Warner has given Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” a fantastic 4K UHD release which features the original Dolby Atmos track missing on the Blu-ray. The film is one of the best dramas of this decade.
“The China Syndrome,” starring Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas, was one of the last paranoid social message thrillers of the Seventies. Sony has given the film a Blu-ray release.
The last Yakuza picture by the unrivaled master of the genre Kinji Fukasaku, “Hokuriku Proxy War” has been given a Blu-ray release by Radiance Films. The film is as cool as sake, suits, guns, and sunglasses.
MGM has given Martin Ritt’s 1961 film “Paris Blues” a Blu-ray release. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Sidney Poitier in Paris jazz clubs with a score by Duke Ellington make this one hard to resist.
Sony Pictures Classics has given Arkansas native filmmaker Jeff Nichols’ debut film “Shotgun Stories” a Blu-ray release. The debut shows a lot of the promise that Nichols delivered on in later pictures.
Legends of the Fall was too heartfelt and emotional for the critics of its time, but audiences responded to the film then and now. Based on the novella by acclaimed author Jim Harrison, Edward Zwick’s film realizes the full potential of the text. Sony’s UHD is gorgeous.
In a world of remakes and sequels, Aguirre, the Wrath of God remains a singular achievement from one of the great maverick filmmakers, Werner Herzog. The film is beautifully made and a testament to maniacally pursued dreams. Shout! Factory’s 4K edition is remarkable.