DVDBeaver Newsletter
for the Week of November 15th, 2021
http://www.dvdbeaver.com
THIS WEEK RELEASES
include David Lynch in 4K UHD done Criterion-style, Noirs with Loretta Young,
Edward G. + Albert Dekker, Mike Leigh, Román Two Argentine noir treasures,
Bradys in the 90s, Kung Fu Classics, James Bond parody gold, 50's Robert
Siodmak, Sean Penn direction, David Cronenberg butterflies, Ishirô Honda,
Henri-Georges Clouzot, Liz Taylor horsies, Milos Forman, Olivier Shakespeare,
Cameron Crowe and more...
THIS WEEK's CALENDAR UPDATES
- (new!): Jean-Luc Godard in 4K UHD, UK Orson Welles in 4K UHD, John Hillcoat in
4K UHD, Nicholas Ray, Paul Schrader, Jerry Schatzberg, Criterion Jim Jarmusch +
Alain Resnais, Michael Haneke, Ingmar Bergman, Folk Horror, Julien Duvivier,
Sylvia Kristel...
THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS:
70's Body Snatchers in 4K UHD, Zhang Yimou - Gong Li brilliance, femme fatale
Hayward with evil twin narrative...
Enjoy,
Gary
RELEASES the WEEK of November
15th, 2021 (Recommended titles have "**")
**William Dieterle's "The
Accused"** Blu-ray - Loretta Young @KinoLorber
US:
https://amzn.to/3pMWigU
CAN: https://amzn.to/31aCny5
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/william-accused-57983249
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_158/the_accused_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: William Dieterle's The Accused is essential Film Noir. It is 'dark
cinema' expertly realized by the director's pacing and brilliantly acted by
Loretta Young as the confused, guilt-ridden schoolmarm - who both faints from
the stress of her situation but plays it calm and cool in front of the
authorities - and eventually the court as she accepts her innocence. I love The
Accused. It reminds me of the suburban noir Cause For Alarm - also with a
panic-stricken Loretta Young. The Kino Blu-ray has high-level a/v and a new,
revealing commentary. Strongly recommended to Noiristas.
____________________________
**All or Nothing**
[Blu-ray] (Mike Leigh, 2002) RB UK Studiocanal
UK:
https://amzn.to/3GESofK
COMMENTS: From BAFTA winning director Mike Leigh with stunning performances from
Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen and Marion Bailey, All or Nothing is
an incredible tale of the intertwining lives of several families on a housing
estate in London. Following different tales of melancholy, alcoholism, a violent
abusive boyfriend and a frustrated unemployed youth - there seems to be no hope
for a brighter future and no chance of escape yet glimmers of joy and humour
still prevail. Boasting first time screen performances from Sally Hawkins,
Daniel Mays and James Corden this brand new restoration is an authentic and
deeply enjoyable Mike Leigh classic.
____________________________
**Film Noir "Among
the Living"** Blu-ray - Albert Dekker / Susan Hayward
@KinoLorber
US:
https://amzn.to/3n6eVL3
CAN: https://amzn.to/3Hg1YpY
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/film-noir-among-58498100
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_159/among_the_living_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Stuart Heisler's Among the Living could be considered a horror and
melodrama with delicious film noir tropes including a femme fatale (Hayward) and
the infectiousness of being overcome by greed. Among the Living evokes the
original Frankenstein and Fritz Lang's M with its tense 'violent mob' ending. I
thought the Theodor Sparkuhl cinematography showed some inventive shadows and
helped establish the eerie moods. I enjoyed Among the Living so much! The Kino
Blu-ray is a must-own for 'dark cinema' fans. Our highest recommendation!
____________________________
**The Beast Must Die**
[Blu-ray] (Román Viñoly Barreto, 1952) Flicker Alley
US:
https://amzn.to/3mma9cb
COMMENTS: Mystery writer Felix Lane, (legendary Spanish actor Narciso Ibáñez
Menta), suffers a tragic loss; his nine-year-old son is killed in a hit-and-run
car accident. Desperate for vengeance, Lane bypasses the authorities, adopts a
new identity, and begins looking for clues that will lead him to the culprit.
The suspense reaches hair-raising levels as Felix’s vendetta leads him to
infiltrate an affluent family rife with its own intrigues. But who among this
highly suspect bunch is the killer? And will Felix follow his mission to its
bitter end? Based on Cecil Day-Lewis’ influential 1936 novel The Beast Must Die
(written as Nicholas Blake), Viñoly Barreto’s film is a stunning adaptation of
one of the true landmarks of crime fiction and psychological suspense.
