Post Awards season blues got you down? Not to worry! We’ve got an array of titles hitting Blu-ray and DVD this week that will satisfy your movie cravings. There’s the usual batch of recent theatrical offerings along with some TV favorites, Hollywood classics making their Blu-ray debuts, and so much more. So fire up your players and get ready to add to your home media collection with these terrific new releases. Here we go!
Ford V Ferrari (2019)
In the early ‘60s, after Ferrari backed out of an acquisition, the brass at Ford were determined to show up the Italian performance powerhouse with a car that could take Le Mans. Ex-racer/engineer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and his hand-picked driver, short-fused Brit Ken Miles (Christian Bale), faced grueling struggles on the test track–and with their sponsors–before their date with destiny in June of ‘66. James Mangold’s thrilling high-torque biopic co-stars Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Damon Runyon’s colorful gangsters come to life in this lavish film adaptation of Frank Loesser’s beloved Broadway musical. Frank Sinatra is Nathan Detroit, proprietor of “the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York,” and Marlon Brando is high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson; with Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye. The score includes “Luck Be a Lady,” “Adelaide’s Lament,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
The Mysterious Mr. M (1946)
When a noted submarine engineer is kidnapped and subjected to a mind control drug, a cop (Richard Martin), an insurance investigator (Pamela Blake), and a federal agent (Dennis Moore) pool their resources to uncover the criminal mastermind responsible. Is their most likely suspect (Edmund MacDonald) only a cat’s paw for the fiend behind the chaos? Thrilling chapterplay, the last produced by Universal, also stars Virginia Brissac, Byron Foulger, Danny Morton, Jane Randolph.
Roma (Criterion Collection)(2018)
In early-‘70s Mexico City, indigenous live-in maid Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) dutifully saw to the needs of doctor’s wife Sofía (Marina de Tavira) and her four kids. Between Cleo being abandoned pregnant by her lover (Jorge Antonio Guerrero), the slow foundering of Sofía’s marriage, and the perilous regional upheaval of the Dirty War, their dynamic would forever change. Alfonso Cuarón’s deeply personal, multiple Oscar-winning effort also stars Fernando Grediaga.
I Got You Babe: The Best of Sonny & Cher
On August 1, 1971, American audiences got their first taste of a show they would soon consider essential viewing. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered on CBS featuring the beloved husband-and-wife musical duo performing their hit songs and side-splitting sketches with must-see guest stars. Over the course of four seasons, Sonny and Cher would redefine what a variety show could be as they cemented their place in television history. Now you can watch from the beginning with the pilot episode, firsts of many classic sketches, and the chemistry that started it all, in this five-disc set collecting the program’s best moments.
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
Frightfully funny comedy follows tabloid reporters Jack Harrison (Jeff Goldblum) and Gil Turner (Ed Begley, Jr.) to Transylvania for a scoop on the apparent return of Frankenstein’s Monster. Jack and Gil soon find themselves crossing paths with a host of kooky characters, among them sexy vampire vixen Odette (Geena Davis). Co-stars Joseph Bologna, John Byner, Carol Kane, and Michael Richards.
Sparkle (1976)
The original movie musical that chronicled the rise of a ’60s Supremes-like girl group from the Harlem ghetto to superstardom. While the group Sister and The Sisters pursues fame and fortune, their relationships fracture when Sister (Lonette McKee) turns to drugs and Sparkle (Irene Cara) cultivates a relationship with their manager (Philip Michael Thomas). Dwan Smith, Dorian Harewood also star; features a score written by Curtis Mayfield, Leiber and Stoller.
The Devil (1981)
After a murderous con artist weasels his way into the heart of a hotelier’s young daughter–and into the family business–he’ll learn there’ll be nightmarish hell to pay, courtesy of a victim’s vengeful ghost and a witch who causes various vermin to devour those she curses from within. Unsettling and grisly shocker from filmmaker Jen-Chieh Chang stars Shao Tung Chou, Hung Lieh Chen, Bao-Yu Wang, Ti Ou.
A Little Romance (1979)
Accompanying her parents to Paris on business, 13-year old Lauren (Diane Lane, in her film debut) became mutually smitten with cabbie’s son Daniel (Thelonious Bernard). Taking the offhand advice of an affable senior (Laurence Olivier) to heart, they run off to Venice for a romance-sealing kiss–and spark scenic adventure as they try to stay a step ahead of the authorities. George Roy Hill’s whimsical and winning charmer also stars Sally Kellerman, Arthur Hill, Broderick Crawford, David Dukes.
The Trouble With You (2019)
Two years after her husband and colleague fell in the line of duty, policewoman Yvonne Santi (Adèle Haenel) stunningly discovered that the lionized hero had been utterly corrupt. After Antoine Parent (Pio Marmaï)–an innocent jewelry store clerk that her spouse framed for robbery–gets released from his eight-year stretch, the guilt-ridden cop starts covertly insinuating herself into his life to make good. Diverting comedy co-stars Audrey Tautou, Damien Bonnard.
