By Harley Lond - 05/12/20 at 06:43 AM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)," "The Call of the Wild,""Fantasy Island" and "The Photograph."
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
"Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema II" features three classic noir films from the 1950s: "Thunder on the Hill" (1951) -From Douglas Sirk, the renowned director of "All I Desire," "Magnificent Obsession," "There's Always Tomorrow," "Written on the Wind," comes this classic film noir starring screen legend Claudette Colbert. A nun (Colbert) races against time
to prove the innocence of a convicted murderess (Ann Blyth) who is being escorted to prison for a date with the gallows. Thunder on the Hill is a moody mystery that serves up many twists and features an intriguing tour-de-force performance by Colbert and fast-paced direction by Sirk. "The Price of Fear" (1956) - Elegant, exotic beauty Merle Oberon plays against type in this unpredictable film noir. A woman guilty of a hit-and-run accident frames another person for the crime, but soon is implicated in a far worse situation with a gangster who uses blackmail to lure her into a murder plot. "The Female Animal" (1958) - Hollywood star Vanessa Windsor (Hedy Lamarr) is saved from a terrible on-set accident by handsome studio extra Chris Farley (George Nader). In appreciation of his skills and good looks, she sets him up as the "caretaker" of her beach house. When Vanessa's sultry daughter (Jane Powell) meets Chris, the claws come out as both ladies try to stake out his affections in this campy and lusty battle for love. Film Noir: The Dark Side Of Cinema II is on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics ...
One of the most exciting adventure tales ever told, the action epic "The Great Escape" (1963) recounts the planning, execution, and aftermath of a daring true-life escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, in which 250 men attempted to tunnel their way to freedom. In the role that cemented his superstar status, Steve McQueen plays the motorcycle-racing daredevil who sets out to foil the Nazis, alongside an all-star cast that also includes Charles Bronson, James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence. The expert direction of John Sturges, eminently hummable Elmer Bernstein score, and rip-roaring stunts come together in what may just be the most spectacularly entertaining prison-break movie of all time, a rousing ode to the determination, camaraderie, and courage of everyday heroes. On DVD, Blu-ray Disc, with 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray; alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray. From The Criterion Collection.
BUZZIN' THE 'B'S:
In "Vivarium
when they try to exit the labyrinth-like housing development, each road takes them back to where they started. Soon, they realize their search for a dream home has plunged them into a terrifying nightmare.ON DVD, Blu-ray, from Lionsgate ... In "Rev
was still intact and stayed deserted, at least so they thought. A group of young people takes a trip to the ruins in order to film a documentary about Epecuen. Ignoring warnings, and after a brief tour, they get stranded in the abandoned village. Contrary to what they thought, they begin to realize that they are really not alone. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Unearthed Films ... In "Idle HandsFOREIGN FILMS:
Because they are considering decamping to different European cities, Mina (Lucrezia Guidone) and Enzo (Marco Cassini) book rooms at the experimental B&B "Time Zone Inn
other -- except for two hours a day in the common room. Unfortunately, Mina and Enzo aren't on the same page about what they hope to learn from the Time Zone Inn in this highly-original romantic drama, the feature film debut from director Andrea Di Iorio. From IndiePix Films ... The LGBTQ comedy-drama "Fairytale" (2017 -- Italy) follows Mrs. Fairytale, a perfect housewife in 1950s America who becomes aware of her own unhappiness and embarks on a process of personal liberation. Amongst stuffed poodles, whiskey-infused teas, sinful mambo lessons, and threats of alien invasion, Mr(s). Fairytale begins to explore a world where anyone can finally be who they want to be, but behind which hides another upsetting reality. Based on the stage play by Italian actor Filippo Timi, who also stars. From Breaking Glass Pictures ... In "The Traitor
Lithuanian Army Command decided to create the first-ever national crack commando unit and gave a selective group of young men the chance to be the "Mambos" of their country as members of a top-secret Special Forces Unit aimed at countering Soviet aggression. Most members were given an animal nickname -- Spider, Horse, Whale, Crab -- hence the unit was known as the Zoo. And from parachute jumps and hand-to-hand combat training to securing the GB building in Vilnius, at the beginning of the end of the USSR, this playful documentary from filmmaker Andrius Lekavicius uses first-person interviews, cleverly stylized animation, archival footage and original music to tell the hidden story of the first-ever Lithuanian Special Forces: a courageous, impassioned, and youthful endeavor against the powers that once were. From IndiePix Films ... In "An Ideal Place to Kill" (1971 -- Italy), starring Ornella Muti, Ray Lovelock, Irene Papas and Michel Dardinet, two free-spirited teenagers, Dick and Ingrid (Lovelock and Muti), set out to spend the summer together in Italy. To pay their way they sell Scandinavian porn mags and pictures of Ingrid posing nude. But then they get busted by the cops and are given 24 hours to get out of the country. Instead of leaving they take to the road, where they come up against a thieving biker gang and they're mistaken for a pair of bank robbers. Heading south in a hurry, they run out of gas in the middle of nowhere and take refuge in the house of Barbara Slater (Papas), a seemingly bored, middle-aged housewife who appears to be up for some sexual shenanigans. The naive pair party with Barbara but soon discover she's hiding a terrible and deadly secret. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, restored from the original negative, complete and uncut. On Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro.FROM TV TO DISC:
"Lucifer: The Complete Fourth Season" (2019) is two-disc set with all 10 episodes. Season Four sizzles with fiendishly clever comebacks. The charismatic, handsome Lucifer Morningstar returns resurrected after Season Three's wicked cliffhanger. His unofficial partner in crime-solving and affairs of the heart, LAPD detective Chloe Decker, returns from an extended vacation - after she saw Lucifer's devil face for the first time and realized he was, in fact, exactly the man he always claimed to be. And, finally, new to the series but not to the Lord of Hell, comes old flame and original sinner, Eve, whose charms are as tempting to Lucifer now as the serpent's big, red apple was to her back in the day. Does she want revenge for her expulsion from Eden all those years ago? Or something else entirely? On DVD, Blu-ray, from Warner ... "Shameless: The Complete Tenth Season" (2019-20) is three-disc set with all 12 episodes. The Gallaghers return for another scandalous Showtime season. In Season 10, Frank's exploits lead him to an old friend, Debbie rules over the Gallagher household with an iron fist, Lip navigates his relationship (and parenthood) with Tami, Carl faces life after military school, Liam is tutored by V about black history and culture, and Kev has an identity crisis. Plus, “Gallavich” returns as Ian and Mickey rekindle their romance in prison as both cellmates and lovers. From Warner.
Check out other new DVD/Blu-ray releases, streaming films, and information and reviews at OnVideo.




