What makes war photographers set out to capture images from some of the most dangerous places on earth?
This is a question that drove director Richard Parry as he followed photo-journalist Robert King in Shooting Robert King.
Using footage shot over a fifteen year period, the documentary chronicles King in the war zones of the former Yugoslavia, Chechnya and Iraq.
The first part sees him as a naive, but determined 24 year old getting his first taste of war in Sarajevo during 1993.
But by the time of Grozny in 1997, he is a more hardened figure who has had photos published on the covers of the world’s top publications including Time and Figaro.
After spells in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Albania and Kosovo he eventually goes to Iraq in 2007, by which time he is married with a family.
In the most recent conflict, he chose (like many others) to be embedded with the US military and it is an eye-opening behind-the-scenes look at how the war was covered.
The footage in the film is often remarkable, providing a fascinating document of the wars, although sensitive viewers should be warned that it is frequently graphic and disturbing.
A compelling portrait of a journalist and his motives for covering war, it also intercuts King talking about his experiences in the relative peace of Tennessee during 2007.
The extras on the DVD include the following:
Audio Commentary by director Richard Parry and producer Vaughn Smith
Werner Herzog’s brilliantly surreal remake (or is it?) of Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film is relocated to New Orleans where a corrupt, drug addled cop (Nicolas Cage) finds himself involved with a drug dealer (Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner) who is suspected of murdering a family of African immigrants.
On top of this he struggles to keep his life in check, which includes his prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes); his hot-headed partner (Val Kilmer); a local bookie (Brad Dourif) and all manner of surreal visions.
This sounds like it could be the premise of a conventional crime movie and there are elements of William Finkelstein’s script that bear the hallmarks of the traditional cop procedural. But filtered through the lens of Herzog, we have something different altogether.
As the story progresses Cage’s character takes gargantuan amounts of drugs (coke, heroin, crack), shakes down clubbers and then screws their girlfriends in front of them, runs up huge debts, threatens old age pensioners and does all this wearing an oversize suit with a funny looking revolver.
But this only scratches the surface, as Herzog adds some wildly surreal touches involving iguanas and alligators shot in extreme hand held close-up, whacky interludes involving dogs, horny traffic cops and hilariously over the top dialogue delivered by Cage in a couple of different accents (my favourite lines being “‘Shoot him again! His soul is still dancing!” and “to the break of DAWNNNN!!!!”).
Strange, out of control and defiantly off its head, it seems destined for cult status: appealing to cinephiles and late night stoner audiences.
When I first saw it last year I was unsure if it was a crazy joke or surreal genius. Having seen it again I’m sure it is the latter.
Not only does Herzog filter the material through his own unique mind, but Cage arguably gives his greatest performance in years, which is wild and out of control in all the best ways.
The Blu-ray transfer is crisp and sharp – in many ways a better experience than the print I originally saw it on – and in HD one can really appreciate the visual mood created by Herzog and his regular DOP Peter Zeitlinger.
The extras include interviews with the cast and key crew as well as a substantial 30 minute making of featurette which goes behind certain sequences, interviewing the key talent.
Most of it consists of Herzog setting up shots, discussing his creative process and we also get some interesting contributions from the cast and crew.
In years people will wonder how one of Europe’s greatest arthouse directors ended up making a film with Nicolas Cage in New Orleans, but they will be grateful for what is a unusually memorable collaboration.
On top of this he struggles to keep his life in check, which includes his prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes); his hot-headed partner (Val Kilmer); a local bookie (Brad Dourif) and all manner of surreal visions. *Read the full review here * [Blu-ray / DVD]
The Killer Inside Me (Icon Home Entertainment): Adapated from Jim Thompson’s 1952 novel about a deputy sheriff (Casey Affleck) in Texas who is also a secretly depraved sociopath. Directed by Michael Winterbottom and co-starring Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson, the film caused considerable controversy earlier this year due to the graphic violence in certain scenes.
Despite that kerfuffle and some sequences which drag, it manages to effectively convey the dark side of Eisenhower’s America. * Read the full review here * [Blu-ray / DVD]
ALSO OUT
A Nightmare On Elm Street (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] American – The Bill Hicks Story (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] City of Life and Death (High Fliers Video Distribution) [Blu-ray / DVD] Death at a Funeral (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Fringe: Season 2 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Fringe: Seasons 1 and 2 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] House: Season 6 (Universal/Playback) [Blu-ray / DVD] Infernal Affairs (Palisades Tartan) [Blu-ray / DVD] Rush: 2112/Moving Pictures (Eagle Rock Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] She’s Out of My League (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Space Chimps 2 – Zartog Strikes Back (EV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Stephen Hawking’s Universe (Demand DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD] StreetDance E1 (Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Tetro (Soda Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Deep (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Wake Up Sid (UTV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Warren Miller: Dynasty (Demand DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD]
The World at War: The Ultimate Restored Edition (Fremantle Home Entertainment): The landmark documentary series about World War II is rightly regarded as one of the greatest in the history of television. It took four years to produce the 26 episodes which were produced by Jeremy Isaacs and narrated by Laurence Olivier.
The range of material is breathtaking, featuring a broad spectrum of people involved in the war including civilians, soliders, officers and politicians.
Key interviewees include Albert Speer, James Stewart, Curtis LeMay, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, Alger Hiss, Paul Tibbets, Anthony Eden and Traudl Junge.
Originally screened in the UK on ITV between October 1973 and May 1974, it has subsequently become a staple of history channels around the world.
This new version has undergone a painstaking restoration process with the audio enhanced and a new widescreen presentation. The decision to convert the aspect ratio from the original 4:3 to 16:9 meant that restored masters were created for multiple use (for Blu-ray, DVD and broadcast).
The aspect ratio conversion was done by going back to the original materials and then using a special pan and scan process which was set to strict guidelines.
The ten hours of special features include:
Brand new – Restoring the World at War – narrated by Sir Jeremy Isaacs, this feature explores every element of the restoration process
11 features including the making of the original series
The Ghost (Optimum Home Entertainment): Adapted by Robert Harris from his own novel, the story sees a journalist (Ewan McGregor) agree to ghost write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), who bears a striking similarity to Tony Blair.
When the writer sets to work at the PM’s residence in Martha’s Vineyard, he finds out that his predecessor has mysteriously drowned as well as some other unnerving things.
Lang could be guilty of war crimes, specifically colluding with the US on torturing terrorist suspects, and after talking to his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams) and assistant Amelia (Kim Cattrall) he uncovers murky inconsistencies about the political leader’s background.
The first and most obvious aspect of The Ghost is the quality of the film making. Although it isn’t up there with his best work (Repulsion, Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist) it is a highly absorbing and technically proficient thriller.
Its stately pace and considered approach are so old fashioned as to be positively revolutionary in these times, but it is a reminder that a veteran European director can still make a relevant and accessible film about contemporary issues.
The extras on this version include:
The Ghost Writer: Fiction or Reality? (10:46 in HD)
The Cast of The Ghost Writer (11:48 in HD)
World Premiere in Berlin (1:52)
Press Conference to Berlinale (36:33 in HD)
Interviews with McGregor (2:11), Brosnan (2:53), Harris (3:58), Olivia Williams (3:23), Polanski (8:33 in HD)
The Special Relationship (Optimum Home Entertainment): The third film to explore the career of Tony Blair is a well staged drama about his political relationship with Bill Clinton. Screenwriter Peter Morgan previously dramatised key periods in the career of the former British Prime Minister in The Deal (2003) and The Queen (2006), both of which were directed by Stephen Frears.
The latest charts Blair’s relations with Clinton in the 1990s as he sought to form an alliance with a political soul mate who could package ‘third-way’ liberal politics to an electorate that had fallen for Thatcher and Regan.
The bulk of it deals with Blair (Michael Sheen) and Clinton (Dennis Quaid) debating various issues in the late 1990s, whilst Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory) and Hilary Clinton (Hope Davis) look on and provide commentary on this transatlantic relationship.
As in his previous works depicting modern history, Morgan offers some sharp insights into Blair’s political journey from a Prime Minister dazzled by the trappings of power, to one who soon becomes too enamoured with spin and military intervention.
Clinton comes across as some kind of unlikely soothsayer, but director Richard Longcraine puts things together with a good deal of technical skill – despite having a TV premiere it has the feel of a feature film – and it will provide a lot of talking points for people in a month which has seen the real life Blair issue his memoirs.
The extras aren’t exactly extensive on this one, featuring the following:
Mother (Optimum Home Entertainment): After the success of his 2005 monster film The Host, director Bong Joon Ho has returned with this strange but compelling thriller set in rural Korea about a devoted mother (Kim Hye Ja) who goes to desperate extremes to protect her mentally disabled son (Won Bin).
A mixture of psychological thriller, mystery and domestic drama, it features an outstanding central performance from Kim Hye Ja, several satisfying twists, some killer editing and a vaguely unsettling sense that mad things will happen at any moment.
Arn – Knight Templar (High Fliers Video Distribution) [Blu-ray / DVD] Camp Rock 2 – The Final Jam (Extended Edition) Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. [Blu-ray / DVD] Cop Out (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Death Note (4Digital Asia) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Forbidden Planet (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] I Spit On Your Grave (101 Films) [Blu-ray / DVD] Lang Lang: Live in Vienna (Sony Classics) [Blu-ray / DVD] Mars Attacks! (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Robin Hood (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD / Limited Edition] The Back-up Plan (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Hannibal Lecter Trilogy (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Sword With No Name (Showbox Media Group) [Blu-ray / DVD] Tooth Fairy (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] [Rec] (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] [Rec] 2 (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD]
The third film to explore the career of Tony Blair is a well staged drama about his political relationship with Bill Clinton.
Screenwriter Peter Morgan previously dramatised key periods in the career of the former British Prime Minister in The Deal (2003) and The Queen (2006), both of which were directed by Stephen Frears.
The latest film charts Blair’s relations with Clinton in the 1990s as he sought to form an alliance with a political soul mate who could package ‘third-way’ liberal politics to an electorate that had fallen for Thatcher and Regan.
The bulk of it deals with Blair (Michael Sheen) and Clinton (Dennis Quaid) debating various issues in the late 1990s, whilst Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory) and Hilary Clinton (Hope Davis) look on and provide commentary on this transatlantic relationship.
The two major issues at this time were the Monica Lewinsky scandal which engulfed Clinton’s presidency and the Kosovo conflict in which Blair pressed his politically weakened US ally into military intervention.
Sheen can now do Blair blindfolded, so it is no surprise that he gives a convincing portrayal of the period when the former PM began to become enamoured with power and military intervention.
Quaid offers an impressive take on Clinton, which goes beyond surface mannerisms to suggest that, for all his flaws, he was a shrewd observer of political minefields.
Davis also manages to convey the cadences and mannerisms of Hilary Clinton with enough skill and class to suggest that she could have her own biopic.
But aside from offering accurate depictions of famous politicians, what is this film actually saying?
Essentially, it is a cautionary tale written from a post-Iraq perspective.
The energetic Blair, in his rush to war, is meant to mirror the later version that joined forces with George W Bush for the war which would ultimately wreck his legacy.
Although this means there is plenty of dramatic irony, often it feels a bit too cute. Clinton’s soothsaying speeches imbue him with an improbable amount of foresight and the script’s episodic nature means it occasionally feels like a current affairs checklist.
Technically, director Richard Loncraine handles everything with a good deal of assurance and the performances, production design, costumes and visuals all give it an authentic feel.
Compared to the previous films in which Sheen has played Blair, it comfortably fits into the trajectory Morgan has scripted. But as to how these films will age is another point.
This year has seen Blair loom large again after standing down in 2007. Just last month he released his unapologetic political memoirs and back in the spring Roman Polanski directed The Ghost, which offered a fictionalised version of Blair played by Pierce Brosnan.
This vision is perhaps the darkest Morgan has yet painted, offering a political figure convinced of his own righteousness and the need to see the world in black and white.
As such it foreshadows his determination to invade Iraq after 9/11. But whether this film fully sells this idea is open to question.
Would Blair have done it had 9/11 not happened? Morgan seems to suggest that is the case but it is certainly debatable issue right at the heart of the drama.
The end result is polished, but it seems to suggest ideas and conclusions which are shaky and speculative, to say the least.
One scene towards the end stretches credibility in terms of dialogue, as though everything is being tailored to fit a preconceived framework.
Whether you buy some of the notions in the film depends how how planned political power actually is – I tend to opt for the view that it may be more fluid and messy than The Special Relationship suggests.
However, this is still a film that contains much to enjoy. Although this political sub-genre Morgan helped to kick-start has lost some of its novelty, it is still a pleasure to see recent history examined on screen in an era of big-budget tentpoles and teen dramas about vampires.
Given the theatrical success and Oscar recognition of The Queen, you might wonder why has this film hasn’t opened in cinemas.
It looks to all intents and purposes like a proper theatrical production, shot in widescreen with expensive production values, so why no cinema release?
As an HBO and BBC co-production, it premièred on HBO back in May and was initially scheduled for a UK theatrical opening that month, which was then cancelled.
Presumably, the distributors weren’t confident that a theatrical run was worth the cost and that a TV premiere was a better platform on which to launch the film.
It says a lot about the present commercial climate that the makers weren’t confident of opening a more serious political drama like this at cinemas, despite all the talent involved.
The Special Relationship the UK will screen on BBC Two tonight (Saturday 18th) and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 20th September.
The Third Man (Optimum Home Entertainment): One of the genuine landmarks of cinema, a tale of a writer (Joseph Cotten) visiting an elusive friend (Orson Welles) in post-war Vienna. It featured a bewildering array of talent behind and in front of the camera: Carol Reed directed from a script by Graham Greene, whilst Alexander Korda and David O’Selznick co-produced and aside from Welles and Cotten the cast features Trevor Howard and Allida Valli.
Famous for its iconic set pieces – light illuminating a doorway, a dialogue on a enormous ferris wheel, a chase through the sewers and two funerals, it also has one of the most distinctive scores courtesy of Anton Karas’ zither. It also won the Palme D’Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Cinematography. [Buy it on Blu-ray] *Read our longer review here*
Breathless (1960): Perhaps the iconic film of the French New Wave, this tale of a small time crook (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who goes on the run after stealing a car and shooting a cop, sees him end up in Paris with an American girlfriend (Jean Seberg).
With its loose narrative, location shooting, improvised dialogue, jump cuts, deliberately mismatched shots and literary references, it remains a landmark film. It gave French and European cinema a much needed shot of inspiration when it first came out in 1960, with audiences and critics responding to its energy and artistic verve. N.B. The Special Edition DVD release also comes out the same day as the Blu-ray but has slightly different extras. [Buy it on Blu-ray / Buy the 50th Anniversary DVD]
The Graduate (1967): One of the iconic films of the late 1960s saw Dustin Hoffman play the eponymous graduate, a recent university graduate drifting aimlessly in life, who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), only to fall in love with her daughter (Katharine Ross).
Director Mike Nichols struck a chord with a younger generation of audiences by using techniques borrowed from the French New Wave to craft a witty tale of youthful alienation. Odd angles and unconventional editing were combined with a sharp script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham (adapted from from Charles Webb’s novel) and the result was a huge hit, launching Hoffman’s career and also boosting Simon and Garfunkel whose music features heavily on the soundtrack. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
Extra features include:
Region A & B
English, French and German 2.0 DTS-HD MA
English; French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Japanese subtitles
Audio Commentary with Prof. Koebner, film historian (new to UK)
About The Music (7’55) – analysis of music by Prof.Koebner & Helga La Motte-Haber, music professor & author (new to UK) (SD)
Analysis of the Seduction Scene (12’10) (new to UK) (SD)
Trailer (1’48) (SD)
The Graduate at 25 (22’21) (SD)
Interview with Charles Webb (20’07) (SD)
The Graduate: Looking Back (12.56) (SD)
The Music in the Film – 4 tracks: The Sound of Silence, April Come She Will, Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Robinson as they appear in the film (HD)
Booklet Essay by Marc Webb, writer / director – Marc Webb is the writer/director of 500 Days of Summer and the director of the forthcoming Spider-man reboot
Le Cercle Rouge (1970): A stylish French crime drama about two criminals (Alain Delon and Gian-Maria Volonté) who join forces with a corrupt ex-cop (Yves Montand) for a tricky heist becomes something much deeper in the hands of director Jean-Pierre Melville.
