The 1976 film by Miklós Jancsó, Private Vices, Public Virtues, is an under-appreciated gem from one of the most liberated and fruitful decades in the history of cinema. The film takes place in Central Europe, and centers on the arrogant and free spirited heir to the throne – a young man named Rudolf. At his […]
Jane Arden’s 1972 film, The Other Side of the Underneath, is one of the most fascinating cinematic discoveries that I’ve encountered this year. It’s an extremely disturbing exploration of madness, and centers on several women in an asylum who have been declared schizophrenic. The patients regularly engage in a frantic type of group therapy, with each […]
Agusti Villaronga’s 1989 film, Moon Child, has finally been released on Blu-ray by Cult Epics. This adult fairy tale tells the story of a young man named David, who is taken to a special orphanage that is populated with children and adults who possess extraordinary powers. From the moment the film opens, David is aware that […]
Arrow Films has released Emiliano Rocha Minter’s We Are The Flesh on Blu-ray. In a post-apocalyptic Mexico, a brother and a sister find their way into an abandoned building while looking for shelter. Little do they know that the place that they have found is inhabited by a sadistic hermit, who is in a constant […]
Renowned distributors, Flicker Alley, have release Georges Melies’ 1902 masterpiece, A Trip to the Moon, on a definitive Blu-ray set. This landmark in the world of cinema is presented in its original colors via a pristine new transfer, with several different scores to choose from. With several special features included, this is a must-own for […]
Alberto Vázquez and Pedro Rivero have created a small masterpiece with Birdboy: The Forgotten Children. This tiny little wonder takes place in a post-apocolyptic universe, populated with adorable, angsty, world-weary, and drug-addled animals. In this world where hope seems lost, salvation seems possible for teenager, Dinky, and her rag-tag group of friends who are all […]
James Quinn’s twenty minute short film, The Law of Sodom, is an experience that I’ll never forget. The Law of Sodom is a searing portrait of the hell that is schizophrenia. Quinn (who also stars in the film) takes us on a surreal journey into the darkest depths of the mind. To put it mildly, this […]
The good folks at Shout Factory have finally released Rob Reiner’s Misery on Blu-ray. When best-selling author, Paul Sheldon, nearly dies in a horrific car accident, salvation arrives in the form of his self-proclaimed “number one fan”, a nurse named Annie Wilkes. As she nurses him back to health, the bed-ridden Paul comes to realize […]
Carroll Ballard’s 1986 film, Nutcracker: The Motion Picture, has finally arrived on Blu-ray, courtesy of Olive Films. Carroll Ballard’s gorgeous adaptation of the Tchaikovsky ballet utilizes enormous sets and costumes – designed by Maurice Sendak – and the talents of the Pacific Northwest Ballet to create a wholly unique holiday experience. Never before has the […]
When Chris Columbus decided to direct the film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s hit Broadway musical, Rent, fans (lovingly called “Rentheads”) immediately became skeptical. Chris Columbus was the guy who gave us Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – all perfect examples of innocuous family fare – and now he was […]
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