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.
The Life Aquatic (Wes Anderson)
Taken by many as the first stumble and, to this day, surrounded with the “overzealous failure” narrative (Anderson has expressed regrets about facets of the production), but a touching and playing-unique-without-enervating failure, in that case. Although its hermetic world — complete with Mark Mothersbaugh’s expectedly odd score and Eric Chase Anderson’s unexpected stop-motion sea creatures — would forbid widespread love, even the most deficient of its characteristics have magic to them: career-best work from Bill Murray, here striking the right balance between pathos and drollness; the David Bowie soundtrack, in spite of some too-cute covers it also makes way for; Anderson’s willingness to attempt an action scene, no matter the lack of complete coherence; or the final encounter with Zissou’s white whale — a moment so telling of its maker’s pathology that I’d present as little to someone who wishes to know what makes the man tick. – Nick N.
Red River (Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson)
If you believe you’ve seen the essential John Wayne westerns, but have yet to seek out this Howard Hawks classic, you are mistaken. Featuring one of the iconic actor’s most complex, darkest performances, Red River is a bleak look at Western expansion. Now available through The Criterion Collection with restored versions of both Hawks’ theatrical cut and pre-release version, the set also includes a number of interviews and even a Wayne-led radio version of the story. – Jordan R.
Recommended Deals of the Weeks
(Note: new additions are in red)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Blu-ray) – $7.50
Adventureland (Blu-ray) – $5.00
The American (Blu-ray) – $6.00
Amelie (Blu-ray) – $7.57
The Big Lebowski (Blu-ray) – $9.96
Bottle Rocket (Criterion Blu-ray) – $19.49
The Cabin in the Woods (Blu-ray) – $7.88
Capote (Blu-ray) – $9.98
Casino (Blu-ray) – $8.71
City of God (Blu-ray) – $7.99
The Darjeeling Limited (Criterion Blu-ray) – $20.99
Django Unchained (Blu-ray) $12.99
Drag Me To Hell (Blu-ray) – $7.50
The Earrings of Madame De.. (Criterion Blu-ray) – $20.99
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Criterion Blu-ray) – $20.99
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Blu-ray) – $9.99
Gojira (Blu-ray) – $9.49
Gone Baby Gone (Blu-ray) – $6.00
High Plains Drifter (Blu-ray) – $9.96
Hot Fuzz (Blu-ray) – $7.50
Hugo (Blu-ray) – $8.98
Inglorious Basterds (Blu-ray) – $7.99
Inside Llewyn Davis (Blu-ray) – $14.99
Killer Joe (Blu-ray) – $10.46
Knocked Up (Blu-ray) – $7.50
Looper (Blu-ray) – $9.99
No Country For Old Men (Blu-ray) – $5.00
Public Enemies (Blu-ray) – $7.50
Pulp Fiction (Blu-ray) – $7.88
Reality Bites (Blu-ray) – $9.96
The Royal Tenenbaums (Criterion Blu-ray) – $18.99
Rushmore (Criterion Blu-ray) – $19.99
A Separation (Blu-ray) – $11.49
Seven (Blu-ray) – $8.98
Shutter Island (Blu-ray) – $8.98
Source Code (Blu-ray) – $7.88
Spring Breakers (Blu-ray) – $9.96
Stoker (Blu-ray) – $11.49
Submarine (Blu-ray) – $11.99
The World’s End (Blu-ray) – $14.99
Zodiac (Blu-ray) – $10.99
What are you picking up this week?