Blu-Ray Review: THE INFILTRATOR

Starring Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Amy Ryan, Diane Krueger, Yul Vazquez, Juliet Aubrey, Olympia Dukakis, Jason Isaacs, Elena Anaya. Directed by Brad Furman. (2016, 127 min).
BROADGREEN PICTURES

The consummate character actor, Bryan Cranston is so good that it’s a rare film he can‘t make at least watchable, if just for the few scenes he might appear in. Even in his smaller supporting roles, I can’t really think of another current actor so obviously sincere and dedicated.

He’s definitely the main reason The Infiltrator is worth watching. Cranston plays U.S. customs agent Robert Mazur, who plans to retire, but not before going undercover one more time to help bring down the world’s biggest drug cartel. Posing as Bob Musella, a hot-shot money launderer, he reluctantly teams with fellow agent Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and Bonni Tischler (Amy Ryan), who poses as his fiancée. He eventually earns the trust of Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt), one of Pablo Escobar’s most brutal head honchos.

The Infiltrator is efficiently made and well-paced, but nothing that truly sets it apart from similar thrillers, save for Cranston’s performance. Since it's based on true events and the outcome is fairly well known, he has to carry most of the film on his shoulders to keep things interesting, which he does magnificently. As Mazur/Musella, he manages to create two characters with distinct personalities, each with their own quirks and flaws. And fortunately, he’s in nearly every scene.

"Peanut butter & jelly?"

Cranston is surrounded by a good cast, though at this point, Leguizamo and Bratt are in danger of being typecast for the rest of their careers (both have played similar characters so many times before they could probably do it in their sleep). And despite the story’s forgone conclusion, there’s are fair amount of suspense at times, punctuated by some jarring violence.

Cranston’s eventually going to win an Oscar, and if he keeps turning in performances like this, it’ll probably be sooner than later. He’s almost the whole show here, lifting The Infiltrator from a standard thriller into something worth checking out more than once.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
FEATURETTES: "The Three Bobs" (A focus on Cranston and his character); "How to Infiltrate" (3-part featurette, which includes Mazur himself)
Audio Commentary with Cranston and director Brad Furman
Deleted Scenes

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

Blu-Ray Review: GHOSTBUSTERS (2016)

Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Chris Hemsworth, Cecily Strong, Andy Garcia, Neil Casey, Charles Dance, Ed Begley Jr., Michael McDonald. Directed by Paul Feig. (2016, 117/134 min).
SONY

So let me get this straight, fanboys...it’s okay to crap-out a godawful reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but Ghostbusters doesn’t get a pass?

This may be the first would-be blockbuster in film history to be effectively destroyed by prerelease hatred from trolls, sexists and legions of ignoramuses who don’t have anything more substantial to be offended by. The damn thing never stood a chance, which is too bad because it’s an enjoyable film in its own right.

I know I’m in the minority on this, but the 1984 original isn’t such a cinematic sacred cow that putting a new spin on old material is out of the question. Not only that, this new one is a hell of a lot better than Ghostbusters II. If you vehemently disagree, maybe you’re letting your love of the first film cloud your judgment because it really sucked (even Bill Murray thought so).

"Oh, this? Waffles. It makes waffles."

Not a sequel, Ghostbusters 2016 is essentially a loose remake with different characters, new ghosts (save for a few returning favorites) and a disgruntled human antagonist who unleashes paranormal chaos on New York. Aside from some plot tweaks here and there, the story is more-or-less the same: four people who lose their previous jobs and form a paranormal pest control service to rid various venues of vengeful spirits.

The team is similar to those of the original...the initial skeptic (Kristen Wiig), two techno-geeks (Melissa McCarthy & Kate KcKinnon) and the more streetwise new hire (Leslie Jones). Chris Hemsworth is their beefy-but-phenomenally-dumb receptionist. While no one is the quick-witted wise-ass Bill Murray was in the original (a huge reason that film is considered a classic), they all have their funny moments (especially Jones) and display great chemistry together. If you’re able to loosen your grip of 1984’s Ghostbusters for a few hours, the whole gender reversal aspect is a non-issue.

Unfortunately, some people won't be able to let go, and part of the blame could arguably be placed on the movie itself. This film is constantly referencing the original Ghostbusters, from gratuitous cameos and iconic bits of dialogue to the title song that sucked even in 1984. Whether it was at the studio’s insistence or writer-director Paul Feig’s, these shout-outs prevent this film from establishing its own identity and simply invite more unfavorable comparisons. Seeing Bill Murray pop up for a few minutes might illicit a knowing chuckle, but it’s an unnecessary distraction that adds nothing to the story.

