HARRIET (4K): Superficial But Exciting

HARRIET (4K UHD)

2019 / 125 min

FROM UNIVERSAL

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

With only a rudimentary knowledge of Harriet Tubman’s life and accomplishments, I can’t attest to this movie’s historical accuracy. Nor do I actually care. If the law required films based on true stories to be accurate, how many of them would end up being all that entertaining?

What’s important is that Harriet is very entertaining, even though it doesn’t offer much in the way of depth. It’s more of a chronology of Tubman’s (Cynthia Erivo) rise from lowly, abused slave to the legendary abolitionist we read about in school. But to her credit, director/co-writer Kasi Lemmons keeps her filmmaker hat on and leaves the educating to others. Her skills elevate the movie from one we feel obligated to see to one we actually want to see.

The worst place to lose a contact lens.

Harriet is surprisingly action oriented, with many sequences focused on Tubman’s daring - and dangerous - efforts to not-only escape north to freedom, but repeatedly risk her own life by returning south to free others (including most of her own family). The uncomplicated narrative presents its characters as clear-cut heroes and villains. The latter, Tubman’s vindictive former owner, Gideon (Joe Alwyn), is evil personified. 

As “Minty”, Cynthia Erivo rises above the proficient-but-unremarkable script with an excellent performance (which earned her an Oscar nod that year), providing a majority of the movie’s emotional heft. A chief reason the escape sequences and conflicts are effective (and suspenseful) is because Erivo’s earnestness has us invested in the character from the get-go. 

Is this the definitive Harriet Tubman story? Probably not. It’s more of a checklist of events that never dives too deeply into its subject, the divisive political turmoil of the time or atrocities committed against slaves. And aside from Tubman herself, none of the other characters resonate much. Still, Harriet is exciting, well directed and fast-paced. Boasting impressive cinematography, authentic production design and an affecting music score, the film looks and sounds great with this 4K UHD transfer, which is an improvement over the 2020 Blu-ray disc (though it looks good, too). Both formats are included here, along with a smattering of perfunctory bonus features.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES

FEATURETTES - Her Story; Becoming Harriet.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director/co-writer Kasi Lemmons.

8 DELETED SCENES

LUNAMANCER: Small Film, Big Ideas

LUNAMANCER (Blu-ray)

2021 / 71 min

FROM ALLIED VAUGHN

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Pepper the Poopy😺

Dr. Isaac Blake (Jake Pirkkanen) returns to his hometown in search of his twin sister, Sue (Nikki Clyne), a tarot card reader who’s gone missing, though no one else appears to be aware of it. The viewer gets the impression Isaac already knows her fate, since they appear to have some sort of supernatural connection to each other (established in the prologue).

In the meantime, Lunamancer keeps the viewer consistently in the dark, often perplexed by what the hell they’re watching. The film is loaded with surreal sequences and imagery which blur the line between reality and illusion, seemingly perpetuated by a local garage mechanic (Cliff Tullis) who Isaac first questions when he arrives in town. Throughout much of the narrative, we’re not entirely certain what’s driving Isaac or if what he’s experiencing is real.

Isaac doesn't feel like making his bed this morning.

While watching this, I was often reminded of Darren Aronofsky’s debut, Pi, a similarly low budget sci-fi film driven more by cerebralism than a clear narrative or visual aesthetics. And like Aronofsky, Lunamancer’s bleak setting, evocative score and subdued performances contribute greatly to the somber (and quietly menacing) overall tone. It’s one of those films where it’s only after the denouement is revealed that (most) of the narrative pieces click in place.

Until then, Lunamancer is intriguingly ambiguous. While the deliberate pace does threaten to test one’s patience at times, it’s a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience that, at 71 minutes, doesn’t wear out its welcome. Co-written by first-time feature director Noah Mucci and producer Matt Patterson, the film is worth seeking out by adventurous viewers.

THE BLACK MASS: Don't Judge A Book (or a film) By It's Cover

THE BLACK MASS (Blu-ray)

2023 / 82 min

FROM CLEOPATRA ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

In this case, you definitely shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, which suggests The Black Mass is some kind of slasher film. The box art features a collage of the film’s more photogenic female cast members and a silhouette of a mysterious killer, along with a synopsis that carefully avoids who and what it’s really about.

The Black Mass is not another modern horror movie in the vein of Scream and its ilk. It’s about notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. More specifically, the film is an account of one particularly infamous 24-hour period in 1978 when he stalked and attacked several girls from a Florida sorority house. Not only that, the entire narrative is presented - almost literally - from Bundy’s point of view. 