Exploring the moralities of those breaking and enforcing the law, it features excellent performances from the leads, a wonderfully teasing narrative and some brilliantly executed set-pieces. It was heavily cut for its initial US release in 1970, but this id the fully restored version. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
Extra features include:
Region B
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
French, English and German 2.0 DTS-HD MA
English, French and German subtitles
New or previously unreleased material:
Codename Melville Documentary directed by Olivier Bohler (76’35) (SD)
Interview with José Giovanni (15’03) (SD)
Interview with Rui Nogueira (author of Melville on Melville, produced by the Criterion Collection) (26’11) (SD)
Introduction by Ginette Vincendeau (12’30) (SD)
Interview with assistant director Bernard Stora (30’45) (SD)
Trailer (’45) (HD)
Booklet Essay by Ginette Vincendeau, Professor / Author – Ginette Vincendeau is Professor of Film Studies at King’s College London. Among her works on French cinema are Stars and Stardom in French Cinema (2000) and Jean-Pierre Melville, An American in Paris (2003)
Delicatessen (1991): The wonderfully surreal debut of the Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, set in a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, is about an ex-clown (Dominique Pinon) who gets a job in an apartment building and then falls for the daughter of the building’s owner – an imposing and sinister butcher. Below them, down in the sewers, live some rebel vegetarians. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
The extra features include:
Region A & B
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
French, German and Spanish 2.0 DTS-HD MA
English, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Japanese subtitles
NEW: Main Course Pieces (1h05’28) – brand new retrospective documentary (SD)
The Archives of Jean-Pierre Jeunet: actor’s Casting tests (Callbacks) and rehearsals, behind the scenes etc (8’43) (SD)
Audio Commentary by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Making Of: Fine Cooker Pork Meats making of/short film by Diane Bertrand (13’30) (SD)
Trailer (2’08) (SD)
Teasers (1’06) (SD)
Booklet Essay by Adam Woodward, Journalist – Adam Woodward has worked as online editor for Little White Lies magazine since 2009 and currently writes for a number of film-related publications, including Playground magazine and Eye For Film.
Mulholland Drive (2001): David Lynch’s neo-noir journey through the dark side of Hollywood is still as fresh, disturbing and trippy as it was when it first came out. The tale of a woman (Laura Elena Harring) who loses her memory in a car accident and the actress (Naomi Watts) who tries to help her out, it weaves a hypnotic spell as it unfolds in wildly unconventional ways.
Featuring all manner of memorable characters including a director, a cowboy and a mysterious singer, it is one of those films which has inspired all manner of theories due to the hallucinogenic games Lynch plays with the audience. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
The extras break down as follows:
Region B
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
English, French and Italian 5.1 DTS-HD MA
Italian, French and Dutch subtitles
New or previously unreleased material:
Angelo Badalamenti: audio interview 10 years on (audio only: 16’30)
Back to Mulholland Drive (21’) (new to DVD / blu-ray) (SD)
Introduction by Thierry Jousse (10’) (HD)
In the Blue Box (27’) – retrospective documentary featuring directors and critics (HD)
Interview with Angelo Badalamenti (Music Composer) (16’46) (SD)
Interview with Mary Sweeney (Editor and Producer) (6’03) (SD)
Making of (23’) (SD)
Booklet Essay by Adam Woodward, Journalist
The Pianist (2002): Roman Polanski won the Oscar for Best Director for this World War II drama about Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who escaped the Nazi death camps by hiding in the Warsaw ghetto. Played by Adrien Brody (who also won an Oscar for his performance) it is a gruelling tale of survival which features an interesting (and true life) twist.
The gradual destruction of Warsaw provides a haunting backdrop to Szpilman’s story of survival is treated with a powerful blend of intelligence and emotion. Polanski’s own personal experiences during the war no doubt made the film a personal one and the craft, especially Pawel Edelman’s cinematography, is impeccable throughout. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
Extras include:
Region B
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
English, French and Italian 5.1 DTS-HD MA
French, Italien, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles
New or previously unreleased material:
Interview with Ronald Harwood (20’45) (SD)
Interview with Andrzej Szpilman (29’49) (SD)
Interview with Daniel Szpilman (2’28) (SD)
A Story of Survival: behind the scenes of The Pianist (39’43) (SD)
Trailer (1’30) (SD)
Booklet Essay by Anwar Brett, journalist – Anwar Brett is a journalist specialising in cinema, who has written for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines over the years, publications such as BAFTA’s Academy magazine, Total Film, Film Review and The South London Press. He is also a freelance interviewer for film and DVD, occasional moderator of audience Q&As and has recently finished his first book on the rarefied theme of films shot in his native county of Dorset.
Dogtooth (Verve Pictures): One of the most startling and original films of the last year was this creepily absorbing tale of a Greek family headed by two parents (Christos Stergioglou and Michelle Valley) who go to extreme lengths to shelter their three children (Aggeliki Papoulia, Mary Tsoni and Christos Passalis) from the outside world.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, it examines how the world the parents create is taken by the children as their only reality. Imagine the Big Brother house as designed by Samuel Beckett and you’ll get some idea of the bizarre ways in which language and ideas are subverted for strange, cruel and often deviously funny ends.
Everything is presented with a cool, detached formality: the editing and cinematography are calm, considered and make the increasingly bizarre world of the house seem ordinary, even though it is anything but.
It explores similar territory to The Truman Show (1998), but manages to have its own hypnotic power. In the light of recent kidnap stories in Europe (such as the Fritzl case), it manages to echo contemporary anxieties as well as examining age old themes of power, control and the social forces that shape us.
After winning the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2009, it played to considerable and richly deserved acclaim on the festival circuit and remains one of the most startling European films to emerge in years. [Blu-ray / DVD]
ALSO OUT
Date Night (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Glee: Complete Season 1 (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (BFI) [Blu-ray with DVD] Hung: Season 1 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Inferno (Arrow Films) [Blu-ray / DVD] Kandahar Break – Fortress of War (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Lost: The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / Box Set] Lost: The Complete Sixth Season (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / Box Set] Mountain Gorillas (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / with DVD and Digital Copy] Unthinkable (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Vincere (Artificial Eye) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Based on a sparse treatment by François Truffaut and shot by Raoul Coutard, it became the iconic film of the French New Wave and established Godard as one of the key directors of his generation.
The story of a small time criminal on the run (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who hooks up in Paris with an American newspaper seller (Jean Seberg), it landed like a bombshell when it first opened, with its loose narrative, location shooting, improvised dialogue and jump cuts.
It gave French and European cinema a much needed shot of inspiration in 1960, with audiences and critics responding to its energy and artistic verve.
The transfer for the DVD and Blu-ray looks excellent and the film still has a remarkable freshness and energy, despite the fact that it has been referenced and parodied down the years.
The extras feature a generous selection of featurettes on the production and legacy of the film.
Special Features on the DVD release include:
Introduction by Jefferson Hack, creator of Dazed & Confused magazine
A rarely seen interview with Jean-Luc Godard by Mike Hodges from the UK arts show Tempo in 1965
‘Je T’Aime John Wayne’ – A short film directed by Toby MacDonald
A featurette on the life of Jean Seberg
It is also worth noting that the film will also be released on Blu-ray as part of the Studio Canal Collection, with different extras.
Breathless is being released in the UK on a special 50th Anniversary Edition on 13th September 2010
The Third Man is one of the most enduring films of the post-war era and has now got a worthy Blu-ray release as part of The Studio Canal Collection.
Set in Vienna just after World War II, the story begins when a writer (Joseph Cotten) visits the city to meet his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to be told that he has died.
At Lime’s funeral, Martins meets a British army major (Trevor Howard), Lime’s actress girlfriend (Alida Valli) and slowly begins to discover that Lime was a much more ambiguous character than he realised with with connections to the criminal underworld.
A quick glance at some of the key talents involved with The Third Man is illuminating: Welles and Cotton had worked together on Citizen Kane (1941), Alexander Korda and David O Selznick were two of the most influential producers of that era, director Carol Reed was coming off Odd Man Out (1947) and The Fallen Idol (1948) and the screenplay was written by novelist Graham Greene.
In addition to this glittering line up of talent, we can also note Anton Karas, who provided the indelible zither score, and Robert Krasker, who won an Oscar for his atmospheric cinematography.
The film managed to capture the weary mood and shifting moralities of post-war Europe.
Vienna proved to be a memorable backdrop, with key locations including an elm-lined cemetery, the iconic Ferris wheel and the underground sewers.
In Harry Lime, it also gave us one of great villains in cinema.
Welles is magnetic in the role and although he only has a handful of scenes, his presence dominates the film.
Aside from the marvellous technique and fine performances, it also has a unique power and intelligence courtesy of Greene’s script.
It ponders some of the great moral questions of the twentieth century, most memorably in the Ferris wheel sequence, but does so on a way that is engrossing, funny and ultimately moving.
Reed imbues everything with a sublime melancholy that underscores the personal and political impact of World War II.
A film that repays repeated viewings, it contains many delights ranging from amusing supporting turns by Bernard Lee and Wilfred Hyde-White, a famous scene involving a cat in a darkened doorway and one of the finest closing shots in the history of cinema.
The extras on the disc are generous, the best of which is the 89-minute documentary ‘Shadowing The Third Man’, which revisits the original locations and explores the film in considerable depth, revealing the tensions behind the scenes and why the film continues to resonate with audiences.
Narrated by John Hurt, it also features key contributions from Guy Hamilton (the Assistant Director, who would go on to direct Goldfinger) and Angela Allen (2nd Unit Continuity) as they reminisce about their time working on the production.
The audio commentary also features Simon Callow (author of the best biography of Orson Welles) with Hamilton and Allen as they provide further insights on various sequences in the film, along with more anecdotes on the production.
Also of note is some new supplementary material actually shot in HD, which includes an interactive tour of Vienna, which features locations from the film.
Here are the technical details of the disc, alongside the extras in full:
Region B
1080P 1.33:1
English, French and German DTS-HD MA 2.0 (mono)
German, French, Spanish and Dutch subtitles
New or previously unreleased material:
Guardian NFT Interview with Joseph Cotten (audio only: 47’13)
Guardian NFT Interview with Graham Greene (audio only: 8’05)
Audio Commentary by Guy Hamilton (Assistant Director), Angela Allen (2nd Unit Continuity) & Simon Callow (audio only: 1’44)
2 x original trailers (1’46 mins & 2’19) (HD)
Stills gallery (2’24) (HD)
Interview and performance by zither player Cornelia Mayer (4’44) (HD)
The Third Man Interactive Vienna Tour (49’50) (HD)
The Third Man on the Radio (an episode of The Lives of Harry Lime: Ticket to Tangiers (1951) written by and performed by Orson Welles) (audio only: 28’45)
Shadowing The Third Man –retrospective documentary (1hr29) (SD)
US alternative prologue by Joseph Cotton (1’20) (SD)
Booklet Essay by Charles Drazin, film historian / biographer – Charles Drazin is a film historian and biographer. His books include Korda: Britain’s Only Movie Mogul, The Finest Years: British Cinema of the 1940s and In Search of The Third Man. He lectures on the cinema at Queen Mary, University of London.
The Third Man is out on Blu-ray on September 13th from Optimum Releasing
Kick-Ass (Universal): A post-modern superhero film based on the comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. It is the story of teenager (Aaron Johnson) who decides to become a super-hero named Kick-Ass after purchasing a costume (even though he has no powers or training) and soon finds himself involved with a local gangster (Mark Strong); his son (Christopher Mintz-Plasse); and a highly trained father and daughter vigilante duo (Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz).
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, produced by Brad Pitt and written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, the film was independently financed – at a budget of $28 million dollars – and gleefully subverts the superhero movie whilst also paying homage to it. It isn’t the awe-inspiring masterpiece that some would have you believe, but it is still a witty and interesting take on the comic-book genre.
The extras on the Blu-ray and DVD versions include:
Ass-Kicking Bonus View Mode (Blu-ray Disc Exclusive) – Synchronous with the feature film, this innovative multi-media presentation incorporates video and audio commentary, behind-the-scenes clips and illustrative graphics with Co-Writer/Producer/Director Matthew Vaughn, plus cast and crew providing an all-access perspective on Kick-Ass
“A New Kind of Superhero: The Making of Kick-Ass “ documentary (Blu-ray Disc Exclusive)
“It’s On! The Comic Book Origin of Kick-Ass” featurette
Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Matthew Vaughn
“The Art of Kick-Ass” gallery
Marketing Archive
BD Touch and Metamenu Remote
Lionsgate Live™ enabled, featuring extra content for Internet-connected players
Enhanced for D-Box™ Motion Control Systems
Standard Definition DVD Copy of the feature film
Standard Definition Digital Copy of the feature film
Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Matthew Vaughn
It’s On! The Comic Book Origin of Kick-Ass” featurette
Exit Through the Gift Shop (Revolver Entertainment): The debut film from enigmatic graffiti artist Banksy is a documentary (or is it?) which tells the story of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in Los Angeles who is obsessed with street art. It shows Guetta’s constant filming of his own life and his attempts to capture Banksy on camera. It also features other artists including Invader and Shepard Fairey (the man famous for the Barack Obama ‘Hope’ poster).
Narrated by Rhys Ifans, the music is by Geoff Barrow and although there has been a continuous debate about the nature of the film since it debuted at Sundance in January, it has got very strong reviews and is likely to increase the mystique of Banksy even further.
Extra features include: stickers, art prints, the movie, and ‘limited edition 2D glasses’.
After.Life (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Bent (Park Circus) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Black Lightning (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Doctor Who – The New Series: 5 – Volume 4 (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Entourage: Season 6 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] The African Queen: Restoration Edition (ITV DVD) [Buy it on Blu-ray] The Brit Indie Collection (4DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Last Song (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Official 2010 World Cup South Africa Review (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] True Inspiration Collection (4DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD]
The DVD and Blu-ray highlights to look out for this month include: the Banksy documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop, the surreal Greek drama Dogtooth, The Studio Canal Collection (which includes Blu-ray versions of classic films such as Breathless, The Third Man and Mulholland Drive), Roman Polanski’s timely political thriller The Ghost, the landmark TV series The World at War on Blu-ray for the first time, Werner Herzog’s reworking of Bad Lieutenant and Michael Winterbottom’s controversial drama The Killer Inside Me.
MONDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
After.Life (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Bent (Park Circus) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Black Lightning (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Doctor Who – The New Series: 5 – Volume 4 (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Entourage: Season 6 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Exit Through the Gift Shop (Revolver Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Kick-Ass (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD / Limited Edition] The African Queen: Restoration Edition (ITV DVD) [Buy it on Blu-ray] The Brit Indie Collection (4DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Last Song (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Official 2010 World Cup South Africa Review (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] True Inspiration Collection (4DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD]
MONDAY 13th SEPTEMBER
Breathless (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Date Night (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Delicatessen (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray] Dogtooth (Verve Pictures) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Glee: Complete Season 1 (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (BFI) [Blu-ray and DVD combi] Hung: Season 1 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Inferno (Arrow Films) [Blu-ray / DVD] Kandahar Break – Fortress of War (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Lost: The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Lost: The Complete Sixth Season (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Buy it on lu-ray or DVD] Mountain Gorillas (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Mulholland Drive (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray] Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD / Combi pack] The Graduate (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray] The Pianist (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray] The Third Man (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray] Unthinkable (E1 Entertainment UK) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Vincere (Artificial Eye) [Blu-ray / DVD]
MONDAY 20th SEPTEMBER
Death Note (4Digital Asia) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Forbidden Planet (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] I Spit On Your Grave (101 Films) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Lang Lang: Live in Vienna (Sony Classics) [Blu-ray / DVD] Mars Attacks! (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / Normal] Mother (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Robin Hood (Universal Pictures) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] The Back-up Plan (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Ghost (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] The Hannibal Lecter Trilogy (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Special Relationship (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] The Sword With No Name (Showbox Media Group) [Blu-ray / DVD] The World at War (Fremantle Home Entertainment) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] Tooth Fairy (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] [Rec] (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] [Rec] 2 (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD]
MONDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
A Nightmare On Elm Street (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] American – The Bill Hicks Story (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans (Lionsgate UK) [Buy it on Blu-ray or DVD] City of Life and Death (High Fliers Video Distribution) [Blu-ray / DVD] Death at a Funeral (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Fringe: Season 2 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Fringe: Seasons 1 and 2 (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / Box Set] House: Season 6 (Universal/Playback) [Blu-ray / Box Set] Infernal Affairs (Palisades Tartan) [Blu-ray / DVD] She’s Out of My League (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Space Chimps 2 – Zartog Strikes Back (EV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Stephen Hawking’s Universe (Demand DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD] StreetDance (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Tetro (Soda Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Deep (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Killer Inside Me (Icon Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Wake Up Sid (UTV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Warren Miller: Dynasty (Demand DVD) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Blu-ray won’t be as successful as DVD but it is still the best way to watch a properly restored film at home.
