This week’s new releases offer up two new editions of Frank Capra favorites, sequels and remakes, cult hits, underground flicks, and much, much more. Here’s what new DVDs and Blu-rays you’ll be wanting to watch in the days ahead.
A decade after humans–and their enormous armored Jaeger mechas–defeated the monstrous Kaiju attackers from another dimension, the people of Earth are enjoying an era of peace. When second-generation Jaeger jock Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) is recruited to train a fresh batch of pilots, he soon finds himself on the front lines of a desperate battle as a new and dangerous Kaiju threat reveals itself. Action-packed sequel also stars Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, Rinko Kikuchi, and Charlie Day.
Jean Arthur, James Stewart, and Claude Rains star in Frank Capra’s award-winning 1939 classic about an idealistic, small town American senator who heads to Washington D.C. and suddenly finds himself single-handedly battling ruthless politicians out to destroy him. Receiving a total of eleven 1939 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture and Best Director), and winning one (Best Writing, Original Story), this is considered one of Capra’s, Stewart’s and Columbia’s finest films.
Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the lavishly-produced Frank Capra classic, Lost Horizon, based on the best-selling novel by James Hilton. Ronald Colman and Jane Wyatt star in this unique journey to the enchanted paradise of Shangri-La, where time stands still. Now restored in 4K and featuring an additional minute of footage long missing from the film, Lost Horizon is a sumptuous experience for lifelong fans and newcomers alike. Edward Everett Horton, John Howard star.
Exciting, modern spin on the 1974 Charles Bronson classic (and the novel it was based on) stars Bruce Willis as Paul Kersey, a Chicago trauma surgeon who becomes a ruthless vigilante when a home invasion leaves his wife dead and his daughter in a coma. As Kersey begins taking out criminals and low-lifes on a blood-soaked quest for justice, his exploits go viral, turning him into a media sensation dubbed “the Grim Reaper.” With Vincent D’Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue, Camila Morrone, Dean Norris, Kimberly Elise.
Described by writer/director Robert Downey, Sr. as “a cross between ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told,’ ‘High Noon,’ and a Las Vegas floorshow,” this outrageous satire is set in a sleepy frontier town visited by zoot-suited drifter Jesse (Allan Arbus), a miracle-working song-and-dance man whose routine rouses the ire of town boss/saloon owner Seaweedhead Greaser (Albert Henderson). Luana Anders, Herve Villechaize also star; look for a 7-year-old Robert Downey, Jr.
Frank (Hugo Metsers) and Eva (Willeke van Ammelrooy) cannot live with or without each other. In the liberal 1970s, Frank sleeps with every woman he can get. Eva, meanwhile, is looking for more security and wants to start a family. Frank’s behavior frustrates her so much that she starts an affair with their mutual friend. This social drama offers a view on relationships not much different than today. For Sylvia Kristel (her debut prior to Emmanuelle), a special role was written after she said to Pim de la Parra, “Why won’t you discover me? I’m the best.”
Having once been close as they grew up in one of Connecticut’s glossier zip codes, Amanda (Olivia Cooke) and Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) drifted apart by high school. Reconnecting over boards tutoring for Lily, the privileged duo remember what bonded them in the first place–a lack of human empathy–and make a project out of recruiting a low-end drug dealer (Anton Yelchin) to do away with Lily’s overbearing stepdad (Paul Sparks). Pitch-dark social satire/thriller co-stars Kaili Vernoff, Francie Swift.
Stressed as she was from the stalking that drove her from her hometown, financial analyst Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) thought it would be best to seek some therapy. Thanks to the paperwork she cavalierly filled out and an insurance-hungry facility, she finds herself involuntarily committed–and facing a very real battle for her sanity as she tries to regain her freedom. Steven Soderbergh’s riveting suspenser, shot on an iPhone 7, also stars Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharaoh, Juno Temple, and Amy Irving.
Flamboyantly gay teen Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther) reluctantly gave up life with his loose-cannon mom (Bette Midler) for the rock-ribbed conservative community where his dad (Larry Pine) lived. With most of the kids at his new high school shunning him from the get, he had only one recourse: challenge the class’s alpha mean girl (Abigail Breslin) for homecoming queen! Engaging dramedy adapted from the James St. James YA novel co-stars AnnaSophia Robb, Laverne Cox, Celia Weston, Mickey Sumner.