Top Ten DVD List for September 12, 2017

by Kam Williams

This Week’s DVD Releases

E.T [35th Anniversary Limited Edition Gift Set].

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail [U.S. Unfairly Targets Chinese Family]

Soul on a String [There Is Only One Path for the Sacred]

Beatriz at Dinner [Fish-Out-of-Water Comedy]

Decline and Fall:Season 1 [Adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Classic Novel]

Phantasm: 5 Movie Collection [Iconic Horror Film Franchise]

Kevin Can Wait: Season One [Hello Again, America!]

Rake: Series 3 [Satirical Aussie Legal Dramedy]

The Lost Empire [The Complete Miniseries]

The Goldbergs: Season 4 [Like Your Family Was So Cool in the '80s?]

Honorable Mention

Veep: Season 6 [Making History Whether You Like it or Not]

Dead Again in Tombstone [No One Gets To Rest in Peace]

Silicon Valley: Season 4 [Changing the Way Things Change]

Trick or Treat Spooktacular Collection [13 Haunting Tales]

The Resurrected [Death Is Just the Beginning]

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady]

The Goldbergs: Season 3 [Geeky Adam Goldberg's Wonder Years]

The Prison [Rule the Outside from Within]

PBS Kids: It's Potty Time! [Kiddie Bathroom Training Video]

The Mummy [Classic Franchise Rebooted Courtesy of Tom Cruise]

Happy Holidays, Garfield! [Thanksgiving and Christmas Tales]

Mouse & Mole at Christmas Time [Unlikely-Buddies Animated Adventure]

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening September 15, 2017

 

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams 

OPENING THIS WEEK

BIG BUDGET FILMS

American Assassin (R for torture, profanity, brief nudity and pervasive graphic violence) Revenge thriller about a 23 year-old (Dylan O'Brien) grieving a fiancee killed in a terrorist attack who is recruited by the CIA's Deputy Director (Sanaa Lathan) and teamed with a veteran agent (Michael Keaton) to apprehend a mysterious madman (Taylor Kitsch) trying to start World War III. With Charlotte Vega, Chris Webster and Buster Reeves.

Brad's Status (R for profanity) Ben Stiller plays the title character in this midlife crisis comedy as a man who finds himself reevaluating his career choices when he accompanies his college-bound son (Austin Abrams) on a tour of schools in the Boston area. Supporting cast includes Michael Sheen, Jenna Fischer, Luke Wilson and Jemaine Clement.

Mother! (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and disturbing violence) Oscar-nominee Darren Aronofsky (for Black Swan) wrote and directed this suspense thriller about a couple (Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem) whose domestic tranquillity is disrupted after they allow some uninvited guests (Ed Harris & Michelle Pfeiffer) crash in their country home. With Brian Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson and Amanda Chiu.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Dayveon (Unrated) Devin Blackmon plays the titular character in this coming-of-age saga, set in rural Arkansas, about a 13 year-old, African-American orphan who joins a gang in the wake of his big brother's death, when his sister (Chastity Moore) and her boyfriend (Dontrell Bright) can no longer afford to raise him. Cast includes Kordell Johnson, Marquell Manning and Shavidee Trotter.

Extraordinary Ordinary People (Unrated) Cultural documentary crisscrossing the country to chronicle the work of winners of America's National Heritage Fellowships which are awarded annually to musicians, dancers, craftsmen and assorted other fine and folk artists.

In Search of Fellini (R for nudity, sexuality and profanity) Fact-based docudrama about an ardent Fellini fan (Ksenia Solo) who embarks on a trip from Ohio to Italy with hopes of meeting the legendary film director. With Mary Bello, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson).

Rat Film (Unrated) Theo Anthony wrote, directed and stars in this eye-opening documentary chronicling his frustration with inner-city Baltimore's rodent infestation.

Rebel in the Rye (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references, smoking and brief violence) Nicholas Hoult portrays J.D. Salinger in this reverential biopic about the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye. Featuring Zoey Deutch, Kevin Spacey, Hope Davis, Eric Bogosian and Sarah Paulson.

Red Trees (Unrated) Marina Willer (Cartas da Mae) directed this Holocaust documentary exploring why her father's was one of the dozen Jewish families to survive the Nazi occupation of Prague during World War II.

The Show (R for violence, pervasive profanity and brief drug use) Veteran thespian Giancarlo Esposito (The Usual Suspects) directs and co-stars in this disturbing drama about a reality-TV series whose contestants are encouraged to commit suicide for the sake of ratings and entertainment. Featuring Famke Janssen, Josh Duhamel and Sarah Wayne Callies.

