The 1992 adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel “Of Mice and Men” has been reprinted on Blu-ray by MGM Studios. It is one of the most faithful adaptations of a literary work we’ve seen.
Richard Pryor’s seminal stand-up special “Live on the Sunset Strip” has unexpectedly received a 4K release by Sony. The last twenty minutes feature the famous freebasing fire story.
“Black Mass” has been given a 4K UHD release by Warner Bros. The film has a good performance by Johnny Depp, but the script could have benefitted from more polished dialogue.
“Bringing Out the Dead” is a mesmerizing Martin Scorsese picture featuring great performances by Nicolas Cage, Ving Rhames, Tom Sizemore, and Patricia Arquette. The Paramount 4K is exceptional with a great transfer and Dolby Atmos audio alongside features by Reverend Entertainment.
MGM has given the final J.Lee Thompson/ Charles Bronson collaboration “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” a Blu-ray release. It’s a mess of a film that will mostly appeal to Bronson and Cannon Pictures completists.
“Bad Company” is another solid discovery by Fun City Editions – an acid Western starring Jeff Bridges and Barry Brown. The cinematography by Gordon Willis brings a lot to Robert Benton’s first film.
“Game Night” is one of the funniest comedies of the past decade. The ensemble cast features Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, and Jesse Plemons. Warner’s 4K UHD is an enjoyable if slight upgrade.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” earns our highest recommendation. George Miller has returned to the Australian Wastelands of the Mad Max universe to deliver a truly colossal revenge picture that is also a perfect prequel to “Fury Road.” Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth both excel in the film.
“Tchao Pantin” is another fantastic discovery by Radiance Films. This French neo-noir from 1983 features excellent performances, great direction by Claude Berri, and wonderful cinematography by Bruno Nuytten. Highly recommended!
“The Lady from Shanghai” is a deliriously strange film noir. Directed by Orson Welles, the film was recut by the studio, but still works. Rita Hayworth dazzles as a bombshell blonde. Sony has given the film a 4K UHD release.
Warner Archive has given Francis Ford Coppola’s 1969 film “The Rain People” a Blu-ray release. The transfer looks great, and the acting is above reproach, but the film’s meandering script fails to reach the levels of artistry it aspires towards.