From the Big Screen:
“Interstellar,” “The Imitation Game” and “Wild.” For more information on these and other releases this week, see the Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases.
This Week’s Highlights:
“Cries and Whispers” (1972), the existential wail of a drama from Ingmar Bergman, concerns two sisters, Karin (Ingrid Thulin) and Maria (Liv Ullmann), keeping vigil for a third, Agnes (Harriet Andersson), who is dying of cancer and can find solace only in the arms of a beatific nurse (Kari Sylwan). An intensely felt film that may be Bergman’s most striking formal experiment, “Cries and Whispers” (which won an Oscar for the extraordinary color photography of Sven Nykvist) is a powerful depiction of human behavior in the face of death, positioned on the borders between reality and nightmare, tranquillity and terror. In a new 2K digital restoration on Blu-ray and DVD, with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras include an introduction by Bergman from 2001; a new interview with actor Harriet Andersson, conducted by film scholar Peter Cowie; behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Cowie; “Ingmar Bergman: Reflections on Life, Death, and Love With Erland Josephson” (2000), a 52-minute interview with Bergman and his longtime collaborator. From The Criterion Collection …
From TV to DVD:
In “Case Histories Complete Collection” (2011, 2013) , based on the bestselling novels by Kate Atkinson, Jason Isaacs stars as Jackson Brodie, a former Edinburgh cop turned private detective. Tough but good-hearted, Brodie can’t turn a blind eye to injustice and people in need. Although it does little to line his pockets, he finds himself investigating everything from lost cats to missing children and killers on the run. Four-disc set with nine episodes, $59.99 from Acorn Media … In “Lovejoy, Series 5” (1993), based on the novels by Jonathan Gash, Ian McShane stars as Lovejoy, a rascal of an antiques dealer with a heart of gold, who gets involved in all sorts of mysteries and scandals. Four-disc set with 14 episodes, $49.99 from Acorn Media …
“VEEP: The Complete Third Season” (2014) is a two-disc set with 10 episodes. Following the whirlwind day-to-day existence of Vice President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her Emmy-winning role), “VEEP” skewers everyday office politics against the backdrop of the second highest office in the land. After the revelation at the end of Season 2 that the president will not run for reelection, Season 3 begins with Selina, eying a promotion, courting Iowa caucus voters at a signing for her new book, “Some New Beginnings.” Soon, Selina and her staff, back in D.C. for a wedding, learn that Secretary of Defense Maddox is resigning — setting Selina up for a possible run in the presidential primaries against Maddox and her nemesis, war-vet Danny Chung. Over the course of the season’s 10 episodes, Selina and her staff will set up an exploratory campaign office in D.C. and travel to Silicon Valley (to raise money) and London (to meet with heads of state), while Amy (Anna Chlumsky) and Dan (Reid Scott) vie to be Selina’s campaign manager. As always, “VEEP” will continue to show that in Washington, even the most banal decisions can have ripple effects, with unexpected and far-reaching consequences.On DVD, Blu-ray Disc from HBO.
Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:
In “Wild Card” (2014), starring Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Milo Ventimiglia, Dominik García-Lorido, Anne Heche, Sofia Vergara, Max Casella, Jason Alexander, Hope Davis and Stanley Tucci, Nick Wild (Statham) is a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal professional skills and a personal gambling problem. When a sadistic thug beats his friend, Nick strikes back, only to find out the thug is the son of a powerful mob boss. Suddenly Nick is plunged into the criminal
On the Indie Front:
“The Circle” (2014 — Switzerland) is a dramatization of gay lovers Ernst and Robi from meeting in Zurich in 1958 against the backdrop of “The Circle” (the pioneering gay organization and internationally renowned underground club) to 2003 when they became the first same-sex couple to enjoy legal recognition in Switzerland. The award-winning drama showcases their true story, featuring interviews with the men (now in their 80s) along with stunning archival images and fascinating research into this incredible era in gay history. Matthias Hungerbuhler and Sven Schelker star as Ernst and Robi. Switzerland’s official entry for Foreign-language Oscar. From Wolfe Video.
For the Family:
In the latest collection of six Chuggington adventures, “Chuggington: Fire Patrol Rescue” (2015), Wilson sets out on fire patrol duty with his new friend Asher and learns to use a fire hose in a rescue. Also, there’s a friendly contest of Chug Patrol versus Speed Fleet; Hodge find himself in a high-rise jam; and all the Chuggers practice emergency drills at the roundhouse. From Anchor Bay.