Category: DVD/BLU-RAY

"Li'l Quinquin" is the latest release from writer/director Bruno Dumont, the helmer of "Humanite" and "Twentynine Palms." Digging deep into his reservoir of absurdity, the filmmaker offers an extended journey into weirdness and stasis with "Li'l Quinquin," which braids a serial killer saga with police procedural events and slapstick comedy, taking a whopping 206 minutes of screentime to figure out which end is up. It's a long adventure into the black heart of rural France, leaving the movie strictly for those who embrace the challenge of cinematic discovery and appreciate humor so subtle, it's practically indistinguishable. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Poldark" isn't simply emerging from out of nowhere. Adapted from the literary series by Winston Graham, which already inspired a 1975 television series, the brand name is well known for its depiction of tragedy and heroism, and for its critique of class divide. With "Downton Abbey" currently working on its final season, now is the time for "Poldark" to rise. While the two shows don't have much in common, the producers of the new series have made sure to provide some familiarity, delving into the period piece with a plan to celebrate far-off locations, forbidden love, financial horrors, and a dashing leading man in Aidan Turner. What should be a slam-dunk of churning emotions is instead quite tedious at times, with a strange concentration on repetition and padding that's meant to fill eight hours of entertainment. Truthfully, there isn't enough incident to keep the effort alert. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The year is 1981, and at this point in the career of martial art superstar Chuck Norris, things were looking promising. Developing his big screen brand name with a string of actioners in the late 1970s, Norris graduated to more streetwise entertainment in the early 1980s, widening his appeal in the pre-beard days, when all heroism required were a pair of tight jeans and a Members Only jacket. "An Eye for an Eye" is Norris's move to Steve McQueen territory, put into the driver's seat for this revenge thriller, mixing broad kick-happy confrontations with dour investigative movements. Amusement remains with the picture's concentration on exaggerated performances and waves of dim-witted baddies, and while "An Eye for an Eye" isn't a shining example of the genre or even Norris, it remains perfectly approachable, with a satisfying level of violence and squinty acts of intimidation to make the run time fly by. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Making its big screen debut in 1970, years after its success on stage, "The Boys in the Band" carried a heavy responsibility. Largely credited as the first breakout hit of gay cinema, the picture is a crowded, argumentative ride of emotions, masterminded by playwright Mart Crowley. Setting out to create a gathering of men who defy and participate in stereotype, working to move past appearances and inspect pure behavior, Crowley creates a loving portrait of instability. "The Boys in the Band" is raw, catty, and sincere, shedding its theatrical origins thanks to smart direction from William Friedkin. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Continuing their professional relationship after competing "Taras Bulba," director J. Lee Thompson and star Yul Brynner reteamed for 1963's "Kings of the Sun," marketed as one of the few major motion pictures to examine ancient Mayan culture, doing so as an epic production with blockbuster intentions. It's the size that's most impressive about "Kings of the Sun," which offers hundreds of extras, towering sets, and frame-filling war scenes. Less inviting is the melodrama at the core of the screenplay, which works diligently but fruitlessly to build an intimate tale of doomed attraction and pained leadership as the populations of Central America and North America collide. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1975's "Killer Cop" uses the 1969 Piazza Fontana Bombing as inspiration for another round of cop vs. criminal action. The Americanized title is a tad misleading, as the picture is more about investigation than a steady serving of vigilante-style justice, but "Killer Cop" does carry darkness, with movements of terrorism and corruption driving an otherwise immobile police movie that's often more tell than show. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"River of Death" is a loose adaptation of Alistair McLean's 1981 novel. While it sips from a literary source, the true inspiration for the 1989 effort seems to be split between "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Apocalypse Now." Director Steve Carver ("Big Bad Mama," "An Eye for an Eye") makes a game attempt to give the adventure story a cinematic lift, channeling Spielberg and Coppola to the best of his ability, striving to give Cannon Films an easily marketable picture. "River of Death" isn't shy about stealing, but it remains weirdly inert. Despite its Amazon River setting, interest in shootouts and threatening, highly decorated natives, and star turn from action hero Michael Dudikoff, the feature doesn't provide the necessary speed for excitement, struggling to come up with ways to make a bland tale at least passably gripping. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

There's an appealing sense of disorientation that flows throughout 1964's "Invitation to a Gunfighter." It's not a dramatically dense effort, but it holds focus on shifting allegiances and desires, attempting to find different dramatic directions that move past traditional offerings of six-gun violence than typically motivate the genre. Returning Yul Brynner to the old west, "Invitation to a Gunfighter" scores with surprise and intimidation, finding the star's icy stare and the screenplay's behavioral curiosity combining to deliver a slightly askew take on revenge. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In the years following his worldwide exposure in Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy, star Clint Eastwood began a quest to define his American screen persona and career goals, spending 1968 on a collection of diverse releases, with "Hang 'Em High," "Where Eagles Dare," and "Coogan's Bluff" working to share what passes for range with the iconic star. However, "Coogan's Bluff" is perhaps the most important of the bunch, establishing Eastwood's creative relationship with director Don Siegel, with the helmer becoming a friend and mentor for the actor. While the pair would go on to make "Dirty Harry" in 1971, "Coogan's Bluff" is their first stab at creating an antihero, pushing the boundaries of good taste with this surprisingly gruff detective story. In many ways, the feature feels like a prequel to "Dirty Harry," but it retains its own personality, giving Eastwood a chance to play around with cop clichés as he perfects his famous squint. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1971 was a pivotal moment in time for Clint Eastwood and director Don Siegel. It was the year they gave the world "Dirty Harry," one of the most iconic police films ever made, launching a lucrative franchise that would carry on for the next two decades. However, earlier that year, the pair concocted "The Beguiled," looking to break away from the actioners and thrillers they were known for, setting out to adapt a 1966 novel that touched on uncomfortable situations of seduction. Playing slightly against type, Eastwood delivers strong work as the main character, pushed to rely on subtle bits of deception instead of pure intimidation. However, "The Beguiled" truly belongs to Siegel, who's taken a difficult story and transformed it into a fascinatingly bizarre suspense piece, bravely managing a tale where there isn't a likable character to be found. Exceedingly disturbing and evenly paced, the feature comes together splendidly, challenging viewers with scenes of predatory behavior and wartime anxiety, with Siegel extracting a few genuine ills out of a troubling saga. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

With 1971 already stocked with Don Siegel collaborations in "The Beguiled" and "Dirty Harry," star Clint Eastwood decided to strike out on his own during this especially fertile year of creativity. Interested in creating his own dramatic path, away from cowboy hats and guns, Eastwood elected to make "Play Misty for Me" his directorial debut, utilizing years of acting experience to help give what's essentially a simplistic stalker saga some much needed character and off-beat timing. "Play Misty for Me" isn't opposed to absurdity, but it's also an effective chiller that understands its audience, going big when necessary and silent when required. The effort also launches Eastwood's helming career on an unusual note, showcasing an interest in the strange and unexpected the icon would manage for the rest of his career. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Hollywood wasn't shy about their lust for a James Bond-style success. Many spy parodies and knockoffs were issued after Ian Fleming's character became a pop culture sensation and a box office powerhouse, leaving it only a matter of time before Clint Eastwood would attempt to create his own version of Bond (after reportedly declining the role). 1975's "The Eiger Sanction," based on the best-seller by Trevanian, strives to recapture the Sean Connery 007 years, issuing a no-nonsense lead character who slaps around brutes, spanks women, and is generally one step ahead of every villain he encounters. Utilizing exotic locations and story that provides layers of conspiracy and uncertainty, "The Eiger Sanction" doesn't feature much of a mystery, with Eastwood's dry, unhurried directorial style at odds with the demands of the superspy genre. It's a tepid thriller, best appreciated as a travelogue with periodic bursts of violence. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Completing a trilogy that began with 1967's "In the Heat of the Night," 1971's "The Organization" is the final film to feature actor Sidney Poitier as the character Virgil Tibbs. A forceful, smart cop trying to undermine growing criminal interests, Tibbs receives a little help from the neighborhood in "The Organization," which concerns the actions of a vigilante group who need the detective to help stop drug smugglers in San Francisco, putting everyone in the line of fire. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Finding tremendous success with his Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, director Roger Corman created what's known as the "Poe Cycle," representing eight motion pictures detailing all manner of ghoulish events created by the author. The only one not to star Vincent Price is 1962's "The Premature Burial," which brought in Ray Milland to provide requisite screen torment, this time portraying with man with a fear of being buried alive. It's customary work from Corman, who labors to beef up a short story to feature-length standards, drenching the effort in spooky atmosphere and heightened performances. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The kids aren't alright in the French drama "Girlhood." Taking a look at the growing pains of a young woman in the midst of waywardness, director Celine Sciamma ("Tomboy") displays a command of mood and distress that creates understanding where cliché typically resides. "Girlhood" is a human story, filled with violence and concern, and while it ultimately bites off a little more than it can chew, the raw ingredients of the work remain fascinating. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

With war films, the battle between good and evil is often rigidly defined. 1970's "The McKenzie Break" isn't celebrating the bad guys, but it pays a considerable amount of attention to their sneaky plans. It's "The Great Escape" in reverse, following the exploits of Nazi POWs in Scotland planning to tunnel their way to freedom. The only man who can stop them? Surprisingly, it's Brian Keith, here portraying Irish officer Connor, who'd rather be seducing women and draining a flask than dealing with smug Nazis, led by Captain Schlueter (Helmut Griem). Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1990 was a very big year for Andrew Dice Clay. As a comedian, he was the hottest ticket around, building an empire on dirty jokes that took him from a club act to Madison Square Garden, creating a frenzy wherever he played. The records were selling and his popularity (rooted in controversy) was unstoppable. However, his acting career needed a little work, with supporting parts in "Casual Sex?" and "Pretty in Pink" failing to make him a marquee name during the 1980s. 20th Century Fox, sensing a ripe opportunity, elected to bring Clay to the big time, creating a starring vehicle in "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane," an action comedy based on characters from author Rex Weiner. Handed the spotlight and the services of director Renny Harlin (fresh off his success with "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master"), Clay made the most out of a rare opportunity, infusing the script with his own quirks and callbacks, creating a character not unlike his stage persona, set loose in a wildly entertaining detective yarn. "Ford Fairlane" isn't for every taste, but those tuned into Clay's goofy personality are rewarded with a hilarious performance that finds the comedian at his most confidant and playfully mischievous. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

It's somewhat surprising that 1957's "The Quiet Gun" doesn't have more of a reputation today. Externally, it's a nondescript, television-style western starring Forrest Tucker and Lee Van Cleef, showcasing the concerns of leathery men brandishing firearms and stern looks. Yet the screenplay (based on a novel) concerns the societal pressures of the moral majority, with racial tensions brought to a boil in the story, resulting in condemnation and murder. "The Quiet Gun" isn't a traditional genre offering, largely doing away with escapist events to register as more of a psychological drama, disrupting expectations in an intriguing way. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Co-writer/co-director Bruce La Bruce infuses 1996's "Hustler White" with a love of classic Hollywood movies and street culture. Even if he's not completely able to achieve his visual goals with a no-budget production, La Bruce retains a sense of mischief and kinky exploration with this graphic motion picture. Opening with a homage to "Sunset Boulevard," "Hustler White" is off to the races, following Montgomery Ward (Tony Ward) through the ups and downs of hustling, avoiding some and engaging others as he tries to make money in the big city. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

A member of the Italian cannibal subgenre popularized in the 1970s and '80s, "Cannibal Ferox" is a particularly aggressive production out to draw attention to itself through gruesome acts of violence, both real and fictionalized. Emerging a year after "Cannibal Holocaust" created a publicity and legal hullaballoo, the 1981 feature is clearly out to up the stakes in terms of brutality, returning to the Amazon with a similar thesis on the toxic influence of the white man on indigenous tribes. Filmmaking finesse isn't invited to the party, but "Cannibal Ferox" has a distinct way of creating nightmares, with its emphasis on gore and suffering giving the feature an identity when storytelling is politely ignored. There's plenty here to loathe, including some appalling directorial decisions from Umberto Lenzi, but as an exploitation effort with simplistic creative goals, the movie secures its place as a perfectly serviceable horror show, with plenty of blood and guts to share with viewers. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com