Three new documentaries lead this weeks new DVD and Blu-ray releases.
The Look of Silence (Drafthouse, 2015, PG-13, audio commentary, featuretes, trailer; 20-page booklet). Filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, who hails from Texas but is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, earned an Oscar nomination for his unusual 2013 documentary The Act of Killing, and this new film is a companion piece.
Here, Oppenheimer follows an Indonesian optometrist whose brother was killed in a 1965 massacre. The optometrist plots to confront some of the killers under the pretext of performing eye exams. The result is both surprising and chilling.
Hate Crimes in the Heartland (Virgil, 2015, not rated). Veteran documentary filmmaker Rachel V. Lyon explores racial hatred by shining a light on two Tulsa, Oklahoma, incidents separated by 90 years: a 1921 race riot that resulted in a white mob burning down what was at the time Americas wealthiest black community, and a 2012 series of random shootings by two white males that caused three deaths in the same neighborhood.
The Image Revolution (Shout!, 2015, not rated, extended interviews). This flashy documentary is aimed at comic book fans. In 1992, when Marvel was the No. 1 comic book publisher in the world, seven of its most influential artists left to create their own company, Image Comics. It didnt take long for the seven to realize they didnt all see eye to eye.
Susies Hope (Green Apple, 2015, not rated). After being attacked by a pit bull, a young woman left with severe injuries adopts a pit bull-mix puppy that has been abused, and as they heal together she begins a crusade for animal rights. It's based on the true story that brought changes to North Carolina laws. The dog in question plays herself in the movie. Part of the DVD profits go to the Susies Hope charity that builds awareness of animal abuse. (Exclusively at Wal-Mart.)
Army Dog (Lionsgate, 2015, PG, episodes of animated Miniscule). When an Army sergeant and his service dog retire and go home, his daughter feels as though shes been replaced in daddys affections. So he takes daughter and dog camping, but the bonding needs to speed up after they encounter a wolf. Casper Van Dien co-stars with his real-life wife and daughter. And youll be forgiven if Max comes to mind.
Love Finds You in Charm (Anchor Bay, 2015, not rated). A young Amish woman is wooed by her Indiana communitys most popular bachelor, but when she goes to Charm, Ohio, to work on her cousins farm for a season, she finds herself pursued by two more men, one who is Amish and another who would like to take her out of her cloistered existence.
All of My Heart (Cinedigm, 2015, not rated). Lacey Chabert stars in this Hallmark Channel TV movie about a young caterer who inherits a country home and finds she has to share it with a workaholic Wall Street trader. Will opposites attract? Is this a Hallmark Channel movie? Edward Asner co-stars.
So You Said Yes (Cinedigm, 2015, not rated). This Hallmark Channel flick stars Kellie Martin as the owner of a bridal shop who falls in love with the son of her fiercest competitor. Love in the movies is never an easy road. Bruce Boxleitner co-stars.
IndiePix Mix 10: Volume Two (IndiePix, 2005-14, 10 discs, 10 movies, some in foreign languages with English subtitles, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, trailers). The titles in this collection of 10 independent documentaries and narrative films from around the world have been previously released in stand-alone editions, and some have been reviewed on these pages. Included are Bhopali, Disarm, Road to the Big Leagues, Satellite, So Bright the View, Soldate Jeannette, That Girl in Yellow Boots, The Nine Lives of Marion Barry, We Live in Public and White Shadow.
Irrational Man (Sony Classics, 2015, R for language and sex, featurette, photo gallery). Woody Allens latest has some bright moments but is far from his best work, recycling some of his themes from Crimes and Misdemeanors, among others. Joaquin Phoenix is a troubled college philosophy professor who, with a student (Emma Stone), overhears what seems to be a murder plot. Should he intervene? Parker Posey co-stars.
Memories of the Sword (Well Go, 2015, not rated, in Korean with English subtitles). During Koreas Goryeo era (918-1392), three swordsmen lead an uprising to bring down a corrupt monarchy. But desires for revenge and unexpected betrayals interfere with their plans.
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser (Sony, 2015, not rated). This sequel, with David Spade reprising his role as the mullet-wearing white trash slacker, crosses The Wizard of Oz with Its a Wonderful Life and even throws in some Forrest Gump, and who knows what all else. But the result is more vulgar and less funny than the first film, if thats possible. This marks its Blu-ray release after the film premiered last year on the online streaming site, Crackle. Christopher Walken co-stars.
Sinister 2 (Universal, 2015, R for violence and language, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes). Direct follow-up to Sinister focuses on a protective mother and her 9-year-old twin sons terrorized by the evil spirit of Bughuul in a rural residence.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Paramount, 2015, R for language and violence, theatrical R-rated version, unrated version, unrated version with alternate ending, deleted scenes). The sixth and allegedly last of this franchise begins with a direct link to Paranormal Activity 3, then focuses on a new family finding the haunted video camera.
