Director Frédéric Tellier's Goliath Arrives On DVD From Icarus Film This Coming Mar. 14

Icarus Films will be joining forces with France’s premiere film production and distribution company, Distrib Films, on Mar. 14 for the domestic DVD debut of Frédéric Tellier's based-on-real-events thriller, Goliath.

It is often said that the best characters in movies are the villains.  Pierre Niney (five-times nominated for César Awards, with a win for Best Actor for his performance as Yves Saint Laurent in filmmaker Jalil Lespert’s biopic Yves Saint Laurent) plays Mathias Rozen, a big shot with Phytosanis, the maker of Tetrazine, and he is the face of it … the face of corporate greed, corruption and, dare say it, villainy; evil in Tellier’s Goliath.  

It begins with France (Emmanuelle Bercot — Best Actress César Awards-winner for My King in 2015) wanting answers about the relationship been Tetrazine and cancer, a commonly-used weed killer that is used in agriculture.  She recruits environmental attorney Patrick Fameau (played by five-time César Awards nominee Gilles Lellouche — Sink or Swim, The Stronghold) to investigate and bring action against the corporate giant … it seems all but hopeless (think: Grisham’s The Rainmaker).

Slowly the case is put together as we move back and forth between the main players in the story.   The forces against uncovering the truth seem daunting; over-whelming … designed by the very nature of corporations and law to be so.

Goliath is a riveting suspense tale; a powerfully-told drama that has an edge-of-your-seat feel to it.   One thing is sure, you will come to dislike profoundly the character that Niney plays (expect another César Awards nomination for his performance).

Presented in French with English subtitles. 

 

 

 

Fun City Editions 4K Film Restoration Of Parker Posey Starring Party Girl Ready On Blu-ray And DVD On Mar. 28

Fun City Editions, LLC, with sales and distribution expertise from MVD Entertainment Group, has circled Mar. 28 on the release calendar for the Blu-ray debut of writer/director Daisy von Scherler Mayer’s 1995 Sundance Film Festival surprise, Party Girl, starring Parker Posey.  

Yes, Parker Posey, “Queen of the Indies!!”

This is a new 4K film restoration from the original 16mm camera negative, which was blown-up to 35mm for theatrical distribution (grainy to be sure … this new transfer clears all that up).   A no-frills DVD edition will also be available on Mar. 28.

Mary (Parker Posey — Scream 3, Fay Grim, A Mighty Wind, Broken English … a long and impressive list) has a unique way of paying the rent on her apartment in Manhattan.   She throws parties.   It worked for a while, but as the film begins there is an end to the fun as she arrested for her latest blast and subsequently evicted from the place. 

What to do?   Her godmother, Judy Lindendorf (Sasha von Scherler), comes to her rescue and lands her a job at the library, and to everyone’s surprise, Mary becomes pretty good at it.  She’s found her career, right?   Come on, what kind of a comedy is that, the quiet librarian!!

She has also taken an interest in a Lebanese food street vendor by the name of Mustafa (Omar Townsend), which eventually leads to a romantic encounter at the library … which leads to her being fired. 

She meant well … she was even a major asset, but the “party girl” in her is just something that rises up and creates havoc in her life!!

Party Girl is a delightful romantic comedy.  It is a Parker Posey film (really, that’s all you need to know).  And, besides being great fun, it does (spoiler alert) have a happy ending.

Bonus features include commentary from Comedy Central’s Jake Fogelnest and video sessions with Parker Posey, director Daisy von Scherler Mayer, writer/producer Harry Birckmayer and music supervisor Bill Coleman.

 

 

 

Jim Gaffigan: Stand-Up Spotlight Feature Nobel Ape And Quality Time On DVD From Mill Creek Entertainment On March 28

Mill Creek Entertainment doubles-up on the laughter this coming Mar. 28 with the DVD release of Jim Gaffigan: Stand-Up Spotlight.   It’s not clips of his comedy musings, but two — that’s right, two — complete comedy specials in one priced-to-collect collection.

First up is his 2018 feature-length special, Noble Ape.  Filmed lived at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, the riotous comedy routine includes a family medical crisis, adventures with his children, travels (and his observations), invasive medical procedures and more.

Teamed with Noble Ape is the 2019 comedy special filmed live at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, Quality Time.  He quickly connects with the audience about his observations about the world around him … and yes, another medical emergency gets laughs (an emergency appendectomy while on vacation in Alaska).

Spend an evening — or two — with Jim Gaffigan courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment on Mar. 28 with the DVD debut of Jim Gaffigan: Stand-Up Spotlight.   

 

 

 

 

Director Luigi Comencini's The Sunday Woman Heads To Blu-ray On Apr. 18 From Radiance Films Ltd.

Radiance Films Ltd., with domestic sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has tabbed Apr. 18 as the Blu-ray release date for director Luigi Comencini’s 1975 film adaption of the novel by co-writers Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, The Sunday Woman, starring Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Marcello Mastroianni.

Garrone (Claudio Gora) is dead, beaten to death in his apartment by a unique piece of art.  Because he was a renowned architect, known for his lecherous ways, his death becomes something of a high-profile case.

