Blu-Ray Review: THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Woody Harrelson, Blake Jenner, Hayden Szeto, Kyra Sedgwick. Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. (2016, 105 min).

UNIVERSAL

About halfway through watching The Edge of Seventeen, my wife commented that the main character, Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) isn't always particularly likable. In fact, she's downright mean on occasion.

It's an accurate character assessment, which is also the chief reason the film works as well as it does. As a teacher and a father of two daughters, I know from experience that teenagers aren't always pleasant to be around. They can be irrational, emotionally turbulent and as self-absorbed as a cat. They're capable of dumb decisions, hurting the ones they love and displaying little in the way of common sense. Even they don't always know what's going on in their heads. 

And for some kids, high school is a living hell. 

When you tell your kids to put down their phones and go outside.

Nadine is an emotional trainwreck, especially after her father dies. Her mother doesn't understand her, nor does her hunky, popular older brother, Darian (Blake Jenner). She feels alienated from almost everyone in her life, which is exasperated when her best friend, Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) begins dating Darian. Nadine is so wrapped up in her own insecurities that she is dismissive of the affections of Erwin (Hayden Szeto), and feels the only person who understands her is Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson), a laid-back social studies teacher.

"You gonna eat that Twinkie?"

Imagine Sixteen Candles with real, flesh & blood human beings rather than cartoon caricatures and you'll have a good idea how this one plays. While the film is often extraordinarily funny (the interplay between Harrelson and Steinfeld is priceless), the more serious moments work so well because, when you're a teenager, every crisis and conflict feels utterly life-altering.

Writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig, whether drawing from personal experience or not, remembers exactly how it feels like to be a socially awkward teenager, which The Edge of Seventeen conveys very well. The dialogue and actions of all these characters are authentic and genuine. As for Nadine...we may not always like her, but we all know someone just like her. Perhaps some of us have even been her, making it easy to throw a bit of empathy her way.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

GAG REEL

DELETED SCENES

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

Blu-Ray Review: BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK

Starring Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Ben Platt, Arturo Castro, Makenzie Leigh, Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by Ang Lee. (2016, 113 min). 
SONY

Being an avid football fan, I perked up a bit when NFL stars Richard Sherman and J.J. Watt appeared in a scene about halfway through this film. Sherman even opened his mouth to speak without embarrassing himself. And that's the problem with Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. Its most interesting scene should not be a gratuitous cameo.

For a film directed by Ang Lee and preceded by an emotionally charged trailer that practically screamed "bring your hankies," Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is surprisingly uninvolving.

The premise is solid. Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) and his Army unit, dubbed Bravo Squad, try to get their injured sergeant, Virgil Breem (Vin Diesel), out of harm's way during a firefight in Iraq. Breem dies, but since the incident was caught on camera, they become national heroes stateside and are slated to be honored during the glitzy halftime show at a football game in Dallas. These guys are treated like celebrities by the media, corporate fat cats and Hollywood agents. Lynn appears bewildered by all the attention, apparently still shell-shocked from the incident in Iraq (which we witness through numerous flashbacks) and growing silently resentful of those trying to capitalize on the tragedy of Breem's death.

"Dude...was that you?"

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk sees Lee once-again pushing technical boundaries, though the ballyhooed (and controversial) increased frame rate is lost on standard Blu-Ray. But unlike the aesthetically-arresting Life of Pi, one must question his efforts to break new visual ground with a film like this, which should be more of an emotional journey than a visual one. Instead, despite Lynn appearing on the verge of tears in nearly every scene, the film doesn't resonate much, meandering from one scene to another without really having anything profound to say about the situation or any of its characters.

Unquestionably, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is skillfully made and nice to look at, and that alone might make it worth checking out once. From a dramatic standpoint, however, it is a major disappointment.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

FEATURETTES: "Into Battle and Onto the Field: Stepping Inside Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk"; "Assembling a Cast"; "Recreating the Halftime Show"; "The Brotherhood of Combat"

DELETED SCENES

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEH...

Blu-Ray News: Coming in March from KINO LORBER STUDIO CLASSICS

Kino Lorber Studio Classics Announces its March 2017 Home Video Releases

Alfred Hitchcock's Classic Wartime Thriller Lifeboat, Brand New 4K Restoration of Compulsion starring Orson Welles, Brand New 2K Restoration of Philip Kaufman's Cult Classic The Wanderers, A Game of Death directed by Robert Wise, Horror Classics The Skull starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Terence Fisher's The Man Who Could Cheat Death and More Coming to Home Video from Kino Lorber Studio Classics in March 2017

 

Sometimes murder is just a way to pass the time! The great Richard Fleischer (The Vikings) directed this riveting true story about the notorious 1924 Leopold/Loeb murder case. Hollywood Icon Orson Welles (The Third Man, Touch of Evil) stars as the brilliant Clarence Darrow whose history-making defense against capitol punishment saved two Chicago teenagers from a death sentence. Though names were changed, this factual and fascinating character study focuses on the two boys - one bossy and intimidating (Bradford Dillman, The Mephisto Waltz), the other sensitive and introverted (Dean Stockwell, Married to the Mob) - who thought their superior intellect would enable them to pull off "the perfect crime. This tense, intelligent re-enactment of what was seen as the crime of the century, co-stars Diane Varsi (Peyton Place), E.G. Marshall (12 Angry Men), Martin Milner (TV's Adam-12 and Route 66), Gavin MacLeod (TV's The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore Show) and Richard Anderson (TV's The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman).

 

The Skull once again teams up horror legends Peter Cushing (Horror of Dracula) and Sir Christopher Lee (House of the Long Shadows) in a chilling, supernatural tale of murder from beyond the grave. Based on a short story by Robert Bloch (Psycho), The Skull introduces us to Dr. Christopher Maitland (Cushing), a collector of the occult. When he is given the opportunity to purchase the skull of the infamous Marquis de Sade, he leaps at the chance. What he doesn't know is that his friend, Matthew Phillips (Lee) is the former owner of the skull - and quite happy to be rid of it. Possession of The Skull leads to a terrifying series of nightmarish events for Dr. Maitland as he tries to keep control of his life and the of unspeakable evil bearing down upon him. Hammer horror great and Oscar-winning cinematographer Freddie Francis (The Creeping Flesh, The Innocents) directed this bone-chilling thriller with a script by Milton Subotsky (Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror). The stupendous cast includes Patrick Wymark (The Psychopath), Nigel Green (The Ipcress File), Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange) and Michael Gough (The Crimson Cult).

 

His Terrifying Secret... His Hideous Obsession... Made Him The Man Who Could Cheat Death! Dr. Georges Bonnet has figured out a way to live forever, all he needs are glands from some very unwilling donors! Anton Diffring (Where Eagles Dare, Circus of Horrors) stars as the mad doctor in this chilling Hammer Horror classic. As he struggles against the inevitable icy grip of death, the doctor begins a descent into madness that threatens to destroy the laws of nature and the lives of those he cares for the most; the only person who could stop his unholy quest is horror legend Christopher Lee (The Oblong Box). Great direction by Hammer legend Terence Fisher (Horror of Dracula) with a screenplay by Jimmy Sangster (Dracula: Prince of Darkness) based on a play by Barré Lyndon (The Lodger). Co-starring the beautiful Hazel Court (Premature Burial).

 

Legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock (North by Northwest, Psycho, Rope) directed this suspenseful World War II thriller, a remarkable story of human survival. After their ship is sunk in the Atlantic by Germans, eight people are stranded in a lifeboat, among them a glamorous journalist, a tough seaman, a nurse and an injured sailor. Their problems are further compounded when they pick up a ninth passenger - the Nazi captain from the U-boat that torpedoed them. With its powerful interplay of suspense and emotion, this breathtaking classic is a microcosm of humanity, revealing the subtleties of man's strengths and frailties under extraordinary duress. The stellar cast features the great character actors Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, John Hodiak, Heather Angel, Hume Cronyn, Henry Hull and Canada Lee. Lifeboat received three Academy Award nominations for Director (Hitchcock), Best Writing - Original Story (John Steinbeck) and Cinematography, Black-and-White (Glen MacWilliams). 

 

The great Robert Wise (Run Silent Run Deep, The Haunting) directed this suspense thriller based on the classic Richard Connell (Meet John Doe) story, The Most Dangerous Game. A shipwrecked Don Rainsford (John Loder, Sabotage) washes up on a homicidal big-game hunter's Caribbean island where the madman hunts human prey for his personal island habitat. A Game of Death is a thrilling adventure yarn, which was beautifully shot in glorious black-and-white by the great J. Roy Hunt (I Walked with a Zombie, Crossfire) and also featured wonderful performances by Audrey Long (Born to Kill, Desperate) and Robert Clarke (The Man From Planet X, The Hideous Sun Demon).

