Cinema Libre's Touch Ready For DVD On May 28

It is unlikely that you’ve ever heard of Porter Lynn, but after you take one look at Cinema Libre’s May 28 release of writer/director Minh Duc Nguyen’s romantic drama, Touch, you might just be on the lookout for her next film.

At first glance the story might seem to be about Brendan (John Ruby — Ricky), the auto mechanic, but this is her film … both for her performance as the guide, mentor and lover in her “friendship” with her dirty-nail customer, but also for the wide range of emotions that she displays in her relationship with her ever-demanding “old school” father (played by Long Nguyen — Seven Psychopath, First Morning, etc.).   She has to be passive, loving, insightful and tough. 

As the story goes, Tam (Porter Lynn) works at V.I.P. Nails as a manicurist and by luck of the draw she gets a local auto mechanic with a problem.   In this all-female shop, he seems like a fish out of water, but his hands are a mess in general and his nails are seemingly beyond repair.  To make matters worse, his shrew-of-a-wife is beginning to make demands … no sex until you clean up your act (their marriage is in more trouble than just dirty nails).

At first Tam appears to be just another face across the table, working on one customer after the next.   Her father wants her to be a doctor; a professional, and working as a lowly manicurist is driving him crazy — it doesn’t help that his dreams of a better life in America have taken another blow, an accident has left him wheelchair-bound (that only adds to his frustrations).

It’s not that Tam is an underachiever, it’s just that she is not sure what she wants in life and is willing to take some time for herself to find out.   The auto mechanic with the dirty nails seems like an unlikely path for her, but after some initial awkward conversations (Brendan actually seems a little creepy at first) she begins to warm to him.

They eventually become friends — and more — which puts an even greater strain on her relationship with her father.   Somehow Tam has to navigate between these two very different worlds.

Filmmaker Minh Duc Nguyen (film editor-turned-director) delivers a bittersweet script, the production values are top-notch (for an indie film) and Porter Lynn absolutely nails it (metaphorically-speaking)!

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Sadako 3D, Dino Kino On June Release Calendar From Well Go U.S.A.

Well Go USA announced two new genre releases (both on DVD and Blu-ray) for delivery during the month of June this past week.  Both product offerings will be getting plenty of buzz … if for very different reasons.

Up first is director Tsutomu Hanabusa’s film adaptation of Kôji Suzuki’s graphic novel, Sadako 3D.  DVD and Blu-ray 3D/2D editions will be available for fans of Suzuki’s Ring horror series to enjoy on June 4.

Hanabusa takes up where filmmaker Hideo Nakata took us with Ring and Ring 2 and the hideous Sadako, only this time there seems to be multiple, if imperfect, versions of the entity that claims her victims from among those who watch a mysterious videocassette.    

As always, Sadako 3D is a total creep-out, even if the reasoning and plot elements are a little hard to follow.   It absolutely doesn’t matter as Sadako 3D will certainly please fans of the series.

Two weeks later, on June 18, South Korean filmmaker Han Sang-Ho’s spectacular dinosaur saga (a CGI feast for the eyes), Dino King (aka: Tarbosaurus) will be heading to both DVD and Blu-ray (3D/2D viewing options).

Set 80-million years ago, we are introduced to Speckles, a baby Tarbosaurus (these dinosaurs are sort of a junior version of a T-Rex — carnivores and deadly just the same) and his family in their own little paradise.  This all comes to an end when “One-Eye,” a Tyrannosaur, wipes out Speckles entire family … leaving the poor little guy to fend for himself.

Eventually the little fellow grows up, finds a mate (a blue-eyed beauty) and has a family of his own.   But wouldn’t you just know it, things are looking pretty good, plenty to feast on too, but then along comes “One-Eye” and suddenly Speckles finds himself in a battle to the death!

 To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

FilmWorks Entertainment Sets Love, Concord For A June 18 DVD Rollout

FilmWorks Entertainment has scored a sweet romantic comedy for release on DVD this coming June 18.   The film in question is writer/director Gustavo Guardado’s Love, Concord, and it is one of those “below the radar” indies that surfaces from time to time that absolutely amazes and captures its audience’s heart with a mixture of charm and well-crafted storytelling.  

Where does one begin to describe what a delight Love, Concord is to watch, enjoy and ultimately savour.   On the surface it reads like a teen/high school meet-cute comedy, where unlikely opposites meet, date and fall in love.   It works at that level, but there is so much more going on here!

First, let’s start with how Guardado deftly delivers a Latino-flavored tale, but doesn’t dwell on the fact that his two young protagonists are of Hispanic descent.   They are just young people with a heritage, you are not beaten over the head with it.   Turn out the lights and focus on their words; listen as their hearts speak … these are just people; people you’d like to know.

The next thing that Guardado does is to cleverly tell one story, while actually delivering a far deeper message that slowly moves to the front without ever nudging the comedy elements out of the way.   Love, Concord is a teen comedy that magically morphs into a romantic-themed tale of the human spirit.

At the center of it is Gerry (Jorge Diaz), a high school senior who is everyone’s good buddy.   He’s grown up with them as the class clown.   He is funny … you have to give him that.  But, as the film unspools we begin to suspect that he uses this as a front to mask his own insecurities.   Life hasn’t been easy, especially at home.

The unlikely candidate for the Juliet to his Romeo is the more-than-serious, slightly plain, a little chubby, but not unattractive Melinda (Angelina Leon).   In a lot of teen movies she would be a background character … not the romantic lead.

Over the years, Gerry has gotten nothing but bad dating advice from his friends (sort of a running gag) and his choice of “girlfriends” seem to be of a certain type … attractive and shallow.   Melinda is clearly the opposite of this!

This seemingly oil and water couple is actually a perfect match.  By film’s end you have completely bought into the relationship.   It is a relationship that not only transforms Gerry — the clown act is neatly packed away — but takes the shy Melinda to another level as well; she glows.   

When a film works this well, we suspect that writer/director Gustavo Guardado is drawing upon his own life experiences … aren’t those always the best stories?   The ones that ring true!   Oh, and get this, Love, Concord is his first feature-length film — it’s nice to have this beauty on your resume!

Bonus features include a blooper reel, a photo gallery and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

VCI Entertainment Sets Two From Director Kurt Neumann For A June 4 Debut

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VCI Entertainment scores with a trio of film vault treasures heading to DVD on June 4.

The spotlight is on director Kurt Neumann, a filmmaker who was somewhat unfairly tabbed as a B-movie maker, but the low budgets he was saddled with and the quick-turnarounds would be the envy of any studio today.   He could work in any venue/genre … and do it well.

Consider this, Kurt Neumann was in the vanguard filmmakers that delivered sci-fi films in the early 1950s, specifically with his collaboration with blacklisted scripter Dalton Trumbo on the June of 1950 film release of Rocketship X-M — the film literally set off a 15-year cycle of forward-looking genre films that included the likes of The Thing, When Worlds Collide, The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds (and more, many more).   

During the same post-war period he directed/co-produced four Tarzan films, some terrific Westerns, some cutting-edge social dramas and capped off the decade with such gems as She Devil, Kronos and The Fly.  

In 1953 he returned to a post-war Germany (where he was born) and shot two films simultaneous — one in English (with American stars) and the other in German (with German actors) … and again, he worked with a screenplay in collaboration with Dalton Trumbo.  

This is the film that VCI Entertainment has ready for a DVD launch on June 4, the English-language version, Carnival Story, starring Anne Baxter (nominated twice for Best Supporting Actress — All About Eve and The Razor’s Edge, winning in the latter, but deserving for both), Steve Cochran and Lyle Bettger.   

This sexually-charged quasi-noir defies the norm of the period in that the traditional role of femme fatale has been flipped.  The imperfect Willie (Anne Baxter) finds the charms of sociopath Joe (Steve Cochran) to be irresistible, even after Frank (Lyle Bettger) offers her redemption and a loving future.   

Joe toys with her; can have her whenever he desires … she is weak.  Murder follows in the wake of her moral failure and Joe’s unrepentant lust and intrigues.  Audiences at the time hated Cochran for his performance (but would adore women doing exactly the same thing in film noirs of the period — go figure) … there was no pity for Baxter either.   

The German-language film was titled Circus of Love and starred Curd Jürgens (whose career took off the following year with The Devil’s General … And God Created Woman, The Enemy Below, etc. quickly followed) and Eva Bartok.   The German actors appeared in bit parts in Carnival Story and the American stars did uncredited cameos in the German-language version.

Also from filmmaker Kurt Neumann on DVD on June 4 is his 1952 film adaptation of Irving

Shulman’s novel “The Square Trap, which was released as The Ring in 1952.   This is a film so far ahead of its time that it is virtually an undiscovered arthouse gem.

Tommy (Lalo Rios) is an East Los Angeles up-and-coming boxer … he sees it as his only path out of being stereotyped as just another Mexican.  His manager (Gerald Mohr) and trainer (Robert Osterloh) treat him with respect and friendship, but they too see him as a vehicle for their own purposes.   

Get this, his girlfriend, Lucy, is none other than future star Rita Moreno (Best Supporting Actress for the 1961 film, West Side Story).

The Ring is social commentary in a bottle … vintage 1952.

Rounding out the June 4 release schedule is 1936 “New Spain” 12-chapter serial adventure, The Vigilantes are Coming.   It’s 1840, the 300-year tranquility of the Alta California rancheros are in turmoil … revolution in Mexico, Russian aggression from the northwest and the expansion of the United States from the east have created a volatile mix.   

General Burr (Fred Kohler) allies himself with the Russians and their emissary, Count Raspinoff (Robert Warwick) and quickly does away with any opposition.  Returning from a mission with Fremont, Don Loring (Robert Livingston) discovers his land confiscated and his father murdered.   Unable to take on Burr and his minions head-on, he creates a Zorro-like character called The Eagle and begins to pick away at the Burr/Raspinoff alliance.

The Republic serial, co-directed by Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright, plays it a little fast and loose with the actual historical events of the day (a little early on the gold rush aspects; the Colt revolver wasn’t perfected until 1847 … details, details), but delivers plenty of action and in many ways pays homage to the Valentino’s 1925 silent classic of the same name as Don Loring's mysterious masked crusader, The Eagle.

Kay Hughes co-stars as Doris, while Raymond Hatton is given plenty of chances to say, “That’s a good idee!” as Loring’s sidekick, Whipsaw.

 To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Identity Thief Arrives On June 4

Think about all of those monster budget CGI films that the studios trot out each year.   Big budget, high risk and loaded with noise and special effects.   They need to gross something like $200 million just to break even … it’s all about a bankrupt mindset that says bigger, louder and mind-numbing is better.  The actual story be damned.

So it always comes as a pleasant, even gleeful surprise, when a straight-forward two-person comedy (which is basically a couple of talented actors playing off of each other) scores mega bucks at the box office.   There is a God … and despite all the despair, God has a sense of humor.

So when Universal Studios tallies up the box office take for director Seth Gordon’s Identity Thief, the little bean counters have to have a mighty big grin on their face.  $130 million in domestic ticket sales for what amounts to a well-played; well-produced MOW.  It’s a sitcom pilot … but it is sooooo sweet.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has targeted June 4 as the street date for DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (with UltraViolet) editions of this Jason Bateman/Melissa McCarthy bust-a-gut comedy … the ARR comes in at 116 days.

Bonus features include a gag reel, alternate takes and three featurettes — “The Making of Identity Thief,” “Scene Stealing: Capturing the Humor of Identity Thief” and “The Skiptracer's Van.”

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunter From Paramount Home Media On June 11

Paramount Home Media Distribution announced this past week that writer/director Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, a very different spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale about little Hansel and Gretel and their encounter with the fabled witch, will be heading home as DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and 3D/2D Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack SKUs on June 11.

The ARR is 137 days and the domestic multiplex box office take was a nice $54.9 million.

What appeared to be a goofy idea for a horror tale — a fully-grown and leather-clad Gretel hunting down witches (along with her brother Hansel) — turned out to be an entertaining lark (just don’t take it too seriously).   Lots of blood, plenty of action and a film that self-important film critics love to hate.   Genre fans loved it!   And baby, that’s all that counts!!!

Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner

In the opening sequences we get the Brothers Grimm story and the youngsters outwitting the witch … and then we skip ahead and find the now adult Gretel (Gemma Arterton — Clash of the Titans, Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and her diabetic (all that candy took its toll) brother Hansel (Jeremy Renner — The Hurt Locker, The Town) are ace witch hunters.   And in their neck of the wood there are plenty of witches to tangle with.

They are good at it … and we soon discover the reason why.   The twist delivered by Wirkola cleverly sheds light on why their step-mother was so mean and nasty to them and how they are seemingly immune to spells cast by witches they battle.

Once the backstory is fully illuminated and alliances are formed, they are off to battle their most formidable witch foe, Muriel (Famke Janssen — Taken 2, House on Haunted Hill, X-Men, etc.), who will obtain power beyond comprehension if she able to perform the ceremony of the Blood Moon.

Famke Jannssen as the witch Muriel

Bonus goodies are limited to the two Blu-ray purchase options and include a trio of featurettes — “Reinventing Hansel & Gretel,” “The Witching Hours” and “Meet Edward the Troll” — plus an option to view an unrated version of the film (the theatrical cut received an R-rating, so we can’t imagine what had to be culled — graphically-speaking — to get it there).

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Has Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season Ready For June 4

Best damn series on TV (cable or otherwise) these days.   Of course that’s Breaking Bad, teaming Bryan Cranston with Aaron Paul as unlikely “big time” meth dealers who have managed to survive four full seasons without getting killed (or is that whacked?).

On June 4, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will be releasing DVD & Blu-ray editions of Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season … is this the end, or will Walt and Jesse somehow survive international cartels, a snoopy relative and their new “partner,” Mike (Jonathan Banks).

As to bonus goodies, both the DVD (a three-disc set) and the Blu-ray (two discs) include commentary on all ten episodes, deleted scenes, outtakes and three featurettes  — “Nothing Stops This Train,” “The Cleaner: Jonathan Banks as Mike” and “Chicks ‘N’ Guns: Behind-the-Scenes.”   Exclusive to the Blu-ray are two additional featurettes.

Also getting a street date assignment this week from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is director Taylor Hackford’s Parker, starring Jason Statham in the title role — a double-crossed thief who sets out for revenge. 

The release date for both DVD and Blu-ray editions is May 21, which yields and ARR of 116 days — the box office take was $17.6 million.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: DVD & Blu-ray Release Report