A recent post on The Guardian’s film blog by Shane Danielson titled ‘The devil is in Blu-ray’s detail‘ put forward the notion that the sharpness of Blu-ray is somehow a problem.
As someone who was once a partial sceptic of HD formats, at least until the industry sorted out the ludicrous format war and high prices, I read Danielson’s post with a mixture of intrigue and then gradual disbelief.
I suspect it was meant to be a contrarian think-piece putting forward the notion that the upgrade to Blu-ray isn’t really worth it.
After all, who needs to fork out extra for a format in which you can see the make-up on actor’s face? Isn’t it all just a big money making scheme to make us replace our DVD collection?
Well, it is certainly true that commercial imperatives have driven the shift to Blu-ray, as broadcasters and consumers gradually move to digital and high definition.
If you want to buy a new TV, you will be hard pressed to find one that isn’t an HD set.
One of Danielson’s points is that too much detail revealed in a high definition version of a film can be a bad thing, but he makes some key mistakes in highlighting the Blu-ray versions of Psycho and The Godfather.
For a piece with the word ‘detail’ in the title, he gets Martin Balsam‘s name wrong (calling him ‘Robert’) and there is no mention whatsoever of how the whole film actually looks on the format.
Furthermore, it is a little silly to complain about the strings on Martian spaceships in the Blu-ray version of George Pal’s The War of the Worlds, especially when no such version of the film actually exists. (I can only assume he is referring to the DVD version, which kind of undercuts his wider point).
Having actually seen the Psycho Blu-ray, I can only repeat my admiration for the team who oversaw its transfer as it looks marvellous and, as someone who has only ever seen it on television, the sharpness and clarity of the image makes a welcome change.
As for the make-up on Balsam’s head in a particular scene, it isn’t really noticeable unless you want to freeze the image and analyse the split second it occurs.
I get the idea that some people take issue when certain elements of a film are ‘corrected’ for the Blu-ray release, such as when DNR is used to smooth out the image (e.g. the new Predator Blu-ray) but in this case I don’t think the argument stands up at all.
I remember being in the Virgin Megastore in Times Square back in 2008, and pausing to look at a screen showing Coppola’s The Godfather, which had been released on Blu-ray a fortnight earlier.
It was the trattoria sequence, when Michael kills McCluskey and Sollozzo, and it looked great . . . in fact, it looked TOO great.
The colours were rich and burnished (that background red, in particular), the shadows were deep – yet at the same time, there was a precision to the images, a sort of hyperreal clarity, that didn’t jibe with my memory of having watched the film, either in the cinema or at home.
It seemed weirdly artificial, somehow, and watching it, I felt that I could almost see the grain of the film stock, the flicker and shudder of individual frames, such was the degree of visual information on offer.
I felt, suddenly, like Ray Milland’s character in The Man With the X-Ray Eyes. This could, I realised, drive me mad, if I let it.
Aside from the fact that it is highly dubious to make a judgement on a transfer from one scene observed in shop two years ago, he couldn’t have picked a worse one to illustrate his point.
Anyone who actually watches the complete version of The Godfather on Blu-ray, rather than idly chatting to a Virgin Megastore employee, will actually realise this.
There is also a twenty minute feature titled ‘Emulsion Rescue’ which details the painstaking task of restoring this sequence, featuring interviews with director Francis Ford Coppola, cinematographer Gordon Willis and others involved in the process.
Explaining the full technical details on how that scene was restored, they highlight how digital technology was used with the co-operation of the filmmakers, helping preserve their original artistic vision.
With this in mind, there have been cases where the Blu-ray release of a classic film has caused some controversy.
This presents a peculiar conundrum. Digital technology allowed Friedkin to change the look of his own film for the Blu-ray version, but is he betraying his original vision from 1971 that first captivated audiences? Or is that his artistic right as director?
On the wider matter of the format as a whole, it is probably true to say that it will never be as popular or as profitable as DVD.
Last Christmas the current rate of sales was reportedly nowhere near the original projections Sony had for it a few years ago and the cost of consumers upgrading to new television equipment in a recession also stunted the uptake.
Perhaps the most useless aspect of Blu-ray Discs is BD-Live, which is meant to provide interactive experiences when you hook up your player to the Internet.
Aside from the technical hassle of actually connecting a Blu-ray player to your home internet connection (and I speak from bitter experience on this) the features aren’t all that appealing.
But bizarrely, BD-Live always seems to be one of the ‘selling points’ talked up by manufacturers and Blu-ray marketing campaigns when it is clearly rubbish, for now at least.
So with all the teething problems the format has had, why would I recommend it?
Unlike Danielson I don’t see any romance or inherent ‘magic’ in cathode ray tube televisions and I’m not suspicious of carefully restored digital transfers of great films.
A good Blu-ray simply looks far better than its DVD counterpart, with a much tighter and richer image. For the most part, it really is that simple.
The optimal experience for seeing any motion picture is still a fine print at a decent cinema, but aside from critics and cinephiles visiting repertory cinemas, how many times do viewers experience quality projection and sound at their local cinema?
Just in the last year I saw two films (Funny People and Sherlock Holmes – not exactly classics, admittedly) at a multiplex and the projection and image quality for both were appalling.
When you think of why DVD proved popular, it wasn’t just because of the relative cost but was also partly due to digital technology in the home rapidly catching up with that of the average cinema.
Another obstacle Blu-ray faced from early on was that the jump from VHS to DVD was much more noticeable to the casual consumer than the leap from DVD to the newer higher definition format.
Not every release looks pristine, but when they have had care and attention lavished on them the results can be stunning: Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, The Godfather trilogy, North By Northwest, Baraka, Blade Runner, The New World, The Dark Knight and Psycho are just some films that look incredible on Blu-ray.
As for the cost, they have come down in price a lot over the last 18 months to the point where many new releases are actually cheaper than DVDs were at a certain point in time.
Another misconception appears to be that you need to replace your whole library of DVDs.
This is incorrect as Blu-ray players do actually play DVDs, which means you can pick and choose which titles you want to see in glorious HD (e.g. The Godfather) and those you don’t (e.g. any film featuring Danny Dyer).
When discussing Blu-ray and future home video formats, someone often pipes up with a line about how we are all ‘downloading films now anyway’.
It is almost inevitable that some time in the future, the legal delivery of films to our homes will be via a next generation broadband pipe.
However, that is still some way off as most people still watch films on physical discs (DVD, Blu-ray) with a more targeted niche choosing digital downloads via iTunes, Netflix, Lovefilm, Amazon and presumably YouTube by the end of this year.
If you are a visual purist, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to get 1080p films via iTunes anytime soon as the size of the film. It seems 720p is more likely when Apple unveil their revamped ‘iTV’ box.
Whilst there is a convenience factor to digital downloads that will probably mean that Blu-ray is the last optical disc format, it will take a few years before mainstream viewers fully embrace full digital delivery via their television sets or other devices.
Blu-ray has had its problems and will eventually go the way of DVD and VHS, but there is still a lot to be said for the format, especially when it comes to revisiting classics that have been properly restored.
Four Lions (Optimum): When this project was first announced, it promised to be another taboo-shattering project from Chris Morris, one of the most brilliant satirists of his generation.
After pioneering work in radio (On the Hour) and television (The Day Today, Brass Eye) which lampooned media and politics with diamond-sharp precision, it seemed like a bold and fascinating prospect.
Set in an unnamed northern town, it centres around four disenchanted young men: Omar (Riz Ahmed) is the unofficial leader determined to become a martyr for oppressed Muslims around the world; Waj (Kayvan Novak), a recruit who essnetially does what Omar says; Barry (Nigel Lindsay), a white Islamic convert obsessed with operational detail; and Faisal (Adeel Akhtar), who struggles trying to train crows to fly bombs through windows.
For the most part, the feature directorial debut of Morris is highly impressive. The comedy is rooted in detailed research which gives it an uncomfortable authenticity, whilst also providing some stand out set-pieces.
The performances are excellent, managing to convey the arrogance, ambition and stupidity of extremists, with Riz Ahmed especially good as the ringleader.
As the film moves into its final third, it manages to combine comedy with the more troubling realities of terrorism, which is an impressive juggling act by the filmmakers.
It isn’t as ingenious or as polished as Morris’ previous work, but as satire it manages to process one of the darkest contemporary problems with a rare tact and skill.
Extras include:
Deleted scenes
Background material: Lost Boys & Interview with Mo Ali
Interview with cast from Bradford Film Festival premiere
Sherlock (2entertain): Coming just months after a big-budget film about the famous detective, this three part BBC series could have been another excuse to cash in on the fact that Arthur Conan Doyle’s character recently came out of copyright.
Fortunately, this contemporary take on the classic stories is a witty and inspired update and manages to preserve the essence of Holmes while transferring it to modern London.
Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a consultant to the police who helps solve puzzling crimes with the help of a doctor (and ex-soldier) John Watson (Martin Freeman).
Although there were plenty of potential pitfalls, the fast pacing and breezy intelligence make this well above average for what normally appears on prime time British television.
The DVD and Blu-ray features the three episodes “A Study in Pink”, “The Blind Banker” and “The Great Game” and come with the following extras:
Audio commentaries: Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Sue Vertue on “A Study in Pink” and Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss on “The Great Game”.
The unaired pilot episode, which is a 60-minute version of “A Study in Pink”, directed by Coky Giedroyc.
Cemetery Junction (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) City of Life and Death (High Fliers Video Distribution) Clint Eastwood Collection (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) Furry Vengeance (E1 Entertainment UK) Hot Tub Time Machine (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) Jerusalema (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) The Last Seven (Metrodome Distribution) The Magnificent Seven (MGM Home Entertainment) When You’re Strange (Universal Pictures)
The latest batch of Blu-rays from The Studio Canal Collection, released on September 13th, feature The Third Man, Breathless, The Graduate, Delicatessen, Mulholland Drive and The Pianist.
For any self-respecting film fan these are nearly all essential purchases which range from milestones in post-war cinema to more modern classics.
All these titles are in 1080p, feature DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks and come with new cover art and liner notes and are released on September 13th.
Each title also comes with a lot of extras – some of which are new and exclusive to the Blu-ray versions – but I’ll review those later in individual posts on each title nearer the release date.
The Third Man (1949): One of the genuine landmarks of cinema, a tale of a writer (Joseph Cotten) visiting an elusive friend (Orson Welles) in post-war Vienna. It featured a bewildering array of talent behind and in front of the camera: Carol Reed directed from a script by Graham Greene, whilst Alexander Korda and David O’Selznick co-produced and aside from Welles and Cotten the cast features Trevor Howard and Allida Valli. Famous for its iconic set pieces – light illuminating a doorway, a dialogue on a enormous ferris wheel, a chase through the sewers and two funerals, it also has one of the most distinctive scores courtesy of Anton Karas’ zither. It also won the Palme D’Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
Breathless (1960): Perhaps the iconic film of the French New Wave, this tale of a small time crook (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who goes on the run after stealing a car and shooting a cop, sees him end up in Paris with an American girlfriend (Jean Seberg). With its loose narrative, location shooting, improvised dialogue, jump cuts, deliberately mismatched shots and literary references, it remains a landmark film. It gave French and European cinema a much needed shot of inspiration when it first came out in 1960, with audiences and critics responding to its energy and artistic verve. N.B. The Special Edition DVD release also comes out the same day as the Blu-ray.
The Graduate (1967): One of the iconic films of the late 1960s saw Dustin Hoffman play the eponymous graduate, a recent university graduate drifting aimlessly in life, who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), only to fall in love with her daughter (Katharine Ross). Director Mike Nichols struck a chord with a younger generation of audiences by using techniques borrowed from the French New Wave to craft a witty tale of youthful alienation. Odd angles and unconventional editing were combined with a sharp script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham (adapted from from Charles Webb’s novel) and the result was a huge hit, launching Hoffman’s career and also boosting Simon and Garfunkel whose music features heavily on the soundtrack.
Le Cercle Rouge (1970): A stylish French crime drama about two criminals (Alain Delon and Gian-Maria Volonté) who join forces with a corrupt ex-cop (Yves Montand) for a tricky heist becomes something much deeper in the hands of director Jean-Pierre Melville. Exploring the moralities of those breaking and enforcing the law, it features excellent performances from the leads, a wonderfully teasing narrative and some brilliantly executed set-pieces. It was heavily cut for its initial US release in 1970, but this id the fully restored version.
Delicatessen (1991): The wonderfully surreal debut of the Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, set in a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, is about an ex-clown (Dominique Pinon) who gets a job in an apartment building and then falls for the daughter of the building’s owner – an imposing and sinister butcher. Below them, down in the sewers, live some rebel vegetarians.
Mulholland Drive (2001): David Lynch’s neo-noir journey through the dark side of Hollywood is still as fresh, disturbing and trippy as it was when it first came out. The tale of a woman (Laura Elena Harring) who loses her memory in a car accident and the actress (Naomi Watts) who tries to help her out, it weaves a hypnotic spell as it unfolds in wildly unconventional ways. Featuring all manner of memorable characters including a director, a cowboy and a mysterious singer, it is one of those films which has inspired all manner of theories due to the hallucinogenic games Lynch plays with the audience.
The Pianist (2002): Roman Polanski won the Oscar for Best Director for this World War II drama about Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who escaped the Nazi death camps by hiding in the Warsaw ghetto. Played by Adrien Brody (who also won an Oscar for his performance) it is a gruelling tale of survival which features an interesting (and true life) twist. The gradual destruction of Warsaw provides a haunting backdrop to Szpilman’s story of survival is treated with a powerful blend of intelligence and emotion. Polanski’s own personal experiences during the war no doubt made the film a personal one and the craft, especially Pawel Edelman’s cinematography, is impeccable throughout.
Breathless: 50th Anniversary Special Edition is out on DVD and Blu-ray on September 13th
The Studio Canal Collection titles are also out in Blu-ray on September 13th
The Gold Rush (Park Circus): Charles Chaplin‘s classic 1925 silent film combined humour and pathos in depicting the tale of a prospector struggling to strike gold in Alaska.
Featuring some memorable sight gags, such as the eating of a boot, it was Chaplin’s first hit for United Artists (the studio he co-founded), reaffirming his status as a film maker and Hollywood icon.
This dual format edition (Blu-ray and DVD combined in one package) includes both versions of The Gold Rush: the 1925 silent original restored by Kevin Brownlow and the digitally restored 1942 film, which saw Chaplin re-edit the 1925 original with a new musical score and narration.
Lebanon (Metrodome): One of a batch of recent films exploring the legacy of the first Lebanon war was this striking drama set almost entirely inside an Israeli tank.
Written and directed by Samuel Maoz, it is set in June 1982 as Israel invades Lebanon and focuses on the four men inside the claustrophobic world of a tank – Assi (Itay Tiran), Shmulik (Yoav Donat), Hertzel (Oshri Cohen) and Yigal (Michael Moshonov).
