Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

What a lovely day to be a blu-ray ... Both today's BR announcements and releases are so fantastic that I can't help but smile as I ponder how much they are going to cost me ... First of all, fans of the traditional Disney animation of yore will delight to hear that BAMBI and THE LION KING are being prepped for BR release in the spring of 2011. Specific dates will follow ... One of my favorites and one of the most polarizing movies I know of in recent history, Sofia Coppola's LOST IN TRANSLATION is coming in time for the holidays, sort of. Amazon.com has the BR on December 7 exclusively, while regular retailers get it on January 4, 2011 ... There is good news if you were hoping to catch a quality version of the original John Wayne film, TRUE GRIT, before the Coen Brothers remake, starring Jeff Bridges, this holiday season. The 1969 original lands on BR December 14 ... And Valentine's Day titles are already being readied. Look for PLEASANTVILLE to make its way to BR on February 1, 2011 ... And now for this week's best BR releases ...

THE DARJEELING LIMITED

(Criterion Collection)

This may be some of his most accessible work but it may also be my favourite Wes Anderson film, after RUSHMORE, that is. Classic is classic after all. Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody and Jason Shwartzman are the most implausible of brothers and their antics on a train ride through India are outlandish and, at other times, somewhat obvious, but they are always delightful. And gorgeous, I should say. I can't afford a voyage through India but this will do me just fine for now. This is its first appearance on BR and, from what I've read, the transfer is remarkable. It is Criterion though so that usually goes without saying. The set contains an all new commentary track featuring writers Anderson, Roman Coppola and Schwartzman but, unlike the DVD that is sitting on my shelf, it does not contain the short film, HOTEL CHEVALIER, with Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, which explains Schwartzman's character backstory. I guess I will have to just own both the DVD and the BR. Oh well.

THREE KINGS

(Warner Brothers)

It has been quite a long time since I've seen this David O. Russell film and I can't wait to see how it holds up on BR. George Clooney, Mark Whalberg and Ice Cube are Desert Storm soldiers in this sharp, humourous critique on the war. Famed director, Spike Jonze (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) gives one of the most surprising turns in the film, simply because I didn't expect anything from him at all. The disc features director commentary as well as a behind the scenes documentary, amongst a number of other juicy special features. I am just curious to see if the behind the scenes footage will contain proof of the reported on-set difficulties that almost ruined this great piece of filmmaking. I want to see Clooney throw a chair or something.

I AM LOVE

(Mongrel Media)

When I caught this epic film in theatres this summer, I was completely taken in by it. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did but it is absolutely enchanting and mesmerizing. Director, Luca Guadagnino channels the spirit of the French "new wave" thanks to a culmination of so many great formal elements - most notably the brilliant screenplay, stunning cinematography and stirring musical score. All of this is capped by a remarkable cast, led by Tilda Swinton in a role that could see her nab another Oscar nod. American readers can run out and buy this today but Canadian folks will have to wait until its release on October 26. Either way, don't miss it! The scenery alone is worth it.

For a full review of THE DARJEELING LIMITED, click the title.

Source: blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

The month of September was a little busy for me. There was that little film festival, TIFF. It really took up a good chunk of my time so I was not able to keep up with the current Blu-Ray releases each week. Well, September is definitely over and instead of focusing on what came out today to rent and own, I will take a look back at the bigger titles that were missed in the weeks prior.

MARS ATTACKS!

(Warner Brothers)

It is not surprising that Tim Burton likes B-movies. It is a little more surprising that he is such a big Hollywood player now when you watch his 1996 film, MARS ATTACKS! This is a B-movie done A-styles. Everyone from Jack Nicholson and Annette Bening to Sarah Jessica Parker and Pierce Brosnan stars in this ode to the aliens from outer space movie. Although the film no longer inspires me to, “Ack! Ack! Ack” alongside those hilarious, homicidal aliens, it is still a ridiculous good time.

THE PLAYER

(Warner Brothers)

This 1992 film will certainly be counted amongst the late Robert Altman’s greatest achievements. With the exception of some questionable hairstyles and shoulder pads, THE PLAYER holds up very well. Tim Robbins plays Griffin Dunne, a Hollywood executive who is being stalked by a writer. It gets hairy and it couldn’t come at a worse time considering there is talk around the studio that he is on his way out. Everyone from Angelica Huston to Bruce Willis to Julia Roberts cameos in this Hollywood murder mystery. It will grab you and get you hooked from the opening 8 and a half minute shot.

GLEE - SEASON ONE

(20th Century Fox)

There is no denying it. GLEE is the biggest new show to emerge from last year. Fox is so happy with it that they have renewed it through its third season already. Watching the first season straight through was actually a lot of fun. The moments that didn’t work so great when the show was airing (ie. the return from hiatus) aren’t as bad sandwiched between all the fantastic moments that came out of the first year at McKinley High (ie. The Power of Madonna episode, start to finish). My neighbours must be sick of me singing along to every single song … except “U Can’t Touch This” in the library. I totally skipped that one.

CHARADE

(Criterion Collection)

I had the pleasure of catching this 1963 Stanley Donen picture this past weekend. I must admit that I had never even heard of it but it jumped out at me on the shelf and was exactly the speed I needed that night. Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant star in this occasionally hokey but more often than not twisty comedy that actually keeps you guessing until the end. The pair are delightful and the cinematography is often surprisingly ambitious and impressive. Henry Mancini’s jazzy score makes it the perfect film to watch if people come over for cocktails.

A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BREATHLESS)

(Criterion Collection)

I wish I had known that Criterion was planning on restoring and releasing this Jean-Luc Godard classic. If you know the site, then you might already know that this Nouvelle Vague masterpiece is one of my all-time favorite films. And it isn’t just me. It is widely considered to be a quintessential piece of film history. This doesn’t make it for everyone but the way Godard pokes fun at American cinematic conventions is so ludicrously delightful that you cannot help but get on board if you’re in the right mood. Before you know it, you will be lost in the breathtaking black and white imagery – so French, so romantic, so meaningless. (Read the full BREATHLESS Black Sheep review here.)

AMERICAN BEAUTY

(Dreamworks)

I’ve always loved this film. I think I saw it four or five times in the theatre alone. When I sat to watch it again recently, more than ten years after its initial release, I marveled at how shocking it still was. I could pretty much mouth the entire film if I tried but this particular viewing kept throwing me off. So many of the film’s elements – from the video taping to the pot smoking – are almost completely conventional now but were practically unused at the time. Even the central awakening of Lester Burnham’s (Kevin Spacey) character comes from a sexual fascination with an underage teenager (Mena Suvari). This Best Picture Oscar winner still stands as one of the best pictures of all time and you haven’t seen roses fall from the ceiling until you’ve seen them on blu-ray.

With all this catching up to do, I haven't even touched October yet. Here are a list of choice titles available today on Blu-Ray for the first time ...

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Walt Disney)

THE KARATE KID (Walt Disney)

THE EXORCIST (Warner Brothers)

GRINDHOUSE (Vivendi Visual Entertainment)

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (20th Century Fox)

THE MALTESE FALCON (Warner Brothers)

THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRE MADRE (Warner Brothers)

SPLICE (E1 Entertainment)

Source: blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

There are a few Blu-ray announcements this week that are music to my ears.  First on deck are the Baz Luhrmann extravaganzas, MOULIN ROUGE and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET, both being released on October 19.  The 45th anniversary edition of THE SOUND OF MUSIC makes it's way to BD for the first time on November 2.  Walt Disney is release both of their FANTASIA films together on November 30.  And Sofia Coppola's quiet work of brilliance, LOST IN TRANSLATION has found a December 7 release.  On a separate, non-musical note of business, the Special Edition of AVATAR will be released on November 16.  I suspect that anyone who cared to know that already did.  And what of this week?

HARRY BROWN

I had great anticipation for this Michael Caine vehicle and on many levels, it is greatly satisfying.  It is beautifully shot, shockingly violent and features a Caine performance at its central core that strikes an odd balance of reservation and ferociousness.  To appreciate all of this though, one must forego the main plot.  Caine is HARRY BROWN, a retired marine who lives in some low-income housing in modern day Britain, that is overrun with gangs and drugs.  After his best friend is found dead at the hands of the gangs, Brown takes it upon himself to clean up the streets.  He does it reluctantly and he does have that marine background but that is not enough to get me to buy this elderly gentleman as vigilante premise.  If you don't mind the age thing, it is well worth the rent. (E1 Entertainment)

THE SIMPSONS - SEASON 13

This latest release came out last week but I've now had the chance to watch the whole thing, thanks to the good folks at 20th Century Fox.  I usually judge a season of THE SIMPSONS by the episodes I did not already see and there were a few here.  I know it may seem like every episode has played on TV a million times but there are a few gems that do not get regular syndication rotation and you can see why pretty easily when we're talking about The Simpsons' trip to Brazil.  Yikes, that was borderline offensive.  My favorite though was when The Simpsons come to my hood, Toronto.  Bart learns in this episode that sometimes we only want what we want because we can't have it. This is a lesson this here critic apparently needed a cartoon character to teach him.  Reese Witherspoon guests on this one, which is probably pretty costly to air in syndication given her residuals.  Yes, THE SIMPSONS - SEASON 13 is a good time indeed.

ALSO AVAILABLE NOW:

- HARD CANDY - Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson in an intense game of wits with dire consequences. See Page in her pre-JUNO days and you will know why she's such a big deal.

- THE BLAIR WITH PROJECT - The original PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.  This one was actually scary ... and believable.

- SECRETARY - This early Maggie Gyllenhaal film is sinfully delicious and a whole lot of messed up.  It does prove to em though that there is someone out there for everyone, no matter what kind of freak you are.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

When you take a vacation, even a miniature one like I took last week, some things inevitably go awry.  For instance, my not being home made it pretty difficult to receive the films I was sent last week.  That being said, my being on vacation means that, even if I were home at the time of their delivery, I would have likely not watched them, let alone written about them.  Here we are though, one week later, and I feel I should get to these lost films as though they were released this week.  But first, speaking of lost ...

LOST - THE COMPLETE SERIES

Unfortunately for me, I do not have the $195 American dollars necessary to obtain this nifty box set here but it is officially going on my Amazon wishlist.  I did not start watching LOST until this year, that is to say, I started watching from the beginning this year. I certainly didn't just jump in at the last second; who could do that and actually comprehend what was going on? I also have not seen a single scene from the sixth and final season (also available for individual purchase) so I will be first in line tomorrow at my video store to make sure that Season 6, Disc 1 is mine.  I will also likely grab Disc 2, just in case.

HAMLET

When I sat down to watch Kenneth Brannagh's HAMLET this past weekend, I found myself wondering just who the heck this Brannagh guy was back in day to be able to get this 4+ hour, unabridged version of the infamous Shakespeare classic made.  A skim through the gorgeous Blu-Ray book commemorating the masterful work answered all of my questions.  Brannagh was considered to be a Shakespearean genius at the time and, albeit not perfect of course, his control over the direction, writing and performance of the titular character is highly commendable.  Fear not, there is a well timed intermission included on the disc for those interested in breaking up the night.

ME AND ORSON WELLES

This is one of the few films of 2009 that I was not able to see before year-end.  I had heard great things about Christian McKay's performance as the notorious Orson Welles and he certainly doesn't disappoint.  He carries himself as though he is the only person of any import in the room at all times and he plays everyone he comes into contact with perfectly, both on screen and off.  Claire Danes and Zac Efron round out the principles in the Richard Linklater production and do so with a fair amount of charm.  Efron is so cute when he tries to act all serious.  In all seriousness though, he does a pretty good job as a bright-eyed young actor on the precipice of success with no idea what is in store.

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK: Move over Jennifer Aniston, J-Lo is having a baby all by her lonesome in THE BACK-UP PLAN.  I'm sure both your mother and mine are pleased about that one.  I, on the other hand, will be locking myself indoors with the 13th season of THE SIMPSONS.  That is, I will be as soon as I'm done with LOST.

Source: blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

As it turns out, I'm a little blue this Tuesday.  It should be fitting considering but it's really just distracting.  Fortunately, there aren't too many films coming out today to get excited about.  And perhaps even more importantly, what is coming out is pretty funny stuff.  First off though, the following films have been announced on Blu-ray this week: SEX AND THE CITY 2 comes home on October 26 ... The incredibly gorgeous, I AM LOVE, will wow you on October 12 ... If you like French film and fashion, be sure to see COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY on September 28 ... WINTER'S BONE, one of the most understated films of 2010, will impress on October 26 ... And one of my favorite films from my childhood, TREMORS, comes out from the underground on November 9.  Now, let's get back to the present ...

