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DISCussion: New on DVD and Blu-ray (4.7.15)

"New on DVD and Blu-ray this Week!"
We have some solid releases this week, including two wonderful documentaries, and the Blu-ray-release of treasured classic films, The Imitation of Life (1934 and 1959). Despite its etherial cinematography and brilliant performances, The Immigrant was bested by the equally-wonderful, A Most Violent Year as our Recommendation of the Week. New Release: A Most Violent Year – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Immigrant – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Voices – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Killers – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Happy Valley – (DVD and Instant) Monk With a Camera – (DVD and Instant) Re-release: Imitation of Life (1934 and 1959) – (Blu-ray Box Set) Breathless (1983) – (Blu-ray)   New on DVD A Most Violent Year – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) *Recommendation of the Week* Directed and Written by J.C. Chandor Starring: Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, David Oyelowo 1981 was one of the most violent years in New York City's history. Abel Morales (Isaac) is an enterprising immigrant trying to do what is right for his family. Capitalizing on opportunities as they present themselves in order to grow his business, Morales is surrounded by a near-constant violence that threatens to tear apart all that he has built. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (Excellent) Metacritic: 79 (Very Good) IMDB: 7.2 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 8.7/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Special Features: a pair of Making-of featurettes; conversational featurette between Chastain and Isaac; commentary with Chandor and his co-producers; “Social Disease” featurette between Chandor and Dr. Gary Slutkin, founder of Cure Violence Amazon: $16.99 (Blu-ray); $12.99 (DVD); $4.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 4 stars; Replay: 4 stars. Highly Recommended.   New on DVD The Immigrant – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by James Gray Written by James Gray and Richard Manello Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner This gripping portrait of turn-of-the-century New York city is finally getting a home video release. Some of the most gorgeous cinematography of 2013 creates a vivid world around fantastic performances from the always-fabulous Cotillard and Phoenix. When Polish immigrant, Ewa (Cotillard), is separated from her ill sister at Ellis Island, she falls victim to Burlesque/Brothel owner, Bruno Weiss' (Phoenix) charms. A stranger in a foreign land, Ewa is helpless to escape, and must bear unfathomable brutality in order to save her sister. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (Very Good) Metacritic: 77 (Very Good) IMDB: 6.6 (Good) Entertainment Fuse: 7/10 DISC DETAILS Special Features: “The Visual Inspiration for The Immigrant” featurette; Director Commentary; trailer Amazon: $12.99 (Blu-ray); $18.38 (DVD); $2.99/$7.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4.5 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 2 stars; Replay: 3.5 stars. Highly Recommended.   New on DVD The Voices – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Marjane Satrapi Written by Michael R. Perry Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick A colorful yet dark voyage into psychosis, The Voices comes out of nowhere to provide some solid laughs, and stunning visuals. One of Reynolds' best performances in years, Jerry is a tormented loner, unaware of his own delusional life. When he falls for office heartthrob, Fiona (Arterton), things take a turn for the worse. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 73% (Good) Metacritic: 58 (Okay) IMDB: 6.4 (Good) Entertainment Fuse: 6.2/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $14.99 (Blu-ray); $11.99 (DVD); $6.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   New on DVD Killers – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto Written by Takuji Ushiyama (Story and written by), and Timo Tjahjanto (story and screenplay) Starring: Kazuki Kitamura, Oka Antara, Rin Takanashi A series of Tokyo murders posted on the internet go viral. Watching from Jakarta, a disgraced journalist discovers his own ability to kill. As the Tokyo murders continue, Bayu (Antara) begins posting his own, “vigilante” killings, striking up a murderous rivalry. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 86% (Very Good) Metacritic: 51 (Okay) IMDB: 6.6 (Good) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Trailer Amazon: $12.99 (Blu-ray); $9.96 (DVD); $3.99/$9.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 0.5 stars; Replay: 3 stars. Recommended.   New on DVD Happy Valley – (DVD and Instant) Directed and written by Amir Bar-Lev A biting documentary profiling the year after the arrest of Penn State coach, Jerry Sandusky. In a town where Joe Paterno was nearly deified, the child sex abuse scandal ripped apart the town of State College, PA, forcing residents to consider some very tough questions. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (Very Good) Metacritic: 76 (Very Good) IMDB: 6.6 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.99 (DVD); $3.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   New on DVD Monk With a Camera – (DVD and Instant) Directed by Tina Mascara and Guido Santi Starring: The Dalai Lama, Khyongla Rinpoche, Nicky Vreeland A introspection into the life of Nicky Vreeland, who walked away from a life of privilege to become a Buddhist monk. The grandson of Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, and a trained photographer, Nicky's journey as a monk is profiled along with his quest, through photography, to raise money to rebuild his monastery. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 82% (Very Good) Metacritic: 56 (Okay) IMDB: 7.1 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (DVD); $3.99/$9.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   New on DVD Imitation of Life (1934 / 1959) – (2-Movie Blu-ray Directed by John M. Stahl / Douglas Sirk Written by Fannie Hurst (novel) and William Hurlbut (screenplay) / Eleanore Griffin (screenplay) and Allan Scott (screenplay) Starring: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson / Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee A beautiful story of racial identity, Fannie Hurst's novel was adapted twice for the screen with incredible results. When a widow and her young daughter take in a black housekeeper and her light-skinned daughter, the women form strong familial bonds. Years pass, and (in different versions of the story one becomes a star, the other partners with her housekeeper to sell a pancake recipe), as the women prosper and grow close, their daughters begin drift away. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100 / 83% (Very Good) IMDB: 7.6/ 7.9 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: N/A / 9/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (2-movie Blu-ray)   New on DVD Breathless (1983) – (Blu-ray) Directed by Jim McBride Written by François Truffaut (story), Jean-Luc Godard (screenplay), L.M. Kit Carson (screenplay), and Jim McBride (screenplay) Starring: Richard Gere, Valérie Kaprisky, Art Metrano Jim McBride's remake of Jean-Luc Godard's French New Wave standard, was never intended to live up to the original. Featuring Gere as a runaway criminal cop-killer, Breathless follows as he falls in love with Monica (Kaprisky) and heads for the Mexican border. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 67% (Fresh) IMDB: 5.7 (Okay) Amazon: $13.29 (Blu-ray)

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