____________________________
Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes
[Blu-ray] (Junta Yamaguchi, 2021) RB UK Third Window
UK:
https://amzn.to/3k1aoYs
COMMENTS: Café owner Kato discovers that his PC monitor shows what will happen
two minutes in the future. Another screen downstairs in his café shows the past
of two minutes ago. His friends decide to place the two mysterious devices
opposite each other, which creates a loop to see into the future. Naturally,
chaos ensues. BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES is a delightfully light hearted
flick shot in one take about five innocent heartwarming friends who discover the
art of time traveling!
____________________________
**The Bitter Stems**
[Blu-ray] (Los Tallos Amargos) (Fernando Ayala, 1956) Flicker Alley
US:
https://amzn.to/3szcd1D
COMMENTS: Alfredo Gasper, a dissatisfied Buenos Aires newspaperman (Carlos
Cores), partners with Paar Liudas, a clever Hungarian refugee (Vassili Lambrinos)
who needs money to bring his family from Argentina. Together they create a bogus
correspondence school, exploiting the hopes of would-be journalists. As their
scheme succeeds beyond their wildest dreams, a mystery woman from Liudas’ past
sparks Gasper’s suspicion: his charming colleague may be playing him for a
sucker. Soon Gasper finds himself plotting the perfect crime – but fate has many
twists in store.
____________________________
**Brady Bunch 2-Movie
Collection** [Blu-ray] (The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very Brady Sequel)
Paramount
US:
https://amzn.to/3k2xy0B
CAN: https://amzn.to/3nfKUbz
COMMENTS: The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film that parodies the
1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch. It also features cameos from Davy
Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and RuPaul, and some of the original cast of The
Brady Bunch in small roles. The film places the original sitcom characters, with
their 1970s fashion sense and sitcom family morality, in a contemporary 1990s
setting, drawing humor from the resulting culture clash.
____________________________
Breakheart Pass
[Blu-ray] (Tom Gries, 1975) Kino
US:
https://amzn.to/2XP4GQS
CAN: https://amzn.to/3on5B4G
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_reviews_62_/breakheart_pass_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: This Alistair MacLean adaptation is a sturdy entry in Charles
Bronson's '70s-era filmography. MacLean's script isn't as tricky or thrilling as
his past classic Where Eagles Dare, but it goes about its business in an
effective, straightforward style, keeping the story rolling at a fast clip and
adding in a few fun surprises along the way. Tom Gries' direction is stylish but
unobtrusive, giving the film plenty of visual scope and getting solid
performances from the well-chosen ensemble cast. The latter element is where the
true joy of Breakheart Pass lies: Bronson's subtle, mysterious turn as the
film's secret sleuth is ably backed by effective performances from Ben Johnson
as a grizzled sheriff, Ed Lauter as a hard-headed military leader, and Richard
Crenna as a rather high-handed governor.
____________________________
Candyman (Nia DaCosta,
2021) Universal
US Blu-ray:
https://amzn.to/3c5chPj
CAN Blu-ray: https://amzn.to/3CfDOIg
US 4K UHD: https://amzn.to/3c6DaSP
COMMENTS: Oscar winner Jordan Peele and filmmaker Nia DaCosta unleashes a fresh
take on the blood-chilling urban legend: Candyman. For decades the housing
projects of Chicago's Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a ghost
story about a supernatural killer summoned by repeating his name five times into
a mirror. In the present day, artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) moves
into the neighborhood, now gentrified beyond recognition. Anxious to maintain
his status in the art world, he begins to explore the macabre history of
Candyman, which unknowingly unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying
wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.
____________________________
**Casino Royale**
[Blu-ray] (Val Guest, Ken Hughes, John Huston, 1967) RB UK Final Cut
Entertainment (ALT-BEAVER REVIEW)
UK:
https://amzn.to/3ChqDqX
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews56/casino_royale_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: This wacky send-up of James Bond films stars David Niven as the iconic
debonair spy, now retired and living a peaceful existence. Bond is called back
into duty when the mysterious organization SMERSH begins assassinating British
secret agents. Circumstances lead to the involvement of a colourful cast of
characters, including the villainous Le Chiffre (Orson Welles), seasoned gambler
Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers) and Bond's bumbling nephew, Jimmy Bond (Woody
Allen).
