From the inspirational to the schlocky, exciting to the, well, Wonder-ful, TV favorites to outrageous oddities, this week’s DVD and Blu-ray releases truly have it all. Check out what titles are now available!
Woody Harrelson delivers a remarkable effort as 36th President Lyndon Baines Johnson in Rob Reiner’s effective biopic, which offers focus on the often crude but always shrewd Senate Majority Leader’s eventual accession to charismatic rival Sen. John Kennedy (Jeffrey Donovan) for the 1960 Democratic nomination, and his turbulent first year in office as he determinedly pushed through his martyred predecessor’s civil rights agenda. With Bill Pullman, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stahl-David, and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lady Bird.
With a week to go till Christmas, Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) had enough hassles trying to meet their kids’ expectations…and then they got coal in their stockings with the unexpected holiday arrivals of their own nightmarish moms (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon, respectively). Seasonal-tinged mother of all comedy sequels also stars Justin Hartley, Jay Hernandez, Peter Gallagher, and Wanda Sykes.
Gina (Blake Lively) has been blind since childhood, having lost her sight in a car accident that also killed her parents. When an operation restores the vision in her right eye, Gina begins to experience the world in a whole new way, causing her husband, James (Jason Clarke), to feel threatened by her sudden freedom and the reality that she no longer needs to rely on him like she used to. Powerful drama also stars Ahna O’Reilly, Yvonne Strahovski, Wes Chatham, and Danny Huston.
George Clooney co-wrote (after dusting off an old Coen Brothers script) and directed this pitch dark satire set in a seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood in the late 1950s. The community’s white residents are so caught up with the needless harassment of an African American family that’s just moved in that nobody catches on to a sinister scheme involving mild-mannered Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon), his recently murdered wife (Julianne Moore), and her twin sister (also Moore). Oscar Isaac, Noah Jupe also star.
In June of 2013, the Granite Mountain Hotshots–an elite unit within the Prescott, Arizona, fire department dedicated to combatting wildfires–suited up to battle a deadly blaze near the small community of Yarnell. Based on a true story, this compelling and intense drama follows 20 courageous men as they put their lives on the line to fight one of nature’s most dangerous and destructive forces. Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, and Jennifer Connelly star.
Bosom Buddies: The Complete Series
Needing a reasonably priced apartment in New York City, ad agency workers Kip (Tom Hanks) and Henry (Peter Scolari) get a tip from their friend Amy (Wendie Jo Sperber) about a great apartment in her building, dirt cheap, but it’s a hotel for women! Now the other ladies know them as Buffy and Hildegarde, but they also know them as Kip and Henry, Buffy and Hildy’s brothers. See, it’s all perfectly normal! Donna Dixon, Holland Taylor, Telma Hopkins co-star in this cross-dressing 1980-82 ABC comedy. All 37 episodes from the series are included in this six-disc set.
The Guardian: The Complete Series
Hotshot lawyer Nick Fallin (Simon Baker) is busted on drug charges and sentenced to 1500 hours of community service. Now, Nick must juggle his day job and strained relationship with his father and boss (Dabney Coleman) while doing his time with a Pittsburgh legal aid office, where he becomes an unlikely advocate for the children who get caught up in the system. Alan Rosenberg, Wendy Moniz, Raphael Sbarge co-star in this 2001-04 drama series. All 67 episodes of the series are featured in this 18-disc set.
War of the Worlds: The Complete Series
An ambitious follow-up to the 1953 sci-fi classic, this syndicated series ran from 1988-1990. A terrorist attack on a nuclear dump site revives a group of Martians who were secretly kept in suspended animation, allowing the aliens, who have mutated and can now inhabit human bodies, to resume their conquest of Earth. Stars Jared Martin, Lynda Mason Green, Richard Chaves, and Philip Akin. All 42 episodes of the series are included in this 11-disc set.
James Stewart: 4-Movie Collection
The James Stewart classics Harvey, Rear Window, The Glenn Miller Story, and Vertigo are featured in this three-disc set.
The legendary Middle Eastern mariner has never been more muscular, as Lou Ferrigno sets sail in the title role of this dazzling fantasy epic. When conniving vizier Jaffar (John Steiner) puts the caliph in his thrall so he may marry the beautiful princess (Alessandra Martines), it’s up to Sinbad to cross pirate-laden seas, combat monstrous guardians, and collect the four mystical gems needed to break Jaffar’s power. Hal Yamanouchi, Leo Gulotta also star.
