Bob the Flambeur [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? An elderly thief contemplates a final result.
Why watch it? Heist movies already have an edge over most other genres, as heists – especially when stylised through the lens of the camera – are genuinely cool. Jean-Pierre Melville explored the world more than once, but this 1956 film sits arguably at the top of the list. A platinum-haired Roger Duchesne stars as Bob, an older ex-thief who lives one gambling life after another, but when he learns of a massive fortune hidden in a casino vault, he decides that maybe he’s not so retired after all. The film oozes atmosphere and style, all wrapped up in misty, smoke-filled rooms and dimly lit streets, and while the heist elements are fun, it’s the human aspect that carries the most weight. There’s a lot of regret, and watching Bob as a young woman who he “saves” from the street instead of hooking up with a younger man carries tangible pain. It's simply a beautiful film that is sustained by both mood and story and characters.
[Extras: Commentary, documentary]
The best
The motorcyclists [4K UHD]
What is it? A look back at a simpler, faster-moving time.
Why watch it? Director Jeff Nichols has never been a filmmaker bound by genre or subject matter, and here he turns his attention to a small group of bikers, from their formation and membership to their uncontrollable growth and fate, and the result is an engaging character piece about people, time, and place. Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, and Jodie Comer do a good job of capturing the hearts of different people, those who want a more grounded reality and those who need to wander, and while the film never really explodes, it has ups and downs and a consistent thread that keeps you glued to these people and their journey. A good film.
[Extras: Featurettes, commentary]
Demons [4K UHD, Synapse]
What is it? A masterpiece of Italian horror.
Why watch it? Please understand that when I refer to Lamberto Bava’s Demons as a masterpiece of Italian horror, I mean it, and I know the term has a special meaning. The film is problematic by any normal standard, from the acting to the script, but Italian horror, at its best, creates a whole new world where those things have little importance. Here, it’s a nightmare that unfolds in a movie theater as the audience turns into flesh-eating demons. It’s wild, mindless, energetic, and incredibly entertaining. Synapse is reissuing its 4K disc in standalone release after its initial two-feature package, and it remains a must-buy for fans of gory thrills and hard rock.
[Extras: New 4K master, original and US versions, commentaries, visual essay, interviews]
Navajo Joe [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A western starring Burt Reynolds as a Native American.
Why watch it? Look, Burt Reynolds isn't Native American, and he certainly can't pass for one without help, but this was the '60s. If you can get past that redface issue, this is a darkly fun Western from director Sergio Corbucci. It's a revenge story, and both the set pieces and action sequences are well-crafted and entertaining. It's both stylish and equally messy in the era (Reynolds reportedly signed on thinking he was working with Sergio Leone, and Corbucci signed on thinking he'd direct Marlon Brando), but the end result is a good film for fans of revenge, action, and B-movie thrills.
[Extras: Commentary]
The rest
River Street 99 [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A film noir TV show! Like taxi drivers…
Why watch it? Kino Lorber remains *the* label for fans of 40s and 50s film noir. Sure, other labels occasionally put out large collections, but Kino has been churning out noirs for the past few years that now number over a hundred or more. In this 1953 film, a cab driver fights for his life after his wife's dead body ends up in his backseat. As he flees and finds himself up against a wall, he's about to find out how much fight he has left. It's a solid film, nothing outlandish or overly memorable, but satisfying with its various twists and interpretations.
[Extras: Commentary]
Demons 2 [4K UHD, Synapse]
What is it? The demons are back!
Why watch it? Lamberto Bava followed up his horror classic with a sequel that hits many of the same notes, though the tune isn’t quite as memorable. Demons infest an apartment building after a late-night movie gives birth to the evil monsters. Once again, it’s an ensemble — including a young Asia Argento in her feature debut — who are devoured and/or transformed into raging demons, and while it doesn’t quite find the magic of the first, it’s hard not to enjoy its messy Italian charms. As with the first, Synapse’s 4K UHD resolution looks fantastic, bringing out the creepy shadows and colorful grime.
[Extras: New 4K master, commentary, interviews, visual essay]
YEAH [4K UHD]
What is it? It turns out our childhood imaginary friends are real.
Why watch it? John Krasinski follows up his horror success as a director with a family film, and the result isn't great. The heart is there, and the power of movies even makes me a little sentimental at times, but Krasinski's script isn't quite sure what it's trying to do. It starts off in one direction (something kids can latch onto) before transitioning into being about adults who have let go of their imaginary friends. The effects are a mix of good and bad, laughs are infrequent (though I do enjoy Brad Pitt's cameo), and the end result is pretty mediocre. Big names lend their voices to creatures, except for Ryan Reynolds, who voices himself, but it's Cailey Fleming who stands out in terms of acting.
[Extras: Featurettes, gag reel]
Observe and report [Shout Select]
What is it? A black comedy about security in shopping malls.
Why watch it? I know what you're thinking: Didn't Paul Blart: Mall Cop already make a dark comedy about mall security? No, he didn't. This one comes from Jody Hill and stars Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta, and other familiar faces. Comedy is very subjective, and this is a divisive comedy. I'm not sold on its laughs, though I appreciate the themes being addressed here, but your luck may vary.
[Extras: New 2K master, commentary, interview, deleted scenes, gag reel]
Also available this week:
Annie Laurie, The Doulos [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Executioner, June Zero, The Last Emperor [4K UHD, Criterion]Northwest Passage [Warner Archive]