Blu Tuesday: “Red Rocket” and More

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Simon Rex in "Red Rocket"

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: “Red Rocket”

As someone who wasn’t as enamored with “The Florida Project” as most critics, my expectations for director Sean Baker’s latest movie were tepid at best, despite plenty of strong buzz coming off its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Fortunately, “Red Rocket” actually lives up to the hype thanks to a solid script by Baker and writing partner Chris Bergoch, as well as a fantastic performance by Simon Rex, who explodes off the screen as porn star Mikey Saber, a charismatic, motormouthed huckster trying to climb his way back to the top. Part of the magic of “Red Rocket” is the way that Baker tricks the audience into falling for Mikey’s charms, even though he’s not a particularly likable guy and has sinister ulterior motives, to the point that you’re still kind of rooting for him in the end. Though “Red Rocket” isn’t without its issues, it rises above any criticisms to deliver a raw and naturalistic slice-of-life drama that ranks among the best films of last year.

Extras include an audio commentary by Baker, Rex and cinematographer Drew Daniels, as well as an additional commentary track by film critic Kat Ellinger and a making-of featurette. FINAL VERDICT: BUY

Also Out This Week:

West Side Story” — Over the course of his 60-plus-year career, Steven Spielberg has dabbled in just about every film genre except for musicals, so there’s a certain thrill in seeing the veteran director achieve this milestone, especially in a genre so different from anything he’s done before. Though Spielberg’s take on “West Side Story” doesn’t stray too far from the 1957 classic (or the Broadway musical on which both films are based), it does a terrific job of breathing new life into an old story thanks to some vibrant and energetic musical numbers as well as some (mostly) great performances from its cast. Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist and Rita Moreno are the main standouts, though newcomer Rachel Zegler also turns in good work as Maria. Spielberg’s version does little to correct the story’s biggest flaws, including the fact that the central romance just isn’t very interesting, but it’s nonetheless an entertaining musical that makes you wish he had tackled the genre sooner. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film and a tribute to the late Stephen Sondheim. FINAL VERDICT: RENT

Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.

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About Author

In addition to writing for Bullz-Eye.com, Jason is a proud member of the Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) and the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS).