By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Jan. 12, unless otherwise noted:
The Twilight Zone: Season Two (DVD) Details: 2020, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This three-disc set features all 10 second-season episodes of this re-imagining of the classic Rod Serling television series, which airs on CBS All-Access. The episodes, which feature such actors as Christopher Meloni, Joel McHale, Morena Baccarin, Jenna Elfman, Tony Hale, Abbie Hern, Topher Grace, Billy Porter and Gretchen Mol, tell some mind-boggling and twisted tales in which stories serve as metaphors about morality and offer perspectives about contemporary society. The series, hosted by Jordan Peele, who serves as one of the show’s executive producers, is intriguing and while a few episodes miss their marks, the majority are thoughtful and entertaining. Technical aspects: 16:9 full-screen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus options include a gag reel and deleted and extended scenes.
The Craft: Legacy (Blu-ray + digital) Release date: Dec. 22 Rated: PG-13, language, crude and sexual content, thematic elements, brief drug use The lowdown: Four aspiring teenage witches get more than they bargained for as they test and grow their newfound powers. This sequel, written and directed by Zoe Lister Jones, spends a bit too much time of horror and shock rather than character development. The young witches, played by Cailee Spaeny, Lovie Simone, Gideon Adlon and Zoey Luna are appealing. The film begins to fall apart during its finale. Critics were mostly divided over the film, giving it a 48 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English and French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes on the movie and its legacy, alternate scenes and an introduction by Jones.
Beautiful Darling (DVD) Details: 2010, Corinth Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This documentary looks at the short life of transgender pioneer Candy Darling, born James Slattery, who became a major part of Andy Warhol’s crowd in the New York underground scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Darling, who starred in some of Warhol’s films as well as having a role in Tennessee Williams’ play, “Small Craft Warning,” was one of the inspirations for Lou Reed’s song, “Walk on the Wild Side.” Darling, who had dreams of a Hollywood career, died at the age of 29 from lymphoma. The movie uses Darling’s diaries, interviews and remembrances from such notables as John Waters, Fran Lebowitz, Holly Woodlawn, Julie Newmar, Paul Morrissey and Michael J. Pollard to tell Darling’s story. Chloe Sevigny is the voice of Darling. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital. Don’t miss: Extras include a mini poster.
Stretch (Blu-ray) Details: 2014, Kino Lorber Rated: R, language, nudity, sexual content, drug use, language The lowdown: Patrick Wilson stars as a Hollywood limo driver with a dark past who needs a quick infusion of cash to pay off his debt to an infamous gangster. Stretch takes a job with a billionaire client in hopes of a big payday. But his client’s eccentricities turn into a memorable night of adventure, sex and danger, which makes him believe his return to the gangster boss empty-handed would be preferable. The movie costars Ed Helms, James Badge Dale, Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, Ray Liotta and David Hasselhoff. The movie, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, offers some oddball moments. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include an interview with Wilson and two commentary tracks.
Sudden Fear (DVD) Details: 1952, Cohen Media Group Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Joan Crawford stars in this film noir as a successful playwright who marries an actor, played by Jack Palance, less famous and known than her who harbors a troubling secret. She soon learns that the actor only married her for her money and that, with the help of his lover, played by Gloria Grahame, he plans to murder her. The movie, directed by David Miller, features a memorable score by Elmer Bernstein. It also received four Academy Award nominations, including ones for Crawford, Palance and Grahame. Technical aspects: 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: A commentary track is the main extra.
Thursday (Blu-ray) Details: 1998, Kino Lorber Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A cynical thriller about Casey Wells (Thomas Jane), former shakedown artist, who has gone straight and is living in suburbia. His life, however, is upended when his former partner, played by Aaron Eckhart, shows up one day with a mysterious suitcase, filled with millions the partner stole in a drug scam. Soon, Wells is beset by murderous drug dealers, a femme fatale brunette and crooked cops all wanting to kill him. If Wells wants to survive, he must revert to his old, lethal self. The film also features Paulina Porizkova, James Le Gros, Michael Jeter, Glenn Plummer and Mickey Rourke. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include an interview with Jane and a commentary track.
Buried Alive (Blu-ray) Details: 1990, Kino Lorber Rated: PG-13, violence The lowdown: Frank Darabont directed this made-for-TV thriller about a small-town husband, played by Tim Matheson, who is enjoying the simple life he has created for him and his wife. Unfortunately, his greedy wife, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, wants more. She begins an affair with the local doctor, played by William Atherton, and together they plot to kill her husband for his insurance money. However, their plan does not work out as they hope, and the husband literally rises from the grave to make things right. Moral of the story: If you are going to bury a man, don’t use a coffin made of cheap wood. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental options include an interview with Atherton and a commentary track.
Epicentro (DVD) Details: 2020, Kino Lorber Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This documentary by filmmaker Hubert Sauper looks at post-colonial “utopian” Cuba, its people and, more specifically, the city of Havana. Sauper follows two ideas — how the 1898 explosion of the USS Maine ushered out the era of Spanish colonialism, as well as how the use of cinema as propaganda helped shape the nation. Sauper explores more than a century of interventionism and myth-making and its impact on the Cuban people, especially the nation’s children. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Spanish and English 5.1 Dolby digital; English closed-captioned subtitles.
Once Upon a River (DVD) Details: 2020, Film Movement Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This acclaimed independent movie centers on Margo (Kenadi DelaCerna), a Native American teenager, who after her father is killed in a tragic accident, sets out to find her estranged mother. She travels along the Stark River, where she encounters a myriad of people — some friendly, others not so hospitable — while coming to understand and appreciate her own potential. The film, based on the best-selling novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell, has been called a parable about personal freedom. The coming-of-age story earned a 68 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Technical aspects: 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English closed-captioned subtitles. Don’t miss: The major bonus component is a look at the movie’s music.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: American Dream (DVD & digital & VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Average Joe (DVD & digital) (Indican Pictures) Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks (DVD & digital) (Uncork’d Entertainment) Beyond Hell (DVD) (Indican Pictures) Bright Hill Road (DVD & digital) (Uncork’d Entertainment) Evergreen (DVD) (Indican Pictures) It’s Huge (DVD & digital) (Indican Pictures) Jonathan Scott’s Power Trip (Blu-ray) (MPI Media Group) Lena & Snowball (DVD & digital & VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Narratives of Modern Genocide (DVD & digital) (Passion River Films) Queen of Hearts: Audrey Flack (DVD) (Film Movement) Mean Man: The Story of Chris Holmes (Blu-ray) (Cleopatra Entertainment, Jan. 15)
FOR KIDS Lupin III: The First (Blu-ray) (GKids-Shout! Factory)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Batman: Soul of the Dragon (Warner Home Entertainment) Clapboard Jungle (IndieCan) Climate of the Hunter (Dark Star Pictures) Come Play (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) Coming From Insanity (Level 33 Entertainment) Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets (Kreate Films) The Empty Man (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment-Fox Home Entertainment) Go/Don’t Go (Gravitas Ventures) Synchronic (Well Go USA Entertainment) Cleaning Up: Episode 3 (Sundance Now, Jan. 14) The Commons: Episode 7 (Sundance Now, Jan. 14) Total Control: Episode 5 (Sundance Now, Jan. 14) Assassins (Greenwich Entertainment, Jan. 15) Don’t Tell a Soul (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Jan. 15) Outside the Wire (Netflix, Jan. 15) The Rise of Sir Longbottom (Overnight Pictures LLC, Jan. 15) A Discovery of Witches: Season 2, Episode 2 (Sundance Now, Jan. 16) Charlie’s Country (Sundance Now, Jan. 18) Danger UXB (Acorn TV, Jan. 18) Nothing Trivial: Series 3 + Finale (Acorn TV, Jan 18) The Rape of Recy Taylor (Sundance Now, Jan. 18) The Wipers Times (Acorn TV, Jan. 18)
COMING NEXT WEEK: Martin Eden Assassins
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 at ReelBob or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.