By Harley Lond - 08/24/20 at 11:40 PM CT
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
In 1934, Jean Renoir stepped off the soundstage and headed to the South of France, where he captured vivid human drama amid the bucolic splendor and everyday social rituals of the countryside. Based on a true story and set in a community of immigrants living, working, and loving on the margins of French society, "Toni" (1934 -- France) follows the eponymous Italian migrant (Charles Blavette), whose tempestuous affairs with two women – the faithful Marie (Jenny Hélia) and the flirtatious Josefa (Celia Montalván) -- unleash a wave of tragedy.
Making use of nonprofessional actors, on-location shooting, and the resources of the great Marcel Pagnol's Provence studio, Renoir crafts a marvel of poetic feeling that became a precursor to Italian neorealism and a favorite of the directors of the French New Wave. Toni comes on DVD or Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. From The Criterion Collection ... Based on the bestseller by Nigel Calder, the acclaimed documentary "Einstein's Universe
" (1979), narrated by Peter Ustinov -- now remastered and digitally restored -- gives viewers front row seats to Einstein's Theory of General Relativity and much more. At the renowned University of Texas-Austin McDonald Observatory, Ustinov is thoroughly enlightened on Einstein's greatest achievements, especially General Relativity, by a renowned team of scientists. Included are experiments to help understand gravity,
warped space, how light responds to gravity, the "Doppler effect" and how radio waves, as used in police radar, are an unbeatable way of measuring speed. From these simpler experiments much larger concepts are drawn, such as the discovery of a Binary Pulsar, the nature of black holes and how they are created, and the ultimate theory of how the universe was formed. On Blu-ray from Corinth Films.
BUZZIN' THE 'B'S:
In "The King of Staten Island
smoking weed, hanging with his buddies and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley). When his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter (Bill Burr), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps towards moving forward in life. Written by Pete Davidson, inspired by his own true-life story. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Universal ... "Deep Blue Sea 3
Coogan travel from Troy to Ithaca following in the footsteps of the Odysseus. When Odysseus left Troy it took him 10 years to get back to his home in Ithaca. Steve and Rob have only six days on their own personal odyssey. On the way they argue about tragedy and comedy, astronomy and biology, myth, history, democracy and the meaning of life. Follows "The Trip," "The Trip to Italy" and "The Trip to Spain." On DVD, Blu-ray, from IFC Films ... In "Yes, God, Yes
For his final horror hit of the ‘80s, "Aenigma
cinematographer Sergio Salvati, a former actor/assistant Michele Soavi and for the first and final time, the dual participation of daughters Antonella and Camilla Fulci, writer-director Simone Scafidi creates an unflinching portrait of one of the most visceral, controversial and immortal horror filmmakers of all time. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Severin Films ... "The Beast Must Die
against six men who witness a ceremony where beautiful women turn into serpents in "Cult of the Cobra" (1955). In "The Thing That Couldn’t Die" (1958), when a young psychic discovers a box that contains the living head of an executed devil worshiper … heads will roll! A cat witnesses the murder of her owner ... and this cat is hell-bent on revenge in "The Shadow of the Cat" (1961). New 2K scans from a fine grain film element. On Blu-ray from Scream Factory ... "Tales from the Darkside: The MovieFROM TV TO DISC:
"The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season" (2019-20) is a four-disc set with all 19 episodes. Last season, Team Flash spent the year dealing with not one, but two Cicadas, the return of Eobard Thawne, aka Reverse Flash, and the surprise arrival from the future of Barry and Iris’ daughter, Nora West-Allen, aka XS. The stakes were higher than ever during the season five finale. In season six, Team Flash contends with not one, but two all-new villains -- Bloodwork and Mirror Master. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Warner ...
"Gunsmoke: The Complete Movie Collection" features three Gunsmoke movies starring James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon: In "Return to Dodge" (1987), Will Mannon (Steve Forrest) is released from prison and begins looking for revenge on Dillon and Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) for putting him there. In "The Last Apache" (1990), Dillon responds to a letter from “Mike” Yardner (Michael Learned), an old friend, and discovers his ranch has been raided by Apaches and Mike’s daughter, Beth, has been kidnapped by ‘Wolf’, a rogue Apache. The film follows Dillon as he begins his search and rescue for Beth. Lastly, "To The Last Man" (1994), retired Marshal Matt Dillon finds trouble in regards to rustlers stealing his cattle. Dilion tracks down rustlers in Pleasant Valley, Arizona, where a land-grab war arises. From CBS/Paramount ... "MASTERPIECE Mystery!: Endeavour, Season 7" (2020). In Season 7, Endeavour and his colleagues enter a new decade and era of change. Opening on New Year’s Eve 1969, normal order has been resumed and the team reunited at Castle Gate CID, with Chief Superintendent Bright back in charge. However, the events of the past year have left their mark: old friendships are challenged and new relationships blossom. Amidst the dawn of women’s liberation, social progression and scientific growth, the 1970s begin for Oxford’s finest with the discovery of a body at the canal towpath on New Year’s Day. With the only clue in the investigation being a witness who heard whistling on the night of the crime, the team have their work cut out to uncover their culprit. On DVD, Blu-ray, from PBS Distribution ...
"Seal Team: Season Three" (2019) is a five-disc set with all 20 episodes. In the third season of the action-packed military drama, Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz) leads his team on a grave mission in Serbia. Meanwhile, Lisa Davis (Toni Trucks) finds herself struggling while transitioning to her new title as Intel Officer. Jason's team also includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry (Neil Brown Jr.), the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand, and Sonny Quinn (AJ Buckley), an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies. Vital to the team's success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn (Judd Lormand), who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield, and CIA analyst Mandy Ellis (Jessica Pare), who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists. From CBS/Paramount ... "Strike Back: Complete Seventh and Final Season" (2019-20) includes all 10 episodes. The members of a top-secret anti-terrorist organization known as Section 20 work to bring down the deadliest international terrorists in this action-packed series. On DVD, Blu-ray. from Warner.Check out other new DVD/Blu-ray releases, streaming films, and information and reviews at OnVideo.




