With Memorial Day weekend swiftly approaching, chances are you are in the midst of making plans for the holiday. Might we suggest taking some time to watch a movie or two? After all, there’s a bunch of noteworthy new releases hitting DVD and Blu-ray this week, everything from recent comedies to an Italian horror classic. Fire up the grill and throw on some movies, there’s plenty of great watching to be had in the days ahead. Here’s a rundown of what titles are now available!
Competitive marrieds Max and Annie (Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams) lived for their regular board-game evenings with their clique, but this week, Max’s well-off sib Brooks (Kyle Chandler) upped the ante by throwing a staged murder mystery party at his place. The hitch? Brooks gets dragged off by genuine kidnappers…and his guests, thinking it’s all an act, happily plunge into an increasingly perilous pursuit! Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons co-star.
After an injury ends her career, renowned Russian ballerina Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is pressed into service as an intelligence operative who’s trained to use seduction as her primary espionage tactic. Assigned to discover the identity of CIA agent Nate Nash’s (Joel Edgerton) mole inside the Russian government, Dominika is drawn into a dangerous game of international intrigue as she begins falling for Nash and working as a double agent. Gripping spy thriller, based on Jason Matthews’ novel, also stars Matthias Schoenaerts and Jeremy Irons.
Back in the waning days of the Stone Age, caveman Dug (voiced by Eddie Redmayne) lived a challenging but otherwise peaceful life with his tribe in their crater home…until the forces of Bronze Age usurper Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) came to raid their resources. After discovering the encroachers’ favorite pastime–soccer–Dug has to rally the overmatched locals for a winner-take-all match. Fun animated effort from Aardman also features the voices of Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall, Richard Ayoade.
In 1977, having lost his mother (Michelle Williams) and his hearing, 12-year-old Minnesotan Ben (Oakes Fegley) set out for Manhattan in search of the father he never knew. In 1927, born-deaf Jersey youngster Rose (Millicent Simmonds) ran away to NYC looking for the movie-star mom (Julianne Moore) who left the family. The uncanny manner in which their quests intersect fuels Todd Haynes’ magical, kid-friendly mystery-fantasy adaptation of Brian Selznick’s novel. With Cory Michael Smith.
In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris-an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. “The 15:17 to Paris” follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board. The heroic trio is comprised of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, who play themselves in the film; directed by Clint Eastwood.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Singles Collection
Previously only available on DVD as individual releases, “The Crawling Hand,” “The Hellcats,” “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” “Eegah!,” “I Accuse My Parents,” and “Shorts, Vol. 3” are collected in this 6-disc set.
In this spooky and stylish Italian horror tale, Luisa (Hélène Rémy) and Francesca (Tina Gloriani)–members of a troupe of comely ballerinas–discover a pair of vampires at an ominous old castle. Can the young ladies jeté and pirouette their way to safety or are they doomed to die at the hands of ancient vamp Countess Alda (María Luisa Rolando) and her creepy counterpart, Herman (Walter Brandi)? With Isarco Ravaioli, Gino Turini.
Beyond the Hills (Criterion Collection)
Having grown up together in a Romanian orphanage, Alina (Cristina Flutur) and Voichita (Cosmina Stratan) became best friends–and ultimately lovers–until Alina fled to Germany. Five years later, a lonely Alina came back to persuade Voichita to return with her. The complication, however, is that Voichita is now a novitiate nun…and Alina’s desperate bid to make her leave the calling precipitates an ultimately disastrous compromise. Valeriu Andriutã also stars.
To mark her appointment as the opposition’s shadow minister of health, ambitious British politician Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) decided to host a celebratory gathering of intimates at her home. However, the stunning revelation that her reticent husband Bill (Timothy Spall) drops on the proceedings is only the first of many that will cause the night to unravel. Sally Potter’s acerbic drawing-room ensemble piece also stars Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Emily Mortimer, Cherry Jones, and Cillian Murphy.
In Santiago, transgender club singer Marina Vidal (Daniela Vega) was enjoying a whirlwind romance with wealthy, much older manufacturer Orlando (Francisco Reyes). The idyll came to a hurtful halt when Orlando suffered a fatal aneurysm–and she found herself faced with unwarranted suspicion and utter disregard from his family as well as the authorities. Best Foreign Film Oscar-winner from director Sebastián Lelio (”Gloria”) co-stars Aline Küppenheim, Nicolás Saavedra.