The Criterion Collection Announces Its October Release Slate • Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers (Oct. 17) Leads The Parade

The Criterion Collection announced its October release slate this past week and the clear must-own selection that easily rises to the top of the list is titled Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers, which arrives as both double-disc Blu-ray and double-disc DVD sets on Oct. 17.

After Dracula in 1931, Browning delivered one of the most controversial films of the 1930s (and in some places, well into the 1960s).   This would be the February of 1932 theatrical release of Freaks, which was either banned (countries) or panned (critics), for its shock value.   It is the anchor film in Criterion’s Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers.

The actors playing the sideshow denizens were real and that drove some people nuts.  It’s OK to do makeup and prosthetics (Hollywood’s tricks of the trades), but if you use real Carnies trying to earn a buck during the Depression, that’s somehow evil.

Included with this show-stopper classic — which plays as both a horror film and as social-commentary — are two of Browning’s silent films that have similar themes … the sideshow, the traveling carnival, the circus and the stories about the people who make their living in this unique form of “show business.”

The first of these is the 1927 film release of The Unknown, starring Lon Chaney as Alonzo, a criminal on the run with a unique physical characteristic, he has two thumbs on one hand.   To avoid the long “arm” of the law, he hides out in a traveling road carnival, where he falls in love with Estrellita (played by none other than Joan Crawford).

As it turns out, she can’t stand the touch of any man’s hand, so Alonzo does the unthinkable and has both of his arms amputated … he earns his headline status by throwing knives with his feet.   When Estrellita betrays him for Malabar (Norman Kerry), it is a third act of vengeance that leads to a fight to the death!!

The third film in the collection is from 1925 and is more of a con-artist with a heart romantic drama.   Conway Tearle plays Michael Nash, a conman, who imports real Gypsies to run a hustle on an heiress, Doris Merrick (Gladys Hulette), but has a change of heart and follows the lovely Zara (Aileen Pringle) back home to Hungary … happy ending.

Bonus features include commentary from film scholar David J. Skal on both Freaks and The Unknown, a newly-minted video session with author Megan Abbott, a vintage documentary on Freaks and more … much more, a film buff’s delight.

Elsewhere on the October release calendar from Criterion are: Director Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (Oct. 31 – DVD and Blu-ray editions), a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack edition of writer/director Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others, starring Nicole Kidman (Oct. 24 – also Blu-ray), on Oct. 10 director David Cronenberg’s 1983 Videodrome will be available as a 4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray Combo Pack presentation and Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 creep-out, Don’t Look Now, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie will be available as both a Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack (Oct. 03).

 

Writer/Director Joe Leone's Breakup Mountain Makes Its Blu-ray Debut Courtesy Of Bayview Entertainment On Aug. 25

Bayview Entertainment will be releasing — on Blu-ray — writer/director Joe Leone’s Breakup Mountain on Aug. 25.

Twists, turns and murder.   It didn’t start out that way … or did it.

Here’s the set up.   Yasmina (played by Jade Haley in her film debut) is smart, attractive, outspoken — complete with a whip-like tongue that can be cruel, demanding and venomous — and she is also perhaps a bit reckless.  She has been in a love-hate relation for the past five years with Ben (played by Joe Leone) … the why of it is not entirely clear.

Ben is something of a whinner, wound a little too tight, who loves the thought of Yasmina, but finds himself in constant verbal battles.   In short, the relationship is a bit toxic.

As with such an oil and water coupling, the day eventually arrives where a parting of the ways is all but certain.   Ben suggests that they find “neutral ground” to talk out the ending to their relationship and offers a remote cabin (in the woods … filmed in and around Bloomville, New York) and Yasmina agrees.

Once settled in, the twists and turns start happening … there’s a knock, knocking at the cabin door.   Hi, my name is Jeremy (played by Vincent Kevin Daniels) and my car broke down … really?

He seems nice, but then starts hitting on Yasmina (is this is a set-up?) and that (sure enough) provokes Ben … a fight breaks out.   Yasmina puts an end to it, but who was the target of her bottle-swinging rage?   Ben?  Jeremy?  

One of them ends up dead!!   And what the hell does Ben’s former girlfriend, Keira (Asel Otunchieva), have to do with this?   She shows up too!!

Murder.  Mystery.   Twists and Turns.   Breakup Mountain from Bayview Entertainment arrives on Blu-ray this coming Aug. 25 … mark that down to learn the truth about the end game at the cabin in the woods!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Piracy Attacks Plague Home Entertainment Packed Media Realm • Streaming Provides The Film And Series Masters • "Helpers" Deliver What Consumers Want

You could say that things are looking up, but when you do the pre-pandemic reality check it brings you back to earth.  

On the plus side, we did get a jump up to 541 potential new theatrical releases hitting your local multiplex before the end of the year.  While that’s the best showing so far this year, the number 541 is still well short of the pre-pandemic average of 753 new theatrical releases (2015-2019).

 

The hottest trend in theatrical releasing these days is for a film to get a “limited” release, quickly followed by a VOD or streaming rollout.   Film after film is arriving in the marketplace following this pattern … and no box office results are posted.

It is not a new thing, it’s just that there are so many this year.

The only thing that comes to mind to justify this odd behavior is that the production/distribution agreement must require a theatrical release in the domestic market … it’s a contractual thing.   Maybe.

Perhaps, it is about creating critical awareness?   Who knows!

As a result of these “phantom” theatrical releases, the overall number of films arriving in movie theatres does get a boost and that is a good thing.  But other than online (social media), there is little effort put behind each film’s respective debut.  You spend all that time and effort producing a film and then toss it away.

And, unless you happened to be in the “selected” market — and were in the right place at the right time — the actual theatrical release remains a mystery to most in the country.

Here is just a sampling of the films that have followed this pattern since the first of the year.

The Next Thing That Happens Is The Destructive Thing  

Streaming.   VOD.   Pick Your Poison! 

 

Soon the lack of physical media, you know that stuff called DVD, Blu-ray … maybe even 4K Ultra HD, and consumer demand kicks in and the “helpers” and “void-fillers” step in.

So, let’s recap.  You make a movie.  Little effort goes into its theatrical launch and then it is streamed, where a pristine copy is snatched up and delivered to consumers as either DVD or Blu-ray product offerings by “helpers” and “void-fillers.”  How is that a productive financial model?

The vast majority of consumers, looking for a particular film (or series) might start by checking out Amazon, Deepdiscount or Movies Unlimited and when they don’t find what they are looking for at those venues, the next stop is Google or DuckDuckGo for their desire.   Maybe they check out Etsy or eBay … or they have already found a favorite site and there it is.   Slick packaging and exactly what they want.  It must be legit.

This past week was a “helper” paradise with many of the aforementioned films (see list above) being released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.  

Let’s start with director Annette Hawyood-Carter’s romcom, Daughter of the Bride, starring Marcia Gay Harden, Aidan Quinn and Halston Sage.  Name stars, opening theatrically in five markets on Feb. 03, but no box office is reported by MarVista Entertainment.

It is streamed the same day and since February there have been no DVD or Blu-ray product offerings from MarVista Entertainment, which is now owned by Walt Studio Studios as part of the 20th Century-Fox buyout.   That was until this past week when a “helper” offered it up a DVD.

If Disney won’t do it — not a chance when you consider the fact that Prey, Barbarian and the various Star Wars series (Mandalorian, etc.) haven’t see the light of day in the home entertainment packaged media arena — then someone else will.

Continuing with DVD, director Harry Wootliff’s True Things, starring Ruth Wilson (who also produced) and Tom Burke was released last September theatrically (the 9th to be exact), but no box office was reported by Samuel Goldwyn Films, who had acquired the domestic theatrical distribution rights.

The film had played the international film festival circuit before being released here, with Ruth Wilson winning Best Actress laurels at the Stockholm Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival nominating True Things Best Picture … quality cast, high profile, but no legitimate DVD or Blu-ray release.   “Helper” fills the void.

Just getting started.  Writer/director John Hay’s biopic, To Olivia, based on the lives of author Roald Dahl (played by Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville) and screen legend Patricia Neal (played by Keeley Hawes — Bodyguard, Mrs. Wilson, Line of Duty, etc.) was released theatrically by Vertical Entertainment on Apr. 15.  

Surprise, no box office results have been reported.

Despite the cast and subject matter, Vertical Entertainment has yet to announce To Olivia for the DVD marketplace … since they haven’t seen fit to do so, a “helper” did just that this past week.

How about Blu-ray?   Any activity there this past week?  That question answers itself, yes.  

Here we start with the mini-series adaptation of Laura Dave’s best-selling novel (months and months on the list), The Last Thing He Told Me.   This seven-episode mini-series starring Jennifer Garner was streamed on Apple TV (getting smart, they didn’t release it all once — two episodes to start and then one a week … “helpers” had to bide their time).

Since this is an Apple TV production, there is virtually no chance that The Last Thing He Told Me will be made available to consumers as either DVD or Blu-ray product offerings.   Remember director Sian Heder’s 2021 Best Picture-winner CODA, starring Emilia Jones and Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur (Best Supporting Actor)?   It is now officially an industry joke that it is not available — legitimately — on either DVD or Blu-ray (that void has been filled by others).