That aside, the new Ghostbusters has enough amusing visual effects, humorous scenes, clever dialogue and likable characters to work well enough on its own. While no classic, it’s undeserving of all the unwarranted verbal venom it’s received. It does deserve a second life on home video. The movie’s a lot of fun.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
FEATURETTES: “Meet the Team”; “Chris Hemsworth is Kevin”; “The Ghosts of Ghostbusters”; “Visual Effects: 30 Years Later”; “Slime Time”
Alternate/Deleted Scenes
2 Gag Reels (Why 2 instead of one long one is beyond me)
2 Audio Commentaries
“Jokes-A-Plenty” (Alternate dialogue scenes)
Photo Gallery
Extended & Theatrical Versions
Digital Copy

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

Blu-Ray Review: THE WAILING

Starring Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Jun Kunimura, Chun Woo-Hee, Kim Hwan-hee. Directed by Na Hong-jin. (2016, 157 min).
WELL GO USA

The Wailing is a South Korean horror film that’s garnered nearly unanimous praise from critics around the world. So naturally, my anticipation was high when the Blu-Ray arrived in my mailbox for review. 157 very long minutes later, I’m somewhat perplexed; there’s a lot to like about this film, though to be honest, it wasn’t what I was expecting.

Then again, maybe that was the point. The Wailing often flies in the face of horror conventions, defying our expectations of what we think is going to happen. Despite its familiar baseline story- a stranger arrives in a village; havoc ensues - this is unlike any supernatural horror film you’ve ever seen. That alone probably makes it worth checking out.

The main character isn't someone you’d expect to see in typical horror fare, either. Our hero, Jong-Goo (Kwak Do-won) is a portly local cop who doesn’t appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. While investigating a recent spat of brutal murders, he sometimes even comes across as comically inept. A weird young woman, Moo-Myeong (Chun Woo-hee), later convinces him an elderly Japanese stranger (Jun Kunimura) is the culprit behind the bizarre killings. Still, the old man never appears particularly threatening, even after the police begin to uncover disturbing evidence linking him with the deaths.

Meanwhile, Jong-Goo’s daughter, Hyo-jin, becomes ill, then eventually violent. Local shaman Il-Gwang (Hwang Jung-min) informs Jong-Goo the stranger is actually a demon who has possessed his daughter. He agrees to perform a ritual (the craziest exorcism you’ll likely ever see) which will save her and the village (for cash, of course). But is the old man actually the Devil? If not, then who is?

"More Schnapps, Daddy?"

Storywise, The Wailing is all over the place. Sometimes it’s funny (intentionally and unintentionally), sometimes surprisingly touching (Jong-Goo’s love for his family renders some later scenes heartbreaking). There are brutal crime scenes, slaughtered chickens, the aforementioned mysterious woman standing naked outside the police station (scaring the bejeezus out of the cops inside), killer dogs, even a zombie or two. Ultimately, however, this is a tale of demonic possession.

Though well-shot and atmospheric, The Wailing, despite some disturbing imagery, is never particularly scary. Director Na Hong-jin skillfully cranks up the tension and suspense in the final act, but it’s a hell of a long wait for a climax and resolution that is, quite frankly, too underwhelming to justify the movie's excessive length.

Maybe I’m missing something other critics didn’t. The Wailing is a indeed a good film and I don’t regret having seen it. I was just expecting...I don’t know...something else, maybe something more haunting and disturbing that would stick with me long after it was over. Perhaps it's another one of those films that improves with each viewing, should I ever feel compelled to see it again.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
FEATURETTES: “The Beginning of The Wailing”; “Making of The Wailing”
Theatrical Trailer

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW

Blu-Ray Review: SLUGS

Michael Garfield, Kim Terry, Philip MacHale, Alicia Noro, Santiago Albarez, Emilio Linder, John Battaglia. Directed by Juan Piquer Simon. (1988, 99 min).
ARROW FILMS

Pity poor David Watson (Emilio Linder) and his cursed luck. He comes home hoping for a nice steak dinner, but since his lush of a wife has been drinking all day, all he gets is salad. David still gets a bit of meat in his diet, though, since she unwittingly chops up a large slug along with the lettuce. Later, while wining and dining potential clients, fate gives this hapless bastard another kick in the ass: Just as he’s celebrating a huge business deal, thousands of writhing parasites burst from his face. It’s easily the most disgusting scene in a movie rife with them.

That’s the modus operandi of Slugs, one of the ickier exploitation flicks to ooze onto video shelves (no pun intended) during the 80s. Legions of mutated mollusks have invaded a small Northeastern town, chowing down on horny teenagers, drunks, boaters, unfortunate gardeners and everyone else who don’t seem to realize slugs are easy to outrun. Then again, what would be the fun in that?

