‘Last Flag Flying’ Has A Theatrical Mission (Movie Review)
After completing his epic (Boyhood) and reliving some glory years (Everybody Wants Some!!), director Richard Linklater has made a step into adult-themed prestige territory. Last Flag Flying is a sorta sequel to Hal Ashby’s 1973 comedy-drama The Last Detail starring Jack Nicholson. Both films are based on author Darryl Ponicsan’s novels, with Last Flag Flying serving as an actual sequel. For the film, which Ponicsan co-wrote with Linklater, characters are changed and the year is 2003, but the concept is familiar. It’s so familiar that it becomes hard to recognize the film as anything more as an entertaining watch involving talented actors doing a lot of talking in various locations. That sounds like a typical Linklater film, but the director seems like he’s more or less cooling off.
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An appropriate tagline for “The Hero” might be: “Look how hard we’re working for an Oscar!” One can see the checklist being marked off as the film introduces itself: an aged Hollywood actor trying to redeem himself, a romance with a younger woman, cancer, dreamlike symbolism, and an estranged daughter.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings the celebrated ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, featuring incredible imagery, gorgeous rich colors and an amazing soundtrack with some of The Beatles most popular songs, to next-generation 4K Ultra HD™ for the first time January 9. Turn off the lights, turn up the volume and immerse yourself in this psychedelic modern classic from visionary director Julie Taymor (The Tempest, Titus) starring Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld,” Into the Forest) and Jim Sturgess (21, sGeostorm) with a cameo by music legend Bono and others. The ACROSS THE UNIVERSE 4K Ultra HD also includes a Blu-ray™ loaded with hours of special features. 
The origins of the infamous Texas Chain Saw Massacre are finally revealed when Leatherface arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital), DVD and Digital December 19 from Lionsgate. The film is currently available On Demand. Starring Stephen Dorff as a vengeful Texas sheriff and Lili Taylor as the Sawyer family matriarch, the legendary monster gets his mask after three asylum inmates escape and leave a blood-soaked trail. From French filmmakers Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (Inside), the Leatherface Blu-ray and DVD are loaded with never-before-seen special features, including deleted scenes, an alternate beginning and alternate ending, and will be available, respectively. 
Of all the memorable columns from my previous movie site stomping grounds, there was one in particular that was a favorite not only of mine but tops with readers too. It was an 80’s movie character expose that debuted on September 3, 2011 that came straight from my childhood love of quirky characters and quite quickly became the one article that consistently stayed at number one in terms of my body of written work. So since it was recently taken down to make room for lighter fare and in tribute to actor Terrence Mann whom I adore and who personally gave some of his interview time to enhance my article, I’m proudly reposting and resurrecting it here in its entirety for all film fans to enjoy. It’s my….
Atomic Blonde finally sees the light of day on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray after debuting all the way back this past March at SXSW (originally covered 
Halloween is almost here fright fans and so is yet another archived reposting of a prominent past picture nugget scary style – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Don’t let the 1960 elder black and white movie selection this week fool you, as there’s plenty of wit, sass and people eating botanical class to be had. Originally posted on April 24, 2015 and now resurrected for WhySoBlu.com, it’s a joyous terror tale of sorts that was the origin of the famed character of a pesky plant with an unhealthy appetite that graced many musicals later on. Surrounded by some equally particular people – a grouchy store owner, flower eating customers, funeral prone old ladies, a demented dentist and even a hypochondriac mom with an affinity for medicinal alcoholic tonic – welcome everyone to skid row home of Mushnick’s Flower Shop and known to the precious few as the…The Little Shop Of Horrors!
As we head into the area of end of the year Oscar fare, more and more art and indie films will be hitting us throughout the months of November and December – hard and fast. (Though not always good mind you!) This week we easing into the soon to be inundated indie scene with seven new flicks that may provide some fun, fright and fights – and that’s just the Jayne Mansfield doc! Comedies about the charisma – and the consequences – of lying, a Stephen King terror tale set in the early 1900’s, a doc on the power of a past Ridley Scott masterwork, a lavish look at the life of the buxom Jayne Mansfield, the adventures of one tough wronged bow & arrow gal, a revenge flick with a meditation message and a look at what really can be considered art all make up the subjects of the seven indie films covered in this week’s Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on The Truth About Lies, 1922, Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, Mansfield 66/67, The Archer, Acts Of Vengeance and The Square below! 
Wvhen The Conjuring scored big back in 2013, one of the big takeaways from that film was the creepy doll in the opening scene named “Annabelle”. Said doll was the subject of its own spin off film that also was a huge hit despite very poor reviews. The Conjuring got its own sequel later on and naturally Annabelle has now received her own follow up. Once again, she scored a success, topping over one hundred million dollars in the US and over three hundred million bucks worldwide, easily pulling past the original’s take. Those totals are right in line with the regular Conjuring movies too. This world of horror cultivating from the case files of Warren’s research is very much alive and well. Another spin-off series is in the works and on the way with The Nun next year. But first, let’s take a look on Annabelle: Creation, which was the summer’s top horror film. 
Dylan O’Brien and Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton star in the action-packed thriller AMERICAN ASSASSIN, arriving on Digital November 21 and on 4K Ultra HD (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus Digital) and DVD December 5 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Based on the best-selling book series by Vince Flynn, Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner franchise, “Teen Wolf”) and Academy Award® nominee Michael Keaton (Best Actor, Birdman, 2014) lead a star-studded ensemble in American Assassin, arriving on Digital November 21 and on 4K Ultra HD™ (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (plus Digital) and DVD December 5 from Lionsgate.
One of the year’s most acclaimed films, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Dunkirk,” arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital this December. From filmmaker Christopher Nolan (“Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy) comes the epic action thriller “Dunkirk.” Nolan directed “Dunkirk” from his own original screenplay, utilizing a mixture of IMAX® and 65mm film to bring the story to the screen. The film was partially shot on location on the beaches of Dunkirk, France, where the actual events unfolded. Said director Christopher Nolan, “I’m excited to be releasing ‘Dunkirk’ on 4K UHD with HDR. The film was shot entirely on the highest definition IMAX and 65mm film and this fantastic new format, with its increased resolution and superior colour reproduction is able to maximize Dunkirk’s impact in the home. The film’s ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy and Barry Keoghan, with Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy. “Dunkirk” was produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, with Jake Myers serving as executive producer. The behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema, production designer Nathan Crowley, editor Lee Smith, costume designer Jeffrey Kurland, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson and special effects supervisor Scott Fisher. The music was composed by Hans Zimmer. 
Considering that both 
Boutique labels and vintage horror have been a sense of fun in the guessing game or “take a request” fashion in the last five years or so. Whenever social media polls happen to gauge what people would like next, you see some interesting title you’d forgotten about come out of the woodwork. You’ll also see multitudes of the same people requesting the same titles over and over and over (Fright Night Part 2 being the most popular). Slaughter High has been one of those titles that has been requested ad nauseum for many years. Fear not, though, your wait is over. Lionsgate, through its Vectron Video Collector’s Series is finally bringing it out. So not only is it coming, its being done right too. You can pre-order now to have this popular slasher when it releases on Halloween 2017! 
