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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
Abel's Field
(2012) Kevin Sorbo, Samuel Davis, Richard Dillard. Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle has been put under enormous pressure to support his little sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying of the football team. When he fights back, he's singled out for punishment and assigned to an after-school work detail under the supervision of a reserved groundskeeper, Abel. Much to his surprise, Seth discovers that Abel may be the only one who truly understands his struggles.
Formats: DVD. Extras: "From the Sidelines: The Making of Abel's Field." (Sony).
American Experience: The Abolitionists
(2013) Documentary on the abolitionists, who tore the nation apart in the 19th century in order to create a more perfect union. Men and women, black and white, Northerners and Southerners, poor and wealthy, these passionate anti-slavery activists fought body and soul in the most important civil rights crusade in American history. What began as a pacifist movement fueled by persuasion and prayer became a fiery and furious struggle that forever changed the nation. Brings to life the intertwined stories of Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Beauty Is Embarrassing
(2012) For more than 30 years, Wayne White has made an indelible mark on the creative world. As a designer, painter, puppeteer, sculptor and musician, White created images and ideas that are an integral -- yet sometimes subconscious -- part of the pop-culture lexicon. Part biography, part live performance, the documentary tells the irreverent and inspiring story of this one-of-a-kind visual artist and raconteur. The film traces White's career from his stint as an underground cartoonist in New York's East Village to his big break as a designer, puppeteer and voice-over actor on "Pee-wee's Playhouse" (for which he won three Emmys), as well as his work animating music videos for The Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Gabriel.
Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Slide show featuring original Wayne White art; White's complete one-man show; White performing "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues"; deleted scenes. (Docurama).
Birders: The Central Park Effect
(2012) A diverse group of full-of-attitude New Yorkers reveals how a hidden world of beautiful wild birds in the middle of Manhattan has upended and magically transformed their lives. The film reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds -- more than 200 avian species, from hummingbirds and herons to owls and hawks -- that make regular layovers in Manhattan's grandest park and the equally colorful New Yorkers -- among them best-selling author Jonathan Franzen -- who schedule their lives around the rhythms of the birds' migration patterns. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Birdwatching field guide booklet, extended interview with Jonathan Franzen, "The Birds of Central park" video guide, additional interviews. (Music Box Films).
Dead Sushi
(2012 -- Japan) Rina Takeda, Shigeru Matsuzaki, Takamasa Suga. The daughter of a legendary sushi chef finds work at a rural hot springs inn, where a pharmaceutical firm is holding a work retreat. When a disgruntled former researcher uses a serum to awaken the murderous instincts of ordinary sushi, turning them into bloodthirsty monsters, Keiko must use both her sushi training and her martial arts skills to save the others and defeat the flying killers.
Formats: DVD. Blu-ray available exclusively at Best Buy only until March 26. (Millennium Entertainment/Action Slate).
Deadly Blessing Collector's Edition
(1981) Dir.: Wes Craven; Maren Jensen, Susan Buckner, Sharon Stone, Jeff East, Lisa Hartman, Lois Nettleton, Ernest Borgnine. When a former member of a religious cult dies in a mysterious accident in Amish Country, his wife begins to fear for her life and the lives of her friends at the hands of the evil cult and its fanatical leader. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New commentary with Wes Craven, cast interviews, "So It Was Written" screenplay featurette, original trailer and TV spots. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
Death Race 3: Inferno
(2013) Luke Goss, Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Tanit Phoenix, Fred Koehler, Robin Shou. The legendary Frankenstein partakes in an unimaginably vicious new competition that pits teams of hardened convicts against each other in a blood-spattered, winner-take-all race through South Africa. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, deleted shots montage, "The Making of Death Race 3: Inferno," feature commentary with director Roel Reine. Blu-ray adds Alternate opening, "Racing for Death" look under the hood and behind the wheel of the mechanical stars, "Art Imitating Life: Goldberg." (Universal).
Dirty Energy: The Deepwater Horizon Diaster
(2013) Award-winning documentary shares first hand stories from the fishermen, local environmentalists, scientists and members of the cleanup crew who were hardest hit by the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon accident. On April 20th, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded off the Gulf of Mexico, taking the lives of 11 workers and pouring millions of barrels of oil into the ocean, creating one of the worst environmental disasters in history. The fate of the Gulf is still largely unknown. This documentary tells the personal story of those directly affected by the spill and are now struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the economic devastation and long-term health risks. Formats: DVD. (Cinema Libre Studio).
End of Watch
(2012) Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, Natalie Martinez, Frank Grillo. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Fate with a Badge," "In the Streets," "Women on Watch," "Watch Your Six," "Honors," deleted scenes, commentary with writer/director David Ayer. (Universal).