The film follows Bundy (Andrew Sykes) around in his VW Beetle as he methodically targets potential victims, sometimes initiating friendly banter, as well as lengthy segments when he’s peering through the sorority house windows to observe the largely anonymous female characters. For the most part, their conversations and activities are intentionally mundane (and barely audible), save for one hallucinatory shower sequence that reflects Bundy’s view of violence as a sexual act.

Herbie Goes to Florida

We don’t really learn much about Bundy beyond his actions. In fact, it isn’t until late in the film that he’s even clearly shown, after already committing the gruesome murders. It's a conscious creative decision that renders the lengthy voyeuristic stalking sequences especially unnerving. Director Devanny Finn (who also has a supporting role) obviously realizes that she’s not going to reveal anything about Bundy that hasn't been documented in countless other books and movies. The film is simply a reenactment of that horrific night.

At no point does The Black Mass look or play like a horror film, nor are there any twists, surprises or character revelations. However, it’s extremely well made, with believable performances, outstanding attention to period detail and a cinema vérité style that instills dread in nearly every scene. The murders themselves are lengthy and brutal, more intended to horrify, not glorify.

Though I can certainly understand why The Black Mass is marketed as a thriller, that’s sort of misleading. This is an uncomfortable film to endure, which is appropriate, considering the subject matter. And despite a nearly complete lack of sensationalism, suspense or meaningful character exposition, the film is morbidly fascinating.

EXTRA KIBBLES

IMAGE SLIDESHOW

TRAILER

The Beautiful Ugliness of THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE

THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE (Blu-ray)

2003 / 80 min

FROM SONY

Available at MovieZyng.com

Review by Pepper the Poopy😺

If there was an Oscar category for originality, The Triplets of Belleville would surely have taken home a trophy back in 2003. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature that year, but while Finding Nemo arguably deserved to win, this one had a narrative, aesthetic and tone unlike anything we’ve really seen before…in a cartoon anyway.

The weird-ass story has an elderly woman, Madame Souza, using her meager resources to help her grandson, Champion, achieve his dream of participating in the Tour de France. But during the event, he and two other bikers are abducted by mobsters, who take them to America and force them to compete in backroom gambling houses (with fatal consequences for the loser). With family dog Bruno, Souza follows them to New York. Penniless, she’s taken in by three old ladies who were once a French singing sensation known as Triplets of Belleville. 

The triplets themselves are sort of a subplot, introduced in the film’s first scene by appearing on French television performing their hit song, “Belleville Rendez-Vous” (which was also nominated for an Oscar). It’s a surreal sequence that sort-of sets the tone for the entire film. When they reappear much later, they’re kindly but repulsive old ladies, living in a sleazy apartment building and killing frogs in a nearby marsh to sustain themselves. They still perform, though, with Souza joining their band. And eventually, when Souza learns where Champion is being held, the triplets are more than happy to help free him, taking on local gangsters in an amusing climactic chase through the city streets.

Chick-Fil-A's secret ingredient.

Whimsical, weird and often grotesque, The Triplets of Bellevue is fairly light on characterization and plot (the latter is sometimes set aside for strange sequences of Bruno’s dreams or the Triplets’ sickening eating habits). But it’s brilliantly animated, sometimes reminding me of a stylistic mash-up of Studio Ghibli and Heavy Metal (along with a smidgen of CGI in some scenes). The characters themselves - even the minor ones - are cleverly conceived, their appearance and movements reflecting their roles in the story. Speaking of which, the film is nearly free of dialogue, the narrative largely driven by expressions, action and Benoît Charest’s evocative score.

At first, there doesn’t appear to be any overt effort to engage the viewer on an emotional level. With the exception of Bruno the Dog, the characters seem fairly aloof. But as the story unfolds, Souza’s fearless resolve is ultimately kind of touching. The Triplets of Bellevue is sometimes aesthetically abhorrent, but as animated features go, there hasn’t been anything else quite like it.

Previously released on Blu-ray in 2017, this new version features slightly upgraded picture and sound, along with vintage bonus features, as well as a new teaser for director Sylvain Chomet’s next film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - The Making of The Triplets of Belleville; The Cartoon According to Sylvain Chomet.

THE MAGNIFICENT LIFE OF MARCEL PAGNOL TEASER -  This is a teaser trailer for Chomet next animated feature, due in 2025.

SELECTED SCENES WITH COMMENTARY - 3 scenes with commentary by director Sylvain Chomet.

MUSIC VIDEO - “Belleville Rendez-Vous”

TRAILER

BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN Paints a Gloomy Picture

BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN (DVD)

2022 / 105 min

FROM UNCORK’D ENTERTAINMENT

Available at MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

Being of a certain age, I have fond memories of drive-ins. From piling into the backseat in my jammies as a kid to piling into the backseat with dates, it was always a lot of fun. More often than not, whatever movie was actually playing was secondary to the experience. 