Guess what, this past week The Last Thing He Told Me was released on Blu-ray by a “helper” source (they love Blu-ray for its ability to take a series of seven episodes and cram it onto one disc … love the bandwidth).

Speaking of series, Idris Elba starred in the popular BBC series titled Luther, earning four Emmy nominations during the series five-season run.  Director Jamie Payne (The Alienist, Outland, Luther, etc.) re-teams with series creator Neil Cross for the feature film, Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Built-in audience, starring Idris Elba, it is released theatrically by Netflix on a limited basis on Feb. 24 of this year (no box office reported) and then streams.  Knowing that it is Netflix, there is little chance that consumers can obtain a legitimate DVD or Blu-ray copy of the film to go with their “complete series” collection that BBC Entertainment released as a six-disc set on DVD back the summer of 2019.

That oversight was rectified this past week with the Blu-ray “helper” release of Luther: The Fallen Sun … consumers can now complete their collection.   If they wait for Netflix, they will grow old and die waiting.

Producer/writer/director Jordan Gertner delivers Sheores, an R-rated action thriller starring Sasha Luss, Wallis Day, Isabelle Fuhrman and Skai Jackson, who end up in a life-and-death struggle in Thailand with a drug cartel.   Sounds like the perfect summer film — hot chicks kicking ass (paraphrasing Gertner’s own words).

Paramount acquired the film in March, took it out on a “limited” basis on June 23 and did not report any box office results.  Sheores is then streamed … the “helper” Blu-ray was released this past week.   Paramount could still do a home entertainment package media release up the road, but the moment the studio fed Sheores to the streaming beast they set the piracy kraken loose.

And we finish up the week with the best one yet, director Alejandro Monteverde’s surprise box office smash, Sound of Freedom, starring Jim Caviezel. 

The film, based on the war-on-sex-trafficking work of Tim Ballard, was completed in 2018 and ended up at 20th Century-Fox, but the moment Disney acquired Fox the film was shelved (Disney has a nasty habit of this — wait until the first week of August when quarterly results are posted to see the red ink of Iger’s lasted round of “monetizing” artistic works).

Producer Eduardo Verástegui, director Alejandro Monteverde, Jim Caviezel and others re-acquired the film and found Angel Studios to release it.  Angel Studios used a unique way of crowdfunding to launch the film theatrical … it is a monster runaway hit driven by word of mouth.

Their first misstep might be in the works.  An enterprising “helper” began taking pre-orders for a Blu-ray release on July 25.   Is Angel Studios about to stream The Sound of Freedom before releasing DVD and Blu-ray editions?   Stay tuned.

It was a very busy week for “helpers” taking full advantage of the broken streaming system that has plunged the entertainment business into absolute chaos with red ink flowing and two major strikes, which have essentially shut down film and series production.

There will be more of the same next week … you can bet on it!

 

 

 

 

 

Cleopatra Entertainment Has A DVD/CD Combo Pack Of The Reverend Horton Heat: Live in Houston Lined Up For Release On Sept. 08

Cleopatra Entertainment, with sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has tabbed Sept. 8 as the street date for the DVD/CD Combo Pack release titled The Reverend Horton Heat - Live in Houston.

Currently on tour (through the balance of July), fans of James C. Heath and The Reverend Horton Heat band — with 30-years of recording and touring there are now legions of “Psycobilly” fans out there — can enjoy this vintage live concert filmed at The Warehouse in Houston in 2009.

This 13-song set not only features “Psyshobilly Freakout” (from the group’s first album, “Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em”), “Baddest of the Bad” (from their note worthy 1994 album, “Liquor in the Front”) and “Big Red Rocket of Love,” but a nice selection from their new album (at the time), “Laughin' & Cryin' with the Reverend Horton Heat.”

These "new songs" include: “Drinkin' and Smokin' Cigarettes,” “Don't Take the Baby to the Liquor Store” and “Death Metal Guys.”

For a howling good time, Sept. 8 from Cleopatra Entertainment the DVD (and companion CD of the concert) … The Reverend Horton Heat - Live in Houston.   

 

 

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Announces Two • Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three (Sept. 26) And Roman Holiday: 70th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Edition (Aug. 15)

With the fourth season now streaming (two episodes per week as opposed to dumping an entire season all at once), Paramount Home Entertainment announced this past week that Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season Three will be heading home on Sept. 26 as DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD (MOD) three-disc sets.

The only extras appear to be deleted scenes.

In other release news this past week from Paramount Home Entertainment, Aug. 15 will be release date for a newly-minted 4K Ultra HD edition of director William Wyler’s 1953 romcom, Roman Holiday, teaming Gregory Peck with Audrey Hepburn.

