Now in Theaters:
Oppenheimer (** ½) Christopher Nolan’s three-hour portrait of the man who birthed the atom bomb, Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), may be more noteworthy for what it doesn’t include as opposed to what it’s actually about. There’s no WWII battle footage or depictions of the device being dropped on Hiroshima on that fateful day in August 1945. What we do get instead is an overlong, albeit technically proficient and well-acted, look at three distinctive phases of Oppenheimer’s life. The creation and testing of the bomb, Oppenheimer’s eventual guilt over what he’d unleashed and, finally, the attempts to smear his name for political reasons. And not necessarily in that order.
Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer
Of course, this being a film from the director of such frustrating and emotionally uninvolving and overblown films as Dunkirk, Interstellar and Tenet, those story threads are tossed about in a nonlinear manner that leaves the uninformed viewer scratching their head for half of the film. It somewhat comes together in the middle section, partially rewarding viewers for their patience after having sat through the first ninety confusing minutes. That’s not taking into account the typical atonal musical score one finds in the director’s films that subsequently drowns out the film’s dialogue and much of its limited emotional impact and this one is no exception. It’s a mixed bag for sure and a prize needs to be offered to anyone who can figure out why a film that consists mostly of courtroom scenes would also be filmed in the highly touted IMAX format and promoted as such. The mind boggles.
New to Streaming:
Only in Theaters (2022) (*** ½) From actor turned filmmaker, Raphael Sbarge, comes this beautifully made documentary about the Laemmle chain of art house cinemas in LA and their struggle to survive during the pandemic of several years back. The film serves as both a history of the family’s theater chain and a look at where the art house business is in these current times. Highly recommended for film buffs and fans of great documentary films (Also on DVD from Kino)
New to Disc:
Criterion:
One False Move (1992) A trio of murderers make their way to rural middle America to hide after a murder and find themselves attempting to avoid capture in whatever way possible in Carl Franklin’s excellent thriller now getting a 4K upgrade. Bonus material includes new and archival extras.
Paramount:
The label has two new 4K upgrades this week. War of the Worlds (1951) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) are both making the UHD leap along with previously issued extras.
Giant Interactive:
Nuclear Now (2023) Oliver Stone’s latest documentary takes a look at the possibilities of limiting climate change by embracing nuclear energy.
Kino:
New releases from the label this week include the Sidney Lumet directed thriller, The Anderson Tapes (1971), the amazing multi disc collection of music videos from the 1940s, Soundies: The Ultimate Collection (Various Years of Release), the crime thriller, Dead Heat on a Merry Go Round (1966), the Stephen King adaptation, Needful Things (1993) and the British spy film, A Dandy in Aspic (1968). All of these contain new bonus material.
Cohen Media:
Douglas Fairbanks Double Feature (1922-26) Robin Hood and The Black Pirate are two silent films paired in this collection starring the silent film legend. Extras include a new commentary.
Scream/Shout Factory:
New releases this week from the label include a 4K upgrade of World War Z (2013), a Blu Ray release of Team America: World Police (2004), which features two cuts of the film, and Blu Ray releases of School Spirit (1985) and Lords of the Deep (1989). All of these come with new extras.
Warner Archive:
New releases from the label this week include The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954). Helen of Troy (1956), Cimarron (1931), The Broadway Melody (1929), The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) and Du Barry was a Lady (1943). Most of these contain bonus material and feature the wonderful transfers we have to come to expect from the label.
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