Posted February 18, 2024 09:18 PM by Sean Greenwood
For the week of February 19th, the Criterion Collection will release Christian Petzold's Afire (Roter Himmel), starring Paula Beer, Enno Trebs, Thomas Schubert, Matthias Brandt and Langston Uibel.
While vacationing by the Baltic Sea, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised to encounter Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at the holiday home of Felix's family. Nadja soon distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel, not only because of her passionate liaison with lifeguard Devid (Enno Trebs) but also because her brutal honesty forces Leon to confront his artistic inadequacies. As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group and pushes the writer to discover whether he can truly care for anything beyond himself. Christian Petzold's acclaimed latest film was the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
Criterion's Blu-ray of Afire includes a new interview with Christian Petzold and a trailer.
Also from Criterion is a Blu-ray for Michael Roemer's Nothing But a Man (1964), starring Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, Julius Harris, Gloria Foster, Stanley Greene and Yaphet Kotto. Sourced from a 4K master (approved by director Michael Roemer), Criterion presents Nothing But a Man with LPCM Mono audio. Extras include a new interview with Roemer, a 2004 conversation between Roemer and co-producer and cinematographer Robert M. Young and interviews with actors Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, and Julius Harris. Also included is an essay by critic Gene Seymour.
Then from Criterion is a 4K UHD and Blu-ray release for Johnnie To's films The Heroic Trio / Executioners (東方三俠 / 現代豪俠傳) (1993), starring Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, Shi-Kwan Yen, Damian Lau and Anthony Chau-Sang Wong. Sourced from 4K masters, Criterion presents The Heroic Trio and Executioners with Cantonese: LPCM Mono audio and newly-translated optional English subtitles and in 4K SDR on the 4K UHD edition. Extras include alternate Cantonese: DTS-HD MA 5.1 and English-dubbed audio tracks, new interviews with actor Anthony Wong and film critic Samm Deighan, as well as trailers. Also included is an essay by critic Beatrice Loayza. For full disc breakdowns, read Svet Atanasov's 4K UHD review and Blu-ray review.
New from Kino Lorber is a Blu-ray for Jean-Paul Salomé's La Syndicaliste, starring Isabelle Huppert, Grégory Gadebois, François-Xavier Demaison, Pierre Deladonchamps, Alexandra Maria Lara and Gilles Cohen.
Description: An investigative thriller set in the world of nuclear power and politics, La Syndicaliste follows the true story of Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert), the influential head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse. A deft navigator of elite political and financial circles, Maureen becomes a whistleblower when she discovers international backroom dealings, exposing secrets that shook the French nuclear sector. Fighting against government ministers and industry leaders, Maureen worked tirelessly to bring the scandal to light and defend thousands of jobs until she was violently sexually assaulted in her own home, seemingly targeted for her attempts to reveal the truth. As her attack is investigated, new elements create doubt in the minds of detectives and lawyers, and they begin to see Maureen not as a victim, but as a suspect. Surrounded by powerful enemies and unable to trust anyone, Maureen must fight to clear her name.
Kino's Blu-ray of La Syndicaliste contains interviews with Jean-Paul Salomé and Maureen Kearney, as well as a theatrical trailer.
Description: Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis is a monumental documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King's speeches, protests, and arrests are interspersed with scenes of other high-profile supporters and opponents of the cause, punctuated by heartfelt testimonials by some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Selected to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1999, King is a cinematic national treasure that allows viewers to be first-hand witnesses to Dr. King's crusade, and thereby gain a fuller appreciation of both the personal challenges he endured and the vast cultural legacy he left behind.
Kino presents King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis with two theatrical trailers featuring Harry Belafonte.
Then from Kino is a Blu-ray for Pat Rocco's Drifter (1974), starring Jon Adair, David Russell, Bambi Allen, Joe Caruso, Inga Marie and Dean Shah-Kee. Sourced from a new 2K scan of the 16mm A / B negatives, Kino presents Drifter with an audio commentary by film historian Finley Freibert, and Pat Rocco's short films Autumn Nocturne, A Matter of Life, Strip Strip and Sunny Boys (all 1968).
Also from Kino is a 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray for George P. Cosmatos' Leviathan (1989), starring Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Amanda Pays, Daniel Stern, Ernie Hudson and Michael Carmine. Sourced from a new 4K scan of an interpositive, Kino presents Leviathan with lossless 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks and Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras include a new audio commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson, while the included remastered Blu-ray additionally features the featurette Leviathan: Monster Melting Pot, interviews with actors Hector Elizondo and Ernie Hudson and a theatrical trailer.
Finally from Kino is a 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray for Rod Lurie's The Last Castle (2001), starring Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Burton, Delroy Lindo and Paul Calderon. Sourced from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative, Kino presents The Last Castle with lossless 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks and Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras include a new audio commentary by Rod Lurie, while the included remastered Blu-ray additionally features three featurettes, nine deleted scenes with optional commentary by Rod Lurie and a theatrical trailer.
Coming to Blu-ray from Film Masters is Jack Arnold's The Swiss Conspiracy (1976), starring David Janssen, Senta Berger, John Ireland, John Saxon, Ray Milland and Elke Sommer. Sourced from a new 4K scan of archival elements, Film Masters presents The Swiss Conspiracy with DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono audio. Extras include author/podcaster Daniel Budnik and film historian Rob Kelly, the featurette Jack Arnold: The Lost Years, the visual essay Jack Arnold: A Three-Dimensional Filmmaker and original and newly restored trailers.
Coming from Shout Factory is a 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray for Sam Raimi's Darkman (1990), starring Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, Larry Drake, Nelson Mashita and Jessie Lawrence Ferguson. Sourced from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative (approved by Sam Raimi and cinematographer Bill Pope), Shout presents Darkman with lossless 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks and Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras include a new audio commentary by filmmaker (and Darkman superfan) Josh Ruben and legacy audio commentary with Bill Pope, while the included remastered Blu-ray additionally features new deleted scenes several recent and vintage cast and crew interviews, a theatrical trailer, TV spots and still galleries. In addition to standard packaging, a Limited Edition SteelBook will also be available.
Coming to 4K UHD from Paramount Home Media Distribution is John Landis' Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Timothy Carhart, John Saxon and Theresa Randle. Newly remastered, Paramount presents Beverly Hills Cop III with DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Vision HDR. On the same day, Paramount will also release the Beverly Hills Cop: 3-Movie Collection (1984-1994), which contains Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) and Beverly Hills Cop III together.
Finally this week,Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have two catalog titles to offer. First is a Blu-ray for Marleen Gorris' The Luzhin Defence (2000), starring John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson, Christopher Thompson and Fabio Sartor. Extras include commentary by Marleen Gorris and a making-of featurette.
Also from Sony is a 4K UHD upgrade for Satoshi Kon's Paprika (パプリカ) (2006), starring Megumi Hayashibara, Toru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Tôru Furuya, Akio Ôtsuka and Kôichi Yamadera. Sourced from a new 4K master, Sony presents Paprika with Japanese: Dolby Atmos and Japanese and English-dubbed DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio tracks and Dolby Vision HDR. Extras include the featurette Restoring Paprika, while the included Blu-ray (also sourced from the 4K master) contains filmmaker commentary, a making-of documentary, several featurettes, storyboards and trailers.
Note: At this time, Paprika is only availble on 4K UHD in SteelBook packaging.