A relatively small week of releases with a few gems including two baseball films, Tom Hanks’ charming directorial debut, an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ Holistic Detective, Coscarelli’s latest cult film, and much more!
Batten down the hatches and fire up the queues…
Dirk Gently
Meet Dirk Gently. He’s poorly dressed, perpetually insolvent and
uncommonly good at solving mysteries. As proprietor of the Holistic
Detective Agency, Dirk follows methods that are, in his own words,
based on an almost unswerving belief in the fundamental
interconnectedness of all things. Affably played by Stephen Mangan
(Episodes), Dirk is aided and frequently irritated by his hapless
assistant, Richard MacDuff (Darren Boyd, Holy Flying Circus). Together,
they tackle cases ranging from a missing cat to a murder that may
involve the Pentagon. Based on the novels by beloved author Douglas
Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), Dirk Gently follows the
detective as he spins coincidences into explanations for seemingly
unsolvable mysteries. Although he’s regarded as a mere con man by some,
Dirk often delivers astonishing results with his unusual tactics. This
rollicking adaptation also features Helen Baxendale (Friends, Kidnap and
Ransom), Lisa Jackson (Daniel Deronda), Jason Watkins (Being Human),
and Bill Paterson (Traffik).
John Dies At The End
It’s all about
the Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each
hit. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent
otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it
gets instead is John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can
barely hold down jobs. Extras include Deleted Scenes, Getting Sauced: The Making Of John Dies At The End, Creature Corps: The Effects Of Soy Sauce, Casting Sessions, Fangoria Interview With Paul Giamatti, Commentary With Writer/Director Don Coscarelli, Producer Brad Baruh, Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes and Trailers
The Sweeney
Armed and dangerous the Sweeney Flying Squad are London’s elite crime
fighting force. Led by legendary Detective Jack Regan (Ray Winstone)
they are not afraid to use old school bare-knuckle tactics to bring down
the modern underworld. Now with a master criminal on the loose and a
major bank heist in progress Regan will do whatever it takes to get the
job done even if that means defying the orders of his boss (Damian
Lewis) and taking the law into his own hands.
Written by,
directed by and co-starring Tom Hanks, this high-energy comedy about
fame and friendship dances on to Blu-ray for the very first time. Hanks
plays the big-hearted manager of a 1960s pop-rock group called The
Wonders that becomes a shooting-star sensation thanks to a delightfully
catchy chart-topper called: “That Thing You Do!” Extras include “Feel Alright” Music Video, The Wonders! Big In Japan!, The Story Of The Wonders, Making That Thing You Do!, That Thing You Do! Reunion and HBO First Look: The Making Of That Thing You Do!
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Starring two of today’s most acclaimed actors, and directed by Oscar nominee Philip Kaufman (in his first film for television), Hemingway & Gellhorn
tells the story of the passionate love affair and tumultuous marriage
between Martha Gellhorn (Kidman) and Ernest Hemingway (Owen), following
the adventurous writers through all the great conflicts of their time –
from the Spanish Civil War and beyond. Considered by many to be the
greatest of all war correspondents – man or woman – Gellhorn’s drive and
success catapulted her beyond the confines of her marriage into a
revered and respected career independent of Hemingway’s. Epic in scale,
with masterfully woven archival footage, Hemingway & Gellhorn offers a unique glimpse at a powerful relationship born and torn by war.
The Killing: Season Two
TV’s most addictive crime series returns for another season of slow-burn
suspense and gripping drama. In season two, homicide detectives Sarah
Linden (Emmy® nominee Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman)
resume their investigation into murder of a Seattle teenager, only to
discover it may be part of a larger, more explosive conspiracy. As the
case unfolds, it triggers shocking revelations and stunning twists that
will keep you guessing until the riveting season conclusion…when the
killer of Rosie Larsen will finally be revealed. An Amazon Exclusive.
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled
This limited-edition, 10-disc Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One
Collection will allow fans to immerse themselves in every aspect of
Marvel’s elite Super Heroes. Complete with glowing Tesseract, this
exciting collection includes stunning Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray
presentations of Marvel’s The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor , as well as Blu-ray versions of Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Incredible Hulk in exclusive collectible packaging. Included is a Top-secret Bonus Disc including: “And Then Shawarma After” featurette, Never-before-seen deleted scenes, extended scenes, featurettes, animatics and more from each film, exclusive memorabilia (prop reproductions and artifacts) from the motion pictures and an exclusive inside look at Marvel’s Iron Man 3 and other films from Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hello Dolly!
