By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, July 31, unless otherwise noted: Final Portrait Details: 2018, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, sexual content, nudity The lowdown: Stanley Tucci has an affinity for artists — whether they be in a kitchen, as in his “Big Night,” or in a workshop-studio, the main locale of his latest project, “Final Portrait.” The premise is simple, yet fraught with obstacles, as Tucci tells the story of the offbeat friendship between American writer and art-lover James Lord (Armie Hammer) and artist Alberto Giacometti (Geoffrey Rush). The setting is Paris in 1964. Lord is visiting the city when Giacometti asks his friend to sit for a portrait, telling Lord that it will only take a day or two. Tucci is basically painting a picture of his own — focusing on the difficulty and unpredictability of the creative process. Lord is totally unprepared for what lies ahead when he agrees to pose. Giacometti paints a few brushstrokes, then stops. This goes on for days, as Giacometti rants about his inability to capture what he believes is Lord’s essence. The artist continually is unsatisfied with his work, threatening almost daily to abandon the project and beginning over again and again. As the time passes, Lord puts his life on hold, catering to Giacometti’s insecurities about his own gifts. “Final Portrait” is a slow movie, but that should not deter you from seeing this intimate feature. It is not a paint-by-the-numbers biopic or memoir. Rather, it’s a study of the mental struggles or the difficulties facing an artist, trying to remain true to himself. Technical aspects: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, Spanish and and English audio description track 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus features include behind-the-scenes footage and cast and filmmaker interviews.
Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Season Four (Blu-ray) Details: 2017-18, LucasFilm-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: TV-Y7, violence The lowdown: This multidisc set features all 15 fourth-season episodes of the animated “Star Wars” spinoff series that sirs of Disney XD. The series is set between “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars Episode Four: A New Hope.” As the Galactic Empire tightens its grip throughout the galaxy, a group of Jedi Knights help create a rebel alliance to battle the empire. One such group fights from the starship Ghost. The main characters include Kanan Jarrus (voiced by Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray), Zeb Orrelios (voiced by Steven Blum), Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar) and Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall). A story arc in season four include Ezra leading his comrades back to his home planet to help lift the yoke of the oppressive forces off his people. As usual, friends are reunited and new alliances are made as the resistance to the Empire continues to grow. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English and French 5.1 Dolby digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: The set offers more than six hours of bonus materials including a look at the journey of the Ghost crew, insights into the Force and its importance throughout the “Star Wars” saga, a look at the music of the series, six commentary tracks and a behind-the-scenes look into eight episode recaps.
Iron Brothers (DVD + digital download + VOD) Details: 2017, Random Media Rated: PG-13, violence The lowdown: Brothers Abel and Henry Iron are fur trappers struggling to make a living in the unforgiving Rocky Mountains. Following in the footsteps of their father, the brothers hunt for beaver and other animals to get pelts. When Abel meets a band of Shoshone Indians, a misunderstanding leads to the killing of one Indian, forcing the brothers to go on the run. As they flee into the mountains with the Indians in pursuit, Abel and Henry comes to understand that the strength of brotherhood can be enough to save them. The Irons are played by real-life brothers Tate and Porter Smith, and was written and directed by Josh and Tate Smith. Technical aspects: Widescreen picture; English Dolby digital.
Piranha II: The Spawning (Blu-ray) Details: 1982, Scream Factory Rated: R, graphic and bloody violence, language The lowdown: A horror sequel in which mutated piranha — with wings, yet — have killed a diver. The body count soon begins to grow as scuba instructor Anne Kimbrough (Tricia O’Neil) tries to convince the manager of a nearby resort to cancel the annual fish fry on the beach. He, of course, refuses and many of the fish eaters soon become fish food. The movie, which costars Lance Henriksen, marks the directorial debut of James Cameron. Well, we all have to start someplace. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: The major extras are interviews with cast member Ricky Paull Goldin and special effects artist Brian Wade.
Someone’s Watching Me (Blu-ray) Release date: July 24 Details: 1978, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This John Carpenter-directed feature, also known as “High Rise,” stars Lauren Hutton as a newcomer to Los Angeles who moves into a chic high-rise apartment building. Hutton’s Leigh loves the view. Unfortunately, so does the Peeping Tom who lives somewhere in the adjacent tower and begins making Leigh’s life a living hell. At first, Leigh begins getting anonymous calls, which soon escalate to unwanted gifts and her lights that unexpectedly flicker, proving that someone is watching her. When Leigh goes to the police, they are of now help, so the young woman determines to take matters into her own hands and uncover her tormentor. The movie, which Carpenter also wrote, costars David Birney and Adrienne Barbeau. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include interviews with Barbeau and actor Charles Cyphers, a regular in Carpenter movies, a commentary track and a “John Carpenter: Director Rising” featurette.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Ouija Séance: The Final Game (High Octane Pictures, Aug. 3)
FOR KIDS Rusty Rivets (Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Avengers: Infinity War (Marvel Studios-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment) Bad Samaritan (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Aug. 3) Gay Hollywood Dad (Margin Films-Amazon Instant Video, Aug. 3) Pickings (Dark Passage Films-Music Box Films, Aug. 3) RBG (Magnolia Home Entertainment, Aug. 3) Bill Maher: Live From Oklahoma (HBO Home Entertainment, Aug. 6) No Offence, Series 2 (Acorn TV, Aug. 6) Mr. Palrey of Westminster, Series 1 & 2 (Acorn TV, Aug. 6)
Coming next week: Life of the Party Breaking In
I am a 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.