You’ll Never Be Alone (2016)
Middle-aged Santiago mannequin maker Juan (Sergio Hernandez) had always subscribed to the dignity of hard work and the basic fairness of the system. However, after his gay son Pablo (Andrew Bargsted) was left near death after a savage homophobic beating, the crushing medical expenses and indifference of the authorities might upend his beliefs in stunning fashion. Feature bow as writer/director for musician Álex Anwandter co-stars Jaime Leiva.
In Fabric (2019)
Downtrodden at workplace and home, bank teller Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) wanted to treat herself…and the flowing, flattering red number that she found at a bizarre boutique seemed to be what she needed. However, as she and all in her orbit start suffering strange maladies and accidents in the dress’s presence, they’ll be discovering that the garment’s literally to die for. Stylish and satirical shocker co-stars Gwendoline Christie, Hayley Squires, Leo Bill, Julian Barratt.
The Sting II (1983)
Set shortly after the end of the Depression, this sequel follows con man Fargo Gondorff (Jackie Gleason) as he is released from prison and returns to his scheming ways. As he and cohort Jake Hooker (Mac Davis) contend with pretty crook Veronica (Teri Garr), they plot a boxing scam aimed at hoodwinking banker Doyle Lonnegan (Oliver Reed) and a local racketeer. With Karl Malden, José Pérez.
Branded (1950)
Alan Ladd stars in this classic sagebrush saga as Choya, a gunfighter who gets roped into helping the sinister Leffingwell (Robert Keith) get his hands on a rancher named Lavery’s (Charles Bickford) land by impersonating his long-lost son. When he falls for Lavery’s daughter, Ruth (Mona Freeman), Choya’s conscience gets the better of him, causing him to double-cross Leffingwell and find the real son himself. With Joseph Calleia, Peter Hansen.
Heartbeeps (1981)
You’ve seen lovers that were made for each other before…but never like romantic robots Val (Andy Kaufman) and Aqua (Bernadette Peters). When the mechanized servants fall in love with one another, they go on the run in order to find happiness, with a police robot called Crimebuster in hot pursuit. Futuristically funny rom-com also stars Randy Quaid, Christopher Guest, Kenneth McMillan, Melanie Mayron, and the great Dick Miller.
Grease 2 (1982)
It’s a new year in the rockin’ halls of Rydell High, and straight-arrow transfer Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield) is having trouble fitting in. Will his disguise as a mysterious motorcyclist win over intrigued Pink Lady Stephanie Zinone (Michelle Pfeiffer)…but start a rumble with teed-off T-Bird leader Johnny Nogerelli (Adrian Zmed)? Music and fun-filled ’60s sequel also stars Lorna Luft, Tab Hunter, Eve Arden, Didi Conn.
Swamp Thing: The Complete Series (2019)
This critically hailed but season-lived DC Universe take on the much-loved muck monster starred Andy Bean as conflicted Bayou-based researcher Alec Holland and Derek Mears as the elemental entity that arose after Holland’s murder. The creature would become an object of pursuit for CDC scientist Abigail Arcane (Crystal Reed) and local cop Matt Cable (Henderson Wade). Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Beals, Maria Sten, Jeryl Prescott, Will Patton, Kevin Durand co-star. 10 episodes on 2 discs.
La Barraca (The Shack) (1945)
In late 19th century Valencia, a family of tenant farmers arrived to work the parcel of their avaricious landlord, moving into the humble hut that their predecessors were tragically driven from. As challenging as their labors were, the treatment they received from a suspicious and resentful local community might be what would ultimately break them. Acclaimed adaptation from Mexico of the Vicente Blasco Ibáñez novel stars Domingo Soler, Anita Blanch, Amparo Morillo.
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
After being released from an institution, a young woman (Zohra Lampert) is brought by her husband (Barton Heyman) to a Connecticut farmhouse for a therapeutic change of scenery. However, starting with the odd young woman (Mariclare Costello) they find squatting within–and allow to stay–disturbing phenomena crop up that threaten to break her tenuous grip on sanity. Kevin O’Connor, Alan Manson co-star in this chiller directed by John Hancock (“Bang the Drum Slowly”).
Love Unleashed (2019)
Accountant and animal shelter volunteer Hailey (Jen Lilley) had a side effort where she brought puppies to parties in the hope of finding forever homes. The dogs manage to charm 8-year-old guest Emmy (Bailey Skodje)–and Hailey has a similar effect on her handsome widowed dad Ryan (Christopher Russell)–but will the barking commence if she learns that he’s the city planner she’s been jousting with over a new dog park? Tail-wagging Hallmark charmer co-stars Donna Benedicto, Mark Brandon.
Six-disc set includes John Wick (2014), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3–Parabellum (2019), along with plenty of Keanutastic bonus material.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases.