By Bob Bloom The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, Aug. 4
The Comeback Details: 2005, 2014, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA The lowdown: A four-disc set featuring all 21 episodes of this acclaimed HBO series starring Lisa Kudrow as former sitcom star Valerie Cherish. The set features the original 13 episodes from 2005 as well as the new episodes that revolve around Valerie’s hunger to get back in the spotlight by starring in a new HBO series based on the experiences of working with her. The show is witty, a bit dark and sometimes uncomfortable. But it always is hilarious. Technical aspects: 16:9 widescreen picture; English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital; English, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include deleted scenes, Valerie backstage at “Dancing With the Stars,” and commentaries.
Child 44 (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2015, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Rated: R, violence, disturbing images, sexual content, language The lowdown: Tom Hardy stars in this thriller as a Soviet secret police officer who suspects his superiors are covering up the truth after a friend’s son is found murdered. Because of his accusations, the officer and his wife are transferred to a
Gary Oldman, left, and Tom Hardy
provincial outpost, where he discovers other similar killings. He convinces his new boss that there is a serial killer on the loose who must be stopped. The film costars Noomi Rapace as Hardy’s wife and Gary Oldman as his superior. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English descriptive audio; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: A behind-the-scenes featurette is the major bonus offering.
A Little Chaos (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: R, nudity, sexual content The lowdown: Kate Winslet stars in this historical drama directed by Alan Rickman as a talented landscape designer chosen to build one of the gardens at King Louis XIV's Versailles palace. Winslet’s Sabine uses her new power to challenge gender and class barriers. At the same time, she becomes romantically involved with a famous landscape artist, portrayed by Matthias Schoenaerts. Rickman is featured as King Louis. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Strike Back: Cinemax Season Three (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA The lowdown: This three-disc set focuses on the third season of the series about two globe-trotting British anti-terrorist operatives who travel to such hotspots as Colombia, Beirut, Budapest and Russia as they trace the drug money that is being used to support terrorist activities. The series offers lots of action as well as intrigue and suspense. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French and Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital surround; English SDH, French, Latin Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. Don’t miss: The bonus offerings include a series of featurettes that looks at varies aspects of “Strike Back” and its cast members as well as commentary tracks.
Orphan Black: Season Three (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, BBC Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This two-disc set contains the third season of this intriguing BBC series with science fiction elements. During the season, Tatiana Maslany’s Sarah and her sister clones must fight the top-secret military project that is producing deadly male clones. The clones also must find their missing sisters as well as finding the key to the synthetic sequence that can keep them alive. This exciting and intelligent series grabs and holds you once you start watching. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 16:9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras look at creating the clones, a look behind the wall of the rendition camp, a behind-the-scenes look at creating the four-clone scenes, a featurette on the look of the show, a blooper reel, an extended scene and a look into the appeal of the annual Alison/Donnie episodes.
Madame Bovary (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, Alchemy Rated: R, nudity, sexual situations The lowdown: A new adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s Romantic-era novel stars Mia Wasikowska as the young married woman who yearns to escape her dull, provincial life through a series of seductions and adulterous affairs. The film, directed by Sophie Barthes, features Ezra Miller, Laura Carmichael, Rhys Ifans and Paul Giamatti. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English Dolby TrueHD; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
The Affair: Season One Details: 2014, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A four-disc set featuring the complete first season of the Showtime series that examines an affair between a happily married schoolteacher and a waitress. The set includes all 10 episodes that examine the repercussions and damage created by this illicit romance. Technical aspects: 16:9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital; English closed-captioned. Don’t miss: Among the bonus materials are character profiles, a look at the costumes, plus episodes one and two of “Happyish,” the first episode of “Ray Donovan” and the first episode of “Madame Secretary.”
Night and the City: Special Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1950, The Criterion Collection Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Richard Widmark stars as small-time hustler Harry Fabian in this film noir drama directed by Jules Dassin. The film, set in London, follows Fabian as he schemes to make money with a famous wrestler. But the shifting loyalties and graft of the London underworld continually undermine his efforts. The Blu-ray features the 101-minute British version of the movie as well as the 95-minute American theatrical cut. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a 1972 interview with Dassin, a comparison between the scores of the British and American versions, a commentary track and an essay about the film.
