Small margin [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A witness is chased on a moving train.
Why watch it? This 1990 thriller isn’t as talked about (it’s a remake and most people seem to think it’s somewhere in between), but it really deserves all the love from fans of 90s thrillers, practical action, and stellar actors. Anne Archer witnesses a murder, but when Los Angeles District Attorney Gene Hackman tries to bring her back to the city by train, they find themselves hunted by killers. It’s a thrill ride courtesy of director Peter Hyams, who delivers some fantastic train moments, including our two leads atop a moving train. Add in JT Walsh, M. Emmet Walsh, and James Sikking, and some lush Canadian scenery, and you’ve got a movie that’s firing on all cylinders to deliver big personality and entertainment.
[Extras: Commentaries, making of]
The best
Anchorman [4K UHD]
What is it? An epic comedy about… news anchors.
Why watch it? There are plenty of great comedies that stand up to multiple viewings, but few offer as many moments of hilarity per minute as this gem from Adam McKay (remember when he made funny movies?). Will Ferrell is the lead, but he’s aided and abetted by a murderers’ row of extremely funny people including Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Fred Willard, Christina Applegate, Chris Parnell, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Seth Rogen, Paul F. Tompkins, and more. The film goes for nonstop laughs, and better yet, it hits the mark more often than not. The film is silly nonsense created by people who live and breathe humor, and they give this simple story of a man in the world’s most distinguished profession their undivided focus. The film is eminently re-watchable, but the three-disc release also includes two versions of the film, a third film made up of entirely different takes, and plenty of behind-the-scenes material that guarantees even more laughs. An upgrade to 4K UHD may not be necessary for a comedy, but there’s no denying the detail and color, so if you don’t already have this one, this is the one to get.
[Extras: 4K UHD premiere, theatrical and extended versions, commentary, bloopers, deleted scenes, music video, featurettes]
Impressed [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A war between two unforgettable accents.
Why watch it? I kid about Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, but seriously, their Boston and Irish accents (respectively) are a lot of fun! Director Stephen Hopkins also brings entertaining energy with his use of drama, slow motion, and legitimately exciting explosions. Jones is a raging terrorist, Bridges is the bomb squad guy trying to thwart him, and the entire city is the unwitting playground of their war. Kino has been doing some great work recently with their 4K UHD upgrades, and this continues that trend as Hopkins’ already electric film is shaken with new visual life. Sure, the film can look pretty silly at times as things escalate in over-the-top ways, but the sheer entertainment that comes from it all is undeniable.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentaries, making of, music video]
Ruslan and Ludmila [Deaf Crocodile]
What is it? A man sets out to rescue a kidnapped princess.
Why watch it? Aleksandr Ptushko was a Russian filmmaker interested in creating new worlds for audiences to enjoy, and he did so by looking back to the folklore and fairy tales of his nation. This film, his latest and arguably his best, takes a simple premise and unleashes pure imagination on screen with bold colours, sumptuous production design and costumes, supernatural creations and more. It’s not a short film, but Ptushko makes the two and a half hours feel like a dream, promising a new visual delight around every corner. Deaf Crocodile has brought some of the filmmaker’s films to Blu-ray format and as with his previous works, this release is once again superb with a beautiful restoration and extras guaranteed to shed light on the director and his work.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentary, essays]
Taxi driver [4K UHD]
What is it? An American classic, now in 4K.
Why watch it? Martin Scorsese’s film had already hit 4K UHD as part of a larger ensemble, but his standalone debut outshines it and instantly becomes a must-see. Robert De Niro plays an unconventional man tired of the human filth in New York City, Jodie Foster and Cybill Shepherd are the women he becomes attached to, and Albert Brooks is great as always watching from the sidelines. The film captures the city before cleanliness, a dirty, energetic, lived-in place where anything can happen, but it’s the humans at the center that electrify with obsession, interaction, and demanding needs for attention. Part thriller, part drama, occasionally funny and never less than captivating, Taxi driver It remains an American classic. This 4K release offers a crisp, detailed portrait of a city simultaneously in decline and on the rise, with all the grit, sweat and unbridled optimism that characterizes America. Sony’s restoration is the definition of perfection, preserving the grain while sharpening and enhancing the film.
[Extras: Documentary, featurettes, commentaries]
UHF [4K UHD, Shout Factory]
What is it? A sketch comedy from the twisted mind of Weird Al.
Why watch it? I’m an 80s kid who would stay up late on the weekend to listen to Dr. Demento’s radio show, and Weird Al Yankovic’s new songs were always a highlight. He parlayed that success into the visual medium with the help of MTV, and one of the results is this cult favorite, a comedy that hangs various sketches on the flimsiest of plots. Some are funnier than others, but the pure love of laughter is contagious, meaning you’re guaranteed to find something here that tickles your pickle. From movie parodies to original characters, the movie throws it all at you. Again, not exactly the kind of movie you’d normally be interested in watching with the upgrade to 4K, but if you fall into that category, Shout Factory has you covered.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, music video]
The rest
Kidnapped: The kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara
What is it? Surprise, it turns out the Catholic Church has always been full of morons.
Why watch it? The main story concerns a young Jewish boy who is taken from his family by the Catholic Church, baptized against his will, and never returned. Is it at the behest of the Pope? And worse? This is a true story. It’s a late 19th-century event, but that doesn’t make it all that dated given the Church’s leanings, and director Marco Bellocchio gives the film a modernized feel with a few stylistic touches and an ever-present soundtrack. It’s effective, most of the time.
[Extras: Introduction, interview]
Also available this week:
Early morning [Terror Vision]Family dinner [Terror Vision]The Guyver [4K UHD]In the woods [Terror Vision]Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid [Criterion]Psychopath Sisters [Terror Vision]