As the mission progresses, they can only see each other and what appears through the tank’s tiny sight window as they gradually encounter fellow Israeli soldiers, a bombed out town and a band of Syrian resistance fighters.
Startling in its sparse depiction of the conflict, the central concept is a little played out by the end, but it remains a worthy addition to recent films exploring Israeli troops in Lebanon (such as Beaufort, Waltz With Bashir) and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival last year.
Extras include:
Commentary from director Samuel Maoz upon whose real life experiences the film is based
History of the first Lebanon War (text document)
‘LEBANON’: the background story to the film (text document)
A Zed and Two Noughts (BFI) Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Eureka) Basement (Revolver Entertainment) Modern Times (Park Circus) Charlie’s Angels (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) Dead Fish (Boulevard Entertainment Ltd) Dear John (Momentum Pictures) Flash Gordon (Optimum Home Entertainment) Going Postal (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) Little Dorrit (2 Entertain) Lock Up (Optimum Home Entertainment) Loving Memory (BFI) Repo Men (Universal Pictures) The Burmese Harp (Eureka) The Edge of the World (BFI) The Innocents (BFI) The Pixies: Acoustic and Electric Live (Eagle Rock Entertainment) The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season (Warner Home Video) The World (Eureka)
Ingmar Bergman’s The Faith Trilogy (Palisades Tartan): Ingmar Bergman’s classic three films from the early 1960s about religion and spiritual crisis have been repackaged for a new DVD box set.
Notable for cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s finest directors, they still remain amongst his finest work and feature some exquisite cinematography from long-time collaborator Sven Nykvist.
Through A Glass Darkly (1961) is a searing family drama about a disturbed young woman (Harriet Andersson) as she holidays on a summer island with her detached father (Gunnar Björnstrand), husband (Max Von Sydow) and brother (Lars Passgård). It won Bergman his second Best Foreign Film Oscar and is bleak but engrossing study of a family struggling to cope under enormous emotional and mental strains. Andersson and Van Sydow are especially outstanding in their roles.
Winter Light (1962) explores the spiritual crisis facing a small-town pastor (Gunnar Björnstrand) over a single Sunday afternoon in November. As his congregation dwindles, his remaining parishioners (Ingrid Thulin, Max von Sydow) have problems which reflect his own spiritual demons. Björnstrand gives one of his greatest performances and the lack of music, sparse sets, and stark black-and-white photography all add to the powerful sense of desolation. Released in the year when the world actually was on the brink of nuclear Armageddon, it is one of Bergman’s most raw and spellbinding films.
The Silence (1963) is the enigmatic tale of two sisters: the eldest is a translator (Ingrid Thulin) with a serious illness, whilst the younger one (Gunnel Lindblom) has a young son (Jörgen Lindström). Whilst travelling back to Sweden, they stop off in an unidentified Central European country and various tensions arise. The human struggle to communicate with each other as well as God is a pervasive theme throughout and the sensual depiction of human desire is superbly evoked (so well in fact, that the film caused considerable controversy when it was released).
Tartan have remastered the films and added introductions with Marie Nyrerod speaking to the late director.
Although they are short they feature Bergman talking about his fondness for Winter Light and the censorship issues surrounding by The Silence.
The discs come in separate slim line cases along with a booklet of reviews by the late critic Philip Strick. The discs are all region free.
Clint Eastwood: The Director’s Collection (Warner Bros.): This neat compilation of Eastwood’s more recent films as a director came out on DVD last month and has now got the Blu-ray treatment.
14 Blades (Icon Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Centurion (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Elvis – The Movie (Fremantle Home Entertainment) [DVD] Mongrels: Series 1 (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Perrier’s Bounty (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Killing Machine (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Machinist (Palisades Tartan) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Whip It (Lionsgate UK) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Psycho (Universal Pictures): Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1960 film is one of the most significant Blu-ray releases of the year. The tale of a woman on the run (Janet Leigh) who stays at a lonely motel run by a man (Anthony Perkins) with some serious parental issues remains a landmark in cinema history.
The groundbreaking depictions of sexuality and violence might seem tame by today’s standards but helped shape what could be shown on screen and arguably paved the way for the modern horror genre.
Categorizing the film is still tricky. It is a thriller? A horror? A mystery? The real answer is probably a combination of all three, but certainly it built upon Hitchcock’s reputation as the master of suspense towards something more shocking and sinister.
If you are revisiting the film, it is hard not to be struck by how fresh it still feels despite being so iconic. Certain sequences still have a visceral, raw power and there is a sinister aura throughout.
Universal have included a raft of extras for this release, which include the following:
50th Anniversary Special Edition Steelbook Blu-ray – including 20-page ‘Making of Psycho’ booklet
Psycho Sound: A never-before-seen piece that looks at the re-mastering process required to create a 5.1 mix from the original mono elements using Audionamix technology.
The Shower Scene: A look at the impact of music on the infamous “shower scene.”
The Making of Psycho: A feature-length documentary on Hitchcock’s most shocking film.
In the Master’s Shadow – Hitchcock’s Legacy: Some of Hollywood’s top filmmakers discuss Hitchcock’s influence and why his movies continue to thrill audiences.
Hitchcock/Truffaut Interviews: Excerpts from a 1962 audio interview with Alfred Hitchcock.
Audio Commentary: Feature-length audio commentary with Stephen Rebello (Author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the making of Psycho”)
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho: Vintage newsreel on the unique policy Alfred Hitchcock insisted upon for the release of the film.
The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass: Original storyboard design.
Production Notes: Read an essay on the making of the film.
The Psycho Archives: See the gallery of on-set photo stills from the film’s production.
Posters And Psycho Ads: See a gallery of original posters and ads from the theatrical campaign.
Lobby Cards: View a gallery of promotional lobby cards from the film’s theatrical campaign.
Behind-The-Scenes Photographs: View rare photos showing the cast and crew at work.
Theatrical Trailer: Watch the original promotional trailer from the film’s theatrical campaign.
Re-Release Trailers: Watch the promotional trailer created for the re-release of the film.
The Seven-Ups (Optimum): This neglected 1973 crime drama was the sole directorial effort of Philip D’Antoni, best known for producing Bullitt (1968) and stars Roy Scheider as an NYPD cop who runs a task force charged with catching criminals guilty of offences worth at least seven years in jail.
When a valuable street informant (Tony Lo Bianco) double-crosses the cops, they decide to throw out the rule book in taking on the criminals of the city.
It bears some notable similarities to The French Connection (1971): there is a classic car chase (featuring stunt driver Bill Hickman) and Scheider’s character has more than a passing resemblance to his role in William Friedkin’s film.
Despite this, there is much to appreciate in The Seven-Ups. It paints an evocative picture of New York in the early 1970s and the screenplay by Albert Ruben and Alexander Jacobs doesn’t squeeze characters into clichéd situations.
D’Antoni gives the film a vivid and gritty look whilst also coaxing some fine performances from his cast, which includes Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Richard Lynch and Larry Haines.
Whilst not as good as The French Connection, if you’re a fan of cop movies from this era it is well worth seeking out.
Spiral: Series 1 & 2 (2 Entertain): This intelligent French police drama first aired on UK TV back in 2006 on BBC Four and like The Wire attracted a small but devoted following, especially amongst critics.
This week sees the release of Series 2, but as it might not be on the radar for a lot of viewers I’d recommend the combined Series 1 & 2 boxset.
The French title “Engrenages” literally translates as “Gears” and presumably hints at how crime and violence, amongst other things, can spiral out of control.
The first season deals with the death of a young Romanian woman found on a rubbish dump in Paris. The resulting investigation slowly reveals her past life but also sheds uncomfortable light on the very legal system that is trying to uncover the truth about her death.
The second season starts with a burned corpse discovered in the boot of a car and what initially appears to be a case of urban violence slowly grows into a much larger case involving international trafficking and arms dealing.
Like The Wire, it is an intelligent look at crime as a social disease rather than simply a puzzle to be solved. But it is arguably darker and more twisted than any US cop show would dare to be.
There aren’t too many shows that feature charred corpses in grisly detail or teenagers snorting heroin before collapsing into a coma.
It might not yet have the popularity of crime dramas on the mainstream channels but Spiral is a subtle and refreshing antidote to what’s currently on the box.
Deep Blue Sea (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Kamui – The Lone Ninja (Manga Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Legion (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (Park Circus) [Blu-ray with DVD] The Blind Side (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray with DVD] The Infidel (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Stranger (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Shutter Island (Paramount Home Entertainment): Director Martin Scorcese followed the Oscar success of The Departed with an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel about a US Marshall (Leonardo DiCaprio) sent to investigate strange goings on at a secure psychiatric hospital off the coast of Massachusetts. Haunted by his past, he finds it difficult to trust the chief psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) and slowly begins to suspect that something is afoot.
Although the performances are all solid and the technical aspects first rate, the underlying premise of the story feels an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Appropriately it references Hitchcock a lot (especially Vertigo), but never reaches the heights of Scorcese’s finest work, even if that is superior to most living directors.
This was a film that divided critics and I’m still split myself over where this fits into Scorcese’s body of work.
As one of the great directors of his era he is a victim of his own high standards and some observers felt Shutter Island was simply a hollow bag of tricks.
How you feel about the final act will possibly shape your overall perception, but keep listening to the very end and you may find there is more substance than some have alleged.
The extras include the following production featurettes, both of which are in HD:
• Behind the Shutters (17:11)
• Into the Lighthouse (21:11)
The technical aspects of the film, in particular the production design and costumes, are terrific and it appears that it has got a worthy transfer on to Blu-ray.
Gary Tooze of DVD Beaver says that it is ‘visually pristine’ and is also impressed with the audio:
This is dual-layered with a fairly high bitrate and contrast exhibits healthy, rich black levels.
… the DTS-HD Master 5.1 at, a powerhouse, 4725 kbps is as perfect (or more?) than the video transfer. There really is no way to critique it as it appears to be replicating the filmmakers intent with zeal.
…Audio is a good part of this presentation and the lossless track can’t be criticized.
Interestingly, there are some striking similarities between this and Christopher Nolan’s Inception: both feature a haunted protagonist played by Leonardo DiCaprio and explore the clash of appearance and reality.
The Lives of Others (Lionsgate UK): The striking feature debut of writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck brilliantly explored tensions and repressions in communist East Germany. Set in East Berlin during 1984, the story involves a Stasi Captain (the late Ulrich Mühe) who secretly monitors a playwright (Sebastian Koch) and his partner (Martina Gedeck), a prominent actress.
The chilling drabness of a totalitarian regime is wonderfully evoked and the contrast of the historical setting against the personal desires at the centre of the story make it all the more moving.
One of the reasons the film opened to such enormous and richly deserved acclaim back in 2006, was the way in which it wrapped a powerful human story within the framework of a thriller.
There are numerous sequences filled with tension and the pacing means that it never gets bogged down in clumsy symbolism or pretentious longeurs. The clever plotting and surprising twists also give the film an extra emotional kick in its final stages.
Details of the extras are sketchy but are probably the same as the DVD release, which were:
Filmmaker’s Commentary by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
The Most Dangerous Man in America (Dogwoof Pictures): A documentary former RAND military strategist Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked a 7,000-page document known as the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times in 1971. Disillusioned with ongoing deceptions of US involvement in Vietnam, he leaked the top secret documents which outlined the ‘secret history’ of the war and ultimately led to President Nixon resigning.
Although the form of the film is stylistically conventional – talking heads, library shots – the story is still a remarkable one and Ellsberg’s recollection of events is absorbing. It covers similar ground to his 2002 memoir Secrets, but manages to condense the personal and political in an efficient and tidy package.
Nominated for Best Documentary at the Oscars earlier this year its release this week is timely in light of the recent leaked military documents to various media outlets by Wikileaks.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray] From Paris With Love (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] I Love You Phillip Morris (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Invisible Target (Showbox Media Group) [Blu-ray / DVD] Persuasion (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Shelter (Icon Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Banquet (Metrodome Distribution) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Spy Next Door (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Details have been announced for the Blu-ray release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now in two different versions on October 19th.
Although this is the US release date, a UK and worldwide release should be confirmed relatively soon.
The epic about a US army captain (Martin Sheen) sent to assassinate a rogue colonel gone native deep in the jungle (Marlon Brando) is one of the great films of the 1970s and a vivid depiction of the insanity of the Vietnam War.
There will be a regular 2-disc set and a more comprehensive Full Disclosure edition which includes George Hickenlooper’s memorable making of documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991), which will also be in 1080p.
The package will include the original 1979 theatrical cut and the extended Apocalypse Now Redux version (released back in 2001) and both will be presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1.
For previous DVD releases cinematographer Vittorio Storaro made the curious decision to modify it to 2.00:1 (the Univisium format), which he thinks should be a universal ratio for all films.
But now audiences will be able to see the film in high definition as well as in its original theatrical aspect ratio for the first time.
The extras for the two editions break down like this:
2 FILM SET
Apocalypse Now – 1979 Cut
Apocalypse Now Redux
“A Conversation with Martin Sheen” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
“An Interview with John Milius” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
Monkey Sampan “lost scene”
Additional Scenes
“Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
“The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now
The Music of Apocalypse Now
Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now
The Final Mix
Apocalypse Then and Now
The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now
PBR Streetgang
The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now
The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog
FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION
Like the 2-Film Set above, plus the following:
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse
Optional audio commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola
48-page collectible printed booklet with special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more
John Milius Script Excerpt with Francis Ford Coppola Notes
Storyboard Gallery
Photo Gallery, including images from photographer Mary Ellen Mark
A haunting adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s novel, the story is set at a Victorian girls school in Australia which is plunged into shock after some of the pupils go missing on a day trip to a local rock formation known as Hanging Rock.
Part of the appeal is blending of a realistic setting (despite being fiction) with a lyrical presentation, which features some exquisite cinematography by Russell Boyd.
Throughout his career Peter Weir has been a director of rare taste and intelligence and part of the reason this film still fascinates is down to its careful construction.
On paper the story could be a police procedural or even a horror film, but by emphasizing the mystery at the heart of it, Weir crafts a much more compelling tale of repressed emotions set against the sensual force of nature.
It explores similar territory to Nic Roeg’s Walkabout (1971). Both feature a picnic gone wrong in the outback and depict anxious young people on the cusp of adulthood.
But whereas Walkabout stayed mostly in the outback and contrasted two cultures (the native and settler), Picnic mostly focuses on the school as it copes with the emotional fallout from the fateful trip.
It is also reminiscent of Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon: a community of repressed people manifests itself in sinister and mysterious ways, although Weir’s approach is less political and more open ended.
Both films understand that it is the unexplained aspects of a story that can resonate with audiences as they repeatedly fill in the mysterious blanks left unfilled by the narrative.
Of the ensemble cast, Rachel Roberts has the most prominent role as Mrs Appleyard, the stern headmistress, but many of the pupils are equally memorable, especially Miranda (Anne-Louise Lambert), Irma (Karen Robson), Marion (Jane Vallis), Rosamund (Ingrid Mason) and Sara (Margaret Nelson).
The image of Lambert has become indelibly associated with the film, appearing on many of the international posters and also on this Blu-ray release.
Experiencing it in high definition for the first time, the visual look is especially striking, with the colours and locations given a new vibrancy by the new transfer.
Added to this is the improved audio, which adds an extra kick to the unmistakable pan pipe pieces by Gheorghe Zamfir that run throughout the film, along with various classical pieces by Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.
Whether or not you have seen the film before, this is almost certainly the best it has looked since the original cinema release, although it should be noted that this is the ‘Director’s Cut’ Weir sanctioned in the late 1990s for the then DVD release.
Unusually Weir and producer Patricia Lovell opted to take footage out of the theatrical version rather than add it back in. The excised sequences ran to about 14 minutes of footage, most of which happen in the final third of the film.
That said there are plenty of extras included on this disc, most of which have appeared on previous DVD versions but still providing valuable context for first time viewers.
