Black Nativity – Kasi Lemmons directs her adaptation of the Langston Hughes play starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Jacob Latimore, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Nas.
Duck You Sucker! aka A Fistful of Dynamite – A lesser film in the canon of Sergio Leone, but that’s not saying much considering lesser Leone is better than most director’s best films. This one follows James Coburn as a Irish Republican explosive expert hold out in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s joining up with a bandit played by Rod Steiger. It gets convoluted here and there and suffers a bit from not having the star power of some of Leone’s earlier repertory players, though Coburn is fun in his role as Mallory.
Edge of Tomorrow (Filed under "L" for some reason) – Cruise hate is really the only reason this film didn’t do better in theaters because, honestly, this film is kinda awesome. It’s really watchable and highly entertaining. If you missed it, be sure to catch it now in your home – you won’t regret it.
Foreign Correspondent – Criterion’s release of the week is Hitchcock’s second Hollywood film and a top notch spy thriller in its own right. Joel McCrea and Laraine Day star.
A Million Ways to Die in the West – I want to see this (haven’t yet) but it looks fun. Nothing will really top Blazing Saddles, so I don’t think the world really needs a modern comedy western, but I’ll give it a shot and see.
Nekromantik – One of the oddest, most provocative and offensive films that is actually really watchable that I have ever seen. It’s a head scratcher as to why that is, but I’ve always found myself able to get sucked into this film. That being said – it ain’t for most people, that’s for sure.
Obvious Child – Jenny Slate is really coming into her own since her ousting by SNL. Abortion and Comedy aren’t really bedfellows - and yet, this film works. If you have the sense of humor for it, you’ll really enjoy this.
Sharknado 2: Extended – I’m including this because there’s a huge following for these SyFy films. I haven’t seen it. Or its predecessor. But if you’re a fan, this streets today.
Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition – Don’t think I need to say much about this. One of Disney’s early masterpieces get the deluxe treatment. No brainer.
Topkapi – Jules Dassin’s spiritual sequel to one of my all-time favorite films Rififi gets the Blu-ray treatment, and guess what film is on the top of my shopping list?
True Confessions – Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall star in this kinda-sorta film about the Black Dahlia murders. Not many know about this film, but it’s pretty good and worth popping onto your Netflix for the viewing if you haven’t seen it.
Blu-Ray Reissues: Alien Quadrilogy (and individual titles), Ice Age Complete Collection, Kingdom of Heaven: 10th Anniversary – There are a lot more compilations and best-ofs this week ( a whole lot) but these are three that I like so, I’m dropping them on my list.
TV Releases of Note: Adventure Time: Season 4, American Horror Story: Coven, Bates Motel: Season 2, Fargo: Season 1, Following: Season 2, Houdini, and Rick and Morty: Season 1.
Do yourself a favor and check out Edge of Tomorrow as soon as you can. It’s good, you’ll like it. Until next week: keep spinnin’ those discs!
– Todd Doogan