New on DVD....
Straight Outta Compton
If you haven’t done so already, check out this biopic about the advent of gangsta rap and the groundbreaking sounds of N.W.A., borne out of the crime and police brutality in 1980s Compton, Calif. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren get the authentic treatment in director F. Gary Gary’s film, from the highs of success to the drugs, sex, violence and in-fighting that brought down the group. The reason that kid looks so much like Ice Cube? That’s his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., doing a bang-up job. Ice Cube and his pal Andre (Corey Hawkins) talk their drug-dealing friend Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell) into slinging records instead of dope, and Ruthless Records is born. But agent Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) creates a rift the band, causing N.W.A. to implode before its time. Tons of extras on the blu-ray combo pack guaranteed to stoke fandom, including the origins of N.W.A., deleted scenes and songs, feature commentary with F. Gary Gary, an extra of the band performing in Detroit, one on filming on the streets, and more.
Bridge of Spies
Tom Hanks stars as Brooklyn lawyer James Donovan, who negotiates the release of a downed American U-2 pilot and makes Cold War history in the process. Special features include: 17-minute-long extra Case of the Cold War, with vintage footage of Eisenhower and McCarthy, as well as Spielberg’s father Arnold, who partly inspired the director’s interest in the project. Other extras include an extra on creating the Berlin Wall, one on the U-2 spy plane, and Spy Swap: Looking Back on the final Act, in which Chancellor Merkel makes an appearance.
The Danish Girl
Eddie Redmayne and Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress Alicia Vikander star in this biopic about Lili Elbe, the first person to undergo gender-reassignment surgery. Director Tom Hooper gently Gerda’s struggles — then acceptance — of her artist husband’s decision to become the woman he feels he was born to be: “God made me a woman,” Einar/Lili explains, “a doctor is curing me of the sickness that is my disguise.” Special feature on the Blu-ray disc include a making-of extra featuring Hooper, Redmayne, Vikander and other filmmakers.
Crimson Peak
It’s crimson, all right, from the red production logos to the last bloody death. Edith (Mia Wasikowska) sees ghosts from an early age after the death of her mother, and then marries into more supernatural trouble when she falls for a baronet (played by Tom Hiddleston), much to the dismay of her lifelong suitor (Charlie Hunnam). The Englishman and his sister (Jessica Chastain) have sinister plans for Edith, which director Guillermo Del Toro is happy to illuminate. Tons of special features on the various themes at work on the film, with quotes and intro by the director. Also included are deleted scenes, feature commentary by Del Toro and more.
Steve Jobs
Michael Fassbender transforms into the late tech-cult icon Steve Jobs in this film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film checks in with Jobs around the time of three crucial product launches, over a 14-year span. Illuminated are Jobs’ relationships with the daughter he was loathe to acknowledge, with his long-suffering employees, and with his army of loyal followers. Co-starring Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels. Special features on the Blu-ray include a three-part making-of featurette and conversations with Boyle, Fassbender, Winslet, location manager and more, plus two separate feature commentaries.
Grandma
Sage (Julia Garner) shows up unexpectedly at her grandmother Elle’s (Lily Tomlin) house needing to raise $600 for an abortion: too bad grandma cut up all her credit cards and crafted them into wind chimes. And so begins the rounds of beg, borrow or steal from old friends and old flames to round up the funds before Sage’s dinnertime appointment. Elle is still reeling from her partner’s death 18 months earlier; Sage needs to grow up in a hurry. It’s a tour-de-force performance from Tomlin. The Blu-ray includes commentary with writer-director Paul Weitz (About A Boy), Tomlin, Garner and Sam Elliott; The making-of extra on this “female mentorship story” also includes discussions with producers and co-star Judy Greer. Theatrical trailer and a Q&A session with Tomlin, Elliott and Weitz, also included.Â
Everest
The true story of how two separate expeditions to climb the world’s highest peak fared against one of the worst storms in history, Baltasar Kormakur’s star-studded Everest is a beautiful thing. Starring Jason Clarke as expedition leader Rob Hall, whose company charges a small fortune to those crazy enough to challenge death, among them a cocky Texan (Josh Brolin), a journalist (Michael Kelly), a seasoned climber (Naoko Mori) and a guy with an ominous cough (John Hawkes). Jake Gyllenhaal plays a rival climbing company leader, Emily Watson monitors the weather at base camp; Robin Wright and Keira Knightly wait anxiously for word of their men from home. With so many players, complete characterization is a challenge, but the mountain is the real star here. Great extras on the 3D combo pack: there’s a making-of feature, one on how the actors learned the art of climbing, another on recreating various facets of the mountain in the studio. There’s feature commentary with Kormakur, and a piece on the true story that inspired the film.