Though hardly the optimum way to view a film, I miss drive-ins. They aren’t quite extinct yet, but there are only two left in my home state and the closest is a 90-minute drive away. Like Fotomat booths, it’s just a matter of time before they’ve all gone the way of the dodo. Because of its subject, I thought I’d enjoy Back to the Drive-In a lot more than I actually did. But it's not-so-much an affectionate reflection of the past as a gloomy forecast of the future.

This documentary visits 11 currently-operating drive-ins across the country, from big multi-screen spreads to humble family-run businesses and everything in between (such as an enterprising man who turned his own backyard into one). Some of them have been open for decades, while others are - surprisingly - fairly new. We meet the owners and managers who discuss the joys and tribulations (mostly the latter) of operating such a business in this day and age.

If this is what's playing, I'm not going to the drive-in either.

The locations may be different, but their stories are more or less the same…the COVID pandemic triggered a brief resurgence in the popularity of drive-ins, but since then, business and interest continues to dwindle. These owners seem determined to remain open, but also appear painfully aware that the days of drive-ins as a sustainable business are probably numbered. Filmmaker April Wright must think so, too, since the entire film is accompanied by the kind of melancholy score one usually hears in a poignant death scene (even during moments of levity).

Hence, the film ends up being kind of somber. Seeing how these theaters operate is certainly interesting, as are the personal stories of owners explaining how and why they got into the business in the first place. And if nothing else, I’m inspired to finally make that 90 minute trek to my nearest drive-in just to relive the experience one more time. But Back to the Drive-In is hardly the nostalgia trip I was expecting. As someone who fondly recalls enjoying movies under the stars, it’s more like visiting a loved one who’s on life support.

THE MOON Walks a Fine Line

THE MOON (Blu-ray)

2023 / 123 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie (the bastard)😺

Walking a fine line between the plausibility of Gravity and the silly spectacle of Armageddon is Korea’s The Moon. But even though this stranded-in-space epic requires an increasing suspension of disbelief, it’s pretty entertaining. 

Five years after a tragic space disaster, South Korea is making a second attempt to land on the moon. But during this voyage, solar flares disrupt most of the on-board systems. Two of the crew are killed, leaving the least experienced one, Hwang Seon-woo (Do Kyung-soo), on his own. Meanwhile, mission control coerces former flight director Kim Jae-guk (Sol Kyung-gu) out of seclusion to talk Hwang through restoring the systems to survive. Still reeling from the previous tragedy, for which he feels partially responsible, Kim has a personal stake in bringing Hwang back home alive.

However, Hwang decides to complete the moon mission himself, which results in further peril when a meteor storm cripples his lander. Realizing they are now unable to rescue Hwang with their own resources, Kim implores his estranged ex-wife, Moon Young (Kim Hee-ae), who works at NASA, for assistance. But despite her efforts, the other NASA bigwigs sternly refuse…at least until one of Hwang’s radio transmissions is leaked and goes viral on social media. 

Hwang forgets where he parked.

For the most part, the film is exciting and suspenseful, boasted by excellent special effects and - once things get rolling - a lively pace. For a while, Hwang’s dilemma is similar to those in such classics as Apollo 13 and Gravity. It does grow sillier as it goes along, though, especially the sequences taking place on the moon, which might even elicit a few chuckles. But by now, we’re invested enough in the story to just roll with it.

While Kim is a well-realized main character - played with appropriate pathos by Kyung-gu - some others are either needlessly stupid (including Hwang) or over-the-top caricatures, such as the two perpetually screaming Korean officials. Worst of all is NASA's deputy director, who threatens and sneers like a Bond villain (hamfistedly establishing NASA as the bad guys).

Still, The Moon is a lot of fun. We don’t buy everything we see and hear, but the film is well-directed, looks great and features solid performances (save for Paul de Havilland’s hilariously distracting one-note turn as the aforementioned NASA man). Alternately gripping and outlandish, at least it’s never boring.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Behind the Scenes; Character Bios.

TRAILER

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES Depicts the Inevitable

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (Blu-ray)

2023 / 157 min

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Pepper the Poopy😽

On one hand, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a story that didn’t need to be told. Like most prequels, especially those featuring an established character’s early days, it has the insurmountable task of providing an engaging, suspenseful story even though the ultimate outcome is a foregone conclusion. 

In this case, it’s President Snow, the primary antagonist played by Donald Sutherland in the original Hunger Games trilogy. Songbirds and Snakes takes place 64 years earlier, when Snow (Tom Blyth) is an ambitious-but-impoverished student living in Panem’s capitol trying to win the school’s cash prize as the mentor to one of the “tributes” selected for this year’s Hunger Games. Snow is assigned to represent Lucy Grey (Rachel Zegler), a feisty songbird from District 12 who doesn’t appear to be much of a fighter, but ends up being popular with TV viewers.