DATE NIGHT

20th Century Fox and director, Shawn Levy (NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM) have discovered a new comedy pairing that is certain to give everyone who watches a laugh, whether they have a date with them or not.  The premise is silly - suburban couple get mistaken for thieves while on a date and spend the rest of the night in NYC running for their lives - but Steve Carrell and Tina Fey bring depth and urgency to it regardless.  We've seen the perils of a stale marriage plenty of times before but Carrell and Fey fight just as hard to save their marriage as they do their lives on this particular night because it truly feels as though it is hanging by a thread.  More importantly, they bring the laughs and the couple that laughs together, stays together.  Click here to read the original Black Sheep review of DATE NIGHT.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL

Three years after the original Frank Oz film of the same name became a cult hit,  Sony Pictures and once promising director, Neil LaBute have decided that a remake for American audiences is a matter of life and death.    Having seen both versions, I can certainly say that this 2010 version is nowhere near as funny or poignant but it still does the trick mostly, thanks to a strong  cast, including Chris Rock, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana, Martin Lawrence , Tracy Morgan and Luke Wilson.  It doesn't deviate much from the original - even the opening credit sequence is pretty similar - so, aside from making some more dough stateside, I can't really see a need for the film.  At least it doesn't kill the life the original honoured so well.

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK: If you aren't through laughing after these two films, both NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION and EUROPEAN VACATION are available through Warner Bros.  Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal yuck it up in WHAT'S UP DOC?  And Terry Zwigoff's 1994 documentary about Robert Crumb, CRUMB, gets the Criterion treatment.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

It is an extremely busy day for film releases and most of them are actually pretty good too.  What are the odds?! Maple Pictures releases KICK-ASS, the critically acclaimed R-rated anti-superhero movie failed to connect in theatres but will surely find its audience on Blu-ray.  If it doesn't though, that sequel is pretty much done for.  20th Century Fox puts out medium sized family hit, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID as well as Kevin Costner/Susan Sarandon baseball hit, BULL DURHAM.  I've not seen either but BULL DURHAM should be arriving shortly so I will know soon enough. And the 25th anniversary edition of THE BREAKFAST CLUB finds its way to Blu-ray, courtesy of Universal.  Here are a few more highlighted titles ...

THE GHOST WRITER

Roman Polanski's latest thriller is fairly devoid of thrills I'm afraid.  This is mostly because he can't seem to decide whether his intention is to make a point about pushing the boundaries of torture in the name of preventing terror or whether it is simply to tell a strong story.  His complete lack of focus makes for a fairly disjointed mystery and a mediocre experience.  Ewan McGregor takes on an assignment to ghost write the memoirs of a past British Prime Minister but gets himself into way more than the paycheck is worth when the PM (Pierce Brosnan) finds himself at the center of an international war crimes scandal at the same time.  THE GHOST WRITER is a functional piece of film but ironically, it feels as though someone other than Polanski actually called the shots.  (E1 Entertainment)

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Like many other people, I did not catch this film upon its initial 1996 release.  It was Henry Selick's follow-up to one of my all time favorite films, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, but yet it could not grab my attention.  I've grown now, as has my palette and I think it is time to take a great big bite of this big old peach.  JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH tells the story of young orphan James trying to find his way in the world.  It features voice work by  David Thewlis and Susan Sarandon and is based on a Raold Dahl book (FANTASTIC MR. FOX) so all the elements are in place for it to be real juicy.    Perhaps it was just ahead of its time or perhaps we were all just behind on our own time. (Walt Disney) 

BLOOD SIMPLE

I'm very excited about this title.  BLOOD SIMPLE is the debut feature from Joel and Ethan Coen.  You likely know them better as the Coen Brothers and they began their tradition of complication and quirk long before they made contemporary classics like FARGO and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.  This one is about a guy who hires another guy to kill his cheating wife and her boyfriend; only the guy he hires to kill them has got some plans of his own.  I am thrilled to have this title on Blu-ray as I have not seen the 1985 film in quite some time. (I only first saw it about ten years ago; I won't pretend to have been on the Coen Bros. band wagon since the beginning.) I do remember though that you can see their genius being born and knowing where their careers go, it is a delight to see where they began. (MGM)

ALSO AVAILABLE NOW: As if there weren't enough titles already listed, right?  I reviewed the brilliant Franch film, A PROPHET (click the link for review) last week and you can buy it now. Uh, and you should ... buy it now.  I personally found ROAD TO PERDITION and NATURAL BORN KILLERS to be lackluster films from reputed directors but their loyal followings will be happy to get their newly remastered incarnations, I'm sure.  And nearly 30 years after its initial release, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, starring a young, strapping Kurt Russell - or at least, an eye-patch wearing Kurt Russell anyway - gets its day on blu-ray.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

