Now in Theaters:
The Holdovers (*** 1/2) is the latest from the always dependable filmmaker, Alexander Payne, a terrific return to form after his flawed, but still interesting, 2017 experiment, Downsizing. Here he’s reunited with the star of his most excellent 2004 film, Sideways, Paul Giamatti. The latter turns in a stellar performance as Paul Hunham, a beaten down by life prep school teacher who’s forced to babysit some students who can’t get home during the holidays.
Eventually all of the students but one find a way home and he and the remaining student (newcomer Dominic Sessa who’s also excellent) tentatively let down their guard and bond through a series of incidents that are best experienced within the film. It doesn’t quite reach the levels of the duo’s previous collaboration but there are many terrific scenes and, like most of Payne’s work, continues to resonate long after the experience of seeing it has come and gone.
Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph & Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers
New to Disc:
Paramount:
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) The seventh installment in the MI franchise finds Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and crew attempting to retrieve a deadly weapon that has the power to wipe out mankind. Extras include a few featurettes and it’s available in standard and a collectable steelbook 4K edition.
Arrow:
Witness (1985) Harrison Ford is a detective protecting a twelve-year-old murder witness in Amish country and falling for the boy’s mother (Kelly McGillis), in this critical and commercial favorite now getting a first ever 4K upgrade. Extras include a collectable book, new video essays and interviews and archival making of doc.
Kino:
The Challenge (1982) Scott Glenn is an American boxer thrust into the quest for a valuable sword in Japan in this actioner from John Frankenheimer. Extras include a new commentary.
American Ninja (1985) Michael Dudikoff stars as a GI infiltrating an arms racket in the Philippines in this cult action entry getting the Blu-Ray special edition treatment. Extras include several commentaries and a making of featurette. The sequel, American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987) is also getting the special edition Blu-Ray treatment with a few commentaries and making of doc as well.
Enter the Ninja (1981) stars Franco Nero as a Ninjutso putting some evil land barons in their place. Extras include a new commentary.
Warner Archive:
Double Trouble (1967) Elvis Presley is (What else?) a rock star romancing a European heiress in this musical comedy now getting a Blu-Ray issue for the first time ever. Also being issued by the label is the Joan Crawford pre code drama, Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) and director Costa Gavras’ satire about corruption in the press, Mad City (1997). All of these releases contain various bonus materials.
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