By Harley Lond - 08/16/22 at 06:55 PM CT
FROM THE BIG SCREEN
"Jurassic World Dominion" (2022) Two worlds collide as the epic saga that began with "Jurassic Park" comes to a grand conclusion. This sequel takes place four years after Isla Nublar’s destruction when dinosaurs roam the Earth again. Facing the cataclysmic consequences of a planet once again dominated by prehistoric predators, two generations of Jurassic heroes unite as doctors Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Alan Grant (Sam Neill) 
return to join Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) for an incredible adventure that will determine the destiny of humans and dinosaurs once and for all. Vitals: Director: Colin Trevorrow. Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, BD Wong, Omar Sy. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 146 min., Action Adventure, North American box office gross: $372.018, million, worldwide $960.464 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Extended Version" of the film with 14 minutes of additional footage featuring more dinosaurs, action, iconic character moments and an alternate opening; "Battle at Big Rock" short film directed by Colin Trevorrow takes place one year after the events of "Dinosaurs Among Us: Inside Jurassic World Dominion" 10 featurettes; final night of filming with the cast and crew. Read more here
"The Black Phone" 
(2022) Finney (Mason Thames), a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer (Ethan Hawke) and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney. Vitals: Director: Scott Derrickson. Stars: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Ethan Hawke. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Thriller, North American box office gross: $85.898 million, worldwide $148.424 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes; "Ethan Hawke's Evil Turn" featurette; "Answering the Call: Behind the Scenes of The Black Phone"; Devil in the Design" featurette; Super 8 Set" featurette on shooting the dream sequences on Super 8 film; "Shadowprowler" short film by Scott Derrickson; feature commentary by producer/co-writer/director Scott Derrickson. Read more here
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
Mining the emotional sense memories of their own fractured childhoods, Josh and Benny Safdie craft a by turns empathetic and disquieting portrait of parental dysfunction poised between fierce love and terrifying irresponsibility in "Daddy Longlegs" (2009). Manic Manhattan movie theater projectionist Lenny (co-writer and longtime Safdie collaborator
Ronald Bronstein) is perhaps the last person who should be raising kids, yet here he is, trying (and failing) to keep it together as his life unravels over the two whirlwind weeks that he has custody of his young boys (real-life brothers Sage and Frey Ranaldo), with an impromptu road trip, a sleeping-pill mishap, and a night in jail all part of the chaos. Vérité New York naturalism gives way to flights of surreal lyricism in "Daddy Longlegs," a blearily impressionistic anti-fairy tale that finds unexpected humanity in the seemingly most irredeemable of fathers. On Blu-ray, with new 4K digital transfer, approved by directors Josh and Benny Safdie, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack. From The Criterion Collection. Read more here ... With its mesmerizing visuals, "Easy Rider"-style social commentary and electrifying rock soundtrack, "Electra Glide in Blue" (1973), starring Robert Blake, Mitchell Ryan, Billy Green Bush, Jeannine Riley and Elisha Cook Jr., is the quintessential ’70s cult classic. Blake creates a vivid character of almost mythic proportions as a small motorcycle cop in Arizona who’s promoted for exposing a murder. Eventually his basic virility runs him afoul of the sheriff and he’s busted back down to his bike, the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. With classic irony, he finally comes into deadly conflict with a group of hippies ... the very people who most nearly reflect his own values. The brilliant cinematography of Conrad Hall and an uncompromising screenplay by Robert Boris ("Steele Justice") highlight this stunning film debut for producer/director/composer James William Guerico. In a new 4K transfer, on Blu-ray, from Kino Lorber Studio Classics ... 
"Frownland" (2007), a nightmare transmission from the grungiest depths of the New York indie underground, is the visceral, darkly funny, and totally sui generis debut feature from Ronald Bronstein that is a dread-inducing vision of misfit alienation at its unhinged extreme. In a maniacal performance of almost frightening commitment, Dore Mann plays Keith, a disturbingly maladjusted social outcast and self-described "troll" whose neuroses plunge him into an unstoppable spiral of self-obliteration as his crummy coupon-selling job, pitiful living situation (featuring the roommate from hipster Brooklyn hell), and last remaining human relationships disintegrate around him. As captured in the grimy expressionist grain of Sean Price Williams's claustrophobic camera work, "Frownland" is DIY cinema at its most fearless, uncompromising, and unforgettable. On Blu-ray, with new 2K digital transfer, supervised by director Ronald Bronstein, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. From The Criterion Collection. Read more here.BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
In "Sniper: Rogue Mission" (2022), starring Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Sayaka Akimoto, Brendan Sexton III, Josh Brener and Dennis Haysbert, when a crooked federal agent is involved in a human sex trafficking ring, sniper and CIA Rookie Brandon Beckett (Collins) goes rogue, teaming up with his former allies Homeland Security Agent Zero (Robbins) and assassin Lady Death (Akimoto) to uncover the corrupt agent and take down the criminal organization. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Sony.
FOREIGN FILMS:
Upon high school graduation, two highly trained teenage assassins receive orders from upper management to get "real" jobs as cover, become roommates and blend into normal society in "Baby Assassins" (2021 - Japan), starring Saori Izawa, Akari Takaishi, Masanori Mimoto and Atom Mizuishi. Though they don’t like each other, after an unfortunate run-in with the violent Yakuza, they quickly learn they must band together to survive an epic fight for their lives. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Well Go USA.SPECIAL INTEREST:
"Are You Proud?" (2019) is a vivid and engaged docu-celebration of the LGBT rights movement, from the partial victory of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act to Stonewall, the Gay Liberation Front, the AIDS crisis, Legal Marriage and finally the 2016 Pulse night club shooting. The film gives an extensive history of the course of LGBT rights campaigning, but, more importantly, also shows how much more work there is to be done. From legal victories to corporate rainbow colors, Ashley Joiner’s documentary tracks half a century of campaigning against prejudice and the battles we still need to fight. From Indican Pictures.
FROM TV TO DISC:
"NCIS: The Nineteenth Season" (2021-22) is a five-disc set with all 21 episodes. People's Choice Award winner Mark Harmon retires his lead role as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs after 18 years. The 19th season kicks off with a search for Gibbs (Harmon) after wreckage from his boat is discovered and he is nowhere to be found. After finding out about Gibb's secret mission to track
down a dangerous serial killer, Agent Jessica Knight (Kartina Law) steps in to help locate him. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties. From CBS/Paramount ... "South Park: The Complete Twenty-Fourth Season (2020-21) includes the "Pandemic" episode, which was the highest rated and most-watched cable comedy telecast of 2020, followed by the "Vaccination" episode, which was the highest rated original cable comedy telecast of 2021. In the latest must-own season, Randy comes to terms with his role in the COVID-19 outbreak as the on-going pandemic presents continued challenges to the citizens of South Park. The kids happily head back to school, but nothing resembles the normal that they once knew; not their teachers, not their homeroom, not even Eric Cartman. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Comedy Central/Paramount.Check out other new DVD/Blu-ray releases, streaming films, and information and reviews at OnVideo.
