by author Chris Van Allsburg; two episodes of the 1996 "Jumanji: The Animated Series" TV show; original theatrical trailer. Legacy special features: special effects crew commentary, making-of documentary, production design documentary, SFX featurette, storyboard comparisons. (Sony).
Kindness Is Contagious
(2015) Heartwarming documentary by David Gaz, narrated by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the best-selling author of the novel (and film) "Pay It Forward." It’s a film all about being nice and the benefits of being nice. CEOs, baseball players, roller girls, concert pianists, artists,
street performers, soup kitchen volunteers, police officers, models and many more tell you their heartfelt stories of kindness and generosity. Formats: DVD. (Cinedigm).
Modern Family: The Complete Sixth Season
(2014-15) Three-disc set with 24 episodes. Formats: DVD, $39.98. (Fox).
The Other Man: F.W. De Klerk and the End Of Apartheid
(2014) It could have been a bloodbath of historic proportions. But instead, one man made the end of apartheid possible: in February 1990, President F.W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress and ordered the release of Nelson Mandela. As the world celebrated, Mandela would go on to become South Africa's first democratically elected president -- with de Klerk as his deputy president. But de Klerk's history is complicated. A virulent defender
of white Africans and their privileges, he helped lead the fight against ANC activists. And his own presidency was marred by violence, often at the hands of security forces he controlled. What pushed this man to reverse his beliefs and jumpstart the process of making South Africa a more equal and just nation? Formats: DVD. Extras: "20 Years After Apartheid (discussion with Thabo Mbeki, Max Dupree and F.W. de Klerk), "The Quantum Leap Speech" (about de Klerk's famous speech, February 2, 1990) , "Vox Populi" (street interviews about the legacy of Mandela and de Klerk). (First Run Features).
Pitch Perfect 2
(2015) Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Katey Sagal.
After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform in this sequel to 2012's sleeper smash hit "Pitch perfect." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Extended musical performances, deleted/extended/alternate scenes, "The Bellas Are Back," gag reel, commentary with director-producer Elizabeth Banks and producers Paul Brooks and Max Handelman. Blu-ray adds bonus song performed by the Treblemakers, Das Sound Machine finale breakdown, Line-Aca-Rama, Green Bay rap, "Elizabeth Banks' Directorial Debut" featurette, "Aca-Camp," "The Making of the Riff-Off," "The World Championships of A Cappella," "Snoop is in the House," "Residual Heat Internship", "An Aca-Love Story: Bumper and Fat Amy," "Legacy: Hailee Steinfeld." (Universal).
Pop Life
(2015) Powerful documentary that delves into the popularity of street drugs such as Molly found in today’s EDM culture. Offers a firsthand look at the environments where this new generation of party drugs are consumed, as told by club kids, EDM DJ’s and music fest moguls. As EDM has exploded into the mainstream, illicit drugs have become rampant at concerts and with fans. Teens and young adults have grown desensitized to these popular street drugs, putting their future at high risk. Formats: DVD. (Moguldom Studios/Cinedigm).
Results
(2015) Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Michael Hall, Brooklyn Decker, Constance Zimmer. Recently divorced, newly rich, and utterly miserable, Danny (Kevin Corrigan) would seem to be the perfect test subject for a definitive look at the relationship between money and happiness. Danny’s well-funded ennui is interrupted by a momentous trip to the local gym, where he meets self-styled guru/owner Trevor (Guy Pearce) and
Saint Laurent
(2015) Gaspard Ulliel, Jeremie Renier, Lea Seydoux, Louis Garrell, Amira Casar, Aymelyne Valade, Helmut Berger. Yves Saint Laurent's life from 1967 to 1976, during which time the famed fashion designer was at the peak of his career ... when Saint Laurent found both artistic inspiration and personal torment in the liberation and hedonism of the times. Explores the mind of the creative genius, the intricacies that turned a haute-couture label into a worldwide phenomenon, and the glamour and decadence that followed Saint Laurent's footsteps of fame and fortune. France's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film for the 87th Academy Awards. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Sony).
The Sentinel BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1977) Cristina Raines, Chris Sarandon, Ava Gardner, Jose Ferrer, John Carradine, Arthur
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Adventures of SpongeBob SquarePants
(2014) Even Bikini Bottom needs protection from evildoers and the ocean's greatest heroes are here to save the day in this collection of eight animated SpongeBob episodes. Whether it's Patrick-Man working hard to clean up Bikini Bottom or the legendary Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy being dragged back into the crime-fighting business, there is no stopping these deep-sea heroic adventures -- available together for the first time. Formats: DVD" $14.88 (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
Zathura: 10th Anniversary Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT
(2005) Josh Hutcherson, Kristen Stewart, Jonah Bobo, Dax Sheppard, Tim Robbins. Extras: New bonus features: From the cast of "Goosebumps" (due Oct. 16): "Goosebumps" sneak peek, "Reflection on Zathura"; new animated storybook version of "Zathura" (the book), narrated by author Chris Van Allsburg; original theatrical trailer. Legacy special features: Commentary with director Jon Favreau and co-producer Peter Billingsley; Featurettes: "The Making of Zathura," "Visual Effects Documentary," "The Cast of Zathura," "Zorgons, Robots and Frozen Lisa," "Making the Game," "Miniatures and the World of Zathura," "The World of Chris van Allsburg." (Sony).
![]()
September 20, 2015 (ISSN 1094-3676). |
|