The Wilby Conspiracy
No sooner does South African anti-apartheid activist Shack Twala (Sidney Poitier) get released from prison than he quickly finds himself in trouble with the law once again. And when English mining engineer Jim Keogh (Michael Caine) comes to Twala’s aid, the pair must go on the run together in order to evade capture by a determined security official (Nicol Williamson). Taut drama, based on the novel by Peter Driscoll, also stars Persis Khambatta, Rutger Hauer, Prunella Gee.
In 2003, on the news that his son died in combat in Iraq, recent widower Doc (Steve Carrell) looked up two long-estranged colleagues from his Vietnam service days–foul-mouthed barkeep Sal (Bryan Cranston) and imperious reverend Richard (Laurence Fishburne)–for company and moral support as he journeyed to claim the body. The stunning circumstances of the unfolding trip leave the reunited veterans questioning the sacrifices of two generations, in Richard Linklater’s trenchant seriocomedy, adapted with novelist Daryl Ponsican from his semi-sequel to The Last Detail.
Stockholm modern art museum curator Christian (Claes Bang) wanted to make sure his new exhibition–exhorting viewers to listen to the altruistic sides of their natures–opened without a hitch. However, when his playing the Good Samaritan leads to the theft of his cell phone, his obsessive efforts to get it back might cause the collapse of his presentation as well as his pretensions. Wry satire from director Ruben Ostlund (”Force Majeure”) co-stars Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary.
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
History remembers early 20th-century academic William Marston (Luke Evans) as developing the forerunner of the lie detector, as well as being the writer who co-created Wonder Woman. Less spoken about, however, was the polyamorous bond that arose between himself, his wife and collaborator Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and their student research assistant Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote). Their controversial union, and its influence upon his enduring pop culture contribution, is tellingly explored in this drama; Oliver Platt, Connie Britton, JJ Feild co-star.
A demonstration of a matter transmission device goes terribly awry, leaving one of the scientists (Bryant Haliday) who was working on the project severely scarred over half of his body and turning him into a living weapon who can kill with the slightest touch. Can the deadly, disfigured doc be stopped before it’s too late? Quirky British sci-fi thriller, in the tradition of “The Fly,” also stars Mary Peach, Norman Wooland, Ronald Allen, Derek Farr, Tracey Crisp.
When Miles Langford (Malcolm McDowell), the principal of Kennedy High School, decides to take his school back from the gangs, robotics specialist Dr. Robert Forrest (Stacy Keach) provides “tactical education units.” These human-like androids have been programmed to teach and are supplied with weapons to handle discipline problems. These kids will get a lesson in staying alive!
In 1931, with pre-Civil War tensions building, young soldier Fernando (Jorge Sanz) deserts his post, strikes up a friendship with eccentric old painter Manolo (Fernando Fernán Gómez), and accepts shelter at his country home. He might have been better off with the MPs, though, once Manolo’s four beautiful daughters (Penélope Cruz, Maribel Verdú, Ariadna Gil, Miriam Díaz-Aroca) start vying for his attentions. Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Film also stars Chus Lampreave.
When underwear manufacturing scion José Luis (Jordi Mollà) gets gorgeous factory worker (and hooker’s daughter) Silvia (Penélope Cruz) pregnant, he resolves to do the right thing and marry her. However, his outraged mother (Stefania Sandrelli) isn’t having the unworthy match, and she hires swaggering local stud Raúl (Javier Bardem) to seduce Silvia away…but surprising complications erupt from there! Bigas Luna’s saucy farce also stars Anna Galiena, Juan Diego.
Leon Issac Kennedy stars as Martel Gordone who, after unwittingly getting involved with a prostitute and attempting to save her from being assaulted by a John, which turns deadly, finds himself charged with a murder he didn’t commit. Locked up in the state penitentiary, Martel is forced to fend for himself among hardened criminals, until he’s introduced to the underground and lucrative world of in-prison boxing. Wilbur ‘Hi-Fi’ White, Thommy Pollard, Gloria Delaney co-star.
Which of these are you excited for? Let us know!