Warner Brothers:
Game Night (2018) (***) Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as a couple who find themselves getting into more than they bargained for when they attend the latest round of their regular game night of the film’s title. Extras include a featurette and gag reel.
12 Strong (2018) (**) The story of the first US Special Forces team sent to Afghanistan in the days immediately following 9/11 forms the basis of this routine outing, which stars Chris Hemsworth. Extras include two featurettes.
15:17 to Paris (2018) (**) is a flat-footed dramatization of the thwarted terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris in August 2015. One of director Clint Eastwood’s weakest efforts is further undone by the use of the real people involved in the drama. Extras include two featurettes.
Paramount:
Annihilation (2018) (** ½) Director Alex Garland’s followup to his much praised Ex Machina, is a routine sci-fi thriller that has a few interesting moments but ultimately proves to be a bit too derivative. Extras include multiple featurettes.
20th Century Fox:
Red Sparrow (2018) (**) Jennifer Lawrence is a former ballerina who becomes a recruit at a spy school that teaches the art of seduction. An overlong and ugly film that offers only a few moments worthy of note. Extras include deleted scenes, director commentary and deleted scenes.
Universal:
Fifty Shades Freed (2018) (**) is the third and final chapter in the Fifty Shades series. Fans will love it. Others beware! Extras include a deleted scene and two featurettes. Scream Factory:
It’s Alive Trilogy (1974-87) (** ½ average rating) features all three of filmmaker Larry Cohen’s mutant baby films in one nice box set with new transfers. Extras include featurettes, commentaries on all films, trailers, radio/tv spots and still galleries.
The House the Dripped Blood (1971) (***) The third of the Amicus horror anthology films is one of the better entries and features four terror tales penned by Robert Bloch. Extras include audio commentary, radio spots, still gallery and theatrical trailer.
Kaleidoscope (** ½) features Toby Jones in an arresting performance as a mentally disturbed man attempting to get his life on track after a prison stint only to have his domineering mother reenter his life. Extras include featurettes and the film’s trailer.
Of Unknown Origin (1983) (***) An oversized rat terrorizes Peter Weller in his NY Brownstone in this surprisingly effective film directed by George P. Cosmatos. Extras include new talent interviews, audio commentary, trailer and still gallery.
Warner Archive:
Gun Crazy (1949) (*** 1/2) Excellent film noir about a pair of gun crazed lovers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Peggy Cummins and John Dall star. Extras include commentary and a featurette.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) (***) The title says it all in director Stanley Donen’s classic musical which stars Jane Powell and Howard Keel. Extras include commentaries, trailer and the non Cinemascope version of the film on a second disc.
Olive Films:
Cold Turkey (1971) (*** ½) A hilarious satire about a town offered a large sum of money by a tobacco company if they can quit smoking. Sitcom king Norman Lear’s solo feature as director. No Extras.
Bucket of Blood (1959) (***) is a classic Roger Corman horror-comedy starring Dick Miller as a sculptor who uses murder victims as his subjects. No extras.
Twilight Time (limited to 3,000 units and available for order at www.screenarchives.com and www.twilighttimemovies.com)
Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) (***) is director/writer Paul Mazursky’s autobiographical look at his formative years and his attempts to extricate himself from his domineering mother. The film stars the late Lenny Baker (an early AIDS casualty), Christopher Walken and Shelley Winters, to name a few familiar faces. Extras include isolated score track, trailer and audio commentary.
Hilda Crane (1956) (** ½) Jean Simmons stars in this sudser as a twice-divorced twentysomething returning to her hometown and dealing with two men vying for her affections. Extras include a documentary on Simmons, the film’s trailer and isolated music track.
The Birth of a Nation (1915) (***) Film historian Kevin Brownlow’s recent restoration of director D.W. Griffith’s controversial classic arrives in a handsome two disc special edition. Extras include outtakes, civil war themed short films, still galleries, essays and more.
Geronimo; An American Legend (** ½) is director Walter Hill’s take on the life and times of the historical character of the film’s title. Ironically, Geronimo is more of a supporting character in the film, which makes the title a bit misleading. Extras include music track and trailer.
Criterion:
Au Hasard (1966) (***) From director Robert Bresson comes this touching tale of the relationship between a farm girl and the donkey she love and cherishes. Extras include a 1966 television program about the film.
Coming soon: The Martian Chronicles, The Death of Stalin, Bowling for Columbine, South Park Season 21 and the Jerry Lewis 10 film DVD collection.
Write Adam at [email protected].
Images: Christopher Walken in Next Stop Greenwich Village; Jane Powell & Howard Keel In ‘Seven Brides’