____________________________
Chato's Land [Blu-ray]
(Michael Winner, 1972) Kino
US:
https://amzn.to/3kHWXwV
CAN: https://amzn.to/3FajLNa
COMMENTS: Screen legends Charles Bronson (Breakheart Pass, The Valdez Horses)
and Jack Palance (Attack, Monte Walsh) star in a magnificent western as wild and
untamed as the Old West itself. Bristling with dynamic action sequences and
riveting performances, Chato’s Land is a bold, sweeping tale of passion,
vengeance and cold-blooded murder. Chato (Bronson) is a half-breed Apache who
treads the line between two cultures, balancing allegiance to his tribe with the
allure of the white man’s world. But when Chato kills a vicious sheriff in
self-defense, he finds himself hunted by a posse led by the ruthless Quincey
Whitmore (Palance), a former Confederate soldier who is determined to see him
hang. It’s 13 men against one, but the odds shift in Chato’s favor when he leads
his pursuers into Apache territory, where the harsh, cruel countryside can kill
as surely as a gunman’s bullet. Bronson’s first of six collaborations with
director Michael Winner (The Mechanic, Death Wish), this tough, uncompromising
western also features James Whitmore (Madigan), Simon Oakland (TV’s Kolchak: The
Night Stalker), Richard Basehart (Time Limit), Ralph Waite (The Grissom Gang),
Richard Jordan (Valdez Is Coming) and Victor French (Rio Lobo).
____________________________
CINEMATIC VENGEANCE! 8 Kung Fu
Classics From Director Joseph Kuo [Blu-ray] (The 7 Grandmasters, The 36
Deadly Styles, The World of Drunken Master, The Old Master, Shaolin Kung Fu, The
Shaolin Kids, 18 Bronzemen,and Return of the 18 Bronzemen) RB UK Eureka
UK:
https://amzn.to/2Wehpfx
COMMENTS: Although his name may not be as instantly recognisable as some of his
contemporaries, Joseph Kuo was an incredibly successful filmmaker who
consistently produced crowd-pleasing spectacles always in line with what
audiences at the time wanted to see. Often handling writing, directing, and
producing duties, the success of this multi-hyphenate filmmaker is even more
remarkable considering that the majority of his films were produced
independently, at a time when the kung-fu genre was dominated by the big Hong
Kong studios. Cinematic Vengeance! collects eight of these independent
productions, all fully restored and making their worldwide debuts on Blu-ray.
____________________________
The Deceivers [Blu-ray]
(Nicholas Meyer, 1988) Cohen
US:
https://amzn.to/3kBAaT5
CAN: https://amzn.to/3HmmOUA
COMMENTS: A new digital restorationof this Merchant Ivory classic. In the early
1980's Merchant first set in motion a project of which he had long dreamed, and
that he was to do outside of his usual collaboration with Jhabvala and Ivory,
the making of The Deceivers. The Deceiversis adapted from the John Masters
novel, set in India in 1825, which depicts the exploits of William Savage (based
on William Sleeman of the Indian Political Service), who disguises himself as an
Indian in order to expose and destroy a secret cult whose members, the infamous
Thugees, ritually murdered and robbed travelers in the name of the goddess Kali.
Merchant had read the novel years before, been struck by it, and later decided
to film it. The movie was slow in getting into production, however, and once
into that stage presented such an array of problems as to stagger even Merchant.
An entire book, Hullabaloo in Old Jeypore: The Making of "The Deceivers", was
needed for Merchant to set down all that occurred.
____________________________
Robert Siodmak's "Deported"
Blu-ray - Jeff Chandler
US:
https://amzn.to/3qbwZVT
CAN: https://amzn.to/3o6sLvZ
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/robert-siodmaks-58418417
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_159/deported_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Robert Siodmak's "Deported" is a decent film taking the reverse angle
of the 'immigrant makes good' premise with the Italian-born gangster getting
deported - his experiences and moral shifts. Shot, almost entirely, in Italy, it
has minor travelogue aspects (Tuscany.) I liked Marina Berti and Chandler -
Robert Siodmak is always a pleasure. Kino's Blu-ray of Deported has value and I
was very attentive throughout. Worth seeing!