Fat Kid Rules the World
(2012) Dir.: Matthew Lillard; Billy Campbell, Matt O'Leary. A dropout comes to the aid of a chubby and suicidal high-school kid by recruiting him as the drummer for his upstart punk-rock band. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
For A Good Time, Call ...
(2012) Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Nia Vardalos, Seth Rogen, Justin Long, Mark Webber, Mimi Rogers, James Wolk. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Universal).
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
(2011 -- Japan) From visionary auteur Takashi Miike comes the story of a mysterious samurai who arrives at the doorstep of his feudal lord, requesting an honorable death by ritual suicide in his courtyard. The lord threatens him with the brutal tale of Motome, a desperate young ronin who made a similar request with ulterior motives, only to meet a grisly end. Undaunted, the samurai begins to tell a story of his own, with an ending no one could see coming. With stunning cinematography and gripping performances, "Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai" is a thrilling exploration of revenge, honor and individuality in the face of oppressive power. A remake of Masaki Kobayashi's 1962 classic samurai film, "Harakiri." Nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Tribeca Films).
Hard Romanticker
(2011 -- Japan) Based on director Gu Su-yeon's semi-autobiographical novel, "Hard Romanticker" is a violent gangster movie that delivers its story with equal amounts style and carnage. Dripping James Dean style cool, the bleach blond Gu (Shota Matsuda) is a young cocky-Korean Japanese hoodlum living in the seaside city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture. When someone accidently kills the grandmother of a ruthless rival thug, Gu soon finds himself on the receiving end as he becomes the target for bloody, even deadly revenge. And it doesn't help that the police are on his tail as well.Formats: DVD. Extras: Twelve-page collectors booklet that includes an essay on "Hard Romanticker," a study of Toei Studios Yakuza films by Japanese cinema expert Patrick Macias, and a gallery of original Toei movie posters. (Artsploitation Films).
The Imposter
(2012) Adam O'Brian, Anna Ruben, Alan Teichman. Formats: DVD. (Indomina Releasing).
Iron Man: Armored Adventures Season 2, Volume 3
(2012) Six episodes of the animated series, $14.93. Formats: DVD. (Marvel Animation/Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Ivan's Childhood BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1962) The debut feature by the great Andrei Tarkovsky ("Andrei Rublev"), "Ivan's Childhood" is a poetic journey through the shards and shadows of one boy's war-ravaged youth. Moving back and forth between the traumatic realities of World War II and serene moments of family life before the conflict began, Tarkovsky's film remains one of the most jarring and unforgettable depictions of the impact of war on children. High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: Appreciation of filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky and "Ivan's Childhood" featuring Vida T. Johnson, co-author of "The Films of Andrei Tarkovsky: A Visual Fugue"; interviews with cinematographer Vadim Yusov and actor Nikolai Burlyaev; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Dina Iordanova; "Between Two Films," Tarkovsky's essay on "Ivan's Childhood," and "Ivan's Willow," a poem by the director's father, Arseny Tarkovsky. (The Criterion Collection).
Keep the Lights On
(2012) Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson, Souleymane Sy Savane, Miguel Del Toro, Justin Reinsilber. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Ira Sachs, "Making of Keep the Lights On," deleted scenes, teaser trailer, "In Search of Avery Willard," cast audition tapes. (Music Box Films).
The Men Who Built America
Three-disc set tells the story of the men who played a significant role in the shaping of this country. From Carnegie, Morgan, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and Ford, the miniseries looks at how these individuals took a nation decaying from the Civil War into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world has ever seen. Formats: DVD, $29.98; Blu-ray Disc, $39.99. Extras: "From Richer to Richer," "The American Dream," "Monopoly," "Competitive Nature," "The Every Man," "The Rise of Cornelius Vanderbilt," "Traits of a Titan" featurettes. (Lionsgate).
Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis
(2011) Encore channel documentary examines the career of one of the nuttiest and most innovative comedic minds of all time. From his early days on the road with vaudevillian parents, to his amazing rise to fame with partner Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis has lived an amazing life and has become one of the most influential people in the world of cinema and silliness. Formats: DVD, $19.98. (Anchor Bay).
