Posted January 10, 2021 12:47 AM by Sean Greenwood
For the week of January 11th, Arbelos Films will release their long-awaited remastered Blu-ray of Bela Tarr's epic Sátántangó, starring János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos, and Mihály Vig. Based on the novel of the same name by László Krasznahorkai, Sátántangó is set in a post-apocalyptic Hungary after the fall of Communism, and follows the members of a collapsing collective farm who anticipate receiving a large financial payment, but their plans for the money are disrupted by the news that a co-worker thought dead is returning to the village. Photographed in black and white and running over seven hours, Sátántangó is one of the major works of so-called "slow cinema" and one of the most revered art-house films of the 1990s.
The Blu-ray features a new 4K master from the original 35mm camera negative undertaken by Arbelos in collaboration with The Hungarian Filmlab. In reviewing the release, Jeffrey Kauffman says: "The mise-en-scčne for this often intentionally provocative film is really distinctive...Gábor Medvigy's gorgeous black and white cinematography can utilize deep focus or even what looks like split diopter moments, offering both incredible close-ups and staggering, if bleak, vistas of an often sodden and rainy countryside. Detail levels are often exceptional, especially in the most extreme close-ups, where some of the weathered faces of members of the collective have an almost topographical appearance". The film is presented in a two-disc set with several extras, including the new video interview "A Sense of Rhythm" with composer and actor Mihály Víg.
In new releases, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will release on Blu-ray Francis Lee's film Ammonite, starring Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet, Fiona Shaw, Gemma Jones, and Claire Rushbrook. Winslet plays real-life paleontologist Mary Anning, who, with her greatest discoveries behind her, is reduced to selling fossills to tourists in 19th-century southern England. When a wealthy visitor places his wife in Anning's care, initially, the two women of different backgrounds and classes are at odds, but gradually, a bond begins to develop, which compels the two to discover the full extent of their relationship. The Blu-ray also contains the featurette The Making of Ammonite.
Another new release, this time from Paramount Home Media Distribution, is Mark Tonderai's thriller Spell, starring Omari Hardwick, Loretta Devine, Lorraine Burroughs, John Beasley, and Andre Jacobs. When an intense storm causes Marquis to lose control of the plane carrying him and his family. He awakens wounded, alone and trapped in Ms. Eloise's attic, who claims she can nurse him back to health with the Boogity, a Hoodoo figure she has made from his blood and skin. Speaking about Paramount's video transfer, Martin Liebman says: "It's razor sharp and reveals high clarity facial features with exacting ease and efficiency. Viewers will appreciate the depth to pores, the tactile definition to facial hair, and the clarity of eyes. Intense sharpness is maintained throughout, minus the many examples of obvious diffusion meant to aesthetically enhance a feeling or perspective. These are frequent throughout the film and compliment, not distract from, the material." The Blu-ray of Spell also includes over 25 minutes of deleted scenes and three featurettes.
Also this week, Shout Factory will release on Blu-ray Takashi Yamazaki's film Lupin III: The First. Available in both standard and Limited SteelBook editions, the new feature film for the iconic "gentleman thief" Lupin III sees him and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. Presented in both the original Japanese version and a new English dubbed version, the latter featuring the return of the beloved English cast that has voiced previous Lupin films, including Tony Oliver, Doug Erholtz, Michelle Ruff, Richard Epcar and Lex Lang as well as newcomers Laurie C. Hymes, J. David Brimmer and Paul Guyet. Several extras include Blu-ray-exclusive interviews with director Takashi Yamazaki and the Japanese voice cast.
Also coming to Blu-ray this week is Bing Liu's Oscar-nominated documentary Minding the Gap. Synopsis: This extraordinary debut from documentarian Bing Liu weaves a story of skateboarding, friendship, and fathers and sons into a coming-of-age journey of courageous vulnerability. Over the course of several years and with his camera always at the ready, Liu records the rocky paths into adulthood of Keire and Zack, two friends from his own skateboarding community in Rockford, Illinois. As he does so, deeper parallels gradually emerge that ultimately draw the filmmaker into a heartrending confrontation with his own past. With an eye for images of exhilarating poetry and a keen emotional sensitivity, Minding the Gap is a powerfully cathartic portrait of fledgling lives forged in trauma and fighting to break free. Minding the Gap is presented with the large assortment of extras usually found on Criterion releases, including a new audio commentary with Liu, interviews with Liu, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk and others, and Nước a short film by Liu.
Then, Lionsgate has Liam O'Donnell's thriller Skylines, starring Lindsey Morgan, Rhona Mitra, Alexander Siddig, and James Cosmo. Synopsis: When a virus threatens to turn the now earth-dwelling friendly alien hybrids against humans, Captain Rose Corley must lead a team of elite mercenaries on a mission to the alien world in order to save what's left of humanity.
Finally this week, Kino Lorber has three catalog releases. The first is Frank Darabont's television thriller Buried Alive, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Matheson, William Atherton, Hoyt Axton, and Jay Gerber. Making its worldwide debut on Blu-ray, Buried Alive is presented in a new 2K master and features a new video interview with William Atherton and an audio commentary by entertainment journalist and author Bryan Reesman. Then it's the thriller Stretch. Written, produced and directed by Joe Carnahan, and starring Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Jessica Alba, Norman Reedus, and Brooklyn Decker, Stretch makes its debut on Blu-ray in the U.S. with a pair of new audio commentaries, including one featuring Joe Carnahan himself. Finally, Kino will release Skip Woods' thriller Thursday, starring Thomas Jane, Aaron Eckhart, James Le Gros, Paula Marshall, and Michael Jeter. Again making its debut on Blu-ray in the U.S., Thursday will be presented in its unrated director's cut, and will include a new audio commentary with a new audio commentary by critic Sally Christie and a interview with Thomas Jane.