The Look of Silence (Drafthouse, 2015, PG-13, audio commentary, featuretes, trailer; 20-page booklet). Filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, who hails from Texas but is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, earned an Oscar nomination for his unusual 2013 documentary The Act of Killing, and this new film is a companion piece.
Here, Oppenheimer follows an Indonesian optometrist whose brother was killed in a 1965 massacre. The optometrist plots to confront some of the killers under the pretext of performing eye exams. The result is both surprising and chilling.
Hate Crimes in the Heartland (Virgil, 2015, not rated). Veteran documentary filmmaker Rachel V. Lyon explores racial hatred by shining a light on two Tulsa, Oklahoma, incidents separated by 90 years: a 1921 race riot that resulted in a white mob burning down what was at the time Americas wealthiest black community, and a 2012 series of random shootings by two white males that caused three deaths in the same neighborhood.
The Image Revolution (Shout!, 2015, not rated, extended interviews). This flashy documentary is aimed at comic book fans. In 1992, when Marvel was the No. 1 comic book publisher in the world, seven of its most influential artists left to create their own company, Image Comics. It didnt take long for the seven to realize they didnt all see eye to eye.
Susies Hope (Green Apple, 2015, not rated). After being attacked by a pit bull, a young woman left with severe injuries adopts a pit bull-mix puppy that has been abused, and as they heal together she begins a crusade for animal rights. It's based on the true story that brought changes to North Carolina laws. The dog in question plays herself in the movie. Part of the DVD profits go to the Susies Hope charity that builds awareness of animal abuse. (Exclusively at Wal-Mart.)
Army Dog (Lionsgate, 2015, PG, episodes of animated Miniscule). When an Army sergeant and his service dog retire and go home, his daughter feels as though shes been replaced in daddys affections. So he takes daughter and dog camping, but the bonding needs to speed up after they encounter a wolf. Casper Van Dien co-stars with his real-life wife and daughter. And youll be forgiven if Max comes to mind.
Love Finds You in Charm (Anchor Bay, 2015, not rated). A young Amish woman is wooed by her Indiana communitys most popular bachelor, but when she goes to Charm, Ohio, to work on her cousins farm for a season, she finds herself pursued by two more men, one who is Amish and another who would like to take her out of her cloistered existence.
All of My Heart (Cinedigm, 2015, not rated). Lacey Chabert stars in this Hallmark Channel TV movie about a young caterer who inherits a country home and finds she has to share it with a workaholic Wall Street trader. Will opposites attract? Is this a Hallmark Channel movie? Edward Asner co-stars.
So You Said Yes (Cinedigm, 2015, not rated). This Hallmark Channel flick stars Kellie Martin as the owner of a bridal shop who falls in love with the son of her fiercest competitor. Love in the movies is never an easy road. Bruce Boxleitner co-stars.
IndiePix Mix 10: Volume Two (IndiePix, 2005-14, 10 discs, 10 movies, some in foreign languages with English subtitles, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, trailers). The titles in this collection of 10 independent documentaries and narrative films from around the world have been previously released in stand-alone editions, and some have been reviewed on these pages. Included are Bhopali, Disarm, Road to the Big Leagues, Satellite, So Bright the View, Soldate Jeannette, That Girl in Yellow Boots, The Nine Lives of Marion Barry, We Live in Public and White Shadow.
Irrational Man (Sony Classics, 2015, R for language and sex, featurette, photo gallery). Woody Allens latest has some bright moments but is far from his best work, recycling some of his themes from Crimes and Misdemeanors, among others. Joaquin Phoenix is a troubled college philosophy professor who, with a student (Emma Stone), overhears what seems to be a murder plot. Should he intervene? Parker Posey co-stars.
Memories of the Sword (Well Go, 2015, not rated, in Korean with English subtitles). During Koreas Goryeo era (918-1392), three swordsmen lead an uprising to bring down a corrupt monarchy. But desires for revenge and unexpected betrayals interfere with their plans.
Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser (Sony, 2015, not rated). This sequel, with David Spade reprising his role as the mullet-wearing white trash slacker, crosses The Wizard of Oz with Its a Wonderful Life and even throws in some Forrest Gump, and who knows what all else. But the result is more vulgar and less funny than the first film, if thats possible. This marks its Blu-ray release after the film premiered last year on the online streaming site, Crackle. Christopher Walken co-stars.
Sinister 2 (Universal, 2015, R for violence and language, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes). Direct follow-up to Sinister focuses on a protective mother and her 9-year-old twin sons terrorized by the evil spirit of Bughuul in a rural residence.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Paramount, 2015, R for language and violence, theatrical R-rated version, unrated version, unrated version with alternate ending, deleted scenes). The sixth and allegedly last of this franchise begins with a direct link to Paranormal Activity 3, then focuses on a new family finding the haunted video camera.