And never mind the fact that turning a slug into a salad topping would never, by any stretch of the imagination, result in thousands of worms squirting from a guy’s eye. Sure looks cool, though. And, of course, not even our hero, health inspector Mike Brady (Michael Garfield) thinks to keep a few big-ass salt shakers at-the-ready for these slimy stand-offs (not when you have explosives handy).

Om-nom-nom

Slugs forgoes such logic because it doesn’t need it. We can also forgive the poor performances, daffy dialogue and questionable dubbing (this was an America-Spanish co-production). Why? Because slugs are inherently gross, the movie knows that, and plays it’s premise to the hilt. Slugs is never particularly scary, but the “eeew” factor is off the charts. This nasty, squirm-in-your-seat movie has a mean streak a mile wide, backed-up by some truly nauseating special effects that might put squeamish viewers off their lunch (though the finger-biting slug is rather chuckle-worthy).

Because of that, the movie works.

Though not as widely remembered as many other cult classics from the 80s, Arrow Films has gone all-out to give Slugs a terrific Blu-Ray release. Not only is the picture nicely restored, the disc comes with a lot of great extras, including four brand new featurettes. Fans of the film will enjoy the retrospective interviews and kitschy trailers.

As for newcomers, grab some salt and a beer and get ready for a goofy & gross good time. Slugs will never be mistaken for a great film, but it is great fun. I’d probably avoid eating anything, though.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
4 FEATURETTES:
“The Lyons Den” (A tour of filming locations in the small American town where most of the exteriors were shot)
“Invasion USA” (Interview with art director Gonzalo Gonzalo)
“Here’s Slugs in Your Eye” (Interview with actor Emilio Linder, who seems like a charming fellow. Looks like his eye has healed nicely)
“They Slime, They Ooze, They Kill” (Interview with SFX artist Carlo De Marchis, who has nothing but praise for the director, equating his talent with Spielberg’s)
Audio Commentary by filmmaker Chris Alexander
1988 Goya Award Promo Reel
Original Trailer
Illustrated Booklet (Not included with this screener)
Reversible Cover Sleeve with New & Original Artwork (Not included with this screener)

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD (and gross) SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

Movie News: SLEEPLESS - BRAND NEW TRAILER Starring Jamie Foxx

The OFFICIAL TRAILER for Open Road Films' upcoming action-thriller SLEEPLESS has arrived. Jamie Foxx stars as an undercover Las Vegas police officer who will go to extreme lengths to rescue his teenage son from the mob-controlled casino underground. Take a look at the high-stakes trailer here and catch #SleeplessMovie in theaters this spring! 

SLEEPLESS stars Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained, White House Down) as undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wrong, a crew of homicidal gangsters kidnaps Downs’ teenage son. In one sleepless night he will have to rescue his son, evade an internal affairs investigation and bring the kidnappers to justice.

CAST: Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, Gabrielle Union, David Harbour, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, Scoot McNairy, Octavius J. Johnson

 

Official Movie Website: SleeplessMovie.com

Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/SleeplessMovie

Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SleeplessMovie

Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/sleeplessmovie

CD Review: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Music by James Horner and Simon Franglen. (2016, 76 min).
SONY CLASSICAL

Well, here it is...the last film score the late, great James Horner was ever involved with. He’ll truly be missed. Like other modern-era masters such as John Williams and Hans Zimmer, Horner’s unique compositional style and approach put an instantly recognizable stamp on every film he worked on, regardless of the genre.

He passed away before he could finish scoring The Magnificent Seven. It was completed by one of his longtime collaborators, Simon Franglen, but you can’t really tell. And taken as a whole, this album is...well, magnificent.

Running 76 minutes and consisting of 25 tracks, the score is appropriately rousing, tense and exciting. Many pieces definitely sound like the type of music we commonly associate with westerns, and some would even sound at-home accompanying the 1960 version of the film. At the same time, the whole score has a modern feel that suits the remake well.

The Magnificent Seven is one of the better mainstream film scores released on disc this year. While it’s sad knowing this is James Horner’s swan song, at least his amazing career ended on a high note. I think Elmer Bernstein would approve.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

Blu-Ray News: ROGER CORMAN'S DEATH RACE 2050 Coming January 17, 2017

Make way for the return of Frankenstein when ROGER CORMAN'S DEATH RACE 2050 arrives on to Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on January 17, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment! 

