CRIME 101 (4K): You Da Mann!

CRIME 101 (4K UHD)

2026 / 139 min

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Burglar😺

If I were a betting man, I’d probably be willing to wager a year of my pension that writer-director Bart Layton has a shrine to Michael Mann in a back room somewhere. His heist flick, Crime 101, has Mann written all over it, both narratively and aesthetically. That’s not intended as criticism, either. If you’re gonna cop another director’s moves, why not the guy responsible for such modern classics as Thief, Heat and Collateral?

While you’re at it, why not set yours in L.A., too, showcasing the city like it’s another character? And don’t stop there. Surely casting a couple of Mann alumni, Chris Hemsworth (Blackhat) and Mark Ruffalo (Collateral), will provide some good karma (though the film’s box office ultimately proved otherwise). Still, I wouldn’t quite call Crime 101 a ripoff. Though nothing particularly original, it’s very entertaining, arguably the best Michael Mann film that Mann didn’t make.

Hemsworth plays Mike, a high-end jewel thief who pulls off large heists without ever killing anyone. After turning down a job offered by his usual fence, Money (Nick Nolte), he plans one of his own, which will hopefully be his last. When Money gets wind of this, he recruits violent psychotic Orman (Barry Keoghan) to tail Mike and rob him of the score afterwards. Mike solicits help from frustrated insurance broker Sharon Combs (Halle Berry), whose client is the wealthy jerk he plans on robbing. Ruffalo plays Lt. Lubesnick, the only cop who’s convinced the recent string of robberies up and down Highway 101 are being committed by the same guy.

"Flip you for the check?"

While there aren’t a lot of surprises, the story and characters are well conceived and engaging. A heist film isn’t worth its salt without detailing the perpetrator’s meticulous methods, and Layton convincingly presents Mike as a cool and calculating thief, sharply contrasting Orman’s reckless smash & grab approach. Additionally, the film boasts some well-executed action sequences, including a couple of nifty car chases through L.A. streets. Speaking of which, there are numerous moments that definitely recall Mann’s own infatuation with L.A. Aesthetically, Crime 101 sometimes plays like it exists in the same cinematic universe as Heat and Collateral.

But continuing to draw comparisons is selling the movie a little short. Aside from a somewhat superfluous romantic subplot that occasionally stalls the momentum, Crime 101 is a lot of stylish fun, with solid performances by the entire cast. It may not rank among the greatest crime thrillers ever made, but fans of the heist genre will find a lot to love. It also looks and sounds excellent on 4K, much better than what you’ll see and hear streaming it on Amazon (who distributed this one).

FALLOUT - SEASON TWO is a Transitional Tease

FALLOUT - SEASON TWO (4K UHD)

2025-2026 / 420 min (8 episodes)

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato😸

While I certainly have my issues with Amazon Prime (mostly its CEO), I gotta give ‘em credit for one thing: Their entertainment branch still has the backs of physical media fans. A lot of their biggest movies and series are still regularly released on Blu-ray and 4K, even at the risk of such a move impacting subscriptions to their streaming service.

Regarding Fallout, physical 4K is still the best way to watch the show. It looks better, sounds better, and is free of the annoying ad breaks Amazon has force-fed viewers the past few years. Speaking of which…hey Jeff, I already pay enough for Prime each year that I shouldn’t have to shell out even more to get rid of those ads. End of rant.

All that being said, like Season One, the overall 4K transfer of Season Two is excellent. The show continues to be a wonder just to look at and this release nicely showcases its unique aesthetic. Similarly, the Dolby Atmos audio track provides a good balance between the music, action sequences and dialogue-driven moments. 

As for the show itself…I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the Season One. A big reason the first season worked so well was that the viewer didn’t necessarily need to be familiar with the game on which it’s based (though there were still elements and Easter eggs only gamers would appreciate). But Season Two definitely requires you to be already up-to-speed on the story so far, and the five minute recap kicking things off doesn’t really help all that much. 

"It needs AA batteries, which we're all out of."

Season Two also struggles to maintain interest in all of its multiple storylines. The Ghoul’s (Walton Goggins) and Lucy’s (Ella Purnell) journey to New Vegas to track down her power mad father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), is easily the most compelling. This particular thread also provides more revealing flashbacks regarding the Ghoul, his family and events leading up to the end of the world instigated by Vault-Tec. It also introduces Robert House (Justin Theroux), who my daughter Natalie (who is a gamer) informed me was a key figure in the Fallout: New Vegas video game.

Conversely, I found myself caring less about the growing drama within Vault 33, while the escalating conflict among factions of The Brotherhood and impending war between the Legion and the NCR threaten to push the series into Dune territory. It could be that there’s too much plot going on to comfortably squeeze into eight episodes. In fact, much of Season Two ultimately becomes a transitional tease setting up next season, with most of the storylines left unresolved by the final episode. 

Still, Season Two is by-and-large a pretty entertaining one, loaded with the same fabulous production design, vivid violence, awesome soundtrack and black humor that made the first season such a wonderful surprise. And despite its narrative shortcomings - biting off more than it can chew - Fallout remains one of the few adaptations of a video game that’s any good, meaning you don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate it. But it certainly helps if you’ve seen Season One first.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Welcome Back to the Wasteland and New Vegas are a couple of short promotional featurettes.

FALLOUT FAKE TALK SHOW - This is several short “interviews” of cast members. Kinda funny.

THE GHOUL LOG - Hosted by Walton Goggins in-character as the Ghoul, this is a 90 minute parody of those video fireplaces that pop up around the holidays. Also kinda funny.

ROBCO ANIMATED SERIES - Several promotional shorts.

AUDIO COMMENTARY (final episode only) - By actor Kyle MacLachlan and Aaron Moten.

THE POOP SCOOP: Upcoming Kibbles!

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ERASER Coming to 4K & Digital June 16 from Warner Bros. U.S. marshal John Kruger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) “erases” the lives and identities of people entering the Witness Protection Program. When his latest charge (Vanessa Williams) uncovers a deal to put a new superweapon in the wrong hands, it’s a do-or-die assignment. Kruger embarks on a high-octane action spree to protect her. As exciting as it is entertaining, Eraser is unstoppable. This release also includes a selection of all new bonus features.

HOPPERS on Digital NOW and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD June 2 from Disney/Pixar. In this animated comedy adventure, animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to ‘hop’ her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she makes amazing discoveries, Mabel befriends a charismatic beaver and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent human threat. This release also includes numerous bonus featurettes, deleted scenes and a blooper reel.

 

CRIME 101 on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD June 30 from Alliance Entertainment. Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 weaves the tale of an elusive jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose heists have mystified police.  When he eyes the score of a lifetime, his path crosses that of a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads. Convinced he has found a pattern, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) is closing in, raising the stakes even higher. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices—and the realization that there can be no turning back. 

NIRVANA, THE BAND, THE SHOW, THE MOVIE on Blu-ray May 26 from NEON/Decal. In this indie sci-fi comedy, Lifelong friends Matt and Jay once again try to book a gig at a legendary venue when they accidentally travel back in time to 2008. 

THEY WILL KILL YOU on Digital April 28 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD June 30 from Warner Bros. Director Kirill Sokolov unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair.

 

GINGER SNAPS on 4K + Blu-ray + Digital May 19 from Lionsgate. Ginger Snaps is the story of death-fixated teenage sisters Ginger and Brigitte, who are attacked one night by a creature drawn to Ginger’s first menstrual period. 

George A. Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD on 4K + Blu-ray June 16 from Shout Factory. In This highly anticipated four-disc release features new 4K restoration, as well as hours of new and vintage bonus material.

The Original 28 DAYS LATER Coming to 4K UHD September 1 from Sony. Is there still a glimmer of hope for humanity — or has the deadly "rage" virus found its way to foreign shores and infected the entire planet?

THE BRIDE! On Digital April 7 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Warner Bros. This is a bold, iconoclastic take on one of the world’s most compelling stories. 

SPEED RACER on 4K UHD May 19 from Warner Bros. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live action Speed Racer is newly remastered and includes new bonus content. 

FALLOUT SEASON 2 on Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Amazon MGM Studios. While Fallout Season 1 took us through the dangerous remains of Los Angeles, Season 2 picks up after the epic finale and takes us on a journey through the “Mojave Wasteland.”.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 4K Collector SteelBook Coming June 2 from Warner Bros. The collectible steelbook will include a Blu-ray bonus disc with special features created by Paul Thomas Anderson along with a 24-page booklet with behind-the-scenes photos. 

STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES Coming to 4K and Blu-ray July 26 from Arrow Video. PRE-ORDER HERE!

The Fantasy Thriller, DUST BUNNY Coming to 4K and Digital from Lionsgate. Some monsters are real in this fantastical and wickedly inventive feature directorial debut from visionary creator Bryan Fuller.

THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA on 4K and Blu-ray May 12 from Celluloid Dreams. This giallo classic is now available for preorder on the Celluloid Dreams website.

A Minority's Report on MERCY

MERCY (Blu-ray)

Also available on 4K UHD

2026 / 99 min

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

Have you ever gone into a movie fully prepared for it to suck? As a reviewer, I always try to stay open minded, but sometimes I can’t help it. In the case of Mercy, there were red flags o’ plenty. First, it’s one of those “screenlife” movies, most of which are garbage. Second, Timur Bekmambetov has directed a grand total of zero movies I thought were any good. Finally, its main star is Chris Pratt, who hasn’t exactly lit up the screen since hanging up his Starlord costume. 

Sure enough, Mercy gets off to a dire start by bombarding us with so much plot exposition that we almost feel like we don’t have to bother watching it. But something happened along the way…the damn thing didn’t quite descend into the dumpster fire I was fully expecting. Most other critics hated this one, though, so I guess you can consider this a “minority’s report” (there’s a reason for my choice of words).

The story takes place in future Los Angeles, where justice is overseen by an AI program called Mercy (personified by Rebecca Ferguson), serving as judge, jury and executioner. Pratt plays Chris Raven, a short-tempered, alcoholic cop accused of murdering his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis). At present, he’s strapped to a chair in a ‘courtroom’ consisting of VR screens, with Mercy informing him that he has 90 minutes to prove his innocence using all the technology at his disposal.

Since Mercy has online access to everything in the city (phones, machines, files, personal records, cameras, etc.), she provides impartial assistance for anything Raven needs to find Nicole’s killer. However, if he’s still found guilty once the time elapses, he’ll fry in his chair. The film more-or-less plays out in real time, seldom slowing down for a second as Raven searches for clues and follows leads, sometimes with the help of colleagues or friends sequestered by Mercy, including his teenage daughter, Britt (Kylie Rogers).

Chris Pratt emotes as only Chris Pratt can.

If it sounds like a poor man’s Minority Report, you aren’t too far off the mark. Mercy is conceptually similar, though dumbed down a bit and less visually interesting. Most of the action takes place in a single room, as seen by Raven and presented by Mercy through massive computer screens. It’s also kinda difficult to invest in the main character. Even though the viewer is certain he’s innocent (otherwise, no movie), Raven doesn’t come across as particularly sympathetic, most of his problems being of his own making. Additionally, the film has its fair share of moments that tend to stretch credibility…maybe more than its fair share.

But while I may not have been all that invested in Raven himself, I found his situation kind of interesting, especially once the narrative focuses on his search for suspects and clues. Here and there, a few curveballs are thrown our way, some we see coming, others we might not. I also appreciated the murder mystery elements of the story, and when all is revealed at the end, at least I didn’t feel short changed. 

Screenlife is an increasingly rote gimmick, but I’ll concede it’s mostly used to good effect here, though the climax itself eschews all that in favor of car chases, shootouts and destruction. But by then, we’ve all earned a little KABOOM to cap things off (even if it does seem a little pandering). Ultimately, Mercy is in-no-way a sci-fi masterpiece, but it certainly didn’t suck. While it might not hold up to scrutiny upon repeated viewings (yes, I’d probably watch it again of my own accord), the movie’s fairly fun in the moment.

THE POOP SCOOP: Machines & Monsters Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

THE BRIDE! On Digital April 7 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Warner Bros. This is a bold, iconoclastic take on one of the world’s most compelling stories. Written, directed and produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! stars Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Academy Award nominee Annette Bening, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. 

SPEED RACER on 4K UHD May 19 from Warner Bros. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live action Speed Racer stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, and Matthew Fox. Directed by The Wachowki’s (“The Matrix” Trilogy), the newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring the filmmakers reflecting on the making of the film and its legacy. 

FALLOUT SEASON 2 on Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Amazon MGM Studios. While Fallout Season 1 took us through the dangerous remains of Los Angeles, Season 2 picks up after the epic finale and takes us on a journey through the “Mojave Wasteland” where Lucy (Purnell), Maximus (Moten), and The Ghoul (Goggins) travel to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Staying true to the world that Bethesda Game Studios originally created, Fallout not only embraces the lore and retro-futuristic setting of the original game, but it invites viewers to come along on a new adventure and experience the Wasteland like never before.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 4K Collector SteelBook Coming June 2 from Warner Bros. The collectible steelbook will include a Blu-ray bonus disc with special features created by Paul Thomas Anderson along with a 24-page booklet with behind-the-scenes photos. 

“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” on Digital March 31 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 5 from Warner Bros. Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s bold and original interpretation of one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Sam Raimi’s SEND HELP on Digital NOW and on Blu-ray & 4K April 21 from 20th Century Studios. Featuring over two hours of bonus content that takes audiences deeper behind the scenes of Sam Raimi’s twisted survival thriller, Send Help is a darkly comedic reversal of power. 

PRIMATE on Blu-ray and DVD April 21 from Paramount. Lucy’s tropical island homecoming was supposed to be beaches and best friends—not a fight for her life. When her family’s exceptionally clever chimp spirals into a savage rabid frenzy, the night explodes into terrifying chaos.

STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES Coming to 4K and Blu-ray July 26 from Arrow Video. Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series will be available for purchase, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content. The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material. PRE-ORDER HERE!

The Fantasy Thriller, DUST BUNNY Coming to 4K and Digital from Lionsgate. Some monsters are real in this fantastical and wickedly inventive feature directorial debut from visionary creator Bryan Fuller.

MERCY Coming to Blu-ray, 4K and DVD from Alliance Entertainment. Mercy follows Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), who stands accused of murdering his wife. On trial before the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, he has just 90 minutes to convince it that he’s innocent and stave off execution. 

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Sony. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival—the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.

Gore Verbinski’s GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE on Digital Now, on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD April 21 from Universal. A man claiming to be from the future (Sam Rockwell) recruits an unlikely group of diner patrons to join him on a genre-defying adventure to save humanity from the perils of social media brainrot and the impending AI apocalypse! 

INNERSPACE on 4K and Blu-ray April 28 from Arrow Video. Director Joe Dante (Gremlins) takes his brand of cinematic fun inside the body of a man with Oscar-winning visual effects. The limited edition release features a brand-new restoration from the original 35mm negative.

SLEEPERS 30th Anniversary Edition on 4K April 21 from Warner Bros Discovery. Based on the book of the same name by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Barry Levinson’s film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award winners Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Brad Pitt, along with Kevin Bacon and Jason Patric.

SOLDIER, Starring Kurt Russell, on 4K April 28 from Arrow Video. The limited edition release features a brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films approved by director Paul W.S. Anderson, hours of special features and newly commissioned extras.

Finally! BLUE THUNDER Limited Edition 4K Coming May 5 from Arrow Video. A landmark of analog-age futurism, it remains a razor-sharp thrill ride that fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Includes numerous new and archival bonus features.

THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA on 4K and Blu-ray May 12 from Celluloid Dreams. This giallo classic will arrive in a beautiful slipbox that features the film, along with a vast array of bonus features that provide more insight into the film and its production than ever before. It is now available for preorder on the Celluloid Dreams website.

POINT BLANK Coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Criterion Collection. Free Kittens’ CEO bought himself an older Blu-ray copy of this action classic, then literally the next day, Criterion announces this release! In addition to a 4K restoration, this disc comes with a bunch of bonus features.

MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN on 4K and Blu-ray April 14 from Criterion Collection. Featuring ribald Roman puns, sharp political commentary, and an audacious crucifixion-themed musical number, the Pythons’ most ambitious film is a hilarious satire of dogma and blind faith in which nothing is sacred.