Nature Calls
(2012) Patton Oswalt, Johnny Knoxville, Rob Riggle. Polar-opposite brothers Randy and Kirk never saw eye-to-eye, but their rivalry is taken to a new level when Randy hijacks Kirk's son's sleepover, taking the boys on a Scout Trip to remember. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary. AXS TV: A Look at "Nature Calls." (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Nobody Walks
(2012) John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Rosemarie DeWitt. A hip Silver Lake (Los Angeles) family's relaxed dynamic is tested after they take in a young artist so she can complete her art film. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Making of Nobody Walks," AXS TV: A Look at "Nobody Walks." (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Officer Down
(2012) Stephen Dorff, James Woods, Stephen Lang, Dominic Purcell, AnnaLynne McCord, Walton Goggins, David Boreanaz, Soulja Boy. A dirty cop, shot in a drug bust gone wrong and saved by a stranger, gets a second chance to clean up his life. When the stranger finally comes forward, seeking revenge against the men responsible for a string of assaults on young women at a local strip club, the cop must go rogue to find the attacker in an effort to hide how his own past played a part in these crimes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
The Paperboy
(2012) Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, John Cusack, Matthew McConaughey, Scott Glenn, Nikolette Noel, David Oyelowo, Ned Bellamy, Macy Gray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: Featurette, director interview, cast and crew interviews. (Millennium Films).
Pina
(2011 -- Germany) Documentary tribute to the late German choreographer Pina Bausch by celebrated German filmmaker Wim Wenders. High-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Wim Wenders, presented in two editions: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray combo, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack; and two-disc DVD. Extras: Commentary featuring Wenders; "The Making of Pina" (available in 3D); deleted scenes (available in 3D); behind-the-scenes footage; interview with Wenders; booklet featuring a piece by novelist and essayist Siri Hustvedt, reprinted pieces by Wenders and choreographer Pina Bausch, information on the dances featured in the film, and portraits of the dancers. (The Criterion Collection).
Scarecrow & Mrs. King: The Complete Fourth & Final Season
(1986-87) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Warner).
Searching for Sugar Man
(2012) Documentary on the greatest 70s rock icon who never was. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Malik Bendjelloul and Rodriguez, two featurettes: "An Evening With Malik Bendjelloul and Rodriguez," which features the director and Rodriguez participating in fan Q&A; and "Making Sugar Man," which provides a deeper into the filmmakers' process. (Sony).
Tai Chi Zero
(2012 -- China) Yuan Xiaochao, Angelababy, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Eddie Peng. The first chapter in a planned trilogy by director Stephen Fung ("House of Fury," "Jump") is a steampunk-infused martial arts epic featuring martial arts choreography by the legendary Sammo Hung. The film follows Yang Lu Chan, a young genius who, tired of being picked on, travels to Chen Village to learn the art of Tai Chi. Luchan finds out the hard way that it is forbidden for a villager to teach an outsider when the villagers, from strong men to old women to little children, repeatedly challenge him to a series of fights, all of which he loses quite badly. But when a frightening army of steampunk soldiers bearing strange machines show up, the villagers realize that in order to save their home, they must trust this strange outsider with the knowledge of Tai Chi. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Behind the Zenes, MuZic VideoZ, TrailerZ. (Well Go USA).
Wild Kratts: Lost at Sea
(2012) Brothers and wildlife explorers Martin and Chris Kratt go under the sea in two new episodes filled with humor, excitement and a whole lot of science: The Kratts head to the most populated and diverse habitat on Earth -- the coral reef -- in "Blowfish Blowout." Then they decode the secret language of dolphins, among the smartest creatures on Earth, in "Speaking Dolphinese." Formats: DVD, $9.99. (PBS Distribution).
End of Watch
In their mission to abide by their oath to serve and protect, Officers Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena) have formed a powerful brotherhood to ensure they both go home at the end of watch. But nothing can prepare them for the violent backlash that happens after they pull over the members of a notorious drug cartel for a routine traffic stop: they're marked for death after confiscating a small cache of money and firearms. The action unfolds through footage from the handheld HD cameras of the police officers, gang members, surveillance cameras, and citizens caught in the line of fire to create a riveting portrait of the city's most dangerous corners, the cops who risk their lives there every day, and the price they and their families are forced to pay.
Vitals: Director: David Ayer. Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, Natalie Martinez, Frank Grillo.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 120 min., Drama, Box office gross: $38.853 million, Universal.