____________________________
Flag Day [Blu-ray]
(Sean Penn, 2021) MGM
US:
https://amzn.to/3bG1OK1
CAN: https://amzn.to/30tTdYK
COMMENTS: Jennifer Vogel’s father John taught her so much about love and joy,
but he also happened to be the most notorious counterfeiter in US history.
Directed by Sean Penn, "Flag Day" stars Penn and his daughter Dylan Penn in an
intimate family portrait of a young woman who struggles to rise above the
wreckage of her past while reconciling the inescapable bond between a daughter
and her father.
____________________________
The Lost Leonardo
[Blu-ray] (Andreas Koefoed, 2021) Sony
US:
https://amzn.to/3qOmMiD
COMMENTS: Unravelling the hidden agendas of the world's richest men and most
powerful art institutions, THE LOST LEONARDO reveals how vested interests became
all-important, and the truth secondary.
____________________________
**M. Butterfly**
[Blu-ray] (David Cronenberg, 1993) Shout! Factory
US:
https://amzn.to/3z2woGR
CAN: https://amzn.to/3ce0BJU
COMMENTS: Beijing, 1964. French diplomat René Gallimard (Jeremy Irons, Reversal
of Fortune) unexpectedly falls in love with Peking opera singer Song Liling
after seeing her perform the music of Madama Butterfly. But what begins as a
torrid love affair soon draws him into a world of espionage and duplicity, where
the biggest secrets are revealed in the most unexpected of ways. Inspired by an
incredible true story and based on the Tony Award®-winning play by David Henry
Hwang, M. Butterfly features a hauntingly romantic score by Howard Shore (the
Lord of the Rings trilogy) and is directed by auteur filmmaker David Cronenberg
(Scanners, The Dead Zone).
____________________________
**Mothra** [Blu-ray]
(Ishirô Honda, 1961) RB UK Masters of Cinema
UK:
https://amzn.to/3l8wXKg
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/ishiro-hondas-44114762
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_131/mothra_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Mothra has Ishirô Honda's kitschy 60's Japanese sci-fi appeal. I much
prefer it to the later efforts of the kaiju genre that were being cranked-out
endlessly. 'The Peanuts' (twin sisters Emi and Yumi Itō) inclusion adds more of
the desirable 'camp' element. Having both version and the commentaries is a big
bonus on the Masters of Cinema Blu-ray as is Kim Newman and the entire
slip-cased package cover. Yes, there is value here and Mothra maintains the
innocence, eventually lost in the ensuing cycle of Japanese monster films.
____________________________
**Mulholland Dr. [4K UHD
Blu-ray]** (David Lynch, 2001) Criterion
US:
https://amzn.to/3D6ggHG
COMMENTS: century by provocateur David Lynch
Now in a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Combo
Pack
A love story in the city of dreams . . .
Blonde Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a
movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia (Laura Harring).
Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman’s identity, filmmaker
Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux) runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest
project. This seductive and scary vision of Los Angeles’s dream factory by David
Lynch is one of the true masterpieces of the new millennium, a tale of love,
jealousy, and revenge like no other.
____________________________
**The Mystery of Picasso**
[Blu-ray] (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1956) Kino
US:
https://amzn.to/3bpTMEH
CAN: https://amzn.to/3nev2Gf
ALT-BEAVER REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_review_81/the_mystery_of_picasso_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: In 1955 Henri-Georges Clouzot joined forces with his friend Pablo
Picasso to make an entirely new kind of documentary – one that captured the
moment and the mystery of creativity. For the film, Picasso created 20 artworks,
ranging from playful B&W sketches to widescreen color paintings. Using inks that
bled through the paper, Picasso rapidly created fanciful drawings that Clouzot
was able to film from the reverse side, capturing their creation in real time.
When the artist decided to paint in oils, the filmmaker switched to color film
and employed the magic of stop-motion animation. By contract, almost all of
these paintings were destroyed when the film was completed. The Mystery of
Picasso is exhilarating, mesmerizing, and unforgettable – one of the greatest
documentaries on art ever made.
____________________________
National Velvet
[Blu-ray] (Clarence Brown, 1944) Warner Archive
US:
https://amzn.to/3BukxCC
COMMENTS: A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted
horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes.
