By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Jan. 1, unless otherwise noted:
Night School: Extended Cut (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13 & Not rated, language, crude sexual content, drug references, violence The lowdown: It’s twice the laughs as Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish costar in this comedy about a successful salesman who, after accidentally destroying his workplace, is out of a job. He cannot find another decent position unless he returns to school and earns his GED. But he faces challenges from his no-nonsense teacher, Haddish, and the school principal, played by Taran Killam, his former high school nemesis. The comedy is nonsensical with all sorts of childish pranks and situations. The set features the theatrical version and an extended cut of the movie with five additional minutes. Critics felt the same, giving the movie a 28 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English DTS and 2.0 DVS, French 7.1 DTS-HD high resolution and Spanish 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include an alternate opening, deleted scenes, a gag reel, a look at the cast and a featurette on the friendship between Hart and Haddish.
Love, Gilda Details: 2018, Magnolia Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A documentary that uses the diaries and personal audio and videotapes of Gilda Radner to look at her childhood, career, relationships and the battle with cancer that took her from us much too soon. Radner was an original “Saturday Night Live” cast member, and the movie looks at some of her most memorable characters, including Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella and Lisa Loopner. The movie features interviews with “Saturday Night Live” cast and crew members including Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Martin Short and Paul Shaffer. Diary entries are read by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Cecily Strong. This is a DVD that fans of Radner will treasure. Critics enjoyed the documentary, giving it an 88 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus options include Radner’s home movies, additional interviews and a photo gallery.
Bad Reputation Details: 2018, Magnolia Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, sexual references, drug use, nudity The lowdown: The life and career of rock ‘n’ roll icon Joan Jett is the subject of this music-filled documentary. The movie looks at her years as the founder of backbone of The Runaways to her collaboration with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. The feature examines her role as a rock icon as well as a mentor to other young women who wanted to rock. The movie is filled with the energy and passion that Jett brought to her music. Most critics found the documentary a worthwhile effort, giving it a 79 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include theater performances of “Bad Reputation” and ‘Bad Start,” sound checks on the two songs and a featurette at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The Bounty (Blu-ray) Release date: Jan. 2 Details: 1984, Kino Lorber Rated: PG, violence, sexual content, nudity The lowdown: This version of the mutiny by the crew of the H.M.S. Bounty in 1789 concentrates more on the relationship between Capt. William Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) and first mate Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). In this version, Bligh is a strict disciplinarian, rather than the cruel and sadistic individual as portrayed by Charles Laughton in MGM’s 1935 “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The story is relatively the same, but in this instance, it seems the crew has become a bit lazy after their stopover in Tahiti to collect breadfruit, in which they spent more time having sex with the native women than during their jobs. Christian, himself, does not come off as heroic as Clark Gable in the earlier, classic version, as well. The movie features a strong supporting cast, including early roles by Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson. Also appearing are Edward Fox and Sir Laurence Olivier. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio. Don’t miss: The major extras are two commentary tracks.
The Dick Cavett Show: Inside the Minds of …: Volume 1 Release date: Dec. 18 Details: 1979-92, S’More Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Between 1968 and 1996, Dick Cavett hosted shows on ABC, CNN, PBS, CNBC and USA Network. Cavett was an excellent interviewer, especially when it came to comedians. In this set, he interviews four then-young comics to get their take on what makes people laugh and how they create their material. The subjects include Robin Williams, Bobcat Goldthwait, Richard Lewis and Gilbert Gottfried. The Williams interview, a two-part program, took place in 1979 when the actor-comedian was riding high on “Mork and Mindy.” The Lewis and Gottfried interviews were done in 1990, and Goldthwait talked to Cavett in 1992. Their insights into comedy and their careers make for interesting viewing. Technical aspects: Full-screen picture; English audio.
The Dick Cavett Show: And That’s the Way It Is … Release date: Dec. 18 Details: 1970-91, S’More Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A two-disc set in which Dick Cavett interviews newscasters and producers to probe their insights on news, politics and how they saw their roles in conveying facts to the public. Those who sat down with Cavett included Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Don Hewitt, Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer. News junkies will enjoy these looks back at a time when news anchors were respected for what they did and not vilified by government lackies. Technical aspects: full-screen picture; English audio.
El Paso (Blu-ray) Release date: Jan. 2 Details: 1949, Kino Lorber Rated: Not rated The lowdown: John Payne straps on a six-shooter for this Western set in post-Civil War Texas. Payne portrays an ex-Confederate Army captain who settles in El Paso to open a law practice and live a quiet life. But a corrupt sheriff, drunken judge and crooked landowner soon force him to take up arms and form a vigilante group to combat the evil doings in the region. The movie costars Gail Russell, Sterling Hayden, George “Gabby” Hayes, Dick Foran, Mary Beth Hughes and Henry Hull. Technical aspects: 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English DTS-HD Master audio.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Red vs. Blue: The Shisno Paradox (Blu-ray + DVD) (Cinedigm) The City of Gold (High Octane Pictures) Johnny Gruesome (Uncork’d Entertainment) Prodigy (Uncork’d Entertainment) Scaffolding (DVD + VOD) (Breaking Glass Pictures)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Comedians of the World (Netflix) The Demonologist (Uncork’d Entertainment) Lifechanger (Uncork’d Entertainment) The Old Man and the Gun (Fox Home Entertainment) Murdoch Mysteries: Series 12, Episode 4 (Acorn TV, Jan. 7) No Offence: Series 3 (Acorn TV, Jan. 7) Worst Week of My Life: Series 1-3 (Acorn TV, Jan. 7)
Coming next week: Castle Rock: The Complete First Season
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.