Most prominent is a comprehensive two-hour documentary detailing the production called ‘A Dream Within A Dream’, which features interviews with cast and crew including Peter Weir, Patricia Lovell, Hal & Jim Mcelroy, Cliff Green, Russell Boyd, Bruce Smeaton, Jose Perez, Helen Morse, John Jarratt, Christine Schuler and Anne Louise Lambert.
There is also an on set documentary from 1975 ‘A Recollection: Hanging Rock 1900’ which includes interviews with author Joan Lindsay, Weir and other members of the cast including Rachel Roberts.
One of the aspects of the story that keeps cropping up in the supplementary interviews is whether or not the story was based on real events. It wasn’t but Lindsay and Weir were shrewd in dodging the question for so long as it helped create word of mouth for audiences desperate to know if it was all really true.
Perhaps the best thing that can be said about the Blu-ray of Picnic at Hanging Rock is that it reminds us the hypnotic power of the original film, which remains a classic of Australian cinema.
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Second Sight): This haunting tale about a group of schoolgirls who go missing whilst on a picnic in 1900 remains of the iconic films in Australian cinema. Its release in 1975 signalled the arrival of Peter Weir as a major director and the hypnotic, lyrical qualities have not diminished since then.
Adapted from the novel by Joan Lindsay, it isn’t actually a true story (even though at times it has the feel of one) but remains a powerful exploration of innocence, time and mystery.
The locations, from the girl’s school to the picnic in the countryside, are beautifully captured by cinematographer Russell Boyd and as the film progresses it becomes a memorable tale of loss and regret.
An important part of the atmosphere is the indelible music which features Gheorghe Zamfir on pan pipe and Marcel Cellier on the organ.
Special features are pretty substantial and include the following:
Feature-length documentary: A Dream within a Dream (120 mins)
A Recollection: Hanging Rock 1900 – Joan Lindsay interview
Hanging Rock and Martindale Hall: Then and Now
Short film: The Day of St Valentine (the first screen adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s novel)
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (Palm Pictures): This ground-breaking 1984 concert film featuring Talking Heads directed by Jonathan Demme remains one of the essential rock movies. Filmed over three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December 1983, it captured the group as they were touring their album Speaking in Tongues.
What made the film stand out from others in the genre was Demme’s innovative approach to shooting a concert.
With Talking Heads he found a band who were not only interested in stage craft but were also willing to allow him an unusual amount of creative freedom in capturing them live.
The lack of audience shots, unusual lighting choices for each song and the visible presence of the stage crew are just some of the elements which mark this out from the bog standard concert movie.
Front man David Byrne is a charismatic presence throughout and his stage persona was arguably a big influence on lead singers like Michael Stipe and Bono in later years, whilst the energy of the rest of band is just as infectious.
This was Demme’s first documentary and his use of handheld cameras, along with longer-than-usual shots, gives the film a distinctive flavour which chimes in a band who were never a slave to fashions and trends of the early 1980s.
The Blu-ray is being released by Palm Pictures and includes the following bonus features:
Previously unreleased 1999 press conference with all four Talking Heads
The short film “David Byrne Interview…David Byrne”
Versions of “Cities” and “Big Business/I Zimbra” not featured in the original film.
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Cats and Dogs (Warner Home Video) [DVD] Clash of the Titans (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray with DVD] Fantastic Planet (Eureka) [Blu-ray] Hierro (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Paranoiac (Eureka) [Blu-ray / DVD] Remember Me (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray / with DVD] Shank (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Sons of the Wind – Bangkok Ninjas (Manga Entertainment) [DVD] The Bounty Hunter (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Vengeance Is Mine (Eureka) [Blu-ray / DVD]
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Momentum Pictures): The adaptation of the bestselling novel by Steig Larsson sees a discredited journalist (Mikael Blomkvist) and a mysterious computer hacker (Harriet Vanger) uncover dark secrets about a wealthy family, whilst trying to solve a 40 year-old murder.
This is the first of the Swedish films and is an absorbing story, even though some of the darker elements make take unsuspecting audiences by surprise.
Danish director Niels Arden Oplev keeps up the suspense and intrigue over the 151 minute running time and the two leads do a solid job of translating their characters from page to screen.
Extras included on the DVD and Blu-ray include:
Interview with actress Noomi Rapace by Anwar Brett (12:30)
Interview with producer Søren Stærmose by Anwar Brett (11:49)
UK Theatrical trailer (1:35)
Exclusive Sneak Peek of The Girl Who Played With Fire (5:28 – trailer – 1:14)
Tokyo Story (BFI): The most famous and acclaimed film from Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu is a moving family drama about a married couple (played by Chishu Ryu and Chieko Higashiyama) who visit their grown children in Tokyo only to find their offspring too absorbed in their own lives to spend much time with them.
Exploring family relations, regret and the difficulties of life in a nuanced way Ozu crafted a film that has gathered enormous momentum down the years.
Partly this is down to the distinctively sparse style of Ozu’s camera work (he loves stillness and stationary shots) but it is also because the themes explored have a timeless poignancy.
Added to this is the backdrop of 1950s Japan which had only just emerged from the devastation of World War II which gives it a distinctively bittersweet flavour.
The film is usually included on more serious critics polls, so the its UK debut on Blu-ray from the BFI is a fairly big deal for serious cinema fans.
This is a dual disc version that includes the Blu-ray and DVD disc also contains a liner notes booklet with an essay by Professor Joan Mellen and Ozu biographer Tony Rayns.
Extra Features:
Dual Format Edition: includes both Blu-ray and the DVD versions of the main feature
Also contains full length Ozu feature, Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (DVD only)
Original Theatrical Trailer
Extensive illustrated booklet featuring essays and film notes
Cameraman: The Jack Cardiff Story (Optimum Releasing): A new documentary from director Craig McCall explores the career of Jack Cardiff, one of Britain’s most famous cinematographers.
With a life that spanned the development of cinema, taking in silent film and the advent of Technicolor cinematographer Cardiff worked with luminaries such as Michael Powell, John Huston, Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn.
On films such as A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947), The Red Shoes (1948) and The African Queen (1951) he established himself as a world class talent and in 2001 he became the first cinematographer to receive an honorary, Lifetime Achievement Oscar® for:
“Exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences; and for outstanding services to the Academy.”
Director Craig McCall has been working on this documentary for several years, interviewing Jack himself (who passed away last year) and various admirers including Martin Scorsese, Thelma Schoonmaker, Kathleen Byron, Kim Hunter, Moira Shearer, John Mills, Lauren Bacall, Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas.
Extras on the DVD include the following:
Interview With Craig McCall by Ian Christie (12:50)
Chloe (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Donnie Darko: The Original and the Director’s Cut (Metrodome Distribution) [Blu-ray] Early Summer (BFI) [Blu-ray with DVD] Late Spring (BFI) [Blu-ray with DVD] Nanny McPhee (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray] Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray with DVD] The Crazies (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Karate Kid (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray] The Karate Kid 2 (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray]
Originally based on based on Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s book ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City’, it follows a ‘WMD hunter’ (played by Damon) as he begins to suspect something is wrong with the intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
People Miller comes across in his search for the truth involve: the newly arrived US Administrator of Iraq (Greg Kinnear); a CIA agent (Brendan Gleeson); a Wall Street Journal reporter (Amy Ryan); a local Iraqi (Khalid Abdalla); and a special forces Major (Jason Isaacs).
Although I have more than a few reservations with the historical approach to the material, there is no doubt that Greengrass is a master at creating suspense and a vivid sense of realism.
The production design is particularly impressive and Baghdad circa 2003 is recreated with some excellent use of sets and CGI, whilst Barry Ackroyd’s cinematography pulls us right into the frenetic world of political and military intrigue.
Presumably worried that audiences would reject the fiercely critical tone of the film towards the US government, Universal tried to market this as ‘Bourne in Iraq’.
This was a strategy doomed to failure as when mainstream American audiences finally did see it, as they continued their ongoing rejection of films about the Iraq debacle.
There is still a lot to commend Green Zone and despite being a costly production that reportedly lost a lot of money, it may be a film that earns slow burning respect over time.
The Blu-ray comes with the following extras:
Deleted scenes – Play with Video Commentary by Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon
Deleted scenes – Play without Video Commentary
Matt Damon: Ready for Action
Inside the Green Zone
Feature commentary with Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon
My Scenes
D-BOX
U-Control – Video Commentary with Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon
U-Control – Picture in Picture
BD Live / pocket BLU App / social BLU App
DVD Beaver report that the Blu-ray image is not as sharp as some might expect, but that this is intentional:
[The image] isn’t going to turn you on your ear with deft detail and magnificent sharpness. Not supposed to. What it does do is support Greengrass’ visual intentions in crafting the film. Earthy browns are prominent and the dusty desert achieves it’s lifeless, clandestine, dim aura. When colors shine the infrequency exports a brilliance by comparison. has a genuineness about it that gives me the feeling it is supporting the film appropriately.
Bubba Ho-Tep (Anchor Bay): This bizarre cult gem from 2002 is well worth a look on Blu-ray, especially if you are fan of genuine cult cinema. Directed by Don Coscarelli, the story features Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell), a man claiming to be John F. Kennedy (Ossie Davis) and a rogue Egyptian mummy in a Texas nursing home.
Although the scenario is off-the-wall, it is a refreshing change from the po-faced horror remakes of recent times and Campbell actually gives a very funny performance as ‘The King’.
Coscarelli is probably best known for his work on the Phantasm films and he reunited with some of the crew that worked on those films. This has some of the sensibility of those films and is probably best enjoyed late at night and in the right frame of mind.
The image on the Blu-ray actually highlights the low budget nature of the film but that isn’t too much of the problem given the overall design (this isn’t exactly a David Lean-style epic).
The extras are the same as the DVD and include:
Exclusive introduction by Bruce Campbell
Audio commentary by director Don Coscarelli and Bruce Campbell
Audio commentary by “The King”
Optional 5.1 and DTS audio
Joe R. Lansdale reads from his original short story “Bubba Ho-Tep”
Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by Don Coscarelli and Bruce Campbell
“The Making of Bubba Ho-Tep” featurette
“To Make a Mummy” – make-up and effects featurette
“Fit for a King” – Elvis costume featurette
“Rock Like an Egyptian” – featurette on the music of “Bubba Ho-Tep”
Music video
“The King and I” – an in-depth excavation with Don Coscarelli;
UK Premiere Q&A with Don Coscarelli
“Bruce Talks Bubba” – an interview with Bruce Campbell
A Prophet (Optimum Home Entertainment): One of the standout films of last year was this scintillating prison drama about a lowly Arab criminal named Malik (Tahar Rahim) who is drawn into the inner circle of a Corsican mafia group, led by the ruthless César Luciani (Niels Arestrup). After a tough initiation, Malik learns how to read and write, and starts to learn how power works inside and outside the prison.
Directed by Jacques Audiard, it features two outstanding lead performances from Rahim and Arestrup, and quickly established itself as an instant classic, scooping the Grand Prix at Cannes and topping many critic’s end of year polls. Audiard doesn’t shy away from the dark brutalities of prison life, but manages to construct a compelling portrait of how criminal empires are born. An absolute must see. [Blu-ray / DVD]
A Single Man (Icon Home Entertainment): Adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel, it explores a day in the life of a grieving English college professor (Colin Firth) during the early 1960s. A highly impressive directorial debut for fashion designer Tom Ford, it co-stars Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Nicholas Hoult.
The stand out element here is a wonderfully nuanced performance from Firth, who was desrvedly nominated for an Oscar, along with some excellent production and costume design. Regrettably, Ford and co-screenwriter David Scearce tinker too much with the source novel (making one major alteration) but there is still much to admire here, not least the fact that Ford largely funded the project himself, which is highly unusual even for the richest filmmakers in Hollywood. [Blu-ray / DVD]
Ponyo (Optimum Home Entertainment): The latest animated film from renowned director Hayao Miyazaki is a story of friendship between a five-year-old boy and a goldfish princess who wants to be human.
Featuring the voices of Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett and Tina Fey it loosely adapts Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid into a contemporary Japanese setting. Although not quite up to the standards of his finest work, this is still a delight. Stylistically, it is something of a departure with more sparse compositions but the positive vibes, reflected in the bright pastel colors and energy of the film make it a highly pleasurable introduction to Miyazaki’s work for newcomers. [Blu-ray + DVD]
Extras include:
Storyboards
The Five Genuises Who Created Ponyo – interviews
Japanese trailers and TV spots
Intro by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall (3:19)
A Conversation with Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter (3:30)
Behind the Microphone: the Voices of Ponyo (6:01)
Creating Ponyo (3:55)
Ponyo and Fujimoto(2:56)
The Nursery (1:57)
Scoring Miyazaki (7:17)
The Producer’s Perspective: Telling the Story (2:25)
The Locations in Ponyo (9:39)
Hayao Miyazaki interview (14.00)
Toshio Suzuki interview (29:00)
Dubbing Session and interview with Japanese cast 25:00)
There has been a lot of debate about the transfer of these classic westerns to Blu-ray – with HD enthusiasts less than happy with the finished result – but the films are enduring enough to make a purchase worthwhile. The plentiful extras from the DVD versions are included with contributions from film historian Christopher Frayling and commentaries on all three films. The featurettes include Clint Eastwood looking back on the making of the trilogy, location comparisons and two solid pieces on Leone himself. [Blu-ray / DVD]
Food Inc. (Dogwoof): A disturbing but enlightening documentary from director Robert Kenner which explores the dark side of America’s food industry and the way in which deregulation has affected what people eat.
Featuring many eye opening sequences featuring chickens, pork chops, soybean seeds, and even tomatoes that won’t go bad, there is a lot here to chew on, both figuratively and literally. Featuring interviews with Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation) and progressive social entrepreneurs like it is a compelling tale of how food gets to US tables. [DVD]
ALSO OUT
Absolute Power (Warner Home Video) Bad Boys (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) Brothers (Lionsgate UK) Chris Ryan’s Strike Back (2 Entertain) Doctor Who – The New Series: 5 – Volume 1 (2 Entertain) Exam (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) Heartbreak Ridge (Warner Home Video) Home (Universal Pictures) Kelly’s Heroes (Warner Home Video) Pacific – The True Stories (Revolver Entertainment) RoboGeisha (Showbox Media Group) The Rookie (Warner Home Video) The Story of Science (2 Entertain) The Wolfman (Universal Pictures) Tora! Tora! Tora! (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) Where Eagles Dare (Warner Home Video)
The Book of Eli (EV): Set in a post-apocalyptic America, this action-drama is about an enigmatic traveller named Eli (Denzel Washington) on a mysterious journey towards the west coast involving a valuable book. Along the way he comes across marauding bandits, a town ruled by the villainous Carnegie (Gary Oldman), and a young woman who he befriends (Mila Kunis).
Although The Hughes Brothers haven’t made a film since From Hell (2001), they manage to craft an entertaining and well-paced film with a satisfying twist. Although it owes a lot to other films in this genre (notably Mad Max 2) there are some nice ideas sprinkled in amongst the well-staged action sequences. Shot on the high-definition Red One camera, the visual look of the film is striking due to the heavy use of filters and the Blu-ray transfer is satisfyingly smooth. [Blu-ray / DVD]
The extras include the following featurettes:
A Lost Tale: Billy
Behind The Story
Deleted / Alternate Scenes
The Book of Eli Soundtrack
BD Exclusive: Picture-in-Picture Feature : Behind the Scenes and Interviews
The Damned United (Sony Pictures Home Ent.): This biopic of legendary English football manager Brian Clough was adapted from David Peace’s bestselling novel about his turbulent spell in charge of Leeds United during the 1970s. Starring Michael Sheen as Clough, Timothy Spall as Peter Taylor, Colm Meaney as Don Revie and Jim Broadbent as Sam Longson, it was adapted by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and directed Tom Hooper (Longford, John Adams).