There aren't a lot of high profile releases today but what is coming out makes me very excited so we will get to them after a quick run down of this week's newly announced Blu-ray releases.  Two Humphrey Bogart classics come from Warner Bros. on October 5 - THE MALTESE FALCON and THE TREASURE OF SIERRE MADRE.  A couple more classics - Jean-Pierre Jeunet's DELICATESSEN and Carol Reed's 1949 thriller, THE THIRD MAN -  find homes on September 14.  And this last one is just a rumour right now but it would appear a complete GRINDHOUSE release is finally coming - including both Quentin Tarantino's DEATH PROOF, Robert Rodriguez's PLANET TERROR and all the trailers from the original theatrical presentation.

As for this week ...

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

If you haven't jumped on the Stieg Larsson book series yet, there is no better time to pick up this fantastic film.  The second in the series, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, comes out in theatres this weekend and you don't want to be left behind.  (The Black Sheep review is coming this weekend too.)  I will warn you though; this is not an easy film to watch.  I'm slightly unclear really on how easily the book series is being devoured by so many people considering how graphic and dark the subject matter is.  That said, if you can stomach some intense violence against women, the insight you will take with you is well worth it.  Aside from being a great study in character and relationships, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (click to read full review) is an intriguing mystery that will grip you just as much as it will repulse you.  A challenge but well worth it!

A SINGLE MAN

 

This Tom Ford debut feature was sorely underrated last year during awards season.  Colin Firth was universally recognized  for his portrayal of George - a British, homosexual man dealing with the loss of his longtime lover in 1950's Los Angeles.  He earned his first Oscar nomination, took home the BAFTA and floored me for the first time in his career but there is also so much more to devour in A SINGLE MAN (click to read full review).  Julianne Moore's overlooked supporting role as a single woman is delicious.  And I have yet to tire of Abel Korzeniowski's moving and unforgettable score.  To say nothing of Dan Bishop's brilliant production design.  Ford has turned Christopher Isherwood's brilliant exploration of what it would be like to lose a lover instead of being left by one into an incredibly compelling argument for gay marriage rights without being the least bit preachy.  And in doing so in such a sensitive manner, he has crafted a  contemporary gay classic , worthy of being held up alongside Gus Van Sant's MILK and Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.  

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK: One could spend some time with BROOKLYN'S FINEST, starring Don Cheadle, but I have not heard anything fine about it.  If you're a Buster Keaton fan though, and I am, the charming and amusing, STEAMBOAT BILL JR. get the BD treatment.

Source: blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

For the last I don't know how long, I have been bored out of my mind with very little to do.  Today, when all I thought I had to do was write this little piece has gotten way busier than expected.  It has gotten so busy in fact that I must rush through this because I have to be somewhere in about an hour and have yet to prepare dinner, let alone eat it.  Shall we ...

FAMILY GUY VOLUME 8

The eighth volume of this long running Fox comedy series is surprisingly sharp.  I say surprisingly because I found that Seth MacFarlane and friends have been relying too much on tested jokes and formula in more recent years, that they were getting somewhat lazy.  This latest volume though, which spans the later part of the season before last and a good chunk of the most recent season, steps it up though with episodes like "420", in which Brian and Stewie put on the most darling little number about how everything is better with a bag of weed.  And of course, how can you miss the reveal of the evil monkey?!  The DVD comes with commentary, deleted scenes and Family Guy karaoke!  Freakin' sweet.

THE WHITE RIBBON

On a completely different note, I cannot recommend this 2-hour plus, black and white, incredibly  bleak German film any more.  I know; it doesn't sound like anything you would ever want to do but Michael Haneke's THE WHITE RIBBON is practically a masterpiece.  Nominated for the Best Foreign Language and Best Cinematography Oscars this past year (both of which it lost), this film explores the bizarre happenings in a small  Northern German town just before World War I and the uprise of the growing social change.  It is a fascinating exploration of humanity as well and I assure you, when it is this beautifully executed, you won't notice the time at 20all.  You may even wish it keeps going.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE

This spring comedy failed to connect in theatres but will hopefully find new life on home video.  Three middle-aged men (John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson) head back to the ski resort they frequented in college in an attempt to distract Corddry's character from his suidical depression.  Through some random chain of events, they end up traveling back in time while getting wasted in a hot tub and have a second chance on life.  The laughs are plenty if you can forego the ridiculous premise and validation of materialism as happiness.  Get a few buddies together, get some beer and enjoy the trip!

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

I apologize in advance if I come across as some what scattered today.  There is a lot to get to and, to my detriment, I can't seem to find my focus.  I can however find my enthusiasm for the now tentative September release of Sam Mendes's 1999 Best Picture winner, AMERICAN BEAUTY, on Blu-ray.  This is one of my all-time favorite films and I cannot wait to see it restored to its original magnificence.  With it's 10-year anniversary behind us, I thought I was going to have to wait until 2014 for a 15-year release.  Other Blu-ray announcements this past week include the movie that kept me up for two nights straight when I saw it ... in college!  THE EXORCIST spiderwalks on to Blu-ray on October 5.  And another huge release for me - the movie that got me initially interested in the French Nouvelle Vague, BREATHLESS (AU BOUT DE SOUFFLE) has been restored and is being released by Criterion on September 14.  And for all you geeks out there, the BACK TO THE FUTURE series is circling on October 27 release.

There are also a lot of releases this week and I will start by warning you ...

GREEN ZONE

Matt Damon and director, Paul Greengrass, worked so well together on the latter two Bourne movies, Damon has said that he won't return to the series without Greengrass.  After watching their latest collaboration, GREEN ZONE, I wish he would seriously reconsider this statement.  Ordinarily, my esteem for these two individuals is pretty high but this project is a disaster.  Greengrass's now trademark hand held camera is pushed to to the point where the action is practically impossible to follow.  When you can follow, you realize that you're watching a bunch of soldiers rebel against the controlling American government to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq when there aren't any to be found.  GREEN ZONE takes itself so seriously but doesn't realize how ridiculous it comes across.

A STAR IS BORN

I had never seen any of the three different incarnations this rags to riches tale has seen in its day.  This one dates back to 1954 and since that time, some of the footage has gone missing or been destroyed.  This restored version dates back to 1983 when film historian, Ronald Haver, reconstructed the film to its original length.  The Blu-ray quality is sometimes unbelievable, which makes it all the more jarring when the picture drops out and still images sub for the missing footage.  The soundtrack is entirely intact, which is great as it allows us to devour Judy Garland's impeccable vocals.  When she sings "The Man that Got Away" in the first act, I marveled at both how powerful and frail she comes across on screen.  This Gershwin musical is perfect for a rainy afternoon like the one I'm having now.

THE LAST STATION

This last 2009 entry garnered two Academy Award nominations by sneaking in with a limited two-week qualifying run on a couple of screens in December.  It was then pulled from theatres and rereleased in January to capitalize on what it hoped would be the two nominations it actually received.  Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren both earned nods for their work as Russian author, Leo Tolstoy and his high strung wife, Sofya.  The film itself did not receive any other recognition, primarily because it plays out exactly as you would expect it to and there are very little surprises.  Still, the lead performances are so strong and their story itself so moving that it makes for a light but yes still effective experience.  Plus, I will pretty much watch anything to get the chance to stare into James McAvoy's beautiful, blue eyes.

ALSO AVAILABLE: Music fans rejoice as both U2 and Bruce Springsteen release their latest concerts for all those who could not afford their hefty ticket prices and for everyone else who actually wants to lay down a little more to relive the experience.  Minor spring titles, REMEMBER ME (with the pasty Robert Pattinson) and SHE'S OUTTA MY LEAGUE (with the plucky Jay Baruchel) look for more forgiving home audiences.  And Criterion releases Michelangelo Antonioni's 1965 film, RED DESERT.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

There are plenty of new and upcoming home video releases to get to but first, I want to briefly follow up on CADDYSHACK from last week.  Man, humour has changed a lot in 30 years.  Inspired performances from Bill Murray and Chevy Chase elevate this Harold Ramis comedy higher than it could have ever aspired to reach but the laughs are pretty minimal.  I'm not sure if it is the pacing or the style but it just doesn't work comedically in today's context.

There are a bunch of Blu-ray announcements to get excited about this week.  For me, the most intriguing is the October 12 release of the David O. Russell 1999 film, THREE KINGS, starring George Clooney.  I look forward to seeing this beautifully shot and insightful commentary piece again as I have not seen it in ages.  Another classic, one I haven't seen at all, is coming August 30 - Peter Weir's PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK.  The surprise Academy Award nominee for Animated Feature, THE SECRET OF KELLS, will be available October 5.  And contemporary films, Roman Polanski's GHOST WRITER and Disney Nature's OCEANS, make their debuts on August 3 and October 19, respectively.

