THE POOP SCOOP: Wish, Wonka, Woo and Nic Cage Weirdness

SILENT NIGHT available January 30 on 4K UHD Steelbook and Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

From legendary director John Woo (The Killer, Face/Off) and the producer of John Wick comes this gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death. Full of Woo’s signature style, Silent Night redefines the action genre with visceral, thrill-a-minute storytelling. Bonus features include a making-of featurette and original theatrical trailer.

DREAM SCENARIO available February 27 on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital from Lionsgate.

Hapless family man Paul Matthews finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Pail is forced to navigate his newfound stardom, in this wickedly entertaining comedy. Starring Nicolas Cage, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli and produced by Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary, Beau is Afraid), Dream Scenario will be available on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital on February 27 from A24 and Lionsgate. With great reception from its premiere at TIFF, Collider describes Dream Scenario as “A laugh-out-loud comedy about fame and overnight celebrity”

WONKA on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD February 27 (on Digital 1/30) from Warner Bros.

Experience the magical origin of the world’s most famous chocolatier when “Wonka” debuts for purchase and rental Digitally at home on January 30. Based on the extraordinary, iconic character at the center of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how a young chocolate-maker, armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on February 27. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, this irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, as he becomes the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker. From Paul King, writer/director of the “Paddington” films, David Heyman, producer of “Harry Potter,” “Gravity,” “Barbie” and “Paddington,” and producers Alexandra Derbyshire (the “Paddington” films, “Jurassic World: Dominion”) and Luke Kelly (“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”), comes an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor. 

WISH on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD March 12 (on Digital now) from Disney.

In this animated musical-comedy, Asha, a sharp-witted idealist in the kingdom of Rosas, makes a powerful wish that’s answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas—to save her community and prove that when one brave human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things happen. A heartfelt celebration of the magic of Disney, and a joyful new entry to the studio’s animated film legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish will soon be available for families to enjoy at home. Fans can enjoy a sing-along movie version, never-before-seen bonus features and deleted scenes when the film becomes available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu on January 23 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD March 12.

MURPHY'S WAR: O'Toole Goes Full Ahab

MURPHY’S WAR (Blu-ray)

1971 / 107 min

FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Mr. Paws😽

Murphy’s War was directed by Peter Yates, produced by Michael Deeley, written by Sterling Silliphant (adapting Max Catto’s novel) and stars the great Peter O’Toole. While all of them have bigger, more impressive credits on their resumes, this comparatively forgotten film isn’t without merit.

Near the end of World War II, the titular character (O’Toole) is one of two survivors of a merchant ship attacked by a German submarine. He’s rescued and brought to a nearby mission run by Dr. Hayden (Siân Phillips). When his captain, the other survivor, is murdered by the German commander (Horst Janson), Murphy becomes obsessed with finding and destroying the sub, which he believes is hiding down-river from the mission. 

With the help of good-natured charter boat captain Louis (Phillippe Noiret), Murphy repairs an airplane, assembles a makeshift bomb and launches his one-man campaign. Hayden condemns his actions, especially after one failed attempt brings swift retribution on the mission. Still, nothing dissuades Murphy, even after the war has all-but been declared over. 

Peter O'Toole flies coach.

Murphy isn’t a particularly endearing character, but his Ahab-like compulsion is interesting and O'Toole plays him quite well. Phillips has the most thankless role, that of Murphy’s moral compass. Since he never listens to her, Hayden mostly exists just to scold him and their conflict is perfunctory…sometimes a little dull. However, the film comes to an exciting climax that’s both suspenseful and - in a weird way - ironically amusing.

From a thematic standpoint, Murphy’s War doesn’t offer much we haven’t seen in other films about the ramifications of single-minded obsession or the folly of war. But while no lost classic of the genre, O’Toole’s performance and well-directed action sequences make it worth checking out. Arrow Video has put together a pretty decent Blu-ray release with a smattering of new & older bonus features (the latter taken from a previous disc by Indicator).

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

RUNNING OUT OF WAR - A new 20-minute appreciation by film critic David Cairns.

INTERVIEWS - Individual archival interviews with co-editor/2nd unit director John Glen, focus puller Robin Vidgeon, film critic Sheldon Hall.

IMAGE GALLERY - 18 images taken from the film.

