Blu-ray Review: Nixon (3-Disc Special Edition)
Kino Lorber Studio Classics recently released a three-disc Special Edition of Oliver Stone’s 1995 film, Nixon. It contains both the original 191-minute Theatrical Cut (premiering for the first time in HD on a Blu-ray disc) and the extended 212-minute Director’s Cut (which was only on the two-disc Disney/Buena Vista Election Year Blu-ray released in 2008). […]
Gravity (Blu-ray)
Redefining the use of cinematography, visual, and sound effects, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity is a truly unique cinematic experience. Opening the film with a 17-minute “unbroken” shot, it’s quickly apparent that the camera is as important to the story as any character. As astronauts Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), perform a spacewalk […]
Pain & Gain: Special Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Back in August, Pain & Gain was made available as a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo pack devoid of extras. Just in time for the holidays, Paramount will re-release the Blu-ray as a Special Collector’s Edition with nearly an hour of extras, packaged in a snazzy red case. Owners of the earlier release will need to decide […]
The Right Stuff (Blu-ray)
Adapted from Tom Wolfe’s engrossing book, it’s still hard to believe that The Right Stuff wasn’t one of the biggest hits of 1983. One explanation might have been that former astronaut and veteran Ohio Senator John Glenn was gearing up for a run at the White House the next year, and many moviegoers saw the […]
Blu-ray Review: Pain & Gain
After watching Pain & Gain, I looked carefully at the credits to make sure the film was indeed directed by Michael Bay. Long known for big budget movies with even bigger explosions, Pain & Gain is the director’s ‘smallest’ film since 1995’s Bad Boys, and his first since 2005 that isn’t part of the Transformers […]
Blu-ray Review: Phantom (2013)
Based on true events, when a Russian submarine seemed to go rogue during the Cold War in 1968, nearly creating a major international nuclear incident, Phantom is a mediocre thriller helped by a surprisingly strong cast. Ed Harris plays Demi, a Russian naval officer sent on his final assignment before retirement. His mission is to […]
Blu-ray Review: Game Change
Based in part, on the best-selling book by political journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, Game Change chronicles the decision to pair 2008 Republican Presidential nominee John McCain with then Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Originally aired on HBO in March of 2012, it may be difficult for audiences not to view Game Change through the […]
Blu-ray Review: The Firm
For much of the 1990’s, John Grisham’s novels dominated bestsellers lists. A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief, The Client, and The Firm are considered among his best. While all four were adapted into successful films, The Firm is by far, the best of the lot. Director Sydney Pollack’s vision is just as engaging, suspenseful, […]