For those unaware (who never saw the other films or read the books), Panem is a futuristic dystopia consisting of 12 districts and the Hunger Games is an annual event where young people are chosen (against their will) from each district to enter an arena and fight to the death until one remains. It is televised like a sports event/game show to placate the masses. I mention this because Songbirds & Snakes occasionally operates on the conceit that the audience is already familiar with the world created by Suzanne Collins.

On the other hand, it’s newcomers who might get the most out of this film. With no familiarity or basis for comparison, the narrative is engaging enough on its own terms…once it gets going, that is. Things are pretty pokey during the first act, but the action ramps-up considerably once the Games begin, sequences which are both violent and suspenseful and accompanied by amusing play-by-play commentary from obnoxious host Lucky Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman). 

Caught shoplifting...again.

Snow's quandary - torn between his loyalty to Panem and growing affection for Lucy Grey - gives him enough emotional complexity that we're somewhat invested in him. Additionally, Lucy’s songs throughout the film reveal much about her character and are genuinely affecting. Elsewhere, the primary antagonist, Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis), the brilliant-but-demented creator of the Games, is one of the best characters in the entire franchise.

The final act suffers from convoluted plot turns centered around District 12 rebels and a pace that feels kinda sleepy compared to all the tournament mayhem. And for those who are familiar with the books and films, there aren’t any surprises related to the main character. Since we already know Snow’s destiny, we’re just watching how it begins to unfold, much like Annakin’s descent to the dark side in the Star Wars prequels…interesting, perhaps, but not particularly revelatory. 

But despite running much longer than necessary, Songbirds & Snakes is probably the best Hunger Games film since the first one. It boasts earnest performances and a suitably bleak tone (save for a great running gag with malfunctioning drones). At the very least, the film tells a complete story that doesn’t require seeing or reading anything else first. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

PREDATOR OR PREY: MAKING THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES - A comprehensive 8-part, 2 ½ hour documentary covering nearly every aspect of the film.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Francis Lawrense & producer Nina Jacobson.

SONG - “The Hanging Tree,” by Rachel Zegler.

A LETTER TO THE FANS - By Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins.

BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

THE POOP SCOOP: Collectible Kibbles Edition

😺RED 2-Film Collection becomes available April 2 on Steelbook from Lionsgate.

Bruce Willis reassembles his old crew when Red 2-Film Collection becomes available on Steelbook on April 2 by Lionsgate. This double feature comes with deleted and extra scenes, along with audio commentary and a multi-part documentary. Red 2-Film Collection will only be available at Walmart on Steelbook. In RED, Frank (Willis) is a former black-ops CIA agent living a quiet life alone… until the day a hit squad shows up to kill him. With his identity compromised, Frank reassembles his old team — Joe (Freeman), Marvin (Malkovich), and Victoria (Mirren) — and sets out to prove that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Stand back and watch the bullets fly in this explosive action-comedy that critics call “A rip-roaring good time” (Kevin Steincross, Fox-TV). In RED 2, Retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses (Willis) reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive assassins, terrorists, and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the superweapon.

💀CUTTHROAT ISLAND arrives April 2 on SteelBook from Lionsgate.

The course has been set for Cutthroat Island, arriving on SteelBook April 2 exclusively at Walmart from Lionsgate. Prepare the weapons and summon the courage to return to this Geena Davis cult classic. This release of Cutthroat Island marks the first time the film is available on  4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook. In the film, Geena Davis and Matthew Modine deliver a tidal wave of nonstop action and adventure in this swashbuckling saga of ruthless pirates, buried treasure, and bloodthirsty betrayal. Also starring Frank Langella, Maury Chaykin, Patrick Malahide and Stan Shaw. The 4K UHD disc includes numerous bonus features.

🙀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.

😺RAMBO: LAST BLOOD arrives April 2 on 4K SteelBook from Lionsgate.

The saga of blood and vengeance concludes when Rambo: Last Blood releases April 2 on 4K UHD SteelBook + Blu-ray + Digital from Lionsgate. Go inside the story of Rambo with new special features about the production and sound design. Rambo: Last Blood is a Walmart exclusive. Sylvester Stallone returns to blaze a final, furious trail of vengeance as the iconic John Rambo in Rambo: Last Blood. After an old friend’s daughter is kidnapped, Rambo tracks the girl down, rescues her, and returns to his Arizona ranch. But when hit men are sent to take him out, the warrior in Rambo is fully — and mercilessly — unleashed. Ratcheting up the intensity is razor-sharp 4K resolution, dropping the viewer into the thick of the excitement with one of the greatest action heroes of all time.