____________________________
**John Farrow's "Night
Has a Thousand Eyes"** Blu-ray - Edward G. Robinson
@KinoLorber
US:
https://amzn.to/3GsZTXh
CAN: https://amzn.to/3ElPyun
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/john-farrows-has-57972375
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_158/night_has_a_thousand_eyes_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: John Farrow's Night Has a Thousand Eyes is delicious noir-leaning
cinema. I agree with Imogen Sara Smith that it requires an inordinate suspension
of disbelief, but Edward G. Robinson does a grand job of selling the role of a
moral, lonely 'seer of future events' to his own unhappiness. It's such and
entertaining film, dipping its toe into the supernatural, as skeptics abound,
and the Kino Blu-ray has elevated the image (1080P) and audio (lossless) plus
the commentary gives it immense value. Night Has a Thousand Eyes has our highest
recommendation!
____________________________
**Once Upon a Time in China: The
Complete Films** [Blu-ray] (Once Upon a Time in China, Once Upon a Time
in China II, Once Upon a Time in China III and Once Upon a Time in China and
America) Criterion
US:
https://amzn.to/3D3uoRP
CAN: https://amzn.to/3qynKzf
COMMENTS: One of the pinnacles of Hong Kong cinema’s 1990s golden age, the Once
Upon a Time in China series set a new standard for martial-arts spectacle and
launched action star Jet Li to international fame. It brings to vivid life the
colorful world of China in the late nineteenth century, an era of immense
cultural and technological change, as Western imperialism clashed with tradition
and public order was upended by the threats of foreign espionage and rising
nationalism. Against this turbulent backdrop, one man—the real-life martial-arts
master, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei-hung—emerges as a noble protector of
Chinese values as the country hurtles toward modernity. Conceived by Hong Kong
New Wave leader Tsui Hark, this epic cycle is not only a dazzling showcase for
some of the most astonishing action set pieces ever committed to film but also a
rousing celebration of Chinese identity, history, and culture.
____________________________
Our Ladies [Blu-ray]
(Michael Caton-Jones, 2019) Sony
US:
https://amzn.to/3ne2blC
COMMENTS: In 1990s Scotland, a group of Catholic school girls get an opportunity
to go into Edinburgh for a choir competition, but they're more interested in
drinking, partying and hooking up than winning the competition.
____________________________
Prisoners of the Ghostland
[Blu-ray] (Sion Sono, 2021) Image Entertainment
US:
https://amzn.to/3lh29qB
COMMENTS: A bank robber is strapped into a bomb-laden leather suit that will
self-destruct in five days if he doesn’t find a warlord’s missing granddaughter.
____________________________
**Ragtime** [Blu-ray]
(Milos Forman, 1981) Paramount
US:
https://amzn.to/2Vx1KYj
COMMENTS: Layering fascinating characters with the riotous events of early 1900s
America, the best-seller by E.L. Doctorow became a cinematic epic under the
direction of two-time Oscar winning director Miloš Forman. From the emerging New
York suburb of New Rochelle to the flashy spectacle of Atlantic City, a family
faces racial tensions, scandals and violence that will test everything they
believe in. Newly remastered from a 4K film transfer for its 40th Anniversary,
RAGTIME features an unforgettable music score by Randy Newman, and an incredible
all-star cast that includes/ James Cagney in his first (and final) role in
nearly two decades, Donald O’Connor, Mandy Patinkin, Mary Steenburgen, Debbie
Allen, Elizabeth McGovern, Moses Gunn, Pat O’Brien, Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher,
John Ratzenberger, Michael Jeter, Norman Mailer, and Samuel L. Jackson.
____________________________
**Richard III**
[Blu-ray] (Laurence Olivier, 1955) RB UK Studiocanal
UK:
https://amzn.to/3GydTPs
COMMENTS: Laurence Olivier produces, directs and stars in this glorious
adaptation of Shakespeare's masterpiece - Richard III. Having helped his brother
King Edward IV (Cedric Hardwicke) take the throne of England, the jealous
hunchback Richard, Duke of York (Laurence Olivier), plots to seize power for
himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal
court, including his eventual wife, Lady Anne (Claire Bloom), and his brother
George, Duke of Clarence (John Gielgud), Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to
power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed. Winner of
multiple BAFTAs including Best British Film and Best British Actor this a
stunning restoration produced in collaboration with The Film Foundation.