 

Meet the Wanderers, the Coolest Guys in Town! Tully High School seniors Richie, Joey and Perry run with a gang called The Wanderers in the Bronx. The year is 1963 but their experiences are universal: falling in love, surviving in school and defending their turf against rivals like the Fordham Baldies, the Del Bombers and the Ducky Boys. From the acclaimed first novel by Richard Price (Clockers), The Wanderers is a rich fabric of comedy and tragedy, fantasy and farce. Director Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) mixes dynamic talents that include Ken Wahl (The Soldier), Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Toni Kalem (The Sopranos) and Linda Manz (Days of Heaven) with a jukebox full of golden oldies to generate a heady atmosphere. Like American Graffiti and Saturday Night Fever, this cult-classic is a nostalgic window to a vanished world. Beautifully shot by the great Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull). This special edition includes both the original theatrical version and the very rarely seen Preview Cut.

 

 

 

Blu-Ray Review: THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX

Starring Allan Pascal, Natalie Drax, Aiden Longworth, Aaron Paul, Oliver Platt, Molly Parker, Barbara Hershey. Directed by Alexandre Aja. (2016, 108 min).

SUMMIT / LIONSGATE

Dedicated horror fans will probably recognize the name of director Alexandre Aja. A one-time member of the so-called 'Splat Pack', he's best known for the quasi-classic Haute Tension, the goopy-gory remake of The Hills Have Eyes and the boob n' blood bonanza, Piranha 3D. Since subtlety has never been part of Aja's vocabulary, those same horror fans might be surprised - and maybe disappointed - that The 9th Life of Louis Drax isn't really a horror film at all.

Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth) is a strange, somewhat creepy little kid who has survived more life-threatening accidents in nine years than most others would if they lived to be 100. The story begins with his most recent: During a birthday picnic with his separated parents, Natalie (Sarah Gordon) & Peter (Aaron Paul), he falls - or is pushed - off a cliff. To the shock of everyone, especially Dr. Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan), Louis miraculously survives, but his body is so battered that he remains in a deep coma. Since Peter has disappeared, everyone suspects him, while Natalie finds comfort (and then some) in Pascal's company. While slowly suspecting not everything (including Natalie) is what it seems, Pascal becomes convinced Louis is actually trying to communicate with him.

"You saw Fifty Shades of Grey? Sorry."

The film is narrated by Louis from deep inside his subconscious, where he is speaking to a mysterious, slimy beast, recounting his accident prone life and the circumstances which lead to his current state. Through flashbacks, we learn of his experiences with Dr. Perez, a child psychologist, and the troubling circumstances surrounding his parents' separation. As a child, Louis is a somewhat unreliable narrator, and not always entirely likable. The film uses that to its advantage. Through his recollections, we're constantly questioning what's really going on with every character (including Louis himself).

"Time to trim those nose hairs, Dad."

The 9th Life of Louis Drax is a difficult film to summarize effectively, not only because of its sequences of surreal imagery, but the frequent shifts in tone and often ambiguous narrative structure. The film is dark - including the few comedic moments - but stops short of turning bleak. It's also part mystery, slowly putting its pieces together until we get a clear picture; perhaps too slowly on occasion, since we can anticipate a few of these plot twists well in advance. Still, it's an interesting journey and, like Aja's under-appreciated Mirrors, quite atmospheric and aesthetically arresting.

While no classic,The 9th Life of Louis Drax is an entertaining dark fantasy that never got a wide release in theaters and deserves to find an audience on home video. Though the film features some creepy, supernatural elements, this is unlike anything Alexandre Aja has directed before and well worth checking out.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

FEATURETTE: "The Making of The 9th Life of Louis Drax"

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

Blu-Ray Review: DIRTY DANCING: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Kelly Bishop, Jane Brucker, Jack Weston. Directed by Emile Ardolino. (1987, 101 min).

LIONSGATE

In 1988, there was a TV special called America's All-Time Favorite Movies. Hosted by Jerry Lewis, these "all-time favorites" were selected by viewers who voted by calling a special 1-900 number (remember those?). Clips were shown of each film as well. For the finale, the esteemed Max Von Sydow lent his dignified demeanor to announce the final countdown. Like most specials and award shows produced by Dick Clark, it was pointless and cheesy, but I tuned in anyway.

Obviously, since anyone with a phone could weigh-in, I knew this wasn't exactly gonna be an AFI list. Still, there were some acknowledged classics on the list, with Gone with the Wind being voted number one. Olivia de Havilland came out to graciously thank the world, acting as though the thing just won a second handful of Oscars. Before that, though, Von Sydow had the honor of announcing Dirty Dancing as America's second favorite film of all time, appearing slightly repulsed as he glared at the teleprompter. And who could blame him?