TRAILER

LOST NOIR, PART 2: More Overlooked Film Noir Thrillers

LOST NOIR, PART 2: 10 More Overlooked Film Noir Thrillers from the Classic Era (with one exception)

BY D.M. ANDERSON💀

I'm relatively late to the party when it comes to film noir. Sure, I've seen the indisputable classics, but wasn't until doing Blu-ray reviews that I've come to love this dark new world. Well, new to me anyway.

Part of my appreciation for the genre comes from the good films that, for one reason or another, have somehow fallen into relative obscurity compared to, say, Double Indemnity. The following essay is a round-up of some noteworthy, lesser-known examples of film noir released during the genre’s heyday (with one more modern exception). So while you won’t find any Bogarts, Stanwicks or elusive falcons, these films are worth checking out by noir fans looking for something beyond the classics. And fortunately, all are easy to find on home video.

CROSSFIRE (1947) - A whole lotta Roberts here (Young, Mitchum and Ryan), all of whom have appeared in their fair share of film noir classics. Then there’s the sultry Gloria Grahame, also no stranger to the genre. In fact, you could say that about a majority of the cast. Director Edward Dmytryk even gives Crossfire the look and feel we most-associate with film noir (though that could be because he didn’t have much of a budget to work with). However, one might not call it film noir in the purest sense. Narratively speaking, Crossfire unfolds more like a mystery with plenty of pre-Rashomon flashbacks filling in the blanks. It’s also a crime drama with a message, one with a lot more social importance than “Don’t light that dame’s cigarette.” One of the very first films to deal with anti-semitism, the plot involves a brutal murder which is eventually revealed to be a “hate crime,” decades before that was even a term. 

REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947) - Whether or not Repeat Performance is true film noir is certainly open for debate. Noir guru Eddie Muller even acknowledges as much during his introduction to the film. After all, the basic concept seems more Rod Serling than Raymond Chandler. The plot does, at times, unfold like an extended Twilight Zone episode. It opens with our amiable heroine, Sheila Page, shooting husband Barney on New Year’s Eve. After wishing aloud to friend William Williams that she could re-do the whole year over again, Sheila’s wish is granted, this time with knowledge of what’s going to happen. However, she’s the only one who knows. Though certainly debatable, I’d argue even The Twilight Zone often ventured into noir territory, narratively as well as aesthetically. Sure, this film is primarily a supernatural melodrama, but one could easily argue it has its own femme fatale in homewrecking playwrite Paula Costello. The suspenseful final act definitely has the look, pace and tone of classic noir.

THE BEAST MUST DIE (1956) - Not to be confused with the 1974 British horror film, The Beast Must Die is a crackling Argentinian crime thriller just waiting to be re-discovered by film noir fans. But that’s not our initial impression. When sadistic, cold-blooded businessman Jorge Rattery claims he’s been poisoned just before dropping dead, we assume we’re in for a whodunit, especially since everyone in the room appears to have a good motive for murder. At first, the prime suspect is Felix Lane, a mystery writer whose diary reveals he was indeed planning to kill Jorge. But what are we to make of Jorge’s young stepson, seen hiding - and later destroying - the bottle containing the poison? It’s at this point the film turns into a tale of bitter revenge in the best noir tradition. The remaining narrative is presented in flashback. Felix’s son is killed in a hit & run and the police have no leads. So after a grieving period, Felix vows to find and kill the culprit on his own, a tall order since there are no witnesses. But eventually, he learns the passenger in the car is famous actress Linda Lawson and insinuates himself into her life in hopes of learning the identity of the driver. When he finally does, Felix sets about earning Jorge’s trust, waiting for the opportunity to catch him off guard.

THE GUILTY (1947) - In The Guilty, Mike Carr recounts the story of an unusual relationship between himself, troubled ex-war buddy & roommate Johnny and twin sisters Estelle and Linda. Estelle is essentially the “bad” girl who’s tumultuously involved with both men, but Johnny eventually falls in love with “good” girl Linda (which Estelle selfishly tries to disrupt). When Linda turns up murdered, Johnny is naturally the prime suspect, especially since he suffers from PTSD and is prone to blackouts. Though he declares he’s innocent, Johnny goes on the run, while Mike does a little investigating of his own. With an intriguing story, economical direction by John Reinhardt and excellent performances - especially Don Castle - The Guilty is an intriguing little thriller with a great twist ending.

HIGH TIDE (1947) - High Tide gives us cynical private dick Tim Slade, hired to protect unscrupulous newspaper editor Hugh Fresney from the wrath of local gangster Nick Dyke, the subject of an upcoming bombshell news story. But it becomes a murder investigation when the paper’s owner, Clinton Vaughn, is killed. Though Dyke is a primary suspect, one can’t rule out Vaughn’s money-grubbing trophy wife, Julie, with whom Slade once had a relationship. Like The Guilty, this one is presented in flashback and features another nifty twist ending, but boasts a more intricate storyline with intriguing plot turns along the way. Again, Don Castle makes an excellent protagonist. Speaking of which, it’s a shame he didn’t have a bigger career. His resemblance to Clark Gable notwithstanding, he had a naturalistic style all his own which certainly suited film noir. 

I WOULDN’T BE IN YOUR SHOES (1948) - While lacking the budget and production values that attract big stars and directors, this briskly paced, efficiently directed little slab of film noir is a fairly entertaining way to kill 70 minutes. The film opens with Tom Quinn on death row, due to be executed in a few hours. In flashbacks, the man recalls the events leading up to that point. He and Ann Quinn are a down-on-their-luck husband & wife dance team living in a tiny apartment. One night, a frustrated Tom throws his shoes out the window at a howling cat, but when he goes out to retrieve them, they’re gone. The next day, their luck appears to be taking a turn for the better. Not only have his shoes been mysteriously returned to their doorstep, Tom later finds a wallet containing $2000. Meanwhile, an old man with a shady past has been murdered. Later, the police match an imprint with one of Tom’s shoes, then identify bills spent by the couple as belonging to the victim. Tom is arrested, convicted and sentenced to die, though Ann insists he’s innocent. She implores Inspector Judd to help her find the real killer. Since he’s somewhat enamored with her, she offers to marry him if he can prove Tom’s innocence. 

SUDDEN FEAR (1952)  - In the opening scene, wealthy playwright Myra Hudson (Joan Crawford) is watching rehearsals for her latest play. Unimpressed by budding actor Lester Blane (Jack Palance), she decides he’s simply not suited to be a romantic leading man. She could just as easily be talking about Palance himself. But unlike Lester, I doubt he ever expected to be. Jack knew his real strength as an actor was being scary as hell...sometimes without even saying anything. That’s why he’s perfectly cast here (one of his earliest major roles). Though Lester doesn’t get the part in Myra’s play, he doesn’t appear to hold any grudges as he courts, charms and eventually marries her during the film’s first act. However, Palance’s face, eyes and voice provide all the foreshadowing the viewer needs to suspect Lester has a sinister agenda. And indeed he does. He and gold-digging girlfriend Irene (the lovely Gloria Grahame) plan on killing Myra for the millions he stands to inherit. Unfortunately for them, Myra learns of their scheme because she left the dictation machine on in her office.

THEY WON’T BELIEVE ME (1947) - As Larry Ballentine, Robert Young is an absolute, irredeemable bastard...and he’s the protagonist! When we meet Larry, he’s on trial for the murder of his lover, Verna, and takes the stand to tell his side of the story. He doesn’t sugarcoat it, either, freely acknowledging he married wife Greta because she’s rich, while having an affair with her best friend, Janice. Eventually, he plans to run away with Janice, but Greta intervenes by setting him up as a partner in a brokerage firm. Unable to resist the money, he unceremoniously dumps Janice and moves to LA with his wife. Soon after, Larry is seduced by one of the office secretaries, Verna, who freely admits being a gold-digger. However, they fall in love and decide to run away together. On the way to Reno, the two get into a fiery accident and Verna dies. Because she was burned beyond recognition, the police mistakenly believe the body is Greta, which Larry doesn’t refute. Since the crash was ruled an accident and everyone thinks Greta’s already dead, he figures he can return home and kill her without raising suspicion. However, he discovers her body at the bottom of a ravine, along with the note he left her. Larry dumps her into a nearby river and tries to put everything behind him, now rich and scot-free. Then things get complicated when Larry's former partner starts inquiring about Verna's disappearance. Capping everything off with a deliciously ironic twist ending, They Won’t Believe Me is another vivid example of Robert Young getting his bad guy groove on. And once again, he totally nails it. 

SYMPHONY OF A MASSACRE (1963) - In this woefully underseen French thriller, five shady businessmen decide to pool their resources for a major drug purchase that could reap millions. The plan goes awry when one of them, Jabake, decides he’d rather keep all that money for himself. He devises a fiendishly clever & elaborate plan to steal it back from their courier in-transit. However, his plans threaten to go haywire after being forced to kill the courier. The group begin to suspect each other, while Jahake is forced to commit more murder to cover his tracks when some of them find holes in his ruse. Ingeniously plotted with deft film-noir touches, Symphony for a Massacre is damn-near note-perfect, from the characters & performances to the tight-pacing & unusual music score. It’s a classic case of bad guys vs. worse guys, with Jahake as its morbidly compelling centerpiece. He’s arrogant, unlikable, conniving and cold-blooded, yet even though we despise him, we’re invested in his plan…perhaps because it took so much meticulous work to set into motion.

And the exception…

LAST LOOKS (2022) - Charlie Waldo is the main character in a series of comic noir novels by Howard Michael Gould. He’s a disgraced ex-cop now living as a recluse in a trailer in the middle of nowhere. Amusingly, he insists on only keeping 100 possessions at any time (which also includes a chicken). When an old flame arrives asking for help with a case, he initially refuses…at least until some thugs come by later, beat him up and warn him not to get involved. Maybe a little too laid-back at times - with a plot that’s ultimately superfluous - Last Looks is still very enjoyable. Gould and Director Tim Kirkby have created a charming homage to film noir and infused it with an offbeat sense of humor. Though not always laugh-out-loud funny, it’s consistently witty and features characters who might be worth revisiting from time to time.

Be sure to check our previous list...

LOST NOIR: Overlooked Film Noir Thrillers

Litter Box Treasures: GUN THE MAN DOWN (1956)

In Litter Box Treasures, we focus on a variety of older films which aren’t necessarily classics, but are well-worth discovering.

GUN THE MAN DOWN (1956)

Starring James Arness, Angie Dickinson, Robert Wilke, Emile Meyer, Don Megowan, Michael Emmet, Harry Carey Jr. Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. (76 min).

Essay by D.M. ANDERSON💀

Along with the well-established classics, Hollywood cranked out a slew of budget-conscious, quickly-shot westerns to capitalize on the genre's enduring popularity. Most were minor diversions, now largely forgotten, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some really good ones.

Gun the Man Down is one of those, and particularly noteworthy for several reasons. First, it features James Arness just before Gunsmoke made him a household name. Second, this is the first western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, who’d go on to helm dozens of Gunsmoke episodes and several feature films starring John Wayne (who co-produced this). Third, it features Angie Dickinson, soon to become a Hollywood sex symbol, in her first prominent role.

The story is a fairly intriguing piece of revenge. Arness plays Rem, an outlaw left behind by his two partners after being shot during a bank robbery. To make matters worse, they take off with his girlfriend, Janice (Dickinson), during their escape. Rem goes to jail for a year and, upon release, wants some payback. His former partners, led by Matt Rankin (Robert J. Wilke), have since set themselves up pretty nicely with a small town saloon, and Janice has since settled in with Rankin. It doesn’t take long for Rem to track them down, but he has more in-mind than simply shooting them.

Not the most ambitious thing ever made, Gun the Man Down is quite good for what it is...a short, well-paced western with noirish plot elements (Janice could be considered something of a femme fatale). No one on either side of the camera stretches themselves too much, but enough to place it a notch or two above the usual low budget oaters of the era. On a side note, after seeing this, one might notice that the title doesn’t actually make much sense, but that’s just nitpicking.

This is YOUR LUCKY DAY

YOUR LUCKY DAY (Blu-ray)

2023 / 90 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie😺

Whenever the Powerball jackpot grows too big to ignore, my wife and I will usually grab a couple of tickets, inevitably pondering what we’d do with such an unfathomable amount of money. It’s all in fun and we never “play for investment purposes” (unless I happen to be having a seriously shitty day at work). Still, both of us agree that if we were to actually win, we wouldn’t tell a soul. 

As Your Lucky Day immediately and effectively demonstrates, keeping your sudden good fortune to yourself is a damn good idea. Walking into a convenience store at night, a guy checks his lottery ticket and discovers he just won $156 million. He loudly announces it to everybody else in the store, including down-on-his-luck drug dealer Sterling (Angus Cloud). 

Sterling pulls a gun and demands the ticket, but when beat cop Cody (Sterling Beaumen) comes out of the store restroom, he draws his own gun and accidentally kills the ticket holder. Sterling shoots Cody, then orders everyone else into the back room. At first, he plans to have the camera footage deleted, tie everybody up and make a quick exit with the ticket, at least until he’s told it will be worthless after what just transpired. So he offers to share the winnings with them.

Someone didn't have the courtesy to flush.

Store owner Amir (Mousa Hussein Kraish) agrees, and after some convincing, so does the young, expectant couple, Ana & Abraham (Jessica Garza & Elliot Knight). Together, they come up with a plan to dispose of both bodies and get rid of the lottery winner’s SUV. However, Cody isn’t quite dead. He calls his father, Dick (also a cop), informs them of the situation and pleads for help. Dick and a couple of SWAT buddies gear-up and head over, not just to save Cody, but to grab the winning ticket for themselves. This is where the fun really begins.

Your Lucky Day has a few perfunctory things to say about the current state of America, but where it really excels is how it depicts the lengths seemingly normal people will go for sudden wealth. Writer-director Daniel Brown does a good job presenting his protagonists as fallible, their values and sense of morality compromised by greed. Still, part of us empathizes with them, including Sterling, who sees the ticket as his only escape from a miserable life. The viewer might even find themselves wondering if they’d do the same thing in their situation.

Despite peripheral (sometimes heavy-handed) social commentary offered throughout the narrative, the film is ultimately a tight, gritty little thriller that makes great use of the claustrophobic setting (almost all of it takes place within the store). There’s not a lot of action per se, but the stand-offs and conflicts are intense and sometimes pretty bloody. One thing is certain…if you do happen to be fortunate enough to win the lottery, Your Lucky Day might have you thinking twice about announcing it.

THE POOP SCOOP: Franchise Friskies

🔱AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM available March 12 on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD and on Digital January 23 from Warner Bros. 

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction. All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman is Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

😺THE COLOR PURPLE (2023) available Match 12 on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD (on Digital Now) from Warner Bros.

Torn apart from her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) and her children, Celie (Fantasia Barrino in her major motion picture debut, reprising her 2005 role from Broadway) faces many hardships in her life, including an abusive husband simply called Mister (Colman Domingo).  With the support of sultry singer Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) and stand-her-ground stepdaughter Sofia (Danielle Brooks, Tony-nominated for the role on Broadway), Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood. Experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond when “The Color Purple” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on January 16.  This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule (“Black Is King,” “The Burial of Kojo”) and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones. 

🙀SAW 10-Film Collection 20th Anniversary Edition arrives March 5 on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital from Lionsgate.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Jigsaw’s games, the SAW 10-Film Collection 20th Anniversary Edition arrives on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital March 5 from Lionsgate. After the critical success of SAW X and the franchise grossing over $1 billion, this collection’s release is perfectly timed to the 20th anniversary of the first film releasing in theaters. All 10 films from the franchise that created a new horror subgenre – including the latest chapter, SAW X – are collected here in one terrifying set. Rewind to the beginning when Jigsaw first springs his diabolically ingenious traps on the morally wayward, then travel his long road of pain all the way to Mexico in the newest entry’s untold story of John Kramer’s quest for a cancer cure, inspiring his most personal game yet.

😺THE EXPENDABLES 4-Film Collection arrives March 5 on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital from Lionsgate.

Return to all the global superstars, explosive stunts, and mind-boggling weaponry when The Expendables 4-Film Collection arrives on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital March 5 from Lionsgate. With the fourth film’s release in 2023 and the franchise grossing over $780 million at the box office, this is the ultimate Expendables collection, featuring four mission-ready art cards. This action-packed, star-studded bundle includes all four films in The Expendables franchise. In The Expendables, the elite mercenaries (Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham) are caught in a web of betrayal and deceit when they’re hired by a shady operative (Bruce Willis) to overthrow a South American dictator. In The Expendables 2, a deranged arms dealer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) turns the team’s (Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren) easy paycheck into a tragedy, while The Expendables 3 pits old school vs. new blood when Barney Ross and his team (Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford) square off against a longtime foe (Mel Gibson). In Expend4bles, a new group of mercenaries (50 Cent, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa) joins the “old guard” to help fight an arms dealer with his own private army.