Vengeance: A Love Story (Unrated) Nicolas Cage stars in this action thriller as a Gulf War vet-turned-vigilante who hunts down the creeps that gang-raped a single-mom (Anna Hutchison) right in front of her young daughter (Talitha Eliana Bateman) on the 4th of July. With Don Johnson, Charlene Tilton and Deborah Kara Unger.

Wetlands (Unrated) Ensemble drama about a disgraced detective (Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje) who finds himself reassigned from Philadelphia to the shore where he gets a shot at redemption when a hurricane bears down on the region. Co-starring Heather Graham, Christopher McDonald and Jennifer Ehle.

The Wilde Wedding (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Romantic comedy revolving around a retired film star (Glenn Close) about to tie the knot for the fourth time, after a whirlwind courtship with a renowned British writer (Patrick Stewart). Supporting cast includes John Malkovich, Minnie Driver and Grace Van Patten.

Home Again

 
Film Review by Kam Williams

Middle-Aged Mom Dates Younger Man in Midlife Crisis Comedy

After separating from her husband, Austen (Michael Sheen), Alice Kinney decides to move from Manhattan to L.A. with her two young daughters, Rosie (Eden Grace Redfield) and Isabel (Lola Flanery). Although her dad has passed away, the return to the house she grew in is a no-brainer, since the girls will have a chance to live in the lap of luxury while being pampered by their doting grandma, Lillian (Candice Bergen). 
 
Alice's late father was apparently a far better film director than spouse, considering how his embittered widow still complains about his philandering and smugly delights in his demise, saying, "He's gone now, so I won!" Nevertheless, the sprawling mansion the legendary icon provided does have a storeroom stuffed with Oscars, movie posters and other memorabilia from his enviable Hollywood career. 
 
Soon after arriving, Rosie and Isabel become terribly homesick. That's not the case with their suddenly-single mom, who heads to a pick up bar to celebrate her 40th birthday with a couple of long-lost BFFs. Next thing you know, the hot-to-trot cougars find themselves sharing drinks with a trio of fledgling filmmakers in their twenties, one of whom, Harry (Pico Alexander), is instantly smitten with Alice. 
 
Selfishly, she not only takes all three home with her, but enjoys an ill-advised, one-night stand with her ardent admirer. This only serves to confuse curious Rosie, who asks some tough questions the next morning ("How did you meet?" "Did you have a sleepover?) when she discovers her mother in bed with a stranger. 
 
The farfetched premise plot further tests credulity when Granny Lillian, instead of objecting to the young men's presence, invites them to move into the guest house upon learning that they're almost broke and struggling to make it in showbiz. Not long thereafter, wouldn't you know that Austen might arrive from New York unannounced, hoping to reconcile with his estranged ex?

Thus unfolds Home Again a zany romantic romp written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer. She makes an impressive debut, here, with a tasteful love triangle storyline reminiscent of Something's Gotta Give (2003) and It's Complicated (2009). Hallie didn't have to look far for inspiration, as both of those hit pictures were written and directed by her Oscar-nominated mom, Nancy Meyers (for Private Benjamin). 
 
Finally, a relatively-sophisticated, female-centric comedy revolving around romance rather than raunch. What a refreshing treat!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality and mature themes
Running time: 97 minutes
Production Studio: Black Bicycle Entertainment
Distributor: Open Road Films


To see a trailer for Home Again, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfHZ-B374iA

It

Film Review by Kam Williams

Kids Hunt Killer Clown in Creepy Adaptation of Stephen King Classic

Written by master of suspense Stephen King, It was the best-selling book in the U.S. during 1986. The riveting page-turner was set in deceptively-serene Derry, Maine, where a sadistic clown living underground in the sewers disrupted the peace of the picturesque city by preying primarily on children. 

 

In 1990, King's 1,184-page opus was turned into an Emmy-winning miniseries starring Tim Curry in the title role of It, better known as Pennywise. Now, the novel has been fairly-faithfully adapted to the big screen with Bill Skarsgard playing the demonic harlequin.

As the film unfolds in the fall of 1988, we find 11 year-old Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) busy building a small sailboat for his little brother, George (Jackson Robert Scott). One can't help but notice a pair of observing eyes glowing ominously from a darkened corner of the spacious basement. 

