The Florida Project (Blu-ray Review)
Director Sean Baker had himself a nice little breakout with the acclaimed film Tangerine a few years ago. Here he returns with his follow up, The Florida Project. I thin this one expected a little more love at the Academy Awards this year, but has wound up touting a Willem DaFoe Best Supporting Actor nomination as its big mark. Regardless, another thing that struck me about this film’s Blu-ray release was how quickly it went from being announced to release. It was literally “Here it is and its coming in 2 weeks”. I know some of the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray catalog titles have been quick to the snap, but a brand new movie on standard Blu-ray is pretty rare when it has that fast of a turnaround, especially on a quality project. Alas, you’ll be able to grab it for yourself on February 20th. Continue reading ‘The Florida Project (Blu-ray Review)’
Hell or High Water is one of those films which reminds me of a moment in life that I kick myself for missing out on. The Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin, TX had invited me to cover an advance screening of the film, which included cast members Foster, Pine and Bridges in attendance. To sweeten the pot this is also the screening where Pine got drunk as a skunk at. Why did I miss it? Well boo hoo I did not want to drive downtown and quite honestly knew nothing about the feature. Rest assured this one was one of the last times in life where I let ignorance get the best of me. I did end up catching this one weeks later in the theater and guess what. It landed on my Top 10 list in 2016 over 
The Disney Signature Collection has set its sites on the perfect release for the month that houses Valentine’s Day; Lady and the Tramp. Including new bonus materials as well as the classic features, this new release also allows you to watch the film in three different ways. One thing notable here (And maybe its just the first time I’ve noticed), but Disney has changed from calling this a “combo pack” to naming it “multi-screen edition”. A little, but very interesting change in terms of verbiage for the packaging. We’ll see if any other studios begin to follow suit. This second release of the film on Blu-ray will be seeing your store shelves, physical and virtual, on February 27th. Pre-order links through Amazon have been off and on, so check back if one doesn’t appear here when you’re reading. 
Fire up the home entertainment system and call your buds because the ultimate stoner comedy is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The high-larious cannabis cultural epic breakthrough UP IN SMOKE will “… grab you by the poo poo” all over again when it arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD April 10, 2018 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. A special Deluxe Collector’s Edition, pairing the Blu-ray with the original soundtrack on CD and VINYL LP in deluxe packaging, will arrive the following week on 4/20 from Rhino, featuring a newly recorded “2018 version” of the title song “Up In Smoke.”
Prepare to witness the Dark Knight, alongside many of his most famed allies and infamous foes, in an eye-popping anime display you’ve never seen before when Warner Bros. Japan, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment present Batman Ninja. The all-new, feature-length animated film arrives on Digital starting April 24, 2018, and Blu-ray™ Steelbook, Blu-ray™Combo Pack and DVD on May 8, 2018. The film will be available in 4K UHD for Digital only in a release planned for Summer 2018. Batman Ninja is PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and for some suggestive material.
Nominated for three Academy Awards (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Film Editing), I, Tonya is a darkly funny and entertaining examination of Tonya Harding, the most controversial figure in the history of figure skating, and the headline-grabbing scandal that mesmerized a nation. I, Tonya is available on Digital and the all-new digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on March 2, 2018 and on Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on March 13, 2018 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Packed with more than 40 minutes of exclusive bonus content, the Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD showcase deleted scenes and in-depth featurettes taking viewers behind the scenes of the film and its captivating story. 
It’s got a groove, it’s got a meaning…and it’s still a cultural phenomenon 40 years after its original release. The iconic celebration of high school life in the 1950s, GREASE is the way you’ll be feeling with a new 40th Anniversary Edition on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital April 24, 2018 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Featuring an explosion of song and dance, as well as star-making performances from John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, GREASE made an indelible impact on popular culture. 40 years later, the film remains an enduring favorite as legions of new fans discover the memorable moments, sensational soundtrack and classic love story. Boasting unforgettable songs including “Greased Lightnin,” “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Summer Nights,” “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” “Beauty School Drop Out” and, of course, “Grease,” the film is a timeless feel-good celebration.
Having been out of the indie movie loop for a while due to side projects (special events – they do take time!) I’m back in the cinema saddle for a while to deliver some lesser- known film goodies. That’s why this week’s crop of flicks examined contains a whopping eleven titles to make up for lost time. (There are a couple January flicks thrown in for good measure!) The complications of time travel, trying to be a part of something big, examining real life violence against cinematic stuff, dim dudes in need of some female inspiration, creepy old guys next door, martial arts with an added spirit energy kick, verbal slams that linger long, postpartum depression from hell, parents that kill their kin, mysterious black boxes in the forest and victims rising from the dead to get a little vengeance all get their movie due below. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews for Diverge, West Of Her, Fake Blood, Entanglement, The Neighbor, The Insult, Kill Order, Still/Born, Mom And Dad, Black Hollow Cage and RV: Resurrected Victims – happy indie hunting! 
Time travel in cinema it doesn’t always have to have big extravagant effects to be effective as sometimes smaller can be better – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Still within the realms of the wide world – but focusing outside the US of course – this week we head to Spain for a little past picture inspiration in the form of a foreign flick that dares to do high tech on no-budget. It’s a nifty little ditty that’s a clever mix of horror, suspense and drama (all the things Hitchcock used to love!) all the while being a believable sci-fi flick about traveling through time that appropriately bends the brain and heightens the senses. Careful what you spy through those prying eyes as you could accidentally witness some…Timecrimes. 
When last we saw old Pinhead and the Hellraiser gang, it was in Revelations. It was the first non-Doug Bradley in the series and heaping pile of flaming turds. The film was made with the sole purpose of hanging onto the rights and it absolutely felt like it. Now, we are here again with Hellraiser: Judgement, a film likely made to hold onto the rights to the cenobites. However, this one appears to have been given more time to get a decent straight to video production done (The last one got whipped together after their plans to remake the original fell apart last minute). As a horror junkie and fan of the series, I can help but not give into my mortal sins of curiosity and check this out. Lowest of the low in expectations, just give me some of the essentials and we can dance. You’ll be able to see for yourself on February 13th, making for a nice bloody Valentine’s Day. 
You know legendary maniacs Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger. Now meet Leslie Vernon, the next great psycho-slasher, in the cult favorite Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray March 27th, 2018 from Scream Factory, Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon comes loaded with bonus features, including interviews with actors Angela Goethals, Ben Pace and co-writer/co-producer David Stieve, an audio commentary with co-writer/director Scott Glosserman, moderated by filmmakers Adam Green and Joe Lynch, an audio commentary with Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, Britain Spelling and Ben Pace, Making of Behind the Mask and Casting of Behind the Mask featurettes, and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com. 
Anyone who knows me as a passionate movie geek knows I go professionally ga-ga over the layered work of actress 
Like Drag Me To Hell before it, here comes another more “modern” Collector’s Edition version from Scream Factory. Its The Strangers which, doesn’t seem like it, is now ten years old this coming summer. And its taken that long for the film to get a sequel which is arriving very soon. They are updating it with a new HD master of both cuts of the film as well as some new interviews with a few folks (Not Liv Tyler, Scott Speeman or …man it would be awesome…Glenn Howerton). This is one of the spookiest films of the previous decade and I’m glad to see it getting some genuine double dip love here. If you want to pre-order yourself to have it when it arrives next month, click the Amazon link below. It arrives on March 6th, which is just 3 days before the new one comes out! 