Although the light-hearted tone tends to gloss over the riveting, dark tone of Peace’s book, the film is powered by several fine performances, with Sheen and Spall on top form. The production design impressively evokes the atmosphere of the 1970s, and the Blu-ray transfer is excellent with an impressively detailed image. [Blu-ray / DVD]
The extras for the Blu-ray include:
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
English Audio Description Track
English, English HOH and Hindi subtitles
Commentary with Director Tom Hooper, Michael Sheen and Producer Andy Harries
Deleted Scenes with Optional Director’s Commentary
Cloughisms with Optional Director’s Commentary
Perfect Pitch: The Making Of The Damned United
Remembering Brian
The Changing Game: Football in the Seventies
Creating Clough: Michael Sheen Takes on ‘Old Big ‘Ead’
Alice in Wonderland (Disney) [Blu-ray + DVD] Armored (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Astro Boy (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray + DVD] Bodyguards and Assassins (E1 Entertainment UK) [Blu-ray + DVD] Daybreakers (Lionsgate UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] La Boheme: Royal Opera House (Opus Arte) [DVD] One Night in Turin (Kaleidoscope Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Romantic City: Venice [Blu-ray] Salome: Royal Opera House [Blu-ray] The Sky Crawlers (Manga Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Winter in Wartime (Kaleidoscope Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Up In The Air (Paramount): One of the most acclaimed films of last year was this comedy-drama about a man (George Clooney) who specialises in firing workers in a smooth and efficient manner because managers have outsourced this difficult process. Addicted to travel, air miles and an open relationship with a fellow traveller (Vera Farmiga), he is alarmed when his boss (Jason Bateman) makes him train a new recruit (Anna Kendrick) who advocates firing people via video-link.
Directed by Jason Reitman, it manages to combine breezy, observational comedy with more serious themes of work and finding love. The script even updates the themes of the book to the current era (one sequence is dated as happening in February 2010) by having recently fired workers essentially play versions of themselves.
Clooney is perfectly cast in the lead role and the supporting cast is generally excellent with Farmiga, Kendrick and Batemen contributing fine work. The technical aspects of the film are first rate across the board; with Dana Glaubetman’s editing worthy of special mention as it helps keep proceedings ticking along beautifully. Compared to Reitman’s previous films, it has the delicious wit of Thank You for Smoking and the unsentimental emotions of Juno, but actually surpasses both in terms of mixing up the light and heavy elements.
The HD transfer is of the high standard you might expect from a contemporary Hollywood studio and although this isn’t the kind of film that is a banquet for the eyes, the Blu-ray looks wonderfully clean and sharp. [Buy it on DVD or Blu-ray]
The special features include the following extras, which are all in high definition:
Commentary by writer/director Jason Reitman, director of photography Eric Steelberg and first assistant director Jason Blumenfield
Shadowplay: Before The Story
Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Jason Reitman:
To Know Me is To Fly With Me
Real People Firing and Irate Employee
Thumper and Extended Boat Scene
Omaha Montage
Spacesuit
Do You Live At The Hilton?
Nosey Neighbour
Natalie In Restroom
Natalie Vid-Chats
Angry Ryan Checks In
Goalquest Invite
Maynard Finch Commercial/Kara Calls Ryan
Barely Squeaking By / Natalie Calls
Trailers
“Help Yourself” music video by Sad Brad Smith
Storyboards
American Airlines Prank
Road to Perdition (20th Century Fox Home Ent.): Sam Mendes made a big splash with American Beauty, his feature film debut which scooped several Oscars in 1999, and his eagerly anticipated follow up in 2002 was this Depression-era crime drama about a hitman (Tom Hanks) who is forced to go on the run with his son (Tyler Hoechlin) after the rest of his family are killed by the wayward son (Daniel Craig) of a mobster (Paul Newman).
Although this wasn’t as well received as his debut film, the technical aspects are excellent with the late Conrad Hall winning a richly deserved Oscar for his cinematography. DreamWorks made the bizarre decision to open it right in the middle of the summer season, meaning its Oscar chances were considerably reduced, but it still stands up well compared to the other films that won that year. [Buy it on Blu-ray]
The extras are as follows:
Sam Mendes Feature Introduction (HD)
A Cinematic Life: The Art & Influence of Conrad Hall (HD)
The Library: A Further Exploration of the World of Road To Perdition
Previously released bonus material is presented in standard definition, except as noted:
Commentary by director Sam Mendes
Deleted Scenes (with optional commentary by Sam Mendes)
The Making of Road To Perdition
Capitalism – A Love Story (Paramount Home Entertainment): from Michael Moore examines the effect of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans, especially in the light of the recent global economic meltdown. Although the buzz on this film was mixed when it premiered at Venice and Toronto back in the Autumn, it is a more thoughtful film than some critics have given it credit for. The title is misleading as it’s more of a critique against the winner-takes-all capitalism ushered in by the Reagan administration and how the policies under Clinton and Bush have contributed to the current financial crisis.
There are some sequences that drag a little, but for the most part it is a thought provoking examination of how we’ve got to where we are as a society. Strangely, it could actually win Moore audiences amongst the right-wing Teabaggers as well as his core liberal audience, as his criticisms of the TARP scheme chime in with theirs. [Buy it on DVD]
The extras on the DVD feature a lot of material that didn’t make the theatrical cut, including:
Sorry, House-Flippers and Banks: You’re Toast In Flint, MI
Congressman Cummings Dares to Speak the Unspeakable
NY Times Pulitzer Prize Winner Chris Hedges on the Killing Machine Known as Capitalism
The Rich Don’t Go to Heaven (There’s a Special Place Reserved for Them!)
What if, Just if, We Had Listened to Jimmy Carter in 1979?
The Omnivore’s Dilemma? It’s Capitalism
Commie Taxi Drivers: “You Talkin’ To Me?”, in Wisconsin
How to Run the Place Where You Work
The Socialist Bank of… North Dakota?
The Bank Kicks Them Out, Max Kicks Them Back In
ALSO OUT
St. Trinians 2 – The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold (EIV) [DVD / Blu-ray] Did You Hear About The Morgans? (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [DVD / Blu-ray] Precious (Lionsgate) [DVD / Blu-ray] Armageddon (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray] City of the Living Dead (Arrow) [DVD / Blu-ray] Anesthetize (KSCOPE) [DVD + Blu-ray] Heartless (Lionsgate) [DVD / Blu-ray] S.N.U.B (Isis) [DVD]
Universal have announced a “meticulously restored” version of Psychoto be released on Blu-ray this August.
It will be the second major Hitchcock film to get a high-definition release – after Warner Bros’ splendid North By Northwest Blu-ray – this will be a 50th Anniversary Edition that comes in a regular and steelbook version.
The sound has been fully remastered with a new 5.1 mix, whilst the mono audio track will also be available for viewers who want to experience the film in its original form.
It will also feature the following extras:
Psycho Sound: A never-before-seen piece that looks at the re-mastering process required to create a 5.1 mix from the original mono elements using Audionamix technology.
The Shower Scene: A look at the impact of music on the infamous “shower scene.”
The Making of Psycho: A feature-length documentary on Hitchcock’s most shocking film.
In the Master’s Shadow – Hitchcock’s Legacy: Hollywood filmmakers discuss Hitchcock’s influence and why his movies continue to thrill audiences.
Hitchcock/Truffaut Interviews: Excerpts from a 1962 audio interview with Alfred Hitchcock.
Audio Commentary: Feature-length audio commentary with Stephen Rebello (Author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the making of Psycho”)
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho: Vintage newsreel on the unique policy Alfred Hitchcock insisted upon for the release of the film.
The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass: Original storyboard design.
Production Notes: An essay on the making of the film.
The Psycho Archives: Gallery of on-set photo stills from the film’s production.
Posters And Psycho Ads: Gallery of original posters and ads from the theatrical campaign.
Lobby Cards: A gallery of promotional lobby cards from the film’s theatrical campaign.
Behind-The-Scenes Photographs: Rare photos showing the cast and crew at work.
Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer from the film’s theatrical campaign.
Re-Release Trailers: Promotional trailer created for the re-release of the film.
Minority Report (20th Century Fox Home Ent.): Steven Spielberg’s 2002 sci-fi thriller arrives on Blu-ray and has already garnered high praise for the quality of the transfer and extras. Adapted from Philip K Dick’s short story, it is set in Washington, 2054 where crime can be predicted by a specialised police unit using advanced technology and three psychics. When the head of the ‘Precrime’ unit (Tom Cruise) is shocked to see himself as a future murderer, he goes on the run and tries to figure out a murder he is going to commit.
Possibly Spielberg’s best film of the last decade, Minority Report featured a stellar supporting cast (Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max Von Sydow) and a convincingly dystopian view of the future. Like Blade Runner it combines a film noir narrative with a vision of a divided society where technology throws up recurring ethical dilemmas. The production design and distinctive look of the film, especially the visual effects, have made it a favourite in tech circles as the touch screen technology appears to have had an influence on devices (iPhone, iPad) and operating systems (Windows 7) since its release.
The Blu-ray has already got raves for the quality of the transfer. Gary Tooze of DVD beaver has described it as:
“impeccable – representing the film with pin-point authenticity. Achieving the intended appearance so succinctly I’d have to say this image quality is quite perfect – as perfect as I have seen in a while. It appears to look EXACTLY as the film was meant to. If you aren’t keen on the appearance blame the filmmakers not this pristine transfer”
There is actually a second Blu-ray disc featuring a lot of extras in HD as well as the features that were included in the standard 2002 DVD release.
The extras break down like this:
The Future According to Steven Spielberg (18-part – 34:03 in HD)
Inside the World of Precrime (10:11 in HD)
Philip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg and Minority Report (14:19 in HD)
Minority Report: Future Realized (6:22 in HD)
Minority Report: Props of the Future (9:42)
Highlights from Minority Report From the Set (2 pieces): The Hoverpack Sequence (6:06 in HD); The Car Factory Sequence (2:57 in HD)
Minority Report: Commercials of the Future (3:55 in HD)
Previz Sequences: The Hoverpack Sequence Previz (1:43 in HD); Maglev Chase Previz (2:10 in HD)
Previously Released Special Features (duplicated from the last DVD – all in SD)
From Story to Screen (19:03 in total): (2 pieces): The Story/The Debate (9:36); The Players (9:27)
Deconstructing Minority Report (42:06)
The Stunts of Minority Report (26:45)
ILM and Minority Report (6-part – 20-minutes in total)
The Road (Icon Home Entertainment): The film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 novel is a haunting tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world featuring two outstanding lead performances. It depicts the journey of a father (Viggo Mortensen) and son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) across an America which has descended into savagery after an unspecified environmental and social collapse. Part of the story’s raw power is the absence of any explanation as to why the world is collapsing, which shifts the focus on to the central relationship and the day to day struggle to survive.
Given that the story involves suicide, cannibalism and humans acting like savages you have to give credit to director John Hillcoat (who made the gritty Australian western The Proposition in 2005) and screenwriter Joe Penhall (author of the acclaimed play Blue/Orange) for properly translating the horrors and emotions of the novel into a film. It was this authentic rawness that probably meant that it was never going to be a huge box office hit, but there is much to admire here. The visuals look particularly striking: cinematographer Javier Aguirresa opts for a brownish palette to depict the harsh, ash-ridden environment; the art direction and production design also makes very clever use of rural US locations to create a chilling post-apocalyptic world.
Audiences unfamiliar with the novel may be taken aback by how bleak the story is and the film certainly doesn’t pull its punches: roaming gangs of cannibals, potential suicide and houses filled with half alive bodies are just some aspects that will disturb, although the most notorious scene from the book is omitted. Another thing to look out for is the interesting supporting cast, which is filled with excellent performances – most of which are extended cameos – from Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce. The soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis strikes an appropriately mournful tone with a notable piano motif reminiscent of Arvo Paart.
About Last Night (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Atonement (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Creepshow 2 (Boulevard Entertainment Ltd) [DVD] Institute Benjamenta (BFI) [Blu-ray & DVD] Night of the Living Dead (Boulevard Entertainment Ltd) [Blu-ray] Ninja Assassin (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray & DVD] Porcupine Tree: Anesthetize (Kscope) [Blu-ray & DVD] Pride and Prejudice (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray] Privilege (BFI) [Blu-ray / DVD] Rhythm Is It! (Wienerworld) [Blu-ray] Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll (EV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Sherlock Holmes (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Slugs (Boulevard Entertainment Ltd) [DVD] Spread (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] St Elmo’s Fire (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray] The Man Who Would Be King (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [DVD] The Party’s Over (BFI) [Blu-ray & DVD] The Pleasure Girls (BFI) [Blu-ray + DVD] True Blood: Season 2 (Warner Home Video/HBO) [Blu-ray / DVD] True Blood: Seasons 1 and 2 (Warner Home Video/HBO) [Blu-ray / DVD] Valhalla Rising (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD]
A sweeping romance told in flashback, it was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 5, though much to Lean’s chagrin it lost Best Picture to The Sound of Music. Full of stunning imagery and sequences, including a frozen dacha, the cavalry charge in Moscow and a battle seen through a pair of spectacles, it is tailor made for the Blu-ray format. Warner Bros appear to have done an amazing job on the transfer and extras include everything from the previous 2-disc DVD edition, plus a new 40-minute documentary, with the discs coming in a large 50-page digi-book including photos, essays and bios. [Blu-ray / DVD]
Where the Wild Things Are (Warner Home Video): Maurice Sendak’s much loved 1963 children’s book has been expanded to a feature length film about a young boy (Max Records) who ventures to a magical land where he is anointed king by a group of strange creatures. Charming and beautifully filmed, it marks a change of pace for director Spike Jonze, who deserves credit – along with co-screenwriter Dave Eggers – for preserving the spirit and tone of the book.
The casting is excellent. Records is not a typical child actor and has a pleasingly raw charm. The voices of the wild things are superb with James Gandolfini an inspired choice as Carol (the wild thing Max becomes closest to) as it brilliantly plays off his Sopranos persona, highlighting his joy, vulnerability and anger. Chris Cooper, Lauren Ambrose and Paul Dano also chip in with excellent vocal performances, making their characters as varied and complex as they should be. The Australian locations are also beautifully captured by cinematographer Lance Acord. The transfer is good (although a little dark in places) and the extras are solid, featuring an array of amusing videos from the set. [Blu-ray / DVD]
A Scanner Darkly (Warner Home Video): The best adaptation of a Philip K Dick novel since Blade Runner is this 2006 film set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its “war” on drugs, and an undercover cop (Keanu Reeves) is one of many people hooked on Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities, which causes majors problem in trying to track down a notorious drug dealer and figuring out who he really is.