 

Then, during a heavy downpour, a grateful George launches his new toy in the freshet flowing along the gutter in front of his house. The "S.S. George" floats to the corner of the block where it is promptly swallowed by the sewer. 

 

And when the unsuspecting kid peers down the storm drain to retrieve it, he is greeted by an ingratiating stranger who playfully introduces himself as Pennywise, the Dancing Clown. After being promised a balloon, popcorn and the return of his boat, George lets his guard down long enough to be dragged into the sewer, leaving behind only a blood-stained street.

Fast-forward to the last day of the school year. Still-grieving Bill is now the leader of the Losers Club, a motley crew of social outcasts who decide to spend their summer vacation solving George's mysterious disappearance. Of course, they have no idea they're up against a formidable foe in the elusive, shape-shifting Pennywise. 

 

Instead of apprehending the perpetrator, the body count merely continues to rise as other names are added to the Missing Persons list. Eerie atmospherics, a talented ensemble of adolescents actors and the creepiest clown since Heath Ledger's Joker combine to create a macabre masterpiece that will continue to haunt you long after you leave the theater. 

 

I can't pass a sewer anymore without half-expecting Pennywise's frightening face to appear!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for violence, profanity and bloody images
Running time: 135 minutes
Production Studio: New Line Cinema
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures


To see a trailer for It, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKJmEC5ieOk

Dave Stevens' Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Challenge

 

Dear Friends,

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I have stage 4 cancer. It's the most common lethal cancer diagnosed in men. 1 in 6 men will get it.

I am asking a simple thing -

First, re-post this and share it with the link from Johns Hopkins for contribution on your social media or web page.

Second, ask any friend who is famous or an influencer to simply retweet or share.

Third, watch Mary and my short video - 2 minutes as a favor for the guy with stage 4 - and then hit the link and get one of our cool shirts.

This time is now - we really would love and appreciate any help and sharing we can get by you, your friends, employees, co-workers and family - we need to kill this. This is a simple ask - but because of the cheap minimum dollar ask, we need mass sharing. 

Would you do that? Share this broadly - I know with Hurricane Harvey we are being stretched - but it’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and my time on this Earth is especially focused on killing this damned disease.

Sharing this with as many people you know is as important as making this small donation and getting a cool shirt.

Here is the link to hit after you watch the  video  below: https://secure.jhu.edu/form/stevensprostatecancer/

I made a gift to Johns Hopkins secure.jhu.edu Urology Dr. Ken Pientas Gift Fund

The video is here: https://youtu.be/bw8kxHyR_pY

Dave & Mary Stevens- “We’re Not Blue About Prostate Cancer Cuz We’re Gonna Kick Its Butt!” youtu.be Visit https://secure.jhu.edu/form/stevensprostatecancer/ to make a donation! Thank you! Dave and Mary Stevens invite you to join them in the fight to end pro...

Thanks from Mary and Me

Dave Stevens

Rough Night

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Bawdy Girls Trip Comedy Comes to Home Video

Jessica (Scarlett Johansson) and Peter (Paul W. Downs) are on the verge of tying the knot. But prior to walking down the aisle together, they've agreed to simultaneously throw themselves bachelor's and bachelorette's parties. But while she flies down to Miami for a swinging soiree' with a quartet of her closest college classmates, his relatively-modest plan is merely to share a refined evening of wine tasting with a few a nerdy buddies. 
 

Since Jess is also in the midst of a campaign for the state senate, she doesn't want their reunion to get so out of control as to generate the sort of negative press that might hurt her candidacy. However, she's blissfully unaware that decorum is the last thing on the mind of Alice (Jillian Bell), the girlfriend entrusted with scheduling their agenda. 

 

Alice sees the getaway as an opportunity for the BFFs to indulge one last time in the sort of depravity they enjoyed on campus a decade ago, when they would get wasted playing beer pong on a typical Friday night. Consequently, she's prepared for a wild weekend which includes everything from cocaine to a male stripper. 

 

Such activities might not sit well with another attendee, Frankie (Ilana Glazer). After all, she's not only a lesbian, but a repeat offender worried about violating the "Three Strikes" law mandating a life sentence. However, pal Pippa (Kate McKinnon), a clown returning from Australia for a good time, is up for anything, as is overstressed Blair (Zoe Kravitz) who needs to decompress from an ugly custody battle.

