CLASSE TOUS RISQUES (Blu-ray) - We here at Free Kittens are just now discovering the wonderful world of French thrillers from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Currently, we consider Le Circle Rouge the Citizen Kane of the genre, with Jean-Pierre Melville being our favorite director. In front of the camera, we’re particularly keen on Alain Delon, Lino Ventura and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Those last two actors star together in Classe Tous Risques, a crackling 1960 gangster movie about a fugitive mob boss trying to escape the executioner’s chair by fleeing to another country with his family. Ventura excels in the lead, while Belmondo also shines as the only man he can trust. Tough, violent, but also somber and poignant, this Claude Sautet-directed film hits all the right notes. Also available in a 4K version, the film’s been wonderfully restored and includes a few excellent archival bonus features. (1960/105 min/Criterion Collection).
KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼
SOLDIER (4H UHD) - Soldier didn’t leave much of an impression when first released nearly 30 years ago (in fact, it was a critical and commercial bomb). But like a lot of movies in Kurt Russell’s filmography, it has since become something of a cult classic, even enjoying a bit of critical re-assessment in some circles. While certainly no masterpiece, Soldier is arguably one of director Paul W.S. Anderson’s better efforts. Considering his track record, that might be faint praise, but the film has a lot going for it…a good premise, impressive production design and another great action role for Russell, who delivers a tough-yet-affecting performance despite having only 104 words of actual dialogue. This release features a solid 4K transfer and good selection of bonus features, most of them brand new. (1998/96 min/Arrow Video).
KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺
THE RUNNING MAN (Blu-ray) - Edgar Wright’s 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man isn’t without issues of its own, but it’s Children of Men compared to the 1987 version with Arnold Schwarzenegger (when he was still struggling with the whole acting thing). Gleefully tossing damn near everything but the title, the film replaces the novel’s dark tone and serious themes with garish, dumbed-down buffoonery loaded with WWE glitz and plenty of Arnie’s eye-rolling one-liners. Back then, it was the biggest bastardization of a King story since Kubrick dug his mitts into The Shining and time has not been particularly kind to it…at least aesthetically. However, The Running Man still has its share of fans and admittedly serves up some lunkheaded fun at times. If nothing else…casting Family Feud legend Richard Dawson as the film’s evil, ratings-obsessed game show host was a masterstroke. (1987100 min/Paramount).
KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼
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