____________________________
Sweet Thing [Blu-ray]
(Alexandre Rockwell, 2020) RB UK Eureka
UK:
https://amzn.to/2ZF2Fre
COMMENTS: In New Bedford Massachusetts, a dysfunctional family portrayed in all
shades of black-and-white, lead forgotten lives. One eventful summer, in an act
of liberation, the kids Billie and Nico set off on their own adventure into the
fantastic and poetic world of childhood, unseen by the adults around them. From
acclaimed director Alexandre Rockwell (In The Soup, Little Feet), Sweet Thing is
an intense but ultimately uplifting, poetic rendering of childhood that captures
the essence of that time in life when a day can last forever. The friendships,
loyalties, and challenges of adolescent youth propel the story into a triumph of
childhood hope and resilience.
____________________________
**Vanilla Sky**
[Blu-ray] (Cameron Crowe, 2001) Paramount
US:
https://amzn.to/3k24A13
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_67/vanilla_sky_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Oscar winning writer/director Cameron Crowe (JERRY MAGUIRE) reunites
with producer/star Tom Cruise for this mind-bending roller-coaster ride of
romance, comedy, suspicion, love, sex and dreams. Based on 1997’s ABRE LOS OJOS,
also co-starring Penelope Cruz, VANILLA SKY’s soul-searching story is set in New
York City. Lensed by Oscar winning cinematographer John Toll (BRAVEHEART), it’s
a visually stunning film with a Times Square sequence not to be forgotten.
Paramount Pictures is proud to present this limited-edition remaster, from a new
4K film transfer supervised by Cameron Crowe.
____________________________
**Vera Drake**
[Blu-ray] (Mike Leigh, 2004) RB UK Studiocanal
UK:
https://amzn.to/3jSw34D
COMMENTS: A new restoration of the acclaimed British period drama VERA DRAKE by
BAFTA-winning filmmaker Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Another Year, Mr. Turner,
Peterloo). London, 1950: Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton) lives with her husband
Stan (Phil Davis) and their grown-up children, Sid (Daniel Mays) and Ethel (Alex
Kelly). They are not rich, but they are a happy, close family. Vera cleans
houses, Stan is a mechanic in his brother’s garage, Sid works for a tailor and
Ethel works in a factory testing lightbulbs. But selfless Vera has a side-line
which she keeps secret from all of those around her: without accepting payment,
she helps young women to end unwanted pregnancies. When one of these girls is
rushed to hospital following an abortion, the police investigation leads to Vera
and her world comes crashing down.
____________________________
Yakuza Princess [4K UHD Blu-ray]
(Vicente Amorim, 2021) Magnolia
US:
https://amzn.to/3F48Rsu
CAN: https://amzn.to/3newjgv
COMMENTS: The heiress to half of the Yakuza crime syndicate forges an uneasy
alliance with an amnesiac stranger who believes an ancient sword binds their two
fates. She must unleash war against the other half of the syndicate who wants
her dead.
__________________________________
LATEST CALENDAR UPDATES:
November 15th, 2021
Venom (Peter Sykes,
1971) MVD Visual
https://amzn.to/3Cb6DWj
Yakuza Princess 4K UHD
(Vicente Amorim, 2021) Magnolia
https://amzn.to/3F48Rsu
**Years of Lead: Five Classic
Italian Crime Thrillers 1973 - 1977** - Savage Three (1975), Like Rabid
Dogs (1976), Colt 38 Special Squad (1976) Stelvio Massis Highway Racer (1977)
and No, the Case is Happily Resolved (1973) - Arrow US
https://amzn.to/3DiojAH
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-ray_review_140/years_of_lead_5_classic_Italian_crime_thrillers_blu-ray.htm
_____________________________________
November 22nd, 2021
**The Bird with the Crystal
Plumage [4K UHD Blu-ray]** (Dario Argento, 1970) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/30hpfqn
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_141/the_bird_with_the_crystal_plumage_4K_UHD.htm
**The Cat o' Nine Tails [4K UHD
Blu-ray]** (Dario Argento, 1971) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/3qAT8gj
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_141/the_cat_o_nine_tails_4K_UHD.htm
**Lullaby of Broadway**
(David Butler, 1951) Warner Archive
https://amzn.to/3CeAzRx
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun
(Shinji Sômai, 1981) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/3wMtpmu
