This week’s releases include a new world-saving chapter; a reflection on toxic masculinity; a rude awakening; and a dystopian future (present).
At Close Range (Blu-ray)
Juvenile delinquent Brad Whitewood, Jr. (Sean Penn) knows about petty theft, but he wants big money — enough to blow the lid off his boring life, get out of town and live with his girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson). He wants to be like his dad (Christopher Walken), a big-time thief who knows “the business.” Seductive and sinister, Brad’s father is full of toxic wisdom that makes his illicit life appear eerily sexy. But when Brad witnesses his father deliberately killing someone, he realizes he may not only be in over his head… he may also lose it for good.
This film is loosely based on the life of a Pennsylvanian gang leader from the 1980s, who was later sentenced to four consecutive life sentences. Brad was a low-level sh!t-disturber, mostly guilty of impressing and protecting his friends. But seeing his father living the “good life,” throwing money around, driving nice cars and never going without food or drink, Brad decides he wants some of that action. He corrupts his very sweet girlfriend, who falls madly in love with him and wants them to build a life together by any means necessary. Shot in 1984, all these actors, including Penn’s on- and off-screen brother Christopher, look so young, but still very adept at their craft. The saddest part about this movie is the worst of their deeds are actually the true parts of the story.
There are no special features. (MVD Rewind Collection)
No Escape (Blu-ray)
The Year is 2022. John Robbins (Ray Liotta), a former Marine captain, has been sentenced for assassinating his commanding officer, and is banished to a secret and remote prison island run by The Warden (Michael Lerner). In this prison of the future, inhabited by society’s most violent and feared criminals, Robbins is left to the mercy of the elements and his fellow man. He finds the island divided into two camps: The Outsiders, led by the brutal and bloodthirsty Marek (Stuart Wilson); and The Insiders, led by the strong-willed, benevolent Father (Lance Henriksen) and his followers Hankins (Ernie Hudson) and Casey (Kevin Dillon). Robbins doesn’t care to join either — his one aim is to break free of an island from which there is no escape.
It’s bizarre to look at sci-fi films from decades earlier and see futures set in the present that don’t nearly reflect reality. This narrative is a cross between an adult version of Lord of the Flies and Mad Max, as exiled male prisoners choose between the wild and civilization. Of course, most of the men in the more refined colony have stories of redemption that make them worth saving, while The Outsiders’ backstories are irrelevant due to their violent natures. Robbins’ military training makes him well-equipped in almost any situation, but he tries to keep The Insiders’ issues at arm’s length, more concerned with escape than improving life on the island. The movie feels very much like a product of its time, fitting right in with other similar dystopian prison pictures, while touting a decent cast. Somewhat unrelated, but the bonus feature about science fiction feature film producer Gale Anne Hurd is actually quite enlightening.
Special features include: alternate intro; “Welcome to the Future: The Sci-Fi Worlds of Gale Anne Hurd”; “Survival of the Fittest: Directing No Escape”; “Penal Colony: Writing No Escape”; vintage making-of featurettes; photo gallery; and theatrical trailer. (Unearthed Classics)
The Power of the Dog (Blu-ray)
The film is set against the desolate plains of 1920s Montana. After a sensitive widow (Kirsten Dunst) and her enigmatic, fiercely loving son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) move in with her gentle new husband (Jesse Plemons), a tense battle of wills plays out between them and his brutish brother (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose frightening volatility conceals a secret torment, and whose capacity for tenderness, once reawakened, may offer him redemption or spell his destruction.
Jane Campion’s adaptation of the 1967 novel based on the author’s experiences as a gay youth in the American West is divisive, but not wholly because of its content. Phil is an age-old archetype, demonstrating the negative effects of repression on a closeted gay man as he lashes out at Peter, his mother and the horses. In the meantime, although Peter’s sexual orientation isn’t clearly stated, he is a queer young man in a cowboy world, leading to a variety of derision that he lets bounce off his thickened skin. Although the ending is obvious in hindsight, it is the deliberately slow journey there that may create conflict between viewers. Even though the picture looks excellent from beginning to end, it’s difficult to justify the two-plus-hour runtime, when the same commentary on and condemnation of toxic masculinity could’ve been accomplished in less time. Yet, there’s something about Cumberbatch’s performance that keeps audiences glued to the screen for the film’s entirety, for better or worse.
Special features include: interview with director Jane Campion about the making of the film; program featuring interviews with members of the cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage captured on location in New Zealand; interview with Campion and composer Jonny Greenwood about the film’s score; conversation among Campion, director of photography Ari Wegner, actor Kirsten Dunst, and producer Tanya Seghatchian, moderated by filmmaker Tamara Jenkins; interview with novelist Annie Proulx; and trailer. (Criterion Collection)
Star Trek: Discovery — Season Four (Blu-ray)
Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery are facing a threat unlike any they’ve ever encountered. With Federation and non-Federation worlds alike feeling the impact, they must confront the unknown and work together to ensure a hopeful future for all.
Once again foregoing an episodic format, this season the characters take on an even bigger threat to the galaxy that will cause rifts in relationships and potentially create a universal disaster. However, there’s still room for the personal stories that have always made star fleet so appealing to fans. Some find ways to grow as a person, discovering their strengths and reaffirming personal connections, while others find opportunities for new relationships that didn’t seem possible before now. Meanwhile, Burnham continues to play fast and loose with the rules for the greater good, taking (occasionally authorized) risks that always seem to pay off in the end.
Special features include: commentary; deleted scenes; “The Toll It Took”; “Being Michael Burnham: The Captain’s Log”; “Creating Space”; “Star Trek: Discovery: The Voyage of Season 4”; and gag reel. (Paramount Home Entertainment)
