Though he made just 13 films in his 70 years on Earth, Stanley Kubrick is considered one of the greatest and most influential directors of all time. His films came in numerous genres, from film noir to science fiction, psycho-sexual dramas to horror and more. He was innovative and inventive. The films won tons of awards and are beloved all over the world.
Buy The Complete KubrickThe Criterion Collection is releasing a massive box filled with all of his films in 4K UHD with tons (and I mean tons) of extras. There are over 25 hours of interviews, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes materials, plus it comes with some gorgeous packaging with rare photos, annotated notes, and much more.
Of course, this is my pick of the week. There isn’t a sane cinephile who isn’t excited about this release.
Also coming out this week that looks interesting:
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: The Complete Series: Aaron Sorkin’s first series after The West Wing was a behind-the-scenes look at a Saturday Night Live-esque skit comedy show. It came out at the same time as 30 Rock. Everybody expected it to destroy that Tina Fey series. And yet 30 Rock became a comedy staple, and almost nobody remembers Studio 60. For a time, I was team Studio 60. I’d never seen The West Wing, so this was my first Aaron Sorkin-written series, and I was knocked out by its fast-talking, beautifully produced theatrics. But by its conclusion, things had become strained. The West Wing is about the President of the United States; it takes on serious issues with aplomb. But Studio 60 is about sketch comedy; it didn’t need to take itself so seriously. It definitely didn’t need to act like its comedy was going to save the world. Still, I’m interested to see how it holds up now that I’ve seen The West Wing, Sports Night, and other Sorkin-written movies.
The Silence of the Lambs: The Criterion Collection updates their previously released Blu-ray of this Oscar-winning film about an FBI agent in training trying to catch a serial killer to 4K UHD. Read Greg Hammond’s review of the movie.
Heated Rivalry: Season One: This Canadian series from Jacob Tierney is about two hockey players from two rival teams who are secretly in love.
One Night Only: Two strangers desperately look for partners in a society where premarital sex is allowed only for one night. Sounds like The Purge for horndogs.
I Want Your Sex: Olivia Wilde and Mason Gooding star in this Gregg Araki drama about a fresh-faced dude who gets a job for a provocative artist as her sexual muse.
Masters of the Universe: Based on a sort-of beloved 1980s toy line, this film gives fans some mild entertainment.
Over Your Dead Body: Jason Segel and Samara Weaving star in this film about a married couple who go to a secluded couple in hopes of saving their marriage, but both of them actually plan to murder the other.
Futureworld: Arrow Video is giving the 4K UHD treatment to this Westworld sequel. Set two years after the tragedies of Westworld – where a gunslinging robot killed a bunch of people at a theme park – the park is set to reopen with lots of new safety features. It isn’t much of a spoiler to say things go terribly wrong again.
Watchers: Toy Robot presents this thriller based on a Dean Koontz novel that I loved as a teenager. It stars Corey Haim as a kid who takes in a dog that turns out to be a government-modified, super-smart dog.
Visitor Q: Takashi Miike’s utterly transgressive film about a mysterious stranger entering a totally warped family’s life is getting a limited-edition release from Radiance Films.
Christiane F.: A 14-year-old girl gets drawn into a scene filled with sex and drugs in 1970s Berlin. Criterion has the release.
What Have You Done to Solange?: Severin Films upgrades this classic giallo about a sex pest trying to catch a Catholic priest before he murders again to 4K UHD. Read my review of the Arrow Blu-ray.
Flic Story: Alain Delon stars in this French thriller about a cop trying to catch a notorious killer who has escaped from a mental institution.