I was incredulous. Really, America? Eight decades and literally hundreds of undisputed classics and you pick a piece of teen-centric fluff that's barely a year old and will probably be forgotten by next year?

How to dirty dance when your partner has barn breath.

I was wrong, of course (about it being forgotten, that is). 30 years down the road, Dirty Dancing has itself become a beloved classic that helped define its decade and is arguably the definitive example of the "soundtrack movie" which ruled the 80s (I still hesitate to call it an true musical). It has legions of fans of all ages around the world, not-to-mention inspired a few TV shows, concert tours, a pseudo-sequel and a Broadway production. As of this writing, a made-for-TV remake is also in the can. Not bad a piece of teen-centric fluff that would be forgotten in a year.

And of course, it continues to be re-released on home video, the latest being this 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray, which fans may want to consider upgrading to. While there are several holdover features from previous releases (though not all of them), the new extras (listed below) are definitely aimed for those who cherish this film. Since Patrick Swayze has since passed away, the previously unreleased interview from 2006 is especially poignant.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

NEW: 2 INTERVIEWS WITH PATRICK SWAYZE (from 2006)

NEW: "HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY" - Original cast & crew, along with those

involved with the stage musical and upcoming TV remake. A pretty comprehensive retrospective featurette.

NEW: "Eleanor Bergstein: Thoughts on a Lifetime of Dirty Dancing"

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - with writer/producer Eleanor Bergstein; with choreographer Kenny Ortega, cinematographers Jeff Jur & Hilary Rosenfield, production designer David Chapman

FEATURETTES: "Dirty Dancing: The Phenomenon"; "The Rhythm of the Dancing"; Cast & Crew Interviews

3 MUSIC VIDEOS: "Hungry Eyes," "She's Like the Wind" & "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"

DELETED, EXTENDED & ALTERNATE SCENES

SCREEN TESTS & OUTTAKES

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...TIME FOR DIRTY DANCING DIE-HARDS TO DOUBLE-DIP

Movie News: Geoff Tate, Formerly of Queensrÿche, Stars in THE BURNINGMORE DEATHS

On February 14th, MVD Entertainment will release the feature film debut of Geoff Tate, former lead vocalist of the mega-platinum metal band Queensrÿche. Entitled THE BURNINGMORE DEATHS, the horror film - written and directed by Jonathan Williams - is inspired by true events surrounding unsolved murders captured on security cameras during a production shoot of a Home Improvement TV show pilot. 

Tate takes on the role of James Parrish, a man who allegedly killed his own wife and three children before disappearing without a trace. With the home now vacated and boarded up, a home improvement company gets permission to film the renovation process for a test pilot for a TV network, not knowing that Parrish had returned to take up residence once again in the derelict building. Bloody chaos ensues - and it's all captured on camera!

 

THE BURNINGMORE DEATHS features an original score by Andrew Kadin with additional music by Dawn of Solace and Geoff Tate. 

"I think I've always done it... In our own shows and with the way I present music," said Tate. "It all has a bit of a stage acting bend to it. So this wasn't really a stretch for me. It was just playing to a different audience, to a camera rather than a room full of people, but it's the same thing. You play-act and you make stuff up and you present that like you would in a stage show. "

THE BURNINGMORE DEATHS will be available on all digital stores for download and also available on DVD in retail stores, the MVD Shop, and on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

Blu-Ray Review: BALLERS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Rob Corddry, John David Washington, Andy Garcia, Omar Miller, Arielle Kebbel. Various directors. (2016, 358 min).

HBO HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Though not exactly revelatory, the first season of HBO's Ballers was an amusing look at the behind-the-scenes escapades of NFL players and their often unscrupulous agents. Dwayne Johnson was his usual charming self, heading a good ensemble cast of well-rounded characters. Considering the pro football business isn't always portrayed in the most positive light, it was surprising that this show apparently had the full cooperation of the NFL.

But like many other HBO programs that start off with a bang, Season Two isn't as compulsively watchable (and initially incomprehensible if you're new to the show). These episodes aren't bad; most of the cast is back and Johnson appears as committed as ever. But perhaps this is a case where more means less. While show is essentially more of the same, the new storylines are a bit less compelling this time around, the main characters characters a bit less enjoyable (though Andy Garcia's recurring role as a rival agent is a nice addition).

Dwayne is unimpressed with Andy's disappearing quarter trick.

