New to Streaming:
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon and Steve! (*** ½ both) are two new career retrospectives that give a complete and unflinching look at their subjects (Paul Simon and Steve Martin) that proves to be refreshingly candid while simultaneously remaining informative. Both films offer a similar structure by dividing the story being told into two halves that focus on the early stuff in one and giving us a current portrait in the other half. It’s a structure that works well for both films and allows the filmmakers to paint a well rounded portrait of two giants in the world of entertainment from the last sixty years. (MGM+ and Apple +)
Remembering Gene Wilder (***) is another documentary portrait of a beloved figure in popular American culture that, while not as encompassing as the previous two films reviewed, is certainly a welcome addition to the ever growing list of celebrity documentaries. Audio clips from Wilder’s autobiography and testimonies from his collaborators add to the film’s charms. (Available for purchase on all major platforms.)
New to Disc:
Paramount:
Major League (1989) David S. Ward’s comedy, concerning a baseball team owner’s decision to fill her new roster with a bunch of screwballs, comes to 4K in a new UHD upgrade in both standard edition and a limited edition steelbook that also includes collectable magnets.
Lionsgate:
Cutthroat Island (1995) The nearly $100 million pirate movie directed by Renny Harlin, whose failure spelled the end for Carolco studios, comes to 4K UHD for those who appreciate its charms. Previous bonus material has been retained.
Criterion:
La Haine (1995) is the acclaimed socio-political thriller focusing on one day in the life of a group of friends from a working-class French neighborhood and now getting a high definition upgrade. Extras include stills gallery, trailer and deleted/extended scenes.
MPI:
Stigmata (1999) The horror film about a demon possessed hairdresser and directed by Rupert Wainwright comes to Blu Ray in a new edition with a few new extras.
Freestyle Media:
What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears (2023) is a very intriguing documentary from director John Scheinfeld. It details the story of the popular band’s fall from the limelight after an ill-fated foreign tour, said tour being backed by the US government at the height of the Vietnam war. The film plays out like a good political thriller which will surprise many who don’t know the story being told.
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