NOW IN THEATERS:
Blue Moon (**) Director and star Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke team up once again for a night-in-the-life snapshot of songwriter, Lorenz Hart. Hawke is fine as the alcohol imbibing songwriter lamenting his estrangement from creative partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). Unfortunately, the affair is basically a filmed stage play with little to no action of any discernible kind and with the old screenwriting axiom of ‘show don’t tell’ being thrown out the window. It grows wearisome after about 20 minutes and is excruciating by the film’s end after listening to Hart rant for about 100 minutes. If stage bound film endeavors are your bag, then this might be catnip. Otherwise, the lead performance is the only thing to recommend it.
Photo: Margaret Qualley and Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon
NEW TO STREAMING:
Television Event (*** ½) Documentarian Jeff Daniels directs this look at the production of the landmark TV film, The Day After, and its cultural impact both then and now. Terrific archival footage coupled with more recent interviews are incorporated to great effect in this most excellent film that deserves to be seen (streaming on Apple TV).
NEW TO DISC:
Scream/Shout Factory:
The Oliver Stone action thriller, Savages (2012), makes the 4K leap this week in a new edition with some new bonus materials. Other noteworthy titles from the label making their 4K debut are the action-suspense film, The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and Werner Herzog’s take on the classic vampire tale, Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979).
Kino:
William Friedkin’s tale of a demented killer and the efforts to put him behind bars, Rampage (1987/1992), makes its 4K debut in a new set that includes the original cut of the film and its later revision at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. A new commentary is included.
The George Lucas produced comedy-mystery, Radioland Murders (1994), receives a Blu-Ray reissue with a new commentary. Also getting a Blu-Ray release from the label this week are the recent documentary portrait, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025), the Mark L. Lester directed thriller, The Ex (1996) and the war drama, King and Country (1964). New commentaries are included.
Criterion:
David Cronenberg’s adaptation of the DC graphic novel, A History of Violence (2005) makes its 4K disc debut this week. Bonus materials included are a commentary, interview and documentary.
Ken Russell’s groundbreaking tale of a scientist’s (William Hurt) obsession with sensory deprivation, Altered States (1980), also gets its long overdue 4K release with such bonus materials as new and archival interviews and a commentary.
A24:
Ari Aster’s compelling take on the events transpiring during the COVID pandemic, played out against the drama in a small New Mexico town, Eddington (2025), makes its 4K and Blu-Ray disc release this week with a few new extras.
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