And now, what can you get your hands on right now?!

YOUTH IN REVOLT

Michael Cera has a hard time proving that he can be anything other than the endearing, awkward teenager we've all come to love and appreciate.  Even though we sit around enjoying his shtick, we also sit around and complain that he's only got the one note.  Cera tries very hard to kill that persona in YOUTH IN REVOLT, from indie director, Miguel Arteta (THE GOOD GIRL, CHUCK & BUCK).  Theoretically, it should work perfectly.  Cera plays a geeky teenager who falls for a girl but must fracture into a split personality in order to maintain her interests.  His alter ego is bad-ass in preppy clothing but he isn't any less delicate than Cera's regular everyday persona.  Still, if you're a Cera fan, YOUTH IN REVOLT is a good time.  I found it to be funny and enjoyable - perfect for a little leisurely rental time. It is a bit of a disappointment for Arteta but the indie spin gives this Hollywood tale some some reasonably sharp edge.  If you want real edge though ...

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - SEASON 7

No Blu-ray release here but the good people at Warner Brothers sent me this seventh season of Larry David's infuriating HBO comedy, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, and I could not have enjoyed it more.  I had only seen one season prior to this and let me assure you, you do not need to know the history to get David's current situation.  I love to hate this guy.  He is the worst human being on the planet but he means well.  The first episode finds him rushing to break up with his girlfriend before she gets the results of her biopsy.  You certainly can't break up with someone after they've found out they have cancer but apparently the hours leading up to that are fair game.  The 10-episode season continues with a genius build to a "Seinfeld" reunion show, with all the major cast and some of the minor characters returning for hilarious turns as themselves.  Any "Seinfeld" fan will appreciate the subtleties of this season.  

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK: Other releases this week include Denzel Washington's failed work with the Hughes Brothers, THE BOOK OF ELI.  Underground animated cult fave, MARY & MAX is a tale of two oddly matched pen pals.  That chick from FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL has some issue with coins in a fountain and men following her around afterward in WHEN IN ROME.  And is you want a good drunken night in with the girls, check out the 15th anniversary edition of SHOWGIRLS!

Source: blu.ray-com

 
  

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

Last week, I pushed the BBC Earth series, LIFE, on you without having seen a single sumptuous shot.  My copy came in the mail shortly after I posted and I've been taking in as much LIFE as possible since then.  While I am not as blown away as I was when I first saw "Planet Earth", I have been thoroughly enjoying LIFE.  Rather than focusing more on the planet itself, this series, narrated by Oprah Winfrey in the North American version available in stores, focuses more on the planet's inhabitants and the crazy ways in which they have had to adapt and comport themselves in order to survive.  Flying fish defy all rules of nature; birds of paradise are also interior decorators; and who knew that reptiles were so damn fascinating ... and disgusting.  If you haven't been able to catch LIFE on the Discovery channel, be sure to rent or buy it.  It's like they say ... LIFE is beautiful.

In other Blu-ray news, here are the highlights of today's releases:

SHUTTER ISLAND

I will not mince words here.  The movies of 2010 have sucked hard so far.  Martin Scorcese's SHUTTER ISLAND is certainly no masterpiece but it is by far the most engaging and exciting film that Hollywood has released all year.  Watching it both requires and demands your full attention.  Not only is it a visual trip but the master mind melt is what will stay with you long after you're finished.  Scorcese's directorial decisions are deliberate and, while you can sometimes feel his hand shaking while trying to hold all the plot intricacies together, I always felt happy to feel his presence.  When I saw it in theatres, I knew further viewings would reveal more and more depth to the twisted story.  Now that I can watch it over and over again in my living room, I intend to find out just how far that depth will go.

CADDYSHACK

I don't have the greatest memory and I don't quite recall if I have in fact seen the supposed classic 1980's comedy, CADDYSHACK.  I'm sure I've seen at least parts of it but, other than the fact that it involves golf and a gopher, I couldn't even piece together a plot for you without reading the back of the box.  Warner Home Video is sending me a copy for review but I have yet to receive it.  My brother insists that I will not enjoy myself but I figure it deserves its day.  After all, it has been 30 years since the film was released and that gopher actually still looks pretty legit considering.  Not to mention, it will be good to see Chevy Chase and Bill Murray 30 years younger than they are today.  I'm not so sure how great it will be to see Rodney Dangerfield.  I can barely stand his face on the film sleeve.