Barely Lethal (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2015, Lionsgate Rated: PG-13, sexual content, action violence, drug content, teen drinking, language The lowdown: Hailee Steinfeld stars as a teen-age special-operations agent who fakes her own death and enrolls in a typical American high school where she wants to blend in and lead a normal life. But as we all know, nothing is normal in high school as our young heroine soon discovers. The film is a fun combination of comedy and action. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus features include an on-the-set, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, a commentary track and deleted scenes.
Every Secret Thing Details: 2014, Anchor Bay Entertainment Rated: R, disturbing images, language The lowdown: Noted documentary filmmaker Amy Berg makes her feature film debut with this tale about two 11-year-old girls convicted of killing an infant and sentenced to juvenile detention facilities. Years later, a toddler goes missing and the detective on the case suspects the recently released young women. But her investigation reveals more dark secrets hidden behind the shutters in her small upstate New York town. Technical aspects: 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Deleted scenes comprise the major bonus feature.
Flamenco Flamenco Details: 2015, Music Box Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A Spanish film that takes viewers on a musical journey to discover the evolution of an art form. The film showcases the Flamenco through dances by new artists and masters of the dance. It is a colorful and electrifying journey that touts Spanish culture. Technical aspects: 1.85:1 widescreen picture; Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a making of featurette, an interview with director Carlos Saura and a “Faces of Flamenco” documentary.
Man of Conquest (Blu-ray) Release date: July 21 Details: 1939, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Republic Pictures was a small studio that specialized in action-packed serials and B-Westerns with such cowboy stars as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, The Three Mesquiteers and “Wild Bill” Elliott. Every year, the studio also released a couple of what it considered prestige “A” pictures to add some class and variety to its product. Such a release was “Man of Conquest.” This 1939 film is a biography of Sam Houston, who was governor of Tennessee and led the army of Texas against Santa Ana, defeating him and winning independence for the region. The movie covers a lot of ground in 99 minutes. Richard Dix, a stalwart and tough actor who specialized in rugged he-man roles in such films as the 1931 best picture Oscar-winner, “Cimarron,” stars as Houston. Like most Hollywood biopics, the film does take liberties with Houston’s life. Still, the movie does move quickly. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.33:1 full-screen picture.
When the Checks Stop Coming In Details: 2014, Cinedigm Rated: Not rated The lowdown: An investigative documentary that looks into the lives of black celebrities as they fall from being rich and famous to broke. The film looks at such personalities as Wesley Snipes, MC Hammer, Dennis Rodman and Toni Braxton, interviewing them, as well as managers, agents and financial advisers. The movie examines how these people got into financial problems as they look back in hindsight to offer advice so others do not follow in their wake. Technical aspects: Widescreen picture; English Dolby Digital 2.0. Don’t miss: Deleted scenes are the major bonus feature.
Street Smart (Blu-ray) Release date: July 7 Details: 1987, Olive Films Rated: R, language, violence The lowdown: Morgan Freeman gives one of his darkest performance as a pimp named Fast Black in this urban drama starring Christopher Reeve. Reeve plays a New York magazine writer about to lose his job until his fabricates a story about prostitution. Fast Black thinks the story hits too close to home and begins to threaten the writer. The film’s cast includes Kathy Baker and Mimi Rogers. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture.
Black & White: The Dawn of Assault (Blu-ray) Details: 2012, Shout! Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: An action-thriller featuring over-the-top stunts about a suspended detective and a Triad member looking to fence some diamonds. When the deal goes wrong, the cop and gangster must join forces to retrieve them. The movie movies quickly and is loaded with lots of action and explosions. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; Mandarin Chinese and English (dubbed) 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: A making of featurette is the major bonus offering.
Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, IFC Midnight-Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Another horror feature in which some kind of disaster transforms most of the planet’s population into zombies. Among the few survivors are a brother and sister. But the latter is kidnapped by a deranged doctor who is experimenting of those who are unaffected by the plague. However, the doctor’s experiments backfire and the sister discovers she has been given a power to control the zombies. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the supplemental materials are a commentary track, crowdfunding videos, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, deleted scenes, storyboards and a seven-minute teaser scene.