This 70^th Anniversary Edition is configured as a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack.

The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture (losing out to From Here to Eternity), Best Director and Best Actress, with Audrey Hepburn taking home the gold.  

Of note, Ian McLellan Hunter won the Oscar for his screenplay and went to his grave with the achievement, but he actually had fronted for blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo.   In 1992, the year after Hunter passed, the Academy did the right thing and set the record straight.

Also of note, the film was shot entirely on location in Rome and made a point of featuring over a dozen landmarks, this just seven years after the end of World War II.

Bonus features include the “Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday” presentation, extensive photo galleries (four in all) and five featurettes — “Behind the Gates: Costumes,” “Rome with a Princess,” “Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years,” “Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist” and “Paramount in the '50s: Remembering Audrey.”

 

 

Arrow Video Sets Sept. 26 As The Street Date For A New 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack Presentation Of Director Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way

Sometimes it is a wonder that a film every got made.  

Such is the case with Arrow Video’s new 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray edition of director Brian De Palma’s 1993 film adaptation of Edwin Torres’ 1975 novel, Carlito’s Way.   It will street on Sept. 26, with MVD Entertainment Group handling the domestic sales and distribution efforts.

Consider this — way back in 1980 — Barry Hanson had just produced The Long Good Friday (featuring a knockout performance by Bob Hoskins), with direction by John Mackenzie, and was looking for his next project.   To that end, sometime in the spring of 1981 he made a packaged deal for writer Edwin Torres two novels, “Carlito’s Way” and “After Hours.”  

It gets a little murky, but Hanson couldn’t get the film into production and somehow legendary Hollywood agent, studio head and producer, Freddie Fields, ended up with the rights.   He had just come off his involvement with both American Gigolo and The Year of Living Dangerously, so Carlito’s Way looked to be the perfect fit (this is now the summer of 1983).

He couldn’t get it done, so he dealt the rights to Gene Kirkwood and the aforementioned filmmaker, John Mackenzie of The Long Good Friday fame, would be directing.   It’s now the summer of 1985 and the project fell apart.

For the next three years Carlito’s Way was in some sort of turn-around limbo, until the mid-summer of 1988 and news surfaced that the Angel Heart producer, Elliott Kastner, had plans for the film.

If you are keeping track, we are now eight years into this film’s journey with four different producers having been involved — Hanson, Fields, Kirkwood and now Kastner.   Didn’t happen.

Enter film producer number five, Martin Bregman, who was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar (with Martin Elfand) for his production of Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, starring Al Pacino.   It’s now the spring of 1989 and Bregman had none other than Sydney Pollack, the winner of both Best Director and Best Picture for Out of Africa in 1985, attached to the film.  He had not done any feature films since Out of Africa, so this great news.

Stop a second, this is early 1989, Carlito’s Way doesn’t hit theatres until November of 1993 … what took so long?   Can you say “lawsuit” without cracking a smile at this point?  

Producer number four, Kastner, filed a lawsuit against Al Pacino — who had signed on to play the role of Carlito (aka: Charlie Brigante) — accusing him of blowing up his production of the film.   With this, Pollack exits.

Finally, in the fall of 1992, the director of Scarface (1983), Brian De Palma, will reunite with Al Pacino and the film will start shooting.   Didn’t happen.  

This time the delays have to do with some pre-production issues in New York City and troubles with the script — a whole bunch of people worked with Torres on adapting his film, but only David Koepp would get credit (1993 would be a banner year for him, scripts for both Carlito’s Way and Jurassic Park).

Despite production headaches (shooting on location in New York City), the film finished its four-month shooting schedule in mid-July of 1993 and opened theatrically during the Thanksgiving run-up later that year.  

Only 13 years, five producers and numerous writers and directors involved at one point or another to get Carlito’s Way to the screen.   That’s Hollywood!

As for bonus goodies, Arrow Video has prepared two new commentary tracks.   The first features author Dr. Douglas Keesey (“Brian De Palma’s Split-Screen: A Life in Film,” “Twenty First Century Horror Films,” “Neo-Noir: Contemporary Film Noir,” etc.), while the second is with Matt Zoller Seitz (“The Wes Anderson Collection,” “The Soprano Sessions”). 

The companion Blu-ray disc (with feature film and commentaries) has the additional bonus materials.   This includes deleted scenes, documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau’s 2003 short film, The Making of Carlito’s Way, an archival interview with De Palma and four newly-produced featurettes — “Carlito and the Judge,” “Cutting Carlito’s Way” “De Palma’s Way” and “All the Stitches in the World: The Locations of Carlito’s Way.”