The Paperboy
A sexually and racially charged film noir from director Lee Daniels ("Precious") that takes audiences deep into the backwaters of steamy 1960s South Florida. Miami Times reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his sleepy home town of Lately, Florida, where a decades-old façade of Southern gentility strains against the sweeping social changes of the 60s. Accompanied by his writing partner Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo), Ward is chasing the career-making story of violent swamp rat Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who claims to have been framed for the murder of a corrupt local sheriff. Drafting his younger brother Jack (Zac Efron) to serve as his driver, Ward tries to unravel the mystery of the crime, aided by a mountain of evidence amassed by sultry death-row groupie Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), who turns out to be Van Wetter's fiancé. As the odious Van Wetter awaits the electric chair, the Jansen family's longtime black maid Anita (Macy Gray) watches in alarm as Jack becomes more and more infatuated with the alluring Charlotte. But when Ward's investigation reveals a web of deception it sets off an explosive chain reaction that pulls everyone involved into a quagmire of evil as dark as the Everglades themselves. Inspired by a true story, "The Paperboy's" tale of obsession, violence and ambition earned a nomination for the 2012 Cannes Film Festival's highest prize, the coveted Palme d' Or. Vitals: Director: Lee Daniels. Stars: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, John Cusack, Matthew McConaughey, Scott Glenn, Nikolette Noel, David Oyelowo, Ned Bellamy, Macy Gray.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $.692 million, Millennium Films.
Searching for Sugar Man
The true story of Rodriguez, the greatest 70s rock icon who never was. Rodriguez was discovered in a Detroit bar in the late 1960s by two celebrated producers who were struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics. They recorded an album, which was expected to secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation, but in contrast, the album bombed and Rodriguez disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. Nonetheless, a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, his music became a phenomenon and an anthem for the people. "Searching for Sugar Man" follows two South African fans setting out to discover what really happened to their hero, leading them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez.
Vitals: Director: Malik Bendjelloul. 2012, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 86 min., Music Documentary, Box office gross: $2.670 million, Sony.
The Imposter
A chilling factual thriller that chronicles the story of a 13-year-old boy who disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas in 1994. Three and a half years later he is found alive, thousands of miles away in a village in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not quite as it seems. The boy bears many of the same distinguishing marks he always had, but why does he now have a strange accent? Why does he look so different? Any why doesn't the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It's only when an investigator starts asking questions that this strange tale takes an even stranger turn. The stranger than fiction mystery, which features many twists and turns, is told in a cinematic language that combines documentary and stylized visualizations. Perception is challenged at every turn, and just as the truth begins to dawn on you, another truth emerges leaving you even more on edge.
Vitals: Director: Bart Layton. Stars: Adam O'Brian, Anna Ruben, Alan Teichman.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 95 min., Bio-Drama-Doc, Box office gross: $.731 million, Indomina Releasing.
Keep the Lights On
In his autobiographically inspired, fictional relationship drama, filmmaker -- and recipient of Sundance's Grand Jury Prize in 2005 for his film "Forty Shades of Blue" -- Ira Sachs chronicles the emotionally and sexually charged journey through the love, addiction, and friendship of two men. When documentary filmmaker Erik (Danish leading man Thure Lindhardt) and closeted lawyer Paul (Zachary Booth) meet through a casual encounter, they enjoy each other's company for what they think will be a short time. But the two men soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. Individually and together, Erik and Paul are risk takers -- compulsive, driven, emotional and frequently fueled by drugs and sex. And their nearly decade-long relationship is defined by the highs, lows, and dysfunctional patterns that are found not only among contemporary New York City relationships, but in couples around the world.
Vitals: Director: Ira Sachs. Stars: Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson, Souleymane Sy Savane, Miguel Del Toro, Justin Reinsilber.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 102 min., Drama, Box office gross: $.239 million, Music Box Films.
For A Good Time, Call ...
The reserved Lauren (Lauren Miller) and the irrepressible Katie (Ari Graynor) are polar opposites ... and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment, a mutual friend (Justin Long) re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common -- until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But as their business partnership takes off, their new found friendship finds unexpected challenges that may leave them both, as they say, hanging on the line.
Vitals: Director: Jamie Travis. Stars: Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Nia Vardalos, Seth Rogen, Justin Long, Mark Webber, Mimi Rogers, James Wolk.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 85 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $1.243 million, Universal.
Pina
The boundless imagination and physical marvels of the work of the German modern-dance pioneer Pina Bausch leap off the screen in this exuberant tribute by Wim Wenders. A long-planned film collaboration between the director and the choreographer was in preproduction when Bausch died in 2009. Two years later, Wenders decided to go ahead with the project, reconceiving it as an homage to his late friend. The result, shot in 3D, is a remarkable visual experience and a vivid representation of Bausch's art, enacted by a group of staggeringly talented dancers from her company, the Tanztheater Wuppertal. "Pina" is an adventurous work of cinema that highlights the bold legacy of one of the world's true creative visionaries.
Vitals: Director Wim Wenders:. 2011, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 103 min., Documentary, Box office gross: $3.520 million, The Criterion Collection.
Ivan's Childhood
(1962)
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January 20, 2013
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