**The Snake Girl and the
Silver-Haired Witch** [Blu-ray] (Noriaki Yuasa, 1968) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/3CdTbRt
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_160/the_snake_girl_and_the_silver-haired_witch_blu-ray.htm
_____________________________________
November 29th, 2021
The Possession of Joel Delaney
(Waris Hussein, 1972) Imprint
https://amzn.to/3CjYgrK
Tam Lin (Roddy
McDowall, 1970) Imprint
https://amzn.to/3FeF7ck
_____________________________________
December 6th, 2021
**Breathless 4K UHD**
(Jean-Luc Godard, 1960) Studio Canal UK
https://amzn.to/3Fdw4s9
**The Evil of Frankenstein**
(Freddie Francis, 1964) RB UK Final Cut Entertainment
https://amzn.to/30s2Sz0
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_reviews_61/evil_of_frankenstein_blu-ray.htm
**Harold and Maude**
(Hal Ashby, 1971) Paramount
https://amzn.to/3202sQT
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews56/harold_and_maude_blu-ray.htm
**Party Girl**
(Nicholas Ray, 1958) Warner Archive
https://amzn.to/3wFj0c8
**Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 4K
UHD** (Tomas Alfredson, 2011) Studio Canal UK
https://amzn.to/3kuBgjB
_____________________________________
December 13th, 2021
**The Bird with the Crystal
Plumage [4K UHD Blu-ray]** (Dario Argento, 1970) Arrow UK
https://amzn.to/3Fd9O1M
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_141/the_bird_with_the_crystal_plumage_4K_UHD.htm
**The Card Counter**
(Paul Schrader, 2021) Studio Distribution Services
https://amzn.to/3ky022h
Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore
Trilogy - Shout! Factory
US:
https://amzn.to/30fF0OC
UK: https://amzn.to/3HhqfvH
**The Cat o' Nine Tails [4K UHD
Blu-ray]** (Dario Argento, 1971) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/3wJ6zMh
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_141/the_cat_o_nine_tails_4K_UHD.htm
**Citizen Kane [4K UHD
Blu-ray]** (Orson Welles, 1941) Warner UK
https://amzn.to/3kyTall
Nobuhiko Obayashi’s Anti-War
Trilogy (Casting Blossoms to the Sky, Seven Weeks and Hanagatami) RB UK
Third Window
https://amzn.to/3Dj7rd5
Revenge of the Shogun Women 3-D
(Mei-Chun Chang, 1977) Kino
https://amzn.to/3osnkaN
**Seven Deaths in the Cat's
Eyes** (Antonio Margheriti, 1973) MVD Visual
https://amzn.to/3HmAizx
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_76/seven_deaths_in_a_cats_eye_blu-ray.htm
**The Seduction of Joe Tynan**
(Jerry Schatzberg, 1979) Kino
https://amzn.to/3wG0gJz
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews52/seduction_of_joe_tynan_blu-ray.htm
Sylvia Kristel 1970s Collection
(Playing with Fire, Pastorale 1943, Mysteries, Julia) Cult Epics
https://amzn.to/3Fbj46h
_____________________________________
December 20th, 2021
No Time to Die 4K UHD
(Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2021) Universal UK
https://amzn.to/3HiZwyW
**Time of the Wolf**
(Michael Haneke, 2003) Strand Home Video
https://amzn.to/3caQBkB
_____________________________________
January 3rd, 2022
**Cinema of Discovery: Julien
Duvivier in the 1920s** - Flicker Alley
https://amzn.to/3n8Chzw
**Down by Law** (Jim
Jarmusch, 1986) RB Criterion UK
https://amzn.to/3qA8ulx
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/downbylaw.htm
**Hiroshima Mon Amour**
(Alain Resnais, 1959) RB Criterion UK
https://amzn.to/3qBEsxO
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_67/hiroshima_mon_amour_blu-ray.htm
Zeros and Ones (Abel
Ferrara, 2021) Grindstone
https://amzn.to/3DhjZ4A
_____________________________________
January 10th, 2022
Deep Red 4K UHD (Dario Argento, 1975)
Arrow
https://amzn.to/3kBkxen
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_159/deep_red_4K_UHD.htm
_____________________________________
January 17th, 2022
**The Red Angel**
(Yasuzô Masumura, 1966) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/323k2DH
**Wild Strawberries**
(Ingmar Bergman, 1957) RB UK BFI
https://amzn.to/30tSFSH
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/wildstrawberries.htm
_____________________________________
January 24th, 2022
**All The Haunts Be Ours: A
Compendium Of Folk Horror Collector's Set** (15-Disc) Severin
https://amzn.to/3nbkVSA
**Vengeance Trails: Four Classic
Westerns** [Blu-ray] (Massacre Time (1966), My Name is Pecos (1966),
Bandidos (1967), And God Said to Cain (1970) Arrow US
