If you don’t pay attention to the credits, you’d probably guess that Charade was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is often called the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never directed. It contains one of his favorite themes – a simple (wo)man accidentally caught up in a web of schemes and danger. And it has a similar directing style. It stars one of Hitchcock’s favorite actors, Cary Grant. It also has Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, and George Kennedy. It is full of intrigue, mystery, murder, and romance. It is tons of fun. But it was not directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Stanley Donen wore that hat, but he clearly was influenced by Hitch.
Buy Charade (Criterion Collection)It is one of my favorite movies to sit down and watch at anytime and now Criterion is giving it their UHD treatment and I’m giving it my Pick of the Week status.
Also coming out that looks interesting:
One Battle After Another: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Oscar-winning film is getting a very cool-looking, limited-edition Steelbook, with some nice extras. Unfortunately, it appears to have been so limited that it has already sold out.
Hoppers: Disney animated film about scientists discovering a way to put human consciousness into a robotic beaver, allowing them to communicate and understand the little critters better. If that isn’t a premise that screams “family fun,” I don’t know what is.
The Flintstones: This live-action take on the beloved animated series stars John Goodman, Elizabeth Perkins, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell, Klyle MacLachlan, and Halle Berry. Shout Factory is giving it the UHD Steelbook treatment.
Doctor Who: Season Two: I hate to admit that I have not watched this season of Doctor Who despite being a very big fan of the show. Disney took over international distribution of the series starting with Season 14 and concluding with Season 15 (and inexplicably dubbed them Seasons One and Two). I watched Season 14 (or One if you prefer), and while it had some memorable moments, it felt wrong to me. Thus, we haven’t gotten around to watching this season. I know I will eventually, and will no doubt buy it on Blu-ray because I’m a completist, so maybe this is my chance to catch up.
10 Cloverfield Lane (10 Anniversary Steelbook): Dan Trachtenberg’s excellent thriller was tied into the Cloverfield Cinematic Universe late in the game, giving it an ending that doesn’t really work. But up until that point, it is a terrific film. Dan Goodman more or less kidnaps Mary Elizabeth Winstead and keeps her in his (well-stocked) underground bunker, claiming that the end of the world has happened and this is the only place she’ll be safe. The film never lets you know if he’s crazy or not until those final moments.
Five Easy Pieces: Criterion is giving this Bob Rafelson drama the UHD treatment. Jack Nicholson stars as a brilliant man who more or less drifts through life with a chip on his shoulder. I didn’t like it when I watched it many years ago, but I really do need to give it another shot. [Read Steve Geise’s review of the Criterion Blu-ray]
Aesthetics of a Bullet: Radiance Films presents this Japanese crime story about a man who keeps getting himself in trouble with loan sharks and decides to become a Yakuza hitman.
90’s Nightmares: Vol. 1: Collection of three underseen horror films from the 1990s. Films include Mountain Fury, Hell Spa, and Lady of the Lake.
