You can go back to something like Jaws in 1975 to trace the rise of blockbuster cinema. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas essentially created the Summer Blockbuster season. For years, the summer was when studios released their big-budget popcorn movies. It was mindless entertainment and we went to it in droves. As time passed, the summer season got longer and with the MCU blockbuster the season became a full-time event. Marvel made so much money that soon enough every studio was trying to create cinematic universes. They mostly failed, but big-budget cinema continued to be churned out, pushing nearly everything else to arthouse theaters in the cities, or premiering straight to streaming services.
Buy The Fall Guy Blu-rayMovie nerds on social media complained. Where did the romantic comedies go, they asked. Or the mid-budget adventures? Ticket sales plummeted with Covid and never really came back. The complaints got louder. If only studios would go back to the old days, they opined, then more people would go to the movies.
The Fall Guy seems to be exactly what they were asking for. Sure, it is technically based on an existing IP, but The Fall Guy television series is hardly a household name these days, and the movie has very little to do with the series other than its title and the fact that the hero is a stuntman. But it is a mid-budget adventure film with some great stunts, a lot of laughs, and two major stars (Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt) at its center.
And yet, The Fall Guy completely bombed at the box office. Who knows why? Maybe those Internet nerds were loud, but not very large in numbers. Maybe people just got used to staying home, and no longer want to spend a small fortune going to the theater. Or maybe husbands got tired of their wives lusting over Ryan Gosling in Barbie and forced them to stay away this time.
I’ll admit I’m one of those guys who wishes studios would release more movies in the theaters like this. I’ll also admit I didn’t go to see it in the theater. Since I’m the guy who gets to recommend movies coming to home video, guess what? The Fall Guy gets my pick this week.
It isn’t the world’s greatest film. If I’m being honest, it isn’t all that memorable. But it is a whole lot of fun to watch. It is exactly the kind of movie you want to own on Blu-ray, so you can throw it on anytime you like and not have to worry if it is available on one streaming service or another. It is a film you can take to your parent’s house over Christmas break and enjoy with the extended family. I highly recommend it. Read Gordon S. Miller’s review.
Also out this week that looks interesting:
The Zone of Interest: Jonathan Glazer’s drama takes place in the commandant of Auschwitz’s house, which is located next to the camp. His family tries to lead a normal, quiet life while genocide takes place just meters away. It won a lot of awards, but I’ve not yet been brave enough to watch it. This release seems to only be available on the A24 website.
Risky Business: I recently rewatched this Tom Cruise comic drama about a high school student fed up with his button-down, college preparatory life and decides to have a fun day, which completely spirals out of control, and it holds up quite well. It made Cruise a massive star and will forever couple his tighty-whitie bottom to Bob Seger’s classic rock hit “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Criterion is giving it its usual treatment with a new 4K upgrade.
The Strangers: Chapter 1: A young couple stops at an Airbnb and is terrorized by masked strangers. I’m not sure if their terror will continue with Chapter 2, or if completely new people will get that honor.
Farewell My Concubine: Criterion is releasing this Chinese drama that follows the lives of two Beijing Opera performers while also detailing the entire modern political history of the country as well. Read Steve Geise’s review of the movie.
Anselm: Wim Wenders directed this documentary about artist Anselm Kiefer. Janus Contemporaries has the release. Read Steve Geise’s review.
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