Tuesday Releases: Brightburn, A Dog’s Journey, & The Hustle

August 20, 2019 / Leave a Comment

by Christopher Haskell

BRIGHTBURN
Sony Pictures | 2019 | 90 min | Rated R
Directed by David Yarovesky

BUY: $14.99
RENT: $5.99

4K: $24.99
BR: $19.99
DVD: $17.99

4K: $24.99
BR: $22.99
DVD: $19.99

4K: $27.96
BR: $22.96
DVD: $17.96

4K: $24.99
BR: $19.99
DVD: $19.99

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

SPECIAL FEATURES

3 “Quick Burns” Vignettes hosted by Actor Elizabeth Banks, Producer James Gunn & Director David Yarovesky
“Hero-Horror!” featurette: It’s not often filmmakers successfully and seamlessly combine both Horror and Superhero into a genre-bending “Hero-Horror” category. Hear from Producer James Gunn and Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn as we will learn the methods of their filmmaking style and their dotting of the “i”‘s and slashing of the “t”‘s storytelling process.
“Nature vs. Nurture” featurette: Hear from Actor Jackson A. Dunn, Producer James Gunn, Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn and understand the creative process involved in flipping the script of the traditional “Superhero” and diving into what motivates and moves our new Anti-hero, Brandon Breyer.
Filmmaker Commentary with Director David Yarovesky, DP Michael Dallatorre, and Costume Designer Autumn Steed

TV SPOTLIGHT

THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON NINE
Lionsgate Films | 2018-2019 | 751 min | Not rated

BUY: $42.99

BR: $39.96
DVD: $34.96

BR: $39.99

BR: $39.96
DVD: $34.96

BR: $42.99
DVD: $37.99

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Last season brought the culmination of “All Out War,” which pitted Rick Grimes and his group of survivors against the Saviors and their leader, Negan. With Negan’s life in his hands, Rick had a character-defining choice in front of him, and he spared Negan to uphold the values his late son, Carl, championed – values that created conflict within his group. Now, with our survivors rebuilding civilization under Rick’s leadership a year and a half after the end of the war, it’s a time of relative peace among the communities. However, the world they knew is rapidly changing, nature is literally taking over, and, as time passes, the communities confront unexpected obstacles and danger. But nothing can prepare them for the formidable force they’re about to encounter, threatening the very idea of civilization our survivors have worked so hard to build.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Deleted Scenes
“Seasons Change” Featurette
“In Memoriam” Featurette
“The Whisperers: Behind the Mask” Featurette
“Rick Farewell” Featurette
“Time Jump” Featurette
Bonus Scene: Episode 908
“Inside Episode …” Featurettes per episode
“Making of …” Featurettes per episode

CRITERION CORNER

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION
Criterion | 1954 | 2 Movies | 108 min | Not rated
Directed by Douglas Sirk

BR: $31.96
DVD: $31.96

BR: $27.99

BR: $29.99
DVD: $27.99

BR: $29.39
DVD: $38.33
VHS: $14.99

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Reckless playboy Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson, in his breakthrough role) crashes his speedboat, requiring emergency attention from the town’s only resuscitator—at the very moment that a beloved local doctor has a heart attack and dies waiting for the lifesaving device. Thus begins one of Douglas Sirk’s most flamboyant master classes in melodrama, a delirious Technicolor mix of the sudsy and the spiritual in which Bob and the doctor’s widow, Helen (Jane Wyman), find themselves inextricably linked amid a series of increasingly wild twists, turns, trials, and tribulations.

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Audio commentary from 2008 featuring film scholar Thomas Doherty
Magnificent Obsession, John M. Stahl’s 1935 adaptation of the same novel, newly restored
From UFA to Hollywood: Douglas Sirk Remembers (1991), a documentary by Eckhart Schmidt
Interview from 2009 with screenwriter Robert Blees
Interviews from 2008 with filmmakers Allison Anders and Kathryn Bigelow, in which they pay tribute to director Douglas Sirk
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien

HIGHLIGHT RELEASES OF THE WEEK

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
Universal Studios | 2019 | 91 min | Rated PG
Directed by John Chester

BUY: $14.99
RENT: $5.99

BR: $22.99
DVD: $16.78

BR: $22.99
DVD: $17.99

DVD: $16.78

BR: $23.49
DVD: $19.69

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

The Biggest Little Farm chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature s conflicts, the Chester’s unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature s call, The Biggest Little Farm provides us all a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Featurettes
- Meet Chris
- Poodle Roo
- The Guardians
Day in the Life – Outtakes

A DOG’S JOURNEY
Universal Studios | 2019 | 108 min | Rated PG
Directed By Gail Mancuso

BUY: $19.99
RENT: $5.99

BR: $22.99
DVD: $17.96

BR: $22.99
DVD: $22.99

BR: $22.96
DVD: $17.96

BR: $22.99
DVD: $17.99

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Picking up where A Dog’s Purpose left off, A Dog’s Journey, continues the tale of lovable farm dog Bailey, as he finds a new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond, and learns that some friendships transcend lifetimes. A hit with audiences, who rated it an “A” CinemaScore, the movie is “a must-see for any dog lover” (Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer) and the perfect choice for family viewing, teaching universal lessons about the values of friendship and devotion. “Pawsitively” uplifting from start to finish, A Dog’s Journey features over 30 minutes of bonus content including deleted and extended scenes, a hilarious gag reel and featurettes with the cast and a behind the scenes look at the memorable animal performances.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Deleted and Extended Scenes
Gag Reel
A DOG’S Sequel – New and returning cast members discuss their roles in A Dog’s Journey and share their appreciation for director Gail Mancuso
Everyone’s Best Friend – Sit down with the cast to hear about their life-long love of man’s best friend
Working with Dogs – Cast and crew share the joys of working with animal-actors
A Healing Journey – Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid and others discuss the bond between dogs and humans
Scoring the JOURNEY – Director Gail Mancuso and composer Mark Isham discuss the music in the film

THE HUSTLE
Universal Studios | 2019 | 93 min | Rated PG-13
Directed By Chris Addison

BUY: $14.99
RENT: $5.99

BR: $22.96
DVD: $17.96

BR: $22.99
DVD: $22.99

BR: $22.96
DVD: $17.96

BR: $22.99
DVD: $23.69

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Josephine Chesterfield (Anne Hathaway) is a glamorous, seductive Brit who defrauds gullible wealthy men. Penny (Rebel Wilson) amasses wads of cash by ripping off her marks in neighborhood bars. Despite their different methods, both are masters of the art of the fleece so they con the men that have wronged women. Wilson’s talent for physicality and Hathaway’s withering wit are a combustible combination as the pair of scammers pull out all the stops to swindle a naïve tech billionaire (Alex Sharp) in this hilarious comedy.