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Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario), a troubled young woman, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. When an unexpected discovery results in a shared secret between the two, their relationship intensifies, and Emanuel’s already-fragile world begins to spin out of control. Continue reading ‘The Truth About Emanuel (Blu-ray Review)’
Legendary director Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker is a landmark in American filmmaking. This was the first Holocaust/World War II film to tell it from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor. And its an unrelenting and ruthless film for the times in terms of the suggestive events in the flashbacks. Its also the first mainstream film to have nudity approved by the Production Code. The Production Code was something that was in place before we had a ratings system. A pair of breasts is what is on display, but due to the manner in which its used it was given the OK. The film also features the role that landed actor Rod Steiger on the A-list and launched him into stardom. Olive Films has taken this landmark film and restored it and will be releasing it to the lovely Blu-ray format. Continue reading ‘The Pawnbroker (Blu-ray Review)’
Crossing another feature off my list of modern classics that are favorite films mine, which I have now written a review for, Fargo has returned to Blu-ray once again, with a new remastered transfer. This Oscar-winning Coen Brothers film has had its share of releases in the past and even if there is still bound to be another release in the future (its 20th anniversary is a couple years away), the film is still as strong as ever, with a great new transfer to make it look and sound better than ever. You betcha can read on to learn more about this new Blu-ray release.
Continue reading ‘Fargo (Blu-ray Review)’
Olive Film’s will release another title from the classic film noir era on April 15. This time its 1948’s Sleep My Love, starring Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings, Don Ameche and Raymond Burr. It’s helmed by German director Douglas Sirk, later known for his Hollywood melodramas in the 1950s. The film received a lukewarm response upon its release, with some complaints and criticisms that still hold up on it today. Douglas Sirk even acknowledged the film as a failure. Looking back, its not a perfect film, but its definitely not the catastrophe its director made it out to be. Most of the pleasantries come from a great hook and some wonderfully nightmarish photography from the film’s DP Joseph Valentine. So, now, let’s take a look at this 66 year old film. Continue reading ‘Sleep My Love (Blu-ray Review)’
Nelly (Felicity Jones) is haunted by her past. Her memories take us back in time to follow the story of her relationship with Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) with whom she discovered an exciting but fragile complicity. Dickens – famous, controlling and emotionally isolated within his success – falls for Nelly. As Nelly becomes the focus of Dickens’ passion and his muse, for both of them secrecy is the price, and for Nelly a life of “invisibility.” Continue reading ‘The Invisible Woman (Blu-ray Review)’
Cry Freedom was the film directorial debut of child star Robert Parrish. He shot the movie over just twenty two days back in 1950-51. As anyone can tell you, that’s an incredibly short amount of time. However, when you see how concise and focused the film is, you can tell Parrish set out and knew exactly what he was doing and precisely what he was wanting. In 2011, the film received a newly restored print from two 35 mm negatives courtesy of the Film Noir Foundation (in cooperation with Paramount and Warner Brothers. The film then premiered on March 14, 2011 at the UCLA Festival Of Preservation. This well reviewed piece of classic film noir is coming to Blu-ray courtesy of our friends over at Olive Films. Continue reading ‘Cry Danger (Blu-ray Review)’
Olive Films has brought 1968’s sci fi cult classic, The Bamboo Saucer to Blu-ray. I tried to do some research on this film for this review because I’d never seen it. But, to no avail, there’s not a whole lot of information regarding this film’s production on the usual legitimate movie researching tools found on the web. And after seeing the film, it became even more of a bummer that there weren’t and supplemental materials (even if it were just film historians and fans discussing it) provided on the disc. But, as I always say, at least its on Blu-ray. Just getting a film to this glorious format is triumph enough! Continue reading ‘The Bamboo Saucer (Blu-ray Review)’
Get your head out of the gutter, pervert! This is a kids movie! The Nut Job was a little animated feature that came out in the behemoth of “soon to be classics” release month of January. It hopped over its budget but didn’t really make a massive intake like a lot of animated gems do nowadays. Whatever your thoughts, its apparently getting a sequel aimed for the year 2016 in its stronghold month of January. Universal brings this family friendly affair to Blu-ray on April 15 making for a quick quick turnaround. I’ll be reviewing the regular Blu-ray combo release of the film, but there is a 3D version coming out the same day if that’s your cup of tea.
. Continue reading ‘The Nut Job (Blu-ray Review)’
A couple’s son and daughter inexplicably reappear after being lost overnight on a desolate, cave-riddled mountainside. Becoming withdrawn and beginning to exhibit strange behavior, their parents quickly assume something sinister happened to them. But after hearing an ominous local legend, the concerned mother and father begin to realize that their children may have fallen prey to something inhuman and that this dark, unstoppable evil has now returned home with them. Continue reading ‘Here Comes the Devil (Blu-ray Review)’
A little side note to my Blu-ray review of Norma Rae to start off. My screenwriting professor in college’s big claim to fame in his movie making career was working on this movie. It was an Academy Award nominated film and the one that nabbed Sally Field her first Best Actress statue. While I don’t think the university was happy with him (he was usually 20 minutes late to a 50 minute class), for the short time we did have him he had terrific stories and was a very positive and informative when it came to writing. I wrote a sitcom pilot for one of my projects in his class and he kept e-mailing me throughout his read to tell me how much enjoyed it. Anywho, while Norma Rae is the prestigious one he can flaunt, I think the coolest credit on his resume is being the assistant director on the Chuck Norris epic, THE OCTAGON! Continue reading ‘Norma Rae (Blu-ray Review)’
I am sure The Weinstein company is proud to release Philomena on Blu-ray, now that it has scored tons of acclaim, including 4 Academy Award nominations (Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay). The film had an unassuming way about it, which is what ultimately won me over, but it was still surprising to see it get that amount of prestige put upon it. That said, this is a human interest story that is quite interesting to watch, as it features some strong performances in a movie that has dark elements, but still feels like a pleasant watch overall. With the Blu-ray now available, everyone will be able to see it for themselves and consider how far they are willing to go with Philomena.