HAPPY TOGETHER

Wong Kar-Wai's HAPPY TOGETHER is a bewildering film experience that leaves your breath taken.  Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung play lovers who have left their native Hong Kong for adventure in Argentina.  Instead of adventure though, they find themselves facing the demise of their tumultuous relationship.  As shot through the dazzling eyes of master cinematographer and regular Wong collaborator, Christopher Doyle, HAPPY TOGETHER is a visual feast that is matched in intensity only by the explosive tension between the two leads.  There are no new special features on the Blu-ray release but the film promises to be incredibly gorgeous in 1080P and should be seen by any fan of international or gay cinema.  This is one of my all-time favorite films, hands down.

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK: The director of TAKEN, Pierre Morel, follows up with the disappointing, FROM PARIS WITH LOVE, starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.  And, as it is a pretty slow week it would appear, the only other major release is the Edward Norton starring, THE ILLUSIONIST.

Source: Blu-ray.com

Black Sheep's Blu-Tuesday

We're going to try something new this week.  As I cannot always find figures on last week's sales on time to post this column, I will also begin each week with the most exciting Blu-Ray release announcements from the last week.  I assume you don't check these sorts of things every day like I do so I figure summing it up once weekly will work for you.  The title that gets all my attention this week is the Oscar-nominated, A PROPHET.  I caught this one just before the telecast, where it lost to the inferior THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, and I was floored.  It will be released on August 3.  Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning are more likely to find a larger audience with the home release of THE RUNAWAYS, July 20.  And looking even further ahead for all you collectors out there, the original 1933 version of KING KONG will make its way to Blu-Ray on September 28.

As for this week's releases ...

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

The first time I saw Tim Burton's wildly successful version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND, my ex had told me that morning that he was already seeing someone else just a short while after we split.  Needless to say, I did not have an easy time focusing on the explosion of matted colour on the screen.  The second time I saw it was the following weekend and, not to be outdone, I was on a date of my own.  I was able to see the film a lot clearer but I can't say I enjoyed it anymore the second time around.  Burton's vivid imagination is something of a cliche now that it is just being used by Hollywood to put a supposedly fresh spin on classic tales.  That hardly matters though when ALICE IN WONDERLAND is the biggest film of Burton's career and only the sixth film in history to cross $1 billion in international ticket sales.

LIFE

Unfortunately, I was stuck in traffic somewhere on the 401 yesterday when the good people at Warner Bros. tried to deliver this brand new BBC Earth series, LIFE.  Subsequently, I have not yet had the chance to watch any of it but I do know what I'm doing as soon as I post this.  The people who brought you the breathtaking series, "Planet Earth", are doing it again, but this time, they're going to focus more on the inhabitants of the planet instead of the planet itself.  The original series was narrated by Richard Attenborough, just like "Planet Earth", but most North American retailers will be carrying the version that played on the Discovery Chanel, narrated by Oprah Winfrey.  I'm somewhat skeptical of this but also certain that whatever imagery will be on my screen will quickly allow me to drown out any voice around.

THE WOLFMAN

I can't say I remember disliking this film as much as most of my colleagues did when the film played in theatres.  I gave the film two stars and a lot of people said I was still being pretty generous.  The truth of it is, THE WOLFMAN has very little to sink your ravenous, razor-sharp teeth into.  It is all show with very little substance and honestly, the show is only passable really.  You spend most of the movie in the dark, literally as the action has to take place at night for the most part, as to why you're even there to begin with.  This is because Joe Johnston infuses the classic horror tale with modern ideas like daddy issues and girl trouble and does a bad job selling that too.  Even more mind boggling is how such a great cast got roped into this mess.  The wolf himself, Benicio del Toro, even served as a producer on this.  I don't get it.

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY:

Tom Cruise teams up with Steven Spielberg for the surprisingly enjoyable and suspenseful, WAR OF THE WORLDS.  Will Smith and Martin Lawrence do wonders for their careers with BAD BOYS.  And a bunch of Clint Eastwood classics, from SPACE COWBOYS to THE ROOKIE with Charlie Sheen, make their way to Blu-Ray, either individually or as part of the new CLINT EASTWOOD COLLECTION.  And yes, I was being sarcastic when I said, "classics".

Source: Blu-ray.com