In 2018, Twilight Time released the excellent thriller “The Incident” on Blu-ray. The film shows off a wonderful debut performance by Martin Sheen alongside Tony Musante.
MVD Rewind has given Michael Cimino’s film “Desperate Hours” a Blu-ray release. Edited against Cimino’s will, the film is an interesting misfire that has some redeeming elements.
“True Romance” is one of the best films of the Nineties. Watching Tony Scott interpret the words of Quentin Tarantino while maintaining his signature visual style is an absolute treat. The 4K UHD release by Arrow Video looks gorgeous and features the legacy content alongside a few new features.
“Compartment No. 6” won the prestigious Grand Prize at Cannes Film Festival in 2021. Sony Pictures Classics have given the film a release. While deliberately paced, the ride is worth taking.
“The Untouchables” benefits from great direction by Brian De Palma and a strong cast made up of Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, and Robert De Niro. The Paramount UHD release is a vast upgrade from the 2007 Blu-ray release.
“The Batman” is the best Batman film since “The Dark Knight.” Matt Reeves’s vision of Gotham is one of the most compelling yet. The Warner Bros. 4K UHD is one of the most impressive releases this year on the format.
The Lubitsch Touch is a wonderful thing to behold. “Heaven Can Wait” finds the director in excellent form with a great cast that includes Don Ameche and Gene Tierney. Criterion released the film in 2018.
Mill Creek’s release of “Metropolis”brought a rare Blu-ray back into print in a well designed steelbook packaging. The technical specs are good, but the film quality is excellent. Otomo and Rintaro created a visually stunning world.
“The Godfather: Part II” is a brilliant successor to the classic first film. It stands on its own as an artistic triumph which still resonates today. The 4K UHD is exceptional.
“Ordinary People” is an expertly crafted film about grief and family dysfunction. It is also a great coming-of-age story. Timothy Hutton deservedly won an Oscar for his role as Conrad. Paramount has given the film an excellent release.
Eric Karson hoped he had found another Jean-Claude Van Damme in Olivier Gruner. Their first film together “Angel Town” was a modest box office success, but it did not elevate Gruner to star status. That may be because Gruner could hardly speak English. MVD Rewind gave the film a great special edition release in 2018.