Continue reading ‘Philomena (Blu-ray Review)’
Humphrey Bogart is widely and understandably recognized as one of the greatest, if not The greatest actor in the history of American cinema and it certainly helps that he is the star of many films considered classics, let alone some of the best of all time films ever made. This Blu-ray collection includes some truly amazing features. Within this collection is The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The African Queen. With exception of maybe Sabrina, this really is the best of the best, when it comes to Bogart. Continue on to read about what else comes with this Blu-ray collection, aside from films filed under the category of: “All Time Greats.”
Continue reading ‘The Best of Bogart Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
First you had the team ups of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger and now comes the epic team up of Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro in the comedy-actioner Grudge Match. I missed this in theaters but thought the trailer and marketing materials were hilarious. I was bummed out that it was PG-13 and was even more bummed out that they released during the holiday season where it was ultimately crushed by the other 800 films that were released at that time. Well, the Blu-ray is here and it will be tackled by yours truly. In this corner we have the Italian Stallion vs. The Raging Bull…who will win the championship title? Let’s get in the ring and find out!
Continue reading ‘Grudge Match (Blu-ray Review)’
Is it weird that last weekend I had reviewed big name Blu-ray titles such as Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, but perhaps the one title I’m most excited about is Nurse 3D? I know that sounds odd just thinking about it and seeing my fingers move across the keyboard as the words take shape onscreen. But I can’t help it! As corny as the feature is, I had a good time with it on VOD. Now that this is my second time around, what do you think? Will I still enjoy it or maybe like it even more or less? Who knows, but that’s what these reviews are for, second chances and first time bliss in some cases. So truth be told I’m stoked to sit down with this title and although my Sony PlayStation 4 cannot yet play a 3D Blu-ray title, I’m not going to let that spoil the fun as I deliver one of the finest Blu-ray reviews you’ll see on the World Wide Web for Doug Aarniokoski’s sexy, medical slasher where Fatal Attraction meets B-movie cheese in Nurse. Come on! Let’s splice this bad boy open! Continue reading ‘Nurse 3D (Blu-ray Review)’
April is kind of a bummer month when it comes to Scream Factory titles. There’s only one title dropping and its not coming out until the tail end of the month (April 29th). No worries though, it’s only the calm before the storm that is the “Summer Of Fear”, which is HUGE and going to rock all horror fans’ socks off. For now, we have Dead Shadows. A completely independently funded film about a crazy little alien invasion. It’s directed by first timer David Cholewa and he’s a name you might want to take some interest in as he does show plenty of potential with his debut. The film came out in 2012, but is just now making its way here to the states in 2014. Before we begin, I need to give David Cholewa credit for using the song “Wax Ecstatic” by group from my alternative music days that has long been forgotten called Sponge. Bravo sir, I used to rock to that song plenty in my youthful days. Continue reading ‘Dead Shadows (Blu-ray Review)’
Knights of Badassdom is not so much of a good premise gone bad, as much as it just falls into the realm of instantly forgettable. The idea of putting LARP-ers (Live Action Role Players) into a very real scenario, where they must fend off actual fantasy beasts, is a solid one, but finding the right tone and having the right comedic energy is a requirement that extends beyond having a decent cast to try and make it work. When the Comic-Con panel is more entertaining than the actual movie, a problem really exists.
Continue reading ‘Knights Of Badassdom (Blu-ray Review)’
Academy Award nominees Andy Garcia (Ocean’s 11, City Island) and Vera Farmiga (A&E’s Bates Motel, Up in the Air) star as straight-laced, George and eccentric Edith, two strangers who meet on their children’s college tour at the idyllic Middleton University. Despite their opposing temperaments, George and Edith play hooky together, ditching the textbook tour for a carefree afternoon reminiscent of their youth. But what begins as an afternoon of fun soon becomes a revealing and enlightening experience that will change their lives forever. A light-hearted romance for adults on the surface, At Middleton is a deeply moving and enlightening portrait of the timelessness of romance and youth. Taissa Farmiga (“American Horror Story”), Spencer Lofranco (Jamesy Boy), Peter Reigert (“Dads”), and Tom Skerritt (“Picket Fences”) also star in this story about what can happen on your first day of college – no matter who you are – At Middleton. Continue reading ‘At Middleton (Blu-ray Review)’
In a parallel universe, World War One is imminent as we follow the gripping story of human resistance fighters who march to battle against the second invasion of the Martians. In 1899, the Earth was attacked by ruthless invaders from the planet Mars. The Martians 80 ft tall, heat-ray spewing, Tripod battle machines laid waste to the planet, but the invaders ultimately fell prey to Earth s tiny bacteria. Fifteen years later, Man has rebuilt his shattered world, in large part by utilizing captured Martian technology. Equipped with giant, steam-powered Tripod battle machines, the international rapid reaction force, is Mankind s first line of defense against the return of the rapacious Martian invaders. And return the Martians do. The rematch finds the multinational battle squad tripod Goliath on the front-lines of a vicious interplanetary offensive. Continue reading ‘War of the Worlds: Goliath (Blu-ray Review)’
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