Directed by Richard Linklater, it was filmed in live-action, and then animated using the same process used in his previous film, “Waking Life”, which perfectly suits the paranoid themes of the book which include the perils of drug abuse the surveillance society. Beacuse this was transfered directly from a digital source, it looks pristine with with terrific detail and depth. The extras are the same as the DVD release, including two insightful featurettes “One Summer in Austin: Filming A Scanner Darkly” (26 mins) and and “The Weight of the Line: Animation Tales” (20 mins), both of which include a lot of video diary footage. The audio commentary from Linklater, Phillip K. Dick’s daughter Isa Dick-Hackett and producer Tommy Pallotta is also very insightful with regard to Dick’s life and work. [Blu-ray / Normal]
[ad]
ALSO OUT
44 Inch Chest (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray /DVD] Adoration (Drakes Avenue Pictures) [DVD] Battlestar Galactica: Seasons 1-5 (Universal/Playback) [Blu-ray / DVD] Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (Universal/Playback) [Blu-ray / Box Set] Caligula: Uncut Edition (Arrow Films) [Blu-ray / DVD] Charlie Chaplin: The Great Dictator (Park Circus) [Blu-ray / DVD] Charlie Chaplin: The Kid (Park Circus) [Blu-ray / DVD] Delgo (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [DVD] Departures (Arrow Films) [Blu-ray / DVD] Dorothy (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Eric Rohmer: The Essential Eric Rohmer (Artificial Eye) [DVD] George Carlin: Collection – Volume 2 (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) It’s Complicated (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Nowhere Boy (Icon Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Paul Blart – Mall Cop (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Day of the Jackal (UCA) [DVD] Toy Story/Toy Story 2 (Walt Disney) [Blu-ray / DVD]
Me and Orson Welles (cinemaNX): This enjoyable period drama set in 1937 is about a teenager (Zac Efron) who joins the Mercury Theatre production of “Julius Ceasar” directed by a young Orson Welles (Christian McKay). Directed by Richard Linklater and co-starring Claire Danes, it was shot in the Isle of Man back in the spring of 2008 and lingered on the shelf after failing to get a distributor at various festivals. However, production company CinemaNX released it theatrically themselves (a rarity for a national release in the UK) sharing print and ad costs with Vue Entertainment. For the DVD release they have struck an exclusive arrangement with supermarket behemoth Tesco. [DVD]
The Railway Children (Optimum Home Entertainment): Adapted from E. Nesbit’s novel, Lionel Jeffries 1970 film adaptation quickly established itself as perennial favourite amongst family audiences and after a re-release at cinemas last month arrives on DVD and Blu-ray. It is the tale of a family forced to move from London to a house in Yorkshire after the father is imprisoned on a mysterious charge. There the three children, Roberta (Jenny Agutter), Peter (Gary Warren) and Phyllis (Sally Thomsett), are entranced by the nearby railway and become friendly with the locals, such as the station porter (Bernard Cribbins) and the Old Gentleman (William Mervyn) who takes the 9:15 train. It was a critical success on its initial release – receiving three BAFTA nominations – and has since become a much loved film through regular broadcasts on television. [Blu-ray | DVD]
Mad Men Season 3 (Lionsgate): One of the best Blu-ray releases of the year also happens to be the third season of the best show currently on television. Depicting the professional and personal lives of those who work at fictional New York ad agency Sterling Cooper, this series is set during 1963 and explores tensions with the new British owners, the ongoing personal conflicts (and infidelities) in the office and the gradual changes in US society.
The first two seasons touched on events such as the 1960 US election and the death of Marilyn Monroe, but this series manages to gradually combine the serious social changes of the era with the complex emotional situations facing the characters, culminating in brilliantly orchestrated season climax. *Read our full review here* [Blu-ray / DVD]
Avatar (20th Century Fox Home Ent.): James Cameron’s futuristic sci-fi epic about a paraplegic marine (Sam Worthington) who ventures to another planet and becomes one of the alien natives through a host body (or ‘avatar’) was a box office phenomenon that surpassed expectations to become the highest grossing film of all time. After a 12 year absence from feature films Cameron utilised ground breaking visual effects to craft a tale that was a dazzling 3D experience at cinemas and one that resonated with cultures around the globe.
Although some of the dialogue didn’t match the eye-popping visuals, there was something pleasing about the way in which vast technological resources of the Hollywood machine were used to create a film with a simple anti-war, pro-environmental message. Because the Blu-ray release is so hotly anticipated, it is worth stating that there are no extras at all on this version. Cameron said he didn’t have the time to do them right and there will be a fuller package later this year with extended extras. Also, for this release Cameron has opted to use go for the 1.78:1 version (that was screened in IMAX cinemas) and not the 2.35:1 version that most people saw in 3D at the cinema. Despite that, the Blu-ray transfer is stunning and the visuals (including the live action sequences) are rendered with stunning detail and depth. [Blu-ray / DVD]
The Kreutzer Sonata (Axiom Films): Based on a story written by Leo Tolstoy in response to Beethoven’s eponymous composition, director Bernard Rose dissects a modern marriage between a wealthy philanthropist (Danny Huston) who becomes possessive of his pianist wife (Elisabeth Rohm). Following up his superb drama Ivansxtc, Rose continues his reworking of the great Russian novelist’s work, and this is the second part of a planned trilogy.
Danny Huston, who was outstanding in Ivansxtc, returns with another excellent performance, and the film is an interesting exploration of fairly juicy themes including love, sex and obsession. Whilst not quite as good as its predecessor, it represents another interesting chapter in Rose’s career outside the Hollywood mainstream. [DVD]
ALSO OUT
Prince Valiant (Eureka) [Blu-ray / DVD] Saving Private Ryan (Paramount Home Entertainment) [Blu-ray] Smokin’ Aces (Universal Pictures) [Blu-ray] Sword of the Stranger (Beez Entertainment) [Blu-ray] The Girlfriend Experience (Revolver Entertainment) [Blu-ray / DVD] Mad Men: Seasons 1-3 (Lionsgate UK) [Blu-ray / DVD] Carriers (Paramount Home Entertainment) [DVD] Dillinger (Icon Home Entertainment) [DVD]
The latest season of Mad Men is another reminder of why it is one of the outstanding TV shows of the past decade.
Depicting the fictional New York advertising agency Sterling Cooper during the early 1960s, it explores lives of those that work there and the quality of the writing puts it on par with landmark shows such as The Wire and The Sopranos.
Created by Matthew Weiner, it centres around creative director Don Draper (Jon Hamm), his wife Betty (January Jones) and and various characters at the agency such as Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss), Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser), Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) and Bert Cooper (Robert Morse).
It has deservedly won huge critical acclaim along with consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Drama since it first premiered on US cable channel AMC in 2007.
Season One introduced us to the world of Madison Avenue in 1960, a place filled with surface glamour and backward social attitudes where many of the characters struggle to deal with their professional and personal lives.
Season Two explored the enigma of protagonist Don Draper, his mysterious past and professional ambitions, as well as examining the changes during 1962 for various female characters in the office.
Season Three is set during 1963 and explores tensions at the agency with the new British owners, the ongoing personal conflicts (and infidelities) in the office and the gradual changes in US society as it entered a tumultuous decade.
One thing that distinguishes Mad Men from the mediocrity of contemporary televison is just the intelligence of the writing but the fact that it somehow manages to highlight contemporary uncertainties through the prism of history.
Much of the early appeal of the show was the excellent period detail, but the show’s astute probing into emotional issues (divorce, social attitudes) against the backdrop of famous events has proved to be a killer combination.
The first two seasons touched on events such as the 1960 US election and the death of Marilyn Monroe, but this series manages to gradually combine the serious social changes of the era with the complex emotional situations facing the characters, culminating in brilliantly orchestrated season climax.
Although the period details are excellent, the show mines a lot of dramatic irony out the way in which characters often seem initially oblivious to seismic events: characters flirt whilst the March on Washington can be heard on the radio; a man turns off the TV just before Walter Cronkite is about to make an important announcement.
This series picks up soon after the events of Season Two and Don is still having fidelity issues (taking a special interest in a local teacher) whilst Betty has her own dalliances, despite recently giving birth to a son.
Meanwhile, at the ad agency, tensions continue with the new British bosses and many of the staff have to face big changes in their working and personal lives.
Perhaps the biggest development this season is the way in which the changes in American society closely mirror those of the main characters. In the hands of less skilled writers this could have been clunky but Weiner and his team pull it off with taste, skill and intelligence.
With its detailed period look, costumes and production design it is perfectly suited to the high definition Blu-ray format. On a purely technical level, it is one of the best looking shows I have ever seen on an HD television.
The 13 episode box set has is supplemented by various featurettes and audio commentaries on key episodes, with insights from the show’s creator Matthew Wiener, cast members and directors.
Over the three discs the extras include the following:
Audio Commentaries: On the Blu-ray there are several commentaries from cast and crew (a lot more than is usual for a TV series) with two for each episode. Matthew Weiner is a ubiquitous presence on the tracks with some insight and context for the creative choices in each episode, but the commentaries from actors are also insightful and witty. The sheer amount of commentaries might seem a bit much, but for a show as layered as this, they are a welcome addition for aficionados.
Mad Men Illustrated (HD, 14:01): One thing you may have noticed about the popularity of Mad Men is the various avatars fans use online (especially Twitter) based on characters from the show. (The official website has a section where you called MadMenYourself). These drawings are the work of illustrator Dyna Moe who knew an actor on the show and was initially recruited to do Christmas cards for the cast and crew. When she put them up online they were an instant hit and her subsequent illustrations of characters and scenes from the show have become something of a phenomenon. This short featurette is an extended interview with her alongside her work.
Clearing the Air (HD, Part 1 25:28 & Part 2 19:58): This lengthy two-part documentary is a fascinating exploration about the history of how tobacco companies advertised cigarettes to the American people. (Fans of the show will remember the pilot episode featured a plot line about a tobacco company and this season also features a key plot strand involving Lucky Strike) It features several academics, historians and experts who discuss the often ingenious ways in which tobacco companies sold the myth of tobacco, from recruiting Hollywood stars, to downplaying research and how various different companies targeted different demographics. For instance, we find out that Marlboro initially targeted women despite later becoming famous for the image of the ‘Malboro Man’ and an eye-popping revelation about Philip Morris brands.
Flashback 1963 (HD): This is an interactive photo feature that charts the big historical and cultural moments of the year.
Medger Evers: Unsung Hero (HD, Part 1 39:13 & Part 2 31:15): Another two part documentary, which explores the life of civil rights campaigner Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary who was assassinated in his driveway in 1963. Told through lengthy interviews with Medgar’s brother, Charles; his widow, Myrlie; and daughter, Reena. A moving portrait of a one of the key figures in the battle to end segregation.
We Shall Overcome: The March on Washington (HD, 16:56): A simple but powerful feature in which the full audio of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” in August 1963 is accompanied by images from the March on Washington.
Mad Men Season 3 is released on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 26th April
The Last Emperor (Optimum Home Entertainment): Bernardo Bertolucci‘s 1987 epic explores the extraordinary life of Puyi, who became the Emperor of China at the age of 3 and ended up as a lowly gardener after his country was engulfed by twentieth century events. Told in flashback, the epic scope of the narrative is matched by the lavish visuals which include remarkable use of real life locations in China. It was the first Western production allowed to shoot inside Beijing’s Forbidden City and the recreation of various historical periods remains a remarkable technical achievement. Vittorio Storaro‘s sumptuous cinematography matches his finest work and the film deservedly won nine Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. [Buy the Blu-ray / Buy the DVD]
Inland Empire (Optimum Home Entertainment): Director David Lynch followed up the critically acclaimed Mulholland Drive with an even weirder mystery. Shot on digital video, it tells the story of an actress (Laura Dern) who becomes ever more disturbed after her strange experiences with a director (Jeremy Irons); her co-star (Justin Theroux; husband (Peter J. Lucas). Add to this a strange Polish couple and a trio of giant stage-bound rabbits (voiced by Naomi Watts, Scott Coffey and Laura Harring) and you have arguably Lynch’s most surreal film. Shot over two and a half years, without a formal script, the bizarre symbolism and obtuse narrative are strangely compelling. Not for everyone but for Lynch fans it is an essential purchase. [Buy the Blu-ray / Buy the DVD]
ALSO OUT
Earth: The Complete Series (2 Entertain) [DVD] Hamlet (2 Entertain) [Blu-ray / DVD] Nine (EV) [Blu-ray / DVD] Poseidon (Warner Home Video) [Blu-ray / DVD] Stag Night (Kaleidoscope Home Ent.) [DVD] The Box [Icon Home Entertainment] [Blu-ray] The Men Who Stare at Goats (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Bitch Slap (Momentum Pictures) [DVD] Boogie Woogie (E1 Entertainment UK) [DVD] The Stepfather (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [DVD] The Thick of It: Collection (2 Entertain) [DVD] The Thick of It: Series 3 (2 Entertain) [DVD]
The Bicycle Thieves (Arrow Films): A welcome re-release for Vittorio De Sica‘s classic 1947 neorealist film about desperation and struggle in post-war Italy, is the tale of a poor man (Lamberto Maggiorani) and his son (Enzo Staiola) searching the streets of Rome for his stolen bicycle, which he needs to be able to work.
Based on the novel by Luigi Bartolini, it was adapted for the screen by Cesare Zavattini and used non-professional actors to create a telling picture of poverty in post-war Europe. A landmark film in many ways, it still contains scenes of great power and is ultimately a very moving depiction of the love between father and son.
The special features on this re-release by Arrow Films include:
Timeless Cinema: A documentary on Vittorio De Sica
Theatrical Trailer
Original Poster Artwork & Lobby Stills
Henri-George Clouzot’s Inferno (Park Circus): A hybrid documentary and part reconstruction of Henri-Georges Clouzot‘s unfinished project L’Enfer (‘Inferno’), an enigmatic film about a hotel manager who becomes possessed by the demons of jealousy. The story of how this project got made is a fascinating one: Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea managed to persuade Clouzot’s second wife, Inès de Gonzalez, to give permission to use footage from Clouzot’s original film, which they then supplemented with interviews of cast and crew members.
Wonders of the Solar System (2 Entertain): One of the best TV series to air on the BBC this year sees Professor Brian Cox visit notable locations around Earth to illustrate how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the Solar System. The five episodes explore: the Sun; the Rings of Saturn; the atmosphere of Earth and Titan; the size of planets, volcanoes and the moon Io; and the search for life on other worlds, focusing on Mars and Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Cox is an engaging and informative host and along with the BBC shows Galapagos and Planet Earth, it is well worth checking out on Blu-ray as it is full of stunning imagery that looks fabulous in HD. The show’s better than expected ratings pleasantly surprised BBC bosses, who according to Cox’s Twitter account have commissioned another series, called ‘Universal’, which they begin shooting next month. [Buy on Blu-ray / Buy on DVD]
[ad]
ALSO OUT
Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 – The Squeakquel (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Being Human: Complete Series 2 (2 Entertain) [DVD] Dolan’s Cadillac (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Law Abiding Citizen (Momentum Pictures) [Blu-ray / DVD] Raging Phoenix (Showbox Media Group) [Blu-ray / DVD] The Descent: Part 2 (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Blu-ray / DVD] Tombstone (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.) [Blu-ray] Bad Behaviour (Lionsgate UK) [DVD] Blood and Oil (2 Entertain) [DVD] Clint Eastwood: Westerns (Warner Home Video) [DVD] Crude (Dogwoof Digital) [DVD] Ghost Machine (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK) [DVD] Glee: Season 1 – Volume 1 (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [DVD] Henry Lee Lucas – Serial Killer (Lionsgate UK) [DVD] Humpday (Momentum Pictures) [DVD] I’m Gonna Explode (Artificial Eye) [DVD] OSS 117: Lost in Rio (ICA) [DVD] Starsuckers (Network Releasing) [DVD] The Big I Am (E1 Entertainment UK) [DVD] Vietnam (Fremantle Home Entertainment) [DVD] We Live in Public (Dogwoof Digital) [DVD]
The third instalment in Romero’s ongoing zombie saga sees the living dead take over the world and only small pockets of human resistance survive. One group of survivors, a motley crew of scientists and soldiers, are holed up in a 14-mile long underground missile silo where tensions begin to erupt as the zombie hoards surround them.
The bleakest and goriest of Romero’s zombie films to date, Day Of The Dead has often been overshadowed by its more illustrious predecessors, but in recent years it has found greater appreciation, with Tom Savini‘s ground breaking make-up effects and the social commentary on Reagan’s America becoming more apparent.
This Blu-ray edition features a restored presentation of the film, a new hi-def soundtrack, four alternate sleeves, a double-sided poster, a 24-page collector’s booklet ‘For Every Dawn There Is A Day’, plus a very special collector’s comic – ‘Day Of The Dead: Desertion’ – featuring a brand new ‘Bub’ storyline.
Two all-new documentaries were also commissioned for this release: In ‘Joe Of The Dead’ (directed by Calum Waddell) Joe talks about his career in movies – from his early appearance in the little-seen Pittsburgh horror outing ‘Effects’ (which also featured Romero regulars Tom Savini and John Harrison) to his small parts in ‘Dawn Of The Dead’ and ‘Knightriders’ and his work as Captain Rhodes in Day Of The Dead.
In ‘Travelogue of the Dead’ (directed by Naomi Holwill), we join Pilato as he travels across Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow in October 2009 celebrating the 25th anniversary of Day Of The Dead and witness him meeting the fans, reciting his most famous lines from the movie – live and on stage – and drinking with the best of them.
