PICK OF THE WEEK
Stanley Kubrick: Essential Collection/Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection (Warner Home Video) — The name of this director and these titles speak for themselves: Spartacus; Lolita; Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb; 2001: A Space Odyssey; A Clockwork Orange; Barry Lyndon; The Shining; Full Metal Jacket; Eyes Wide Shut (and a bonus disc: Stanley Kubrick: A Life In Pictures). Lately there has been a rising stink from reliable sources that some of these films aren’t being presented in the aspect ratio that the perfectionist Kubrick intended for them to be. So take that warning for what it’s worth, but if you decide that the urge to have these films collected in one tidy package proves too strong, buy the 10-disc sets on DVD or Blu-ray.
Recommended
Gerry (Echo Bridge) — A new discounted version of one of my personal favorites is now available on DVD.
Kaboom (MPI Home Video) — Buy it on DVD.
New t0 Blu-Ray Pick(s) of the Week
Once Upon A Time In The West (Paramount) — Buy it on Blu-ray (or download it on Amazon Instant)
American Graffiti: Special Edition (Universal) — Buy it on Blu-ray (or download it on Amazon Instant).
Have Not Seen But Really/Kinda/Sorta/Maybe Wanna
Biutiful (Roadside Attractions) — Buy it on DVD or Blu-ray.
Queen to Play (Zeitgeist Films) — Buy it on DVD.
Undertow (Wolfe Video) — Buy it on DVD or Blu-ray.
Wild Card of the Week
Drive Angry (Summit Entertainment) — Nicolas Cage, once again, at his most seemingly unhinged? Proceed accordingly. Buy it on DVD, Blu-ray, or Blu-ray 3D.
Chase
“Biutiful” is definitely worth a watch for Bardem’s performance alone. The film is a little too scattered for its own good, but the sincerity of the performances overcome whatever flaws there are, and really deliver an emotional punch to the stomach.