Enter Police Commissioner Santamaria (Marcello Mastroianni — three-time Best Actor nominee — Divorce, Italian Style, A Special Day, Dark Eyes), who has a ton of suspects, but one in particular draws his attention, Anna Carla (Jacqueline Bisset).   

She hated Garrone.   Anna made no bones about it, even going so far as to put in writing her desire to be rid of the man — a major clue.   But her “friend,” Massimo (Jean-Louis Trintignant), comes to her defense … but he has secrets, which makes his iron-clad alibi seem a little suspicious.

In any case, the investigation continues … other suspects are pursued, but Santamaria keeps coming back to Anna.   So much so that they begin a romantic relationship which complicates the investigation.

Who is the killer?   Oh, so many suspects!!   Professional lines crossed … perhaps the best result is no result at all.

Bonus features include a newly-prepared featurette with Italian cinema expert Richard Dyer, an archival interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (circa 2008) and a brief archival interview with Jean-Louis Trintignant from 1976.

The Sunday Woman is presented in Italian with English subtitles.

 

 

 

 

VCI Entertainment Restores Director Melvyn LeRoy's Tonight Or Never For Blu-ray And DVD Release On Mar. 14

VCI Entertainment announced this past week that director Mervyn LeRoy’s 1931 film adaptation of the Lily Hatvany stage play, Tonight or Never, starring Gloria Swanson and Melvyn Douglas, will be making its Blu-ray debut on Mar. 14.

DVD editions will also be available on the same date.

This is a pre-code production, which meant that it would eventually run afoul of the notorious Hays Commission, which skunked efforts to re-release the film in the mid-1930s.   Image Entertainment issued a now long-out-of-print DVD edition in March of 2001 … nothing since.

Gloria Swanson replaced Helen Gahagan from the Broadway production, which ran from November of 1930 to June of 1931 (over 230 performances), while the male lead made the move from stage to screen … it would be this gentleman’s first screen appearance.  

Who?  None other than Melvyn Douglas, who would go on to win the Oscar twice for his acting (Best Actor in 1970 for I Never Sang for My Father … and Best Supporting Actor for Being There in 1979).

Gloria Swanson plays Nella Vago, a Hungarian opera star, whose latest performance in a production of Puccini's Tosca in Venice is received lukewarmly.   Her music coach, Rudig (Ferdinand Gottschalk), basically tells her she sings without passion, which sets her into a rage.

With her entourage and fiancé, Count Albert von Gronac (Warburton Gamble), in tow, she decides to head back to Budapest … but has a mysterious admirer, who may or may not be stalking her.  

Through a series of clever comedy bits, Nella ends up in the hotel room of her admirer, Jim Fletcher (Douglas), who is not what he seems — the mysterious old woman he has been seen with turns out to be his aunt.   Ah, but there’s more … a clever twist (or two).   A delight to be sure!!

Bonus features include commentary from author and film critic Mick LaSalle.

 

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Sets Mar. 21 As The Street Date For Writer/Director Damien Chazelle’s Babylon

Paramount Home Entertainment has tabbed Mar. 21 as the roll-out date for a full spread of home entertainment packaged media product offerings of writer/director Damien Chazelle’s Babylon.

The ARR works out to 88 days and domestic box office receipts currently stand at $15.4 million.

Planned for distribution are stand-alone DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions.

With the Hollywood studios celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of their founding, the timing is perfect for a film that looks back at the transition from the silent to the sound era and some of the notable “personalities” that nominated the film scene in the 1920s and early 30s.  

Brad Pitt as leading man Jack Conrad, Margot Robbie as Nellie and Diego Calva as Manny are more or less amalgamated characters, while the likes of Constance Moore (Samara Weaving), Marion Davies (Chloe Fineman), William Randolph Hearst (Pat Skipper), James Wong Howe (Alexandre Chen), Irving Thalberg (Max Minghella) and others were key Hollywood players during the period.

Technically, the film is a marvel, with Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design, Best Original Score and Best Production Design.

Bonus goodies include deleted and extended scenes and three production featurettes — “A Panoramic Canvas Called Babylon,” “The Costumes of Babylon” and “Scoring Babylon.”

 

 

 

 

Disney Media And Entertainment Target Feb. 21 For The Home Entertainment Launch Of Writer/Director Sam Mendes' Empire Of Light

With the Oscar season upon us — although it is not quite the same as it used to be — Disney Media and Entertainment was quick this past week to take advantage of what little lift might prevail from an Oscar nomination for Roger Deakins’ cinematography work on writer/director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light.

Both DVD and Blu-ray editions will be available on Feb. 21.   The ARR comes in at 74 days and box office receipts from the film’s limited theatrical release currently stand at $1.2 million.

Mendes, who is no stranger to the Oscar circle with a Best Director win for American Beauty in 1999 and three Oscar-nominations for his 2019 film release of 1917 (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay), took Empire of Light on the film festival circuit beginning in September with its debut at the Telluride Film Festival.

After working the international film festival circuit for the balance of 2022, Empire of Light opened theatrically in December with a very limited break of just 110 screens.

Bonus features are limited to the behind-the-scenes featurette titled “Creating Empire of Light.”