Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “The Matrix Resurrections”
It came as quite the surprise when Warner Bros. announced that it would be making another “Matrix” film with original co-writer/director Lana Wachowski. After all, the original trilogy (flawed as it may be) did a good job of providing closure to Neo and Trinity’s story, so there didn’t seem to be much room or need to continue their adventures. Though “The Matrix Resurrections” has some interesting ideas about legacy and identity, they’re not executed particularly well. The central love story between Neo and Trinity is fun to watch unfold thanks to the dynamic between its two stars, but that’s really all the film has going for it. The recast characters fail to live up to their predecessors, the new characters aren’t fleshed out in any meaningful way, and the action sequences feel generic and flat, which is especially noticeable for a series that redefined action filmmaking. “The Matrix Resurrections” just about gets by on sheer nostalgia, but for a movie that openly derides franchise culture, it’s just as guilty of the very things it’s criticizing.
Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Silent Night” — Writer/director Camille Griffin’s debut feature is a Christmas movie unlike any other. An apocalyptic dark comedy about a married couple who invite their friends to celebrate the holidays at their idyllic home in the English countryside as a cataclysmic cloud of poisonous gas sweeps across the planet, “Silent Night” is about as far from feel-good as they come. But while the subject matter is quite depressing — there’s an entire subplot about a government-sponsored suicide pill — the film manages to entertain thanks to some well-placed moments of pitch-black humor and an excellent cast of (mostly) British talent. Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode and Roman Griffin Davis all deliver great work in their roles, while Lucy Punch, Sope Dirisu and Kirby Howell-Baptiste make the most of their limited screen time. Where “Silent Night” ultimately falters is in its shock ending — not because of its bleakness but because of how easily it falls apart at the slightest bit of scrutiny. Extras include some deleted scenes and alternate endings. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“National Champions” — Director Ric Roman Waugh takes a break from his ongoing partnership with Gerard Butler to helm this raw, stripped-down drama about a group of college athletes fighting for equitable pay. It’s certainly an interesting premise that provides plenty of talking points, but the script is incredibly formulaic, and the NCAA’s recent NIL ruling diminishes its message considerably. Beyond the debate at the center of the story, “National Champions” has very little to offer. Though it boasts a great cast, many of the actors don’t get much to do aside from Stephan James, J.K. Simmons and Uzo Aduba. The latter two are especially good, but it’s not enough to mask the cringey dialogue and soap opera-level plot twists that are rampant throughout. “National Champions” isn’t a complete waste of time, but it’s never as engaging as it could be. Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
