From the Big Screen:
“Split,” “Sleepless” and “The Founder.” For more information on other releases this week, see the Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases.
This Week’s Highlights:
Heading up this week’s highlights are three off-beat films, including a limited editin of “Donnie Darko” and the Blu-ray debuts of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Tales From the Hood.”
Fifteen years before “Stranger Things” combined science fiction, Spielberg-ian touches and 80s nostalgia to much acclaim, Richard Kelly set the template — and the high-water mark — with his debut feature, “Donnie Darko” (2011). Initially beset with distribution problems, it would slowly find its audience and emerge as arguably the first cult classic of the new millennium. Donnie is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days 06 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death in the form of a falling jet engine, follow Frank’s maladjusted instructions and try to maintain the space-time
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (1990), helmed by the great German director Volker Schlöndorff and starring Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall, Aidan Quinn and Elizabeth McGovern, is based on Margaret Atwood’s controversial and critically acclaimed best-selling novel. In the not-so-distant future, the strong-willed and beautiful Kate
The cult horror anthology“Tales From the Hood” (1995) from director Rusty Cundieff and executive producer Spike Lee was lauded for its take on complex social issues like police brutality and domestic abuse. Stack, Ball and Bulldog arrive at a local funeral parlor to retrieve a lost drug stash held by the mortician Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III). But Mr. Simms has plans for the boys. He leads them on a tour of his establishment, introducing them to his corpses. Even the dead have tales to tell and Mr. Simms is willing to tell them all. And you better listen — because when you’re in the ‘hood, even everyday life can lead to extraordinary terror. On Blu-ray Disc from the Scream Factory.
Rarely seen outside of Japan, “Ocean Waves” (1993) is a subtle, poignant and wonderfully detailed story of adolescence and teenage isolation. Taku and his best friend Yutaka are headed back to school for what looks like another uneventful year. But they soon find their friendship tested by the arrival of Rikako, a beautiful new transfer
And, last but not least, Sony has for us a Blu-ray versiob of “A League of Their Own 25th Anniversary Ediiton” (1992), directed by Penny Marshall and starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, Ann Cusack andAnne Ramsay. Extras include the new ““Bentonville, Baseball & The Enduring Legacy of A League of Their Own” featurette that includes a visit to the annual softball game at the Bentonville Film Festival, featuring all-new interviews with Geena Davis, and more; 15 deleted scenes; nine-part documentary featuring interviews with the cast and filmmakers; Madonna’s “This Used to Be My Playground” music video; filmmaker commentary; theatrical trailer.
From TV to DVD:
“Masterpiece: Home Fires: Season 2” (2016) is a two-disc set with six episodes of the BBC series that follows the story of a group of inspirational women in an English village during World War II. As the conflict takes hold and the separation from their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers becomes more painful, the women rely on one another and the friendships forged through village life. On DVD, Blu-ray Disc from PBS Distribution.
Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:
In “Bigger Fatter Liar” (2017), starring Ricky Garcia, Barry Bostwick and Jodelle Ferland, Kevin Shepherd (Garcia) has gotten away with lying his entire life, but when scheming producer Larry Wolf (Bostwick) steals Kevin’s idea for a hot new video game, the tables get turned, and Kevin must team with his best friend (Ferland) to plot a series of devious pranks to set the record straight. From Universal … “A Cowgirl’s Story” (2017), starring Bailee Madison, Chloe Lukasiak, Aidan Alexander, Froy Gutierrez and Pat Boone, follows the adventures of Dusty Rhodes (Madison), who goes to live with her grandfather (Boone) while her military parents are serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan. When she starts an equestrian club at her new school in an effort to support the troops, she unites the community like never before. From Samuel Goldwyn Films/Sony.
On the Indie Front:
What if all your life you were told that you were the son of the Francis Ford Coppola? Myth and real-life intertwine in “Apocalypse Child” (2015), a slice-of-life relationship drama from the Philippines. After Coppola shot Apocalypse Now on the sun-drenched Philippines beaches of Baler, his crew unintentionally transformed the small town into a future surfing destination after a surfboard from the movie set was left behind. Fast forward to today, where Ford (Sid Lucero), a surfing instructor, is content to while away the hours on the azure blue waves and in the arms of his pretty runaway girlfriend (Annicka Dolonius). But there is a restlessness about him that is about to unravel. From Candy Factory Films … When a divorced mom tries to start dating again, her kids and the family dog set out to sabotage the dates. They’re successful until her high school sweetheart shows up and he quickly catches on. Now the kids find themselves in a comedic battle of wits to sway their mom’s heart away from the new man in her life, and back to their father in “In the Doghouse” (2014), starring Kim Hamilton, Matt Masella and Alana Baer. From Breaking Glass Pictures.
For the Family:
“Teen Titans: The Judas Contract” (2017) is a new feature-length animated film inspired by the 1984 DC story arc from Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. Led by Starfire, the Teen Titans — Beast Boy, Raven, Blue Beetle, Robin and the just-returned Nightwing — have built a cohesive team in their never-ending battle against evil; but their newest teammate, the mysterious, and powerful Terra, may be altering that dynamic. Meanwhile, an ancient evil, Brother Blood, has awakened, and familiar foe Deathstroke is lurking in the shadows — both waiting to pounce. Ultimately, the Teen Titans will need to battle their enemies and their own doubts to unite and overcome the malicious forces around them, in this twisting tale of intrigue, adventure and deception. On DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo from Warner.
Special Interest:
“Disturbing the Peace” (2016) is a story of the human potential unleashed when we stop participating in a story that no longer serves us and, with the power of our convictions, take action to create new possibilities. The film follows former enemy combatants — Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters, many of whom served years in prison — who have joined together to challenge the status quo and say “enough.” The film reveals their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to nonviolent peace activists, leading to the creation of the group Combatants for Peace. From Virgil Films.