Reviewing films slightly off the beaten path
“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.
“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!
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.
“Strangers Kiss” is a romantic drama from 1983 that focuses on low budget filmmaking with Stanley Kubrick’s “Killer’s Kiss” as chief inspiration for the events in the film. Fun City Editions have gone above and beyond to give the film a solid release.
“Act of Violence” is a pretty good noir film that deals with some surprising post-war issues. Fred Zinnemann directs the great Robert Ryan, Van Heflin, Janet Leigh, and Mary Astor in the film which Warner Archive has given a Blu-ray release.
Starring Denzel Washington, “The Mighty Quinn” is a breezy entertainment that benefits from the Caribbean locations. MGM Studios has given the 1989 film a Blu-ray release.
“American Fiction” is a brilliantly funny exploration of race and family starring Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown. The debut film from Cord Jefferson, one of the best pictures of 2023, has been given a Blu-ray release by Warner Bros.
Sony Pictures has given the Chris Farley vehicle “Beverly Hills Ninja” a strong Blu-ray presentation that should please fans of what is arguably Farley’s weakest film.
“Thunderheart” is a great police procedural from the Nineties that takes place in the Badlands of South Dakota. Val Kilmer, Graham Greene, and the eternally cool Sam Shepard star in Michael Apted’s film. Sony has given it a great looking Blu-ray release.