Black Box (DVD + Ultraviolet) Details: 2013, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Rated: R, violence, sexual situations, language The lowdown: A thriller about a mysterious black box that holds the secrets to a person’s most intimate desires. The film follows the box as it changes hands as each new owner prepares how to deal with the object. Most have to control their impulses to fight temptation or greed or suffer the consequences. Technical aspects: 1.85:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital: English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Brother’s Keeper (Blu-ray) Details: 2013, Alchemy Rated: PG-13, adult material, violence, disturbing images, teen drinking and smoking The lowdown: A faith-based drama about identical twins Andy and Pete Goodwynn. Pete is about to marry and go to the seminary to become a preacher, while Andy is an aimless rebel with no plans. Their lives are upended when the town’s most powerful family frames Pete for murder and Andy must find a way to save his brother. The film deals with revenge and forgiveness. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English Dolby TrueHD; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
The Dead Lands (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, Magnolia Home Entertainment Rated: R, graphic and bloody violence The lowdown: An adventure thriller about the teenage son of a Maori chieftain who must avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his tribe by traversing the dreaded Dead Lands and forging an alliance with a mysterious Warrior who rules the area. This New Zealand export received much acclaim at home and abroad for it use of the traditional Maori martial arts form of Mau Rakau. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English and Maori 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, English, Spanish and French subtitles. Don’t miss: A making of featurette, a look at creating a traditional Maori world, a behind-the-scenes featurette and an interview with James Cameron, who is one of the film’s champions, comprise the major supplemental materials.
Dance Macabre Release date: July 28 Details: 1992, MGM-Fox Home Entertainment Rated: R, graphic violence, sexual situations The lowdown: Horror favorite Robert Englund stars in this feature about an American choreographer working at a Soviet Union ballet college that enrolls promising dance students from around the world. Of course, events turn dark when murdered girls start popping up at the school. This is a video-on-demand DVD-R that is part of the MGM Limited Edition Collection. It can be found at www.foxconnect.com or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture.
Little Loopers Details: 2015, Cinedigm Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Rob Morrow of TV’s “Northern Exposure” and “Numbers” stars in this formulaic comedy as a pro golfer who hits the skids and is sentenced to coach a local golf youth team. Of course, he resists and things start off rocky, but, as they usually do in such features, the two sides come together as they teach each other more about the games of golf and life. Technical aspects: Widescreen picture; English Dolby Digital 5.1; English closed-captioned.
Every Breath Release date: July 28 Details: 1993, MGM-Fox Home Entertainment Rated: R, sexual content, language, disturbing images The lowdown: Judd Nelson stars as a young man seduced into the psychotic and deviant games of a Hollywood couple in this thriller that leads to murder and betrayal. Joanne Pacula and Patrick Bauchau are featured in this movie, which Nelson helped craft. This is a video-on-demand DVD-R release from the MGM Limited Edition Collection and can be found at www.foxconnect.com or other online DVD retailers. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture.
The White Storm (DVD + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Rated: R, bloody and graphic violence, drug content The lowdown: A police drama about three Hong Kong undercover cops whose lives are turned upside down after an undercover operation against a Thai drug lord goes wrong. Five years later, two of the cops seek revenge for their partner, but they end up competing against each other for their own lives. Technical aspects: 2.35:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Cantonese and English 5.1 Dolby Digital; English and Spanish subtitles.
Tool Box Murders 2 (Blu-ray) Details: 2013, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This sequel to the 2004 film, itself a remake of a 1978 cult favorite, picks up directly after the events of the first movie. The action takes place in Los Angeles, where various people are killed in rather gruesome manners using the tools of his trade. The film will please fans of this genre, but few others. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
A La Mala (Falling for Mala) (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate) Any Day (Anchor Bay Entertainment) I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season 2 (Blu-ray) (CBS Blu-ray-Paramount Home Entertainment) Hey Babu Riba (MGM Limited Edition Collection-Fox Home Entertainment, July 28) FOR KIDS Dora and Friends: Doggie Day! (Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment) Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Double-Length Adventures (Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment) Peppa Pig: School Bus Trip (Entertainment One)
Coming next week: Hot Pursuit Unfriended
Bob Bloom is a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. He reviews movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. He can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow Bloom on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. Movie reviews by Bloom also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.