https://amzn.to/30isLku
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_141/vengeance_trails_blu-ray.htm
Woodlands Dark And Days
Bewitched: A History Of Folk Horror - Severin
https://amzn.to/30klsZZ
_____________________________________
February 21st, 2022
Galaxy of Terror (Bruce
D. Clark, 1981) RB UK 88 Films
https://amzn.to/3C9a9Ap
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews51/galaxy_of_terror_blu-ray.htm
**The Proposition 4K UHD**
(John Hillcoat, 2005) UK BFI
https://amzn.to/3HkN55B
Sharon + Terri's Revenge
|Drive-in Double Feature #13 - Dark Force
https://amzn.to/3wK36go
_____________________________________
March 21st, 2022
Play For Today Volume 3
(Edna, the Inebriate Woman, Just Another Saturday, Bar Mitzvah Boy, The Mayor’s
Charity, Coming Out, A Hole in Babylon) RB UK BFI
https://amzn.to/3Fc2YcL
____________________________
REVIEWS / COMPARISONS:
**Philip Kaufman's
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" 4K UHD** - Donald Sutherland
@KinoLorber
US:
https://amzn.to/30lPyMp
CAN: https://amzn.to/3D8moPg
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/philip-kaufmans-58553809
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_156/invasion_of_the_body_snatchers_4K_UHD.htm
COMMENTS: Philip Kaufman's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is as rewatchable as
the original. I never tire of it. It has a great many horror elements and can be
quite a scary film experience with shocking transformation effects. Performances
are top notch - Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, the stoic Nimoy
(a bit heavy-handed) and I always thought Veronica Cartwright (yes, she was
'Cathy Brenner' in Hitchcock's The Birds!) was great in her limited appearances.
Always pleasing to see the respect shown the original with brief cameos with
Kevin McCarthy and Don Siegel. Look close enough and you will see
cinematographer Michael Chapman as a janitor, Robert Duvall as the 'Priest on
Swing' and the voice of Philip Kaufman as the 'City Official on Phone'. I am so
pleased with owning the definitive home theatre version thanks to Kino's 4K UHD
release. Fans will not need my endorsement to watch this impressive film in the
highest resolution. Don't hesitate.
_____________________________
**Zhang Yimou's
"Ju Dou"** Blu-ray - Gong Li @imprint_films
US:
https://amzn.to/3GMpOJK
UK: https://amzn.to/3bzT5sA
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/zhang-yimous-ju-58537043
OUR COMPARISON:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview/judou.htm
Part of Collaborations: The Cinema of Zhang Yimou & Gong Li - Red Sorghum
(1987), Ju Dou (1990), Raise The Red Lantern (1991), The Story Of Qiu Ju (1992),
To Live (1994), Shanghai Triad (1995), Curse Of The Golden Flower (2006) and
Coming Home (2014) by Imprint Blu-ray.
COMMENTS: Zhang Yimou's "Ju Dou" is
another masterpiece from the director." As Rayns described it - "a cross between
Oedipus-rex and The Bad Seed". "Ju Dou" is filled with tragedy and love - told
by a master-storyteller. Gong Li is brilliant as another oppressed woman
struggling for an existence that is allegorical to the political climate and
mirroring the Chinese people. So far I am very pleased with Imprint's
"Collaborations: The Cinema of Zhang Yimou & Gong Li" Blu-ray Limited Edition
Boxset. This is year-end poll stuff. Recommended!
_____________________________
**Film Noir "Among
the Living"** Blu-ray - Albert Dekker / Susan Hayward
@KinoLorber
US:
https://amzn.to/3n6eVL3
CAN: https://amzn.to/3Hg1YpY
BONUS CAPTURES:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/film-noir-among-58498100
OUR REVIEW:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_159/among_the_living_blu-ray.htm
COMMENTS: Stuart Heisler's Among the Living could be considered a horror and
melodrama with delicious film noir tropes including a femme fatale (Hayward) and
the infectiousness of being overcome by greed. Among the Living evokes the
original Frankenstein and Fritz Lang's M with its tense 'violent mob' ending. I
thought the Theodor Sparkuhl cinematography showed some inventive shadows and
helped establish the eerie moods. I enjoyed Among the Living so much! The Kino
Blu-ray is a must-own for 'dark cinema' fans. Our highest recommendation!
____________________________
http://www.dvdbeaver.com