Calum Waddell also penned the ‘For Every Dawn There Is A Day’ collector’s booklet, which is an essay on the making of the movie that collects brand new interviews with Romero, Savini, editor Pasquale Buba, assistant director/composer John Harrison and actors Joe Pilato, Lori Cardille and Gary Steele.
I recently spoke to Joe about the film’s Blu-ray release and you can listen to the interview here:
Day of the Dead (Arrow Films): The third film in George A Romero‘s zombie trilogy has often been regarded as something of a letdown after the groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead (1968) and the iconic Dawn of the Dead (1978). It does lack the vitality of its predecessors but over the years has become a more telling satire of the Reagan era than many realised at the time.
Set inside an underground US military complex as zombies have overrun the earth, it explores the tensions between various army and scientific personnel as well as depicting the possibility of ‘humanising’ a zombie. Tom Savini’s landmark make-up effects still hold up strongly and Romero’s direction is smarter than some gave it credit for at the time. The Blu-ray comes with a raft of new extras including new commentaries and featurettes. [Buy the Blu-ray / Buy the DVD]
Delicatessen (Optimum Home Entertainment): With Jean-Pierre Jeunet‘s latest film Micmacs not getting the love or attention it deserved at UK box offices, Optimum have re-released the 1991 that put him on the map. Along with co-director Marc Caro, he crafted a delightfully surreal tale about a clown (Dominique Pinon) who moves into a run down apartment building with a delicatessen on the ground floor and falls in love with the butcher’s daughter, Julie Clapet (Marie-Laure Dougnac).
Shot entirely in and around the delicatessen, it is inventive and displays a remarkable visual flair reminiscent of silent comedy and proved very influential, especially on subsequent TV commercials. I’m not sure why there isn’t a Blu-ray version yet, but if you haven’t already got the DVD it is highly recommended. [Buy the DVD]
Funny Games U.S. (Kaleidoscope Home Ent.): Michael Haneke‘s U.S. remake of his own 1997 film was a gruelling affair, even by his own dark standards, but remains a powerful piece of work. Made in 2007, it followed the exact same story with a well-to-do couple (Tim Roth and Naomi Watts) and their son who are slowly terrorised by two mysterious young thugs (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbett) whilst at their holiday home.
Some critics were appalled by what they saw as the pointless sadism of the film, but the fact that it provoked such a hostile reaction – often from the very bourgeois perspective the film directly assaults – was perhaps telling. It is a genuinely horrific film, with little in the way of catharsis or intellectual ambiguity, but remains a bracing and intriguing example of a director revisiting his own material for a different audience. [Buy the Blu-ray / Buy the DVD]
George Carlin: Collection – Volume 1 (Anchor Bay Entertainment UK): A collection of four of the great US comedians best stand up performances taped for HBO which include: George Carlin – On Location – University of Southern California (1977), George Carlin Again (1978), George Carlin at Carnegie (1984) and George Carlin on Campus (1984).
Brilliant observations about life are mixed with some hilarious social commentary and these groundbreaking performances demonstrate why he is still one of America’s greatest comedians, just two years after his death. [Buy the DVD]
* N.B. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is out on Blu-ray this week and would normally be one of my picks. However, the box set consists of the theatrical cuts (with hardly any extras) and I’d recommend waiting until the extended Blu-ray editions come out. *
ALSO OUT
30 Rock: Season 3 (Universal/Playback) [Buy the DVD] Married, Single, Other (2 Entertain) [Buy the Blu-ray / Buy the DVD] The International (Sony Pictures Home Ent.) [Buy the Blu-ray] Universal Soldier: Regeneration (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy the Blu-ray] Who Dares Wins (Arrow Films) [Buy the Blu-ray] Battle Royale (Arrow Films) [Buy the DVD] Big Bad Mama (In 2 Film) [Buy the DVD] Burn Notice: Season 2 (20th Century Fox Home Ent.) [Buy the DVD] Chappelle’s Show: Season 2 (Best Medicine) [Buy the DVD] Feast Trilogy (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy the DVD] Forever Green: Series 2 (Network) [Buy the DVD] Geisha Assassin (MVM Entertainment) [Buy the DVD] Ghost Hunt: Complete Series 1 (Manga Entertainment) [Buy the DVD] Ginger Baker and Friends: Live at the Jazz Cafe (Voiceprint) [Buy the DVD] Laurel and Hardy: Collection (Lace) [Buy the DVD] Le Professionnel (Optimum Home Entertainment) [Buy the DVD] Smokin’ Aces/ Smokin’ Aces 2 – Assassin’s Ball (Universal Pictures) [Buy the DVD] The Bridge (Metrodome Distribution) [Buy the DVD]
2012 (Sony Pictures): Roland Emmerich’s latest big-budget blockbuster sees an ancient Mayan prophecy come true as Earth’s techtonic plates unleash global destruction after a solar flare. An alarmed US government scientist (Chiwetel Ojiofor) discovers the disaster; a limousine driver (John Cusack) struggles to protect his family amidst the chaos; the US president (Danny Glover) tries to be stoic; the chief of staff (Oliver Platt) enacts a secret plan and various other characters all respond differently to the coming apocalypse.
Although the film isn’t in any danger of winning any awards for acting or screenwriting, the set pieces are impressively rendered and the sheer scale of CGI destruction is a sight to behold, even if there are too many ”just in the nick of time’ escapes.
The transfer to Blu-ray is excellent and although sometimes high definition can spotlight weak visual effects, here they stand up very well indeed with tsunamis, earthquakes and collapsing buildings and all manner of destruction coming across in pristine detail.
The extras are fairly extensive too, the most notable being the BD-Live™ enabled movieIQ, which allows you to access updated information on the film’s cast, crew, production and soundtrack while watching the film. [Buy the Blu-ray | Buy the DVD]
Blu-ray Special Features
movieIQ and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie
Interactive Mayan Calendar – Enter a date to reveal your horoscope and personality profile! Delve even further into the secrets by watching Mysteries of the Mayan Calendar
Picture-In-Picture: Roland’s Vision-Includes Pre-Visualization, storyboards and behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with filmmakers, cast and crew
Commentary with Writer/Director Roland Emmerich and Co-Writer Harald Kloser
Deleted Scenes
Alternate Ending
Designing The End Of The World
Roland Emmerich: The Master of the Modern Epic
Science Behind The Destruction
The End Of The World: The Actor’s Perspective
DVD Special Features
Commentary with Writer/Director Roland Emmerich and Co-Writer Harald Kloser
Deleted Scenes
Alternate Ending
Roland Emmerich: The Master of the Modern Epic
Stargate (Optimum): The other Roland Emmerich release of the week is his 1994 sci-fi adventure about an academic (James Spader) and a military unit (headed by Kurt Russell) who venture through a teleportation gateway to another planet.
The third collaboration between director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin – they had worked Moon 44 (1990) and Universal Soldier (1992) – was on a bigger budget and they crafted something more entertaining and polished. Here you can see the roots of the mega sci-fi success they would have with Independence Day (1996) – although we’ll politely ignore Godzilla (1998).
Stargate was one of the first Lionsgate Blu-ray releases back in August 2006, but that had hardly any extras and the audio was only lossy DTS High Resolution. This version has both the theatrical and the extended cuts of the movie, and four hours of extras, including three new featurettes, a trivia track, and a gag reel. [Buy the Blu-ray]
The Informant (Warner Home Video): Steven Soderbergh’s latest film bears some resemblance to Erin Brockovich (2000), an entertaining exposé of real life corporate chicanery concerning a biochemist (Matt Damon) who in 1992, became an informant for the FBI after his company got involved in price fixing.
What makes it unusual is the breezy comic tone and the extraordinary behaviour of the central character (who seems to be an undiagnosed manic depressive). Much of the comedy comes from the continual frustration of the FBI with their star witness who often tells the truth, but unfortunately mixes it with lies. It got a rather muted reception on the festival circuit last year, but Damon shows great comic timing in the central role, whilst Marvin Hamlisch’s score and the distinctive visuals (shot by Soderbergh under his regular pseudonym Peter Andrews), all add to the mix. [Buy the Blu-ray | Buy the DVD]
The action centres on the homicide division of an inner-city Baltimore police station, with a large and fluid cast passing through the precinct’s door during the series’ seven seasons on the air. Simon was a consultant and producer on the series and although not as good as The Wire, it is still one of the landmark US TV shows of the 90s. [Buy the DVD]
We have 2 copies of The Passion of the Christ to give away on DVD, courtesy of Icon Home Entertainment.
Depicting the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth (Jim Caviezel), it starts with his betrayal by Judas Iscariot (Luca Lionello), his arrest and trial by Pontious Pilate (Hristo Shopov) and culminates with his crucifixion and resurrection.
Directed by Mel Gibson – who funded the film himself and co-wrote the screenplay – it uses flashbacks to a handful of pertinent moments in Jesus’ life and teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount and the Last Supper, as well as his relationships with his mother and his disciples.
Co-starring Maia Morgenstern and Monica Bellucci, it was performed in Aramaic and Latin (with English subtitles) and was became one of the highest grossing films of 2004.
The extras on this 2-disc edition include:
Commentary for the visually impaired (original version only)
Filmmaker Commentary with Mel Gibson, cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and Editor John Wright (original version only)
Production Commentary with Producer Stephen McEveety, Second Unit Director Ted Rae and Visual Effects Producer Kevin Vanderhan (original version only)
Theological Commentary with Mel Gibson, Language Consultant Father William Fulco, Theologians Gerry Matatics and Father John Bartunek (original version only)
Music Commentary with composer John Debney (selected scenes – original version only)
Seamlessly Branched ReCut version of The Passion of The Christ (4:41 shorter)
Biblical pop-up Footnotes (original version only)
His Wounds We Are Healed: Making The Passion of the Christ (21 Chapters – 1:40:15)
Crucifixion: Punishment in the Ancient World (17:26)
Anno Domini (10:02)
Production Art
Art Images
Characters and Their Actors
Unit Photography
Trailers and TV Spots
DVD Credits
[ad]
However, to be in with a chance of winning a copy ofThe Passion of the Christ on DVD just answer the following question:
Which 1993 film was Mel Gibson’s first as a director?
The closing date is Monday 12th April and winners will be notified by email.
*UPDATE 11/04/10: We made a mistake with this competition – the year should have read 1993 and not 1995. However, any entries that named Gibson’s films from 1993 and 1995 will be included in the final draw. Apologies again. *
The Passion of the Christ is out now on Blu-ray and DVD on Icon Home Entertainment
Dumbo (Walt Disney): One of the greatest animated films from Disney, this story of a shy little elephant with some large ears arrives on Blu-ray for the first time. Separated from the rest of the circus animals, he befriends a mouse who encourages him to exploit his ears for fame and fortune.
After being goaded by a group of crows, Dumbo discovers that his ears have given him the ability to fly. The animation and writing is magical and the Blu-ray comes with a decent selection of extras including behind the scenes featurettes, bonus short features, and a copy of the DVD. [Buy it on Blu-ray | Buy it on DVD]
Fish Tank (Artificial Eye): Writer-director Andrea Arnold’s second feature-length film, and another deeply impressive piece of work after her Oscar winning short Wasp(2005) and Red Road (2006). The tale of a teenage girl named Mia (Katie Jarvis) chronicles her struggle with her mother and younger sister on an poor Essex housing estate.
Frustrated with her life and lack of options, things begin to change when she strikes up a friendship with her mother’s new boyfriend (Michael Fassbender). Unlike many British films which feature aristocrats in period costume or gangsters who swear a lot, this takes what seems like humdrum material and does something really special with it. For some reason the Blu-ray is only being released two months after the DVD (read our longer review here), but is well worth buying if you haven’t yet seen it. [Buy it on Blu-ray | Buy it on DVD]
Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Edition (Universal Playback): With Season 2 of Twin Peaks finally being released in the UK, Universal Playback have decided to release Season 1 and Season 2 on a definitive box set. Directed by David Lynch, this series picks up from the first season cliff-hanger that saw Agent Cooper (Kyle Maclachlan) shot repeatedly as he closed in on the mystery surrounding the brutal murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).
Twin Peaks originally aired between 1990 and 1991 and quickly became one of the most critically acclaimed and popular TV series around the world. Taking root in popular culture, even today it regularly features in lists of classic TV shows. [Buy it on DVD]
The Double Life of Veronique (Artificial Eye): A 1991 French-Polish drama directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski stars Irène Jacob in a dual role as two women, one in Poland (Weronika) and one in France (Veronique), who have a mysterious connection.
A thoughtful and beautifully constructed film, it has an entrancing central performance from Jacob, some inventive cinematography from Sławomir Idziak and also anticipates the Three Colours Trilogy (1992-94) which cemented Kieślowski as one of the great European filmmakers of his generation. [Buy it on Blu-ray | Buy it on DVD]
The Passion of the Christ (Icon Home Entertainment): Mel Gibson‘s unflinching and brutal retelling of the final hours of Jesus (Jim Caviezel) was one of the most successful and controversial films of 2004. From a purely technical level there is much to admire in the film: Caleb Deschanel‘s cinematography, the costumes, make-up and use of the Italian town of Matera, all combine to paint a highly convincing picture of the period.
Even for a non-believer, the spectacle of suffering and persecution is moving, even if Gibson lays it on a bit too relentlessly. The claims of anti-Semitism against the film, fuelled by the depiction of the Jewish priests as Christ killers (as they are in the Gospels), were off-base, although Gibson’s drunken rant rant in 2006 gave one pause about his own personal beliefs. [Buy it on Blu-ray | Buy it on DVD]
Under the Sun of Satan (Eureka/MOC): A re-release for this 1987 allegorical drama, adapted from the Georges Bernanos novel of the same name, sees a French priest (Gerard Depardieu) struggle to save the soul of young woman (Sandrine Bonnaire).
An impressive examination of good versus evil, it won the Palme d’Or at the 1987 Cannes Festival, which led to verbal protests from sections of the audience and defiant gesture from director Maurice Pialat. This new release has had a new anamorphic transfer in its original aspect ratio, with new and improved English subtitle translations. The extras are also plentiful with interviews, lengthy featurettes, on set footage and a 36-page booklet. [Buy it on DVD]
We have 3 copies of Twin Peaks Season 2 to give away on DVD, courtesy of Universal Playback.
One of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the year, fans of the famous series made it the most requested title in Universal Playback’s catalogue.
Directed by the legendary David Lynch, this series picks up from the first season cliff-hanger that saw Agent Cooper (Kyle Maclachlan) shot repeatedly as he closed in on the mystery surrounding the brutal murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).
Twin Peaks originally aired between 1990 and 1991 and quickly became one of the most critically acclaimed and popular TV series around the world.
Season 1 was released on DVD in the UK in 2001 and has consistently been one of Universal Playback’s best-sellers ever since, shifting more than 109,000 units.
Season 2 has since been released on DVD in the US, Australia and Germany but not in the UK, until now.
Click here to buy Elizabeth on Blu-ray from Amazon UK
Although the film takes considerable liberties with the historical truth, it managed to create a feistier and more energetic Elizabeth to the screen, mainly thanks to Blanchett’s portrayal.
Indian director Shekhar Kapur managed to bring a different perspective to a well known historical figure, contrasting the opulence of court life with the dark treachery that often underpinned it.
The period details are generally excellent and the locations of Northumberland, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire – along with studio work at Shepperton Studios – manage to recreate the period convincingly. (Also look out for small supporting roles for Eric Cantona and a 12-year-old Lily Allen).
Shown at the major 1998 film festivals (Venice, Toronto), it reaped deserving acclaim with Oscar nominations for Best Actress (Blanchett), Best Art Direction (John Myhre), Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin), Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne), Best Original Score (David Hirschfelder) and Best Picture (Alison Owen, Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan).
On Blu-ray, the transfer is sharp and detailed, with the high definition format showing off the production design and costumes to impressive effect.
The first part sees him as a naive, but determined 24 year old getting his first taste of war in Sarajevo during 1993.
