Happy Holidays from the crew at OnVideo 

From the Big Screen:

Tar

(2022) From writer-producer-director Todd Field comes “Tár”, starring Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, the groundbreaking conductor of a major German Orchestra. We meet Tár at the height of her career, as she’s preparing both a book launch and much-anticipated live performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Over the ensuing weeks her life begins to unravel in a singularly modern way. The result is a searing examination of power, and its impact and durability in today’s society. Vitals: Director: Todd Field. Stars: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Adam Gopnik, Mark Strong. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: R, 158 min., Drama, North American box office gross: $5.455 million, worldwide $5.455 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Copy, VOD, Digital.

Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:

In “Secret Headquarters” (2022), starring Owen Wilson, Michael Peña, Jesse Williams, David Lengel and Jessie Mueller, friendship and courage take center stage when Charlie and his friends stumble upon the headquarters of the Guard (Owen Wilson) and realize the world’s most powerful superhero is Charlie’s dad. When an evil businessman (Michael Peña) sends in a team to infiltrate the lair and retrieve the Guard’s energy source, the youngsters spring into action and turn the tables on the intruders. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Paramount … “The Loneliest Boy in the World” (2022), starring Max Harwood, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Susan Wokoma, Evan Ross, Tallulah Haddon, Ashley Benson and Ben Miller, is a modern fairytale — except with zombies. When the sheltered and unsocialized Oliver is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet. However, when he awakens the morning after his excavating escapades, he discovers that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight, launching them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbors, classmates and social workers alike. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Well Go USA. Read more here … John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Movie icons and “Pulp Fiction” co-stars Bruce Willis and John Travolta face off in the thriller “Paradise City” (2022). When bounty hunter Ian Swan (Willis) is shot and presumed dead after disappearing in Maui waters, Swan’s son, Ryan (Blake Jenner), his ex-partner (Stephen Dorff), and a local detective (Praya Lundberg) set out to find his killers. After being threatened by a ruthless power broker (Travolta), it appears Ryan and his team are out of options — until an excursion to the closely guarded island community of Paradise City unites them with an unforeseen ally. Co-stars Blake Jenner, Praya Lundberg, Stephen Dorff. On DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code, from Lionsgate. Read more here … From director-writer Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) comes a unique film starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (2022 — Ireland) follows lifelong friends Padraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Padraic, aided by his sister Siobhan (Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Keoghan), endeavors to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Padraic’s repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Disney.

Special Interest:

In the feature-length, personal essay documentary “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales” (2022), filmmaker and philanthropist Abigail E. Disney grapples with America’s profound inequality crisis. The story begins in 2018, after Abigail encounters workers at the company that bears her name struggling to put food on the table. Could she, a descendent, with no role in the multinational conglomerate, use her famous last name to help pressure Disney and other American corporations to treat low-wage workers more humanely? Believing her conservative grandfather, Roy Disney, (Walt’s brother and company co-founder) would never have tolerated employee hunger at “The Happiest Place On Earth,” Abigail reexamines the story of modern American capitalism from the middle of the last century, when wealth was shared more equitably, to today, when CEO’s earn upwards of 800 times more than their average employees. What happened? What Abigail learns — about racism, corporate power, and the American Dream, is eye-opening, unexpected, and inspiring in that it begins to imagine a path to a fairer future for everyone. From Fork Films. Read more here.

All DVDs and Blu-rays are screened on a reference system consisting of an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers, and Power 10 subwoofer.