Season Two of Ballers is by-no-means terrible, nor is there a monumental drop in the overall quality. I'm just beginning to think it accomplished all it really needed to in Season One. These new episodes tread familiar ground and simply continue the soap opera. While the show may no longer must-see viewing on HBO each week, fans may still enjoy binging on this Blu-Ray set.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

"INSIDE THE EPISODES" - Short synopses of each episode by executive producer Evan Reilly and various cast members.

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW

DVD Giveaway: TELETUBBIES: BIG HUGS

FREE KITTENS MOVIE GUIDE is giving away a brand new DVD copy of TELETUBBIES: BIG HUGS because...why not? 

TO ENTER: Simply drop us a message in the KITTY KONTACT box on our sidebar. The contest will run until someone actually asks for this disc.

Blu-Ray Review: BEYOND REDEMPTION

Starring Brian Ho, Don Lew, Linna Huynh, Tony Towe, Vicky Huang, Osric Chau, Eddy Ko, Peter Chao. Directed by Bruce Fontaine. (2015, 89 min).

WELL GO USA

Beyond Redemption is...well, beyond redemption.

Billy Tong (Brian Ho) is an undercover cop who may be in too deep. Involved with a violent gang led by Yuan (Don Lew), he's forced to take part in kidnapping the daughter (Linda Huynh) of a prominent Vancouver businessman Xi Long (Tony Towe), who also happens to be a rival underworld kingpin. Tong is soon torn between maintaining his cover and rescuing the girl before she is killed.

Despite an abundance of martial arts action and a few recognizable Asian actors, Beyond Redemption is actually an English language Canadian production and the cast consists primarily of guys who've made a living as stuntmen. It shows, too, because most of the performances are as stiff as plywood. That probably should come as no surprise since Bruce Fontaine, directing his first feature here, is also a stunt performer by trade.

"My nipples are hard!!!!"

But that's not necessarily a deal breaker for this genre. One would naturally assume the action would be exciting enough to make up for the wooden acting. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. While there are fight scenes and gunfights o' plenty, they are unimaginatively choreographed and sometimes appear hampered by the film's limited budget. Even the gunshot wounds favor sloppy CGI over good old-fashioned squibs.

From its standard plot to its lackluster action, Beyond Redemption offers nothing that hasn't been done bigger and better before. It might make a passable time killer on a dull evening, but only for undiscriminating action fans.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

FEATURETTES: "Yuan vs. Billy"; "Mauler Fight" (making-of features)

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEH...

Blu-Ray Review: LIFE ON THE LINE

Starring John Travolta, Kate Bosworth, Devon Sawa, Gil Bellows, Julie Banz, Ryan Robbins, Ty Olsson, Sharon Stone. Directed by David Hackl. (2015, 97 min).

LIONSGATE

The current difference between John Travolta and Bruce Willis is, even though both seem content to use their what's left of their marque value to collect paychecks, at least Travolta still appears to be trying. That doesn't necessarily mean Life on the Line is any good. Though this budget-conscious disaster film purports to pay tribute to the lives and selfless heroics of power line workers, Travolta earnest performance is really all it has going for it.

The rest is a predictable mix of subplots, cliched dialogue ("we're linemen...that's what we do") and a glorified cameo by Sharon Stone. The set-up forces us to spend way too much time with stock characters we don't care about before a climactic storm puts them in jeopardy. These characters will be familiar to anyone who's ever seen a Hallmark Channel action film. We have the seasoned old veteran with a troubled past (Travolta), the young upstart who must prove himself (Devon Sawa), the upstart's love interest (Kate Bosworth) who happens to be related to the seasoned old veteran, and the one-dimensional sleaze who exists to put others in peril. As of this writing, I'm still trying to figure out what purpose Stone's character serves.

"Dammit, this IS my real hair!"

As for the storm itself...the all low wattage action (no pun intended) happens during the final twenty minutes, consisting mostly of a phony looking train crash, lots of sparking transformers and a few downed power poles. There isn't much visual spark to the proceedings (again, no pun intended) and the special effects are on par with what you'd see in something produced by The Asylum.

Though Travolta isn't bad, are low rent action flicks like this all he's able to get these days? Or is he simply having a harder time saying no? Either way, he deserves better than working with a director whose main claim to fame is Saw V. Maybe it's time for Quentin Tarantino to throw him another lifeline.

On the plus side, Life on the Line is better than Battlefield Earth.

EXTRA KIBBLES:

MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

MUSIC VIDEO

DIGITAL COPY

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEH...