Welcome back to This Week In Discs where we check out tomorrow’s new releases today!
The Big Short
What is it? Michael Burry (Christian Bale) is a hedge fund manager who follows his own drummer, often to the chagrin of those around him, but when he bets big on the collapse of the U.S. housing market his colleagues think he’s finally lost his mind. Unfortunately for them — and for millions of Americans — his numbers-based prediction comes true. Eventually.
Why buy it? Adam McKay’s funny and sad comedy tackles the 2008 housing bubble burst with wit and smarts to spare. The cast (also including Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, and others) take hold of our attention, but it’s the information being passed along via clearly explained facts, fourth wall breaks, and even Margot Robbie in a hot tub, that make it impossible not to pay attention and learn. Ideally every American would watch the movie and get a sense of the details behind the royal screwing we took from the banks and government — and how we’re on a path towards it happening all over again.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes]
Carol
What is it? Therese (Rooney Mara) works the counter at a department store in 1950’s New York City and dreams of a career as a photographer, but a new focus enters her life when Carol (Cate Blanchett) walks through the door. She’s older and married, but she’s also unhappy at this stage of her life. The two women strike up a relationship that privately satisfies their hearts but finds challenge in their public lives.
Why buy it? Todd Haynes’ latest is a beautifully-told tale of forbidden love that finds weight in two pristine lead performances. Both capture the unfortunate futility of loving another woman in such restrictive and ignorant times — Mara with the energetic hope, Blanchett with the the resigned sadness — and the supporting cast is equally compelling with affecting turns from Kyle Chandler and Sarah Paulson. The story moves with slow, methodical pacing and detours into other parts of Therese and Carol’s lives, but the central tale of love and the gorgeous production design (including the costumes and score) mesmerize throughout.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Q&A, gallery]
The Manchurian Candidate (Criterion Collection)
What is it? A squad of American soldiers are captured during the Korean War, and one of them is brainwashed to kill. Sergeant Shaw (Laurence Harvey) returns home a hero, but one of his fellow POWs (Frank Sinatra) can’t shake a recurring dream hinting at the truth behind their time in enemy hands. As a presidential election looms and Shaw’s mother (Angela Lansbury) wields her political ambition like a knife it becomes a race against time to stop further deaths.
Why buy it? John Frankenheimer’s early ’60s thriller is a real gem of paranoia and manipulation, and it finds some suspenseful and shocking (for the time) beats on its way toward a tense and surprising finale. The film gets a 4k restoration that captures every last drop of sweat on Sinatra’s upper lip, but the supplement highlight here is a pair of new interviews — one with Errol Morris discussing his thoughts on the film, and one with a still sharp and spry Lansbury.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Commentary, interviews, booklet]
Brooklyn
What is it? Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) is a young immigrant from Ireland who arrives in New York City hoping to start a new life but struggling with homesickness. She falls in love, both with her new home and a young Italian (Emory Cohen), but when an event back in Ireland calls her home her heart once again finds a romance. What’s a nice Irish girl to do?
Why rent it? Ronan is an absolute delight here with a performance that’s as warm as it is feisty. She takes us on this journey with her, and we feel each emotional beat. The atmosphere feels authentic thanks to the performances and production, but there’s something of a disconnect once Eilis returns to Ireland. The drama deflates as the contrivance grows, and it becomes far less appealing.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Deleted scenes, commentary, gallery]
CHiPs: The Complete Fourth Season
What is it? Officers Frank Poncherello (Erik Estrada) and Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) ride the streets around Los Angeles looking for opportunities to help good people and catch the bad ones. They also make time for Go Kart races, karate fights, poaching problems, and murder. (To be clear, they don’t do the murdering, they try to stop the murdering.)
Why rent it? I used to watch this show as a kid and probably saw every episode during its original run, but I only recall two things with any real clarity — an episode featuring a car causing accidents on the highway because it has a front end on its rear, and Officer Bonnie Clark (Randi Oakes). That car episode is back in season three, but Miss Oakes is present all through season four. Even beyond my pre-teen crush though the show offers plenty of fun for fans of late ’70s/early ’80s television. There’s an earnestness here alongside the action that you just don’t see these days, and while it occasionally leans heavy on the After School Special side of things the episodes are still an entertaining mix of action, good-natured fun, and The Love Boat-style cameos.
[DVD extras: None]
The Hatching
What is it? Tim (Andrew Lee Potts) returns to his small home town after the death of his father, but the locals aren’t all that happy to see him. As a child he was involved in a prank that left a friend dead in the belly of a crocodile, and when women in the present start disappearing or ending up dead he suspects it’s another croc. Turns out he’s half right.
Why skip it? As far as killer croc movies go this is definitely one of them. The cast is capable, and the script allows some interesting developments, but it seems wholly unclear what story it wants to tell. By the time the end credits roll the crocodiles have become afterthoughts, and we’re left with some nonsensical threats from less reptilian sources. There’s also some tonal issues as the movie tries to be more comedic than the events allow, and while a couple laughs squeak through most fall flat.
[DVD extras: Featurette]
Monster Dog
What is it? Vince Raven (Alice Cooper) is a popular rock star who heads back to his small home town for a music video shoot with a small crew only to come face to face with wild dogs, a carnivorous local legend, and some very angry townspeople.
Why rent it? This is not a good movie — the monster effect is laughable, the pacing is misguided, the English dubbing of everyone, including Cooper, is unfortunate — but those same elements make it a goofy ’80s horror film worth at least one watch. For those of you who are already fans there’s a real appeal to this sharp, new Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing. Previously available only on VHS and shoddy DVD, the film looks pretty fantastic here image-wise, and Scorpion has also added some solid extras including a 45 minute featurette consisting of interviews with many of the major players and a handful of deleted scenes.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Making of, deleted scenes, reversible sleeve]
Rage of Honor (Arrow Video)
What is it? Shiro Tanaka (Sho Kosugi) is a top agent in the DEA, but after a dressing down from his superiors upset at the bloody mess of Tanaka’s last drug bust he quits, goes rogue, and takes the fight to the villains’ front door in South America.
Why rent it? This is a lesser entry in Kosugi’s ’80s action run after heavy hitters like Revenge of the Ninja and Ninja III: The Domination (yeah, I said it), but fans of the man and of ninja action in general will find more than enough ridiculous gun play and fisticuffs with this one. The film moves from shoot ’em up to a martial arts-like free for all. As they did with their release of Kosugi’s Pray for Death, Arrow Video gives Rage of Honor a sharp restoration and some informative extras including part two of their new interview with Kosugi.
[Blu-ray extras: Interviews, featurette, reversible sleeve]
Sisters
What is it? Kate (Tina Fey) and Maura (Amy Poehler) are sisters who’ve grown somewhat apart over the years but are forced to bond again when their parents announce they’re selling the family home. Maura has been struggling since her divorce, and Kate is a single mother who’s just discovered she’s homeless, and both see this as an opportunity for a fresh start.
Why rent it? There’s no denying that both Fey and Poehler are comedic powerhouses, but their latest pairing neuters their abilities for a surprising amount of its running time. The first third in particular is a dead zone when it comes to laughs, but things pick up a bit once the party starts. The supporting cast helps with the likes of John Cena, Ike Barinholtz, and Maya Rudolph adding to the fun, but there is a lot of empty air across these two hours.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes, gag reel, commentary]
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
What is it? The world mourned the death of Steve Jobs, and director Alex Gibney wants to know why. His documentary explores the man through his life and accomplishments, but he looks at them both from the very public personas and the truths that most people are willingly oblivious too. Jobs was a complicated man, as much genius as asshole, and Gibney’s doc explores that dichotomy with interviews, archived footage, and observations.
Why rent it? Danny Boyle’s 2015 film, Steve Jobs, puts a narrative spin on the mythos of Jobs at the expense of specific truths (although it’s still a fantastic film), but Gibney’s focus is on the real story. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the end effect is identical. Jobs’ story is endlessly fascinating, from the dreams he pushed forward to the people he left beneath his feet, but the film also gives weight to the consumer cult that’s grown around him and his Apple products.
[Blu-ray/DVD extras: Interview, deleted scenes]
The 11th Hour, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip, Band of Robbers, Dolls [UK], Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season, Love, Rocco and His Brothers [UK]