21 New Movies to Watch at Home on Blu-ray/DVD This Week ~ Cinenus

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These Final Hours

James is leaving the woman he loves to attend the party to end all parties. A giant, devastating wall of fire is making its way around the globe, and while most of the planet has already seen its life forms exterminated in the flames James’ home in Australia is one of last refuges. Death will make its way across the ocean in less than twelve hours, and he wants nothing more than to smoke, drink and screw his way into oblivion. His decision is tested when he witnesses someone dragging a young girl, kicking and screaming, into a house. The futility of risking your life to save a life mere hours before all life on Earth is destroyed isn’t lost on him, but James decides to intervene anyway. Two dead men later, James is promising to return little Rose to her family, but first he wants to poke his head into that party.

Equal parts human drama and nihilistic thriller we see a collision between the best and worst mankind has to offer. Writer/director Zak Hilditch’s film drops us into a world on the brink, and while James and his friends are intent on partying their way into oblivion the film doesn’t shy away from those who chose or were forced onto a darker route. Some choose suicide, others choose murder. It’s chaos in the streets and behind closed doors, and even James’ party has descended into a microcosm of debauchery, abuse and Russian roulette. Against this hellish backdrop is his dueling desires to go out numb to it all or to do what’s right. His efforts to help Rose make him a target, and it’s added drama atop the doubts, fears and feelings of love roiling within him. The film presents the naturally warm Perth with an even hotter lens creating a landscape believably on the verge of a fiery apocalypse, and at under ninety minutes Hilditch keeps the film moving — physically, emotionally — until the final minutes. That short running time leaves little room for deep characterization, but the shorthand of the situation and of Phillips’ performance make James’ journey clear and relatable.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: None]

Battlestar Galactica: The Remastered Collection

Representatives of the twelve human colonies meet with the Cylons intent on brokering a peace deal, but it’s son discovered to have been a ruse of near-genocidal proportions when the android army attacks mankind’s planets and spaceships. One battlestar survives the fray and with a rag-tag group of ships in tow they set off on an intergalactic journey in search of a new home… called Earth.

The Syfy channel’s reboot from a few years ago remains one of TV’s finest shows, but the original retains a lot of its charm and narrative thrills. Dated effects don’t hamper the character drama either which still feels darker than most comparable sci-fi shows of the late ’70s and early ’80s. The set features all 24 episodes of the original series and all 10 from Galactica 1980 remastered in widescreen for the first time, and they look fantastic in HD. Universal is simultaneously releasing The Definitive Collection on Blu-ray which also includes both series in their original television format as well as the theatrical version of the pilot episode.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, commentary, featurettes, interviews]

Wet Hot American Summer

Camp Firewood is a summer home for all manner of misfits, and as the season comes to an end they find themselves engaged in even bigger hijinks than they’re used to. There’s a talent show filled with questionable displays of talent, love and romance playing tonsil hockey around every corner and the imminent threat of death by Skylab. Will this be their last summer or their greatest summer ever?

David Wain’s ’80s-themed riff on summer camp and the movies it inspired (ie Meatballs) is pure comic genius brought to life with an insanely funny group of people including Paul Rudd, Chris Meloni, Michael Showalter, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, David Hyde Pierce, Amy Poehler and others. There is an abundance of quotable lines and hilarious gags here and a real paucity of misfires. Granted, comedy is subjective, but if you don’t laugh at Rudd’s cafeteria scene I genuinely fear for your soul. This is the film’s Blu-ray debut, so if you haven’t seen it yet this is the way to go. Watch it before the Netflix series comes along and fails to capture the same magic (he said, although he’s still secretly hopeful that it will be equally brilliant).

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: SF Sketchfest reunion, featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary]

Blackhat

Someone, somewhere, hits the “Enter” key, and a nuclear reactor in China explodes. A similar attack against the U.S. fails, but when the same hacker causes minor havoc on the stock exchange a joint American/Chinese task force is formed to locate and capture the cyber bully. Captain Chen Dawai insists that they need the assistance of a currently imprisoned hacker named Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth), and soon the team is trotting around the globe in search of the criminal mastermind. The NSA chief who falls victim to a phishing attack by clicking on an email attachment is just one example of the rampant idiocy on display here. Other instances involve police action (or inaction), the repeated ease with which the 6’3″ Hemsworth avoids detection in Chinese and Indonesian crowds and just about everything involving Tang Wei’s character. She’s identified as a network engineer to alert us that she’s not simply there as beautiful window dressing, but then she’s treated as nothing but beautiful window dressing. Michael Mann’s latest is also an ugly movie with traditionally striking locales like Jakarta and Hong Kong instead appearing flatly unexciting to the senses.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurettes]

The Cobbler

Max (Adam Sandler) runs a small New York City shoe repair shop, and it’s all he’s ever known. His life gets a jolt though when he discovers a magical machine in the basement that offers him a glimpse into other people’s lives. Shoes he repairs now offer him the opportunity to become the owner while he wears them, but the more he sees around him the more trouble sees him. Or something. It’s unclear who this is aimed towards — it’s not the broadly comic endeavor he churns out most frequently, but it’s also not really one of his stabs at dramatic legitimacy. And the ending… woof.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Making of]

The Colbys: The Complete Series

The Colbys (Charlton Heston, Katharine Ross, Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Montalban, Maxwell Caulfield and others) are one of California’s wealthiest dynasties, and the only thing tougher than their rise to the top is the series of challenges they face trying to stay there. Dynasty was one of TV’s biggest hits in the early ’80s, and it spawned a spinoff with this very similar show about a totally different but actually pretty damn identical family of rich, white people. It was short-lived but still managed to be the epitome of what you’d expect from a nighttime soap. The cast makes it seem more elevated than its peers, but it content brings it back down to earth. Shout! Factory’s new release collects all 49 episodes from its two seasons.

[DVD extras: Interviews]

The Cut-Throats

As World War II winds down a small squad of American soldiers is tasked with infiltrating a German base and securing an important set of battle plans that could win them the war. Two other motivations are at play here though — the base is housing a treasure of jewels and is also home to a handful of sexy German ladies. What to do, what to do. This late ’60s hybrid is an odd little film as it moves between low-level (but well-crafted) WWII action and softcore shenanigans, sometimes in the same scene. There’s also a variety show of sorts given far more screen time than you’d expect and a love story that sneaks in towards the end too. Like I said, it’s odd. Vinegar Syndrome brings the film to DVD for the first time with a 2K restoration and a limited edition run of only 1500 copies.

[DVD extras: None]

The Drownsman

Madison has a newfound fear of water after a near-droning incident, but she soon discovers that there’s more to fear than simply death by water. A serial killer known for making water an integral part of his play was thought dead but has now returned to haunt those who dare get wet. This is a valiant attempt at creating a new mythology in the horror genre, and it features a handful of effective shots throughout. Less successful though is the actual script and its characters, none of whom manage to engage or hold our attention all that well. It never really manages to be scary or creepy, but the core concept is interesting enough to warrant a watch.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: None]

Extraterrestrial

April and Kyle have plans for a quiet weekend at her family’s cabin in the woods, but he surprises her by inviting along a few of their mutual friends. The group isn’t there very long before a fiery object streaks across the night sky and crashes into the nearby woods. They head out to investigate and discover a disc-shaped object with strangely-shaped footprints leading away from the craft. The owner of the feet in question makes an appearance back at the house and is gunned down for its troubles, but that act of aggression triggers an all out assault as the friends discover the creature may not have come alone. The Vicious Brothers previously entered the genre fray with Grave Encounters and its sequel, but while both of those films were fully found footage their latest only toys with the format briefly before settling for a traditional film. It’s unsurprisingly for the best as even the short segments that are captured on a digicam annoy and distract plenty. The rest of the film actually looks quite good too making this an attractive film in the visual sense thanks to some well-crafted sequences and production design. Less successful is the script which is littered with poor dialogue choices and a handful of scenes in need of a second thought and pass by the writers. It’s ultimately forgettable but far from terrible.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentary, making of]

An Irish Exorcism

A college student approaching graduation settles on a final project on the subject of exorcisms in the Catholic church, and after being stymied by church authorities she comes across a local priest in the process of fighting a young girl’s possession. Who’s up for another found footage horror film?!? This low budget flick from Ireland hits all the expected beats of the format and offers nothing additional of value. It’s neither compelling nor scary, ends the exact way you expect it will and is really not worth your time.

[DVD extras: Featurette]

Jamaica Inn

A young woman (Maureen O’Hara) discovers a dark family tie to a gang of evil-doers in the habit of tricking ships into crashing against the rocks, murdering the panicked crew and plundering the ship’s contents. Her efforts to stop the criminals puts her on the fast track towards her own demise, but it also introduces her to love so really how bad can it be? Alfred Hitchcock’s last UK effort (and third best Daphne Du Maurier adaptation after Rebecca and The Birds) is a dark, violent tale of thugs and power plays. It lacks the emotional weight of his later films, but it’s a well-crafted tale told well enough. Cohen’s new Blu-ray features a 4K restoration that presents the film in all of its black & white glory.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentary, featurette]

Long Jeanne Silver

“Long Jeanne Silver is an American former pornographic actress, known for using the stump of her amputated leg to penetrate her sexual partner in her movies.” That description via Wikipedia pretty much sums up what to expect from this particular Alex deRenzy joint. The film is basically a series of encounters — each one introduced by Silver as an incident from her own life — featuring her and one or two others frolicking in bed and finding new places to stick her stump. It’s narrative-free porn of the fetish variety, but I suppose there’s an argument to be made regarding the line between being handicapped and handi-capable. Vinegar Syndrome’s release is fully uncut and restored in 2K. As interesting as the film itself is Silver’s commentary track (along with a VS moderator) that sees her discussing her life and the film (or what she can remember of it anyway).

[DVD extras: Commentary]

Mortdecai

A stolen painting triggers a global search for its return, but it’s Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) whose expertise promises the fastest results. Sure he’s incompetent, but with the help of his manservant (Paul Bettany), the needling of his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the motivation of his arch rival (Ewan McGregor) he can’t help but succeed. It’s actually almost impressive how slickly terrible this movie is. All of the jokes fall dead to the floor, without exception, and the cast seem content collecting their paycheck and going home. Depp’s downfall continues as he once again chooses shtick over acting, and if you thought the trailers for this looked bad you’ll be surprised at just how much they undersold the film’s awfulness.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurettes]

Power: The Complete First Season

“Ghost” St. Patrick owns New York City’s hottest night club, Truth, but the glitz and the glamour hide a different kind of truth — it’s little more than a front for Ghost’s criminal endeavors. As he struggles to stay on top he finds new enemies around every corner threatening the posh lifestyle to which he and his wife have become accustomed. This Starz series is well-acted and produced, but there’s not much to it to help stand it apart from the crowd.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurettes]

Satan’s Blade

A knife-wielding murderer is stalking a mountain resort, but is he man or myth? When two women are killed in a cabin rental the staff wait a whole day before renting it out again to a group of single ladies looking to party, but it’s not long before the resort’s guests begin dropping dead. Is it a madman stalking human prey or the legendary spirit rumored to roam the mountain? Satan’s Blade isn’t a good movie by any definition, but it is an oddly crafted one. Rough acting and a cheap feel don’t help either, but the script’s unusual focus on relationships and a bank heist setup keep things at least somewhat unpredictable. This long-forgotten early ’80s slasher is the first Blu-ray collaboration between Olive Films and Slasher Video, and they’ve given the 35mm film a digital remaster and a handful of extras.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Interviews, photo gallery, deleted scenes]

She Killed in Ecstasy

A young woman (Soledad Miranda) recoiling from her husband’s suicide sets out to seduce and kill the four people she holds responsible for his death. Jess Franco’s follow-up to the far more famous Vampyros Lesbos is actually the better film. Borrowing somewhat from Francois Truffaut’s The Bride Wore Black, the film follows our heroine’s emotional descent into a revenge-laden spiral. It’s still a stiff, low budget affair — it’s Franco after all — but the elements work well towards building a minor slice of sleaze. Severin Films’ new Blu-ray is a beautifully crafted must-own for fans of Franco and Miranda.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Interviews, soundtrack cd for three Franco films]

Still Alice

Alice (Julianne Moore) is a linguistics professor with a life filled with both personal and professional triumphs, but all of it comes under fire when she’s diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Her family struggle with the news and her fast-moving decline as she fights to hold on to who she is. Moore is pretty spectacular and heartbreaking here, but the supporting cast is equally strong — Kristen Stewart and Alec Baldwin in particular deliver emotional performances. Important and affecting, this is a powerful film you’ll never want to watch a second time.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes, interview]

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne

An engagement party for the famed Dr. Henry Jekyll (Udo Kier) and his lovely bride-to-be Miss Fanny Osbourne is interrupted with the news that a rape-happy murderer is stalking the streets outside. The situation worsens when the attacks move indoors, and it soon becomes clear who’s responsible for the violence. Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale gets an artsy-ish, R-rated adaptation here that takes the experiments and the evening towards its inevitable and debaucherous conclusion. It seems like a no-brainer to cast Kier in the role, but not only is his unique voice dubbed over but the lascivious Mr. Hyde is played by a different actor all together. The absence of crazy Kier action hurts, but there’s plenty of other weirdness going on to hold the attention. The film’s been remastered by Arrow, but the original soft focus remains adding a dream-like atmosphere to the proceedings.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentary (via interviews), short films, featurettes]

Tracers

Cam (Taylor Lautner) is a New York City bike messenger barely making ends meet, and when a parkour-practicing lady crashes into him on the street and wrecks his bike he finds himself in even tighter straits. She and her friends offer him an opportunity though once he learns the art of parkour — the opportunity to join their team of thieves! Anyway. Parkour happens. This is not a good film as everything from the script to the acting begs for improvement, but the actual parkour action makes it worthwhile. Lautner clearly does a lot of his own action and stunts, and the team in general shows some impressive chops. It’s not saying much to say the action is better choreographed and shot than it is in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but there you go. (Note, this does not mean it’s a better movie than Ultron.)

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Making of, pitch reel]

Two Men In Town

William Garnett (Forest Whitaker) has just been released from prison after serving time for murdering a police officer, but his parole stipulates he remain in the county where the crime was committed. Nearly two decades have passed since the killing, but the local sheriff (Harvey Keitel) is of the belief that Garnett’s punishment wasn’t nearly severe enough. Garnett, who converted to Islam while in jail, struggles to stay out of trouble while Sheriff Agati maneuvers to send him back. The only one in the ex-con’s corner is his parole officer, Emily Smith (Brenda Blethyn), but as the two men circle each other warily she may not be enough to keep them apart. The film is actually far more of an examination of a man and his past self. The two men of the title are Garnett and Agati within the tropes of the genre, but it actually makes more sense to consider that the two men are actually both Garnett — the man he was and the man he is. As the pressures and frustrations mount the question becomes which man will he choose to be? It’s a thriller on it surface but more of a character piece underneath. It’s Whitaker’s film, and he carries it beautifully even as it becomes clear that the destination itself is rather blurry.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: None]

Vampyros Lesbos

Linda has been having dreams about a female vampire seducing her with eyes, lips and breasts, and those dreams become reality when she’s sent to a Mediterranean island to follow up on a legal claim. There she meets Nadine (Soledad Miranda), the woman from her dreams, and soon she’s on her way to being seduced and drained. Jess Franco’s films are something of an acquired taste, and for those who love him this remains one of his most revered. A dream-like haze rests atop it all making for a film that never quite feels like it’s unfurling in the real world. Part of its appeal is Miranda’s appearance and tragic reality — along with a soundtrack that captured club-goers in the ’90s — but it’s an uphill battle against Franco’s limitations as a filmmaker. That said, his work has never gotten treatment as good as it gets here from Severin Films. Beautiful packaging, a host of new interviews and a sharp new HD transfer make this one to own for Franco fans.

[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Interviews, alternate opening scene, Las Vampiras Spanish-language bootleg DVD]

Also out this week, but I haven’t seen the movie/TV show and/or review material was unavailable:

Beloved Sisters, Champs, Dinosaur Island, The Girl Is in Trouble, Icetastrophe, Just Before I Go, Make Way for Tomorrow (Criterion), The McKenzie Break, The Organization, The Premature Burial, Retaliation, The Sleepwalker, Stay As You Are, They Call Me Mister Tibbs, Unforgettable: The Third Season, White Rabbit, X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes

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Cinenus

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Tuesday, 12 May 2015