Reviewing films slightly off the beaten path
Pump Up the Volume was a clarion call to Generation X advocating self expression and how voices can change society. The film feels somewhat dated viewed thirty years later, but the revolutionary ethos remains the same. Warner Archive have given the film a Blu-ray release.
Joe Versus the Volcano was a critically divisive film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Time has allowed the film to gain an audience. The Warner Archive Blu-ray looks and sounds fantastic.
Total Recall is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining science fiction films from the Nineties. Director Paul Verhoeven delivered one of his best films featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. There is a beautifully designed limited edition steelbook worth seeking out.
House on Haunted Hill is not so much a remake as a reimagining of the William Castle classic. if you can dissociate it from the original, it is an enjoyable popcorn movie. Shout! Factory have given the film a Collector’s Edition release.
The Player was the film that ushered Robert Altman back onto the center stage of American filmmaking in the Nineties. It’s an enduring satire. Criterion Collection gave it a great release in 2016.
The Comfort of Strangers is a perfectly realized adaptation of the unsettling Ian McEwan novel of the same name. Paul Schrader directs. Christopher Walken and Helen Mirren shine in the film. Criterion Collection has given the film a pristine Blu-ray release.
Reversal of Fortune is a well made film based on the true crime book by defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz. Jeremy Irons gives a strong performance alongside Ron Silver and Glenn Close. Warner Archive has given the film a fan pleasing Blu-ray presentation.
Deep Rising is an adventure film that blends elements from The Poseidon Adventure, Under Siege, Alien, and John Carpenter films into one crazy B-movie starring Treat Williams and Famke Janssen. Kino Lorber has given the film a Collector’s Edition full of extras.
Small Soldiers is a family friendly film from Joe Dante from 1998. Featuring some great comedic talents, the film is ripe for rediscovery.
The Second Civil War is a strong entry in Joe Dante’s filmography. Working with a dream cast, the film is an enjoyable satire.