One of Barbra Streisand’s most beloved performances is that of
the indomitable Dolly Levi in this hugely popular musical that received a
Best Picture Academy Award Nomination in 1969. It’s
turn-of-the-century Yonkers, New York, where an ambitious young widow
with a penchant for matchmaking (Streisand) has an idea for the perfect
match — tight-fisted, local merchant Horace Vandergelder (Walter
Matthau) and…herself! As she tries to win his heart, we’re treated to
one of the most musically entertaining, hilariously underhanded plots in
film history. Directed by Gene Kelly, this winner of three Oscars for
Sound, Adaptation Score and Art Direction is among the world’s most
cherished films. Extras include 1969 Featurette and Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered.
13 Eerie
Six ambitious forensic undergrads are pitted against one another on a
scientific expedition to a remote island, vying to win an esteemed
trainee position with the FBI. Unbeknownst to them, the site was
formerly used as an illegal biological testing ground for life-term
criminals who were then left for dead. The arrival of the students
disturbs the resting place, unleashing a pack of zombie criminal
convicts who systematically hunt them down, one by one.
Tormented 3D
Daigo doesn’t speak
anymore. Not since he killed that rabbit on the playground at school.
His sister, Kiriko, is worried. He’s bullied. He sleepwalks. And their
father is no help, trapped in his own grief and illustrating fantasy
worlds where families are happily reunited and no one dies. They never
should have gone to that 3D movie. The one with the stuffed rabbit that
floated out of the screen. Now Daigo is missing. He’s in danger, and
Kiriko will have to follow him into a world of nightmares to discover
the truth. And the truth is worse than any dream. From the legendary
director of The Grudge, Takashi Shimizu takes an unflinching look into
childhood fears, the ties that hold a family together, and bloody
secrets that won’t stay dead.
The Kick
After the son of a family of tae kwon do experts foils an attempt
to steal a priceless Thai artifact, the family becomes national heroes –
and targets of revenge by the criminal gang whose robbery the son
stopped. In order to protect the boy’s family, they are sent into hiding
but are soon discovered. When they’re taken hostage, one son will stop
at nothing to save his kin, and together they’ll take back what belongs
to them.
Jackie Robinson: My Story
A thrilling entertainment that traces the extraordinary life and career
of one of our greatest heroes, Jackie Robinson: My Story is a cinematic
home run. Chronicling tragedy, triumph, dignity and great courage, this
is the story of a man who changed the course of American history. This
award-winning film tells his story like it’s never been told before:
The setting is the Dodger clubhouse at historic and legendary Ebbets
Field.Jackie (Stephen Hill), in his early thirties and the prime of his
baseball career, appears in the clubhouse. He recounts his remarkable
story with classic footage and rare photos of the people and events that
helped define his groundbreaking career and inspiring life. Featuring
guest appearances by Jackie’s Dodger teammates Don Newcombe, Clem
Labine and Carl Erskine in the film’s prologue, Jackie Robinson: A Life
Story won the Best Picture Award at both the Long Island International
Film Expo and the Garden State Film Festival.
Knuckleball!
From acclaimed filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (The Devil
Came on Horseback; Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work) this heartfelt, funny
and deeply engaging film delves into the legendary subculture of the
knuckleball and the brotherhood of men who share the drive, imagination
and humility to throw baseball s slowest, most disrespected pitch.Filmed
throughout the 2011 season, Knuckleball! follows 37 year-old R.A.
Dickey (New York Mets and 2012 All-Star) and 18-year veteran Tim
Wakefield, formerly the oldest player in the major leagues and an icon
of the Boston Red Sox, detailing their personal and professional
triumphs of the season while exploring the bond between them and their
only allies, the five living retired knuckleballers – Charlie Hough,
Wilbur Wood, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti, and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. Knuckleball! is the story of these extraordinary men, and the sacrifices
they made to a pitch that would come to define their lives. Extras include featurettes, interviews, and more.
