boyhood

Every week we dive into the cream of the crop when it comes to home releases, including Blu-ray and DVDs, as well as recommended deals of the week. If we were provided screener copies, we’ll have our own write-up, but if that’s not the case, one can find official descriptions from the distributors. Check out our rundown below and return every Tuesday for the best films one can take home. Note that if you’re looking to support the site, every purchase you make through the links below helps us and is greatly appreciated.

Boyhood (Richard Linklater)

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A revolutionary, ambitious masterpiece that frequently resists an episodic structure. A single film that, despite the 12-year duration of production, unfolds simply as life does: there are no transitions, the only clues as to what year we have being Linklater’s subtle soundtrack choices. Haunting in its details, Boyhood is very simply the story of Mason (Ellar Coltrane) living moment to moment, often moving through Texas with his mother (Patrica Arquette) who hasn’t quite figured things out and his occasionally bratty sister (Lorelei Linklater). Ethan Hawke beautifully plays the wayward father, himself in flux as he matures from musician to actuary. Often Mason does not understand the context of each moment, which is partly why I believe the film’s impact grows more profound upon subsequent viewings. A masterpiece in any year, Boyhood represents, above all, the very best in American independent filmmaking: strong storytelling often presenting conflict or danger as Mason experiments with drugs, drinking, sex, and, ultimately, heartbreak. Leaving him on the same ambiguous note it found him some 12 years and 165 minutes prior, Boyhood is a sublime, exhilarating, and emotional cinematic experience, and a new classic. – John F.


The Guest (Adam Wingard)

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I could say plenty about the latest collaboration from director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett. I could explain its fresh, contemporary spin on testosterone-fueled 80s-era action thrillers. I could elaborate on its sexy visuals, its pulsating soundtrack, and its unrelentingly cool style. I could most certainly drool over Dan Stevens‘ transformation into a hot and dangerous super solider. But mostly I just want to say, “Holy shit, this movie!” – Amanda W.


Also Available This Week

Dinosaur 13 (review)
Get On Up (review)
Horns (review)
The Sword of Doom

Recommended Deals of the Week

(Note: new additions are in red)

21 Jump Street (Blu-ray) – $9.99

Alien Anthology (Blu-ray) – $24.96

The American (Blu-ray) – $6.49

Amelie (Blu-ray) – $6.74

Atonement (Blu-ray) – $7.48

Beginners (Blu-ray) – $6.60

Black Swan (Blu-ray) – $9.49

Bronson (Blu-ray) – $10.91

The Cabin in the Woods (Blu-ray) – $7.88

Captain Phillips (Blu-ray) – $11.99

Casino (Blu-ray) – $8.99

Collateral (Blu-ray) – $4.99

Contagion (Blu-ray) – $5.99

Do the Right Thing (Blu-ray) – $7.00

Edge of Tomorrow (Blu-ray) – $14.99

The Fly (Blu-ray) – $7.63

Gangs of New York (Blu-ray) – $7.50

Godzilla (Blu-ray) – $14.99

Goodfellas (Blu-ray) – $8.54

Good Will Hunting (Blu-ray) – $7.50

Gravity (Blu-ray) – $9.99

The Great Gatsby (Blu-ray) – $9.99

The Grey (Blu-ray) – $6.96

Haywire (Blu-ray) – $9.29

Hot Fuzz (Blu-ray) – $8.99

Hugo (Blu-ray) – $6.99

Inglorious Basterds (Blu-ray) – $7.99

Inside Llewyn Davis (Blu-ray) – $9.99

In the Loop (Blu-ray) – $8.16

Jackie Brown (Blu-ray) – $8.12

L.A. Confidential (Blu-ray) – $8.67

Looper (Blu-ray) – $9.99

Lost In Translation (Blu-ray) – $8.99

No Country For Old Men (Blu-ray) – $7.50

Non-Stop (Blu-ray) – $9.96

Observe & Report (Blu-ray) – $9.29

Office Space (Blu-ray) – $8.99

Persepolis (Blu-ray) – $7.26

Public Enemies (Blu-ray) – $7.50

Reality Bites (Blu-ray) – $9.99

The Secret In Their Eyes (Blu-ray) – $7.55

A Serious Man (Blu-ray) – $8.25

Seven (Blu-ray) – $4.99

sex, lies, and videotape (Blu-ray) – $8.43

Shutter Island (Blu-ray) – $7.99

A Single Man (Blu-ray) – $6.99

Snowpiercer (Blu-ray) – $13.07

The Social Network (Blu-ray) – $9.99

Spring Breakers (Blu-ray) – $9.96

Source Code (Blu-ray) – $5.00

Taxi Driver (Blu-ray) – $9.99

There Will Be Blood (Blu-ray) – $8.66

The Truman Show (Blu-ray) – $7.99

This is the End (Blu-ray) – $9.99

Valhalla Rising (Blu-ray) – $10.78

Vanilla Sky (Blu-ray pre-order) – $8.51

Volver (Blu-ray) – $6.91

We Own the Night (Blu-ray) – $6.90

The Wrestler (Blu-ray) – $6.99

Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray) – $9.99

What are you picking up this week?

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