The mayhem starts right in the airport terminal when Alice uncorks a bottle of champagne in celebration, only to unwittingly trigger a stampede by passengers mistaking the pop for a gunshot. Then, upon arriving at their beachfront rental house, the girlfriends are invited by naughty, next-door neighbors Lea (Demi Moore) and Pietro (Ty Burrell) to participate in an orgy.

The plot thickens soon after the exotic dancer Alice hired rings the doorbell. Before he has a chance to shed all of his clothes, he accidentally hits his head and promptly passes away. Against their better judgment, Jessica and company decide to dump the body in the ocean rather than call the cops. And what ensues is a relentlessly-hilarious, ever-escalating comedy of errors. 

 

Thus unfolds Rough Night, a raunchy romp most reminiscent of The Hangover (2009), although it also has moments likely to remind you of Bridesmaids (2011) and Weekend at Bernie's (1989). The movie marks the phenomenal directorial debut of Lucia Aniello, the first woman to direct an R-rated comedy since Tamra Davis made Half Baked in 1998 with Dave Chappelle.

Laughs galore in a bawdy bachelorette party gone from bad to worst!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for crude sexuality, drug use, coarse humor, brief bloody images and pervasive profanity
Running time: 101 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Blu-ray Extras: 11 deleted scenes saved from the cutting room floor; "Naughty Neighbor" Diaries – Explore Pietro and Lea's one-of-a-kind sensual video dating profile; Video Dating Profile: "Open Says Me" Questionnaire; Improv-O-Rama – Catch all the improv alternate lines of dialogue in this Improv-line-o-rama; Scandalous Sing-Along – Follow the bouncing X-rated glasses with this original adult sing-along; "Killer Cast" Featurette – Hear from your favorite cast of ladies as they discuss their first impressions and favorite parts of the film; "The Dynamic Duo: Lucia and Paul" Featurette – Lucia Anillo and Paul Downs discuss their past projects and how this one came to be; "Playing Dead" Featurette – Learn more about Jay-the-fake-stripper and hear from the cast and crew about working with and casting him; and "Do a Little Dance" Featurette – In this special feature, learn about the work behind the scenes that made this dance number "b'genius."



To see a trailer for Rough Night, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPGF0Lt4RU8

To order a copy of Rough Night on Blu-ray, visit 

 

Megan Leavey

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Wounded Vet Reunites with Combat K9 Partner in Postwar Docudrama

Five years ago, Mike Dowling published "Sergeant Rex," a memoir about the unbreakable bond he'd forged with a bomb-sniffing dog while conducting over 35 missions on the front lines of Iraq. Now, another Marine, Corporal Megan Leavey, is the subject of a docudrama "based on a true story" chronicling her suspiciously-similar relationship with the very same German shepherd. 

 

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the film stars Kate Mara as the title character, with veteran thespians Edie Falco and Will Patton in support roles. At the point of departure, we find the rudderless protagonist enlisting in the service more out of a lack of direction than a sense of patriotism. 

 

But after completing basic training on Parris Island, she finally finds her true calling upon being assigned to the K-9 unit. Uncontrollable Rex is on the verge of being declared unfit for active duty by the base's impatient veterinarian, Dr. Turbeville (Geraldine James), when an intrepid dog whisperer begs for an opportunity to soothe the savage beast with a little TLC. 

 

Drill Sergeant Martin (Common) intervenes on her and the hound's behalf. Then, exhibiting the patience of Job, Megan is the first soldier with the tender touch necessary to tame Rex. The two soon become inseparable and, the next thing you know, they're shipped overseas to search for IEDs buried in the dangerous desert sands of Iraq's Anbar Province. 

 

The deployment initially proves uneventful other than Megan's crossing paths with potential love interest, Corporal Matt Morales (Ramon Rodriguez). Too bad he likes the Mets while she's a rabid Yankees fan. 

 

Unfortunately, before love has a chance to blossom, Megan and Rex are injured in a blast and shipped back to the States for rehab at facilities far apart from each other. By then, Megan's already developed an attachment to the hound that's almost illegal. She's convinced Rex belongs to her, not to the U.S. Military. So, she spends the rest of the picture cutting through bureaucratic red tape 'til their tearful reunion. Aww!

Pat and predictable, yet a sentimental enough journey to leave you weepy in spite of yourself.

Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, profanity, mature themes and suggestive material
Running time: 116 minutes
Production Studio: LD Entertainment
Distributor: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Never Give Up: An Inside Look at How Megan Leavey Learned to Trust Rex.




To see a trailer for Megan Leavey, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGGcFbW__XI

To order a copy of the Megan Leavey Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, visit: