Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support FSR in the process!
Pick of the Week
Blindspotting
What is it? A man’s last three days of probation are fraught with good times and bad.
Why see it? This is as pitch-perfect and precarious a balance of humor, dread, and truth as you’ll find and an amazing goddamn movie. Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal — who co-wrote and co-star — deliver characters and situations that lull viewers in with laughs, personality, and humanity before dropping reminders that the world is one of dangerous circumstances. Its theme hits home again with smarts, heart, and a punch to the gut, and it creates a rarity in being laugh out loud funny, painfully suspenseful, and incredibly affirming. See this movie. Blind buy it. Share it with friends. It’s the best movie of 2018 (as of right now…)
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes, commentaries]
The Best
Candyman [Scream Factory]
What is it? A woman’s thesis about urban legends takes a very personal turn when she meets one in the flesh.
Why see it? Clive Barker’s fiction has given birth to numerous films and at least horror icons — Pinhead, Candyman, and Rawhead Rex. Okay, fine, nobody cares about Rawhead Rex. Candyman, though, is a genre giant, and his first feature appearance is a striking and memorable experience with attractive cinematography, a haunting score by Philip Glass, and two strong lead performances. The story strikes at the heart of race, class, and the terrors we imagine to replace those we know are all too real. Scream Factory’s new release includes both theatrical and unrated cuts, both with new 2K restorations, along with several new interviews, two new commentaries, and older extras.
[Blu-ray extras: New 2K restoration, interviews]
Crazy Rich Asians
What is it? A young woman meets her boyfriend’s family in Singapore.
Why see it? This adaptation of the best-selling novel works on two levels — it’s a solid romantic comedy with big heart and laughs, and it’s the rare Hollywood film (the first in decades) to focus exclusively on Asians. It’s important history for the latter reason and a fun watch for the former. Constance Wu is a delight, Henry Golding is a real find (and should be in contention for the next James Bond), Michelle Yeoh is eternally great, and the supporting cast is a parade of fun.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentary, featurette, deleted scenes, gag reel]
The Rest
The Case of the Bloody Iris [UK release]
What is it? A killer begins leaving a trail of naked female corpses in their wake.
Why see it? Edwige Fenech headlines this flesh and blood-filled giallo from director Giuliano Carnimeo, and like the film’s other women she bares her skin throughout. The T&A is only part of the film’s exploitation-happy contents, though, as there’s also plenty of murder happening. It’s actually a pretty solid whodunnit as the roster of suspects fills the screen with red herrings aplenty, and while this new Shameless disc is light on extras it delivers a sharp and clear picture.
[Blu-ray extras: Interviews]
Dog Days
What is it? Dogs bring people together.
Why see it? Ken Marino has made a name for himself as an incredibly funny character actor in films like Wet Hot American Summer, but he also directs! His latest isn’t nearly as humorous as he is, though, and instead focuses more on familiar rom-com tropes and characters of varying levels of appeal. Adam Pally and Vanessa Hudgens are standouts. It’s a harmless movie.
[DVD extras: None]
Fireworks
What is it? A small group of friends able to reboot their lives see complications come with the changes.
Why see it? This is essentially a young adult sci-fi romance of sorts as one of the teens discovers an orb that can rewind time and tries to use it in his pursuit of a new girl. Time is given to character interaction, and while it’s animated they still feel real enough in their observations and attitudes. The sci-fi element puts an interesting spin on it, but the core of the story remains the coming of age relationships. It’s a sweet tale although the repetition feels a bit more redundant than similar films. The animation is beautiful though.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurette]
Kin
What is it? A troubled teen finds a futuristic weapon that he uses to solve his problems.
Why see it? On the one hand this YA riff on Laserblast (1978) is probably just entertaining enough for young male audiences excited for some wish fulfillment — a sci-fi gun! a strip club! — but on the other it never quite justifies its confirmation that the gun is the ultimate answer. There are some fun beats, and the final ten minutes suggests a sequel I’d much rather watch, but they may not quite be enough for non-kid viewers to latch onto. Also, it’s a crime to cast Carrie Coon for a mere five minutes.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, original short film, featurette, commentary]
Luciferina [Artsploitation]
What is it? A young nun-to-be heads into the woods for a date with Satan.
Why see it? This Argentinian horror film seems simple and familiar in its setup, but it actually takes its ideas in a somewhat new direction by the time the end credits roll. It may or may not be enough of a turn, though, as the bulk of the back half is heavy with possession, some Evil Dead-like shenanigans, and a devilish sex scene that fall under the familiar banner. Possession movies admittedly aren’t my bag — for me they fall in with mind control, hypnosis, etc in that characters without will are boring. That said, the elements that work will appeal to genre fans.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: None]
Mamie Van Doren Film Noir Collection [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? Three tales of guns, girls, and gangsters.
Why see it? Yes, one of the three movies is Guns, Girls and Gangsters, and the other two are Vice Raid and The Girl in Black Stockings. None of the trio are hidden gems necessarily, and they’re arguably not quite noirs either, but fans of Mamie Van Doren should be thrilled by their restorations and the inclusion of a brand new interview with the star. They’re mild, forgettable fun with The Girl in Black Stockings being something of a standout as a whodunnit with an engaging enough cast of characters.
[Blu-ray extras: New 2K restorations, interview with Mamie Van Doren]
Orgies of Edo [Arrow Video]
What is it? A trio of stories about perversion and good times in Japan.
Why see it? Director Teruo Ishii enjoys his topless ladies almost as much as he enjoys abusing them, and this trio of tales sees all manner of naked misbehaving on display. The tales move from the fairly traditional to the far more absurd with the constants being bare breasts, plenty of sex — not always consensual — and epic amounts of bad behavior. The final tale is the strongest for its imagery and visuals alone, but the progression of what comes before adds to its bizarre weight.
[Blu-ray extras: Interview]
Skate Kitchen
What is it? A teenage girl from Long Island finds New York City skateboarding friends.
Why see it? This rambling life-filled drama is almost a Kids-lite as we meet some young people whose daily lives consist of skateboarding, smoking, screwing, and talking trash. There’s a real life factor at play here bringing both strengths — believability, raw power — and weaknesses — sketchy performances, limited narrative — but its greatest strength is newcomer Rachelle Vinberg. She brings warmth and curiosity to the hard city streets alongside some legit board skills too.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes]
Also out this week:
Holy Motors [Shout Select], Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema [Criterion Collection], Little Italy, The Outer Limits – Season Two, Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut
The post Our Pick of the Week Is a Movie to Be Thankful For appeared first on Film School Rejects.
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