Watch the all new trailer here:

Blu-Ray Review: MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES

Starring Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root, Sugar Lyn Beard, Sam Richardson, Stephanie Farcy, Alice Wetterlund. Directed by Jake Szymanski. (2016, 98 min).
20TH CENTURY FOX

Being that similar comedies released so far this year have been insultingly abysmal (looking at you, Dirty Grandpa & Neighbors 2), my expectations for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates weren’t exactly lofty. After all, how many more raunchy, gross-out comedies did we really need, anyway? And yet another one with Zac Efron! Didn’t these cease being funny a long time ago?

So even though I approached this disc with my usual amount of cynicism and trepidation for this sort of thing, something unusual happened:

I laughed...sometimes out loud.

For someone who still considers Animal House to be the Star Wars of this little subgenre, I was somewhat surprised. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates isn’t what anyone would call clever (hell, the title tells all). The thing is loaded with the usual checklist of f-bombs, drugs, booze, dick jokes, sex gags, nudity and over-the-top slapstick. Nor is any of it remotely original. We’ve seen countless films where the protagonists are dumb slobs whose stunted maturity and irresponsible behavior is the driving force of the story.

I guess the big difference is the characters themselves are enjoyable (even when they‘re being douche bags). As the title characters, Zac Efron & Adam Devine are inseparable, hard-parting brothers, neither of whom are the brightest crayons in the box. They also have a habit of ruining family get-togethers by causing chaos and hitting on all the single women. Their father (Stephen Root) insists they bring actual dates to the next event, their sister Jeanie’s wedding in Hawaii. So they place an ad on Craigslist looking for nice girls. Instead, Alice & Tatiana (Anna Kendrick & Aubrey Plaza), both hard-partiers themselves, show up. Alice is still upset over being left at the alter on her wedding day; Tatiana is as conniving as she is irresponsible. After being fired, they look at the wedding date offer as a free vacation.

No prize for guessing what transpires once everyone gets to Hawaii.

"Seriously, Zac...how many movies like this are you gonna do?"

It’s as predictable as the tide, but like someone who knows how to tell a good joke, the key is in the delivery. We’ve seen violent slapstick before. We've seen situational misunderstandings played for laughs. We’ve seen people ingest drugs at the worst possible moment. We’ve seen ‘funny’ sex scenes and characters who exist just to say outrageous things. But unlike, say, Neighbors, Matt and Dave Need Wedding Dates seldom plays like a series of isolated sketches clumsily squeezed together because someone felt a vomit gag was required. When Jeanie gets struck in the face by an ATV, it has an actual impact on the plot, as does the ‘special’ therapeutic message she receives later (which might be the funniest scene in the entire movie). When Mike and Dave ultimately end up fighting each other (verbally & physically), it’s rendered more amusing and believable because the film took the time to establish them as like-minded idiots.

ONE OF THE FILM'S DELETED SCENES (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox):

Not everything works. Some gags do go on a tad longer than they should, Alice Wetterlund as the brothers' in-your-face lesbian cousin is an out-of-place caricature and the final scene (a musical number) is brazenly pandering and stupid. I could have also done without all the constant title-dropping references to other movies. For the most part, however, the film hits its targets more often than it misses.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates isn’t gonna save Hollywood or anything, but it’s quite good for what it is: an congenial, enjoyably raunchy comedy. It may bring nothing new to the table in this already crowded subgenre, but what can I say? It rubbed me the right way and I laughed a lot, sometimes in spite of myself.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
FEATURETTES: “Funny or Die” Shorts (3 amusing - but fake - behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast); “Bits on Bits on Bits” & “Line-O-Rama” (Similar segments featuring some on-the-set improvisation)
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Audio Commentary (featuring the director)
Gag Reel
Gallery
DVD & Digital Copies

KITTY CONSENSUS:

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

Blu-Ray News: ROGER CORMAN'S DEATH RACE 2050 Official Poster

 Gear up and strap in for Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 at New York Comic Con! An all new poster will be made exclusively available at NYCC on Thursday, October 6 during an autograph signing with producer Roger Corman and star Manu Bennett. The signing is set to take place from 5:15pm to 6:15pm at Autograph Table 20. 

  ROGER CORMAN’S DEATH RACE 2050 ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY™, DVD, AND DIGITAL HD IN 2017  

SYNOPSIS
In the not-too-distant future, America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government that keeps the masses placated with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, where a motley assortment of drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for running down pedestrians and killing each other. The reigning champion and popular favorite is half-man, half-machine Frankenstein — but little does he know he’s taken on a rebel spy as his co-pilot.

MIKE & DAVE'S Guide to Being the LIFE OF THE PARTY

Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates is now out on 4K UHD, DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital HD from 20th Century Fox.